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And the Word became flesh and lived among us...full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
We have arrived once again, dear friends, at this holy time of year, having made our spiritual Advent journey to Bethlehem to celebrate with Mary and Joseph, with angels and shepherds, with family, friends, and even strangers the birth of our Lord and Savior.
I find that in quieter moments, it's not so difficult to embrace the clear, true focus of Christmas: that God so loved the world that he sent his son to be with us, to make his dwelling within us, to save and to heal us. Embracing this mystery need not require fully understanding it--this is a mystery, after all, not a science experiment--and mysteries are meant to be contemplated, wondered about, pondered, as Mary did, to the point of sheer joy beyond words.
I also find this season full of so many other good (and not so good) things that distract from or compete with this clear focus. This season is so full of parties and family gatherings, shopping and baking, travel and hospitality, that we can easily forget the One whom we celebrate. We can also easily forget that for many of us, this is not a season full of joy and festivity, but of grief and heartache where losses of loved ones loom large and hurts can feel deeper.
Whatever state we find ourselves in, this can and should be for Christians a season full of grace and truth within, underneath, and around our joy and festivity, our grief and heartache. Grace and truth, brought to us in the Incarnation, can help heal the wounds and heighten our joy, as these divine gifts help us to focus outward on others' needs, on the gift of the family we have in this place, as well as our relationships with Christians across the world and across time.
If you've been here for a high festival day, you know that we manage the large number of worshipers quite well, so concerns about logistics should be unfounded.
For some help with planning, we have put together a
Christmas Worship Fact Sheet
.
CLICK HERE
and look it over before you come.
So, come be a part of the festivities here that I promise will fill us with the grace and truth of Jesus Christ living among us. Bethesda is exactly where we need to be this weekend to worship and celebrate God made flesh and come among us. We look forward to seeing you here!
Peace,
Father James+
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2017 ADVENT & CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Click here to view, download, and print our entire schedule.
Sunday, December 24 - Fourth Sunday of Advent
- PP Parking Permitted from 7:30 a.m. to 1:15 a.m.-
*9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist and Homily
Help the Flower Guild decorate for Christmas following the service.
Sunday, December 24 - Christmas Eve
- PP Parking Permitted from 7:30 a.m. to 1:15 a.m.-
+ 4:00 p.m. Christmas Pageant, Homily, and Holy Eucharist
(Live-Streamed)
6:30 p.m. Festal Eucharist and Homily; music by the Bethesda Choir and instrumental ensemble
+ 10:30 p.m. Festal Eucharist and Homily (with incense); music by the Bethesda Choir and instrumental ensemble; extended Prelude music
(Live-Streamed)
Monday, December 25 - Christmas Day, Office Closed
- PP Parking Permitted from 7:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.-
9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist & Homily
11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist & Homily with music by the Bethesda Choir
(Live-Streamed)
Tuesday, December 26 - Office Closed
Wednesday, December 27
12:05 p.m. Holy Eucharist & Healing
Thursday, December 28
11:00 a.m. Homebound Luncheon, Parish Hall
12:05 p.m. Homebound Service with Holy Eucharist
Sunday, December 31 - First Sunday after Christmas
- PP Parking Permitted from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.-
*8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist & Homily
*9:00 a.m. Congregational Lessons and Carols with Holy Eucharist
*10:00 a.m. Wassail, Parish Hall
*11:00 a.m. A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in Celebration of Hal Pysher's
30 years of Ministry with reception following
* Nursery care available for newborns through age 2.
+ Overflow seating with video simulcast will be available in the Parish Hall.
+ 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.
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Volunteer Opportunities for All Ages
Luncheon for the Homebound and Holy Eucharist
Thursday, December 28 | 11:00 a.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
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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.
The reading from Isaiah gives assurances to the Judeans who returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian Exile, and the reading from the Letter to Titus gives a succinct understanding of the evolving beliefs of the First Century Jesus Follower community.
Isaiah 62:6-12
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 gives encouragement to the Judeans who returned to Jerusalem after the Exile. In today's reading, the prophet assures the Judeans that Yahweh will be their protector and that sentinels (prophets who speak for Yahweh) will guard over them.
Titus 3:4-7
Although Titus is not mentioned in the extensive descriptions of Paul's journeys in the last half of Acts of the Apostles, he is mentioned in two of Paul's authentic epistles - Galatians and Corinthians. Titus was Paul's co-worker and envoy, and this letter is crafted as a reminder for Titus to serve the large Jewish Jesus Follower Community in Crete. The Letter to Titus is one of the so-called "Pastoral Letters" (the others are 1 and 2 Timothy) which contain substantial amounts of advice to Paul's co-workers. Most scholars conclude that the Pastoral Letters were written in Paul's name by some of Paul's disciples after Paul's death in Rome in 63 CE. In today's reading, the author presents succinct creed-like statements about key understandings of the meaning of the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth, and the continuing work of the Spirit.
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141 South County Road · Palm Beach, FL 33480
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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.
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Funeral Service
Janet Raymer Reynolds
Friday, December 29
3:00 p.m.
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This Sunday, December 24
Help the Flower Guild decorate for Christmas!
This year Advent 4 and Christmas Eve fall on the same day, and 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! Parishioners are encouraged to stay after the service this Sunday to help the Flower Guild decorate the church for our Christmas services. Refreshments and food will be provided in the Parish Hall.
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Blessed Christmas to all & Happy New Year!
From the Clergy and Staff
Our office will be closed on Monday, December 25,
Tuesday, December 26, and Monday, January 1.
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Christmas Pageant
This 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.
Rehearsal Saturday, December 23, at 10:00 a.m. in the Church.
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In Celebration of Hal Pysher's
30 years of Ministry!
Sunday, December 31 | 11:00 a.m. Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols
The 11:00 a.m. service of lessons and carols, this year honors Hal Pysher's 30 years of ministry as Associate for Music and Liturgy at Bethesda-by-the-Sea. The morning includes a mass choir with current and former members of the Bethesda Choir, and special guest musicians and a celebratory reception follows the service.
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Annual Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival
Saturday, January 6
3:30 p.m.
&
Sunday, January 7
2:00 & 4:30 p.m.
A Perennial Holiday Favorite Returns! Mark your calendars for the
upcoming Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival, which is Bethesda-by-the-
Sea's beloved re-creation of an ancient drama celebrating Epiphany. Pipes
and Drums, Beefeaters, Sprites, Shepherds, the Three Kings and their
Pages, Mary and Joseph, Flag Bearers, Jesters, the Herald, King Wenceslas
and his Page, a Brass Quintet, the mighty Austin organ, and the Bethesda
Choir . . . all will be in place as our Festival takes place on the Sunday
closest to The Feast of the Epiphany, twelve days after Christmas!
A $20 donation is gratefully accepted at the door.
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We pray for...
Angela, Angelica, Anne, Augusta, Betsy, Bianca, Bill, Bob, Charles, Chris, Christopher, Connie, Daniel, David, Dylan, Ellen, Fred, Gary, Gavin, Geoff, Gerry, Grier, Henry, Holly, Isabel, Jack, James, Jane, Jennifer, Jim, Joann, John, Juan, Kaki, Katie, Lawrence Family, Leslie, Lillian, Lloyd, Lory, Mary, Matthew, Michael, Michelle, Midialys, Mildred, Miryam, Molly, Pam, Pamela, Pat, Patricia, Peggy, Ralph, Rebecca, Regine, Renée, Richard, Rick, Ricky, Robert, Scott, Sharon, Sheri, Stephen, Sylvia, Taryn, Theresa, Thomas, Ward, William, and those serving our country...Benjamin, Christian, Clara, Eric, Harold, Herbert, John, Lorne, Michael, Sean, and Tommy.
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The Bethesda Fall Catalog is available...
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