Bethany Lutheran Church

Read through the Bible in 90 Days beginning September 26, 2010.  You’ll read 12 pages each day and have a group to help motivate you and keep you going.  Each group (10-15 people) will meet once a week for 14 sessions, in homes or at Bethany.

If you already have a small group of friends or family to meet with, sign up together. You can also sign up by zip code and we’ll match you with people in your geographic area.  It’s a great goal to set for yourself and we believe that God will meet you in your reading and conversation.  No tests! You don’t need to know the Bible already.  Just start reading!

Costs:  Bible ($15) unless you prefer your own, workbook ($7)

Click here to sign up today!

REGISTRATION FOR 2010 – 2011 NOW OPEN

We have a new online registration process for all confirmation students (new or returning) this fall.  To register your child, either new or returning, follow these directions:

Type or paste this URL into your browser: bethany-denver.herewestandconfirmation.org. Create an account for yourself (as parents).  Then click on profile in the upper right corner.  Click on add family member.  Complete the registration process for your child.  The registration fee is $50; it can be paid at the registration fair.  There is also a link on the Bethany Website that will take you there.

Sunday, August 22 @ 10:30 – Confirmation Information Meeting – If you are wondering about the confirmation program at Bethany, come to the information meeting.   This meeting will include all information on the structure, duration, registration process, expectations, etc of the Saved By Grace program at Bethany.  Get all the information you need and have all your questions answered.

Wednesday, September 8 – Confirmation Registration Fair.  Sign-up for acolyte dates & the October Retreat, have your picture taken, and turn in all forms and payments.  In addition, you will be able to sign-up for Confirmation Camp at Sky Ranch and the Rocky Mountain Synod Youth Gathering during the Fair.

Wednesday, September 15 – Family Night at Confirmation. Youth are expected to attend with at least one parent.  Part of the evening will include a time to meet your youth’s small group guide, as well as the other youth and parents in their small group.

Sunday, September 19 – The Second Wind Walk. The Second Wind Fund is an organization that provides teen suicide prevention services for those families that do not have access to those resources. 9th grade students who are being confirmed this fall are walking as their class service project.   All confirmation students and families are invited to join us.  To sign-up for the Bethany team go to http://www.runningguru.com/EventRegister1.asp?eID=161

Joni Grundman Faith Formation Minister of Family Ministry Bethany Lutheran Church 303-300-3304

We have a new online registration process for all confirmation students (new or returning) this fall.  To register your child, follow these directions:

Go to bethany-denver.herewestandconfirmation.org. Look on the left side of the page.  You will see Request an Account.  Create one for yourself (as parents).  You should have immediate access to add your child. click on profile in the upper right corner.  Click on add family member.  Complete the registration process for your child.  The registration fee is $50; it can be paid at the registration fair.

If you DO NOT receive immediate access, you will then receive an e-mail which confirms that your account has been created.  Once you receive this e-mail, then you may log-in and proceed with the above directions to add your child.

Spend a while on the Nile — Family Vacation of a Lifetime!
Sundays, 9:00 – 10:30 AM
July 11, 18, 25, andAugust 1, 8
Fee:  $5 per family, per week

Join us in ancient Egypt, where you’ll get to explore the culture of Joseph’s world.  You’ll meet Joseph and experience his ups and downs alongside him.  God’s Word comes alive as families explore Egyptian customs, occupations, food, and music.  Kids and adults will gain an understanding and appreciation for what it was like to be a God-follower in a culture that worshiped many gods, and you’ll be challenged to look for evidence of God in your everyday life.

Registration Form

Monthly Meetings For Sunday School Parents

Room 314

Sundays, 9:00 AM

Facilitator:  Michelle Okes

2010-2011 Schedule: September 12, October 3, October 31, November 21,

January 9, February 6, March 6, April 10

We invite parents to come once a month for a Bible Study and discussion around issues facing families today.  Bible Teacher and Parenting Coach Michelle Okes will answer questions and facilitate discussion to strengthen and equip you to be Faith Formers in the home.

Enjoy fellowship with other parents, dig into the same Bible stories that your kids are learning, learn to lead faith talks at home with your child, and get ideas for family activities to apply the learning to life.

This class is open to parents of kids of all ages – no experience required!

Recipe: Blessed, Broken, Shared
John 6:11-14

Big Idea: Jesus is Wonder Bread and so are YOU!

Ritual: Take a few minutes to re-connect. Share your highs and lows from the week.

Devotional: “Love without sacrifice is merely affection and he chose for himself a greater destiny. When Jesus was lifted up on the cross, he gained a new perspective and from that height he could see every person in history. He looked upon the vast sea of faces – and realized he loved them enough to die for them. And one of the faces he saw was yours.” (B&BB p. 79) Talk about how these words make you feel? What does this make you think about?

Caring Conversation: The world tells us we deserve thanks for our work. God asks us to use our God given gifts. We use these gifts in response to God’s love for us. What are your gifts/talents? Are you using them? Do we use them for personal gain or to glorify God? Read John 6:11-14 Jesus blessed the bread. There was plenty. The disciples gathered up the leftovers. Have you ever felt like a ‘left-over?’ How? When? Why? In God’s eyes no one is crummy. We are baptized children of God and God claims and loves us. How is it hard or easy to hold onto that identity? Do you claim the invisible cross on your forehead every day? Do you “see” it on others?

Service: With your companion, make the sign of the cross on each other’s forehead or hand. Say the words, “God loves you and claims you.” Tonight as we think about each of God’s children, pray together the Five Finger Prayer (use handout).

Plan to Bake and Grow Spiritually
John 6: 35, 46-59

Big Idea: Get your recipe, ingredients, tools and BAKE!

Ritual: Take a few minutes to connect. Share your highs and lows from the week.

Devotional: Read John 6:35, 46-59 Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Those who eat of me will live forever.” What does that mean to you? Think about this quote by Henri Nouwen: “The great paradox of our time is that many of us are busy and bored at the same time. While running from one event to the next, we wonder in our innermost selves if anything is really happening. While people keep pushing us in all directions, we doubt if anyone really cares.” (B&BB pg. 10) Are you ever busy and bored? Why do you think that is so? The word “companion” comes from the Latin cum pane: “with bread.” A companion is one with whom we share our bread. Who are your “companions?”

Caring Conversation: Mise en place = “put in place” Talk about your plan or routine for spiritual growth. What do you need to “put in place” for spiritual growth to happen?

1. A quiet place where you are undisturbed, and a comfortable chair?
2. A time that you are moving but can focus your mind towards God?
3. Your Bible, a journal, cross, candle, music?
4. When will you pray? When do you have energy?
5. If your prayer life is like a diet of food, what are you eating now? How could that look different? (B&BB pg. 25-27)

Service: Your service to each other is prayer. You each have a candle. Decide what time you will each light your candle during the week and pray for the other person. (It can be at the different times, i.e. adult at 7 am, youth at 9 pm). Tonight pray a prayer of Examen (prayerfully examine your day). Think back through your day and name the places where God was present: friends, sunrise, food, etc. Pray a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s presence with your companion.

Grinding Grain to Mix with Yeast of Life
Matthew 13:33

Big Idea: Holy Spirit YEAST! E Pluribus Unum! ‘From many one.’

Ritual: Take a few minutes to re-connect. Share your highs and lows from the week.

Devotional: Read Matthew 13:33 and talk about this parable. It describes a woman who puts her yeast in with flour to leaven her bread. “Three measures” is a little over one bushel = about 144 cups! This woman wanted to feed the whole village, not just her family. The kingdom of heaven is for everyone! On most days, are we ‘bread’ for many people or just ourselves?

Caring Conversation: Yeast is also called ‘leaven’ which comes from the word, ‘enliven’. The Yeast gives it’s life to the dough. Yeast is effective only when in the dough. Yeast is like the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit permeates our lives. The Good News of Jesus can permeate our lives. Does it live in your life every day or only on Sundays? Put your yeast packet into a bowl of warm water with some sugar and watch what happens. If it bubbles, the yeast is ‘active’ and good yeast. How is that like your faith life? Are you mixing the right yeast into your life; is it life-giving, sarcastic, playful, rude? Do you see God’s yeast in others actions: kindness, patience, and love? Talk about the yeast of your lives and other’s lives. (Make sure you are listening to each other and being AAA Christians (Available, Affirming, Authentic)!

Service: Your prayer type tonight is ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication). With your companion name in prayer what you adore about God, want to confess to God, what you give thanks to God for and what you want to ask of God. Remind each other of your prayer times and candles. Talk about how that went and what happened when you thought about the other person praying for you.

Watch Disciple I class videos from home (password required):  Disciple I videos

Check out this newsletter from Metro CareRing – http://www.metrocarering.org/images/february%20carering%20contact.pdf

Are you looking for a way to link Sunday worship with family faith formation Monday to Saturday? Wish you could go deeper into the lectionary lessons each week? Look no further. Vibrant Faith Ministries offers TAKING FAITH HOME, a weekly worksheet based on the Four Keys written by Pastor Greg Priebbenow of Australia. With TAKING FAITH HOME, you will have scripture readings, prayers, devotions and rituals to use all week!

Click here for August 29 2010 Taking Faith Home worksheet: TFH_082910

Click here for August 22 2010 Taking Faith Home worksheet: TFH_082210

Click here for August 15 2010 Taking Faith Home worksheet: TFH_081510

Click here for August 8 2010 Taking Faith Home worksheet: TFH_080810

Click here for August 1 2010 Taking Faith Home worksheet:TFH_080110

Please print and complete the order form for Confirmation pictures.  Please return the completed form along with your payment to the church office by October 25.

“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NRSV).

Opportunities to learn and grow continue in August, classes include:

L.I.F.E. Series

August 8th Come hear our youth share about their recent trip.

August 15th  Come help divide food for Metro Care Ring.

August 22nd  Andy Gift will share his faith story.

August 29th  Sue Ann Glusenkamp will share her faith story.

 For other opportunities to learn and fellowship during the week, Bethany also offers small group Bible study classes, including Journey through the Bible and Women’s Bible Studies. 

As adopted by the Bethany Church Council on September 22, 2009

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Whereas all the baptized when they affirm their baptism promise “to hear the Word of God” and “to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed”;

Whereas all parents and sponsors covenant to place the holy scriptures in the hands of their children and nurture them in faith and prayer;

Whereas pastors at their ordination vow to be diligent in their study of the Holy Scriptures;

Whereas the ELCA has begun a Book of Faith Initiative inviting everyone to join the conversation, to make a commitment, and to become part of the initiative (see www.bookoffaith.org).

Be it resolved, that we become a “Book of Faith” church, committing ourselves to live in and from the Word of God in all our meetings, assemblies and events, so that as we regularly and increasingly hear, read, study, share and are engaged by God’s Word, we lead by example in faithful service and holy living;

Be it further resolved that the leadership of our Bethany Lutheran Church—shall be teachers of the faith of this church and shall provide leadership for the life and witness of this church”—in coordination with the Synod Advocate lead this initiative personally and through collaborative programmatic work within the existing framework of our ministry;

Be it further resolved that all members of Bethany Lutheran Church covenant together to begin a regular practice of Bible study and prayer, gathering with others in the community to speak and hear the Word from one another;

Be it further resolved that we celebrate and continue to support and strengthen those places where Scripture is already taught and engaged, such as Women of the ELCA Bible studies, camping and campus ministries, lay schools, congregational councils, Sunday school and other congregational groups.

Be it further resolved that we encourage other churches and organizations we support to become a “Book of Faith” organization, which will find expression by:

1. exploring new opportunities for engaging the Bible,
2. sending sufficient numbers of members to synod events for training as Bible study leaders,
3. including biblical study as an integral part of all meetings and groups,

We covenant together to do these things in order to become more fluent in the first language of faith—the language of Scripture—that we might live into our calling as a people renewed, enlivened, empowered, and sent by the Word.

God’s Word for the Week
Weekly study of Sunday’s scripture text with one of the Pastors. Mondays at 9:00 AM, Tuesdays at 7:00 AM.

Journey Through the Bible
A variety of short-term Biblical studies in a small group setting. Join us on Mondays at 7:00 AM.

Deborah Circle
Starting Wednesday, 9/9 in the Library at 4:45pm.  Sue Ann Glusenkamp – Leader.

Joy of Living – Women’s Bible Study
Meets every other Thursday 6:30 PM conference room #224 at Bethany studying “Women of Faith in Christ: Healing the Heart” from Gospel Light ($20)

Dates:  9/9/10 to 5/19/11.

Call Darla Reeves 303-986-7046 for info & guide book.

We, at Bethany, are so excited to be joining you and your family on this journey of faith through the rite of passage known as Confirmation.  In the Lutheran Church, we are baptized once, usually as babies, and brought into the family of God.  Parents, grandparents, sponsors and friends are to bring their children to church and raise them up in the faith, place the scriptures in their hands and talk with them about the story of God’s people, in which we are a part.  There comes a time in the lives of the youth, usually 7^th and 8^th grade, where the church formally steps in to help facilitate the journey with the help of parents.  Confirmation, or Affirmation of Baptism, is a time when the church helps the families learn the central teaching of the church which include; the Lord’s Prayer, 10 Commandments, Apostle’s Creed.  Other subjects taught include; worship, sacraments, Lutheran theology, and the Old and New Testament.

As Martin Luther became a preacher and teacher traveling around Germany and surrounding areas, he was astonished and outraged at the lack of knowledge the lay people had about their own faith, God and what they were not teaching their children.  He wrote the Small and Large Catechism with families in mind.  It is written in a question and answer form.  Children were to ask the questions and the parents, grandparents and other adults were to answer those questions.

In today’s world with the various talents and gifts given to us by God we, the church, have created formal programs to help instruct the youth in the ways of the faith.  Through media, interactive lessons, small groups, peers, retreats and large gatherings with music and speakers Bethany teaches the youth the core of our faith.

Yet, one thing that has not changed since Luther’s time is the home is the primary faith former in a child’s life.  Through life at home, watching and learning where family priorities lie; youth begin to form their own values, morals and faith.  How you talk or not talk about your faith shows your youth what is acceptable and not.  When you make decisions in your life that either reflect your faith, or go against your faith they notice and will do the same.  If you give them $10.00 for the movies and $1.00 for offering at church they see where your treasure goes and so follows your heart and theirs.  If you do not go to worship, Sunday school or Bible study then they will see that you do not value it for your own life, and why then should they?

For these reasons we ask that you join your children on this journey.  We provide many chances to volunteer in this ministry.  Enclosed is a parent volunteer sheet with a variety of opportunities with different commitment levels.  If you are not able to volunteer to work within the ministry, then we ask that you worship with your youth either on Wednesday evenings or on Sunday mornings.  We pray you go one step further and attend an education option either on Wednesdays while your youth is in Confirmation or on Sundays while your youth is in Sunday School.

Thank you so much for your time, energy, prayers and faith.  We look forward to being in ministry with you and your family.