Wednesday Words for May 14, 2014
From Pastor Carrie Smith
Scroll down to find the link to your Bethany Weekly Newsletter!
Thought for the Day:
This is another day, O Lord...
If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely.
If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly.
If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently.
And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly.”
Kathleen Norris, author of "Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith"
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Tonight at Bethany: It’s the last day of Confirmation! Come one, come all—bring an ice cream topping and celebrate from 7-8:30 pm!
Sunday at Bethany: Alleluia, Christ is STILL risen! Indeed, we are still in the Easter season, celebrating the resurrection of our Lord. This week, expect to hear a Gospel text that’s often read as comfort at funerals (“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places…”) We turn to these words at the time of death because they speak of the promise of eternal life we have because Christ has been raised. Alleluia!
We’ll be singing “Alleluia, Jesus is Risen”, “We All Are One in Mission”, and “Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds”, among other hymns. The Bethany choir sings at 8:30 am, and we’ll have special music at 10:30 am. It's also the last Sunday of Sunday School. Don't miss this special day!
Summer books: Are you looking for something to read this summer? Here are some suggested books with a spiritual theme:
Jesus: A Pilgrimage by James Martin (I’m reading this now. Fantastic!)
Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner and Saint by Nadia Bolz-Weber
(an easy read, with a little colorful language, written by a Lutheran pastor)
Earthy Mysticism: Spirituality for Unspiritual People by Tex Sample
(A collection of short stories about God appearing in strange ways to normal people—a quick, engaging read)
Faith in the Face of Empire: The Bible Through Palestinian Eyes by Mitri Raheb
(Latest book from Mitri Raheb, pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem)
This Week’s Readings: 5th Sunday of Easter
PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW)
Almighty God,
your Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.
Give us grace to love one another,
to follow in the way of his commandments,
and to share his risen life with all the world,
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
- one God, now and forever. Amen.
FIRST READING Acts 7:55–60
Stephen was one of the seven men chosen by the apostles to serve tables so that the apostles could be free to serve the word (Acts 6:1-6). Stephen does more than distribute food, however. For his preaching of God's word, he becomes the first martyr of the faith.
55But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56Look, he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" 57But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. 58Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.
PSALM (ELW) Psalm 31:1–5, 15–16
1In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge; let me never be | put to shame;
deliver me | in your righteousness.
2Incline your | ear to me;
make haste to de- | liver me.
3Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
for you are my crag | and my stronghold;
for the sake of your name, lead | me and guide me.
4Take me out of the net that they have secretly | set for me,
for you are my tow- | er of strength. R
5Into your hands I com- | mend my spirit,
for you have redeemed me, O LORD, | God of truth.
15My times are | in your hand;
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who | persecute me.
16Let your face shine up- | on your servant;
save me in your | steadfast love. R
SECOND READING 1 Peter 2:2–10
Christ is the cornerstone of God's saving work and the foundation of our lives. We are God's chosen, holy people who continuously celebrate and declare the mercy of God we experience through Jesus Christ.
2Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation — 3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and 5like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6For it stands in scripture:
"See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
7To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,
"The stone that the builders rejected
has become the very head of the corner,"
8and
"A stone that makes them stumble,
and a rock that makes them fall."
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
10Once you were not a people,
but now you are God's people;
- once you had not received mercy,
but now you have received mercy.
GOSPEL John 14:1–14
On the night that he is to be arrested, Jesus shares final words with his disciples. As the one through whom God is known, he promises to go before them and act on their behalf.
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4And you know the way to the place where I am going." 5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" 6Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
8Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." 9Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
Peace,
Pastor Carrie Smith
