Wednesday Words for January 22, 2014
From Pastor Carrie Smith
Your Bethany Weekly Newsletter is attached!
Scroll down for the link—then read it, share it, print it, or hang it on your fridge!
Thought for the Day:
“We cannot love God unless we love each other, and to love we must know each other. We know Him in the breaking of bread, and we know each other in the breaking of bread, and we are not alone anymore. Heaven is a banquet and life is a banquet, too, even with a crust, where there is companionship.”
Dorothy Day, The Long Loneliness: The Autobiography of the Legendary Catholic Social Activist
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Sunday at Bethany: This Sunday, we continue on in the season after Epiphany. We’ll be singing “Here I Am, Lord”; “I Love to Tell the Story”, and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, among others! The Bell Canto bell choir will grace us with their music at both services.
Then, after the second service, stick around (or come back!) for the Annual Congregational Meeting. If you haven’t yet read the Annual Report, copies will be available on the Information Desk at church, and it is also attached again to this email. We need at least 50 to have a quorum—but would truly like to see many more of you attend this meeting!
Preschool registration is on NOW! Please pass the word about our wonderful Bethany Preschool, including the news that we have a Terrific Twos program starting in the fall! For more information, call 815-477-7463 or email Pam at Pam.mcallister@bethanylc.com
Home Communion: Are you interested in being a Home Communion Minister? Please come to a meeting on Monday, January 27 at 1 pm in Pastor Carrie’s office for more information. If you know someone who could use a home communion visit, please contact Pr. Carrie at carrie.smith@Bethanylc.com or 815-459-2690
ELCA Malaria Campaign hits a milestone: The ELCA Malaria Campaign has reached the $10 million mark in its campaign to raise $15 million to end Malaria! Here at Bethany, we are $3500 away from our $15,000 goal. Read more here.
Mark your calendars! We have some exciting things happening on Sundays in the coming weeks!
Feb. 2: Global Mission Sunday, with Pr. Robert Smith preaching
Feb. 9: Boy Scouts will be serving as greeters, ushers, and readers
Feb. 16: 4 pm Molasses Creek Benefit Concert for PADS
Feb. 23: 4 pm Bethany Arts Series Organ Recital featuring Anthony Williams
2014 pledges: Did you forget to submit your 2014 financial pledge? It’s not too late! You can turn in your pledge by simply emailing the financial secretary at financial.secretary@bethanylc.com
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This Week’s Readings: 3rd Sunday after Epiphany
Prayer of the Day:
Lord God, your lovingkindness always goes before us and follows after us.
Summon us into your light, and direct our steps in the ways of goodness
that come through the cross of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
FIRST READING Isaiah 9:1–4
But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness —
on them light has shined.
3You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
4For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
PSALM (ELW) Psalm 27:1, 4–9
1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom then | shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I | be afraid?
4One thing I ask of the LORD; one | thing I seek;
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life;
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek God | in the temple.
5For in the day of trouble God will | give me shelter,
hide me in the hidden places of the sanctuary,
and raise me high up- | on a rock.
6Even now my head is lifted up above my enemies | who surround me.
Therefore I will offer sacrifice in the sanctuary,
sacrifices of rejoicing; I will sing and make music | to the LORD. R
7Hear my voice, O LORD, | when I call;
have mercy on me and | answer me.
8My heart speaks your message— | "Seek my face."
Your face, O LORD, | I will seek.
9Hide not your face from me, turn not away from your ser- | vant in anger.
Cast me not away—you have been my helper;
forsake me not, O God of | my salvation. R
SECOND READING 1 Corinthians 1:10–18
10Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." 13Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
18For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
GOSPEL Matthew 4:12–23
12Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15"Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles —
16the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned."
17From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
18As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea — for they were fishermen. 19And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
Peace,
+ Pr. Carrie Smith
