MMC: Holy Trinity

Good Morning Bethlehem

Thank you to everyone who made yesterday such a wonderful day!  Especially thank you to all who helped with Georgetown Day, setting up, manning the booth, cleaning up and all you bakers.  And Congratulations to the C family on Adian's and Dylan's baptisms, I hope you were able to celebrate with your family on such a special occasion. 

A few quick announcements

• Council is meeting tonight at 7:30.  Everyone is invited to join the meeting as we discuss the business side of the congregation.
• Next Sunday we will be receiving new members as Noel, Liza, Aidan & Dylan C. and Barbara and Nina C. will officially be joining the congregation.  Please join us in welcoming our new members and afterwards honoring our dads with a special coffee hour of pretzels, hot dogs and beer (both the root and alcoholic varieties)
• Midweek summer worships will begin on Wednesday June 22.  6:30pm we will gather for dinner with worship beginning at 7pm. 

Book of Faith Puzzler

Last week’s  question was: The National Council of Churches is an ecumenical group working towards Christian unity and cooperation.  How many different denominations are members of the NCC? A)2  B)37 C)250 D)1000

According to the NCC website (www.nccusa.org) there are 37 different denominations that are affiliated with their organization. Since no one answered the puzzler, I bought myself a treat at Georgetown Day yesterday. 

This week’s question: We celebrate Pentecost as the day the apostles received the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the church, but Pentecost was a Jewish holiday long before Jesus.  What do Jews commemorate on Pentecost?  A) The anniversary of the first bris. B) The harvest C) A day of forgiveness D) The anniversary of God giving the Torah.  If you know the answer, or willing to google it, email me by noon on Wednesday to be entered into this week's drawing. 

Yesterday's worship 

Did you feel the Holy Spirit's presence in worship yesterday?  I sure did!  Here is the sermon if you would like to read it.  When has the Holy Spirit caused you problems?  When have you felt free to risk failure in order to attempt to solve a problem of this world?

Assisting on Sunday

Below are the people who signed up to serve as worship leaders in the following ways:

Worship Assistant: Ellen G

Reader: Ellen G

Communion Assistant: Cheryl M

Ushers: _________ & _________

Bread bringer/baker: _________
Offering Counter: ___________
Altar set up & clean up: ___________
Coffee Hour Host: M. et al
If you would like to serve in any of the ways that are currently blank, please let me know.

This Sunday's Readings

Sunday is Holy Trinity Sunday, a day when the church celebrates the three aspects of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In general, how do you feel the three are different?  How are they the same?

The first reading is Genesis 1:1-2:4a, the creation story.  The plural is used starting in verse 26 as God said "Let us"  What does it mean that God used the plural pronoun?  Who all is God? How is God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit all involved in creation?

The second reading is 2 Corinthians 13:11-13.  Verse 13 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all." is used as a farewell greeting by Paul but in worship it is used as the opening greeting.  How does invoking the Trinity help in both saying hello and goodbye?  Does this verse have special meaning or memories to you as it is one that is so familiar from worship?

The gospel is Matthew 28:16-20.  Jesus commands his disciples to go, make disciples, by baptizing and teaching.  How are we as a congregation making disciples?  How are you continuing to fulfill your baptismal calling and continuing to learn?  

Have a blessed week!  

Pastor Becca