Each of our offerings reflects a grateful heart that wants to give back to God a portion of what he has given us; in reality, what is already his. This is our opportunity to show God that he is first in our lives. Deuteronomy tells us, “The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives”, (14:23). Giving is a reminder that God is the supplier of everything we have. It is also God’s personal invitation to an outpouring of his blessing in our life.
It may surprise many, but Jesus taught more about money and possessions than he did about heaven.
Throughout the Bible, the word give is used more times than the words faith, love, hope, or pray. We all know that God doesn’t need our
money, but he wants us to practice generosity like him and that will happen if we learn to be more generous. God is the source of all giving. It is helpful to understand giving in three states — past, present and future. First, my giving expresses my gratitude to God for the past. Second, my giving expresses my priorities in the present. Third, my giving expresses my faith in God for the future.
Ask yourself, "What does my giving say about the direction and condition of my heart?" and understand that giving back to God in gratitude is the heart of worship.
Four Reasons to Give Back to God
Giving is a Reflection of the Heart:
Matthew 6:20-21: “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Giving is a Reflection of Priorities:
Deuteronomy 26:1-2: “When you have entered the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, take some of the first fruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land and present them to the LORD your God.”
Giving is a Privilege:
2 Corinthians 8:2-4: “Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.”
Giving is a Blessing:
Malachi 3:10: “‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.’”
Turia Roebuck-Hayden
Outreach and Development Coordinator
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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2018
8:00, 9:00, & 11:00 a.m.
Preacher:
The Rector
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
8:15 a.m. Fellowship Breakfast, Parish Hall West
*9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist & Healing
9:50 a.m. Adult Forum, Parish Hall East
10:00 a.m. Fellowship Finger Food, Parish Hall West
10:00 a.m. 3 & 4 Year Old Sunday School, Sunday School Hall
10:00 a.m. K - 2nd Grade Sunday School, Sunday School Hall
10:00 a.m. 3rd - 5th Grade Sunday School, Sunday School Hall
10:00 a.m. 6th & 7th Grade Pre-Confirmation Class, Library
10:00 a.m. 8th Grade Confirmation Group, ECW Room
9:50 a.m. 9th - 12th Grade Pilgrimage Group, Youth Room
*#11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist & Healing
12:15 p.m. Welcome Back Reception for Father James, Parish Hall
Fellowship Breakfast | 8:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. | Parish Hall West
We will have a full hot meal cooked on site, with a 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: mini quiches, bacon, sausage, biscuits, cheesy grits, fruit
Adult Forum
:
Civil Discourse, Part I - Introduction and Context
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Sunday, October 21| 9:50 a.m. | Parish Hall East
Developed by the The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations, the Civil Discourse Curriculum was created as a resource to help Episcopalians understand and practice civil discourse, particularly as it relates to discussion about politics, policy, and legislation, and why it is so important to living out our Gospel call and solving the problems facing our communities, country, and the world. Join us for this first of a five-part series as we learn how to engage our sisters, brothers, and the general world in civil discourse in an age when such an act seems so difficult.
Welcome Back Reception for Father James | Sunday, October 21| 12:15 p.m. | Parish Hall
Please join us in welcoming back Father James with a reception in the Parish Hall following the 11:00 a.m. service.
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 1:30 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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Adult Confirmation Classes Start This Week!
“Why should I be confirmed?” It’s a question I get often, and my ready answer is, “Because you are committed to Christ!” I answer that emphatically because it’s true: for an Episcopalian, confirmation is the sacramental reaffirmation of the commitment of one’s Christian discipleship made at baptism. Since most of us, but not all of us, were baptized as infants or as small children, confirmation is that moment when we acknowledge, through one of the seven sacraments of the church, the promises made on our behalf earlier in our lives. It’s serious business and the outward and visible sign of Jesus working in the heart of a believer.
If you’ve never been confirmed in the Episcopal Church, you should be, and I wholeheartedly invite you into the next eight weeks of study and to stand for confirmation when Bishop Eaton joins us in early December. Using Scott Gunn and Melody Shobe’s new book
Walk in Love; Episcopal Beliefs and Practices
, we will ask questions of our faith and explore the particular beliefs and practices of the American Episcopal tradition. We design the course as chance to dive deeply into our faith, and the forum of an intimate group of fellow pilgrims is a rare and welcome opportunity in a harried world.
While specifically designed for those desiring confirmation, the course is open to all and is a great way to reacquaint any good Episcopalian with our story and our theology.
So join us, seekers, as we Walk in Love this fall!
Fr. Burl+
Associate for Christian Education, Pastoral Care, and Outreach
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Enneagram Retreat
Saturday, October 20th | 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Parish Hall
This half-day workshop will be facilitated by Fr. Burl Salmon and Certified Enneagram teachers Paul Van der Grift, Paige Mead, and Sean Melton. The purpose of this retreat is to provide a time and space to turn down the noise of our habitual selves in order to listen to, and begin to trust, the deeper, more authentic intelligence resonating inside each of us. Through the use of Enneagram-based exercises, we will explore the challenges we all face, how we can support each other, and what part of the Body of Christ we are called to be. There will be time for solitude and reflection as well as time for discussion and communion.
Lunch will be provided.
A donation of $10 is requested.
For more information or to register for this event please visit:
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Trivia Night
Friday, October 19 | 7:00 p.m. | Parish Hall
The Bethesda Youth Pilgrimage Group will be hosting a Trivia Night fundraiser. Get a team of eight people together or come on your own and we’ll pair you up with a team. It’s going to be a night of fun trivia, silent auctions, and more. All profits from the event will go to help the Bethesda Youth Pilgrimage Group with costs for their summer trip.
For more information about Trivia Night, contact Greg Knight at
(561) 655-4555 x114 or
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Port Ministry: Save Our Samples Sunday
We need your help in collecting samples of soap, shampoo, lotion, as well as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, razors, men's white crew socks, sweaters, blankets, magazines, and playing cards.
Please drop off your donations in the Narthex or the front office by Sunday, October 28.
On Sunday, November 4, we will assemble 300 Christmas bags to be given to mariners who will be at sea on Christmas Day as part of our Port Ministry project. Participants of all ages are invited. This is a great activity for the whole parish family to pitch in and help make someone's Christmas a little brighter.
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A list of parishioners and friends of Bethesda who have died since our last All Saints’ celebration will be read at all services. If you know of someone who has died since November 1, 2017 and should be remembered, please call April Lawrence at (561) 655-4555 x112 or e-mail her at
april@bbts.org
with the full name (first, middle, and last). For inclusion in the service leaflets, we need this information by 5:00 p.m. Monday, October 29.
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The Way of Love...
Evangelism 101
Saturday, December 15, 2018
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Bethesda hosts The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's very own Canon for Evangelism
and Reconciliation.
Join us as we seek, name, and celebrate Jesus' loving presence in the stories of all people and learn how to articulate the power of faith in our own lives tell our own stories. Lunch will be provided. Donations are accepted.
To find out more and to register for this event,
click here
.
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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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Caregivers' Support Group
Tuesday, October 23 | 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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- Wednesday, October 24 -
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6:00 to 6:30 p.m. (serving starts at 5:45 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: lasagna combination; choice of spaghetti or fettuccine; meat choices: grilled chicken, Italian sausages, and meatballs; sauce choices: Alfredo, meat, and Marinara.
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 p.m. to 7:40 p.m. |
Ethics in Our Time
| Guild Room
Does it seem to you like there are no ethical standards anymore? Do we live in a world of ethical relativism guided only by individualism, having forgotten the concept of a greater good? Are you troubled yourself when facing life decisions you never dreamed of in prior years? Join this six-week conversation with leaders from across the community as we look at the world around us, from ethical decision making in public service, the bio-medical community, the environment, business, and the application of those standards to our personal perspectives and the maintenance of an ethical culture.
6:30 p.m. to 7:40 p.m. |
Walk in Love; an Enquirers Class
| Library
If you’ve ever wondered about confirmation, that mysterious sacrament offered by the bishop when he comes twice a year, and what it gets you, now is the time to find out! This eight-week study of the Episcopal Church is your opportunity to develop your faith and discover what makes our tradition unique.
RECURRING CLASSES
6:30 p.m. to 7:40 p.m. | Bethesda Youth Group | Youth Room
The Bethesda Youth Group is open to all youth in 6th through 12th grade. Each week we offer fun activities and lively discussions. Youth members also participate in monthly special events including our annual lock-in, service day, and camping trip to Peanut Island.
6:30 p.m. to 7:40 p.m. | Bible Study | ECW Room
The Path: A Journey Through the Bible
… praised by biblical scholars,
The Path
is the story of the Bible, excerpted from the New Revised Standard Version so that it is clear and easy to read. Follow the path of God’s love all the way from the beginning to the end, from Adam’s creation to John’s revelation. This book stands alone as a fantastic resource for engaging and learning more about the Bible. Discover what “trails” through God’s grace you want to spend more time on and get to know as your own special way to the heart of God’s Love.
6:30 p.m. to 7:40 p.m. | Little Way | Sunday School Hall
For all K - 5th grade kids with a curiosity for what we do at Bethesda and why. Crafts, cooking, learning games, and playful fellowship will help your little ones learn about Bethesda's traditions and have a little fun along the way.
6:30 p.m. to 7:40 p.m. | Theology in Film - Bethesda Film Club | Choir Room
This intergenerational group will explore how the religious life is revealed through popular art. This week we look at
The Seventh Seal (1957). If you are able, please watch the movie on your own and come ready to discuss.
6:30 p.m. 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 donation of $10 per class is requested (payable at the door).
CLOSING PRAYER
7:45 p.m. 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.
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We pray for...
Angela, Anita, Anna, Anne, Arie, Barbara, Brenda, Charles, Christian, Cristina, David, Donna, Dorothy, Edna, Edward, Ellen, Evan, Gail, Heather, Holly, Hugh, Jack, Jahdiel, Joey, John, Kelley, Lynn, Maldonado Family, Marcia, Mary, Mary Ann, Matthew, Melissa, Michael, Michele, Mylai, Nancy, Nikki, Pat, Paul, Peggy, Rahn Family, Reysean, Ricky, Robbie, Robert, Sally, Sebastian, Sharon, Shawn, Stephen, Sylvia, Taryn, Thomas, Tom, Ward,
and those serving our country
...Alex, Benjamin, Christian, Clara, Eric, Harold, Herbert, John, Lorne, Luster, Michael, Sean, and Tommy.
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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 the Fourth Suffering Servant Song in Isaiah and the characterization of Jesus of Nazareth by the author of the Letter to the Hebrews as a high priest of the order of Melchizedek.
Isaiah 53:4-12
The Book of Isaiah is a composite of writings from three distinct periods in Ancient Israel’s history. The writings were compiled from about 700 BCE to about 300 BCE.
Chapters 1-39 are called “First Isaiah” and are the words of a prophet (one who speaks for YHWH) who called for Jerusalem to repent in the 20 years before Jerusalem came under siege by the Assyrians in 701 BCE. “Second Isaiah” is Chapters 40 to 55. In these chapters, a prophet brought hope to the Judeans during the Exile in Babylon (587 to 539 BCE) by telling them they had suffered enough and would return to Jerusalem. “Third Isaiah” is Chapters 56 to 66 and, for the most part, are the words of a prophet who gave encouragement to Judeans who returned to Jerusalem (which was largely destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BCE) after the Exile.
Today’s reading is part of Second Isaiah and is part of the Fourth Suffering Servant Poem (Is. 52:13 to 53:12). The identity of the “Suffering Servant” is sometimes understood as the prophet Isaiah but is more commonly is seen as the Judeans themselves, whose suffering in the Exile (as the servants of YHWH) would lead to vindication by YHWH and the restoration of Jerusalem after 539 BCE. Today’s reading concludes on the hopeful note that the servant will have long life and a “portion with the great” and notes that “he poured himself out to death” and “bore the sins of many.”
Many elements of the Suffering Servant Poems and Psalm 22 were used by the author of the Gospel According to Mark (and therefore by the authors of the other Synoptic Gospels) to describe the sufferings of Jesus of Nazareth in his Passion and Death. In particular, “Mark” used this Suffering Servant Poem for the representation that “the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
Hebrews 5:1-10
Although the Letter to the Hebrews is sometimes attributed to Paul, most scholars agree that it was written sometime after Paul’s death in 62 CE, but before 100 CE. The letter introduced a number of important theological themes.
The letter emphasized that Jesus (as high priest) is able to sympathize with our weaknesses because he (as a human) had been tested as we are. The presentation of Jesus as high priest in the Letter to the Hebrews is unique in the Christian Scriptures and reflects the continuing process in early Christianity of developing images to describe who and what Jesus of Nazareth was (and is).
In today’s reading, citing Psalm 2.7, the author states that Jesus was appointed high priest by God, and that Jesus was a high priest “according to the order of Melchizedek” (quoting Ps. 110.4). In Genesis 14, King Melchizedek of Salem (the old name of Jerusalem) was introduced as the priest of The Lord Most High who made an offering of bread and wine and then blessed Abraham. In the final verses of today’s reading, the author emphasized Jesus’ humanity and asserted that Jesus “learned obedience” and was “made perfect” so he would be a source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
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