Packing Shoeboxes

We had a great time packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child!

Pictures from Christmas Extravaganza

We had a great time at our Christmas Prep Extravaganza last Sunday (Dec. 6), when we did Christmas shopping for some local families (with Walmart selfies), decorated the (huge!) Chrismon tree at church, wrapped presents, and ate cookies!  Enjoy!

Bringing in the tree...

Walmart Selfie Challenge:

Wearing something

Wrapping Party with Christmas Cookies & Ornament Making!

All decked out!

Advent Beginnings

Advent Cross+Gen Sunday School

We had a good turnout for our first Advent Cross+Generational Sunday School!

And here's a picture of one of the fruits of our labor: home advent wreaths!

Join us in future weeks at 9:45am, beginning with breakfast!

Bring your Bibles!

Dec. 6 we will be focusing on the meaning of blessing,  giving God praise in the midst of the busyness of the season, and what Advent is really for.  Join us!

Also be sure to join us on Wednesday evenings for:

Prayer at the Close of the Day 

This is a short, nighttime prayer service - 20 minutes tops.

Just time set aside to focus on the Word!

Don't forget to check out this blog page to take a listen to the music so you can be familiar with it! 

Also...

This Sunday, Dec. 6

Christmas Prep Extravaganza!!!

We need your help and participation for this event focused on service, fun, fellowship, and praise - all the things of the season!

     When:  after worship on Dec. 6

     Who:  Everyone!!!

     What: ??? 

• Soup & Sandwich Lunch after church
• Divide & Conquer
• Big Group goes shopping for presents for needy families
• Smaller Group stays and decorates Chrismon Tree 
• Reunited for a party! 
• Wrap presents for needy families!
• Eat Christmas Cookies! (bring your favorite Christmas cookies to share) 
  

 

Advent Kick-Off, Nov. 29

When:  Sunday, November 29 at 9:45am

Where:  Basement Fellowship Hall

What: Cross+Generational Sunday School with breakfast & Advent wreath- making

 This Sunday kicks off our Advent preparations.

Advent is the 4 weeks of preparation before Christmas Day (which kicks off the 12 days of the Christmas Season - yes, they come after Christmas!)

What to bring this Sunday:

• a joyful heart and a willing spirit!
• your Bible from home (but of course we have some if you forget)
• an Advent wreath form if you have one (if you don't, we'll have some for you!)
• evergreen clippings (if you don't have any, we'll have plenty extra!)
• floral wire if you have it (DON'T go buy any, there will be enough to share!)

In case you didn't get that - the 1st thing on the list is the only essential thing!

What you'll leave with:

• an Advent wreath to use at home with your family!
• a home devotional, geared towards the age of people in your home!
• confidence that you can do an Advent devotional at home!

See you Sunday!

Then, join us on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 7pm for our 1st Wednesday evening prayer service.  Click over to this blogpage to find out more about that and to listen to the music for the liturgy ahead of time.

The 1st Christmas Pageant rehearsal will be immediately after that service, 

around 7:20pm on Wed., Dec. 2.

AND...
Don't forget to look ahead to Sun., Dec. 6
after worship: lunch
after lunch: going shopping for needy families & decorating Chrismon tree
after that: wrapping presents, eating Christmas cookies!

Homecoming & Chili Cook-Off Re-cap

Homecoming

 

 We had a wonderful Homecoming Celebration on Oct. 25, celebrating 60 years of ministry at Bethany Lutheran Church!

Former Bethany Pastor Mark Fitzsimmons was our preacher.

120 people came to worship with us that day, and stayed afterwards for a marvelous covered dish lunch & presentation with pictures, history, a movie with interviews, stories, laughs, and tears.

A few weeks later we had our Chili Cook-Off and Bake-Off!

Always a great time, this is a fundraiser for shopping for needy families at Christmastime.

 And two of our teenagers won two of the awards 

- People's Choice Chili & Judge's Dessert Choice!

Congratulations to our rising star cooks!

 On Sunday, Dec. 6 we will put that money to use.  Stay tuned to a future blog post to find out how you can participate!

 

 

Advent Wednesday Prayer Service

Every Wednesday in Advent, at 7pm

We will be having a short prayer service

It's called Prayer at the Close of the Day, or Compline, on p. 154 in LBW

Pastor Jonathan will lead us in this simple nighttime prayer service.

There will be no sermon.

Just Scripture, prayer, and singing.

About 20 minutes, tops.

Just time - time set aside in all the busyness for worship.

Since this may be a new liturgy for some of you, Pastors Jonathan & Laura recorded the music for you to listen to ahead of time.  Go ahead and make it part of your nightly routine!

Click on this link to hear the music:

Prayer at the Close of the Day*

* Sorry, the permission for posting the recorded music expired!

Coming up in November

Things Coming up in November:

• Jonathan's Ordination: Sun., Nov. 8 at 3pm.  Reception to follow

•  Chili Cook-Off & Bake-Off: Sun., Nov. 15 after worship

• This is a fundraiser for purchasing presents for needy families at Christmas

• Cemetery Policy Q&A: Sun., Nov. 22 after worship
• Review the Policy beforehand and come with your questions

•  Community Thanksgiving Service: Sun., Nov. 22 at 6pm
• at Proffit's Grove Baptist Church
• this year's service will be in remembrance of Earl Moretz, who got this whole tradition started and kept it going for so long
• Pantry item donations will go to Green Valley School
• Monetary donations will go to Health & Hunger Coalition and Hospitality House (make checks out to these organizations)
• You can bring donations to Bethany in the coming weeks if you can't go to the service

• Cross+Generational Advent Sunday School: Nov. 29
• 9:45am - beginning with breakfast
• At this Nov. 29 session, we will be making Advent wreaths.  Bring greenery from around your home