We revere our past and hold fast to the historic traditions of faith. However, we do not live in the past. In God's sunlight, the dazzling white shines afresh in the brilliance of living faith.
We encourage family and personal devotions, Bible reading and prayer, provide Christian education, encourage our youth to continue in faith, strive for a spirit of inclusiveness in today's community, and seek out opportunities to serve.
Bethany Church Staff
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Rev Charles Humphrey Pastor |
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Brenda Berggren |
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Genevieve Bishop Organist |
Brian Holdsworth Building Manager |
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also Bob Carlson, financial secretary and Dirk Durant, treasurer
Bethany Church Council
Karmon AlmquistRoger L Anderson
George Armbruster
Kenny Bengtson
Betsy Blanks (youth representative)
Scott Bley
Diane Cummings
Marty Johnson
Doug Malm, president
Nancy McCullough
Jayne Norlin, secretary
Bruce Palmer
Marybeth Peterson
Dan Scott, Vice President
Doug Scott
Anita Sutton
effective Jan 05
Bethany Church History
Pastors:| Dr Olof Olsson | 1869-1876 |
| Dr Carl A Swensson | 1879-1904 |
| Dr Alfred Bergin | 1904-1942 |
| Rev Philemon Smith | 1942-1949 |
| Rev Ervin C Malm | 1950-1956 |
| Dr Anton A Nelson | 1956-1969 |
| Rev Roy F Molander | 1969-1979 |
| Dr James Kniseley | 1977-1979 |
| Rev Raymond Mai | 1981-1984 |
| Rev Herbert N Johnson Jr | 1980-1997 |
| Rev Charles W Humphrey | 1998- |
Miscellaneous Dates and Facts
| 1869 | Bethany Church Founded, August 19 |
| 1874 | Decision to build church at present location |
| 1880 | Decision to build addition to west, balcony and tower |
| 1881 | Bethany College founded in church sacristy, October 15 |
| 1882 | First performance of Handel’s Messiah, in church |
| 1892 | Women’s Missionary Society founded |
| 1898 | Church painted and redecorated |
| 1901 | New parsonage built ($5,792) |
| 1904 | Synod convention held in Bethany |
| Two transepts added to church, altar was built, altar paintings by Sandzen | |
| Stained glass windows installed | |
| 1908 | Messiah Church organized |
| 1914 | Women given right to vote in congregation |
| Interior of church painted | |
| 1923 | Weekday Released Time classes began |
| 1926 | Interior of church painted |
| 1927 | Exterior of church painted, two morning services |
| 1928 | Brick, two-story parsonage built, ($14,500 |
| 1935 | Congregational minutes recorded in English |
| 1952 | Education building erected, $160,000: Lambert Dahlsten selected as Organist |
| 1953 | Grand piano donated |
| 1955 | New carpeting for church |
| 1958 | Boy Scout troop organized, exterior of church painted |
| 1961 | Began two morning services in summer |
| 1962 | Christmas candelabra for nave donated |
| 1965 | 35-rank Wicks pipe organ installed |
| 1967 | Exterior of church painted |
| 1969 | Centennial celebrated, installed 60 new pews, oak floor in nave, carpeting |
| 1981 | Storage building behind church built |
| 1982 | Fellowship Hall renovated, painted, new carpeting |
| 1983 | Sound system in Fellowship Hall installed |
| First computer installed | |
| 1984 | Cottage program began |
| 1985 | Sanctuary renovation, hearing devices, insulated north wall of parsonage |
| 1987 | Kitchen renovation completed, painting & carpeting upstairs in Christian Life Center |
| Purchased Minolta 550Z copier | |
| 1988 | Sanctuary sound system installed |
| 1989 | Kitchen updated |
| 1990 | New carpeting in sanctuary |
| 1991 | Purchased IBM 286 personal computer |
| 1992 | Campaign Committee established; Sprinkler system installed |
| 1993 | New 386 computer from Office Mart; Etched glass in CLC entrance |
| Initiated campaign for organ and building projects | |
| 1994 | Painted steeple and Church interior |
| Celebrated 125th anniversary year |
Bethany Church Pictures
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Music at Bethany Church
The Lindsborg community is known for its musical appreciation. Bethany Lutheran Church is an integral part of this tradition. Choirs and special vocal or instrumental renditions add inspiration and meaning to our worship services.- Our adult Chancel Choir is open to all -- 7th grade and older. Rehearsals are alternate Wednesday evenings. Dan Mahraun, director.
- Men's Choir, rehearsing Wednesday evenings alternate to the Chancel choir. Leah Ann Anderson, director.
- SonRise Choir for children grades 4-6, rehearsing Wednesday afternoons at 4 PM. Melissa Moll, director.
- Carol Choir for grades k - 3, rehearsing Wednesday afternoons at 3:30 PM. Melissa Moll, director.
- Alleluia Ringers, a handbell choir for children age 10 and up who can read music, practices Wednesdays at 4:40. Audrey Yosai, directors.
- Adult Handbell Choir (practices Wednesdays at 5:15 PM). Scott Bley, director.
- Homeschool Handbell Choir (practices Wednesdays at 2:45 PM during the regular school year). Mary Voigt, director.
Bethany Church installed a Jaeckel organ in 1997.
PRAYER
A prayer group meets Tuesday mornings from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the library in Trinity Hall, with the exception of the third Tuesday of the month when the group goes to Riverview Estates in Marquette.A telephone prayer chain for requesting special prayer is available by calling the church office (227-2167) or circle leaders of WELCA.
The devotional guides Christ in our Home, The Word in Season, and, for families with children, The Home Altar are published quarterly and are available in the church main entrance and the church office.
WELCA
Bethany Women of the ELCA provides opportunities for service, worship, study and special social events for all women of the church. Visitors are welcome. Regular meetings in the Fellowship Hall are on the first Thursday afternoon of most months, with an occasional evening meeting.Within Bethany WELCA there are five circles which meet monthly for Bible study and special projects. Two meet in the morning, two in the afternoon and one in the evening.
Women assemble and tie quilts for Lutheran World Relief the second Thursday of each month. They have adopted the name "Piece Artists."
It is a custom at Bethany for women with birthdays in a certain month to serve refreshments at the WELCA meeting that month. From this custom our "Birthday Groups" evolved. Circles and Birthday Groups take turns serving at funerals.
Lutheran Woman Today, an ELCA magazine may be ordered through the Church Office or any Circle leader.
Fellowship
Bethany church life includes more than Sunday worship!Fellowship opportunities begin with a coffee hour downstairs in our Christian Life Center from 10:00 to 10:25 a.m. each Sunday morning.
Monthly all-church potlucks are held at noon, the last Sunday of each month.
Fellowship League (formerly Rural League) meets the third Wednesday evening of each month, except June and July, in Fellowship Hall. Everyone is welcome to come in for interesting programs and refreshments.
The handyman crew meets the fourth Monday of each month to do odd jobs around the church and for fellowship.
Numerous activities throughout the year provide fun and fellowship...pot-luck meals.. spring and fall workdays.. a church softball league... and other special or regular events.
GLOBAL MISSION COMMITTEE
The Global Mission Committee, formed in September 1999, is in its third year of offering our Bethany congregation opportunities to reach out and answer Christ's call to "witness to the ends of the earth."
On February 11, 2001, Dianna Miller, representing the Maasai schools in Africa, presented a brick-making project which successfully illustrated the continuing struggle with poverty in our global family. A catered meal with a Japanese theme was served following the worship service. Sunday School children prepared origami decorations.
February 18, 2001, Reverend Marvin Palmquist, retired African Missionary with Moslem Missionaries and particularly with the Kurds, was the guest speaker for the Sunday School hour and morning worship. This was followed by a potluck dinner in the Fellowship Hall.
Each year Global Mission Events provide inspiring people from a global "cloud of witnesses" who renew and challenge us in mission. In July, 2001, Pastor and Mrs. Humphrey attended the Global Mission Event in Denver, Colorado. In 2002, the Global Mission Events will be July 18-21 at Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory, North Carolina, and July 25-28 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the Central Lutheran Church and the Minneapolis Convention Center. We hope some of our members will be inspired to attend one of these.
Bethany congregation was honored to have our missionaries, Rev. Aaron, Lynette and Cassidy Albrecht with us Sunday, August 12, 2001. Pator Albrecht spoke to our Sunday School and gave the sermon for the worship service. Following the service, a pot-luck dinner was held in our Fellowship Hall. Total financial support for the Albrechts in 2001 amounted to $1,829.40. Bethany congregation will continue to undertake partial financial support for the Albrechts in 2002. We are most thankful for Bethany's response these past two years in helping fulfill this project.
A second commitment of our congregation has been that of sending monthly gifts for scholarships to the Maasai Girls and Boys Lutheran Secondary Schools of the Arusha Synod. The church council has given approval to have quarterly Global Mission offerings on the first Sunday of January, April, July and October. Envelopes will be mailed to members prior to these dates. A total of $295.00 was received in 2001 for the Maasai schools.
The above report was dated Jan 2002, by Maridene Lundstrom, Chairperson of the Global Mission Committee
Lutheran World Relief
Responding to Christ's love, Lutheran World Relief helps people grow food, prevent disease, strengthen communities, resolve conflict and recover from disasters. LWR works with partners in 50 countries supported by ELCA World Hunger Appeal, individuals and parish groups.
Our Women of the ELCA as a group and circles, along with the Piece Artists (quilters), work the entire year to provide for the common good of all people. Our ministry includes providing clothing, layettes, sewing kits, school bags, health kits, quilts and cash donations for shipping overseas.
Donations of any of the following items, new or in used but good condition, are welcome. Boxes are available in Trinity Hall and the Christian Life Center until October 6, 2002.