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What We Do When We Worship | September 18 & 25 | 9:45 a.m. | Parish Hall

The cornerstone of our life of faith as Episcopalians is our common worship.  Yet, sometimes we become so familiar with the words and pacing of our worship life that we don’t pay attention to what we do when we worship and why we do it.  Over the first two weeks of our Sunday Adult Forums we will take a closer look at the Holy Eucharist, starting with the Liturgy of the Word and concluding with Holy Communion, to better understand why our liturgy is structured the way it is, what it has to do with scripture and history, and how our worship mirrors our beliefs about God.

The Fruit of the Spirit | October 9 through October 23 | 9:45 a.m. | Parish Hall

How do we build a life of integrity and faith?  How do we know if we’re doing the right thing?  How do we know who we can trust?  Over the next three weeks, we will look more closely at what the apostle Paul calls the Fruit of the Spirit.  What are the various aspects of the Fruit of the Spirit and what can they reveal about the health of our spiritual lives?

Search Committee & Convention Updates: The State of the Search and the Church | October 30 | 9:45 a.m. | Parish Hall

Join our Interim Rector, the Rev. Bob Dannals, as he leads a conversation updating our parish’s ongoing search for a new rector and the work of the 80th Episcopal General Convention and how it affects the ministries of Bethesda-by-the-Sea.

The Lord’s Prayer | November 11 through December 18 | 9:45 a.m. | Parish Hall

In the Gospels, Jesus gives us the building blocks for a life of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer. Join Greg Knight and the Bethesda clergy as they lead a conversation about quite possibly the most important prayer in all of scripture and how each section of the prayer informs our understanding of common prayer today. Each week we will explore a different line from the Lord’s Prayer and how they build our understanding of our thanksgivings and petitions to God.

Community Supper | 5:45 to 6:30 p.m.

The supper will be outside weather permitting. Please be aware if we need to move inside there will be no social distancing. The cost is $10 for adults; $5 for children under 12; $25 family max (payable at the door). Kindly RSVP before noon on Monday by calling the church office at (561) 655-4554 or filling out the online form here.

Featured Classes

Table Manners: An Instructed Eucharist | September 21 & 28 | 6:30 p.m. | Church

For two weeks, we will do a detailed exploration of a Holy Eucharist worship service. If you’ve ever wondered why we do what we do in an Episcopal liturgy and what the theological meaning is behind our actions, then take advantage of this opportunity to peek behind the sacred curtain. We will start by explaining and practicing the Liturgy of the Word and wrap up by explaining and practicing Holy Communion. It’s like a liturgical lab class that will answer those questions you’ve always had but were afraid to ask.

Middle Way Book Study: The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other | September 21 through October 19 | 6:30 p.m. | ECW Room

The Middle Way Book Study is a perfect fit for those looking to take a deeper dive into issues of faith. We begin with Charlotte Donlon’s book, The Great Belonging. Loneliness has reached epidemic proportions, according to many sources. In an age of mobility and fraying civic life, we are all susceptible to its power. But what if loneliness is a necessary part of the human condition? What if it is a current that leads us deeper into belonging – to ourselves, to each other, and to God?

In The Great Belonging, writer and spiritual director Charlotte Donlon reframes loneliness and offers us a language for the disquiet within. Instead of turning away from the waters of loneliness for fear they will engulf us, she invites us to wade in and see what we find there. In vulnerable, thoughtful prose, Donlon helps us understand our own occasional or frequent loneliness and offers touchpoints for understanding alienation. We can live into the persistent questions of loneliness. We can notice God’s presence even when we feel alone in our doubts. Ultimately, Donlon claims, we can find connection that emerges from honesty, and she offers tools, resources, and practices for transforming loneliness into true belonging.

Newcomers Class | September 21 through October 5 | 6:30 p.m. | Library

For all those who are new to the Bethesda community, our Newcomers Class offers a chance to learn more about the history of our church, explore the various ministries that we offer, and allows participants a chance to meet the clergy and parish leadership. We honor all those who find their way through our doors seeking to deepen their connection to God and this class is a wonderful opportunity to meet others who are taking that journey as well.

Recurring Classes

Middle Way Yoga | Begins September 21 | 6:30 p.m. | Parish Hall West

Emily Large is back to lead our ongoing Bethesda Yoga Class. This offering is open to people of all ages and skill levels. We use breathing and physical postures to draw us into a more intentional and mindful engagement with the divine.

Bethesda Youth Group | Wednesdays | 6:30 p.m. | Youth Room

The Bethesda Youth Group meets on Wednesday evenings in the Youth Room. We begin with dinner at 5:45 pm and end with prayer in the church at 7:45 pm. In between, we have great conversations and fun games. The group is open to all youth in 6th-12th Grade. No registration is necessary to participate.

Little Way | Wednesdays | 6:30 p.m. | Sunday School Hall

Little Way is open to all children from Kindergarten through 5th Grade. The class meets on the Sunday School hall following dinner at 5:45 pm. Each week we have fun crafts, games, or movies. We end with a brief candlelight service in the church at 7:45 pm. No registration is necessary to participate.

Compline | 7:45 to 8:00 p.m. | Church

Compline offers a peaceful and meditative sacred time as well as a beautiful conclusion to our Wednesday evenings together.

Education for Ministry | Mondays | 6:00 p.m. | Library

Education for Ministry (EfM) invites participants into small, mentored groups that provide the framework for understanding life and shaping actions as Christian faith is deepened. EfM provides a four-year curriculum that develops a theologically informed, reflective, and articulate laity.

Previewing the Lectionary | Mondays | 11:00 a.m. | Zoom

Want to learn more about the Bible? Join Tom O’Brien’s “Previewing the Lectionary” Course that examines the meanings and background of the readings for each upcoming Sunday.

This one-hour Zoom class will meet each Monday at 11:00 a.m.

Through Monday, October 17 – Class at 11:00 a.m. Mondays.
No classes from October 18 to November 10.
Classes move to Friday’s at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 11 to Friday, December 30.

Please join us by using the following Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86058259817

Breakfast & Bible Study | Tuesdays | 8:00 a.m. | Guild Room

Breakfast & Bible Study is open to all adults and is a chance to dig deeper into one book of the bible at a time. Greg Knight will lead this group discussion of scripture. We’re not a group looking for bible experts, just people who are curious about how the stories from the bible echo in our lives today. And we occasionally have bacon. You can bring your own bible or use one of ours. This is a great way to study scripture, engage in fellowship with Bethesda parishioners, and foster a spirit of life-long learning in community.

Ladies Bible Study | Wednesdays | 10:00 a.m. | Guild Room

This ladies’ bible study meets in the Guild Room Wednesday mornings, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., during the academic year, with breaks that coincide with school vacations. Participants are primarily ladies with school-age families. We use video-based topical studies with ample time for group discussion — but we also change up our format from time to time! Themes we’ve covered in the past: God’s Grace, Using Words Wisely, The Miracles of Jesus; Ruth, Philippians, “Bible 101.”

All levels of biblical literacy are welcome. We participate in at least two outreach events every year, such as the Easter Homebound Luncheon and Angel Tree project.

Faith in Action | First Thursday of the Month | October 13 | 7:00 p.m.

Faith in Action is a group for adults who want to learn by doing. If you are interested in learning more about the love and service of Christ by working alongside like-minded adults on service projects, mission trips, or pilgrimage experiences, then this group is for you. Each month we will meet to discern what God is calling our group to do, use our various spiritual gifts to execute our group’s vision for ministry, and take time to reflect on how God is at work in our action. We will meet on the first Thursday of each month at local bars, cafes, and restaurants in the West Palm Beach community, emphasizing that the work of this group lives outside the walls of our church. For more information about Faith in Action please contact Greg Knight at knight@bbts.org.

For information about our weekly children & youth activities visit the Childern and Youth page.