Calling all Bethany families with children going into Preschool-5th grade in the 2024-2025 school year! You are invited to an ice cream social hosted by Bethany's Sunday School program on June 23rd at 10 AM on the west side lawn at the Parkway campus! Come for ice cream and fellowship whether your children attend Sunday School or not. To aid in the planning process, use the QR code on the sign in the Welcome Area of both campuses or use the following link to sign up if you are interested in attending. https://forms.gle/yqCmy2z4cForgjNK6
Memorial Day Closings/Cancellations
Our Shepherd Childcare and Family Ministry, as well as the Parkway Campus church office will be closed on Monday, May 27. There is no Sunday Bible study and no Monday evening church on Memorial Day Weekend.
VBS Help at Our Shepherd Childcare
Are you able to give of your time to assist with our Vacation Bible School at Our Shepherd Childcare & Family Ministry this year? VBS will be held Monday, June 17 -Thursday, June 20 from 9AM-11AM or so each day. This is an "in-house" VBS for the children in our care. The theme for this year's VBS is "Superheroes!" We need leaders for outdoor games, crafts, and an activity. Contact Emily – churchoffice@bethanyappleton.org if interested!
Doughnuts with Grown-Ups at Our Shepherd
Our Shepherd Childcare and Family Ministry is hosting a “Doughnuts with Grown-ups” event for the children and their grown-ups in the Praise Center on Friday morning, May 17 at 7AM. Would you like to help serve juice and doughnuts? Contact Emily – churchoffice@bethanyappleton.org
FVL Announcements 5/10/2024
· The FVL General Board meets Tuesday, May 21, at 7 PM in the Media Center. The meeting is open to parents and Federation members.
· FVL's International Program has 23 applicants who are urgently waiting for host families in 2024-2025. More applications are coming in each week, and if host families are not found, we will start losing students. For information go to fvlhs.org/hosting or contact Monica Uhlenbrauck (muhlenbrauck@fvlhs.org). This is a wonderful ministry opportunity for your family!
Teacher Appreciation @ OS
May 6-10 is Teacher Appreciation Week! One of the ways we are celebrating the teachers at Our Shepherd Childcare and Family Ministry, is having people write notes of thanks that will be shared with the teachers. There are thank you cards on both campuses this weekend for Bethany members to also extend your thanks to them too!
End of Year Program
You are all invited as Our Shepherd Childcare and Family Ministry’s children in Rooms 9 & 10 and Praise & Graze present an end of the year program on Friday, May 10 at 10AM.
Midweek Oasis Bible Study in May
“For such a time as this.” It’s perhaps the most famous verse from the book of Esther, the topic of our Midweek Oasis Bible Study for the month of May (May 8,15, and 22 to be exact). We’ll be taking a pretty quick overview of this most interesting book. It is the account of God preserving his people during captivity in Persia, as well as full of political intrigue. It also encourages us to think about how God might use us when and where he has placed us in life. Come join us!
Confirmation 2024
Confirmation here at Bethany will take place on May 12 during our 9AM service. We have two confirmands this year – Carys Vermullen and Braden Wills. There is no Sunday School or Bible study that morning. Instead, a time of fellowship to encourage these young people.
Ascension FESTIVAL SERVICE
On Thursday, May 9, at 6:30 pm, you are invited to an Ascension Festival Worship Service at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 302 Morrison St. Pastor Ryan Kolander, Riverview, will preach. Pastor Matt Holtz, from St. Paul, will preside. The service will feature holy communion, joint children's and adult choirs, and instrumental ensemble. Dessert fellowship will follow the service. Come join your fellow Christians to celebrate our risen and ascended Lord!
May AVFP Collection Information
The May 2024 collection for the food pantry will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2024. The following are items currently in need of at the pantry: Hamburger, tuna and chicken boxed meals, canned tomato and chicken noodle soups, jam/jelly, cookies, all crackers, canned tomato (diced, sauce and stewed), adult cereals (Total, Special K, Chex, etc), shampoos, conditioners (or 2-in-1 hair products) and body washes (including men's 3-in-1 products). Just a reminder that the pantry does not give expired food to our recipients. Thank you all for your support of the pantry.
Donations for New Stroller
Our Shepherd Childcare and Family Ministry is currently seeking donations to offset the cost of a new 6 seater stroller for our infants. The new stroller costs nearly $1,000, but thanks to the generosity of a couple of you, we only need $200 more to reach our goal! If you would like to contribute to the cost of this important safety update, you may give your donations directly to Our Shepherd or leave your gift in the offering basket (with a note "for Our Shepherd stroller") If you are writing a check, please make it out to Our Shepherd Childcare.
Alvin Street Construction
The pavement reconstruction of Alvin St. from Wisconsin Ave. to Marquette St. has started. When our block of Alvin St. is closed, please reserve parking lot space for those with physical limitations and do not park in the slanted parking spaces.
FVL Announcements 4/12/2024
· Due to construction on the FVL campus, the spring electronics recycling drive is canceled for 2024. Go to fvlhs.org/news for alternative options.
· Can you help? FVL's International Program already has 25 applicants from China, S. Korea, Thailand, Germany, France, and Italy who are waiting for host families in 2024-2025. More applications are coming in each week. For information go to fvlhs.org/hosting or contact Monica Uhlenbrauck (muhlenbrauck@fvlhs.org). This is a wonderful ministry opportunity for your family!
Let's Pull Together!
Monday, April 29 is the last day that Our Shepherd Childcare and Family Ministry is collecting pull tabs from soda cans, canned pet food, and other canned goods to support the Ronald McDonald House on behalf of Josie Priewe, the daughter of Pastor Tim Priewe from Mount Olive. She has spent a lot of time recently at Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee, and the Priewes stay at the Ronald McDonald House which saves them on lodging and food.
College-Age WELS Retreat
This summer, from May 29th to June 2nd, Camp Croix (WELS campground in Danbury, WI) will host the second annual Light of the World Retreat for college-aged Christians. If you are anywhere between entering college/18yo to exiting college/22-23yo), get more detailed information about the Light of the World Retreat at: campcroix.org/college-retreat.
Small Group Studies Begin April 7
Our small group Bible studies begin again the week of April 7. If you’re interested in joining a group this spring, please speak with one of the pastors – they’d love to get you connected!
Valley Teen Night at Bethany
The next Valley Teen Night event is taking place Sunday, April 14, 6-8pm, and it is Bethany's turn to host! This event is open to those in grades 8-12 and will take place at our Lynndale Campus. The evening's schedule will include time for fellowship, snacks, Bible study, and teen-led worship. If you are a Bethany teen, please consider attending this event. Pastor Dan may also be tapping some of you on the shoulder to help out, so be ready for that!
New Member Welcome
There will be an orientation for our newest Bethany members on Tuesday, April 9 at 6PM in the Praise Center at the Lynndale Campus. We’ll then more formally welcome those new members in church April 13-14.
OUTDOOR CLEAN-UP
Our Outdoor Clean-Up on both campuses has been rescheduled for Saturday, May 11 at 8AM. Please make plans to join us as we pull weeds, spread mulch, and more!