As the Pandemic Winds Down (we sincerely hope!)...

Thoughts from Elaine Ramshaw, Council member, Sunday school teacher

We’re coming up on the third anniversary of when everything shut down in March 2020 (for several weeks, it was predicted!). Feels like a good time to think about grief and gratitude in COVID times. You know me, I’m always ready to talk about grief; but there’s not room here for both, and I’m going to go with gratitude today. As we crawl out of COVID times, here are some of the things I am most grateful for:

-Connecticut! One of the top five best states in which to live through the pandemic, says NPR. I am personally grateful that, even while I currently continue to wear a mask in stores where almost no one else is wearing one, I have *never* experienced a nasty look or comment for wearing a mask in Connecticut. I have friends in other states who cannot say the same. 

-Bethesda! That we did not fight over COVID precautions (as too many congregations did). That we came together over a way to celebrate communion together over Zoom. That even though many of us are currently exhausted (by grief over multiple losses, by the hugely increased stresses of teaching or doctoring etc. post-COVID), the community has good energy to regroup in person and consider how to move forward. 

-All the people who did continue to work those essential jobs at great cost, working long and intense shifts and quarantining from family at home: the food workers, the public transportation workers, the medical personnel including our own Gail Labadia, the hospital chaplains including our own Mary Browne. 

-All the Bethesda people who have provided tech support for us to meet on Zoom and now to livestream and archive services on YouTube: Kurt, Blair, Nora, Ray, Miles…. You kept us connected with each other through it all, and you continue to bring on board those who are medically vulnerable and unready to join us in person… or those who just can’t get up early enough on a Sunday for a 9:30 service! Thanks so much! 

Save the Dates

Sunday, February 19: Annual Meeting and Potluck following worship

Tuesday, February 21: Mardi Gras Pancake Supper, 6:00-7:30 pm in the Campanius room

Sunday, February 26: St. Luke’s Steel Band Concert, 4:30 pm in the sanctuary

Saturday, March 4: Carole DeVore Memorial Service, 10:00 am in the sanctuary

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.

Greetings from Bethlehem Part 3

While I’m writing this on February 9, it is our group’s last night in Bethlehem. Tomorrow we head north to Galilee, and Sunday we cross the river to Jordan (we cross the Jordan River in case you didn’t know!), and return home on Wednesday, gaining seven hours!

See a sampling of photos to peruse what we’ve been up to. Notice the schools, churches, pastors, and holy sites. Be ready to hear stories and deepen your own connections to the people and communities which desire our attention, solidarity, advocacy, and, always, prayer.

Pray for a blessed final week. I’m looking forward to greeting you.

Salaam! Peace!

Pastor Tim Keyl

Pastoral Care While Pastor Tim and Vicar Gabrielle are Away

Pastor Tim and Vicar Gabrielle are on a companion synod trip in the Holy Land and return on February 15. Until then, you can reach out to Pastor Kari (603-533-5274) or Pastor Josh Sullivan from Christ the Good Shepherd in Hamden (860-748-3837).

Dinner Church

Every Wednesday at 6:00 pm on Zoom

Zoom in from your kitchen or dinner table for conversation, prayer, and reflection. We will be reading the upcoming Sunday morning Bible texts as our scripture. Have a Bible on hand. Look for the texts each week in the enews.

First Reading: Exodus 24:12-18

Psalm: Psalm 2

Second Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-21

Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9

Click here to join on Zoom

Upcoming Forum Schedule

February 12: Finances and Budget with Linda Cortright (important annual meeting info!)

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, February 15 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 

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 currently 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, and let me know if you have any further questions. We appreciate your support! 

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.

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.

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.

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

Cyril, monk, died 869; Methodius, bishop, died 885; missionaries to the Slavs

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

These two brothers from Thessalonika, Greece, were monks and were sent to bring Christianity to the Slavic people. In the course of their work they created a written language, inventing the Cyrillic alphabet for it, and translated the Bible and the liturgy.

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.

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).