March 27 Announcements
Bible Study in April
The Rachel Circle Bible Study group will meet on Tuesday, April 1 at 10:00am. The Men’s Bible Study Group will meet on Tuesday, April 8 at 8:30am. The Women’s Bible & Book Group will meet on Monday 14 at 9:30am. All Bible study groups meet in fellowship Hall.
Sunday School in April
We will not have Sunday School on April 6 or April 13 due to the Bainbridge School District spring break, and on April 20 when we invite families to be in worship to celebrate Easter which is also Pr. Erin’s last Sunday with us. Sunday School for children will resume on April 27.
Thanking Pastor Erin
Easter Sunday is Pastor Erin's last day with us. We want her to know how much her time with us has mattered. We will honor her service on Palm Sunday, April 13. There will be a potluck brunch and time to share thoughts and best wishes with her after the 10:00 service. Please bring salads, entrees, or appetizers to share. Bethany will provide plenty of dessert, so save your best sweets for the next event. We are collecting cash for a special send-off gift. Please put a check in the collection plate stating "Pastor Erin's gift" in the Memo line or use a separate envelope or drop your donation off at the office by April 6.
Memorial Service for Ralph Schulz
A memorial service for Ralph Schulz will be held at Bethany on Saturday, April 12 at 1:00pm. A reception will follow the service in the fellowship hall. All are welcome to come and remember Ralph.
Quilt Sunday
Plan now to attend worship on Sunday, April 13, (Palm Sunday) when we will bless the beautiful quilts and baby kits made by the Rachel Circle. In preparation for sending them off, the Rachel Circle will be asking for donations to help with the shipping costs. The cost for delivering our donations overseas range from $1.80 for fabric kits to $3.10 for baby kits. Look for a donation envelope in your bulletin or on the table in the narthex. Any amount will be welcome and all donations go to LWR to cover the shipping costs.
Holy Week at Bethany
Please join us for Holy Week services at Bethany. Holy Week will begin with Palm Sunday on April 13. Then we'll gather in the sanctuary for worship and eucharist at 7:00pm on Maundy Thursday, April 17, and again on Good Friday, April 18 for a quiet, contemplative service. On Easter Sunday, April 20, we come together again at the 10:00am service to celebrate the risen Christ.
Rachel Pritchett’s Visit to Namibia
Rachel Pritchett has returned from Namibia and Angola, where she took part in a companion-synod visitation and wrote a story for Living Lutheran. See her report at livinglutheran.com. If you are interested in global mission, feel free to reach out to Rachel. And mark your calendars now for Sunday, May 11 when Rachel will be preaching at our 10:00am service.
Online Giving Envelopes
More and more people are giving to Bethany electronically through our website or investment accounts. Others give periodically by mail. Whether you make individual online gifts or set up recurring payments, you support the church in the same way as those who give in person. Yet, when we invite worshipers to place their offering in the plate, electronic or periodic givers may feel left out. An online giving card allows electronic givers to participate in this act of worship, and it tangibly reminds you of your gift, which may not be top of mind when it is automated. It also allows visitors or occasional givers an opportunity to give using the QR code on the card. Bethany has printed cards for online givers to place in the offering plate if they choose. These cards will be located in a basket by the name tags. Cards placed in the offering plates will be gathered after worship and returned to the basket for use at future worship services.
Musical Migration – A Concert
Vinland Lutheran Church invites everyone to join them for Musical Migration, a concert celebrating 200 years of immigration with music for piano and voice by Norwegian-American immigrants. The concert takes place at 2:00pm on Sunday, March 30 at Vinland Lutheran Church. It is presented by the Daughters of Norway Nina Grieg Lodge #40 and the Bremerton Sons of Norway Oslo Lodge 2-35. Soprano Laura Loge and pianist Steven Luksan will be featured. A suggested donation of $10 will be taken at the door.
Altar Flowers: There are no altar flowers during Lent.
Thank You to this weekend’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Barbara Swartling
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Barbara & David Swartling; Lay Reader: Linnea Chu; Communion Assistant: Linnea Chu; Hospitality Hosts: Benay & Lynn Nordby
Next Weekend’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Kathy Dudgeon
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Eve & Mike Curtis; Lay Reader: Gail Christensen; Communion Assistant: Gail Christensen; Hospitality Hosts: Vicki Browning & Kristi Sutton