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This coming Sunday, Episcopal parishes all across the country will be holding their Annual Meeting, just as we will be doing. Our Annual Meeting is an important event each year. We have tasks that must be addressed by the parish in a formal meeting, the most important of which is electing new Vestry members. We also take time to report on our finances, to hear from our Junior Warden about projects and other building news, and to remember those parishioners who have died since the last annual meeting.
We all want as much openness and transparency as possible in our parish life, and the Annual Meeting represents one of the most important opportunities we all have to hear and to learn about what is going on. The Vestry, the Officers, the Rector and Associates will all be available to answer questions and to receive feedback as we look to the coming year (though note that Mr. Pysher must leave early to rehearse the choir).
I will also take time to share my thoughts about where we are and where I believe God is calling us. We have so much to be thankful for as a parish. We also have great challenges--as does the entire Church--in the coming years as religion becomes less valued in our culture.
This year we are also going to begin a new tradition at Bethesda and honor several parishioners who have served God and this parish faithfully and mightily over many years by presenting for the first time, the Rector's Cross. My intent is to present these at the Annual Meeting each year when warranted to parishioners who have offered extraordinary and exemplary service to God through Bethesda. I hope you will come and help us give thanks to God for these first recipients of the Rector's Cross.
Of course, I hope everyone will also then stay following the 11:00 a.m. service for our parish picnic full of great food and warm fellowship. The entire schedule for the day is in this email, so please take a look.
See you Sunday!
Father James+
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SUNDAY, JANUARY
29, 2017
- Please note there will NOT be a 9:00 a.m. service -
Preacher: The Rev. Kimberly L. Still
- Parking Permitted from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. -
*8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
*9:30 a.m. Annual Meeting, Parish Hall
*#11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
12:15 p.m. Parish Picnic, Garth and 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 3:00 p.m.
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CELEBRATE BETHESDA
Commending our Past & Embracing our Future
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, February 1
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 garden salad with ginger sesame dressing, chicken panang curry, fresh vegetables, jasmine rice, and white chocolate and macadamia nut 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.
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. Each order will include soup in a recyclable cup, bread, bottled water, and your pick at one unique, customized bowl, and a Goody Bag with a cookie.
The cost is $25. 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 you can download a take out form
HERE).
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.
We REALLY need volunteers. If you work one or more shifts please,
click here and fill out the form.
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.
Be sure to pick up a bag and food list on February 19 and return the full bag on February 26.
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.
Micah 6:1-8
Micah was one of the 12 "Minor" Prophets - so called because their collective works fill only a single scroll. He prophesied from about 725 to 690 BCE, and was a younger contemporary of "First Isaiah" (Isaiah of Jerusalem). He criticized empty rituals and injustice in Jerusalem during the years when Assyria conquered Northern Israel (722) and threatened Jerusalem (701), and when the Babylonians overcame Jerusalem (597 to 587 BCE).
Today's reading sets out the "reasons" for this sorry state of affairs. It starts with a divine lawsuit/complaint by YHWH against Israel in which YHWH/the LORD recounts all God has done for Israel (vv. 1-5). A spokesperson for the community then asks what offerings can be made to please YHWH (vv.6-7) and even asks if child sacrifices would atone for the transgressions (v.7b)!
Micah tells the people that offerings are not sufficient. The last words of verse 8 in today's reading are the epitome of the entire Israelite prophetic tradition - the people (and all of us) are called to do justice, love kindness/goodness, and walk humbly/wisely with God.
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
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. This led to contentions among the Corinthians.
In today's reading, Paul criticized the "wisdom of the world" and asserted that "God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom" (v.25). He explained that the "wisdom of the world" involves power and noble birth. God's "foolishness," on the other hand, is shown by love, by selflessness (as shown in the cross) and by humility. God's "foolishness" will lead to righteousness (everything in right relation with everything else), sanctification (making everything holy) and redemption (making everything whole) (v.30).
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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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2016 Annual Report
now available!
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Spring Catalog
now available!
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Blog by the Sea
Click here to read our latest blog post, A gift for his Wife by Daisy Alvarez.
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Music at Bethesda
Next Sunday, February 5
Harold Pysher, organist, at The Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea, will play a recital at 3:30 p.m., and Evensong with The Bethesda Choir follows at 4:00 p.m. A free-will offering will be received, and a reception will follow in the Parish Hall. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
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SAVE THE DATE
Lenten Retreat
led by
The Rev. J. Edwin (Ed) Bacon, Jr.
Saturday, March 18
9:00 a.m. | Parish Hall
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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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Bible Study Boot Camp (BSBC) is geared toward women 25-55 with all levels of experience in studying Scripture. The group will focus on Paul's letter to the Philippians. Feel free to drop in and bring a lunch, no RSVP required. Click here for more information or to e-mail Rachel Supple now.
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We pray for...
Andy, Anna, Antje, April, Arthur, Bill, Bob, Brooks, Caroline, Carolyn, Catharine, Catherine, Chad, Chris, Claudia, David, Debbie, Della, Denny, Diana, Drew, Earl, Ed, Ellen, Eric, Eugene, Evan, Eve,
Gail,
Gerry, Ginny, Glen, Hal, Harold, Helen, Holly, James, Jane, Janey, Janine, Jeffrey, Joan, Jodie, Joe, John, Joyce, Kehs Family, Kimberly, Leslie, Lois, Mandy, Mariella, Matthew, Meghan, Michael, Pat, Patti, Peg, Peggy, Pineiro Family, Ralf, Rebecca, Robin, Ryan, Sandra, Scott, Stephen, Taryn, Thomas, Tom, Vincenza, Vince, Ward, William,
and those serving our country...
Benjamin, Clara, Erik, Harold, Herbert, John, Mantis, Michael, and Tommy.
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