Beacon News
April 26, 2020
Third Sunday of Easter
The Enkindled Spring
By D.H. Lawrence
This spring as it comes bursts up in bonfires green,
Wild puffing of emerald trees, and flame-filled bushes,
Thorn-blossom lifting in wreaths of smoke between
Where the wood fumes up and the watery, flickering rushes.
I am amazed at this spring, this conflagration
Of green fires lit on the soil of the earth, this blaze
Of growing, and sparks that puff in wild gyration,
Faces of people streaming across my gaze.
And I, what fountain of fire am I among
This leaping combustion of spring? My spirit is tossed
About like a shadow buffeted in the throng
Of flames, a shadow that’s gone astray, and is lost.
P.S. I hope that you’re enjoying our weekly poetry selection. Can you tell I was an English major? I search the web each week for a selection. If you have a favorite poem you might like to share with the Bay Shore community, please forward to me. Kate Yelvington, Parish Administrator
Online Offerings
Virtual Worship through Zoom
Friday, April 24, 10 a.m. – Coffee Chats with Pastor Sarah. Join Pastor Sarah for relaxed conversation and catching up every Friday morning. You may drop in and leave when its convenient. This will be a weekly occurrence until the building opens again.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 117 491 031
No password created.
One tap mobile: +13126266799,,117491031# US (Chicago)
Sunday, April 26, 10 a.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/602272570?pwd=VUdRVVp6NkRNczl5QjFnUkF4OGt4Zz09
Meeting ID: 602 272 570
Password: 344276
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,602272570#,,#,344276# US (Chicago)
Wednesday, April 29, 9:30 a.m. – Pastor’s Bible Study on James. Join us as we gather weekly via Zoom as we walk through the epistle from James. Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 568 102 184
No password created.
One tap mobile: +13126266799,,568102184# US (Chicago)
Wednesday, April 29, 11:30 a.m. –Children’s Time with Pastor Sarah
Join Pastor Sarah on Facebook Live for singing, story time and prayers for our littles ones. www.facebook.com/bayshorelutheran
Thursday, April 30, 10 a.m. – Prayer Time via Zoom. Pastor Sarah will lead a brief time of prayer every Thursday at 10 a.m. via Zoom. Perfect for those of you at home or work who need a quick “lift” for the rest of the day.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 529 280 391
No password created.
One tap mobile: +13126266799,,529280391# US (Chicago)
Friday, May 1, 10:00-11:30 a.m. – Coffee Chats with Pastor Sarah.
Join Pastor Sarah for relaxed conversation and catching up every Friday morning. You may drop in and leave when its convenient. This will be a weekly occurrence until the building opens again. Same time, same Zoom information.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 117 491 031
No password created.
One tap mobile: +13126266799,,117491031# US (Chicago)
Sunday, May 3, 10 a.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/602272570?pwd=VUdRVVp6NkRNczl5QjFnUkF4OGt4Zz09
Meeting ID: 602 272 570
Password: 344276
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,602272570#,,#,344276# US (Chicago)
Remember in Prayer, or send a card to members and friends convalescing and/or homebound, especially:
We will share two names each week of folks who would appreciate a card from our Bay Shore family…
- Gerry Tucker: 205 Green Bay Rd. Apt. 302 Thiensville, WI 53092
- Doris Snyder: 5252 N. Kent Ave. Whitefish Bay, WI 53217
Longtime members of Bay Shore will remember Russ Schuchmann who, with wife Mary, moved to Grinnell, Iowa several years ago. We are sad to report that Russ recently passed away. Here is a link to his obituary. https://www.smithfh.com/obituaries/Russell-P-Schuchmann?obId=12552454
Ways to Learn and Grow from Home
This Sunday’s scripture lessons are:
Acts 2
4a, 36-41Today’s reading is the conclusion of Peter’s sermon preached following the giving of the Holy Spirit to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. The center of his preaching is the bold declaration that God has made the crucified Jesus both Lord and Christ.
14But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 36Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.
Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19
1I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my supplications.
2Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.
4Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, save my life!”
12What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me?
13I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord,
14I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
15Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones.
16O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the child of your serving girl. You have loosed my bonds.
17I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the Lord.
18I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people,
19in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!
Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:17-23
The imagery of exile is used to help the readers of this letter understand that they are strangers in a strange land. Christians no longer belong to this age. Through the death of Christ, we belong to God, so that our focus, faith, and hope are no longer on such things as silver or gold.
17If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. 18You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. 20He was destined before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. 21Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. 22Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. 23You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.
Gospel Reading: Luke 24:13-35
The colorful story of Jesus’ appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus answers the question of how Jesus is to be recognized among us. Here, he is revealed through the scriptures and in the breaking of bread.
13Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” 25Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. 28As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
To view worship materials for this Sunday, click here.
Ways to Serve and Give
Want to give and assist those in need now? While Hephatha Lutheran is closed, its community is reaching out to many agencies in the area. You can also give to Outreach for Hope, which not only provides assistance to Hephatha but many others in our community. You may help them here.
To assist globally, Lutheran World Relief is on the front lines in many places across the globe. You may help globally here.
Another place that can use our help locally is Hunger Task Force.
Click here to donate Directly to HTF.
More ways you can help!
Meals on Wheels: Delivers nutritious meals to the country’s most vulnerable seniors. Donations will replenish food supplies, subsidize additional transportation and personnel, and enable tech-based efforts to check in on isolated elderly recipients. You can contact your local provider or donate to the national group here.
Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation: Directs money to organizations leading on-the-ground efforts in the restaurant community and provides zero-interest loans to businesses to maintain payroll during closure or reopen once the crisis has passed. It will establish a relief fund for individual restaurant workers facing economic hardships or health crises as a direct result of covid-19. You can donate here
Bay Shore continues to receive mail and receives offerings. We will collect our mail every Monday from the post office. Please continue to send in your offerings if you are not signed up for Simply Giving. It’s not too late to sign up for Simply Giving. Call Kate Yelvington, our Parish Administrator, at 414-232-1012 to sign up! We appreciate your support of Bay Shore during this difficult time. To make an offering online right now, you may do so here. It is a joy to see so many offering envelopes mailed to the church and we are grateful for all of them. We need your support now more than ever, and we are grateful for your responses. Thank you for your generosity.
Don’t let social distancing keep you from purchasing your Mt Meru Premium Coffee! Please remember that coffee can be ordered online at their website. It is also a great source for project information. www.mtmerucoffee.org You can stay up to date at on Facebook page: Facebook.com/MtMeruCoffeeProject Free shipping on orders over $15 extended to May 31!
FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $15.00 EXTENDED TO UNTIL MAY 31!
May 3 Soup’R Books Event Postponed
Due to the social restrictions to promote community health, the Soup’R Books event scheduled for May 3 (The Beekeeper of Aleppo) is being postponed, most likely until late summer or fall.
Prayer of the Week: Prayer for Caregivers
It is a call …To listen more than we speak
To remain calm even when others are in chaos
To stay clear and focused even when no clear direction is apparent
To value people exactly as they are and not as we think they should be
To be with people who are suffering, rather than trying to have all of the answers or explain that which ultimately is “mystery”
To let go of the temptation to show only the clinical and professional side and hold back the personal and human side of caring
And so we pray …Good and gracious God,
You are the source of all healing. In you we have a share of the wonderful ministry we call “healing presence.” Today, we pray for caregivers, that your grace moves through each of them to reveal your healing touch, your compassionate glance, your consoling words. Bless them in a special way today and strengthen them so that they might continue to be your healing presence to others. We ask this in the power of your Holy Name. Amen
Bay Shore Family Corner
Each week we want to feature something that YOU and your family are doing as you endure this unprecedented time of mandated time at home. Just send an email telling us how you’re coping and we will share with the rest of the family. It can include photos or a craft idea or even a recipe! Email [email protected]
Andrew Sells (son of Kate Yelvington)
Andrew’s family has been tackling lots of home projects including preparing several raised beds ready for planting! Lots of cooking and baking, reading and crafts, e-learning, like all of us they are getting creative with their time and talents. Andrew is even setting up a recording space with some new equipment!
Seven-year-old Maggie decided she would like to know what it would be like to have curly hair! Mom Beth gave her the salon treatment at home. Shirley Temple lives!
A letter from Pastor Mary Martha, Hephatha Lutheran Church
Tuesday Praise, March 10, 2020
Dear Bay Shore Lutheran Church Mission Partners,
We pray this finds you in good health and strong faith. The picture above serves as a greeting of gratitude in the Gospel to you. We gathered on March 10 for Tuesday Praise. It was Nurse Chris’ birthday and we had balloons, cupcakes and a present. We set everything up. Children and adults streamed in, including Nurse Chris’ 84 year old mother and her 5 year old granddaughter. We opened in prayer and then entered Kate Yelvington (Bay Shore’s Parish Administrator)….. with Culvers burgers and chocolate milk and now, well now we had a party! We had the best time as we celebrated life and faith. We did not realize that this would be our last Tuesday Praise session face to face for quite some time. We just were enjoying what was unfolding in the sanctuary.
But there’s a backstory I want to share with you and I hope you will have time to read. Some four years ago, Kate entered our fellowship hall with Culvers burgers, fries and custard on a Tuesday Praise evening in August that was in a time of a significant summer heat wave. We were in fellowship hall because our sanctuary was at an unbearable temperature. Soon after Kate entered and unloaded, a family of 4 children and their beleaguered mom entered. They came to Tuesday Praise almost every week. It is a long story, but in the midst of so much struggle they had come on the bus to Tuesday Praise. As the bus rode down Center Street the mom decided they just better go home it was simply too hot and she was struggling. Really struggling. Then a traffic situation detoured the bus to Locust Street. As the family rode past the church the mom hollered to the bus driver to let them out and they entered fellowship hall for Tuesday Praise. The boy came down the stairs and he saw: burgers, fries, custard. It was his birthday. We didn’t know. His mom was not in any position to celebrate. He said to me, “Pastor, my mom did all this for my birthday???”
This same boy entered Tuesday Praise on March 10th. This time he entered with his great aunt, who now has custody of him and his siblings. He is 4 years older. He cannot see his mother. His aunt takes beautiful care of him. He entered on March 10 and saw burgers and cupcakes and came to me and said, “Pastor, don’t you remember that day my mom got burgers and fries and ice cream for everyone for my birthday???” Yes, I remember, dear child.
Kate seems to instinctively know when an unknown birthday, a heat wave, a pandemic is on its way. Bay Shore, within a church home you are honored, and you remember that. This boy has been honored in our midst and you are a major part of that happening! He loves to share in the time Demaris Kenwood (Bay Shore member) leads with our children for God’s breath. He loves reading from his kids Bible for our lesson. He loves the God’s child creed we say. He loves to give his offering each Tuesday. He loves to be at church. And in his memory for all his years will be a feeling of being honored with Culvers burgers on a hot day in a time of hardship in his life.
Bay Shore, you create with us and with God a church home where the children are honored and where the beleaguered mother can come to have her children fed and blessed, and where she is known as a blessing as well. THANK YOU for your decades of mission partnerships and for your recent gifts of finances for our lead free water pitcher ministry, for gift cards and offerings for our families in need, for Tuesday Praise snacks and Sunday worship visits and lunches in abundance, for back packs and work ministry support, for prayers and for life together in Christ.
We look forward to times ahead when we will see one another face to face. Until then, please look at the faces on this Tuesday Praise photograph and know that one boy, plus a whole group of us, will always remember the day Kate entered with Culvers right before the pandemic caused us to close our building…but not our ministry. I often say that Hephatha would not have made it through our lean years alive apart from Bay Shore. It’s true. God blesses us through you.
God’s peace and our love,
Pastor Mary Martha Kannass
We are a Virtual Church right now which means that we continue many of our activities via email and online. How can you stay connected?
- First, read this entire Beacon! Don’t skim it!
- When you see Blue phrases like this, it means that if you click on it, you will go to the webpage.
- Our Facebook Page is com/bayshorelutheran You do not need a Facebook account to view our Facebook page. If you are on Facebook, we encourage you to share, on your Facebook timelines, the events that we have created.
- We are not updating all the pages of our website at this time. But, we are updating the Stories Page found We encourage you to share this link with others who are in our community but do not have a church home. All of our activities online are open to the community.
- We have opted to use Zoom as our main virtual gathering provider. Zoom is accessible with the following:
- A landline phone. Dial the number(s) provided (each meeting has a different number), and enter the access code.
For example from an upcoming meeting:
One tap mobile: +13126266799—call this number!
117491031#–enter this code.
- A Smartphone of any kind. If you FaceTime or any other video interaction with your family on your phone, you can Zoom.
- A Laptop or Tablet that has Internet Access. If you have a laptop, tablet, iPad, Amazon Kindle, etc., you can Zoom. Open this document on your Internet connected device, click on the links and it will open up for you in your browser.
- A Desktop Computer with a Webcam/Microphone. Same as above, as long as you have Internet Access, you can use it.
- Even with all of our current offerings, we are limited in what we can do right now technologically. But we encourage our members to get connected as they are able through Zoom and through our Facebook pages. To reach our homebound members who may not have Internet Access, we will begin sharing three names a week for our members to send cards and well-wishes. And of course, please call members who you know and chat!
Reader Interactions