Beacon News
May 16, 2021
Ascension of Our Lord Sunday
Ascension by Malcolm Guite
We saw his light break through the cloud of glory
Whilst we were rooted still in time and place
As earth became a part of Heaven’s story
And heaven opened to his human face.
We saw him go and yet we were not parted
He took us with him to the heart of things
The heart that broke for all the broken-hearted
Is whole and Heaven-centered now, and sings,
Sings in the strength that rises out of weakness,
Sings through the clouds that veil him from our sight,
Whilst we ourselves become his clouds of witness
And sing the waning darkness into light,
His light in us, and ours in him concealed,
Which all creation waits to see revealed .
Our Church Calendar
Our Zoom activities and events are linked below; we also post videos on our YouTube Channel as well.
Sunday, May 16, 10 a.m. Worship—Ascension: Last Sunday of Easter Season
We will have our worship livestreaming on our YouTube Channel beginning at 10 a.m. The Prelude will begin at 10 a.m. You may view our worship live, or after as a recording here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8eSD2DkUpaCDCwagXnnrqw If you click on before 10 a.m., please refresh your screen (as often as needed) until you see the livestream video.
11:00 a.m. Virtual Fellowship will follow our worship!
After our live worship is concluded, join us on Zoom for fellowship and conversation. The link below is the same one we have been using for our Sunday mornings.
https://zoom.us/j/602272570?pwd=VUdRVVp6NkRNczl5QjFnUkF4OGt4Zz09
Meeting ID: 602 272 570
Password: 344276
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,602272570#,,#,344276# US (Chicago)
MONDAY-FRIDAY, Whitefish Bay High School AP testing
Monday, May 17, 7:00 p.m. Finance Committee meets via Zoom
Tuesday, May 18, 10:00 a.m. (*NEW TIIME*) Prayers and Coffee
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/117491031
Meeting ID: 117 491 031
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,117491031# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,117491031# US (Chicago)
Tuesday, May 18, 7:00 p.m. Congregation Council meets via Zoom
Wednesday, May 19, 9:30 a.m. Pastor’s Bible Study
Join us as we gather weekly via Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/568102184.
Meeting ID: 568 102 184 No password created.
Sunday, May 23, 10 a.m. Worship—Pentecost Sunday
We will have our worship livestreaming on our YouTube Channel beginning at 10 a.m. The Prelude will begin at 10 a.m. You may view our worship live, or after as a recording here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8eSD2DkUpaCDCwagXnnrqw If you click on before 10 a.m., please refresh your screen (as often as needed) until you see the livestream video.
11:00 a.m. Virtual Fellowship will follow our worship!
After our live worship is concluded, join us on Zoom for fellowship and conversation. The link below is the same one we have been using for our Sunday mornings.
https://zoom.us/j/602272570?pwd=VUdRVVp6NkRNczl5QjFnUkF4OGt4Zz09
Meeting ID: 602 272 570
Password: 344276
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,602272570#,,#,344276# US (Chicago)
Ways to Connect and Share
Altar Flower Sign up is back! A sign-up form has been created to sign up just the same as if we were in our gathering area! There can be two names (or more if you email the office separately) for each week that flowers will be in the church. Click on the link below to go to the sign-up sheet and when we get close to the day of your donation, Kate will email you for a dedication to be in the Beacon for the week.
The cost of flowers is $35. You may send a check to the office marked “Altar Flowers.” This is one more step toward resuming our Bay Shore lives together!
This week’s altar flowers are given to the glory of God by Clare Leslie in honor of all I love! Family, friends, and all!
Sunday, May 23 is PENTECOST SUNDAY and to celebrate this special day in the life of the church we are modifying our “lighting up” of the sanctuary to just lighting up the grounds in front of our beautiful church building
with red geraniums. Here’s the exciting part! You may donate a geranium to beautify our church grounds at the cost of $10 per plant. If you would like, you can donate a geranium in honor or memory of someone who first introduced you to the Holy Spirit or “lit the fire” in your faith life. Please email the church office with your Pentecost message at [email protected] and then drop a check in the mail with geranium in the memo line. Even though we are not in our building quite yet, we are still in the community and proud to show the spirit of the Lord is still alive at Bay Shore!
Do you have a child who is graduating from high school, college or receiving an advanced degree this year? Please notify the church office. We are planning to honor all grads on Sunday, June 13. If possible, please email us a picture! [email protected]
School is almost out for summer! Hephatha will continue the Youth Work program this June through August. Donations of non-perishable snacks and drinks for the youth can be made to Bay Shore Lutheran all summer (we will tell you when we can accept drop-offs to the office soon—until then, do not drop off food at the doors, thank you!). Also, monetary donations are being collected to provide scholarships for the participating youth. $300 sponsors one youth for the summer. Indicate Hephatha Youth Work Scholarship on your donation. Thank you!
Ways to Grow and Learn
Pastor’s Wednesday Morning Bible Study continues on May 19 at 9:30 a.m. Pastor Sarah will walk through the main parts of Deuteronomy. Did you know? Jesus quotes the book of Deuteronomy more than any other book in the Bible? It is worth reviewing! Following the study of Deuteronomy, Pastor Sarah will walk through the Letter to the Hebrews. Join us as you are able. You will be surprised how much you learn!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/568102184
Meeting ID: 568 102 184
Take note! We have combined prayer time and coffee chats! Join us on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. for some fellowship and prayer. Bring your favorite beverage to this special time where we share our prayer concerns and a lot of good humor!
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/117491031
Meeting ID: 117 491 031
Just a kind reminder: The Zoom company updates its software frequently on your smart devices, often without your knowledge if you have given permission for automatic app updates. Each week, you may or may not need to enter passwords, ID numbers, etc. It is also a good idea to check your microphone (audio) when you enter a Zoom meeting as well. You can do this under Audio Settings within your Zoom program. In most cases, you will be automatically muted when you enter a Zoom meeting. You can unmute yourself when you wish to speak. Please be kind about background noises and also what image your device is sharing with others. The host may need to mute you or turn off your video if it is distracting to others. Thank you.
Lutheran Summer Music Program has been a summer-camp tradition for high school youth who play instruments or who sing in a school choir since 1981. Each year, the camp moves from one location to another to showcase local ELCA colleges. This summer, it is at Valparaiso College in Indiana. It is a 4 week camp for high school to study an instrument or two with professional instructors, and/or sing in a choir with a professor or two from an area college. This year, the Greater Milwaukee Synod has scholarship funds to offset the costs, and our high school youth who are interested—we encourage you to apply.
Pastor Sarah’s eldest daughter Amy attended LSM at Luther College in 2011. It was a great experience for her, and truly prepared her for “going away” to college after HS graduation. If you have any questions about the program, please connect with Pastor Sarah. For more information from LSM, use the link here: LSM (lsmacademy.org)
Ways to Serve and Give
BAY SHORE HAS TEXT TO GIVE!
(855) 461-0194
You can quickly and easily make a one-time or recurring donation to Bay Shore! Or, simply download the GivePlus app from your phone’s app store and search for Bay Shore Lutheran Church. You will then be all set to give whenever the time is right. When you download the app there are several areas where you can choose to give from the general fund to Hephatha appeals to Lutheran World relief! It’s quick and EASY!
Want to help make a difference while you shop in the Amazon app, at no extra cost to you? Simply follow the instructions below to select “Bay Shore Lutheran Church” as your charity and activate AmazonSmile in the app. They’ll donate a portion of your eligible mobile app purchases to us.
How it works:
1. Open the Amazon app on your phone
2. Select the main menu (=) & tap on “AmazonSmile” within Programs & Features
3. Select “Bay Shore Lutheran Church” as your charity
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to activate AmazonSmile in the mobile app
Do you have a gently used child safety gate?
We realized recently that we could use another one for our nursery space. Please contact the church office if you have one that could use a new home!
Email [email protected] or call and leave a message at 414-332-6436.
Prayer of the Week
O God of earth and sky,
as Jesus came among us in Bethlehem to raise us up to heaven,
so today we recall his departing from us at Jerusalem to be in all places.
Though he is hidden from our sight,
enable us to abide in him
by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit,
until his mercy and grace fill your whole creation. Amen
A Special Word from Pastor Mary Martha
Hephatha young men who abide in God’s love as they tend the church yard and the yards of several elderly neighbors.
Wonderful young people! We thank God for them…and for you!
THANKS FROM HEPHATHA to you, dear mission partners, for continuing to serve with us on 18th and Locust in this time. We are thankful to be able to continue in safe mode in numerous ministries, both in a limited capacity on site and in a growing capacity online. Please visit us at www.hephatha100.com .
From John 15: “Abide in my love.” WE THANK YOU for abiding with us in the love of God!!!!
The summer will bring us another year of work ministry with the young people, a bit freer than last year. We are working hard against lead poisoning of children in our area (on the Hephatha census tract a full one third of children are lead poisoned). We are growing our Strong Baby Sanctuary ministry (some 120 children are covered by it at this time). Outdoor food outreach and indoor use of the fellowship hall in safe mode for distribution of basic items weekly to those who are experiencing homelessness are other ministries that you are helping make “go” in this time. We abide with you in the Gospel, in prayer and in the hope of the resurrection.
I will be on sabbatical this summer and extend my wishes to you for a summer of health, growth in faith, and times of enjoying the gifts of this season.
God’s peace and our deep thanks,
Pastor Mary Martha
Readings for Sunday, May 16, 2021
First Reading: Acts 1:1-11
Before he is lifted into heaven, Jesus promises that the missionary work of the disciples will spread out from Jerusalem to all the world, and that the disciples will be accompanied and empowered by the Holy Spirit. His words provide an outline of the book of Acts.
[Luke writes:] 1In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; 5for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Psalm: Psalm 47
God has gone up with a shout. (Ps. 47:5)
1Clap your hands, all you peoples;
shout to God with a joyful sound.
2For the Lord Most High is to be feared:
a great king over all the earth,
3who subdues the peoples under us,
and the nations under our feet;
4who chooses our inheritance for us,
the pride of Jacob, whom God loves.
5God has gone up with a shout,
the Lord with the sound of the ram’s horn.
6Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our king, sing praises.
7For God is king of all the earth;
sing praises with a song.
8God reigns over the nations;
God is enthroned on high.
9The nobles of the peoples have gathered as the people of the God of Abraham.
The rulers of the earth belong to God, who is highly exalted.
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23
The risen and exalted Christ reigns over the entire universe. The author of Ephesians prays that we are given the wisdom to know the power of the risen Christ and the empowering hope that the knowledge of this inheritance provides.
15I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Gospel: Luke 24:44-53
On the day of his ascension, Jesus leaves his disciples with a commission, a blessing, and a promise of the Holy Spirit.
44[Jesus said to the eleven and those with them,] “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.”45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
50Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
Click here to see our Order of Worship including all readings, to be used at home It includes our hymns, too.
Stay in Touch
STAFF
Pastor Sarah Stobie [email protected]
Kate Yelvington, Parish Admin [email protected]
Dulcie Shoener, Minister of Music [email protected]
Daniel Ellis, Choir Director [email protected]
We use our “stories” page on our website to share the Beacon, our weekly online activities and more. www.bayshorelutheran.org