Wednesday Words for May 29, 2013
From Pastor Carrie Smith
Thought for the Day:
“The way to Christ is first through humility, second through humility, third through humility. If humility does not precede and accompany and follow every good work we do, if it is not before us to focus on, if it is not beside us to lean upon, if it is not behind us to fence us in, pride will wrench from our hand any good deed we do at the very moment we do it.”
Augustine of Hippo, 5th century bishop and theologian
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Good morning, saints! Attached is the brand-new incarnation of the Bethany newsletter. We’re trying this for the summer in an effort to keep you all updated on what’s going on. Please note that this weekly newsletter includes prayer requests, upcoming events, and other important news items. You are welcome to forward it to friends, print it out, or hang it on your fridge!
If you have an item to submit for this weekly newsletter, just send a note to churchoffice@bethanylc.com. The deadline each week is Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. In other words, Kelly will be putting the newsletter together on Tuesday each week, and she needs the info when she arrives on Tuesday morning. This newsletter format may change slightly as the summer goes on, as we see the need. We’re working hard to improve communications! Thanks for working with us on this.
FRIENDLY TIP: When submitting news, try to keep your information short and to-the-point.
When, Where, What, Who!
This Sunday at Bethany: We have now entered “Ordinary Time” in the church year, sometimes also called the Time after Pentecost or the “Green Season”. This may be “ordinary time” but we know summer is never ordinary! Please join us for inspiring and exciting worship on Sundays this summer at 8:30 am or 10:30 am.
Throughout the summer we will be singing favorite hymns submitted by members. This week we’ll be singing “Beautiful Savior”, which was submitted by Darlene Shaffer. We’ll also be singing “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”, “Softly and Tenderly” and a newer favorite, “Taste and See.” We’ll be praying for all graduates this week, whether they are finishing 8th grade, high school, or college. A special blessing will be prayed at the end of both services. Please come so we can celebrate with you!
May 31 is the Feast of the Visitation: OK, so Lutherans don’t often celebrate these more obscure Holy Days with a special service, and this one seems to come at such a strange time. Why are we celebrating the visitation of a pregnant Mary to Elizabeth in the middle of the summer? It feels more like a Christmastime story to us! But, to get you in the mood, here is a link to some great artwork depicting the Visitation: Mary visits Elizabeth
And here is a prayer of blessing in honor of this special day:
“Blessed be you, God of mercy and compassion, for you inspired Mary, the humble maiden of Nazareth, to visit her cousin Elizabeth and to assist her in her earthly needs. Help us, that following Mary's example we may remain always open to the needs and sufferings of others. Strengthen us with the nourishment of this meal, and bring us one day to love's eternal feast in your kingdom. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
How do you “live Lutheran?” The Living Lutheran blog has some great photos of what this looks like, including photos of Pentecost and Memorial Day. Check it out! Living Lutheran Blog
The Eco-Fair and Garage Sale is this week! Don’t miss this exciting weekend of bargains as well as an opportunity to care for the earth! The events all start on Friday morning at 9 am and continue through Saturday at noon. See you there—and bring a friend!
Fruits of Faith Garden: Master Gardner Kris Maher is coming to the Garden on June 8th at 9 am to give us some pointers on our garden. All are invited! If you have specific questions, contact Pam Bock in advance: thebocks@prodigy.net
If you happen to miss a Sunday this summer while on vacation, don’t forget that you can read the sermons preached here at Bethany at our Sermon Blog: http://bethanylcsermons.blogspot.com/
Go ahead and bookmark it now, so you can catch up on anything you missed! Pastor Paul and I also post these each week on the Bethany Facebook page, and there is a link on the front page of our main website: www.bethanylc.com
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This Week’s Texts: 2nd Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 4C
Prayer of the Day:
Merciful Lord God,
we do not presume to come before you trusting in our own righteousness,
but in your great and abundant mercies.
Revive our faith, we pray;
heal our bodies, and mend our communities,
that we may evermore dwell in your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
| First Reading | 1 Kings 8:22–23, 41–43 |
22Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands to heaven. 23He said, "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart, 41Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a distant land because of your name 42— for they shall hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm — when a foreigner comes and prays toward this house, 43then hear in heaven your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built.
| Psalm (ELW) | Psalm 96:1–9 |
1Sing to the LORD | a new song;
sing to the LORD, | all the earth.
2Sing to the LORD, bless the name | of the LORD;
proclaim God’s salvation from | day to day.
3Declare God’s glory a- | mong the nations
and God’s wonders a- | mong all peoples.
4For great is the LORD and greatly | to be praised,
more to be feared | than all gods. R
5As for all the gods of the nations, they | are but idols;
but you, O LORD, have | made the heavens.
6Majesty and magnificence are | in your presence;
power and splendor are in your | sanctuary.
7Ascribe to the LORD, you families | of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD hon- | or and power.
8Ascribe to the LORD the honor due the | holy name;
bring offerings and enter the courts | of the LORD.
9Worship the LORD in the beau- | ty of holiness;
tremble before the LORD, | all the earth. R
| Second Reading | Galatians 1:1–12 |
Paul an apostle — sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead — 2and all the members of God's family who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — 7not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! 9As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!
10Am I now seeking human approval, or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
11For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; 12for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
| Gospel | Luke 7:1–10 |
After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. 3When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. 4When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy of having you do this for him, 5for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us." 6And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; 7therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. 8For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and the slave does it." 9When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." 10When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
Peace,
+ Pastor Carrie Smith
