Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church

Church Where You Are

Welcome to the weekly devotional ministry of Bethel Lutheran Church!

We offer this devotional tool as a place to help you be "Church where you are" during any given week. Whether you are out-of-town on the weekend, looking for a format for family devotions, or needing something to help you personally prepare for Sunday morning, these devotions are meant for you.

Sunday, April 18 – Third Sunday of Easter

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Begin with this video: Jesus Christ is Risen Today

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Share your “highs” and your “lows” for the past week with each other.

READ

Luke 24:36b-48

36While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate in their presence. 44Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things.

What images or words or phrases speak particularly to you in this reading? Have you ever wondered what to make of Jesus and His resurrection, His purpose? You are not alone, so did the early disciples. So consider today what Jesus is saying to the disciples who were unsure what to think and do. How might it speak to your life and faith?

PRAY

Special prayer requests:  Pray for our nation and our world during this unprecedented time of Covid-19, especially those who have been affected and who are ill.  

BLESS

Bless each other by making the sign of the cross on each one’s forehead.

Sunday, April 11 – Second Sunday of Easter

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Begin with this video: Thine is the Glory

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Share your “highs” and your “lows” for the past week with each other.

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Acts 4:32-35

32Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

What images or words or phrases speak particularly to you in this reading? When have you felt a part of a community? What made you feel “a part” of it? When have you been a part of a community but felt “apart” from it? What was the difference? How can the church be a best practice in building community?

PRAY

Special prayer requests:  Pray for our nation and our world during this unprecedented time of Covid-19, especially those who have been affected and who are ill.  

BLESS

Bless each other by making the sign of the cross on each one’s forehead.

Sunday, April 4 – The Resurrection of our Lord

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Begin with this video: Great is the Lord (Michael W. Smith)

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Share your “highs” and your “lows” for the past week with each other.

READ

Mark 16:1-8

16When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

What images or words or phrases speak particularly to you in this reading? If the women didn’t tell anyone, then how did everyone find out? Did they change their mind? It is a wonderful thing to ponder, especially, if you come to see that throughout the Gospel of Mark Jesus is continually telling the disciples to NOT saying anything about his deeds, and they DO TELL people. But here they are told to TELL and do not? What might this say to us in our lives of faith? Is it perhaps asking “what are we going to do?”

PRAY

Special prayer requests:  Pray for our nation and our world during this unprecedented time of Covid-19, especially those who have been affected and who are ill.  

BLESS

Bless each other by making the sign of the cross on each one’s forehead.

Sunday, March 28 – Palm Sunday

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Begin with this video: Jesus Messiah

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Share your “highs” and your “lows” for the past week with each other.

READ

Mark 11:1-11

11When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.” ’ 4They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ 6They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10   Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

11 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

What images or words or phrases speak particularly to you in this reading? How often do you simply give thanks for Jesus’ presence in your life? How can you make this a daily — hourly? – practice?

PRAY

Special prayer requests:  Pray for our nation and our world during this unprecedented time of Covid-19, especially those who have been affected and who are ill.  

BLESS

Bless each other by making the sign of the cross on each one’s forehead.

Bethel Lutheran Church

2077 N. Frederick Pike
Winchester, VA 22603
540-662-3245

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