[Bethany Lutheran Church] Wednesday Words and Bethany Weekly for July 31, 2013

Wednesday Words for July 31, 2013

From Pastor Carrie Smith

 

Thought for the Day:

 

Lord God, I bring to you:

--My sins for your forgiveness.

--My hopes, my aims, my ambitions for your blessings.

--My temptations for your strength.

--My words and duties and responsibilities for your help.

--My family, friends and all loved ones for your care and protection.

--My sickness for your healing.

 

Women of Kenya, from “Women of Prayer” compiled by Dorothy Stewart

 

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Happy Wednesday to you (from Oklahoma City!) Your Bethany Weekly Newsletter is attached to this email. Please scroll to the bottom of the message to find the attachment, which may appear as a link.

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This week at Bethany: Just a reminder that the church office doors will be locked this week because of greatly reduced staff. Emergency pastoral care is provided by Pr. Carol Gates of Living Waters Lutheran Church. Please call the church to be connected with her. Pr. Paul will be back in the office Monday morning.

 

Sunday at Bethany: Our pastor emeritus, Pr. Bob Linstrom, will be preaching and presiding at 8:30 am and 10:30 am. What a blessing it is to have him here with us! Pr. Linstrom will be blessing and sending the Mission Save a Smile team, who leave for their next trip to Panama on Tuesday, August 6^th.

 

Hymns for Sunday include “Day by Day”, written by Swedish composer Carolina Sandell Berg, who also wrote “Children of the Heavenly Father.” More about this beloved Lutheran composer:

 

“The daughter of a Lutheran minister, Sandell grew up in the rectory at Fröderyd, Småland. At the age of 26 she accompanied her father, Jonas Sandell, on a boat trip across Lake Vättern, during which he fell overboard and drowned in her presence. The tragedy inspired some of her first hymns as she poured out her broken heart in an endless stream of beautiful songs.” 

 

What is Mission Save a Smile? Learn more at this link: http://www.missionsaveasmile.org/

Or you can watch this short video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdDEEgnjyqg

 

God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday is coming soon! In honor of the 25^th Anniversary of the ELCA, we will be partnering with Living Waters Lutheran Church (ELCA) to do some community projects on Sunday, September 8 from 1-4 pm. Watch the church bulletin board for the chance to sign up for these exciting activities:

1. Preparing the new LSSI Senior Housing (Gable Point) for occupancy
2. Sanding/staining picnic benches for a PADS site
3. Work projects at Queen Anne Group Home
4. Caring for the Community Garden
5. Other projects in the works!

 

Reducing gun violence: Are you passionate about the need to reduce gun violence in our country? Pr. Dan Larsen (retired) from Tree of Life Unitarian Church has asked if there are any Bethany members who would like to work with others in the community for this purpose. If you are interested, please let me know (carrie.smith@bethanylc.com) or you can email Pr. Larsen directly: dplarsen1073@att.net  I understand a gathering is being planned for early fall.

 

 

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This week’s texts: 11^th Sunday after Pentecost

 

Benevolent God,
you are the source, the guide, and the goal of our lives.
Teach us to love what is worth loving,
to reject what is offensive to you,
and to treasure what is precious in your sight,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

 

First Reading

Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12–14; 2:18–23

The teacher of wisdom who wrote Ecclesiastes sees that working for mere accumulation of wealth turns life into an empty game, a "vanity of vanities." Nevertheless, he asserts in the next verse, it is good to find enjoyment in one's work because such enjoyment is a gift from God.

Chapter 1

²Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
¹²I, the Teacher, when king over Israel in Jerusalem, ¹³applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with. ¹⁴I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

 

Chapter 2

¹⁸I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those who come after me ¹⁹— and who knows whether they will be wise or foolish? Yet they will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. ²⁰So I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun, ²¹because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. ²²What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun? ²³For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.

 

 

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 49:1–12

My mouth shall speak of wisdom. (Ps. 49:3)

¹Hear this, ^| all you peoples;

     give ear, all you who dwell ^| in the world,

²you of high de- ^| gree and low,

     rich and ^| poor together.

³My mouth shall ^| speak of wisdom,

     and my heart shall meditate on ^| understanding.

⁴I will incline my ear ^| to a proverb

     and set forth my riddle up- ^| on the harp.   R

⁵Why should I be afraid in ^| evil days,

     when the wickedness of those at my ^| heels surrounds me,

⁶the wickedness of those who trust in ^| their own prowess,

     and boast of ^| their great riches?

⁷One can never re- ^| deem another,

     or give to God the ransom for an- ^| other's life;

⁸for the ransom of a life ^| is so great

     that there would never be e- ^| nough to pay it,

⁹in order to live forev- ^| er and ever

     and never ^| see the grave.

¹⁰For we see that the wise die also;

like the dull and stu- ^| pid they perish

     and leave their wealth to those who come ^| after them.

¹¹Their graves shall be their homes forever,

their dwelling places from generation to ^| generation,

     though they had named lands af- ^| ter themselves.

¹²Even though honored, they cannot ^| live forever;

     they are like the ^| beasts that perish.   R

 

 

Second Reading

Colossians 3:1–11

Life in Christ includes a radical reorientation of our values. Just as the newly baptized shed their old clothes in order to put on new garments, so Christians are called to let go of greed and take hold of a life shaped by God's love in Christ.

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, ³for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
⁵Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). ⁶On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. ⁷These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. ⁸But now you must get rid of all such things — anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. ⁹Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices ¹⁰and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. ¹¹In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

 

 

Gospel

Luke 12:13–21

In God's reign, the "rich will be sent away empty." Jesus uses a parable to warn against identifying the worth of one's life with the value of one's possessions rather than one's relationship with God.

¹³Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." ¹⁴But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" ¹⁵And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." ¹⁶Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. ¹⁷And he thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' ¹⁸Then he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' ²⁰But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' ²¹So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."

 

Peace,

+ Pastor Carrie Smith

Carrie.smith@bethanylc.com

Attachments:

Bethany Weekly 7-31-13.pdf

This email sent by:

Kelly Efken

[Bethany Lutheran Church] Wednesday Words and Bethany Weekly for July 24, 2013

Wednesday Words for July 24, 2013

from Pastor Carrie Smith

Thought for the Day:

“Only Christ could have brought us all together, in this place, doing such absurd but necessary things.” 
― Kathleen Norris, The Cloister Walk 

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Happy Wednesday! Your Bethany Weekly Newsletter is attached to this email. Please note that the attachment may appear as a link at the bottom of this message. Enjoy!

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Today at Bethany: Keep the members of the Senior Ministry in your prayers, as they travel to Michigan for a fun boating trip!

Tonight at Bethany: Please join us at 6:30 pm for a free workshop called “Path to Wholeness” presented by Father Jim Swarthout. Fr. Jim is with Rosecrance, and will be presenting on how you can help those in your life who deal with addiction.

Sunday at Bethany: It’s Christmas in July! Join us for worship at 8:30 am or 10:30 am for an entire service full of your favorite Christmas hymns. Our guest preacher will be Dan Schwick from LSSI (Lutheran Social Services of Illinois). I will preside at communion, and Pr. Paul will be our assisting minister. Special music will be provided by member Rich Nielsen on the trombone.

At 10:30 am, we will celebrate the baptisms of Aiden & Arlo Ayares and Logan Sorenson, and we will have a public recognition of their sister Hannah’s baptism (which took place in the hospital in April). Jeremy and Sashire, the parents of these great kids, will also become church members on Sunday. Please take a moment to welcome them to the Bethany community!

Ice Cream Social Update: What a fantastic ice cream social we had this year! Many thanks to Jim Connelly and Nancy Peterson for heading up the committee. The Sinful Saints gave us a very festive feel, and the ice and pies kept us cool! Sponsorships and tickets brought in over $1400, which more than covers the costs of the event. The Senior Ministry will decide how to disburse the remaining funds. Next year will be the 20^th “birthday” of the ice cream social!

Staff Birthdays: Take a moment this week to wish our choir director, Andy McKay and our Sunday School superintendent, Barb Buczek, happy birthdays!

“Church Office Closed July 29-August 2”: What does that mean?

Because we have a few days when many members of the staff will be out of the office this coming week, the office doors will remain locked. This is primarily for the safety of our office manager, Kelly. If you are volunteering or have some other church work to do, by all means, you are welcome in the church! We just want to reduce the traffic and busyness when Kelly is here alone. 

Pastoral emergencies will be covered by Pr. Carol Gates from Living Waters for those few days. Please call the church office if you have the need for a hospital visit, and you will be connected with Pr. Carol.

Sunday, August 4^th: We are so blessed that Bethany’s pastor emeritus, Pr. Robert Linstrom, will be preaching and presiding at worship on Sunday, August 4th! If you haven’t had the opportunity to hear him preach, this is a great opportunity. We give thanks for his ministry among us.

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This Week’s Texts: 10^th Sunday after Pentecost

Prayer of the Day:

Almighty and ever-living God, 
you are always more ready to hear than we are to pray, 
and you gladly give more than we either desire or deserve. 
Pour upon us your abundant mercy. 
Forgive us those things that weigh on our conscience, 
and give us those good things that come only through your Son, 
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. 

 

FIRST READING

Genesis 18:20–32

In today's reading, Abraham undertakes the role of a mediator between God and sinful humanity. Appealing to God's justice, Abraham boldly asks for mercy for the city of Sodom, for the sake of the few righteous people who are in it, including Abraham's nephew, Lot.

²⁰Then the LORD said, "How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! ²¹I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know."
²²So the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the LORD. ²³Then Abraham came near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?"²⁴Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it? ²⁵Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" ²⁶And the LORD said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake."²⁷Abraham answered, "Let me take it upon myself to speak to the LORD, I who am but dust and ashes. ²⁸Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?" And he said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there." ²⁹Again he spoke to him, "Suppose forty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of forty I will not do it." ³⁰Then he said, "Oh do not let the LORD be angry if I speak. Suppose thirty are found there." He answered, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." ³¹He said, "Let me take it upon myself to speak to the LORD. Suppose twenty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it." ³²Then he said, "Oh do not let the LORD be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it."

 

PSALM (ELW)

Psalm 138

Your steadfast love endures forever; do not abandon the works of your hands. (Ps. 138:8)

¹I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with ^| my whole heart;

     before the gods I will ^| sing your praise.

²I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your name,

because of your steadfast ^| love and faithfulness;

     for you have glorified your name

     and your word a- ^| bove all things.   R

³When I called, you ^| answered me;

     you increased my ^| strength within me.

⁴All the rulers of the earth will praise ^| you, O LORD,

     when they have heard the words ^| of your mouth.

⁵They will sing of the ways ^| of the LORD,

     that great is the glory ^| of the LORD.

⁶The LORD is high, yet cares ^| for the lowly,

     perceiving the haughty ^| from afar.   R

⁷Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you ^| keep me safe;

     you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;

     your right ^| hand shall save me.

⁸You will make good your pur- ^| pose for me;

     O LORD, your steadfast love endures forever;

     do not abandon the works ^| of your hands.   R

 

 

SECOND READING

Colossians 2:6–15 [16–19]

Paul warns his congregation in Colossae about "the empty lure" of philosophies and traditions that compromise faith. Through the gift of faith, the church is mystically connected with Christ in his death and resurrection, which is enacted in baptism.

⁶As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
⁸See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. ⁹For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, ¹⁰and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. ¹¹In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; ¹²when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. ¹³And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, ¹⁴erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.
¹⁶Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. ¹⁷These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. ¹⁸Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking, ¹⁹and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.

 

GOSPEL

Luke 11:1–13

In teaching his disciples this prayer, Jesus also reminds them to focus on God's coming reign, God's mercy, and the strengthening of the community. Jesus encourages his disciples to child-like trust and persistence in prayer.

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." ²He said to them, "When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
³Give us each day our daily bread.
⁴And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial."
⁵And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; ⁶for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' ⁷And he answers from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' ⁸I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
⁹So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. ¹¹Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? ¹²Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? ¹³If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Peace,

+ Pr. Carrie Smith

carrie.smith@bethanylc.com

 

Attachments:

Bethany Weekly 7-24-13.pdf

This email sent by:

Carrie Smith

[Bethany Lutheran Church] Bethany Office Closed: July 29-August 2

Church office "closed" due to reduced staff

July 29-August2

Dear Bethany members,

Several staff members' vacations have overlapped this year, leaving us very short-staffed for a few days. Therefore, the office doors will remain locked from Monday-Friday this coming week (July 29-August 2). Kelly will be in the office doing her tasks, but you should consider the church "closed" except for emergencies. If you are signed up to volunteer for bulletin or newsletter printing, please ring the bell when you arrive. 

Questions? Contact Pr. Carrie: carrie.smith@Bethanylc.com 

  

This email sent by:

Carrie Smith

[Bethany Lutheran Church] REMINDER: Wednesday free workshop on addiction

 

Dear Bethany Members, 

You are invited to a free workshop on Wednesday, July 24 at 6:30 pm entitled "Path to Wholeness: Ordinary Addictions, Exceptional Recovery" presented by Fr. Jim Swarthout. 

If you have been affected by addiction in some way -- in your family, or through your work -- this workshop is for you! 

Please e-mail Pr. Carrie to RSVP.

carrie.smith@bethanylc.com 

This email sent by:

Carrie Smith

[Bethany Lutheran Church] Preschool items available on Sunday!

You can help Bethany Preschool AND put a smile on the face of your favorite preschooler! We have an abundance of extra preschool toys: dinosaurs, books, cars, puzzles, and more. These items are for the taking (you may make a donation to the Bethany Preschool if you wish!) and will be just outside the preschool entrance on Sunday morning. Please help by taking anything and everything you can use! Anything leftover after Sunday will be donated.

Thank you!

 

This email sent by:

Carrie Smith

[Bethany Lutheran Church] Wednesday Words from Pr. Carrie, and your Bethany Weekly Newsletter

Wednesday Words for July 17, 2013

From Pastor Carrie Smith

 

Thought for the Day: 

 

“It's funny: I always imagined when I was a kid that adults had some kind of inner toolbox full of shiny tools: the saw of discernment, the hammer of wisdom, the sandpaper of patience. But then when I grew up I found that life handed you these rusty bent old tools - friendships, prayer, conscience, honesty - and said 'do the best you can with these, they will have to do'. And mostly, against all odds, they do.”

 

― Anne Lamott, Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith

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Happy Wednesday! Your Bethany Weekly Newsletter is attached to this email.

Please remember to look at the bottom of the email for the link!

 

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Tonight at Bethany: It’s ice cream social time! Come on out at 6:30 pm for ice cream, pies, music by the Sinful Saints, a “Cars”-themed bouncy house for the kids, and lots of time for fellowship! Tickets are available at the door. ($3 for adults, $2 for kids, $10 maximum per family!)

 

Also tonight: Meet the Preschool Director! Pam McAllister, our new Bethany Preschool Director, will be here tonight for a “Meet and Greet”. You also have the opportunity to take away some extra preschool toys for your own use. These items will be in the hallway outside the preschool rooms, and are available to you for a freewill donation. Come take a look!

 

This Sunday at Bethany: At 10:30 am, we will be joined by the children and families of Vacation Bible School, who will be providing special music! The sanctuary will be decorated like a forest (“Sonrise National Park”) which is our VBS theme this year.

 

We’ll be singing “Blessed Assurance”, which is a favorite hymn of Liz Tollefsen. And, since the Gospel story is about Mary and Martha, we will sing “For All the Faithful Women” as our hymn of the day. During communion, I hope to hear your voices loud and clear on “Let Us Break Bread Together.” As we go back out into the world, we will sing “O Christ the Same”, but we’ll sing it to the tune of “Danny Boy” (which is the way it was printed in the old With One Voice Hymnal). Why? Because it’s one of the senior pastor’s favorite tunes! 

 

Pr. Paul will be giving the children’s sermon, and Pr. Carrie will be preaching.

 

Coming Soon: God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday! This year is the 25^th anniversary of the ELCA, and to celebrate, ELCA congregations all over the country are participating in a service day on Sunday, September 8 (also known as “Rally Day”!) Watch for more information about opportunities to sign up for a service project. We will be working with Living Waters Lutheran church for some exciting events! You can read more about “God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday” here:  Welcome to the ELCA 25th Anniversary 

 

Saturday Book Signing: Yes, I will take another opportunity to brag about my spouse and his new book! More Desired than Our Owne Salvation is a history of Christian Zionism, written by my husband, Robert Smith. It’s available on Amazon, and on Saturday starting at noon Robert will be at Read Between the Lynes bookstore in Woodstock for a book-signing and Q & A session. The book features a forward by Martin Marty.  You can see it here: More Desired than Our Owne Salvation  

 

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This Week’s Texts: Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

 

Prayer of the Day: 

Eternal God, you draw near to us in Christ,
and you make yourself our guest.
Amid the cares of our lives, make us attentive to your presence,
that we may treasure your word above all else,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

 

First Reading

Genesis 18:1–10a

The Lord visits Abraham and Sarah to tell them that the long—awaited promise of the birth of a child will be fulfilled for them in their old age.

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. ²He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. ³He said, "My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. ⁴Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. ⁵Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on — since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said." ⁶And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes." ⁷Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. ⁸Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
⁹They said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There, in the tent." ¹⁰Then one said, "I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son."

 

 

Psalm 15: The Message Version

 

1 God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on your guest list?

2 "Walk straight, act right, tell the truth.

3 "Don't hurt your friend, don't blame your neighbor;

4 despise the despicable. "Keep your word even when it costs you,

5 make an honest living, never take a bribe. "You'll never get blacklisted if you live like this."

 

 

Second Reading

Colossians 1:15–28

Sometimes Paul preaches with great attention to theological concepts. Here, however, Paul offers a mystical teaching, that the great mystery of God is "Christ in you." Because Christ is present in the church, Christians share in his life, suffering, and glory.

¹⁵He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; ¹⁶for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers — all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. ¹⁹For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
²¹And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, ²²he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him — ²³provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.
²⁴I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. ²⁵I became its servant according to God's commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, ²⁶the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. ²⁷To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

 

Gospel

Luke 10:38–42

Jesus uses his visit to two sisters as an occasion to remind disciples that an important aspect of obedience is singleminded devotion to Jesus and his word.

³⁸Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. ³⁹She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. ⁴⁰But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." ⁴¹But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; ⁴²there is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."

 

 

Peace,

+ Pr. Carrie Smith

Carrie.smith@bethanylc.com

 

 

 

 

 

Attachments:

Bethany Weekly 7-17-13.pdf

This email sent by:

Carrie Smith