Preacher: Vicar Gabrielle Brown

Assisting Ministers: Blair Goodlin and Vicar Gabrielle Brown

Music Director: Stephen Gamboa-Díaz

Music Intern: Ike Harijanto

Lectors: Jack Marchand and Clarissa Youngberg

Altar Guild: Richard Ford

Livestream: Miles Kirschner

Tellers: Blair Goodlin and Becky Lerud

Bread Bakers: Judd family

Acolyte: Louis Young

Coffee Hour: Leah Snavely

From the Vicar

I did my homework, and we had a plan. My seminary path was clear – a fully-funded accelerated program, newly offered at one of our ELCA seminaries. I’d visited, and I knew alumni. It was the obvious choice.

And then circumstances happened, and I found myself visiting a place that hadn’t even been on my radar – Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. And the perfect little plan began to unravel. It turned out that I belonged at Wartburg. But there wasn’t an accelerated program with a scholarship and stipend.

My journey continued, but on a somewhat curvier path than I’d anticipated.

We made hard decisions over how to balance his career and my vocation. We discussed the merits and disadvantages of cross-country moves versus being apart. We found ways to make it work – except for the tuition. We hadn’t planned for last-third-of-life degree programs. We weren’t in a position to take on student debt. Money was an issue.

I remember standing outside by Marty (Wartburg’s Martin Luther Statue) and experiencing then-president Reverend Louise Johnson’s unswerving confidence that I would be a first year-seminarian at Wartburg when classes began in the fall. And in the days and weeks that followed, I prayed for that same kind of confidence. I prayed for that same kind of confidence, that same rock-solid faith.

The Spirit was surely present when I visited Wartburg and my seminary path took an unexpected turn. Prayer and the Holy Spirit bolstering my trust got me through the following days and weeks.

Rev. Johnson was right. I was awarded an ELCA Fund for Leaders Scholarship, and seminary became a reality. Through the generosity of others, I am able to continue to discern the call to ministry of Word and Sacrament.

“...You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses…even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

We are empowered by the Holy Spirit and God’s infinite love and grace, through Jesus Christ. We are empowered to love one another in tangible ways. My journey is made possible by generosity, and for that I am grateful.

+ Vicar Gabrielle Brown

Coming Up at Bethesda

Save the Dates

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, November 13 - Confirmation Youth to the Branford Labyrinth after lunch

Saturday, November 19 - CCA Thanksgiving Baskets

Sunday, December 14 - Service of Lessons and Carols at Battel Chapel, 5:00 pm

January 13-16 - Bethesda at Camp Calumet

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].

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!

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].

Bethesda's Youth are making pies!

We hope you can help send our confirmation class to the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans! To help us get there, we are making pies just in time for holiday celebrations. Please use this form to order your Apple Crumb or Pumpkin pies (or both!). The last day to order will be November 6.

Pies will be made by the youth and frozen. Each pie is $20, and payment may be made by cash or check (made out to Bethesda with “Youth Fundraiser” in the memo line), or online by selecting “Youth Fundraiser” from the drop down menu. Pies will be available for pick up on Sundays November 13 and 20.

Thank you!

~ Greta, Henry, Lily, and Louis

Daily Nutmeg Features

Bethesda and our members have recently been featured in the Daily Nutmeg! Check out the "Pen and Sword" article about a fencing group that uses Bethesda's building and the "Old-Timers" article featuring quotes from Bethesda's Chris Wigren about New Haven's colonial-era buildings.

Bethesda Composts!

Thrivent awarded Bethesda another Action Team Grant, totaling $250, to fund our compost program. By composting, our congregation has diverted 1,565.70 lbs of food waste, helps limit fuel emissions, and supports green jobs in the New Haven community. All of this contributes to our commitment as a Caring for Creation covenant partner.

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.

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.

Bethesda at the Bowl

Last Saturday, on a beautiful sunny morning, more than fifteen Bethesda members gathered for a tailgate before cheering the Yale Bulldogs on to victory! Thank you to Don Youngberg for helping to organize this event.

Dianne Witte and Richard Ford visited former member and parish administrator Ruth Lackstrom in South Carolina on October 7.

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

James of Jerusalem, martyr, died around 62
Sunday, October 23, 2022

One of three early-church leaders named James, this man is identified in the New Testament and by a historian of the time as a brother of Jesus. Scholars are uncertain whether this means a blood brother. He was a leader of the church in Jerusalem.
Philipp Nicolai, died 1608; Johann Heermann, died 1647; Paul Gerhardt, died 1676; hymnwriters

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

These great hymnwriters all worked in seventeenth-century Germany in times of war and plague. Nicolai, a pastor, lost 1,300 parishioners to plague, 170 in one week. He wrote "O Morning Star, how fair and bright" and "Wake, awake, for night is flying." Heermann's hymns, including "Ah, holy Jesus," often express the emotions of faith. Gerhardt, perhaps the greatest Lutheran hymnwriter, was a pastor in Berlin.

Simon and Jude, Apostles

Friday, October 28, 2022

We know little about these apostles. Simon is listed as "the zealot" or Cananean in New Testament lists. Jude, also called Thaddeus, asked Jesus at the last supper why he had revealed himself to the disciples but not to the world.

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 those to be married at Bethesda: Christine Jacobsen and Johannes Bollmann, on Wednesday, October 26. Johannes is an exchange student at YDS from Copenhagen.