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Canterbury Pilgrimage 2017 prepares youth
for 2019 Pilgrimage to Italy
Our pilgrimage to Canterbury in 2017 allowed us to experience, relying solidly on prayer, the care of one another and the hospitality of others first hand. We walked carrying everything we brought (which at first didn't seem like much) on our backs for five straight days. Whenever we stopped we were so tired and sore that we didn't have the energy to "go" again. We learned who was a morning person... and unfortunately many of us weren't (myself included). And as for walking 68 miles? Not very entertaining.
We had to find a way to make the journey not so miserable. One minute we'd talk, have lively banter or sing the top hits from the early 2000's and the next minute we'd encounter a hill and it would be silent for a very long time. One time (and I kid you not), a few of us thought it would be a good idea to scream out our frustrations as we walked the final mile of the day. Before this trip we were just a group of kids that would see each other for one hour out of the week. During the journey we became each other's support systems. We walked, talked, ate, breathed, slept, and prayed together during that week. We became a close-knit family with inside jokes that are still used to this day. Without the thought of God and family (and what restaurant we would go to later) in my mind and my friends by my side, I wouldn't have the motivation to put on my walking boots in the morning.
When we entered Canterbury and saw the Cathedral on the city's horizon line, it dawned on us that we had made it to our final destination. Our packs felt lighter and our group began quickening pace because we were so excited to get there. Finally entering the Cathedral, sitting in one of the pews and looking around at the beautiful architecture, mosaic windows, underground floors, gigantic courtyards and even having our own private service made every negative memory from the week vanish. All that was left was happiness and a sense of pride and achievement.
Knowing now that we can do it makes me even more excited for our upcoming pilgrimage in Italy!
Jillian Gore
Youth Member
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SUNDAY, AUGUST 12, 2018
Preacher (8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.): Greg Knight
*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 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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[Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs] Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry is resting comfortably following surgery on Tuesday, July 31. According to the presiding bishop's family and his medical team, the surgery went well, as had been expected. Bishop Curry is resting, and a full recovery continues to be anticipated.
On July 25 Curry shared
news that he had recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer and would be having surgery to remove the prostate gland.
Curry and his family are touched by the outpouring of prayers and well wishes. In their thankfulness, they ask for privacy during his recovery.
Further information will continue to be released by the presiding bishop's office, as needed.
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Save the Date!
Bethesda's Celtic Pilgrimage
May 3 to May 15, 2019
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This Sunday's Lectionary 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 the feeding of Elijah in the wilderness after he escaped from Jezebel, and the exhortation by the author of the Letter to the Ephesians to the Gentile Jesus Followers in that community.
1 Kings 19:4-8
The authors of the Book of Kings were also the authors of the books of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges and Samuel. These books were given their final form around 550 BCE - long after the events they described. The authors used the stories in these books to demonstrate that it was the failures of the Kings of Israel and the Kings of Judea to worship YHWH and obey God's commands that led to the conquest of Northern Israel in 722 BCE by the Assyrians and the conquest of Judea by the Babylonians in 597 BCE. (The conquests were not seen as the result of the Assyrians' and Babylonians' greater wealth and more powerful armies.)
Elijah and his successor, Elisha, were two of the great prophets (speakers for YHWH) in Jewish History. They opposed the (mostly) Baal-worshiping kings in Northern Israel for 90 years (from approximately 873 to 784 BCE), and their stories comprise about 40% of the Book of Kings.
Just prior to today's reading, Elijah invoked the power of YHWH to overcome the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel in the Northern part of Israel. He brought fire upon a huge sacrifice, rain to end a drought, and then killed all the prophets of Baal.
The evil King of Northern Israel at the time was Ahab (873-852) and his wife was the Baal-worshiping foreigner, Jezebel. After Elijah's deeds, Jezebel swore to kill Elijah, so he ran away as far south in Israel as he could - first to Beer-sheba (about 100 miles) and then to the wilderness where he hoped to die. In today's reading, YHWH's angels provided food to Elijah so he had strength to journey to Horeb and continue his ministry.
For the Deuteronomists, the holy mountain is called "Horeb" rather than Sinai. "Sinai" is the name of the holy mountain used by the authors of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. The location of the holy mountain in the Sinai Peninsula has never been determined.
Ephesians 4:25 - 5:2
Ephesus was a large and prosperous city in what is now western Turkey. In the Acts of the Apostles and 1 Corinthians, Paul is said to have visited there. In Ephesus, there were Jesus Followers who were Jews and Jesus Followers who were Gentiles, and they didn't always agree on what it meant to be a Jesus Follower.
Because the letter contains a number of terms not used in Paul's other letters and gives new meanings to some of Paul's characteristic terms, most scholars believe that this letter was written by one of Paul's disciples late in the First Century. The letter was intended to unify the Jesus Follower community in Ephesus.
Because of the verses just before today's reading, this passage appears mostly directed at the Gentile Jesus Followers. The author urged them to put away falsehood, not speak evil of others, and to put away bitterness, wrath, anger, wrangling and slander (v.4:31). He urged them live in love as Christ loved us. Describing Christ as a "fragrant sacrifice" (v.5:2) is a reference by the author to burnt offerings in the Hebrew Scriptures which are described as giving off an odor that was pleasing to YHWH, for example, Noah's sacrifice in Gen. 8:21.
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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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The Church Mouse
Summer Hours
The Church Mouse is now closed for the summer. However, we are 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.
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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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Opportunity to give
to the
Mission & Ministry of Bethesda
Make a bigger impact by donating long-term appreciated securities, including stock, bonds, and mutual funds, directly to Bethesda-by-the-Sea. Compared with donating 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 donate stock to Bethesda-by-the-Sea, you'll generally take a tax deduction for the full fair market value. And because you are donating stock, your contribution and tax deduction may instantly increase over 20%. Would you prefer to donate bonds or mutual funds? The same benefits apply.
For more information about the variety of ways to support the ministry of Bethesda-by-the-Sea and to transfer securities please contact Turia Roebuck- Hayden, Coordinator for Outreach and Development, 655.4554, ext. 110 or email: turia@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
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Father James'
Sabbatical Blog
You can follow Father James on his
sabbatical
journey
click here
.
Subscribe to his Reflections posts for email updates.
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Invitation for Altar Flowers
We invite you to make a contribution in memory of (deceased), in honor of (living), or in thanksgiving for (celebration) your loved ones. Your contribution provides for flowers, plants, and altar adornments necessary for worship services throughout the year.
Suggested contribution is $100 per name
to be printed in the service leaflet for a desired Sunday.
In order for names to be printed in the Sunday service leaflet, they must be received two weeks prior to the desired Sunday--
click here.
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Have someone you would like us to pray for?
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Nautical Knitters
Saturdays | 10:30 a.m. | Library
Nautical Knitters are a group of knitters who provide handmade watch caps and scarves for the Port Ministry. These necessities are then blessed and given to mariners at the Port of Palm Beach. All-including beginners-are welcome to attend this fun and free activity.
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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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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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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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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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We pray for...
Alex, Angela, Annie Bell, Austin, Avellino Family, Bishop Michael Curry, Bob, Bonnie, Brenda, Caroline, Chadwick, Charles, Carson, Colin, Cullen Family, Diana, Daniel, Donna, Dorothy, Edna, Ellen, Emily, Ernie, Evan, Frederick, Gad, Garcia Family, Georgia, Gisela, Holly, Hunter, Jack, Jane, Jeanne, Jeannie, Jill, Joe, John, Judy, Kathryn, Kelley, Kenny, Lewis, Lou, Lynn, Marcia, Maryjane, Mariette, Mary, Mary Ann, Margo, Marqueas, Matthew, Micha ,Michelle, Miguel Sala & Family, Michael, Pat, Patrick, Paul, Peggy, Richard, Ricky, Robert, Sala Family, Scott, Sebastian, Shannon, Sharon, Shawn, Sophie, Stephen, Sylvia, Taryn, Thomas, Tom, Ward
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and those serving our country...
Alex, Benjamin, Christian, Clara, Eric, Harold, Herbert, John, Lorne, Luster, Michael, Sean, and Tommy.
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