Beacon News
September 13, 2020
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Poem for September Author Unknown
Smoke hangs like haze over harvested fields,
The gold of stubble, the brown of turned earth
And you walk under the red light of fall
The scent of fallen apples, the dust of threshed grain
The sharp, gentle chill of fall.
Here as we move into the shadows of autumn
The night that brings the morning of spring
Come to us, Lord of Harvest
Teach us to be thankful for the gifts you bring us
Our Church Calendar is Listed Below.
Friday, September 11, 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.
One tap mobile: +13126266799,,117491031# US (Chicago)
Sunday, September 13 10 a.m. Worship – Blessing of Students and Teachers
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)
Virtual Coffee Time is back following the service.
Tuesday, September 15, Staff Meeting at Noon.
Tuesday, September 15, 7 p.m. Congregation Council
Wednesday, September 16, 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.
Thursday, September 17, 10 a.m. – Prayer Time 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)
Thursday, September 17, 7:00 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, September 18, 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.
One tap mobile: +13126266799,,117491031# US (Chicago)
Sunday, September 20, 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)
Virtual Fellowship will follow our service.
You can watch our services after they happen on our YouTube Channel. Click here!
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 begin a new study this week, walking through some stories of Jesus.
We will be resuming our discussion about racism in our country and in the Church, Troubling the Waters, Thursday, September 17, 7 p.m. The planning committee welcomes all to join us, even if you have never attended before.
Link to Materials:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/kmbe4fkcbbdkeqf/AADdapbc7vJXGrPLxppTdjTCa?dl=0
Ways to Love, Serve and Give
Pastor Sarah has been anxious to begin her miles this month—all this rain is not helping. You are welcome to still donate to her page. She is still in the top 5!. Click here to donate to her page directly.
Do you wonder what Outreach for Hope does? It is the arm of the synod which coordinates partner ministries like we have with Hephatha. We are one of many churches that support sister churches in Milwaukee—Hephatha has over 20 ministry partners like us. Watch this great video from Pastor Mary Martha, made by OFH!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmmjNmaLaZE&feature=youtu.be
Don’t Pre-Rinse the Dishes
If you can’t live without your dishwasher, then at least cut the pre-rinse. With a decent detergent, your dishes will be just as clean and you can save an average of twenty gallons of water per load.
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 using a debit/credit card right now, you may do so here.
A special request from Pastor Mary Martha:
One of our Hephatha 17-year-olds would like to lift weights while he is away from the church gym. Would someone in your congregation possibly have a bench and set of weights they no longer use? Terrill would put them to good use. Thank you and God’s peace to you, Mary Martha. Please contact [email protected] if you do!
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. You may remember Pastor Sarah sharing how in August she is not purchasing un-needed items and she is funneling funds to HTF if she forgets— well, she is up to 78.50 so far!
Click here to donate Directly to HTF.
Ways to Connect and Share
The Bay Shore Lutheran Church Foundation (BSLCF) is accepting grant applications until September 30, 2020. Grant requests should reflect the religious, charitable and educational responsibilities of Bay Shore Lutheran Church (BSLC), including furtherance of its spiritual ministry, care of its physical properties, implementation of educational responsibilities, and support of organizations and groups within the congregation. Grants from the BSLCF are intended to supplement, not substitute, financing provided by the normal BSLC operating budget. Grant applications can also be considered for support of agencies and activities outside of the BSLC congregation which have, in the opinion of the Foundation, a clearly identifiable Lutheran character and emphasis, complementing the ministry of BSLC and/or providing services to its membership. These grants should also reflect a religious, charitable and educational responsibility and focus. The grant application form is available now by contacting the church office at [email protected]
Prayer of the Week: Prayer for caregivers
Loving God, we pray today for all whose day starts with anxiety,
as they leave the security of home worrying about the risk of infection,
particularly those whose health or age classifies them as vulnerable.
Loving God, be close, keep them safe, along with all whose tasks today
includes the care of frail and elderly.
And for all of us, grant wisdom to make sensible choices,
not just for ourselves, but for everybody. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
Reading for this Sunday, September 13
First Reading: Genesis 50:15-21
15Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?” 16So they approached Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this instruction before he died, 17‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” 19But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 21So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.
Psalm 103:8-13
8The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.
10He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.
13As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
Second Reading: Romans 14:1-12 This Christian community has significant struggles with diversity. Here Paul helps us understand that despite different practices in worship and personal piety, we do not judge one another. All Christians belong to the Lord Jesus Christ who died for all of us and will judge each of us.
1Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. 2Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. 3Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. 4Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand. 5Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. 6Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God. 7We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. 8If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” 12So then, each of us will be accountable to God.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 18:21-35 When Peter asks about the limits of forgiveness, Jesus responds with a parable that suggests human forgiveness should mirror the unlimited mercy of God
21Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. 23“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; 25and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. 26So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. 28But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. 31When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ 34And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. 35So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Click here to see our Sunday’s Order of Worship 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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