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Pr. Len
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Wednesday, July 30, 2014
[Bethany Lutheran Church] Wednesday Words and Bethany Weekly Newsletter
Wednesday Words for July 30, 2014
From Interim Senior Pastor Len Hoffmann
Scroll down to find the link to your Bethany Weekly Newsletter!
Thought for the Day:
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, so to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Psalm145:8
***
Men’s Bible Study with Pr. Len this Saturday at 8:00 a.m. All men are invited.
September 7 is Rally Day. Watch for details of this special celebration as Bethany is W.I.R.E.D. for Outreach and Service. W.I.R.E.D. = worship, involvement, renewal, education, discipleship. Worship will be at 8:30 and 10:30 with our new schedule starting on September 14.
August 10 at 9:45 a.m. “Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Teaching Sunday School, but were Afraid to Ask”. Members of our Education Team will answer your questions about schedule and curriculum. Please join them and become involved.
Sunday at Bethany:com·pas·sion /kmpæ n. Noun /
- 1. a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. Another definition might be “suffering with” or “suffering together”.
Compassion also has as part of the definition suggests not only sympathy or empathy towards one who is suffering, but also an accompanying action that seeks to do something about the suffering of another.
Our Psalm reminds us that God did not just suffer for us in Jesus Christ, but continues to suffer with us. God does not just feel our pain, but actually seeks through his love to heal our pain.
Furthermore we have received love from a compassionate God, and we are moved to be compassionate toward others. To walk with others in their suffering and being ready to share the ways in which God has walked with us in our suffering.
As members of the Lutheran Community we also have the opportunity to share compassion as we connect with needs around the world through Lutheran World Relief, Lutheran Disaster Response, the World Hunger Appeal, the Malaria Initiative, and LSSI.
Personally and corporately one of the marks of a disciple of Christ is to live with compassion and love toward all, as God lives with compassion and love toward us.
Pastor Len
Lectionary 18
Proper 13
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Prayer of the Day
Glorious God, your generosity waters the world with goodness, and you cover creation with abundance. Awaken in us a hunger for the food that satisfies both body and spirit, and with this food fill all the starving world; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
First Reading Isaiah 55:1-5
God invites Israel to a great feast at which both food and drink are free. God also promises to make an everlasting covenant with all the people, with promises that previously had been limited to the line of kings. As David was a witness to the nations, these nations shall now acknowledge the ways in which God has glorified Israel.
Ho, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3Incline your ear, and come to me;
listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
4See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
5See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.
Second Reading Romans 9:1-5
This begins a new section in Paul's letter in which he will deal with the place of Israel in God's saving plan. He opens by highlighting how Israel's heritage and legacy include being God's children, having God's covenants, being given God's law, participating in worship of God, and receiving divine promises.
I am speaking the truth in Christ — I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit — 2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. 4They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; 5to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
The Gospel Matthew 14:13-21
After John the Baptist is murdered, Jesus desires a time of solitude. Still, his compassion for others will not allow him to dismiss those who need him, and he is moved to perform one of his greatest miracles.
13Now when Jesus heard this, [about the beheading of John the Baptist] he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves." 16Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." 17They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish." 18And he said, "Bring them here to me." 19Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
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Tuesday, July 29, 2014
[Bethany Lutheran Church] News From Pr. Carrie
Our deployment to Jerusalem has been delayed by ELCA Global Mission for one week due to the political situation. We are now in Oklahoma visiting family, and while we are very frustrated by this turn of events, we are also excited to have the unexpected opportunity to attend my brother Carl's wedding before we depart. Right now, we have tickets to fly on Sunday, August 3rd. We're more than ready to go, and every report we've received indicates that we will be quite safe in Jerusalem.
Thanks to everyone who has checked in on us, and for all who have prayed for us during this time of transition!
Peace,
Pr. Carrie
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Wednesday, July 23, 2014
[Bethany Lutheran Church] Wednesday Words and Bethany Weekly Newsletter
Wednesday Words for July 23, 2014
From Interim Senior Pastor Len Hoffmann
Scroll down to find the link to your Bethany Weekly Newsletter!
Thought for the Day:
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
***
Pastor Paul will return from vacation and be in the office on Friday, July 25.
September 7 is Rally Day. Watch for details of this special celebration as Bethany is W.I.R.E.D. for Outreach and Service.
Christmas in July: This Sunday we will celebrate Christmas in July. Our gifts will be dedicated and distributed by the Social Action Committee on Monday. Please bring your gifts for our community outreach this Sunday when we will sing Christmas Hymns and celebrate the joy of sharing.
Our Seniors have committed $1,000 from the Ice Cream Social to our deficit (funds we have borrowed from dedicated funds). Thanks to everyone who supported this effort.
Sunday Morning Announcements: Announcements need to be in the church office by Tuesday morning. If something needs special attention please let Pastor Len know prior to worship.
Sunday at Bethany: News stories have captured our attention these past weeks. A civilian airliner shot down; escalating conflict on the Gaza strip; a growing humanitarian crisis on the southwestern boarder of the U.S.
We can add to that our personal stories of battles with cancer, dementia, broken relationships,addiction, depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
In Romans Paul reminds us that since we have been claimed in Baptism and made children of God through Christ that nothing can separate us from God’s love. God continues to love the world despite all the sin, death and evil that plagues us and all humanity. God continues to work in and through us.
Martin Luther reminds us that the good and gracious will of God is done without our prayer, but we pray in the Lord’s Prayer that the reign of God and God’s powerful love may come among us also.
We are claimed, forgiven and set free to reach out and serve.
Pastor Len
Lectionary 17
Proper 12
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Prayer of the Day
Beloved and sovereign God, through the death and resurrection of your Son you bring us into your kingdom of justice and mercy. By your Spirit, give us your wisdom, that we may treasure the life that comes from Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
First Reading I Kings 3:5-12
Because Solomon did not ask for long life, riches, or the defeat of his enemies, God gave him what he asked for: wisdom to govern the people well. In verse 13 God gives him additional honor and riches beyond compare.
5At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I should give you." 6And Solomon said, "You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. 7And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. 9Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?"
10It pleased the LORD that Solomon had asked this. 11God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.
Second Reading Romans 8:26-39
These words celebrate the depth of God's actions for us. Through Christ's death for us and the activity of the Spirit praying for us, we are fused to God's love poured out in Jesus Christ. Nothing, not even death itself, is able to separate us from such incredible divine love.
26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. 30And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written,
"For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered."
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Gospel Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Throughout Matthew's gospel, Jesus and his disciples proclaim the good news that "the kingdom of heaven is near!" Here, Jesus offers several brief parables that explore the implications of this announcement for people's lives.
31He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."
33He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened."
44The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51Have you understood all this? They answered, "Yes." 52And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."
Welcome to Bethany Preschool!
Bethany Preschool was designed to teach developmentally appropriate skills and to provide our students and their families with a caring, Christian-based foundation in an atmosphere that encourages the social, spiritual, emotional, physical, intellectual growth and development of each child. Our philosophy is to make learning so exciting that it will be enjoyed to the fullest. Our goal is to give the child a good self-image and confidence in his or her ability to succeed at new experiences and challenges.
Contact us today at 815-477-7463
pam.mcallister@bethanylc.com
Our address is 76 W Crystal Lake Ave, Crystal Lake, Il 60014
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Tuesday, July 22, 2014
[Bethany Lutheran Church] Watch Your Mail
Watch your US mail for an important announcement regarding the Fall Schedule that will begin on September 14, 2014.
Pr. Len
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Thursday, July 17, 2014
[Bethany Lutheran Church] Coming September 14
Coming September 14, 2014
New Schedule - New Coffee
Bethany Lutheran Church W.I.R.E.D for Outreach and Service.
Watch for details coming soon!
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Wednesday, July 16, 2014
[Bethany Lutheran Church] Wednesday Words and Bethany Weekly Newsletter
Wednesday Words for July 16, 2014
From Interim Senior Pastor Len Hoffmann
Scroll down to find the link to your Bethany Weekly Newsletter!
Thought for the Day:
For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:24-25
***
Kelly, our office manager, will be on vacation July 14 - 18. If you need assistance the rest of this week, please call the church office at 815-459-2690 and one of the Bethany staff will assist you.
Pastor Paul will be on vacation beginning today. He will return on Friday, July 25.
Christmas in July: It’s the annual Christmas in July outreach opportunity. There are items that are needed this time of year for a variety of social ministry organizations. Please take an “ornament” with a desired gift and return it to the church by the last Sunday in July when gifts will be dedicated and distributed by the Social Action Committee. Christmas Hymns will be sung on July 27.
Thanks to our Seniors for the Ice Cream Social. It’s 20th year and a great time for all.
Thanks to Pr. Paul, Barb and all volunteers for the great VBS. 74 Children and 38 Staff
Sunday Morning Announcements: Please consider entering the Sanctuary a few minutes early for Welcome and Announcements. We want to welcome everyone, especially our guests. It is very helpful to get announcements into the Bethany Weekly Newsletter. Announcements need to be in the church office by Tuesday morning. If something needs special attention please let Pastor Len know prior to worship.
Sunday at Bethany: I was thinking about Christmas in July and remembering back to when I was a young boy. I hoped for a lot of things back then. I hoped for a snow day or two, which was a rare occurrence in St. Louis. I hoped for various Christmas presents over the years..
As I grew older I realized that my hopes were really wishes. Hope from a Christian perspective is not wishes and not wishful thinking. Hope is grounded in the power of God to deliver what God promises, and God always delivers.
God’s greatest delivery came in the person and work of Jesus. God delivered hope to the hopeless. We need hope to live. We need hope to get up every day and face the challenges and changes of life. We have the assurance of things hoped for through faith in Jesus Christ. The tough part at times is to wait for the promises to be fulfilled in our lives. Therefore, we need to continue to discern through prayer, worship and the study of scripture how God is delivering hope to our lives, our community and our world. So, we wait with patience. We wait with hope.
Pastor Len
Lectionary 16
Proper 11
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Prayer of the Day
Faithful God, most merciful judge, you care for your children with firmness and compassion.
By your Spirit nurture us who live in your kingdom, that we may be rooted in the way of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
First Reading Isaiah 44:6-8
God claims the right to sole rule, because God announces things that actually do happen, while supposed divine opponents remain silent. God is Israel's redeemer, that is, the best brother or sister they ever had.
6Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel,
and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
7Who is like me? Let them proclaim it,
let them declare and set it forth before me.
Who has announced from of old the things to come?
Let them tell us what is yet to be.
8Do not fear, or be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
You are my witnesses!
Is there any god besides me?
There is no other rock; I know not one
Second Reading Romans 8:12-25
For Paul, true spirituality means that we experience the reality of the Spirit, which enables us to pray as God's children, keeps us in solidarity with creation, and gives us unseen hope that God will liberate us and creation from bondage to death and decay.
12So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh — 13for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ — if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
18I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
The Gospel Matthew 13:24-30, 36-42
Jesus tells a parable about the co-existence of good and evil in this world. God's judgment will remove all evildoers and causes of sin, but not until the end of human history.
24He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?' 28He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' The slaves said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?' 29But he replied, 'No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
36Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." 37He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!
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Wednesday, July 9, 2014
[Bethany Lutheran Church] Wednesday Words and Bethany Weekly Newsletter
Wednesday Words for July 9, 2014
From Interim Senior Pastor Len Hoffmann
Scroll down to find the link to your Bethany Weekly Newsletter!
Thought for the Day:
Let anyone with ears listen!
Matthew 13:9
***
Kelly, our office manager, will be on vacation July 14 - 18. If you need assistance next week, please call the church office at 815-459-2690 and one of the Bethany staff will assist you.
Christmas in July: It’s the annual Christmas in July outreach opportunity. There are items that are needed this time of year for a variety of social ministry organizations. Please take an “ornament” with a desired gift and return it to the church by the last Sunday in July when gifts will be dedicated and distributed by the Social Action Committee. Christmas Hymns will be sung on July 27.
Seniors Ice Cream Social today, beginning at 6:30 pm. Tickets are available or at the door. Come and enjoy time together and invite some family or friends.
Sunday Morning Announcements: Please consider entering the Sanctuary a few minutes early for Welcome and Announcements. We want to welcome everyone, especially our guests. At the request of the music staff the prelude will precede the announcements. It is very helpful to get announcements into the Bethany Weekly Newsletter and they need to be in the church office by Tuesday morning. If something needs special attention please let Pastor Len know prior to worship.
Sunday at Bethany: A few years ago I had a hearing test. I found out that my hearing was still good and that was a relief. It was a good thing because I was glad to know that my hearing wasn’t failing (yet), but it was also a good thing because when my wife accuses me of not listening I would say, “ I had my hearing checked and it was working fine”.
I really do know the difference, however, between hearing and listening. We can hear lots of things but we can tune them out and not really listen. In Sunday’s Gospel Jesus reminds us that we are not only to hear, but we are to listen. When we listen it means that we will respond with a word or action that demonstrates that we have listened and understood.
Our question for the week then is this, “Do we just hear God’s word, or do we listen to God’s word?” In the parable this week we have a demonstration of the difference between hearing and listening. Take a look at Matthew 13:1-9 and listen for what Jesus is saying to you and to Bethany Congregation.
Pastor Len
Lectionary 15
Proper 10
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, we thank you for planting in us the seed of your word. By your Holy Spirit help us to receive it with joy, live according to it, and grow in faith and hope and love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen
First Reading Isaiah 55:10-13
God's word to Israel's exiles is as sure and effective as never-failing precipitation. Their return to the Holy Land in a new exodus is cheered on by singing mountains and by trees that clap their hands.
10For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
12For you shall go out in joy,
and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall burst into song,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall be to the LORD for a memorial,
for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Second Reading Romans 8:1-11
There is no condemnation for those who live in Christ. God sent Christ to accomplish what the law was unable to do: condemn sin and free us from its slavery. The Spirit now empowers proper actions and values in our lives and gives us the promise of resurrected life.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law — indeed it cannot, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.
The Gospel Matthew 13:1-9;18-23
In Matthew's gospel, both Jesus and his disciples "sow the seed" of God's word by proclaiming the good news that "the kingdom of heaven is near." Now, in a memorable parable, Jesus explains why this good news produces different results in those who hear.
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9Let anyone with ears listen!"
18Hear then the parable of the sower. 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
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Wednesday, July 2, 2014
[Bethany Lutheran Church] Wednesday Words and Bethany Weekly Newletter
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[Bethany Lutheran Church] Wednesday Words and Bethany Weekly Newletter
Wednesday Words for July 2, 2014
From Interim Senior Pastor Len Hoffmann
Scroll down to find the link to your Bethany Weekly Newsletter!
Thought for the Day:
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
***
Pastoral Care Needs: Please let the pastors know if you would like a pastoral visit, especially before, during or after hospitalization. HIPPA laws require confidentiality, so if you do not inform the hospital of your congregational affiliation, or the pastors we will not be aware of your desire for pastoral care. All are invited to make us aware of those in need of prayer. It is best to obtain permission of the person being prayed for if the prayer is to be made public.
Christmas in July: It’s the annual Christmas in July outreach opportunity. There are items that are needed this time of year for a variety of social ministry organizations. Please take an “ornament” with a desired gift and return it to the church by the last Sunday in July when gifts will be dedicated and distributed by the Social Action Committee. Christmas Hymns will be sung on July 27.
Next Week: VBS “Wade in the Water” will begin Monday, July 7 at 9:00 a.m. until Noon. Register for VBS on the Bethany website, or use the forms on the Welcome Desk in the gathering area. Sunday we will install the VBS Leaders. Leaders may attend either worship service.
Seniors Ice Cream Social next Wednesday beginning at 6:00 pm. Tickets are available in the gathering space or at the door. Come and enjoy time together and invite some family or friends.
Sunday Morning Announcements: Please consider entering the Sanctuary a few minutes early for Welcome and Announcements. We want to welcome everyone, especially our guests. Worship will begin with the Prelude as a time to center ourselves and prepare for worship. It is very helpful to get announcements into the Bethany Weekly Newsletter and they need to be in the church office by Tuesday morning.
Sunday at Bethany: I wish all of you a safe and joyful July 4th weekend. As US citizens we celebrate this Independence Day as a day when 13 colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. They believed in the words of Thomas Jefferson that all people were endowed by their creator with certain rights including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
In Baptism we were declared independent from sin, death and the power of evil through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Through the Word and Sacrament we are given the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.
Although the Declaration of Independence declared our separation from England, it bound the Colonists together in a way they had not been bound before and ultimately they established the United States of America.
As followers of Jesus, we have been declared independent from the powers that separate us from God, but we are bound together as the people of God in baptism. It is for this reason that worship is important to the community of faith. We cannot go it alone in the Christian walk. We need to continually be connected to the power of Christ and to the strength of one another. Worship is that place where we declare our independence from the power of sin, death and the power of evil, and our dependence on Christ and interdependence on one another.
Pastor Len
Lectionary 14
Proper 9
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Prayer of the Day
You are great, O God, and greatly to be praised.
You have made us for yourself,
and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.
Grant that we may believe in you, call upon you,
know you, and serve you,
through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
First Reading Zechariah 9:9-12
The coming messianic king will inaugurate an era of disarmament and prosperity. Because of God's covenant with Israel, they are designated as "prisoners of hope."
9Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!
Lo, your king comes to you;
triumphant and victorious is he,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the war-horse from Jerusalem;
and the battle bow shall be cut off,
and he shall command peace to the nations;
his dominion shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
11As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you,
I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.
12Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope;
today I declare that I will restore to you double.
Second Reading Romans 7:15-25a
Life enslaved under sin is a catch-22 existence in which we know good but do not do it and do things we know to be bad. Through Jesus Christ, God has set us free from such a futile existence.
15I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. 17But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. 19For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. 20Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.
21So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. 22For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, 23but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
The Gospel Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30
Jesus chides people who find fault with both his ministry and that of John the Baptist. He thanks God that wisdom and intelligence are not needed to receive what God has to offer.
16But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,
17'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not mourn.'
18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'; 19the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."
25At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
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