Zach and I moved to Colorado in August 2005, shortly after getting married. We had no family or close friends in the area and were looking to build a sense of community. At the time, my dad knew someone who sang in the choir at Bethany and suggested we attend a service to see if it might be a good fit. We began attending Bethany regularly while finishing graduate school, but it wasn’t until we unexpectedly ran into a fellow Luther alumna, Katie Dragseth, and her husband, Kevin, that Bethany truly began to feel like home. Through those connections, we became involved in youth programming and the church choir, which gave us a starting point for the involvement we have today.

We have now been part of the Bethany community for over 20 years and are grateful for all it has offered our family. There has always been a place for each of us—including our boys—to participate and belong. Over the years, our family has been involved in many aspects of Bethany life, including Sunday school, young adult programming, mission trips, confirmation, music ministries, and Bethany Early Childhood Center (BECC). Zach and I have chosen to give back to the Bethany community by immersing ourselves in the music ministries, sharing our gifts in a way that feels life-giving. Music has been a meaningful and sustaining part of our faith journey, and our involvement at Bethany has only strengthened that connection.

Our greatest hope for Bethany is that it continues to invest in future generations of congregants. We hope Bethany will always be a place that embraces its youth and nurtures the next generation of Lutherans by providing space, support, and opportunities to grow in faith. Our family has been incredibly fortunate to experience Bethany as a community that meets us at every stage of life, and we hope it continues to be a place where other families can grow, connect, and flourish.