The Beacon of Bethel Lutheran Church
Let God’s light shine before all mankind.
“Where Faith Grows”
440 943-5000 www.bethelwillowick.org E-mail= [email protected]
APRIL 2017
Pastoral Message
Greetings in the name of our Risen and Glorified Lord and Savior,
“April showers, yada yada yada” and of course all that goes with that old rhyme. But April showers
are not what’s on my mind today. As I sit and compose this message my mind is focused on the
upcoming preparations for Confirmation and First Communion, along with Holy Week and Easter. All
this while doing the duties associated with the pastoral office. The demands and stresses are enormous
this year. It is only through the knowledge that God has, and always will, provide me the needed
strength to do what we all know that needs to be done. I have had many offers to help in the upcoming
weeks and I have accepted a few. But truth be told there are some things that need to be handled
through the pastoral office.
Now I am going about the task of writing a pastoral message for the April issue of the Bethel
Beacon. I was thinking of writing about the upcoming events and the opportunities for worship. But
that would be redundant and you can see all that in this issue. So, let me just say a few important
words:
He Is Risen!!
He is Risen
Indeed,
Alleluia
Happy Easter one and all
In His Service
♰ Rev. Donald P. Beaumont
Rev. Donald P. Beaumont [email protected]
Joshua 24:15
As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
mailto:[email protected]
THE ROLE OF THE CROSS
If the cross is the place where the worst thing that could happen
happened, it is also the place where the best thing that could happen
happened. Ultimate hatred and ultimate love met on those two
crosspieces of wood. Suffering and love were brought into harmony. ...
To be “saved” requires a severance from the former life as
clean and sharp as though made by a knife. There must be a wall of
separation between the old life and the new, a radical break. That
means death — death to the old life, in order for the new to begin. …
This wall of separation, this barrier, is the cross.
—Elisabeth Elliot, A Path Through Sufering
___________________________________
2017
___________________________________
WHEN WE CAN’T FIND EASTER
Easter is the most joyous Christian holy day ... except when it’s not. What do we do
when our mood isn’t what we think it “should” be? The kids are sugared up, we’re juggling
family gatherings (and conflicts), everyday challenges remain, and festive hymns — however
rousing — fail to lift our spirits. We wonder, “What’s wrong with me, that I can’t seem to
find Easter?”
Been there, done that. And it’s okay. You’re okay.
Jesus’ resurrection doesn’t scoop us out of our troubles, but the death-defying Christ
walks through them beside us, on our own Emmaus road (Luke 24). We aren’t alone. When we
can’t find Easter, Easter somehow finds us — if not on this designated Sunday, perhaps two
days from now, or next week or mid-May. Watch for it; keep your heart open. Christ is risen
indeed — and you shall be too.
—Heidi Mann
Midweek Wed., March 29 7pm
Palm Sunday Sun., April 9 10am
with Confirmation and 1st Communion
Maundy Thursday Thur., April 13 7pm
with Communion
Good Friday Fri., April 14 11am & 7pm
Contemporary Service Sat., April 15 6pm
Easter SONrise Service Sun., April 16 6:30am
Easter Celebration Sun., April 16 10am
OUTREACH COMMITTEE
Our last Outreach meeting was held on the 9th of March. We began with a
half hour discussion on the first two chapters of the book “Joining Jesus on His
Mission” that Pastor gave us at the last meeting. Everyone seemed to enjoy this
book so far. We learned that we have to develop a different mindset as far as
reaching out into our community, and you will be hearing more about this later as
we continue to read the next four chapters - this being our “homework” to
prepare for discussion in the future. Jack presented the committee with a
revised description of the duties of the Outreach Committee, as outlined in
our bylaws. The proposed changes will be voted on at the next voter’s meeting on Tuesday, March 28th.
Plans are moving right along for the 7th Annual Bethel Outreach Golf Outing, which will be held on Friday,
June 16th. There is a page in this issue of the Beacon with details on the outing and sign up instructions. Jim
Krainz has also put this information on our website – check it out at www.bethelwillowick.org
With Maundy Thursday being the date that we would have held the April meeting, we agreed to change the
date of our next meeting to April 6th, which is a week earlier than usual. Since then, I have found out that
Pastor and Jack have another commitment, so there is a chance we may change the date – again! Look to the
weekly bulletin for further updates!
Thank You!
Alice Beeman, Mike Bretz, Jim Krainz, Christine Risher, Steve Risher,
Jack Schimmelmann & Jackie Storts (Committee Chairperson)
(Article submitted by Christine Risher)
FORSAKEN FOR US
Church reformer Martin Luther considered Jesus’ cry from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you
forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) as “the greatest words in all of Scripture,” writes Timothy Keller. In Walking With
God Through Pain and Suffering (Penguin Books), Keller notes, “Luther knew personally about what he called
Anfectungen, a word that means the ‘assaults’ that the world, the flesh and the devil make on human beings
through the evils and suffering of life.”
Jesus suffered Anfectungen “in infinite degrees, beyond anything any other human being will ever
experience,” Keller writes. And he did it all for us. As Luther said, “In Christ, the God-forsaken sinner has a Savior
who has taken on himself the full depths of human estrangement from God — and overcome it.”
SOCIAL COMMITTEE
Our March “Potluck & a Movie” was held on the 19th. Sixteen people showed
up to watch the movie “Risen.” As always, we enjoyed some good food and
fellowship. We will not be hosting a movie in the month of April – BUT we are
having our annual Easter Breakfast, held right after the SONrise Worship
Service until 9:00am. We hope you can join us! The menu will include casseroles,
sausage, cheesy potatoes, French toast sticks, hard-boiled eggs, fruit, dessert,
coffee and juice.
Our next “Potluck & a Movie” will be on Sunday, May 21st. The featured
movie is called “Miracles from Heaven” – as always, dinner at 5pm with movie at 6pm. Hope to see you there!
Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 18th, and as always, everyone is welcome to attend!
Christine-Dave-Georgann-Julie-Sherry (Committee chairperson) - Steve
(Article submitted by Christine Risher)
http://www.bethelwillowick.org/
Lutheran Ministries Media, Inc.
5 Martin Luther Drive Fort Wayne, IN 46825-4996
Worship for Shut-Ins Sermon Summaries
These Worship services on WRLM can be viewed on Time Warner Cable channel 12
and U-verse channel 67 at 11:30 am on the following Sundays
APRIL 2017
April 2, 2017 – Fifth Sunday in Lent
Psalm: 130; Epistle: Romans 8:1-11; Gospel: John 11:17-27, 38-53
“The Death of a Friend” - Sermon Text: John 11:17-27, 38-53
by Rev. Paul E. Shoemaker, Emanuel Lutheran Church ~ New Haven, IN
The death of a loved one changes our world. Jesus had a friend who died and He felt great sorrow at the loss. The Good
News is that Jesus has conquered death. As Jesus says, “He who believes in Me shall never die.”
April 9, 2017 – Palm Sunday/Sunday of the Passion
Psalm: Psalm 118:19-29; Epistle: Philippians 2:5-11; Gospel: John 12:12-19
“Palm Sunday Exclamation” - Sermon Text: John 12:13b
by Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Brege, St. Paul Lutheran Church ~ Decatur, IN
On Palm Sunday the people shouted a profound exclamation: They were quoting from the Old Testament, they were labeling
the work that Jesus was about to perform, and they were describing Christ's work among us now through Word and
Sacrament: "Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord."
April 16, 2017 – The Resurrection of Our Lord – Easter Day
Psalm: Psalm 118:15-29; Epistle: Acts 10:34-43; Gospel: Matthew 28:1-10
“This Is The Day!” - Sermon Text: Psalm 118:24
by Rev. Dr. Thomas R. Ahlersmeyer, Holy Cross Lutheran Church ~ Fort Wayne, IN
Can you point to one day that changed the entire course of your life? Absolutely! Jesus’ Easter Sunday victory over death has
changed your eternity as well as how you face each day of your life. “THIS IS THE DAY that the Lord has made” is a hope-filled,
joy-filled reality because Jesus Christ IS risen!
April 23, 2017 – Second Sunday of Easter
Psalm: Psalm
