Pie Social, WELCA Thankful Basket, Beer & Carols + More

A weekly e-newsletter of

Bethesda Lutheran Church

Ames, Iowa

November 22, 2024

Pie Social THIS Saturday & Sunday

Get ready to bring a pie to share with other congregation members this Saturday before worship and Sunday after worship! The pie social is the perfect kick-off to Thanksgiving for bakers and pie consumers alike, and you can sample different flavors prior to the holiday.

Thank You for Donating to Grandma's Attic

We want to thank all of you who contributed items to Grandma's Attic! Your support was invaluable, and we are thrilled to announce that Grandma's Attic was a tremendous success. We found new homes for most of the donated items, and the new owners were delighted with their new items. Even the items that didn't sell found a purpose, as they were taken to Affordables in Story City, and the profit from all items sold at Affordables was given to Bethany Life, thanks to your contributions.

For those of you who mentioned that you had items for Grandma's Attic but couldn't get them to us in time this year, we have good news! The Women's Ministry is here to help. We have storage space for your items for Scandinavian Coffee Grandma's Attic 2025. You can simply leave your items in the Main Office, and we will take care of the rest, moving them upstairs for safekeeping.

WELCA Thankful Basket Filling This Weekend

Attention Bethesda Women: Those of you who attended the cream tea were able to make a thankoffering container and received a Thankoffering strip to attach to it or made one at home.

THIS WEEKEND, we will have a time where we can empty our coins into the Thankful Basket.

Beer & Carols is Back!

Lift your voices, and your glasses, for this seasonal sing-along event featuring Pastor Bryan Simmons and Interim Associate Pastor Christine Cowan! Gather the family and get ready to sing some of your favorite carols Friday, December 6th starting at 6:30 PM at Torrent Brewing Company (504 Burnett Ave).

Share the event on Facebook

Give a Gift from the ELCA Gifts Catalog

As members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), we believe that God is calling us into the world – together. And with generous, loving hands, we can make a difference.

ELCA Good Gifts is your opportunity to provide critical support to the ministries and programs that mean the most to you and the people you love. Browse the Good Gifts Catalog (https://goodgifts.elca.org/all-gifts) and give a gift today!

Ways to Give a Gift from the Catalog:

Give online (https://goodgifts.elca.org/all-gifts)
Give over the phone by calling 800-638-3522
Mail a check to:

Evangelical Lutheran Church of America

P.O. Box 1809

Merrifield, VA 22116-8009

Make all checks payable to "ELCA Good Gifts". To designate your gift, write your gift(s) in the memo line of the check.

Get Ready for A Big Band Christmas

You're invited to get in the holiday spirit with a performance from Denver Bierman and Des Moines' CJC Big Band, featuring members of the Mile High Orchestra Tuesday, December 3rd at 6:30 PM in the Sanctuary. This family-friendly event is free to attend and sure to have you out of your seat and dancing along!

Invite your friends!

$aving Suds Organizers and Volunteers Needed

Saving Suds looking for new individuals to take over the operation in 2025.

Saving Suds is a very well-utilized and recognized ministry of Bethesda, and we would love to keep Saving Suds an active ministry at our church. If you are interested in making a difference in the community and taking over Saving Suds, please get in touch with the church office via email at contact@bethesdaames.org or via phone at 515-232-6256.

Bethesda's Christmas Festival is Coming Soon!

The holiday season can bring lots of joy and cold temperatures, but we're kept warm by Jesus' love for us. All are welcome to join in a celebration of Christmas Sunday, December 15th from 3 - 5 PM in the Commons for an afternoon of music, kids activities, crafts for all ages, steamy beverages, and cookies!

More information will be available soon!

2025 MLK Celebration High School Essay Contest

The Ames-Story County MLK Day Celebration Committee is hosting its 4th Annual Essay Writing Contest to commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. All Ames/Story County area high school students (9th-12th grades) are invited and encouraged to participate.

Essay Contest Topic:

Contestants are asked to share "How Dr. King, Jr. impacted your life or the lives of family, friends, and community, which helps motivate and inspire others to continue his legacy."

Click here for detailed instructions on how to participate and submit your application.

Prize Awards are available for the top three Essays:

1st place prize: $500; 2nd place prize: $250; 3rd place prize:$200

All Ages Invited to Lutheran Lakeside Camp

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

Sponsor a Meal for Living Water Wednesdays! /NO Living Water Wednesdays Next Week 11/27

Would you (or a business you know of) consider a $100 donation to help cover the cost of one of our weekly meals and be our "Sponsor-of-the-Week"? If so, we would love to list your name in that week’s Current! You can donate online starting today or contact Tess Hanson if interested.

As a reminder, there will be no Living Water Wednesdays next week on account of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

Help Bethany Life Residents Attend Chapel in 2025

On behalf of Bethany Life Chaplaincy Volunteers, friends and congregation members are invited to volunteer as wheelchair pushers next year. We encourage you to dedicate one Sunday or more to helping residents attend chapel services.

Interested in volunteering? Contact Arizza Lynch (515-733-3058, arizza.lynch@bethanylife.org) at Bethany Life.

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, the physical copy members pick up each weekend, is limited to the order of worship on the front and a calendar of events on the back. Announcements will now just be in 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: Mark Allen; Marilyn Ause; Pat Banitt; Andrea Blythe; Philip Coney; Linda Fevold; Rita Stewart; Shirley Stromer; Dana Woolery

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.