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 The Middle Way has begun again after a Christmas and New Year's
hiatus, and we're off to a great start again. With great conversation over a catered supper, the chance to spend time with a wide cross section of our congregation, and four opportunities every week for spiritual growth, Wednesday evenings at Bethesda are a wonderfully grounding way to refocus during the week and feed body, mind, and soul.
January has resumed programming with Tom O'Brien's "Modern Scholarship Meets the Bible," a team of clergy and laity leading "Bethesda at Its Best," the Cantate Choir with Jessica Reed Hitchcock at the helm, and yoga with Bethesda's own Emily Large. The evening always concludes with compline, a beautifully meditative way to close the day and invite the peaceful rest of evening. The current schedule is listed below.
I loved returning to a routine last night with The Middle Way and treasure the time it allows me to spend getting to know our parishioners better. Courses on the schedule this spring include "Foreshadowed: Stories Behind Visual Art" led by our very own Danette McGregor, a multi-series conversation with renowned conductor and Bethesdan George Schram about the passion of music, an examination entitled "Gender and the Nicene Creed" facilitated by parishioner The Reverend Canon Elizabeth Geitz, "Living the Questions" with various clergy and lay leadership, as well as other items in the works ranging from local history to finances to holistic health.
If you haven't already, please consider joining us this Wednesday and throughout the spring for fellowship as well as food for the body and the spirit. We look forward to seeing you there!
Father Burl+
Assistant for Christian Education & Pastoral Care
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Beautiful New Parking Signs
New parking signs were installed this week on the 200 and 300 blocks of Barton Avenue. They allow for parking, at any time, for people coming to Bethesda. This new arrangement is a result of the agreement reached by Bethesda and our good neighbors on those blocks and approved by Town Council at their meeting last month. You do not need a sticker or placard to use this parking, but please do not use this parking for other purposes. Once a similar agreement for parking is reached for the 100 block of Barton, the Town will erect the same signs in that block, adding the availability of those spaces. Until then, the two-hour parking limit is still in effect unless suspended for special events, as is presently the case. Suspension of the restrictions is noted on the calendar on the back page of Happenings. As always, the restrictions are waived when Barton is one-way. We expect the signs in the 100 block to change in a similar way within the next several weeks, and we will inform you when that change occurs.
A couple of reminders about parking in general. Please be courteous to our neighbors; do not block their driveways or leave trash when you park. When the Town has granted Barton one-way or we are parking on South County Road, do not leave your car past the Bethesda event; parking enforcement will be more diligent in writing tickets when events are over. We only have the right to park on South County on Sunday mornings and the rare large event. Unless a uniformed officer is present and allows it, do not park on South County at other times; your car will be ticketed. Finally, please do not park on the grass anywhere on church property. Our lawn has an irrigation system which inevitably gets damaged when vehicles get on it. Thank you for your cooperation and your patience as we have worked to improve our parking availability.
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SUNDAY, JANUARY
15, 2017
Preacher: The Rev. Kimberly L. Still
- Parking Permitted from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. -
*8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
8:45 a.m. Coffee Hour, Parish Hall
*9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist and Healing
9:00 a.m. Children's Worship, Sunday School Hall
10:00 a.m. Pre-K Class, Sunday School Hall
10:00 a.m. Kindergarten & 1st Grade Class, Sunday School Hall
10:00 a.m. 2nd & 3rd Grade Class,
Sunday School Hall
10:00 a.m. 4th & 5th Grade Class,
Sunday School Lounge
10:00 a.m. 6th & 7th Grade Pre- Confirmation Class, Library
10:00 a.m. 8th Grade Confirmation Class,
ECW Room
10:00 a.m. 9th-12th Grade Pilgrimage Group, Youth Room
10:00 a.m. Adult Forum, Parish Hall
10:00 a.m. Bible Study, Guild Room
*#11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist and Healing
12:15 p.m. Coffee Hour, Parish Hall
* Nursery care for infants through age 3 is
available from 7:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
# These services will be live-streamed.
You may watch the service online
HERE
.
Click here to view the service leaflet for this Sunday.
Click here to view this week's Bethesda Happenings.
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.
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Adult Forum: Playing God-The Ethics of Modern Biology
10:00 a.m. | Parish Hall
Modern biology had powerful tools to improve human health, food production and many other aspects of life. The use of stem cells, the ability to "repair" a gene, and the ability to introduce genes from one species into another all have potential benefits for humanity. We will introduce some of these technologies in layman's terms and discuss how people of faith should use or reject them.
Lectionary Based Bible Study
10:00 a.m. | Guild Room
Do you want to go deeper into the readings for today? Join us for a discussion of the collect, old testament, psalm, new testament, and gospel readings, and how they inform our 21st century lives. Whether you've come from the service earlier in the day or are about to attend the later service, this class is sure to enhance your encounter with the holy scriptures.
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CELEBRATE BETHESDA
Commending our Past & Embracing our Future
Annual Meeting and Parish Picnic
Sunday, January 29, 2017
- Please note there will NOT be a 9:00 a.m. service -
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
9:30 a.m. Annual Meeting
including Election of Vestry members, Parish Hall
11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
12:15 p.m. Parish Picnic: $10 Adults; $5 Children under 12 years old; $30 Family Max.
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Nominees for Vestry
Arthur (Sandy) Burdett Michelle Diffenderfer
Paul Coombs Peggy Johnson
Click here to view the nominees' biographies and pictures or pick up a Vestry brochure in the Narthex.
Nominees for Diocesan Convention Delegates
Tom O'Brien Jan Shoobridge
Michael Smyser Ben Williams (Alternate)
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6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. | Wednesday, January 18
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 Caesar salad, penne pasta with sliced chicken in Alfredo sauce, sauteed vegetables, garlic bread, and brownies.
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 through 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.
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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.
Click here for more information about Feeding in February.
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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.
Isaiah 49:1-7
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 repeats many themes from last week's reading (42:1-9). The prophet speaks for YHWH ("LORD" - all capitals - in the NRSV) and refers to Israel as the LORD's servant (v. 3). Today's reading is sometimes called the second of the "Servant Songs" that are in Isaiah from Chapters 42 to 53. It says Israel will be restored and reunified and will be a "light to the nations [pagans, foreigners, Gentiles]" (42.6 and 49.6). The reading concludes with statements that YHWH is faithful and chose Israel for a special role.
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Corinth, a large port city in Greece, was among the early Jesus Follower communities that Paul founded. Its culture was Hellenistic and emphasized reason and secular wisdom. In addition to Paul, other Jesus Followers also taught in Corinth, sometimes in ways inconsistent with Paul's understandings of what it means to be a Jesus Follower. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians was written in the 50's (CE) and presents his views on several issues.
Today's reading from the opening chapter is a salutation customary in ancient Greek letters (vv. 1-3) followed by a thanksgiving for the grace of God given to the Jesus Followers in Corinth through Christ Jesus (vv.4-7). He reminds them that they were called into "the fellowship of the Son" (v.9).
Having praised the Corinthians and reminded them of the gifts from God, in the verses that follow today's reading, Paul launches into his arguments and appeals that "there be no divisions among you" (v.10).
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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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Women at the Well Winter Bible Study
This year we will be studying the Old Testament Book of Psalms. Each week we will explore the beauty and power of the Psalms in both poetry and prayer. All women are welcome. Deacon Cecie Titcomb, Ellen Kaufman, and Vivian Chen will once again lead the group. The cost is $10. For more information and sign up please call Ayana at the church office (561) 655-4554.
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Sunday, January 22
10:00 a.m. | Parish Hall
If you have missed Bethesda's Annual Ministry Fair in September, then we encourage you to attend a smaller version on Sunday, January 22. This is the perfect opportunity to learn and sign-up to volunteer in our different ministries.
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Blog by the Sea
Click here to read our latest blog post, 2017 Boar's Head Festival by Hal Pysher.
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We pray for...
Andy, Angela, April, Arlo, Bill, Bob, Brooks, Caroline, Carolyn, Catharine, Catherine, Cathy, Chad, Chris, Dawn, Debbie, Della, Diana, Drew, Earl, Ed, Ellen, Eric, Eugene, Evan, Eve, Ezra, Ginny, Hagler Family, Hal, Helen, Holly, James, Jane, Janine, Jeffrey, Joan, Jodie, Joe, John, Joyce, Kehs Family, Kimberly, Kirsten, Laurie, Leslie, Lois, Mandy, Mariella, Matthew, Meghan, Michael, Olga, Pat, Peg, Peggy, Peter, Pineiro Family, Ralf, Rebecca, Robin, Ron, Ryan, Sandra, Scott, Soozie, Stephen, Taryn, Thomas, Tom, Vince, Vincenza, Ward, William,
and those serving our country...
Benjamin, Clara, Erik, Harold, Herbert, John, Mantis, Michael, and Tommy.
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Fall Catalog
available!
Click here to view our complete catalog for the season.
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