Wednesday Words for October 30, 2013
From Pastor Carrie Smith
Scroll down to find your Bethany Weekly Newsletter link! Please open and read it—don’t miss out on important happenings at your church!
(You can also print it or pick up a printed copy at church this Sunday)
***
Thought for the Day: 2 Prayers for Halloween!
Traditional Scottish Prayer
From ghoulies and ghosties
And long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!
Prayer Against Evil
Christ Our Lord
You suffered and were tempted.
You are powerful to come to the aid
of those who are assailed by the devil,
For you are the support of Christian people.
O Lord, protect with Your Right Hand
those who trust in Your Name.
Deliver them from the Evil One,
and grant them everlasting joy. Amen
St. Gregory of Khandzta (759-861)
***
All Saints Day is this Sunday: This is the day we remember with love the saints who have gone before us. At Bethany, we do this with a beautiful day of music, prayer, and even dancing! We’ll be joined by the Bethany Vision Dancers, the Bell Canto Bell Choir, Bethany adult choir, and brass musicians for both the 8:30 and 10:30 am services. Plan to come early so you can light a candle in memory of a loved one during the prelude. The service begins with an ancient chanted hymn (The Litany of the Saints) and then we’ll remember aloud the Bethany members who have died in the past year. Everyone will also have the opportunity to speak aloud names of any saints who have died—this year or many years ago, Bethany member or not!
I hope to see you this week at this very meaningful worship service.
It’s Stewardship Time! Below is a letter from church member Susan Gavle, inviting you to join her in supporting our 2014 Stewardship campaign. Please watch your mailbox for a packet which includes pledge cards and a survey. Your pledges are vital for our ministry planning for 2014! Financial and Time and Talent pledges will be turned in and blessed on Sunday, November 17th during worship.
***
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Well, it is almost November and that time of year again. What? Stewardship appeal? No, my Christmas shopping! Believe it or not I was online this week buying items from American Girl for my granddaughters. I needed to get it done since I worried about items not being available later. It was so easy to open my wallet and pull out the plastic to satisfy the wants of my loved ones.
Okay, you are right, this is about Stewardship. Why is it so hard for us to open our wallets for our church family? Do we love Christ less than our granddaughters? Do we really believe that our church family has just “wants” instead of needs? Would it be easier to give to our church if we actually had a list of items with actual order numbers? Hmmmmm, let me pick #2556, February’s electric bill, just put it on my VISA. At this time of year we reach out to all members about the giving of not just our treasures but also our time and our talents.
Why? When we pledge, the Finance Team can get a foundation for the annual budget and from that foundation we plan our ministries. The more pledges the firmer the foundation and the more ministries we fund. Imagine the possibilities if we had unlimited funds! Personally, I would be happy to see 50% of my fellow members pledge. Just like I set my annual budget and also set a Christmas budget for each loved one, the church sets a budget to provide ministries for each loved one and that includes everyone from the newly baptized to the homebound senior who is still part of our family.
Darrel and I are firm believers in budgets and in pledging. I invite you to join us today and open your hearts, not just your wallets, and support the ministries of your church family. The enclosed form can be returned on Commitment Sunday, November 17, by mail, or by simply visiting the office. Now I have to get back to my planning, shopping, giving, and pledging. Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and a Happy Stewardship to you all!
God Bless us Everyone,
Susan Gavle
***
This Week’s Texts: All Saints Sunday
Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, whose people are knit together in one holy Church, the body of Christ our Lord: Grant us grace to follow your blessed saints in lives of faith and commitment, and to know the inexpressible joys you have prepared for those who love you; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
FIRST READING Daniel 7:1–3, 15–18
The book of Daniel was written in the second century B.C.E., when the Syrian king Antiochus Epiphanes was severely persecuting the Jews. Daniel's vision of the four beasts serves to proclaim the message that human kings will come and go, but the kingdom will ultimately belong to God and to God's people.
In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream: 2I, Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, 3and four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 15As for me, Daniel, my spirit was troubled within me, and the visions of my head terrified me. 16I approached one of the attendants to ask him the truth concerning all this. So he said that he would disclose to me the interpretation of the matter: 17As for these four great beasts, four kings shall arise out of the earth. 18But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever — forever and ever."
PSALM (ELW) Psalm 149
1Hallelujah! Sing to the LORD | a new song,
God's praise in the assembly | of the faithful.
2Let Israel rejoice | in their maker;
let the children of Zion be joyful | in their ruler.
3Let them praise their maker's | name with dancing;
let them sing praise with tambou- | rine and harp.
4For the LORD takes pleasure | in the people
and adorns the | poor with victory. R
5Let the faithful re- | joice in triumph;
let them sing for joy | on their beds.
6Let the praises of God be | in their throat
and a two-edged sword | in their hand,
7to wreak vengeance | on the nations
and punishment | on the peoples,
8to bind their | kings in chains
and their nobles with | links of iron,
9to inflict on them the judg- | ment decreed;
this is glory for all God's faithful ones. | Hallelujah! R
SECOND READING Ephesians 1:11–23
After giving thanks for the faith of the Ephesians, Paul prays that they might understand the wisdom, hope, and power of God that is embodied in Jesus Christ.
11In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory.
15I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
GOSPEL Luke 6:20–31
In echoes of the prophet Isaiah and Mary's song of praise, Jesus reveals surprising things about who enjoys blessing and who endures woe. He invites his disciples to shower radical love, blessing, forgiveness, generosity, and trust, even to enemies and outsiders.
20Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
"Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21"Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
"Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
22Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
24"But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
25"Woe to you who are full now,
for you will be hungry.
"Woe to you who are laughing now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.
27But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Peace,
+ Pastor Carrie Smith
