Wednesday Words for April 3, 2013
from Pastor Carrie Smith
Thought for the Day:
“Would we even know who Jesus is if it weren’t for the church? Isn’t it in church fellowship that each of us first encounters the living Christ? Would any of us be Christians today without the church? As the apostle Paul wrote, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels (2 Corinthians 4:7). In spite of all its inadequacies, the church has been the vessel that has carried Christ into our lives. Yes, that vessel needs renewal. That’s what Red Letter Christians, along with other renewal movements, are trying to bring about. We want others to join us in living out the teachings of Jesus as we find his expectations recorded in God’s Word and, in doing so, renew the church.”
Tony Campolo, “Red Letter Revolution: What if Jesus Really Meant What He Said?” p. 24
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In our prayers: John Therrien, Carol Stupar, Jim Stupar, Bill Kohl, Bruce Johnson, and our members who are dealing with ongoing cancer treatments. We also pray for 21 year old Andrew Fant, nephew of Linnea and Don Kountz, who was hit by a bus while riding his bike to school on Monday.
Alleluia, Christ is risen! I would like to thank all the musicians, dancers, readers, ushers, greeters, acolytes, food servers, worship leaders, fire builders, flower arrangers, artists, and others who made this Holy Week and Easter weekend possible! It is a beautiful thing to see the community of the faithful coming together to offer their gifts and talents in the service of God. I am deeply grateful for all of you, and for the hope we all have because of the resurrection. Christ is risen indeed!
This weekend at Bethany: Renewal (aka Revival) Weekend!
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2
Join us for one or more of these wonderful events, provided in good part by the Bethany Mission Endowment Fund in honor of Bethany’s 90th anniversary!
Friday at 7 pm: Tony Campolo keynote speech
Come early for a good seat! We will also be blessed with special music by “The Chordfields”, the bluegrass band who played for us on Rally Day.Tony will be speaking on the renewal of the church, and his new book “Red Letter Revolution: What if Jesus Really Mean What He Said?” There will be a question and answer session after his speech, so come with some questions!
Saturday at 4pm: Gospel/Easter concert!
Come to hear our own Bethany Adult Choir and the choir of another Bethany Lutheran from the south side of Chicago! Two different churches, two different styles of music, all coming together to sing praise to the one God!
Sunday morning: Guest Preacher Angela Khabeb
It’s still Easter! We will hear a message of resurrection and new life from Rev. Angela Khabeb, winner of the preaching prize at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Angela is a former ELCA missionary who now serves as pastor in Ohio. She will be preaching at 9 am and 10:45 am.
Sunday afternoon at 4 pm: “Flutissimo” Concert sponsored by the Bethany Arts Series
Our very own Cindy Zimmerman plays with this flute ensemble! They will be offering music of many styles: from Mozart to patriotic favorites. As always, admission is FREE!
Come for one event, or come to all of them. My prayer is that this weekend renews your faith, revives you through the Holy Spirit, and inspires you to live with GREAT JOY this Easter season!
Alleluia, Christ is risen!
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More Good News from Pastor Paul!
Theology on Tap: Thursday, April 4th at 7:30 pm at Duke’s Alehouse. For questions, or to get on the email list for this group, please contact Pr. Paul at paul.cannon@bethanylc.com
Bethany Softball Team: Bethany Lutheran is playing in a church softball league this year and we are looking for men and women who want to join us on Monday evenings starting in May for some slow pitch softball.If you want to sign up, simply email Pr. Paul at paul.cannon@bethanylc.com by this Sunday (April 7th) and he'll send you the necessary information.See you on the diamond!
Youth Sunday is coming! April 14 will feature exciting worship services planned and led by the junior high and high school youth. And Sunday evening is the annual spaghetti dinner and cake auction, at 6:30 pm! It’s not too late to purchase tickets!
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This Week’s Texts: Second Sunday after Easter
| First Reading | Acts 5:27–32 |
Peter has been arrested for proclaiming the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection. His response to the charges of the high priest summarizes the early church's proclamation of forgiveness of sin through repentance.
27When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man's blood on us." 29But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."
Psalm 118:14029 (Message version)
God’s my strength, he’s also my song,
and now he’s my salvation.
Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs
in the camp of the saved?
“The hand of God has turned the tide!
The hand of God is raised in victory!
The hand of God has turned the tide!”
17-20 I didn’t die. I lived!
And now I’m telling the world what God did.
God tested me, he pushed me hard,
but he didn’t hand me over to Death.
Swing wide the city gates—the righteous gates!
I’ll walk right through and thank God!
This Temple Gate belongs to God,
so the victors can enter and praise.
21-25 Thank you for responding to me;
you’ve truly become my salvation!
The stone the masons discarded as flawed
is now the capstone!
This is God’s work.
We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!
This is the very day God acted—
let’s celebrate and be festive!
Salvation now, God. Salvation now!
Oh yes, God—a free and full life!
26-29 Blessed are you who enter in God’s name—
from God’s house we bless you!
God is God,
he has bathed us in light.
Festoon the shrine with garlands,
hang colored banners above the altar!
You’re my God, and I thank you.
O my God, I lift high your praise.
Thank God—he’s so good.
His love never quits!
| Second Reading | Revelation 1:4–8 |
The book of Revelation recounts a mystical vision of the risen Christ, experienced by a Christian prophet named John. Here he describes Christ as a timeless redeemer, the beginning, present, and end of all time.
4John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7Look! He is coming with the clouds;
every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.
So it is to be. Amen.
8I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
| Gospel | John 20:19–31 |
The unprecedented events of the day of resurrection continue as the risen Jesus appears to his fearful disciples. A week later, after Thomas worships Jesus, Jesus pronounces that the blessings of the resurrection are also for those who “have not seen and yet believe.”
19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
26A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Peace,
Pastor Carrie Smith
