Small Group Studies

Looking for an opportunity to study God’s Word in a more relaxed environment? Join one of our Small Group Bible Studies beginning the week of September 13th. Members will gather in groups of 7-12 people and delve deeper into God’s Word through a study on the previous Sunday’s sermon. Can’t make it every week? That’s ok! The studies also break for Thanksgiving/Christmas and Lent. Look for the sign-up sheets in the entryway.

Would you be willing to lead your own Small Group? Pick where you want to host the study, and study guides are prepared for you to make it easy to facilitate the studies. If you are interested, please contact Kent Uhlenbrauck at kentuhlenbrauck@gmail.com. Have an idea for a study not based on the sermon? Contact Pastor Matt at mdkrenke@bethanyappleton.org.

Sunday School Help

Looking for a way to help out on Sunday mornings? We have a new Sunday School Director, Ruth Lehmann, and she could use more teachers to help teach our kids valuable Bible stories and lessons. Lessons and materials are provided, and you don’t have to teach every Sunday (unless you want to, of course!).

If you are interested, sign up via the sign-up sheet in the Welcome Area, or contact Ruth at ruth.h.lehmann@gmail.com, or come to a short meeting for teachers on Sunday, Aug. 30th right after Sunday Studies (about 11:20 a.m.). Current Sunday School teachers are welcome to attend this meeting as well.

Family Bible Study Hour

You and your family are welcome to join us after the service on Sunday mornings at 10:15 a.m. for Family Bible Study Hour starting Sunday Sept. 13th. Children meet in the lower level classrooms for Sunday School (6th-8th grade meet upstairs), and adults meet in the lower-level fellowship hall for Sunday Studies. We look forward to enjoying this time of fellowship and Bible Study with you!

Anniversary Choir Invitation

Do you enjoy singing? We'd love to have you join the choir for Bethany's 85th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, September 20! No matter your level of experience, if you enjoy singing and would like to be part of this special celebration, you're warmly invited to join us.

Rehearsals:

Wednesdays • 6:30–7:00 p.m.

Church Balcony

- August 26

- September 2

- September 9

- September 16

Come celebrate this special milestone through music. I hope you'll join us!

-Rhoda Belter

Service team volunteer opportunities

Watering Team

The newly seeded grass around the church and the annex needs watering twice a day until it gets established. Each area requires about 20 minutes of sprinkling so switching on or moving sprinklers would take about an hour of your time. A team of volunteers would ensure this gets done without making it an overwhelming task. If you are willing to take a morning or evening shift a couple times a week contact Judy Priebe (847-244-7668 or jpriebe417@gmail.com) for more information and to be put on the schedule. A watering system with timers will be in place and a brief training on its usage will be provided.

Window Team

The new storm windows for the church lower level have arrived and installation is starting. After removing the old storm windows, the framing and inside windows need to have loose paint, caulk and glazing removed. Then reglazing the inside windows, caulking the framework and painting the inside window sashes, casings and framework. And last but not least, installing the new storms. Help with any portion of this project will be greatly appreciated. Anyone interested in helping with any part of this project can contact Russ Wagner (920-515-7591 or wagner.russell1@gmail.com).

Usher/Greeter Teams being prepared

Usher/greeter teams are being prepared for October 2026 through September 2027. It will be assumed that you will continue to serve unless you contact the church office or Royal Uhlenbrauck (920)739-0089 or uhlroy63@hotmail.com). If you are not currently serving as an usher or greeter and are interested in doing so, please contact Royal Uhlenbrauck. All contacts should be made by Tuesday, August 18th.

Video Production Help

Do you have video production skills that you would like to put to good use? The Growth Team is looking for someone to help produce some promotional videos for our various Bible Study opportunities here at Bethany. If this would be of interest to you, please contact Kent Uhlenbrauck at kentuhlenbrauck@gmail.com.

Apple Vally Food Pantry News

WELS Apple Valley Food Pantry News: The August 2026 collection for the pantry is Saturday, August 8. Make sure all things are at church by August 2. The following is the list of items currently in need of at the pantry: Adult cereals, canned pasta, canned peas and corn, jam/jelly, mashed potato sides, boxed potato sides, all canned fruit and applesauce, tomato and chicken noodles soups, spaghetti noodles and spaghetti sauces, women's shampoos and conditioners and body washes, boxed rice side dishes and paper towel. Thank you for your support of the pantry!

Call the office before stopping in

The month of July is full of vacations for our staff members. The vacation days for each person are all listed on the July Calendar if you would like to see the exact dates. If you aren’t sure when/if people will be in the office, call 920-733-9561 beforehand to make sure someone is there before you stop in. If you need immediate pastoral assistance, feel free to call either Pastor Krenke at 920-728-6097, or Pastor Belter at 920-277-5914.

FVL Parking Lot work

Summer work on the FVL parking lot has begun. Concrete upgrades are continuing in the tower parking lot on the south side of school and the south driveway off Meade Street. The JJ/Edgewood driveway and the north Meade Street driveway will remain open. Please use the south lot to access the School and SCRIP Offices through mid-July.

Service Team Update

The service team has been busy with a number of projects over the past couple of months. The church landscaping update is well underway. With the removal of the shrubs and plants, weed fabric, stones and edging will be replaced around the foundation. Failing concrete has been replaced and railings are coming. Watch for emails and weekly newsletter articles about opportunities to help.

Get Moving Women's Event in Milwaukee

Women, you are invited to the Get Moving Women’s Event August 14-15th at Grace Lutheran Downtown MKE. If you’ve struggled to step out of the shame, hurt or grief of the past or are overwhelmed by the obstacles you’re currently facing, these two days are designed to give you the tools to get moving into God’s purpose for your life. Amber Albee Swenson will teach four sessions: Who You Are is Not Who You Need to Be, Moving On is Biblical, Deal with the Feels and Be Brave. Worship will be led by Emily Krill and friends. For the schedule of events, catered meals, and to register visit amberalbeeswenson.com.

Apple Vally Food Pantry News

The July 2026 collection for the pantry will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026. The last weekend to get items in will be July 4th. The following is the list of items currently in need of at the pantry: Adult cereals, helper meals, tomato and chicken noodle soups, cream of mushroom and chicken soups, canned peaches, fruit cocktail and applesauce, canned peas, carrots and mixed vegetables, canned chicken and SPAM®, hand soap, dish soap and 35 loads or less laundry soaps. Please keep the pantry in mind during the summer months as donations tend to drop off. Thank you.

Bird Tales VBS is almost here! Join us!

VBS at Bethany is soon! June 15-18, 9:00-11:30. Register with the QR code on the posters around church or at https://www.bethanyappleton.org/vbs-registration-2026. Talk to Pastor Belter, Pastor Krenke, or Arlyss and Eric Troge to help with this outreach effort. We will also be needing snack donations for VBS once we know the number of children attending. Call Arlyss Troge at 920-915-7363 if you haven’t already signed up.

Bethany Lutheran Church

920.733.9561

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