November 27 Announcements
Thanksgiving Eve Service
As the busy holiday season begins, Bethany offers an opportunity to slow down and be peaceful at a service of Thanksgiving tonight, Wednesday, November 27 at 7:00pm. The service includes a Thanksgiving litany and special music by the choir.
Advent
Advent begins this Sunday, December 1. This year, our Advent theme is "More than Words," which will offer us an opportunity to delve into the meaning of the words we associate with the Advent wreath candles we light each Sunday: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Mark your calendars, there are several special things planned throughout the season.
Our annual Advent fair is this Sunday, December 1 after worship and will include seasonal snacks, crafts, and activities for all ages! In addition, “Off the Grid” will be adding to the festivities by leading us in some Christmas carols. The Rachel Circle will have a table during the Advent Fair offering decorative mats, perfect for a snack, candle or vase. They will be collecting a free-will offering for Women of the ELCA. Be sure to stop by their table. Advent Calendars from Divine Chocolates will also be available for purchase for $8 at the Advent Fair.
On Saturday, December 7, we will have a special "Blue Christmas" service at our usual 5:00pm worship time. A "Blue Christmas" service offers solace to those who are grieving, or for whom the Christmas season just doesn't feel like "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year." The worship is contemplative in nature, and will create space for the acknowledgement of the heaviness of the season while also offering hope and healing.
Caroling and cookie delivery to our homebound members is scheduled after worship on Sunday, December 15. Bethany choir members and guitar accompaniment will make this warmly appreciated seasonal tradition comfortable for those who are less confident singers. Plan now to join in bringing Christmas joy to others.
Christmas Eve services will be held at Bethany at 5:00pm (a family service) and 10:00pm (a candlelight service).
Please note there will be no Saturday night worship services on November 30 or December 28.
Bible Study in December
The Rachel Circle Bible Study group will meet on Tuesday, December 3 at 10:00am. Study materials are available on the small table in the library. The Women’s Book and Bible Study group will meet on Monday, December 9 at 9:30am. The Men’s Bible Study group will meet on Tuesday, December 10 at 8:30am. All Bible Study groups meet in fellowship hall.
Youth Group Clothes & Necessities Drive
The Bethany Youth are conducting a clothing and cold weather necessities drive for those in our community. Helpline House has indicated that they are in need of items such as warm winter coats, socks, mittens, hats, gloves, and tents. The youth are also collecting hygiene items, small toys, and books which will go to a shelter for women and children affected by domestic violence. Please help this dedicated group of Bethany Youth in their efforts to live into Jesus' commandment to love our God and our neighbors as ourselves. Donated items can be placed in the basket in the Narthex. Thank you for thinking of our neighbors in need!
Holiday Community Meals
Again this year, our community of restaurants, volunteers and St. Cecilia’s are working together to provide Holiday meals to anyone who will be alone or could use a spark of joy. The November meal is on Thanksgiving Day. In December, the holiday meal will be on Saturday, December 21. Several local restaurants generously donate and prepare food. Volunteers will serve or assemble and deliver meals on Thanksgiving morning. The Thanksgiving dinner will take place at St Cecilia’s as a sit-down meal in a festive dining room on Thanksgiving Day 11:30 am - 12:30 pm. Bethany has reserved a table of 6-8. Please let Pastor Erin know if you are interested in joining the Bethany table.
For more information, or to reserve a spot for the December holiday meal, please call the BI Senior Center (206) 842-1616 or IVC - (206) 842-4441. See the flyer on the hallway bulletin board for more information.
Amabile Concerts
Amabile is proud to present their Winter 2024 program, “This Shining Night”. Their program name is drawn from a work composed by Morten Lauridsen with lyrics by poet James Rufus Agee, “Sure on this Shining Night”. The words are lovely, optimistic, and soothing - a balm for these trying times. They’ll be joined once again by the Olympic Serenade String Quartet, and will be singing a collection of gorgeous songs of the season, both sacred and secular. The concerts will be offered on Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7 at 7:30pm at Bethany. A Saturday matinee concert will take place on December 7 at 2:00pm at St. Cecilia Catholic Church. Tickets are available at Dana’s on Bainbridge Island or by visiting amabilechoir.org.
Supporting Martha & Mary
Bethany has pledged to provide gifts for 10 Martha and Mary residents. Tags on the table Christmas tree in the narthex have information about a resident and his/her preferences. When you take a tag, please write your name and the resident initials on the pad provided. If no tags are present, gifts that would suit all residents are slipper socks, large print word searches, and large piece puzzles. Gifts should be unwrapped and placed in a gift bag with the tag identifying the resident. Deadline for bringing gifts is Sunday, Dec 8th. Thanks for your generosity.
2024 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 our seniors (55+). As in previous years, they are asking churches and congregations to help us spread the word and commit to providing a certain amount from each. We would like to challenge the Bethany community to donate twenty-five $25 gift cards.
The gift cards be from any of the following:
- Ace Hardware
- Amazon
- Eagle Harbor Book Co.
- Safeway
- Starbucks
- Town & Country
Helpline House will distribute the cards the week of December 16th, so please bring them to the church office no later than December 12th. (Note: the $25 gift cards must be activated before Helpline House receives them.)
Book Drive for KIAC
One of the ways you can spread cheer this year is donate new or slightly used children's books in Spanish or English/Spanish for the Kitsap Immigration Assistance Center (KIAC). They are looking for books appropriate for ages 0-15. There is a box in our church library where you can drop off books and they will be delivered to the KIAC office.
Altar Flowers: The altar flowers this weekend are given by Jennie & Dennis Harris in celebration of family.
Thank You to this weekend’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Carol Fenner
Saturday 5:00pm – No 5:00pm Service
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Harry Wetzler & Jeff Sieverston; Lay Reader: Barbara Deines; Communion Assistant: Barbara Deines; Hospitality Hosts: Nancy & Harry Wetzler
Next Weekend’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Gail Christensen
Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Jennie Harris; Lay Reader: Carol Fenner; Hospitality Host: Carol Fenner
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Alice & Bruce McCain; Lay Reader: Linda Knudson; Communion Assistant: Linnea Chu; Hospitality Hosts: Kristi Sutton & Vicki Browning