News
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janet@bethany-denver.org or call the office at 303-758-2820
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Faith Formation News and Events
The Lord's Prayer Milestone
The Lord's Prayer Milestone for 3rd through 5th graders will be held Sunday, October 19th from 11:20am-1:30 pm in the Great Hall. Children and their adult caregivers are invited to enjoy lunch together and to participate in engaging and creative cross-generational learning activities all focused on The Lord's Prayer.
This is the first of four Milestone activities Bethany will offer for children during this program year. For more information on Bethany's Milestone Ministry
click here or contact Deacon Debra Alba at
debra@bethany-denver.org for more information.
Outreach News and Events
Tartu Academy Speaker
Join in
October 14
as Bethany’s Global Mission Ministry Team welcomes Dr. Siimon Haamer, President of Tartu Academy of Theology in Estonia. He will speak on the challenges and opportunities of sharing Christ’s message in a country emerging from decades of Soviet influence. Hear how God is working through this ministry we are privileged to support.
Tuesday, October 14, 7:00 PM, Room 208.
Project Angel Heart
Project Angel Heart is the Bethany ministry partner that provides medically tailored meals to persons with serious illnesses. The organization is holding its 24th annual Taste for Life fundraiser on
October 16th
at the Infinity Park Events Center, 4400 E. Kentucky Avenue, Glendale from 6-9 pm. For more information go to https://www.projectangelheart.org/events/a-taste-for-life/.
STAR Institute's Low-Sensory Trunk or Treat
We’re excited to invite you to join us for STAR Institute’s Low-Sensory Trunk or Treat—a fun and inclusive Halloween celebration for children, teens, and adults who may find traditional trick-or-treating overwhelming.
📅 Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
⏰ Event Time: 10:00am–1:00pm (volunteers 9:00am–2:00pm)
📍 Location: STAR Institute, Centennial
You can join the fun in two ways:
🎨 Decorate a trunk – Bring your decorations (nothing too scary, please!) and STAR will provide all the treats, including regular candy, allergen-friendly candy, and non-food options. You’re welcome to pass out your own non-food giveaways as well.
🙌 Volunteer for activities – Help with games, crafts, photos, or general event support.
👉 Sign up here: Trunk or Treat Volunteer Form
We’d love to have you join us! Thank you for helping us make this event such a meaningful tradition for families.
Global Mission Grant Application
The Bethany Global Mission Committee has extended this year’s grant application deadline to October 31, 2025. If you are working on an international project in a community with limited economic opportunities, we invite you to apply.
Our giving focuses on Africa and countries with limited economic opportunities, with occasional support for communities in need elsewhere. Application letter guidelines are available online and are designed to be simple and clear. Please note, however, that not all applications can be funded. Each request is carefully reviewed, and decisions are based on alignment with Global Mission’s priorities and available resources.
Faith Leader Military Awareness and Support Training
Service members, veterans and military families are members of all religious faiths and look to their faith leaders for guidance and support. As Faith Leaders, you make a difference through innovative ministries connecting with military members, veterans, and their families. This hybrid (in-person and online) event is a chance to focus on practical ways you can make your Faith Community a place of welcome and support for military members, veterans, and their families.
Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Time: 11:30am - 12:00pm - In-Person Lunch
12:00pm - 2:00pm - Program Begins
Location: The Cohen Clinic at Red Rock 1915 Aerotech Dr Ste 114, Colorado Springs, CO 80916
Home for the Holidays Collection
This Outreach event helps LFSRM(Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains)welcome newcomers and connects with foster and adoptive families during the Thanksgiving holiday. Items needed: Pots and Pans,Electric Kettles, Rice Cookers. NEW ITEMS ONLY!! Also needed are $50 Gift Cards: Wal-Mart and King Soopers. PLEASE DELIVER TO THE CHURCH NO LATER THAN
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9.
Food Bank of the Rockies
Food Bank of the Rockies Volunteer Opportunity Nov 21st from 1-4pm Main Warehouse- 10700 E 45th Ave, Denver 80239 Contact Maren Diercks for more information at marenjdiercks@gmail.com or 720-238-2333
IFCS Fresh Thanks
Sat, Nov 22, 2025 | 8:15–10:45 AM, Arapahoe Community College
Volunteer with Bethany to assemble/distribute grocery boxes for local families. Ages 10+.
Register by Nov 1 at
https://vhub.at/BethanyLutheranfreshthanks: log in/create VolunteerHub, choose “I want to Volunteer at Fresh Thanks,” select the 8:15–10:45 shift, list your party (include minors’ ages), set group: Bethany Lutheran. Tasks assigned by lifting ability: box taping/assembly/stacking, trash.
Questions: Kevin Dempsey,
kmdmpsy@aol.com
Rejoicing Spirits
Fall Fun - Togetherness Join Rejoicing Spirits
Sunday, October 19, 2025, at Lord of the Hills Lutheran Church 21755 E Smoky Hill Rd. Aurora, CO 80015 from 4-6 p.m. We will unite in activities, singing, laughing and loving God. Rejoicing Spirits is an inclusive worship space for people with cognitive and intellectual disabilities, their caregivers, families and anyone who seeks an open, joyful and creative worship experience. We will gather at LOTH on the third Sunday of each month in 2025. If you would like more information regarding the Rejoicing Spirits experience or volunteering, please contact: Pastor Margot at pastor@lordofthehills.org Pastor Ann Hultquist at native2615@gmail.com or Karen Ullestad kmullestad@hotmail.com “We will know what it is to be created in God’s image when all are included.”
Hospitality News and Events
Women of Bethany October Event
In preparation for Reformation Day, Susan Sharkey has offered to host the Women of Bethany for a Potluck Luncheon on Thursday, October 30th, from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm at the Silver Mesa Clubhouse in Palomino Park (SW area of Quebec Street and C470). Susan will provide at least one protein, salad, dessert, and beverage to ensure that we have some balance. You are welcome to bring anything to this Potluck. However, Susan is suggesting a fun idea for this get together: A Theme Challenge (for those who feel inspired) - Plan with a partner (or on your own) to link a food to Reformation themes. For example, Dishes inspired by Martin Luther's Life, eating practices caused by the Reformation (Catholic Fasting vs Protestant Freedom), pairings with famous Luther hymns or writings).
Click here to
Register by Sunday, October 26. More details will be shared with those who register online like specific address, instructions to enter the community gates, parking, and what to bring. Maybe wear red?
Senior Ministries
The gatherings continue on Tuesdays through May 19, 2026
10:00am-1:00pm in the Fellowship Hall.
Any special activities will be communicated via our email list. If you'd like to be on the email list, contact Janet Boss at Janetb@Bethany-Denver.org. Join us for community fellowship, chapel, and lunch. Special Speakers or Activities will be on either the Second or Third Tuesday.
Chapel is held at 11:30 on weeks when there is no Speaker.
Lunch is served at Noon each week, for a suggested donation of $10/person. Payment can be either online or by check/cash.
Worship News and Events
Candle Lighting for Mental Health
Candle Lighting for Mental Health: Our annual Candle lighting for Mental Health will take place on
October 19 to highlight mental health awareness. During both worship services, there will be candles at the altar for the congregation to light in honor of themselves or someone who is afflicted with a mental illness in their lives during communion. A great resource for information or support is the National Alliance on Mental Illness or NAMI (www.nami.org). If you have further questions or would like to talk with one of the Pastoral Team, please feel free to contact Pastor Gary, Pastor Nate, Deacon Debra or Janet Mortinsen, through the main church office at 303-758-2820. If you are interested in volunteering for that day, please sign up on the website.
Quilt Blessing Sunday
October 19 Lutheran World Relief marks 80 years of global compassion and Bethany Patchers has proudly contributed for 28 of those years. This is an opportunity to for the congregation to see the quilts that have been made by Bethany Patchers in the past two years to benefit those served by Lutheran World Relief. There will also be vintage quilts and baby quilts for sale in Fellowship Hall to help defray the cost of creating each quilt. Contributions can be made through SubSplash or directly to our Patchers group. From all of us at Bethany Patchers: Thank you for wrapping the world in love - one stitch at a time.
All Saints Sunday
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
On All Saints Sunday, November 2, we will give thanks to God for those who have been connected to our life at Bethany and who have passed away since All Saints Sunday, 2024. As we continue to celebrate the hope and comfort of the resurrection, there will be a photo display of those who have passed away, and a member of the Pastoral Team will light a candle in memory of each of them and read the names aloud. All Saints will be celebrated both in person or online at both the 8:30 a.m. & 10 a.m. service.
Requiem by Heather Sorenson - Bringing Hope and Healing
(As part of All Saints worship service on 11/2/25, the Bethany Chancel Choir will sing "Requiem" by Heather Sorenson. Below are more details on this beautiful piece of music)
We all experience loss. A service is held each year at Bethany Lutheran Church on All Saints’ Sunday during which we remember those whom we have lost, and we find in that observation a path of hope and healing. In the current climate of our society, we also know that there are many who are needing hope and healing, whether they have suffered a recent loss of a loved one or not. This year, on November 2nd, we are doing something very special for All Saints’ Sunday and we invite you to be part of it.
It has become a tradition at Bethany to integrate wonderful concert-length musical works into a full Lutheran worship service during special observances. In the past we have included works such as The Seven Last Words of Christ during Good Friday service, the Christmas Oratorio by Camille Saint-Saëns at Advent, and various Bach cantatas through the years. This year our Bethany Chancel Choir with chamber orchestra will be presenting Requiem by Heather Sorenson for All Saints’ Sunday.
Sorenson’s Requiem follows the traditional requiem form, and is sung with Latin and English text. The piece differs from the traditional requiem in that along with expressions of grief over the losses we have experienced there are also passages that bring both hope and healing. It premiered at Carnegie Hall in 2023 and has been performed all over the United States and around the world with high praise from reviewers. Originally commissioned to honor those lost during the recent pandemic, it has become a staple of the concert hall. As far as we can ascertain, the November 2ndperformance at Bethany will be one of the first to incorporate the work into a full worship service. Expect to be moved.
Other News and Events
Bethany Info Sessions
Bethany Information Sessions are a great way to get to know Bethany Lutheran Church. They are also designed to share information for those considering formal membership at Bethany. This fall session dates are:
Sun, Oct 26 at 11:30am and Sunday, Nov 9 at 11:20am. We will meet in Room 400 in the downstairs education wing. New Members will be received on Sunday, Nov 23 at both worship services. A tour of the Bethany campus will be offered at 11:20am.
Vitalant Blood Drive
Vitalant Blood Drive Bethany will be hosting a blood drive for Vitalant on
Wednesday, November 5, in the Fellowship Hall from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Vitalant shared a recent statistic that 1 in 7 patients need blood. Thank you for considering to contribute to this important medical need. To schedule an appointment, visit
www.vitalant.org/donate and use blood drive code 0377 or call 877-258-4825. Please contact Janet Mortinsen if you have questions.
Seeking AV Help
Have you ever wondered how all the equipment in the back of the Sanctuary works or what it all does? Now is the time to find out! We are looking for some interested individuals of all ages to help run audio, cameras, and graphics for worship and special events. If you’re ready to learn more, follow this link and fill out the form!
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.
