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Where are the clergy?
How often I hear this question, especially on Sunday mornings, or about Sunday mornings. It sometimes seems as if we clergy need the ability to be in several locations at once: leading the liturgy, preaching an inspiring sermon, greeting those coming in and out of the service, teaching a class, responding to a pastoral need, and enjoying the fellowship, all while being quiet, reflective, and prayerful. We all know that the clergy cannot be everywhere at once, but the desire to see more clergy presence is well-founded and worthy of consideration. It was, you may recall, one of the most articulated longings from our Sunday morning conversations last spring.
As we move into our new vision for Sunday mornings, we are going to deploy the clergy in some new and different ways to increase a clergy presence in more places. While we have three full-time priests plus two non-stipendiary deacons, along with occasional assistance from retired clergy who attend, we will now ensure that at the least, we fill two important clergy roles each Sunday.
The Preacher
The Preacher will preach at the 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services and preside at one or more of the three services. This priest will likely not greet people before services but will greet folks afterwards. In an effort to preserve some sacred time in the midst of the hectic schedule of a Sunday morning, the Preacher will be scarce between services and most often absent from the adult forum and the hospitality offered in the Parish Hall until after the 11:00 a.m. service.
The Hosting Priest
The Hosting Priest will focus on fellowship and education. The clergy in this role will be in the Parish Hall from before the beginning of breakfast at 8:30 a.m. through the adult forum. The clergy in this role will be will be responsible for convening the forum (though not necessarily leading it) and for moving everyone on to the 11:00 a.m. service at its conclusion. Entering the 11:00 a.m. service after it has begun, this priest will assist in distributing communion as needed, departing shortly thereafter and returning to the Parish Hall for hospitality after the service, thus assuring that a priest is always present during fellowship time, as well as during the adult forum.
Other clergy will serve in various ways each Sunday. For example, if not the Preacher or Hosting Priest, clergy might preach at the 9:00 a.m. service, lead the Adult Forum, preside at one or more of the services, offer prayers for healing, assist with communion, greet people before or after services, or serve in other ways. On special Sundays, such as All Saints and Holy Week, this will work differently, of course, as we will not have the same offerings of fellowship or education on some of those occasions.
Please bear in mind that we are trying something new in an effort to respond to the thoughtful feedback we received. As we do so, we intend to continue to listen and learn and therefore to make adjustments as we go along.
Your Bethesda clergy look forward to being more available on Sunday mornings, an opportunity afforded by this restructuring, so join us for hospitality, for fellowship, and for rich offerings for spiritual formation at Bethesda-by-the-Sea this year. We can't wait to see you!
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2017
Preacher: The Rector
*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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Bethesda Scholars Start the School Year
Two first-year and one sophomore participants in the Bethesda Scholars Program are in their respective universities and off to a great start of their school year.
Joezer Pascal is at Vanderbilt University studying electrical engineering. Joezer is mentored by Tanner Rose.
Erlande Saintil is a member of the class of 2021 at Florida State University pursuing a BSN. Erlande's mentors are Susan Barnhart and JoAnn Sears.
Jesus Cartagena begins his second year at Florida International University studying computer science. Jesus is mentored by Pat Reichenbacher.
Bethesda Scholars is a ministry of the Church of Bethesda Outreach Program and coordinated by Pat Reichenbacher. Bethesda Scholars is a growing endeavor in search of mentors who commit to working with selected high school students seeking to improve their lives through academic success. The primary objectives of Bethesda Scholars are empowering young people out of poverty and creating opportunities for students to grow into contributing and successful citizens.
For information about Bethesda Scholars or to express interest in becoming a mentor please contact Pat Reichenbacher,
Father Thomas+
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Ministry Fair and
Pounding Party
& Reception for Father Thomas
Sunday, September 10 | following both services | Parish Hall
Ministry Fair: Our Annual Ministry Fair is the perfect opportunity to learn and sign up to volunteer in our many different ministries. Don't forget to wear one or more colors to church that day representing the ministry/ministries you already are a part of [
Bethesda Cares (blue),
Education (orange),
Evangelism & Communications (green),
Fellowship & Hospitality (red),
Outreach (yellow),
Retail (pink),
and Worship (purple)].
Pounding Party & Reception for Father Thomas: Join us in welcoming our new Associate for Outreach and Development, The Rev. Thomas Morris, with a reception in the Parish Hall following the 10:00 a.m. service. Father James cordially invites all parishioners to take part in a "Pounding Party." A "Pounding Party" is an English and pioneer tradition of helping a family or new pastor of a church set up their household. Please bring a "pound" (figuratively, not literally) of any useful household item-food staples, cleaning supplies, etc. If you do not have time to shop, gift cards are also welcomed. You may drop off or bring your gifts and/or gift cards with you to the reception on Sunday, September 10.
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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 3:1-15
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's reading is the first account of the Call of Moses (the other is in Exodus 6). Prior to today's reading, Moses fled from Egypt to Midian where he met his wife, Zipporah, at a well (naturally). While tending his father-in-law's flocks, he encountered a Burning Bush, heard a voice, and asked God's name.
In the Bible, names describe a person's qualities, and having power to name someone shows the ability to control them. When Moses asks for God's name, the elliptical response is "YHWH" which is a form of the Hebrew word "to be." The name shows God is not to be controlled. YHWH is variously translated as "I AM WHAT I AM" or "I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE" or "I AM BECOMING WHAT I AM BECOMING." One of the great insights of the Hebrew Bible is that YHWH is a God of Mystery and is active (as a verb is active) and not fixed like a noun.
Jeremiah 15:15-21
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 prophesy (i.e. speaking for Yahweh) began around 609 and continued until 586 BCE when he died in Egypt.
Jeremiah's predictions of harsh times for Judea and Jerusalem were opposed by the kings and the "court prophets." Jeremiah was ridiculed and mistreated. Today's reading is a lament by Jeremiah (vv. 15-18) to which YHWH replies that Jeremiah will be delivered and redeemed (v. 21). Because of Jeremiah's laments, the Book of Lamentations is sometimes incorrectly attributed to him.
Romans 12:9-21
Paul's letter to the Romans is his longest, last, and theologically most complex letter, written in the late 50s or early 60s (CE) - about ten years before the first Gospel (Mark) was written. One of Paul's goals was to reduce tensions and eliminate distinctions between the Jewish Jesus Followers in Rome and Gentile Jesus Followers there.
Building on his prior discussions, Paul urges all the Jesus Followers in Rome to love one another (v.10) and live in harmony (v.16). In verse 19, Paul paraphrases Deuteronomy 32:35 to say "vengeance" is God's, but a better translation of the Hebrew is "vindication" because the idea in the Hebrew was justice (in the sense of making things right) rather than revenge.
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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
Our office will be closed on Monday, September 4, for Labor Day.
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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 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 are only two Sundays remaining for you to participate in our Summer Choir, September 3 and 10. Rehearsals begin in the Choir Room promptly at 9:00 a.m. as we prepare music for the 10:00 a.m. service. We'd love to have you join us!
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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...
Abraham, Alyssa, Andy, Angela, Ann, Anne, Bill, Bob, Brownie, Caroline, Charlie, Christopher, Cindy, Claudia, Corrina, Debbie, Don, Edward, Ellen, Frances, Eric, Garcia Family, Gary, Gene, Ginny, Gunnar, Holly, Jane, Jenna, John, Judy, Katie, Kelly, Kimberly, Lanier Family, Lee, Lesley, Lev, Lila Ann, Marcia, Marjorie, Martin, Mary, Matthew, Mitchell, Pam, Pat, Patricia, Patti, Paul, Peggy, Rebecca, Renée, Richard, Ricky, Robert, Sandra, Shawn, Sharon, Stephen, Stuart, Sylvia, Taryn, Thomas Ward,
and those serving our country...
Benjamin, Christian, Clara, Eric, Erik, Harold, Herbert, John, Lorne, Michael, Sean, and Tommy
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