WORSHIP BULLETIN SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2017 TIME AFTER PENTECOST

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1 WORSHIP BULLETIN SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2017 TIME AFTER PENTECOST Please take this bulletin home with you as a reference for this week s calendar of events, a reminder of Bethany family and friends to keep in your prayers and other useful information. Prelude: Hymn Sing First Reading Genesis 50:15-21 Psalm of the Day (chanted responsively) Psalm 103:1-13 Second Reading Romans 14:1-12 Gospel Matthew 18:21-35 Sermon Pastor Jen Henry Hymn of the Day: All Are Welcome ELW 641 (vv. 1-3) Offering: Tunaomba Mungu Atawale - John Paradowski (Choir 8:30) Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty - John B. Dykes (Cello 11:00) Communion Hymn: Ubi Caritas ELW 642 Sending Hymn: All Are Welcome ELW 641 (vv. 4-5) Postlude: Well Tempered Clavier No. 15 in G Major - J.S. Bach * * * Welcome everyone to worship at Bethany Lutheran Church! It is our hope that you experience the love of Christ this morning and His presence during our worship service. If you are visiting today, please sign the guest book in the narthex. Everyone please sign the fellowship pad in your pew. The pads have a space for our record of communion. Please be sure to mark this if you partake in Holy Communion. Thank you for completing this information. Also, please note, assistive hearing devices and large print bulletins are available. If needed, ask an usher. The liturgical color for the season of Pentecost is green. Green is the color of vegetation, living things and the promise of new life. It is used for the Seasons of Epiphany and Pentecost. As we speak of Pentecost Sunday as the birth of the Church, so the lengthy Pentecost season reflects the life and growth of the church. Many thanks to our worship volunteers helping with services today: 8:30: Greeters: Janet Myers, Bess Madsen; Reader: Sylvia Moore; Recorder: Bill Hemme; Communion Servers: Kathie Halverson, Russ & Onalee Wright; Projector: Matt Kuehler; Acolytes: Chloe Kahley, Vanessa Reardon; Dick & Betty Schmidt, Roger Clarke, Marla Woelber; 11:00: Greeter and Communion Server: Teresa Martindale; Reader: Becky Koenig; Acolyte: Madi Stave; Projector: Mary Ann Quail;

2 PRAYER CONCERNS Connie Baker, Jo Beving, Edith Hansen, Jamie Huber, Linda Kunzmann, Sandy Manwarren, Bill McCune; Jerry Ebel (Jan Rusk s brother); Dennis Phillips (Donna Jones brother); Darla Larsen (Doug Bjorklund s sister); Deanna Logan (Lisa Salton s mother); Larry Lockwood (Pastor Jen Henry s uncle); The family of Lillie Brodin (Cheryl Ahern s mother); The family of Rodney Salts (Steve Salts brother); Joel & Rachel Watters & family (Missionaries to Costa Rica); The congregation of First Lutheran, Bottineau, ND (fire damage); Those affected by wildfires burning in the northwestern states and provinces; Those in the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma; REMINDER: Spencer Hospital s information policy is being evaluated. During this process the patient census is not accessible to clergy and lay visitors. If you become a patient at the hospital and wish to be visited you need to personally reach out to the church and provide us with your contact/room information as it will not be available at the front desk. Patients who request clergy outreach will be assisted by hospital staff to make contact with their regular clergy or other authorized clergy member. 500 YEARS OF REFORMATION: Our Musical Heritage In an ongoing series marking the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Stephen presents the following exploration of today s worship music: I m sometimes asked why Onward Christian Soldiers or The Old Rugged Cross, which were sung at today s hymn sing, are not included in our new hymnals. The fact is, hymnals have undergone constant revision throughout the period since the reformation. Texts are updated to clarify archaic language or reflect changes in the culture or our theology. Hymns are added and removed as worship styles and tastes change or to make room for new resources as denominations experiment. Take, for example, Good Christian Friends Rejoice from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Cranberry Hymnal ) and the Lutheran Book of Worship (Green Hymnal ). Perhaps you remember that this hymn used to be Good Christian Men Rejoice in The Service Book & Hymnal (Red Hymnal ) but was changed in 1978 when it was discovered that women could also be Christians (I m kidding, it was part of a broader movement among all mainline protestant denominations at that time to make hymn texts more gender neutral). But, it turns out that s not the first time it changed. In both the Concordia Hymnal (Black Hymnal ) and the Lutheran Hymnary (Older Black Hymnal ) this hymn was translated as Now Sing We, Now Rejoice! Between the hymnals of 1978 and 2006, all militaristic references were removed from the hymnal. Soldiers became servants in Lift High the Cross, and Onward Christian Soldiers was removed entirely. It is included in the 1978 and 1958 hymnals, but in the 1932 hymnal it was included only as an additional alternate text to Christian Leaguers, Rally, a somewhat less militaristic text to the same tune, and it is not included in the 1913 hymnal. It s got a catchy tune (penned by Arthur Sullivan of Gilbert & Sullivan fame), so perhaps one day someone will write a new, non-militaristic text for it. The Old Rugged Cross was never removed from our hymnal. It never appeared in any of the Lutheran hymnals I looked at. But I can only learn so much about the history of Lutheran worship by looking through old hymnals. Some of you may have memories of worshipping throughout the 1930 s s. I d be very curious to hear your stories. Are there any hymns you remember being popular that are no longer sung? What was your experience with the liturgy? Did you ever sing songs that weren t in the hymnal?

3 ANNOUNCEMENTS & CALENDAR CHRISTMAS AT BETHANY It s time for another planning meeting for our upcoming biennial celebration of Christmas at Bethany, Yesterday and Today, which will happen on Saturday, December 9. Those who are planning to be involved and those who are thinking about being involved should attend this meeting on Monday, September 18 at 6pm in the church parlor. Hope to see you there! WOMEN S BIBLE STUDIES Circle Bible studies are happening this week in the parlor. All women are welcome and encouraged to join in a bible study. Look at the calendar on the back of the bulletin to find a time that works for you, and then plan to attend. THIRD GRADE PARENTS MEETING Parents of third grade students, please plan to meet in the church parlor on Wednesday, September 20 at 5:30pm for information about our Bible presentation on Sunday, Sept. 24. You will have the opportunity to personalize your child s Bible with a message and highlight favorite Bible verses. Also, at that time, information will be given about midweek classes, coming up in October, to help introduce the students to their new Bibles and teach them how to use it. If you re unable to be here for the parents meeting on September 20, please contact Katie Hare at the church NATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING MEETING The ELCA National Youth Gathering is a triennial event that will happen next year June 27 through July 1, 2018 this time in Houston, TX. Will a group from Bethany attend? Interested parties should come to an informational meeting on Wednesday, September 20 at 6pm in the parlor to find out about travel, costs, fundraising, and more. If you re interested but unable to attend the meeting, talk to Bethany s Youth Director Katie Hare. NEXT SUNDAY (9/24) IS RALLY DAY! Join us as we launch a new Sunday School year at Bethany. At our 8:30am service we celebrate a faith milestone as third grade students receive a new Bible. At 9:45am we ll have some fun outdoor activities (with a few surprises) and fellowship time. Get the kids registered for Sunday School and take time to catch up with your church family after a busy summer. Come for worship at 8:30am and stay for Rally Day festivities or come at 9:45am for Rally Day festivities and stay for worship at 11:00am. Everyone is welcome! Invite a friend to join you at Rally Sunday!! LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE You can help $2! Look for a table in the church parlor with assorted items for sale--- all for $2 each. Last year such a table raised $122 for Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) to assist with flooding in Louisiana. This year Bethany s donations will again go to support Lutheran Disaster Response. Funds will be forwarded to LDR with the note to be applied where most needed. Check it out!! BRAINS TOGETHER FOR A CURE Mark your calendars and plan to attend the Brains Together For A Cure (BTFAC) 5K Fun Walk/Run Fundraiser on Saturday, September 23! This event will be held at the Spencer High School (800 E 3 rd St), and features a 5K walk/run, post-walk refreshments, a bake sale, silent auction, raffle, kid activities and more! Registration begins at 9:30am with the Walk/Fun Run starting at 10:00am. All funds raised will go to support brain tumor research.

4 FALL WORSHIP VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE The September-November worship volunteer sign-up forms are out. Look for them at the Welcome Center. Please sign up to help as you are able. Need to check your calendar first? Sign up on-line at: LOVING SPENCER SEPTEMBER This month s project Teachers Deliver is geared toward teachers, and how fitting with school just underway! Teachers do more than just teach they inspire, encourage and motivate our kids! Often budgets for classroom supplies are limited so Loving Spencer September is focusing on this need. HOW IT WORKS: Purchase school supplies to donate to a teacher, class or school. Examples would be as follows: Clorox Wipes Crayons Kleenex Markers Hand Sanitizer Colored Pencils Pencils Whiteboard markers Erasers Two pocket folders Notebooks Glue/Glue sticks Loose-leaf paper Binders Take items directly to your child s teacher, to a classroom, school office, or a guidance counselor. In Spencer, there are three elementary schools: Johnson (724 Wt 9 th St), Fairview ( th Ave E) and Lincoln (615 4 th Ave SW), and Spencer Middle School ( th Ave E) and Spencer High School (800 E 3 rd St). Pray for teachers, administrators, support staff & students as they begin the school year. WOMEN S MINI-RETREAT Plan to attend the mini-retreat hosted by the Western Iowa Synod Women s Organization at Bethany Lutheran on Saturday, October 7 from 9:30am-3pm. Join us for a day of relaxation and renewal. Pastor Jen will lead a Bible study and Nancy Raska from Design Masters will speak about the benefits of aromatherapy and massage. The cost for the day is $10 and lunch is provided. See more details on the poster at the Welcome Center. Please RSVP to Sue Boblit at sdboblit@gmail.com or call by Saturday, September 23. Thank you! REFORMATION: THE NEXT 500 YEARS This fall marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Several Lutheran churches are planning special celebrations for this event. At Bethany we will celebrate the 500 th anniversary milestone on Reformation Sunday, October 29 with a special festival of new church music. Check out the Martin Luther bulletin board for more information about Reformation happenings at Bethany and other churches in the area. THE BETHANY SWEET STOP School has started and Fall is quickly approaching. And with Fall comes Halloween! Bethany Lutheran Church is once again hosting the Sweet Stop for the children and families in our community. This is a wonderful community outreach opportunity to share the Light and Love of Jesus with others. Do YOU have some fun ideas for the Sweet Stop? A Sweet Stop committee is being formed, and we want YOU to be a part of it! Look for a sign-up sheet on the Faith-in-Action bulletin board, along with information regarding our first meeting date. If you have any questions, contact Jamie Blume!

5 CALENDAR Sunday, September 17 8:30 am Worship 9:45 am Fellowship 11:00 am Worship Monday, September 18 6:00 pm Christmas at Bethany Meeting 7:00 pm Ruth Circle Bible Study Tuesday, September 19 9:30 am Priscilla Circle Bible Study 2:00 pm Staff Meeting 5:00pm Weeknight Music 2 (Gr 5-6) 6:00 pm Faith-in-Action Committee 6:00 pm Weeknight Music 1 (Gr K-4) 7:00 pm Weeknight Music 3 (Gr 7-8) Wednesday, September 20 October Herald news deadline 10:00 am Bible Study & Prayer Group 5:30 pm Grade 3 Parents Meeting 6:00 pm Bell Choir 6:00 pm Informational Meeting about 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering 7:00 pm Confirmation 7:45 pm Bethany Youth Group 8:00 pm Uke Toad s Coffee Shop Thursday, September 21 1:30 pm Miriam Circle Bible Study 7:30 pm Stewardship Meeting Saturday, September 23 7:30 am Men of Bethany Bible Study Sunday, September 24 RALLY SUNDAY 8:30 am Worship 9:30 am St. Luke Round Up 9:45 am Rally Day Festivities, Fellowship 11:00 am Worship 4:45 pm Longhouse/Northshire Worship