August 1, 2022
Bethesda & Immanuel Lutheran Newsletter

Sunday Worship
8:30 Bethesda
11:00 Immanuel

Contact:
Pastor Dale P. Chesley
809 Ellis Ave
Ashland WI 54806
715 209-0600
dalechesley@charter.net
 
Pastor Will Mowchan
3015 Weeks Avenue
Superior, WI 54880
715 416-3408
wmowchan@gmail.com

Parish Office:
715-779-5611
bethesdachurchbayfield@gmail.com
Immanuel:
715-742-3440
   
Links

 
 
We pray for Ukraine and all those afflicted by war.
Greetings!

 
Sunday services are available online.
Use the Bethesda Facebook link above.
THE GOOD SAMARITAN
A Message from Bishop Eaton

July 11, 2022

I have been thinking a lot about the parable of the good Samaritan lately (Luke 10:25-37). Parts of it are so familiar—the unfortunate victim, the robbers, the priest, the Levite, the Samaritan—that I miss points of deeper meaning. We all know the compassion and generosity of the Samaritan has become the standard by which we measure our response to suffering. Hospitals are named Good Samaritan. All 50 states have a Good Samaritan law on the books. I always imagined (or hoped) that I would act like the good Samaritan were I ever in a similar situation.

There are two other characters connected to this story that I don’t always think about: the lawyer and Jesus. Theirs was not a casual conversation. The lawyer was looking to test Jesus. “Teacher, he said, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus answers with a question: “What is written in the law?”
Being a good lawyer the man answered from Deuteronomy and Leviticus: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Case closed. Conversation over.

But the lawyer couldn’t let it go: “Wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’”

We know the man wanted to test Jesus and justify himself so his question was not an earnest inquiry about the Torah. Are some people my neighbor and some people not? How far does hospitality have to extend? Can there be limits to compassion? What is reasonable: Family? People on my block? My congregation? Fellow citizens? And, conversely, whom can I exclude? People across town or around the world? Who is my neighbor?

It’s in answer to this question that Jesus tells the parable—a parable designed to be as provocative as possible.

We call the Samaritan “good” but that word is not found in Scripture. No Jew would call a Samaritan “good” nor would any Samaritan call a Jew “good.” Samaritans and Jews regarded each other as ceremonially unclean, socially outcast and heretical. They would not have come up automatically in the neighbor category.

It’s not clear that the beaten Jewish man would have been entirely thrilled that he had been helped and touched by the Samaritan. (Think of the All in the Family episode where Archie Bunker realizes he has received a blood transfusion from a Black doctor.)

Now it’s Jesus’ turn to ask a question: “Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”

This becomes the question for us and for these times. When we ask, “Who is my neighbor?” we sort people into categories. Is the refugee my neighbor? Is the Muslim my neighbor? Is the Jew my neighbor? Is the Latina my neighbor? And on and on. This makes for increasingly smaller neighborhoods. And this question can be driven by fear and suspicion. Left to ourselves we turn in and away.

Thank God that God has not left us to ourselves. Our new life in Christ leads us to ask and answer a different question. Not, “Who is my neighbor?” but “How are we neighbor?”

The world is a dangerous place—just check any news source or social media. There are people who mean to do harm to our country. Fear and the threat of danger divide us and constrict us. But we live in the hope of the resurrection and in the certainty of the redemption of the world through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We no longer ask, “Who is my neighbor?” The question is now, “How are we neighbor?”

The lawyer answered Jesus’ question about who was neighbor to the man beaten by robbers with: “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, and to us, “Go and do likewise.”
Turn Off the News! Go For a Walk! Sit in Your Backyard!

The news is so often bad during the last few years. Covid. People blowing off Covid. The former guy losing the election and starting a coup.

Climate warming. Confidence in the Supreme Court collapsing with good reason. Racial tension. Endless mass killings with no meaningful response from leaders. Thirty percent or so of the population seemingly OK with most of this. There is too much bad news.                                                                        

I’ve noticed recently that more and more family and friends are doing this wise thing about the bad news. They turn it off for a day or two. Or they get just enough of the main event to know what’s going on and then they turn it off. And then, they go for a walk, bike ride or paddle in our beautiful northland. Then they sit in the backyard and look at the trees, the birds and the deer. And they all say that those things take off so much of the dark weight present in our country, especially now in our short and precious summer.

The world is still there of course. But it weighs less when you check out from it for an hour or a day of a few days.

Isn’t that what the sabbath commandment is about? Take a break from it all and notice the Creator? Can you see Psalm 121. ”I lift my eyes up to the hills, from where my help comes.” Don’t you sense something lasting, strong, reassuring and good, signs of the Creator’s presence, when you look at the hills around Bayfield and Cornucopia, Siskiwit Bay or the Apostle Islands?

Turn off the news. Go for a Walk. Sit in Your Backyard. And smile way down deep.
 
Pastor Will Mowchan

Bethesda has a new email address - bethesdachurchbayfield@gmail.com. Please update your address book.
Bethesda & Immanuel
are looking for volunteers for:
Altar Guild
Lay Readers
Sunday Fellowship Coffee Hour
Please sign up

Thanks to everyone for making the 2022 Fish Fry a success, with special thanks to Darin Anderson. We sent checks for $981.60 to the Chequamegon Humane Association and the Brownstone Fund (part of Landmark Conservancy.)
Next
Native American and Lutheran Worship Service
September 11



MEMORY CAFE

Memory Cafe is a place for fellowship for people living with memory loss, Alzheimer's, and other related dementias, and their care partners. Come and enjoy social interaction with others going through similar experiences. Second Monday of the month, 10:00 - 11:30.
257 Manypenny Avenue.
Dear Friends,
Some of you may be receiving emails from a gmail address that is NOT for Bishop Laurie. Please do not respond to this email address:


This address does not belong to the Bishop. We sincerely apologize for any confusion this may have caused. All contact information for the synod staff may be found at Northwest Synod of Wisconsin | Our Staff (nwswi.org)
A new catalog of learning opportunities from Select Learning, a partner of the ELCA is available. In it you will find links to new courses, new podcasts, online courses and, of course, dozens of resources to assist you as you equip the baptized for their service in the world. Access the catalog through the link to the left.
A message from Alla -

This month was without significant changes. Pavel still works, Oleg lives his own life. I (Alla) take care of the daughters and household. This month was a long trip for almost two days with Mary Meierotto in Milwaukee: it was necessary to go with the whole family to the control at the immigration office. Everything went well and there was even time for walking in the evening and swimming in the pool. On the way back, Victoria rode a pony, and Pavel and Oleg rode go-cart(thanks to Mary for wonderful emotions!!!) In general, life goes on as usual.
Dementia Friendly Training Session by the Ashland County ADRC
Join us on Sunday, September 25th from 11:30 -12:30 at Bayfield Presbyterian Church for a Dementia Friendly Training!
During this training you will: Learn what dementia is and how to recognize the signs of dementia, get some facts about Alzheimer’s, learn tips for communicating and interacting with a person who has dementia, get ideas for creating a dementia friendly physical space, and become familiar with resources in your community!
For more information, and with any questions, please contact Ellie at (715) 682-7224 ext. 153 or ellie.webb@co.ashland.wi.us


God's Work Our Hands Sunday is September 11. The council would like suggestions for projects for this. Please let the office or a council member know your ideas.
Anything in the color blue is a clickable link
Council Meetings
August 11 - Note that's a week earlier than usual
Immanuel Council 6:00
Joint Council 6:30
Bethesda Council 7:00

Do you need more coffee and don't see your favorite on our shelf? Please let Nancy know so she can order it.

Mutual Ministry
Next meeting in September

See our website for the Zoom link

Women's Gather in-person and on Zoom August 10 9:30 AM
See our website for the Zoom link
Meeting ID: 860 6837 4823 Passcode: 419919

Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Lake Superior Bridge Builders
Tuesdays, August 9 & 23 at 7:00
See our website for the Zoom link
Meeting ID: 812 1484 1692 Passcode: 948203
Dial by your location       +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)


Monday Book Club

Join us for a Book Study on Zoom
Mondays at 1:00 PM

See our website for the Zoom link
Meeting ID: 851 3905 2851
Passcode: 467574

Dial by your location
    +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)



The Flag, The Cross and the Station Wagon 
A Graying American Looks Back at His Suburban Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell Happened
by Bill McKibben


Questions? Call Leanne 715.742.3553


South Shore Quilters
Wednesdays 9:00 am - Noon at Immanuel

The mission-quilt group at Immanuel is always in need of donations of clean usable bed sheets--preferably flat sheets--which we use as backing for the quilts, spools of thread (whether full or not) and fabric.
The Knit Wits
Knitting & Crocheting at Immanuel Fridays 1:00 - 4:00
The Brunch Bunch
Tuesdays at Bethesda 10:00 - 11:30
Conversation and coffee with women from the community.




Retired Old Men Eat Out
Every Friday at 8:00 AM

Meet at Immanuel Church


BAYFIELD SUMMER CONCERTS THURSDAYS
AT 5:30
BAYFIELD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

August 4 - Opera & Art Songs - Jack Gunderson & Severin Behnen
August 11 - Tinkering with the Classics - Severin Behnen, piano & Ed Willett, cello
August 18 - Haitian Music - Rudy Perrault & Diana Shapiro, violin & piano
August 25 - William Lutes & Martha Fischer, piano/vocal duo
September 1 - Art Songs & Chamber Music III by Arthur Maud
September 8 - Maria Jette, soprano & Dan Chouinard, piano/accordion/vocals

New information is Red
If you would like to be added to the list or have an update, please contact us at:
Bethesda
Pavel, Alla, Oliver, Viktoria, and Melissa Anna Elizabeth
P.O. Box 724
Bayfield, WI 54814

Marty Burkel
Marty still waiting patiently as his lungs continue to improve. Please keep Marty in your prayers.
715-209-5250
PO Box 1284
Bayfield, WI 54814

Bill Compton
715-779-5406
85175 Trailer Court Road
Bayfield, WI 54814

Kerissa Morrin

Casey French

Teresa Weber
715-779-5728
36700 County Highway J
Bayfield WI 54814
treesawweb@hotmail.com

Pastor Will Mowchan
3015 Weeks Avenue
Superior WI 54880
wmowchan@gmail.com
Recovering from heart surgery

Community

Bill Peterson 
Bill is struggling with Parkinson's. If you have the time he sure would appreciate a call or card and of course your prayers.
651-270-1876
Walker Methodist Care Suites
7400 York Avenue South
Edina, MN 55435

Janet Hunt
715-779-5670
34955 S Cty Hwy J
Bayfield, WI 54814

Max Paap

John Meierotto
85185 Trailer Ct Rd
Bayfield WI 54814
Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Ed DePerry
37420 State Hwy 13
Bayfield WI 54814
Doctoring at Mayo

Mary Phillips
PO Box 584
Bayfield WI 54814
Recovering from MRSA infection

Immanuel
Eve Erickson & family
Ralph passed away May 4. Please keep Eve and their family in your prayers.
715-742-3494
eveerickson76@gmail.com

P.O. Box 96
Cornucopia, WI 54827

Myrna & Rich Northrop
715-208-0706
myman@cheqnet.net
87202 Co Hwy C
Cornucopia, WI 54827

Kermit and Judy Del Main
Kermit and Judy have moved to St Paul for at least the winter months where family will be able to assist them. Please keep them in your prayers as they transition.
900 Old Lexington Avenue Apt 101
St Paul, MN 55116

Wally and Colleen Nozal
715-742-3450
PO Box 341
Cornucopia, WI 54827

Deanne Mason & family
715-742-3556
demasonus@yahoo.com
86160 County Road C
Cornucopia WI 54827

Shirley Huusko & Family
715-742-3291
20805 Lost Creek Road
Herbster, WI 54844

Lorayne Reedy
715-742-3563
reedys@cheqnet.net
PO Box 358
Cornucopia WI 54827

Lois Osterberg
715-742-3290
osterbergstudio01@gmail.com
PO Box 238
Cornucopia WI 54827

Courtney Byerhoff

Pastor Will Mowchan
3015 Weeks Avenue
Superior wI 54880
wmowchan@gmail.com
Recovering from heart surgery
August Birthdays

1 - Mike Cyr
1 - Charles Meierotto
2 - Mike Buccanero
5 - Carol Lyon
5 - Herbert Lyon
6 - Sandy Brue
8 - Gary Johnson
9 - Stacey Paschke
10 - Mary Ekelund
10 - Jeanna Morshead-Metelica
16 - Johanna Waite
16 - Kelly Faye
17 - Mike Herrick
17 - Lorayne Reedy
21 - Wally Nozal
22 - Darlene Hanson
23 - John Klungness
27 - Peter Georgeson
31 - Larry Meierotto