September 28 , 2017



In celebration of the Feast of St. Francis, you are invited to our Morning Prayer service with the Blessing of the Animals at 9:00 a.m. this Sunday, October 1. For those who wish, communion is offered at the end of the 9:00 a.m. service. Please gather in the Garth with your pets at 8:45 a.m. Our youth will be helping bag donated food for local shelters to support homeless pets and pet owners, so please bring DRY cat or dog food. Please do not bring wet/canned food or treats.
 
This Sunday is also the start of our first-Sunday-of-the-month Evensong and Recital series. At 3:30 p.m., organist Daniel Bayless will present a recital of music by Nicolaus Bruhns, Vincent Persichetti, and Louis Vierne. Daniel assumed his position as Organist and Director of Music at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Palm Beach Gardens in January 2017. Previously, he worked at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at The University of Notre Dame. Prior to his tenure at Notre Dame, he served congregations in New Hampshire, Connecticut, Indiana, and Kansas.
 
At 4:00 p.m., the Bethesda Choir will lead Evensong. The service will include music by Harold Friedell, Wayne Wold, David Stanley York, and Jehan Alain. At a reception in the Parish Hall following Evensong, you will have a chance to greet our recitalist, members of the choir, the clergy, and each other. Please join us!
 
Hal Pysher
Associate for Music and Liturgy

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2017
Preacher (8:00 & 11:00 a.m.): The Rector
Preacher (9:00 a.m.): The Rector

*8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
8:30 a.m. Fellowship Breakfast, Parish Hall West
*9:00 a.m. Blessing of the Animals with 
Morning Prayer followed by communion
9:30 a.m. Fellowship Finger Food, Parish Hall West
*#11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist

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 12:30 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. 
Wednesday, October 4

If you  have children in middle school or high school, if you  work with children in middle school or high school, if  you once had children who were once in middle school or high school , or if you simply  love children, we encourage you to be a part of the conversation during Active Parenting, a program for the next six weeks in The Middle Way. Martha Putnam, Coordinator of Adult Programs at the Hanley Foundation and, more importantly, mother of five, will lead the conversation using the curriculum entitled Active Parenting and will address communication skills, strategies to prevent risky behavior, respectful discipline, and how to offer healthy encouragement. Please join us on Wednesday evenings 

AND...a new Middle Way offering
From Genesis to the Revelation, reading the Bible together is a meaningful way for us to deepen our faith while strengthening our ties to one another and the church community. Beginning on Wednesday evenings during the Middle Way Fr. Thomas and other clergy will offer an informal and instructive opportunity to study the Bible with a focus on historical perspective and scripture's meaning for us in the daily living of our lives. We will begin with an exploration of the Gospel according to Mark. So bring your bibles to the ECW Room--or use one of yours-- for an ongoing opportunity to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest God's word!

5:45 to 6:30 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's menu: Sausage & peppers with red sauce and rice, garden salad, sauteed vegetables, sliced baguette, and oatmeal raisin cookies .  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. | Active Parenting | Guild Room
"Just Say No" might have been catchy, but it failed miserably as an approach to substance abuse prevention because it failed to take into account context, factors, and the human being specifically. Anticipating the Active Parenting curriculum that begins in October, Jan Cairnes, Executive Director for Hanley Foundation, will introduce the helpful acronym S.A.V.E.--Spot, Act, Validate and Engage--as a way to talk to your children/teens about alcohol and other drugs.

6:30 to 7:40 p.m. | Bethesda at Its Best! | Library
Come one, come all for a behind-the-scenes look at what makes Bethesda the special place that it is. Over a series of four weeks, join the clergy and vestry as we discuss the history, mission, and organization of this remarkable parish and how each of these beautiful threads comes together into a diverse and spirit-filled tapestry. Whether you've been here for years or a couple of weeks, you're invited to join this great conversation.

RECURRING CLASSES
6:30 to 7:40 p.m. | Liturgy Group| Sunday School Hall
For all children in Kindergarten through 5th Grade who are interested in learning more about what we do on Sunday mornings in our worship services, the Wednesday Liturgy Class will teach them more about what we do and why. Over the course of the year we will explore elements of the Holy Eucharist more in-depth with our young people and also train them to become worship leaders for Sunday services. Topics will include communion, acolyting, music, the liturgical calendar, and saints. If you've ever wanted a class to teach your child about what we do in worship, don't miss this wonderful opportunity.

6:30 to 7:40 p.m. | Bethesda Youth Group | Youth Room
The Bethesda Youth Group will move from our traditional Thursday night meetings to Wednesday nights to join our Middle Way ministries. Come for dinner at 5:45 p.m. and stay for Youth Group until 7:40 p.m. The Bethesda Youth Group is a fellowship group open to all those in 6th through 12th grade. Members also participate in monthly special events including our annual lock-in, service day, and camping trip to Peanut Island.

6:30 to 7:40 p.m. | Yoga | Parish Hall West
Physical therapist and yoga therapist, Emily Large, invites all adults for an evening of holistic worship through Christian yoga practice. Physical postures, relaxation, breath techniques and mental focus create a holistic approach for worship as we will reflect on the themes associated with the liturgical calendar. A requested donation of $10 per class (payable at the door).

7:45 to 8:00 p.m. | Compline | Church
An ancient, brief, and contemplative liturgy of the Christian tradition, compline offers an opportunity to give God thanks for the day behind us and pray for rest and safety in the night ahead. A fitting end to the day, compline offers a peaceful and meditative sacred time in the middle of our often frenetic weeks, as well as a beautiful conclusion to our Wednesday evenings together.
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 17:1-7 
Today's reading recounts Moses' striking a rock at Horeb (another name for the mountain called "Sinai" in other Torah sources) to provide water for the Israelites during the time in the Wilderness. This story also appears in Numbers 20:2-13, but there Moses struck the rock twice (not having enough confidence in YHWH). For this reason, he and Aaron were not permitted to enter the Promised Land with the Israelites.
 
Archeologists cannot determine the location of the Wilderness of Sin or Rephidim, and many doubt that these accounts are historical.  No evidence of substantial numbers of persons in the Sinai Peninsula has ever been found. Numbers 1:46 says the men older than 20 years numbered more than 603,000. Adding women and children would bring the total to over 1.2 million persons. If each received a half pound of food and a pint of water each day, 300 tons of food and 150,000 gallons of water would have been needed every day for 40 years. 
 
The accounts are a reminder that even if the Bible is not always historically or scientifically true, the stories are "profoundly true" and help us understand our relationships with God and others.    
 
Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32
Ezekiel is one of the three "Major" Prophets - because of the length of the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Ezekiel was a priest who was among the first group of persons deported by the Babylonians when they captured Jerusalem in 597 BCE. 
 
In today's reading, YHWH is presented as rejecting the idea that a prior generation's wrongs will be borne by later generations (v.3). A major emphasis in the Book of Ezekiel is on personal responsibility rather than seeing acts of prior generations as the cause of the current situation. This was a new development in the Theology of Ancient Israel. Ezekiel presents repentance as the way to a restored life (vv.27-32).   
 
Philippians 2:1-13
Philippi was a major city in Macedonia on the Roman road to Byzantium (Istanbul) and most of its inhabitants were Roman citizens. Paul has a deep affection for the Jesus Followers in Philippi, and thanks them for gifts sent to him in prison (4:18).
 
The last part of today's reading is derived from a hymn that was already in use in Jesus Follower communities, perhaps in a Baptism liturgy.  Its statements are not only religious, they are also political. The Roman Caesars claimed to be "in the form of God" and (as rulers) to be the "Lord."  
 
By contrast, instead of exploiting his connectedness to God, Jesus took the form of a slave/servant and emptied himself (poured himself out) for others. For this, he has been highly exalted (resurrected). As the Christ/Messiah, he is also called "Lord" and at the name of Jesus, (rather than at Caesar's name) every knee should bend.
141 South County Road · Palm Beach, FL 33480
(561) 655-4554 ·  www.bbts.org
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.

From the Rector: An Appeal to Support Irma Recovery
Click here to read an important letter. 
Recital and Evensong
Sunday, October 1
3:30 p.m. | Church
Join us for our first Recital and Evensong of the season! A recital by Daniel Bayless, Organist at St. Mark's, Palm Beach Gardens, will begin at 3:30 p.m., and Evensong led by The Bethesda Choir will follow at 4:00 p.m. A free-will offering will be received in the service, and a reception will follow in the Parish Hall. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Wine and Fellowship Under the Stars
Friday, October 13 | 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. | Cluett Garden
Join us for a special cocktail party of fellowship, wine, and appetizers. All are
invited! A contribution of $10 per person is suggested. You can RSVP in the
Cloister on Sundays in October or by sending an e-mail to ayana@bbts.org
Grand Re-Opening
The Church Mouse will re-open 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 2!
* Celebrating 48 wonderful years
* 4,000+ square foot resale shop of women's and men's designer clothing to great antiques, artwork, and furniture
* 100% of the proceeds from The Church Mouse provides funds for Bethesda's Outreach ministry
 
Our hours of operation for the season are:  
Monday-Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Young Women's Bible Study
Wednesdays
10:30 a.m. | Guild Room
Young Women's Bible Study is geared towards women ages 25-55 with all levels of experience in studying Scripture. This fall the group will study the life of Joseph through a video series called "Restless" by Jennie Allen. This will be an eight-week series that meets on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.  For more information please e-mail Susan Beebe or Rachel Supple at womenatthewell@bbts.org.
Silver Sneakers   
Tuesdays and Thursdays
9:00 a.m. | Parish Hall West
 This program promotes a healthy, active lifestyle, and it's free for SilverSneakers members. The classes combine cardio, strength, and balance. Experience is not at all necessary. These classes are for beginners as well as more experienced exercisers. We will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall West. Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes. 
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.
We pray for...  
Abraham, Allen Family, Alyssa, Angela, Ann, Anne, Anthony, Ben, Bill, Bob, Charlie, Chris, Christopher, Claudia, Conway Family, Dayton Family, Debbie, Diana, Don, Edward, Elisa, Ellen, Frances, Garcia Family, Gary, Gene, Ginny,  Gordon, Grier, Hill Family, Holly, Jack, Jane, Jenna, John, Johnston Family, Jose, Judy, Katie, Kimberly, Lesley, Lev, Lila Ann, Mariette, Marjorie, Martin, Mary, Mary Kay, Matthew, Michelle, Norma, Pam, Pat, Patricia, Paul, Peggy, Rebecca, Renée, Richard, Ricky, Shawn, Stanley, Stephen, Suzanne, Sylvia, Taryn, Theresa, Thomas, and Ward, 
and those serving our country...Benjamin, Christian, Clara, Eric, Erik, Harold, Herbert, John, Lorne, Michael, Sean, and Tommy.
The Bethesda Fall Catalog is now available...
click here and mark your calendars! 
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