Bethesda Living Current - February 6, 2025

A weekly e-newsletter of

Bethesda Lutheran Church

Ames, Iowa

February 7, 2025

Bishop Amy Current and Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton Speak on Claims of New Administration

Bishop Amy Current spoke about the recent accusations against Lutheran faith-based organizations as money laundering organizations.

“There is no money laundering,” said Current, who leads the Southeastern Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). “That is ridiculous. It is a false claim. It is untrue.”

In a separate message to the church, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reassures that "despite misinformation and baseless doubt cast on funding that supports Lutheran organizations across our country, the ELCA remains steadfast in our commitment and work with our many Lutheran partners and expressions of our church."

To view the full message from Bishop Amy Current, click here.

To view Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton's message to the church, click here.

You can give your support to outside organizations such as Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services) and Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) through Bethesda by earmarking your gift on the memo line of your check, on an envelope with your donation, or online through our giving form.

Ladies Lunch Bunch @ Flame and Skewer

The Ladies Lunch Bunch will meet at Flame and Skewer at the North Grand Mall on Thursday, February 13th at 11:30 AM for lunch.

All ladies are welcome to attend!

A Note from Prairie Flowers Children's Center

We are so grateful for the support of Bethesda Lutheran Church since starting a lease here in April of 2023. Through our time at Bethesda, we have grown our enrollment to 36 students across our three programs serving children and their families 15 months to 12 years, plus more over the summer. This Fall, with the support of the board and pastor, we embarked on a playscape project with Iowa State University! The ISU students were busy throughout the fall semester building the structures. The structures will be ready to use soon, once the weather warms and students can finish some last pieces of construction. Our Summer and Fall enrollment will be opening this month, and we are excited to see our programs continue to grow in our home here! To stay in the loop about our programs and happenings, we invite you to join our email newsletter and follow us on Facebook.

We are committed to a lasting partnership with the church and congregation! We are currently seeking 1 or 2 congregation members to join our Board of Directors. This would allow us to continue growing our connection and help both programs better understand each other. If you want to fill one of these slots, please see more information here.

Calling All Chefs...

Do you make a chili that's become a staple in your household or a favorite among friends? Enter your unique dish in the 2025 Chili Cook-Off at Torrent Brewing Company on March 4th at 6:30 P.M.

Whether you're competing or eating, ALL are encouraged to attend this year's event and vote for your favorite dish using petty cash. All donations received will be given to the Ames Community School District's Lunch Hero program.

After you've had your fill of chili, raise your voices - and your glasses - for a Mardi Gras Beer & Hymns sing-along led by Pastor Bryan! We hope you can join us for this exciting event!

Living Water Wednesday Feb. 12th Communal Meal

Before CrossGen Worship, members of ALL ages are welcome to the Commons for a meal at 5:15 PM. Four to five Volunteers are needed each week to prepare and serve the meal. Please consider helping if you are able. You may sign up in the link or notify the office On February 12th, we will be serving chicken nuggets with mashed potatoes.

If you want to partially sponsor a Living Water Wednesdays meal with a $100 donation, donate online here, stop in the main office or put your donation in the mail slot notating it's for Wednesday meals. Please also include if you would like your donation to be anonymous or not.

Couldn't Attend the Annual Meeting? Access the information online!

If you were unable to attend last Sunday's annual meeting the 2024 Annual Report has been made available online in the Member Portal for your convivence if you do not yet have a physical copy. The 5-Year Strategic Plan has also been made available.

Sign Up to Host a Soup Supper!

Mar. 5 . . . Church Council

Mar. 12 . . Adult Bethesda Choir

Mar. 19 . . OPEN

Mar. 26. . . CYEB

Apr. 2 . . . .OPEN

Apr. 9 . . . .OPEN

Saving Suds Needs YOU!

Bethesda members,

Saving Suds is in need of two to four volunteers to take over the operation for this ministry to continue at Bethesda. If you are able to volunteer at least an hour and a half of your time, either from 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM or from 5:15 PM - 7:00 PM, the first Thursday of every month, please consider being the people to let this ministry continue as it is highly utilized within the community.

Interested in volunteering, but unsure what you'd be doing? Find step-by-step directions for the volunteer position here.

To volunteer for Saving Suds sign up online or call the church office.

Bethesda Book Club March Read

Mother, Nature by Jedidiah Jenkins will be discussed Thursday, March 6th

Everyone is welcome to participate, whether it’s once for a book you’re interested in, or more frequently for fellowship. The Bethesda Book Club meets at 7:00 p.m. in the Crossroads for book discussion.

All Ages Invited to Lutheran Lakeside Camp

All ages are encouraged to Register now for the week of July 20th - 25th at Lutheran Lakeside. Secure a spot for you or your child for a fun, faith-filled week at a special early bird price!

Give a Gift Online

Don't carry cash or checks? You can set up a recurring or one-time gift to Bethesda online, so you never miss an offering opportunity!

ShelbyNext

Refresher to log onto ShelbyNext:

On your laptop or desktop Computer - https://bethesdanet.shelbynextchms.com

On your cell phone go to the App Store or Google Play Store

search for ShelbyNext Membership - download the free app;

On first screen replace the word domain with Bethesdanet

Enter username and password.

You should be ready to go! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at contact@bethesdaames.org.

What's The Difference Between The Current and The Living Current?

The Current, a physical sheet members pick up each weekend, is limited to the order of worship on the front and a calendar of events on the back. Announcements are The Living Current, on slides depending on date proximity and importance to the congregation at large and verbally stated by the Pastors at the end of worship services.

The Living Current, an e-newsletter sent every Friday at 9 AM, consists of all announcements and events affecting the congregation.

If you have an event that you would like advertised in The Living Current for weekend services, submit your announcement or event via email to Tess Hanson and Lynn Anderson no later than the Tuesday before you would like it advertised. If submitted after the stated deadline, it will be integrated into The Living Current e-newsletter the following week.

Healing Prayers: Carolyn Ahlstrom; Mark Allen; Pat Banitt; Karen Beall; Barbara Berg; Linda Fevold; April Lawson; Kathy Lowe; Shirley Stromer; Don Nettleton

WELCOME!

We invite you to join our community, which is committed to inclusion, racial equity and anti-racism. We share in God’s abundant grace knowing that we cannot be separated from the love of God by our age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political beliefs, socioeconomic status, physical or mental abilities or faith background.