Hello Bethesda!

I’ll start by expressing my gratitude for all those who’ve welcomed me and helped me get acclimated and settled in to New Haven and the Bethesda community. Thank you for the smiles and introductions, the conversations and invitation and answers, the heavy lifting and light banter. And for the prayers! 

I am grateful for the support that makes internship at Bethesda and my own formation as a future leader in the ELCA possible. You are truly generous, welcoming and hospitable. I will proudly wear my “We Are Generous” Bethesda t-shirt!

A little bit about me: I was born in California. I lived all over the country while growing up, and now call Colorado my home with my husband Dav. Our daughter Christina lives and studies in Philadelphia. I’ve been at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque Iowa for the last two years. When my year at Bethesda ends, I’ll head back to Iowa for a final year of coursework. 

Mention Ecojustice and Creation Care, Ecumenical and Interfaith Ministry and Mission, or Intergenerational Faith Formation to me, and an animated conversation is likely to follow.

I'm keen on quotes, the outdoors, travel, cooking and grammar. I’m a dog person. And a cat person. I believe we all need a bit of silliness now and then.

I give thanks to God for this opportunity to learn and serve here at Bethesda. The Holy Spirit is at work!

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton at Churchwide Convention this past week said “we can’t love our neighbors if we don’t know them.” Well, neighbors, I look forward to getting to know you in this coming year!

Grace and peace in Jesus Christ,

Vicar Gabrielle

Save the Dates

Sunday, August 28 - Ice Cream Social, 4-6 pm

Sunday, September 11 - Fall Fantastic Feast: Festive Worship, Introducing student staff and Bethesda House residents, with a cookout outdoors following worship

Sunday, September 18 - Learning Ministries following worship resumes

Sunday Worship Livestream

We are now streaming Sunday worship services live on Bethesda’s YouTube Channel. Join us live at 9:30 am every Sunday or watch the recording afterward.

Click here to view this Sunday's bulletin.

NOTICE: Congregational Meeting Sunday, August 14, 2022 following worship

The Congregation Council is calling for a congregational meeting for Sunday, August 14 after worship. The agenda is to deliberate and vote on these recommendations:

To contract with Capasso Structural Restoration Contractors who has issued quotes for two additional masonry repair projects for the Parish House beyond the already approved chimney work from the April 3, 2022 Congregational Meeting:

-$14,550 for repointing the north wall of the parish house

-$32,550 for repointing and repairing the boiler room chimney

Monies for payment will be drawn in part from Special Funds and in part from a loan from the Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA. 

To contract with Partners for Sacred Places to conduct a Feasibility Study in order to “increase funding and community impact” for Bethesda’s future, at a cost of $18,000.

Monies for payment will be drawn from Special Funds and in part from a loan from the Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA.

Bible Study on Zoom

Bethesda's Bible Study meets every other Wednesday at 8:00 am on Zoom. The series on the Book of Acts continues on Wednesday, August 17.

When? Every other Wednesday at 8:00 am

Where? On Zoom, click here to join (or join by telephone: 203-432-9666; Meeting ID: 961 0888 6279)

More chances to meet and welcome Vicar Gabrielle!

Sunday, August 21 after worship in the Parish House Living Room

Wednesday, August 24, 7:00–8:30 pm via Zoom (click here to join)

Ice Cream Social Sunday, August 28

Bethesda will host the neighborhood, new students, and all comers for Ice Cream from 4 pm to 6 pm on Sunday, August 28. Vicar Gabrielle and the new Bethesda House community. There will be musical entertainment throughout. This has been a longstanding Bethesda event bridging summer’s end to fall’s beginning.

Plan to wear your Bethesda t-shirt. If you need one, please see the display in the narthex and help yourselves.

Volunteers are needed to:

-Set up at 3 pm

-Pick-up the ice cream at Ashley’s in Hamden by 3:15

-Bring cookies and dessert bars to share

-Clean up at 6 pm or a bit earlier

Thank You from Eleanor Lee

Dear Bethesda, 

I had an incredible summer at Lutheran Summer Music Academy and Festival at Valparaiso University in Indiana. With the help of a generous donor from Bethesda I was able to enjoy a 4-week-long intensive and irreplaceable experience. I was able to discover and explore new aspects of myself, especially my music and my faith. I was the only student from Connecticut, and I’m so grateful to have made invaluable friendships with people from all across the country. I am endlessly grateful for this spectacular experience and I look forward to sharing more stories with you all. Thank you for your support throughout my whole journey, and enjoy some pictures I’ve attached! 

Many thanks, 

Eleanor Lee

We love kids at worship

We love kids at worship at Bethesda. We are always looking to involve people of all ages in worship roles. If you are a kid that can carry things, sign-up to acolyte resuming Sundays in September. Contact Pastor Keyl at [email protected] to get on the roster and receive training. If you are a kid that likes to read out loud, sign-up to be a reader and/or communion assistant with John Aden at [email protected] to get on the roster and receive training, or see the Sunday calendar to sign-up on Breeze.

Martin Gehner's 90th Birthday

We celebrated Martin Gehner's 90th birthday after worship on Sunday, August 7. Thank you to the Gehner family who provided cake and other refreshments to share!

Volunteer Work Day at Bethesda

Thanks to Facilities Team members Ray, Miles, and Chris Couture, aided by Vicar Gabrielle and Caretakers Leah and Cameron, the Saturday work day team was able to complete all of their prioritized items. This included replacing bulbs in the Campanius Room, a few small projects in Bethesda House to prepare for incoming students, and changing filters throughout the church. 

Please keep an eye out for future upcoming work days if you are interested in helping to maintain and beautify the grounds at Bethesda Lutheran Church!

Love to sing? Consider joining Bethesda Lutheran Church’s choir!

Fall rehearsals resume in a few weeks, beginning Wednesday, Aug.31 from 7:30–9 p.m. in the Campanius Room. Worship services with choir begin Sunday, Sept. 4.

The ability to read music is helpful but not essential. Come to rehearsals to join as a regular member or talk to music director Stephen Gamboa-Diaz ([email protected]) about more occasional choral opportunities at Bethesda.

The choir typically sings on Sundays from September through the first half of June, including Christmas Eve and Holy Week services. In addition to weekly services, on October 30th the choir will perform Bach’s cantata BWV 33 “Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ” and other choral music with instrumentalists as part of Bethesda’s annual Reformation Concert. Join us!

Lisa Fischer-Woudstra, Bethesda House Ministry Liaison/House Manager

Lisa Fischer-Woudstra will begin her Bethesda House ministry after arriving August 20 in the large Parish House apartment. With her husband Jonny, who is an exchange student from Heidelberg, Germany, Lisa will join the three other residents for the 2022-2023 academic year. Look to greet her and others scooping ice cream at the August 28 Ice Cream Social.

Traveling this summer?

We would like to pray for you during your time away. Please look for the white binder in the Narthex and add your travel plans to it.

2023 Companion Synod Trip

Join pastors Tim Keyl, Wendy Anderson, and Scott Howard on a life-transforming New England Synod Companion Trip to the 2023 Companion Synod Trip on February 2-17, 2023. Our theme is Sitting Under the Vine and Fig Tree, an image of peace and unity among nations found in Micah 4.

Upcoming Commemorations

Florence Nightingale, died 1910; Clara Maass, died 1901; renewers of society

Saturday, August 13, 2022

Nightingale was born in England, and horrified her wealthy family by deciding to become a nurse. She led a group of nurses in ministering in the midst of the Crimean War, and worked for hospital reform. Maass, a native of New Jersey, was also a war nurse, and volunteered as a subject for research on yellow fever. She died of the disease.

Maximilian Kolbe, died 1941; Kaj Munk, died 1944; martyrs

Sunday, August 14, 2022

Father Kolbe was a Franciscan priest arrested by the Nazis and confined in Auschwitz. Kolbe gave generously of his meager resources, and finally volunteered to be starved to death in place of another man. A Danish Lutheran pastor and playwright, Munk strongly denounced the Nazis who occupied Denmark in the Second World War. His sermons and articles helped to show the anti-Christian nature of the movement.

Mary, Mother of Our Lord

Monday, August 15, 2022

The church (including Martin Luther) honored Mary with the title theotokos, meaning "God-bearer," for her role in giving birth to the Son of God. Her song, the Magnificat, speaks eloquently of God's lifting the lowly and feeding the hungry.

Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, died 1153

Saturday, August 20, 2022

Bernard, a Cistercian monk, was a man of great spirituality who wrote mystical works and criticized those whom he thought took an overly intellectual approach to the faith. He became an abbot, and wrote several hymns that are still beloved today.

Prayer Requests

For healing and strength: Kathryn and Karolyn Lee, aunts of Chris Lee; George Arndt, father of Lynn Arezzini; Robert Gritz, brother-in-law of Blair Goodlin; Michelle Lee, friend of Christina Castañeda; Mark Barnett, nephew of Becky Lerud; Marie Gray; Sonja Krummrey; Maureen Anderson; Natalie Denardis, granddaughter of Gail Denardis; Shirley Farm; Linda Johnson; Anne and Lee Keck; Kay Leone; Molly Dinneen; Karen (Starbranch) Blitch, daughter of Chuck Starbranch.

For those serving in the military.

For our partners in the Gospel: the congregations and schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) and LuMin Campus Ministry.

For Bethesda New Haven: that God continues to guide us into the future with ministries of witness, service, hospitality, and care while building up our community in all its diversity.

For those in candidacy for rostered leadership in the ELCA: Natalie Benson and Calli Micale.

For Calli Micale, completing her Clinical Pastoral Education this summer at the VA Hospital in West Haven, Connecticut.

For Natalie Benson, as she begins her seminary internship this week at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Santa Monica, California.

For those traveling this week: Marietta Meyer to St. Albans; Blair Goodlin to Walloomsac, NY; and Ann Onton to Lake George, NY.