Pastor Brown Returns Call

A note from Pastor Brown:

I'm writing to let you know that I have decided to return the call I received to serve in Canada.  Thank you for your prayers and the many words of encouragement that I received from you.  I am grateful to be able to continue serving here at Bethany.  I thank God for all of you and for your faithful service to and support of the gospel ministry that we share.  I look forward to worshiping the Savior with you in our Christmas services this weekend.  Stay safe and warm through the coming storm.  Merry Christmas to all of you!

Our Shepherd Childcare & Parkway Campus Office Closures

Closures between Christmas and New Year’s: The Parkway Campus office will be open Tuesday (12/27) and Wednesday (12/28) 7:30am-3:30pm, and again on Thursday (12/29) 7:30am-11:00am. Please call before coming in to the office to make sure someone is there. Our Shepherd Childcare will be closed Monday through Friday (12/26-12/30).

New Year's Weekend Worship

The weekend of December 31-January 2 services will run as usual. The Lord’s Supper will be offered at all services:

Saturday, December 31 @ 4:30PM (Lynndale Campus)

Sunday, January 1 @ 9AM (Parkway Campus)

Monday, January 2 @ 6PM (Parkway Campus)

Christmas Day at Bethany

Christmas Day worship will be at 9AM on Sunday, December 25 with the Lord’s Supper offered. There will be NO CHURCH on Monday, December 26.

Christmas Eve at Bethany

Join us for our Christmas Eve services on Saturday, December 24 at 10AM (Lynndale Campus), 4PM (Parkway Campus) or 6PM (Parkway Campus & Livestream)

Maura Hegman Receives Call

Maura Hegman, Staff and Curriculum Director at Our Shepherd Childcare, has received a call to serve as 3K teacher at Peace Lutheran Early Childhood Center in Sun Prairie, WI. She invites your prayers and thoughts as she discusses this decision with the pastors, directors, and teachers at Our Shepherd and Bethany. You can email Maura at maura@bethanyappleton.org

Christmas FaithFit

There will be an all Christmas music Faith Fit Dance Fitness class on Tuesday, December 13 at 5:15PM in the Praise Center on the Lynndale Campus. All women and ability levels are welcome to this 45 minute class. There is free childcare available during the class.

Sunday School Christmas Program

The Sunday School children will present their Christmas program on Sunday, December 18 at our 9AM worship service. There will be no communion offered at this service, though there WILL be communion at the Saturday and Monday services that weekend. The children will also practice on Saturday, December 17 from 9-11AM. There is also no Sunday School after the program on the 18th.

FVL Choir Concert

The FVL Choirs invite you to attend their annual Christmas Concert on Sunday, 12/18 at 1 PM. The concert is free, and all are invited to join with the choirs as we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus. It will also be livestreamed on the FVLHS YouTube Channel.

2023 Offering Envelopes Now Available

2023 offering envelopes are available in the Welcome Center area on both campuses.

Pastor Brown Receives Call

Pastor Brown has received a call to serve as pastor at the dual parish ministry of Mighty Fortress, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada and St. John’s Wetaskawin, Alberta, Canada. Please keep Pastor Brown, Missy, and their family in your prayers. He would welcome any thoughts you might have on these calls and his current service at Bethany.

Bethany's Young Adult Ministry Update

A young Christian's early adult years present an exciting and challenging time in their life. As such, Bethany has a special Young Adult Ministry to help continue to support our members ages 18 to 25, whether they are near home or far away. If you fit this age bracket (or have a child who does), please take a minute to fill out the short survey by scanning this code. Your information will not be shared with anyone outside Bethany Church Leadership and will only be used to send devotions or recommend nearby churches if you are away for school or work. Those who prefer may also contact the Bethany Church Office directly.

Adopt-A-Family Christmas Giving Tree

Once again this year, Bethany has teamed up with The Hope Center to bless a few families at Christmas! There is a tree in the narthex area of the Parkway Campus that will have ornaments on it that you may take home, purchase those items, wrap them, attach the original ornament to the back, and bring back to church (putting gifts underneath the tree) by Monday, December 19. There is only one tree, and it is on the Parkway Campus. Contact the church office with questions.

December 3 - Little Blessings Play Group

The Little Blessings Play Group will meet for the final time this session on Saturday, December 3 at 10AM at the Lynndale Campus. We will celebrate Christmas with our little ones in a variety of ways. Please arrive early to check-in.

Bethany Teen's Christmas Get-Together

Sunday, December 11, the Bethany Teens will celebrate Christmas by going to the Memorial Park Light Display in Kimberly (218 E. Kimberly Ave.) at 6:30pm with hot chocolate, dessert, and Bible study at the Johnson house (N8595 Winding Trail Dr., Menasha) afterwards. Rides are available for teens who need them, leaving the Bethany Parkway Campus at 6:15pm and returning around 8:30pm. Let Pastor Dan know if you need a ride prior to the event.

HornS-A-Plenty Christmas Concert

Horns A Plenty Christmas is an organization that offers horn players young and old the opportunity to come together and perform Christmas music for the general public. This year’s concert will be held in the FVLHS auditorium on December 17th at 2:00 pm. Admission is free. Special guest artist is Joe Cradler, a member of The President’s Own United States Marine Band. Visit their website at https://www.hornsaplentychristmas.com/.

FVL Choir at Bethany

The FVL A Cappella choir, The Choraliers, will be singing in our worship service here at Bethany on Sunday, December 11 at 9AM. Pastor Brad Krause from FVL will be our guest preacher that day as well. Join us to hear our gospel promise in word and song!

Free Advent Devotional

We have free Advent devotional books from Martin Luther College, the WELS College of Ministry available on both campuses for you to take and enjoy for the month of December. The book is entitled, “Word Made Flesh: The Historical Reality of Christmas.”

“Discover how the gospels of John the Elder and Luke the Historian record the details of the incarnation - God becoming man. Each of these 25 devotions is prompted by a question about the historical accuracy of the Christmas account. Each reminds us that Christmas is not a sweet children’s story or fairy tale. It is a historical event. In our skeptical times, John and Luke help us to reaffirm the objective reality of Christmas. We hope these devotions will remind you that we need more than just a spiritual idea or inspiring story. We need a real flesh-and-blood Savior, one who stepped into human history, changing it- and us - forever.”

Our Shepherd Christmas Program

The Our Shepherd children will be presenting their Christmas program entitled, “It’s A Birthday Celebration” on Friday, December 9 at 4PM in the Praise Center at the Lynndale Campus. This presentation of Jesus’ birth in narration and song will also be livestreamed on both Bethany and Our Shepherd’s Facebook pages.

Parkway Campus Choir on Christmas Eve

We are looking for people who would like to sing two pieces in the choir on Christmas Eve (both Parkway services at 4 and 6PM) If you are interested in being a part of the choir, please contact Corrie Koepsell - corrie.koepsell14@gmail.com. The Choir will practice December 7 & 14 at 6:45PM and December 21 at 7PM.