OUR CORE VALUES
Announcements
Bethel News
Seventh Sunday After Pentecost
Sermon for Jul 12:
The Agriculture of Ministry
by The Rev Dr Charlane Lines![[Offsite Link]](/graphics/offsiteLink.gif "Offsite Link"){kind=small}
Hide detail
On Sunday we will hear God’s Word from The Rev Dr Charlane Lines
and consider how we can apply it to our daily lives.
This Living Word of God reminds us God’s unconditional love for us
and challenges us to share that same love with others.
Show detail
Calling Our Next Pastor
What's Next
Q&A with the Synod, Jul 12
This Sunday, July 12 · between services · Fireside Room
Our Synod representative,
The Rev Dr Charlane Lines, who is guiding us through this call process,
will join us to answer questions and explain the process in greater detail.
Charlane will also be our guest pastor that day.
Bethel is following an expedited call process, guided by our Synod and designed for healthy churches like ours. It differs from a traditional call in two ways:
- Council as call committee
Rather than forming a separate committee, your Church Council serves as the call committee, leading discernment on the congregation's behalf. - A three-year term
The initial call runs three years. The congregational vote comes at the end of the term — the decision to extend a permanent call.
The steps:
- Council updates the profile of who we are and what we are seeking.
- The Synod identifies and presents candidates based on that profile.
- Council reviews the candidates and decides whether to proceed.
- Candidates and Council meet for interviews and discernment.
- If both believe it is the right fit, the Synod appoints the pastor for a three-year term.
We want to hear from you. Your hopes, questions and concerns shape Bethel's future. Share them by:
- Complete the congregational feedback form online
- Speak with any member of the Council
- Drop a note in the offering plate
- Invite a Council member to your ministry or small group. Contact Lisa Laxson
Fun Foodie Friday, Jul 17
Fridays, Jun 12, Jul 17, Aug 21, 5:30–7:30pm on the
Front Lawn.
Enjoy dinner at Bethel with our summertime food trucks and your Bethel family and friends.
On Jul 17, the scheduled food trucks are:
- Mister Softee
- Mona’s Princess Fruits and Food … Tacos
- Patty Wagon … Burgers and Hot Dogs
- Stinky Noodle … Rice & Noodle Bowls, etc
On Aug 21, the scheduled food trucks are:
- Kona Ice
- Real Food – Mexican / Salvadorean
- Patty Wagon … Burgers and Hot Dogs
- Stinky Noodle … Rice & Noodle Bowls, etc
Play Games at Bethel,
Friday Jul 17
5:30pm–8pm
Jul 17 is Fun Foodie Friday!
Have dinner on the front lawn and join in on some card and board games!
Readers Anonymous, Jul 19
Please join us for Book Two of the David Baldacci series “Nash Falls” where Walter Nash goes undercover to infiltrate a drug smuggling cartel to avenge the death of his daughter.
This thriller remains #1 on the NY Times best seller list.
Please join us in reading Hope Rises by David Baldacci,
July 19th 1:30 pm in the Church Library.
All are welcome.
Bee-attitudes
Take-Out Church 2026
Bee kind.
Bee Forgiving.
Bee Welcoming.
Bee sure to pick a Take-Out Church for summer buzzin' — available in the
Narthex.
The Take-out Church includes a Bee Buddy Finger Puppet
to take pictures with on your vacations or staycations.
Please send the pictures to Amanda by Sep 9.
She will be putting them together in a movie that she will show at the beginning of the school year.
And check out Matthew 5:3-10
Out 'n About:
Save the Dates
Out 'n About trips are planned for the rest of the year. Read the tentative list and check your calendar!
Congregational Meeting, Aug 30
Noon–1pm
Please attend the Congregation Meeting, to ensure that we have a quorum.
The congregation meets each August to share program highlights, give updates, and approve the annual budget for FY27.
Snacks will be provided after the 10:45 service.
And please review the minutes![[PDF Document]](/graphics/pdfLink.png "PDF Document"){kind=small}
from the previous congregational meeting.
Labor Day Retreat, Sep 5&6
Planning has begun for our annual Labor Day Retreat at Mt Cross in the Santa Cruz mountains. The theme this year is Masquerade. Save the dates!
NAMI Walk, Saturday Oct 3
Walk with Bethel, Oct 3 at 9am–1pm.
We are starting a team and planning for the NAMI walk that will be in October.
It seems early but with it being Mental Health Month, it makes sense to share the news now.
If you would like to walk with the Bethel group and start raising money for this great cause
go to https://www.namiwalks.org/teams/83809.
For more information on walking with Bethel, email Amanda Laughlin.
Bethel Staff Zooms
Bethel Staff meet about once a month to record a brief presentation that you can view on our
YouTube Channel.
Look for the heading Bethel Staff Zooms.
What’s Been Happening
Amateur Traveler, July
Bethel is blessed to have Chris Christensen often take the Sunday Worship Message role at Bethel.
It is now our turn to recognize Chris' 1,000th
“Amateur Traveler” Podcast.
His care for other cultures and ability to share adventures around the world is amazing and a true gift.
Congratulations, Chris … here's to the next 1,000.
Click any photo to see a larger image.
Chris in Botswana
Chris in Malta
Chris in Morocco
Thank you, VBS campers, Jul 8
Thank you, members and VBS campers of Bethel Lutheran Church for sponsoring a summer food drive for WVCS.
We received 349 pounds of dry goods today, enough for 291 meals, over a month of breakfast and lunch for a family of 4.
This is especially crucial in the summer, as this family no longer has the school lunch program to help them.
Thank you for blessing OUR community with your compassion and food.
Toni Concepcion
Manager of Market Operations
West Valley Community Services, Inc.
Rainforest VBS, Jun 22–26
We had a great VBS and loved watching God’s Love Shine through each child who participated. Thank you for trusting us with your children and for having them join in on Bethel Lutheran’s VBS. Wel explored God’s Nature as we discovered that God is our Creator, knows everything, our safe place, is LOVE and is FOREVER. Wow God!
Watching your children participate in our two service projects was full of
energy and God’s love. With the money your children brought in for our
Operation Kid-to-Kid Service project, we collected $352. Wow God! This
money will go towards purchasing fruit trees for families in Central America.
The fruit from the trees provide the nutrition that children need as well as
income for the families. We also filled four barrels with non-perishable food
that you helped to purchase with a portion of your VBS tuition. Some of you
also brought in extra food too. This food will help families in our community.
Wow God!
Amanda Laughlin
VBS Coordinator
Campus Improvements, Jun 14
Tom announced the progress of multiple contractors this week working on projects around the campus.
These included painting the sanctuary building, finishing up the parking lot by the playground,
welding gates to improve safety and working on the kitchen and bathrooms (not pictured).
Thanks to Tom for these photos.
Click any photo to see a larger image.
Out 'n About to Pt Reyes, Jun 6
Bethel's Out 'n About visited Point Reyes National Seashore on June 6. They saw the KPH Maritime Radio Receiving Station, above, the Cypress Tunnel, below, and the lighthouse.
Thanks to Tom for these photos. Click any photo to see a larger image.
