June 11, 2023
Summer Worship
Worship at 9:30 am

Presiding Minister: Rev. Paul Stuehrenberg
Assisting Minister: Vicar Gabrielle Brown
Organist: Martin Jean
Lectors: Greta Lee and Marietta Meyer
Altar Guild: Nora Lee
Livestream: Miles Kirschner
Tellers: Chris Wigren and Calli Micale
Bread Baker: Lee Family
Coffee Hour: Michaela Natal

From the Vicar

Friends,

As I write this the air remains murky; I’m feeling the smoke from the Canadian wildfires in my burning eyes and heavy chest. I remember what it felt like to flee a fire, the air thick and brown, not knowing when we’d return or what we’d find when we got there. And I pray for our human siblings in Canada.

As I gaze out at the seedlings in our Giving Garden, I see these plants thriving and growing, a good start toward the harvest to come.  I then find myself thinking about the request we received this week from Christian Community Action. CCA reached out to us because they cannot obtain adequate pasta for their food pantry. And I’m reminded that Bethesda’s partnership with CCA is year-round, and that right now is an exceptionally difficult time for those who provide groceries for the hungry. Donations, both monetary and bags of food, tend to fall off significantly this time of year. I’ve amended my shopping list, for the need is urgent.

Our schedules and pace soften in the summer months. My prayer for each of you this week and beyond is that you experience others reflecting the love of Christ in your direction. May the Spirit guide us to reflect the love of Jesus in our own words and actions. Lord, teach us to see, name, and care for people of all identities and in all circumstances, to hear their stories, and to invite them to the Table that welcomes all, just as they are.

Coming Up at Bethesda

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.

Ministry at Bethesda

Vicar Gabrielle will be the primary contact for day to day ministry along with Leigh Cromey ([email protected]), other staff, and leadership until her last Sunday on July 9. You may reach her at her email ([email protected]).

For pastoral care, urgent or otherwise, please call or text Vicar Gabrielle at (719) 352-8918. 

Elaine Ramshaw, congregation council president, is also available should you have questions or need pastoral care ([email protected], (203)747-1343)

If you are not able to reach Vicar Gabrielle, Leigh, or Elaine for pastoral care needs, Pastor Josh Sullivan at Christ the Good Shepherd will be available through the end of June at (860) 748-3837 and Deacon Jeff Hazewinkel will also be available after July 16th at (219) 929-8684.

We have a slate of preachers and presiders for Sunday mornings. Plan to greet them and thank them for their leadership.

Lost & Found

Lost anything? Please take a look in the Lost and Found basket in the foyer of the Parish House. Last call before it gets cleaned out next week.

Bethesda’s Giving Garden

Thank you to Miles, Dianne, Richard, Ian, Ray, Leah, Chris and Vicar Gabrielle who together got our Giving Garden planted!

We can look forward to a bounty of fresh vegetables to share with Christian Community Action for their food pantry. Bethesda’s landscape is in full bloom - take a walk around or find a quiet place to sit and enjoy!

Music News

On June 4th, Bethesda wished Godspeed to Stephen Gamboa-Diaz as he finished his tenure as Bethesda’s Music Director. Though we won’t see him in the choir loft each week, Stephen will remain in the neighborhood as he continues in his position at the Yale Office of Public Affairs and Communications.

Stephen will be performing more frequently with Elm City Consort and the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado. Look forward to opportunities to experience his mad harpsichord and organ skills in nearby venues!

Olympic Gold!

Bethesda’s own Karl Arezzini balanced a busy weekend of athletic competition, singing in choir, and participating in our barbecue/potluck. On Saturday, Karl earned a Bronze in the 50 meter freestyle and Gold Medal in the 25 meter backstroke. Way to go, Karl!

Got Bethesda Related Pictures?

You are invited to share your photos for Bethesda’s eNews and online presence. Upload them here.

Also feel free to email administrative assistant, Tyler Fair ([email protected]) for any announcements you'd like featured in the Enews for an upcoming week.

Bible Study on Zoom

Bethesda's Bible Study continues to discuss NT Wright's Acts. The next gathering will be Wednesday, June 7 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)

Update on Wednesday Contemplative Prayer

As we move into our summer schedule, Wednesday Contemplative Prayer has reached its end. We hope those who participated found this practice spiritually enriching.

Pasta Needed! CCA Food Pantry Requests Our Help

The Food Pantry at Christian Community Action is nearly out of pasta, and CT Foodshare doesn’t have any available. Please consider placing a box or two of pasta in the CCA Shopping Cart in the narthex and we will get it to them this coming week

Support Bethesda's Internship!

Generous gifts have been made to the Student Ministry fund - Praise be to God, and thank you! The remaining need is $10,300. Vicar G will be in the lead when Pastor T departs on his sabbatical, and her guidance will be essential to Bethesda's ministry. Your new or renewed financial support will honor her internship and Bethesda's charism for nurturing future pastors. 

Volunteer at DESK This Summer

We could use a little more help this coming Monday and Tuesday.  Click here  or contact Natalie Judd to sign up for as many 4:00 - 6:30-ish shifts as you like.

Upcoming Elm City Concert at Bethesda

Saturday, June 17th, at 5 p.m. Bethesda will be hosting a concert by violist Arnie Tanimoto and friends. Learn more about the event here

Free Concert! Save the Date

On Saturday, June 10, join Bethesda friends on the New Haven Green for a free concert of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, with special guest Anjelique Kidjo as part of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas.

The concert begins at 6:00 and you may look for the Lee family (who may be flying a flag emblazoned with the Luther rose, and perhaps a balloon or two) after 5:30pm. Bring chairs, blankets, food, beverages, and know there are often food trucks along Temple Street. Most of all, bring yourselves to this very family-friendly event in the heart of our Elm City!

Prayer Requests

Bethesda’s Prayer List

For healing and strength: John Hively; Lynn Arezzini; Rachel, daughter of Mary Browne; John Ferreira, nephew of Chris Couture; 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; Shirley Farm; Anne and Lee Keck; Kay Leone; Molly Dinneen; Karen (Starbranch) Blitch, daughter of Chuck Starbranch.

Prayers for those in grief: especially families and friends of Pastor Ruth Drews and Pastor Charles Seivard

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 our Ecumenical Partners Worldwide: we pray for Botswana and Zimbabwe.

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, Tyler Fair, Calli Micale, Vicar Gabrielle Brown, and Jeff Hazewinkel (in formation for consecration as deacon).

For Pastor Tim and Pastor Kari Henkelmann Keyl on sabbatical May 22-August 21, that they may be renewed.

For Bethesda members traveling over the summer: Adam Marchand who will be in Idaho mid-June; Blair Goodlin headed Maryland end of June; Michaela Natal who will be in Argentina and Brazil in July; Maggie Astrup and Max Marmor spending time in Minnesota and Austria in June through August; Dianne Witte and Richard Ford traveling West for triathlon related travel June through August; Ann Louise Onton headed to Japan in early August; Ike Harijanto who will be in Germany from June until the end of 2023.