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Thank you to everyone who participated in our town hall meeting this past Sunday. About 160 people were involved in listing challenges we face and longings we have regarding Sunday mornings at Bethesda. These lists are being compiled and will be shared with everyone soon. If you didn't get a chance to attend on Sunday and would like to add your thoughts, or if you did participate and have new thoughts, email them to
sundays@bbts.org
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The next step in the process will happen on Sunday, May 7 and Thursday, May 11. On these days, the results of these first meetings will be shared along with some proposals for addressing these challenges and longings. We would like as much input on these proposals as possible. That is why, in addition to having meetings after the 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. services on Sunday, we will have an additional meeting on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., in between the Youth Group meeting and Bethesda Choir rehearsal. We will also live stream the meeting after the 11:00 a.m. service on Sunday. Look for additional information and instructions on that next week.
Fred Staley
Assistant for
Administration
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SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2017
Preacher: The Rev. Kimberly L. Still
*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
10:00 a.m. Adult Forum, Parish Hall
10:00 a.m. Bible Study, Guild Room
*#11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
12:15 p.m. Reception for Mother Kimberly, Parish Hall
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 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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Adult Forum: Good Shepherd Academy, Bafut, Cameroon
10:00 a.m. | Parish Hall
Parishioner The Rev. Canon Elizabeth Geitz joins us this morning to speak about the founding of Good Shepherd Academy in Bafut, Cameroon, an effort she led and to which she is passionately dedicated, committed to breaking the cycle of poverty in this small corner of West Africa. Join us as we learn more about the school and ways we can become involved.
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.
Reception for Mother Kimberly | 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 Mother 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 her.
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Wednesday, May 3 | 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 garden salad, fried chicken drum sticks, mac and cheese, coleslaw, sauteed vegetables, and strawberry shortcake. 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. This week we will discuss the power of prayer
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, 36-41
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 presents the last part of Peter's long speech after the Pentecost Event. Rather than offend the ruling Romans by stating that they crucified Jesus (which they did), the author's account of the speech repeats the statement that the Israelites crucified Jesus (v.36).
As discussed at greater length in last week's Scripture in Context, a variety of accusations were made against the Israelites/Judeans/Pharisees in the Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John. These Gospels (and Acts) were written from 70 CE to 100 CE when the Jesus Followers were contending with the Pharisees for control of Judaism going forward. Harsh words were expressed in the Gospels, and the Pharisees took exclusionary actions by expelling Jesus Followers from the synagogues.
In the same verse (36), Acts says God "made" Jesus Lord and Messiah. This statement shows that, in the early church, the understanding of who and what Jesus of Nazareth was/is continued to evolve. Verse 36 presents a view that is generally described as "adoptionism" - the idea that Jesus was a man whom God adopted as God's Son and "made" him Lord and Messiah. This understanding is inconsistent, for example, with John's theology in which the Logos/Word pre-exists from all eternity and becomes flesh in Jesus (John 1:14).
In concluding his speech, Peter urges the Israelites to repent (change their religious thinking), be baptized and have their sins forgiven. After baptism, Peter says they will receive the Holy Spirit. This presents a different sequence from the accounts of most baptisms described in Acts - typically, the Holy Spirit comes first to persons and is the reason they are baptized.
The account concludes by stating that 3,000 persons were baptized on that day.
1 Peter 1:17-23
In the First Century, it was not uncommon to write something in another person's name so that the writing would have extra "authority" - particularly when the writer believed he knew what the "authority" (in this case, Peter) would have said.
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.
Today's reading contains two (of five) directives to the Jesus Followers: (1) to live in reverent fear of the Lord, knowing they were ransomed by the blood of Christ; and (2) love one another deeply from the heart, knowing they were born anew through the word of God.
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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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Funeral Service
Joe McLeary
Saturday, April 29
2:00 p.m.
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Reception for
Mother Kimberly
This 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 Mother 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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Final Evensong & Recital of the Season
Next Sunday, May 7
3:30 p.m.
The Rev. Karl Van Richards, pianist and Associate Minister and Director of Music at St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, Miami, 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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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, Evans, Geraldine, Gina, Ginny, Holly, Horta, Jackson, Jane, Jennifer, Jerry, Jethro, Joaquin, John, Judith, Joy, Kathy, KJ, Karen, Katarina, Kehs Family, Kimberly, Lada, Laniyah, Lawrence Family, Leigh, Leslie, Lila Ann, Linda, Liv, Mary, Matthew, McLeary Family, Meek Family, Michael, Mimi, Miryam, Nancy, Oba, Pamela, Pat, Patti, Peggy, Penny, Pineiro Family, Ralph, Rebecca, Richard, Ricky, Rita, Robbie, Rosellen, Saliyah, Shirley, Stephen, Sylvia, 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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