Bethel Lutheran Church

One thing have I desired of the Lord... that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life...Psalm 27:4

Worship for May 16, 2021: Jesus Prays for Us

The forgiven person becomes the forgiving person. The healed person becomes the healing person. And the loved person becomes the loving person.

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Place Finders: Readings 11:40 Sermon 17:39 Prayers 35:47

Photo Credit: Caleb Woods on Unsplash

Photo Credit: Caleb Woods on Unsplash

Worship for May 9, 2021: No Greater Love

“I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” -John 15:11

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Place Finders: Readings 12:35 Sermon 17:28 Prayers 32:13

Photo Credit: Taylor Smith on Unsplash

Photo Credit: Taylor Smith on Unsplash

Worship for May 2, 2021: The Gardener, the Vine, and the Branches

“I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit...” -John 15:5

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Place Finders: Readings 9:38 Sermon 17:22 Prayers 34:35

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Worship for April 25, 2021: The Good Shepherd

Our guest pastor for today’s service is Wendell Brown, a friendly and frequent presence in the pews and the pulpit of Bethel Lutheran Church.

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Place Finders: Readings 9:50 Sermon 15:41 Prayers 35:29

Photo Credit: Biegun Wschodni on Unsplash

Photo Credit: Biegun Wschodni on Unsplash

Worship for April 18, 2021: "You are witnesses of these things."

Today our guest pastor is Rev Dr. Marjorie Funk-Pihl from the Southwest California Synod. She is the Assistant to the Bishop for Congregational Mission & Director of Evangelical Mission.

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Place Finders: Readings 10:07 Sermon 17:07 Prayers 30:01

Photo Credit: Alexander Krivitskiy on Unsplash

Photo Credit: Alexander Krivitskiy on Unsplash

Worship for April 4, 2021: Easter Sunday

Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with two online worship services: one led by our youth as well as a traditional service.

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Place Finders: Readings 10:08 Sermon 15:01 Prayers 32:53

Photo Credit: Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Photo Credit: Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Worship for April 2, 2021: Good Friday

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Good Friday worship includes a dramatic reading from Matthew 26 and 27 recounting the arrest, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus.

Worship Guide -- Print or View

Place Finders: Readings 7:31 Readers' Theatre 13:05 Prayers 37:28

Photo Credit: James W Brilmayer on Unsplash

Photo Credit: James W Brilmayer on Unsplash

Worship for February 28, 2021: What Your Faith Is…and What It Is Not

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Place Finders: Opening Prayer 9:08 Readings 9:35 Teaching 12:36 Sermon 22:05 Closing Prayer 33:09

Photo Credit: Chris Liu on Unsplash

Photo Credit: Chris Liu on Unsplash

Worship for February 21, 2021: Three Practices to Renew your Life with Church

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Place Finders: Readings 14:03 Sermon 19:36 Prayers 34:04

Photo Credit: Steve Johnson on Upsplash

Photo Credit: Steve Johnson on Upsplash

Worship for February 17, 2020: Tricking your Brain, Plucking Eyebrows, and Trusting the World Again

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Place Finders: Readings 6:53 Sermon 18:28 Invitation to Lent 33:48 Prayers 40:41

Sermon Notes: Brene Brown’s interview with Tim Ferris and Dax Shepherd is a treasure trove for preaching. Check it out here for more on why you shouldn’t trust everything you think.

And for more on eyebrows in America during a pandemic, check this out on the Washington Post.

Worship for February 7, 2021

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Greetings, Bethel friends: Every six weeks or so, the worship team takes a Sunday off. So that means, you all are stuck with your dear pastor for Zoom church. Join us live online at 10:30am. Click this link when it’s time: SUNDAY CHURCH ONLINE.

I have prepared some short studies on our readings which include sharing three short films from The Work of the People. Always inspiring. Jim will have his guitar, communion will be ready. So bring your bread and wine and open hearts and we’ll be waiting. In peace, Pr. Amy

Worship for January 31, 2020: The Outsiders

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Place Finders

Readings 12:06 Sermon 18:45 Prayers 42:06

Bonus Sermon: On Silence
Photo Credit: Gaelle Marcel on Upsplash

Photo Credit: Gaelle Marcel on Upsplash

Worship for January 17, 2020: When the Cost of Winning is too High

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Sermon Notes

For best practices, the marriage and family therapists who guide from an IMAGO approach recommend this book: Getting the Love you Want by Harville Hendrix.

Peace is not the absence of conflict is a quote by President Ronald Regan. But I’m pretty sure he must have gotten his idea from Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Bible before him.

The words about the cost of winning first came from Andrea Kamm, MFT, but then I heard them again in this podcast with Brene Brown, Tim Ferriss, and Dax Shepherd. Ferriss is pretty invested in the IMAGO model of dialogue to solve conflict. HERE is the episode. The whole episode is pretty amazing.

I first heard that explanation of Jacob’s Ladder from one of my favorite Jewish preachers, Rabbi David Wolpe. But I don’t have a clue which sermon it was. Sorry, Rabbi!

Photo Credit: David Mock on Upsplash

Photo Credit: David Mock on Upsplash