I hope you all enjoyed our gorgeous weather this weekend, I know that I and 10 of our youth and adults did at Hammonasset. And I've heard that Sunday's worship was quite nice and it was nice to have Pastor Ned back.
Some Announcements
It is a busy week coming up at Bethlehem as we kick off our fall
- Senior Lunch is this Wednesday at noon. We will be meeting at Chuck's in Danbury.
- Our conference is meeting on Saturday at 10am at Salem in Bridgeport. Please let me know if you would like to join me in hearing what other Lutheran churches are doing in Fairfield County
- Rally Day is Sunday with our kick off to Grow 2 Gather, our new inter-generational educational program. All are invited to come at 9am for a time of bible study and this week we will be making health kits for Lutheran World Relief
- On Sunday we will also be blessing backpacks and other work/school related items during worship. So bring your backpacks, briefcases, lunch bags, phones, laptops or other items that represents your work.
- After worship we will be taking our annual congregational photo, so please plan on sticking around a few minutes and enjoy a snack or cup of coffee/tea/juice during coffee hour.
- Council is meeting after worship on Sunday.
- Mark your calendar to join us for our Family Fun Night on Friday Sept 23. For those able to go apple picking, we are meeting at the church at 4pm. However the true fun begins at 6:30 as we will make apple related goodies, play Apples to Apples and bob for apples. All forms of family are invited as we are all part of the Bethlehem Family.
- All men are invited to a cookout and planning session on Sunday Sept 25 at 6pm. Enjoy some time of fellowship and brainstorm ways that you as men of Bethlehem can gather, volunteer, serve Bethlehem or just get to know each other better.
Book of Faith Puzzle
The last weeks question was: In Sunday’s gospel Jesus tells you how to confront someone who sins against you. But how many times are you suppose to forgive someone who sins against you? A) 7 B) 70 C) 7 times 7 D) 70 times70, E) 700
Well this is a question when I should double check the answer and not type so fast. Depending on the translation, Jesus says in Matthew 18:22 that we are to forgive either “77 times” or “until 70 times 7”. Congratulations to Paul B for not just knowing all these options were incorrect but also knowing the actual answer.
This week’s question: The first lesson starts after Joseph’s father had died. Who was Joseph’s (from the Genesis) father? A) Noah B) Isaac C) Jacob D) Joshua If you know the answer, or even if you had to look it up, send me your answer by noon on Wednesday to be entered into this week's drawing.
This week’s question: The first lesson starts after Joseph’s father had died. Who was Joseph’s (from the Genesis) father? A) Noah B) Isaac C) Jacob D) Joshua If you know the answer, or even if you had to look it up, send me your answer by noon on Wednesday to be entered into this week's drawing.
Serving this Sunday
The following people have signed up to serve in worship this coming Sunday
Worship Assist: Ellen G
Reader: Nancy B
Communion Assistant:_____
Usher: _____ & ______
Bread baker/bringer: _________
Communion set up/clean up:______
Coffee Hour: Heloisa R & Mark H
Please let me know if you are willing to volunteer in any of the blank spots.
Sunday's Text
The first reading is Jonah 3:10-4:11. The book of Jonah is very brief and this comes at the end. Jonah is sent to go to Ninevah to tell them to repent their sins and turn back to God; Jonah runs and goes the other way; he ends up being swallowed by a big fish; he then decided to go to Ninevah and gets "spewed" out of the fish; the people of Ninevah listen to Jonah and turn back towards God and God forgive them. However Jonah is not happy about this and gets upset that God forgave them. When have you been upset that someone was forgiven? Were you upset that they were forgiven, that the other was able to forgive, or that it wasn't done to you?
The second lesson is Philippians 1:21-30. Paul writes about his commitment to Christ and his ministry. He encourages the people of Philipi to live lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. How have you lived a live worthy of the gospel? How have you failed? (and don't worry we have all failed) How are you still struggling to live a life that is "firm in one spirit", striving for the faith of the gospel and "in no way intimidated by your opponents"?
The gospel is Matthew 20:1-16, the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. The laborers hired at the end of the day get the same pay as those hired at the beginning - a usual daily wage. Those hired first are upset that they did not get more even though they agreed to their pay at the beginning of their work. Have you ever been in a similar situation, when you thought you would get more than you did based on what others received? How did you react? Were you envious about what the other received or about the giver's generosity?
Hope you all have a wonderful week and I'll see you Sunday, if not before
Blessings
~Pastor Becca
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