Fellowship Hall at 9:30am
(mask optional)
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Friends,
After worship this past Sunday, a group met for a pastoral conversation regarding the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Amidst our conversation, it was suggested that I send along the following message from our Virginia Synod Bishop Bob Humphrey, which I had previously sent to the Bethel council. Included in Bishop Humphrey's letter is a link to the statement from ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton as well. I encourage you to read them and invite any further conversation. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me.
Your Partner in the Gospel,
Pastor Dave
A Pastoral Message from Bishop Humphrey
to Virginia Synod Rostered Ministers
regarding the SCOTUS ruling on Roe v. Wade
Given The Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday, June 24, 2022, which effectively overturned the 50-year standard protecting the rights of all women in our country to responsibly decide on whether or not to end their pregnancy through legal access in every state to an accessible and safe medical procedure and their Gun Rights ruling on Thursday June 23, 2022, I am concerned for you and our members.
I expect you may have strong reactions to these decisions yourself and now must decide how best to address this in your preaching, teaching, public response, and pastoral care. I am praying for each of you as you add “one more thing” to the long list of important challenges facing our church and society.
For now, I would like to focus on the abortion rights decision issued on Friday, June 24, 2022. To be clear, the Supreme Court ruling on abortion is not consistent with the teachings of our ELCA. Furthermore, this action fans the flames of the debate about the legal and moral issues interwoven in this complex and emotionally charged choice.
I have no doubt, my siblings in Christ, you will now face difficult discussions and/or awkward silences with family, friends, coworkers, and church members. I know many of you have strong feelings and important experiences guiding you to a clear position while others may be deeply conflicted within.
To assist us in our conversations about and responses to critical issues, such as this, our ELCA offers us rich resources based on the Holy Scriptures and our Lutheran Confessions as well as current insights and facts from the social and political sciences. I encourage you to first, pray for one another and our nation in the days ahead. Then, use our ELCA Social Statement on Abortion as well as study guides and other resources to hold meaningful and respectful conversations and study sessions.
So you don’t need to start from scratch, here are some quotes I found helpful: In a recent statement anticipating this decision ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton wrote, “While this church longs for a future with fewer abortions every year, the social statement points out that outlawing all or nearly all abortions is not the way to do this. The ELCA opposes both "the total lack of regulation of abortion" and "legislation that would outlaw abortion in all circumstances" (p. 9). This church's social teaching states that abortion must be legal, regulated and accessible.”
In her statement issued Friday, June 24, 2022, Bishop Eaton wrote, “Our social statement provides the moral framework for our church's communal discernment and ministry, holding in tension both the strong Christian presumption to preserve and protect all life as well as the complex moral situations in which pregnancy sometimes occurs. Our social teaching is complex and does not hew to clear categories or labels such as “pro-abortion” or “anti-abortion.”
The ELCA Social Statement on Abortion asserted, “In the case of abortion, public policy has a double challenge. One is to be effective in protecting prenatal life. The other is to protect the dignity of women and their freedom to make responsible decisions in difficult situations. Pursuing those ends is particularly formidable because our society is so divided on this issue, and because women, people of color, and those of low income are so under-represented in legislative and judicial processes. In its advocacy regarding these issues, this church should exert every effort to see that the needs of those most directly affected, particularly the pregnant woman and the life in her womb, are seriously considered in the political process. (ELCA Social Statement on Abortion, ©1991, p.9)
In these difficult days, I wish you God's richest blessings and peace.
Bishop Bob Humphrey
Virginia Synod, ELCA
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Bethel has been involved in a new program here in Winchester called the Freedge. And, what is a Freedge? A Freedge — a combination of the words "free" and "fridge" — is an outdoor refrigerator filled with donated food that is located on the Our Health campus at 419 N. Cameron St. The freedge is open 24 hours a day, and those who are struggling financially can take whatever they need to feed themselves and their families. The beauty of the process is that anyone, at any time, can bring produce and healthy snacks and organic goods to the Freedge for others. This is specifically designed for those who reside in what is called a "food desert" where there is little or no access to healthy produce, etc. Volunteers come each day - usually once in the morning and once in the evening - to check on the Freedge, disperse outdated items, and handle general cleanliness. It usually takes less than 5 minutes on each visit to do this. So far, Pastor Dave, Pastor Heidi, and Shari Fletcher have volunteered during these initial weeks. Pastor Dave has signed up for four consecutive days in July - July 25, 26, 27, and 28, in part as a way to help train anyone from Bethel who would like to shadow him to learn more about what we do. If you feel comfortable, you can also go ahead and sign up to be a volunteer now by going to the Sign-Up genius link: SIGN UP
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact Pastor Dave, Pastor Heidi, or Shari.
Finally, if you have not already seen this, here is the link to the Winchester Star article about the Freedge: WINCHESTER STAR FREEDGE
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LOWER BETHEL / OFFICE UPDATE |
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Per the advice of our facility manager, David Shoberg, lower Bethel is currently "off limits" until the renovation is complete.
However, this DOES NOT affect the Bethel Office, which will remain open during the renovation.
The office will now be open 9:00am-1:00pm, Monday through Friday.
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The Women's Ministry would love for you to join them at some of their gatherings!
They have a weekly Women's Coffee Hour that gets together every Thursday at 8:30 via Zoom. Meeting ID 86309309339 Password is Jesus4U
First Friday Fellowship The women's group gets together the First Friday of every month at 9:30am at Panera Bread on Pleasant Valley Road in Winchester.
They would also like to let you know that their weekly Bible Study will resume on Tuesday June 28th at 6pm in the library.
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Men's Breakfast 8:30am Saturday July 2nd at the Backseat Bar & Grill
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BETHEL ADAPTING UPDATE
BRAINSTORMING - DISCERNING - DISCOVERING
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In 2012, Bethel offered an intentional time of congregational discernment called Bethel Becoming. Five years later, in 2017, we did so again with Bethel Reforming. Now in 2022, again five years later, we are inviting you to gather as a congregation for Bethel Adapting.
Our next Bethel Adapting gathering:
Sunday, July 17th
following worship in the Fellowship Hall
Join with your Bethel family as together we shape our future and discern the "New Day" God has in store for our ministry here!
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Worship Assistant Sign Ups
for the Summer
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We are still in need of people to sign up to serve over the summer in worship assistance roles, i.e. ushers, greeters, readers, prayers, communion assistants, etc. The sign up sheets and volunteer guidelines are in the Fellowship Hall where we are now worshipping. Please take a moment to sign up and take a turn helping make Sunday morning happen in an effective and smooth manner.
If you have not signed up before, and have questions beyond the guidelines, please feel free to reach out to Kim Williams, new Church Administrator (administrator@bethelwinchester.com).
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In April of 2019, 2-year-old Colin Landis, son of Harmon and Megan Landis, Bethel members and sister to Jennifer Lafollette, was diagnosed with Leukemia. He has now been in treatment for over 3 years, initially making weekly, and now monthly visits to the Children’s Oncology Battle Building at UVA in Charlottesville.
During these visits, Colin always visited the Toy Closet and picked out a new toy. The toy helped pass time during the 5-6 hour visits in a small room, and Colin definitely looked forward to seeing what new toys were in the closet.
June 28th marks the end of Colin’s chemotherapy treatment!!!
To mark this major milestone, the Landis family wants to give back to the UVA children’s oncology hospital to help the children still receiving treatments or making their routine visits and they are inviting us to help!
As the Toy Closet is primarily stocked from donations, Bethel is asking people to bring new, unwrapped toys for boys and girls from 2 years old to 10 years old. Some examples are board games, Melissa and Doug toys, food toys, card games, action figures, etc. These can be left at Bethel during regular office hours or on Sundays. The community is invited to participate as well, so please tell your friends.
We will be offering this Toy drive throughout the summer, beginning THIS SUNDAY, June 5 and continuing through July 31.
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Power in the Spirit
July 14-16
Roanoke College
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Every year our Synod offers a Synod-wide Christian Education event called Power in the Spirit. It includes learning sessions and worship and fellowship. It is held every year at Roanoke College. Our very own George Donovan has been leading the music for 10 years now.
This it is being held in conjunction with the "Synod Gathering" (which is in place of the Assembly this year). Everyone is welcome to attend.
We'd like to offer a special invitation to our Bethel family because not only will we celebrate the 10 years that George has given to this wonderful ministry, but on Friday evening, at the Festival Worship service, Bethel member Bruce Lothrop will be commissioned as part of the first class of graduates from the Virginia Synod Lay Preaching Academy, of which Pastor Dave is a leader.
You can find out more by downloading the booklet and schedule below and you can register as well with the Registration link below. We will have information available at Bethel each week as well on the hospitality table.
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Mark your Calendar!
Bethel Night at the Winchester Royals
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Thursday July 21st at 7pm |
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June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month
Click HERE for more information
(can also found on Bethel website under Publications)
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Bethel supports a wonderful young man, former Bethel member, Kyle Duff, as he attends seminary at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. If you would like to help support Kyle, please consider a gift to our SEMINARIAN FUND.
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Help support our music ministries through regular giving to the JONES/JOYNER MUSIC FUND. Your donations help support Shenandoah University Scholarship Students, and provide additional musicians for worship and special events.
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Thank you for your support of our mission & ministry at Bethel!
To make an offering, please use one of the methods described below.
Mail to: Bethel Lutheran Church
2077 N Frederick Pike
Winchester, VA 22603
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