BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH BELIEVE † BELONG † BECOME

20650 CUMBERLAND ROAD, NOBLESVILLE, IN 46062 317.773.4315 BETHELLUTHERANCHURCH.CO M

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BETHEL BELIEVES... WITH GOD’S HELP, WE’LL GET THROUGH THIS!

WEEKEND OF MAY 16/17

We are incredibly grateful for the response to our first week of reopening at Bethel! We had a great crew on

Friday and Saturday cleaning and sanitizing our public spaces. Others removed the hymnals, Bibles, and other

paperwork from the pew racks and closed off every other pew. Thank you Gay, Jill, Karen, Lee Anne, Marci, and

Terri! The services themselves went smoothly, with ample personal space in the sanctuary and modified (non-

contact) methods of collecting the offering, passing the peace, and sharing communion. What a blessing to be

back again! We will continue our cleaning practices before and after each worship service and our modified

worship practices this weekend (and for the foreseeable future) as we ease back into public worship. We

welcome everyone to join us when you are ready to come, and to continue worshiping with us online until

then. Although the service upload was delayed this first week, our expectation is to have the service available

no later than early Sunday afternoon.

WE ARE SO VERY GRATEFUL . . .

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➢ This Week’s

Theme

➢ Easter Season

Theme Schedule

Page 3

➢ 2020 Confirmation

Class

➢ Volunteer

Opportunity

Page 4 - 5

➢ Resources

➢ Footprints

➢ Zoom at Noon-thirty

➢ June Sermon Series

➢ Food Pantry

➢ Bethel Preschool

Page 6 - 8

Reopening

Announcement!

BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH BELIEVE † BELONG † BECOME

20650 CUMBERLAND ROAD, NOBLESVILLE, IN 46062 317.773.4315 BETHELLUTHERANCHURCH.CO M

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THIS WEEK’S THEME:

Living with a Clear Conscience:

There is nothing like a good mystery. The story revolves plot, intrigue, and character and moves

toward a surprise ending. So it is with the story of our salvation. The plot is simple – good and

evil. The intrigue mounts as mankind mounts repeated efforts to overcome evil, all to no avail.

The character of God steps forth. Good triumphs! Evil is vanquished. Not because mankind has

overcome, but because the holy, sinless God has entered flesh and come as the Lamb Who takes

away the sins of the world. It is not so much a ‘who-dun-it’ as a God-dun-it. And the mystery is

revealed – we are redeemed.

This Weekend Scripture Readings –

➢ Peter 3:13-22 ➢ Psalm 66 ➢ John 14:15-21

EASTER SEASON THEMES:

DATE: THEME: READINGS:

April 19/20 Living Hope I Peter 1:3-9, Psalm 148, John 20:19-31

April 25/26 Live It & Love It Up I Peter 1:17-25, Psalm 116, Luke 24:13-35

May 2/3 Living Through Unfairness I Peter 2:19-25, Psalm 23, John 10:1-10

May 9/10 Living with a Clear Mind I Peter 2:2-10, Psalm 146, John 14:1-14

May 16/17 Living with a Clear Conscience 1 Peter 3:13-22, Psalm 66, John 14:15-21

May 23/24 Living Steadfast for God I Peter 4:12-14 & 5:6-11, Psalm 146, John 17:1-11

LIVING WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE

BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH BELIEVE † BELONG † BECOME

20650 CUMBERLAND ROAD, NOBLESVILLE, IN 46062 317.773.4315 BETHELLUTHERANCHURCH.CO M

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Introducing our Bethel 2020 Confirmation Class…

Hayden Bragg

Reece Corley

Bodie Derrer

Ben Houser

Jon Houser

Taran Huffman

Joe Jennings

Maxwell Johns

Bella Lingenfelter

Luke Manro

Anna Reynolds

Elijah Reynolds

Noah Reynolds

Timothy Yochum

Volunteer Opportunity:

We are looking for people who will volunteer to help with any of our 3 services,

as readers, greeters, ushers, acolytes, and even to help out in the tech area!

Please contact the office to let us know that you would like to help… we respect

social distancing of course!

BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH BELIEVE † BELONG † BECOME

20650 CUMBERLAND ROAD, NOBLESVILLE, IN 46062 317.773.4315 BETHELLUTHERANCHURCH.CO M

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RESOURCES:

CHURCH OFFICE: The church office is still closed each business

day (Tues.-Fri.), Please call ahead for

appointment. If staff is working from home,

their phone will be forwarded to their cell

phone or they will be calling in regularly to

check for messages.

ONLINE WEEKEND SERVICE VIDEOS:

Our Online Weekend Services are posted on the website and on Facebook on Saturdays.

FOOD PANTRY:

The Food & Baby Pantry continues with its usual operating times (Wed. and Sat.), but with modified food delivery protocols to better protect guests and volunteers. In addition, we have members available to help anyone who needs groceries delivered. More info on page 4…

CALLING AND RESPONSE TEAM:

Our Calling Team is reaching out to members

and regular attenders every 7-10 days; expect

your call soon. Feel free to share with that

caller any prayer concerns you might have or

any hands-on needs with which our Response

Team might assist. We want you to know that

even in these days of physical separation you

are never alone. We will get through this

together!

Click here for current worship service

videos including this week’s Healing

Service… CHURCH SERMON VIDEOS

NEW ADULT CLASSES: Two new adult classes this month (both online through Zoom video conference platform):

1. Sundays through May 24 at 10a:

A bible study on 1 Peter, TIMELESS TRUTHS FOR TOUGH TIMES. The preaching pastor leads a discussion and study on the readings from 1 Peter that undergird our Easter sermon series. You can still join this study.

2. Wednesdays at 6:30p:

A bible study on the BOOK OF PSALMS. David Jacobs leads a discussion on this fascinating book from the Old Testament, the “hymnbook of the Hebrew Bible”.

*To register, call or email Pastor Al, who will get you connected into the Zoom platform either by computer, phone, tablet, or phone. You can join late… no worries!

CARE TEAM:

The Care Team, Pastor Doug, and Pastor Al will continue to be available for pastoral care, either in person or by phone.

VIRTUAL GROUP MEETINGS:

Small groups who wish to continue to meet may use online group collaboration tools (Google Hangouts, Zoom, Skype, etc.) to meet “virtually”.

Our quarterly issue of Footprints is available on the website! You can also come to the front entrance of the church to pick up a paper copy.

BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH BELIEVE † BELONG † BECOME

20650 CUMBERLAND ROAD, NOBLESVILLE, IN 46062 317.773.4315 BETHELLUTHERANCHURCH.CO M

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FOOD PANTRY

June Sermon Series - Things I Wish Jesus Hadn’t Said

Mark Twain is reported to have said, “It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t

understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.” This summer, we will

explore several of Jesus’ statements that may make us squirm in our seats. Have we

domesticated Jesus and made him our BFF? His deeds AND words fundamentally

transformed the religious and social landscape of his day, and his transformative work

continues in us still. How will his sayings change us? How shall we rightly apply and

practice what Jesus says in our life of discipleship?

Date Theme Readings

Jun 6/7 Not Everyone is Fit to Serve Acts 5:1-11; Luke 9:57-62

Jun 13/14 You Must Love the Unlovable 1 John 4:7-11; Matthew 5:43-48

Jun 20/21 You are Forgiven Only as We Forgive Colossians 3:12-17; Matthew 6:14-15

Jun 27/28 Discipleship is Based on Hatred I John 3:11-18; Luke 4:25-33

Jul 4/5 Heaven is Closed to Some James 1:22-25; Matthew 7:21-23

Gleaners delivered a full box truck load of food from Good Samaritan

for our Food and Baby Pantry! Update on a

change in the pantry…they will allow 1

person at a time and everyone must be

masked to come into the pantry. People

can still elect to order ahead.

* Questions? Speak directly with Sandy Hanke at 317-773-4315 ext.10.

Y O U C A N J O I N B Y G O I N G H E R E

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86164099206

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BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH BELIEVE † BELONG † BECOME

20650 CUMBERLAND ROAD, NOBLESVILLE, IN 46062 317.773.4315 BETHELLUTHERANCHURCH.CO M

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PRAYER

WE ARE A PRAYING COMMUNITY... WE PRAY WITH EXPECTATION! SEND YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS TO OUR PRAYER WARRIORS (WHO ACTIVELY PRAY FOR EACH AND EVERY SUBMITTED REQUEST) AT PRAYERS@BETHELLUTHERANCHURCH.COM.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE EMAILS WITH CURRENT PRAYER REQUESTS FROM THE COMMUNITY, SIMPLY SEND YOUR REQUEST TO TRUDY AT THE SAME ADDRESS.

BETHEL PRESCHOOL

Bethel Preschool is now accepting enrollments to our preschool for the 2020/2021 school year. Please contact our Preschool Director Laura Houser at laura@bethellutheranchurch.com or 317-773-4315, ext. 33 to register your child in our wonderfully loving and educational preschool. You can access registration forms at www.bethellutheranchurch.com/preschool .

FINANCES

Bethel Family,

What a crazy season this has turned out

to be! We entered Lent at the end of

February with a vague

expectation that the virus was

coming, but as events unfolded,

we quickly discovered just how

disruptive and unsettling it

would become. In the space of

just a few days we pivoted our

ministry in new and creative

ways. Although we couldn’t

gather as a church for a few

weeks, the Church continued its

ministry in meaningful and powerful

ways. What an amazing display of

Bethel’s stewardship in action! From the

Calling Team, the Response Team, our

Prayer ministry, the Care

Minsters, our Food and Baby

Pantry who all continued to

touch lives and respond to

needs, to our Worship

ministry, and Sunday School

and weekday preschool

teachers who crafted online

activities and even full classes

for their groups, the church’s

ministry continued – even

thrived! All I can say is “Well done, thank

you!”

Pastor Al

click here

to give

now.

BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH BELIEVE † BELONG † BECOME

20650 CUMBERLAND ROAD, NOBLESVILLE, IN 46062 317.773.4315 BETHELLUTHERANCHURCH.CO M

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Reopening Announcement

Bethel is delighted to announce that we have resumed our regular schedule of

in-person public worship service! While we may all be wanting to come back to church,

not everyone will be ready to return at the same time. Just because we are resuming some

public activities, please don’t feel pressured into returning any sooner than you are

comfortable. We invite you to prayerfully consider joining us recognizing the following

precautions associated with this reopening. During Stage 2 of Indiana’s community-wise

reopening,

• We insist that anyone who has been exposed to the Coronavirus and is in self-quarantine or who is showing even mild flu-like symptoms and/or fever (whether COVID-positive or not) remain at home and worship online with us instead. We will continue to post full worship services on our web page within 24 hours of the last weekend service.

• We encourage anyone who is over 65 or anyone of any age who is in an at-risk health category related to Coronavirus to remain at home and worship online with us.

• We encourage worshipers to wear masks in public spaces at church and to use the hand sanitizer provided for such purposes. Worship leaders will use sanitizer, and those touching items given to or touched by someone else (communion elements, offering plates, etc.) will also wear gloves.

Know that we will modify our worship experience during Stage 2:

• No clipboards or offering plates will be passed among the worshipers. You may deposit your worship record form and offering in appropriate containers located (and monitored) in the lobby by the ushers.

• We will participate in a form of non-contact greeting when we share the peace.

• Communion will be offered at all services starting this weekend. Prepackaged communion cups (containing both wafer and grape juice) will be given to each worshiper upon entrance into church by a gloved server. Worshipers will commune themselves in their pew at the appropriate time during the service, when instructed by worship leaders. Trash can be placed in a lined container in each pew before departing the sanctuary.

BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH BELIEVE † BELONG † BECOME

20650 CUMBERLAND ROAD, NOBLESVILLE, IN 46062 317.773.4315 BETHELLUTHERANCHURCH.CO M

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We will not be hosting coffee fellowship or other social gathering time until we enter Stage 3. Therefore, the Fellowship Hall and other classrooms will remain closed.

• Youth and Adult Sunday School classes currently meeting online will remain online only through the end of their scheduled run (May 17 for youth, May 24 for adults).

• We will NOT offer any nursery coverage since we cannot guarantee adequate physical distance between children and adults in such a close-proximity context.

Continue to know that we have taken the following precautions to prepare for your

presence:

• We have installed additional permanent hand sanitizing stations in the Church office, in the narthex, and in the bathrooms. There are also bottles of hand sanitizer in each pew. Please use them upon entering church.

• We have cleaned and sanitized all main traffic areas, restrooms, counters, doorknobs, hand holds, altar rails, and pew backs.

• We have removed all hymnals and other paper products from the pew racks. Worshipers should plan to use their own pens or pencils.

• We will rope off every other pew to provide physical distance between rows. We will seat people in pews in a manner to provide adequate space between individuals and family groups.

• We will open the rear glass doors (as we do on Christmas Eve and Easter) so that worshipers can enter and exit the sanctuary without moving through a “choke point.” We trust that people will enter and exit the sanctuary while maintaining appropriate distance.

• We will sanitize microphones, door handles, restrooms, and other high traffic areas after each worship service.

• Weather permitting, all interior doors will be propped open to minimize handling and contact. If doors must be closed, then gloved-greeters will open and close doors for worshipers.

We will continue to monitor circumstances as Indiana moves into later stages of its

community-wide reopening, and we will adjust our activities and precautions accordingly.

We look forward to seeing you this weekend or when you are ready!

BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH BELIEVE † BELONG † BECOME

20650 CUMBERLAND ROAD, NOBLESVILLE, IN 46062 317.773.4315 BETHELLUTHERANCHURCH.CO M

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Gracious Lord God, thank you for your ongoing

presence during this challenging season! Continue to

guide our Country and our community as we slowly

open ourselves up to more regular activities. Continue

to protect those who serve us as medical first

responders in hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, and

nursing homes. Comfort those who remain anxious.

Send your comfort and grace to those whose lives have

been disrupted by the illness or death of a friend or

loved one. Thank you for the many ways we have been

your church even while separated from one another.

Whatever you see that we need to reopen safely, we

trust that you will provide it; through your Son, Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen