Local Missions

There are many different ways to serve God. Bethel members are involved in the community in a variety of ways:

 

Red Cross Blood Drives

Assisting professional Red Cross staff at blood donation sites throughout the city or donating blood through the One-a-Week program for organizations that promise their group's support.

Please mark your calendars for the upcoming Blood Drives at Bethel:

July 16, 2013

For more information, or to sign up, contact Dale Holmen at 608-241-4751.

Bethel's Food Pantry
The pantry is open from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm every Monday through Friday. It serves about 250 households (about 750 people) each month. The food is purchased, stocked and distributed by Bethel volunteers.

 

Food Pantry Volunteers for 2013 are needed! Please contact Ruth Berkan: 233-8327, or berkan726@charter.net.

Food Pantry Volunteer Gathering - February 18 12:00 noon - 2:00 pm - Bring your own lunch, and enjoy fellowship with other volunteers in Borgwardt Hall.

 

 

Join the Multi-Million Pound Challenge to Benefit Bethel’s Food Pantry

What do you have to lose? If one of your goals to start the new decade is to either lose a few pounds or commit to regular exercise, join Team Bethel Lutheran to benefit Bethel’s food pantry through Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin. For every pound of weight you lose or hour of exercise you complete between now and May 31st, Princeton Clubs will contribute ten pounds of food to be distributed through Bethel’s Food Pantry. Team Bethel has been in the Top Ten Teams the past two years!

How does it work? Go to the website, http://www.princetonclub.net/ and click on the Million Pound Challenge icon. Register to be on Bethel Lutheran Church’s team, whose food goes to Bethel’s Food Pantry. Each week you’ll respond by email to chronicle your past week’s achievement. All information is confidential and no purchase of any kind is necessary.

For more information, go to http://www.princetonclub.net/ or contact Jacqui Shanda at Bethel.

 

Hope House

Hope-A-Thon

Hope House is taking pledges to sponsor specific items and needs. Tables will be in the Emmaus Room Sundays during September and October. Volunteering at a Pledge Table is a great way to learn about Hope House! Jenee: jeromejj4@gmail.com

This ministry serves young homeless mothers and their children, providing them temporary housing.

Hope House opened its door to families in May 2002 serving mothers and their children. Hope House is able to provide approximately 180 days of temporary housing for three families concurrently. In order to move into Hope House, families must be enrolled in Early Head Start, a program of the Dane County Parent Council. This organization provides daytime staffing as well as wrap-around services which include assistance in adult education, employment, permanent housing search, budgeting and parenting. After moving from Hope House to permanent housing, the family continues to receive support in areas of identified need, ultimately providing a more secure start to the young family's life together.

Who runs Hope House? The home is owned and maintained by a non-profit organization of Bethel Lutheran Church members. Volunteers from Bethel work to make the 'house' a 'home' for the families by providing ongoing support through activities such as preparing dinners together, modeling life skills, collecting household donations, and offering occasional special events.

You can help! Volunteer your time: Hope House relies on the support of volunteers both in the maintenance of the home and in support of its young families. Help is always needed from painting, mowing, and window washing to preparing dinner together once a week. We also welcome those who would like to share their time or special interests for an evening.

To volunteer your time: Jenee Jerome, 608-780-8711, jeromejj4@yahoo.com

To donate furniture and housewares: Carol Ross, 608-274-7897, clrclr10@aol.com

To make a financial contribution: Carol Ross, 608-274-7897, clrclr10@aol.com

 

Bethel Horizons Camperships

Each year, Bethel and Community Members provide monetary support for the Bethel Horizons campership fund. Camperships are given to over 350 low income families in Dane County and provide a week at camp at Bethel Horizons. Bethel Horizons is adjacent to Governor Dodge State Park near Dodgeville, WI.

For families with tight finances, the cost of a week at camp makes it nearly impossible to attend. For many kids, the memories of summer time at camp are ones they will cherish their entire lives.

Bethel Horizons’ Mission is dedicated to a better understanding of God, Self, Others, and Nature. Living responsibly and with respect in community while sleeping under the stars, hiking, swimming at the beach, baking pies, and other activities is our desire for each camper.

Some of the letters we receive tell the story:

"Thank you very much for letting me go to teepee camp this summer! I had a blast and met new friends! My conseler Abi was the BEST! Love Rachel"

"Dear Mr. Hanson, Thank you for the scholarship for Bethel Horizons camp. I like going Bethel Horizons camp becacuse we got to go to the beach, becacuse we got to go swiming. Sincerely, Leeza PS. I am 10. PS. I want to go next year."

The campership cost is $300.00, but any amount is appreciated! Any person giving $175 or more will receive a beautiful ceramic 'Campership Star’ around Christmas.

Staff contact: Pastor Duane Hanson

 

Bethel's Resettlement Ministry

A Ministry of Evangelical Hospitality To New Americans

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) works closely with the United Nations High Commission on Refugees in resettling refugees in many places around the world.  Through LWR and Lutheran Social Services (LSS), Bethel became aware of the situation in Bhutan, one of the most grave and protracted refugee situations in the world today. Since 2009, Bethel has helped to relocate some of these refugees and continues a relationship with these families.

For more information about the Bhutanese, visit http://www.bhutaneserefugees.com/

If you have questions about the support group or volunteering, please call Mary Lou Tyne 222-9233.

Bethel's Refugee Ministry has helped with relocating nine Bhutanese families comprised of 35 men, women and children. The first family arrived October 21, 2010, and the most recent family arrived in May 2012. Bhutan is bordered by China, Nepal and India. In the mid‐1980's the government declared a program of "Bhutanization," calling for one country, one people. This eliminated the traditional dress, worship and language of these southern Bhutanese people in favor of the northern, ruling Druk majority and king. The families have been living in Nepal refugee camps for almost twenty years. They have suffered human rights violations, including detention and loss of citizenship. Bethel continues to welcome and assist these Bhutanese families. Cash donations accepted to help with needs.

Did you know we have a Bhutanese Refugee Support Group at Bethel?

If you have questions about the support group or volunteering, please call

Mary Lou Tyne 222-9233, or Joanne Ellingson 837-0051.

If you are interested in supporting this exciting ministry, we need your help. We need a list of volunteers we could call for the needs listed below:

1. Transportation to doctor appointments

2. Transportation to Bethel Sunday church services

3. Transportation for volunteers going to Bethel the first Thursday of each month to help with Second Harvest food drop

4. Transportation for families going to Bethel Food Pantry once a month

5. Training in basic computer skills

6. Cash donations for purchase of tennis shoes for Back-to-School
7. Someone with a truck to transport furniture when it comes available and some strong arms to help with the moving.

 

LUAD

Lutherans United Assisting After Disasters (LUAD) is a volunteer organization dedicated to providing assistance to survivors of disasters in the South Central Synod of Wisconsin in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Seven synod congregations are working together to show God's love through assisting survivors of disasters. Aiming to prevent secondary damage to survivors' homes, we come in after the first responders, but before the long-term recovery groups. We're always looking for people with various talents to help! For more information, or to volunteer, please contact Bill Berkan, berkan726@charter.net.

 

The Church Ladies Ministry
The ARC Houses in Madison are transitional living situations for women who have been incarcerated, paid their debt to society, and are reentering the community. Each month women from Bethel go to the ARC House - Dayton Street (2009 E. Dayton St.) to make greeting cards, share treats, have a short Bible story, sing and pray from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. If you want more information on this program and how you can help, call Alice Hansen, Sue Murray, or Jacqui Shanda (257-3577, ext. 333).

Jail Ministry
Bethel provides funding that supports a men's and a women's chaplain for the Dane County Jail. Funded through MALC (Madison Area Lutheran Council), Chaplains John Mix and Julia Weaver bring spiritual and personal support to Dane County inmates.

Bethel Outreach Homes
Serving as Befrienders or assisting with maintenance at the two downtown homes which Bethel provides for support of men with long-term mental disorders.

The Shelter for the Homeless
The homeless shelter at Grace Episcopal Church is staffed by Bethel volunteers on the fifth Friday and/or fifth Sunday of each month. Volunteers provide and serve the evening meal and breakfast the following morning as well as assist with other tasks at the shelter.

Lutheran Social Services
Assisting individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities or dependency problems by planning or accompanying clients in social or recreational activities.

Salvation Army Shelter
Assisting homeless women through weekly evening visits to offer fellowship and support as well as personal care supplies.

Estate Sales
The Bethel Household/Estate Sales is a household and estate sale service run completely by experienced volunteers who will organize, appraise/price, advertise, and conduct an estate or household sale. Proceeds are split between the owner and Bethel. The amount charged by Bethel is based upon the types of services (ie. cleaning, organizing, moving, pricing, advertising, etc.) that is done. References are available.
Bethel contacts: Pat Bruden (246-1813) & Helen Wineke (271-6971) for more information.

Community Meal Program
The Community Meal Program is an important part of Bethel's ministry. The meal program at Luke House serves 140-160 people; Bethel members provide and serve this meal the second Monday of each month.

Lutheran Campus Center
Bethel Lutheran retains a covenant relationship with the Lutheran Campus Ministry at University of Wisconsin, Madison. Students may have an associate membership at Bethel during their University stay, while retaining their membership in their home congregation. Student activities are planned at Bethel as well as in cooperation with the Lutheran Campus Center.

The Lutheran Campus Center is located at:
325 North Mills St.
Madison WI 53705
(Corner of University Ave. and Mills St.)
Phone: (608) 257-7178
Email: prbrentc@aol.com

To visit the Center's Web site click on the link: Lutheran Campus Center.
Staff contact: Pastor Duane Hanson

Oakwood and Skaalen Homes
Bethel is a partner church with three residential and nursing care facilities in the Madison area. Oakwood Village-West and Oakwood Village-East in Madison and Skaalen Home in Stoughton include residential and assisted care facilities. Information can be obtained by contacting either facility directly:
Oakwood Village East
5565 Tancho Drive
Madison, WI 53718
(608) 230-4000
email: oakwoodeast@oakwoodvillage.net
web:www.oakwoodvillage.net

Oakwood Village West
6201 Mineral Point Road
(608) 230-4699
email: oakwoodwest@oakwoodvillage.net
web:www.oakwoodvillage.net

Skaalen
400 North Morris Street
Stoughton, WI 53589
608-873-5651
web: www.skaalen.com