Wednesday Words for December 11, 2013
From Pastor Carrie Smith
Yes, your Bethany Weekly Newsletter is here!
Please scroll down for the link. Read it, print it, share it with friends, hang it on the fridge. Enjoy!
Thought for the Day: Who are the prophets?
Who are the prophets?
They are a royal people,
Who penetrate mystery
And see with the spirit’s eyes.
In illuminating darkness they speak out.
They are living, penetrating clarity.
They are a blossom blooming only
On the shoot that is rooted in the flood of light.
--Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179 A.D.)
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Tonight at Bethany:Join us for Evening Prayer with a visit from St. Lucy at 7 pm! This is a short, contemplative, candlelit service, an opportunity to rejuvenate in the middle of a busy week and a busier Advent season. The Anderson and Bradshaw families have been working on a creative way to present information about St. Lucy, who is remembered in many Scandinavian Lutheran communities. You can read a bit about her here.
Sunday at Bethany: It’s the 3rd Sunday of Advent, which means we are inching closer to the glorious celebration of Christmas! As the day approaches, our worship becomes more filled with expectation and joy. We’ll sing “People Look East, the Time is Near” to begin worship, and we’ll end with “Joy to the World!”
Remember to make a stop at the prayer wall (aka the art wall) at the entrance to the worship space. Add your prayer, and lift up the needs of others. For what do you wait in hope? What darkness does the light of Christ need to come and banish?
Between services, stay in your seats for a special congregational meeting regarding our new constitution.
Click here to read the current constitution.
And click here to read the proposed constitution.
Then, come back for the joyous telling of the Christmas Story by our Sunday School children at 4 pm. This year’s Children’s Christmas Program will be followed by a cookie and punch reception. Don’t miss this chance to support our youngest members, and to hear again the story of Jesus’ birth!
Have you turned in your pledge yet? Your Finance Team is feverishly working to complete the 2013 budget, and they need YOUR PLEDGE to make it work! You can send your intentions for giving to Financial.Secretary@bethanylc.com or mail it to the church at 76 W. Crystal Lake Ave, CL 60014.
Mark your calendar: Next Wednesday, December 18 at 7 pm is our “Longest Night” worship service. This is a contemplative worship service designed especially for those who might be grieving or struggling with a health issue this season. We will gather to sing, hear Scripture, and hang paper star ornaments representing our prayers on a special Christmas tree. Invite neighbors or friends who might benefit from this worship opportunity.
The ELCA has a new website! Have you checked it out yet? http://www.elca.org/
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This Week’s Texts: 3rd Sunday of Advent
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God,
and strengthen our faith in your coming,
that, transformed by grace, we may walk in your way;
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
FIRST READING Isaiah 35:1–10
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus 2it shall blossom abundantly,
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the LORD,
the majesty of our God.
3Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
"Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you."
5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
7the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
8A highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not travel on it,
but it shall be for God's people;
no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
9No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
10And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
PSALM (ELW) Psalm 146:5–10
5Happy are they who have the God of Jacob | for their help,
whose hope is in the | LORD their God;
6who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that | is in them;
who keeps promis- | es forever;
7who gives justice to those who are oppressed,
and food to | those who hunger.
The LORD sets the | captive free.
8The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; the LORD lifts up those who | are bowed down;
the LORD | loves the righteous. R
9The LORD cares | for the stranger;
the LORD sustains the orphan and widow,
but frustrates the way | of the wicked.
10The LORD shall | reign forever,
your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. | Hallelujah! R
PSALM (ELW) (ALTERNATE) Luke 1:46b–55
My spirit rejoices in God my Savior. (Luke 1:47)
46b"My soul proclaims the greatness | of the Lord,
47my spirit rejoices in | God my Savior,
48for you, Lord, have looked with favor on your | lowly servant.
From this day all generations will | call me blessed:
49you, the Almighty, have done great | things for me
and holy | is your name.
50You have mercy on | those who fear you,
from generation to | generation. R
51You have shown strength | with your arm
and scattered the proud in | their conceit,
52casting down the mighty | from their thrones
and lifting | up the lowly.
53You have filled the hungry | with good things
and sent the rich | away empty.
54You have come to the aid of your | servant Israel,
to remember the prom- | ise of mercy,
55the promise made | to our forbears,
to Abraham and his chil- | dren forever." R
SECOND READING James 5:7–10
7Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! 10As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
GOSPEL Matthew 11:2–11
2When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" 4Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."
7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written,
'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.'
11Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Peace,
+ Pastor Carrie Smith
