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Bethany News
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#KnowLoveShowLove
To submit a prayer request please email Janet at janet@bethany-denver.org or call the office at 303-758-2820
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Bethany Information Sessions:
Want to learn more about this congregation? These sessions are a great path toward considering membership at Bethany too! Sunday, Apr 27 – Christianity and Lutheranism 101, May 4 – Bethany’s structure; how to get involved, May 18 - Tour of the Campus. Each one starts at 11:20am in Room 400 (downstairs in the youth wing). Come to all three, or drop in on topics that appeal to you. New Members will be welcomed in worship on Sunday, May 18. Contact Sarah@Bethany-Denver.org to inquire about membership or to RSVP.
Would you like a Bethany nametag? Fill out this form and we will place an order once we have a critical mass. Email colleen@bethany-denver.org with questions.
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver/Holy Hammers
Thanks to the generosity of the Bethany congregation, through the Bethany Foundation, the Benevolence Ministry Team and individual contributions, as of December 31st, Holy Hammers has raised $149,080 towards it's goal of $150,000 to sponsor one of the 8 single family Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver homes at Augustana Lutheran. Thanks to all of you who contributed financially, took part in one of our fundraising events, or by volunteering your time at the construction site!
As of the date of this announcement, three of the four duplexes are in process of being built. Construction will continue at the site throughout 2025. Sign-up to volunteer on-site in the new construction below.
Bethany Summer Camp Week at Sky Ranch
July 27-August 1
Space for all Bethany children and youth for a priceless week of camp at Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp! Register now and join the adventure.
Connect with
Bryan Jaster.
Together 4 Good Podcast:
The Problem with Pretending: Toxic Positivity, Alienation, and the Grace of Being Real
In this honest episode, Pastor Nate explores the hidden costs of pretending everything is fine. We talk about the pressure to appear put together, the fear of being seen as struggling, and how toxic positivity often masks our deeper wounds. This kind of emotional cover-up doesn't just affect our mental health, it also shapes our spirituality.
Pastor Nate digs into the way Christianity confronts this head-on. Jesus didn’t come for the polished and performative. His harshest words were for those who insisted on religious appearances while ignoring their inner brokenness. The gospel is not about pretending—it's about showing up with our full selves.
Pastor Nate also unpacks the concept of alienation—a sense of disconnection from ourselves, from others, and from the world around us. Often rooted in cultural pressures and spiritual confusion, alienation is more than a social issue—it’s a theological one too. Sin, in many ways, is a form of alienation.
Through the lens of Christ’s suffering and abandonment on the cross, we learn that our pain is not something to deny or bury but rather something God enters into. We don’t find grace by escaping struggle. We find it by embracing our lack, our need, our real emotions.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why pretending and toxic positivity hurt more than they help
- How alienation is a core human experience—and how faith addresses it
- The danger of performative religion
- The cross as a place where God meets us in suffering
- Why engaging with our struggles is a path to transformation
Links:
heck out the book Pastor Nate mentions: "Embracing Alienation" by Todd McGowan.
Call to Action:
If you’ve ever felt pressure to “just stay positive” when everything inside you is unraveling, this episode is for you.
Listen now—and be reminded that grace meets us not in our pretending, but in our honest, human reality.
A Special Invitation:
Subscribe to the Together 4 Good podcast today and take this opportunity to deepen your understanding of God’s presence in the midst of difficult times. Share this episode with friends and family to help bring hope and peace to them during their struggles or questions.
Together 4 Good is a podcast from Bethany Lutheran Church ELCA in Cherry Hills Village, CO, designed to offer practical and engaging episodes that support you without expectations. Whether you’re feeling disconnected from traditional religion or exploring faith, we’re here to walk alongside you. Join us for discussions on faith, love, and community as we explore what it means to Know Love, Show Love in everyday life. Listen Here
