Bethany Lutheran Church

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

…an interactive support group designed to help with the grieving process by using visual and thought provoking tools.  During these four sessions, you will be shown tools, ideas, and creative projects, which can help you as you go through the mourning process. You will also be offered an opportunity for learning and self- discovery to keep your loved one’s memory alive for your family and yourself.

Group Facilitator:  Stacie Schubert, MDiv Director of Community Care for Olinger Mortuaries; Bethany member

Dates: Sundays, March 7, 14, 21 & 28

Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Location: Office conference room, #224

Cost: None!

Registration: For more information, call Janice Lyon at 303-758-2820 X345 or email at janice@bethany-denver.org

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

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”  John 6:35  These are words to chew on and digest and hunger for, all the days of our lives.  But during Lent this year, we hope you will reflect on how Jesus is our Bread for the Journey.  Check out all the amazing ways you can experience Jesus as bread beginning Feb 17, with Ash Wednesday!

Lenten Retreat: February 25-27:  Join us at St. Malo’s Retreat Center as we study several texts: Christ in Culture, Richard Niebuhr, The Good Book, Peter Gomes and Have a Little Faith, Mitch Albom.  These will help us understand the lenses through which we read scripture and encounter the world.

Wednesday Midweek Worship: At noon we’ll have worship with a brief sermon.  Wednesday nights find us in the sanctuary, 6:30 – 7:15 pm, for Taize.  This time will be reflective and quiet with songs to center our minds on Jesus, ‘the bread of life.’

Labyrinth: Wednesdays in Lent offers you a chance to walk a labyrinth.  The Christian labyrinth became popular during the Middle Ages as a means to go on a ‘pilgrimage.’  Contemplative, intentional, steady steps take one to the center so to pause before the Lord.  This is holy ground!

h2o Devos: Each day, stop to reflect on Bread for the Journey with Pastor Ron’s daily devotionals.  Check them out at h2odevos.blogspot.com.  With the songs of Peter Mayer and creativity of Pr Ron, you won’t be disappointed.

What kind of bread are you? Father Dominic, in Bake and be Blessed,  says that each one of us are a ‘bread type.’  Look for recipe cards and a devotional booklet to help you determine if you are rye or banana nut!  Then go, and be bread for the world!

Confirmation students and mentors: will mutually benefit from conversations during the weeks of Lent.  Thanks to AAA adults for walking the walk and talking the talk with our youth.  If your conversation finishes early, head to the kitchen for some pretzel baking!

Stretch and Pray: Offered each Wednesday night after worship with Michelle Stone Kraus leading us in that vital connection of body and spirit!  It’s easy and fun.  Try it out!

Lenten Mentoring: The Lenten Mentor/Companion Orientation document is available for you to review and share with others: Welcome to Lenten Mentor

Children’s Lenten Resources:  Click on the link to check out the great recipes to try with your kids at home!

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 March 7,  2010 Taking Faith Home worksheet: TFH_030710

Click here for February 28,  2010 Taking Faith Home worksheet: TFH_022810

Click here for February 21, 2010 Taking Faith Home worksheet: TFH_022110

Click here for February 14, 2010 Taking Faith Home worksheet: TFH_021410

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 March, classes include:

Lutheranism 201 continues!

Sundays March 7th and March 14th at 9:00 AM – Room 210

Led by Caitlin Trussell, the class will take our understanding of being Lutheran to the next level. This is a great conversation no matter how many times we have it, we always learn something new!

Get the M.O.S.T. out of your week!

MOST …Midweek Opportunities to Study Together continues on Wednesday nights through March 31, 2010.  These sessions with Ron Bruggeman as leader will be 60-75 minutes long and will begin 10 minutes after worship ends.  The Bible Study is based upon this year’s Lenten theme: The Good Book-Hard Texts and Changing Times.  Come for some of them or come for all of them.

Light Bearers

Next Topic:  Peter and the Church

Sunday March 14th at 9:00 AM Room 314

Parents of children in Kid’s Light, come study the same Bible stories as your kids and learn to lead faith talks at home! Enjoy great fellowship with other parents too! Make each Light Bearer’s Sunday a family worship day by attending a worship service together.  This series will continue to provide opportunities to learn from each other and grow in our ability to live in faith everyday.  

Hein-Fry Lecture Series

Hearing the Word: Teaching the Bible in the Parish (and Beyond)

Presented by Dr. Richard Carlson at Bethany Lutheran Church

Saturday March 13th, 2010 from 1PM to 4PM.

This theme was chosen in order to explore the important conversations throughout the ELCA concerning the various ways Lutheran communities in diverse North American contexts are sharing the biblical narratives, truths, and messages of the gospel through their teaching ministries.

Find more information at www.elca.org; search for “Hein Fry Lecture.”

 Coming in April:

A Study of the Book of Romans

Wednesdays April 14th-May 19th at approximately 7:00PM in Room 210

This study of the book of Romans will be led by Carl Hansen.

Light Bearers

Topic:  The Great Commission

Sunday April 25th at 9:00 AM Room 314

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.  See more information below.

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.

Jeremiah 29
Join Ron Brugemann for this weekly Bible study and support for those looking for work.  Mondays at 7:45am in Room 209.  This group will start up for the fall semester on September 14.

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
Every other Thursday 6:30 PM Room 224 (Conference Room) at Bethany
We will study “Hosea: God’s Persistent Love” from LifeGuide beginning 9/10.  Newcomers are always welcome!  For information and guide book, contact Darla Reeves at 303-986-7046.

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.

Register for Confirmation either online or with a mail-in/drop-off form found in the Registration packet 09-10. It includes the following:

• Registration form
• Parent Opportunities for Service form
• An overview of the program
• Important Dates for 2009/10
• Additional Confirmation Information

Questions?

Joni Grundman
303-300-3304
joni@bethany-denver.org

Sundays

This series will continue to provide opportunities to learn from each other and grow in our ability to live in faith everyday.  Check out the website for current topics, locations, and times.

Moses wrote, “Teach them to your children and your grandchildren” (Deuteronomy 4:9). Why is this so important? First, God’s Word is the most important subject by far for our children! It needs to take priority over all the many subjects we want our children to learn, for it will give them wisdom, guidance and comfort throughout their lifetime.

If you haven’t attended one of the sessions for parents, facilitated by Michelle Okes, you have missed a great opportunity for fellowship and learning. Parents meet one another, share ideas, and leave with tips for leading faith talks at home, relating what children learn in Sunday school to everyday life events. You are your child’s most important spiritual teacher! This class helps to support and equip you for your role in nurturing your child’s faith.

     2009/2010 Schedule

 Classes held on the dates below at 9:00 am.

Room 314

Kids’ Light Theme:  Call and Promise

The Call of Abraham – September 13
David:  God’s Chosen King – October 4
Jesus Calls Disciples – November 1
The Angel Comes to Mary – November 29
Paul on the Road – January 10
Moses and the Burning Bush – February 7
Peter and the Church – March 14
The Great Commission – April 25