[Bethany Lutheran Church] Bethany October 2012 Newsletter and Calendar

This announcement is from Bethany Lutheran Church

Bethany October 2012 Newsletter and Calendar

The Bethany October 2012 newsletter and calendar are now available for reading on MemberConnect.   A link to the newsletter is on the home page of our MemberConnect site. Simply click on the link and you will be able to read the newsletter WITHOUT logging in.    However, we still encourage you to log in and check out the calendar and other areas of MemberConnect!   Paper copies of the newsletter are also available at the Information Desk in the Gathering Area.

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[Bethany Lutheran Church] Wednesday Words for September 26, 2012

Wednesday Words for September 26, 2012
from Pastor Carrie B. Smith

Thought for the Day:
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
- Psalm 139

Today, in my hometown of Stillwater, Oklahoma, a 13 year old boy shot himself in front of his classmates, as they gathered before classes at Stillwater Junior High. I’ve been thinking all day about this boy, his family, and the students who witnessed the tragedy. As the mother of a 13 year old, I grieve the fact that young people can be in so much pain, and can see no way out.
As a Christian community, I pray we can be a safe and accepting place for all young people, so they would not see suicide as the only answer. Tonight, I take comfort in the words of Psalm 139, which assure me that even the darkness cannot hide us from God. The light of God shines in the darkest places. Rest in peace, Cade. I know that God was with you even in that terrible moment, and I’m sorry you couldn’t see the light of God’s love before you made that decision this morning. Lord, have mercy on us.
***

Holy WELCA, Batman! 130 women gathered for fellowship, food, and an inspiring speaker on Sunday. What an amazing time. Thank you to all who helped make it possible, including Sandi, the planning committee, and the Bethany Mission Endowment Fund. It’s a new day for Women’s Ministry at Bethany!

This Sunday: Join us for worship at 7:45 am, 9 am, and 10:45 am. The Bethany Drumming ministry will be enlivening our worship! We will bless the PADS ministry, which is celebrating 25 years of housing the homeless in this place. Pastor Paul will be preaching.

Sunday is also the CROP Walk in Crystal Lake! There’s still time to support our walkers—or just show up and walk! The kick-off is at Living Waters Lutheran Church, 1808 Miller Road, Crystal Lake, at 1:30 pm. This community fundraiser – sponsored by Church World Service, an international relief, development and refugee resettlement agency – provides food, medical care, disaster relief and self-help development for people throughout the world. A portion of funds from the Crystal Lake CROP Walk will go to the Crystal Lake Food Pantry and McHenry County PADS. This year’s fundraising goal is $20,000. Support for the CROP Walk comes from Colonial Cafe, which will host a fundraiser at its Crystal Lake restaurant Thursday. Colonial Cafe also donates a free ice cream sundae to all walkers and donates $1 a walker to fight hunger. The Colonial Café Kitchen Sink Truck is scheduled to visit Living Waters on the day of the walk from 12:45 to 2 p.m.

Last year, Bethany Lutheran won the “Golden Sneaker Award” for the most money raised by an organization for the CROP Walk. Help us meet that goal this year, too!

Sunday at 7 pm: It’s time to welcome the African Children’s Choir! There is no admission for this concert featuring the world-renowned choir from Uganda. There will be a freewill offering to benefit the Music for Life Foundation, which runs schools for children in Africa. Please come—but come early to get a good seat!

Read more about the choir here: http://africanchildrenschoir.com/

And you can watch a preview video here: African Children's Choir

This concert is sponsored by the Leahy family, in loving memory of Bethany member Jody Leahy.

Blessing of the Animals! On Sunday, October 7th at 4 pm, bring your pet to Bethany for a special blessing in honor of St. Francis Day. We will meet on the lawn in front of the church. (by the way, if your pet is a tarantula, Pastor Paul will be handling the blessing.)  

Mark your calendars! Sunday, October 28th is a huge day for Bethany. We will celebrate the Reformation of the Church, singing our beloved “A Mighty Fortress” at all services. And then we will witness the Affirmation of Baptism (Confirmation) of more than 20 ninth graders! And then—take a nap—because later in the afternoon I want to pack the pews at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Rockford for Pastor Paul’s ordination at 4 pm. Watch for more details to come!

This Week’s Texts: September 30, 2012

Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29
4The rabble among them had a strong craving; and the Israelites also wept again, and said, “If only we had meat to eat! 5We remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; 6but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.” 10Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, all at the entrances of their tents. Then the Lord became very angry, and Moses was displeased. 11So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? 12Did I conceive all this people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a sucking child,’ to the land that you promised on oath to their ancestors? 13Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they come weeping to me and say, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14I am not able to carry all this people alone, for they are too heavy for me. 15If this is the way you are going to treat me, put me to death at once—if I have found favor in your sight—and do not let me see my misery.” 16So the Lord said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tent of meeting, and have them take their place there with you. 24So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. 25Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again. 26Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. 27And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!” 29But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!”

Psalm 19, selected verses (Message Version)
The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree.
God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.
There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
   Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

James 5:13-20
13Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. 17Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest. 19My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, 20you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Mark 9:38-50

38John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40Whoever is not against us is for us. 41For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.
42“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. 43If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. 47And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, 48where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.
49“For everyone will be salted with fire. 50Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Peace,
+ Pastor Carrie Smith
carrie.smith@bethanylc.com

This email sent by:

Carrie Smith

[Bethany Lutheran Church] NEWS: African Children's Choir at Bethany Lutheran!

Please forward to friends and family!

Peace,

Pastor Carrie

 

 

Bethany Lutheran Church, ELCA

76 W. Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014

www.bethanylc.com

 

Come join the 39^th African Children’s Choir as they perform in our community during their US Tour. The Choir will be performing at our church on September 30^th at 7:00 pm. Come and experience a performance that shows the beauty, dignity and potential of each African child! Admission will be free for all ages; a free-will offering will follow the Choir’s concert.

 

This concert is sponsored by the Leahy family in loving memory of longtime Bethany member Jody Leahy.

 

The African Children’s Choir melts the hearts of audiences with their charming smiles, beautiful voices and lively African songs and dances. The program features well-loved children’s songs, traditional Spirituals and rhythmic Gospel favorites. Nearly every performance is concluded with a thunderous standing ovation! In spite of the tragedy that has marred their young lives, the children are radiant with hope, musically gifted and always wonderfully entertaining.

 

The free-will offering will help support the Music for Life Institute. The African Children’s Choir has been Music for Life’s major international program during its 28-year history. Music for Life Institute (MFLI) has relief and development programs in seven African countries. MFL has currently educated over 52,000 children and hundreds of thousands of lives have been impacted by Music for Life Institute’s international relief and development programs.

 

We’re looking forward to seeing you at this inspirational performance!

 

 

For the Children,

 

Pastor Carrie B. Smith

Senior Pastor, Bethany Lutheran Church, ELCA

Carrie.smith@Bethanylc.com

 

 

 

 

This email sent by:

Carrie Smith

[Bethany Lutheran Church] Wednesday Words for September 19, 2012

Wednesday Words for September 19, 2012
from Pastor Carrie Smith

Thought for the Day:
“The point of church isn't to get people to come to church." "No?" said Steve, cocking an eyebrow. "What is it?" It seemed obvious to me. "To feed them, so they can go out and, you know, be Jesus."

“Take this Bread: A Radical Conversion” by Sara Miles

In our prayers: 

The Stefan family at the death of Wendy Stefan, whose funeral was Monday.

The Cima and Pierzina families at the death of Jean, whose funeral is on Friday at 11 am (visitation at DeFiore-Jorgenson Funeral Home, Thursday 4-8 pm). 

And prayers for the Love and Zimmerman families at the death of Paul Love. A visitation for Paul will be at Bethany Friday evening from 5-7 pm. His funeral will be Saturday at Zion Lutheran in Ottawa, Illinois.

We also pray for Bentley, Jonathan, and Michelle—all born prematurely, and all needing our prayers for healing and strength.

Three funerals in one week is so much grief for one community to bear. We mourn with each of these families, holding them in our prayers and walking with them. Many of you are preparing meals, serving as ushers and communion servers for the services, and walking with your sisters and brothers in Christ as they mourn. I give thanks to God for each of you! You are the hands and feet of Christ in the world.

This Sunday at Bethany: 

We will celebrate 5 baptisms (shared between the 9 and 10:45 am services): Gianna, Cali, Finley, Thomas, and Courtney. Thanks be to God!

We also welcome 32 new members! Look for their profiles in the next newsletter.

5 pm: The 2012 Bethany Women's Event. We're so excited to have 125 women registered. See you then!

Last night at the Bethany Council meeting, I shared my report, which was called “Bethany by the Numbers.” I thought you might like to see it, too. Here you go!

BETHANY BY THE NUMBERS
Funerals this week: 3
Funerals so far this year: 12
Funerals in 2011: 6
Youth at the Shaving Cream Whiffle Ball Kick-Off Event: 14
Members of new Youth Council: 8
Sacristans installed: 5
Hospitality hosts trained: 28
Attendance at the outdoor/indoor service: 160+
Confirmation students: 38
Sunday School students registered: 96
Baptisms this week: 5
New members in September: 32
New Members this year: 54
Women registered for the Women’s Event: 125
Attendees at the first Theology on Tap: 17
Back-to-Church Bluegrass Round-Up Attendance: 405
Years of PADS at Bethany: 25
1st Wednesday Worship Attendance: 27
Sunday’s 7:45 am attendance: 27
African Children’s Choir members arriving next week: 28
Families hosting the African Children’s Choir: 8

*** 

This week's Gospel text: Mark 9:30-37

30They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He (Jesus) did not want anyone to know it; 31for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” 32But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

33Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. 35He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” 36Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

Peace,

+ Pastor Carrie Smith

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Carrie Smith

[Bethany Lutheran Church] Arrangements for Paul Love

Arrangements for Paul Love

Bethany member, Paul Love, died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, September 18, 2012.

There will be a visitation at Bethany on Friday, September 21 from 5-7 pm. 

The funeral and committal will be at Zion Lutheran Church in Ottawa, Illinois on Saturday, September 22. The time and details of that service are still being arranged.

Paul is the husband of Hilda Love and the father of Bethany member Cindy Zimmerman. Please keep the entire family in your prayers.

 

 

 

This email sent by:

Carrie Smith

[Bethany Lutheran Church] Arrangements for Jean Cima

Arrangements for Jean Cima

Bethany Member, Jean Cima, died yesterday surrounded by her family. Funeral services have now been arranged, and are as follows:

Visitation: Thursday, September 20 from 4-8 pm

DeFiore-Jorgeson Funeral Home

10763 Dundee Road, Huntley, IL 60142

Funeral: Friday, September 21 at 11 a.m.

Bethany Lutheran Church, ELCA

76 W. Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Visitation one hour prior to the funeral, at the church

There will be a luncheon immediately following the service

Interment will be private.

Please keep the Cima and Pierzina families in your prayers. 

 

 

 

This email sent by:

Carrie Smith

[Bethany Lutheran Church] Prayers for the Cima and Pierzina families (edited)

(announcement edited)

Arrangements for Jean Cima

Dear Bethany Sisters and Brothers,

With great sadness, we mourn the passing of Bethany member Jean Cima. Jean passed away last evening, September 13, surrounded by her family.
 

Services are pending. Details will be announced as soon as they are available.

Please keep the Cima and Pierzina families in your prayers. May God grant Jean eternal rest and peace.  

This email sent by:

Carrie Smith

[Bethany Lutheran Church] Prayers for the Cima and Pierzina families

Arrangements for Jean Cima

Dear Bethany Sisters and Brothers,

With great sadness, we mourn the passing of Bethany member Jean Cima. Jean passed away last evening, September 13, surrounded by her family.
 

Services are pending. Details will be announced as soon as they are available.

Please keep the Cima and Pierzina families in your prayers. May God grant Wendy eternal rest and peace.  

This email sent by:

Carrie Smith

[Bethany Lutheran Church] Arrangements for Wendy Stefan

Arrangements for Wendy Stefan

Dear Bethany Sisters and Brothers,   With great sadness, we mourn the passing of Bethany member Wendy Stefan, age 50.  Wendy passed away this morning, September 13, after a long battle with cancer.    Arrangements are as follows:   Visitation:  2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 16, at Davenport Family Funeral Home       419 E. Terra Cotta Avenue, Crystal Lake   Service:  Monday, September 17 at 10:00 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church  76 W. Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake   There will also be a visitation at the church one hour prior to the service.   At this time, we understand there will be a meal after the service.  Details to follow. Please keep the Stefan family in your prayers. May God grant Wendy eternal rest and peace.

 

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Carrie Smith

[Bethany Lutheran Church] Wednesday Words for September 12, 2012

Wednesday Words for September 12, 2012
from Pastor Carrie Smith

Thought for the Day:
“The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn't have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It's for you I created the universe. I love you... There's only one catch. Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you'll reach out and take it. Maybe being able to reach out and take it is a gift too.”

-Frederick Buechner, “The Alphabet of Grace”

In our prayers: Wendy Stefan, Jean Cima, Gary Summers, Fred Becker, Betty Klehfoth

Tonight at Bethany: It’s fall, and the place is hopping once again!
4:45 pm Confirmation session 1
5 pm: Sonshine Singers
5:45 pm Confirmation meal
6 pm: Drum ministry
6:30 pm: MIDWEEK WORSHIP in Luther Hall (come check out this new casual worship opportunity!)
7:30 pm Confirmation Session 2
7:30 pm Bethany Choir

This weekend at Bethany:

Saturday morning: Youth room clean-up! 8 am-noon

Sunday: With the return of fall, we return to a more formal musical setting for worship (setting 9). This week we are also blessed with a musical offering from Bell Canto, Bethany’s handbell choir. Sue Gavle will present the children’s sermon, and will distribute Bibles to the 3rd graders at the 9 am worship service. We’ll hear an update from our fantastic teens who “pounded the pavement” this summer to end malaria! Finally, we will install our sacristans at the conclusion of the 9 am service.

Sunday, 4-6 pm: New Member Class is in Luther Hall (there’s still room for you!) and the Youth Group Kick-Off is in the Youth Room.

What is a sacristan? “Sacristan” is the formal term for a person who cares for the “sacred things” in the church. They care for the communion vessels, the altar paraments, candles, and baptismal font. On Sundays, they watch carefully, as a host would at a dinner, to be sure there is enough to eat and all are being served. At Bethany, we are lifting up the “altar care team leaders” and conferring this new title in recognition of their ministry. Thank you, sacristans!

Visit the Bethany Preschool Team in Luther Hall Sunday between services and show your support for our Preschool! The Preschool Fundraiser this year is flower bulbs.  50% of the proceeds will go to our Preschool program. Please come see what Nature in Bloom and Bethany Preschool have to offer!

Did you know: You can be a “mystery reader” at Bethany Preschool! It only takes 10 minutes of your time, and the children love it. Sign up to read a story just outside the preschool room doors.

2012 Women’s Event: It’s not too late to RSVP! Women, please send an email to sandi.teiken@bethanylc.com to reserve your seat today. Do you have a friend who would like to join you? Please invite her!

Did you know? You can read sermons online at www.bethanylc.com. There is a link to the Bethany Sermon Blog on the church homepage. You can “like” it, post it to your Facebook page, and subscribe to new posts. Check it out!

This Week’s Texts: 16th Sunday after Pentecost

Isaiah 50:4-9
4The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. 5The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. 6I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. 7The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; 8he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. 9It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.

Psalm 116:1-9 (Message Version)
I love God because he listened to me, listened as I begged for mercy.
He listened so intently as I laid out my case before him.
Death stared me in the face, hell was hard on my heels.
Up against it, I didn’t know which way to turn; then I called out to God for help:
“Please, God!” I cried out. “Save my life!”
God is gracious—it is he who makes things right, our most compassionate God.
God takes the side of the helpless; when I was at the end of my rope, he saved me.
I said to myself, “Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings.
   Soul, you’ve been rescued from death; Eye, you’ve been rescued from tears;
   And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling.”
I’m striding in the presence of God, alive in the land of the living!

James 3:1-12
3Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. 3If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. 4Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! 6And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, 8but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. 11Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

Mark 8:27-38
27Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” 30And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
31Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
34He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Peace,
+Pastor Carrie Smith
carrie.smith@bethanylc.com

This email sent by:

Carrie Smith

Wednesday Words for September 5, 2012

Wednesday Words for September 5, 2012

From Pastor Carrie Smith

Thought for the Day:

“I have no pleasure in any man who despises music. It is no invention of ours: it is a gift of God. I place it next to theology. Satan hates music: he knows how it drives the evil spirit out of us.”

Martin Luther

 

In our prayers: Wendy Stefan, Jean Cima, Gary Summers, Michele Johnson (cancer surgery was successful!), Todd Johnson (healing after heart surgery), Denise Cummings (on a transplant list), Crosby Maddock, Jeanette Odean, Seth Johnson (for healing after surgery), Fred Becker, and many others.

Today at Bethany: 

Confirmation Orientation for 7^th and 8^th graders and their families, 6-7:30 pm (light supper provided)

Bethany Choir begins again! 7:30-9 pm

Tomorrow night: Theology on Tap at Duke’s Alehouse, 7:30 pm. What is Theology on Tap? Pastor Paul says it could also be called: Cocktails and Conversation or the Beer and Bible group! This is an opportunity to meet in a casual setting and engage in some “God-talk”. Beer is optional. All are welcome!

Sunday at Bethany: It’s time for the Back to Church Bluegrass Round-Up! Come for worship at 7:45 am (no bluegrass), 9 am, and 10:45 am. Sunday School Registration begins at 8:30 am, and the Ministry Opportunities Fair will be taking place all morning. Please bring a friend, and celebrate the beginning of Fall!

Monday night Bible Study begins September 10: You are invited to check out a new Bible Study opportunity called “Saving Jesus: an exploration of Jesus Christ for the third millennium”. This is a 12-session class (but it’s ok to miss a few!) and we will most likely be meeting in the “new conference room” (look for signs near the Church Office).

Click here for a preview video:  Saving Jesus

McHenry County Heart Walk: Help fight the #1 killer in McHenry County on Saturday, September 8! You can do a 1 mile or 3 mile walk at 9 am, starting at the Historic Dole Mansion. Register now at www.mchenrycountyheartwalk.org

Wednesday Worship coming soon! Join us for a renewing worship experience for midweek on Wednesday, September 12^th at 6:30 pm. We will meet for prayer, a little singing, and a Scripture reflection in Luther Hall. All ages welcome!

2012 Bethany Women’s Event: Sunday, September 23^rd at 5 pm. A few folks have said to me, “OH, we threw that postcard away, Pastor! We didn’t know it was from Bethany!” If that describes you, please know it is not too late to RSVP! Please let us know if you can come to this exciting, FREE dinner and program for all Bethany women!  RSVP to Sandi at sandi.teiken@bethanylc.com 

Our guest speaker will be Pastor Katherine Willis Pershey. Read more about her here:

http://www.katherinewillispershey.com/

 

This Week’s Texts: 15^th Sunday after Pentecost

Isaiah 35:4-7

⁴Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.”

⁵Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; ⁶then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; ⁷the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

PSALM 146 (Message version)

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
² I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
    I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

³ Put not your trust in princes,
    in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
⁴ When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
    on that very day his plans perish.

⁵ Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord his God,
⁶ who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
⁷     who executes justice for the oppressed,
    who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
⁸     the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the Lord loves the righteous.
⁹ The Lord watches over the sojourners;
    he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

¹⁰ The Lord will reign forever,
    your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!

James 2:1-17

2My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? ²For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, ³and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” ⁴have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? ⁵Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? ⁶But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? ⁷Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

⁸You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ⁹But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. ¹⁰For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. ¹¹For the one who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. ¹²So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. ¹³For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

¹⁴What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? ¹⁵If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, ¹⁶and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? ¹⁷So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

Mark 7:24-37

²⁴From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, ²⁵but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. ²⁶Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. ²⁷He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” ²⁸But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” ²⁹Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” ³⁰So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

³¹Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. ³²They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. ³³He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. ³⁴Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” ³⁵And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. ³⁶Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. ³⁷They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

Peace,

+ Pastor Carrie Smith

Carrie.smith@Bethanylc.com

 

 

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