May 28, 2023
Day of Pentecost
Worship at 9:30 am
Fellowship and Learning Hour following Worship

Presiding Minister: Rev. Paul Stuehrenberg

Assisting Minister: Eleanor Lee and Vicar Gabrielle Brown

Music Director: Stephen Gamboa-Díaz

Lectors: Chris Lee and Greta Lee

Altar Guild: Sue Berube

Usher: Ray Bussolini

Livestream: Miles Kirschner

Tellers: Martin Gehner and Dianne Witte

Bread Baker: Becky Lerud

Coffee Hour: Vicar Gabrielle Brown

From the Vicar

Ch-ch-ch-changes…

Pastor’s on sabbatical for the summer.  Graduations - Yale and YDS and soon high schools, too. Office staff is transitioning. Our Bethesda House residents are preparing to move on. Yale students are vacating, leaving parking spaces wide open. Soon our music director Stephen will depart and it's only a matter of weeks before the Vicar leaves for a final year of seminary. Summer is just around the corner - vacations, camps, travel, and time to enjoy the outdoors.

This time of year it feels as if everything is in flux. Worship may not feel the same in coming weeks as we experience a variety of presiding ministers and preachers. Choir and Forum and Parish Education will be on summer hiatus. The person you are accustomed to seeing in a pew may be zooming in from a tropical island or the Midwest. Maybe unexpected faces will appear in the sanctuary or at a potluck.

And this Sunday is Pentecost - the gift of the Holy Spirit given to accompany humankind on their individual and communal spiritual journeys. And the promise of God’s presence here with us as we hear the gospel and respond by loving our neighbors - all our neighbors and all creation. 

Even in the liminal spaces, the in-betweens of seasons and rhythms and responsibilities, God’s presence never fails. May each of you feel Jesus’ love and God’s grace in the midst of the cacophony of transitions.

-Vicar G

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.

Bethesda’s Sustainable Future

Wondering about the status of SF? Questioning what BSF means for our congregation right now? Bring your questions and join Rachelle Goto at Forum this week after worship for an update on Bethesda’s Sustainable Future.

Ministry Continues

Vicar Gabrielle will be the primary contact for day to day ministry along with Leigh Cromey [email protected], other staff, and leadership through her last Sunday as our intern on July 9. 

[email protected] (719) 352-8918

Elaine Ramshaw, congregation council president, is also available in additional to Vicar Gabrielle should you have questions or need pastoral care.

[email protected] (203)747-1343

Pastor Josh Sullivan at Christ the Good Shepherd will also be available through the end of June.

(860) 748-3837

Jeff Hawewinkel will also be available for pastoral care. Jeff will be consecrated as a deacon on July 16.

(219) 929-8684

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

Contemplative Prayer

Contemplative Prayer continues on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:00. Light a candle and join us on zoom for prayer and reflection. 

Click here to join

Bible Study on Zoom

Bethesda's Bible Study continues to discuss NT Wright's Acts. The next gathering will be Wednesday, June 7 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)

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.

Meet Tyler Fair
Tyler Fair is an incoming first year MDiv student at YDS. He is planning on also pursuing a joint Masters in Social Work at UConn. He will be serving as Bethesda’s Office Assistant as well as the Bethesda House Liaison. Originally from Western Colorado, Tyler previously completed two academic years as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Mexico. He is passionate about poetry, social justice, writing, and working out.

Potluck and Cookout June 4th
On Trinity Sunday, June 4th, we will host a potluck and cookout after worship at the Whitney Avenue paved circle. Please bring a side dish, dessert, or drink to share. See the notice below about staffing the cookout.

WANTED - Holy Trinity Potluck Next Week

Grillers, Set-Up and Stand by staff for the cookout and potluck Holy Trinity Sunday, June 4th following worship. 

We will be recognizing Stephen Gamboa-Díaz on his last Sunday as Music Director and honoring our High School graduates.

- Set-up Staff (4 - 6)  are to arrive before 9:30 am worship to set out tables, plates, etc. and to get the grill from the shed. 

- Grillers (2 people) will staff the grill following worship.

If you can help, contact Vicar Gabrielle [email protected] 

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.

Upcoming Elm City Concert at Bethesda

Saturday, June 17th, at 5 p.m. Bethesda will be hosting a concert by violist Arnie Tanimoto and friends. Learn more about the event here

Bethesda Recognizes our College and University Graduates

Congratulations and well done graduates: John Aden, Patrick Chappel, Michaelle Gonzalez, Norlene Jackson, Cameron Kritikos, Isaiah LeGrand, Calli Micale, Dan Pflueger, Sam Ruff, and Joshua Schiff.  Blessings to each of you in whatever the future holds for you.

And… this link will take you to YDS’s page which has a brief biography John Aden.

CD Player for Lee Keck

Lee Keck is looking for a simple single unit CD player with a speaker. If you have one or know of one, please contact Vicar Gabrielle at [email protected].

Upcoming Commemorations

Jiri Tranovský, hymnwriter, died 1637

Monday, May 29, 2023

Tranovský is considered to be the father of Slovak hymnody as well as an important reformer of the Slavic church. He translated the Augsburg Confession (the basis of Lutheran teachings) and published a collection of Slovak hymns.

Visit of Mary to Elizabeth

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

This festival marks the occasion when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visited her cousin Elizabeth who was herself pregnant with John. Elizabeth pronounced Mary "blessed among women," and Mary responded with the song called the Magnificat.

Justin, martyr at Rome, died around 165

Thursday, June 1, 2023

Born of pagan parents, Justin was influenced by an elderly Christian in Ephesus. He became a teacher of philosophy and the Christian faith. Jailed for practicing an unauthorized religion, he refused to renounce his faith and was beheaded.

The Martyrs of Uganda, died 1886

Saturday, June 3, 2023

On June 3, 1886, thirty-two young men were burned to death for refusing to renounce Christianity. The confident manner in which these Christians went to their deaths contributed to a much stronger Christian presence in Uganda.

John XXIII, Bishop of Rome, died 1963

Saturday, June 3, 2023

When elected pope, the former Angelo Roncalli was expected to be a short-term caretaker. He showed great spirit, though, and convened the Second Vatican Council which helped bring great changes to Roman Catholic and other churches.

Prayer Requests

For healing and strength: Lynn Arezzini; 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 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).

For Bethesda in its search for a new Music Director (Stephen Gamboa-Díaz’s last Sunday is June 4th).

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