Inviting People to Experience the Grace of God Through Jesus Christ & Be Transformed. Volume PIANO & ORGAN DUETS

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1 The Bethany Herald Octber, 2015 Inviting Peple t Experience the Grace f Gd Thrugh Jesus Christ & Be Transfrmed Vlume CONTENTS REGULAR FEATURES: Prayer Cncerns Message frm the Pastr Yuth & Family Ministry News Lectinary/Vlunteer Schedule Sunday Schl News Wmen f Bethany Mnth-at-a-Glance Calendar HIGHLIGHTS: Frnt Page News Thrugh the Years Clumn Finance & Cuncil News Christmas at Bethany The Bethany Sweet Stp The Gathering Cmmunity Meal The Bethany Church Cuncil invites the cngregatin t a special cffee and cake thank yu and farewell fr Pastr Len & Karen. The riginal plan t celebrate Pastr Appreciatin Day n Octber 11, 2015 nw becmes a farewell time, t, fllwing Pastr Len s recent resignatin. All are welcme and invited t cme t the church parlr frm 9:45-10:45am t thank Pastr Len fr his years f leadership at Bethany and als a time t say farewell as he returns t the calling f Intentinal Interim Ministry. There will be time t visit and a place fr cards t help make this a special day fr Pastr Len. CONTACT INFORMATION: Bethany Lutheran Church - ELCA 15 W. 14 th St. Spencer, IA Phne: (712) STAFF: Pastr: Len Halvrsn pastr@bethluthspencer.cm Yuth & Family Minister: Katie Hare at the church: yuthdirectr@bethluthspencer.cm Music Directr: Stephen Baker musicdirectr@bethluthspencer.cm Visitatin Minister: Onalee Wright nalee53@gmail.cm Secretary: Mary Ann Quail bethany@bethluthspencer.cm Custdian: Lis Becker CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: Mn-Thu: 9:00 a.m. -- 4:00 p.m. Fri: 8:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. (Clsed fr lunch hur, 12:30-1:30pm) FALL SUNDAY SCHEDULE (begin 9/27): Wrship 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Sunday Schl: 9:45 a.m. Fellwship Time: 9:45 a.m. WORSHIP REBROADCAST: SMU CHANNEL 2 - Tuesdays, 5:00pm 6:00 pm Wednesdays, 10:00am 11:00 am PIANO & ORGAN DUETS Dn t miss wrship n Sunday, Octber 4 as Ray Meyer f Hpe Refrmed Church jins with Stephen t enliven wrship at Bethany with sme unique pian and rgan duets at bth the 8:30 & 11:00 services, which will include special renditins f Hly, Hly, Hly and Here I Am T Wrship. REMEMBER!! FOOD DRIVE WEEK FOR UDMO OCTOBER 11 thru 18 Thanks fr yur cntinued supprt! REMINDER: In case yu hadn t heard r may have frgtten, the time fr wrship services at Bethany have changed. We are nw ffering tw services at 8:30am & 11:00am with ur Sunday Schl hur in between frm 9:45-10:45am. All are welcme, cme and wrship! Read chapters 1-3 & be ready t discuss n Mnday, Octber 12 A new bk study club fr adults is frming with plans t meet at 7pm n Mnday evening, starting Oct. 12. Their first bk: Eve, A Nvel by authr Wm Yung (The Shack). A bk rder is being taken; sign up in the narthex. Or pick up yur wn cpy and cme! THE BETHANY HERALD OCTOBER 2015 PAGE 1

2 Listed belw are current prayer cncerns alng with thse frm ver the past mnth. Prayers have been lifted up fr these individuals at Bethany and beynd. If yu have a prayer request, please let us knw. Health Cncerns: Sharn Andersn, Cnnie Baker, Anna Gustafsn, Barb Hare, Francis Hiemstra, Andy Hermansn, Janet Myers, Mary Martindale, Jan Orr, Francis Rieck, Betty Schmidt, Tim & LuAnn Thmsen; Jan Rusk s brther, Kenny Ebel; Vnnie Kruse s sn, Brad Kruse; Thse wh murn: The family f Bruce Jhnsn The family f Karen Klemme The family f Hward Andersn Other cncerns: The Steering Cmmittee; CARING FRIENDS Our hands are His hands. Our feet are His feet. Our lve is His lve. We are blessed t have ver 10 peple in ur cngregatin wh are vlunteering their time and using their gifts t visit thers. Several in ur church family are hmebund, in an Assisted Living r Nursing Hme facility. It is a bright spt in their day when smene cmes t visit and becmes their friend and cnnectin t Bethany. I wuld like t thank all wh are invlved in this Caring Ministry. If anyne else is interested in jining us, yu are welcme! We meet the first Wednesday f each mnth at 5 p.m. Als, if yu are aware f smene wh culd use the supprt f a Caring Friend, please let me knw. Onalee Wright, Lay Minister fr Visitatin A final Trivia Night fundraiser event fr the Kyle Lachner Memrial Schlarship is cming up n Sunday, Octber 18, 7pm at Spencer Sacred Heart Cathlic Church. Frm a team f 8 r jin ne there and cme n ut fr an evening f fun & games with pprtunities t win prizes, t. The Kyle Lachner Memrial Schlarship is an endwed schlarship that is presented t a high schl senir wh is active in drug preventin, awareness and engaged in a healthy lifestyle. THROUGH THE YEARS HIGHLIGHTS FROM BETHANY S FIRST 125 YEARS ON OUR WAY REJOICING By: Marilyn Meyer Tgether we wrship Gd, care fr ne anther, and prclaim the living Christ In 2001, the Bethany Herald began making its way ver the Internet as a cst saving item fr the cngregatinal budget. At least $200 was being saved in pstage as well as savings n paper, ink, and mailing labels. The ladies f Bethany cntinued t be cnstant in their activities t enhance the lives f thers. Thrugh their wrk during the year-- 52 health kits, 79 schl kits, 21 layettes, 9 bxes f sweaters and 51 quiltswere sent t Lutheran Wrld Relief. Twenty-six yung peple were cnfirmed in the spring and thirty-ne senirs graduated in May---all part f the Bethany Family! In June, Pastr Tm Reagan received a letter f call frm St. Jhn s Lutheran Church in Raymnd, MN. After prayerful cnsideratin, he decided t accept the call with his last day t be n July 17. The Reagan family had been a special integral part f Bethany fr almst six years. Deb Mechler, wh was a member f Hpe Refrmed Church and als a half-time seminary student, served as a pastr when Tm Reagan left. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in America and the Refrmed Church in America (RCA) had an agreement in place that allwed fr pastrs t serve in this way. Nicle Steele resigned as Yuth Directr and Stan Letscher became the new directr. Christmas at Bethany was bserved in 2001! Pastr Sctt Meier accepted a call in early December and became part f the Bethany staff in early March f 2002 In Secular Histry----Gerge W. Bush was inaugurated as America s 43 rd U.S. President serving tw terms! A galln f gas was $1.46; a pstage stamp was 34 cents; a dzen eggs cst 90 cents. The ppular TV shws were ER and Wh Wants t Be a Millinaire! What d yu remember abut 2001? THE BETHANY HERALD OCTOBER

3 Dear family f Gd at Bethany, By the time yu read this yu will have heard f my resignatin It s all gd; I m just mving n in respnse t a different calling. S I decided t make this last article be very bjective; Refrmatin Sunday is the last Sunday f the mnth, s let s talk a little Lutheran dctrine. Sla! Sla! Sla! Sla translates rughly as alne, r nly, and it is ne f the standing irnies f Lutheranism that we have three nlies. Faith alne! Wrd alne! Grace alne! It is nly by faith that we are saved. It is nly by the Wrd that Gd speaks. And It is nly by Grace that ur life is changed frm sinner t saint. Simul justis et picatr. This latin phrase translates rughly as simultaneusly saint and sinner. We are sinners because f ur human nature. We are saints because f Gd s grace and lve. Gd has declared that we are his belved children --- that we are saints in the kingdm --- and this is ur identity. We are brn sinners; Gd says that we are saints. And s it is that at the very end f the funeral service we lay hands upn the casket/urn and pray that Gd will accept a sinner f yur wn redeeming. Rmans 3:28 Fr we hld that a persn is justified by faith, apart frm wrks f the law. Ephesians 2:5 by grace yu have been saved. These tw verses are interchangeably referred t as calling cards f Lutheranism. Bttm line? If we are saved, if we have faith, if we believe It is by the grace f Gd and nt ur wn merit. I believe that I cannt, by my wn understanding r effrt, believe in my Lrd Jesus Christ r cme t him. But the Hly Spirit has called me thrugh the gspel!!! These are the wrds f the explanatin t the third article f the Apstles Creed. I cnsistently refer t these wrds as the ne part f the Small Catechism yu shuld memrize if yu nly memrize ne part. If yu dn t knw them (the nes quted abve and fllwing) I encurage yu t learn them. If yu dn t wn a Small Catechism I encurage yu t buy ne. (Online r thrugh the church ffice) And if yu prefer, a translatin f the Small Catechism is fund n page 1160 at the back f the hymnal. Believing in Gd is nt a chice; it is a gift frm Gd. Here I stand, I can d n ther. The famus declaratin when Luther was n trial. Because f his faith --- because f his cnvictin --- because f the Scriptures he believed that he had t make a stand Gd bless, Pastr Len Luther nailed 95 theses (talking pints) t the Church dr (twn bulletin bard). I have presumptuusly redacted them t 6; I ve even left ut law-gspel, the sacraments and prayer. The 89 are imprtant --- but if yu have these 6 dwn yu understand the basics. THE BETHANY HERALD OCTOBER

4 Katie Hare - Directr f Yuth & Family Phne: (712) yuthdirectr@bethluthspencer.cm I wanted t say thank yu nce again t everyne that has made me feel s welcme here this past mnth. I appreciate the warm greeting, as it has made my transitin g s smthly here at Bethany. Thank yu t all f ur wnderful vlunteers that have helped with events in September and d s much fr ur yuth. I m very grateful fr yur supprt and I knw ur yuth are t! Here are sme dates yu ll want t mark n yur calendar fr Octber. OCTOBER 7 TH STARTS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON BIBLE ADVENTURES FOR OUR 3 RD & 4 TH GRADE STUDENTS. Sessins will be Octber 7 th, 14 th, 21 st, & 28 th, every Wednesday f the mnth. Parents, if yu have difficulty getting students here at 4:30, they are welcme t cme hang ut with me after schl. The bus des stp here, but yu need t cntact Julie at the bus department fr a frm fr them t ride the bus t Bethany. Lking frward t seeing them sn! OCTOBER 18 TH AT NOON WE WILL HAVE OUR FIRST MISSION TRIP MEETING! It ll be a shrt infrmatinal meeting abut ur missin trip cming up this next year. We ll be heading t Rapid City, Suth Dakta!! Students aged 7 th -12 th are invited t jin us fr this missin trip. Missin trips are ne f my favrite things abut yuth ministry and have a very real chance t help students grw in faith, as well as desire t serve thers. YOUTH GROUP MEETS EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 7:45 PM with the exceptin f Octber 21 st. Yuth Grup will NOT be meeting this night, as the seventh and eighth grade students will be at CnFest. High schl students: we ll be meeting n Sunday the 18 th this week instead. Keep an eye n Facebk and n yur phnes. I ll send yu reminders abut this change! 7 TH & 8 TH GRADE PARENTS, CONFEST IS OCTOBER 21 ST THIS YEAR AT FIRST LUTHERAN IN ALGONA. We ll meet here at 4:30 and will be back t Bethany by 9:30. This is a nrmal night f Cnfirmatin, we re just changing the venue. If yu have any questins abut this, please cntact me. MILESTONE CELEBRATION: FOURTH FRIDAY FUN FOR 4 TH & 5 TH GRADERS - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23. We ll gather fr fd, fun & fellwship frm 4:30-7 PM. I ll be sending invitatins hme t ur students. Again parents, if yu have difficulty getting students here at 4:30, let me knw. I m lking frward t spending sme time with yu all. CONFIRMATION IS TAKING PLACE ON OCTOBER 25 AT THE 11:00 AM SERVICE. We will be having a dinner and rehearsal here n Octber 24 th. Please keep an eye ut n that annuncement. 10 th Grade students: dn t frget that yur Faith Stry is due Octber 1 st, t Pastr Len r myself. Yu ll then need t schedule a meeting with Pastr Len. OCTOBER 31 ST WILL BE OUR ANNUAL SWEET STOP HERE AT BETHANY. Please plan n jining us in the church basement fr sme fun and fellwship! We ll have thers frm the cmmunity jining us and I m very excited t participate in this. New this year will be a Trick r Treat Pht Bth. Plan t jin the fun n Hallween! ANOTHER REMINDER: The deadline t sign up fr the Sunds Like Lve event is Octber 2 nd. Please RSVP n the bard r t me ASAP if yu are planning n attending. May the peace f Christ be with yu always. In His Grip, Katie Hare YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRY AT BETHANY LUTHERAN THE BETHANY HERALD OCTOBER

5 OCTOBER LECTIONARY READINGS & VOLUNTEERS OCTOBER 4 NINETEENTH SUNDAY OF PENTECOST WORSHIP WITH COMMUNION Scripture: Genesis 2:18-24; Psalm 8; Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12; Mark 10:2-16; 8:30-Greet: Kevin & Cheryl Ahern; Read: Cheryl Ahern; Cmmunin: Kevin & Cheryl Ahern, Lis Becker; Vide: Sandi Schmidt; Prjectr: Mary Ann Quail; Usher: Gary Halversn, Bruce Klenken, Russ Wright; 11:00-Greet: Marilyn Meyer; Read: Marilyn Meyer; Cmmunin: Marilyn Meyer, Sheryl Thu, Mary Ann Quail; Usher: Are yu able t help? OCTOBER 11 TWENTIETH SUNDAY OF PENTECOST Scripture: Ams 5:5-7, 10-15; Psalm 90:12-17; Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31; 8:30-Greet: Lance & Cyndi Ellis; Read: Bess Madsen; Vide: Sandi Witt; Prjectr: Steve McAllister; Usher: Gary Kenig, Phil Walk; 11:00-Greet: Judy Srensn; Read: Sylvia Mre; Usher: Are yu able t help? OCTOBER 18 TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY OF PENTECOST WORSHIP WITH COMMUNION Scripture: Isaiah 53:4-12; Psalm 91:9-16; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45; 8:30-Greet: Lri Jensen; Read: Kathie Halversn; Cmmunin: Dn & Sylvia Mre, Lri Jensen; Vide: Jhn & Hlly Fgarty; Prjectr: Jsh Quail; Usher: Dick & Betty Schmidt, Rger Clarke, Marla Welber; 11:00-Greet: Carle Petersn; Read: Carle Petersn; Cmmunin: Mary Ann Quail; Usher: Are yu able t help? OCTOBER 25 REFORMATION SUNDAY MILESTONE SUNDAY: CONFIRMATION AT 11:00 SERVICE Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 46; Rmans 3:19-28; Jhn 8:31-36; 8:30-Greet: Tracy Buchanan family; Read: Dn Mre; Vide: Bill Hemme; Prjectr: Steve McAllister; Usher: G Kruger, K Schmidt, Judy Srensn, Dee Salzkrn 11:00-Greet: Mike & Sheryl Thu; Read: Dennis Petersn; Usher: Are yu able t help? OCTOBER ACOLYTES: 8:30am - Ethan Huntn, Tri Cper; 11:00am Abby Brth, Cri DeVlaeminck FELLOWSHIP HOSTS: Octber 4: Kirby & Sandi Schmidt Octber 11: Jni Schmidt Lehr Octber 18: Octber 25: Randy & Jana Phillips CHRISTMAS AT BETHANY: YESTERDAY & TODAY SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2015 Makes plans nw t help with this biennial traditin at Bethany!! Everyne yung, ld, men, wmen all are welcme t participate. Sign-up sheets are in the Narthex. Dig ut thse craft kits that have been lcked in yur clset, find yur favrite ckie recipes; vlunteer t help where needed. All are welcme and encuraged t attend as we cntinue with the planning at ur Christmas at Bethany meeting n Mnday, Octber 5 at 7:00pm in the church parlr. If yu are interested in helping with the Lefse Making Party please plan t attend this meeting. Thanks in advance fr helping with Christmas at Bethany! BETHANY BUDGET REPORT AT AUGUST 31, 2015 Year-t-Date Revenues $187, Year-t-Date Expenses $198, Year-t-Date Net Lss ($10,285.52) Year-t-Date Budgeted Expenses $234, Year-t Date Expenses under Budget $36, PLEASE NOTE: The Year-t-Date Budgeted Expenses as printed in last mnth s newsletter were incrrect and shuld have been reprted at $206,716. We aplgize fr this misstatement f ur financial summary in the newsletter. Members f Bethany The Nminating Cmmittee cntinues t be in search fr an engaged, rganized individual wh feels a calling t fill ut the remaining term f Chairpersn f the Wrship and Music Cmmittee. Jill Meyer has graciusly accepted the rle f acting chair fr the summer seasn, but will sn be leaving fr a warmer winter climate. If yu believe that yu are smene wh wants t be an integral part f the wrship experience here at Bethany, please cntact any f the Cmmittee members fr additinal details. The Nminating Cmmittee Kim Hy, Shannn McAllister, Russ Klemme Bb Nase & Kirby Schmidt, Chair THE BETHANY HERALD OCTOBER

6 BETHANY LUTHERAN SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS A HUGE THANK YOU t everyne wh attended ur Sunday Schl Rally Day celebratin and helped make it a success! The H.U.G. Puppets put n a wnderful shw that enjyed by all. SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES begin n Sunday, Octber 4. All students shuld meet at 9:30am in the church Dining Rm n the lwer level. FRIENDS OF SUNDAY SCHOOL can dnate prepackaged gdies fr children's fellwship. If yu d like t help with this, please leave dnatins at the church ffice. HAVE YOU SIGNED UP t help in a Sunday Schl classrm? There are still pen slts available. Please see sign up sheets lcated utside each classrm. SPARKHOUSE FAMILY RESOURCE BOOK FAIR!!! Wrking t cnnect church with hme, Bethany will be hsting ur first ever Bk Fair! The Bk Fair will run frm Sunday, Octber 25 t Sunday, Nvember 1. Parish Ed will be taking rders bth Sundays. There will be a variety f vides, Bibles, and bks t chse frm. Orders will be received back in plenty f time fr Christmas! THE BETHANY SWEET STOP ON HALLOWEEN is a great place t stp with the kiddies when yu re ut trick r treating. Yu ll get t see many f yur Bethany friends (if yu can recgnize them in cstume) and there ll be lts f candy and ther treats. Als, Shuttersnaps Phtgraphy will be ffering a Trick r Treat Pht Bth s yu can capture a memry f this event. The Sweet Stp event runs frm 5:00-7:30pm and will be held in the dining rm dwnstairs, (nt utside as printed n page 8!). Hpe t see yu at Bethany n Hallween!! Wmen f Bethany AS A COMMUNITY OF WOMEN WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO GROW IN FAITH AND AFFIRM OUR GIFTS MISSION ACTION NEWS Remember this spring when we displayed the quilts in the sanctuary befre we shipped them t the Lutheran Wrld Relief (LWR) warehuse. Then we displayed the schl supplies needed t fill the backpacks made by Betty Schmidt. And we shwed yu the baby care kits we assemble t help mthers care fr their newbrns. In September we let yu knw that nt all ur missin wrk is far away. We presented Dresses fr Haiti made by Geraldine Senne frm pillwcases. And during Bethany s Upper Des Mines Outreach cllectin week, we shwed sme f the bedding we dnate t UDMO fr lcal use. In Octber we ll display LWR persnal care kits fr use in medical facilities verseas and the fabric kits used t teach wmen t use machines (sewing machines) t help supprt their families. Thanks t yur help the Wmen f Bethany sent ver 1000# f supplies t LWR in May We ll meet in ur church-dining hall n Thursday, Octber 8, at 9am t cntinue ur Lutheran Wrld Relief prjects quilts and kits fr thse in ur wrld wh need ur gifts f lve. At nn we will gather t enjy a ptluck lunch. Jin us fr Fun & Fellwship! Janet Myers, Missin Actin/Stewardship WOMEN S BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES Bring yur Bible and bring a friend t a Circle Bible study meeting this mnth in the church parlr at the fllwing times: Elizabeth/Miriam, Thursday, Octber 15-1:30 pm Ruth, Mnday, Octber 19-7:00 pm Priscilla, Tuesday, Octber 20, 9:30 am WOMEN S RETREAT AT INGHAM-OKOBOJI CAMP Ladies: Get away & refreshed at Ingham Okbji's annual Wmen's Retreat-Octber 10-11, 2015! Relax and recnnect with Gd n beautiful Lake Okbji, spend time with friends, and leave the cking and cleaning up t Camp! Speakers Sarah Waltner and Rachel Simingtn will share abut the funny and real ways Gd uses tw very real wmen, and never ceases t amaze them! Call OKOBOJI with any questins r t register, r find mre infrmatin nline at THE BETHANY HERALD OCTOBER

7 MORE INFORMATION BELOW -- BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN TO THE END OF THIS DOCUMENT. THANKS! MONTHLY PLANNING CALENDARS Octber mnth-at-a-glance calendars are available n the rund table in the suth entrance area. Please pick ne up fr yur planning needs. Or print yur wn via ur website using the link belw: THE BETHANY HERALD OCTOBER

8 Bethany Lutheran Church 15 W. 14 th Street Spencer, Iwa Nn-Prfit US Pstage Paid Spencer, IA Permit N. 150 Address Crrectin Requested SWEET STOP HALLOWEEN NIGHT SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 FROM 5-7:30PM While yu are ut Trick-r-Treating drp by the Sweet Stp in the Bethany Lutheran parking lt t lad up n candy! T ld t Trick-r-Treat? Sign up t run a Treat Statin r bth. T run a Treat Statin decrate the trunk f yur car r the bed f yur truck and hand ut candy. Cstumes are als encuraged! Candy fr the treat statins must be purchased, individually wrapped items. Need help with ideas fr yur treat statin, ask Katie! In case f inclement weather event will be held in the dining rm. THE GATHERING COMMUNITY MEAL THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 5PM We are ready t begin ur secnd year f hsting The Gathering, a hme-cked meal pen t anyne in the cmmunity. The first meal fr seasn is Octber 8 at 5:00pm. If yu d like t help n that day r with any f ur meals, please cme t the dining rm at 4:30 pm. We will gladly find yu a jb. Or, if yu like t bake, we are lking fr vlunteers t make apple crisp, which will be the dessert at ur Octber meal. Lk fr a recipe and sign up sheet in the Narthex. Thank yu t everyne wh helps! We can t d this withut many helpers. Sandi Witt, Sharn Camern THE BETHANY HERALD OCTOBER

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