Our Shepherd Childcare is hosting an In-house Vacation Bible School for its students the week of August 15th - 19th. The theme is : Jesus, Water of Life. The children will enjoy a Bible story and devotion, as well as crafts, games, and activities.
Swimming and Supporting the WELS AVFP
The WELS Apple Valley Food Pantry is pleased to invite everyone to participate in a food drive sponsored by Thrivent on Saturday, August 6, 2022, 9:30-11:30am, at Erb swimming pool, 1800 N. Morrison St, Appleton. Bring non-perishable food items for the Pantry to receive a pass to the pool and a free Kona ice. FOR EACH ITEM DONATED, THE PANTRY WILL RECEIVE $3.00 UP TO $3,000 FROM THRIVENT. To swim, please register in advance at Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/Aug6Pool. You are still welcome to donate and join us for a Kona Ice if you prefer not to swim. In the event of inclement weather, the pool may be closed, but Thrivent will still collect donations under the Thrivent Tent at Erb Park and all donors will receive Kona Ice.
Christian Education Tuition Assistance Fund
Bethany supports the Christian education of our members in a variety of ways. There is our early childhood ministry, Our Shepherd Childcare, on our Lynndale Campus. There are the various adult and youth Bible classes that we offer here at Bethany throughout the year. There is our partnership with and annual commitment to Fox Valley Lutheran High School.
There is also the tuition support that we provide to member children who are attending one of our area Lutheran Elementary Schools. Beyond the separate operating budget for Our Shepherd Childcare, each year more than 20% of our budgeted expenses at Bethany are directed to supporting Christian education in one form or another, which demonstrates the value we have placed on this part of our ministry. But with the number of students from Bethany who are attending area Lutheran schools (almost 30 for next year), the need for support regularly exceeds what our budget allows. In order to supplement this, we have established a separate Christian Education Tuition Assistance Fund so that we may be able to continue to support this worthy effort in the years ahead. If you are looking for a place to direct a special gift, please consider this fund. So many of us have benefited from Lutheran schools ourselves, or we have seen the blessing that these schools have been for our children and grandchildren. By God’s grace we hope to be able to generously support all kinds of Christian education here at Bethany for many years to come. For more information on how you can support Christian Education here at Bethany, please contact Emily in the church office.
Our Shepherd Janitorial Services
Our Shepherd Childcare’s current cleaning company is no longer accepting the center as one of their clients as of the end of July. While we are on the hunt for new cleaners, perhaps there is someone (a company or individual) that you know who may be interested in this work? We need janitorial services 3 hours per day, 15 hours per week, after 5PM (after childcare operations) Monday through Friday. Please contact Ann Potter with any interest, questions, or leads – (920) 733-3344 or ampotter@bethanyappleton.org
School Supplies Collection
Bethany is partnering with the WELS Kingdom Workers Foster Support Program to gather school supplies for youth in foster care in Outagamie and Calumet counties. We are collecting new school supplies that families will receive at their foster care picnic in August. Specifically: Crayola markers (washable, classic colors), Crayola crayons and colored pencils (24 ct), Ticonderoga No.1 pencils, large Pink Pearl erasers, Elmer’s washable glue and glue sticks, poly folders ( 2 pocket, no prongs), wide-ruled notebooks, composition notebooks, highlighters, sticky notes, water bottles, and backpacks (for children and teens). Baskets will be on both campuses from July 15 to July 31st. Questions? Contact the Bethany church office.
Outdoor Weed Pulling - Help Needed
Both our Parkway and Lynndale Campuses could use some serious weed pulling work. If this sounds like a way that you could volunteer your time and serve, please contact Emily in the office – churchoffice@bethanyappleton.org or (920) 733-9561.
Bethany Summer Bash
On Tuesday, July 26, 2022, Bethany and Our Shepherd will host the first annual BETHANY SUMMER BASH on our Lynndale Campus from 5:00-7:00PM.
We will provide an opportunity for Bethany members, Our Shepherd families, and our surrounding neighbors of the Lynndale Campus to gather together and get to know one another with free food, games, and even the Kona shaved ice truck!
Pastor Johnston Installation Weekend
Bethany will install its newest pastor, Dan Johnston, on Saturday, July 16 at our 4:30PM service (Lynndale Campus) and on Sunday, July 17 at our 9:00AM service (Parkway Campus). Rev. Jesse Johnston, pastor at Mt. Calvary, Menasha, will be our guest preacher. There will be a light reception after both services where members will have an opportunity to greet and welcome the Johnston family. There is no Bible study on Sunday morning or Monday evening service on the 18th. Please make plans to attend Saturday or Sunday.
Johnston Card Shower
To welcome the Johnston family, Bethany is throwing them a “gift card shower.” Those who would like, may bless them with a gift card and a note as they settle into their new home. Please have all cards to one of the collection boxes (on both campuses) or to the church office by Tuesday, July 12. Scrip will be available to purchase after services Saturday and Sunday this weekend, or weekdays 7AM – 5PM at the Our Shepherd front desk.
Fourth of July Schedule
There will be no evening worship service on Monday, July 4th
Hymnal Donation
Bethany, along with a few other area churches, was able to donate our “old” hymnals to our sister churches in Africa. Here’s a message from Pastor John Roebke – “On behalf of One Africa Team I want to thank those who helped gather together the donation of 500 hymnals. This is going to be a great blessing to your brothers and sisters in Africa. May God bless their efforts to reach out to more people in their communities by offering English language worship services.”
Summer Bible Study
Summer Bible studies on our Parkway Campus will meet following Sunday Worship @ 10:05am. This week we’ll begin looking at several parables from the Gospel of Luke. All these parables have much to teach us about our God and much to teach us about our lives of following Jesus
Family Forum & Voters' Meeting - June 20, 2022
Please join us for a Family Forum/Voters’ Meeting on Monday, June 20th at 7PM in the sanctuary on the Parkway Campus. There will be an update from the Building Committee. They will also be seeking approval from the voters on some preliminary site work necessary to move forward with the project.
Baa'rista Bean Grand Re-Opening
The Baa’rista Bean will hold its GRAND RE-OPENING on Saturday, June 11, prior to our worship service, 3:45-4:25PM. If you have any interest in working at the Baa’rista Bean, please contact churchoffice@bethanyappleton.org for more information.
INstallation choir
Practices for the installation choir (July 17) will be held Sunday, June 26 at 11am and Sunday, July 10 at 11am (both after Bible study), and Wednesday, July 13 at 6pm. All ages are welcome to join us – but children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. If interested, please email churchoffice@bethanyappleton.org.
Memorial Day Weekend Schedule
Our summer Sunday service schedule changes THIS WEEKEND - ONE service at 9:00AM. There is no Bible Study this weekend. There will be no Monday night service on Memorial Day.
The church office and Our Shepherd Childcare will both be closed on Memorial Day - Monday, May 30.
June 2022 Food Pantry Collection
The June collection for the Apple Valley Food Pantry will be held the weekend of June 11 & 12, 2022. The following items are in need of at the pantry at this time: crackers, cereal (corn flakes, rice cereals most needed) pancake syrup, pork n beans/baked beans, tomato soup, pasta sauce (in plastic containers preferably or tin cans), spaghetti noodles only at this time, canned mandarin oranges, canned pasta, paper towel, and body/hand lotions. Thank you for your continued support of the pantry. Prayers are still needed as they continue to look for new space.
Bentz & Schlawin Retirements
Bethany members Mr. Tim Bentz, Mrs. Denise Schlawin, and Mr. Matthew Schlawin will retire from Fox Valley Lutheran High School at the end of this school year. These three faculty members have a combined 113 years of service at FVL! On Sunday, June 5, we will recognize their years of service in our 9AM worship service, and prior to Bible Study, there will be refreshments and snacks, and an opportunity to congratulate them on their retirements!
Summer Park Playdates
Bethany will host Park Playdates this summer! The group will meet every other Wednesday beginning June 15, 2022 from 9:45AM – 10:45AM. The purpose of this group is to get kids interacting with each other, provide an opportunity for parents to meet families in a similar chapter of life, dig into God’s Word, and provide a fun out-of-the-house time for kids during the summer! Children ages 0-10 can come, and adults (parents, grandparents, babysitters, etc.) are required to stay.
For more information, contact Samantha Stegman - sammipk13@yahoo.com or (920) 428-2033. To aid in our planning, please register ahead of time at https://forms.gle/C3Z7Hgo6MVRBqMTAA
o 6/29/2022- Derks Park (Appleton); Bug Theme
o 7/13/2022- Pierce Park (Appleton); Camping Theme
o 7/27/2022- Erb Park (Appleton); Dinosaur Theme
o 8/10/2022- Menomonee Park Zoo (Oshkosh); Animal Theme
Summer Worship Schedule To Begin
Next Sunday, our new summer worship service schedule will begin - ONE service at 9:00AM. There will be no Monday night service on Memorial Day. There is no Bible Study Memorial Day Weekend, but after that, there will be one at 10AM on Sundays in the summer.