Wednesday Words for October 24, 2012
from Pastor Carrie Smith
Thought for the Day:
“A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject of all, subject to all.”
- Martin Luther, “The Freedom of a Christian”
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In our prayers: John Michaels (who was just moved to The Springs), Larry Kohn, Gary Summers, June Ouart, Pastor Paul at the death of his grandmother, and preschool teacher Bridget Dudgeon at the death of her mother.
Tonight at Bethany: NO WORSHIP tonight or next week due to scheduling issues and Halloween festivities.
This Sunday at Bethany: What a huge festival day! This is Reformation Sunday, the day we honor our heritage as Christians in the Lutheran tradition. We might even have a guest appearance by Martin Luther himself! And then, at 10:45 am, we are honored to be celebrating the confirmation of 22 young people. We give thanks to God for their faith, and for their families who have supported them. At this worship service you will witness the laying on of hands as we pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit to empower these young men and women in their lives of faith.
Special music will be offered by the Bethany Choir at 9 am and by high school students Randy Luken and Bryce Sova at 10:45 am.
Pastor Paul’s ordination will take place on Sunday at 4 pm in Rockford. Printed directions are available at the information desk at church, and are attached in PDF format to this email. I hope to see many of you there!
Did you know the world will celebrate 500 years of the Reformation in 2017? Learn more about the “Luther Decade” leading up to this date at this interesting website: The Luther Decade
Hey High School Youth and Families! Come and join us at the Nobbe household on Friday, October 26th and help us raise canned goods for the food pantry by Trick-or-Treating! Come dressed in your Halloween costume as we start with some hotdogs over the fire, after which we will go door-to-door collecting non-perishable food items that we can donate to local charities. When we are finished trick-or-treating, we will have a bonfire at the Nobbe household with s’more roasting, cider, games, and time to just hang out with one another.
The Nobbe's address is: 3407 Royal Woods Dr., Crystal Lake, IL 60014
All Saints Day is coming soon! On Sunday, November 4th, come to Bethany to light a candle in memory of a loved one and to experience a festive worship experience. We’ll be joined by the Bethany choir and some guest brass musicians. The names of Bethany community members who have died this year will be read, and you will have the opportunity to name other friends and family as well. This is a great time to reach out to a neighbor or friend and invite them to church, especially if you know they are grieving this year.
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This week’s texts: Reformation Day
Jeremiah 31:31-34
31The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. 33But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.
Psalm: This week’s Psalm 46 is the basis for Martin Luther’s famous hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”. Here is a beautiful version of this Lutheran favorite: A Mighty Fortress
Romans 3:19-28
19Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20For “no human being will be justified in his sight” by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. 21But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, 22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; 26it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. 27Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.
John 8:31-36
31Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?” 34Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
Peace,
+ Pastor Carrie Smith
carrie.smith@bethanylc.com
