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As you've seen over the past couple of weeks, we have started communicating our new plans arising from our Sunday Morning Conversations this past Spring. One of the areas that we really wanted to take a look at was the 9:00 a.m. worship service.
From our conversations, we decided that the 9:00 a.m. service could no longer be defined by just being a "lighter" version of the 11:00 a.m. service. It needs to have its own identity and purpose. With that in mind we decided to focus on this desire to pass down our Episcopal worship traditions, not just to young people but also those who are new in the faith and not always familiar with Episcopal worship customs. That made the purpose of this service very clear. The 9:00 a.m. service needs to be a learning space that encourages Bethesda members and guests of all ages to explore our tradition and participate in service leadership.
Beginning with the switch to our three-service schedule in September, we will unveil a new take on what happens at 9:00 a.m. at Bethesda. First, children of all ages will participate in worship with the entire community. We will no longer offer a separate worship experience for children on the Sunday School hall during the Liturgy of the Word. In fact, we will have a reserved area just for children and youth in the front pews. Also, we will encourage children and youth to serve as acolytes, lectors, and Eucharistic ministers for this service.
Second, the homily for this service will emphasize learning. The rotating group of preachers will focus more on the questions of "how" and "why" from our lectionary readings as well as engaging those things that you've always wondered about Episcopal worship at Bethesda but may have been too afraid to ask. This doesn't mean you should expect a children's sermon every week, but you should expect a teaching sermon every week.
Finally, the service itself is going to be streamlined with fewer readings and hymns. The goal being that the service ends by 9:45 a.m. each week in order to allow for a full hour of Christian education following worship.
With all of these changes come new educational tools that we'll be able to offer families with children, middle and high school youth, and even new adult members at Bethesda. You'll be learning more about those educational offerings and how they fit into the 9:00 a.m. worship service soon. In the meantime if you are looking to learn more about our traditions, or you just have a spirit of curiosity, we hope you will come check out our 9:00 a.m. worship service this Fall at Bethesda.
Greg Knight
Director of Children and Youth Ministries
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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
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
Come meet Father Thomas!
Tuesday, August 8 | 12:00 p.m. | The Chesterfield
During the summer, the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) arrange Summertime Luncheons so that all men and women of Bethesda can get together to relax and enjoy being together. The final luncheon of the summer will be on Tuesday, August 8, at noon at The Chesterfield located at 363 Cocoanut Row, Palm Beach. The cost is $25 for the prix fixe menu which includes a non-alcoholic drink and tip, payable at the door. You may sign up on Sunday in the Cloister or during the week by calling Ayana at (561) 655-4554, or e-mailing ecw@bbts.org.
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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.
During the 2017 Pentecost Season, alternative readings from the Hebrew Bible are offered. Scripture in Context will discuss both readings and the reading from the Christian Scriptures.
Exodus 34:29-35
The Book of Exodus is the second book of the Bible, and covers the period from the slavery in Egypt under Pharaoh (around 1250 BCE, if the account is historical), the Exodus itself, and the early months in the Wilderness.
Today is known by many Christians as "Transfiguration Sunday." In today's reading, Moses' face shone when he came down from Mount Sinai after speaking with Yahweh and writing the "words of the covenant" (the Ten Commandments or the Ten Words) on tablets. Moses put a veil over his face after he gave the people the Commandments and removed the veil whenever he spoke to Yahweh face-to-face.
In Exodus, this was the second time Moses received the Ten Commandments. When he came down the mountain the first time, the Israelites were worshipping the Golden Calf and he broke the tablets at the foot of the mountain (Ex. 32.19).
Moses' speaking with God face-to-face became part of the description of the expected Messiah. This expectation was combined with two verses in the Book of Deuteronomy. In one verse, Yahweh promised to "raise up for them [the people of Israel] a prophet like you [Moses]" (Deut. 18.18). The other verse notes that no other prophet in Israel (other than Moses) has been known by YHWH face-to-face (Deut. 34.10).
2 Peter 1:13-21
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 Second Letter of Peter was likely written around the year 100 CE (Peter died much earlier) and was written in the popular Greek rhetorical style of the age. The letter is presented as a "testament" by Peter based on his own experiences.
In today's reading, "Peter" claims he was an eyewitness to the Transfiguration of Jesus where he heard the voice of God declare that Jesus was God's Son and God's Beloved. "Peter" concludes that prophesy comes from God to humans who are moved by the Spirit to speak for 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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Congratulations to Father Jean!
Many of you know Father Jean Beniste, the priest-in-charge of Holy Redeemer Church in Lake Worth. He has assisted and filled in many times here at Bethesda, including Christmas Eve and Easter Day. We are both pleased (and saddened) to tell you that Father Jean has been called to serve as Canon for Latino Ministry at Christ Church Cathedral in Indianapolis. This is a wonderful opportunity for Father Jean and an exciting move for his family. Their presence and ministry will be a blessing to that wonderful community of faith. We will miss them here and are sorry to see them go. You can read the announcement here: http://www.cccindy.org/rev-jean-beniste/
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Caregivers' Support Group
Tuesday, August 15
5:30 p.m. | Library
Elayne Forgie, Founder, President, and CEO of Alzheimer's Care Resource Center, Inc. will facilitate this group. Whether your caregiving is a result of illness, age, disability, death, divorce, or anything else, if you are now or have past experience caring for a friend or loved one, this may be the place for you to find information and support. For more information, contact Regine Reimann at (561) 655-4555 x117 or e-mail her at
reimann@bbts.org.
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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 200+ gift bags for sailors who are at sea on Christmas Day. We will be collecting your items in fall.
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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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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...
Alex, Andy, Angela, Ann Marie, Ann, Annie, Ava, Betty, Bill, Bob, Brooklyn, Caroline,
Chris, Christopher,
Cindy, Claudia, Corrina,
Debbie, Don, Edward, Ellen, Eric, Feldeisen Family, Fritz, Gene, Geraldine, Greg, Grier, Holly, Jane, Jerry, John, Justin, Katie, Kehs Family,
Kimberly, Laniyah, Lee, Leigh, Lesley, Linda, Marcia, Mary, Matthew, Miessau Family, Mitchell, Moseley Family, Pam,Pat, Patricia, Patti, Paulette, Peggy, Phyllis, Pineiro Family, Ralph, Rebecca, Renée, Richard, Ricky, Robert, Saliyah, Sandra, Sharon, Stephen, Stuart, Sylvia, Tamara, Taryn, Thomas, Trish, Ward, William, and those serving our country...Benjamin, Clara, Eric, Erik, Harold, Herbert, John, Lorne,
Michael, Sean,
and Tommy.
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