Wednesday Words for November 13, 2013
From Pastor Carrie Smith
Please scroll down to open the Bethany Weekly newsletter! You can also pick up a printed newsletter from the ushers on Sunday, or at the information desk at any time.
The newsletter is also found here: www.bethanylc.com
Thought for the Day:
“We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary,
small (and yet really not small) gifts.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community
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Sunday at Bethany: This is the last “regular” Sunday of the church year! November 24th is Christ the King Sunday, and then (gulp) it’s on to Advent! We will be blessing our stewardship commitments this Sunday during worship. Please bring your pledges and surveys and drop them in the basket at the main entrance to the worship space. This basket will be brought up with our regular morning offerings and blessed during the service.
We’ll be blessed by the music of the Sonshine singers at 8:30 am and the Bethany choir at 10:30. Our worship services will be packed with favorite hymns: “Canticle of the Turning”, “How Firm a Foundation”, “When Peace Like a River”, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” and then ending with “Soon and Very Soon”. Come ready to sing!
Sunday afternoon, come back at 4 pm for the first concert of the 2013-2014 season of the Bethany Arts Series. “Dr. Mezzo and Mr. High” is a humorous take on some very familiar music. The musicians are coming to us from Canada, Austria, and Washington D.C.! This concert is lovingly sponsored by the Stefan family in memory of Wendy Stefan. A reception will follow.
How to help the Philippines: If you are like me, you are wondering how you can help the people of the Philippines. First, you can pray! Second, you can put your dollars to work through Lutheran Disaster Response. Click here to donate: http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Responding-to-the-World/Lutheran-Disaster-Response/Disaster-Responses/Ongoing-Responses/Pacific-Typhoon.aspx
Thanksgiving Services: Please join us for worship here at Bethany on Thanksgiving Eve at 7 pm, followed by the Annual Pie Fest!
You may also wish to attend the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, November 24 at 7 pm, at the McHenry County Jewish Congregation (8617 Ridgefield Rd., CL). Join with people of other faiths to hear stories, sing songs, and express gratitude for blessings! An offering will be taken to benefit local food pantries.
This Week’s Texts: 26th Sunday after Pentecost
PRAYER OF THE DAY
O God, the protector of all who trust in you,
without you nothing is strong, nothing is holy.
Embrace us with your mercy,
that with you as our ruler and guide,
we may live through what is temporary without losing what is eternal,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
| FIRST READING | Malachi 4:1–2a |
Malachi, whose name means "my messenger," warns that the day of the Lord is coming. On that day, the evil will be destroyed like stubble in a fire, but the "sun of righteousness" will shine on those who fear God.
See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.
| PSALM (ELW) | Psalm 98 |
In righteousness will the LORD judge the world. (Ps. 98:9)
1Sing a new song to the LORD, who has done | marvelous things,
whose right hand and holy arm have | won the victory.
2O LORD, you have made | known your victory,
you have revealed your righteousness in the sight | of the nations.
3You remember your steadfast love and faithfulness to the | house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen the victory | of our God.
4Shout with joy to the LORD, | all you lands;
lift up your voice, re- | joice, and sing. R
5Sing to the LORD | with the harp,
with the harp and the | voice of song.
6With trumpets and the sound | of the horn
shout with joy before the | king, the LORD.
7Let the sea roar, and | all that fills it,
the world and those who | dwell therein.
8Let the rivers | clap their hands,
and let the hills ring out with joy before the LORD,
who comes to | judge the earth.
9The LORD will judge the | world with righteousness
and the peo- | ples with equity. R
| SECOND READING | 2 Thessalonians 3:6–13 |
Some members of the Thessalonian community, because of their belief in the nearness of Christ's return, had ceased to work, living off the generosity of other members of the community. Paul warns them bluntly that if they want to eat, they need to work.
6Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. 7For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, 8and we did not eat anyone's bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. 9This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. 10For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. 11For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. 12Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 13Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.
| GOSPEL | Luke 21:5–19 |
As history moves toward God's fulfillment there will be frightening signs and events. Before the end, believers will draw strength from their relationship to God and shall be given the words they need to testify and to endure without fear.
5When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6"As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down."
7They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" 8And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them.
9"When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." 10Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
12"But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17You will be hated by all because of my name. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19By your endurance you will gain your souls."
Peace,
+ Pastor Carrie B. Smith
