Wednesday Words for April 23, 2014
From Pastor Carrie Smith
Thought for the Day:
“Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. We would like to skip the intermediate stages. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new. And yet, it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability—and that it may take a very long time. Above all, trust in the slow work of God, our loving vine-dresser.”
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, French philosopher and Jesuit priest, 1881-1955
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Alleluia, Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia!
What a gorgeous day of celebration it was on Sunday! Many thanks to the musicians, dancers, volunteers, worship assistants, the office staff, and everyone else who made it all possible. It truly was a service that gave glory to God.
This Sunday at Bethany: It’s Youth Sunday! Pr. Paul and our amazing youth have been diligently putting together a worship service for the community. They will be leading worship at both the 8:30 am and 10:30 am services. Please come to hear a testimony, sing some great worship songs, and to hear the inaugural performance of the Bethany Youth Band!
Sunday at 4 pm: You won’t want to miss the last Bethany Arts Series Concert of the year, happening this Sunday afternoon. We are proud to welcome the Elgin Brass Quintet, sponsored by Pastor Emeritus Robert Linstrom in memory of his wife, Marcene Linstrom. As always, admission is free. A freewill offering will benefit future concerts.
Food Drive coming soon: 22nd annual Letter Carriers' Food Drive, Saturday, May 10th. New hours this year: 3:30pm-6:30pm
Same location: Algonquin Township (Rear Bldg 3702 Route 14, Crystal Lake)
Here's how you can help: Leave a food donation at your on May 10 for pick-up that day!
Or: Volunteer to sort, box and load the food donations. Come for 1 hour or the whole time.
Are you current with your giving? It has been a long, hard winter! But now that spring has sprung and folks are back to church, please consider giving a little extra to help us catch up here at church. Thank you for your generosity to God’s mission!
This Week’s Texts:
Prayer of the Day:
Almighty and eternal God,
the strength of those who believe and the hope of those who doubt,
may we, who have not seen, have faith in you
and receive the fullness of Christ's blessing,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
FIRST READING Acts 2:14a, 22–32
After the Holy Spirit came to the apostles on Pentecost, Peter preaches the gospel to the gathered crowd. He tells them that Jesus, who obediently went to his death according to God's plan, was raised from the dead by God. Finally, he appeals to scripture, quoting Psalm 16:8-11, to show that Jesus is the Messiah: though crucified, the risen Jesus is now enthroned.
14aBut Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, 22You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know — 23this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. 25For David says concerning him,
'I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;
26therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
moreover my flesh will live in hope.
27For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One experience corruption.
28You have made known to me the ways of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'
29Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. 31Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,
'He was not abandoned to Hades,
nor did his flesh experience corruption.'
32This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.
PSALM (ELW) Psalm 16
1Protect me, O God, for I take ref- | uge in you;
I have said to the LORD,
"You are my Lord, my good a- | bove all other."
2All my delight is in the godly that are | in the land,
upon those who are noble a- | mong the people.
3But those who run after | other gods
shall have their troubles | multiplied.
4I will not pour out drink offerings | to such gods,
never take their names up- | on my lips. R
5O LORD, you are my portion | and my cup;
it is you who up- | hold my lot.
6My boundaries enclose a | pleasant land;
indeed, I have a | rich inheritance.
7I will bless the LORD who | gives me counsel;
my heart teaches me night | after night.
8I have set the LORD al- | ways before me;
because God is at my right hand, I shall | not be shaken. R
9My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spir- | it rejoices;
my body also shall | rest in hope.
10For you will not abandon me | to the grave,
nor let your holy one | see the pit.
11You will show me the | path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy,
and in your right hand are pleasures for- | evermore. R
SECOND READING 1 Peter 1:3–9
This epistle was written to encourage Christians experiencing hardships and suffering because of their faith in Christ. The letter opens by blessing God for the living hope we have through Christ's resurrection even in the midst of difficult circumstances and surroundings.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7so that the genuineness of your faith — being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
GOSPEL John 20:19–31
The risen Jesus appears to his disciples, offering them a benediction, a commission, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. But one of their number is missing, and his unbelief prompts another visit from the Lord.
19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."
26A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." 28Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Peace,
Pastor Carrie Smith
