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The Lord is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
The Middle Way resumes on Wednesday, April 26, for the final three weeks of the program year, and we hope you'll join us as a wonderful year together on Wednesday evenings wraps up with two great additions to the recurring yoga and Cantate Choir. Canon Tom O'Brien, bible scholar, theologian, and seasonal parishioner, joins the clergy of Bethesda as we discuss theodicy (the problem of evil), the power of prayer, and questions of the rapture as presented in Living the Questions, a series we used to form the basis of similar theological questions on Sunday mornings during Lent. The conversations are informal and require no prior preparation. In addition, The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach has partnered with Bethesda to present a three-part series in which we 1) examine the basics of historic preservation (What is a historic district? What does listing on the National Register mean? What does landmark status in Palm Beach mean? What is the difference between local designations and national designations, etc?), 2) The history of the houses of worship on the Island of Palm Beach, and 3) A look at the three buildings that have housed the parish of Bethesda-by-the-Sea. Each of these installments will include images and historical context, and serve as an opportunity to learn more about this place we call home.
In addition, Sunday morning forums continue through mid-May, and those offerings include conversations of importance both around the globe and within our own parish. Make it a point to join us on April 23 and May 7 for parish conversations about Sunday mornings at Bethesda; on April 30 to learn about the life-changing work that The Rev. Canon Elizabeth Geitz is doing with Good Shepherd Academy in Bafut, Cameroon; and finally for the Rector's Forum on May 14.
Join us to stretch your mind, your heart, your body, or your voice on these final evenings of The Middle Way and on Sunday mornings through the end of the season as we contemplate how to best serve the Gospel at home and abroad.
Father Burl+
Assistant for Christian Education and Pastoral Care
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SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 2017
Preacher: The Rev. Burl Salmon
*8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
8:45 a.m. Coffee Hour, Parish Hall
*9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
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
10:15 a.m. Town Hall Meeting, Parish Hall
*#11:00 a.m. Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist
12:15 p.m. Town Hall Meeting, Parish Hall
12:15 p.m. Church Lecture Tour
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.
* nursery care for infants through age 3 is
available from 7:45 a.m. to 12:15 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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Join us for
Town Hall Meetings
about
Sunday Mornings at Bethesda
Did you know that Bethesda's basic Sunday morning schedule has been the same for decades? Members of the Vestry, staff, and other ministry leaders will help us begin to engage in reflection and discussion about what Sunday mornings (and other times of the week) need to be for a church like Bethesda in the 21st century, in a culture that is less and less supportive of organized religion, in a setting with more and more other activities and events taking place on Sundays. Note that you will need to plan to participate following the service you attend, rather than before, because this conversation will last about an hour, and the 10:15 a.m. meeting will overlap the first part of the 11:00 a.m. service. Food is provided.
PART 1, Sunday, April 23, choose the one following the service you plan to attend:
* Sunday, April 23, 10:15 a.m. (light breakfast served)
* Sunday, April 23, 12:15 p.m. (light lunch served)
PART 2, Sunday, May 7, choose the one following the service you plan to attend:
* Sunday, May 7, 10:15 a.m. (light breakfast served)
* Sunday, May 7, 12:15 p.m. (light lunch served) This meeting will also be available to attend online! Contact the church office if you would like to join via the Internet.
OR
* Thursday, May 11, 6:30 p.m. (light dinner served)
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Church Lecture Tour will be this Sunday following the 11:00 a.m. service. Tours begin in the Chancel (front of the church), immediately following the service.
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Resumes Wednesday, April 26 | 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
6:00 to 6:30 p.m. (serving starts at 5:45 p.m.)
Community Supper
| 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, vegetable lasagna, mixed vegetables, garlic bread, and banana pudding with fresh bananas and vanilla wafers. 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.
FEATURED CLASSES
6:30 to 7:40 p.m.
Living the Questions
| Guild Room
Living the Questions (LTQ) is a series of informative videos in which leading scholars and theologians explore Christian beliefs and practices. Using videos produced by LTQ, Father Burl and Tom O'Brien will lead an interactive conversation with participants about the issues raised in the video presentations.
Palm Beach History-The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach
| Library
In these final three meetings of The Middle Way this spring, staff of The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach will join us for a conversation about the three Bethesdas and our parish's role in the larger community of Island of Palm Beach. A fitting close to the first year of The Middle Way, these evenings together will focus on our parish's past, its buildings, and the people who provided a legacy for future generations as we continue to grow into who God calls us to be in the twenty-first century.
RECURRING CLASSES
6:30 to 7:40 p.m.
Cantate Choir | Choir Room
This intergenerational choir is open to adults of all ages and to youth as young as third grade. Contact
cantate@bbts.org
for more information.
Yoga
| Parish Hall
Physical therapist and yoga instructor, Emily Large, invites all adults for an evening of yoga. A requested donation of $10 per class.
7:45 to 8:00 p.m.
Compline | 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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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.
Acts 2:14a, 22-32
The book, "The Acts of the Apostles," was written by the author of the Gospel According to Luke around 85 to 90 CE.
Today's reading is presented as continuing Peter's speech after the Pentecost Event, and it reflects the theology of the community from which Luke-Acts came. In Luke and Acts, everything that happens is guided by the Holy Spirit and is part of "God's Plan." Peter's speech says "God's Plan" included the handing over of Jesus to the Israelites (v. 23), the crucifixion by the Israelites of Jesus "by the hands of those outside the law" (i.e. Gentiles, Romans), and the "impossibility" (v. 24) that death could hold Jesus in its power. The balance of the speech states that Jesus descended from King David to whom God promised that his line would endure forever (2 Sam. 7:13).
After the Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE, the only two surviving sects in Judaism were the Pharisees and the Jesus Followers (not called "Christians" until 85 or so). The other sects (Sadducees, Zealots, Herodians, Essenes) became irrelevant or were killed by the Romans. For example, the Sadducees (priests) disappeared because there was no Temple for animal sacrifices.
For the next 30+ years, the Jesus Followers and the Pharisees contended for control of Judaism. Matthew, Luke-Acts and John were written during this time. Around 100 CE, there was a "parting of the ways" - the Jesus Follower Movement evolved into Christianity and the Pharisaical Movement evolved into Rabbinic Judaism. In the post-70 Gospels (and Acts), there is harsh language against Israelites, Judeans/Jews, and Pharisees (but hardly any against the ruling Romans). Unfortunately, the historical controversy that led to the harsh words in the post-70 Gospels is often forgotten.
1 Peter 1:3-9
The First Letter of Peter was likely written in the last quarter of the First Century, long after Peter's death. It was written in sophisticated Greek and resembles the form of Paul's letters. Its focus is not on the earthly life of Jesus of Nazareth, but on the Resurrection and the affirmation that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah.
In today's reading, the author notes that Jesus Followers "had to suffer various trials" (v. 6), not so much from overt governmental persecution, but because the Jesus Follower Movement was a minority sect within Judaism, particularly after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE.
The author also expects that God will send the Christ soon because "salvation is ready to be revealed in the last time" (v.5) and "your faith...will result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (v. 7).
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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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Reception for
Mother Kimberly
Sunday, April 30
12:15 p.m. | Parish Hall
Join us following the 11:00 a.m. service to give God thanks for Mother Kimberly's faithful ministry at Bethesda as Associate for Outreach and Development. If you would like to show Kimberly your appreciation by making a monetary gift, it may be sent to the church or given at the reception; checks should be made out to The Rev. Kimberly Still.
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ECW Diocesan Annual Meeting
Saturday, April 29 | 10:00 a.m.
We will host approximately 150 Episcopal women from our diocese for a worship service. Many hands are needed to welcome these women. We need volunteers to make or bring baked goods or finger foods like cookies, cupcakes, etc. for the meeting. If you can help, please drop off the food at 8:30 a.m. in Bethesda's Kitchen on April 29.
For more information or to volunteer, email
ecw@bbts.org
or call the church office at (561) 655-4554.
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The Bethesda Pilgrimage Group will be hosting a Trivia Night fundraiser. Get a team of eight people together or come on your own and we'll pair you up with a team. It's going to be a night of fun trivia, silent auctions, and more. All profits from the event will go to help the Bethesda Pilgrimage Group with costs for their summer trip. For more information, contact Greg Knight at (561) 655-4555 x114 or e-mail him at
knight@bbts.org.
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SAVE THE DATES:
June 26 through June 30
This year at Bethesda-by-the-Sea's Vacation Bible School your children will learn about how we are called to love and serve our neighbors in the world.
This will be an arts-based camp complete with different workshops that engage them in making their own artwork and project, learning songs and hymns, engaging in creative drama and movement, playing games, and even having a hand in making their own snacks.
Can't wait to see you there! Join us at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church on June 26 through June 30 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Vacation Bible School is open to all children age 3-9.
For more information, contact Greg Knight at (561) 655-4555 x114 or email him at
knight@bbts.org
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There will be a $50 registration fee per child for the week.
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The Church Mouse
Needs Your Help!
The Church Mouse is in need of your gently-used donations such as crystal, glassware, kitchen items, decorative ceramic, pottery, and art, men and women's clothing, shoes, handbags, scarves, hats, gloves, and belts.
We are always open for donations at the "Donor Door" located on the south side of the building, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Scheduled donation pickups occur year round and can be arranged by calling us at (561) 659-2154.
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We pray for...
Andy, Angela, Bianca, Bill, Bob, Cellie, Charlene, Claudia, Dalia, David, Doug, Ed, Ellen, Eric, Evan, Geraldine, Ginny, Holly, Horta, Jackson, Jane, Jennifer, Jerry, Jethro, Joaquin, Joe, John, Joyce, Judith, Kathy, KJ, Karen, Katarina, Kehs Family, Kimberly, Lada, Laniyah, Lawrence Family, Leslie, Lila Ann, Linda, Maria, Mary, Matthew, Miryam, Nancy, Oba, Pamela, Pat, Patti, Peggy, Pineiro Family, Rebecca, Richard, Ricky, Rita, Robbie, Rosellen, Saliyah, Shirley, Stephen, Taryn, Taylor, Thomas, Toinette, Ward, Weiss Family,
and those serving our country...
Benjamin, Clara, Erik, Harold, Herbert, John, Mantis, Michael, and Tommy.
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