October 16, 2022
Autumn Sundays
Worship at 9:30 am
Fellowship and Learning Hour Following Worship  

Presiding Minister: Pastor Tim Keyl
Assisting Ministers: Priscilla Melendez and Vicar Gabrielle Brown
Music Director: Stephen Gamboa-Díaz
Music Intern: Ike Harijanto
Lectors: Blair Goodlin and Rachelle Goto
Altar Guild: John Aden
Ushers: Lee family
Livestream: Nora Lee
Tellers: Martin Gehner and Blair Goodlin
Bread Bakers: Judd family
Coffee Hour: Richard Ford

From the Vicar

One generation shall extol your works to another and shall declare your mighty acts.
Psalm 145:4

When you hear this passage, does it make you think of the call for parents to teach their children? That’s what I’ve been taught. There are plenty of places in Scripture that extol parents to guide the young. Yet here I don’t see anything that specifies which generation is doing the declaring. And what happens when I forgo the conclusion of adjacent generations?

In past, Church has experienced a process where families congregated and worshiped together, every week in the same community, often for generations. Understanding of what it means to be and live as a Christian was formed on Sunday in church and in homes and neighborhoods and communities the rest of the week. Sunday school or catechism were part of the pattern, and age dictated classroom assignment. Biblical understanding was related to chronology.

But that was then.

Today, the quinquagenarian who enters the sanctuary may have never experienced worship. That middle-schooler you haven’t seen before may have heard the gospel since they were an infant, or this day might be the very first time. The octogenarian you’ve seen in the pew may be re-examining an understanding of God’s word that was used to harm them long ago. Or that youth in the back may be fervently hoping to hear words that affirm their authentic humanity, just the way they are. And that disruptive pre-schooler over on the left may be absorbing words of the liturgy in unexpected ways.

Biblical understanding and faith and spiritual self-awareness are not tied to age. Neither is who can teach valuable lessons.

All can learn and grow in our faith with one another. All can enter in their unique way and circumstance. All can contribute.

Listen. And hear the word, for everyone, every age, every generation:

God’s steadfast love endures forever and God’s faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:5

+ Vicar Gabrielle Brown

Coming Up at Bethesda

Save the Dates

Sunday, October 30 - Concert Series: Reformation Concert, 4:30 pm
Saturday, November 5 - Super Saturday (youth and family gathering), 4:45 pm
Sunday, November 6 - New Members Received
Sunday, November 13 - Response Sunday with catered lunch following worship
Sunday, December 14 - Service of Lessons and Carols at Battel Chapel, 5:00 pm
January 13-16 - Bethesda at Camp Calumet

Pastor Keyl is away this week

Pastor Tim and Pastor Kari Henkelmann Keyl will be away Monday, October 17 through Sunday, October 23. For pastoral care needs, please contact Vicar Gabrielle at (719) 352-8918 or Pastor Josh Sullivan from Christ the Good Shepherd in Hamden at (860) 748-3837.

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.

Dinner Church is around a meal in your home over Zoom

Wednesday nights beginning at 6:00 pm

Click here to join on Zoom

From your kitchen or dining room table beginning at 6:00 pm, Dinner Church is framed by prayer, informal and guided conversation, prayers of thanks over bread and wine, and eating together virtually. Have something on hand similar to bread and wine. Come to be with or meet friends from Bethesda and its community. Look to reflect on scripture and spiritual readings. All this provides a kind of communion liturgy over the course of a meal.

The theme for our autumn gatherings is Vocation.

Questions? Ask Pastor Keyl.

Sunday Forums: Stewardship Series

We will meet every Sunday at 11:00 am in the Parish House Living Room to discuss our stewardship series book Giving to God: The Bible’s Good News about Living a Generous Life, by Mark Allan Powell. This will be led by Bethesda’s Stewardship Committee: Blair Goodlin, Calli Micale, Dianne Witte, and Pastor Keyl. Books are available for pick-up at the office by emailing Leigh Cromey at [email protected].

New Member Session at noon on Sunday, October 16

Are you new to Bethesda? A student? Join others who are interested in becoming members to learn more about our community and its ministry. Lunch will be provided. Students may retain their permanent membership at their home congregations and still be associate members at Bethesda. New members will be received on All Saints Sunday, November 6.

Bethesda-at-the-Bowl is this Saturday!

After a multi-year hiatus, BATB is back in full measure – meaning parking lot tailgating and a Yale football game. Mark your calendar on Saturday, October 15, 2022, when the Yale Bulldogs take on the Bisons of Bucknell University. Gametime is noon and tailgating will be from 10:00a–11:30a. This is a family friendly event. More information to come. Please contact Don Youngberg if you are interested – [email protected], (203) 464-3208. Boola Boola!  

See attached flyer.

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, October 26.

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)

Bethesda Music Series: Reformation Concert

The Bethesda Music Series presents its annual Reformation Concert, featuring Bethesda Lutheran Church’s choir with guest vocalists and instrumentalists performing J. S. Bach’s Cantata No. 33 ‘Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ‘ along with works by Ola Gjeilo and Felix Mendelssohn.

FREE; reception to follow. Freewill donations to benefit Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK).

Super Saturday

All Bethesda youth and families are invited to gather on Saturday, November 5 at 4:45 pm for Super Saturday! We will play outside (weather permitting), watch age-appropriate movies, and eat pizza, salad, and ice cream. You are welcome to bring snacks to share.

RSVP with Priscilla ([email protected]) if you can attend, but show up anyway if you forget. And feel free to invite family and friends!

All Saints Sunday is November 6

On All Saints Sunday we will remember those who have died from our community in the past year. You are invited to list names of others who have died whom you wish to remember in the binder at the narthex. They can be from all times and places!

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.

Empowered by the Spirit Stewardship Emphasis is Underway! 

Bethesda is deepening our connection to faith and giving these weeks, culminating in the Response Sunday, November 13th, with a catered lunch following worship. The Stewardship Team is leading forums on the book Giving To God. We are hearing testimony each week during worship. And we have prepared materials in the links describing this year’s theme and process, along with a fillable card with your intention to give during the 2023 year for Worship Offerings. You may input your intention on Breeze, use the pledge card, or indicate your plan via email or postal mail.

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

BSF Task Force Gets To Work

A key component of Bethesda's Sustainable Future (BSF) -- the name of our congregation's effort to chart our future course -- got underway in the past week. A task force has met twice to begin to support our feasibility study with Partners for Sacred Places. The group will help identify 40-45 congregation members and community leaders for Partners to interview about the perception of the church in New Haven. Task force members will be contacting a limited number of Bethesda members to ask them to agree to a Partners interview. If you're asked, please welcome the opportunity! The Partners team will then analyze the responses and give us a report on the feasibility of the donors and leadership achieving fundraising goals. Task force members include: Christina Castaneda; Rachelle Goto; Pastor Tim Keyl; Miles Kirschner; Becky Lerud; Priscilla Melendez; Michaela Natal; Dianne Witte; and Josh Young.

Delay of Game! Masonry Work

Due to a SNAFU related to amassing material for the brickwork planned for late September, the project contracted for with Capasso has been delayed until the spring. We are sorry for the inconvenience out of our control.

Bethesda Green Team

An October 2022 Food Challenge for Christian Community Action

Once again Thrivent is offering a challenge for the month of October referenced as FeedNE2022. If Bethesda collects and delivers over 500 staple food items during October, then as an incentive, Thrivent will contribute an additional $500 to Christian Community Action. As in the past similar programs, Bethesda has been extremely generous and has donated well over 700 food items all to the benefit of CCA’s food pantry and ultimately to community persons, and families, who need such support.

Each Monday during October all donated items will be delivered to CCA. Please encourage your friends to participate as they may wish. Each food item is your blessing to others who are blessed by it. Thank you for your gracious outreach.

Internal Audit Volunteers Needed!

No, you do not have to be a CPA to join a small team to review Bethesda's 2021 books! Most anyone can undertake this volunteer opportunity. The procedure is well defined, has good instructions, and has a clear time frame. Looking to be helpful on this important short-term project? Contact Pastor Keyl or Rachelle Goto for details.

YDS Lutherans at Camp Calumet

Last weekend, Pr. Tim and Vicar Gabrielle joined eight Lutheran students from Yale Divinity School for a weekend at Camp Calumet. The group enjoyed campfire worship, hiking, kayaking, outdoor study time, and delicious food!

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

Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, martyr, died around 115
Monday, October 17, 2022
Ignatius was the second bishop of Antioch in Syria, the city where the name "Christians" originated. Ignatius is known to us from his letters, which encouraged Christians to live in love, yet stand firm in true doctrine.

Luke, Evangelist
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Identified as the author of both Luke and Acts, Luke was careful to place the events of Jesus' life in their social and religious contexts. His gospel gives us some of the most beloved parables, as well as the songs of Zechariah, Mary, the angels, and Simeon.

Prayer Requests

For healing and strength: 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 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 Yale and Yale Divinity School students on fall break this coming week.

For those who mourn: Leigh Cromey and family at the death of her sister Jessica Buck.