From the Vicar
“A song that has been sung at many retreats and camp meetings calls to attention the fact that God is everywhere. God can even be found in places that seem highly unusual to some of the faithful. In the New Testament, we see a number of instances in which Jesus drives home the point that God is found in the actions of many people in many places, and not necessarily among people that we automatically think as having anything to do with God. Remember the counsel of Jesus to his disciples who objected to others who were healing the sick?. God shines in a lot of places and in a lot of ways we’ve never thought about before. Every act of kindness, every attempt to wipe away a tear, every moment spent listening as another person shares their burdens are all signs that God is alive and well in the world. This is true even if those events are taking place somewhere outside of a church or even outside of any so-called Christian place altogether.”

~ Malcolm Tatum

Malcom suggests we learn to see God in others, no matter where you are. I say, let’s expand that. Why limit God’s presence to other people? God named all of God’s creation good, so why not look for God in the nonhuman as well. And speaking of looking - on who’s authority would we narrow a sacred experience to just vision? What about birdsong or a cool breeze tickling the hair on your arm?

Friends, I pray that this week you notice, witness, experience God’s love wherever you are and whatever you may be doing.

Vicar Gabrielle

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.

Ministry at Bethesda

Vicar Gabrielle will be the primary contact for day to day ministry along with Leigh Cromey ([email protected]), other staff, and leadership until her last Sunday on July 9. You may reach her at her email ([email protected]).

For pastoral care, urgent or otherwise, please call or text Vicar Gabrielle at (719) 352-8918. 

Elaine Ramshaw, congregation council president, is also available should you have questions or need pastoral care ([email protected], (203)747-1343)

If you are not able to reach Vicar Gabrielle, Leigh, or Elaine for pastoral care needs, Pastor Josh Sullivan at Christ the Good Shepherd will be available through the end of June at (860) 748-3837 and Deacon Jeff Hazewinkel will also be available after July 16th at (219) 929-8684.

We have a slate of preachers and presiders for Sunday mornings. Plan to greet them and thank them for their leadership.

Bethesda Pictures to Share?

Bible Study on Zoom

Bethesda's Bible Study continues to discuss NT Wright's Acts. The next gathering will be Wednesday, June 21st 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)

2024 National Youth Gathering and Concurrent Young Adult Gathering 

2024 National Youth Gathering is next summer in.....

New Orleans!

Plus, for the first time, there will be a Young Adult Gathering alongside NYG! If you’re age 18-35 and interested, stay tuned!

Find more info here.

ELCA New Young Adult Programs!

Speaking of young adults, the ELCA Young Adult Vocational Fellowship is an exciting program that offers young adults (ages 18-35) an amazing opportunity to discover their calling while gaining valuable professional experience.

This program is designed to prepare communities and ministry organizations to welcome new, young and diverse leaders--paving the way for a more inclusive and dynamic future. For more information about the program and partner sites, please visit http://www.elca.org/Vocational-Fellowship.

Christian Community Action (CCA) Announcements

Thank you, Martin Gehner, for obtaining a Thrivent Action Team grant to help us fill the cart June 14th

through July 24th, 2023!

Thrivent will make $250.00 available as seed money for food for CCA’s pantry!

As in past similar programs, Bethesda has been extremely generous and has exceeded the goals

previously set. The goal for this project will be 500 food items – which includes food items purchased with the seed money. Bethesda’s Food Cart has been a constant artery for food items to benefit CCA’s food pantry and ultimately to community persons, and families, who need such support. This project is in addition to the donations

Bethesda provides through the Giving Garden.

Each Monday during the June and July period 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.

Speaking of CCA, way to go Bethesda!

Look at this shopping cart full to the brim with pasta! Thank you Bethesda for your quick and generous response to CCA’s urgent request for pasta!

Let’s see how many more times we can fill the cart with groceries this June. 

Pressing needs this week to keep in mind while doing your shopping include the following: jellies/jams, juice boxes and bottled juice, and drink mixes.

New England Synod Assembly
Thank you Jeff Hazewinkel, Elaine Ramshaw, and Vicar Gabrielle Brown for traveling to Worcester, MA to represent Bethesda at the New England Synod Annual Assembly.

The assembly passed the 2024 budget, heard about the process for election of our next bishop and affirmed "A Resolution Proposing Peace for a Weary World."

Together they worshiped; visited two dozen display tables showcasing great ministries; as well as attended workshops on ecumenical collaboration, economic justice, incorporating green worship practices, and spiritual direction.?

Synod-wide World Hunger Drive

Also at the New England Synod Assembly, the World Hunger team announced the grand total of funds collected for the World Hunger Drive. 

The generous donors of the New England Synod contributed a total of $132,522.97-- which in addition to the $100,000 matching funds--means that over $230,000 will go to the ELCA World Hunger appeal.

Support Bethesda's Internship!
Generous gifts have been made to the Student Ministry fund - Praise be to God, and thank you! The remaining need is $10,300. Vicar G will be in the lead when Pastor T departs on his sabbatical, and her guidance will be essential to Bethesda's ministry. Your new or renewed financial support will honor her internship and Bethesda's charism for nurturing future pastors.

Volunteer at DESK This Summer

We could use a little more help this coming Monday and Tuesday.  Click here  or contact Natalie Judd to sign up for as many 4:00 - 6:30-ish shifts as you like.

Prayer Requests

Bethesda’s Prayer List

For healing and strength: Lynn Arezzini; 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; Shirley Farm; Anne and Lee Keck; Kay Leone; Molly Dinneen; Karen (Starbranch) Blitch, daughter of Chuck Starbranch.

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.

Prayers of comfort for family and friends of Pat Sunderland, and those at Trinity Lutheran, where she was their long-time administrator.

For our Ecumenical Partners Worldwide: We pray for Malawi and Zambia. The Ecumenical Prayer Cycle takes us through every region of the world over the course of a year. Praying for each place on earth and its people at least once a year, we affirm our solidarity with siblings all over the world, brothers and sisters living in diverse situations, experiencing diverse problems and sharing diverse gifts.

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, Tyler Fair, Calli Micale, Vicar Gabrielle Brown, and Jeff Hazewinkel (in formation for consecration as deacon).

For Pastor Tim and Pastor Kari Henkelmann Keyl on sabbatical May 22-August 21, that they may be renewed.

For Bethesda members traveling over the summer: Adam Marchand who will be in Idaho mid-June; Blair Goodlin headed Maryland end of June; Michaela Natal who will be in Argentina and Brazil in July; Maggie Astrup and Max Marmor spending time in Minnesota and Austria June through August; Dianne Witte and Richard Ford traveling West for triathlon related travel June through August; Ann Louise Onton headed to Japan in early August; Ike Harijanto who will be in Germany from June until the end of 2023.