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, June 16 – Holy Trinity Sunday

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To get started this week, watch this video: Holy Trinity Song

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

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John 16:12-15

12 ‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading?  The Trinity can be a really “weird” concept; 3 in 1?  Well perhaps a better way of thinking about it is that God is beyond our full understanding, however God has chosen to “reveal” Godself through the image of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  It is God’s “self-declaration” that we use to try and understand who God is and what God is about.  What does God’s “self-revelation” say about who God is to you?

PRAY

Special prayer requests:  Pray for new life for all people suffering brokenness, pain, suffering or death.

BLESS

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

Sunday, June 9 – Pentecost Sunday

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To get started this week, watch this video: New Day

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Acts 2: 1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.7Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ 13But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 
17 “In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams. 
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy. 
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. 
21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading?  On this day, the Spirit of Jesus is bestowed upon the world.  What do you think about when you consider “the Holy Spirit”? How would you say that you have been touch and gifte by the Holy Spirit? Does this kind of language engage you? Why or why not?

PRAY

Special prayer requests:  Pray for new life for all people suffering brokenness, pain, suffering or death.

BLESS

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

Sunday, June 2 – Ascension of our Lord

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To get started this week, watch this video: New Day

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Acts 1:1-11

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading?  There is a saying that sometimes the church (and our lives) are so “heavenly minded” that we are of no “earthly” good.  I kind of feel that the angels were telling this to the disciples at the end of the lesson.  How might we strike an effective balance between being strengthened by our relationship with God and doing the work of loving God’s people on earth? How do you?

PRAY

Special prayer requests:  Pray for new life for all people suffering brokenness, pain, suffering or death.

BLESS

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

Sunday, May 12 (Mother’s Day) – Fourth Sunday of Easter

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To get started this week, watch this video: New Day

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John 10:22-30

22 At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading?  Don’t you sometimes simply want Jesus to “give it to us straight?”  This is a reality of faithful life.  The truth is before us everyday.  Do we have our ears tuned to the Jesus frequency?  Perhaps the issue is not that Jesus is not speaking, but that we are not listening?

PRAY

Special prayer requests:  Pray for new life for all people suffering brokenness, pain, suffering or death.

BLESS

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

Sunday, May 5 – Third Sunday of Easter

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To get started this week, watch this video: New Day

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John 21:1-17

1 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. 9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading?  This chapter seems to be an “add on” after the end of chapter 20.  Why?  Why put this chapter in?  Well, perhaps it is to show that Jesus was not finished with teaching the disciples.  While they returned to their homes and commenced with living their lives, Jesus comes to remind them of their call to “fish for people”.  Discuss the reading and insights that you gather from each other. (ex. How many times does Jesus ask Peter if he loves him? Might this be similar to another time in Peter’s life?)

Pray for one another.

Special prayer requests:  Pray for new life for all people suffering brokenness, pain, suffering or death.

BLESS

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

Sunday, April 28 – Second Sunday of Easter

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To get started this week, watch this video: New Day

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John 20:19-31

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading?  We often talk about “doubting Thomas” as a sign of him being unfaithful.  However, perhaps we should consider that he was not behind locked doors “for fear of the Jews”.  Thomas was one who was willing to still be out there. And when you are willing to risk so much you want to know that it is worth it.  Sometimes you want “proof”.  Thomas asked for this and it seems reasonable. What Jesus says, however, is that trusting the promises of Jesus, even without seeing Him, is where true faith lies.  Consider these comments in your conversation with each other.

Pray for one another.

Special prayer requests:  Pray for new life for all people suffering brokenness, pain, suffering or death.

BLESS

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

Sunday, April 21 – Easter Sunday

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To get started this week, watch this video: New Day

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Luke 24:1-12

1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading?  The disciples did not initially believe the women.  But Peter took a chance.  And was amazed and his life changed forever.  The resurrection of Christ can seem unbelievable.  Still, can you take a chance on it being true?  And if so, what might happen in your life, to your life, and to the world because of you?

Pray for one another.

Special prayer requests:  Pray for Christ to open our hearts and open our ears and open our lives to his vision of life and faith and grace and peace and hope!

BLESS

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

Sunday, April 14 – Palm Sunday

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To get started this week, watch this video:  Create in Me a Clean Heart O God

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Luke 19:28-40

28 And when he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he drew near to Beth’phage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village opposite, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat; untie it and bring it here. 31 If any one asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this, ‘The Lord has need of it.'” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their garments on the colt they set Jesus upon it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their garments on the road. 37 As he was now drawing near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading?  Jesus was greeted as a “conquering hero.”  Why?  What did the people see in him?  How did that change over the week and lead to his death a mere week later?  Consider what the people hoped vs. what Jesus proclaimed.

PRAY

Pray for one another.

Special prayer requests:  Pray for Christ to open our hearts and open our ears and open our lives to his vision of life and faith and grace and peace and hope!

BLESS

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

Sunday, April 7 – 5th Sunday in Lent

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To get started this week, watch this video:  Create in Me a Clean Heart O God

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

READ

John 12:1-8

1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading?  While it may seem that Judas has a point about giving to the poor, Jesus argues that this act of devotion toward Jesus matters just as much.  In fact, acts of devotion are at the heart of our life and faith.  What acts of devotion are part of your life?  What acts of devotion have been moving for you and your faith journey, either witnessed in others or in the midst of your own experience of faith?

PRAY

Pray for one another.

Special prayer requests:  Pray for Christ to open our hearts and open our ears and open our lives to his vision of life and faith and grace and peace and hope!

BLESS

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

Sunday, March 31 – 4th Sunday in Lent

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To get started this week, watch this video:  Create in Me a Clean Heart O God

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

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Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable:

11 “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.” 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” 22 But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31 Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’ “

TALK 

What surprises you or engages you in this reading?  Some call this the Parable of the Waiting Father.  Why might that be best?  Which character do you most identify with … the prodigal son, the son who stayed, or the father? Why? What is the most awesome learning from this parable?

PRAY

Pray for one another.

Special prayer requests:  Pray for Christ to open our hearts and open our ears and open our lives to his vision of life and faith and grace and peace and hope!

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

Upcoming Worship

June 23, 2019
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This Week at Bethel

Sunday, June 16 – Holy Trinity Sunday

Join us on Sunday, as we will be celebrating Holy Trinity Sunday, a day when we remember that ours is a God of self-revelation, a God who reveals Godself through the image of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Join us at our one worship service at 9:30. Our monthly coffee with council will gather immediately following worship as well.