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When Father James told me that the church would welcome me to Bethesda with a "pounding party," I was apprehensive. I'd never heard the term, and it sounded...violent. But he explained, and I quickly relaxed.
I'm very thankful for the gifts--pantry staples, cleaning supplies, small kitchen gadgets, a few treats, gift cards, some local specialties, and even a Bethesda cookbook. They've all made my first days in Palm Beach easier. But I'm even more grateful for the warm welcome that the gifts represent. The community here could not have been kinder as I arrived and settled in.
It was wonderful to meet so many of you on my first Sunday, and I look forward to getting to know you all. (Please be patient as I try to learn everyone's name!)
I'm looking forward to working and learning and serving with you all!
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SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 2018
Preacher (8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.): The Rev. Burl Salmon
*8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
8:45 a.m. Coffee Hour, Parish Hall
*#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 the south side of Pendleton Avenue
without receiving a ticket until 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
* nursery care for infants through age 2 is
available from 7:45 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Click here to view the service leaflet for this Sunday.
Click here to view this week's Bethesda Happenings.
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Johnathan Larrabee, youth member, reflects on his mission trip in the Keys
"This week was an important one. There were people in need after a major hurricane. Many of these people may have survived the storm, but unfortunately their houses did not. The first site we worked, the house was gone. The elderly couple there [was] living in a trailer and our task for two days was to clean up the rest of their house that was left in pieces. I personally unscrewed many screws! This sounds like a little task, but it was actually far from it. George, one of the
homeowners, explained that at his advanced age it was getting hard for him to reach above his head. He was extremely grateful for our small act of help..." Click here to read and see more or go to our Facebook page
- Jonathan Larrabee,
Youth Member
Bethesda youth members in the Keys
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Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Canon Stephanie Spellers
speak about
The Jesus Movement
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A MISSION OF DAMASCUS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, DAMASCUS, MD
CHARLES WESLEY SINGERS
Leonard Bernstein
Sacred Anthems & Instrumental Ensemble
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
3395 Burns Road, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
FREE-WILL OFFERING BENEFITS MISSIONS
Summer Youth Mission Choir Tour 2018 -NC/FLORIDA, USA
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Save the Date!
Bethesda's Celtic Pilgrimage
May 3 to May 15, 2019
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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.
The reading discusses
Ezekiel's prophesy on behalf of YHWH that a sprig would be planted by YHWH -- a common metaphor used by other prophets for the Messiah. It also discusses some of the component parts of Paul's so-called Second Letter to the Corinthians.
Ezekiel 17:22-24
Ezekiel is one of the three "Major" Prophets - so called 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.
The Book of Ezekiel is in three parts: (1) Chapters 1 to 24 are prophesies of doom against Jerusalem before the destruction of the Temple in 586 BCE; (2) Chapters 25 to 32 are prophesies against foreign nations; and (3) Chapters 33 to 48 are prophesies of hope for the Judeans written during the Babylonian Exile (586-539 BCE).
Similar to other prophets, Ezekiel "prophesies" by speaking for God. Prophesy in the Hebrew Bible is not about telling the future. A prophet is one who speaks for YHWH.
In the first part of Chapter 17, Ezekiel spoke an allegory on behalf of YHWH telling that Judea and its king would be defeated by the Babylonians and taken to Babylon. In today's verses, Ezekiel continued to speak for YHWH who would take a sprig from a cedar tree (v.22) and plant it so that it would grow to a mighty cedar (v.23).
Ezekiel (in today's reading), Isaiah (Ch.11) and Jeremiah (Ch.23) all used the metaphor of a twig or a branch of a tree as a symbol of the Messiah that was to come.
2 Corinthians 5:6-17
Corinth, a large port city in Greece, was among the early Jesus Follower communities that Paul founded. Its culture was diverse and Hellenistic. Corinthians emphasized reason and secular wisdom. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians was written in the 50's (CE) and presented his views on many issues that were controversial in this Jesus Follower Community.
Based on internal references in the two remaining letters to the Corinthians, scholars agree that Paul likely wrote at least four letters to the Corinthians. The so-called Second Letter to the Corinthians is composed of fragments of these letters.
Today's reading reflects the multiple components in this letter. In the first part of today's reading, Paul spoke of his desire to be "at home with the Lord" (v.8) and noted that the body is a barrier to being with Christ more perfectly - it keeps one "away from the Lord" (v.6).
In the second part of today's reading, Paul discussed his relationship with the Corinthians - a relationship that was sometimes painful for both Paul and the Corinthians (2:1-2). He expressed hope that he was well known to the Corinthians' consciences (v.11) but declined from "commending ourselves" to them (v.12).
In the last part of today's reading, Paul shifts his message to convey the idea that if one is "in Christ" they are a "new creation" (v.17).
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Middle Way resumes on Wednesday, September 19.
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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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Caregivers' Support Group
Tuesday, June 19 | 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. RSVP to (561) 588-4545.
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The Church Mouse
Summer Hours
The Church Mouse hours will be Monday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Church Mouse closes on Saturday, June 23, at 12:00 p.m. However, we will be open for donations throughout the
summer, at the "Donor Door" located on the south side of the building, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Don't miss our End of the Season Sales:
- Monday, June 11- 18 we will start our week of huge savings on nearly everything with 50% off
- Tuesday, June 19 and Wednesday, June 20: 75% off
- Friday, June 22 and Saturday, June 23: 90% off!
For more information, please call The Church Mouse at
(561) 659-2154.
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Father James'
Sabbatical Blog
You can follow Father James on his
sabbatical
journey.
Subscribe to his Reflections posts for email updates.
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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 THE DATE!
Saturday, December 15
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's very own Canon for Evangelism and Reconciliation, The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, will be at Bethesda in December. More details to follow.
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Vacation Bible School 2018
Join us for our 2018 Vacation Bible School from Monday, June 25, through Friday, June 29, 9:00 a.m. to noon each day. Open to all children ages 3 through 9, we will be exploring Jesus' Parable of the Sower. This will be an arts-based camp complete with different workshops that engage them in making their own artwork and project, learning songs and hymns, engaging in creative drama and movement, playing games, and even having a hand in sowing their own seeds. For more information, visit bbts.org or contact Greg
Knight at
(561) 655 4555 x114.
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Christmas Homebound Shawl Challenge!
We asked and we received. In February, Gloria McAllister spearheaded a ministry of shawls to give to our guests who come to Bethesda for our Homebound Luncheon. Gloria and her team of knitters made over 60 shawls. We need another 60 shawls for Christmas Homebound to be finished by Friday, December 14.
We will provide the pattern, needles, and yarn.
You may do it at home or join us on Saturdays in the Library with your family or friends who enjoy knitting --dates soon to be announced. If you are interested, please call April at 561-853-0958 or email
april@bbts.org
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St. George's Sandwich Making
Fridays | 8:00 a.m. | Kitchen | Every Friday people of all ages meet in the kitchen to make sandwiches for the St. George's Community Center in Riviera Beach. The Center serves over 1,900 meals a week. This is a fun opportunity to help feed those in need in our community while getting to know fellow parishioners.
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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. Last year we made 300 gift bags for seafarers who were at sea on Christmas Day. Let's do the same this year.
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Memorial Day through Labor Day,
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...
Alan, Angela, Ann, Austin, Carlin, Carolyn, Carrie, Celia, Chris, Chris, Cynthia, Danny, David, Donna, Dorothy, Ellen, Eric, Evan, Flonell, Fred, Gisela, Glenn, Holly, Howard, Hunter, Jack, James, Jane, Jerry, Jo, Joe, John, John, John, John, Kelley, Kelly, Kitty, Luca, Lorne, Lory, Mark, Mary, Mary Ann, Mary, Matthew, Michael, Nancy, Pat, Peggy, Regine, Ricky, Robert, Ron, Sebastian,
Sean, Sharon, Shawn, Stephen, Sylvia, Taryn, Thomas, Tom, Tommy, Trish, Ward, and those serving our country...Alex, Alex, Benjamin, Christian, Clara, Eric, Harold, Herbert, John, Lorne, Luster, Michael, Sean, and Tommy
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