Beacon News
July 12, 2020
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Oh, How I Love Summer
by Susan M. Gilbert
Though May did bring her deepest grey
And June did bring her gloom,
I woke this morn in a glorious way
To Sunshine in my room.
Quick, get up, it’s time to rise.
Greet the day. I started to cry.
For today, It has begun.
It’s finally here, the summer sun!
Feel her warmth, see my garden grow,
Taste the sweetest fruits, watch the butterflies flow.
Hear the squirrels chatter and my orioles swoon
Till the evening comes with the summer moon.
It seems like I’ve waited such a very long time,
Longing for the light of your rays of sunshine.
So please stay a while. Bring your long, lazy days.
I’ll cherish each blue sky and ride every wave.
Oh, how I love summer and all of her songs,
Happy summer to all, and may it be long!
Our Church Calendar is Listed Below.
We are offering many activities and worship through Zoom. Join Us!
Friday, July 10, 10 a.m. – Coffee Chats with Pastor Sarah—LAST ONE UNTIL July 31.
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.
One tap mobile: +13126266799,,117491031# US (Chicago)
Sunday, July 5, 9:30 a.m.—Virtual PRAISE PLAY for kids age three through 5th grade. Contact Kate if you would like to be included in this fun together time. We have a different theme each week! Kate: [email protected]
Sunday, July 12, 10 a.m. Worship
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)
Coffee Fellowship Time will follow our service.
Thursday, July 16, 10 a.m. – Prayer Time via Zoom. Join us for 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)
Thursday, July 16, 7:00 p.m. “Troubling the Waters” vital discussion regarding racism in America and what we can do as people of God. This week will be an introduction of the discussion. All are welcome to join in!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86714669874?pwd=akxhRW5qVGFPK3hxMzlCSWJSS2M5UT09
Meeting ID: 867 1466 9874
Password: 724958
Sunday, July 19, 10 a.m. Worship
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)
Readings for this Sunday, July 12
First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-13 God’s word to Israel’s exiles is as sure and effective as never-failing precipitation. Their return to the Holy Land in a new exodus is cheered on by singing mountains and by trees that clap their hands.
10For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 12For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Psalm 65:9-13
9You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it.
10You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.
11You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
12The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy,
13the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.
Second Reading: Romans 8:1-11 There is no condemnation for those who live in Christ. God sent Christ to accomplish what the law was unable to do: condemn sin and free us from its death-dealing ways. The Spirit now empowers proper actions and values in our lives and gives us the promise of resurrected life.
1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
10But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Gospel: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 In Matthew’s gospel, both Jesus and his disciples “sow the seed” of God’s word by proclaiming the good news that “the kingdom of heaven is near.” Now, in a memorable parable, Jesus explains why this good news produces different results in those who hear.
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9Let anyone with ears listen!” 18“Hear then the parable of the sower. 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Click here to see our Sunday’s Order of Worship to be used at home.
It includes the hymns, too.
An Important Reminder to our Church
Dear friends,
In the past several weeks, we have witnessed history. Truly, we have. Protests and calls for social justice for people of color have happened everywhere, including Whitefish Bay and Shorewood. People are reading books and articles centered on race, privilege, police reform, social justice and more. While all of this was happening, even our lectionary readings for church focused on Jesus’ teachings of welcome and what is our role in loving our neighbor. There is no better time than now to have a conversation, as a church, about current events and race issues in America.
Thursday evenings you are invited to join other Bay Shore members in an open conversation about race and white privilege. We will be utilizing the resource entitled “Troubling the Waters for the Healing of the Church” from our denomination. We will engage in learning and conversation about this important topic. We specifically have chosen Thursday nights to allow more persons of all ages to be involved. We aspire to have as many generations involved as possible.
A member of the planning team shared that “I am thinking of this as an invitation to a journey toward the destination of understanding racial justice (systemic issue) and in the process beginning to become reconciled through Christ to our neighbors of color (personal issue). Each of us will have something important to contribute to making the journey a success. And we are all in the journey together.”
Your experience and voice are needed in this discussion. We all have something to share and also to learn. As a Body of Christ in our community, it is especially important to be engaged in this conversation and be as Christ called us to be—real neighbors. We have a dedicated planning team already in place, with multiple facilitators who will guide our virtual gatherings. We understand that you may not be able to attend all sessions—but we sincerely urge you to attend at least one. At least one to show your support for this conversation happening, and your interest in becoming a better neighbor to our brothers and sisters of color.
Links to the materials and the Zoom invitation are below.
If you have any questions, please reach out to me as you are able.
I hope to see as many of you there on Thursday, July 9 at 7 p.m.
Blessings and peace,
Pastor Sarah
Link to Materials:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/kmbe4fkcbbdkeqf/AADdapbc7vJXGrPLxppTdjTCa?dl=0
Zoom Invitation:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86714669874?pwd=akxhRW5qVGFPK3hxMzlCSWJSS2M5UT09
Meeting ID: 867 1466 9874
Password: 724958
One tap mobile: +13017158592,,86714669874#,,,,0#,,724958# US (Germantown)
Please Consider Giving Generously to our
Special Summer Appeal for July
To the beloved community of Bay Shore,
We recently sent a letter to our community inviting all to an exciting opportunity to be a part of expanding ministry at Bay Shore Lutheran Church with a $15,000 special appeal to purchase the equipment needed to live-stream from our church home.
Continuing to offer quality virtual opportunities for our community and potential outreach is vital. We have keenly felt the lack of cameras and streaming capabilities immediately when we initially halted in-person services back in March. Once we resume in-person worship, it is likely we will have to limit the number who can attend in our sanctuary. The ability to live-stream and then upload our services to the internet will allow members who are at-risk and others to connect with our community from their homes.
This will have an impact long after the threat of COVID-19 has passed. In addition to worship, we will have the capacity to live-stream weddings or meetings or special events. Those with heath challenges or who are out of town will continue to be a part of our ministry. It is exciting to consider!
We also enclosed a brochure with more about this opportunity, including a giving chart showing the sizes of gifts which will help us reach our goal, ideally by July 31 so we can start immediately.
Please prayerfully consider how you can support this special appeal and help us meet the future more boldly than before. Please send your special offering to us for the appeal. And thank you! Thank you for your consistent support of the mission and ministry of Bay Shore, especially during these challenging times.
In Christ,
Congregation Council of Bay Shore Lutheran Church
Stewardship Committee
- AN UPDATE from the letter: We’re excited to announce that we already have $3,500 in gifts committed to this already!
Ways to Grow and Learn
Bible Study continues…
We gather on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom for our Pastor’s Bible Study. All are welcome, and no preparation and previous knowledge is required.
We will walk through the life of David, King of Israel. Come and learn more about this complicated man. We will NOT meet July 15 or 22. We will resume again on July 29.
Ways to Love, Serve and Give
A Sincere THANK YOU to Bay Shore! Our collection of offerings for Hephatha’s Summer Scholarships well-exceeded our goal! We have shared the offering with our brothers and sisters in Christ! We reached out to many of you who contributed after the goal was met, and everyone agreed to use the extra funds to purchase and provide the 30 promised filled with supplies backpacks to Hephatha! Our team has agreed to purchase in bulk and sort the backpacks in our homes. THANK YOU ALL making this possible. We have met BOTH goals for Hephatha and we know they are grateful for our commitment! What a joy to see such generosity!
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.
Thank you for your continued to support of Bay Shore during this difficult time. Our mission and ministries are funded solely on the offerings we receive. Please continue to mail your offerings to the church. Or, to make an offering online right now, you may do so here. See below how you can even “text” your offering to Bay Shore
BAY SHORE NOW HAS TEXT TO GIVE! (855) 461-0194
You can quickly and easily make a one-time or recurring donation to Bay Shore!
Click this link for a short video about Vanco’s Give+Text.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj7AiH6rty0
Care for Creation tip of the week: Walk, Bike or Take Public Transit Walking and biking are obvious ways to reduce greenhouse gases. Plus you’ll get some good cardio and burn some calories while you do it. If you live in an area that’s not walkable, take advantage of your local mass transit if you can. Or carpool. Even one car off on the road makes a difference.
Remember in Prayer, or send a card to members and friends convalescing and/or homebound, especially:
- Carla Hoelz:: (NEW) 800 Wall St. Apt. 2, on 2nd. Floor Elm Grove, WI 53122 (262) 796-1325
- We are sad to share the passing of Pastor Mary Martha’s mother Kathy. She was able to spend her last days at home surrounded by her loving family. Cards of sympathy may be sent to Pastor Mary Martha Kannass 18050 Redvere Dr. Brookfield, WI 53045
WHEN we return to our building Danny Ellis and Dulcie Shoener have a newly refurbished space near the choir room to be used as their music office. It has been freshly painted and they are excited to inhabit the space. What is needed however is a desk. Would anyone have an office desk that they are ready to find a new home for? If so, please contact the church office. [email protected]
Ways to Connect and Share
Join us on Sundays for our Virtual Coffee Hour
immediately following our worship service.
Stay online and chat with friends. We will have small group break outs for more intimate fellowship, and we will also have conversation starter questions, too. We hope to create a virtual time like our “coffee fellowship” was on Sundays when we were in the building. Stay, drink a cup of coffee, and reconnect with friends.
Prayer of the Week: Giving Thanks for Summer
Father, Creator of all, thank You for summer!
Thank you for the warmth of the sun
and the increased daylight.
Thank You for the beauty I see all around me
and for the opportunity to be outside and enjoy Your creation.
Thank You for the increased time I have to be with my friends and family,
and for the more casual pace of the summer season.
Draw me closer to You this summer.
Teach me how I can pray
no matter where I am or what I am doing.
Warm my soul with the awareness of Your presence
and light my path with Your Word and Counsel.
As I enjoy Your creation, create in me
a pure heart and a hunger and a thirst for You. Amen
Stay in Touch
We would love it if you would fill out a new contact information form for us!
You don’t need to be a member to do so. Follow the link below to give us your latest contact information. If you’ve already completed the new form, thank you!
https://forms.gle/zcUGXgbPUJAK2Zfw6
STAFF
Pastor Sarah Stobie [email protected]
Kate Yelvington, Church Office [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.facebook.com/bayshorelutheran
Like our Facebook page! We hit 300 followers this week, and we would love to have more. Be sure to like our posts, follow our events and share what you can to spread the information to our community and beyond.
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