Join Us for Café Bethesda!

Happy 4th of July! Be sure to join us tomorrow at Saturday worship for Café Bethesda, beginning at 5 PM, for a variety of treats. If you attend, feel free to bring something to share!

Physical Copies of the Semi-annual Report Available

Physical copies of Bethesda's Semi-annual report are now available at the Welcome Center to pick up before or after worship if you would like a physical copy.

Additional Ladies Lunch Bunch Dates!

If you're interested in attending the Ladies Lunch Bunch, but can't make the May 8th date, mark your calendar for outings the second Thursday of the month at 11:30 AM June through September!

July 10th - Bar La Tosca (303 Welch Ave. on the porch)

August 14th - La Casa Maya (631 Lincoln Way)

September 11th - Boulder Tap House (114 S Duff Ave.)

All ladies are welcome!

Learn more or volunteer for Scandinavian Coffee

All interested in learning more or wanting to help with Scandinavian Coffee are invited to the Scandinavian Coffee Volunteer meeting Saturday, July 12th at 9:30 AM in the Commons!

Questions? Contact Elaine Edwards, (785) 477-2412 or elaineandmark81@gmail.com.

New Fellowship Groups in Development

Young Adult / Young Family Social Group - meet and socialize with other Bethesda members your age

Card Club - learn new card games and play old favorites

Coffee Club - join us at an appointed time and place for a simple get together of coffee and conversation

If you are interested in being a part of any of these clubs, please contact Shelly Meinhard at shellymeinhard@gmail.com or 515-451-6050 to get on an email list for more information as these groups are developed. Also please let her know if you have another club idea you would like to see at Bethesda!

Ladies Wind Down July 11!

The next Women's Wind Down gathering is at Gretchen Mosher's house, 2111 Ashmore Circle, on Friday, July 11 at 7:00 pm.

If you're able, bring a snack or drink to share. If you haven't attended a Wind Down before, consider joining us for this one. We're a friendly group, so don't be shy. We love to get to know our fellow church members!

All are Welcome to O.W.L.s Luncheon & Celebration July 17

O.W.L.s is hosting a lunch followed by a short program to celebrate all of the members of Bethesda who are 80 and older. If you are 80 or older, please try to attend the lunch even if you normally don’t come to O.W.L.s. We want to have a good turnout of our 80+ members. If you are under 80 you are welcome too - we want people to come celebrate our members who are 80+.

Please sign up at the welcome center or with the church office by July 13 so we know how many are attending. 

Grieving the Death of a Spouse? GriefShare is Here for You.

Join us July 24th from 2 - 4 PM in the Conference Room for GriefShare: Loss of a Spouse, a two-hour, video-based event for individuals who are grieving the death of a spouse with the opportunity to share afterward. This class is free for all to attend. Contact the church office, kslocum@prodigy.net, ejanke28@gmail.com, or swansonrp@gmail.com for more information.

GriefShare Begins August 24

Another 13-week series of GriefShare begins Sunday, August 24th. Join facilitators Kathy Slocum, Pat Swanson, and Ellen Janke in the Conference Room from 2:00-4:00 PM each Sunday for this transformative program. This program is separate from Loss of a Spouse. Contact kslocum@prodigy.net, ejanke28@gmail.com, or swansonrp@gmail.com for more information or register below.

An Update on Bethesda's Security Plan

In one of our final phases of Bethesda's security plan, council approved the installation of security cameras at the main entrances. The cameras act as a deterrent to unwanted activity and were put in place to ensure the safety of the church and the congregation.

Compete or Eat at the BBQ Cook-Off!

Sunday, July 27th at 5:30 PM show off your BBQ skills for a chance to win fabulous prizes (or come just come eat delicious food)! Sign-up is available now online (click here) or on the Welcome Center for both attendees and competitors!

Remember, attendees VOTE for their favorite dish using cash, and those donations will benefit the Mary Greely Compassion Fund.

Welcome Heather Holcomb to Bethesda!

Please welcome Heather Holcomb to Bethesda as our new Administrative Specialist! Heather began her duties Monday and will be training under Lynn until Lynn's retirement.

Originally from Northwest Iowa, Heather has lived in several places around the state but spent the last 16 years splitting her time between Iowa and Kentucky, where her husband, Jason (also from northwest Iowa), was a professor of Geography and Global Studies. Jason retired early from teaching and will be shifting careers, so they decided to move back to Iowa and chose to settle in Nevada. Heather and Jason have a 12-year-old son and two delightful cats. Outside of work, Heather's hobbies include a diverse range of activities, from sewing and woodworking to several other crafts that involve fabricating things.  

Elizabeth Matthies Joins Bethesda as SPLASH Children's Church Coordinator

Please welcome our new SPLASH Children's Church Coordinator, Elizabeth Matthies! Elizabeth has already jumped in and helped with Vacation Bible School, further acclimating her to her role.

Elizabeth, a resident of Boone and an active member of her church, brings a wealth of experience to her role. As a teacher, social worker, and Synod authorized minister, she is well-equipped to guide our SPLASH Children's Church. In her leisure time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, cooking, and cherishing moments with her family. She is a proud mother of two 16-year-old children, a son and a daughter (not twins), and has been happily married to her husband, Ben, for 21 years, and has two four-legged fur babies.

Take Control of Your Health

Life Line Screening will be here at Bethesda Lutheran Church of Ames on Thursday, August 28, 2025 offering safe, painless, non-invasive preventive health screenings that are typically not a part of a routine physical. To be more proactive about your health for yourself, your family and your community.

Come Early for the Prelude Hymn Sing July 13th

Sunday, July 13th the prelude worship music will be a Hymn Sing, so come early to request a hymn and sing along!

Save the Date for Scandinavian Coffee!

It's still summer, but it's never too early to mark your calendars for our 69th annual Scandinavian Coffee & Craft Fair October 18th from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM! With a plethora of crafts, food, and fun for all it's an event you won't want to miss!

Know Thy Shelf Book Club's July Read

Please join us for Know Thy Self Thursday Bethesda Book Club's next book, Abundance by Ezra Klein. We will meet at 7 pm on Thursday, July 31, in The Crossroads. Skipping August, on September 4th, we will discuss The Names by Florence Knapp.

The book club is open to everyone, and there’s no obligation to attend every time. If we’re reading a book that interests you, join us! If you haven’t read the book but you’d like to listen to the discussion, join us! 

You're Invited to Lynn Anderson's July Retirement Party!

After 17 years dedicated to being our friendly and incredibly knowledgeable Administrative Specialist, Lynn Anderson will retire at the end of July. Lynn would like to invite all of the congregation to her retirement party after service on July 27th. Lynn has thoroughly enjoyed her position and getting to know each and every member during her time at Bethesda.

Give a Gift Online

Don't carry cash or checks? You can set up a recurring or one-time gift to Bethesda online. You can also donate to organizations like LSI or Global Refuge through Bethesda by selecting "other" on our giving form.