Bethany Lutheran Church and

Early Childhood Center Newsletter

Bethany Lutheran Church

1000 W. 26th Street South Wichita, KS 67217

Church Phone 316-265-7415 BECC Phone 316-265-3033

www.bethanylutheranwichita.org

Worship Service Sunday 9:00 AM

Sunday School & Adult Bible Study

Lifetree Café’ Sunday 10:30 AM

Pastor: Mark Wenger Deacon:

Mike Parmenter

Early Childhood Center

Serving children ages One through Five

Program Director

Dara Vernia

316-265-3033

And the Shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Luke 2:20 As I write this article, we are still in the Advent season, preparing for Christmas. All too soon the holiday season comes to an end. For me it is Epiphany, January 6th, the conclusion of the 12 days of Christmas. That’s when I take down the outside decorations (weather permitting), the Christmas tree and other decorations inside. For others the holiday ends when children return to school or when the tree gets taken down, perhaps even as early as the 26th. Nevertheless, the season ends and we move into a new year with resolutions and prayers and anticipation of what is to come. The material I used for the mid-week Advent services from Skit Guys shared an interesting insight that I believe is worth sharing. The author quoted Bob Roberts who wrote a book entitled, “Lessons from the East”. Bob Roberts explains that the shepherds who visited the Christ Child in Bethlehem were not only the first evangelists of the good news but also returned to their everyday work, continuing to glorify and praise God for all they had heard and seen. The experience changed them. It changed the way they view their personal domain. They saw their domain where they worked as the greatest place to be on mission and tell others about Jesus. Roberts goes on to say how it is within the “domains of society” that God desires to do His greatest work. He states, “The Church is present in every domain of society as disciples live, love and serve there. When the church is considered a separate domain, it becomes isolated from the rest of society. When this happens, the church becomes marginalized as one of many competing voices instead of God’s people living powerfully and lovingly in every domain of society. Also, when the church is a domain, often it is viewed primarily as a political force and God’s people are seen as narrow, angry, and demanding. This, of course, further marginalizes the credibility of the church. God has given us a bigger, broader, deeper purpose than carving out a single domain. The task of the church is to make disciples who engage the broad context of society for the kingdom of God increasingly to be realized on earth as it is in heaven.” In other words, we go back to our jobs and schools and neighborhoods and friendships and lives after the holidays are over and we love others well and tell the story of the good news of Jesus wherever God leads us. We do so with renewed joy and a greater sense of purpose, glorifying and praising God for choosing to use us in all the domains of society.

Have a God-blessed New Year spreading the story of Jesus each new day.

Love, Pastor Mark

January 2017

Women’s Bible Study continues with the study entitled “Woman of God”. We

meet the first and third and fifth Thursday nights at 7:00pm at different homes. If

you are looking for a Bible Study with a great group of women, come join us. To

find out locations contact Emily Schaefer or Jenny Colby or Pam Kester or Doris

Cannon or JoAnn Storck or Renee Schott or Ruth Valdez or Dori Karnes or Jean-

etta Bolin or Mary Morton or Bev Mittlestadt or Lois Brockmeyer or Amy Sala-

zar. Emily’s email is eand4ls@cox.net.

Meets on 3rd

Wednesday

at 9am at Country Café.—

2804 S. Seneca - This

month - Jan. 18th

The 3rd Tuesday at Mary

Morton’s home. 6:00pm

10:00am-Noon, Tuesdays

9:00 a.m.-Noon, Saturdays

Quilting at the church

January February

1: Pat Castillo 5: ? 8: Dale & Marilynn Moore 12: ? 15: Gary & Linda Puls 19: ? 22: Ralph & Dolores Lang 26 ? 29: David Funke

January February

1: Corbin Larson 5: Taryn Bolin 8: Andrew Mann 12: Corbin Larson 15 Aly Ohmie 19: Andrew Mann 22: Gage Shipman 26: Aly Ohmie 29: Courtney Anton :

January& February

Fill Cleanup Jan 1 & Feb, 5 Dolores Lang Sandy Wise Jan 8 & Feb 12 Lois Brockmeyer Jeannetta Bolin Jan 15 & Feb 19 Doris Cannon Toni & Traci Bolin Jan 22 & Feb 26 Lois Adams & Amy Salazar Rhonda Dehncke & Vivian Mailly Jan 29 Robert Phmie JoAnn Storck

Head Usher – Alan Keimig

January February Jim Brummett ? Pat Castillo ? Dale Kester ? Art Kuehn ?

January February 1: Richard Vinroe/ Mark Welty 5: Robert Bolin/ Dale Kester 8: Kevin Chamberlin/ Robert Ohmie 12: Richard Vinroe/ Mark Welty 15: Robert Bolin/ Dale Kester 19: Kevin Chamberlin/ Robert Ohmie 22 Richard Vinroe/ Marl Welty 26: Robert Bolin/ Dale Kester 29: Kevin Chamberlin./ Robert Ohmie

Thank you for being an Acolyte! You are an important part of our worship! If you cannot be acolyte on the day you have been as-signed, please make arrange-ments to switch with someone so the Acolyte roll is filled.

You are the first point of contact for our guests! Welcome them by smiling and shaking their hand. If this is their first visit to our church, invite them to stay for coffee and breakfast in our activity center and where it is located. Also show them where our restrooms and cry rooms are located and thank them for joining us in worship. Alert one of our ushers that they are first time visitors so that any questions regarding our service can be answered. If you cannot be greeter on the Sunday you have, please talk to one of our other greeters to switch. If you are greeter during Lent or Advent, you will be greeter for all services during that week.

If you would like to be a greeter or an usher, please let David Funke know

or sign up on the sheet in the Narthex.

Treasurer: Steve Nienke As of 12/30/2016

Current bank balance $16,891.65 Outstanding Bills for Dec. $ 4,785.39

There is a lot of behind the scenes work that is done for our worship services, Bible Studies, Children’s and Youth Ministries, greeters, ushers, altar guild, music ministry, and so many more ministries that we need help with. Most of these do not take much time out of our busy schedules to be part of. Is God calling you to be part of something but you don’t know where to start? Be an usher! Prepare the communion! These are very important jobs that only require a little bit of you. Please contact an elder listed in this newsletter to see where YOU can be of service to God’s kingdom.

Contributions for the second

quarter were $425.87. Thank

you!!!!! If you haven't’ signed

up for Community Rewards

from Dillons, make sure you do.

It is an excellent way to have the Rewards

dollars help with the expenses of

Bethany. If you need help, contact the church

office. 265-7415

BETHANY FOSTER FRIENDS UPDATE

For January, BFF is still collecting socks, underwear and pajamas - any child age and size. During the cold season, we would also like to collect warm winter clothes. Please drop off your donation in the tubs between the office and the prayer center. Thank you for filling a huge need. It may not seem much, but the items you give make life easier for foster care kids and state workers assigned to them.

When you

#StartWithaSmile, Amazon

donates 0.5% of the

purchase price to Bethany

Lutheran Church. Bookmark

the link Http://smile.amazon.com/ch/48-0663701 and support

us every time you shop. This quarter’s donation — $18.15

The ECC has two classrooms; toddler (ages 1 to 2 1/2) and pre-K ( ages 2 1/2 to 5 ). The children took

animal names from Noah’s ark to identify the classes. Pre-K with Mrs. Dara and Ms. Kesha is called the

“Bears”. The toddlers with Ms. Nancy is called the “Elephants”. I don’t think the former is planning to join

the NFL, nor the latter the GOP. The ECC had its Christmas program on Thursday, December 15. There was

100% participation of the families of the children with approximately 50 people attending. Also, if you have

not done so, check out the art work of the children in the back hallway. See the bulletin board on the back

cover of this newsletter. The topic in class for January is snow and snowmen. Will it snow? I don’t know?

DECEMBER VOTER’S MEETING

For members not able to attend December’s voter’s meeting, the budget for our ministries for 2017 was approved by a 47- yes to 5 - no vote. Following the vote, a point of information was brought up that state regulation does not allow public access to a room used for daycare beyond parents, approved family contacts and workers. When daycare starts in the first west wing classroom, access to the other west rooms during daycare hours will have to be routed either by a partitioned walkway through the room or by the exterior sidewalk. The management team is working on that issue. Stay tuned for further information.

GRIEFSHARE GROUP AT ST. ANDREWS:

St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 2555 N Hyacinth Ln, Wichita, KS (I-235 bypass & 25th St. N.) will begin a new 13-week GriefShare Group beginning on January 8, 2017 and meet every Sunday afternoon from 2-4 p.m. through April 9, 2017. GriefShare is a positive, uplifting, caring group in which participants can learn how to deal with the emotions and challenges that come when a loved one dies. Any adult who has experienced the death of a family member or friend, whether recently or in years past, is invited to attend our GriefShare se-ries. A $15 registration fee covers the cost of the workbook. (scholarships available) Each week’s material is “self-contained” so a person can catch a missed session when the next series begins. Please call St. An-drews office at 316-838-0944 to register.

NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE:

Dear Bethany Family, Since I was not able to be with you for Christmas or the New Year services, I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you a blessed New Year. May we each be thankful for our daily gift of life. Sometimes the circum-stances we are traveling through make it difficult to be thankful or even believe God is with us. May each of you always know you are loved and special to God.

Blessings in the New Year! Pat Wenger

P.S. Thank you for taking good care of Pastor Mark in my absence.

Greetings to all from Outreach Why Not?

As December greets the New Year, We feel very blessed for the ministry. God has truly blessed this ministry with generous donors who have engaged in funding the Lifetree movement.

We are really excited to embrace what God has in store for His community and kingdom. Several visions are in the works.

Thrivent Action Team has funded a team building event that will surely offer some fun and also enrich the lives of all involved. The plan was to have taken place before Christmas. Time seems to fly by at this time of year. So, we are looking for three teams of four with one coach for each team. I have one team with two people and the BYA has agreed to form one team. Need to fill out the two person team and find a coach. BYA will need a coach. Time to disciple up and find the remaining teams!! Let Deb or Mark know if you or someone you know would help in this ministry activity Promises to be entertaining and serving in His world at the same time!

LifeTree continues on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday.

FYI..Church Doctor Ministries has included Bethany in this weeks prayers.

They remain vigilant in praying for Bethany to flourish in our community.

Pretty much the same way He blessed us some 60 years ago!!!

BELIEVE!

Thank you all for your prayers and support!!

Remember, LIVE GENEROUSLY!! and may your New Year be a blessed one!

Peace,

The Lifetree gang and OWN...?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS PARTY: Although the weather was not too cooperative,

there were approximately 35 attendees made up of daycare families and Bethany members.

Activities included a nativity sticker hunt, candy cane relay, and creating Play-do figures for

the nativity crèche, during the Christmas story. (See picture below and the table display in the

activity center) And there was ice cream and cake. Caps and gloves to donate were collected

2017 OFFERING ENVELOPE BOXES: If you have not picked up your offer ing box yet,

please do so. You will find the boxes in the narthex near the front entrance. Please do not use

last years envelopes as your number may have changed. Thank you.

WOMEN’S RETREAT AT HOLY CROSS: Holy Cross Lutheran Church has extended

an invitation to all the ladies of Bethany.:

“You are invited to gain a fresh perspective for your life as you explore God’s Word with

Gretchen Huesmann at the “Women’s Retreat: A Perfect Blend” at Holy Cross Lutheran

Church, 600 N. Greenwich, Wichita. This will be on Saturday, January 28, 9:00 am—2:00 pm.

Please register in advance online at http://HolyCrossLutheran.net/opportunities-to-serve/

LWML/lwmlretreat/. The cost of a ticket is $20, which includes lunch.

We sincerely hope some of you will be able to join us for the day.

In Christ,

Connilee Myers

Retreat PR Chairman

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Bethany Lutheran Church and School

1000 W 26th St. South

Wichita, KS 67217

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