Bethany Lutheran Church and

Early Childhood Center Newsletter

Bethany Lutheran Church

1000 W. 26th Street South

Wichita, KS 67217

Church Phone 316-265-7415

BECC Phone 316-265-3033

www.bethanylutheranwichita.org

Worship Service Sunday 9:00 AM

& 11:45 AM ECC chapel Wed. 9am

Sunday School & Adult Bible Study

Lifetree Café

Sunday 10:30 AM

Vacancy Pastor: Deacon

Mike Parmenter

Early Childhood Center

Serving children ages One through Five

Program Director

Dara Vernia

316-265-3033

August 2019

Join us for a presentation from the youth who attended

Sunday, August 4

During first service: The youth will share their Bible Study verse, pictures from the event and one of their songs

Brunch will be served at 10:15. Egg burritos with your choice of meat and a yogurt bar with fruit and granola.

During this time you can question the youths on their experiences.

The Church has a profound responsibility to pay attention to young people.

The Lord cares for, forgives and loves His children even at their most tender stages of life: while they are in the womb and as they grow and are shaped in their knowledge of the world and of Him.

Learning from their pastors, teachers, youth leaders, Sunday school teachers and parents, young people discover the love of Christ and are emboldened to share that Good News with all whom they encounter (witness). As they grow in the love of the Lord and His gifts, they, in turn, reach out in love with their own gifts to their friends at school, their classmates, their congregations and their own families (mercy).

And finally, steeped in an understanding of what it means to be and live as a Christian in this world, they get to have a full and exciting fellowship with other people — especially those their own age — who believe and worship and think the way they do (life together), enjoying the support and camarade-rie of the body of Christ, the Church.

If you want a glimpse of what that life together looks like, try visiting a Mass Event at a National LCMS Youth Gathering. There’s such joy and energy when 25,000 Lutheran teens get together! Youth ministry and Lutheran education are not passing fancies for the LCMS; they are hallmarks of our work in the world. Our young people are part of the Church of today, and they are the Church’s future. That’s why enhancing edu-cation and youth ministry comprise one of the Synod’s six mission priorities.

Please pray for the Lord to raise up faithful young people in our midst. In Christ, Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, President, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Women’s Bible Study meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month at 7:00pm. You are invited to join us. We continue to use Bad Girls of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them, by Liz Curtis Higgs.

We read the book and delve into their stories in the Bible to learn more about these women. Some we are familiar with - some not so much. We’d love for you to join us. For more information, please contact Emily Schaefer.

Breakfast: Meets on the 3rd Wednesday at 9:00am at Country Café, 2804 S. Seneca. This month - August 21th.

Afternoon Games: Wednesday, August 14th & 28th - 1:00-3:00pm at the church. Join the fun with various games including Pitch, Dominoes, Pinochle, Yahtzee, Scrabble or ?

Seniors’ Activities

A Men’s Bible Study group meets at Bethany on the 3rd Saturday

of the month at 7:00 a.m. Leaders rotate and choose their own topic. A

breakfast is usually served. Contact Erich Schieber or Mark Welty for

more information. This month: August 17th.

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August September

4: Margaret Baldridge 1: Sandy Wise 11: Jay & Brad Fritz 8: Gary & Linda Puls 18: Jack & Doris Cannon 15 : Ray & Ruth Valdez 25: Steve & Vicki Pasewark 23: Bill & Vergene Fromm 30: Mark & Debbie Welty

August September

4: Elder on duty 1: Elder on duty 11: Elder on duty 8: Elder on duty 18: Elder on duty 15: Elder on duty 25: Elder on duty 23: Elder on duty 30: Elder on /duty

Head Usher – Alan Keimig

August September Bill Fromm Bruce Kester Larry Moore Tim Schrahl Roger Obermueller Bill Bolin, Jr. Erich Schieber Randy Sporn

August September 4: Richard Vinroe / Mark Welty 1: Kevin Chamberlin / Robert Ohmie 11: Kevin Chamberlin / Robert Ohmie 8: Robert Bolin / Dale Kester 18: Robert Bolin / Dale Kester 15: Richard Vinroe / Mark Welty 25: Richard Vinroe / Mark Welty ` 23: Kevin Chamberlin / Robert Ohmie 30: Robert Bolin / Dale Kester

You are the first point of contact for our guests! Welcome them by smiling and shaking their hand. If this is their first visit to our church, invite them to stay for coffee and snacks in our activity center and where it is located. Also show them where our restrooms and cry rooms are located and thank them for joining us in worship. Alert one of our ushers that they are first time visitors so that any questions regarding our service can be answered. If you cannot be greeter on the Sunday you have, please talk to one of our other greeters to switch or talk to Doris or Jack Cannon and they will contact someone else. If you would prefer not to be a greeter, please tell Doris or Jack. If you cannot greet at the beginning of the service, you may greet after the service is over.

There is a lot of behind the scenes work that is done for our worship services, Bible Studies, Children’s and Youth Ministries, greeters, ushers, altar guild, music ministry, and so many more ministries that we need help with. Most of these do not take much time out of our busy schedules to be part of. Is God call-ing you to be part of something but you don’t know where to start? Be an usher ! Prepare the com-munion! These are very important jobs that only require a little bit of you. Please contact an elder listed in this newsletter to see where YOU can be of service to God’s kingdom.

Greeters

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July & August Fill Cleanup July 7 & August 4 Stacy & Bailee Shipman Arleen Pirkey & Lola Gansbauer July 14 & August 11 Marilynn & Mable Moore Dorisann Vinroe July 21 & August 18 Anita Albright Karren Riley July 28 & August 25 Linda Puls Pam Kester

If you cannot be usher on the Sunday/month you have been assigned, please talk to Doris or Jack Cannon and they will contact someone else. If you would prefer not to be an usher, please tell Doris or Jack.

If you would like to be an acolyte, let one of the Elders or Deacon Mike know.

SUNDAY MORNING 10:30am Adults: Dining Room David Funke’s class is using a study book entitled “A Walk Thru the Life of Elijah– Standing Strong for Truth”. The book has questions about Elijah’s life and has questions for you to examine your own life in comparison with Elijah. Baker Books.

Pastor’s Office Bill Bolin, Sr .’s class is also using a Baker Books product: “A Walk Thru the Life of Solomon– Pursuing a Heart of Integrity”. Questions are about Solomon’s life and your own life in comparison. Prayer Center Rober t Bolin leads a study entitled “Everybody Always- Becoming Love in a world full of setbacks and difficult people” The study is authored by Bob Goff.

Robert Ohmie leads a class that meets in the fir st room west of the west stairwell in the back hallway. They are studying a book entitled “The big book of New Testament Questions and Answers”. It contains 816 pages of questions that students from his New Testament intro classes have asked over the years and his answers to those questions. Lifetree Group is led by Mark Dehncke. The group meets in the 3rd classroom. Each week has a new topic for discussion. Each session has a DVD that participants watch where people talk about how their lives deal with the topic being discussed. The leader will ask questions to guide the discussion.

Children and Youth: BYA meets in their basement room. They are currently using a curr iculum entitled “No Deal”. This study looks at the topics and pressures that teens are dealing with in modern U.S. culture. The class is led by Jeanetta Bolin. Contact Jeanetta for more information. Children meet with Renee Schott in one of the classrooms in the west hall. Contact Renee for more information.

Call Committee Update: Two Pastors were interviewed by phone Thursday, the 25th. Both are being considered. There will be financial information worked up on how they would be paid and how the church budget would need to be changed for either to be offered a call. This information along with information about each Pastor’s qualifications for being considered for Bethany will be presented to the congregation at a voters’ meeting to be announced soon. Please continue to prayer for this process.

Management Team Update: Notes from July Management Team Meeting:

Jeanetta reported that there has been a steady increase in the number of children attending Water & Word Wednesdays. They had 15 children and almost the same number of adults helping out.

On Saturday July 20 there were 13 men at the July Men's breakfast gathering & bible study, there were also10 students in the English class plus the "Quilting Ladies" were working too!

Amy, Jeanetta & Renee were working at the Convoy of Hope on that same Saturday as well.

There was a meeting on July 25 to have a phone conversation with 2 of the Pastors from our call list.

David Funke will be going on the Concordia Medicare Supplement Plan after he turns 65 next month.

Jim Merrick reported that the ECC had reduced overtime expenses but then one of the new teachers decided to quit. They are looking for a new part time teacher.

Mike informed the team that there are 15 congregations in Kansas that are without a Pastor. He also said that since Kansas President Lange has been elected as First Vice President of the Missouri Synod that Pastor Panzer will be taking over for Lange.

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Elephant Room: 1 year and walking to 2 1/2 Giraffe Room: 2 1/2-3 years Bear Room: 3-5 years Summer Daycare up to 5th grade http://bethanyecc.bethanylutheranwichita.org/

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Play is important: New kitchen and new blocks, playing with bubbles and shaving cream art

Art week. We learned a little bit about Vincent Van

Gogh and painted our versions of “A Starry Night”

Our current financial

situation is very tight

due to higher utility and

insurance costs at the

start of the year.

Here is the comparison

of budget to actual for

the first 6 months. If

there are questions

about this update,

contact Roger

Obermueller or Steve

Nienke.

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BETHANY FOSTER FRIENDS UPDATE For August, school clothes are being requested, all sizes. Remember, there are usually a shortage of larger sizes. All donations are welcomed. Please drop off your donation in the tubs between the office and the prayer center. Thank you for filling a huge need.

BAKED GOODS FOR SCHAEFER BENEFIT

Wondering how you can help contribute to the fundraiser for Emily? You can help by creating your favorite baked goods. Bake away until August 17, then bring your goodies in the morning to the kitchen in disposable containers. Baking not your thing? Make jelly, salsa or anything homemade, delicious and sellable. Get the whole family involved. We can all help the Benefit for Emily and family in some way.

LWML NEEDS:

It’s that time of year again to think about school and Lutheran World Relief school kits. This year’s need is

for all items (pencils, pencil sharpeners, pens, erasers, scissors, rulers, notebooks, crayons). The top three

needs are crayons, notebooks and scissors. Just drop off your donated items in the metal tub in the narthex next

to the display table. Thank you for all you do for LWML and Lutheran World Relief!

LUTHERAN WOMEN IN MISSION

Quilting and Much More at church on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. & Saturdays 9:00 a.m.-Noon. Contact Lois Adams for more information. There are over 120

quilts completed already for this year . Come and enjoy the fellowship and help with the mission projects. Monthly LWML meeting, 3rd Tuesday night. Contact Lois Brockmeyer or Mary Morton for more information.

LWML 38th Biennial Convention Information Date: June 20–23, 2019 Location: Mobile, Alabama Theme: "In Praise to the LORD!"

( from Mary Morton) Going to the LWML convention was a wonderful and blessed experience! Including the meeting of the wonderful friends we made on the bus and at the convention. Looking forward to seeing them again. Going to the convention, we learned how much of a difference our mission work makes. We learned how our “Mites in Action” works—you can learn about the grants on the web page: www.lwml.org/missions. You will also learn about the mites on the website.

We, the LWML, are asking those of you that are able, to pick up a white box in the Narthex, fill it with your change, then return to the large mite box at the end of the month. Pick up another box and repeat. Help Bethany to be a part of the “mite” offerings. Any questions, ask the LWML ladies. Our meetings are held the third Tuesday of the month. “ You are invited! Mary Morton 263-8367. For 77 years, LWML women have supported

Worldwide Missions through mite box offerings.

(written by Arleen Pirkey) Lois wanted me to write a few things that Mary and I did on our trip to Alabama. The first night we stayed in Little Rock, the next morning we left for Jackson, MS. We saw lots

and lots of water due to the flooding of the Arkansas and Mississippi rivers. We arrived in Jackson around noon and after eating lunch we visited the Civil War Museum which we found quite interesting. We stayed in Jackson overnight and then left for Mobile, Alabama, arriving around noon. We visited the SSS Alabama submarine. After eating lunch on the submarine we toured the ship which we found quite interesting. We also saw a lot of airplanes that were used in the war. After the sightseeing we went to the convention center and registered, then to the motel, had supper and then to bed. We were worn out.

The next morning we had to be up at 4am to be ready to board the bus by 6:30am. Then to the convention hall. We did lots of walking. Seemed like miles to go to the sessions, hearing the speakers and going to the exhibits. We had church and communion service on Thursday night with 3,000+ attending. The collection was $43,000+.

One of the highlights of the trip for me was meeting a cousin I did not know. We had gone to Friday night plate dinner. We were at a table of 10 people. After we had eaten the only gentleman at the table asked if anyone was from Nashville, KS. I said “I grew up there.” He asked if I knew anyone by the name of Hellman. I said “my mother was a Hellman”. He asked if I knew Fred & Bertha Hellman and I said “yes they were my Uncle and Aunt, my Mothers brother.” He said they were his grandparents. Imagine my surprise (to my knowledge) we had never met. What are the odds of meeting that far from home and among so many people! He moved over and set by me and we talked about our family and promised to keep in touch. He is doing a family tree and I’m going to tell him about out family and relatives in Kansas. I’m still excited about it and can hardly wait to see my family and tell them.

Anyway we left the convention Center on Sunday around noon to head home. The bus driver took us down to the Gulf of Mexico which we were glad to see, me especially, never having been that far south before. We stayed in Mississippi Sunday night and Fort Smith, Arkansas on Monday night. Then homeward bound and

Schaefer Benefit Saturday, August 17, 2019

Bethany Lutheran Church Activity Center

1000 W. 26th St. South

Events and Time Schedule

Doors open 5:30

5:30-7:00: View/Bid Silent Auction

6:00-7:00: Dinner (Pulled Pork, Brisket, Sides, Dessert)

Free Will Offering

7:00: Bids End

7:15: Tally Winning Bids

7:30: Announce Bid Winners, Announce Proceeds and Close

Please RSVP by August 11, 2019

To one of the following:

1. FaceBook event “Schaefer Benefit”

2. Text to 316-250-2380 or 316-641-5146

3. Call Bethany office 316-265-7415

4. Email to mwelty6@gmail.com

All Funds to Benefit Emily Schaefer and Family.

Look for GoFund Me and Facebook Event

Donations can be made to

Bethany Lutheran Church “Schaefer”

For further information about

Emily’s condition,

contact Bethany.

Bethany Lutheran Church and School

1000 W 26th St. South

Wichita, KS 67217

Like us on Facebook! Bethany Lutheran Church & Early Childhood Center

Five Finger Prayer for Children

Here is a helpful approach for teaching kids to pray. It’s a format that allows children to recall and pray in their own words for five different groups of people. All this lines up with the five fingers of their hand.

Thumb (people who are close to you) These are your close friends and family, often the first you think about when you pray. Give thanks to God and ask his protection on your parents, siblings, friends, and classmates.

Pointer (people who point the way) These are leaders in your life, such as teachers and pastors. Offer God your thanksgiving for them and ask him to help them in their important work

Tall Finger (people in authority) The big people in the world need prayer too. Ask God to give wisdom to our government, military, and police.

Ring Finger (people who are weak) This is your weakest finger. We should remember others who are sick, live in poverty, or are treated badly. Pray that Jesus would give them new strength.

Little Finger (your own needs) God wants to hear your needs too, especially when you put others first. Pray for your own growth in mind, body, and spirit.