Church Information the Bethel News Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church The Wise Men Rejoice “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” Matt 2:10 Present among the figurines in the nativity crèches found everywhere at Christmastime are usually three regal men bearing gifts. As we know, these kings are supposed to represent the wise men. Unfortunately, this depiction of the wise men takes liberties with the text. Matthew never tells us how many wise men come to see the Messiah. The tradition of three wise men probably comes from the three different gifts mentioned in Matthew 2:11. Moreover, the first gospel does not say the magi are kings. This idea goes back to the church father Tertullian (around 200 a.d.) and is likely due to his reading of passages like Psalm 68:31 and Isaiah 49:7. Who, then, are the wise men? Precise identification is difficult, but we do know they are “from the east” of Judea (Matt. 2:1). Persia, Babylon, and Arabia are all possible countries of origin, with Babylon the likeliest option since contact with its large Jewish community would have prompted the magi to come looking for a king in Jerusalem. The Greek term for “magi” (magoi) refers to a group interested in predicting the future via dream interpretation, magic, and other methods, such as astrology, which explains their interest in the star. Apparently the star at first directs them only to Palestine, and they go to Jerusalem to find the child because the capital city is a logical first place to start searching for a newborn king. Herod calls the wise men to his court in today’s passage and then sends them out to find the baby. We know that his desire to worship the Christ is a lie (vv. 7–8, 16), but the magi are ignorant of Herod’s machinations, and they go forth in search of the child. After seeing Herod, the star leads them to where the child is living (v. 9). This prompts exceedingly great rejoicing (v. 10); seeing the star has confirmed their mission. The wise men and their mission are highly significant. God promised Israel that their restoration and redemption after exile would be accompanied by an influx of Gentile nations into the covenant community (Isa. 11:10). Though motivated partly by superstition, the wise men are the first Gentiles to seek out Jesus, and they serve to demonstrate that God fulfills all His promises. http://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/wise-men-rejoice/ JANU ARY 2 014 Fred Scragg……………………………………….…..…....... Pastor Steve Geier………………………………..Administrative Assistant Erik Hagedorn………………………………..……..Music Director Ed & Debbie Fawcett…………………………….……...Caretakers Psalm 72 [1] Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! [2] May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice! [3] Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness! [4] May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor! [5] May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! [6] May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! [7] In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!
Bethel News January 2014
Oct 23, 2015
Bethel News January 2014
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Church Information
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Bethel News Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church
The Wise Men Rejoice “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” Matt 2:10 Present among the figurines in the nativity crèches found everywhere at Christmastime are usually three regal men bearing gifts. As we know, these kings are supposed to represent the wise men. Unfortunately, this depiction of the wise men takes liberties with the text. Matthew never tells us how many wise men come to see the Messiah. The tradition of three wise men probably comes from the three different gifts mentioned in Matthew 2:11. Moreover, the first gospel does not say the magi are kings. This idea goes back to the church father Tertullian (around 200 a.d.) and is likely due to his reading of passages like Psalm 68:31 and Isaiah 49:7. Who, then, are the wise men? Precise identification is difficult, but we do know they are “from the east” of Judea (Matt. 2:1). Persia, Babylon, and Arabia are all possible countries of origin, with Babylon the likeliest option since contact with its large Jewish community would have prompted the magi to come looking for a king in Jerusalem. The Greek term for “magi” (magoi) refers to a group interested in predicting the future via dream interpretation, magic, and other methods, such as astrology, which explains their interest in the star. Apparently the star at first directs them only to Palestine, and they go to Jerusalem to find the child because the capital city is a logical first place to start searching for a newborn king. Herod calls the wise men to his court in today’s passage and then sends them out to find the baby. We know that his desire to worship the Christ is a lie (vv. 7–8, 16), but the magi are ignorant of Herod’s machinations, and they go forth in search of the child. After seeing Herod, the star leads them to where the child is living (v. 9). This prompts exceedingly great rejoicing (v. 10); seeing the star has confirmed their mission. The wise men and their mission are highly significant. God promised Israel that their restoration and redemption after exile would be accompanied by an influx of Gentile nations into the covenant community (Isa. 11:10). Though motivated partly by superstition, the wise men are the first Gentiles to seek out Jesus, and they serve to demonstrate that God fulfills all His promises. http://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/wise-men-rejoice/
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4
Fred Scragg……………………………………….…..…....... Pastor Steve Geier………………………………..Administrative Assistant Erik Hagedorn………………………………..……..Music Director Ed & Debbie Fawcett…………………………….……...Caretakers
Psalm 72 [1] Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to
the royal son! [2] May he judge your people with
righteousness, and your poor with justice! [3] Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness! [4] May he defend the cause of the
poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of
the needy, and crush the oppressor!
[5] May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the
moon, throughout all generations! [6] May he be like rain that falls
on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! [7] In his days may the righteous
flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!
THE BETHEL NEWS JANUARY 2014
2
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1
2
3
7:00-10:00 PM Youth Group: Circle Games
4
5
11:00 AM Worship
6
7
8 7:30 PM
Bible Study @ Pastor Fred’s
House
9
10 5:30-7:00 PM Boys Club & Lamplighters
6:00-10:00 PM Youth Group:
Air Trampoline $15
11 Youth Leader
Training Day @ Briarcliff
Leanne Hagedorn
Baby Shower
12 9:30 AM
Confirmation
11:00 AM Worship
12:30 PM
Children’s Church Helper
Appreciation
13
14
15 7:30 PM
Bible Study @ Pastor Fred’s
House
16
17 5:30-7:00 PM Boys Club & Lamplighters
7:00-10:00 PM Youth Group:
Let’s Get Physical
18 10:00 AM
President Egge Visit
19 9:30 AM
Confirmation
11:00 AM Worship &
Warren Geraghty Visit
20
21
22 7:30 PM
Bible Study @ Pastor Fred’s
House
23
24 5:30-7:00 PM Boys Club & Lamplighters
7:00-10:00 PM Youth Group: BFC & Grogs
7:30 PM
Friday Night Service
25
26 9:30 AM
Confirmation
11:00 AM Worship
12:30 PM
Annual Luncheon
27
28
29 7:30 PM
Bible Study @ Pastor Fred’s
House
30
31 7:00 PM Family
Ice-Skating
6:00-10:00 PM Youth Group: Ice-Skating
Notes:
THE BETHEL NEWS JANUARY 2014
3
Youth Group News
Join us as we continue reading
The Story: The Bible As One Continual Story of God and His people.
Fred will continue to preach on the themes from the book and our small groups will also be using
the reading for the week as the basis for their study and discussion.
Birthdays 1/1 Samantha Ciappa 1/2 Norma Sherland
1/3 Grace Kongevold 1/13 Ray Sherland
Anne Haegeland 1/17 Gerda Stevens
1/18 Victoria Malatos 1/21 Cody Paulsen
January 3rd 7-10 pm
Circle Games
January 10th Meet @ 6 pm Air Trampoline $15
January 17th
7-10 pm Let’s Get Physical:
Sports Night at Church
January 24th 7-10 pm
BFC & Grogs
January 31st 6-10 pm Family Ice Skating Night
Cost: $12 Invite your entire family
1/21 Gerd Haugland 1/22 Mark Forland 1/23 Lindsay Crownhart 1/26 Fiona Haegeland 1/27 Emma Kongevold 1/29 Daniel Foreman Elaine Jacobsen Pastor Fred Scragg
THE BETHEL NEWS JANUARY 2014
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Upcoming Events Junior High Winter Weekend
February 7th, 2014 @ 7:30 PM Join us for coffee, tea and desserts to a soundtrack of live music, poetry and spoken word at Bethel’s Friday Night Coffee House!
Family Skating Night January 31, 2014 @ 7:00 PM Invite your friends and family to join us. Meet at Syosset-Woodbury Community Park Ice Rink 7800 Jericho Turnpike, Syosset Cost: $10
Annual Luncheon January 26, 2014 @ 12:30 PM Join us after our Sunday Worship Service for a luncheon to celebrate the work God has done at Bethel throughout the 2013 year. The 2013 Annual Church Reports will be distributed at this event.
Senior High Winter Weekend February 14-17, 2014
A four-day retreat at Tuscarora Inn & Conference Center for Youth Group Students. Cost TBA
Bethel Coffee House
Find Your Place at Bethel Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church is a place for your entire family.
Children’s Church – K-6th grade
(meets during Sunday morning service)
Boys Club – boys K-6th grade
Lamplighters – girls K-6th grade
Youth Group – teens 7th-12th grade
Leisure Timers- Luncheons for retirees
Prayer Group 10:00 AM on Sunday morning
Check the calendar on page 2 to find out when your group meets.
Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church
Address: 10 Pinetree Road, Huntington Station, NY 11746 Website: www.Bethellb.com Email: [email protected] Phone: (631) 423-4404 Office Hours: M,T,W, F 9:00am-4pm; Th 11am-4pm
THE BETHEL NEWS JANUARY 2014
“You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.”
2 Timothy 3:15
For more information about our Nursery School program please contact the church office or send an email to [email protected]. Classes available for 2, 3, and 4 year olds.
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