News at Bethel

The Current News of
Bethel Lutheran Church

THIS WEEK

A Prayer for Bethel: Click here.

New Worship Schedule and Discipleship Hour…
         Starting June 1!
         8:30—Traditional Worship
         9:45—Discipleship Hour with Sunday School and Bible classes for all ages (new courses start June 1: there is truly something for everyone!)
         11:00—Contemporary Worship
For more information or to volunteer with Faith Rocks Children’s Sunday School, contact Natalie Harris. For information, or to volunteer, with Youth or Adult Bible Classes, contact Cassie Schermbeck.

The Alpha Course is a way to meet Jesus in a truly personal way. Led by Pastor Haedge, Alpha is a ten-week course covering the faith of the Christian church. Alpha is for everyone. The Alpha Course is underway, but you are still invited to attend from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. Dinner will be served, childcare is provided.

Alpha Dinners: Pastor Haedge is in search of Bethel disciples to cook and serve dinner for a few more Alpha sessions. Dinner begins at 6:30 and usually serves about 30 people. If you are interested in this ministry, please contact the church office or Pastor Haedge.

Weekend To Remember: Get away for the weekend and focus on your spouse. You will laugh, hear God's plan for your marriage, and gain a new appreciation for your mate. If you sign up with our group and register early, you will save $80 per couple on your registration. Call 1-800-FLTODAY or visit www.familylife.com/weekend and give them group # 17262 for the group rate. Choose either conference location: Renaissance Worthington in Ft. Worth, May 30-June 1, or the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, June 6-8. Make your reservations at the hotel of your choice (conference hotel or offsite) before they sell out.  For more information call Keith or Shauna Leicht at 972-495-9148. The early registration deadlines are May 19 for Fort Worth and May 26 for Grapevine.
The Faith Rocks Summer Sunday School Team needs you! We will have three classes, 3's-K, 1st/2nd grade and 3rd/4th grade at 9:45 this summer. If you would be interested in teaching even just one Sunday (We always need subs!), please e-mail Natalie Harris at natalie@betheldallas.org. We will meet together before Summer Sunday School begins to go over the curriculum.

Nursery Care is available from 9:15 a.m. to the end of the 10:45 a.m. service.

Sunday School for children, youth and adults begin at 9:15, 9:30 and 10:45. Be sure to check the Sunday School schedule on the following pages for class topics and locations. There is something for everyone!

Prayer Team members are available to pray with you before all Sunday services in the Narthex (entry hall) and at the communion rail after worship. During communion in the 9:30 service, they are available at the front and rear of the church.

The Bethel Men's Softball team’s last game is Monday, May 12 at 8:00 p.m. at the red field of the Carter Softball Complex (near 635 and Oates) in Garland. Come join the fun by cheering on our team!

Office Assistance Needed: Bethel is looking to hire a part-time office assistant. Computer skills are necessary. If you think you or someone you know might be interested in this position, please contact Pastor Haedge, Marsha or Cassie in the church office. Thanks!

The Bethel Book Club has begun! We will be meeting on the first Saturday of each month at 9:30 a.m. in the music suite! Come join us!

LWR In-Gathering & LWML Convention News: At Bethel we assembled 32 school kits, 62 sewing kits and 24 health kits. We also collected 317 pounds of soap and helped to make 49 quilts. We donated over 500 pounds and more than 30 boxes of goodies for the Lutheran World Relief effort. A big thank you to all who helped make this happen. Please remember that it is important not only to report the number of kits but number of boxes and the total weight of the boxes for our report. These numbers will be reported in the annual report at the Texas District LWML convention in June along with our total mite donations. Glenna Friesen and Katie Fluegel will be your representatives in Houston this year. If you have any questions, or have a particular project you would like us to consider, call Katie Fluegel at 214-226-6144.

Lutheran World Relief In-Gathering Results: Whew! It was one for the books - Bethel disciples loaded over 12 TONS of donations (1,199 boxes weighing 24,121 pounds) from 97 churches all over North Texas for Lutheran World Relief. One church alone brought 300 quilts! It was quite exciting and gratifying to see the fruits of our labors. Many, many thanks to all who served. Barbara Neumann, LWR Coordinator

CALL COMMITTEE UPDATE

The Associate Pastor Call Committee has narrowed the list of potential Associate Pastor candidates down from eleven to six, finalized the interview questions, and conducted interviews by phone. The next step is on-site interviews here at Bethel with the top 3 candidates.

DISCIPLESHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Who do you know that you can bring to the next Alpha? Talk to Pastor Haedge.

BETHEL BROWN BAG SPECIAL!!
Bethel Brown Bag Special is a new way we are trying to get you, the disciples at Bethel, involved in donating non-perishable food items and other personal products to three local pantries. Look for brown lunch sacks in your bulletin the 2nd Sunday of each month with labels indicating what item to bring. A box will be in the back of the Narthex on the 3rd Sunday for brown bags to be returned. All items we receive will be distributed among Network of Community Ministries, White Rock Center of Hope, and New Hope Lutheran. We are looking forward to your support!

COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD

Who do you know that you can bring to Alpha next Spring? Talk to Pastor Haedge about who you can invite.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

“Great People of the Old Testament” Room 3/7 Sunday, January 21 at 9:15 a.m. A Bible study you have been seeking and in which you can now participate. Written by Dr. Martin E. Meyer. Facilitated by Gene Rummel. Please join with us in these spiritually uplifting discussions! Questions?? Call Gene 972-240-2202.

College-age Bible study: led by Tim Schermbeck in the conference room at 10:45. The Minor Prophts of the Old testament is the topic. For more information, see Tim or Cassie.

SUNDAY MORNING

Children

9:30 AM & 10:45 AM "Akaloo: Discovering the Bible”
Ages 3 thru Grade 6

8-12th grade: “Jesus Rocks”
Doyle Fleugel—Teacher, Youth Room

8-12th grade: “Jesus Rocks”
Mike Colville—Teacher, Youth Room
This class delves into the meaning behind the lyrics of current popular music and how God plays a role in those lyrics. Both secular and Christian music is studied.

Please use the outdoor youth room entrance (as opposed to the gym youth room entrance) for high school Sunday school from now on

“Great People of the Old Testament”
Gene Rummel—Facilitator, Room 3/7

“Colossians”
John Swendig—Facilitator, Pastor Haedge’s office

“Young Adult Bible Study,” Gillian Chisom––Facilitator, Conference Room

“The Great Divide: A Christian Introduction into the Muslim Religion,”Ken Ring —Facilitator, Stage

“A Scriptural Walk from the Upper Room to the Cross”
Art and Celia Ruff — Facilitators, Room 3/7

“Bite-Sized Bible Study”
Take a closer look at today's Scripture Readings as printed in the Sunday Bulletin.
Michael & Linden Summer—Enablers, The Empty Office.

This week’s rehearsal schedule:
Silver Bells: 11:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon
Voices of Praise: 7:00 p.m., Sundaes, followed by rehearsal

Bethel Musicians: In appreciation for your faithful and loving service to God, please take note of the following celebrations:

Silver Bells Luncheon – Wednesday, May 14, following 11:00 a.m. rehearsal

“Sundaes on Wednesday” – Wednesday, May 14, 7:00 p.m., Narthex, rehearsal follows

FUN Night is over for spring 2008 but movie night will continue for WOW (all confirmed youth) through May 28. All 8th-12th grade youth, plus all confirmed 7th graders, are invited to youth movie night on Wednesday nights in May, from 6-8 p.m. Bring a couple of bucks to chip in for pizza, and $.60 for soda.

Upcoming:

May 11      Youth worship with families at 8, 9:30 or 10:45 a.m., sanctuary
                                    9:30 8th-12th Grade Bible Study
                                    No 10:45 Youth Bible study: Mother’s Day!

May 14      Youth Movie Night

May 18       Worship: 8, 9:30 or 10:45 a.m., sanctuary
                    Bible Study: 8th-12th Grade-9:30 a.m.; 6th-12th Grade-10:45 a.m.
                    Glorybound registrations due, Senior booklet info due
                    Camp Chrysalis Meeting, noon (includes lunch, bring drink $)
May 21      Youth Movie Night
May 25      Last Sunday with current Sunday Schedule
May 28      Last Youth Movie Night
June 1         New Sunday morning schedule begins!

For further information on our youth ministry, see www.betheldallasyouth.org or email Cassie at dcecassie@betheldallas.org.