This Week at Bethesd

From the Pastor

Anticipating Advent

Come, Lord Jesus, Be our Guest, and let these gifts to us be blessed.

Blessed be God, who is our bread; may all the world be clothed and fed.

I urge you to make it a good Advent. Do what you can to honor the spiritual heart pangs of longing and quiet expectation. All this is a bit like swimming against the current of Christmas frivolity and excess 24/7 online, in stores, at parties, and on the airwaves.

Some congregations are extending the time of Advent and beginning it on November 10 (St. Martin’s Day, the birthdate of Martin Luther, and calling it St. Martin’s Advent).  All this to give breadth and space for a proper time to make room for God to enter in.

In this college town, the school’s calendar makes it even crazier with early December Holiday concerts and parties before the end of the semester.At Bethesda, it is the case that there is as much of an exodus to visit family as to stay put for late Advent and Christmas celebrations.

At Bethesda, we will offer Soup Suppers at 6 pm on Thursday, December 6 and 13, followed by a brief time of contemplative prayer. Volunteer to bring soup, bread, or wine, or just come.

We will offer a Service of the Longest Night on Wednesday, December 19 to honor the ways God comes to us in the deep darkness.

We will be handing out devotional books to use at the home by Susan Briehl called Come, Lord Jesus which will be a guide through Epiphany.

We will also look to welcome the justice of God to break in with our concern for those in deepest distress in our community, in Palestine and Israel, and elsewhere.  In our companion synod, the Heads of Jerusalem have called for a muted Advent to honor the grief of war, even canceling the traditional festivities in Bethlehem.

We will find hope, because with God, hope is always possible.

But for now, please think about how to make a good Advent. And let me know what you think.

Blessings. Thanksgiving. And hope.

Pastor Tim Keyl

One of the oldest prayers of the Christian community is also the title of this book: Come, Lord Jesus. In Aramaic, the language that Jesus spoke, one word–Maranatha–said two thing. It was a prayer for help in the time of need: Come, Lord, save us. It was also used as a joyous and confident welcome to the risen Christ: Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest. –From Come, Lord Jesus: Devotions for the Home, by Susan Briehl.

Notice of Special Congregational Meeting on December 3, 2023

Bethesda’s Council is calling a special congregational meeting on Sunday, December 3, 2023. The only agenda item is approval of proposed updates to Bethesda’s constitution. There will also be a verbal report on the status of activity related to Bethesda’s Sustainable Future. The meeting will immediately follow the worship service.

Constitutional Update Background

At last year’s annual meeting, the congregation approved changes to Bethesda’s constitution to maintain its alignment with the ELCA’s Model Constitution for Congregations. This action precipitated the formation of a task force to identify other areas of Bethesda’s constitution that needed to be updated and to propose changes. The task force’s recommendations were presented to the Council on October 23. The Council approved the changes for the congregation’s consideration, pending review by the New England Synod’s expert on constitutions, Pastor Tim Oslovich. On October 26, Pastor Oslovich found that the proposed amendments did not conflict with the ELCA’s Model Constitution for Congregations, and he approved them.

Generally, the changes:

- Provide bylaws and continuing resolutions related to Bethesda’s organizational structure and committees that had been called for but were missing

- Respond to the reality of a smaller congregation by decreasing the number of leaders required to serve on Council and the Nominating Committee, and adjusting the ways the Nominating and Audit committees function

- Align the constitution with Bethesda’s current practices

- Offer associate membership to all Christians, not just Lutherans, who request it.

- Renumber bylaws and continuing resolutions related to the Mission Endowment Fund to correct placement errors

A list of all the proposed amendments, how they change Bethesda’s current constitution, and the reasons for them are available online HERE. Printed copies are available upon request to Administrator Leigh Cromey in the church office.

DESK volunteers needed nights of Nov 27 & 28
Please contact Natalie Judd at [email protected]

We Are Called Stewardship Update:

November 12’s Stewardship Sunday was stupendous. We celebrated our noticing generosity, ate a wonderful potluck meal, and held meaningful conversations in small groups prompted by questions. We have received 35 intentions for giving for 2024, but still need some to get to our goal.

As of November 19, here is the latest on pledges for 2024:

Out of 35 pledges received, 23 increased their pledge, 4 decreased their pledge, and 8 did not change their pledge from last year.

Pledge total is $175,100, 89% of our goal of $196,000.

That pledge total, $175,100, is $19,057 above what those 35 pledgers pledged last year ($156,043), a 12% increase.

We are following up with people who pledged for 2023 but have yet to submit a pledge for 2024. There are also a number of members who contribute, but do not pledge. If you are one of them, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss with you the spiritual advantages of pledging to Bethesda.

If you haven't already, share your intention for giving in 2024 using online or hard copy (paper) forms (Stewardship Pledge Form 2024.pdf; Online Stewardship Pledge Form 2024). Mail (305 St. Ronan Street, New Haven CT 06511) or email the hard copies ([email protected]).

Bethesda is generous!

Bethesda’s Stewardship Team,

Blair Goodlin, Pastor Keyl, Calli Micale, and Dianne Witte I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)

Our Lutheran campus ministry, LuMin at Yale, is welcoming you to attend our annual Service of Lessons and Carols, coming up soon, Sunday, Dec. 3, at 5:00pm! Come to beautiful Battell Chapel to revel in Advent/Christmas wonders and worship our God who comes in Jesus... with incredible choirs, caroling singing, candles, and a wonderful student community! You may stay afterward for cookies and warm drinks. Please email Pastor Kari at [email protected] if you'd like to contribute some of your home-baked delights!

Bible Study - December 6

Bible Study will resume on Wednesday, December 6 at 8:00am.on Zoom to discuss The Letter to the Romans. We will pick up at chapter 6, page 36, #7 of N. T. Wright's Romans which corresponds to: The Letter to the Romans 5:1-21. If we finish we will continue with Wright's chapter 7 which corresponds to The Letter to the Romans 6:1-23.

To access the call on Zoom, join from PC,Mac, Linux, IOS or Android:

https://yale.zoom.us/j/96108886279

or Telephone: 203 432 9666
Meeting ID:  961 0888 6279

Thank you from LuMin

Dear Mission Partner friends in Christ,

Last night at Taizé Prayer I noticed students counting down the days until November Break — a whole week to slow down, enjoy time with friends and/or family, and give thanks! Now I also find myself with a bit of a break where I can express my thanks to those who give to LuMin at Yale and empower our ministries.

Your donation of $1000 that we received in October, 2023 is so deeply appreciated, as is your ongoing prayerful support for the LuMin campus ministry community. Thank you so much!

With all that is happening in our world that can leave us wondering what the future will hold, take heart in knowing that we are together working to nurture faith and leadership among the college and graduate students God has entrusted to our care. As Thanksgiving Day approaches, you can be sure that I am thanking God for you and your partnership in this vital ministry.

With overflowing gratitude and love,
Kari Henkelmann Keyl                                               
Pastor, LuMin at Yale

Bethesda Office Assistant Transition
Cynthia Jones, Office Assistant
We welcome Cynthia Jones into the position of Bethesda’s Office Assistant. Look for a proper introduction to her as she begins her work with us in the coming week. Her email address is [email protected]. 

Advent begins Sunday, December 3
- The First Sunday of Advent, December 3 will include a potluck following the congregational meeting and an intergenerational craft-making event.
- Each week during worship, individuals, couples, or families will light a candle on Bethesda’s Advent wreath.
- Devotional resources will be available for use in the home.
- Two weeks of Soup Suppers followed by Contemplative Prayer will be held on or Thursday evening, December 7 and 14 from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm..
- On the Third Sunday of Advent, December 17, following worship, there will be a dessert potluck followed by caroling at homes.

Bethesda Music Series Holiday Concert

Learning Hour Sunday after worship for all ages
Look for Pastor Keyl in the Campanius Room for a conversation about Advent around tables during fellowship

The Middle East Crisis and our Companions There

The New England Synod has a companion church relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) Pastor Tim has traveled there and led groups there numerous times since 2006 and chairs the synod Global Mission Team. Since the outbreak of violence in October 7, that team has convened a presentation to pastors and released a statement. Pastor Tim has been in contact with Bishop Azar there, other friends and partners, and working groups in the ELCA, sharing information and courses of action. 

Calumet Retreat MLK Weekend January 12-15, 2024
Confirmation Youth and families will be spending Martin Luther King Weekend at New England’s Outdoor Ministries Center in New Hampshire, otherwise known as Camp Calumet. Due to unforeseen circumstances, spaces in the Conference Center are full for 2024, and a more global Bethesda Retreat will be postponed until 2025. There are a limited number of other spaces available, including a heated cabin with bunk beds and access to bathrooms from the outdoors. For more information, contact Linda Cortright or Pastor Keyl.

Pastoral Care

If you’d like to meet with Pastor Keyl, please make an appointment through Bethesda’s administrator Leigh Cromey [email protected] or by calling (203) 787-2346 most weekday mornings. Pastor Keyl can meet at your home, at Bethesda, or over a cup of coffee somewhere.

Prayer Requests

For healing and strength: Michele Meyer, daughter-in-law of Marietta Meyer; Linda Johnson; John Ferreira, nephew of Chris Couture; Marie Gray; Sonja Krummrey; Maureen Anderson; Shirley Farm; Anne and Lee Keck; Kay Leone; Molly Dinneen; Matthew H., cousin of Tyler Fair, Doug Johnson, the younger sibling of Katie Gehner.

For our partners in the Gospel: the congregations and schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) and LuMin Campus Ministry; for Bethesda House and Yale Divinity School students.

For our Ecumenical Partners Worldwide: Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore. The Ecumenical Prayer Cycle takes us through every region of the world over the course of a year.

Pray for an end to violence in the Middle East: Donations are being received from Lutheran Disaster Response, or you may give through Bethesda, memo: “ELCJHL”.

For the family and friends of Betsy Williams, who died on November 16.

For the family of Philip Krakowiak, lay minister at First Lutheran Church in West Haven, and for the congregation, at Phil's death on November 12.

For the family of Pastor Kari Henkelmann Keyl, at the death of her aunt Carol Koenig on November 12.

For Bethesda New Haven: that God continues to guide us into the future with ministries of witness, service, hospitality, and care while building up our community in all its diversity.

For those in candidacy or seeking candidacy for rostered leadership in the ELCA: Natalie Benson, Gabrielle Brown, Tyler Fair, Calli Micale, Tim Bergeland, Jordan Baker, Eric Pitts.