December 7, 2017
Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
 
Our Hymn of the Month for 9:00 a.m. services, the above hymn, suggests that we all must find some "rest" during this wonderful preparation time we call Advent. Amidst the frenzied time of shopping, planning, and parties, we must allow some time of quiet preparation for the arrival once again of the Christ Child. Finding that time of calm is difficult for all of us, but, as Father James reminded us several times during last Sunday's services, this year's calendar makes for a short Advent: just three weeks and a day. Now is the time to prepare.
 
Our  Christmas Concert and Community Carol Sing is December 18 at 7:30 p.m.--hard as it is to believe, just a week from this coming Monday. Music will be the usual mix of composers and styles, with plenty of music for audience participation. It's a fun concert with full orchestra, and, at a requested donation of $20, one of the best deals around!  Come early to get your seat!
 
December 24  is unusual on our church calendar this year: it's the Fourth Sunday of Advent in the morning and Christmas Eve in the afternoon and evening! At our one service that morning, at 9:00 a.m., we will sing Advent hymns. It's rare that Advent 4 and Christmas Eve fall on the same day, but it provides an exciting opportunity for all of us: we will have the chance following the morning service to assist the Flower Guild in transforming our church from Advent to Christmas--the ultimate preparation!

Hal Pysher
Associate for Music and Liturgy, Organist and Choirmaster
Welcome The Rev. Canon Elizabeth Rankin Geitz
This Sunday we welcome The Rev. Canon Elizabeth Rankin Geitz as the new non-stipendiary assisting priest and we will induct her into this ministry at the 11:00 a.m. service. Canon Geitz and her husband Michael are with us during season, returning to Eastern Pennsylvania for the summer and fall, and we are thrilled that she has agreed to come on board during their time each year in Palm Beach.  She has been our guest many times this past year and a half, and we are delighted that she has accepted this call to preach, teach, and celebrate regularly during the season.
 
DECEMBER 10, 2017
Preacher: The Rev. Canon Scott Gunn

*8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
8:15 a.m. Fellowship Breakfast, Parish Hall West
*9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
9:50 a.m. Pray and Play Group (ages 3 & 4), Sunday School Hall
9:50 a.m. Story Group (K and 1st grade), Sunday School Hall
9:50 a.m. Arts Group (2nd to 5th grade), Sunday School Hall
9:50 a.m. Service Group (2nd to 5th grade), Sunday School Hall
9:50 a.m. Explorers Group (2nd to 5th grade), Sunday School Hall
9:50 a.m. Questions Group (6th & 7th grade), Library
9:50 a.m. Confirmation Group (8th Grade), ECW Room
9:50 a.m. Mission Group (9th-12th Grade), Youth Room
9:50 a.m. Adult Forum, Parish Hall East
10:00 a.m. Fellowship Finger Food, Parish Hall West
*#11:00 a.m. Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist
12:15 p.m. Church Tour

PARKING: Persons attending Sunday services will be allowed to park on ALL of Barton Avenue and Pendleton Avenue
without receiving a ticket until 1:30 p.m.

* nursery care for infants through age 2 is
available from 7:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

# service will be live-streamed here

Click here to view the service leaflet for this Sunday.
 
Click here to view this week's Bethesda Happenings. 
This Sunday's Offerings

Fellowship Breakfast | 8:15 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | Parish Hall West
We will have a full breakfast, with rotating menu, for $5 per person. After 10:00 a.m., a simpler fare, fellowship finger foods, will be provided until 1:00 p.m. with no cost to our parishioners.

This week's menu:  scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash browns.

Adult Forum: The Rev. Canon Scott Gunn
9:50 to 10:50 a.m. | Parish Hall East
A dear friend of Bethesda, Canon Gunn, Executive Director of Forward Movement, returns to us this morning to share about Forward Movement, a ministry of far-reaching, bilingual, print and e-publications for group and individual study, born of the Great Depression and thriving in a changing landscape of spirituality and connectivity.
Children and Youth--Mark your Calendars!

Christmas Caroling | Next Sunday, December 17 | 12:30 p.m.
Help spread some cheer this year! Darcy Hall is excited to have us so bring some merriment to share. Wear red and green and meet in the Parish Hall following the 11:00 a.m. service to carpool. All are welcome!

Christmas Pageant Rehearsal--Full Cast
Saturday, December 23 | 10:00 a.m. | Church
We will walk through the full pageant twice and fit any last-minute
costumes for children who need them. For more information, contact
Greg Knight at knight@bbts.org or call him at (561) 655-4555 x114.

Christmas Pageant | Sunday, December 24 | 4:00 p.m. | Church
Join us for a wonderful Bethesda family tradition with our annual Christmas pageant as the children and youth of our parish live out the story of Jesus' birth in Luke's Gospel from the Annunciation to the manger. Any child who has not previously signed up but would still like to participate in the pageant tonight may do so. Please
come to the Sunday School Hall to be fitted for one of the
remaining costumes before the service begins.
Volunteer Opportunities for All Ages
Luncheon for the Homebound and Holy Eucharist
Thursday, December 28 | 12:05 p.m. | Church

We need volunteers to help with all aspects of this event including registration and helping guests as they arrive for lunch, serving the meal, assisting them over to the Church for worship, and clean-up after the event. If you are interested in helping in any way, please contact April Lawrence at (561) 655-4555 x112 or e-mail her at 
This Sunday's Readings in Context
Parishioner Tom O'Brien, a Canon and Examining Chaplain for Scripture of this diocese, writes brief background descriptions of the Sunday readings. We thank Tom for sharing his learning and love of Scripture with us in this way.

During the 2017 Pentecost Season, alternative readings from the Hebrew Bible are offered.  Scripture in Context will discuss both readings and the reading from the Christian Scriptures.

Isaiah 40:1-11
The Book of Isaiah is a composite of writings from three distinct periods in Israel's history.  Chapters 1-39 are called "First Isaiah" and were written in the 20 years before Jerusalem was under direct siege by the Assyrians in 701 BCE.  "Second Isaiah" is Chapters 40 to 55 and brings hope to the Judeans during the time of the Exile in Babylon (587 to 539 BCE) by telling them they have suffered enough and will return to Jerusalem. "Third Isaiah" is Chapters 56 to 66 and, for the most part, gives encouragement to the Judeans who returned to Jerusalem after the Exile.
 
Today's reading sets the tone and essence of "Second Isaiah." It was written during the ending years of the Babylonian Exile and analogizes the withered grass (v. 6-8) to the declining Babylonian Empire (which was conquered by the Persians in 539 BCE).  The references to "preparing the way of the LORD/YHWH" (v. 3-5) refer to facilitating the Judeans' return to Jerusalem so that YHWH would again be visibly present in Jerusalem. These verses were adopted by Mark (in today's Gospel) and by the other Gospel writers to describe the ministry of John the Baptizer in preparing the way for Jesus of Nazareth.  
 
2 Peter 3:8-15a
This letter is presented as if it were a first-person statement of the last words and advice of the apostle Peter, but was likely written long after Peter's death by an unknown person to convey the understandings of the church in the late First Century. Scholars agree that the author was not Simon Peter or the author of 1 Peter because of the quality of the Greek used and the Hellenistic philosophy invoked.
 
The letter presents an "apocalyptic" vision of the world -- one in which the situation is so dire that only an intervening event (the "Day of the Lord") can change it.  Refuting those who deny that there will ever be a Day of the Lord because it had not yet come, the author reminded his hearers that God's time is not our time (v. 8-9). The author said the world as we know it will be transformed by fire (v.10,12) and there will be a new earth where right relationships ("righteousness") prevail (v.13). The author urged the hearers of the letter to live blamelessly and at peace (v.14). 
141 South County Road · Palm Beach, FL 33480
(561) 655-4554 ·  www.bbts.org
Bethesda's Mission is to experience the clear and strong presence of God and to understand and spread Christ's teachings through collective worship, learning, and service.
Funeral Service
Janet Reynolds
Friday, December 29
3:00 p.m.
2017-2018 ADVENT & CHRISTMAS SERVICES
C lick here  to view, download, and print our entire schedule. 
DON'T FORGET  to  return your 
gift to the Narthex (gift-wrapped and with the angel tag attached) this  Sunday, December 10 , so 
Faith*Hope*Love*Charity, Inc . can deliver the  gifts by Christmas Day. 

On behalf of these children, thank you!

BOAR'S HEAD
COSTUMING DAY
Remember that this  Friday and Saturday  are our  c ostuming days for this year's Boar's Head Festival. Everyone must be fitted for a costume and assigned a role on these two days.

Friday, December 8 
10:30 a.m. until noon
Lords and Ladies are particularly encouraged to come on Friday.

Saturday, December 9 
9:00 a.m. until noon

Wine and Fellowship Under the Stars
This Friday, December 8 
5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Cluett Garden
Join us for a special cocktail party of fellowship, wine, and appetizers  hosted by the Episcopal Church Women. All are invited and encouraged  to attend! A contribution of $10 per person is suggested. You can RSVP  by sending an e-mail to ayana@bbts.org.
Bethesda Life
Saturday, December 9  
9:00 a.m. |Parish Hall
Come get a fresh perspective on Bethesda's ministries at Bethesda Life! Whether you are new to Bethesda, or have been attending for years, we encourage you to join us to learn more about the mission, history, organization, and life of both the Episcopal Church and Bethesda-by-the-Sea. This is a wonderful opportunity for all to identify with one or more areas in which you feel called to serve, as well as to meet other parishioners-new and long-time. A continental breakfast will be  served beginning at 8:45 a.m. and the session is from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with lunch following immediately after. Please sign-up in advance by calling April Lawrence in the church office at (561) 655-4555 x112, or e-mail her at april@bbts.org
Adult Confirmation and
Holy Eucharist 
with Bishop Eaton
Wednesday, December 13  
6:30 p.m. | Church
The Right Reverend Peter Eaton will preside at this special service, confirming and receiving several of our adults. A reception in the Garth will follow the service. Please plan on joining us for this very special occasion.
Christmas Concert and Community Carol Sing
Monday, December 18 
7:30 p.m. | Church
Bethesda presents one of our area's most popular Christmas concerts! The Bethesda Choir performs with some of the finest instrumentalists in our area, and the audience sings many favorite Christmas carols with the excitement of full orchestra accompaniment. All are welcome and encouraged to attend-come early to get a seat. A requested donation of $20 will be received at the door.
We pray for...  
Angela, Angelica, Anne, Augusta,  Bianca, Bill, Bob, Charles, Chris, Christopher, Connie, David, Dylan, Ellen, Fred, Gary, Gavin, Geoff, Gerry, Grier, Holly, Isabel, Jack, James, Jane, Jennifer, Jim, Joann, John, Juan, Katie, Leslie, Lillian, Lloyd,  Lory, Mary,  Matthew, Michael, Michelle, Midialys, Mildred, Miryam, Molly, Pam, Pamela, Patricia, Peggy, Ralph, Rebecca, Regine, Renée, Richard, Rick, Ricky, Robert, Scott,  Sharon, Sheri, Stephen, Susan, Sylvia, Taryn, Theresa, Thomas, Ward, William, and those serving our country...Benjamin, Christian, Clara, Eric, Harold, Herbert, John, Lorne, Michael, Sean, and Tommy.
The Bethesda Fall Catalog is available...
click here and mark your calendars! 
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