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October 2012
Bethany CONNECTION
A Note From Pastor Cheryl
Purpose:
To share God’s gifts
with love—
God gives, we share.
Bethany Lutheran Church “In the heart of Lake Highlands”
Walnut Hill and Ferndale
10101 Walnut Hill Lane Dallas, TX 75238
214.348.9690 www.bethany.net
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may bring her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.
Psalm 84: 1-4
As summer draws to a close, those of us living in Texas know that this is finally a good time to go outdoors—after be-ing cooped up inside for most of the very hot summer! It is the time for festivals, for the state fair, and our very own Fall Festival coming up on Saturday, October 6th, right here in the parking lot of Bethany Lutheran Church! There will be food vendors, games for kids, a petting zoo, and other activities during the day. If you have pets in your house, bring them along, too! At 10:30 AM, I’ll be blessing animals in a brief worship service outside in the grass.
Continued…..
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Pastor Cheryl continued...
The Blessing of Pets and Celebration of Creation is a way to honor the memory of St. Francis of Assisi, who is remembered as a renewer of the church and the leader of the Order of Friars Minor (also known as the Francis-cans). He was born the son of a wealthy cloth merchant, but he renounced his wealth and devoted himself to serving the poor. Francis had a great love for God’s creation, and there are stories that he even preached sermons to birds and other forest animals! He is celebrated on the anniversary of his death, October 4, 1226, and many Christian communities remember St. Francis by blessing animals. At our Fall Festival, I will be honored to say a blessing on your pet—since God has lovingly created every living thing—and even if your pet can’t travel, bring a photo along, and we’ll say a prayer together. Certainly the power of prayer reaches far and wide! Our hymnal, Evangelical Lutheran Worship, includes a prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi:
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
May we be instruments of God’s peace, indeed.
Pastor Cheryl Walenta Gorvie
Advent ….What are we waiting for?
Come and Learn
About the Advent season — Sunday Dec 2nd—Sunday Dec 23rd
About why we do what we do
About the One for whom we wait (hint: it’s not Santa Claus…)
Sunday, October 14th Nelson Hall 12:00 Noon
Everything we do is worship!
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President's Letter October 2012
Everything we do is worship!
On Rally Day, the congregation voted to approve our Purpose Statement and Guiding
Principles. We shared fellowship and food. We enjoyed seeing our refurbished patio
with table, chairs, and a shade sail. Pastor is teaching classes on Lutheran theology for
those in confirmation and anyone interested in a refresher of our faith. Sunday school
with wonderful teachers is available for adults and youth. The fall brings us back to
studying the Word and to seek understanding of God's purpose for us in the world.
October 6 will be the Fall Festival and the Blessing of the Animals at Bethany. Pastor
Cheryl will bless the animals at 10:30. Bring your pets. There will be games for the
children including a bounce house. Animals for a petting zoo will be available, as well
as booths with vendors from the community. Bonnie Buttolph is our point person and
has organized a great event. Come out and have a great time at the Fall Festival. See
you there!
Good News on the Nelson Hall roof. One inspector came out and determined that the
roof had sustained significant hail damage. The insurance company has been con-
tacted and arrangements for a roof replacement are in process. This will save the
church approximately $25,000.
Bethany continues to reach out to the community. The Ethiopian First Born Church has
signed another year long lease with Bethany and will continue to use Nelson Hall on
Sunday afternoons. Soccer Palz will use the field at Bethany on Tuesday afternoons
from 2:30-3:30 to practice with children from the Child Development Center and some
neighborhood children. The Girl Scouts will use Nelson Hall on Monday nights for their
meetings.
Joyfully, we serve together in Christ,
Melody Shivers
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Saturday, October 6th
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Benefitting Bethany Lutheran Church and Bethany Child Development Center
Join us for a fun day of:
Blessing of the Pets 10:30 AM
Bouncy House
Horseback Rides
Fall Photos
Petting Zoo
Crafts & Games
Food & Drinks
Snow cones
Vendors
Property Report
from Ed Boudreau
Finalize contract and install new roof over
Nelson Hall and the Admin offices
Replace damaged ceiling tiles following roof
repairs
Complete landscape improvements to Nelson
Hall Courtyard
Cut back trees in west lot for November
Contract Pecan and large east side trees for
November trimming
Present proposal for upgrade and modernization
of our Security and Fire Alarm Systems to
Council for consideration.
Of course there are lots of “routine” small projects
that we attend to each month. Your Property team is
talented and dedicated to preserving and improving
our house of worship. If you have any questions or
concerns, as always let us hear from you!
It has been a very busy year for the Property Folks at Bethany, but we
thought it would be nice to share with you what projects are coming
up and what we are considering for Council approval:
Bethany Lutheran Church
Fall Festival and Blessing of the Pets
Want to help?
Volunteers still needed
Contact :
Bonnie Buttolph
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CDC Update Sparky to Visit Thursday,
Oct. 18
Sparky the Fire Dog will
present a program on fire safety on
Thursday, October 18 at 9:30. All are
welcome to attend the 20-30 minute
puppet show. Topics will include how
to avoid starting a fire as well as
what to do if there is a fire in your
home.
Thanks to all who helped with the
CDC Family Pizza Night on September 14th. It was a
great success. Many parents participated and met
members of the Bethany congregation.
School is once again in full swing and our classes are
approaching capacity — about 80%. There continues
to be great interest in the school by the community as
we give tours a couple of times a week to prospective
students.
We have two new teacher’s aides: Bridget
Thomas, and Esther Ruiz. We have also added
a 2—3 year old class on Wednesdays and
Thursdays.
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Interested in fun, fellowship, food, and faith?
Would you like to eat dinner with interesting people? Join a dinner group.
It’s a great way to meet people in a relaxed, casual setting. This is how it works:
Groups meet once a month Each group is limited to 8 people – this gives you the chance to invite a couple of guests Each group designates one member as the group coordinator. Groups decide their meeting day (Saturday or
Sunday), and their course of discussion/study. Groups can meet at member homes or at church A combined-group Christmas celebration is held the second Sunday of December; with a second all-group celebration planned for the summer. Hosts rotate monthly. Usually the host prepares the main course with others bringing appetizers, side dishes, desserts, wine/beverages, etc. A typical evening might start at 6 p.m. with appe-tizers and conversation, followed by dinner and dessert. A short video, Bible study or discussion of faith topics follows, usually lasting about 30 minutes or so. Prayer requests and prayers con-clude the evening.
All are welcome: singles, couples, families with
children, new members, regularly attending visitors, retirees, and empty nesters.
Each year groups will re-form with new assignments.
Contact Lorraine Dittmer at 214-704-4234 or [email protected] for more information.
BETHANY DINNER GROUPS
Join Bethany women in forming a new fellowship group.
Bethany Women Meet
How would you like to spend time with
interesting, talented women?
Where would you find them, how would you meet them?
It’s easy.
Join now and make it YOUR group, filling YOUR needs.
What would you like that group to do? Social activities Service projects
Study and Prayer Day trips
Contact Lorraine Dittmer at 214-704-4234 or [email protected] for more information.
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Sunday, November 11th
After Sunday School
Fall Potluck
Benefitting
Mount Olive Food Pantry
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Share the Harvest Festival
On Nov 11 Bethany will celebrate the Share the
Harvest Day with a fall potluck after church.
Share your harvest and blessings as Bethany
shares with a drive for funds and food for the
Mount Olive Food Pantry.
Come join us bearing and sharing favorite
autumn harvest foods that express our joy for this
year's bountiful harvest.
Matching funds from Thrivent.
Pledge Card Reminder
We are in the midst of our budgeting process, and need
your pledge cards! If you have not already done so,
please turn in your pledge card to the church office.
Thank you!
Monday
Bunch
Join us this Monday
October 1st, 10 AM
for the Monday Bunch.
Nothing special is planned
this month. Just fun and
fellowship — we’ll play
games, catch up on the latest,
and have a devotion. Bring a
snack if you would like.
The coffee will be hot
and plentiful.
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For Childrens’ Sunday School
See Debbie Hale for details
Education
Adult Education Hearing the Word, and Living the Faith
Oct 7 Small Catechism: Apostle’s Creed Exploring Article 3
Oct 14 Small Catechism: Martin Luther and the Reformation
Oct 21 Small Catechism: Law & Gospel and Sinner & Saint
Oct 28 Small Catechism: Love Your Neighbor
Nov 4 Small Catechism: The Greatest Prayer
Nov 11 Small Catechism: God’s Kingdom and Will
Led by Bill Slonecker and meets in the Friendship Room
The Adult Sunday School’s theme for fall is Faith.
An emphasis will be on readings in the books of Hebrews and Acts.
Oct 7 Faith is Assurance Hebrews 10:12-31
Oct 14 Faith Is Endurance
Oct 21 Faith Inspires Gratitude
Oct 28 Faith Requires Mutual Love
Nov 4 Stephen's Arrest and Speech
Nov 11 Stephen's Martyrdom
Nov 18 Simon Wants to Buy Power
Nov 25 Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
Confirmation Class
Lutheran Basics
Led by Pastor Cheryl and meets in the sanctuary
Join us as we discuss what Lutheran’s believe
about the Lord’s Prayer.
Oct. 14th The Lord’s Prayer — session one
Oct. 28th The Lord’s Prayer — session two
Nov. 11th The Lord’s Prayer — session three
Children’s Sunday School
Oct 7 Adam & Eve Genesis 2:4-25
Oct 14 A Rich Man’s Questions Mark 10:17-31
Oct 21 James & John Mark 10:35-45
Oct 28 Bartimaeus Sees Mark 10:46-52
Nov 4 A Message from God Deuteronomy 6:1-9
Nov 11 The Widow’s Offering Mark 12:38-44
October
Chris Dittmer Oct 2
Mike Repp Oct 4
Carole Bawcum Oct 10
Alfred Ngang Oct 10
Bethany Boudreau Oct 15
November
Elizabeth Tollack Nov 24
Susie Branch Nov 30
Elizabeth Hallmon Nov 30
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Serving families and their students from 7th through 12th grade, Dallas Lutheran School strives to be a Community of Grace that develops young people to be Christian leaders in an ever-changing world. A full complement of athletics, drama, music, and clubs allow students to develop outside the classroom as well. Over 97% of our seniors go on to the college of their choice. Dallas Lutheran is a one-to-one school where each student and faculty member uses the newest iPad.
Please join us for our Open House on Monday, October 22 beginning at 6:30pm.
Dallas Lutheran School Open House
October 22nd 6:30 PM
Have you ever donated to a charity or cause only to wonder, “Did my donation really make a difference?”
We have a unique opportunity for you to give… any amount… with assurance that
your gift will be used to provide quality care to abused and neglected children.
Our upcoming event, the Tomorrow’s Child Golf Benefit, is completely funded by sponsors so that every dollar raised by golfers or donated by supporters like you will
go directly to care for the children.
Every day these children need physical, emotional and spiritual support to help
them overcome the damaging effects of past abuse. You can help a child today!
100% of all donations go directly to Nelson Children’s Ministries.
Tomorrow's Child
Golf Benefit 2012
Monday, October 8th
Iron Horse Golf Course
North Richland Hills
Dates/Times – December 1—2, 2012 This year’s retreat begins on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and ends on Sunday after lunch (lunch begins at 12:00 noon). Cost –
$60 per person (additional children from the same family cost only $30 per person). This includes overnight accommodations, all program-ming and materials, staff costs, and four delicious
meals. Adult chaperones are free!
Registration Deadline – November 28th, 2012
Please complete the Registration/Medical Release Form and send it to: Briarwood Retreat Center 670 Copper Canyon Rd. Argyle, TX 76226
Your child is invited to Briarwood on December 1-2nd for our annual Advent Retreat. This year’s
theme will be “The First NOEL” as we explore the beginnings of our Christmas story.
Our time this year will also include worship and singing, Bible study and small group discussion, games, campfire, an arts and crafts project, and all the enjoyment of a great camping experience.
This is a wonderful time of year to be at Briarwood.
Congregations must provide chaperones for this event, one male/female for every 7 boys/girls that they bring. We request that these adults be 21 years old or older. Congregations may ar-range to share chaperones.
The First Noel Advent Retreat at Briarwood 4th—8th grade
Specifics:
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Bethany Lutheran Church
10101 Walnut Hill Lane Dallas Texas 75238-2166
Office: 214-348-9690 Fax: 214-348-4520
Child Development Center
Barbara Cody, Director
214-348-9691
Church Staff
Cheryl Walenta Gorvie, Pastor [email protected]
Terri Guy, Administrator
Carolyn Johnson, Organist / Pianist
Ellen Frost, Music Director
Irene Hallmon, OfficeVolunteer
Council Officers
President Melody Shivers
Vice President Ed Boudreau
Treasurer David Frost
Secretary Bob Jameson
Council Representatives
CDC Board Rep. Cheryl Boudreau
Education Rep. Debra Hale
Service Lorraine Dittmer
Property / Admn. Rep. Ed Boudreau
Worship/Music Rep. rotating
To Share God’s gifts with love –
God gives, we share.
1. Jesus is Lord.
2. Everything we do is worship.
3. We are rooted in God’s Word.
4. Our integrity depends on speaking the Truth.
5. Encourage and welcome all.
6. We share with others what God has given us.
Purpose Statement:
Guiding Principles: