November 27, 2022
First Sunday of Advent
Worship at 9:30 am

Intergenerational Potluck and Craft-making Following Worship

Presiding Minister: Pastor Tim Keyl
Preacher: Vicar Gabrielle Brown
Assisting Minister: Chris Wigren
Music Director: Stephen Gamboa-Díaz
Music Intern: Ike Harijanto
Lectors: Dan Cortright and Blair Goodlin
Altar Guild: Dianne Witte
Usher: John Aden
Livestream: Miles Kirschner
Tellers: Ray Bussolini and Richard Ford
Bread Baker: Becky Lerud
Coffee Hour: Confirmation youth

From the Vicar

Greetings, friends!

Have you heard of the Iroquois Seventh Generation Principle? This philosophy suggests that our decisions and actions will impact the next seven generations to come. Ordinarily, The Seventh Generation Principle is typically named in context of care for creation and our impact on the health of our planet. You’ll even find a line of eco-friendly household cleaning supplies branded “Seventh Generation”.

Lately I’ve been imagining this principle more expansively. Or perhaps more narrowly. Or, more accurately, in a variety of different directions that my tangentially-driven train of thought takes me.

Many of us enter the Advent season of anticipation with memories and emotions as vast as the cultural and religious rituals that Christmas holds. Our heritage and traditions flavor the season, maybe connecting us with those who came before us. We remember how God has shown up in the past, in the presence of God in flesh and bone. And as we bake or shop, worship together or share stories, we contribute to the traditions of future generations. The work of God is always unfolding—in and through us, across time.

This year’s advent liturgy includes elements from A Sanctified Art’s  “Generation to Generation” which reminds us of the ways our lives, histories, actions, and stories are interconnected and woven together.

This Advent, may you remember that you belong to a story etched into the wrinkles of time. A story that includes God’s infinite grace for generations that have come before and will come after. A story for everyone. A story of God’s love that will never let you go.

Vicar Gabrielle

Coming Up at Bethesda

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

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.

Intergenerational Craft and Potluck this Sunday
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

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

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.

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, December 7.

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)

CCA Thanksgiving Dinner Bags

Thank you to everyone who gathered last weekend to assemble Thanksgiving dinner bags to be donated to local families this holiday season. Together with St. Peter's Episcopal, we packed about 1,600 bags!

Bethesda Members at UCONN Women's Basketball

Last Sunday, Richard Ford, Becky Lerud, Barbara Stark, Don Youngberg, Les Swenson, Liz Swenson, and Dianne Witte went to watch the UCONN women's basketball team defeat NC State. Let Richard know if you would like to attend future games or join an upcoming watch party!

Worship Leaders on Sunday, Nov. 20

"Take that patriarchy!" -Nora Lee

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 [email protected]  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

Andrew, Apostle
Wednesday, November 30, 2022

The first of the disciples to be called by Jesus, Andrew quickly began to bring others to the Savior, including Simon Peter. The Bible also shows him leading some Greeks to meet Jesus, and he brought forward the boy with five loaves and two fish, with which Jesus fed thousands.

Francis Xavier, missionary to Asia, died 1552
Saturday, December 3, 2022

A native of the Basque region of Spain, Xavier became a missionary to India, Southeast Asia, Japan, and the Philippines. He also helped to found the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).

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.