November 20, 2022
Christ the King Sunday
Worship at 9:30 am
Fellowship and Learning Hour Following Worship  

Presiding Minister: Rev. Mary Browne
Preacher: Vicar Gabrielle Brown
Assisting Minister: Eleanor Lee
Organist: Martin Jean
Music Intern: Ike Harijanto
Lectors: Christina Castaneda and Blair Goodlin
Altar Guild: Blair Goodlin
Ushers: Lee family
Livestream: Ray Bussolini
Tellers: Anna Franz and Becky Lerud
Bread Baker: Becky Lerud
Coffee Hour: John Aden

From the Pastor

Happy Thanksgiving–but you know this already

“Let the Chosen One guide you on the path of peace and harmony, and then as his one body this peace will be the guiding light in your hearts as you give thanks to the Great Spirit.” (Colossians 3:15 First Nations Version).

I’ve been trained always to hear words like this from St. Paul addressed to a group, so therefore it is the plural “you” that I hear, and then I think of our community at Bethesda as the addressee overhearing these words encouraging thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is intrinsic to being human and Christlike. Giving thanks is not something we only do once a year on a civic holiday. It is a practice which both defines and shapes us.

I am grateful for those new to Bethesda, as they teach us about hospitality and welcome.

I am grateful for those who offered their intentions to give in 2023, as they remind us about generosity.

I am grateful for our relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, as they teach us how to live faithfully amidst so many obstacles (I’ll be traveling there for a number of weeks late January and early February. Stay tuned!)

I am grateful for the process we have begun with Partners for Sacred Places, and the deep thinking about Bethesda’s place in New Haven and in ministry that this has prompted.

All these thanksgiving, and so many more, bring me to appreciate relationships (remember the plural “you”?) fostered.

And finally we are led to the source of blessing, community, and life, as described in the passage above when it says, “thanks to the Great Spirit.”

In the Jesus the Christ (the “Chosen One”),

Pastor Tim

Habits seek a spiritual habitat in which we can dwell in greater awareness of gratitude, so that gratitude enters and inhabits us. We can intentionally practice gratitude–through greater awareness, through specific techniques, by developing new routines, and by strengthening habits of gratitude. As we do these things, gratefulness become part of who we are. 

–from Grateful: The Subversive Practice of Giving Thanks, by Diana Butler-Bass.

Coming Up at Bethesda

Pastor Tim will be off or away through Saturday, November 26. For urgent pastoral care, please contact Vicar Gabrielle at (719) 352-8918.

We welcome Martin Jean as organist this Sunday. Martin, a longtime member of Bethesda, is the Director of Yale’s Institute of Sacred Music

We welcome Rev. Mary Browne as presiding minister this Sunday. Mary, who serves on Bethesda’s Congregation Council, is manager of Spiritual Care at Yale New Haven Hospital.

Sunday 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 view this Sunday's bulletin.

Parish House Forum on Vocation this Sunday with Elaine Ramshaw
Elaine Ramshaw will be leading conversation at the forum beginning at 11 am Sunday. Here’s how Elaine describes the topic: The questions “why do I exist?” and “what am I here for?” are central to our spiritual lives. Vocation or calling is a theological idea which speaks to these questions. We’ll look at what’s enduringly helpful (and what’s decidedly unhelpful) in Luther and others after the Reformation understanding of vocation, and at how we pray and live out our struggle (dance?) with our sense of calling throughout our lives.

CCA Thanksgiving Baskets Saturday, November 19 11:30 am to 1:30 pm

All are invited to assemble Thanksgiving Baskets for clients of CCA Saturday, November 19 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at Casa de Oración Y Adoración on Columbus Avenue in New Haven. For more information or to car pool, please contact Priscilla Melendez at priscilla.melendez@trincoll.edu.

Intergenerational Craft and Potluck on November 27

Bring lunch to share

Calling all crafters!

Do you love Christmas?

Do you love crafts?

Let's lead some craft making on Sunday, Nov, 27 at our annual Intergenerational Craft and Potluck event! 

Wreath making, ornament making, nativity-inspired decor, cards, gifts - so many options! Please email Nora ([email protected]) or contact Pastor Keyl if you are interested in leading a craft for all ages! Thank you!!

Advent and Christmas at and around Bethesda

Advent Soup Suppers and Prayer Wednesday, November 30, December 7, and 14 at 6:00 pm in the Campanius Room. Sign-up to bring vegetarian or meat-based soup to share. Come to eat, sing, read and reflect on readings, and to pray together.

First Sunday of Advent November 27 Intergenerational Craft-Making and Potluck following worship. Details above.

Yale Camerata Concert: His Star is Shining Bright Saturday, December 3, 7:30 pm at Woolsey Hall. Bethesda’s Matthew Judd sings in this ensemble. The concert will also be livestreamed.

Yale’s annual Service of Lessons and Carols is Sunday, December 4, 5:30 pm at Battel Chapel, a collaboration between the University Church at Yale, the Episcopal Church in Yale, and LuMin Campus Ministry. The service can also be accessed on Zoom. For more information click on this link Service of Lessons and Carols. 

Fourth Sunday of Advent December 18 Tree decorating and International Potluck in the Scandinavian Tradition following worship

Service of the Longest Night Wednesday, December 21 at 7 pm. Come to pray, to honor the solstice, and in recognition of the grief that this season also brings to many.

Christmas Eve Eucharist at 4 pm, Saturday, December 24. The Nativity Gospel, Carols, and Candlelighting. Cookies and cider served after worship.

Christmas Day Eucharist at 10 am Sunday, December 25. The Prologue to John and more Carols. Pastries and cookies to share following worship.

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, November 23.

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)

Stewardship Update

Empowered by the Spirit, last week 28 of our member households made a total commitment of $133,963.00 to further Bethesda’s ministry in 2023. To those 28, we on the Stewardship Committee say, “Thank you, for letting us know your intention to give for 2023! Bethesda’s leaders can use this information to help them develop the budget and ministry for next year.”

If you have yet to make a commitment for 2023, will you join the 28 who have? Our goal is for 45 households to pledge a total of $160,000. This is within reach!

Here is how you can pledge:  Before worship on Sunday, use this fillable card to share your intention to give during the 2023 year for worship offerings. You may also input your intention on Breeze or indicate your plan via email or postal mail. Review this year's theme and process here.

The Breeze pledge form can be accessed here: https://bethesdanewhaven.breezechms.com/form/pledge20225

Questions? Email Blair Goodlin [email protected], Calli Micale [email protected], Dianne Witte [email protected], or Pastor Tim [email protected].

Confirmation Youth at Branford Labyrinth

Last Sunday, the confirmation youth and their families took a trip to the Branford Labyrinth to practice contemplative prayer walking (and have some fun, as you can see in this video).

Pie Making
Bethesda ordered 27 pies, earning the confirmation youth $540 toward their trip to the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans - THANK YOU!!

Large-Print Bulletins Now Available
Bethesda now has large-print bulletins for Sunday worship. Please make your request to an usher on Sunday when you enter for worship. There are a few on hand.

Bethesda is going to Camp Calumet!

On MLK weekend, January 13-16 Bethesda folks of all ages will head to northern New Hampshire to the ELCA retreat center, Camp Calumet. 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. We are making plans now and would like to finalize our reservation by 12/19. Please contact Natalie Judd at natalie@bigvoicecomm.com or 203-605-9515 if you are interested in learning more or signing up. 

Scholarship monies are available.

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

Clement, Bishop of Rome, died around 100

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Clement was the third bishop of Rome. He is best remembered for a letter he wrote to the congregation in Corinth, still struggling with the same problems that led to Paul's letters to them. As did Paul, he focused on the need for love among Christians.

Miguel Agustín Pro, martyr, died 1927

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Pro grew up in a time when the Mexican revolutionaries accused the church of siding with the wealthy. He became a Jesuit priest, and worked on behalf of the poor and homeless. Falsely accused of throwing a bomb at a government official, he was executed, but not before crying out "Long live Christ the King!"

Justus Falckner, died 1723; Jehu Jones, died 1852; William Passavant, died 1894; pastors in North America

Thursday, November 24, 2022

Not only was Falckner the first Lutheran ordained in North America, but he published a catechism which was the first Lutheran book published on the continent. Jones was the Lutheran church's first African American pastor and carried out missionary work in Philadelphia which led to the formation there of the first African American Lutheran congregation (St. Paul's). William Passavant helped to establish hospitals and orphanages in a number of cities and was the first to introduce deaconesses to the work of hospitals in the United States.

Isaac Watts, hymnwriter, died 1748

Friday, November 25, 2022

Thought by many to be the greatest hymnwriter in the English language, Watts as a youth was critical of the quality of the metrical psalter of the time. He wrote about 600 hymns—many based on the psalms, but others that are not.

Prayer Requests

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

For Nora Yukich, at the anniversary of baptism, November 23, 2014.

For those who mourn: Martin Jean and family, at the death of his mother, Patricia, on November 11.