December 4, 2022

Second 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: Katherine Gehner and Martin Gehner

Altar Guild: John Aden

Usher: Liz Harnett

Livestream: Blair Goodlin

Tellers: Mary Browne and Chris Wigren

Bread Baker: Becky Lerud

Coffee Hour: Leah Snavely

From the Vicar

From generation to generation, we await the arrival of Jesus, God incarnate and our salvation.

As we began our new church year, I reflected on time; time as both a lens forward and back, time as a meter by which we gauge, time as a human limitation. I was awed by the myriad ways God transcends time. In the birth of Jesus, humankind gets a glimpse of the intersection of the time of our limited imagination and the time which holds no power over the Almighty. God, in infinite, unearned grace, transcends time for the restoration of creation. 

This week, my reflection turns to fear, and to hope. Our world is broken and fear feeds that brokenness. We hear of the devastation of war. The human impact on earth and resultant climate change grows ever more urgent. Voices of change are silenced with brutality or insidious systems of oppression. In a world of abundance, our human siblings are hungry, shelterless, ill, abandoned. Idolatry of power, wealth, and control drive a deepening contrast in security between individuals, communities, countries, and families. Three years of pandemic that isn’t really over yet fuels uncertainty. Fear is utterly human and destructive. Righting the world feels insurmountable. Fear limits humankind. 

At the same time, fear is shattered by hope. As I reflect on the texts for this week, I see an inverse relationship between fear and hope. 

Where to find hope? I’m so ready for some good news. How about you? May you experience the assurance of the Spirit as we together anticipate the birth of Jesus Christ, our hope and our salvation.

Pastor Tim and Vicar Gabrielle will be away

Pastor Tim and Vicar Gabrielle will be on a synod intern cluster retreat Monday and Tuesday, December 5-6 at Enders Island in Mystic. For urgent pastoral care, contact Pastor Kari Henkelmann Keyl at (603) 533-7537.

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

Advent Soup Suppers and Prayer Wednesday, December 7 and 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.

Yale Camerata Concert: His Star is Shining Bright Saturday, December 3, 7:30 pm at Woolsey Hall. Bethesda’s Matthew Judd sings in this ensemble. The concert will also be livestreamed.

Yale’s annual Service of Lessons and Carols is Sunday, December 4, 5:30 pm at Battel Chapel, a collaboration between the University Church at Yale, the Episcopal Church in Yale, and LuMin Campus Ministry. The service can also be accessed on Zoom using this link https://yale.zoom.us/j/95568482536 or calling: 646-568-7788

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.

Forum on Bethesda’s Sustainable Future on Sunday, December 4

From 11 am to noon in Bethesda’s Parish House Living Room, the forum will offer a review of what has led us to frame our discernment as Bethesda’s Sustainable Future. We will hear from task force members and council leaders, and also speak about the consultation process underway with Partners for Sacred Places.

Forum on Bethesda’s Sustainable Future on Sunday, December 4

From 11 am to noon in Bethesda’s Parish House Living Room, the forum will offer a review of what has led us to frame our discernment as Bethesda’s Sustainable Future. We will hear from task force members and council leaders, and also speak about the consultation process underway with Partners for Sacred Places.

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!

Stewardship Update

Bethesda is generous! Empowered by the Spirit, 31 of our member households have increased their pledge by an average of 18% and made a total commitment of $142,863 to further Bethesda’s ministry in 2023. To those 31, 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 31 pledges, totaling $142,863; last year we had a total of 47 pledges, totaling $153,823. We are only $10,960 away from meeting last year’s dollar total and $17,137 from meeting our goal of $160,000. The 16 households who pledged last year and whose 2023 pledge we have yet to receive pledged a total of $36,866 for 2022. Adding this to our current pledges could allow Bethesda’s leadership to draft a

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. There will also be paper forms available in the Narthex after worship.

Please place your orders by December 15th.

Click here to order

Donations for Maeve Schurz and Sally Azar

Maeve Schurz, Bethesda’s Vicar from 2021-2022, will be ordained Saturday, December 10 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale, PA. Pastor Tim and Pastor Kari Keyl will be in attendance. Besides your prayers, we are receiving donations for the gift of clergy apparel by this Sunday, December 4. You may give online or at the time of the offering. Designate your gifts for “Maeve Schurz” in the memo.

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!

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

Francis Xavier, missionary to Asia, died 1552

Saturday, December 3, 2022

A native of the Basque region of Spain, Xavier became a missionary to India, Southeast Asia, Japan, and the Philippines. He also helped to found the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).

John of Damascus, theologian and hymnwriter, died around 749

Sunday, December 4, 2022

A monk in an abbey near Jerusalem, John wrote many hymns as well as theological works. One of his works, The Fount of Wisdom, remained influential for centuries.

Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, died around 342

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Little is known about Nicholas, except that he was a bishop in present-day Turkey. According to legend, he was famous for his giving to the poor, and so has become a symbol of anonymous gift-giving.

Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, died 397

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

While a governor of northern Italy, Ambrose was elected bishop of Milan on the same day he was baptized. He was a famous preacher, a writer of hymns we still sing today, and helped lead St. Augustine to faith.

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.