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Fifth Sunday in Lent

Sermon Theme for Mar 17:
Growing in Grace

Imagine a world where we refrain from judging others and give one another grace. This is what Jesus does for us and God’s invitation to live out each day. After Sunday, you can find a recording of this message.

ELCA Good Gifts chicks

Bethel Farm Project, Lent to Easter

From now until Easter Sunday, Bethel is building a farm through the ELCA Good Gifts[Offsite Link] program. To contribute, please write a check/make a donation to Bethel and specify on the memo line what you would like to “purchase” for the Bethel Farm.

As our farm grows during Lent you can track our progress by watching the Bethel Farm display in the narthex! Below is a list of our goals for the farm. See this flyer[PDF Document] for full details about how each of these items better the lives of so many communities and families in need. If you have any questions please contact the church office.

  • Simple Water Well (1) $2,500 (or donate any portion)
  • Clean Water Filter (5) $30 each
  • Microloan for Women (5) $125 each
  • Vegetable Garden (1) $200
  • Garden Tools & Seeds (1) $50
  • Fruit Tree Seedlings (10) $10 each
  • Portion of Irrigation Project (4) $100 each
  • Latrine (1) $150
  • Fish Farm (1) $250
  • Cow (3) $500 each
  • Goat (5) $50 each
  • Piglet (15) $30 each
  • Honey Bees (10) $20 each
  • Rooster (4) $15 each
  • Chicks (25) $10 each
Sing Halleluja invitation

Sing Hallelujah, Mar 31

Bethel Lutheran Choir, 10181 Finch Avenue, Cupertino, extends an open invitation to join us in song Easter Sunday, during the Traditional Service at 8:45am. Come join us in singing Handel's Praise Ye the Lord and the Hallelujah Chorus. You can attend the first portion of our Thursday 7:30pm choir rehearsals, or download the tracks and practice on your own. (You may have to watch, or wait 10 seconds and skip, the ads in the rehearsal tracks.) Here's the Hallelujah Chorus:

Sing Halleluja invitation Watch this video invitation[Offsite Link] the choir made or listen to the singing announcement from the 8:45 worship service on March 3. Contact Melody for more information.

Spiritual Growth Study

Spiritual Growth Study, Sundays, Feb 18–Mar 17

Pastor Ben will lead a 5-week sermon series and corresponding Bible Study on Spiritual Growth during the season of Lent. Each week will feature a different aspect of our spiritual life and how we can grow in our relationship with God and one another. The Bible Study will take place on Sundays at 9:50am in the Fireside Room.

Spiritual Growth Study

Journey with Jesus, Wednesdays, Feb 21–Mar 20

On the Wednesdays in Lent, following Ash Wednesday, we will focus on the theme “Journey with Jesus”, with a worship gathering in the Fireside Room at 7pm. These evenings will feature hymns, readings, a devotion, prayers, with fellowship and dessert. On March 6 our Speaker Series will take place as usual.

shamrock

St. Paddy’s Brewery Tour, Mar 16

Out ‘n About invites you to the annual Saint Paddy’s Day Brewery tour in Santa Cruz on Saturday, Mar 16. Read the details, sign up[Offsite Link] and join us!

At Home in Mitford cover

Readers Anonymous, Mar 17
At Home in Mitford

Join us for a discussion of the book “At Home in Mitford” by Jan Karon. Follow Father Tim and his parishioners in the idyllic town of Mitford. This and most, if not all of the series, is available in the Bethel library. See you on Sunday, March 17, 1:30 pm in the library. All are welcome.

Holy Week schedule

Holy Week, Mar 24–31

Holy Week worship services:

  • Palm Sunday, March 24. Worship Services are at 8:45am and 10:45am.
  • Maundy Thursday Worship Service is March 28 at 7pm and includes First Communion Students.
  • Good Friday is March 29 with Worship Service at 7pm.
  • Easter Sunday is March 31 with Sunrise Worship Service at 6:30am at Cupertino Memorial Park[Offsite Link], and Worship Services at 8:45am and 10:45am at Bethel.
Easter Egg Hunt

Easter Egg Hunt, Mar 31

All kids in 5th grade or younger are invited to join the fun at Bethel for the annual Easter Egg Hunt, Easter morning at 9:50am. No registration is required. Show up on the back playground area at 9:50 to line up and prepare to hunt. The hunt begins at 10am.

Sujatha Venkatraman

Wed Night Speaker Series, Apr 3

The Wednesday Night Speaker Series is back! Join us in the Fireside Room at 7pm on the first Wednesday of the month for special topics and guest speakers. Invite friends! Each session will end with a Q&A time and sweet and savory refreshments. Look for more info in your bulletin and e-news. Please let us know if you plan to attend … and invite friends!

Our April speaker is Sujatha Venkatraman, CEO of West Valley Community Services[Offsite Link]. She will share about the important work WVCS is doing in the community and how we can make an impact. WVCS logo

Sujatha Venkatraman is currently the executive director of West Valley Community Services. Sujatha has been with WVCS for sixteen years and has focused on ensuring our mission-driven programs and services impact our community. She has demonstrated a commitment to addressing complex social issues and working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders throughout her career. She has led the development and implementation of various initiatives to reduce food insecurity and prevent homelessness in our community. Sujatha has over 30 years of non-profit experience in program and policy development, strategic planning, and curriculum development. Previously, she was the Senior Family Development Specialist for the Little City Foundation and a Behavioral Specialist for the United Cerebral Palsy of Georgia/South Carolina. She has a Master in Humanistic Psychology from the University of West Georgia and an MSW from the Dehli School of Social Work.

West Valley Community Services is fighting poverty by providing critical food, housing assistance, and support services to low-income and homeless individuals and families in Cupertino, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, and West San Jose. West Valley Community Services' comprehensive programs are offered under one roof and are free of charge to low-income and homeless families in the West Valley region of Santa Clara County. We also provide helpful information and referrals to our clients in collaboration with other human service agencies in the community.

Creek Cleanup announcement

Calabazas Creek Cleanup, Apr 14

As part of Earth Day, we will clean up Calabazas Creek between Bollinger Rd. and Blaney Ave. on Sunday, April 14, after church.

We will meet at 11:45 am in front of the church so that we can carpool to the cleanup site. If you want to meet directly at the cleanup place, please let Hella know.

Please wear old clothes, boots, and gloves, bring a grabber if you have one and some water to drink. Participants must wear closed toed shoes. Children need to be supervised by their parent or another adult at all times.

Everybody needs to follow the guidelines from the Water District[PDF Document].

Contact: Hella Bluhm-Stieber for more info and to sign up.

Diane Stauffer Tanzania Trip

Diane Stauffer's Tanzania Trip, Apr 14

Learn more about Tanzania and hear about Dianne's recent trip, 9:50am in the Fireside Room.

Quilters invitation

Quilting for Beginners, Apr 21 & 28

Learn about quilting and help the Quilters by tying some quilts to prepare them to be shipped around the world. Stop by the Fireside Room on these two Sundays at 9:50am, and consider joining the Bethel Quilters. Contact Joann Weberg for more information.

scuba vbs logo

SCUBA VBS, Jul 8–Jul 12

Bethel’s annual Vacation Bible School is July 8–12. This year’s theme is SCUBA—diving into friendship with God. Registration will open in the spring. Traditional VBS is 9am–noon each day. An After-VBS program from noon–5pm is provided for an additional cost. SCUBA VBS Sunday is July 14 at 11:45am. For more information please contact Amanda Laughlin.

Family Supportive Housing logo

Seeking San Jose Family Shelter Breakfast Volunteers!

The San Jose Family Shelter[Offsite Link] needs volunteers to cook or serve, on the follow Sundays next year:

  • Feb 11
  • Apr 14
  • Jun 9
  • Aug 11
  • Oct 13
  • Dec 8

Cooks are needed 5:30–7am
Servers are needed 6:45–8:15am
Contact for more info: Chris Ford.

Bethel Staff on Zoom

Bethel Staff Zooms

Bethel Staff meet about once a month to record a brief presentation that you can view on our YouTube Channel[Offsite Link]. Look for the heading Bethel Staff Zooms.

 

What’s Been Happening

Anna Hoegel portrait

Winter Congregational Meeting, Feb 4

Elections were held at the Winter Congregational meeting. New positions are listed on the Staff page.

The Dorothy Meyer award was awarded (posthumously) to Anna Hoegel 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. Tom Hoegel will designate a $500 donation to a charity on behalf of Anna.

Annual Report, Feb 4

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

Chili Cook-off, Jan 21

Bethel held the 2024 Annual Chili Cook Off on Jan 21. Congratulate the winners, Paul Baldwin (3rd), Rachel Sudarsanam (2nd) and Steve Emmert (1st). Click the image to see a larger version.

Wednesday Night Speaker, Dave Denny, Jan 10

On Wednesday Jan 10, the Wednesday Night Speaker Series hosted Dave Denny. Dave read selected poems of hope and healing from his new book, Angel of the Waters[Offsite Link], poems, and led a discussion on the role of creativity and imagination.
Angels of the Waters cover

elephant seal pup

Out 'n About trip to Año Nuevo, Jan 6
(updated with group photo)

On Jan 6, Bethel's Out 'n About visited Año Nuevo State Park[Offsite Link] for a Guided Seal Walk. (Click a photo to see a larger view.)

COVID-19 virus

COVID Recommendations updated Mar 7

As of Mar 7, Bethel has relaxed our COVID recommendations. Masks and/or vaccination are not required, except for one seating area in our sanctuary that is designated as requiring masks. We still encourage you to be vaccinated if possible and we fully support anyone who wants to come masked. Please read Tom’s letter for more detail.

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