Our Advent serving is in full swing for the 2024 season. Join your Bethany family and friends in showing the love of Christ to others in our community. Accept the challenge of committing to serving for 2 hours, giving 2 gifts and celebrating Christmas together at least 1 celebration. Email officemanager@bethanyrc.com or call the office to sign up to be a part of the Advent serving in Sheboygan this holiday season.
Serving Together
Join others from Bethany to volunteer with a local community partner.
If you don't find something below that works for you, gather a group & serve in a different way.
1. Caring for those who are lonely this Christmas
When: Wednesday, December 3 at 6:10 pm
Where: Bethany Church, 1315 Washington Avenue, Sheboygan
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We will create Christmas cards, assemble care packages for area nursing homes, and our ADRC seniors. Creativity is not required. Sign-up is encouraged so we know how many people to expect, but signing up is not required.
2. Gift Assembly for the New Day Meal Guests
When: Wednesday December 10 from 6:00 pm
Where: Bethany Church, 1315 Washington Avenue, Sheboygan
On the third Tuesday of every month, Bethany hosts a free meal that is open to anyone in the community. For our December New Day Meal (Tuesday, December 17), we would like to offer those that come a Christmas gift. During our gathering, we will be meeting to assemble these gifts. Sign-up is encouraged to let us to know how many people to expect, but signing up is not required.
3. Preparing and Serving a Meal at Sheboygan County Warming Center
When: Dec 15 at 5:00pm
Where: Bethany Church, 1315 Washington Avenue, Sheboygan
Sheboygan County Warming Center offers safe overnight shelter to adults during Sheboygan's winter months. We'll meet at Bethany to prepare a meal for the Warming Center guests. We'll then travel to the Warming Center to serve the meal to those who will be spending the night at the Warming Center which is held at St. Luke's Methodist Church in Sheboygan (623 Ontario Ave, Sheboygan). We will need 6-8 volunteers to prepare and serve the meal. Please sign up so that we know how many to expect
4. December New Day Meal: Serving Meals and Handing Out Gifts
When: Tuesday, December 16 from 4:45 pm - 6:30 pm (meal starts at 5:00 p.m., come early for instructions)
Where: Bethany Church, 1315 Washington Avenue, Sheboygan
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Come and serve at the Bethany-hosted New Day Meal - a free community meal that is open to anyone in the Sheboygan area. In addition to serving meals, we will be handing out the gifts assembled above along with personal care items to those in need. No special serving skills are needed - only a friendly attitude. Alternatively, show up at 5:00 p.m. and join someone you don't know from the community for a meal. Sit with them, eat with them, and hear their stories. Sign-up is encouraged to allow so we know how many people to expect, but signing up is not required.
5. Sorting Food for the Sheboygan County Food Bank
When: Tuesday, December 16 from 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Where: Sheboygan County Food Bank Warehouse, 3115 N 21st St, Sheboygan
The Sheboygan County Food Bank receives donations throughout the month of December as part of the Making Spirits Bright light display at Evergreen Park. This food is a blessing to those in need in Sheboygan County and it all needs to be sorted. Join us as we help the food bank sort and organize these food donations. The building is heated, but you might want a sweatshirt.
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6. Longfellow Holiday Shoppe Gift Wrapping
When: Week of Dec 16, 17, 18 (During the school day. Specific times to be announced)
Where: Longfellow Elementary School, 819 Kentucky Avenue, Sheboygan
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Longfellow Elementary School hosts a "Holiday Shoppe" where Longfellow students are allowed to pick out free gifts for their parents. This is a blessing to many Longfellow families where gifts may not be plentiful around Christmastime. Adult volunteers are needed to help students select their gifts and wrap them for their families. This is a great opportunity if you love working with kids and have time during the school day.
7. Other Serving Opportunities: Let Us Know!
Have you served for 2 hours (or any time at all) in some other way not listed here? If so, tell us about it! We'd love to hear about the ways Bethany members and friends are serving. This also helps to inform us on what opportunities to promote in the future. You can do this by emailing us with details about what you did, who you did it with, and how Bethany might promote that as an serving opportunity in the future.
Giving Gifts to Others
Provide for needs of others in our community.
Unless noted otherwise, gifts can be delivered to Bethany Church and placed in the area under the
Outreach board, located next to the mail boxes. Gifts should arrived unwrapped.
Longfellow Elementary School Christmas Shoppe
Items due by: Sunday, December 7 (preferred) or Wednesday, December 10 (latest)
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During the holiday season, teachers and students at Longfellow organize a Christmas Shoppe for students, most of whom are eligible for free or reduced lunch. We’re going to give 2gether so that these elementary students can select items to give as gifts to their families. A list of items items requested by the school is available.
South High School Personal Care Pantry
Items due by: Sunday, January 4
South High School organized their Personal Care Pantry after they realized that these items are not covered by food stamps. This makes it a challenge for some students to get the toiletry items that they need. 2gether we’re going to make a difference for many students by bringing in “care packages” of personal care items to help stock South’s Pantry. A list of items items requested for the pantry is available.
Salvation Army Due by: Dec 31
December’s monetary mission donations will support the Salvation Army of Sheboygan County. Salvation Army provides emergency lodging, food assistance, and programs such as Toys for Tots. To donate you can make a note on your check memo line or on your offering envelope or designate the amount in the online giving platform.
Joy Tree
Items due by: TBD
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The Joy Tree project blesses children and families who have a parent in prison. Starting in December, you'll be able to select a Joy Tree ornament at Bethany Church and purchase a gift for a child in behalf of an inmate. Details and information can be found at Bethany. Look for the Christmas tree with the hanging paper ornaments in the Narthex (main lobby).
Celebrate Together
Celebrate Jesus' birth together
4th Sunday of Advent with Bell Choir
Where: Sunday, December 22 at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Bethany Church, 1315 Washington Avenue, Sheboygan
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The Sunday worship service will be led by Bethany's Bell Choir. Don't miss this beautiful worship service!
Christmas Eve Worship
When: Sunday, December 24 at 4:00 pm.
Where: Bethany Church, 1315 Washington Avenue, Sheboygan
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We will celebrate Christmas together in a candelight worship service.