November 26 Announcements
December Bible Study
The Rachel Circle Bible Study group will meet on Tuesday, December 2 at 10:00am. The Women’s Book and Bible Study group will meet on Monday, December 8 at 9:30am. Our new mid-week Bible study group continues to meet every Wednesday at 9:00am. All Bible study groups meet in fellowship hall.
Installation for Pastor Martin!
Plan to come next Sunday, December 7 at 3:00pm, when Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee will be here to install Pr. Martin as Bethany’s called Pastor. Reverend Paul Eldred, the pastor at Central Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity and Pr. Martin’s son, will be preaching at the installation service. Plan now to attend this joyful and important day for the Bethany community.
Thanksgiving Eve Worship
Bethany will offer a quiet Service of Thanksgiving this evening, Wednesday, November 26 at 7:00pm. This service provides an opportunity to reflect peacefully and with gratitude on all we have. Bethany members are also encouraged to attend the Bainbridge Island/North Kitsap Interfaith Council Thanksgiving service on Tuesday, November 25 at 7:00pm at Grace Episcopal Church.
Kurt Lucke Committal Service
A simple service of commendation and committal will be held for Kurt Lucke on Saturday, November 29 at 2:00pm here at Bethany. A reception in the fellowship hall will follow the service. Many Bethany members will remember Claire and Kurt as long-time members before they moved away from the area. All are welcome to come and celebrate Kurt’s life with his family.
New Bethany Facebook Account
Bethany has a new Facebook account! If you are a Facebook user, please follow our new account by searching for Bethany – ELCA on Bainbridge Island. We will be posting all the latest news and events on the page. Bethany members will continue to receive announcements and other news through our emails. If you do use Facebook, help us spread our presence in the Bainbridge Island/North Kitsap community by liking and sharing our posts!
Advent Christmas Caroling
Plan now to help bring cookies (baked with love by our Altar Guild) and carols to our homebound members on Sunday, December 21. We will head out after worship, cookies and music in hand. All are welcome to be a part of this long-time Bethany tradition. It is a great opportunity for young and old alike to bring holiday cheer to our at-home friends.
Senior Holiday Giving Program at Helpline House
For the Winter Holidays Helpline House is again going to offer gifts, in the form of $25 gift cards, to Bainbridge seniors (55+). As in previous years, they are asking religious communities to commit to providing some of the gift cards. We are challenging the Bethany community to donate twenty-five $25 gift cards. When you are out shopping the next few weeks, please consider picking up a gift card or two.
The gift cards be from any of the following:
- Ace Hardware
- Amazon
- Eagle Harbor Book Co.
- Safeway
- Starbucks
- Town & Country
Helpline House would like to have the cards in hand by December 8th, so please drop them in the offering plates or bring them to the church office no later than December 7th. (Note: the $25 gift cards must be activated before Helpline House receives them.)
Amabile Holiday Concerts
The Amabile Choir, directed by our own Sylvia Cauter, invites everyone to their winter concerts, “In the Stillness”. There will be three concerts: Friday, December 5th at 7:30, Saturday, December 6th at 2:00pm and Saturday, December 6th at 7:30pm. The Friday evening and Saturday afternoon concerts will take place at St. Cecelia Catholic Church. The Saturday evening concert will be here at Bethany. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://amabilechoir.org/
Men's Compline Service
The Men’s Compline Choir of Bainbridge Island, an ecumenical ministry, is offering the service of Compline, or Night Prayer, the final prayer liturgy of the day. Set your heart and mind at peace with this service of prayer and reflection next Sunday, December 7, at 7:00pm and the first Sunday of every month, September through June, at St. Cecilia Church. All are welcome.
Altar Flowers: The altar flowers for this Sunday are given by Nancy & Harry Wetzler in honor of Harry’s 80th birthday.
Thank You to this Sunday’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Gail Christensen
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: TBD; Lay Reader: Gail Christensen; Communion Assistants: Carol & Ron Fenner; Hospitality Hosts: Karen Kushner
Next Sunday’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Kathy Dudgeon
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Lloyd Pritchett & Bruce McCain; Lay Reader: Rachel Pritchett; Communion Assistants: Rachel Pritchett & Alice McCain; Hospitality Host: Kristi Sutton & Vicki Browning
Bethany is a Reconciling in Christ congregation, which is an affirmation of welcome that specifically names people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, and also expresses a commitment to racial equity.