What's Happening @ Bethany This Month?
February
(Updated 2/8/12)
February - April Dates to Note:
- Sunday, February 19 - NO Adult studies, High School study, Confirmation, and Sunday School classes.
- Church Office Closed - Monday, February 20 for Presidents' Day
- Ash Wednesday - February 22 worship at 9:00AM (School Chapel), 4:00PM & 7:00PM - No Soup Supper
- Mid-week Lenten fellowship, study, & worship - February 29 and March 7, 14, 21, & 28. 5:00PM (Soup Supper), 5:30PM (Family Worship*), 5:50PM (Communion Preparation Class for gr. 5-8), 6:00PM (Heart of the Story), and 7:00PM worship.
- *NEW Family Worship: Beginning February 29 and continuing through the season of Lent, Bethany will have a special worship service for families with young children. The Family Worship Service will begin at 5:30PM each Wednesday, and last for fifteen minutes. The focus for this time of worship will be the Journey of Jesus from Bethlehem to the cross and back to life. Traditional Lenten services will continue as always at 7:00PM, with Soup Suppers being offered between 5:00 and 6:30PM. All ages are welcome to attend either service
- Maundy Thursday - April 5 at 7:00PM
- Good Friday - April 6 at 1:00 & 7:00PM
- Easter Sunday - April 8 at 8:00, 9:30, and 10:55AM
CUNE Chamber Choir to Tour West Coast:
The Concordia University, Nebraska, Chamber Choir is scheduled for a tour along the West Coast in 2012. One of their stops will include Bethany Lutheran Church, Long Beach. Join us for:
An Evening Concert on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 7:00PM
and
Participation in all three morning worship services on Sunday, February 12, 2012
The sixteen-voice select choir is chosen from the University A Capella Choir and conducted by Kurt E. von Kampen. Admission to the concert is free; an offering will be taken at the evening concert.NOTE: Performance at worship services is not complete concerts.
Living Way:
Living Way is on Wednesday evenings at 7PM. Our study is on the Book of Acts. All are welcome to join this study at anytime. Click here for other Bible Study Opportunities here at Bethany.
We all know what the term, "Christmas & Easter Christian refers too. While we certainly do not desire that term to be the definition of our worship life; we at Bethany desire to worship faithfully. However, it is faith in the reality of those two events, Christmas & Easter, that makes one a Christian. Hence, we are all Christmas & Easter Christians. Perhaps this is nowhere more clearly revealed than in Paul's letter to the Colossians. "Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heave, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross...This is the Good News that you heard and that has been proclaimed to everyone under heaven." (Col. 1:15, 19-20, 23b)
Paul's letter to the Colossians will be our text for our Living Way study. This class will run through February 15 then take a Lenten break.
The format of Living Way includes homework in the text of Scripture as you read portions of our book, Colossians, reflect on its meaning and answer questions, then when we gather on Wednesdays, we break into small groups to discuss our reflection on the weeks study and then finally wrap up our time with conversation/lecture led by a member of Bethany's ministry staff. Pr. Kevin Kritzer is the regular facilitator and teacher for Living Way.
Adult Bible Study:
Click here to see STUDY OPPORTUNITIES happening here at Bethany!
Preparation Class for Receiving the Lord's Supper:
Confirmation at Bethany is the means by which we prepare our youth for worthy reception of the Lord's Supper. This portion of the Catechism is taught on Wednesday evenings during Lent. The class is intended for 5th & 6th graders and will also be attended by those 7th & 8th graders currently in our Confirmation classes that have not yet made it to the Communion Preparation course. The 5-week class is for both the Confirmation and at least ONE parent. This year our sessions will begin on Wednesday, February 29 at 5:50PM and conclude on Wednesday, March 28. Each class will end in time for the Confirmand's and their family to attend our mid-week 7:00PM Lenten worship in the sanctuary. Those completing the course will be able to receive their First Communion on either Palm Sunday or Maundy Thursday. If you plan to have your child attend this class contact Karl Fink by February 26th.
Annual Campout Retreat:
Bethany's Annual Family Campout retreat is February 18-20, 2012 at Mobiland RV Park in Ocotillo Wells. Bring your special dish for Saturday's pot luck supper, something for Sunday morning brunch, Sunday evening hors d'oeuvres and some fire wood for the campfire. A worship service will be held on Sunday morning at 10:00AM. Maps are available in the church office. For questions or reservations, leave a message with the church office for Phil Lopez, our wagonmaster and he will return your call.
March Chimes Deadline:
Email articles to Aimee Coleman at acoleman@bethanylutheran.org by Wednesday, February 15, 2012.
Bethany's MOMS Group:
Bethany's MOMS Group meets the first and third Firday of each month at 10:00AM in the church nursery for a play date. We moms get a chance to chitchat while our kids play. We also meet during the week at different local parks to walk and play.
This coming month it will be February 3 & 17, 2012. - Sarah O'Conner
- Confirmation classes officially will meet from 9:15-10:30AM on Sunday mornings.
- Click here to go to the Confirmation page on this website.
Sunday School News and Updates:
Please click on the the Sunday School Link for information on the happenings of our Sunday School.
Youth Events (click on link below to find out more about the youth group):
- '3to5' - grades 3-5
- 'MSG' - grades 6-8
- High School - grades 9-12
Bethany Lutheran Preschool - Click on link to go to school's website and to see more details on the school, dates, and events.
Bethany Lutheran Day School - Click on link to go to school's website and to see more details on the school, dates, and events.
Moms In Touch International has a new name: Moms in Prayer International.
The mission and vision remain the same: praying for children and schools. Now, the name describes what we do. It brings simplicity and clarity to the mission and vision, and the word “prayer” gives unity to our Moms in Prayer groups around the world since it is more easily translated into other languages. Our purpose is to call moms around the world to meet regularly to pray using the Four Steps of Prayer, in one accord, agreement prayer for God to transform children and schools. The core values and statement of faith are exactly the same. Only the name has changed. Moms in Prayer is working to update online resources to incorporate the new name. They will maintain www.MomsInTouch.org, but the main web address will now be www.MomsInPrayer.org.Join us on Wednesday mornings, 8:45-9:45AM in the Conference Room. - Connie Kritzer
Help Bethany Go GREEN!
Interested in Recycling? Energy Conservation? Eco-Awareness?
We are forming a Bethany Green Team to help Bethany and our Community to become more environmentally sustainable. All ages are welcome. If you would like to join our team or just want more information please contact James Hutson at bethanygreenteam@gmail.com.
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