Bethany Lutheran Church, Spencer IA - ELCA

06/13/2026

Y O U!

06/13/2026

See you at the FLAGFEST Parade!

06/12/2026

As another week comes to a close, it can be easy to wonder whether the small things we do really matter.

But God often works through simple acts of faithfulness: a word of encouragement, a helping hand, a meal shared, a prayer offered.

We may never know how far those acts travel. What seems ordinary today may become a blessing that reaches far beyond what we can see.

As you head into the weekend, remember that every act of kindness helps build a more compassionate world and reflects Christ's love in ways both visible and invisible.

"So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all." (Galatians 6:10)

May your weekend be filled with opportunities to share grace, hope, and love.

06/09/2026

Some seasons are for planting.
Some seasons are for harvesting.
And some seasons are simply for putting one foot in front of the other.

Wherever you find yourself today, may you know that God walks with you there.

06/08/2026

It’s Planting Day at Bethany!

06/08/2026

May this week bring moments of grace you didn't expect, strength for the work before you, and reminders that you do not walk alone.

God's presence goes with you into every meeting, every conversation, every challenge, and every opportunity to serve.

Peace for the journey ahead.

06/07/2026

Jesus called Matthew not after he had everything figured out, but right where he was.

Again and again, Jesus meets people where they are, offering mercy instead of judgment, welcome instead of exclusion, and hope instead of despair.

May we follow Christ's example by creating spaces where all people know they are seen, valued, and loved, and by serving our neighbors with compassion, courage, and grace.

"I desire mercy, not sacrifice." — Matthew 9:13

05/28/2026

Love is …

Love is more than a feeling.
It is the daily work of showing patience, compassion, forgiveness, and care for one another.

In anxious and divided times, love becomes holy resistance against fear, cruelty, and isolation.

“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” -Colossians 3:14

May we bear Christ into the world by loving well: neighbors and strangers, communities and ourselves.

05/25/2026

Before it was a holiday weekend, Memorial Day was a sacred act of remembrance.

In the years after the Civil War, people gathered in cemeteries to decorate the graves of soldiers with flowers and prayers. The observance became known as “Decoration Day,” eventually growing into what we now call Memorial Day.

Today we remember not only history, but people:
Beloved children of God whose lives were cut short by war.

We pray for peace in our world and comfort for all who grieve.

05/23/2026

Before the flames.
Before the preaching.
Before the crowds.
There was waiting.
Prayerful waiting.
Hopeful waiting.
Faithful waiting together.
On this Vigil of Pentecost, may we make room for the Spirit to surprise us again—
with wisdom,
with courage,
with joy,
and with the power to love our neighbors more deeply.
Come, Holy Spirit.