Our Shepherd Childcare is hosting a donation drive for the Hope Center! All donations should be in by Friday, March 22. Their most needed items include: dish soap, laundrey detergent, paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo & conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, disposable razors, facial tissue, and disinfecting spray/cleaner. Questions? contact ourshepherdoffice@bethanyappleton.org
Easter Breakfast - Help Needed
We're looking for help with the Easter breakfast - either to bring a coffee cake or muffins, help with the Prep work on Saturday morning, or to help with serving or cleanup on Sunday. There is a signup sheet in the Welcome Center on both campuses.
Hope Center Volunteers Needed
The Hope Center, a compassion ministry of WELS United located in Appleton, serves more than 160 local families every month with practical needs and the good news of Jesus. We are currently in need of additional volunteers, especially 2pm-5pm on Wednesdays, but also on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons. Volunteers with every gift can be used from packing supply bags to greeting clients. Time commitment can vary from once a month to weekly. Reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator, Jen Grady, at 920-739-0039 or information@hope-center.org to learn more about how you can serve to provide help and hope to our neighbors in need.
Tuition Support Meetings
All families who currently receive or are interested in learning more about the tuition assistance that Bethany offers for its members at Our Shepherd Childcare and our area WELS elementary schools must attend a Tuition Support Meeting. There are two options: Tuesday, March 19 at 5:30PM (Parkway Campus fellowship hall) and Thursday, March 21 at 6:30PM (Lynndale Campus Praise Center). Childcare will be available during this meeting.
Baa'rista Bean Closure
The Baa’rista Bean currently remains closed as we seek to determine how it can best be used for our ministry. Thank you for your patience as we work through this!
Coffee with Pastor Krenke
Pastor Krenke will be serving coffee and doughnuts on Monday morning, March 11 from 7-9AM at Our Shepherd. This is a great opportunity to connect with the families of Our Shepherd and Bethany members are invited as well!
Voters' Meeting - March 10
Save the date – the Leadership Team is looking at Sunday, March 10 at 10:15AM for our next Voters’ Meeting as we look at filling the ministry lead positions on our Leadership Team.
FVL Tuition Planning & Tips Seminar
FVL Tuition Planning & Tips Seminar - Interested parents of students in grades 6-8 are invited to join President Loberger in a Financial Zoom Meeting on Tuesday, 3/25 at 7 PM. No registration needed. Find the meeting codes on our website (fvlhs.org/news).
New Midweek Oasis Study
What do you think of when you hear the words, ‘a pastoral setting?’ Do you think of a Kentucky farm, with fields of bluegrass, ringed by split-rail fences, with thoroughbred horses cavorting? What does the word pastoral mean to you? The Midweek Oasis Bible study will be starting a study of the Pastoral Epistles from the New Testament, and we’ll see just what that means. Come join us to study these letters to young pastors, that have much for us all to learn - Wednesdays at 10AM!
Krenke Family Thank You
A note from Pastor Krenke, Suzy and family – We want to offer our sincere thanks for the warm reception we have received here at Bethany, and for your generosity in kind words and material blessings. Thank you so much! Looking forward to working alongside all of you!
FVL Announcements, February 24-26
The FVL General Board meets Monday, 2/26 at 7 PM in the FVL Media Center (use the tower entrance-Door A). Important issues include early work on the 2024-25 budget. The meeting is open to parents and Federation members.
FVL's spring musical is Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins. (Friday, 3/1 & Saturday, 3/2 at 6:30 PM & Sunday, 3/3 at 2 PM)
FVL Tuition Planning & Tips Seminar - Interested parents of students in grades 6-8 are invited to join President Loberger in a Financial Zoom Meeting on Tuesday, 3/25 at 7 PM. No registration needed. Find the meeting codes on our website (fvlhs.org/news).
Little Blessings Playgroup
Families with kids ages 0-6, join us for playgroup Saturday February 17th at 10 AM in the multipurpose room at Our Shepherd. Check-in will begin at 9:45. This week's theme is all about superheroes! There will be a Bible story, snack, and activities to learn about our ultimate superhero and how we can be every day superheroes! To aid in the planning process please use the following link to sign up. https://forms.gle/rFhMGTdjhexYEEh47
New Sermon Series - Psalms for Lent: The Struggle
·The road to the cross was a struggle. This Lenten season, we see Jesus rejected by his people and betrayed by his disciple. The struggle was real. The Christian life is a struggle too. Faith in Christ doesn’t make us exempt from difficulties. But faith in Christ does give us strength to press on. The weekends this Lenten season, we will meditate on the words of the Psalm writers, who put the struggle of the believer into poetry and prayer. Their God is our God. This is a Savior who entered our struggle to win the victory over the struggle, to equip us for our struggle. The struggle is real. The struggle is good.
Midweek Lenten Services
Join us for our Lenten services on Wednesdays at 4:30PM & 6PM on our Parkway Campus. Our sermon series for these Wednesdays is entitled, “Baptized Into Death” and during these services, we will review the important doctrines of baptism while also standing in solemn awe and wonder at this time of repentance and renewal.
LENTEN MEALS
We are looking for someone who may be willing to apply for a Thrivent Action Grant for one of the midweek Lenten meals. Please contact the church office if you can help with this. The proceeds from these meals will go towards Bethany’s youth ministry.
Tech Booth Help Needed
We are seeking individuals on both campuses who are willing to (with adequate training) learn how to be in the tech booth. Please contact Drew Sonnenberg – dsonnenberg@bethanyappleton.org
The Hope Center Open House
The Hope Center is hosting an open house event on Sunday, February 18 from 12-3pm. We’d love to show you around and share more about the mission of the Hope Center to serve and support those in need in the Fox Valley. Refreshments will be provided. No RSVP needed. Enter door #5, 1316 W Lawrence St, Appleton, WI. Questions? Call 920-739-0039, email information@hope-center.org, or visit www.hope-center.org
2023 Offering Statements
2023 Offering Statements were mailed out this past Friday. These statements are for regular offerings only. These offering statements will NOT include QCDs. For those that may have given via a QCD from their IRA, you may use the letter sent after your donation for tax purposes.
Family Forum & Voters' Meeting
There is a Family Forum & Voters’ Meeting on Sunday, January 28th at 10:15AM in the sanctuary on the Parkway Campus. Topics to discuss include: 2024 Leadership Team Members, a financial update, ministry updates from Bethany and from Our Shepherd, and a building project update. Please make plans to join us as we make and share plans for our congregation and childcare!
Krenke Family Welcome
If you are able, please join us after church Saturday and Sunday this weekend to say hello to Pastor Krenke and his family as we celebrate his installation! There is no Bible Study or Sunday School this weekend. We are also hosting a card shower for the Krenke family as they get settled in Appleton. There is a special donation bin on both campuses this weekend.