During Covid-19, our policy is for all people to WEAR MASKS and SOCIAL DISTANCE for the duration of any worship/fellowship where we are gathered in person!

  
Weekly Devotions



Pastor Dave offers weekly devotions called "Church Where You Are" for individuals and families.  If you are unable to be at worship on Sunday, or if you are simply looking for a weekly family devotional, "Church Where You Are" is located on our Bethel website each week.


Worship on Sunday, November 22

 

Join us THIS SUNDAY (November 22 @ 9:30am) for worship via our Facebook page, YouTube channel or via the LIVE WORSHIP link to the Bethel website. 

WORSHIP UPDATE
Friends,

At our November council meeting held this past Thursday, November 12, our council made the decision to allow in person worship beginning with the first Sunday in Advent (November 29).

HOWEVER, the following day, Governor Northam announced that our state has moved back into restriction of no more than 25 people indoor or outdoor for the foreseeable future. 

This impacts our decision in the following ways:

1) We will honor this restriction and WILL NOT RETURN to in-person worship indoors until this restriction is lifted. While religious organizations are technically "exempt" from this restriction, honoring the restriction is both judicious in terms of being safe and an act of solidarity with those legally required to obey these restrictions, i.e. "love your neighbors as yourself." 

2) In lieu of in-person gatherings for Advent, we will be offering pre-recorded worship on Sundays as we have been.  Additionally, we will offer a pre-recorded Holden Evening Prayer worship each week followed by a Zoom gathering and reflection on the message of the evening. 

Finally, look for information regarding our Advent Traditions plan for making Advent wreathes as we will share that information ASAP.

3) There are plans underway for a pre-recorded Christmas in a Barn (from Cloverdale Barn) that will be released on Christmas Eve at 3pm.  

Unless the restrictions are lifted, we will offer a pre-recorded worship on Christmas Eve at 7PM, followed by a Zoom gathering to say Merry Christmas to each other.  However, if the restrictions are lifted, we may look to offer something in person on Christmas Eve.  

Friends, I am acutely aware that this is NOT ideal! 

Like you, I long to be with my Bethel friends in worship and fellowship. 

However, as we seek to be faithful to our responsibility to remain safe as a community of faith, we are making tough decisions that we do not want to make, but feel are necessary. 

I ask for your prayers even as you should know that you remain daily in my own. 

I ask you to reach out to one another so that we can continue to foster the bonds of friendship that have been such a life-giving part of our Bethel experience. 

It will take ALL OF US being mindful of one another. 

So, pick up a phone and call someone you know from Bethel who has been on your mind. 

Text someone or send a quick email.  

Let us organically support each other as the CHURCH!  

I love you and miss you all so much. God's got this and in confidence I am convinced that we will all make it through this crazy and unique time TOGETHER!

Blessings and Peace,
Pastor Dave

ADVENT WREATHS

Advent Wreath Pickup will be the 29th from 11-1

We are planning to offer a drive-thru pickup for wreath supplies including greenery for anyone wishing to take it home and make their wreaths that way.  We are also, weather permitting, planning to offer a daytime after service availability to assemble at the picnic shelter at Bethel from 11AM - 1PM.  


PARISH NURSE NOTES






THEOLOGY ON TAP

Theology on Tap will be meeting at 4:30PM on Saturday, November 28. Bruce Lothrup will be leading the discussion on "Abundance and Scarcity", certainly an appropriate subject during Thanksgiving week.

Something new is being planned this time! Pork barbeque sandwiches with chips, a pickle and coleslaw from Jordan Springs Market here in Winchester will be provided free of charge for up to 15 participants! First come-first served, so make sure you reserve your meal early. As always, please feel free to bring your own favorite beverage.

Depending on the number of participants and to ensure for social distancing, we will either meet at John Gavitt's gazebo adjacent to Hunting Ridge Road (directions will be provided later) or at the outdoor pavilion at Bethel. Therefore, even if you do not intend to reserve a meal but you do intend to attend the meeting, please contact John Gavitt with this information. John can be reached via e-mail at gavitt@live.com or via text or voice message on his cell phone at 540-539-9873.

Please respond by Sunday, November 22.  John must confirm the food order with Jordan Springs on Monday the 23rd. A final decision regarding meeting location will be made at that time, and all participants will be advised accordingly.

We hope to see you there!

The Theology on Tap Team - Bruce Lothrup, John Frederickson, John Gavitt


Hello Bethel Family, 

Below are 2 sign ups. If you would like to provide a meal, but are uncomfortable entering the shelter, you can do that on the "WATTS Volunteer and Meal Sign Up". Just click on "Provide Breakfast" or "Provide a Dinner"
If you wish to bring supplies, there will be a large tub for drop off outside the Discipleship Hall.

Every year, I am touched with the outpouring of your time and resources. This pandemic has hit our homeless especially difficult. Public bathrooms have closed. Businesses have been closed or limiting access. Thank you for providing a place of warmth and kindness. 

Questions?




CCAP UPDATE

CCAP is still in need of volunteers! They're looking for a van driver as well as help to pick up dated merchandise at several stores in Winchester. The stores donate items to CCAP Monday through Saturday. It usually takes from 8:30 am until noon to go to 2 different Walmart stores, a Target and the Martin's grocery store on Route 7. A clean driver's record is important. They are looking for a driver and a helper most days. Pick up food items in the CCAP van, then return to CCAP to unload the items. Sounds simple, right? Call for details. Jim Taylor (703) 403-5264 or email at annjimtaylor@verizon.net . 

Thanksgiving food items needed/CCAP Thanksgiving Dinner Donation List 
● Frozen turkeys ● Disposable aluminum roasting pans ● Stuffing mixes/ boxes of stuffings ● Cans of gravy ● Boxes of mashed potatoes/ boxed potatoes ● (Scalloped/ Au gratin/ Other) ● Canned Sweet Potatoes/Yams ● Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce ● Canned Fruit ● Boxed Desserts (jello, brownies, puddings) ● Cake Mixes and Icing ● Marshmallows ● Gift Cards (Martins, Aldi, Sharp Shopper, Walmart) 

There will be a tote outside of Discipleship Hall at Bethel to collect shelf stable items through noon on the 20th. Donated items will be taken CCAP prior to their Thanksgiving giveaway on November 21st. 

If you are interested in donating a turkey or other perishable items, please take these donations directly to CCAP between 10am and 1 pm on weekdays.

WILD WOMEN'S MINISTRY 

The Women's Ministry is resuming the First Friday Fellowship. The next meeting will be December 4 at 9:30 am.  The new location is the Royalicious Bagel Bakery and Deli, 621 W. Jubal Early Drive in Winchester.
Masks are required when not eating.
Please contact Barbara Simmons, 540-664-1965 or at barbara.h.simmons@comcast.net for more information.  We hope to see you there!

Wild Women Coffee time is held weekly on 
Thursday at 8:30 am

Join Women's Coffee Time

Meeting ID: 830 3166 2845
Passcode: Jesus4U

The Women's Book Club will be meeting via Zoom on Tuesday, November 24th, at 5 p.m. to discuss "Sassafras, Cypress, and Indigo" by Ntozake Shange.  

Please join us (even if you haven't read the book!)

December's book is "The Last Letter from Juliet" by Melanie Hudson.
  

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Thank you so much for your continued support of mission and ministry at Bethel!
 

To make an offering, please use one of the methods described below:
 
1. Mail to Bethel at 2077 N Frederick Pike, Winchester, VA  22603
 
2. Use the Give Now button on our website.

3. Donate via text, by sending the dollar amount you wish to give, including a dollar sign, (ie: $50/$50.00) to 844-946-2995.
Contact Us: 
Bethel Lutheran Church  
(540) 662-3245
office@bethelwinchester.com
Website: bethelwinchester.com
Office Hours:  The office will be closed until further notice.

All In-person worship services, activities and meetings are canceled until further notice.