March 2 Announcements
Sunday school: In Sunday school this week, we'll talk about how people of all ages can #EmbraceEquity in celebration of International Women's Day. Pastor Erin will be with us as we think together about what equity means and what it looks like in our community. We'll learn about women's contributions in the world today, and the importance of women's contributions in the (her)story of our faith. Kids of all ages are welcome in the Fellowship Hall after the Children's message during worship. Join us!
Adult Education: An exciting four-week Lenten Adult Education series led by Fred Truitt and Pastor Erin begins on Sunday, March 5. Our study will feature a unique "compare and contrast" approach to scriptural accounts of Jesus' last week, including the characters and events that defined the journey from Jerusalem to the cross. Learning together in a group promises to bring fresh insight; and side by-side Gospel readings offer us an opportunity to gain new understanding from a variety of perspectives. Please join us after worship in the sanctuary on Sunday March 5, March 12, March 26, and April 2 as we deepen our faith along the Lenten journey. Everyone is welcome--no special bible knowledge or materials needed. Drop in once, or every week throughout the study. Note we will NOT meet on March 19.
IMPACT: The March IMPACT gathering is on Sunday, March 5 from 4:00-5:30pm in Fellowship Hall. Join us for family-friendly fellowship and fun (now that's some alliteration for you!). We'll share a meal and play a few spirited rounds of corn hole! We'll discuss the upcoming Turkey-Syria fundraiser being organized by members of the congregation to take place on March 12, and how we can be involved in helping disaster victims and their families. Dinner will be chili and cornbread. Please let us know when you RSVP if there are any dietary restrictions we should know about. Everyone is welcome! Sign up by emailing , or just come if your schedule suddenly allows you to!
March 8 is International Women's Day: This is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality. IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. This year's IWD theme is #EmbraceEquity. The aim of the IWD 2023 #EmbraceEquity campaign theme is to get the world talking about Why equal opportunities aren't enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action.
- Equity isn't just a nice-to-have, it's a must-have.
- A focus on gender equity needs to be part of every society's DNA.
- And it's critical to understand the difference between equity and equality.
You can read and learn more by visiting the website: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/EquityEquality. As the congregation of Bethany Lutheran Church, we can embrace equity by acknowledging that it's not just something we say. It's not just something we write about. It's something we need to think about, know, value and embrace. As Christ followers, it's what we believe in, unconditionally. Equity means creating an inclusive world!
Emergency Melodies, A Community Benefit Concert: Bethany members are planning a special fundraiser in response to the earthquakes in Türkiye (Turkey) and Syria. This is scheduled for Sunday, March 12 at 2:00pm, and monies raised will go to support the work of White Helmets and the ACT Alliance (Lutheran Disaster Response) in those two nations. Musical acts from the area will participate (Bethany Choir, members of Schola and Amabile, AND MANY MORE…), as well as assembly singing. This promises to be a big event! Already the Bethany Endowment Fund committee has elected to distribute $1,500 to this effort. Please let Pastor Paul know if you would like to be a donor who might want to seed this event with an advanced gift, so as to have a sense of momentum going into this event. Unable to attend but still would like to donate? You can make a one-time online donation by visiting http://bethanyofbainbridge.org/donate/
Holy Communion Instruction: Here at Bethany, children are encouraged to come up for a blessing or participate in the Service of Holy Communion from a young age. As they get older, they may have questions or wonder about our practice of Holy Communion. Holy Communion instruction, primarily geared for those in mid-elementary grades and above, will be held on Sunday, March 12 from 11:00am-12:30pm. A pizza lunch will be served. Contact Pastor Erin or Pastor Paul if you are interested in having your child included, or for more information. A second session focusing on bread baking will be held at 4:00pm on Sunday, March 26.
Lent – “Companions for the Journey”: Our Lent soup suppers continue throughout the month of March. The suppers take place on Wednesdays at 6pm and include a time of devotion centering around our Lenten theme of “Companions for the Journey”. The meals are simple – just soup and bread – in recognition of this time of preparation, prayer, and reflection. The time of devotion happens after the meal in the sanctuary around our Lenten prayer wall. The prayer wall is available for quiet meditation or prayers whenever the church building is open.
Altar Flowers: There are no altar flowers for the season of Lent.
Thank You to this weekend's Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Carol Fenner
Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Dick Coar; Lay Reader: Barbara Michael: Hospitality Host: Luanne & Tom Croker
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Eve & Mike Curtis ; Lay Reader: Noreen Sievertson; Communion Assistant: Vicki Browning; Hospitality Hosts: Noreen & Jeff Sievertson
Next weekend's Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Gail Christensen
Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Jennie Harris; Lay Reader: Rachel Pritchett: Hospitality Host: Veronika & Jim Rohrscheib
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Colleen & Steve Chupik; Lay Reader: Tom Newlon; Communion Assistant: Vicki Browning; Hospitality Hosts: Linda & Tom Newlon