February 19, 2023
Worship at 9:30 am
Transfiguration of Our Lord
Annual Meeting and Potluck following Worship

Presiding Minister: Pastor Tim Keyl
Assisting Minister: Vicar Gabrielle Brown
Music Director: Stephen Gamboa-Díaz
Music Intern: Ike Harijanto
Altar Guild: Clarissa Youngberg
Lectors: Blair Goodlin and Elaine Ramshaw
Usher: Linda Cortright
Livestream: Ray Bussolini
Tellers: Nora Lee and Chris Wigren
Bread Baker: Franz family
Coffee Hour: Richard Ford

From the Pastor

Meetings, meetings, meetings

And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24)

While I’ve been on a companion synod trip, I have arranged for many meetings. They have been important and inspirational, because our Palestinian siblings are eager to know that we care about them and their public witness.

Rana, who directs the ELCJHL Diakonia program, spoke about the ways she ministers on behalf of families, women, and children whose lives are so disrupted without freedom of movement. Rana exudes love and care for the people under her charge, and she considers it her ministry. One of the outreach programs is for people who are deaf, and demonstrated many words in sign language that they are learning, to our delight. Before she began her presentation, she asked me to pray, which I was happy to do.

I arranged this meeting after Kari and I learned about this congregation-based program. It was not on our itinerary, but I couldn’t help but add this to our time together. And in the conversation, and in the praying, and in the meeting, we were encouraged, and Rana was encouraged.

As Bethesda meets as a congregation, as we continue to meet to keep the engine of our ministry running, as we consider good and godly ways to frame our governing documents and our future in New Haven, let us keep the letter to the Hebrews in mind. Provoke one another! Encourage one another!

Be open to recognizing God in our midst in our Sunday worship meetings, our Sunday annual congregational meeting, and in many meetings in between.

Together we can do more.
Pastor Tim Keyl

Coming Up at Bethesda

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.

Ash Wednesday, February 22

There will be two opportunities for worship and the imposition of ashes for Ash Wednesday on February 22nd:

12:00 pm in the Chapel

7:00 pm in the Sanctuary, with choir

Returning Palms for Ashes

Do you still have a palm frond from Palm Sunday at home? Bring it to Bethesda this Sunday so they can be burned for ashes to be used on Ash Wednesday.

Upcoming Forum Schedule

February 19: Annual Meeting, no learning hour
February 26: Report from Vicar Gabrielle, Kari, and Pr. Tim about their trip to the Holy Land

Bible Study on Zoom

Bethesda's Bible Study continues to discuss NT Wright's Acts. The next gathering will be Wednesday, March 1 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)

Annual Meeting Potluck Plan

For the meal following our annual meeting on February 19 the Council suggests relying on a bit more than luck! You are invited to bring food to share according to the distribution by last name below. Beverages will be provided. Thank you!

Members whose last names = A through F: sandwiches

Members whose last names = G through L: salads

Members whose last names = M through Z: desserts

Annual Report

Please review the annual report prior to the annual meeting on Sunday, February 19. Limited hard copies of the annual report are available on the table in the narthex.

Bethesda Leadership Nominees

At the annual meeting on Sunday, we will vote to confirm the following nominees for congregation council and the nominating committee:

Congregation Council

Blair Goodlin (three-year term)
Eleanor Lee (two-year term)
Becky Lerud (three-year term)
Returning for a second three-year term: Linda Cortright, Ann Onton, Elaine Ramshaw

Nominating Committee (one-year term)

Mary Brown
Ray Bussolini
Richard Ford
Priscilla Meléndez
Aleda Franz
Chris Lee

Minutes from 2022 Congregational Meetings

Bethesda had three congregational meetings this year -- the annual meeting and two special meetings. To review the minutes, click HERE. We will vote on these minutes at this Sunday's annual meeting.

Childcare Provided for the Annual Meeting

We are pleased to offer childcare during the annual meeting on February 19. Beginning after worship, children may be dropped off in the Bethesda Nursery School classroom where Eleanor will provide care during the meeting. The children may rejoin their families for the potluck luncheon following the meeting. Thanks to Sara Gannon and the Bethesda Nursery School for the use of their classroom, and thanks to Eleanor for helping out with the children. See Nora Lee with any questions.

Snacks for Columbus House

Hello, my name is Lily. Our confirmation class is putting together 136 snack bags for the men at Columbus House. We are still looking for donations of non-perishable, high-protein snacks to go in the bags—granola bars, packaged nuts/seeds, or peanut butter crackers are all great options. We plan to deliver the bags on February 20th. Please consider donating. We appreciate your support!

Lenten Book Club for Adult Forum/Confirmation Class

Join the Adult Forum and Confirmation students each Sunday in March to discuss the book The Story of More by Hope Jahren. Each Sunday we will focus on a different section of the book. Our conversations will include opening devotionals from Confirmation students. Copies of the young adult version of the book are available from Dan Cortright. We hope to donate these copies to area middle schools after our book club.

Discussion topics are

Mar 5: Life and Earth, Ch 1-4 and 17-18
Mar 12: Food, Ch 5-9
Mar 19: Energy, Ch 10-13
Mar 26: The Story of Less, Ch 18-19, Appendix

Mardi Gras Pancake Supper

We hope you come to support our confirmation class as they prepare a yummy Pancake Supper on Mardi Gras - Tuesday, February 21 - from 6:00-7:30pm in the Campanius room. Proceeds from this event will help our youth attend the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. So bring your appetite as we let the good times roll one last time before Lent!

CCA FAITH Partners Gathering, February 23

Thursday, February 23 at 10:00 am at Church on the Rock. RSVP by emailing [email protected].

This will be a time of meeting other FAITH Partners in the important work of serving families experiencing homelessness in New Haven, learning more about CCA (their programs and what it means to be a FAITH Partner), and a chance for CCA to share their gratitude!

St. Luke’s Steel Band Concert to Benefit Christian Community Action

Sunday, Feb. 26, 4:30PM

On Sunday, Feb. 26 at 4:30 p.m., Bethesda’s sanctuary will ring with the soul-filling sounds of St. Luke’s Steel Band in a concert to benefit Christian Community Action (CCA). Admission is FREE; free-will donations will be taken to benefit CCA. Reception to follow.

Under the direction of Kenneth Joseph, St. Luke's Steel Band has a reputation as one of the area's most exciting performing ensembles. Their repertoire includes soca, calypso, reggae, classical, sacred, jazz, popular and island folk music.

Lent Soup Suppers

Every Wednesdays in Lent at 6:00 pm, beginning on March 1, join us in the Campanius Room for Lent Soup Suppers.

Carole DeVore Memorial Service - Saturday, March 4

A memorial service for Carole DeVore will be held at Bethesda on Saturday, March 4 at 10:00 am. A reception will follow in the Campanius Room. All are welcome.

Voices Rising: Three Choirs Concert

On Sunday, March 5, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, a free choir concert featuring Bethesda's own Matthew Judd will be held at Woolsey Hall (500 College Street, New Haven).

Yale Schola Cantorum, Yale Camerata and Yale Glee Club will join together with guest conductor, Craig Hella Johnson.

Click here to learn more.

Congregational Watershed Discipleship

Mark your calendars - on Sunday, April 30th, Bethesda will host Rev. Dr. Nancy Wright, who will preach and lead an interfaith workshop on Congregational Watershed Stewardship.

Donation to Special Olympics Connecticut

Ann Onton is taking the penguin plunge to benefit Special Olympics Connecticut! Make your donation before Saturday, February 25.

Click here to donate!

ELCA World Hunger Lent Study Guides

As we journey through the season of Lent, consider picking up a copy of the ELCA World Hunger Lent Study Guide: 40 Days of Giving, available in the Narthex. This resource provides prayers, devotions, and exercises for personal or communal reflection.

Giving Garden

The Giving Garden is fallow, but spring is just around the corner. If you'd like to play a part in this ministry, we could use your help! Please reach out to Vicar Gabrielle [email protected] or 719-352-8918 or even in person if interested.
 
Updates to Bethesda's Constitution

Bethesda's constitution conforms to the ELCA Model Constitution for Congregations. The model constitution is amended at the ELCA's triennial Churchwide Assembly. Amendments approved at the 2022 Churchwide Assembly will be brought forth for approval for our constitution at our February 19 annual meeting. You can see the changes HERE. Once approved, they will go into effect immediately. The Council is considering further amendments to areas where the model constitution allows congregations to fit the document to their circumstances. Stay tuned!

Upcoming Commemorations

Martin Luther, renewer of the church, died 1546
Saturday, February 18, 2023

Though he began his adult church life as a simple Augustinian monk, Luther challenged the abuses he saw in the church, and his work eventually led to the Protestant Reformation. Luther's accomplishments included liturgical reform, translation of the Bible, and creation of the Small and Large Catechisms.

Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, martyr, died 156
Thursday, February 23, 2023

Because he is said to have been known by John, the author of Revelation, as well as the important early church fathers Irenaeus and Ignatius, Polycarp serves as a vital link in church history. He was burned at the stake at age 86 for refusing to renounce his faith.

Elizabeth Fedde, deaconess, died 1921
Saturday, February 25, 2023

Born in Norway and trained there as a deaconess, Fedde was asked to come and minister to the poor and to seamen in New York City. She established the Deaconess House in Brooklyn as well as Deaconess Hospital in Minneapolis.

Prayer Requests

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