May 21, 2023
Worship at 9:30 am
Music Sunday and Baptism of Karim Ibrahim

Presiding Minister: Pastor Tim Keyl
Assisting Minister: Vicar Gabrielle Brown
Music Director: Stephen Gamboa-Díaz
Lectors: Blair Goodlin and Clarissa Youngberg
Altar Guild: Becky Lerud
Livestream: Ray Bussolini
Tellers: Becky Lerud and Chris Wigren
Bread Baker: Becky Lerud
Coffee Hour: Leah Snavely

From the Pastor

Sabbatical Begins!

Whatever is foreseen in joy
Must be lived out from day to day.
Vision held open in the dark
By our ten thousand days of work.
Harvest will fill the barn; for that
The hand must ache, the face must sweat.
And yet no leaf or grain is filled
By work of ours; the field is tilled
And left to grace. That we may reap.
Great work is done while we’re asleep.
When we work well, a Sabbath mood
Rests on our day, and finds it good.
–Wendell Berry, Sabbaths

Thank you, dear congregation, for providing me with a sabbatical. Rest. Dwelling with God while getting away. Rejuvenating for the return to ministry.

Blessed time with Kari. And in this time, from May 22-August 21, I hope to find what Wendell Berry calls a Sabbath mood.

Throughout these months, Kari and I will be finding our way with communities of prayer–at Holy Cross Monastery Chicago in June, with the community at Taizé, France in July, and at Weston Priory in August. We will read, visit family, and be at home.

You may see us somewhere by happenstance out and about, but we will not be present at Bethesda’s summertime activities nor available for ministry.

We will be away to regroup and recharge.
We will pray for you, and we ask you to pray for us.

Pastor Tim Keyl

Coming Up at Bethesda

Save the Dates

 - Pastor Keyl’s sabbatical begins May 22
 - Pentecost Sunday, May 28 (wear red!)
 - Trinity Sunday, June 4th Stephen Gamboa-Díaz’ final Sunday; Recognition of High School Graduates; Recognition of Learning Ministries; Annual Cookout and Potluck at the Whitney Avenue Paved Circle

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 Continues

Vicar Gabrielle will be the primary contact for day to day ministry along with Leigh Cromey [email protected], other staff, and leadership through her last Sunday as our intern on July 9.
[email protected]  (719) 352-8918

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

Pastor Josh Sullivan at Christ the Good Shepherd will also be available through the end of June.
(860) 748-3837

Jeff Hawewinkel will also be available for pastoral care. Jeff will be consecrated as a deacon on July 16.
(219) 929-8684

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

Music Sunday - May 21

On Sunday, May 21 at 4:30 p.m., the Bethesda Music Series will present its final concert of the 2022-2023 season. The concert will feature the music of Bethesda member and composer Christopher Lee in a varied program of choral works and hymns, solo works for voice and piano, instrumental jazz quartet, and an anthem for choir and jazz ensemble. Performers include Bethesda’s own musicians and friends. Dubbed “Music Sunday,” the freewill offering and online donations from this concert will provide financial support for the upcoming Bethesda Music Series season. A reception will follow. Please share this information and invite your friends and neighbors.

The mission of the Bethesda Music Series is to present music for the enjoyment of all while raising funds to support local charities and non-profit organization that serve the community in the Greater New Haven area.

Donations may be made anytime through May 21. Designate your gift "Music Series" when you give online or with a check.

Contemplative Prayer

Contemplative Prayer continues on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:00. Light a candle and join us on zoom for prayer and reflection.

Click here to join

Bible Study on Zoom

Bethesda's Bible Study continues to discuss NT Wright's Acts. The next gathering will be Wednesday, May 24 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)

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.

Bilingual Readers Needed!

If you can read the Pentecost account from Acts in a language other than English, please contact Vicar Gabrielle ([email protected]) to put together a dramatic reading at worship on Sunday, May 28.

WANTED: Grillers, Set-Up and Stand-by staff on June 4th

We are looking for grillers, set-up and stand-by staff for the cookout and potluck Holy Trinity Sunday, June 4th following worship with recognition of Stephen Gamboa-Díaz on his last Sunday as Music Director and honoring High School graduates.

Set-up Staff are to arrive before 9:30 am worship to set out tables, plates, etc. and to get the grill from the shed. Grillers will staff the grill following worship.

2 Grillers needed
4 set-up staff needed (caretakers will be away!)
1-2 Stand-by Staff needed

Contact Vicar Gabrielle [email protected]

Volunteer at DESK This Summer

Sign up to help at Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK) by adding your name to this spreadsheet.

Bethesda sends a group of volunteers on the last Monday and Tuesday of each month. Take as many shifts as you would like. All shifts are from 4:00-6:30ish. This is also a great place for teens who need service hours.

Masonry Project has been completed!
    
The three masonry projects to shore up brick and mortar on two chimneys and the north wall of the Parish House have been completed by Capasso Masonry, with a $5,000 grant from the New Haven Preservation Trust. These projects, along with the Partners for Sacred Places Feasibility Study, were financed through a loan from the ELCA Mission Investment Fund. Now that it is completed, Bethesda is looking to pay down the loan from donations. Designate your gifts toward Bethesda's Sustainable Future Fund. Thank you!

Olive Oil has arrived

After a delay in an Israeli airport, our LWF olive order arrived (largely intact) this week! Pick up your bottle at church this Sunday. Additional pick-up options forthcoming.

Partners for Sacred Places

Just last week, a summary of the Partners for Sacred Places Feasibility Study was discussed with Pastor Keyl, Dianne Witte, and Elaine Ramshaw. The council will be reviewing the summary and planning its interpretation for the congregation at Monday’s meeting while also discussing potential next steps with advice from Partners. Look for continued conversation in forums.

Music Director Search

Applications for Music Director have been received in the past weeks, and the Search Committee is scheduling interviews and auditions with candidates. The Search Committee is chaired by Don Youngberg.

CD Player for Lee Keck

Lee Keck is looking for a simple single unit CD player with a speaker. If you have one or know of one, please contact Vicar Gabrielle at [email protected].

John Aden and Maissie Musick are moving this week

Their new address will be:
642 S. 2nd St
Apt 901
Louisville, KY 40202

Graduates Honored on Sunday, May 14

Last Sunday, Bethesda honored university graduates Isaiah LaGrand (BA, Albertus Magnus), Sam Ruff (MAR, YDS), Dan Pflueger (MDiv, YDS), John Aden (MAR, YDS), and Calli Micale (PhD, Yale). We also heard John Aden preach and said Godspeed to him and Maissie Musick.

Butterfly Sighting at Bethesda

Worshippers in person and online have noticed the installation of a hanging butterfly kite directly in line with Bethesda’s chancel cross. The butterfly is a symbol of Christ’s resurrection. The concept for this enhancement to our worship environment was courtesy of Elaine Ramshaw and was installed by Ray Bussolini using fishing line. The butterfly will remain through Pentecost. Thank you, Elaine and Ray!

Former Associate Pastor Emilie Casey is featured in an art installation at YDS on Marquand Chapel

Upcoming Commemorations

Helena, mother of Constantine, died around 330
Sunday, May 21, 2023
Influenced by her son to become Christian, Helena (or Helen) lived an exemplary life of faith. She is also remembered for traveling through Palestine building churches on the sites she believed to be associated with Christ's life.

Nicolaus Copernicus, died 1543; Leonhard Euler, died 1783; scientists
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
These two men were both scientists who helped to explain the wonders of God's universe. Copernicus is best known for promoting the idea that the sun, not the earth, is at the center of our solar system. Euler was one of the founders of pure mathematics, and contributed to many other fields.

John Calvin, renewer of the church, died 1564
Saturday, May 27, 2023
Gifted both as a systematic theologian and as an interpreter of scriptures, Calvin embraced the Reformation, and as a preacher in Geneva, Switzerland, brought a theocratic government to it. He is regarded as the father of the Reformed churches.

Prayer Requests

For healing and strength: Lynn Arezzini; Rachel, daughter of Mary Browne; Pastor Ruth Drews; 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; Natalie Denardis, granddaughter of Gail Denardis; Shirley Farm; Anne and Lee Keck; Kay Leone; Molly Dinneen; Karen (Starbranch) Blitch, daughter of Chuck Starbranch.

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, especially those graduating on May 22.

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

For those preparing for baptism: Karim Ibrahim.

For Bethesda in its search for anew Music Director (Stephen Gamboa-Díaz’s last Sunday is June 4th).

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

For graduating Yale students: John Aden, Calli Micale, Dan Pflueger, and Sam Ruff.

For other graduating students: Isaiah LaGrand (BA Albertus Magnus), Michaelle Gonzalez (LRN Lincoln Tech).