Join us for a visit to the Blackhawk Museum in Danville and lunch in Livermore. Read the details and sign up.

For over 20 years, Sacred Heart Community Service has been offering layette kits to families who are either expecting a baby or have a newborn. Bethel is continuing its participation by holding a collection drive for 5 Sundays starting Apr 19. Donate one or more Sundays as you feel able. Read the details or contact Mark Evashenk for more information.

Please join us for the next Readers Anonymous book discussion of Carnegie's Maid by Marie Benedict. Clara Kelley is not who they think she is. She's not the experienced Irish maid who was hired to work in one of Pittsburgh's grandest households. See you on Sunday, April 19, 2026 1:30 pm in the Library. Everyone is welcome!

Sunday, May 3 at noon-1pm in the Fireside Room. If you are interested in becoming a member of Bethel, or just want to find out more, please join us for lunch after worship on Sunday, May 3.
The staff will be there to introduce themselves and answer any questions you might have. Lunch will be provided. RSVP to Pastor Ben if you're interested.

It is time to start booking Food Trucks for our Sunday Mornings and Fun Foodie Fridays in the summer. In the past, we have had, among others:

• Old Greenwood BBQ
• Cousins Maine Lobster
• Frontera Grill
• Grillzillas
• Himalayan Momo House
• I Love Cheesesteak
• Lemongrass Lane
• Papusa Time
• Rocio Mexican
• Tacos el Rufles
• Thai Thai
• Tlaxiaco's Pizza
• Twister

What types of food would you like to have Food Trucks serve? Do you have any specific Food Trucks you would like to see come to Bethel? Fill out the bulletin insert or send your opinions to Robyn Winegardner.

Would you like to have Communion delivered to your home? Or would you like to help deliver Communion to those who would like it? Communion would be brought to those requesting it, on the third week of the month. If you are interested in receiving or volunteering to bring communion, please contact Robyn Winegardner.

Bethel Supper Clubs is getting a reboot! Sign up to be part of a group of 6–8 people who will take turns hosting dinner once a month or so. This is a great way to meet new people!
Watch for a signup sheet in your bulletin or contact Karen Polyak.

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.

Bethel's Spring Mission to Mexico worked with Esperanza to build homes and community in Mexico.
Attendees include:

• AJ Aist
• Piper Aist
• Paul Baldwin
• Rick Bryson
• Tom Hoegel
• Janice Martinson
• Rick Westwick

Thanks to Tom for these photos. Click any photo to see a larger image.

Pastor Ben Sandin announced that Bethel raised $9435 for our Living Water project during Lent! ELCA Good Gifts will receive our donation. Thank you so much for your generosity!

Pastor Ben's announcement: Sam Sudarsanam has been hired as Director of Community Engagement. This is a new staff position for Bethel and will help us focus our attention and energy toward our surrounding community.

Sam's letter: I am so excited to join the awesome Bethel team! I will be working with the Bethel staff and ministry leaders to strengthen our community within our church and explore various avenues to build strong linkages with our external community. I trust that my extensive volunteering experience and professional career experience and skills will help me give my best to accomplish God's work. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to serve Him through Bethel. I am looking forward to working with you all in the coming weeks.

Please read Pastor Ben's full announcement letter.

Tom Hoegel reports that the nest built high on our building has been removed. The operation required assembly of a tall scaffold. The nest was 3 feet long and the inhabitants have been taken to bee farmers in Half Moon Bay.

On Mar 21, Out ’n About held their 15^th annual St Paddy’s Day Brewery Tour, visiting Beer Mule in Watsonville and Dustbowl Brewing in Monterey.

Annual elections were held. The new Council and Standing Committee positions are listed on the Staff page.

The Dorothy Meyer award was awarded to Robyn Winegardner at the Congregational Meeting. The Dorothy Meyer Award is awarded yearly to a Bethel member that exhibits Christian ideals and principles in all aspects of their daily life and participates in many Bethel ministries and duties.

Read the summary report of the “Interests, skills and gifts” congregational survey taken in November. Bethel and Bethel members are richly blessed with an abundance of gifts! Thank you to everyone who completed the survey.

Be sure to check out Bethel’s new Annual Report. Thanks to Mary Deutscher for editing and publishing it.

Bethel Lutheran Church has been working to create a welcoming and mental health stigma-free community with our formation of our mental health team, wellness resource fairs, sponsorship of a NAMI Walks Team, sharing mental health resources, and having an onsite counseling team.
On Oct 19, NAMI representatives: Patty (NAMI's Faithnet Program Coordinator) and Sara (NAMi's Programs Manager) presented Bethel with an award to signify that Bethel is a mental health stigma-free community. Amanda Laughlin and our mental health team accepted this award at the 10:45am service. If you missed it, you can watch it during the announcements in the second service, from timecode 10:50.

Read about Bethel's Care Ministries.
Read about NAMI in Santa Clara County.