Post date: Apr 29, 2014 8:46:58 PM
From the Pastor…
Welcome to the season of Easter, a time between now and the Day of Pentecost on Sunday, June 8. That special Sunday focuses on the Holy Spirit. We will get there later. Today I want to talk about some of the things that are happening at Bethel.
Last month I spoke of the resurrection of Christ using the word “mighty”. I can think of nothing mightier than that. I also know that we are a resurrection people who pray first, walk together and change lives. Because we are a resurrection people, the ordinary things that we do become extraordinary. Why is that? It is a sacramental understanding about how God does God’s work in this world. I give you examples in our sacraments:
When we are baptized, ordinary water is used with the Word of God. We receive forgiveness, redemption and salvation.
When we receive the Lord’s Super we eat ordinary bread and sip ordinary wine. But we receive the body and blood of Christ, really and truly! We also receive forgiveness, redemption and salvation!
Amazing and mighty!
It is not only our sacraments that are sacramental. God also uses the ordinary stuff of everyday life to do extraordinary things. Here are a few examples:
Worship: The talents of our two choirs, as they lead us in worship…. Heavenly!
Food: Folks bring ordinary food to Bethel. Hungry people come to receive it from volunteers who care. It is God’s sacramental work.
Men of Bethel: We ate the wonderful food they fixed for the annual breakfast. Now they are planning to meet more often. Who knows what God will do with what Bethel’s men do?
Bethel Food Pantry
Our pantry is expanding to be able to serve more people with more food including milk, butter, cheese, eggs, bread and other perishables. It is sacramental! We will have a large refrigerator, movable shelves, racks and carts, and relocate to the large room near Gustafson hall.
If you would like to contribute to this expansion, please place your donation in a pew envelope at worship or send it to us by mail. God is doing extraordinary things, and we are a part of it!
Pastor Alan