December 11, 2022

Third Sunday of Advent

Worship at 9:30 am

Fellowship and Learning Hour Following Worship

Presiding Minister: Pastor Tim Keyl

Preacher: Vicar Gabrielle Brown

Assisting Minister: Priscilla Meléndez

Music Director: Stephen Gamboa-Díaz

Music Intern: Ike Harijanto

Lectors: Aníbal González and Clarissa Youngberg

Altar Guild: Blair Goodlin

Ushers: Linda Cortright and Miles Kirschner

Livestream: Nora Lee

Tellers: Richard Ford and Rachelle Goto

Bread Baker: Becky Lerud

Coffee Hour: Richard Ford

From the Pastor

I’m very proud to have long and deep friendships with people who live in present-day Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Amman (Jordan). I’m so privileged to foster relationships church-to-church with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL). The current bishop (Sani) Ibrahim Azar and I have known each other since his family visited when we were in New Hampshire in 2005. I invite your prayers for our companion synod especially at this time of year as Christians in the Holy Land are both a minority in terms of numbers, and marginalized as Palestinians.

Bethlehem is still a place, a place where its inhabitants, both Muslim and Christian, honor Christ’s birth. After the restrictions of the pandemic, lighting of the city’s Christmas tree brought crowds to witness it (see photo), and my friends there posted it over Facebook.  

And I’m traveling there for four weeks beginning in late January, with my position in the synod as chair of the Global Mission Team. With Kari, I’m representing our synod at the ordination of the first woman to be ordained in the Lutheran Church on Sunday, January 22, Sally Azar, who is the daughter of Bishop Azar and whom I have also known since 2022 (see photo below). I’m bringing a gift certificate for clergy apparel to her, and your donations are invited through Bethesda, with “Sally Azar” on the note. 

After the ordination in January and some time visiting colleagues and friends, I will lead a group to meet our companions, see the schools of the ELCJHL, see biblical and historic sites, and learn about the difficulties of life there related to the Occupation. There will be twenty-nine from around the synod and a few from other states on that trip. When will you come with me?

At Advent Soup Suppers, we are hearing gospel stories about Jesus’ birth alongside a resource reflecting on current day Palestine. We have one more supper next week, December 14 at 6 pm in the Campanius Room. Consider attending.

Blessings this Advent.

Pastor Tim Keyl

Sunday Worship Livestream

We stream 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.

In Memoriam: Newtown

On Sunday, a candle will be lit at the font in memory of those killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. This year is the tenth anniversary of that tragedy which occurred on Wednesday, December 14, 2012.

Advent and Christmas at and around Bethesda

Advent Soup Suppers and Prayer Wednesday, December 14 at 6:00 pm in the Campanius Room. Sign-up to bring vegetarian or meat-based soup to share. Come to eat, sing, read and reflect on readings, and to pray together.

Fourth Sunday of Advent December 18 Tree decorating and International Potluck in the Scandinavian Tradition following worship

Service of the Longest Night Wednesday, December 21 at 7 pm. Come to pray, to honor the solstice, and in recognition of the grief that this season also brings to many.

Christmas Eve Eucharist at 4 pm, Saturday, December 24. The Nativity Gospel, Carols, and Candlelighting. Cookies and cider served after worship.

Christmas Day Eucharist at 10 am Sunday, December 25. The Prologue to John and more Carols. Pastries and cookies to share following worship.

Tree decorating and Potluck on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 18

Following worship on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 18, all from the congregation are invited to place ornaments on Bethesda’s Christmas Tree. After tree decorating, we will hold a potluck in the Campanius Room with food you have brought to share. Bring a main course, salad, side dish, or dessert. We call this an International Potluck in the Scandinavian Tradition to honor Bethesda’s immigrant roots, but encourage you to bring whatever food that honors your heritage or feeds others!

Bible Study on Zoom

Bethesda's Bible Study will be taking a break for the holidays and returning on Wednesday, January 4 at 8:00 am to continue discussing NT Wright's Acts.

We are covering two chapters in a "rolling" method. If we finish discussing chapter 12, we will continue to chapter 13. These correspond to chapters 12 & 13 in the Book of Acts in the Bible. Please read the selections before the meeting.

When? Every other Wednesday at 8:00 am (beginning on January 4)

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

Christmas Cookie Sale This Sunday

Bethesda's Youth will once again put on their aprons for Christmas Cookie baking! Swedish Gingersnaps and decorated sugar cookies will be available for first come, first serve sales after service on Sunday, Dec 11. $5 per dozen. Thanks to a grant provided by Thrivent, all proceeds go to the Youth Gathering 2024.

Stewardship Update

Bethesda is generous! Empowered by the Spirit, 33 of our member households have increased their pledge by an average of 18% and made a total commitment of $148,023 to further Bethesda’s ministry in 2023. To those 33, we on the Stewardship Committee say, “Thank you, for letting us know your intention to give for 2023! Bethesda’s leaders can use this information to help them develop the budget and ministry for next year.”

Let’s take a deeper dive into the data. So far this year we have 33 pledges, totaling $148,023; last year we had a total of 47 pledges, totaling $153,823. We are only $5,800 away from meeting last year’s dollar total and $11,977 from meeting our goal of $160,000. 

Meeting or exceeding this goal could allow Bethesda’s leadership to draft a budget requiring less dependency on our investments than we have in the past.

Here is how you can pledge:  Before worship on Sunday, use this fillable card to share your intention to give during the 2023 year for worship offerings. You may also input your intention on Breeze or indicate your plan via email or postal mail. Review this year's theme and process here.

The Breeze pledge form can be accessed here: https://bethesdanewhaven.breezechms.com/form/pledge20225

Questions? Email Blair Goodlin [email protected], Calli Micale [email protected], Dianne Witte [email protected], or Pastor Tim [email protected].

Order Your Poinsettias!

It is that time of year again! As we prepare for Christ’s birth, you can help decorate the chancel area of the Sanctuary for Christmas Eve by sponsoring a poinsettia! This year, they are $10 each. Simply fill out the form linked below to confirm your order, specify your designation for your poinsettia, and then either pay online or select Pay by Check and drop your check in the offering basket on Sundays or mail it to the church.

You can also pay using the paper envelopes available in the Narthex.

Please place your orders by December 15th.

Click here to order

Couches available!

We are working on cleaning up the Campanius Room! There are two love seats and two three-seater couches available for anyone who could use them, one of each in dark green and black. Please contact Leah Snavely at [email protected] by Saturday, December 31 if you are interested in taking one or more of them. Otherwise, they will be donated in January to Habitat for Humanity.

Donations for Sally Azar

Sally Azar will be ordained as the first Palestinian Lutheran Pastor in our companion synod the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) on Sunday, January 22. Pastor Tim and Pastor Kari Keyl will be in attendance. Again, besides our prayers, we are receiving donations for the gift of clergy apparel by Sunday, January 17. Designate your gifts for “Sally Azar” in the memo.

Thank you!

Shoreline Ringers Handbell Ensemble Christmas Concert

Sunday, December 18 at 4:00 pm

Tabor Lutheran Church in Branford (45 Tabor Drive) is hosting a holiday handbell concert at 4:00 pm on Sunday, December 18. Learn more about the Shoreline Ringers and hear a sample of their music here: https://shorelineringers.org/

Worship Participants for Christmas Services

Please be sure to contact John Aden ([email protected]) if you are willing and able to be a worship leader for the Christmas Eve service at 4 pm on December 24 and for the Christmas Day service at 10 am on December 25.

Bethesda is going to Camp Calumet!

On MLK weekend, January 13-16 Bethesda folks of all ages will head to northern New Hampshire to the ELCA retreat center, Camp Calumet. Our time there will be spent playing in the snow, board games and puzzles by the fire, hiking, eating good food, laughing and lots of great conversation. We are making plans now and would like to finalize our reservation by 12/19. Please contact Natalie Judd at natalie@bigvoicecomm.com or 203-605-9515 if you are interested in learning more or signing up. 

Scholarship monies are available.

WANTED - YOUR PHOTOS and VIDEOS!

Fantastic photos and videos of Bethesda events parked on your phone? We'd love to share them on Bethesda's social media and website!

Please upload media to this Google Drive folder.

If you do not have a Google profile or cannot access the folder for any reason, feel free to email your photos to John at [email protected].

Upcoming Commemorations

Lucy, martyr, died 304

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Lucy was a young Christian of Sicily who was martyred during the persecutions under Emperor Diocletian. Her celebration became particularly important in Sweden and Norway, perhaps because the feast of Lucia (whose name means "light") originally fell on the shortest day of the year.

John of the Cross, renewer of the church, died 1591

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

John was a member of the Carmelite monastic order, and worked to reform it. His writings reflect a deep interest in mystical thought and meditation.

Las Posadas (LLC)

Friday, December 16, 2022

This celebration, long popular in Mexico, takes its name from the "posadas," or lodgings, sought by Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem. Their search is reenacted in a neighborhood, unsuccessfully, until finally they are welcomed in, and a party commences.

Prayer Requests

For healing and strength: Pastor Ruth Drews; John Ferreira, nephew of Chris Couture; Carole DeVore; Mary Ricketts, friend of Chris Wigren; Kathryn and Karolyn Lee, aunts of Chris Lee; George Arndt, father of Lynn Arezzini; 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; 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 House and Yale Divinity School students.

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, Calli Micale, and Vicar Gabrielle Brown. 

For Maeve Schurz, Bethesda’s Vicar from 2021-2022, ordained into the Ministry of Word and Sacrament Saturday, December 10 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lansdale, PA.

For those who mourn: Kate Flanagan and family, at the death of her husband Tom Flanagan. Kate is a teacher at Bethesda Nursery School.