Wednesday Words for May 8, 2013
from Pastor Carrie Smith
Thought for the Day:
“As truly as God is our Father, so truly God is our Mother...The mother can give her child such from her milk, but our precious Mother Jesus can feed us with Himself; and He does it most graciously and most tenderly with the Blessed Sacrament which is the Precious Food of true life. And with all the sweet Sacraments He supports us most mercifully and graciously.”
- Julian of Norwich, 15th Century
(read more about Julian’s writings on the Motherhood of God here:
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In our prayers: Sharon Saunders, Andrew Fant, Bill Kohl, Marge Hudoba, Bruce Johnson, John Therrien.
Sunday at Bethany: Yes, it’s Mother’s Day—but in the church it is the 7th Sunday after Easter and the last Sunday before Pentecost! We will continue our celebration of the Easter season (and our long-awaited spring!) by singing “Morning Has Broken” and “Rise, O Sun of Righteousness”. In honor of Mother’s Day, we’ll sing a hymn that is less well-known: “Mothering God, You Gave Us Birth” and we’ll go forth into our week singing “Sent Forth By God’s Blessing”. The Bell Canto choir will be ringing joyfully at 9 am & 10:45 am.
Visit the Baha’i Temple: A group from Bethany is taking a field trip to the Baha’i Temple in Wilmette on Saturday, May 18th. They will leave at 8 am to arrive in time for the 9:15 am prayer service and a 10 am tour. Lunch afterwards is a possibility. If you would like to attend, please contact Carolyn Wahl at 815-444-8905 as soon as possible.
Sunday School is almost over! Can you believe we’re almost at the end of the school year?! Only 2 Sundays remain of Sunday School. Be sure to come on May 19th, when all the children will be celebrating the “birthday of the church” with, of course, birthday cake!
The summer worship schedule begins on May 26th (Memorial Day Weekend): 8:30 am and 10:30 am.
Save the Date for VBS! July 15-19 will be our “Sonrise National Park” from 9 am – noon. Registration is coming soon—check www.bethanylc.com for more information!
Military Family Support: Don’t forget to write a note of thanks or a prayer to send to our active military families. Look for the booth in Luther Hall between services in the month of May.
Seeking artists: Are you an artist, composer, or poet? We need you to help us give glory to God in the month of June! Please contact us right away if you would like to contribute to our Arts Month at Bethany. carrie.smith@bethanylc.com
Ask a Pastor: The Living Lutheran website has a cool feature called “Ask a Pastor” where clergy answer those burning questions you are afraid to ask! Check it out at Ask a Pastor. You can even submit your own question!
This Week’s Texts: Easter 7
| FIRST READING | Acts 16:16–34 |
16One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. 17While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation." 18She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.
19But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. 20When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, "These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews 21and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe." 22The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. 24Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. 27When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." 29The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30Then he brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. 34He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.
NOTE: One of the best songs referencing the story of Paul and Silas is“Eyes on the Prize”sung by the great Mavis Staples: Eyes on the Prize
Psalm 97: The Message Version
God rules: there's something to shout over! On the double, mainlands and islands - celebrate!
Bright clouds and storm clouds circle 'round him; Right and justice anchor his rule.
Fire blazes out before him, Flaming high up the craggy mountains.
His lightnings light up the world; Earth, wide-eyed, trembles in fear.
The mountains take one look at God And melt, melt like wax before earth's Lord.
The heavens announce that he'll set everything right, And everyone will see it happen - glorious!
All who serve handcrafted gods will be sorry - And they were so proud of their ragamuffin gods! On your knees, all you gods - worship him!
And Zion, you listen and take heart! Daughters of Zion, sing your hearts out: God has done it all, has set everything right.
You, God, are High God of the cosmos, Far, far higher than any of the gods.
God loves all who hate evil, And those who love him he keeps safe, Snatches them from the grip of the wicked.
Light-seeds are planted in the souls of God's people, Joy-seeds are planted in good heart-soil.
So, God's people, shout praise to God, Give thanks to our Holy God!
| SECOND READING | Revelation 22:12–14, 16–17, 20–21 |
12See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
14Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. 16It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."
17The Spirit and the bride say, "Come."
And let everyone who hears say, "Come."
And let everyone who is thirsty come.
Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift."
20The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.
| GOSPEL | John 17:20–26 |
20I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
25Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. 26I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."
Peace,
+ Pastor Carrie Smith
