Wednesday Words for April 17, 2013
from Pastor Carrie Smith
Thought for the Day:
“Brand New Mourning” by the Rev. Dr. Kwasi Kena
We never know what each new day will bring.
We hope for joy and peace
Or at least the comfort
Of predictable routine.
We're never prepared
For the intrusion of
Evil
Acted out through
Harm and mayhem.
When death rips life
From our grasp,
When horror blurs
Our sight,
Have mercy on us, Lord.
Hold our aching souls
Guide us through
Dizzying grief,
Listen to our wailing "Why?"
Be the Comfort we may not even know we need
As we live through this brand new mourning. Amen.
***
In our prayers: Carol Stupar, who has entered hospice care at JourneyCare Barrington; Hannah Sorenson, who turned 18 last week and is now home from Children’s Hospital; Andrew Fant, who is making significant improvements after his bike vs. bus accident; Sharon Saunders, who is home from the hospital but is awaiting next steps in treatment for a cancer recurrence.
We also join Cindy and Frank Zimmerman in giving thanks to God for the birth of their first grandchild, Elizabeth Grace Blaha!
Tonight at Bethany: It’s Wednesday! Join us for worship at 6:30 pm (with communion) and all choirs are rehearsing tonight as well. Confirmation students, you only have a few weeks left! See you there!
Sunday at Bethany: Worship is at 7:45 am, 9 am, and 10:45 am. I will be preaching this week and next week. Since Monday is Earth Day, we will begin with prayer for the whole of God’s creation. The psalm of the day is a favorite of many people: Psalm 23!
Sunday 4-6 pm: New Member class! If you are interested in becoming a member of Bethany (or know someone who is), it’s not too late to attend this class! Please RSVP and let me know you are coming: carrie.smith@bethanylc.com. Childcare is provided.
A new name, same mission! Faith in Action, a Crystal Lake ministry to seniors, has announced a change in name to “Senior Care Volunteer Network.” This ministry puts faith in action by: “Assisting Seniors to Stay in Their Homes; Offering Life Enriching Volunteer Opportunities; Building Stronger Communities”. You can learn more about their mission here: http://www.fiamchenrycounty.org/
Malaria alert! It’s catching! What?! Catch the opportunity to double your donation. All donations made by April 30th will be matched. Make your check out to Bethany, "malaria" on memo line (or cash), you can use envelopes on the Hospitality Desk, and let's make ELCA receive every available matching dollar! Learn more about the ELCA malaria campaign here: www.elca.org/malaria
Monday, April 22 is Earth Day. What can Lutherans do about caring for creation? You can find some resources at these sites:
http://www.lutheransrestoringcreation.org/
http://nccecojustice.org/earthday/
And…you can join the Bethany Green Team! Contact Bethany Gola for more information on this ministry: bethanygola@att.net
In the wake of the bombings at the Boston Marathon, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, offered the following prayer:
"Oh God, in Jesus name we renounce the forces of evil and the disruptive power of violence. With all those who suffer, we cry out for mercy and healing, by your spirit join us together into one community of compassion and courage. Do not let fear hold us captive. Give us faith to trust your promise that nothing in all creation will separate us from your love in Christ Jesus. For all who care for the wounded, we give thanks and pray that you will give them strength. For all who mourn, give the comfort of your peace. In the name of the risen Christ we pray, amen."
The ELCA New England Synod, based in Worcester, Mass., is a member of the Massachusetts Council of Churches, which offered a statement in response to the bombing in Boston. The statement is available at http://masscouncilofchurches.wordpress.com/.
***
This Week’s Texts: The Fourth Sunday of Easter
Acts 9:36-43
Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.
Psalm 23
(Every year, I am obligated to give you my favorite musical version of this psalm—the theme song from the BBC television show “The Vicar of Dibley”!)
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Revelation 7:9-17
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
John 10:22-30
At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
Peace,
+ Pastor Carrie Smith
