December 18, 2022
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Worship at 9:30 am
Tree Decorating and Potluck Following Worship

Presiding Minister: Pastor Tim Keyl
Preacher: Vicar Gabrielle Brown
Assisting Minister: Blair Goodlin
Music Director: Stephen Gamboa-Díaz
Music Intern: Ike Harijanto
Lectors: Chris Lee and Greta Lee
Altar Guild: John Aden
Ushers: Nora Lee and Eleanor Lee
Livestream: Miles Kirschner
Tellers: Richard Ford and Anna Franz
Bread Baker: Chris Wigren
Coffee Hour: Confirmation Youth

From the Vicar

The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Are you ready? This time of year, the to-do list lengthens and the calendar becomes crowded even as the days become shorter. There’s a sense of urgency - so much to get done!

I encourage you to take a deep breath, and let God interrupt you. Joseph’s  plans were interrupted by God, and then he found himself in a stable, naming a little baby, God incarnate.

What if God is going to break into your plans with news of how you can prepare for the arrival of Jesus? Will you listen, like Joseph did? I hope you will.

A prayer:

Dear God,

I now stop what I’m doing.
What I’m thinking,
What I’m scrambling to plan
And hustling to finish
So that I can be here.
Be here in the safety and warmth of your love.
This love that holds me fast and keeps me centered.

It’s the pressure I put on myself to
Make things perfect,
And memorable
And happy
And “special”.

But you came to me amidst darkness and stars -
Reminding me how darkness and light
Are most beautiful together.
And, in that holy, mysterious, and messy night,
You redefined perfection,
Promising me that leaning into the mystery
And laying down in loving awe
Compose the most faithful response.

You tell me the best gift that I can give
My children this Christmas is
To look with love into their eyes.

To pause throughout the day
To pray over them.

To envelop them with arms
Of fierce grace when I feel
Most angry or annoyed.

To sit in wonder for a moment (or many)
And marvel at all that shaped
Our family this year.

To give thanks
And allow tears to fall
And dreams to rise.

To take my pilgrim band
By their hands and walk together,
Deep into the heart of Bethlehem
Shining bright within our souls.

This will be more than enough,
Because you’ve made a manger
In which my heart will rest and find
Your heartbeat becoming mine.

Amen.

Excerpted from A Parent’s Advent prayer by Arianne B. Lehn

Peace be to you.

Coming Up at Bethesda

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.

Advent and Christmas at and around Bethesda

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. Pre-service music begins at 3:30 pm.

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

Name of Jesus worship at 9:30 am, Sunday, January 1.

Tree Decorating and Potluck This Sunday, 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!

Opportunity Palestine Webinar

Saturday, December 17 at noon

REGISTER HERE

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)

Several important actions were taken at the November 28 Council meeting. The Council:

recommended that amendments to Bethesda’s constitution, to bring it into compliance with the ELCA Model Constitution for Congregations, be presented for congregational approval at the upcoming annual meeting. Some amendments reflect simple usage changes. More substantial amendments will increase inclusivity, update procedures for dissolving congregations, clarify property ownership and relationship to full-communion partners, and address pastoral and diaconal employment. The document showing the amendments is available HERE for your review.
began the process to identify new members for the Mission Endowment Fund Committee. The opportunities are for a one-year appointment to complete Susan Molde’s term, and for a full /  three-year term to replace Calli Micale, who is retiring. Aníbal González agreed to a second term.
voted three people to serve on the 2023 Audit Committee: Martin Gehner, Blair Goodlin, and Becky Lerud. They will review Bethesda’s 2021 financial documents.
approved Pastor Keyl’s request for a sabbatical from May 29 through August 21, 2023. He outlined plans he had made to date and for coverage while he is away.

The Council has scheduled the annual meeting for February 19, 2022, as Pastor Keyl will be away in late January – early February.

Dianne Witte, Secretary

Annual Meeting Scheduled for February 19

Bethesda’s Annual Congregational Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, February 19, 2023. The meeting will be held in the Campanius Room following the worship service. The agenda for this meeting will include reports of ministry in 2022, adoption of the 2023 budget, and elections for new members of Council, the Nominating Committee and the Mission Endowment Fund Committee. As always, there will be a potluck meal and lots of coffee to keep everyone sustained through the meeting.

Youth Cookie Fundraiser

Bethesda youth spent several hours rolling, baking & decorating sugar cookies and gingersnaps last Saturday. In total 828 cookies were boxed for sale! It's not too late to get yours. A limited supply is still available for purchase this coming Sunday after service. $5 per dozen. All proceeds support the Youth Gathering 2024 thanks to a grant from Thrivent. Thank you for supporting the youth as they prepare for this event!

Plentiful Pantry

Bethesda's loyal grocery cart donors put eight full bags of groceries onto Christian Community Action's pantry shelves this week. Our congregation's ongoing mindfulness of those in need makes a big difference to CCA's clients. Thank you for this meaningful generosity!

Year-End Donations to Bethesda

Consider donating to Bethesda among other charitable gifts by the end of the year. Thank you!

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/

Maeve Schurz Ordination

Bethesda's former vicar Maeve Schurz was ordained on Saturday, December 10 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lansdale, PA. Blessings on Pastor Maeve Schurz!

Santa Lucia Day

Thanks to Lynn, Karl, and Dave Arezzini for a presentation on Santa Lucia Day at last week's Sunday School class!

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 [email protected] 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

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.

Katharina von Bora Luther, renewer of the church, died 1552
Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Born to an impoverished nobleman, Katie eventually took vows as a nun, but around age twenty-four she and several other nuns who were influenced by the writings of Martin Luther left the convent. Six children were born to Katie and Martin.

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 students, staff, and faculty at the end of the semester, and for safe travel for all during the holidays.

Thanksgiving for Pastor Mike Merkel on his 80th birthday, December 14th. Pastor Merkel was Bethesda’s pastor from 1994-2009. (Pastor Merkel shares a birthday with Les Swenson and Natalie Judd.) Those who gathered for dinner church this week shared their happy birthday message HERE.