News

To jump to a certain section click the link below:


To access the Prayer List for this week,

 click here

To submit a prayer request to our Director of Pastoral Care email Janet at janet@bethany-denver.org or call the office at 303-758-2820

To listen to this week's podcast episode 
click here 

Click the links below to connect with us on social media!

Faith Formation News and Events

Nursery Attendants needed

Do you love young children? Wish you could spend more time with them? Bethany is currently hiring Nursery Attendants for Sunday mornings. If you'd like more information, please contact Deacon Debra Alba at debra@bethany-denver.org.

Middle School Sunday Night Live

Sunday, Sep 13, 5:00pm–6:30pm in the Great Hall. Join us for a fun night of games, VR, gaga ball, pizza, and more! Bring a friend and hang out as we kick off a great year together. Registration: Sign up here or on the Bethany app.



Questions? Contact Addison at addison@bethany-denver.org.

High School Backpacking Retreat

Friday, Sep 25 – Sunday, Sep 26.


High school students (9th–12th grade) are invited to a backpacking retreat to Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp! We will meet at Bethany on Friday, Sep 25 at 4:15pm to drive to camp together (stopping for dinner along the way). On Saturday, we'll hike up to Rainbow Lake (~5 miles) to relax, fish, read scripture, and discuss big questions about God, faith, and life, before hiking back down and returning to Bethany by 6:00pm on Sunday. Cost: $185 (covers transportation, lodging, food, and backpacking supplies). Scholarships are available upon request. Registration Deadline: Midnight on Wednesday, Sep 16 Click Here to Register. Support the Trip: To help make this trip accessible to all students, consider donating to the Children’s Ministry Fund at www.bethany-denver.org/giving.


Questions? Contact Addison at addison@bethany-denver.org.

Middle School Coyote Retreat

Friday, Oct 2 – Sunday, Oct 4.


Middle school students are invited to Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp for a fall confirmation retreat centered on exploring the theme "Who am I, and how can I be a reformer or transformer?" through worship, small group conversations, and fun mountain camp activities! We will meet at Bethany on Friday, Oct 2 at 4:00pm and return around 3:30pm on Sunday, Oct 4. Cost: $135 per student (covers transportation, lodging, camp meals, and activities). Please send money with your student for fast-food stops (McDonald's or Raising Cane's) in Loveland for dinner on Friday and lunch on Sunday. Registration: Sign up directly through the Sky Ranch website at https://cwngui.campwise.com/Apps/OnlineReg/Pages/Login.html.


Questions? Contact Addison at addison@bethany-denver.org.

Outreach News and Events

ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) at Bethany

We are looking to build a team of people who are interested in serving our neighbors. Our hope is to offer a weekly Wednesday evening Adult ESOL and American culture class. We are looking for English conversation partners, classroom support and ESOL teachers. All training will be provided. Knowledge of a second language is NOT required!


If you would like to learn more, please contact Beckie Jones at beint@comcast.net.

Veteran Servant Corps Project Event

On Friday, September 4, Veteran Servant Corps Project will be hosting a cook-out for the residents of the Fitzsimons Veterans Community Living Center (1919 Quentin Street, Aurora). Volunteers are needed from 10:30am until 3:00pm to serve the residents and the staff at this center. Volunteer duties will include grilling food, serving food, taking orders, serving drinks and interacting with the Veterans. Please join us on this Labor Day weekend to serve these Veterans lunch, and also to thank them for this service.

Walk to End Alzheimer's

2026 Walk To End Alzheimer's September 19 Please join the Bethany Walkers Group at this year’s Walk to raise research funds to wipe out this horrible disease.  Either meet at 8:30 AM at Denver City Park behind the Museum of Natural History on the lawn across from the Check-in booth or in the Bethany Church East parking lot to carpool, 8 AM. Please register and donate to our Bethany Walkers team page. https://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=19493&pg=team&team_id=1077386

IFCS Summer Food Drive

We are in the final weeks of our summer food drive for the Market@IFCS. From now through Sunday, September 6, we'll be focusing on collecting canned chicken and tuna. IFCS can also use other foods, such as cereal, mac and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, etc., so please feel free to bring in alternative items if you prefer. Donations can be dropped off in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday mornings. If you’d rather make a cash donation, please use the Give button on Bethany’s website and select IFCS in the drop-down menu. IFCS provides a reliable source of hope and vital assistance for our community. Your generosity helps keep their shelves stocked and their doors open. Thank you for your support!

Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver/Holy Hammers

Volunteers Needed on following dates:

Saturday, September 26, 7:50am – 3:30pm | Griffith Station Homes, New Construction Site | 4 of 5 volunteer spots available


Register to volunteer here: https://vhub.at/HolyHammers. Must register online at least two weeks in advance for the construction site days and one week in advance for the ReStore day, and volunteers must be 16+. Contact Kevin Dempsey for questions at kmdmpsy@aol.com.

Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver/Holy Hammers

Fundraising Opportunity: To raise funds for its 2026 home sponsorship, Holy Hammers will be handing out promotional items at a Rockies Game on Wednesday, September 16th. We need 30-35 volunteers. Volunteers will receive a T-Shirt, tickets to the game, and $1.00 parking. Volunteers will need to arrive at 4:15 PM and the game starts at 6:40 PM.


Please contact Kevin Dempsey at kmdmpsy@aol if you would like to volunteer or if you would like more information.

Help Bethany Extend Its Global Mission

Global Mission has supported ministries around the world, including **Dar al-Kalima in Bethlehem, scholarships and educational programs in Kenya, and Young Adults in Global Mission**, among others. These partnerships allow Bethany to put our faith into action by supporting education, opportunity, Christian witness, and hope in communities far beyond our own.


**Do you know of an international ministry doing meaningful work?** We invite members of the Bethany community to identify and champion organizations whose mission reflects our Christian commitment to serving our neighbors throughout the world. Letters of proposal for the upcoming grant cycle are **due November 17, 2026**. Please see the linked **Global Mission Grant Application Guidelines** for information about submitting a proposal.


**Because available funds are limited, not all proposals can be supported. Each request will be thoughtfully reviewed by the Global Mission Ministry Team in light of Bethany’s mission and funding priorities.** Together, we can continue extending Bethany’s generosity and Christ’s love across borders and around the world.

Bethany Dinner Club

You are invited to join Dinner Club! Bethany Dinner Club is a wonderful opportunity to get to know fellow Bethany members while sharing a meal. Groups of 6-8 adults gather to enjoy dinner in a home, brunch out or any meal in any location. The goal is fellowship! Meet new people or enjoy longtime friendships. Each group meets three or four times in a four-month period as the role of host rotates. Couples and singles are welcome! Our Fall into Winter groups will begin in October! Registration is open until September 13th. Simply sign up here. Email Bethanybreakingbread@gmail.com if you have questions. Looking forward to having you in the Club!

Deborah Circle

Looking for a way to connect more closely with women in the congregation? Deborah Circle will be starting up again on September 16th in the library at 5:15. We use the Gather magazine produced by women of the ELCA as our guide. Feel free to stop by and join in the conversation - no signup necessary. Contact Maren at Marenjdiercks@gmail if you have questions.

The Fourth Chapter

Do you enjoy reading? Are you interested in sharing your ideas about a book and perhaps making a new friend? The Fourth chapter is one of Bethany’s book clubs. The group meets the 4th Tuesday of the month at 1:00 PM in the library for a discussion of the current book. There are a variety of genres and books chosen to be read. We will resume meeting monthly on September 22 to discuss Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray. For more information, please contact Judi Burchfield at judburch60@gmail.com.

XYZ Senior Ministries

Are you looking for a place to make new connections with people at Bethany? Experience a smaller more intimate chapel worship service? Learn from new speakers, be entertained and enjoy lunch with others? I hope you will give XYZ Senior Ministries a try. The group meets on Tuesday mornings starting at 10 am in the Fellowship Hall. There is an opportunity for conversation, puzzles, games or scheduled speakers. Most Tuesdays there is chapel at 11:30 am with lunch following at 12:00. For questions, please contact Janet Mortinsen (janet@bethany-denver.org).

Women of Bethany

SAVE THE DATE: The Women of Bethany’s next gathering will be Sunday, September 20 at 5:00 pm. Please note that the hostess is serving Italian beef sandwiches after the Broncos’ 2:00 game. Sign up here!

Worship News and Events

Summer Worship Schedule

Summer Sunday Worship: Beginning Memorial Day weekend, May 24, we will again have just one worship service on Sundays at 9:00am. This will go through Labor Day weekend, Sep 6. Enjoy worshipping with friends from the "other" service!

Other News and Events

Church Office Labor Day Weekend Hours

Labor Day Weekend office schedule: The church office will close at 1:00pm on Friday, September 4 and reopen on Tuesday Sept 8 at 9:00am.

Minding Your Balance classes

Minding Your Balance Good balance is necessary for daily activities which is essential to maintaining independence. Losing balance and fear of falling are two commonly voiced concerns. There are steps you can take to improve and maintain balance. Susan Chandler, from Denver Ki-Aikido, will be returning to offer a 5 week “Minding Your Balance” series at Bethany this fall. The classes will be held on Tuesdays beginning September 29 through October 27 from 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. in room 412. The cost for this series is $75. Susan utilizes an approach that looks at the relationship of mind and emotion and their influence on balance. Space is limited so please sign up.  For questions, please contact Janet Mortinsen.

Here We Stand: The Story of the Reformation through the Kessler Collection

SAVE THE DATE. This event at Bethany on November 21st will include an exhibit featuring rare artifacts from Candler School of Theology's Kessler Collection in the Fellowship Hall and a lecture on Reformation history by Dr. Bo Adams from Candler School of Theology in the Sanctuary. The Kessler Collection is the largest collection of Reformation artifacts outside of Germany, and we are privileged to have a few items traveling to Denver to be displayed at Bethany!

United In Faith Monthly Update

  • The capital raise concludes this month! Be sure to send in your commitment card. Many thanks to the 300+ households who have participated!
  • Executive Council has formally approved the establishment of a Maintenance Reserve and a policy governing the Allocation and Use of Proceeds for all campaign contributions. 
  • A professional site conditions assessment is being evaluated to further educate project priorities and long-term capital planning. 
  • Potential 2026 projects: “Roof 1” over the Fellowship Hall and central corridor east of the sanctuary; critical technology upgrades; parking lot resurfacing; grounds work to reduce maintenance and water usage. 
  • Also! De-cluttering continues – watch for opportunities to help! We need you!


Bethany Foundation Grants

The Bethany Foundation is currently accepting grant applications for 2026. The applications must be submitted by September 15, 2026 for consideration. Grant applications are available on the website under Foundation. Please encourage any organizations that you support to submit a grant application. Thanks!

Paid Childcare Workers Needed!

The MomCo at Bethany Lutheran Church is looking for a few caring, dependable people to join our KidsCo childcare team for the 2026–2027 year! KidsCo provides childcare for children ages 0–10 while moms attend our meetings. We meet two Wednesday mornings per month from 9:00–11:45 a.m.


✨ $20/hour ✨

✨Only two mornings per month ✨


Great for college students, retired teachers, former nannies, or anyone who loves working with little ones!


Please contact The MomCo at Bethany Lutheran at momcobethany@gmail.com.

Concerts, Recitals, Weekly Rehearsals, and More.

Bethany Arts and Events is home to many wonderful local performance groups, as well as clients for weekly and monthly rehearsals, and a variety of other events.


Bethany Lutheran Church has had a long relationship with many of our clients, including the Denver Brass, Cherry Creek Chorale, Denver Young Artist Orchestra, and Canto Deo, to name a few.   Visit www.bethany-arts.org for more details.