June 26, 2022
Summer Sundays
Worship at 9:30 am
Fellowship Following Worship

Presiding Minister: Pastor Tim Keyl
Assisting Minister: Elaine Ramshaw
Music Director: Stephen Gamboa-Díaz
Cantor: Maggie Astrup
Lectors: Maggie Astrup and Blair Goodlin
Altar Guild: Clarissa Youngberg
Ushers: Ray Bussolini and Clarissa Youngberg
Tellers: Martin Gehner and Blair Goodlin
Acolyte: Jack Marchand
Bread Baker: Chris Wigren
Coffee Hour: Leah Snavely

River Access at 37 Bridge Street

From the Pastor
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.

Under the shadow of your throne your saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is your arm alone, and our defense is sure.
--Isaac Watts

Hymns like this one sometimes form the soundtrack of my life. While trouble looms everywhere, we look to God’s sufficiency in the midst of our insufficiency.

As a kid in my earliest years, I relied on a yellow security blanket as a comfort when in trouble. It went with me wherever I went. I like to think of God as blanketing the earth with comfort.

My late mother was also a source of comfort, ready with an embrace, reliable in remembering milestones like birthdays and anniversaries. She was one of the steadiest persons I knew. I like to think of God as steady and reliable.

If in our circles, if in our community at Bethesda, we can represent the enormous capacity of God in some fashion for one another and our broken world, then we can be like a security blanket or provide a mother-like love to bear burdens and allay fears.

In this summer, let us invoke God in prayer as we consider Bethesda’s place in this city, neighborhood, and building. While we strive and puzzle, let us not forget God’s will for love and welcome and mercy. 

Pray with me:

We know that sometimes we are alone,
And sometimes we are in community.

Sometimes we are in shadow,
and sometimes we are surrounded by shelter.

We honour God, the source of this rich life.
And we honour each other, story-full and lovely.

Whether we live in our shadow or in our shelter,
may we live well
and fully
with each other.
Amen.
--prayer by Pádraig ? Tuama

Pastor Tim Keyl
Coming up at Bethesda

Hamburgers and Hymns

Save the Dates!

Vicar Kurt’s last Sunday, July 17 Farewell and Godspeed
Vicar Gabrielle Brown begins Monday, August 1 look for ways to welcome
Ice Cream Social Sunday, August 28 at 4 pm Do you want to be the lead coordinator? Contact Pastor Keyl

New Caretaker

Leah Snavely is “moving on up” and starting her new role as the Bethesda Caretaker. She and her husband Cameron Kritikos will be moving into the Caretaker apartment very soon and transitioning into this new position. Leah has been the Bethesda House liaison so she is familiar with the building and the rhythms of life at Bethesda. Cameron will assist Leah as his schedule permits but Leah will be the main contact. Please make them welcome as you see them around the building.

Stewardship Update

God continues to inspire generosity at Bethesda. Our regular offering is currently at 105% of budget for this point in the year, and our expenses remain lower than anticipated. In addition, Bethesda members have given in abundance for the CANning project, World Hunger, and Lutheran Disaster Response. If you are uncertain of your giving status, log into your Breeze account. You can contact Bethesda's financial secretary, Lisa Randall, with questions.

If you are looking for more ways to give, consider the Student Ministry Fund at Bethesda. The Student Ministry Fund is running low, and we are preparing for Vicar Gabrielle Brown's arrival in August. The cost to support an intern is $37K per year.

Double Your Impact for Student Ministry

The Mission Endowment Fund committee unanimously approved a $2500 match grant for Bethesda's Student Ministry Fund. Starting this week, all gifts designated for Student Ministry will be matched dollar for dollar. This match grant reflects MEF's commitment to distribute funds for ministry initiatives within the congregation that exceed the operational budget. 

Confirmation Wrap-up

On Saturday, June 19th, the confirmation youth concluded a year of learning with a bit of fun at Ridge Top Club. The chilly weather did not stop the kids from jumping in the pool!

Farewell and Godspeed to Wendy Mallette and Natalie Benson

Wendy's new address

2000 North Blackwelder Avenue #105
Oklahoma City, OK 73106

Youth Trip in Chicago

CANning Hunger

Members of Bethesda participated in (and won!) the CANning Hunger competition as part of Arts and Ideas Festival. The total cost of the sculpture was $1,500 and that was all covered by funds raised/donated. Over $2,700 was raised, including a Thrivent Grant for $250 and the generous donations of canned goods from the two main shoppers. Wonderful event with true Bethesda teamwork!

Hannah Faith Barnes

Congratulations to former Parish Assistant and YDS grad Rev. Sarah (Nehm) and Burton Barnes on the birth of their daughter Hannah Faith Barnes on Tuesday, June 21!

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.

Sermons online

View recorded sermons online at Bethesda New Haven’s YouTube Channel, by clicking the button at the bottom of the eNews, and posted on Bethesda New Haven’s Facebook Page.

Click here to view this Sunday's bulletin.

Upcoming Commemorations

Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, died 444
Monday, June 27, 2022
Cyril defended the orthodox teachings about the person of Christ. After a conflict involving all of the major Christian leaders of the time, it was decided that Cyril's interpretation, that Christ's person included both divine and human natures, was correct.

Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, died around 202
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
This important early church leader tried very hard to hold to the faith handed down by the apostles. An opponent of the movement known as gnosticism, Irenaeus was one of the first to speak of the church as catholic, or linked together.

Peter and Paul, Apostles
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
These two strong-willed apostles are the pillars of the church in the first generation after Christ. Peter was one of the Twelve, one who both offered a glorious confession of faith and later denied knowing Jesus. Paul once led the persecution of Christians, then was converted and helped bring the faith to non-Jewish people.

Catherine Winkworth, died 1878; John Mason Neale, died 1866; hymn translators
Friday, July 1, 2022
Neale was an English priest who specialized in the translation of Latin and Greek hymns into English. Winkworth lived in Manchester, England, and devoted herself to translating German hymns. Almost all English-speaking hymnals include many of their translations.

Prayer Requests

For healing and strength: Gail Denardis; Michelle Lee, friend of Christina Castañeda; Rachel Ronnevik, Maggie Astrup’s sister; Wayne Wright, father of Laura Wright’s; John Hively; 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: Vicar Kurt Saenger-Heyl to Baltimore, MD; John Aden and Maissie Musick to Illinois; Eleanor Lee to Valparaiso, IN; Blair Goodlin to Fort Niagra, NY; Paul Stuehrenberg and Carole DeVore to Cochran, Alberta; Bethany Keyl to Washingto