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Week after week we "experience the clear and strong presence of God" in majestic and inspirational sacramental worship in readings, prayers, music, preaching, and Holy Eucharist, an experience this made possible by those who pledge and give financially throughout the year to Bethesda-by-the-Sea. In addition to beautiful and reverent worship, Bethesda offers a variety of opportunities to grow in our love of God and neighbor and answer the call of Christ to follow him.
The ministry and mission of Bethesda depends upon the financial gifts of all in our parish family. Of course the decision to support our community of faith financially is a choice. Or is it? As we seek to follow Jesus are we not being asked to give of ourselves, to "offer and present unto thee, O Lord, our selves, our souls and bodies." (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 336) We respond to the graciousness of God by striving to live more generous lives.
Advent prepares us to receive, in our lives and in the life of the world, the light that shatters the darkness. With each passing day and nearer to the Nativity of our Lord, we draw nearer to the One who is the hope of the future. We are called to be bearers of light and hope. As the family of Bethesda, we are called to carry the light of Christ into the world and to bring hope to dark places.
Your financial gift in December, whether it completes your pledge, gives more than you pledged, or is a one-time gift, ensures Bethesda continues to be a light of hope for Palm Beach and the world. By responding to the grace of God in our lives with generosity, we participate fully in the life of this vibrant and faithful parish. Please join me and so many others in contributing to our shared future with a generous year-end gift to The Church of Bethesda by-the-Sea.
Faithfully,
Father Thomas+
Associate for Outreach & Development
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OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE TO THE MISSION & MINISTRY OF BETHESDA
Make a bigger impact by contributing long-term appreciated securities, including stock, bonds, and mutual funds, directly to Bethesda-by-the-Sea. Compared with contributing cash, or selling your appreciated securities and contributing the after-tax proceeds, you may be able to automatically increase your gift and your tax deduction.
How does it work?
It's simple and easy. When you contribute stock to Bethesda-by-the-Sea, you'll generally take a tax deduction for the full fair market value. And because you are contributing stock, your contribution and tax deduction may instantly increase over 20%. Would you prefer to contribute bonds or mutual funds? The same benefits apply.
To transfer securities please contact Turia Roebuck- Hayden, Coordinator for Outreach and Development, 655-4554 x110,
turia@bbts.org
. For more information about the variety of ways to support the ministry of Bethesda-by-the-Sea please contact The Reverend Thomas R. Morris, Associate for Outreach and Development, 655-4554 x104,
morris@bbts.org
.
We recommend that you consult with your attorney or tax advisor for the various tax benefits and restrictions that may apply to your specific situation. We are available to you and your advisors to answer questions or help arrange a planned gift to The Church of Bethesda-by-the Sea.
Father Thomas+
Associate for Outreach & Development
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Preacher (8:00 a.m.): The Rector
Preacher (9:00 a.m.): Jessica Hitchcock
Preacher (11:00 a.m.): The Rector
*8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
8:15 a.m. Fellowship Breakfast, Parish Hall West
*9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist and Healing
9:50 a.m. Pray and Play Group (ages 3 & 4), Sunday School Hall
9:50 a.m. Story Group (K and 1st grade), Sunday School Hall
9:50 a.m. Arts Group (2nd to 5th grade), Sunday School Hall
9:50 a.m. Service Group (2nd to 5th grade), Sunday School Hall
9:50 a.m. Explorers Group (2nd to 5th grade), Sunday School Hall
9:50 a.m. Questions Group (6th & 7th grade), Library
9:50 a.m. Confirmation Group (8th Grade), ECW Room
9:50 a.m. Mission Group (9th-12th Grade), Youth Room
9:50 a.m. Adult Forum, Parish Hall East
10:00 a.m. Fellowship Finger Food, Parish Hall West
*#11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist and Healing
12:30 p.m. Christmas Caroling, Darcy Hall
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 2 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.
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Fellowship Breakfast | 8:15 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | Parish Hall West
We will have a full breakfast, with rotating menu, for $5 per person. After 10:00 a.m., a simpler fare, fellowship finger foods, will be provided until 1:00 p.m. with no cost to our parishioners.
This week's menu:
scrambled eggs, sausage, and hash browns.
Adult Forum: Maintaining Emotional Health Amidst the Holidays
9:50 to 10:50 a.m. | Parish Hall East | June Sory MA, LMHC
While many deck the halls with boughs of holly, the holiday season can be deeply challenging for others. Join us this morning to hear practical ideas for coping with cultural jollity while tending to encroaching, emotional darkness amidst the festivities around us.
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Children and Youth--Mark your Calendars!
Christmas Caroling | This Sunday, December 17 | 12:30 p.m.
Help spread some cheer this year! Darcy Hall is excited to have us so bring some merriment to share. Wear red and green and meet in the Parish Hall following the 11:00 a.m. service to carpool. All are welcome!
Christmas Pageant Rehearsal--Full Cast
Saturday, December 23 | 10:00 a.m. | Church
We will walk through the full pageant twice and fit any last-minute
costumes for children who need them. For more information, contact. Greg Knight at
knight@bbts.org or call him at (561) 655-4555 x114.
Christmas Pageant | Sunday, December 24 | 4:00 p.m. | Church
Join us for a wonderful Bethesda family tradition with our annual Christmas pageant as the children and youth of our parish live out the story of Jesus' birth in Luke's Gospel from the Annunciation to the manger. Any child who has not previously signed up but would still like to participate in the pageant may do so. Please
come to the Sunday School Hall to be fitted for one of the
remaining costumes before the service begins.
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Volunteer Opportunities for All Ages
Luncheon for the Homebound and Holy Eucharist
Thursday, December 28 | 11:00 a.m. | Church
We need volunteers to help with all aspects of this event including registration and helping guests as they arrive for lunch, serving the meal, assisting them over to the Church for worship, and clean-up after the event. If you are interested in helping in any way, please contact April Lawrence at (561) 655-4555 x112 or e-mail her at
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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.
Scripture in Context for December 17, 2017 discusses a reading from Isaiah that speaks in three different "voices" and the concluding verses from Paul's letter to the Thessalonians in which he exhorts the Jesus Follower community to live in love.
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The Book of Isaiah is a composite of writings from three distinct periods in Israel's history. Chapters 1-39 are called "First Isaiah" and calls for Jerusalem to repent in the 20 years before Jerusalem was under siege by the Assyrians in 701 BCE. "Second Isaiah" is Chapters 40 to 55 and brings hope to the Judeans during the Exile in Babylon (587 to 539 BCE) by telling them they have suffered enough and will return to Jerusalem. "Third Isaiah" is Chapters 56 to 66 and, for the most part, gives encouragement to Judeans who returned to Jerusalem after the Exile.
Today's reading is part of "Third Isaiah." It can be a bit difficult to follow because there are three different "voices" speaking.
In the first four verses, Isaiah describes what a prophet is and does. A prophet is one anointed by YHWH/LORD to bring messages that YHWH wants conveyed to the people - in this case, that they and Jerusalem will be restored.
In the second two verses of today's reading, YHWH is portrayed as speaking directly to the people. YHWH promises an everlasting covenant with them.
In the last two verses, Isaiah speaks for the people who have received salvation and righteousness from YHWH. The people rejoice that they are like a bridegroom, a bride and the earth in Springtime that brings forth its shoots. They say that YHWH will cause righteousness to spring up among all the nations. (In the Hebrew Bible, the word that is translated as "the nations" is sometimes - depending on context - translated as "the pagans" or "the Gentiles.")
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The letter to the Thessalonians was Paul's first letter and was written around 50 CE. Thessaloniki is a seaport and was the capital of Macedonia. The letter encouraged the Jesus Follower community to be steadfast in the face of persecution.
Today's reading consists of the concluding verses of the letter, and follows an exhortation for the Jesus Followers to be at peace among themselves (v.13) and to not repay evil for evil (v.15). Paul encourages them to rejoice, pray, hold fast to that which is good (vv.16-21). In his prayer that their "spirit and soul and body be kept sound (v.23), Paul is not treating these as separate parts of a human person, but as three vantage points for viewing persons, each of which is important. Paul emphasizes that God's call to us is ongoing (v.24).
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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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Funeral Service
Janet Raymer Reynolds
Friday, December 29
3:00 p.m.
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Christmas Concert and Community Carol Sing
Monday, December 18
7:30 p.m. | Church
Bethesda presents one of our area's most popular Christmas concerts! The Bethesda Choir performs with some of the finest instrumentalists in our area, and the audience sings many favorite Christmas carols with the excitement of full orchestra accompaniment. All are welcome and encouraged to attend-come early to get a seat. A requested donation of $20 will be received at the door.
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2017-2018 ADVENT & CHRISTMAS SERVICES
C
lick here
to view, download, and print our entire schedule.
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A Special Thank You
A special thank you to Amy Sheehan for an excellent job chairing the Angel Tree. With the help of husband Leif, daughters Parker, Madison, and Mackenzie, over 100 gifts were collected from parishioners this year for distribution through Speak Up For Kids Palm Beach County. This organization works with the Guardian ad Litem program to advocate for nearly 1,200 foster kids who are victims of abuse, abandonment, and neglect. Thank you also to our parishioners for remembering these kids during the Christmas season with specific requested gifts that they wouldn't have otherwise. Parker, Madison, and Mackenzie did an especially great job of handing out angels and collecting presents. Thank you girls.
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Annual Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival
Saturday, January 6
3:30 p.m.
&
Sunday, January 7
2:00 & 4:30 p.m.
A Perennial Holiday Favorite Returns! Mark your calendars for the
upcoming Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival, which is Bethesda-by-the-
Sea's beloved re-creation of an ancient drama celebrating Epiphany. Pipes
and Drums, Beefeaters, Sprites, Shepherds, the Three Kings and their
Pages, Mary and Joseph, Flag Bearers, Jesters, the Herald, King Wenceslas
and his Page, a Brass Quintet, the mighty Austin organ, and the Bethesda
Choir . . . all will be in place as our Festival takes place on the Sunday
closest to The Feast of the Epiphany, twelve days after Christmas!
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Sunday, December 24
Help the Flower Guild decorate for Christmas!
This year Advent 4 and Christmas Eve fall on the same day, and it provides an exciting opportunity for all of us: we will have the chance following the morning service to assist the Flower Guild in transforming our church from Advent to Christmas-the ultimate preparation! Parishioners are encouraged to stay after the service this Sunday to help the Flower Guild decorate the church for our Christmas services. Refreshments and food will be provided in the Parish Hall.
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We pray for...
Angela, Angelica, Anne, Augusta, Bianca, Bill, Bob, Charles, Chris, Christopher, Connie, Daniel, David, Dylan, Ellen, Fred, Gary, Gavin, Geoff, Gerry, Grier, Henry, Holly, Isabel, Jack, James, Jane, Jennifer, Jim, Joann, John, Juan, Katie, Lawrence Family, Leslie, Lillian, Lloyd, Lory, Mary, Matthew, Michael, Michelle, Midialys, Mildred, Miryam, Molly, Pam, Pamela, Pat, Patricia, Peggy, Ralph, Rebecca, Regine, Renée, Richard, Rick, Ricky, Robert, Scott, Sharon, Sheri, Stephen, Sylvia, Taryn, Theresa, Thomas, Ward, William, and those serving our country...Benjamin, Christian, Clara, Eric, Harold, Herbert, John, Lorne, Michael, Sean, and Tommy.
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The Bethesda Fall Catalog is available...
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