Bethany Lutheran Church - a Part of Bethany Lutheran Ministries

Bethany Lutheran Church - a Part of Bethany Lutheran Ministries Bethany Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod which gathers to study, worship, and follow our Lord Jesus Christ.

06/26/2025

From the Pastor’s Study
As we anticipate Sunday, June 29, 2025

We are in the last days of June. Schools have ended the academic year. Children are off to camps or other routines that their parents and the children have planned. Some news accounts talk about how busy this next week will be for travel. With plans in place, we focused on a goal—vacation, travel, gatherings with friends, doing some yardwork, and any number of things. Focused.
Our gospel reading for this Sunday, Luke 9:51-62, we first read how Jesus has “set his face to go to Jerusalem.” Jesus came to earth, took on the form of a human, and is working His way toward Jerusalem where He will suffer, die, and rise again. Focused.
After not being welcomed in the village, Jesus used that opportunity to explain in vivid terms what it means to be one of His disciples. Jesus paid the price. That guarantees for us the forgiveness of our sins and life eternal with Him. With that taken care of for us, Jesus instructed His disciples of that day and us today to stay focused, focused to be fit for the kingdom of God. Focused on Jesus.

This and That

Sunday
Many things will be a part of our worship service. Along with the normal elements of singing, reading, hearing the sermon, giving our gifts to God, praying, and receiving The Lord’s Supper, there will be the installation of the new board. There will be the reception of new members. We will join together, pastor and people, in a prayer of confession and forgiveness as we end our period of serving God together and commit our futures to God the Holy Spirit.

Focused
Following this Sunday, my eyes will be more and more focused on a point 2,618 miles from Vacaville. On September 1, I will begin serving Saint John Lutheran Church in Youngstown and Saint Peter Lutheran Church in Lockport, New York. The two congregations have fewer people in worship than in the past, each of them having between 50 and 60 people in worship each Sunday. Together, both congregations and I as their interim pastor will work to help that new approach to ministry grow and thrive as the Holy Spirit leads. The congregations are 15 minutes apart. I will be living in the parsonage owned by Saint Peter. I will be approximately 30 minutes from Niagara Falls and 10 minutes from Lake Ontario.

Farewell
Until we meet again, until God calls us home to heaven, I pray that He blesses you and keeps you strong in the ministry given to Bethany Lutheran Ministries—church and school.

Highlights This Week
• The tough parts that come with leaving—saying goodbye.
• Giving thanks to God for the opportunity to serve Bethany Church and School this year.
• An opportunity to debrief and evaluate my year of service here with people who asked for a one-on-one time to talk.
• Savoring the laughter and questions of children in the summer program.

06/11/2025

From the Pastor’s Study
As we anticipate Sunday, June 15, 2025

Trinity Sunday is the special observance for us this week. There aren’t a great deal of traditions that come with this day, except for some traditional and inspirational hymns and the reading of the third ecumenical creed, the Athanasian Creed. While all Christians who believe in the Trinity might attempt to explain what the Trinity means, we will all fall short.
Rev. James Wetzstein, a native of Regina, Saskatchewan, is a Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) pastor who graduated from Concordia College, Ann Arbor in 1985 (Bachelor of Arts), Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis (Master of Divinity) in 1989, and the University of Notre Dame in 2024 (Ph.D.). Pastor Wetzstein has served as the LCMS campus pastor at Valparaiso University since 2003. He is an amazing pastor with a gift for communicating. I share with you his work this week:


This and That

Thank You
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement as excellent medical professionals ministered to me and dealt with my abdominal abscess. Thankfully, I’m free of the drain and simply need to continue with the antibiotics for several more weeks.

Harvest
I’m pleased that one of our school families is taking care of the garden on the western edge of our property. A few things that were planted earlier show signs that they will continue to grow and might just push out some beautiful flowers. What are you planting now as you follow God’s will for you and the ministry of Bethany. Are thorns, negativity, and dissension what God wants us to foster and nurture and spread in anticipation of a damaging harvest? No, rather God’s plan for us is to produce the fruits of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness (Galatians 5:22)

Discernment
I continue to be in conversations with various congregations who are considering me as their intentional interim pastor. God is leading and, in His time, will send me.

Highlights This Week
• Celebrating the “birthday of the church” on Pentecost.
• While realizing “God helps those who help themselves” is not in the Bible, a highlight this week was seeing God’s “Yes” and God’s “No” in various situations.
• Hearing how God is blessing people with some beautiful “Sabbath keeping” time.
• Rejoicing at the gift of medical science and the gift of healing.

05/14/2025

From the Pastor’s Study
As we anticipate Sunday, May 18, 2025

Our perception of time can easily be limited to our experience, by the way we relate to events and the passage of time, and how incomprehensible time becomes as we age and realize we’ve lived this number of years, but we neither know how many we have left to live nor what eternity in heaven will be like.
Leading up to Jesus’ time in Jerusalem, the passage we read this week, John 16:12-22, has the disciples caught up in one huge “HUH?” “A little while.” Ever explain to a child how a trip will last “a little while” or you are leaving home but will be back “in a little while?” Here, Jesus is explaining that he will be gone for a little while (three days between His death and His resurrection), but the disciples are not tracking with the message Jesus is sharing.
When we are sick, grieving, depressed, or otherwise not fully how we want to be, joy seems nearly impossible. Gladness seems like a dream. Ultimately, joy, gladness, real fulfillment will come to us in heaven. Heaven seems far away. Yet Jesus is near, always, forever. This for a little while and then.

This and That

Praying
What sorts of things are on your heart and mind that you have been taking to God in your prayers? I encourage you to keep several things in prayer that relate to the ministry here. 1) According to God’s good pleasure, send students to be enrolled and thanking Him for those who are already enrolled for 2025-26. 2) For God to bless our congregational meeting this Sunday as many very important topics will need discussion and God’s guidance to move boldly forward. 3) For God’s guidance and blessing as the congregation listens to Pastor Paul Ferguson on June 1 and what might be in store for Bethany.

Intentionality
We all have different personalities. That’s a good thing. If we were all the same, what would we ever talk about. When you wake in the morning, have you ever intentionally thought about adding joy to your day? Have you ever woken and wondered how God might bless you throughout the day? While it’s easy to wake and go with whatever mood we are in, I encourage you, especially this Sunday, to seek to bring joy, encouragement, and determination to Bible Class, Worship, and the Congregational Meeting.

Discernment
Approximately 13 months ago, the people of Bethany called me to serve for a year as the Transitional Ministry Pastor of Bethany Lutheran Ministries. The people of Zion Lutheran Church in Denison, Iowa prayed for you, for me, and for God’s guidance. Now, I’ve received a call to serve as Intentional Interim Pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church and Preschool in Anoka, Minnesota. Please pray for the people of Mount Olive, for me, and for God’s guidance.

Highlights This Week
• Being richly blessed by God during my days off last week.
• Learning that a school family has a passion to work in Bethany’s garden.
• Colleagues who solve problems, cooperate, and seek the greater good every day.
• The ongoing joy hummingbirds bring.

04/16/2025

From the Pastor’s Study
As we anticipate Sunday, April 20, 2025

FOMO = “Fear of Missing Out” is a fun reality. An infant who fights sleep because watching and listening is far more fun than sleeping. A pet follows their human everywhere the human goes lest the pet miss out on a treat, a belly rub, or whatever the humans are doing. Not being able to attend something with family or friends knowing you will be missing out.
Jesus explained how He must suffer, die, and rise on the third day. The first witnesses of His resurrection forgot all that. The women carrying spices to the tomb were prepared to perform a sacred duty. When the women heard from the two men that Jesus, “is not here but has risen,” the women went and told the Eleven. Peter didn’t want to miss out after hearing what the women said. Peter rushed to the tomb. Peter went home marveling. All this is recorded in Luke 24:1-12.
Don’t miss out. Easter is a marvel-filled day!

This and That

Praying
I trust you have been praying for the future of the entire Bethany Lutheran Ministry of which you are a part. Pray for God’s direction, His reshaping your thoughts to align with His plan for Bethany’s future, and pray for all who will assist Bethany along the way—including if God has a role for you to play. After worship on June 1, Rev. Paul Ferguson will share with everyone the process Pastor Ferguson is ready and willing to lead Bethany through as the future unfolds in the months and years ahead. The Board of Directors have heard and seen Pastor Ferguson’s presentation and voted to have Pastor Ferguson come and give the presentation to the entire membership.

Reflecting
As you anticipate Easter Sunday, reflect on your journey through Lent. For many, the forty days of Lent are filled with daily realities, responsibility, and perhaps a time of reflection and meditation each Wednesday in addition to Sunday. The days ahead, specifically Maundy (Holy) Thursday and Good Friday, give an opportunity to not only reflect on our lives, but how marvelously we are transformed by the work of Jesus.

Students
Our students, faculty, and staff will be enjoying their spring break this coming week. Please pray for the safety of the middle schoolers who are headed to New York City to explore, learn, and enjoy the adventure. Some are staying closer to home. We pray that all are blessed with a time to be refreshed for the final weeks of the academic year. Enrollment projections are trending towards a very nice increase in enrollment this fall!

Highlights This Week
• Learning about other Missouri Synod congregations who are building relationships with other congregations in their area for outreach and collaboration.
• Seeing one of the marigold pots from last fall come to life with fresh blooms!
• A day of reading and writing and reflecting on both the power and the gifts that come through Lent and Holy Week
• Having taxes finished before the deadline!

04/09/2025

From the Pastor’s Study
As we anticipate Sunday, April 13, 2025

Sound can be so incredibly precious. The sound of a loved one’s voice. Hearing a favorite piece of music whether it be “classical” or “gospel” or “contemporary” or “old school rock-n-roll.” If we or someone we love is ill, the sound of the doctor’s voice can bring tragic news or hope for the future. The sound of screeching tires near you can cause panic, but the sound of a loved one’s car coming up the driveway can cause joy.
One custom for the start of Holy Week is to read, to hear, to meditate on the entire story of Jesus’ passion. Entry into Jerusalem. Last Supper. Gethsemane. Calvary. Tomb. This Sunday, I will read the passion account from Luke chapters 22 and 23.
As we prepare to hear this reading, relax, put aside your “to do list.” Hear the crowd. Smell the wine. Hear anew, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.” See the soldiers. Hear the conversation from the three on crosses. Lean into the tomb. Come, hear the story of our Savior’s love.

This and That

Why Not
Amazing the various traditions that coincide with Easter, spring, etc. Some people might go out to the cemetery and clear off winter grime from the grave stones of family members. Feasts might be planned. The tradition of the “Easter Vigil” can be hours long as various readings from the Genesis to the resurrection of Christ. Perhaps you’ve never heard of this one—Dyngus Day.

Forty
We are coming to the end of the forty days of Lent. The Sunday before Lent began when we joined Jesus, Peter, James, and John to hear the voice of God proclaim, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” Come along on Sunday to hear the reading of the entire passion narrative and then pause on Thursday and Friday to remember the significance of those days. The forty days of Lent culminate in some of the most magnificent moments in the life of our Lord and, therefore, our lives as His children.

Vocabulary
There will be no quizzes in church this week, though some of the words we use during this holy week can be confusing, misinterpreted, or seem like they come from far outside the words we use each day. One word that will be heard loudly and clearly on Palm Sunday is “Hosanna.”

Highlights This Week
• Seeing and hearing First Grade lead chapel.
• Having a celebration with the entire school!
• Learning that several children in the school would like to be baptized.
• Pausing to wonder and marvel

04/03/2025

From the Pastor’s Study
As we anticipate Sunday, April 6, 2025

The tougher the concept, the more difficult it can be to learn it, to totally wrap our heads around it. Some things, especially traumatic experiences, can leave us in such shock that we are quite paralyzed, not able to even respond for a few seconds or for much longer. In the classroom, I know some things are explained verbally, there will be a demonstration of the subject, and eventually the students will have an opportunity to demonstrate what level of mastery they have been able to achieve.
In our text for this Sunday, Luke 20:9-20, Jesus is again making His point by the use of a parable. Here, Jesus is addressing men of the Sanhedrin (think supreme court judges in the temple with an opinion on just about everything). Throughout the Old Testament, there are situations where God’s messengers were rejected, and some were beaten and killed. Jesus was trying so hard to teach what it means to be a faithful follower of God.
Jesus, standing before these rulers, these judges, He made His point through this parable. So very much is to be gained, to be learned, to benefit from if we pay attention to Jesus as the Holy Spirit leads. Consider how God’s Church is doing when it comes to believing and following God and His direction.

This and That

It Did End
March in some parts of our country may have come in like a lion and out like a lamb, but I didn’t sense huge extremes here, unless anyone attempted to head east on I-80 through Truckee. For the Church, March 5th was the start of Lent. This Sunday and the next Sunday take us to the beginning of the week we call “Holy.” At this stage of Lent, I look forward to the unique services that annually remind me, remind us, of the incredible love Jesus has for us. Behold, the Lamb of God!

Community
The pastors in the two circuits that meet monthly had a meeting this past Tuesday at Town and Country Lutheran Church in Sacramento. Circuits are portions of the California-Nevada-Hawaii District, kind of like “church counties.” Our area extends from Vacaville to Grass Valley. We will continue to work together as pastors and implement ways we can support, encourage, and expand our ministries through intentionally working together. Principal Poole is putting into place some connections with Saint John’s Lutheran School in Napa.

Kindness
Our schoolchildren will have a week with a special focus on kindness. This week, consider trying to do a random act of kindness to bless a person, stranger or friend.

Highlights This Week
• Hearing in chapel the deep faith of our students and how they reject the work of the devil.
• A study of the Bible texts for Ascension with the circuit pastors (Ascension Day is May 29 and observed at Bethany on June 1).
• Repairman visiting campus and getting a warm and energetic “Hello Mr. Wayne” from the students in preschool.
• Having friendly conversations throughout the week.

03/26/2025

From the Pastor’s Study
As we anticipate Sunday, March 30, 2025

Perhaps I’m the only person with this challenge. Perhaps not. I can be like a dog with a bone on some things. I would like to think that my fixation on something has some merit, some value, but I’m not convinced it always does. A neighbor who is frequently loud even when it’s brought to their attention. Far too many “Scam Likely” calls on my cell phone. Frustrating!! Any kind of fixation that leads to frustration is going to require energy and time and what might I be missing until I back off and gain a new perspective?
Let’s flip this around, REALLY around. Love is different, at least from what I’m thinking, from being fixated. When we have true, healthy love for someone, but that love is not returned, perhaps the person we love takes advantage of us, or if they break off all contact, how does that make you feel? No communication. Some call that “being ghosted.” But is our love still there even when it’s not shared?
The parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:1-3 and 11-32 is a love story. Have you ever related to one character in the story more than others? Have you ever felt like the father? The younger son who took his inheritance and took off for a faraway place to blow the money on whatever . . . and then he didn’t have anything to eat? How about the older son and that son’s reaction both to what his brother did and what his father did? How are love and fixation similar? Different?

This and That

Rather Angelic
The Faithful (Christian brothers and sisters around the world) gather for worship, song, speaking and hearing God’s Word. Here’s something you might want to watch as we continue our journey through Lent. Saint Thomas Church—Episcopal in New York City, has a long and rich tradition of worship. The treble voices of the choir come from the Saint Thomas Choir School. Check out the various services, when they are streamed, and those that are available on demand. All times are Eastern. Click here to see when the next service will be.

Midnight
Fond memories from college and seminary days were breakfast foods that were offered later at night during final exams. A break from studying for some. A celebration of being finished with finals for others. If you are interested in some traditions associated with Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, check out this article from the Lutheran Witness.

Progress
Are you planting seeds for anything this year? Vegetables? Flowers? Pastors? Missionaries? We pray that “the Lord of the harvest” continues to send laborers into the field to work with each of us to grow in our faith, foster growth in others, and see where the Holy Spirit leads Bethany Lutheran Ministries and each of us.

Highlights This Week
• Planning and preparing services for Holy Week and Easter
• Marveling at the faith of our school children and their bold confession of faith and action
• Seeking God’s will and subtle hints of what might be next
• Visit from Chaplain Paul, Jessica, and Sam Sauer

03/19/2025

From the Pastor’s Study
As we anticipate Sunday, March 23, 2025

Trust is a very sacred thing. Would that we could believe everything everyone said. The simple phrase, “And that’s the way it was,” might bring back memories of Walter Cronkite, a trusted news anchor, signing off at the end of each broadcast, the last of which was on March 6, 1981. Mr. Cronkite earned trust and possessed a familiarity that caused a lot of us to watch night after night.
I hope each of us has one or more humans who have earned our trust, and we have earned theirs. I wonder what place God has in each of our lives as a trusted guide, a confidant, and someone we can follow with complete trust. Until we don’t. In our gospel for this Sunday, Luke 13:1-9, we have an opportunity to evaluate our perspective on events in our lives, in our world, and evaluate our preparedness should today be our final day of life. Where is your trust?
Events that are tragic might appear as God bringing judgement on the wicked, until we realize that tornadoes in the Midwest this week in which 40 people died didn’t skip over the good and righteous people to only kill the wicked. These events give us an opportunity to look at our lives, shrug our shoulders, and say, “And that’s the way it was,” or hear God calling us to repentance, to changed lives, renewed lives, to confess our sins to God and seek His will for the days we have been blessed to live trusting in Him for salvation.

This and That

Copycat
You may know the saying: “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” Is that why on Monday so many people pretended they were Irish? Ephesians 5:1-2, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (ESV) I wonder if Jesus feels flattered.

Encouragement
Everyone needs encouragement. For some, encouragement is much appreciated when battling an illness, in a difficult relationship, losing a job, or beginning something new. Would you like to encourage men training to be pastors? In spring 2000, a total of nearly 200 men graduated from our two seminaries. In spring 2015, the estimate is 80 men TOTAL between Fort Wayne and Saint Louis. If you would like to send a note to a seminarian:
“For Any Seminarian”
Concordia Theological Seminary Concordia Seminary
6600 N. Clinton St. 801 Seminary Place
Fort Wayne, IN 46825 Saint Louis, MO 63105

Word of Mouth, Too
New banners are on the fences encouraging people to enroll their children at Bethany Lutheran School. Is there someone you can encourage to consider Bethany for their children, grandchildren, etc.?

Highlights This Week
• Submitting answers to the questions Mr. Busse had (CPA assessing the financial situation of Bethany Lutheran Ministries) and anticipating his feedback.
• Two children visiting on Sunday and having a chance to engage with them during their message time
• Studying and preparing
• Making Irish Soda Bread

03/12/2025

From the Pastor’s Study
As we anticipate Sunday, March 16, 2025

Persistence is an amazing thing when observing a student working hard to comprehend a new concept. A Canadian goose and her gander have been scoping out a nesting site in Bethany’s athletic field where their persistence is a battle of wills with students and others disrupting any sense of peace. If you’ve ever sat through a timeshare presentation, you know how persistent the salesperson can be!
Jesus, in our gospel reading this Sunday from Luke 13:31-35, encounters a change in behavior. Up until this point, the Pharisees (religious leaders of Israel) had persistently questioning Jesus because they, the Pharisees, were faithful keepers of the law. The Pharisees were extremely critical of Jesus. Now, some of these Pharisees said to Jesus, “Get away from here for Herod wants to kill you.” While we don’t know what motivated some Pharisees to say this, we know what Jesus was focused on—Jerusalem.
The love Jesus had for the people meant He wanted so much to gather them and protect them, but some were still impenitent, unwilling to confess their sins and receive the forgiveness Jesus persistently offered. Jesus consistently and intentionally kept His focus on getting to Jerusalem knowing full well that it was in Jerusalem that He, Jesus, would die, as so many prophets before Him had died. Lent—a time to repent and seek the will of God.

This and That

Clarity and Formation
Earlier this academic year, Bethany granted Principal Alex Poole financial assistance to participate in Lutheran Educator Development, professional and spiritual development to assist her in understanding Lutheran doctrine, heritage, and our Christ-centered education practices. Beginning Sunday, Mrs. Poole will be attending the Lutheran Education Association conference for school administrators. We pray that God richly blesses Mrs. Poole’s ongoing development as she faithfully serves our students.

Beyond Food
Monday is Saint Patrick’s Day. In Lutheran Service Book, hymn 604 “I Bind unto Myself Today” is attributed to Saint Patrick. It’s a beautiful prayer sung to the tune “St. Patrick’s Breastplate.” For additional reading, click here.

Betty Olson
Betty’s funeral will be held this Sunday, March 16, at 1:00 p.m. at Bethany. Betty was born June 2, 1950, and entered eternal rest on March 8, 2025.

Date Set
My final Sunday here at Bethany will be June 29 with my final day of service being June 30. I pray God richly blesses Bethany Lutheran Ministries, both church and school, with a clear understanding of God’s direction and purpose for the ministry done in His name. I will keep you informed regarding my next intentional interim placement.

Highlights This Week
• An impromptu visit by a number of students who dropped by during their lunch period to chat.
• Ongoing discussion with the CNH district and Bethany leadership about the assessment and strategy initiative.
• Worshiping with our students as they led chapel on the Stations of the Cross.
• Lunch and olive oil tasting at McEvoy Ranch with my cousins from Detroit.

Address

1011 Ulatis Drive
Vacaville, CA
95687

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 3pm
Tuesday 9am - 3pm
Wednesday 9am - 3pm
Thursday 9am - 3pm
Friday 9am - 3pm
Sunday 9am - 1pm

Telephone

+17074516675

Website

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