March 27 & 28, 2021 - Announcements

++Bethel's church office will be closed on 'Easter Monday', April 5, 2021.

Join in-person Palm Sunday worship at Bethel this weekend, March 27 & 28, and watch current virtual Bethel services by clicking here! Bethel continues to practice social distancing and wearing face masks when we come together, and we continue to ask for everyone to go to Bethel's website--www.bethellutheran.net--to register to attend a weekend service-- either 5:30pm Saturday or 9:15am Sunday. You may click here to be brought directly to Bethel's weekend service registration webpage or you may contact the church office during office hours to receive assistance in registering for any service (719-570-9800). There are still limitations on attendance so your advance registration, as well as Check-In at the Welcome Center when you arrive, is important.

Holy Week services include a Maundy Thursday virtual only drama on April 1 and a Good Friday in-person and virtual service on April 2. Please click this link to register to attend Good Friday's in-person service. Easter Sunday services will take place in person at Bethel on Sunday, April 4 at 8:00 and 9:30 AM - there is no Saturday service on April 3 and virtual viewing is always an option for any Bethel service (please click here to view a service). Registration to attend Easter Sunday services will be available very soon through this link. There are still limitations on attendance so your advance registration, as well as Check-In at the Welcome Center when you arrive, is important. By registering for any service, we know how many to prepare for and have a record of attendance. Registering for a service also should prevent Bethel from overcrowding the socially distanced worship space as there is a maximum that we are able to register for each service. In response to our governor extending the mandatory mask order in all public places, Bethel requires everyone to wear a mask in worship and for all events at Bethel unless there is a health reason or for young children.
***Nursery & Childcare: Because of the virus, we are not staffing a separate nursery during worship services. We love children in worship! If you need a quiet place for your child, the service can be heard in the Narthex (the area right outside of the Sanctuary). Thank you, as we all work together for the best worship experience for everyone.
***IMPORTANT NOTICE: In-person worship service attendees acknowledge that there may be risks involved with exposure to COVID-19. Members, their families, and guests are asked to please not attend in-person worship if they are sick or have been in contact with anyone who is sick or may have been sick within the past 14 days.

Daily Devotions & Weekly Service Videos: Bethel provides online Daily Devotions (click here for The Daily Updates) and live-streaming of the weekend worship services for those who are not able to attend in-person! Go to Bethel’s main website page and click on “The Daily Update” or “Weekly Service Video” pictures to listen to and view these offerings (you may click here to be brought directly to the Weekly Service Video webpage.)

Watch Season 1 of the Series The Chosen at Bethel! A charismatic fisherman drowning in debt. A troubled woman wrestling with real demons. A kind gifted young man ostracized by his family and his people for working as a publican. In this ground-breaking first season of The Chosen see how Jesus reaches each of these and more as He works His first miracles and embarks on His ministry to change the world. See Him through the eyes of those who knew Him. Please join us at Bethel for viewing of the series at 4:00 PM in the Faith Forum on March 28 and April 4 & 18.

The following episodes will be shown on the following dates (all at 4:00 PM): 
March 28th - 3 & 4, April 4th - 5 & 6, April 18th - 7 & 8.

A review: Put simply, The Chosen is one of the most engaging Bible-inspired productions I’ve seen. Surprisingly funny and relatable, we continue watching episode after episode not because we feel obligated to support it as a dutiful Christian, but because it’s compelling and hard to stop. ~Dave Bingham

Help Needed for Bethel's 2021 VBS: Like trains? Enjoy working with children? Love to do crafts? Sing? Play games? You can help with any of that and more during our Rocky Railway VBS this summer from June 14-18. Please contact Linda Lahman if you are interested in helping ‘drive the train’.

New Show in the Bethel Gallery: This week we have changed out the pictures in the Bethel Gallery. The Covid-19 pandemic threw us off schedule, but we are back with pictures from Einar & Nikohl Wulfsberg. Einar and his family are in Esslingen, Germany. We hope you viewed and enjoyed the previous show that included work by Inge & Erika Kelly. Please take this opportunity to thank those artists for sharing their work with the Bethel community. The COVID Pandemic has been quite severe in Germany and the restrictions are much more severe than those in the US. Residents are confined to their own cities or towns except to travel to work. Over Easter almost all shops and stores will be closed, and church services are to be broadcast only. Einar & Nikohl have been holding up well with the restrictions and have sent us many pictures of Esslingen as they can’t travel anywhere else. I hope you enjoy these pictures showing the impact of COVID in Germany. Are you interested in having some of your work displayed in the Bethel Gallery? Please contact Eric Wulfsberg for details.

Bethel is in need of Worship Assistants: Now that we seem to be getting back to attending weekend services more regularly, Bethel is in need of more member volunteers for Welcome Center Host, Altar Care, Reader, Usher and Audio/Video Operator at both weekend and special services (a few positions require advance training). Social distancing and safe COVID practices are being followed by all current volunteers! If volunteering in this manner this is something that you are willing and able to do, please call or email the church office to let us know (719-570-9800 or office@bethellutheran.net).
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CHILDREN, YOUTH & ADULT MINISTRIES

Bethel Kidz Online: We hope you are enjoying our series "The Fruit of the Spirit!" This series is designed for preschool children through age 10 and has a Bible centered, joyful, 15-20 minute message format. To join the fun, informative, online format, go to BethelLutheran.net and click on the Bethel Kidz logo or CLICK HERE!

Rocky Railway VBS is 'On Track’ and arriving at Bethel this summer for K-5 kids! So, mark your calendars for June 14-18 and get ready to climb aboard and join in the fun! Registration for the general public opens in April.

Watch Kidtricity Online: Kidtricity is available for online viewing with new shows each week! The Kidtricity program offers Bible stories, puppets, and pantomimes for children - preschool through 5th grade. This year's theme is 'Welcome to the Jungle!' Kidtricity hosts, Carol & Derek, along with Bethel puppets; Platy, Bernie, Gogo, Twinkle, Nate Newsworthy & Uncle Kong, AND the cast; Grumpy Grampy, Hanz and newest cast member George, present stories of the Bible, work with children on remembering Bible verses, and talk about how to further understand God's word. There is always a lot of laughs! 2020 shows are still available for viewing as well. Go to BethelLutheran.net and click on the Kidtricity logo or CLICK HERE to view Kidtricity videos!

Confirmation Class: Bethel's Confirmation class meets in the High School room downstairs at 10:30am right after Sunday's church service. Sometimes an online option is offered. This class is designed for Middle & High Schoolers who are working toward being confirmed. The class will now be led by Pastor John and Tessa Merritt. If you have questions about class or need to use an online option, please contact Pastor John or Tessa (719-570-9800 / pastorjohn@bethellutheran.net).

College Kid Correspondence: CKC is a ministry opportunity that was created to support Bethel’s out-of-town college students. It is a weekly “card shower” and each week a name and address of a Bethel college “Student of the Week” will be provided through this weekly announcement. Simply send these Bethel family members “best wishes” or “keep up the good work” words of encouragement, add a stamp and drop it in the mail. Thank you for writing to Bethel's wonderful young adults! If you would like your college student to receive correspondence from Bethel, please contact Carol Vogeney to get them to this year's list.
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INREACH & OUTREACH NEWS

Bethel’s Lenten Noisy Change: During the season of Lent leading to Easter, many people think about something that they would like to give up as an opportunity to reflect on what God has given up for us. An example might be giving up sweets or one meal a day. When we give up such things, we remember to turn our eyes toward Jesus and give thanks. Lent is also a time of offering, of giving generously to ease the burdens that others may be carrying. Bethel’s Lenten Noisy Change offering will support a pallet of food with Feed My Starving Children. Your donation will make a huge difference and it will be credited toward the From Hunger to Hope Colorado Springs Mobile Pack that is scheduled this August 13-14, 2021, to feed starving kids around the world! This Lenten season, Bethel is asking every one of us to prayerfully consider setting aside spare change and bringing it to church each week. Bethel’s Goal is to donate a pallet of food ($88 feeds a child for a year, $365 feeds a family for a year, $1,866 provides a pallet of food, $10,000 feeds a village). If you are not attending services, you can donate via Bethel's website by clicking here and making your donation through "Lenten Noisy Change - Feed My Starving Children."

UPDATE! Family Promise / IHN: Family Promise Colorado Springs’ impact in 2020 was nothing short of miraculous. Kat Lilley-Blair said it was amazing and also tragic that the need is still so high despite years of addressing it. In 2020, they served 300 families, 1,100 people. This number is almost 3x the amount from 2019 which had been the highest year since inception. FP is moving toward a continuum of services for families experiencing housing instability and started two new programs in 2020, New Promise low-barrier shelter and a Rapid Rehousing program.

Interfaith Hospitality Network is Family Promise’s Flagship program and served 19 families of 54 people. The families have been housed on Family Promise properties and not rotating through churches since the pandemic started but congregations still provide meals or funds to pay for meals/groceries.
Transitional Housing assisted families coming out of the IHN program to continue to stabilize their situation before “graduating.” This program served 3 families of 10 people with 100% success. This is not as many families as previous years because of the need to house IHN families.
Hope Homes helped 5 families of 17 people. At the end of March, all 5 families will be homeowners! Due to land values being higher than the rent they can collect on mobile homes; no new Hope Homes are expected to be added but the families continue to receive case management.
Heart in Home, the homeless prevention program helped 181 families with 98% success rate. Three families went into a shelter program and continued to be helped by FP.
New Promise Low Barrier Shelter, this low-barrier shelter in cooperation with the city, opened Feb 27th, 2020 and was “at capacity” within 24 hours! The shelter has maintained 100% capacity during the pandemic serving 75 families of 293 people. This is the 1st low barrier family shelter in Colorado and one of only 3 in the United States. Additionally, it is the ONLY family shelter that can house COVID+ individuals. This renovated old motel has a courtyard where families can grill, kids can play and allows some social distanced interactions.
Rapid Rehousing was started due to overwhelming need. This program helps homeless families get housing FIRST and then stabilize their situation through case management. From July 10th to Dec 31st, this program got 17 families off the streets. Eight of these families have moved into permanent housing.

Family Promise has changed so much since Bethel first joined the Interfaith Hospitality Network, but one thing remains: The families are treated as guests, given hope for a better future and a home for stability. Thank you for your support Bethel!
Bethel's IHN Team Leaders: David & Sharon Roberts and Daryl Skoog
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BIBLE STUDY GROUPS

MORNING GROUPS
Ruth Bible Study—This women’s Bible Study meets in person twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays from 9:30-11:00am in Bethel's Library or ladies can join virtually on Microsoft Teams. The group is currently studying Charles Stanley’s book - 30 Life Principles. If you have questions about this group or would like to join, please contact Sarah Wulfsberg.

Men’s Up & Adam Group—This men's group meets at Bethel for Bible study every Wednesday morning at 6:30 AM. Join this men's group by calling or emailing Pastor Dan Lahman at (719) 570-9800 or pastordan@bethellutheran.net.

WEST (Women Earnestly Seeking Truth)—WEST is once again meeting at Bethel! The group meets each Wednesday morning beginning at 10:30 AM in Bethel's library. Should you have questions or if you would like to join this group, please contact Kathy LaBree for more information.

WEB (Women Exploring the Bible)—WEB is studying the Liz Curtis Higgs book called "The Girl's Still Got It -- Take a Walk with Ruth and the God Who Rocked Her World". This women's Bible study group normally meets in Bethel's Library on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 9-11am through the month of May. If you are interested in joining this group, please contact Karen Scharp.


EVENING GROUPS
L.I.F.E. (Living in Faith Everyday) Bible Study—L.I.F.E. (Living in Faith Everyday) Bible Study—L.I.F.E. Bible Study meets at Bethel the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month in Bethel's Abundant Life room. The group is currently studying, Finding I AM by Lysa TerKeurst--the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries. This study takes the group to the ancient streets of Israel to find Biblical truth that speaks today. They'll explore the seven I AM statements of Jesus found in the Gospel of John and in doing so become empowered to trade feelings of depletion and hurt for wholeness in knowing who Jesus is like never before. All women are invited to join. Please let Joan Skoog know if you are interested so that a workbook can be ordered for you.

Thursday Evening Home Bible Study—Join Pastor Stephen Higgins at his home for an adult Bible study on Thursday evenings. The group study is titled "Acts/Revelation - Kingdom of God" and begins at 6:30 PM each Thursday evening. Please call Pastor Stephen to reserve a space for yourself.

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INTEREST GROUPS

COMFORT MAKERS—Bethel's quilting group meets in the morning on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesday of each month. Throughout the year they create quilts to donate to Lutheran World Relief and the quilts are used around the world for those who are in need. Making Lutheran World Relief Mission Quilts is a tangible way to express love to worldly neighbors in need. Each one reflects God’s loving presence in a world rife with suffering. If you have quilting experience or are interested in joining this group, please reach out to Gisela Petersen.

DINING OUT GROUP—Bethel's Dining Out group normally meets the last Monday of the month. April's dining out will be at the Juicy Seafood on April 26 at 6:00 PM. Please RSVP through Dave to attend as reservations need to be made. If you have any questions, please contact Dave or Cheryl Bingham.

MICROBREW CREW GROUP—This group normally meets monthly at a local microbrewery. On Monday, April 12, the group will meet at Duece's Wild Brewery at 6:00 PM. The address is 660 Peterson Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80915. Please contact Dave Bingham, if you have questions or plan to attend.

VARIETY DANCE—Variety Dance meets each Saturday afternoon at Bethel, and they have added an additional time to accommodate their group members along with COVID requirements. Please contact Dave or Cheryl Bingham, if you are interested in joining or if you have questions.
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THE POWER OF PRAYER
Please remember the following people in your daily prayers:
Church Family Members—Barb Giblin, Murle Baldwin, Judie Smith, Rose Reed, Chris Grayson's husband-Ken, the Schafer family, Larry Smith & family, John Player, Bethel’s Congregation, Council, Pastors & Staff, and Stephen Ministers & their care receivers.

Bethel’s Military—Bryan Tice, son of Bob & Cathy Tice; Ben Upton; Chris Shiflet; Cole Estes; Johnny Farquhar; Derek Hepner; Philip Roehler; SGT Stehman; Brandon Walker; Brian Proenneke; Troy French; Einar Wulfsberg; Stephen Anderson; Matthew Anderson; Steven Torgerson; Charles Zarza; Spencer Malona; and the leaders of our great nation.

Extended Family & Friends— Friends of Bethel, Lorraine, Steve & Jackie; Liz Liston's daughter, Janice Miles; Stephanie Fischer's friend, Lori; Cynthia Ahl's friend, Pat; Mark Estes' mother, Sophie; Mary Wedman's sister, Joan Alf; Bonnie Carlson's brother-in-law, Don Colgan; Judie Smith's cousins: Dori, Shirley, Charlene, Janet & Vickie; Chris Schafer's mother, Pam Schafer; Dave Geffre's mother & sister, Barbara & Marvy; Jim & Vicki Wygant's daughter-in-law, Jeanette; Pam Bakken-O'Neill's sister & brother-in-law, MaryJo & Larry Loffelmacher; Pastor Josh Hansen; Pastor Arturo & members of Iglesia Bautista Jerusalem in El Salvador & and all our Compassion children; for people everywhere who have been affected in any way because of COVID-19.

***Names submitted will be listed for approximately one month and then they will be rotated off. Please notify the church office at 719-570-9800 or office@bethellutheran.net if you would like to resubmit a name.


**This weekend the altar flowers are provided by the Skoog family.

Bethel Lutheran Church
4925 Farmingdale Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80917
(719) 570-9800 | FAX (719) 623-0251

OFFICE HOURS: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
WEB: www.BethelLutheran.net EMAIL: office@BethelLutheran.net

Weekend Worship Service Schedule
Saturdays—5:30 PM | Sundays—9:15 AM
You may also join us online at bethellutheran.net/weekly-service-streaming