New Midweek Oasis

Perhaps the most common answer to the question, “Are you religious?” is, “Well, I pray every day.” But is that what makes you religious? Is that what makes a Christian? The amount that we pray? Join us at the Midweek Oasis Bible Study from now until Christmas, as we consider the topic of Prayer. We will learn more about this wondrous gift from our heavenly Father, and the fact that we can come before his throne of grace with our thanks and praise, as well as our needs and requests. And we'll be reminded of why we have this wondrous privilege at all. Wednesday mornings, 10:00 am, Parkway campus, hope to see you there!

"Buy Nothing Appleton" Group at Bethany

Bethany’s Parkway Campus will be hosting the “Buy Nothing Appleton” Facebook page’s toy swap. The group will use the downstairs fellowship hall area on Saturday & Sunday, November 9-10. “Shopping” can occur on Sunday, November 10 from 1-4PM (1-3 is for members of one of the “Buy Nothing Appleton” groups, but the last hour is open for the community.) Sunday morning Bible study will occur upstairs in the sanctuary on that day.

"The End" - Sermon Series

Next weekend the church enters a new season of the church year, "End Times." Our series focus for the next 4 weeks is "The End." Usually I don't like to read the last chapter of a book before I have read everything leading up to it. I don't want to spoil the ending! But in this case, when the eternal welfare of my soul is on the line, when knowing the end will help me get through the middle, I want to know what happens next. God gives us a glimpse of the end. He has promised to be with us through all of the difficulties of this life, and he promises a good ending to life in a broken world. On Reformation Sunday next week, we will see how God gives us strength to face danger and persecution so that we can stand firm to the end.

November AVFP Collection

The November collection for the Apple Valley Food Pantry will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2024. The following is a list of items currently in need of at the pantry.: Healthy adult cereals, chicken noodle and tomato soups, chunky soups, canned chilis and stews, canned pasta, boxed and bagged potato side dishes, assorted boxed crackers, jam/jelly, pork n beans/baked beans, womens shampoo/conditioner and body washes, mens 2-1, 3-1 shampoo/body washes.  Thank you all for your support of the pantry during these trying times.

Church Library

Bethany's church library is growing, and it could use your help! We are currently seeking donations of gently used books to improve our range of children's materials. Primarily, we are seeking children's devotionals and Bible story books. We are not looking for general children's fiction at this time. Donations can be dropped off with Pastor Johnston on weekdays when he is in the office, as well as during weekend services. Thank you for helping Bethany's little ones grow in their knowledge of God's Word!

Bargain Garden Volunteers

Volunteers Needed at the Bargain Garden. The Bargain Garden is blessed to have about 100 volunteers.   Sounds like a lot, right?  While that is an impressive number, there are many shifts to cover.  In a typical month, there are approximately 48 shifts.  If there are 3 workers per shift (4 is preferred), 144-192 volunteers are needed per month, which means many volunteers work more than one shift. Our winter staff is also somewhat smaller because a number of volunteers are snowbirds. This is an appeal for both men and women (there are “jobs” for everyone) from the Federation congregations.  If you can work a shift (3 ½ hours) or two a month, please stop at the store (2725 N. Meade St., Appleton) to pick up a volunteer form.  You will be welcomed and appreciated. The Bargain Garden recently exceeded $2,000,000 in donations to support the teen ministry at Fox Valley Lutheran High School and $209,000 to other WELS charities.  Many thanks to the donors, volunteers, and shoppers who have made this success possible.  To God be the glory; great things He has done!

New Sermon Series - God's Government

Understanding, or perhaps misunderstanding, the relationship between God and rulers, church and state, Christians and government, is not a new concept. We see examples from throughout the Bible of Christians struggling with the proper balance between these and, in many cases, just plain getting it wrong. In our sermon series that begins this weekend, we will look at what God has to tell us in his Scriptures about how we should properly view things like government, conspiracy theories, war, peace, and the stress that all of these things can put on the mind and the conscience of a Christian.

Hope Center Volunteers Needed

Hope Center Volunteers Needed: The Hope Center, a compassion ministry of WELS United located in Appleton, is currently serving more than 180 families every month with practical needs and the good news of Jesus. We are currently in need of additional volunteers Tuesdays (8:30-11:30am), Wednesdays (2-5pm), and Thursdays (12:30-3:30pm). Volunteers with every gift are needed for various roles from packing supply bags to greeting clients to basic office work. Time commitment can vary from once a month to weekly. For more information, contact Jon Pellinen at 920-739-0039 or email information@hope-center.org.

Our Shepherd Updates 10-13-2024

Our Shepherd Updates:

o We need some volunteers to help paint two of our classrooms. A small group is meeting on Thursday, October 24th at 8AM. If you can join them, please reach out to Emily - churchoffice@bethanyappleton.org. Chipping paint is a licensing issue as well as an eye sore.

o Our Shepherd is closed Thursday and Friday, October 24-25.

o The Our Shepherd children will sing “Jesus Loves Me” during our November 9th Saturday worship service at the Lynndale Campus.

FVL Announcements 10/27

FVL’s annual Veterans Day Breakfast & Service is set for Monday, November 11, from 8:30-10:30 AM. Veterans from the FVL Federation and their family members are invited. Information and registration are online at fvlhs.org/news. Please register by the end of the day on October 28.

Join us for the Timothy Trout Sports Center Dedication and Open House on Sunday, November 10, from 1:30-2:30 PM. Weather permitting, the event will begin outside with a brief Dedication, after which all are invited to walk through the new facility.

Our Shepherd Playground Prime & Paint

Many hands make light work! We are searching for a crew to help prime & paint the playground equipment in the large playground at Our Shepherd on Saturday, September 21 at 10AM. If you have a wire brush, paintbrushes, and a 6 ft ladder, please bring those too! This will help our playground meet state licensing requirements! Email churchoffice@bethanyappleton.org with any questions.

Bethany Lutheran Church

920.733.9561

Parkway Campus - 530 W. Parkway Blvd. Appleton, WI 54911

Lynndale Campus - 3335 N. Lynndale Dr. Appleton, WI 54914