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"If the Son therefore shall make you free,
ye shall be free indeed." John 8:36
As you begin making plans for celebrating our nation's birthday on the 4th of July with friends, food, and fireworks, we also hope
you will join us
this Sunday. Hal Pysher has some wonderful patriotic hymns and Father James will be preaching. If you can't join us, there are many ways to stay connected to Bethesda this weekend and throughout the summer.
Our website has all kinds of resources at your fingertips. Y
ou can watch our 10:00 a.m. services every Sunday by clicking HERE or
if you cannot watch at that exact time; you will be able to see past services any time that is convenient. The site also lets you fast forward or replay selected parts of the services. Other sources of information like our Bethesda Happenings and Sunday Leaflets can be viewed HERE.
You will continue to receive our weekly E-mail Newsletter every Thursday and special announcements as they occur. If you haven't been receiving this information or a friend would like to join our mailing list, you can do so by clicking HERE.
For fun interaction with Bethesda, get involved in our online community. "Like" our page on Facebook HERE and/or follow us on Twitter (@BBTSchurch). You will be able to see photos from our summertime events and read interesting posts.
I hope you have a wonderful and safe 4th of July and summer.
Renée Boger-Cheifet
Communications Coordinator
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*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
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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Summertime Luncheon
Thursday, July 20 |
Bethesda's Parish Hall
Our first Summertime Luncheon will be a special homecoming at Bethesda--turning the Parish Hall into our own fancy restaurant. We will have a delicious 3-course meal presented in an elegant, welcoming environment. For the day, it will be one of the best restaurants in Palm Beach! Once we finalize the menu, it will be promoted. The cost is $25, payable at the door. You may sign up by calling Ayana at (561) 655-4554.
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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 22:1-14
Today's reading is the story of the Near Sacrifice of Isaac, known to Jews as the Akedah (the Binding - based on verse 9). In the Quran, the same story appears, but the son whom Abraham was called to sacrifice was Ishmael, not Isaac.
Isaac's age is not known. He is old enough to carry the wood (v.6) and discuss what will be sacrificed (v. 7). In some translations, he is called Abraham's "only" son (vv.2 and 12), but in other translations, the word "only" is omitted and Isaac is referred to as Abraham's "beloved" son. This recognizes that Abraham had another son, Ishmael, by Hagar (Sarah's servant).
Abraham is described as having the "fear of God" (v.12). In the Hebrew Scriptures, this is generally understood as active obedience to the will of God (as one best discerns God's will).
Jeremiah 28:5-9
After the righteous King Josiah was killed in battle in 609 BCE, the fortunes of Judea took a sharp downward turn. Babylon threatened Judea's existence, and Judea had a series of hapless kings from 609 until Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. The Babylonians deported some Judean leaders in 597 and a larger number of them in 586 (the beginning of the Babylonian Exile). Jeremiah's prophesying (i.e. speaking for Yahweh) began around 609 and continued until 586 BCE when he died in Egypt.
Today's reading is set in the period from 597 to 594 BCE. A false prophet, Hananiah, prophesied that the treasures from the Temple that were taken as spoils by the Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar, would be returned soon - even though Judah had not repented and Babylon was as strong as ever. In today's verses and the ones that follow, Jeremiah says he hopes Hananiah's prophesies would come true, but then denies that Hananiah has a commission from God and asserts that the Babylonians will enslave the Judeans.
Romans 6:12-23
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.
Today's reading continues Paul's discussion of the effects of Baptism (which joins us in the death of Christ Jesus and unites us with him in overcoming death through resurrection). In speaking of "sin" (rather than "sins"), Paul is referring to the human propensity to assert our own ego and power rather than living as "instruments of righteousness" (v.13) i.e. living in right relationships with God and others. When Paul refers negatively to "the law," he expresses the view that mere obedience to rules will not bring about human wholeness or salvation or righteousness or Eternal Life, terms which Paul uses more or less interchangeably.
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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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OFFICE CLOSED
In observance of Independence Day we will be closing at noon on Monday, July 3, and closed on Tuesday, July 4.
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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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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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Save Your Samples
As you travel, remember to save the small soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, etc. found in your hotel room. Every year Bethesda's Port Ministry arranges a 100+ gift bags for sailors who are at sea on Christmas Day. We will be collecting your items in fall.
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We pray for...
Andy, Angela, Annie, Barbara, Betty, Bill, Bob, Caroline, Chris, Cindy, Claudia, David, Debbie, Devon, Don, Earl, Ellen, Eric, Evan, Evans, Fritz, Geraldine, Greg, Grier, Hadley, Holly, Jane, Jay, Jerry, Jill, John, Justin, Kehs Family, Kellie, Kimberly, Latta, Laniyah, Leigh, Lesley, Linda, Loffredo Family, Marcia, Mariette, Mary, Mat, Matthew, Mitchell, Monique, Nancy, Oscar, Pamela, Pat, Patricia, Patti, Paulette, Peggy, Penny, Pineiro Family, Ponvert Family, Ralph, Rebecca, Renée, Reynolds Family, Richard, Ricky, Robert, Rutherfurd Family, Saliyah, Sandra, Scott Family, Sharon, Shawn, Shirley, Skylar, Stephen, Stuart, Sylvia, Tamara, 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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