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I invite you...
It seems just not that long ago that we were gathering with family and friends to celebrate our Lord's birth at Christmas. Indeed, we turn rather quickly to the season of Lent that begins this coming week on Ash Wednesday. On that day, the celebrant invites us to the observance of a holy Lent. No other season of the Church year begins this way. Lent calls us to go deeper in our spiritual life, to look more closely at those aspects of ourselves that draw us from the love of God, and to prepare with solemnity and purpose for the celebration of the Resurrection at Easter. The Church o
ffers us this Lenten journey each year as the best opportunity to renew and strengthen ourselves and one another for our life of faith and service to God.
I invite you to order your life over the next six weeks in a way that truly enables you to focus on your spiritual life and our common life of worship, learning, service, and stewardship. I promise that anyone who enters into the fullness of this holy season will find themselves more connected to God and better able to love and delight in others-even more able to see themselves honestly and thereby experience the gift of forgiveness and grace that comes from our Lenten practices of self-examination and repentance.
So re-arrange your schedule to be here on Sunday mornings, Tuesday mornings, Wednesday middays, and Wednesday evenings, for the Middle Way and join us often for our Lenten journey together.
Peace,
Father James +
The Rector
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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, sausages, hashbrowns, biscuits, muffins, and fruit & cheese platters.
Adult Forum: Celtic Spirituality | 9:50 a.m. | Parish Hall East
In the February 11 Sunday morning forum, Paul Coombs and Beth Cole will introduce us to the plans and details for Bethesda's very own pilgrimage to the British Isles and their sacred places in May of 2019. Join us and begin your own preparation to join the pilgrimage next year.
Church Lecture Tour following the 11:00 a.m. service. Tours begin in the Chancel (front of the church), immediately following the service.
American Guild of Organists Recital | 4:00 p.m. | Church
The Palm Beach Chapter of The American Guild of Organists will be having a members recital Sunday, February 11. Everyone is welcome; no admission charge. Reception following.
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FEBRUARY 11, 2018
Preacher (8:00 & 11:00 a.m.):
The Rev. Canon Elizabeth R. Geitz
Preacher (9:00 a.m.):
The Rev. Burl Salmon
Given concerns over this year's flu season, the staff at Bethesda would like to offer some general, gentle reminders. During the passing of the peace, worshipers customarily greet one another with a hand-shake or hug. It's important to offer a greeting of peace in a way in which others are comfortable. Some folks find that touching elbows or forearms or greeting simply with words better protects from illness, and we can all respect each other's choices and boundaries as we delight in the peaceful presence of God among us.
*8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
8:30 a.m.
Fellowship Breakfast, Parish Hall West
*9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
9:30 a.m.
Fellowship Finger Food,
Parish Hall West
9:50 a.m.
Adult Forum, Parish Hall East
9:50 a.m.
3 & 4 Year Old Sunday School,
Sunday School Hall
9:50 a.m.
K & 1st Grade Sunday School, Sunday School Hall
9:50 a.m.
2nd & 3rd Grade Sunday School,
Sunday School Hall
9:50 a.m. 4th & 5th Grade Sunday School,
Sunday School Hall
9:50 a.m. 6th & 7th Grade Sunday School,
Library
9:50 a.m. 8th Grade Confirmation Group,
ECW Room
9:50 a.m. 9th-12th Grade Mission Group, Youth Room
*#11:00 a.m. Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist
12:15 p.m. Church Tour
1:00 p.m. Palm Beach Unites, Palm Beach Day Academy
- PP Parking Permitted from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.-
4:00 p.m. American Guild of Organists Recital
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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Click here for more information about Feeding in February and get
involved
today!
Palm Beach Empty Bowls
: The 2018 Palm Beach Empty Bowls Committee would like to thank everyone who volunteered, attended or purchased take out at our event last week. We would especially like to thank the Flower Guild for their wonderful ministry that was on display so beautifully at the event. Once again, it was a glorious event and we are thankful for everyone for their generosity in caring for our neighbors in need.
Palm Beach Unites: This Sunday, February 11, 2018, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 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: Sunday, February 18 & 25, 2018. 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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Ash Wednesday Services
Wednesday, February 14 | 8:00 a.m., 12:05 p.m., and 6:00 p.m.
* Holy Eucharist at 8:00 a.m. Our guest preacher is The Rev. Dr. Robert S. Norris, Pastor at The Royal Poinciana Chapel. This is a spoken service with Imposition of Ashes.
* Holy Eucharist and Healing at 12:05 p.m. This holy service includes hymns and Imposition of Ashes. Our guest preacher is The Rev. Dr. Robert S. Norris, Pastor at The Royal Poinciana Chapel. A Lenten luncheon consisting of two homemade soups, salad, and bread, in the Parish Hall will follow the service. The cost is $3.00, payable at the door.
* Holy Eucharist at 6:00 p.m. Our guest preacher is The Rev. Dr. Robert S. Norris, Pastor at The Royal Poinciana Chapel. This service includes Imposition of Ashes, with music by the Bethesda Choir and members of the Royal Poinciana Chorale.
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- Resumes Wednesday, February 21 -
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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
the succession of Elijah by his disciple, Elisha, and Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians in which he continues his rejection of Hellenistic secular wisdom.
2 Kings 2:1-12
The Book of Kings is part of the "Deuteronomic History" that includes the books of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings. These books are a didactic history of Ancient Israel from the time in the Wilderness (c. 1250 BCE) to the Babylonian Captivity in 587 BCE. They emphasize that God controls history, and when the people (and their kings) worship Yahweh properly, good things happen to them. When the kings and people worship false gods, however, bad events overtake them.
Today's story recounts the succession of the prophet Elijah by his faithful disciple, Elisha, who asks for a "double share" (the share of an oldest son) of Elijah's spirit (v.9). According to Biblical chronology, the events took place about 840 BCE, after the reigns of Ahab and two kings who followed him.
The account has a number of parallels to the stories of Moses and his successor, Joshua. Elijah and Elisha crossed from the west bank of the Jordan River to the east bank (v.8), just as Moses and Joshua crossed the Sea of Reeds. After Elijah was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot (v.11), Elisha parted the Jordan and crossed to the west side just as Joshua did (v.14).
Because Elijah was raised to heaven, his return to earth is seen as a harbinger of the coming of the Messiah. A place/chair for Elijah is left open at table (and often the doors of homes are left open) at Passover Seders in the event Elijah might return that night. In many ways, John the Baptist is portrayed as an Elijah-like figure in the Gospels.
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Corinth, a large port city in Greece, was among the early Jesus Follower communities that Paul founded. Its culture was diverse and Hellenistic. Corinthians emphasized reason and secular wisdom. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians was written in the 50's (CE) and presented his views on many issues that were controversial in this Jesus Follower Community.
Paul's controversies with the Corinthians continued, and he wrote a number of letters to them. The Second Letter is a composite of fragments from these letters. In the Second Letter, Paul countered some Jewish Jesus Followers who were disagreeing with Paul and undermining his authority.
In today's reading, Paul's reference to "the god of this world" (v.4), meant the Roman authorities as well as the secular wisdom of the age. Paul affirmed that Jesus the Christ is the "image of God" (v.4) and the "Lord" (v.5). Paul paraphrased part of the First Creation Story of Genesis regarding the creation of light and said that the light of the knowledge of God is found in Jesus the Christ (v.6).
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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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2017 Annual Report
now available!
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St. Mary's Guild
Valentine Bridge Luncheon
Friday, February 9 |
11:30 a.m.
to 3:30 p.m.|
Parish Hall
Contact Pamela Loening at
(561) 376-5991 or
$30.00 per person (includes free valet parking)
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Newcomers Liturgy
This Sunday
11:00 am Service
We will welcome our new members to the Parish on Sunday, February 11 at the 11 a.m service. If you are interested in participating in Newcomers Liturgy, please call April at (561) 655-4554 for further information.
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Mardi Gras Party
Tuesday, February 13 | 6:00 p.m. | Garth
Our Annual Bethesda Mardi Gras Party benefits the Youth Mission Group's fundraising efforts. This year we will feature a chili cook-off with prizes. Bring your appetite and a guest and support our young people as they seek to raise funds for their mission trips this summer.
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Lenten Services
Our 12:05 p.m. Wednesday
Eucharist during Lent will include congregational hymns and service music. Following each of those services, the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) will provide two homemade soups, along with salad and bread. The cost of the luncheon is $3, payable at the door.
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Women at the Well Winter Bible Study
Wednesdays
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...
Adele, Angela, Annette, Bill, Billy, Bob, Brenda, Brittany, Carrie, Catharine, Cathy, Charlie, Donald, Dorothy, Ellen, Evan, Garcia Family, Gary, Gisela, Hadley, Holly, Jack, Jane, John, Katie, Keeling, Kim, Leanne, Leslie, Lillian, Lory, Mary, Matthew, Michael, Nolan Family, Pamela, Pat, Patrick, Peggy, Pesetsky Family, Ralph, Rebecca, Richard, Ricky, Robbie, Robert, Roza, Sandra, Saraine, Scott, Stephen, Suzanne, Sylvia, Taryn, Teresa, Theresa, Thomas, Tom, Ward, Washburn Family, and those serving our country...Benjamin, Christian, Clara, Eric, Harold, Herbert, John, Lorne, Michael, Sean, and Tommy.
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The Bethesda Spring Catalog is available...
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