Bethany Ministry Makes the Newspaper

 Look who made the paper!
Bethany's Fiber Flock ministry got a full-page article with color pictures, and a caption on the front page in Sunday's paper, March 20, 2011.
Sherrie Norris came to one of our meetings and wrote an article for the Watauga Democrat.  This article is not on their website, but here are some pictures of  the newspaper itself:

Here's the full article:

 And a close-up of the pictures:

And a close-up of the article itself:

The article does a good job of showing what this new ministry at Bethany is about - people coming together in prayer and fellowship to do something for someone else.  Some of the items we make go to people we know in the community, and the others we will be donating to the hospital, like preemie hats, baby hats and blankets, hats for chemotherapy patients, shawls, and sewing "busy" aprons for dementia patients.

This is a fun and meaningful ministry with a lot of energy around it right now.  As the article states, our members span in age from 8 to 80.  Are you interested in joining this ministry?  Do you know someone who is?  We want to welcome any and all who may be interested!  So come and join us and invite a friend!

The Fiber Flock meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 7pm at the church.  NO experience is required to join - we have folks in our midst who are happy to teach you!  So please join us and spread the word!  Happy stitching!

March Madness Bracket Challenge

Once again folks at Bethany will be participating in a little friendly bracket challenge!  This year we are doing it through the website: http://www.ncaa.com/

If you are interested, go to:
http://bracketchallenge.ncaa.com/session/new
and create an "entry" or name for yourself.

Once you've done that, search under the groups tab for:
Bethany Lutheran

Join the group, and fill out your bracket!  Entries must be in by halftime of Tuesday's first game, so start your clicking!

Lent at Bethany

Lent is the season of preparation for Easter.  Traditionally in the church it has been a season of intensive prayer, penitence, almsgiving, self-denial, and fasting.  It is a time for us as Christians to focus on the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection, and to examine how we live as Christians.  It is a time for deepening faith, both individually and as a community.  Please join us for the following services and events during Lent at Bethany:

• Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, March 8 - a sugary celebration of the last day before Lent
• Ash Wednesday Service, March 9, 7pm - marks the beginning of the season of Lent
• Weekly worship at 11am Sunday mornings
• Wednesday Lenten Meal and Bible Studies, 6pm - we will be doing a Bible Study on the life of Jesus leading up to his death on the cross.  There will be a separate program for the children, also on the life of Jesus.  The meal begins at 6pm, and Bible Study/children's program will begin roughly at 6:30pm on 5 Wednesdays in Lent, beginning March 16, and ending April 13.
• Palm Sunday, April 17, 11am
• Maundy Thursday, April 21, 7pm - a celebration of Jesus' Last Supper and the institution of the Lord's Supper
• Good Friday, April 22, 7pm - the day we remember Jesus' death on the cross
• Easter Sunday, April 24: Sunrise Service (with program by the children), Easter Egg Hunt, Breakfast, Service of Holy Communion at 10:00am

We hope you will join us for this holy season of Lent.

Fiber Flock Ministry

A new ministry has begun at Bethany - the Fiber Flock!  The Fiber Flock is a group of people who are interested in knitting, crocheting, or sewing items to be given to folks who are sick, in need, or going through important life passages.

The Fiber Flock meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month at 7pm at the church.  We have a group of about 20 people right now - and not all of them are members at Bethany.  We would love to have anyone join us who is interested!  About half of the people in the group are beginners at knitting or crocheting, so even if you have never done either before, but would like to learn, please do join us.  Our youngest member is 8-years-old, our oldest members are grandmothers, and we have all ages in between represented.  So whatever your age, experience level, or gender - we'd love to have you!

Right now we are mostly learning, teaching, and refreshing skills.  But we are looking ahead to our first area of ministry - making shawls, shawlettes and hats to donate to folks we know in the community and the hospital.  We begin each session in prayer, and we begin each project in prayer - praying for the person who will receive that item, whether we know them or not.  The idea is that prayer and love are "knitted" into the very fabric of the item we are making and giving away.

These are some samples that have already been made of a shawl, shawlette (see two pictures above), a chemo hat, a baby hat, and a preemie hat (below).

Please join us or let us know if you are interested!  Our next meeting is March 8 at 7pm, directly following the pancake supper at the church for Shrove Tuesday.  We'd love to have you come eat pancakes with us and stay and knit or crochet a while.
Questions?  Call 828-355-9710 or email: bethanyvicar@gmail.com

Let Your Light Shine!

Happy Epiphany from Bethany Lutheran Church!

As it turns out, we've had a snowy Advent, a snowy Christmas, and a snowy beginning to Epiphany.  We've had a few cancellations because of the weather, but hope to stay on track for the next couple of weeks.  If you are interested in joining us, here's what's going on:

• Sunday, January 16:  10:00am Worship Service, 11:00am Congregational Meeting, Children's Program from 12-2
• Sunday, January 23: 10:00am Sunday School, 11:00am Worship Service, 12-2pm Evangelism Event: "Let Your Light Shine" - an even for all ages, for the whole congregation
• Sunday, January 30: 10:00am Sunday School, 11:00am Worship Service

We hope we don't get snowed out of too many more Sunday activities.  During Epiphany we celebrate Jesus Christ, the light that has come into the world - the light which no darkness can overcome (John 1:5).  And we are each called to let Christ's light shine through us, so that others may see our good works and glorify our father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).  During Epiphany this year, we will have three congregational events to talk about evangelism, or how we can "let our light shine" before others.  This will be a chance for the folks at Bethany to explore and discern what God is calling them to be and do in the future.  So come on out for these events to join the conversation.

• Session One: January 23: What is evangelism?  ("This little light of mine - I'm gonna let it shine!")
• Session Two: February 6: Relational evangelism - what does evangelism look like here? ("Jesus gave it to me - I'm gonna let it shine!")
• Session Three: March 6: Putting it into practice: Now what?  ("Everywhere I go - I'm gonna let it shine!")

These events are held Sundays after church from 12-2pm, with lunch included.  So what do you think?  How is God calling you to let your light shine?  Come join us!

A Snowy Advent

We have had quite a bit of snow here the last few weeks, and more is coming!  We did have worship this past Sunday, the third Sunday in Advent, for those who were able to make it - and we had a good crowd!  We have had to cancel one worship service and other activities of the church due to the snow, but we are still going strong!  We have one more Sunday left in Advent, some classes, some rehearsals, and before you know it, it will be Christmas Eve.  We hope you'll join us for our Christmas Eve service at 7pm.  Until then, enjoy the beauty of snow on trees and wreaths and stay warm and safe!

Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel!

Happy Advent from Bethany Lutheran Church!  Our Thanksgiving Service with the Green Valley Area Churches last week went well and was well attended - the church was packed!  Thanks so much to everyone who helped!  We collected a lot of canned goods for the Hunger Coalition, as well as monetary offerings for the Hunger Coalition and the Hospitality House.

We are now in the season of Advent and have a lot of events coming up for the month of December, including:

• Christmas Caroling December 12, beginning at 2:30 - an event for all ages!  We will be caroling in the neighborhood around Bethany, spreading some Christmas cheer.  Afterwards we will come back to the church for hot drinks and finger food.  Please join us!
• Christmas Eve Service, December 24 at 7pm.  There will be special music by the adult choir and special music and a program by the children.  Join us on this holy day as we celebrate the birth of Christ!
• New Year's Eve Party, beginning at 8pm.  Bring snacks, games, knitting - whatever!  We will welcome in the New Year together with a devotion.  Bring the whole family and invite your friends!

There's a lot coming up in January as well, so stay tuned for events in Epiphany, the time we celebrate the light of Christ coming into the world and explore ways in which we can better let our lights shine!  Blessed Advent, and we hope to see you in church!