Greetings Friends!

I have much to share with you this week…

First and foremost, a huge thank you for your grace throughout Advent. We shared the experience of some new liturgical language and four straight weeks of this Vicar preaching and learning to chant. I appreciate the opportunity to experience incorporating new language and resources into our traditional liturgy. I am deeply thankful for the patience, kindness, and generosity in candid feedback that lifts and guides me as I grow into this vocation. I am especially grateful for those who withheld winces during my first Kyrie chant. Thank you all!

Today, Friday, January 6th, is the feast of Epiphany. The twelve days of Christmas have reached their end. For many, the decorations are safely back in storage and the pine needles swept away and routines are returning to non-holiday mode. Here in Colorado, we’ve dismantled the Christmas puzzle that had occupied our dining table.

The Christmas season concludes with celebrating God’s glorious incarnation in Jesus Christ. I recall my Ukrainian family celebrating “Little Christmas” on Epiphany as the day when the magi arrived. The significance of “Little Christmas” was that the news of God’s light revealed in star above and swaddled infant in a cave traveled far beyond the birthplace and community of Jesus. This savior is for all God’s children! In Isaiah and Ephesians, that glory is proclaimed for all nations and people. When I see despair around me, I find solace and reassurance in this message of inclusivity. I pray that you do, too.

Nobody is left out. Thanks be to God.

Like the light of the star that guided the magi to Jesus, the light of Christ reveals who we are: children of God who are claimed and washed in the waters of baptism.

Suppose we did our work

like the snow, quietly, quietly.

leaving nothing out.

~ Wendell Berry

We are sent out to be beacons of the light of Christ, sharing the good news of God’s love to all people. Let that be our work, by the grace of God.

Here’s a snap of my snowy backyard. I look forward to being with you all soon when I return from Colorado. Until then, may this new year bring you peace.

~ Vicar G.

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 access this Sunday's bulletin.

Bible Study on Zoom

Bethesda's Bible Study continues to discuss NT Wright's Acts. The next gathering will be Wednesday, January 18 at 8:00 am.

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)

Dinner Church

Every Wednesday at 6:00 pm on Zoom

Zoom in from your kitchen or dinner table for conversation, prayer, and reflection. We will be reading the upcoming Sunday morning Bible texts as our scripture. Have a Bible on hand. Look for the texts each week in the enews.

First Reading: Isaiah 49:1-7

Psalm: Psalm 40:1-11

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Gospel: John 1:29-42

Click here to join on Zoom

Upcoming Learning Hour Schedule

January 8 – Learning hour for all ages; forum led by Jeff Hazewinkel (more info below)

January 15 – No learning hour (due to Bethesda’s Winter Retreat at Calumet)

January 22 – Learning hour returns

January 8 forum

The Sunday, January 8 forum will be led by new member Jeff Hazewinkel, who will speak about his project enhancing Bethesda’s IT systems as part of his formation as a deacon with the Lutheran Diaconal Association at Valparaiso University. The forum meets in the Parish House Living Room at 11 am.

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, elections for new members of Council and the Nominating Committee, and adoption of changes to Bethesda’s Constitution based on updates to the ELCA Model Constitution. As always, there will be a potluck meal and lots of coffee to keep everyone sustained through the meeting.

Ordination of Claire Repsholdt

All are invited to attend the ordination of Claire Repsholdt, YDS MDiv ’21 and Bethesda House Ministry Liaison 2019-2021. The service will be held on January 28, 2023 at 11:00 am at The Interchurch Center (61 Claremont Ave, New York City). A reception will follow. The color of the day is red.

Blessings for Pastor Claire!

Music Around the Globe This Season

During the Time after Epiphany, themes in the Sunday readings reveal God’s intention to bring righteousness and love to people of all nations on earth. The service music gleans songs from churches around the globe to underscore the witness of the church in many lands, most which are taken from the hymnal supplement All Creation Sings. Look for the origin of the songs next to the titles in the bulletin.

Additional Communion Assistants Needed

We have resumed offering a common cup at communion in addition to individual cups. This means that two more communion assistants (other than the two lectors) will be needed at each service. Look for the opportunity to sign up for this role in the next Breeze sign-up sheet. In the meantime, please reach out to John Aden ([email protected]) if you are interested in assisting at communion in the month of January.

Poinsettias for the taking

Following worship on Sunday, January 8, feel free to take a poinsettia plant home with you or to give away.

Bread for the Day 2023 Daily Readings and Prayers

Bethesda has copies of Bread for the Day: Daily Readings and Prayers for each day in 2023 available in the narthex. Please take a copy home with you. If we run out, we can order more.

Bethesda to Calumet!

It's almost time to go to Camp Calumet, the ELCA retreat center in New Hampshire! 33+ Bethesda folks will head north on MLK weekend, January 13-16. 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.

For more information, contact Natalie Judd or Nora Lee.

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!

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

Adrian of Canterbury, teacher, died around 710 (TFF)

Monday, January 9, 2023

African by birth, Adrian (or Hadrian) worked with Theodore, archbishop of Canterbury, in developing the church in England. He was director of a school at which church leaders were trained.

Martin Luther King Jr., renewer of society, martyr, died 1968

Sunday, January 15, 2023

An American prophet of justice among races and nations, King was an eloquent preacher, a leader of the nonviolent resistance to race-segregated society, and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Born on this date, he was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

Prayer Requests

For healing and strength: Pastor Ruth Drews; John Ferreira, nephew of Chris Couture; 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.