A weekly e-newsletter of
Bethesda Lutheran Church
Ames, Iowa
April 19, 2024
Help Make Bethesda Stronger!
Congregation members and friends are invited to one-hour in-person listening sessions to provide further feedback and express their opinions in a neutral environment. In-person listening sessions will be held in Centennial Hall in April AND May at the following dates and times:

  • Saturday, April 20 from 10:00 -11:00 a.m.*
  • Saturday, April 20 from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.*
  • Sunday, April 21 from 10:40 - 11:40 p.m.*


  • Wednesday, May 8 from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, May 8 from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 11 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.*
  • Saturday, May 11 from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.*
  • Sunday, May 12 from 10:40 - 11:40 a.m.*

Dates marked with * indicate that childcare will be available.
To participate, show up in Centennial Hall on your selected date and time or sign up for a session at https://tinyurl.com/pm6m9759.
March Madness Bracket Winners!
Congratulations to Chris Brakke for winning the Bethesda Men’s March Madness bracket competition, and to Jonathan Dolan 2 for winning the Bethesda Women’s March Madness bracket competition. Thanks to everyone who participated!
Register for Bethesda's 2024 for "Created To Be" Vacation Bible School!
Register your child for VBS at bethesdanet.shelbynextchms.com/external/form/c96d2438-4e0d-4a4c-bfd1-0a19c31a8735 or on our website under Youth > Pre-K through 5th Grade.

Registration is $5 per child and includes a t-shirt, mid-morning snack for those in the morning session and a meal for kids coming in the evening. Please select the t-shirt size for your child when registering. We cannot guarantee the correct size if registering after May 20th.
For more information about the April 27th Civic Academy, head to https://bethesdaames.org/learn/amos/.
Other Upcoming AMOS Events:
  • May 9th, 5:30-6:30 PM -- All AMOS Strategy Meeting (Virtual via Zoom). Again, at least 1 leader encouraged. 
  • June 2nd, 3:00 PM -- Delegate Assembly. Goal to have all 40 member organizations standing together with relational power!
Upcoming Book Discussion Dates
Thursday, May 9, Remarkably Bright Creatures written by Shelby Van Pelt, 7:00 pm in the Crossroads. 
Wednesday, June 5Bitten By a Camel: Leaving Church, Finding God written by Kent Dobson, 7:00 pm in the Crossroads

Check out other fellowship group meetings at https://bethesdaames.org/learn/fellowship-groups/.
Give a Gift Online
Don't carry cash or checks? You can set up a recurring or one-time gift to Bethesda online, so you never miss an offering opportunity!
Splash Children's Church Needs Volunteers
Children's Church is after the Children's Message during Worship service and is for Pre-K through 5th Grade.

If you would like to volunteer to teach Children's Church, contact Pastor Jonathan Dolan or call the church office.
Oasis

Oasis is on Wednesday Evening's.
Confirmation Hangout Time for
6th-8th Grade is 6 - 7:00 pm.
Confirmation is 7 - 8:00 pm,
all are welcome!
Shelbynext
Refresher to log onto Shelbynext:
On your laptop or Desk Top Computer - https://bethesdanet.shelbynextchms.com
On your cell phone go to the App Store or Google Play Store
search for ShelbyNeXt Membership - download the free app;
On first screen replace the word domain with Bethesdanet
Enter username and password.
You should be ready to go! If you have any questions or concerns please contact Linda Fevold on Monday's 12 noon till 2:00 pm.
What's The Difference Between The Current and The Living Current?

The Current is a double-sided sheet consisting of four or more announcements that may widely affect the congregation with a schedule of Sunday-to-Sunday activities and order of worship.

The current, the physical copy members pick up each weekend, is limited to a certain number of announcements and is determined by what events will largely affect the congregation as a whole, often on a first come-first serve basis.

The Living Current, an e-newsletter sent every Friday at 9 am, consists of the larger announcements that make The Current as well as other announcements and events that may not affect the majority of the congregation. Such things may include:
  • An announcement for an event more than a month away. (As the event nears, it will be placed in The Current while holding its place in The Living Current.)
  • Ongoing support and prayers

If you have an event that you would like advertised in The Current for weekend services, submit your announcement event via email to Tess Hanson or Lynn Anderson no later than the Tuesday before you would like it advertised. Please specify where you want it to be published. If submitted after the stated deadline, it will be integrated into The Living Current e-newsletter and The Current for weekend services the following week.
Healing Prayers: Mark Allen; Ted Bailey; Charlene Doyle; Jan Haugen; Cecilia Horner; Larry Otteman; John Simmons; Jana Tschopp; Don Wempe.
WELCOME!
We invite you to join our community, which is committed to inclusion, racial equity and anti-racism. We share in God’s abundant grace knowing that we cannot be separated from the love of God by our age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political beliefs, socioeconomic status, physical or mental abilities or faith background.
Worship Schedule:
SATURDAY (a modern service with praise band) . . . 5:30 pm
SUNDAY (a traditional service with choirs, organ) . . . 9:30 am
This weekend . . . MESSAGE: Luke 24:36b-48
Holy Communion served at both services, every week.
Contact Information:
Chelsey Aisenbrey, Council President . . .ccaisenbrey@yahoo.com
Bryan Simmons, Lead Pastor. . . .bsimmons@BethesdaAmes.org
Jonathan Dolan, Associate Pastor–Youth & Family. . .jdolan@BethesdaAmes.org
Ed Kaizer, Saturday Night Music Leader . . . .kaizerjazz@gmail.com
Randy Ewing, Co-Director of Music . . . .rewing@BethesdaAmes.org
Nancy Ewing, Co-Director of Music . . . .newing@BethesdaAmes.org
Mary Nelson, Assistant Organist . . . .mnelson@BethesdaAmes.org
Tess Hanson, Marketing & Communications . . . thanson@BethesdaAmes.org
Lynn Anderson, Administrative Specialist . . . ljanderson@BethesdaAmes.org
Cliff McDonald, Accounting Manager. . . .cmcdonald@BethesdaAmes.org
Linda Fevold, Database Coordinator . . . . . . .lfevold@BethesdaAmes.org




Address: 1517 Northwestern Ave.
Ames, IA 50010-5299
Phone: (515) 232-6256