December 8 Announcements
Advent: Plan to attend worship this Sunday, December 11th for a special, interactive worship program. We won't have Sunday School or nursery care this Sunday so that we can all be together and participate in this special service. After worship, join us for caroling at Madison house where we'll spread the love of this Advent season. Please note: there will be no Saturday 5pm service on December 10th so that everyone can enjoy our Advent/Christmas program on the 11th.
Our Christmas Tree: A huge thank you to Karen Selvar, of Bainbridge Island Farms and Suyematsu Family Farm for donating the Christmas tree that will grace our Sanctuary. We encourage you to visit Bainbridge Island Farms on Manzanita Road if you are looking for a live tree as a way of thanking Karen for her generous donation.
Christmas Poinsettias: The Altar Guild will be decorating the sanctuary with beautiful poinsettias again this year and welcomes your donations to help cover the cost. Please consider making a donation in honor or memory of someone special in your life. Envelopes for the special donations will be available in your bulletin or on the table as you enter the sanctuary.
Christmas Eve Services: Bethany will have two worship services on Christmas Eve. Both services will include music and candlelight. The earlier 5:00pm service will feature a special message and gift for children. This early service will be slightly shorter. The later 10:00pm service will feature the Bethany Choir and include the Service of Holy Communion. There will not be a service on Christmas morning.
Office Phones: Have you had difficulty calling the office this week? Our existing phone system experienced a failure and we currently do not have voicemail capability. New phones are on order and should be here by next week. Over the next few days, email may be the best way to reach Bethany staff members.
A Thank You: Sonja Selboe gives thanks to Bethanians for their prayers and cards that lifted her spirits and moved her along in the journey to healing.
2022 Year-end Donations & 2023 Stewardship Campaign: A huge thank you to all who have turned in a 2023 pledge card. If you haven’t had a chance to submit your pledge card yet, please consider dropping it the collection plate or mailing it to the office by December 18th. This will help the church council draft our 2023 budget. Year-end giving statements will be mailed by the end of January, 2023. Please note: any year-end donations that you want to count towards your 2022 giving statement must be received in the office by December 29th so that it can be deposited on December 30th.
Altar Flowers: The altar flowers this weekend are given by Sonja Selboe in gratitude for God’s blessing of a loving family that cared for her during a recent medical experience.
Thank You to this weekend's Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Gail Christensen
Saturday – No 5:00pm service
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters: Claire & Marty Dasler; Ushers: Alice & Bruce McCain; Lay Reader: Claire Dasler; Communion Assistant: Vicki Browning; Hospitality Hosts: Vicki Browning & Shirley Funk
Next weekend's Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Alice McCain
Saturday – 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Jennie Harris; Lay Reader: Jennie Harris; Hospitality Host: Carol Fenner
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Barbara & David Swartling; Lay Reader: David Swartling; Communion Assistant: Barbara Swartling; Hospitality Hosts: Debbie & Andy Rimkus