MAY 2012 NEWSLETTER
ASCENSION DAY SERVICE
Christmas, yes. Easter, yes. Pentecost, yes. Those are all festivals we know about and mark on the calendar weeks in advance. But then there is the festival of Ascension. Like many other Christian holidays that tend not to fall on a Sunday (such as the Epiphany and Ash Wednesday), Ascension Day often gets overlooked. But it is one of the major festivals—perhaps not quite on par with Christmas and Easter, but still a day marking a major event in our Lord’s life.
Ascension Day is always celebrated on the Thursday forty days after Easter, for it was on the fortieth day after Easter that our Lord ascended to heaven and sat at His Father’s right hand. It marks the last stage of our Lord’s exaltation, at least until He returns in glory.
This year Ascension Day falls on May 17. We will be joined once again by the members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lombard and so I ask that as many members of First Bethlehem as can come do so in order to give them a great welcome. The service begins at 7:30 p.m. It will be a service of word and prayer; Holy Communion will not be celebrated.
COME, HOLY SPIRIT, COME
We will celebrate the birthday of the Christian Church on Pentecost Sunday, May 27. That was the day on which the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the apostles in the form of a rushing wind and cloven tongues of fire. The apostles began preaching about Jesus and converted 3,000 people in one day. Since then there has been no end to the preaching of the apostolic word and the conversion of new people to the Christian faith.
Because of the tongues of fire, the color red is associated with Pentecost and thus with the Holy Spirit. In celebration of this day, we invite everyone who comes to church to wear something red.
NEWS FROM THE YOUNG ADULTS
The April social event had to be postponed two weeks until Friday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m. It is at that time that we will resume our culinary tour of Chicago with a Greek restaurant. Please plan to meet at Roditys restaurant (222 S. Halsted) at 7:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Holly Bray by Monday, April 30 so reservations can be made. Also contact Holly to arrange transportation if needed. Hope to see everyone there!
NEW BANNERS
It might seem redundant to comment on the new banners that are on display every week for the Easter season, but it really isn’t. There are a number of people who get this newsletter who either are members living some distance away or are housebound and unable to see what the church looks like from the inside. You can see from the photos just how beautiful these banners are. Thanks, Jill Boehnke for coordinating the design and doing a lot of hard work to get them ready.
SPRING CLEANUP DAY ON MAY 19
Every year or so we try to clean up the church a bit. This year our annual cleanup will take place on May 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Everyone in the church is invited to join in the fun. To make sure that it remains fun, the schedule will be divided into two hour blocks of time. This will allow volunteers to come and work for a couple of hours and then go on to their next activity. It should also keep people from being overwhelmed by the cleaning. A schedule will be placed in the narthex of the church by April 29.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED RECENTLY
April was a rather busy month for us, and many people volunteered to make Holy Week and Easter a special time not only for the church members but also for visitors. Thanks to everyone who read or assisted during the Palm Sunday reading of St. Matthew’s Passion. Thanks also to those who assisted with the worship services during Holy Week, whether stripping the altar on Maundy Thursday or redecorating it at the Easter Vigil or working the lights on Good Friday. Thanks also to all who added their musical talent to our Holy Week and Easter worship services. And thanks to all who contributed to the Easter breakfast.
GENERATIONS
The Generations program continues to serve a meal to around 30 to 40 senior citizens each second Saturday of the month. We welcome volunteers, including people who can help out only one time. If you’d like to help, talk to Joe Hunter.
BOOK OF CONCORD STUDY
The Book of Concord study group will meet on May 20, at which time we will finish up Article XII and then go through Articles XIII-XIV in the Augsburg Confession and their corresponding articles in the Apology. If you are interested in joining the discussion, just start attending. We can get you your own copy of The Book of Concord.
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MAY 2012 NEWSLETTER
ASCENSION DAY SERVICE
Christmas, yes. Easter, yes. Pentecost, yes. Those are all festivals we know about and mark on the calendar weeks in advance. But then there is the festival of Ascension. Like many other Christian holidays that tend not to fall on a Sunday (such as the Epiphany and Ash Wednesday), Ascension Day often gets overlooked. But it is one of the major festivals—perhaps not quite on par with Christmas and Easter, but still a day marking a major event in our Lord’s life.
Ascension Day is always celebrated on the Thursday forty days after Easter, for it was on the fortieth day after Easter that our Lord ascended to heaven and sat at His Father’s right hand. It marks the last stage of our Lord’s exaltation, at least until He returns in glory.
This year Ascension Day falls on May 17. We will be joined once again by the members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lombard and so I ask that as many members of First Bethlehem as can come do so in order to give them a great welcome. The service begins at 7:30 p.m. It will be a service of word and prayer; Holy Communion will not be celebrated.
COME, HOLY SPIRIT, COME
We will celebrate the birthday of the Christian Church on Pentecost Sunday, May 27. That was the day on which the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the apostles in the form of a rushing wind and cloven tongues of fire. The apostles began preaching about Jesus and converted 3,000 people in one day. Since then there has been no end to the preaching of the apostolic word and the conversion of new people to the Christian faith.
Because of the tongues of fire, the color red is associated with Pentecost and thus with the Holy Spirit. In celebration of this day, we invite everyone who comes to church to wear something red.
NEWS FROM THE YOUNG ADULTS
The April social event had to be postponed two weeks until Friday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m. It is at that time that we will resume our culinary tour of Chicago with a Greek restaurant. Please plan to meet at Roditys restaurant (222 S. Halsted) at 7:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Holly Bray by Monday, April 30 so reservations can be made. Also contact Holly to arrange transportation if needed. Hope to see everyone there!
NEW BANNERS
SPRING CLEANUP DAY ON MAY 19
Every year or so we try to clean up the church a bit. This year our annual cleanup will take place on May 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Everyone in the church is invited to join in the fun. To make sure that it remains fun, the schedule will be divided into two hour blocks of time. This will allow volunteers to come and work for a couple of hours and then go on to their next activity. It should also keep people from being overwhelmed by the cleaning. A schedule will be placed in the narthex of the church by April 29.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED RECENTLY
April was a rather busy month for us, and many people volunteered to make Holy Week and Easter a special time not only for the church members but also for visitors. Thanks to everyone who read or assisted during the Palm Sunday reading of St. Matthew’s Passion. Thanks also to those who assisted with the worship services during Holy Week, whether stripping the altar on Maundy Thursday or redecorating it at the Easter Vigil or working the lights on Good Friday. Thanks also to all who added their musical talent to our Holy Week and Easter worship services. And thanks to all who contributed to the Easter breakfast.
GENERATIONS
The Generations program continues to serve a meal to around 30 to 40 senior citizens each second Saturday of the month. We welcome volunteers, including people who can help out only one time. If you’d like to help, talk to Joe Hunter.
BOOK OF CONCORD STUDY
The Book of Concord study group will meet on May 20, at which time we will finish up Article XII and then go through Articles XIII-XIV in the Augsburg Confession and their corresponding articles in the Apology. If you are interested in joining the discussion, just start attending. We can get you your own copy of The Book of Concord.