Beacon News
January 31, 2021
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Our Church Calendar
Our Zoom activities and events are linked below; almost daily we now post videos on our YouTube Channel as well.
Friday, January 29, 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 it’s convenient.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 117 491 031 No password created.
Sunday, January 31, 10 a.m. Worship on Zoom
https://zoom.us/j/602272570?pwd=VUdRVVp6NkRNczl5QjFnUkF4OGt4Zz09
Meeting ID: 602 272 570
Password: 344276
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,602272570#,,#,344276# US (Chicago)
Virtual Fellowship will follow our meeting!
Sunday, January 31, 5 p.m. ABC (Confirmation for 6-8 graders)
Monday, February 1, 5:30 p.m. Social Ministry Committee
Tuesday, February 2, 7:00 p.m. Building and Grounds Committee
Tuesday, February 2, 6:00 p.m. Third evening with Reggie Jackson—Shorewood Public Library (see article below)
Wednesday, February 3, 9:30 a.m. Pastor’s Bible Study—Word of the week: Salvation
Join us as we gather weekly via Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/568102184.
Meeting ID: 568 102 184 No password created.
Thursday, February 4, 10 a.m. Prayer Time on 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.
Thursday, February 4, 7 p.m. “Troubling the Waters” Vital discussion regarding racism in America and what we can do as people of God.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86714669874?pwd=akxhRW5qVGFPK3hxMzlCSWJSS2M5UT09
Meeting ID: 867 1466 9874
Password: 724958
Items are available here from our class. Click here.
Friday, February 5, 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 it’s convenient.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 117 491 031 No password created.
Sunday, February 7, 10 a.m. Worship
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
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)
On Sunday, February 21, immediately following our Worship Service, we will have our Annual Congregation Meeting. Reports from Committees are due to Pastor Sarah and Kate by the end of February 1. Thank you!
Ways to Grow and Learn
6 Weeks, 6 Big Words
Our Wednesday Morning Bible Study convenes at 9:30 a.m. Our theme for the weeks leading to Lent will be “6 Weeks, 6 Big Words.”
We will study 6 words that are common theological mind-twisters. Each week will be a new word. This week: Salvation. All are welcome to join as able on Zoom, link is in the calendar listing. Next week: salvation.
The Troubling the Waters group will continue the journey to understand our role and the church’s role in the ongoing racial discord that characterizes present-day America. We invite all of you to join us.
Many of us have joined on-line to hear Reggie Jackson discuss “Do Black Lives Matter?” on four successive Tuesday evenings. We then gather together reflect on those presentations the following Thursday evenings from 7 to 8 p.m.
You can register for each presentation at the following link:
https://www.shorewoodlibrary.org/connect/events/?eid=3081
Tuesday, February 2nd: Do Black Lives Matter? The Devaluation of Black Lives in Science and Medicine
Tuesday, February 9th: Do Black Lives Matter? The Devaluation of Black Lives in the Criminal Justice System
Lent is coming!
Here are some dates to save on your calendar.
Ash Wednesday Service, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. We will livestream the service.
Wednesday Night Bible Studies through Lent beginning Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. on Zoom.
We will walk through our Scripture readings for our Sundays. Pastor Sarah has written a devotional that you can use on Wednesdays with the group, or on your own at home. More details to come.
Ways to Connect and Share
Next Soup’R Books — Breath from Salt, on March 7
The Next Soup’R Books discussion by Zoom will be held on Sunday, March 7 at 4 pm. The book is Breath from Salt: A Deadly Genetic Disease, a New Era in Science, and the Patients and Families Who Changed Medicine Forever, by Bijal P. Trivedi.
Don’t be put off by the terribly long title! This book is fascinating and an easy read. It tells an engaging story of how an array of passionate people — medical researchers, philanthropists, patient advocates, and others — led a campaign to conquer cystic fibrosis, a previously deadly genetically-inherited disease. A feel-good story, proving that miracles can happen. (On the must-read list from Bill Gates). Some books will be available, without charge. Please contact Kate for arrangements.
Ways to Serve and Give
Thank you, Bay Shore community, for your offerings this past year. We have been able to continue to do our mission and ministries effectively with your on-going support.
Thank you for fulfilling your pledges for 2020, and for your pledges for 2021.
End of year statements were mailed out 2 weeks ago. Please take a close look at your pledges. Please make sure you are up to date with your giving! If you did not receive a statement, please contact the church office. Our fiscal year ends January 31.
We know the Packers will not be playing, but Super Bowl Sunday is still important! As “Souper” Bowl Sunday of Caring, we join ELCA churches all across America collecting for our local food banks and ELCA World Hunger. This year, we are partnering with our synod ministry, Outreach for Hope, and collecting funds that will be directed 50% locally and 50% to ELCA World Hunger. You can give directly to Bay Shore, but please indicate that it’s a special offering for Souper Bowl, or you can give online through the OFH’s weblink here: https://outreachforhope.salsalabs.org/donatenow/index.html
Be sure to select Bay Shore as your home congregation!
Altar Flower Sign up is back!
With Pastor Sarah’s good news announcement that we will be live-streaming worship from the Bay Shore sanctuary starting February 7. we will be having a flower arrangement in the sanctuary as well.
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!
CONGREGATION COUNCIL 2021
This is a snapshot of this year’s Congregation Council.
Pastor Sarah, Sara Biter, Connie Blair,
David Nestingen (President), Pam Woodard, John Emanuel (Treasurer)
Diane Stoiber, Curran Burns, Carrie Waxler
Helga Guequierre, Russ Sagmoen
We will install our Council Members this week during worship.
Many thanks for your dedication to and love for Bay Shore Lutheran Church!
Prayer of the Week
Lord, I fight against change so often.
Settle into what is comfortable and what is known.
But I know you are doing something new.
Thank you that even when everything changes around me, you always remain the same —faithful, true, trustworthy, and full of grace.
Please help me to know where to go and what to do.
Show me when to say goodbye to the old and how to welcome new seasons and opportunities.
Please remind me of your presence and help me be strong and courageous, knowing that you are with me .In Jesus’ name, Amen
Readings for Sunday, January 31, 2021
First Reading Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Today’s reading is part of a longer discourse in Deuteronomy, an updating of the law for the Israelite community as the people wait to enter the promised land. Here Moses assures the people that God will continue to guide them through prophets who will proclaim the divine word.
[Moses said:] 15The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. 16This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: “If I hear the voice of the Lord my God anymore, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.” 17Then the Lord replied to me: “They are right in what they have said. 18I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. 19Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. 20But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.”
Psalm 111
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Ps. 111:10)
1Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the assembly of the upright, in the| congregation.
2Great are your works, O Lord,
pondered by all who delight in them.
3Majesty and splendor mark your deeds,
and your righteousness endures forever.
4You cause your wonders to be remembered;
you are gracious and full of compassion.
5You give food to | those who fear you,
remembering forever your covenant.
6You have shown your people the power of your works
in giving them the lands of the nations.
7The works of your hands are faithful ness and justice;
all of your precepts are sure.
8They stand fast forever and ever,
because they are done in truth and equity.
9You sent redemption to your people and commanded your covenant forever;
holy and awesome is your name.
10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who practice this have a good understanding. God’s praise endures forever.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Paul is concerned about the way some Corinthian Christians use their freedom in Christ as license to engage in non-Christian behavior that sets a damaging example to other, impressionable believers. Christians have a responsibility to each other that their behavior does not cause another to sin.
1Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; 3but anyone who loves God is known by him.
4Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords—6yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
7It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8“Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? 11So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. 12But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.
Gospel: Mark 1:21-28
Forces that would bring death and disease have taken hold of a man, yet they recognize Jesus and know what his power means for them. Jesus commands these forces to leave and people are amazed at his authority.
21[Jesus and his disciples] went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught.22They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
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]
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