A weekly e-newsletter of

Bethesda Lutheran Church

Ames, Iowa

September 6, 2024

*Reminder that there will be no Saturday service tomorrow and instead all congregation members are invited to join us on the East patio for service at 9:30 am on Sunday, September 8th. We will have chairs set up on the patio for those with limited mobility. If you're able, we ask that you please bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on the lawn.

HELP NEEDED WITH TENTS AND SET UP

We will begin setting up canopy tents at 8 am on Sunday, September 8th. If you would like to and are able to help set up tents, your help we would be appreciated. If you have canopy tents you would be willing to let the church borrow for the day, please be at Bethesda on Sunday at 8 am to set them up.

SAVE THE DATE FOR BETHESDA'S CELEBRATION OF GIVING!

YOU ARE INVITED to gather at the Ames Golf and Country Club on Wednesday, October 2nd, with cocktail hour starting at 5:30 and dinner and a presentation at 6:30 for our 2024 Stewardship Event. Themed around "Because of God's Great Mercy" attendees can expect a buffet, and a special keynote presentation from Bethesda's own Steve and Randi Peters.

Register to attend the Stewardship dinner below, call, or come into the office to register.

Calling ALL Bakers!

Interested in baking communion bread for worship services? Bethesda is looking to switch from communion wafers to bread, but we need bread bakers to make this possible. Contact Jeanne Rieck (515-292-2713) if you want to help bake communion bread!

All Ladies are Welcome to Lunch Bunch!

Ladies Lunch Bunch will meet September 12, 11:30 am, at Aunt Maude’s. If possible, please let Joyce Vegge (jlvegge@gmail.com) know if you’ll attend so the reservation can be updated.

Register Your Children for Living Water Wednesdays!

Living Water Wednesday Dinner Menu

• Beef Chili (with optional shredded cheese)
• Cornbread with butter and Honey
• Oysters Crackers
• Assorted fruit cups
• Beverages
• Bring Your Own Desert

Register your child for Living Water Wednesday programming by clicking the buttons below or by signing up at the Welcome Center.

Starting September 11th, kids pre-k to 5th grade get to explore Bible stories through the Spark Rotation Curriculum's eight different workshops, all with hands-on activities! Programming begins at 6:45 pm.

Parents of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, you can register your child for OASIS confirmation TODAY!

OASIS Confirmation starts Wednesday, September 11th at 7:00pm!

Give your high schooler a safe environment to grow in their faith every Wednesday during the academic year from 8 - 9 pm by registering them for FLOOD High School Youth Group! They can register alone or along with a friend to experience fun games and fellowship every week.

Grieving a Loss? Join Us at GriefShare

Sundays through November 24th in the Conference Room. Call the church office or contact Kathy Slocum (kslocum@prodigy.net) or Pat Swanson (swansonrp@gmail.com) for more information.

In order for Yennifer to attend DMACC classes in Ames, the family is in need of someone to watch their two children, Tadeo and Ana Paula, ages 6 and 3 as Jose works Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The requested time commitment is from 5:15 PM - 9:00 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting ASAP. Contact Russ Melby if you would be available to volunteer your time.

Adult Choir and Bell Choir begin September 11/12

Bethesda's Adult Choir will rehearse on Wednesday evenings from 7-8:15 in the Music Room beginning on September 11. The Carillon (Bell) Choir will rehearse on Thursday evenings from 6-7 in the Music Room beginning September 12. Please consider joining one or both of these fun ensembles! If you have questions, please contact one of the directors!

Randy Ewing (Adult Choir Director) rewing@bethesdaames.org

Nancy Ewing (Carillon Choir Director) newing@bethesdaames.org

O.W.L.s September Trivia

Join O.W.L.s September 12th at 2:00 PM in the Commons for Trivia hosted by Lynn Anderson. Sign up at the Welcome Center to attend.

Community Pride Worship Service September 15th!

Participate in Community Pride Worship Sunday, October 15th at 10:00 AM at ISU Memorial Union in the combined Sun Room and South Ballroom and also available by livestream (to be announced) if you can't make it out to the event.

You're Invited to Women's Ministries Cream Tea Sept. 28!

Women's Ministries invites you to their Cream Tea September 28th from 9:30 - 11:30 am in the Commons! Wear your favorite Tea-party/ Kentucky Derby hat or fascinator and join us for a short informative presentation followed by Tea, scones, fellowship and crafting! Bring your daughters, mothers, sisters, friends and neighbors and join us! 

Scandinavian Coffee Baking Workshops:

If you want to help make delectable Scandinavian treats to prepare for Scandinavian Coffee, baking workshops are as follows in the kitchen:

• Spritz, Tuesday, September 24th @ 1pm-4pm
• Rosettes, Saturday, October 12th @ 9am-2pm
• Krumkake, Thursday, October 10th @9am-12pm
• Lefse, Monday, September 30th @ 1pm-4pm
• Tea rings, Sunday, September 22 @12pm-3pm, potentially second workshop on Sunday, September 29 @12pm-3pm
• Kringla session 1: Monday, October 14, 2-5pm
• Kringla session 2: Monday, October 21st, 5-8pm

Upcoming AMOS Events

• Gathering on Saturday, October 5th from 9 - 4 pm at St. Patrick’s Catholic School (1302 5th St., Perry, IA 50220)
• Fall Variety Show Fundraiser on Saturday, November 9th (time TBD)

Coming Soon to a Church Near You!

Bethesda is going digital! With the help of several gifts, the Memorial & Gifts Team has the funds needed to install a digital sign out on the front lawn. The sign will be easy to see from both directions and will be able to quickly update the information with Bethesda happenings. A Big thank you to all the donors who supported this project and to the church council for their support! The new sign is anticipated mid-September.

Join Bethesda's CROP Walk Team!

The 2024 CROP Walk is being held October 13th at 1:00 pm at Ada Hayden Park. Help provide life-saving support by donating or joining the team today!

Decorate a Trunk for Trunk-or-Treat!

This year’s Trunk-or-Treat is October 30th from 6:30 – 7:30 PM! Congregation members and friends are invited to decorate a trunk for this community event! Register yourself, or a group, at http://tinyurl.com/besthesdatrunkortreat.

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

The Current is a double-sided sheet consisting of four or more announcements that may widely affect the congregation with a schedule of Sunday-to-Sunday activities and order of worship.

The current, the physical copy members pick up each weekend, is limited to a certain number of announcements and is determined by what events will largely affect the congregation as a whole, often on a first come-first serve basis.

The Living Current, an e-newsletter sent every Friday at 9 am, consists of the larger announcements that make The Current as well as other announcements and events that may not affect the majority of the congregation. Such things may include:

• An announcement for an event more than a month away. (As the event nears, it will be placed in The Current while holding its place in The Living Current.)
• Ongoing support and prayers

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

Address: 1517 Northwestern Ave.

Ames, IA 50010-5299

Phone: (515) 232-6256