This technology education program is designed for adults ages 50+ who would like to participate on a one-on-one basis, as a couple or with a small group of friends to address technology concerns. All participants are encouraged to bring their own technology devices (phones, tablets and laptops) to the class, which will be held at several host sites in Appleton. We also have iPads to loan at no cost to enrolled participants who are interested in trying this device. Tech-ED for Adults will help expand social connections and stay active in the community, facilitating independent living. If you are interested in enrolling or have questions, contact Chelsea Vosters at 920-832-9360 or chelsea@volunteerfoxcities.org.
Men of His Word Conference 2022
The 13th annual Men of His Word Conference (Theme: MORE THAN CONQUERORS) will be held at the Best Western Premier Waterfront Convention Center in Oshkosh on Saturday, February 19, 2022. Please go online at www.menofhisword.org to register and get details about schedule, breakout sessions, keynote speaker, cost, etc. Please join us for a day of worship, praise and fellowship in God’s Word.
Family Forum & Voters' Meeting - January 30, 2022
Please make plans to join us for a Family Forum and Voters Meeting on Sunday, January 30 at 11:45AM in the lower level fellowship hall on the Parkway Campus. Our main topics will be to share updates on the building project, ministries, and call. We will also have a vote to confirm our Leadership Team for 2022. There will be a Zoom option for this meeting as well.
GriefShare Sessions at St. Luke, Little Chute
A Loss of a Spouse session is scheduled for Saturday, February 5 @ 10am. Pre-registration is required, no walk-ins. Limited number of spots still available. In-person only, we don't offer virtual options at this time. Registrations may be made online (preferred) https://www.griefshare.org/loss/events/4699 or by phone to 920.788.4408
The 11 Week Journey from Mourning to Joy GriefShare sessions will run on Saturdays at 10am from Feb 12-Apr 30 (no class Easter weekend). Registrations may be made online (preferred) https://www.griefshare.org/groups/144675 or by phone to 920.788.4408.
New DivorceCare Session Starting at Immanuel-Greenville
Monday, January 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
DivorceCare is a tool that can be offered to those that may be struggling with divorce or separation. It is a Bible-based 13-week program designed to help those who are separated or divorced deal with life challenges that come with their situations. The weekly meetings cover topics like anger, depression, loneliness, financial survival, childcare, and forgiveness to name a few. Past participants in the program have indicated that they have grown significantly closer to Jesus while adjusting to life as a single person as a result of their attendance. Past participants have also been very thankful for the fellow Christians they meet while attending the sessions. Many past attendees have developed long-lasting friendships as a result of their time together in the DivorceCare program.
Follow this link (https://www.divorcecare.org/groups/143531) to the registration page. This page contains a 2-minute video that explains what DivorceCare is and what it does for the people who attend. The video is towards the bottom of the page on the right.
FVL Musicfest - February 6
FVL Musicfest 2022 will be held Sun. 2/6 from 1-4:30 PM. Admission is free for all. Join us to enjoy music, fellowship, and homemade desserts. Event donations will go toward replacing 25-year-old tuxedo components for the band and for performance risers. Find out more at fvlhs.org/fvl-musicfest or call Megan Beyer at 920-560-5122.
WELS Night at the Wisconsin Herd
The Wisconsin Herd will be hosting a WELS Night for congregations within Wisconsin to bond in a family, entertaining environment! The game will be held at the Oshkosh Arena on Saturday, February 12 vs. NBA G League Ignite. Tip-off is at 7PM. To purchase tickets go to : https://fevo.me//herdwels All congregations are invited to take a photo together on court after the game to commemorate the experience together.
Discipleship.101 to Begin
Meets Tuesdays at 5:15 P.M. at the Lynndale Campus/Our Shepherd Childcare beginning January 18
Discipleship.101 is a starting place. If you’re new to Christianity, new to Bethany, or just wanting a brush up on the basics of the Christian faith, we’d love to have you join us. This 10 week class provides an overview of the chief teachings of the Bible and presents what we believe and teach here at Bethany.
Childcare will be available on site at no charge by one of our staff members.
Apple Valley Food Pantry Collection Weekend
The January collection for the Apple Valley Food Pantry (129 S. Mason St., Appleton) will be held the weekend of January 8 & 9, 2022. The following are items currently in need of at the pantry:
cookies, canned tomato products (paste, sauce, plain diced), pudding and gelatin desserts, sugar-free pudding, women's body washes, laundry soap, frosting (we have plenty of cake mixes on hand), and small boxes of snack bars. As always, monetary donations are appreciated.
Thank you to everyone who helped to make our 2021 a very successful year for our recipients!
Call Meeting - January 17, 2022
Our next call meeting will take place on Monday, January 17 after our worship service on the Parkway Campus at 7:15PM. There will be a zoom option for this meeting as well.
Faith Fit Winter Session 2022
All women ages 12+ are invited to this FREE dance fitness class (think Zumba-ish) in the Praise Center at Our Shepherd Childcare/Bethany’s Lynndale Campus. Class is on Mondays at 5:30PM for 5 weeks:
January 17, 24, 31 and February 7, 14, 2022
No need to register, just come! (You will have to fill out a form when you get there.)
Questions? Email Emily at churchoffice@bethanyappleton.org
Called to Serve - A Bible Study on the Divine Call
People have always had questions about the divine call and the process we use to call people into the public ministry. With the high number of vacancies in our synod and with many congregations affected by the shortage, including our own, it’s not surprising that there have been more questions than normal about exactly what the divine call is and how the doctrine of the call is applied among us.
This Bible study is intended to provide an overview of the biblical doctrine of the divine call, as well as information regarding how the calling process is carried out in our synod. The call itself is something established by God in love for his church. The process of applying that doctrine in a practical way is a matter that God has left to his church to determine. We pray that addressing both of these aspects of the call and the call process will lead to a better understanding of the doctrine and a greater appreciation of the process we have agreed to use. Please make plans to join us for this 2 week study which begins in January.
Session 1: Sunday – January 9 @ 9:15am & Wednesday – January 12 @ 10:00am
Session 2: Sunday – January 16 @ 9:15am & Wednesday – January 19 @ 10:00am
Offices Closed
The Parkway Campus office and Our Shepherd Childcare will be closed December 24 and 31.
Small Group Bible Study - Winter Session
Our small group Bible studies will begin again on Sunday, January 9. If you aren’t already connected with one of our small groups and would like to join one, email Pastor Brown - plbrown@bethanyappleton.org to get connected!
Missionary John Roebke to Guest Preach
Missionary John Roebke of One Africa Team will join us as our guest preacher January 1-3, 2022. Rev. Roebke is the son of our member, Nancy Krause. There will be a door offering that weekend for those who would like to support WELS world missions in Africa. Join us at 9:15AM on Sunday for an informal chat with Pastor Roebke, and to learn more about OAT.
Christmas at Bethany
Christmas Eve
Lynndale Campus - 10AM (Livestream)
Parkway Campus - 4PM (Livestream) & 6PM
Christmas Day
Parkway Campus - 10AM (Livestream)
A baby is born every twelve seconds. That's 140 million babies born each year. Yet, there is something that sets this child apart from all others. It is not simply his humble beginnings, with a cattle trough as his first cradle. It is not just the miraculous nature of his birth, his mother being a virgin. There is so much more. This child is the only hope we have for peace and a future. This child can wipe away every tear, drive away every fear. Here is the truth of Chirstmas. With this child, you lack nothing. Without him, you have nothing. Let us use this season of Christmas to answer this most important question: WHAT CHILD IS THIS?
Sunday School Christmas Program
Our Sunday School children are working hard as they prepare their Christmas program: Light for Our Darkness. The children will present the program on Sunday, December 19 during the 10:30AM service.
Call Returned
Pastor Scott Bergemann has returned our call as pastor. Please watch for more information regarding our next call meeting.
Christian Worship 1993 Hymnals
If you would like to own one of the 1993 red Christian Worship hymnals, please take as many as you would like from the Welcome Center counter on the Parkway Campus by Monday, December 20.
Christmas Gift Supporting The Hope Center
As a special Christmas gift, Bethany and families from Our Shepherd Childcare are collecting monetary donations for The Hope Center. (The Hope Center provides physical support in Christian love for local families who are struggling with physical needs. They provide material assistance (personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies) and are a distribution site for the Fox Cities Diaper Bank.) If you would like to contribute, please use one of the special envelopes that can be found in the Welcome Center on both campuses. Checks should be written out to Bethany Lutheran Church. The last day of this collection will be Monday, December 20.