Rev. Jesse Larson will be on vacation the first two weeks of May.
Watch for his weekly messages to continue upon his return!
April 29, 2021
Friends in Faith,
Even though we are making strides against COVID-19, it's sure to have lasting effects even if and when we reach herd immunity. For the past 14 months, we have continually adapted to new challenges and ways of being. Each week brings with it new experimentations, some of which work well, and others, not so much.
We are all striving to remain hopeful, to stick together, to support one another, to make sure our congregation is spiritually fed, and to grow in our discipleship of Jesus Christ.
The good news is that our church has never closed; yes, we were unable to worship “in person” for many months and some of our plans have been put on the backburner, but we have remained a worshiping community through the entire pandemic.
I encourage all of you to regularly check our website to stay on top of all that is happening at Bethany. Thank you for reading my week e-news, and feel free to forward these messages on to others who might be interested. And don't hesitate to pick up the phone and touch base with other members and friends to see how they are doing, and share what activities are planned here at Bethany. We don't want anyone to be left behind!
Our scripture lesson for this Sunday, May 2, is from Acts 8:26-40, concerning "The Ethiopian Eunuch." We continue to worship outside. Be sure to bring a folding chair for this informal service. Also, this Sunday, we are celebrating communion, so be sure to pack some juice and bread.
We will continue to stream our service via Facebook Live, so you can participate in worship from the comfort and safety of your own home. We even broadcast our service on low-frequency radio at 94.9 if you prefer to drive to the church and remain in your car. The link for worship and our other weekly virtual events are all found here. Gathering music begins at 10:20 a.m. - join us!
Our own Jessie Carter is participating in a "Virtual Bowl-a-thon" on behalf of the SSIP Food Closet. You can learn more about this special endeavor here.
SSIP will also be a recipient of some of the funds we raise at this year's CROP Walk. Plans are in the works for some of our member to participate in this opportunity to raise funds and awareness concerning hunger. Details can be found here.
We have decided that we will be suspending our Tuesday Zoom Bible study for the time being. We'll take a break for the summer and see how we might be able to gather to study God's Word as a new program year begins in September. We will continue to catch up with one another during our Wednesday Zoom Check-ins at 11 a.m. We encourage you to pop in and say "hi.”
Please note that I will be on vacation from May 3-13. We will still have our Wednesday Zoom Check-ins at 11 a.m. Rev. Janice Kamikawa and Parish Associate Rev. Judy Davis will be leading worship on Sunday, May 10. Also, the office will be closed on Thursday, May 6. In the event of an emergency, please contact one of our elders or deacons.
Finally, if you have news for our church family that you would like to share, please reach out to myself or office manager Maria Mar and let us know. Also, whenever you share a joy or a concern, please be sure to tell us if the information is confidential or not; we never want to inadvertently share anything that wasn't supposed to be shared.
Our prayers are, as always, with members, friends, and loved ones who are struggling with health concerns, loss, and grief.
Loving God, hear our prayers for healing, care, and hope for all in the midst of anguish and troubles. We give you thanks for our many blessings and joys in our lives, trusting that you hold all of us and all of creation in your hands.
Blessings,
Jesse
