Growing up in South Florida, my family repeated the same joke this time every year: “Our week of fall has arrived – don’t blink or you’ll miss it!” Everyone knows we enjoy palm fronds year-round here, with no golden leaves to cue us that autumn has arrived. Nevertheless, breezy mornings and a (tiny) drop in humidity signal that the season is changing, even in our little slice of paradise.
The season is changing at Bethesda-by-the-Sea as well. We recently bid farewell to Bob and Valerie Dannals, our beloved interim rector and his wife; and to Fred and Debbie Staley, our faithful Associate for Administration and his wife. Now we’re preparing to welcome our new rector, Tim Schenck, and his wife Bryna Rogers. But make no mistake, even in this “in-between” time, our parish life is as abundant as ever.
This Sunday we’ll celebrate the Feast of All Saints’ with multiple baptisms and the reading of the Bethesda necrology. Our Ministry Fair will take place after all three morning services, providing an opportunity to learn about parish ministries and get involved. On Sunday afternoon, Dr. Forster and our own Bethesda Choir, along with soloists from Palm Beach Opera and an orchestra, will offer the Mozart Requiem in a liturgical context, with a reception to follow. And that’s just this weekend! Stay tuned for all the other exciting events in November.
The Holy Spirit is at work in powerful ways at Bethesda; the season is changing. So whatever you do, don’t blink! You might miss something wonderful.
Kind regards,
Susan Beebe
Interim Vicar