Our Advent Journey 2011

ADVENT: The season of Advent marks the beginning of the church year and comprises the four weeks before Christmas. The first Sunday of Advent was November 27, 2011.

Find all your Advent 2011 Resources here!

•H2O Devos – daily devotionals written and recorded by Pastor Ron Glusenkamp based on the music of Peter Mayer
•Advent Calendar - a giving schedule that supports the efforts of Lutheran World Relief
•Lighting the 4th Candle on Your Advent Wreath – a special blessing for December 18th
Taking Faith Home – scripture readings, prayers, devotions and rituals to use all week
•Advent Texts – the readings, Gospel Lessons and prayers for each Sunday
•All About Advent – informational link provided by the ELCA

Pastor Ron’s Sabbatical

January 1 - April 1, 2012 - London

Read all about Pastor Ron's amazing course of study HERE. This time of renewal and refreshment benefits both Pastor Ron and Bethany as together we reflect on sabbath, finding God in everyday life, and the connections between church and culture.

Where will you find Pastor Ron/Sue Ann this week?

*Worship at SMITF Sunday 2/19 am and Westminster Abbey Evensong Sunday pm

*Morning prayer 3-4 days at SMITF

*Daily: meditation/walking/YMCA/journaling/blogging/reading/study

*Attend ASH WEDNESDAY service

*Begin planning Lenten discipline

*Attend 2 plays, 2 lectures, 2 museums

*Contact Contemplative Fire: www.contemplativefire.org/index.htm

Habitat for Humanity

Volunteers needed to help build Bethany’s next Habitat House!

Our next (first of three in 2012) Holy Hammers/Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver build started on January 27th at 6784 Oneida Street, Commerce City, CO 80022. This home will be for a woman named Tabatha and her five children – read the family bio HERE. Volunteer Directions can be downloaded HERE.

Click HERE to sign up for upcoming construction dates, or sign up between services at the table in the Narthex, or contact Kevin Dempsey at 303-699-1629 or kmdmpsy@aol.com. God’s work. Our hands!

Longing and Belonging

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

February finds us in the midst of our winter months with snowfall and the beautiful sunny days Colorado provides. Personally, you may be in your own dark days of winter or feeling 'sunny' about life right now. As a corporate body of Christ, we are Blessed to Belong together no matter the 'weather'.

On Ash Wednesday, February 22, we will be reminded of how we belong as we kneel at the rail; each to be marked with the cross of Christ. For our Lenten journey, we will be studying Signs of Belonging: Luther's Marks of the Church and the Christian Life by Dr. Mary Hinkle Shore. Dr. Hinkle Shore will be our guest consultant and preacher. She has written a compelling book about Martin Luther's signs of being a Christian and our mutual life. We are blessed to belong through Word, Baptism, Holy Communion, Forgiveness, Worship and the Cross.

Is it not true, we all long to fit in? We long to hear words of love and grace when we feel unlovable and our sin is before us. We long to be fed; physically, emotionally and spiritually. Thus when we gather as a community of believers, those longings are fulfilled in Christ, through worship and our shared life and journey.

Longing and belonging with you in our Lord, Jesus Christ,

Pastor Ruth Ann

Bethany Lutheran Church

A congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America