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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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 |
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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
