February 15 Announcements
Sunday School News
Sunday School takes a break for the next two Sundays with the Bainbridge Island School District mid-winter break. Sunday School with Mrs. Dudgeon will resume on March 9! Kids up to sixth grade are invited to join us for a lesson, activities, and snacks after the children's message in worship. It's a lot of fun! Join us--and invite your friends as well! All are welcome.
We will continue to reserve the first Sunday of the month for our "all-family" worship when we welcome everyone--kids and adults alike--to stay and worship together in the sanctuary. There will be no Sunday school on the first Sunday of each month. If you or your family would like to be involved in leading some aspect of worship on the first Sundays, please get in touch with Pastor Erin. There are many ways to be involved, and we'd love to hear your voice!
Welcome Guest Pastors!
We are honored to welcome Pastor Kristy Daniels of the Church of Steadfast Love in Seattle, a congregation that operates inside the Compass Center in Pioneer Square. Kristy will lead our Saturday and Sunday worship services on Feb.17 and 18. Kristy is a long-time friend of the Bethany congregation--and we look forward to her time with us and her leadership. Welcome Pastor Kristy!
Next week, on Sunday, Feb. 25, we welcome Deacon Dan Fowler of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, who will preach and co-lead worship. One way Dan serves the Church is by leading a long-standing, community-based, weekly ecumenical Senior Ministry that offers devotional-style worship services to memory care residents and senior living facilities in our area. In keeping with our Lenten theme of looking for joy, Dan will talk about the joy the ministry brings to residents and volunteers alike. Thank you to Pastor Sonja Selboe for serving as our presiding minister during communion!
There will be no Saturday service on Feb. 24. Please consider coming on Sunday to hear more about Deacon Dan's ministry and how you might get involved!
Pastor Erin will be away February 16-25th. During this time, Pastor Kent Shane, from Poulsbo First Lutheran, will be available for pastoral care needs. In a pastoral emergency, call the church office for more information.
Lent
Every Wednesday evening throughout Lent, 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. Jim Cauter will be our lay leader for our first midweek worship on Feb. 21. Thank you, Jim, for your leadership! Please come for a time of fellowship and quiet contemplation during the holy season of Lent.
There are still a few weeks that need volunteers to bring soup or bread. This is a wonderful opportunity to care for each other during the season of Lent. Sign-up sheets are on the hall bulletin board.
The prayer wall is up in the sanctuary for your use throughout the Lenten season. There are candles available for lighting and slips of paper should you wish to write your prayers and insert them into the wall. Our wall is inspired by the Wailing Wall on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, the site of the First and Second Temples of Jerusalem, which was destroyed in 70CE. People gather on the site to lament and pray, often inserting their prayers on slips of paper into the wall.
As you begin the journey of Lent, please also pick up a copy of the Lenten Devotional from the table in the Narthex. It's a wonderful companion for your personal reflection and prayer time, and it ties nicely into our Lenten worship theme for the season--Cultivating the Seed of Joy.
An Afternoon at IslandWood
Join Us for a Walk Through Beautiful IslandWood. The walk will take place from 1:00-5:00pm when the IslandWood trail system is open for self-guided exploration. There is no fee, but you must register in advance for the walk. For directions and to register, visit https://islandwood.org/event/afternoon-on-the-trails-march-3/. Watch the hallway bulletin board for a sign-up sheet and information about carpooling.
Memorial for Wayne Daley
A memorial service celebrating Wayne’s life will be held on Friday, March 15 at 2:00pm. All are welcome.
Blood Drive at Bethany
Bloodworks Northwest will be holding a two-day blood drive at Bethany on February 22 and 23. It takes 1,000 donors a day to sustain a blood supply for patients in the greater community. Enter to win a MacBook Air when you make an appointment to donate. Check out the poster on the hallway bulletin board for more information or visit www.bloodworksnw.org
Interfaith Climate Circle Event
The BINK Interfaith Climate Circle invites everyone to Awakening Our Relationship with the Web of Life, Friday March 8th, 6:30-8:30pm. The event will take place in Bethany’s fellowship hall. It will focus on imagining a new earth-centered civilization that welcomes love and justice for all life. All faiths, traditions, spiritual beliefs, and/or worldviews are welcome. For more information contact Mike Cox at
. To RSVP, email
.
Altar Flowers: No altar flowers during Lent.
Thank You to this weekend’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Carol Fenner
Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Jennie Harris; Lay Reader: Jennie Harris; Hospitality Host: Maimu Truitt
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Steve Deines & David Swartling; Lay Reader: Barbara Deines; Communion Assistant: Barbara Deines; Hospitality Hosts: Benay & Lynn Nordby
Next Weekend’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Alice McCain
Saturday 5:00pm – N/A
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Luanne & Tom Croker; Lay Reader: Linda Knudson; Communion Assistant: Vicki Browning; Hospitality Host: Kristi Sutton & Vicki Browning