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Monday, March 18, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
[Bethany Lutheran Church] Wednesday Words for March 13, 2013
Wednesday Words for March 13, 2013
from Pastor Carrie Smith
Thought for the Day:
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
- a verse from St. Patrick’s “Breastplate” prayer
To read the rest, go to Prayer Foundation
or check out #450 in our ELW Hymnal
***
In our prayers: Kathy Sukel; Linnea Becker; Bill Kohl; Gerda Kristensen; John Therrien; Helen Bengston; Larry Kohn; Carol Stupar; Bruce Johnson; and Mission Save a Smile (including church members Chris and Patty Burseth, Cheryl Reimer, and Debbie Groat) who are in Panama improving the dental health of indigenous children and families.
Tonight at Bethany: Soup supper at 6 pm followed by contemplative worship at 7 pm. See you there!
Sunday at Bethany: Pr. Paul will be preaching on this last Sunday before Holy Week. The Sonshine Singers and the Bethany Adult Choir will provide special music. We’ll be singing a stately old hymn called “Through the Night of Doubt and Sorrow” as well as “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” and “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross”, all excellent hymns to carry us through the end of this Lenten season.
Easter Baskets for kids in need: Did you know that Bethany’s Social Action Team gives out more than 30 Easter Baskets to kids who are staying at Turning Point or Home of the Sparrow? You are invited to help assemble these baskets on Monday, March 18th at 9:30 am, at the church. Thank you for your help!
How do other Lutherans live out their faith? You can read inspiring stories here: Living Lutheran
ELCA Presiding Bishop offers prayers for the election of a new pope:
On behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Rev. Mark S. Hanson extends prayers for Pope Benedict XVI and for the members of the Catholic Church following the announcement of the Holy Father’s intention to resign on Feb. 28. While the resignation comes as a surprise, it is “one that calls Christians to lift up support and prayers in this momentous time of transition,” said Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop. Read more….ELCA news
First Communion: Families of young children, are you planning to attend the Family First Communion Event during Holy Week? If so, please contact Pr. Paul as soon as possible to indicate you are coming. Paul.cannon@bethanylc.com
Holy Week Schedule:
March 24: Palm Sunday: 9 am & 10:45 am services begin under the canopy with the palm procession
Maundy Thursday: 11 am & 7 pm
Good Friday: 11 am (Stations of the Cross) and 7 pm (Good Friday Liturgy with Bethany Choir)
Easter Vigil: 7 pm (gather under the canopy to light the new fire). Thanks be to God for 4 baptisms that evening!
Easter Sunday morning: 8:30 am & 10:30 am, with a light Easter breakfast in between services. Bethany adult choir, Sonshine singers, Bell Canto Choir, the Vision Dancers, and a brass ensemble will help us celebrate the resurrection in style!
***
The Texts for this Week: 5th Sunday in Lent
Isaiah 43:16-21
16Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, 17who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: 18Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. 19I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. 20The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, 21the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise.
Psalm 126 (The Message Version)
126 1-3 It seemed like a dream, too good to be true,
when God returned Zion’s exiles.
We laughed, we sang,
we couldn’t believe our good fortune.
We were the talk of the nations—
“God was wonderful to them!”
God was wonderful to us;
we are one happy people.
4-6 And now, God, do it again—
bring rains to our drought-stricken lives
So those who planted their crops in despair
will shout hurrahs at the harvest,
So those who went off with heavy hearts
will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.
Philippians 3:4b-14
If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
John 12:1-8
12Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5“Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6(He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
Peace,
+ Pastor Carrie Smith
carrie.smith@bethanylc.com
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Wednesday, March 6, 2013
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[Bethany Lutheran Church] Wednesday Words for March 6, 2013
Wednesday Words for March 6, 2013
from Pastor Carrie Smith
Thought for the Day:
“For most of my life I have struggled to find God, to know God, to love God. I have tried hard to follow the guidelines of the spiritual life—pray always, work for others, read the Scriptures—and to avoid the many temptations to dissipate myself. I have failed many times but always tried again, even when I was close to despair.
Now I wonder whether I have sufficiently realized that during all this time God has been trying to find me, to know me, and to love me. The question is not “How am I to find God?” but “How am I to let myself be found by him?” The question is not “How am I to know God?” but “How am I to let myself be known by God?” And, finally, the question is not “How am I to love God?” but “How am I to let myself be loved by God?” God is looking into the distance for me, trying to find me, and longing to bring me home.”
― Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming
***
In our prayers: Linnea Becker (now home); Fred Becker (procedure yesterday); Bruce Johnson; Gerda Kristensen (soon entering rehab); John Therrien (back in the hospital); Gwen Therrien (suffering with a cold!); Carol Stupar (making progress in rehab); Darlene Shaeffer (foot surgery this week); Evelyn Bunt, Bob Bunt’s mother (nearing the end of her life).
Tonight at Bethany: Soup Supper is at 6 pm, and worship is at 7 pm. Take some time out during this busy (and snowy!) week for fellowship, food, and contemplative worship.
Sunday at Bethany: It is already the 4th Sunday in Lent! This week will be a feast of hymns that are old favorites (at least, they are old favorites in my book!): “What Wondrous Love is This”, “Come Thou Font of Ev’ry Blessing”, “Amazing Grace”, “Softly and Tenderly” and then, a special favorite: “My Life Flows on in Endless Song”. The Bell Canto Choir will be blessing us with music at both the 9 am and 10:45 am worship services.
Our Gospel lesson is also a real favorite—the story of the Prodigal Son from Luke chapter 15.
The Art of Forgiveness: Images of the Prodigal Son
Luther Seminary is the home of a remarkable collection of artwork based on the Prodigal Son parable. Jerry Evenrud, a lifelong arts enthusiast, donated this collection to the seminary in 2007. Go to this link to see the images (you may have to click “search” to see the images) Prodigal Song Art Collection
What’s with the cocoon? No, it’s not Mothra. And Jesus is not in there, mutating! The Visual Liturgical Arts Team fashioned this chancel art to visually represent the transformation that happens to each of us during the Lenten season. The “ruffles” behind the cocoon represent the tomb. Over the next few weeks, watch as this image changes and draws us closer to Easter and New Life!
Are you interested in being a part of this art team? You can contact Judy Hollister at judy-hollister@sbcglobal.net
Holy Communion Education: During the month of March, children ages preschool through 5th grade are learning about Holy Communion. For some children, this will end in celebrating their First Communion during Holy Week. For others who are already receiving communion, this is a time for increasing their understanding. Still others will learn this year and several more years before they and their families discern they are ready.
Why the diversity? Simply put, Lutherans are diverse in their understanding and practice of Holy Communion. As our church grows and welcomes members from other Lutheran churches as well as other Christian traditions, we invite families to make these decisions for themselves. You can read what the ELCA says about this here: When should children receive Holy Communion?
***
The Texts This Week: 4th Sunday in Lent
Joshua 5:9-12
9The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.” And so that place is called Gilgal to this day. 10While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. 11On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.
Psalm 32 (Message Version)
Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be—
you get a fresh start, your slate’s wiped clean.
Count yourself lucky—
God holds nothing against you and you’re holding nothing back from him.
When I kept it all inside, my bones turned to powder,
my words became daylong groans.
The pressure never let up; all the juices of my life dried up.
Then I let it all out; I said, “I’ll make a clean breast of my failures to God.”
Suddenly the pressure was gone—
my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared.
These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray;
when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts we’ll be on high ground, untouched.
God’s my island hideaway,
keeps danger far from the shore, throws garlands of hosannas around my neck.
Let me give you some good advice;
I’m looking you in the eye and giving it to you straight:
“Don’t be ornery like a horse or mule that needs bit and bridle to stay on track.”
God-defiers are always in trouble;
God-affirmers find themselves loved every time they turn around.
Celebrate God.
Sing together—everyone!
All you honest hearts, raise the roof!
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
16From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. 17So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Luke 15:1-32
15Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3So he told them this parable: …
“There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 20So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. 25“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”
Peace,
+Pastor Carrie Smith
carrie.smith@bethanylc.com
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Tuesday, March 5, 2013
[Bethany Lutheran Church] Bethany church office closed; Team Night CANCELLED
Dear Bethany sisters and brothers,
The church office policy is to close anytime the Crystal Lake schools close, so there will be no one in the office today. If you have a pastoral emergency, you may call (815) 347-3423 to reach me.
Although things don't look too bad out there right now, the forecast seems to indicate a very messy evening commute. I think we'll err on the side of safety and CANCEL Ministry Team Night. Stay home and be safe, please!
I assume the roads will be cleaned up by tomorrow, so I hope to see many of you Wednesday at 6 pm for a soup supper and then at 7 pm for Lenten Worship.
Peace,
Pastor Carrie Smith
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