A weekly e-newsletter of
Bethesda Lutheran Church
Ames, Iowa
March 29, 2024
Attend the Good Friday Tenebrae Tonight at 7:00 pm!
Attend Easter Vigil Saturday, March 30
Join Us for Easter Worship Sunday, March 31!
Church Closed Monday, April 1st
The church office will be closed the day after Easter Monday, April 1st. If you need to drop something off, please use the office drop box. Normal office hours will resume Tuesday, April 2nd.
Last Chance to Take the Five-Year Strategic Plan Survey
Share your opinion on Bethesda, our processes, and ministries via an anonymous survey that takes approximately ten minutes to complete to help refine the vision and overall mission of the church over the next five years.
Take the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GTL9L78 or on https://bethesdaames.org and click on "Five Year Strategic Plan Survey" on the top navigation.

The survey is available until April 1st.
Participate in In-person Listening Sessions in April And May
As Bethesda continues to take steps toward the five-year strategic plan, 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:

  • Wednesday, April 14 from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 17 from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
  • 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 * notate that childcare will be available. To participate, show up in Centennial Hall on your selected date and time.
If you have or know of second and third graders who would like to receive First Communion at Bethesda, have the parents or guardians call the church office at 515-232-6256 so we can add them to the list.

First Communion class will take place at Bethesda April 14th from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

First Communion will be held Sunday April 21st at 9:30 a.m.

For more information or to direct others to this information, head to https://www.bethesdaames.org and navigate to Youth > Pre-K - 5th Grade.
Week 6 of Lenten Devotional Available Online
Week 6 of the Lenten Devotional “Following the Way of Jesus” video series highlights Luke 23:33-35. Watch this week’s video, answer discussion questions, or access previous topics at https://bethesdaames.org.
Registration Summer 2024 for Vacation Bible School is now open!
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.
Last Chance to Register for the ELCA National Youth Gathering
Registration for the ELCA National Youth Gathering closes April 14th. Youth in grades 8 - 12 interested in attending the gathering should have their parent or guardian contact Pastor Jonathan Dolan via email or by calling the church office at 515-232-6256 ASAP to claim their spot.
Phasing Out Saturday Night Sign-up Genius
Saturday night worship attendees will no longer be able to sign up on sign-up genius after March 31st. At this time, worship volunteer slots are filled through August. More information is coming at a later date about how people wanting to volunteer at Saturday worship can assist.
Men's Bible Study Invites You to Study Acts
A small group of Bethesda men meet every Tuesday morning in the Conference Room from 7 to 8. Men interested in the study of Acts are invited to join. For further information call Henry Gray at 233-2720 or email janheng@aol.com.

Come for fellowship, coffee, snacks and to learn in a fun environment.
Mark Your Calendars for Upcoming Book Discussions
Book Club meetings in the Crossroads are as follows:

The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz, Thursday, April 4, 7:00 p.m.
Theologian-in-Residence April 4th-7th
Pastor John Pavlovitz is set to be the featured speaker for the Theologian-in-Residence April 4th-7th.

Snapshot of Events:
April 4th, 6:00 p.m.
  • Speach at the Iowa State Memorial Union

April 5th, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

  • Continuing education event/speech event for clergy and spiritual leaders led by Pastor Pavlovitz in the Fellowship Hall

April 6th, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
  • Morning and afternoon sessions will be held at Ames United Church of Christ with sessions available in-person and online for those who register.

April 7th, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
  • Q&A session and worship service led by Pastor Pavlovitz

For more information or to register, visit http://www.amesucc.org/theologian-in-residence-20241.html.
Upcoming AMOS Events:
  • April 6th, 9:00-11:00 AM -- All AMOS Strategy Meeting (In-person; location TBD). At least 1 leader from each institution is encouraged, but the more the merrier!
  • 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!
WANTED: Clothing Dryer
ASIP is in search of a functional clothes dryer for the Lobo family. If you know of anyone who would like to donate one, or if you would like to donate one, contact Diane Pierce.
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.
Sat. Worship Volunteer Sign-up
A SignUp Genius form is working hard to organize Saturday worship volunteers: Greeters . . Communion Assistants . . Cafe Bethesda hosts. Click the button below, or scan the QR code to reach the form. THANK YOU!
Healing Prayers: Mark Allen; Jan Haugen; Cecilia Horner; Chris Moen; April Lawson; John Simmons; 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: Mark 16:1-8
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