July 24, 2022 Summer Sundays  Worship at 9:30 am

Fellowship Following Worship

Presiding Minister: Pastor Tim Keyl

Assisting Minister: Pastor Kari Henkelmann Keyl

Music Director: Stephen Gamboa-Díaz

Lectors: Blair Goodlin and Elaine Ramshaw

Altar Guild: John Aden

Ushers: Martin Gehner and Miles Kirschner

Tellers: Rachelle Goto and Elaine Ramshaw

Bread Bakers: Franz family

Coffee Hour: Liz Swenson

From the Pastor

Student Ministry

With its proximity to Yale Divinity School, its welcoming culture, and apartments in our building complex, Bethesda has developed a gift for student ministry over the years.

Bethesda House, the intentional residential community in the top two floors of the Parish House, is well-known by students. They visit with friends who live here, favoring the patio and fire pit (currently off limits due to a deteriorating chimney) outdoors and Parish House Living Room indoors. Those who make Bethesda their home relish the opportunity to serve alongside our congregation and join us for meal-related events. They have enriched our ministry at Fall Fantastic Feast, Student Recognition Sunday, and the Easter Vigil, just to name a few. What a blessing to have Natalie Benson here for her three years in the MDiv program. Look for introductions to the new community arriving in August.

Last November, Bethesda received nine new members, all students or young adults. These new members gave witness to the vibrant congregation they experienced in worship and fellowship, and that they found peers to befriend. Look for continued young adult and student ministry as a community within Bethesda.

And student staff continues to provide for the many facets of our life together—Leah Snavely and Cameron Kritikos as caretakers, John Aden as Office Assistant, and incoming Lisa Fischer-Woudstra as Bethesda House Ministry liaison/House Manager. 

With Vicar Kurt’s departure and farewell last week, we were reminded of the mutuality that seminary interns and YDS students have exemplified for our congregation. Way back, Victoria Larson introduced us to Dinner Church. Even further back, Chloe and Ben Groth wondered why there weren’t more students at our church and then asked if they could be caretakers and live in the Chapel Apartment, which happened the next fall. Sarah Nehm Barnes shepherded the first Bethesda House community as our Parish Assistant. And now, we have a string of vicars that began with Emilie Casey, then Maeve Schurz, and then Vicar Kurt. They each brought their own gifts which live on in our memories and in some ways in the DNA of our congregation. We welcome Vicar Gabrielle Brown as the next intern moving in next Tuesday and officially beginning August 1. This can only happen with our enacting the idea that in welcoming strangers who become friends, that God is present. 

With the Mission Endowment Fund release of $2,500 to match our gifts, I’m pleased that our response this past month totals $3,450 toward the Student Ministry Fund. LuMin Campus Ministry contributes $5,000 toward our intern. We need $36,000 annually to fund this important ministry, so your contributions throughout the year are essential.

Meanwhile, look to welcome all newcomers who are yearning to belong in community, as we have welcomed a few in July and will certainly received more in August.

What a gift! Pastor Tim Keyl

Save the Dates

Sunday, August 7 - Vicar Gabrielle’s first Sunday; honoring Martin Gehner’s 90th birthday

Sunday, August 14 - Congregational Meeting TBA

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

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 3.

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)

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.

Welcoming Vicar Gabrielle Brown

Vicar Gabrielle Brown will move in Tuesday, July 26 and officially begin August 1. If you can be part of a crew to carry her things from her car to the vicar apartment, please let Pastor Tim know. He will let you know her ETA. If you have welcome gifts to offer, like gift cards to coffee shops, Arethusa Creamery, Stop & Shop, also please give them to Pastor Tim. We will be offering get togethers Sundays after worship in August and on a weeknight to informally meet and greet Vicar Gabrielle.

Her email will be the same as previous vicars: [email protected], and her phone number is (719) 352-8918.

Please continue to pray for Student Ministry at Bethesda.

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

Ann Onton Tag Sale

Ann Onton is holding a tag sale at her home, Saturday, July 30, 50 Old Dairy Land in Shelton. Proceeds go to St. Vincent’s Foundation Swim Across the Sound.

DESK Volunteer Picnic

Calling all DESK Volunteers, Family, & Friends!

Join us for DESK's Annual Volunteer Appreciation Picnic on Saturday, July 30, 2022 from 2:00-5:00 pm at the Edgewood Park Pavilion (near the corner of Whalley Ave & West Rock Ave).

Click Here to Register.

Farewell and Godspeed, Vicar Kurt

Vicar Kurt Saenger-Heyl's address in North Carolina

1136 Erins Way Lane

Raleigh, NC 27614

Email: [email protected] 

In September, Vicar Kurt will relocate to Wartburg Seminary for his final year of study. Look for that address nearer to September.

Thank you to Richard Ford and Miles Kirschner for working hard on Bethesda's grounds this week!

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

Mary Magdalene, Apostle

Friday, July 22, 2022

Sometimes called "the apostle to the apostles" because she told them of her encounter with the risen Lord, Mary was a woman of Galilee who followed Jesus throughout his ministry. She was present at Jesus' crucifixion and his burial.

Birgitta of Sweden, renewer of the church, died 1373

Saturday, July 23, 2022

Birgitta married at age thirteen and had four daughters. Widowed at age thirty-eight, she gave all that she owned to the poor, and founded a community of monks and nuns led by a woman. Her work is continued today by the Society of St. Birgitta.

James, Apostle

Monday, July 25, 2022

James and his brother John were the sons of Zebedee, fishermen by trade before their call from Jesus. He was the first of the twelve apostles to be martyred, and his death is the only one recorded in scripture (Acts 12:1-2).

Johann Sebastian Bach, died 1750; Heinrich Schütz, died 1672; George Frederick Handel, died 1759; musicians

Thursday, July 28, 2022

These three German-born musicians have done much to enrich the life of the church. Schütz was an early master who focused on settings of biblical texts. Bach wrote over 300 cantatas along with works for organ and instrumental pieces, and has been called the "fifth evangelist" for the way he proclaimed the gospel in music. Handel's great work, Messiah, is a setting of scriptural texts.

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany

Friday, July 29, 2022

Friends of Jesus, Mary and Martha are remembered for the hospitality of their home that they offered him—Martha focused on serving their guest, and Mary on listening to him. Their brother Lazarus was raised from the dead as a sign of the greater resurrection to come.

Olaf, King of Norway, martyr, died 1030

Friday, July 29, 2022

Considered the patron saint of Norway, Olaf went from a life of piracy to becoming Christian and declaring himself king of Norway. He revised the laws and tried to administer them fairly. Driven from Norway in a rebellion, he was killed in battle trying to regain his kingdom.

Prayer Requests

For healing and strength: Robert Gritz, brother-in-law of Blair Goodlin; Michelle Lee, friend of Christina Castañeda; Rachel Ronnevik, Maggie Astrup’s sister; Wayne Wright, father of Laura Wright’s; 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 those traveling this week: Richard Ford and Dianne Witte to Iowa; the Lee family to Minnesota; Paul Stuehrenberg and Carole DeVore to Amsterdam; and Lily Micale, starting two weeks of resident camp at Calumet (To send a note to Lily Micale, mail it to Calumet PO Box 236, W. Ossipee NH 03890).

For those who mourn:

Peter Wogman and family, at the death of his mother Nancy Wogman on July 9. See Nancy Wogman obituary. Notes of condolences may be sent to 300 Ashmun Street, New Haven CT 06511.

Bethany Canver and Jeff Deeney, at the death of their four-month-old son, Xavier, also on July 9. A Memorial Service will be held at Bethesda on Saturday, August 6 at 4:00 pm, with a reception following. All are invited. If you can assist Pastor Keyl with the service or reception, please contact him at [email protected]. Notes of condolences may be sent to 37 Woodstock Street, Hamden CT 06517.