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30 years. That's a long time in human terms, even more so in professional terms. If we think back to where we were 30 years ago, we will realize how far we have come and how different the world is today. Hal Pysher began his ministry here as Associate for Music and Liturgy 30 years ago. In church terms, 30 years ago, the "new" prayer book was actually new, and the hymnal was even newer. The Episcopal Church was entering a whole new life of worship based on these two important resource revisions, and many congregations struggled to learn and integrate this magnificent new liturgy with their beloved traditions.
I am not sure any parish has done this so faithfully and effectively as Bethesda, and Hal's knowledge, wisdom, pastoral concern, and tremendous talent have been a principal reason that our worship continues to be uplifting, lively, traditional, and fresh. We have a rare gift when we get to love and serve together with someone for 30 or more years who has those gifts. So this Sunday we will give thanks to God for Hal's continuing ministry among us as we celebrate this milestone.
We will have our customary three services this First Sunday of Christmas: our 8:00 a.m. Rite I Eucharist, our 9:00 a.m. Lessons and Carols with Holy Communion, and our 11:00 a.m. Festival of Lessons and Carols. The 11:00 a.m. service will include some special guests who have been important in Hal's life. Frank Boles, one of the pre-eminent musicians and composers in the Episcopal Church today, has composed an anthem on the Prologue to the Gospel According to John that is making its debut at Bethesda this Christmas season. We will also have a reception following that service.
So let's all wish Hal every blessing as he continues to serve with us as our Associate for Music and Liturgy and give God thanks for 30 years of glorious worship and music thus far.
Peace,
Father James+
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*8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
9:00 a.m. Congregational Lessons & Carols with Communion
9:50 a.m.
Christmas Wassail, Parish Hall
*#11:00 a.m. Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols in Celebration of
Hal Pysher's 30 years of Ministry with reception following
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.
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From the Senior Warden
Dear Bethesda Friends,
One of the miracles of the season for me is how deeply the traditional Christmas worship rituals touch my heart and soul, even though they are basically unchanging from year to year. Part of this is a response to the majesty and glory of our Christmas worship, with the stunningly beautiful decorations and the lovely renditions of carols and hymns, which seem all the more special since we only hear them for a short time each December. Another part is experiencing the special events, concerts, and pageants, seeing so many people work together to make them happen and so many people being moved by them. This year as I saw the morning worshipers celebrating the Fourth Sunday of Advent, which happened to fall on Christmas Eve, stay after the service to help the Flower Guild transform the church in a short time from Advent to Christmas, I was struck by what seemed to be another small Christmas miracle: the tremendous collective labor of love given to the preparation for and celebration of Christmas at Bethesda. I can't even begin to capture the time and care devoted by our clergy, staff, and myriad of volunteers to express the spirit of God's love to the greater community, residents, and visitors, in this way. Did you know that many people, staff, and volunteers alike, travel to be with their families the week before Christmas, so they can be back to Bethesda and serve directly or in support of the many Christmas week events and worship services? Even more than usual, I feel awe and gratitude for the faithful, giving, and loving community that is Bethesda-by-the-Sea.
Remember, there is still more Christmas to come, from today's Homebound Luncheon to this Sunday's services of Lessons and Carols, to the glorious Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival--January 6 and 7. There really are Twelve Days of Christmas!
Last week, the Vestry focused its last meeting of the year on year-end business. A few highlights:
- The Vestry approved a slate of four nominees for Vestry service, which was presented by Barbara Callahan, Chair of the Nominating Committee. The congregation will vote on this slate at our annual meeting January 28, 2018. Immediately afterward, new Vestry members will be commissioned and the 2018 Vestry will vote on Chairs of the four Vestry Sub-Committees.
- The Vestry approved a budget for 2018, which was presented by Peggy Johnson, Chair of the Finance Committee. It is an ambitious budget, designed to enable our many growing ministries, and it will need to be supported by growing giving. At the same time, the Vestry remains committed to fiscal responsibility, and will continue to keep a close watch on revenues and spending to keep them in line.
- The Vestry approved a contribution of funds generously given by our congregation for hurricane relief to be made to Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD).
- The Vestry devoted most of our last meeting to a Mutual Ministry Review, or MMR. This activity is so named because the Rector and Vestry look together at the ministry of the whole church, to see how well we are fulfilling our stated mission. We discussed our 2017 Vestry Priorities: our successes, the strengths, and gifts used in achieving them, the learning we gained, and areas needing improvement (our "growing edges"). We also had a frank conversation about how the Vestry functions together as a team and how we interact with the Rector, our Chair, and ways that we can become an even more effective working body.
Year-end work continues into the new year. Paul Coombs, as Chair of the Strategy working group, has been working with the various Vestry and Rector committees to develop the Bethesda 2018 Plan, which will be presented at the Annual Meeting. The Plan will include Vestry Priorities for 2018. Various clergy, staff, and Vestry members are preparing the Annual Report which will also be provided to the congregation at the Annual Meeting. Please plan to attend at 9:15 a.m. on January 28, 2018, followed by the 11:00 a.m. service and annual Parish Picnic.
As we close the year, people often ask if they can still make a year-end gift. The answer is yes! The quickest way to do so is through our website, by clicking HERE. If you prefer to mail a check, it must either be in the office or postmarked by December 31 to be recorded as a gift in 2017.
Wishing you all the blessings of Christmas,
Beth Cole,
Senior Warden
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The Feast of the Epiphany
and Holy Eucharist
Saturday, January 6 | 8:00 a.m. | Chancel
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-Resumes Wednesday, January 17 -
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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
discusses some of the joyful (and repetitive) verses of Third Isaiah and portions of Paul's letter to the Galatians that show his evolving understanding of the relationship between the Law (Torah) and the Gentile Jesus Followers.
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
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 called for Jerusalem to repent in the 20 years before Jerusalem was under siege by the Assyrians in 701 BCE. "Second Isaiah" is Chapters 40 to 55 and brought hope to the Judeans during the Exile in Babylon (587 to 539 BCE) by telling them they had suffered enough and would return to Jerusalem. "Third Isaiah" is Chapters 56 to 66 and, for the most part, gave encouragement to Judeans who returned to Jerusalem (which had been largely destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BCE) after the Exile.
Today's reading is from "Third Isaiah" and is a series of joyful verses. The first two verses (from "I will greatly rejoice" to "spring up before all the nations" are spoken by Zion/Jerusalem. As is often characteristic of psalm-like verses in the Hebrew Bible (as was also true of ancient Canaanite poetry), the verses are repetitive - the idea in one phrase is repeated in slightly different words in the next. For example, "I will greatly rejoice" is followed by "my whole being will exult." Similarly, Zion is "clothed with garments of salvation" is repeated as the "robe of righteousness."
In the verses beginning "For Zion's sake," the speaker shifts from Zion to the prophet, but the use of repetitive ideas continues: "I will not keep silent" is followed by "I will not rest." You [Zion] shall wear "a crown of beauty" and "a royal diadem."
Being "called by a new name" meant Zion/Jerusalem will have a change of fortune and a new identity given by YHWH.
Galatians 3:23-25, 4:4-7
Galatia was a large Roman province in what is now western Turkey. This letter was likely written by Paul in the early 50's (CE), and dealt (in part) with controversies between Jewish Jesus Followers and Gentile Jesus Followers regarding the continuing importance of Torah (Law) and whether Gentile Jesus Followers had to be circumcised and follow the Kosher dietary laws. It is a "transitional" letter in that - when compared to Paul's last letter (Romans) -- it shows his views on the relationship between the Torah and the Gentile Jesus Followers continued to evolve.
Today's reading unfortunately omits verses that help the reader/hearer better understand Paul's position on the relationship between the law (Torah) and the faithfulness of (not faith in) Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. Paul states that through the grace of the faithfulness of Jesus the Christ/Anointed, Jesus Followers are "no longer subject to a disciplinarian [the Law]" (vv.24-25).
In the second part of today's reading (beginning with "But in the fulness of time"), Paul emphasizes that Jesus of Nazareth was a human and a Jew ("born of a woman under the law") to "redeem those under the law" (the Jews). The Greek word translated here as "redeem" means to buy back, as in redeeming something one owns from a pawn shop. All persons, because of the Spirit of the Son, are children of God who can call God "Abba" (Aramaic for father) and are heirs of the Kingdom.
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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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2017-2018 ADVENT & CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Click here
to view, download, and print our entire schedule.
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Please note that our office will be closed
Monday, January 1.
Happy New Year
from the Clergy and Staff!
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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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SAVE THE DATE
Sunday, January 28, 2018
- Please note there will NOT be a 9:00 a.m. service -
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
9:15 a.m. Annual Meeting and Election of Vestry members, Parish Hall
11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
12:15 p.m. Parish Picnic
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Three Events, One Cause:
Eat a meal - Make a meal - Share a meal
Click here for more information and get involved today!
Palm Beach Empty Bowls: 100% of the proceeds go directly to the Palm Beach County Food Bank. Please join the committee to put on this event or simply come and enjoy a delicious soup lunch at Bethesda (or order take out).
Palm Beach Unites: Come participate in one of three 60 minute shifts at the Palm Beach Day Academy and be a part of packaging 150,000 healthy meals for those in need.
Share What you Can: Our food drive here at Bethesda benefits C.R.O.S. Ministries Food Pantries, ensuring that families have access to healthy nutritious food. Together we give thanks and "Share What You Can" with those in need.
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Women at the Well Winter Bible Study
Wednesday, January 17
9:00 a.m. | Parish Hall
This year we will be studying the Old Testament Book of Ruth. It is the story of God's grace and love in difficult times. Ruth's story happens in a period of disobedience, idolatry, and violence in the world. It is also a story of romance, redemption, and hope. Please join us for this women's six week study, lead by The Rev. Cecie Titcomb, Ellen Kaufmann, Georgie Skover, and Vivian Chen. For more information and sign up please call Ayana at the church office at (561) 655-4554.
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We pray for...
Angela, Angelica, Anne, Augusta, Betsy, Bianca, Bill, Bob, Charles, Chris, Christopher, Connie, Daniel, David, Denny, 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, Pamela, Pat, Patricia, Peggy, Ralph, Rebecca, Regine, Renée, Richard, Rick, Ricky, Robert, Scott, Sharon, Sheri, Stephen, Stephanie, 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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