BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH LC MS
email: [email protected]
This is the House of God . . .this is the Gate of Heaven! Genesis 28:17-18
3166 McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater, FL 33761 Phone 727 799-3010, Fax 796-4889
Rev. Timothy J. Parsch, D.D., Pastor Home Phone 727 535-5323
2013
Give thanks to the Lord; call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done.
Sing to Him; sing praise to Him tell of all His wonderful acts. Psalm 105:-1-2
What a beautiful passage from the Psalms! Please read it again . . . certainly each and every one of us can reflect upon all the wonderful acts of His love, and not just abstractly, but personally, the things we have felt and experienced in our lives! And if we do know them, certainly we should praise Him, sing to Him, thank Him, and then and this is important tell others of our faith and how we feel. Thats the Good News. Thats the Good News of our Christianity! Thats the Good News the world needs to hear! Thats the Good News: that we ourselves need to continually hear and be reminded of!!!
This month we will celebrate Thanksgiving. We are feeling the beautiful and refreshing cooling down: in temperatures. The air is becoming brisk and fresh. Our lives continue to be filled to the brim with schedules, routines, demands and sometimes even survival strategies. But in the midst of it all we can never forget: Give thanks to the Lord; call on His name, make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him; sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts.
I marvel at my GodI wonder that the Lord
Who called the universe into being,of all creation asks help from us,
Who hangs the stars,and bids me go to share my joy
Makes seas to rage,in Jesus Christ;
And teaches fledgling birds to flyto help a friend reach out and grasp
To far off lands.Gods offered hand of love. Selected
As a congregation we have so much to be thankful for. I pray that you continue to love each other and continue to reach out in Christian love to new members and to the many visitors who frequent our services. And, please, keep our ministry your ministry at Bethel in your daily prayers. As Christians we have the greatest message in the world a message of joy, of peace, of certainty, & solidness the message of Jesus Christ who died to give us life! He doesnt take us out of those chapters in life that are difficult, but He does walk with us through them! Wow! Oh, give thanks unto the Lord for He is God!!!
Have a great month and a blessed Thanksgiving! Father, you have given us so much! Please, give us one more thing a thankful heart!
In our Lords love,
Pastor Parsch
Stewardship
Our basic system of living is faith in God; faith in God and faith in Gods Word. What are our problems and concerns? Who is going to solve these issues? How will they solve them? When will we see a resolution? The answers lie in our faith-based lives. That is how we live in good days and in bad days; in health and also when we or our loved ones are stricken with illness; when the checkbook balances in the black and when it doesnt! FAITH! We are a people called to confidence!
Wishful thinking? NO!
Pie in the sky ideology? NO!
Sticking our heads in the sand? NO!
Our faith is firmly grounded in Gods love. His love is seen in the giving of his Son, Jesus Christ, for us. The debt of our sins has been erased!
Wow! Now that is a bail out plan! It is not a plan to somehow extract repayment from us, but a real bail out plan paid in full by our Savior, Gods Son!
Now, to the point of my writing. The purpose of the Church is to get the wonderful message of Salvation through Jesus Christ out and also to keep it in front of us, to live our lives so that others may see the hope that we have through him. As a church, that takes money. That is something that seems to be less available these days. We, in the church, cant go to the government for a bail out. But we have a better source people. And, it is you, the people of God, people who believe in God, trust in God, have confidence in God, and love God. As you determine your contribution this year to the church, your church, I know you will do so in faith, because we are faith-based people of God, in Jesus Christ our Lord, who has a future plan for us here, with His presence and presents, and an after-life plan for us that we cannot begin to imagine. We hope we can count on 100% participation of time, talent, and treasure to Bethel! Everyone can give something of themselves.
I write this to you in our Lords love and service,
Pastor Parsch
STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2013
November flowers given to the glory of God by the following
3Dolores Paton in loving memory of her mother, Anna Stryker
10Anne Koster in loving memory of her mother, Anne Passaro on her 5th anniversary with our Lord
17Carol Bennett for the blessings granted to her Aunt and Godmother, Marie Riechmann on her 96th birthday
In loving memory of Charles and Florence Wadenklee
24Bob & Evelyn Cunningham in honor of their 67th wedding anniversary
Bruce & Sylvia Strand in honor of their 35th wedding anniversary
Memorial Gifts
In Memory of Gina Reading
Connie Pantano
In Memory of Loren Imeson
Theodore H. HaapalaKeith and Kathie OvervoldElsie Van Dusen
Anja Mackie and familyFarrell and Janet ElliottGary & Carol Chappell
In Memory of Richard Wohler
Jean Wohler
In Memory of William Harpster
Miss Barbara McVay
In Memory of Conrad Waldron
Bob & Evelyn Cunningham
In Memory of Bonnie Mattox
Bob & Evelyn Cunningham
In Memory of Gina Pantano-Reading
Connie Pantano Roach
Serving our Lord during the month of November 2013
Elders
3 CommunionEarly:* Lee Tieman
Scott Daly
Paul Martaus
Late:* Dennis Williams
Phil Hubbell
Warren Klein
10Early:* Bill Lueders
Tim Pupke
Late:* Walt Tabbert
Wally Gustafson
Luis Rodriguez
Brian Wolf (reader)
17 CommunionEarly:* Paul Martaus
Lee Tieman
Scott Daly (reader)
Late:* Fred Behnke
Mike Mathews
Paul Blake (reader)
24Early:* Bob Cunningham
Paul Martaus (reader)
Late:* Will Ausdemore
Tom Sunderman (reader)
Herb Powell
2810 a.m.:* Walt Tabbert
Thanksgiving Day WorshipScott Daly
Ushers
Early:Bob Cunningham
Ralph Laesch
Bill Lueders
Dennis Pullen
Paul Saunders
Late:Brad Ausdemore
Scott Ausdemore
Dave Camburn
Cal Peterson
Altar Guild
Early:Mary & Tim Pupke
Late:Veryl Oberdiek, Wendie Roeper &
Karen Somers
Acolytes
3Early:Makayla Bay
LateEmily Behnke
10Early:Jackson Bjelland
Late:Lauren Callahan
17Early:Brett Daly
Late:Noah Fenton
24Early:AJ Harris
Late:Kate Hubbell
2810 a.m. Thanksgiving Day Jesse Jordan
Greeters
3Early:Pat Gerke & Grace Gilbert
Late:Les & Henrietta Beyer
10Early:Ed & Jan Temme
Late:Bertha Boyer & Lois Dahl
17Early:Karen Beck & Marianne Cassidy
Late:Bob & Deidra Sorensen
24Early:Eleanor & Karen Brasted
Late:Tim & Beverly Nehls
Counters
3Frank & Grace Picardi
Lee & Nancy Tieman
10Jeanette Pedroli
Ed & Jan Temme
17Erling & Helen Rikansrud
Portia Watson
24Eleanor & Karen Brasted
Margaret Stockhammer
LWML
(Lutheran Womens
Missionary League)
LWML FALL RALLY AT GRACE LUTHERAN November 2, 2013: From Our Hearts Flow Living Waters (John 7:38) Registration 8:15-8:45 a.m. in the church narthex. Opening service at 9 with Holy Communion led by Rev. Kevin Loughran. Registration and lunch $8. Gifts from the Heart: D & D Missionary Homes: Their greatest need is financial assistance for struggling single parents and missionary families. They can also use Wal-Mart, Target, Publix gift cards and pantry items. Checks should be made out to D&D Missionary Homes. Make checks payable to Grace Lutheran LWML. Mail to Donna Tobin, 8489 Parkwood Blvd., Seminole, FL 33777
FIRST LUTHERAN LWML
HOLIDAY BAZAAR
You are invited to attend November 9 from 9 am 3 pm at First Lutheran Church, 1644 Nursery Road, Clearwater. Fresh salads and sandwiches are available for lunch. A large variety of handmade items for sale. There will be jewelry, purses, cosmetics, collectibles, handmade wooden signs, doll clothes, baby clothes many potential Christmas gifts!. The LWML ladies will have baked goods available for sale. There is no entry fee.
Thank you friends of Bethel for your prayers and well-wishes while I was recovering from surgery.
Kay Nelson
I would like to thank everyone for their prayers, cards, and concern during my recent surgery and recovery.
Dennis Williams
10 a.m. November 28
GIVING THANKS
Giving thanks is a wonderful tradition, but for Christians, it is more than just a once a year observance. We live our lives in thankfulness to our Lord for his salvation, grace and mercy. One way to express that thankfulness is by being a good steward. The Lutheran Church Extension Fund offers gift planning, estate planning and investment opportunities for Lutherans. If you would like more information, please call 1-800-843-5233. There is no
