Bethany Life. This Holiday Season of Love. In This Issue:

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1 Bethany Life December & January , Volume XXXVII Issue 13 In This Issue: Pastor s Article 1 Christian Care 3 Sunday School News 4 Volunteer Schedule 5 Youth Group Info 6 Turkey and Thirty 7 Nursery School News 8 Bethany Birthdays 10 Calendar of Events 11 This Holiday Season of Love As the holiday season lifts our spirits above the dreaded frigid temperatures and routine-altering snowstorms we face each winter, our thoughts turn to the ultimate issues of life. Thanksgiving prompts thoughts of family and gratitude for the blessings we have from our loving Father. Christmas reminds us that all human life is hallowed because Almighty God became one of us the Christchild. Both holidays prompt worship, because both holidays are premised on the response of gratitude for the gift of love. Most people even unbelievers would agree that love is the center of the universe, or that love gives meaning to life, or that in some way or another

2 love is at the core of what it means to be human. Believers would say God is the Center. (Pagan Greek poet Epimenides wrote about God that way: In Him we live and move and have our being Acts 17:28.) Lutheran Christians understand this love to be grace. Grace is love that is not earned or deserved, but freely given. I love J.S. Bach because he composed wonderful music. Bach s mother loved him not for the music he composed but just because he was her little Hans. Our Father loves us not because we compose wonderful music or anything else we do. He loves us because we re His little children. When we say that love, or more accurately grace, is at the heart of the universe, we re saying in different words what St. John was inspired to write: God is love (1 John 4:16). God is at the center of the universe. St. Paul tells us that it is Jesus who holds the cosmos together: God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way (Ephesians 1:22-23) and From Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever; Amen (Romans 11:36). As you enjoy the season of family and warmth, tradition and Incarnation, may your heart be filled with gratitude for what is behind it all: the grace of God and the God of grace. Pastor Krieger 2

3 Christmas is Coming! Let us work together to make sure it comes for everyone. The Christian Care Committee is once again asking you to help us support the West Hartford Social Service Department s Christmas Gift Card Drive. As part of their annual holiday party for lowincome West Hartford children, parents are given an envelope containing one $25.00 Walmart gift card for each child under 15 years of age. Last year nearly 500 gift cards were distributed. In 2013 our generous congregation provided 45 of these gift cards which totaled $ Bethany Lutheran Church made a difference in many lives last year, and we hope to do so again. We ask that you prayerfully consider helping these families in need by purchasing a $25.00 Walmart gift card which can be dropped in the offering plate between Saturday, November 22 and Sunday, December 14. If you are not near a Walmart store you can also drop a $25 check designating Walmart Gift Card in the offering plate and we ll do the leg work for you. If you would like your donation to be noted on your year-end Bethany donation statement, please put your purchased gift card into your offering envelope along with the activation receipt, so it can be noted. Thank you for supporting this worthy cause! 3

4 Fall/Winter Mission Update: OGT Hygiene Kits The Sunday School children continue to direct their offerings to the Orphan Grain Train for Hygiene Kits. The kits include a variety of items and will soon be distributed to those in need. Kits include: * Bath Towels * Wash Cloths * Toothbrushes * Deodorant * Band-Aids * Sturdy Comb * Full-size Bars of Soap Thank you to those who have so generously contributed to this important mission! With Christmas just around the corner, we are getting ready for the Children s Christmas Service on December 14th. Please note our schedule: Saturday, December 13 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Rehearsal & pizza lunch for children in grades 1 through 6 only Sunday, December 14 8:45 a.m. final dress rehearsal 10:00 a.m. Worship service Complete details about the Christmas service will be sent to families via very soon. As always, we appreciated your prayers. Feel free to join us in the undercroft any Sunday morning at 8:45 for Opening Chapel! In Christ, Andrea Vest, Superintendent 4

5 The January and February 2015 volunteer calendars are online and ready to go simply follow these easy instructions to sign up: 1. Use this link to go to our page on VolunteerSpot: or visit Bethany s website at click on the Serve with us page, and look for the VolunteerSpot button. 2. Enter your address 3. Sign up! Choose your spots VolunteerSpot will send you an automated confirmation & I will send a reminder later. Please note there are additional spots to fill in February Lent begins on February 18 with Ash Wednesday services at 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. VolunteerSpot does not share your address with anyone. If you prefer not to sign up online, you may contact me and I can sign you up manually. Alternately, a hard copy of the calendar will be posted to the bulletin board in the narthex feel free to stop by and sign up there as well. The deadline to sign up for January and February is Monday, Monday, December 22. Thank you! Andrea Vest, CC 5

6 Dear Youth Group & all helpers & attendees, It was great to see everyone during the Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks to everyone for your support, cooking, carving, and coming out to enjoy some great company and food! Please make note of some of the approaching events for both the senior and junior youth groups: Sr. Youth: Dec 7th we will be writing Christmas cards for our shut-ins. Spring community service July 31 - Aug 2: summer retreat in Moodus CT Jr. Youth: Feb 20-22: Winter retreat in Keene, NH Please let the church office if you are interested for more details. See you all on Sundays! Scott Baumer & Beth Hahn-Sneegas Dear God, As we approach the new year, I leave the past year in your keeping. I will sit in prayer and open my heart to the journey ahead. I trust that you will be at my side always, and for that I live in thanks. 6

7 Turkey and Thirty Christian Care wishes to thank you all for your generosity. This year Bethany was able to send a check for $ to this important program. Christian Care donated $ and the remaining $ was given by the congregation. Thank you for all of your support. Together we are blessed to be a blessing! The Christian Care Board Ring Out, Wild Bells Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true. Ring out the grief that saps the mind, For those that here we see no more, Ring out the feud of rich and poor, Ring in redress to all mankind. Ring in the valiant man and free, The larger heart the kindlier hand; Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be. Alfred, Lord Tennyson, from In Memoriam 7

8 Greetings from Nursery School! We are celebrating the Seasons! Thanksgiving has passed and the families here at school really stepped up to the Season of Giving. We filled our Food Share basket over and over again and the children really got the message of how good it is to share with others less fortunate! We sold a large number of House of Flora Wreaths (huge thanks to Richard and Rosemary Brancifort for their tremendous support). Thank you to all the church members who supported this fundraiser. Thrivent helped us again with funding!!! December brings us glad tidings of great joy as we begin our celebration of Jesus' birth. We are centering our entire month on the wonders of the season and how many miracles God provides for us each day. We will be making beautiful crafts, especially ones to decorate our classrooms. Our last days of school before our Christmas Break will find us having a Happy Birthday Party for Baby Jesus. What a great way to end a wonderful December month. January will bring cold and snow, but hopefully only in the classroom. We look forward to the days we can get in our snowsuits and play on the playground, though! If you ever want to see 8

9 something amazing you should be in the classroom when we are trying to get all our three and four year olds dressed at the same time for winter outdoor play! January will also bring, New Year's songs, mitten matches, graphing mittens, snow crafts and NO STORMS! (Please). Our 50th day of school will also be celebrated in the 4/5-year-old class with a Nifty Fifty Party. We will once again be honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in both classes. Once again we remind you that this is your nursery school and we are just blessed to work here! Come and check us out anytime and see how we spread the Good News each and everyday. A Blessed Christmas and a Glorious New Year to all! Mari Mikulastik, Director 9

10 December Kurt Sonstroem 12/01 Warren Hartleb 12/03 Paul Menzel 12/04 Mackenzi Coan 12/05 Kristen Dilorenzo 12/07 Petra Mursch 12/09 Haley Rentsch 12/09 Otillie Cook 12/11 Marc Johnson 12/14 Aurora McAdam 12/14 Christie Wall 12/16 Hank Leitzke 12/17 Ruth-Ann Cowan 12/18 Alex Duff 12/20 Tara Tiernan 12/22 Meggan Pelletier 12/22 Tyler Littmann 12/24 Isabelle Lundqvist 12/26 Pastor Timothy Krieger 12/29 January Justin Fandacone 01/01 Donald Perrault 01/03 John Krause 01/04 Paul Krause 01/04 Peter Kayser 01/06 Jennifer Farina 01/08 Ben Condon 01/11 Kiersten Holley 01/11 Jonathan Lagoy 01/12 Rosemary Brancifort 01/13 Carri Roux 01/13 Lynnette Krieger 01/15 James Gilbert 01/15 Josh Herbst 01/17 Katrina Wiegmann 01/17 David Hein 01/20 Abigail Condon 01/21 Nancy Dolmanisth 01/23 Melissa Shamberger 01/27 Kevin Tiernan 01/27 Michael Shamberger 01/28 Kevin McCarthy 01/30 Holly Rychling 01/31 Caroline Harvey 01/31 Cameron Levine 01/31 Bethany Lutheran Church (860) fax (860) Pastor The Rev. Timothy O. Krieger Congregational Coordinator Andrea Vest Church Sec./Editor Elizabeth Taylor 10

11 The Church Calendar Recurring Events Worship Services: Saturdays at 5 pm; Sundays at 10 am Christian Education Classes: Sundays at 8:45 am Dorcas Society meetings: Tuesdays at 9:30 am Book of Concord Class: Wednesdays at 9:00 am Adult Bible Study: Wednesdays at 9:45 am Chancel Choir rehearsals: Wednesdays at 7 pm DECEMBER Tues. Dec. 9 Sun. Dec. 14 Sun. Dec. 21 Wed. Dec. 24 Thurs. Dec. 25 Fri. Dec. 26 Wed. Dec. 31 JANUARY Thurs. Jan. 1 Thurs. Jan. 15 Mon. Jan. 19 Tues. Jan. 20 Tues. Jan. 27 Dorcas Society Christmas lunch Children s Christmas service Christmas Cantata 4:00 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Family Svc. 7:00 pm Christmas Eve service of Lessons and Carols. 10:00 am Christmas Worship service St. Stephen s Day office closed New Year s Eve office closed New Year s Day office closed Prayer Shawl ministry Martin Luther King Day office closed Parish Planning council Lay Ministry meeting 11

12 Bethany Lutheran Church 1655 Boulevard West Hartford, CT Worship Schedule Regular Schedule: Saturdays/5PM; Sundays/10AM Summer Schedule: Wednesdays at 7PM; Sundays at 10:00 AM Non-Profit Org. US POSTAGE PAID Hartford CT Permit 5014 Change service requested 12