Our blog

March 21 Announcements

Easter Lilies
Next weekend the Altar Guild will be decorating the altar for Easter with beautiful Easter Lilies. Please consider making a donation towards the cost of the lilies in honor or memory of someone special. Envelopes are available on the table in the narthex. Drop your donation in the collection plate during the offering or with Debbie in the office during business hours.

Holy Week
Holy Week begins this Sunday, March 24, with Palm Sunday.  We'll gather outside the doors of the church (in the parking lot area) where palms will be distributed to everyone who'd like to carry one into the sanctuary with them. After a gospel reading, we'll process as a congregation into the sanctuary while we sing a hymn. You're invited to proceed to the front of the sanctuary and place your palms in the vase before finding your way to your seat. 

There will be a service at 7pm on Maundy Thursday (March 28) and a 7pm service on Good Friday (March 29). There will not be a 5pm service on Saturday, March 30 so that we may all rejoice together on Easter Sunday at the 10am service.

HELLO
MY NAME IS_________________. Name tags are back! As we strive to be a welcoming community to newcomers and ultimately a new pastor, we hope everyone will wear a nametag. Look for the nametag table in the narthex when you come for services. 

Children’s Books Drive
Please look for new or gently used children's books (there might be some on your own bookshelf!) that you would like to donate to Helpline or KIAC (Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center). Both of these agencies provide books for children.  According to USA Reads, 61% of low-income families have no books in their homes, while middle-income families have 13.  Let's put more books they can keep in the hands of some Kitsap County kids.  Age range: 0-12, Last day to bring books—Easter Sunday.  Where—blue bin outside of our church library   For KIAC—prefer Spanish, Spanish/English or Wordless books. They will also take appropriate graphic novels​ for the older kids.  Questions?  Contact Mary Jensen (206) 913-3236 or Benay Nordby (206) 356-2755

Amabile Spring Concert
Amabile Choir, under the amazing direction of our own Sylvia Cauter, invites you to their spring concert All of Us. Concerts will be held at Bethany on Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13 at 7:30pm. North Kitsap Vocal Point, under the direction of Julie Gallant, will be special guests at the Friday and Saturday evening concerts. The concert will also be performed at St. Cecilia Parish on Saturday, April 13 at 2:00pm. The Saturday afternoon concert will feature special guests Sakai Intermediate Choir, under the direction of Katie Gibbs. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Dana’s on Bainbridge, or online at https://amabilechoir.org/.

Partners in Poetry Event
BI Partners in Health is presenting Partners in Poetry this Saturday, March 23 at 2:00pm at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. The event is a fundraiser in support of maternal healthcare in Sierra Leone where 1 in 20 women die during childbirth. It will feature BI Poet Laureate Michele Bombardier and Seattle Slam Artist, Roberto Ascalon. For more information or to purchase tickets visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJbUKUXipXcnMs32YPf3lTwoV8-c7Ifq2DKFeJT5kYC_Vr8g/viewform 

Altar Flowers: No altar flowers during Lent. 

Thank You to this weekend’s Worship Assistants:
          Altar Duty: Nancy Wetzler
          Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Joe Sommerseth; Lay Reader: Carol Fenner; Hospitality Host: Carol Fenner
          Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Eve & Mike Curtis; Lay Reader: Linnea Chu; Communion Assistant: Linnea Chu; Hospitality Host: Becci Kerstetter & Miriam Barrenger              

Next Weekend’s Worship Assistants:
          Altar Duty: Nancy Wetzler
          Saturday 5:00pm – No 5:00pm service
          Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Debbie & Andy Rimkus; Lay Reader: Benay Nordby; Communion Assistant: Lynn Nordby; Hospitality Host: Debbie & Andy Rimkus

March 14 Announcements

A Special Invitation
The Rachel Circle would like to invite the congregation to help them celebrate National Quilting Day this Saturday, March 16th. Please join us in the fellowship hall from 1-3 to help put together quilts. No quilting or sewing experience is needed. The tasks are simple ones of tying knots and pinning. This is an opportunity to see what is done on Tuesdays and to help put together some of the wonderful quilts that we send to Lutheran World Relief. All ages are welcome. There will be a craft for those not able to tie knots or pin. We also plan on some light refreshments. Please join us for this day of community service.

Children’s Books Drive
Please look for new or gently used children's books (there might be some on your own bookshelf!) that you would like to donate to Helpline or KIAC (Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center). Both of these agencies provide books for children. According to USA Reads, 61% of low-income families have no books in their homes, while middle-income families have 13. Let's put more books they can keep in the hands of some Kitsap County kids. Age range: 0-12, Last day to bring books—Easter Sunday.  Where—blue bin outside of our church library. For KIAC—prefer Spanish, Spanish/English or Wordless books. They will also take appropriate graphic novels​ for the older kids. Questions? Contact Mary Jensen (206) 913-3236 or Benay Nordby (206) 356-2755

Public Planning Commission Meeting
Bethany’s affordable housing odyssey is underway and is moving through the early stages of COBI’s permitting process. The next step is a Public Participation Meeting at the Planning Commission! After a presentation by architect Jonathan Davis, public input will be solicited. Housing Resources Bainbridge (HRB) and Finch Green LLC will have representatives present to advocate for the project under development at Bethany, but you also are invited to attend and to speak if you are inspired to do so! The Planning Commission meeting will take place at City Hall beginning at 6:00 PM tonight, Thursday, March 14. (You can also attend remotely via Zoom at this link:  https://bainbridgewa.zoom.us/j/86561143070.)

HELLO
MY NAME IS_________________. Name tags are coming back this weekend as we strive to be a welcoming community to newcomers and ultimately a new pastor! Look for the nametag table in the narthex when you come for services.

Debbie Out of the Office
Debbie will be out of the office March14-24 visiting granddaughter, Marin, and helping out while son-in-law, Tom is on a business trip. There won't be regular office hours although Debbie will be checking email remotely. 

Sermons and Devotionals
Copies of the sermon are available on Sunday mornings. They are located on the resource table at the entrance of the library. The second quarter Christ in our Home devotional is also available on the resource table. 

Lent
Our last mid-week Lenten observance will take place next Wednesday evening, March 20. We'll gather at 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall for a light soup and bread supper, followed by a reflective time of worship in the sanctuary at 7:00 p.m. Please come for a time of fellowship and quiet contemplation during the holy season of Lent. All are welcome.

Holy Week
Holy Week begins next Sunday, March 24, with Palm Sunday. We'll gather outside the doors of the church (in the parking lot area) where palms will be distributed to everyone who'd like to carry one into the sanctuary with them. After a gospel reading, we'll process as a congregation into the sanctuary while we sing a hymn. You're invited to proceed to the front of the sanctuary and place your palms in the vase before finding your way to your seat. 

During Holy Week, Bethany will offer a service at 7pm on Maundy Thursday (March 28) and a 7pm service on Good Friday (March 29). All are welcome. There will not be a 5pm service on Saturday, March 30 so that we may all rejoice together on Easter Sunday at the 10am service. 

Easter Lilies
Soon the Altar Guild will be decorating the altar for Easter with beautiful Easter Lilies. Please consider making a donation towards the cost of the lilies in honor or memory of someone special. Envelopes are in the bulletin or available on the table in the narthex. Drop your donation in the collection plate during the offering or with Debbie in the office during business hours.

Partners in Poetry Event
BI Partners in Health is presenting Partners in Poetry on Saturday, March 23 at 2:00pm at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. The event is a fundraiser in support of maternal healthcare in Sierra Leone where 1 in 20 women die during childbirth. It will feature BI Poet Laureate Michele Bombardier and Seattle Slam Artist, Roberto Ascalon. For more information or to purchase tickets visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJbUKUXipXcnMs32YPf3lTwoV8-c7Ifq2DKFeJT5kYC_Vr8g/viewform 

Altar Flowers: No altar flowers during Lent. 

Thank You to this weekend’s Worship Assistants:
          Altar Duty: Gail Christensen
          Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Carol Fenner; Lay Reader: Gail Christensen; Hospitality Host: Jennie Harris
          Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Nancy & Harry Wetzler; Lay Reader: Linda Knudson; Communion Assistant: Vicki Browning; Hospitality Host: Krisit Sutton & Vicki Browning    

Next Weekend’s Worship Assistants:
          Altar Duty: Nancy Wetzler
          Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Joe Sommerseth; Lay Reader: Carol Fenner; Hospitality Host: Craol Fenner
          Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Eve & Mike Curtis; Lay Reader: Linnea Chu; Communion Assistant: Linnea Chu; Hospitality Host: Becci Kerstetter & Miriam Barrenger