Community Supper
6:00 to 6:30 p.m. (serving starts at 5:45 p.m.) | Parish Hall
The cost is $10 for adults; $5 for children under 12; $25 family max (payable at the door). 

This week we will serve rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, coleslaw, and chocolate chip cookies.  Kindly  RSVP HERE*  or call Ayana at (561) 655-4554.  *In order to properly plan and prepare the supper, we need your reservations by noon on Monday.

Cantate Choir
6:30 to 7:40 p.m. | Choir Room
This intergenerational choir is open to adults of all ages and to youth as young as third grade. Contact Jessica Hitchcock at hitchcock@bbts.org. Please note: We will rehearse this Wednesday, January 4.

Modern Scholarship Meets the Bible
6:30 to 7:40 p.m. | Guild Room
Do you guilt trip yourself because you think you ought to know the Bible better? Does reading the Bible intimidate you? Bore you? Then this seven-week course is for you! Using PowerPoint slides that reflect modern scholarship about the Bible (including archeology and linguistics), Tom O'Brien will help you become a more informed (and better) Bible reader. 

Bethesda at Its Best!
6:30 to 7:40 p.m. | Library
Come one, come all for a behind-the-scenes look at what makes Bethesda the special place that it is. Over a series of four weeks, join the clergy and vestry as we discuss the history, mission, and organization of this remarkable parish and how each of these beautiful threads comes together into a diverse and spirit-filled tapestry. Whether you've been here for years or a couple of weeks, you're invited to join this great conversation on Wednesday evenings from January 11 to February 1.

Yoga
6:30 to 7:40 p.m. | Parish Hall
Physical therapist and yoga instructor, Emily Large, invites all adults for an evening of yoga. A requested donation of $10 per class.

Compline
7:45 to 8:00 p.m. | Church
A fitting end to our Wednesday evenings, compline offers a peaceful and meditative sacred time in the middle of our often frenetic weeks.

Three Events, One Cause:  Eat a meal - Make a meal - Share a meal

Palm Beach Empty Bowls: Friday, February 3, 2017, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 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). 

We REALLY need volunteers. If you can help please, click here and fill out the form. 

 
Palm Beach Unites: Sunday, February 12, 2017, 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 19 & 26, 2017. Our food drive here at Bethesda benefits C.R.O.S. Ministries Food Pantries, ensuring that families have access to healthy food. Together we give thanks and "Share What You Can" with those in need.

Isaiah 42:1-9

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.

 

Today's reading is from "Second Isaiah," and the prophet speaks for Yahweh ("LORD" - all capital letters in the NRSV). In Chapters 40 to 48, the LORD calls Israel the LORD's "servant" (v.1) and a "covenant to the people" (v.6) called to "bring justice to the nations/Gentiles" (v. 1) and be a "light to the nations" (v. 6). 

 

Acts 10:34-43

The book called "The Acts of the Apostles" was written by the author of the Gospel According to Luke.  The first 15 chapters of Acts are a didactic "history" of the early Jesus Follower Movement starting with an account of the Ascension. The last 13 chapters describe Paul's Missionary Journeys - not always consistently with Paul's letters.

 

Today's reading is a speech by Peter that is a synopsis of Luke's Gospel. It is given in the context of the conversion of a Roman Centurion, Cornelius, to being a Jesus Follower, and follows Peter's dream in which he is told that "what God has made clean [referring to foods], you must not call profane" (Ac. 10.15).  The story about Cornelius is intended to show that being a Jesus Follower is not inconsistent with Roman citizenship and is available to persons who are Gentiles. 

 

The issue whether Gentiles could be Jesus Followers was finally decided at the so-called Council of Jerusalem (described in Acts 15) attended by "the apostles and elders" (Ac.15.4). At the gathering, Paul and Peter argued in favor of baptizing Gentiles. James decided (reluctantly) that Gentiles could become Jesus Followers and did not have to be circumcised or keep all the Kosher rules.