our lives are formed by word and sacrament, and we gather ... · 07/07/2019 · judy sampson....

Grace Ministries – July/August 2019

- Yoked Communities of Faith and Service NON-PROFIT ORG.

c/o Zion Lutheran Church U.S. POSTAGE PAID

41 Whitmarsh Avenue PERMIT#205

Worcester, MA 01606-3296 WORCESTER, MA

NEWSLETTER JULY/AUGUST 2019 TIME SENSITIVE

PLEASE DO NOT DELAY

Our lives are formed by Word and

Sacrament, and we gather as the beloved

children of God around the means of grace

where our lives are in Christ.


PASTOR’S CORNER

Walking the WAY, following Jesus’ lead, what

does that look like? What does that mean?

Reports of Jesus’ life indicate he was situationally

aware 24/7; he “knew the room”, the make-up of

crowds, inclination of hearts, reality of locale,

potential outcomes to action or inaction. And our

Lord’s heart was inclined through Grace and

Mercy, the essence of God, towards everybody;

nobody has been, or ever will be, outside of the

care and concern of our Creator.

He traveled what has become known as the Via

Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows) to the Damascus Gate

in Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday long ago to

bring Love to bear on the establishment and prove

once and for all that God cannot be overcome by

the world, but stands firmly for humanity!

You might be thinking “Whoa, that’s a lot, and this

is where I should be?”

God meets every one of us where we are with

whatever is going on in our lives and hopes we

know the embrace that the Spirit effects upon us,

working to give us what we need. The degree to

which we are aware, know this Presence, and

benefit from it in our lives depends upon our

orientation; towards or away from, God.

Walking the WAY of Jesus means being aware of

and willing to follow the Spirit’s lead. With this, our

situational awareness will develop as we let God

lead us in the ways of righteousness in bringing

Grace and Mercy to bear on people’s lives,

upholding justice and being certain every sister

and brother are treated with equity and dignity.

It takes baby steps to develop. Jesus walked and

intimately learned about our human condition for

his first thirty years of life. Reports have him

apprenticing with his dad, Joseph, during this

development period in his trade; while scripture

and some sources indicate that was carpentry, the

reality is that the land was deforested under King

Solomon and masonry was more likely the work

taken on. Sephoris was a Roman town 3-4 miles

from Nazareth, and the original cobblestone

streets are still present for visitors to walk upon,

the likely surfaces Jesus’ feet touched as he

followed his dad to work in service of building

projects for the Roman Empire.


So, as we stretch our legs, stretch ourselves,

through faith in walking the WAY, God in Christ by

the power of the Spirit will work within and through

us so our talents and abilities are best matched

and effective in bearing Grace and Mercy to the

world.

The more people who let go of being in complete

control of their lives for letting God in to work, the

better off we as individuals are and the world

benefits.

May the WAY find us increasingly compliant in

following and creation blessed by our presence! If

we think Roman projects are ancient, God’s love

and effectiveness for those of faith is exponentially

more so and eternally promised!

☩ Pastor Andrew

ELDER MEAL PROGRAM

We are in the process of firming up staffing and

will be sending out a targeted mailing to the

Greendale area Zip Code shortly. From the

mailing we anticipate a response of persons

interested in receiving meals from our Zion

location in the Palmer Room. From there we go

to Elder Services of Worcester and setup meal

times and delivery schedules!

These are exciting times as the Spirit who first

stirred this interest in 2012 or so, and the CAT

survey about a year and half ago confirmed with

people’s responses desiring a new ministry

effort, lead GRACE forward in further being

Jesus’ hands and feet at work within Central

MA!

Please hold this effort in your prayers.

JULY/AUGUT ANNIVERSARIES 2019

Bethel

Dan & Samantha Hanks - 07/03 Liz & Dan Blash - 07/18

John & Nancy Berube - 07/22 Nancy Nims-Gentry & Grover Gentry - 07/25

Wilson & Pauline McIlvaine - 07/26 Anita & John Haynes - 07/27

Terry Hamilton & Mike Tift - 08/03 Barbara & Maurice McCarthy - 08/03

Shirley & Bill Connor - 08/06 Patti & Tony Benvenuti - 08/08

Judy Hodgerney & Peter DePierri - 08/10 Diana & Jay Stolberg - 08/11

Preston & Marie Sturdevant - 08/30

Zion Alan & Linda Wiinikka – 07/04

Albert & Lois Kane – 08/15 Don & Judy Leombruno – 08/20

Ann & Dave Spinner – 08/31


Phil Becker

Jackie & Vinny Walsh

Mary Johnson Jackie & Vinny Walsh

NEW ENGLAND SYNOD

YOUTH GATHERING

The weekend following Labor Day I will be

taking our young people to Hammonasset State

Park in CT for a Friday night to Sunday morning

adventure! I have been leading these trips for

the last fifteen years or so and our Synod does a

GREAT job planning and executing an

engaging/enjoyable time for youth and leaders

alike!

Registration is open to 7th – 12th graders, I

already have people signed up, so let me know

SOON so I can formally register us with the

Synod. More info at

http://www.hammoconnect.com/

PRAYER LIST Bethel - Arnold Ariansen - Helen Armstrong - Maya Belmonte – Lucy & Tom Brennan - Karen Carlson – Shirley Connor – Lori Deso - Jean Dowd – Matt DuHamel - Tom Forsberg - Liesl Voosen Fields – Silvia Forgit - Grover Gentry –Hope Grasso - Skip Hagberg - Paul Josephson – Patricia King - Tina Krol – Audra Layton - Kay Lemerise - Bill Lewis - Eric Lewis - Kay Malkasion – Susan Marriano - Tracy McLean - Joan Newman – Michael O’Neil - Amanda Parker – Sabrina Valastro – Gini Varg - Kay Venning – Pearl Wheeler

Zion - Patricia Lynch - Betty Nielsen - Renee'

Hall - Tracey McLean - Ruth Swan - Doreen

Earley - Barry Blomgren - Charlotte Rose Mac

Neil - Scott MacLachlan - Timothy Kenney - Julia

Engvall - Liesl Voosen Fields - Audra Layton –

Patricia Lynch - Dotty Petralis - Sara Spieght

Have you engaged with the prayer wall?

MEAL LINES RETURN TO

GRACE

We are looking forward to Pr. Matt Martin

bringing us the opportunity for helping fight food

insecurity in our area! Both Councils conferred

and agreed we should engage in this work, to be

sited at our Worcester campus in the Palmer

Room.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30th

Mark your calendars!

Starting in July, we return to the rotating schedule so that Pastor Andrew

can be at each parish for a full morning once a month. He will be at Bethel

all morning on the 2nd Sunday and at Zion on the 4th Sunday.

http://www.hammoconnect.com/


Doris Brick c/o Oakdale Nursing & Rehab. 76 No. Main St., W. Boylston, MA 01583

Audrey Sturdevant c/o Overlook Masonic Health Center 88 Masonic Home Rd., Charlton, MA 01507

Jeff Moody c/o Sandalwood Care & Rehabilitation Center 3 Pine Street, Oxford, MA 01540

Delores Bengtsson, Harold Johnson, Wilson McIlvaine c/o Care One @ Millbury 312 Millbury Street, Millbury, MA 01527

Mildred Lindblad, May Jacobson c/o Knowlwood Nursing Center 87 Briarwood Circle, Worcester, Ma 01606

Dot Reid c/o Lutheran Rehabilitation & Skilled Care Center 20 Harvard Street, Worcester, MA 01609

Shirley Cummins 315 Holden Street, Holden, MA 01520

Henry Hirvi c/o Holy Trinity Nursing & Rehab. 303 Barber Avenue, Worcester, MA 01606

We are in the early stages of planning the 2019

Harvest Fair. This Grace Ministries event will

be held at the Bethel campus sometime in early

November. If you are interested in being part of

the team, please contact Marie Sturdevant or

Judy Sampson. Organizational meetings will be

announced soon.

Zion’s Council Update

Zion last council meeting was on June 9th, Coffee with council for the months of July and August will resume in the month of September. Enjoy your Summer with family and friends.

Zion is still reaching out for the Elder Meal Program. We as Zion are looking for 3 individuals to help, no cooking meals, they are brought in, we need set up and clean up. If you have questions please contact Pastor or myself.

The Seventh Day Adventist will be with us for a while longer, we are happy they will be with us. God Bless

Looking for volunteers to help with the cutting of the grass.

Respectfully,

Donna R. Hayes President of Church Council Zion Lutheran Church, Worcester, MA

Bethel’s Council Connection

Happy Summer! It’s time for kicking back a little and enjoying the nice weather. It also means it’s time for summer vacations. Please remember that Bethel’s bills don’t stop during the summer and keeping up with your financial gifts makes the cash flow easier to manage.

A big shout out to John Leslie for his special performance at Bethel on June 15th, and what a performance it was! John paid tribute to Liberace on the 100th anniversary of his birth with a one-man show that was out of this world. A free will offering was collected, and all the funds were donated to Bethel.

Plans are in the works for several activities this fall, with the Harvest Fair in early November, and a food line later that month, to be held at Zion some other Saturday afternoon. There is also a rumor that Pastor Andrew will be doing a travelogue on his trip to the Holy Land, which should be very interesting.

Please remember that we will be having Coffee with Council the 2nd Sunday of each month during the summer. Please stop by, even if it’s just for a quick chat, or if you have a question or issue to discuss. We look forward to your questions and comments.

Preston Sturdevant President/Bethel Congregational Council


JULY/AUGUST BIRTHDAYS 2019

Zion

Wendy Milton – 07/09 Karen Hakala – 07/13

Mark Fountaine – 07/14 Edith Keppetsch – 07/15

Sarah Ruffo – 07/16 Mae Swenson – 07/17

Vinny Ruffo Cabrera – 07/28 Bryan Blomgren – 08/01 Ruth Denman – 08/04 Robert Linna – 08/13

Lynne Buckley – 08/14 Richard Harms – 08/17 George Earley – 08/22

John Abbe – 08/23

Bethel Doug Nelson - 06/02 Roy Benoit Jr. - 07/04 Nicole Zifcak - 07/06

Amelia Nelson - 07/06 Sophie Stolberg - 07/12

Jillian King - 07/14 Gabriella King - 07/14 John Berube - 07/15

Louise Klaven - 07/16 Joseph Belmonte - 07/16

Kathleen Legg - 07/18 Debra Hagberg - 07/18 Lori Thompson - 07/20 Judy Sampson - 07/21 Mary Johnson - 07/23 Vinny Walsh - 07/24 Leah King - 07/26

Christine Belmonte - 07/27 Diana Stolberg - 07/29 Maya Belmonte - 07/29 Nicolas Spanos - 07/30 Judy Garneau - 08/03

Gini Varg - 08/05 Scott Carlson - 08/06

Barbara McCarthy - 08/07 Rick Hagberg - 08/09 Doug Hanks - 08/09

Helen Trilligan - 08/09 Jackson Zifcak - 08/09 Jeremy Baril - 08/13 Scarlet Schur - 08/13

Chris DuHamel - 08/14 Wilson McIlvaine - 08/15

Matt DuHamel - 08/16 Mimi Bylund - 08/16 Jay Stolberg - 08/17

Bette Elia - 08/19 Erica Ferreira - 08/21

Nancy Bjorkman - 08/23 Bill Lauzonis - 08/26

Madelynn Hanks - 08/27

A gift was given to the Bell Choir by Krantz/Baird Foundation.

Thanks you!

Grace Ministries,

Thank you! We greatly appreciate all of your efforts to advance our cause Walk to End Alzheimer. See you at the Walk on September 15th!

Worcester County Walk Committee


Report on New England Synod Assembly of

June 7-8 2019

God's Work. Our hands.

“WHAT IS YOUR STORY?”

I would like to thank the Congregation for voting for

me to attend this year's Synod Assembly as a

delegate. Because I am very much interested in the

Synod efforts and resources, it was helpful for me to

attend as a voting member of Bethel. Along with

Pastor Andrew Borden, Karen Borden, Lois

Toeppner, Deacon; Stephanie Harms, and William

Toombs who were the delegates from Zion.

Therefore, Grace Ministries was well represented at

the Assembly.

Prior to attending the Assembly information on

everything was available on line. Therefore, in order

to understand exactly what our responsibilities would

be, and how everything would be done, it was very

helpful to have much of this information prior to the

actual meeting.

Business matters, elections, reports from Bishop

Hazelwood, committees, and finances were discussed

on Friday. The voting on most everything was

unanimous due to the concise information presented.

As The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop of

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America dated

Spring 2019 wrote: “This is our time to tell the story

of the church we are becoming, a church confident

about who we are in Christ and what God is calling

us to do. As I have said previously, if God will that

there be a witness to the gospel through the

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), no

force on earth, not even our own, can stop it.”

Story Tellers from Clergy, Lay Leaders and Others

told of their stories while encouraging all attendees to

do the same in workshops from around the Synod and

beyond to tell where God is in our story and how to

share it with others.

The Keynote speaker was Margot Leitman,

storyteller, comedian, writer. Special guest speaker at

Saturday's worship was the Rev. Leila M. Ortiz,

Assistant to the Bishop of the Metropolitan

Washington, D.C. Synod. Her interests are in

leadership, vocational discernment and discipleship.

There was opportunity to visit the various tables

outside the meeting rooms for all kinds of

information on both days.

In Bishop Hazelwood's report on Future Leaders, he

reports, “We are in the midst of a retirement wave.”

“We have two obstacles. The first is financial, the

second is recruitment.” “One is the cost of seminary

education. We are addressing this by awarding

scholarships to New England Synod candidates.”

“The other struggle is the level of Seminary debt by

current leaders.”

“We are now a synod of 178 Congregations. Of

those 45 are served by part-time, Sunday-Supply-

only, or in some arrangement of partnership with

another church. They frequently worship with less

than 25 on a Sunday, some have as few as eight.”

You can read the paper “Going Forward as a Synod

of Experimentation” the Bishop wrote last year at

http://bishop.nesnod.org/goingforward:pdf.

I would also remind everyone, as you have all heard

me say many times, God is in Charge! Through the

gifts of Forgiveness, Mercy, Love, Grace, and Faith

we may have to make changes, But God will never

abandon God's children.

Roberta F. Briggs,

Lay Leader

Dismas meals are always held on the last Friday of each month. If a volunteer would like to prepare a meal it can be done in the church kitchen around 4pm. Volunteers are also needed to deliver and share the meal (5:45pm). Dinner is over and hosts usually leave by 6:30. DISMAS: Fri, July 26th Fri. Aug.30th

http://bishop.nesnod.org/goingforward:pdf


OUTREACH/SOCIAL MINISTRY Reaching out to a world in need

BETHEL On Wednesday, June 5th, Judy, Jackie and Marie attended the “New Home…New Beginnings” tour and ribbon cutting ceremony of the Florence House at their new location in Worcester. The Florence House is one of the two Teen Parenting Programs offered by Ascentria Services for Children and Families. This home is a place “where teen mothers and their children are provided transitional living in a safe, nurturing and therapeutic residential environment.” Our Social Ministry at Bethel helped support the Florence House in the past, and now we are looking to once again help support their program and new endeavors. We will be exploring ways our Grace Ministries Teams can support this program and will bring more information to our congregations in the coming months.

The new Florence House

The Grace Ministries host week for Interfaith Hospitality Network has been moved from the first week of July to the last full week of July, the evening of the 21st through the morning of the 28th. There will be a sign up for early evening shifts and overnights. During the month of June, the Kindness Tree was filled with tags with suggested items for the IHN home on June Street. We will be accepting these donated items through mid-July, so they may be brought to IHN during our host week. Thank you for your generosity in helping to support this ministry.

During the month of July, we will be supporting “Walking Together,” a ministry of presence within the neighborhood of Southeast Worcester. This ministry, which focuses on the dignity and worth of each individual and family, provides a service called Laundry Love on the second Thursday of each month, at Suds Up Laundromat on Southbridge Street in Worcester from 5-8 pm. This is an often-overlooked way to help the homeless and families struggling financially. In a conversation with a homeless man, the question was asked about how one could help in a meaningful way. The answer came, “If I had clean clothes, I think people would treat me like a human being.” For the month of July, look for tags on the Kindness Tree which will have suggested donations for this ministry. Social Ministry received a gift from the estate of Phil Becker in the amount of $4,990.35. Bethel was very special to Phil. Our lives are better for having known Phil, as we worked alongside him through the years. The Social Ministry Team wishes to thank all who helped support the Auburn Youth and Family Services Summer Program. Looking ahead, we will be planning another intergenerational project doing the meal line through End Hunger NE sometime in the fall.

ZION

We hope everyone is enjoying the summer. However there are some things that do not take a vacation, such as hunger. As you all know, we have been supporting Abby’s House for many years and they are very grateful for our contributions. What if everyone brought a non-perishable food item when they come to church on Sunday? It is a “feel good” thing to be able to help. Let’s try it.

Ingrid and Jean


Ringer Notes

Bells of Bethel News

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before [the Lord’s]

presence with singing.” (Psalm 100 – KJV)

The Bells of Bethel are now on their Summer break. You will still hear us from time to time on select hymns

during Summer worship.

We would like to extend a sincere THANK YOU for your generosity and support as we continue to maintain our

handbells and replace worn out equipment. We received above and beyond the goal of $850 to replace worn

out clapper heads on all our handbells. Because of the extra funds we will be able to continue to replace some

worn out equipment. The Bells of Bethel have no real budget so we rely on gifts to help with many of our

purchases. If you would like to make a gift, please leave it in the offering plate or send it to the Church Office.

Please make note that it is for ‘Bells’.

As I have said before, all are welcome to ring handbells! No musical ability required. Music is marked and

notes are color coded for those who cannot read music. All you need to do is count to four! If you are

interested in giving ringing a try, please let me know! We have a wonderful and dedicate group of ringers that

would provide support to any new ringers. Speak to any ringer and they will tell you how fun and rewarding

ringing is!

God’s Peace+,

Adam Hanks

Director

Ringers: Roberta Briggs, Lauren Kneeland, Jackie Walsh, Pam Sutton, Ann Hanks, Kate Valleli and Brenda

Salvi


CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES

High School

Brian Belmonte graduated from Shepherd Hill Regional High School and he is going to

run track at Merrimack College in the fall.

Naomi Bylund graduated from Auburn High School. She'll be attending Husson

Universality in Bangor Maine to start a Physical Therapy program in the fall.

Hannah Abbe graduated from Abby Kelley Foster Charter School and will be attending

Mass. College of Pharmacy & Health Service, Boston in the fall.

Derek Mangsen graduated from Wachusett Regional High School. He is planning on going to college next year for

computer engineering and working at the family business, Nordgren Funeral Home.

Emmalynn Pickett graduated from Marianapolis Prep. She will be attending Sacred Heart University in Fairfield,

CT to study Neuroscience

Emily White graduated from Burncoat High School with high honors & a member of the National Honor Society.

She will be attending Dean College in the fall.

Lauren Wiinikka graduated from Wachusett Regional High School and will be attending Quinsigamond

Community College in the fall.

Jack Valleli graduated from Tahanto Regional High School and is headed to the US Marine Corps.

Emily Wambach graduated from Auburn High School. She will be attending Western New England University in

Springfield, Ma. She has been accepted into their Bio Medical Engineering program.

College

Gini Benvenuti is graduating from Assumption College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education

and English. She plans on a teaching career in grades K-6.

Michael Rapoza graduated from Anna Maria College with degrees in Education and History.

Christopher Rapoza graduated from Quinsigamond Community College with a degree in Business Administration.

Brianna Courteau graduated from WPI in Worcester. She plans on attending PA school.

Bailey Pickett graduated from Anna Maria College with a degree in nursing.


GRACE MINISTRIES, ELCA – Yoked Communities of Faith and Service

MISSION STATEMENT

"To boldly share God's Love and Grace universally in and through our communities."

VISION STATEMENT

Modeling the welcoming nature of God, we are humbly called and driven by the Spirit to witness, engage and walk with each other authentically, as Jesus’ hands and feet, providing spiritual, emotional and physical nourishment.

Through evolving partnerships with ecumenical and other social service organizations we affirm justice and wholeness under the “agency of Grace” that feed the needs and hope of all.

The Rev. Andrew H. Borden, Pastor [email protected]

Ann Spinner, Parish Administrator

[email protected]

Adam Hanks, Treasurer Shannon Papandrea, Sexton

Pam Sutton, Kate Valleli, Garret Peters, Thom Carraher – Christian Education Team

Worcester Campus - Zion Lutheran Auburn Campus - Bethel Lutheran 41 Whitmarsh Avenue, 01606 90 Bryn Mawr Avenue, 01501 Office: 508-853-2009 Office: 508-832-3427

The-Community-of-Zion-Lutheran-Worcester.org BethelAuburnELCA.org

Organist – Karen Couturier Principal Organist/Choral Director – Brenda Salvi Choral/Bell Director – Sally Bond Associate Organist/Choral Director – Lois Toeppner, Deacon President – Donna Hayes President – Preston Sturdevant

Forward Leadership Team: Dave Valleli, Roberta Briggs, Stephanie Harms, Adam Hanks and Pastor Accountability Team: Jennifer Courtney, Linda Kikutis Kropp, Donna Hayes, Joan Parker and Janet Johnson

Yoke Council Co Presidents Preston Sturdevant (Bethel) & Donna Hayes (Zion) Secretary – Stephanie Harms (Zion) Marie Sturdevant

(Bethel)

Bethel Congregation Council EXECUTIVE TEAM: President – Preston Sturdevant Vice President – Dave Sutton Secretary – Marie Sturdevant

Kathleen Legg, Leanne Carraher, Doris Belk, Roberta Briggs

Functional Units Social Ministry – Marie Sturdevant & Judy Sampson

Finance Team – Lisa Ferreira, Chair Worship & Music Committee – Joan Parker, Chair Property Team – Garrett Peters, Rich Hagberg, Roy Benoit Jr. Altar Guild – Leanne Carraher, Chair

Adult Forum, Roberta Briggs

Preschool Preschool Director – Bev Sampson 508-832-9411 [email protected]

Teachers, Karen Borden, Shannon Papandrea, Teachers Aide, Kim Capaldi

Zion Congregation Council EXECUTIVE TEAM: President – Donna Hayes - Vice President – William Toombs Secretary – Stephanie Harms

Kristin White, Katherine Lehman, Bruce Blomgren, Don Leombruno

Functional Units Outreach Ministry Team – Ingrid Lawrence/Jean Harger, co-Chairs

Adult Forum – Dave Valleli Altar Guild – Virginia Carlson, Chair

A RECONCILING IN CHRIST SYNOD

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


RELEVANCE OF A FAITH

Through the eyes of faith the beauty around us

becomes magnified and mountains made low.

I was closing the church following Wednesday

worship recently when I heard a knock at the front

door. Our neighbor to the parsonage wanted me to

be aware of three little boys who, now that school

was over for the summer, had taken to acts of what

she thought were vandalism and terrorism on the

street.

I called these three kids, no more than 3rd grade,

over and talked with them. Evidently they had taken

the next door girl’s stuffed toy from the yard and not

brought it back, and on this day were “having fun”

riding in circles around one of our older members

as they tried to get into their car in the parking lot.

Looking at the three, with this neighbor standing

next to me, I asked them if they went to church.

One said “No, not anymore.” Had they heard of

Jesus? Yes.

Simply, I explained in 1 minute or so that Jesus is

God who came to earth because God loves us and

wants us to know that. And how God wants us,

hopes that, we show love to other people, respect

and all of that.

We talked about how giving people a hard time is

not part of loving others, did they get it? That God

wants us to get along with each other and that is

what we talk about in the church, how I teach and

work with the people. I told them we had similar

issues with kids in the neighborhood about 10

years ago and when I explained this same stuff to

them we all got along and things worked out. What

did they think, could we get along?


Without a faith core, direction, and “upkeep” of the

faith, any of us can fall into bad habits and ways of

being with the world and others that is not healthy

for anyone.

The church has become irrelevant to many who

used to darken her doors. Life has “taken over”, for

some it’s easier to sleep late and go to brunch than

make it to a house of worship, and many other

excuses. All of this has led to less Grace being

recognized, realized and allowed to permeate and

govern God’s children’s lives.

Some polls have indicated that the present younger

generation wants engagement in activities

associated with faith more often than worship

experiences; they feel connected to acting, to being

the hands and feet of Jesus. And it’s not just the

younger generation, either who can thrive on

service projects! So, it is vital that parishes offer

frequent opportunities for reaching-out and helping

where there is need: and gee, it is one of the acts

of our Lord he demonstrated for us to follow.

But, scripture also shows us how Jesus attended to

worship often, to hear scripture and talk about it,

instituting the Eucharist in that upper room so long

ago for the refreshment, renewal and well-being of

ALL for the opportunity of truly LIVING and NOT

just existing!

The relevance of a faith is in steering people away

from that which is harmful towards what is life-

giving. This is important so no one winds up getting

distracted by worldly claims and aspirations apart

from faith: not simply following what feels “good”,

leading so many times to malevolence, or engaging

in just downright self-centered/destructive behavior

that doesn’t honor creation or our fellow sisters and

brothers also blessed to take breath and

experience planet earth.

May we all give time to God, encourage our family,

friends and those we meet to do so as well, that

Grace, Mercy and Love might permeate, guide and

help this creation be more of what our Creator

hopes it can be!

LOOKING FOR A GROUP OF LUTHERANS TO MEET WITH AND SHARE

SOME EXPERIENCES AND HAVE FUN?

AS A SHARED MINISTRY WITH BETHEL/ZION, WHY NOT GIVE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING A TRY?

WOMEN’S: DOLs (Dine Out Ladies)

Tuesday, June 9th @ 6PM Hunter’s Grille & Tap Room at the Grafton Inn

Meet at the restaurant - each person is responsible for the cost of their meal. Sign up in the Narthex or call the Bethel Office.

“BOOKIES” Book Club The group will be making a trip to Old Deerfield Village on Wednesday July 31

st. We need

a final count by Monday July 22. Call Leanne Carraher 508-335-6421 or Jackie Walsh 508-769-0879 if you would like to join us. The book is The Captive Boy of Old Deerfield by

Mary P. Wells Smith. The Bookies meet again on September 23

rd in the Chapel. The book will be Before We Were Yours by

Lisa Wingate. All are Welcome!

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=pictures+of+victorian+woman+reading+a+book&qpvt=pictures+of+victorian+woman+reading+a+book&FORM=IQFRML#view=detail&id=BD35947E23DF8334F989C332C474E733C85038B5&selectedIndex=4


Bookie’s Reading List for 2019-2020:

September 23, 2019: “Before We Were Yours” a novel, by Lisa Wingate

October 28, 2019: “The World’s Fastest Man; the extraordinary story of Cyclist Major Taylor”, a

biography by Michael Kranish

November 18, 2019: “Knowing Jesse” a memoir by Marianne Leone

December no meeting

January 27, 2020 : “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” a novel by David Wroblewski

February 24, 2020: “The Death of Mrs. Westaway” a mystery by Ruth Ware

March 30, 2020: “The Second Mountain” a memoir by David Brooks

April 27, 2020: “The Chilbury Ladie’s Choir” a novel by Jennifer Ryan

May 18, 2020: “The Kitchen House” a novel by Kathleen Grissom

June 29, 2020: “The All Girls Filling Station Reunion” a novel by Fanny Flagg

Bookie’s meet the 4th or the last Monday of each month at 2:00 in the Chapel. Come to all meetings

or choose the date of the book that interests you. Bring a friend; all are welcome. There will be lively

discussion!

our lives are formed by word and sacrament, and we gather ... · 07/07/2019 · judy sampson....

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