OWLS Meeting

The next meeting of OWLS (Organization of WELS Lutheran Seniors) will be held on Tuesday, November 9, at Pizza Ranch on Appleton’s west side. The address is 5450 W Integrity Way - just north of Costco. There will be lunch at noon, followed by a presentation at 1:00. A business meeting will conclude the afternoon. Officer Johnson from the Grand Chute Police Department will speak about scams that seniors can be confronted with by phone and online. The main topic of the business meeting will be the future of the organization.

Family Forum & Voters' Meeting - Sunday, October 31

We will be having a Family Forum and Voters' Meeting on Sunday, October 31st at 9:15AM in the lower level fellowship hall on the Parkway Campus.

The property adjacent to Bethany’s Lynndale campus is on the market. This situation presents an opportunity very similar to the one we had when the Erb Street property adjacent to our Parkway campus became available in 2018. We were able to acquire and then rent that property, and subsequently were able to pay off the mortgage earlier this year. Owning that Erb Street property has enabled us to consider the potential expansion of our Parkway building. At the same time, the property has increased in value and gives us the option of selling it, along with the adjacent property, should we decide to relocate our church.

Because of its proximity to our Lynndale building, the acquisition of the Capital Drive property is something that we have been considering in our long range plans for many years. It would enhance our current footprint and offer flexibility to consider future options for ministry expansion and optimization of the campus. Once we acquire the property, we could have the option to rent the house and use the proceeds to pay the mortgage, similar to what we did with the Erb Street rental proceeds. If we determine at some point the property may not, for whatever reason, fit into our ministry plans, we could always consider selling the house.

It is for these reasons that the Bethany Leadership Team strongly recommends that we make an offer to purchase the Capital Drive property, pending a thorough inspection of the house, for a price not to exceed what is stated in the resolution we plan to ask the Voters to consider and approve during our upcoming Family Forum / Voters’ Meeting on Sunday, October 31.

Turkey Trot Volunteers

We are hoping to gather a group from Bethany to serve as volunteers for the Festival Foods Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning - November 25, 2021. Please email Emily - churchoffice@bethanyappleton.org - if you are interested in helping (all volunteering will be finished by 9:30am - just in time for you to join your family for Thanksgiving dinner!) Volunteers must be 14 years or older. Please email your interest by Friday, October 22, 2021)

Joint Reformation Worship & Fellowship

A Joint Reformation Service will be held on Sunday, October 31 at 4:00 pm in the Fox Valley Lutheran High School auditorium (5300 N. Meade Street, Appleton). Guest preacher is Rev. Mark Jeske, senior pastor at St. Marcus Lutheran Church in Milwaukee and content contributor for Time of Grace.

All Federation members are invited to celebrate our gospel heritage restored to us in the Reformation of the 1500's. We are saved by Grace alone, by Faith alone, and according to Scripture alone. Light refreshments and fellowship will follow the service. Please join us for this special worship opportunity!

October Food Pantry Collection

The October collection for the Apple Valley Food Pantry will be October 9 &10. The following is the list of items currently in need of by the pantry: peanut butter, boxed mac n cheese, hamburger/chicken/tuna helper meals, canned chicken, canned stews, cookies, crackers, laundry and hand soaps and applesauce.

The pantry want to thank you for all the support that has sustained us through the past 18 months of uncertainty with everything. We are grateful!

Divine Call Extended

The members of Bethany voted to extend a divine call to Rev. James Werner, who is currently serving as pastor of Reformation Lutheran Church in San Diego, California. Please keep Pastor Werner and his family in your prayers, as well as our brothers and sisters in Christ at Reformation as he now considers and weighs the two calls he holds to serve God’s people.

October 31 - Candy Station on the Parkway Campus

In previous years, Bethany has manned a station outside of the Parkway Campus with candy and hot apple cider on October 31 from 4PM - 8PM. We are hoping to be able to offer this again in 2021, and are looking for volunteers who would want to set-up/take-down and man the station during that time. Please contact Emily - churchoffice@bethanyappleton.org if you’d like to help.

LWMS Fall Rally @ Mt. Olive, Appleton

Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society supports Home and World Missionaries of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. All women of the WELS are encouraged to participate in whatever way they are able.

The Fall Rally of the Paperland Circuit (of which Bethany is a member) will be held October 16 at Mt. Olive Appleton from 8:30 - 12:30. The theme is “Ready to Harvest.” The speaker will be Pastor Robb Raasch of Mt. Olive - he will tell about the work the Asia One Team is doing in Indonesia.

Each year the Paperland Circuit decides on two mission projects to support - this year they are:

--Home Missions - Language Training - our called workers receive training in the biblical languages during their college and seminary years. But they do not have time to become proficient in the languages spoken in the many mission fields we support. Your gifts will assist Home Missions in providing the needed language training.

--World Missions - Academia Cristo Project - This is a Spanish language website which offers video and audio Bible studies and live online training to reach out to non-Christians as well as to teach Latin American church members how to share their faith. Your gifts will help support this online outreach, the development and maintenance of a mobile application, and the online training that occurs through Academia Cristo.

Sharon Mundt is the Bethany Reporter - 920.540.4107

Arlyss Troge is the Paperland Circuit President - 920.915.7363

Contact either one if you have any questions or want more information on how you can help support our missionaries.

Blanket Collection for Afghan Refugees

Bethany is collecting blankets and quilts for the Afghan refugees that are being hosted at Fort McCoy. Blankets must be new or gently used, but laundered. Blankets of all kinds and sizes are accepted and must be dropped off in the Parkway Campus office (530 W. Parkway Blvd)

Deadline is Sunday, September 19 at 12pm. Call (920) 733-9561 or email churchoffice@bethanyappleton.org for more information.

End Times: Jesus Is Coming Soon - Large Group Bible Study

Make plans to join us this fall as we study what God’s Word has to say about the End Times. This study will be offered on Sundays at 9:15am (beginning on September 12th) and again on Wednesdays at 10am (beginning on September 15th). We will meet in the lower level fellowship hall on the Parkway Campus. Though you are welcome to attend either class as your schedule permits, it would be best to choose one and stick with it as the two classes may not move at the same pace.

Growing in Christ Sunday School to Begin 9/12

We are so excited to be able to offer in-person Sunday School again for the upcoming 2021-2022 year! This year, our children will learn Bible history from the Old Testament—from creation to the Israelites’ exit from Egypt. Our Sunday School staff this year:

Grades PreK-1 : Lindsey Kraft, Judy Reynolds, & Melissa Strong

Grades 2-4 : Glenn Bechler, Julie Buser, & Jamie Olson

Grades 5-8 : Kevin Brester, Josh Buser, & Sammi Stegman

Music : Arlyss Troge

Please pray for these teachers and students!

New Hymnals - Coming Soon!

Bethany has recently ordered the new “Christian Worship” hymnals that our synod has made available. To help defray the cost, our members have the opportunity to purchase pew hymnals for $25 per book, with an acknowledgement in the front cover. These may be purchased in honor or in memory of loved ones, or simply as a gift for the congregation. Special envelopes for this are available on both campuses. For more information, please contact Emily - churchoffice@bethanyappleton.org or (920) 733-9561

OWLS Meeting - August 10

OWLS (Organization for WELS Lutheran Seniors) is meeting on Tuesday, August 10, at 1:00PM, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Room 108.  Enter on Lawrence St.  There is Handicapped parking and no steps to enter.  Visitors are welcome!

Like many organizations we have not met together for some time.  One of the topics for our business meeting will be the future of the organization.  Our membership has dwindled as we have aged and we are in need of new, younger members who can take on the responsibility of leadership.  Ages 55 and over are welcome.  Our meetings are held every three months at different WELS churches in the Fox Valley each time. 

The purpose of the group is Christian fellowship, education on topics beneficial to seniors, and support of the WELS European Civilian Chaplaincy.  The program for the coming meeting will be The Hope Center.  It is located at St. Matthew.  Our speaker will tell us about The Hope Center and give us a tour.  Light refreshments will be served.

If you have questions, please call Karen at 920-915-9094.

Bethany Lutheran Church

920.733.9561

Parkway Campus - 530 W. Parkway Blvd. Appleton, WI 54911