Wednesday Words for October 9, 2013
From Pastor Carrie Smith
Thought for the Day:
“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
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***Please scroll down to find the link to your Bethany Weekly Newsletter! You can print it, forward it, hang it on your fridge—but please do read it!***
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In our prayers: You can find the list of members who have been hospitalized in the attached newsletter. If you need to submit a prayer request to this list or to the prayer chain, please email churchoffice@bethanylc.com or call (815)459-2690.
Sunday at Bethany: This week we’ll hear the story of how Jesus healed 10 lepers, and only one took the time to say “Thanks.” Therefore, we’ll be singing some wonderful hymns of thanks to God: “Praise the Lord, the Almighty”, “Now Thank We All Our God”, “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” and even “How Great Thou Art!” The fabulous Bell Canto choir will grace us with their music at both 8:30 am and 10:30 am.
Bibles for 3rd graders: At the 10:30 am service, our 3rd graders will be receiving Bibles as a gift from the church! (Families: If you are not here because of the long weekend, your child will receive one on another Sunday.)
Constitution News! The Bethany Council has FINALLY finished the new Bethany constitution, which was long overdue for updating. Soon this document will be available to you on MemberConnect and in the church office, and watch for news of an upcoming congregational meeting to vote on it. Thanks to John Engebretson and Joel Thoreson for their efforts to get this done!
Why the Government Shutdown is Unbiblical: an article by Jim Wallis of Sojourners magazine.
Did you miss the installation of Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton? You can watch it here: Installation Service
Do you receive the Northern Illinois Synod e-newsletter?You can keep up with the happenings of our area ELCA churches by subscribing here.
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This Week’s Texts: 21st Sunday after Pentecost
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Almighty and most merciful God,
your bountiful goodness fills all creation.
Keep us safe from all that may hurt us,
that, whole and well in body and spirit,
we may with grateful hearts
accomplish all that you would have us do,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
| FIRST READING | 2 Kings 5:1–3, 7–15c |
Naaman, a Syrian general, suffers from leprosy. In this passage Elisha miraculously cures his illness, but only after Naaman realizes, with the help of his servants, that he also needs healing for his pride. This foreign general then acknowledges the sovereignty of the God of Israel.
Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy.2Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. 3She said to her mistress, "If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy." 7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me."
8But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel."9So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha's house. 10Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean." 11But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, "I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! 12Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?" He turned and went away in a rage. 13But his servants approached and said to him, "Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, 'Wash, and be clean'?" 14So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.
15Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company;he came and stood before him and said,"Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel.
| PSALM | Psalm 111 |
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart. (Ps. 111:1)
1Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the LORD with | my whole heart,
in the assembly of the upright, in the | congregation.
2Great are your | works, O LORD,
pondered by all who de- | light in them. R
3Majesty and splendor | mark your deeds,
and your righteousness en- | dures forever.
4You cause your wonders to | be remembered;
you are gracious and full | of compassion.
5You give food to | those who fear you,
remembering forev- | er your covenant.
6You have shown your people the power | of your works
in giving them the lands | of the nations. R
7The works of your hands are faithful- | ness and justice;
all of your pre- | cepts are sure.
8They stand fast forev- | er and ever,
because they are done in | truth and equity.
9You sent redemption to your people
and commanded your cove- | nant forever;
holy and awesome | is your name.
10The fear of the LORD is the begin- | ning of wisdom;
all who practice this have a good understanding.
God's praise en- | dures forever. R
| SECOND READING | 2 Timothy 2:8–15 |
Though Paul is chained as a prisoner, he reminds Timothy that the word of God is never shackled or confined. He encourages his young friend to proclaim that word of freedom in an honest and upright life as well as in his teaching and preaching.
8Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David — that is my gospel, 9for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. 10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11The saying is sure:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
13if we are faithless, he remains faithful —
for he cannot deny himself.
14Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.
| GOSPEL | Luke 17:11–19 |
Jesus' mission includes making the unclean clean again. Unexpectedly, a cleansed Samaritan leper becomes a model for those who would praise and worship God and give thanks for God's mercy.
11On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 14When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. 15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."
Peace,
+ Pastor Carrie Smith
