[Bethany Lutheran Church] Wednesday Words for June 26, 2013

Wednesday Words for June 26, 2013

from Pastor Carrie Smith

Thought for the Day: 

“If the gospel isn't good news for everybody, then it isn't good news for anybody.” 
― Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith 

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Your Bethany Weekly Newsletter is attached to this email. Please remember that it may show up as a link at the bottom of this email, rather than as a regular attachment. Enjoy!

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Tonight is Theology on Tap: I hope to see some of you in the “upper room” at Duke’s Alehouse tonight at 7:30 pm for some casual “God-talk”. Our topic tonight is “Interfaith Dialogue: what is it? why do it?” See you tonight!

Sunday at Bethany: This week we will once again be blessed with the musical talents of Kristin Lundine on the piano! Special music will be provided by a trombone trio of Rich Nielsen, Frank Zimmerman, and Kristin Lundine. What amazing talent we have at Bethany!

During communion we will sing Greg Cole’s favorite hymn: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”. Worship will also include “Be Thou My Vision” and “Lead Me, Guide Me” which are favorites of many.

At the 8:30 a.m. service, we will welcome George Stupar as a “new” member. This may come as a surprise to many of you, since George has been here for roughly 30 years ( J ) but he’s finally decided to take the plunge! Please join me in welcoming George as an “official” member of the Bethany community.

Vacation Bible School is just around the corner! The VBS Team has a few needs. If you have any of these to donate or lend, please bring them to church (and label those which should be returned) :

• Large stuffed woodland animals
• toy binoculars and magnifying glasses
• coffee cans with lids, oatmeal canisters and the like
• big flat magnets
• 1 inch thick, 8-9 inch long sticks
• camping equipment (pup tent, hiker’s backpack, kayak)

Mental Health Board: Yep, it’s true: your senior pastor is now vice president of the McHenry County Mental Health Board. I am excited to have an opportunity to be part of ensuring there are quality mental health services in our county. I hope you will pray for me in this new role, and I welcome comments and input from those of you who have received mental health services in the county. How can services and access be improved? How can I represent the needs of you or your family?

Update from last Sunday:If you missed last Sunday’s sermon, you should know that Pr. Paul used a visual aid: the special shoes and “twister cables” that he wore on his legs as a child, to correct his crooked feet. Thanks for a great sermon, Pr. Paul! After the service, the Heisler family determined that these shoes were in fact made at Heisler’s Bootery here in Crystal Lake!

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This Week’s Texts: 6^th Sunday after Pentecost

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Sovereign God, ruler of all hearts,

you call us to obey you, and you favor us with true freedom.

Keep us faithful to the ways of your Son,

that, leaving behind all that hinders us,

we may steadfastly follow your paths,

through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

 

FIRST READING

1 Kings 19:15–16, 19–21

¹⁵Then the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. ¹⁶Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. ¹⁹So he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. ²⁰He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." Then Elijah said to him, "Go back again; for what have I done to you?" ²¹He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

 

PSALM (ELW)

Psalm 16

¹Protect me, O God, for I take ref- ^| uge in you;

     I have said to the LORD, "You are my Lord, my good a- ^| bove all other."

²All my delight is in the godly that are ^| in the land,

     upon those who are noble a- ^| mong the people.

³But those who run after ^| other gods

     shall have their troubles ^| multiplied.

⁴I will not pour out drink offerings ^| to such gods,

     never take their names up- ^| on my lips.   R

⁵O LORD, you are my portion ^| and my cup;

     it is you who up- ^| hold my lot.

⁶My boundaries enclose a ^| pleasant land;

     indeed, I have a ^| rich inheritance.

⁷I will bless the LORD who ^| gives me counsel;

     my heart teaches me night ^| after night.

⁸I have set the LORD al- ^| ways before me;

     because God is at my right hand, I shall ^| not be shaken.   R

⁹My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spir- ^| it rejoices;

     my body also shall ^| rest in hope.

¹⁰For you will not abandon me ^| to the grave,

     nor let your holy one ^| see the pit.

¹¹You will show me the ^| path of life;

     in your presence there is fullness of joy,

     and in your right hand are pleasures for- ^| evermore.   R

 

 

SECOND READING

Galatians 5:1, 13–25

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
¹³For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. ¹⁴For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." ¹⁵If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
¹⁶Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. ¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, ²¹envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
²²By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. ²⁴And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

 

 

GOSPEL

Luke 9:51–62

⁵¹When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. ⁵²And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; ⁵³but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. ⁵⁴When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" ⁵⁵But he turned and rebuked them. ⁵⁶Then they went on to another village.
⁵⁷As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." ⁵⁸And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." ⁵⁹To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." ⁶⁰But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." ⁶¹Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." ⁶²Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

 

Peace,

+ Pastor Carrie Smith

carrie.smith@bethanylc.com

Attachments:

Bethany Weekly 6-26-13.pdf

This email sent by:

Carrie Smith

[Bethany Lutheran Church] Theology on Tap this Wednesday!

Theology on Tap

All are welcome to enjoy conversation and the beverage of your choice this Wednesday, June 26 from 7:30-9:00 p.m. at Duke's Alehouse in Crystal Lake. We will meet in the "Upper Room" as usual, but this time Pastor Carrie will be initiating the discussion! 

Our topic this month is "Interfaith Dialogue". Here's a quote to consider: 

More than at any time in the past, we need to search – each faith in its own

way – for a way of living with, and acknowledging the integrity of, those who

are not of our faith. Can we make space for difference? Can we hear the voice

of God in a language, a sensibility, a culture not our own? Can we see the

presence of God in the face of a stranger? Do we speak to and within the

circumscribed loyalties of our faith, or does our sense of the all-encompassing

nature of the divine lead us to recognize the integrity of the search for God by

those outside our faith?- JONATHAN SACKS -

CHIEF RABBI OF THE UNITED HEBREW CONGREGATIONS OF THE COMMONWEALTH

 

Please contact Pr. Carrie at carrie.smith@Bethanylc.com  if you have any questions! Otherwise, see you on Wednesday evening. 

 

 

This email sent by:

Carrie Smith

[Bethany Lutheran Church] Wednesday Words (& your Bethany Weekly)

Wednesday Words for June 19, 2013

from Pastor Carrie Smith

Thought for the Day: 

“See, see Who God is, see the glory of God, going up to Him out of this incomprehensible and infinite Sacrifice in which all history begins and ends, all individual lives begin and end, in which every story is told, and finished, and settled for joy or for sorrow: the one point of reference for all the truths that are outside of God, their center, their focus: Love.”

― Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain

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Happy Wednesday!

Your Bethany Weekly newsletter is attached to this email. 

Please feel free to forward it, print it, and (hopefully) – READ IT! Remember that the attachment may show up at the bottom of this email as a link.

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Sunday at Bethany: This Sunday, Pastor Paul will be preaching and I will be presiding at communion. We welcome Confirmation students to the 10:30 service for a special blessing and sending before they leave for Lutherdale Camp in Elkhorn, Wisconsin!

Special music this week will be provided by Rob Boncosky! We will sing “On Eagle’s Wings”, which is a favorite of Bethany member Michelle Raemont. She says it is “Inspiring, beautiful, and always full of hope!”

We’ll end the worship service with “A Mighty Fortress” (using the “old meter”) which happens to be organist Allison Boccia’s favorite hymn!

Tomorrow evening: At Atonement Lutheran in Barrington, 7 pm, you can hear Syrian Bishop Jean Kawak speaking about the situation for Christians in Syria. I hope to see you there! 909 E. Main Street, Barrington.

Ready for baptism? If you are interested in baptism for yourself or your child, please contact me at carrie.smith@bethanylc.com. July 7^th is the next baptism date, and we would love to celebrate with you and your family that day.

Check out the “new” library! You may have noticed that the church library has undergone some serious renovations in the past year. The Library Team welcomes you to check out the new paint, new furniture, new art, and new books! Please also note the beautiful hand-stitched banner hanging just outside the door (made by Sandi Hall!) Thank you, library team for your hard work. And we give thanks to God for dearly departed Bethany member and former librarian Eileen Harkins. Memorial gifts given in her memory have made this library renewal possible.

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This Week’s Texts: 5^th Sunday after Pentecost

Prayer of the Day:

O Lord God, 
we bring before you the cries of a sorrowing world. 
In your mercy set us free from the chains that bind us, 
and defend us from everything that is evil, 
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. 

 

FIRST READING

Isaiah 65:1–9

I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask,
to be found by those who did not seek me.
I said, "Here I am, here I am,"
to a nation that did not call on my name.
²I held out my hands all day long
to a rebellious people,
who walk in a way that is not good,
following their own devices;
³a people who provoke me
to my face continually,
sacrificing in gardens
and offering incense on bricks;
⁴who sit inside tombs,
and spend the night in secret places;
who eat swine's flesh,
with broth of abominable things in their vessels;
⁵who say, "Keep to yourself,
do not come near me, for I am too holy for you."
These are a smoke in my nostrils,
a fire that burns all day long.
⁶See, it is written before me:
I will not keep silent, but I will repay;
I will indeed repay into their laps
⁷their iniquities and their ancestors' iniquities together, 
says the LORD;
because they offered incense on the mountains
and reviled me on the hills,
I will measure into their laps
full payment for their actions.
⁸Thus says the LORD:
As the wine is found in the cluster,
and they say, "Do not destroy it,
for there is a blessing in it,"
so I will do for my servants' sake,
and not destroy them all.
⁹I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,
and from Judah inheritors of my mountains;
my chosen shall inherit it,
and my servants shall settle there.

 

 

Psalm 22: 19-28 (Message Version)

19You, God - don't put off my rescue! Hurry and help me!20Don't let them cut my throat; don't let those mongrels devour me.21If you don't show up soon, I'm done for - gored by the bulls, meat for the lions.22Here's the story I'll tell my friends when they come to worship, and punctuate it with Hallelujahs:23Shout Hallelujah, you God-worshipers; give glory, you sons of Jacob; adore him, you daughters of Israel.24He has never let you down, never looked the other way when you were being kicked around. He has never wandered off to do his own thing; he has been right there, listening.25Here in this great gathering for worship I have discovered this praise-life. And I'll do what I promised right here in front of the God-worshipers.26Down-and-outers sit at God's table and eat their fill. Everyone on the hunt for God is here, praising him. "Live it up, from head to toe. Don't ever quit!"27From the four corners of the earth people are coming to their senses, are running back to God. Long-lost families are falling on their faces before him.28God has taken charge; from now on he has the last word.

 

 

SECOND READING

Galatians 3:23–29

²³Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. ²⁴Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, ²⁶for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. ²⁷As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.

 

 

GOSPEL

Luke 8:26–39

²⁶Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. ²⁷As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. ²⁸When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me" — ²⁹for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) ³⁰Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. ³¹They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.
³²Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. ³³Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
³⁴When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. ³⁵Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. ³⁶Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. ³⁷Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. ³⁸The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, ³⁹Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you. So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

 

Peace, 

Pastor Carrie Smith

carrie.smith@bethanylc.com

 

Attachments:

Bethany Weekly 6-19-13.pdf

This email sent by:

Carrie Smith

[Bethany Lutheran Church] An opportunity to host some Lithuanian students!

Dear Bethany Community,

Please read the letter below from church member Ted Groat about an opportunity to host some international students.

Peace,

Pr. Carrie

 

Pastor Smith,

 

Thank you so much for talking with me today about the MCYSA Summer International Championships (the tournament formerly known as CABA).

As I mentioned, I'm a volunteer with this not-for-profit in McHenry County.  We are called McHenry County Youth Sports Association but go by MCYSA.  Our web site is MCYSASports.org.

MCYSA, for the 21st consecutive year, will be hosting an international world series in July.  Two years ago I met Virmidas Neverauskas who manages a 15U baseball team in Vilnius Lithuania.  At that time, I extended an invitation for him to participate in our tournament whenever he could.   I received a call from a friend of his that lives in Lockport about 6 weeks ago saying he was interested in participating in 2013.  To do so, I need to find  local families that would be willing to host 2-3 players each for 12 nights.  The team is scheduled to arrive in Chicago on Wednesday July 24 and depart on Monday August 5.

 

If you know of anyone in the Bethany community that would like to host players, please have them contact me as soon as possible.  A host family basically adopts the visitors for the length of the stay and treat them as members of their families.  Hosts provide food, lodging, transportation, and a cheering section for the players as they compete.   There is a small amount of money provided by the visiting players to help the hosts with their expenses.

 

If you, or anyone you know, has any questions, feel free to contact me.

Thank you again for your time and your willingness to share this information!

 

Have a wonderful week.

 

Ted Groat

Bethany Member and Treasurer MCYSA 

815-236-1979

Taft1969@aol.com

This email sent by:

Carrie Smith

[Bethany Lutheran Church] Wednesday Words for June 12, 2013

Wednesday Words for June 12, 2013

from Pastor Carrie Smith

Thought for the Day: 

“I love the recklessness of faith. First you leap, and then you grow wings.”

― William Sloane Coffin Jr., Credo 

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Your Bethany Weekly newsletter is attached to this e-mail! Don't forget: It may appear at the bottom of your e-mail as a link. Feel free to print it or forward this e-mail to anyone who might be interested. 

This week at Bethany:A large group of Bethany members will be traveling to Rock Island, Illinois for the Northern Illinois Synod Assembly. We will spend several days in worship, attending workshops and Bible studies, electing officers and members of synod committees, and voting on resolutions brought forth by other congregations. This year, there is a resolution on gun violence which will be considered. You can read it here:  Gun Violence Resolution

We have many Bethany members involved in leadership at the Synod level! 

Joanne Lentz served as a member of the Nominating Committee, so she was involved in selecting people to stand for election for the various offices.

Shirley Andersonhas already been serving on the NI Synod Council, and is up for re-election this year.

Judy Engebretson is a current member of the Congregational Life Committee (her term ends in 2014).

Bethany member (and retired pastor) Mary Carol Strug is nominated as a female clergyperson for the Congregational Life Committee.

Ron Henning serves on the Global Mission Committee, and his term expires this year. (I also serve as a clergyperson on this committee)

Ron Henning and Sue Gavle both serve on the Consultation Committee.

And, finally, Joanne Lentz is up for election for the Discipline Committee (running unopposed!)

Thank you to all who serve in church leadership at the Synod level! Please pray for safe travels for us all, and that all we do this weekend would be to the glory of God and in the service of Jesus Christ.

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Sunday at Bethany: Worship will begin with a special prayer devoted to God as Father, in honor of Father’s Day. We’ll be singing some favorite hymns again, including “This Is My Father’s World”, which is a favorite of Maridelle McKesson and Mary Ellen Thorson. Maridelle says “It reminds me of pleasant events in my life” and Mary Ellen says “The third verse is so uplifting—‘Why should my heart be sad?’” Ted Tollefsen also suggested “How Great Thou Art”, which we will sing during communion.

Tammy Nobbe and Ted Tollefsen chose a favorite that is not included in our hymnals: “In the Garden”. But do not fear: Mike Bagby and I will be singing this one as a duet during the offering! Tammy says “My grandma watched me when I was a little girl. We sang this song together while working her beautiful flower and vegetable garden.”

The morning worship will end with “Faith of Our Fathers”, another old favorite, but using the newer words which also lifts up the faith of our mothers, sisters and brothers!

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Awash in donations: Many thanks to all who contributed to the youth program through donations at the car wash last week! Pr. Paul reports that they collected about $1,400, which will go towards scholarships to camp and to the PADS program (providing housing for the homeless).

Garden Update:Pam Bock says: “So we continue to weed and will start harvesting soon. We have harvested asparagus and I even pulled some radishes this week. Spinach is ready and looks like the red lettuce too is ready. So the harvesting begins!”

Volunteers have signed up to care for different parts of the garden, but more hands are always needed! Please feel free to call or email me if you have any issues and or questions with these assignments. Pam is glad to meet you at the Garden any evening or Thursday, Saturday or Sunday to help you get started. Contact her for more information! Pam Bock: 815-245-0087 or thebocks@prodigy.net

Christian Life and Witness in Syria: Please consider coming to Atonement Lutheran Church in Barrington next Thursday, June 20, to hear a firsthand account of what it is like for the Christians in Syria right now. Bishop Jean Kawak from Damascus will be speaking at 7 pm. More information coming in a separate email!

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This Week’s Texts: Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

PRAYER OF THE DAY

O God, throughout the ages you judge your people with mercy, 
and you inspire us to speak your truth. 
By your Spirit, anoint us for lives of faith and service, 
and bring all people into your forgiveness, 
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

 

FIRST READING	2 Samuel 11:26—12:10; 12:13–15
Did you know: the “Shrek” song is about David and Bathsheba? Here is my favorite version:   "Hallelujah" with Norwegian singers

²⁶When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. ²⁷When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son.
But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD,
And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. ²The rich man had very many flocks and herds; ³but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him.⁴Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him." ⁵Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; ⁶he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."
⁷Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; ⁸I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. ⁹Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. ¹⁰Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. ¹³David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan said to David, "Now the LORD has put away your sin; you shall not die. ¹⁴Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child that is born to you shall die." ¹⁵Then Nathan went to his house.
The LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became very ill.

 

 

PSALM (ELW)

Psalm 32

¹Happy are they whose transgressions ^| are forgiven,

     and whose sin is ^| put away!

²Happy are they to whom the LORD im- ^| putes no guilt,

     and in whose spirit there ^| is no guile!

³While I held my tongue, my bones with- ^| ered away,

     because of my groaning ^| all day long.

⁴For your hand was heavy upon me ^| day and night;

     my moisture was dried up as in the ^| heat of summer.   R

⁵Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not con- ^| ceal my guilt.

     I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD."

     Then you forgave me the guilt ^| of my sin.

⁶Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers

to you in ^| time of trouble;

     when the great waters overflow, they ^| shall not reach them.

⁷You are my hiding-place; you preserve ^| me from trouble;

     you surround me with shouts ^| of deliverance.

⁸"I will instruct you and teach you in the way that ^| you should go;

     I will guide you ^| with my eye.   R

⁹Do not be like horse or mule, which have no ^| understanding;

     who must be fitted with bit and bridle,

     or else they will ^| not stay near you."

¹⁰Great are the tribulations ^| of the wicked;

     but mercy embraces those who trust ^| in the LORD.

¹¹Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice ^| in the LORD;

     shout for joy, all who are ^| true of heart.   R

 

SECOND READING

Galatians 2:15–21

¹⁵We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; ¹⁶yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. ¹⁷But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! ¹⁸But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor. ¹⁹For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; ²⁰and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

 

GOSPEL

Luke 7:36—8:3

³⁶One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. ³⁷And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. ³⁸She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. ³⁹Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him — that she is a sinner." ⁴⁰Jesus spoke up and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," he replied, "speak." ⁴¹A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴²When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?" ⁴³Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt." And Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly." ⁴⁴Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. ⁴⁵You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." ⁴⁸Then he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." ⁴⁹But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" ⁵⁰And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, ²as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, ³and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.

 

Peace,

+ Pastor Carrie Smith

carrie.smith@bethanylc.com 

Attachments:

Bethany Weekly 6-12-13.pdf

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Carrie Smith