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Message from the Senior Warden
Greetings Bethesda Friends,
The Vestry had a very productive meeting the last week of May and, though we do not officially meet again until September, much work is planned for the summer on projects which support our 2017 priorities.
We were very encouraged by the strong congregation participation in the Sunday morning conversations led by Barbara Callahan. Several clear "longings" were identified. Work continues on that project over the summer as various strategies are further explored; be on the lookout for future communications.
Gary Sullivan, our Junior Warden, proposed two summer projects on behalf of the Buildings and Grounds Committee which he chairs. Both proposals were reviewed by the Finance Committee and approved by the Vestry:
- Flooring restoration in numerous areas of the church buildings. This includes removal of carpet and refinishing of the beautiful hardwood floors underneath in the north and south offices and the choir room. Hallways will remain carpeted to minimize noise. The worn carpet in the Rector's office and downstairs reception area will be replaced as well.
- Installation of a movable divider in the Parish Hall. The purpose of this is to create the capability to use the Parish Hall as two separate spaces, which will give us much more flexibility in planning activities on Sunday morning, Wednesday evening, and other times when several simultaneous events are happening. This is a divider system which is track mounted from the ceiling and can be retracted into a pocket against the north wall of the hall. It will be recessed as much as possible to minimize intrusion into the hall space.
Fred Staley, our Associate for Administration, updated the Vestry on the need to replace the current Church Mouse van with a box truck to pick up and move large donated items. An expenditure from the Church Mouse investment reserve was approved for this purpose.
Don Smith and Paul Coombs, as members of the sabbatical planning committee, updated the Vestry on planning activities for the parish Celtic experience. This begins with a Celtic Spirituality retreat at Bethesda in November, which will lead into educational and spiritual offerings through the 2017-2018 season. The Rector's sabbatical will extend from May through September 2018. He will share this experience real time through blogging and then face-to-face upon his return. Parish members will then have an opportunity to travel together on their own Celtic pilgrimage in spring 2019. The Vestry approved this Celtic experience concept and voted to authorize spending this year to allow deposits to be made for both the sabbatical in 2018 and the parish pilgrimage in 2019.
Finally, though the hiring of a new Associate for Outreach and Development is not a Vestry responsibility, Vestry members will be involved in the process as appropriate. Many promising applications have been received. I have been working closely with Father James and his team to review application materials and video interviews of first round candidates. Along with clergy and staff and other parishioners, Vestry members will be involved in hosting and meeting finalists when they are brought to Palm Beach for face-to-face meetings later in the summer.
There is so much other good work to talk about, but space is limited. I invite interested parishioners to email me at
sr.warden@bbts.org with any questions on the Vestry's work.
Reminder: Please make a special effort to attend the 10:00 a.m. "Scholarship Sunday" service on August 6 to celebrate and encourage our scholarship recipients. Students who will continue to receive the Bethesda Memorial Scholarships, along with this year's seven new recipients, will be recognized.
With prayers for a safe and refreshing summer for all Bethesda parishioners, I am yours in Christ.
Beth Cole
Senior Warden
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Preacher: The Rev. Burl Salmon
*8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
8:45 a.m. Coffee Hour, Parish Hall
9:00 a.m. Summer Choir, Choir Room
*#10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist and Healing
11:15 a.m.
Coffee Hour, 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 12:30 p.m.
* nursery care for infants through age 3 is
available from 7:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.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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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.
Genesis 18:1-15
The word "Genesis" means "origin" and the Book of Genesis starts with Creation and concludes with the death of Joseph (Jacob's son) in Egypt. The Book is an amalgam of religious traditions, some of which are dated to about 950 BCE and some as late as 450 BCE.
Today's reading is the account of three "men" (also identified as YHWH in verse 13) who came to Abraham's tent at Mamre (whose oaks were regarded as oracles). They predicted that Sarah (who was over 90 years old) would have a son in a year. Sarah's laughed. This anticipated the name of her son, Isaac (which means "he laughs"). Abraham's hospitality to the three sacred figures was overwhelming: an entire calf and three "measures" of flour (about 63 quarts of flour).
Exodus 19:2-8a
Exodus, the second book of the Bible, covers the slavery in Egypt under Pharaoh (around 1250 BCE, if the account is historical), the Exodus itself, and early months in the Wilderness.
Today's reading is from the Priestly writer - shown by the emphasis on precise dates. The events occurred "on the very day" of the third new moon after leaving Egypt, the day the Israelites reached Sinai. (The holy mountain is called "Horeb" by other writers - for example, Ex. 3:1.)
YHWH proposed a conditional covenant to Moses and the Israelites ("If you obey my voice" v.5), and all the people responded that they would do all that YHWH had spoken (v.8). This event is the basis in Judaism for the Feast of Pentecost (Ex. 23.16).
Romans 5:1-8
Paul's letter to the Romans is his longest, last and most complex letter. It was written in the late 50s or early 60s (CE) - about ten years before the first Gospel (Mark) was written.
Paul uses some words that are difficult for us. He says we are "justified" in verse 1. This means living in "righteousness" or in a right relationship with God and others - being "justified" as a page of type is "justified" when the margins are square on both the left and the right.
Paul's use of "faith" (v.1) is better understood as "faithfulness" because the Greek word has an active aspect. Today, "Faith" is often understood as intellectual assent to one or more propositions. "Faithfulness" is active living into one's beliefs through grace and trust in God.
Paul was a Jew who became a Jesus Follower (the term "Christian" hadn't been invented in his lifetime). All during Paul's life, animal sacrifices at the Jerusalem Temple were a way Jews were reconciled to YHWH. This continued until the Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE - after Paul's death. It is therefore not surprising that Paul uses "sacrifice" language to interpret the meaning of the Crucifixion: "Christ died for us" (v.8); we are "justified by his blood" (v. 9).
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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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Don't miss our End of the Season Sales:
Beginning Monday, June 19, we will start our week of huge savings on nearly everything with 50% off, Wednesday 75% off, and Friday 90% off!
The Church Mouse closes on Saturday, June 24, at noon. However, we will be open for donations throughout the summer 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. The Church Mouse is in need of donations to ensure that we are fully stocked for the next season.
The Church Mouse, 378 South County Road, Palm Beach, FL 33480. We are open Monday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information, call them at (561) 659-2154.
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Vacation Bible School
June 26 through June 30
This year at Bethesda's Vacation Bible School your children will explore the question "Who Is My Neighbor?" This will be an arts-based camp complete with different workshops that engage them in making their own art projects, singing songs and hymns, performing in creative drama and movement, playing games, and even having a hand in making their own snacks. VBS is open to all children age 3-9. The cost is $50 per child for the week payable at the door.
For more information, contact Greg Knight at (561) 655-4555 x114.
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Summer Choir
There's no need to be a professional singer; all you need is a pleasant voice and some basic music-reading ability. Rehearsals begin in the Choir Room
promptly at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings as the choir prepares music for the 10:00 a.m. service. This choir continues through the second Sunday of September. Please join us when you can!
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Office Closed & Summer Hours
Our office hours will be
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday through Thursday and
9:00 a.m. to noon on Fridays
(church and grounds will remain open until 5:00 p.m.).
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We pray for...
Andy, Angela, Annie, Barbara, Betty, Bill, Bob, Caroline, Carolyn, Claudia, David, Devon, Dianne, Don, Earl, Ellen, Eric, Evan, Evans, Geraldine, Greg, Hadley, Holly, Jane, Jay, Jill, John, Justin, Kathy, Kehs Family, Kellie, Kimberly, Latta, Laniyah, Leigh, Lesley, Linda, Loffredo Family, Marcia, Mariette, Mary, Mat, Matthew, Mitchell, Monique, Nancy, Oscar, Pamela, Pat, Patti, Paulette, Peggy, Penny, Pineiro Family, Ponvert Family, Ralph, Rebecca, Renée, Richard, Ricky, Robert, Rutherfurd Family, Saliyah, Scott Family, Shawn, Shirley, Stephen, Sylvia, Taryn, Thomas, Trish, Vince, Ward, William,
and those serving our country...
Benjamin, Clara, Erik, Harold, Herbert, John, Michael, Sean, and Tommy.
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