There are free Advent devotional booklets available in the Welcome Center area on both campuses. The book was made available by Martin Luther College, and is titled “The Mysteries of Christmas: Many Millennia, Many Mysteries, One Messiah. These 25 meditations look back on the mysteries of the Messiah’s first coming and look ahead to the mysteries of his second.
Pastor Brown's Last Weekend at Bethany
Pastor Brown’s last weekend at Bethany will be Saturday and Sunday, December 9 and 10. There will be a time for fellowship after both services at Lynndale and Parkway, and to say farewell and thank you to the Brown family. One way for our members to show their thankfulness for Pastor Brown’s service here at Bethany is to provide a card shower for the Brown family. There will be card boxes at both of the fellowship times—or you can leave a card in the church office. There will be no church on Mon, December 11.
Call Extended to Rev. Matthew Krenke
At the call meeting on Monday, November 13, Bethany’s voters called Rev. Matthew Krenke to be our associate pastor. Pastor Krenke is currently serving at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Las Vegas, NV. Please pray for Pastor Krenke and his family as he begins his deliberation over where to serve.
Welcome Drew Sonnenberg
Please welcome Drew Sonnenberg to the Bethany staff! Drew will be assisting with technology and worship, as well as aiding in the workload during the pastoral vacancy. Drew is a 2011 graduate of Martin Luther College and has previously served as a worship coordinator at WELS churches in Rock Hill, SC and Seattle, WA. He currently serves as the president of Hearts & Hands, a non-profit that supports WELS artists. The Sonnenbergs - Drew, Jillian, and their daughter Imogen - have been Bethany members since October 2022. Watch for a further introduction to their family in the newsletter at the end of this month.
Advent Lessons & Carols Service
This year for Advent, Bethany is trying something different than in the past. Rather than having three midweek Advent services during an already-busy season of the year, we will have a single Advent celebration at 6pm on Wednesday, December 6 at our Parkway Campus. At this Service of Advent Lessons and Carols, we will have an opportunity to focus our hearts on the upcoming birth of the Savior by meditating on God's servants who proclaimed Christ's coming. We will also raise our hearts in prayer and our voices in song with all your favorite Advent carols! Looking for places to worship on the other Wednesdays in Advent? Check out service times across the valley at welsunited.org/churches/special-services.php
Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service/Closures
On Wednesday, November 22 at 6PM, make plans to join us for our annual Thanksgiving Eve worship service on the Parkway Campus. There will be no Midweek Oasis, Bible History and Catechism classes that day. Both Our Shepherd and the Parkway Campuses’ offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday – November 23-24.
FVL & FVL Schools and the Appleton Christmas Parade
FVL and FVL Schools are again sponsoring the broadcast of the Appleton Christmas Parade! Watch for the FVL Schools and FVL commercial, and tune in for FVL Admissions Director Joe Blum's live interview from downtown Appleton. The date is Tues., 11/21 at 7 PM. Check it out on WFRV-TV5.
Call Meeting - November 13
There will be a call meeting on Monday, November 13 at 7PM (after our Monday evening worship service). Please join us as we prepare to extend a call for an associate pastor here at Bethany.
Little Blessings Playgroup - November 11
Family with kids ages 0-6 years? Finding it hard to get out of the house with colder weather upon us? Come join our Little Blessings Playgroup next Saturday, November 11th at 10 AM for a Bible story, snack, and activities! Our theme for the week is Thanksgiving! We will meet in the multipurpose room at Our Shepherd with check-in and free play beginning at 9:45 AM. If you have any questions, please contact Sammi Stegman (sammipk13@yahoo.com). To aid in the planning process, please use the following link to register and sign-up. https://forms.gle/w9LxfNfcKGkoqtzZ6
Sunday School to Sing - November 5
Bethany’s Sunday School children will sing in the 9AM worship service on 11/5. Children will practice in the basement fellowship hall at 8:45AM, and then should sit with their parents and come forward when it is time to sing.
Valley Teen Night - November 12
God doesn't say he hates many things, but one thing he does hate, has become commonplace among us as is the hurt and pain it brings. This thing is divorce. Divorce inflicts deep and lasting emotional trauma. On November 12th, Valley Teen Night will be meeting at Bethlehem in Hortonville at 6 p.m. to hear a talk led by Pastor Joe Gawel about the nature of this trauma, how support can be given to those wounded by it, and how Jesus' gives true healing. Come on out for some food, God's Word, and good discussion!
WELS United Joint Reformation
The WELS United Joint Reformation worship service will be held on Sunday, October 29th, at 4:00 PM in the Fox Valley Lutheran High School auditorium. Rev. Mark Henke is the guest preacher. 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, through Faith alone, and according to Scripture alone. Light refreshments and fellowship will follow the service. Offerings collected will benefit the Tuition Assistance program at FVL.
FVL Announcements 10/29
There is an opening at FVL for a teacher in the Practical Arts Department, specifically for welding. If you are interested or have questions, please visit please reach out to Principal Alan Nolte at anolte@fvlhs.org.
The Cheer and Stunt Team is hosting a Daddy/Daughter Dance at FVL on Saturday, November 4 from 1:30-4:30 PM. Information and registration link is at fvlhs.org/news.
FVL’s Annual Veterans Day Breakfast & Service is set for Fri. 11/10 from 8:30-10:30 AM. Veterans from the FVL Federation and their family members are invited. Information and registration is online at fvlhs.org/news. Please register by the end of the day on 11/2.
Family Forum Meeting - October 29
Mark your calendar to attend our next Family Forum immediately following our church service on Sunday, October 29. We plan to have updates on pastoral vacancy plans and from our building committee. A divine call meeting is tentatively scheduled for Monday, November 13 – watch for more details to follow.
Help Needed - Moving Rooms at Our Shepherd
Our Shepherd Childcare needs help to move our “baby rooms” into temporary space across the hall while plumbing work is done. If you can help on Saturday, October 21 at 9AM - please contact Ann Potter – ampotter@bethanyappleton.org or call the center (920) 733-3344
Our Shepherd Saturday at the Lynndale Campus
On Saturday, October 14 at our Lynndale Campus worship service we will recognize the work being done at Our Shepherd Childcare and Family Ministry. Children from the center will sing, the teachers and assistants will be recognized, and we will pray for the ministry of Our Shepherd and the Board for Our Shepherd.
Senior Service w/Communion & Dinner
Our annual senior worship service (with communion) will be held again this year on Friday, October 20 at 10AM. There will be a dinner of barbecue ribs and chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy (and more!) that follows the service. There are sign-up sheets located on both campuses for those planning to attend, and anyone who may wish to bring dessert or help serve.
WELS Valley Teen Night
Our second WELS Area Valley Teen Night of the 2023-24 school year is happening at The CORE in Appleton on October 8th from 5:45 pm - 8:00 pm! We're featuring guest keynote speaker: Pastor Bill Monday from 922 Ministries. The title for his talk is "All Things LGBTQ" . Food and drinks will be provided! Valley Teen Night is open to anyone in grades 8-12. Register at this link! https://922ministries.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1932789
FVL Homecoming Football Game
Six of FVL's graduating classes are invited to receive special recognition at the Homecoming football game vs. Luxemburg-Casco on Friday, October 6. The classes of 1963, 1973, 1983, 1998, 2013, and 2023 are included in this special recognition, as are the members of the 1998 Softball State Championship Team. Tours of the school begin at 5:00 PM.
LWMS Fall Rally @ Beautiful Savior, Green Bay
The Fall Rally of the Paperland Circuit will be held October 14, 2023, at Beautiful Savior, 2160 Packerland Drive, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54304. 8 am-registration/refreshments; 9 am-12:15pm-meeting/speaker. The theme is “God’s Grace in the Hill Country.” The speaker will be Mr. Sean Young.. He will speak on mission work in Vietnam. The WELS is the only religious group allowed in Vietnam. If you want to attend the October 14th Fall Rally, please sign up at the Welcome Center at both the Parkway and Lynndale campuses.