Wednesday Words for October 16, 2013
From Pastor Carrie Smith
**Please scroll down to find the link for your Bethany Weekly Newsletter. Enjoy!**
Thought for the Day:
“Remember that you have only one soul; that you have only one death to die; that you have only one life, which is short and has to be lived by you alone; and that there is only one glory, which is eternal. If you do this, there will be many things about which you care nothing.”
St. Teresa of Avila
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Sunday at Bethany: Pastor Paul will be preaching and Pastor Carrie will be presiding at communion. The Bethany choir will be singing at 8:30 am, and we will have special music at 10:30 am!
The Interfaith Community Thanksgiving Worship will be held on Sunday, November 24, at 7:00 pm at the synagogue of the McHenry County Jewish Congregation, 8617 Ridgefield Road, Crystal Lake. The theme, "Coming Together in Gratitude", will shape an evening of sharing various traditions of word and music, including food and fellowship following the service. A free will offering for local food shelves will be collected. This community tradition is sponsored by FaithBridge, an interfaith consortium of local faith communities.
Movie Night at Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church - Friday, October 18, 7:00pm, Fellowship Hall: “Trigger: The Ripple Effect of Gun Violence”
“Trigger” is a documentary produced by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. The film looks at how shootings impact individuals, families and communities. Trigger moves from - "Why did this happen to us?" to - "What can we do to prevent it from happening to others?" All are welcome. Sponsored by the RCLPC Compassion, Peace and Justice Team. Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church is located at 8505 Church Street (in Ridgefield), near Crystal Lake.
Ask a Pastoris an interesting page where you can find out answers to things like: “Why do we have bishops in the ELCA?” , “Once saved, am I always saved?” and others. Check it out! http://www.livinglutheran.com/ask/
Confirmation is coming up! Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 27 at 4 pm. Please come to show your support for our newly confirmed young people.
Mainline Protestants: Vintage or Vibrant? An interesting article from The Christian Century. http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2013-10/mainline-protestants-vintage-or-vibrant
This Week’s Texts: 22nd Sunday after Pentecost
| Prayer of the Day |
O Lord God, tireless guardian of your people,
you are always ready to hear our cries.
Teach us to rely day and night on your care.
Inspire us to seek your enduring justice
for all this suffering world,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
| First Reading | Genesis 32:22–31 |
Returning to the home he had fled many years before after stealing his brother's birthright and his father's blessing, Jacob wrestles all night long with a divine adversary who ultimately blesses him and changes his name to "Israel," a name that means "he wrestles with God."
22The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." 27So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." 28Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed." 29Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. 30So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved." 31The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.
| Psalm (ELW) | Psalm 121 |
My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth. (Ps. 121:2)
1I lift up my eyes | to the hills;
from where is my | help to come?
2My help comes | from the LORD,
the maker of heav- | en and earth.
3The LORD will not let your | foot be moved
nor will the one who watches over you | fall asleep.
4Behold, the keep- | er of Israel
will neither slum- | ber nor sleep; R
5the LORD watches | over you;
the LORD is your shade at | your right hand;
6the sun will not strike | you by day,
nor the | moon by night.
7The LORD will preserve you | from all evil
and will | keep your life.
8The LORD will watch over your going out and your | coming in,
from this time forth for- | evermore. R
| Second Reading | 2 Timothy 3:14—4:5 |
Paul continues his instruction of Timothy, his younger colleague in ministry, by emphasizing the importance of faithful teaching despite opposition.
Chapter 3
14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
Chapter 4
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: 2proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. 3For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, 4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. 5As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.
| Gospel | Luke 18:1–8 |
Jesus tells a parable of a hateful judge who is worn down by a widow's pleas. Jesus is calling God's people to cry out for justice and deliverance. For if an unethical judge will ultimately grant the plea of a persistent widow, how much more will God respond to those who call.
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' 4For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'" 6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
Peace,
+ Pastor Carrie Smith
