May 2026 Monthly News

Bethesda Lutheran Church
Apr 27
3 min read

See what's happening this month at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Jewell, Iowa — and find opportunities to get involved!

Upcoming Events

Put these dates on your calendar — to learn more about an event, click the link or keep reading. We encourage you to explore the full newsletter and calendar for more information, messages, and opportunities.

The Lord's Cupboard collecting kids' snacks
May 3: Confirmation Sunday
May 5: Worship at Timberland, 2:00 p.m.
May 7: National Day of Prayer
May 10: Senior Recognition
May 10: Community potluck, 12:00 p.m.
May 10: Mother's Day
May 11: Church Council, 7:00 p.m.
May 13: Baccalaureate at Bethesda, 7:00 p.m.
May 21: Bethany Life Annual Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
May 21: Newsletter deadline
May 25: Memorial Day
June 7: Worship at Little Wall Lake
June 8-10: Vacation Bible School at Bethesda
June 14: Jewell Jubilee Worship at J.U.C.C.
More in the newsletter

The Lord's Cupboard Collecting Kids' Snack Bags

The Lord’s Cupboard will be providing kids’ bags this summer and we need your help! A little swimming pool is placed in the Narthex to collect snacks for kids from April 19 through May 31. If you can support this cause, please bring pre-packaged, individual snacks/treats. Let’s splash into the summer filling the pool! Thank you for your continued support.

The Lord’s Cupboard Food Pantry is open every Monday from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., as well as the first Monday of each month from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. More volunteers are needed and we would be very glad to accept your help. Please contact Karla (515-310-0151) or Sue (515-290-3000); or leave a message at the church office (515-827-5148).

The next Mobile Food Truck will be here in June.

Confirmation Sunday

We have students being confirmed and affirming their baptism on Sunday, May 3. Confirmation, a rite many churches celebrate each spring, has biblical roots. In Acts 8, Peter and John are sent to lay their hands on new believers and pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. In the early church, new Christians — usually adult converts — received baptism and confirmation as one ceremony. As more children were brought for baptism, pastors and priests would baptize, but only bishops would “confirm” a baptism, or make it official. Thus, the baptized were granted full membership in the church through confirmation.

Now confirmation allows young people, often after intensive Christian education, to profess for themselves the faith into which they were baptized. Confirmation serves as an important faith milestone, as young adults purposefully embrace a life of discipleship. Please join us to celebrate this year's confirmands.

Senior Recognition Sunday

We have High School graduates to celebrate on Sunday, May 10. Graduation marks both an ending and a beginning. As we celebrate students stepping into new seasons, we give thanks for the growth, perseverance and calling God has placed in their lives. May we surround our graduates with prayer, reminding them that God goes before them and walks with them wherever the journey leads. See the calendar for individual graduation party dates.

Bethany Life Annual Meeting

From Bethany Life: The date for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Bethany Life (reviewing the year 2025) has been set for Thursday, May 21 at 6:00 p.m. We ask that you notify your delegates, pastor and congregation. Thanks for your faithful support of Bethany life. Delegates from Bethesda Lutheran Church voted on at the annual meeting are Sue and Eudene Lund.