Dear Friends,
“For everything there is a season.” So, we hear in that famous passage from the third chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes. I’ve been reflecting on this line as I continue to learn the patterns and rhythms of life in the Bethesda community.
And while there’s much talk about “high season” and “low season,” I’m not sure these are exactly the seasons the writer of Ecclesiastes is referring to. This isn’t about traffic patterns on the middle bridge so much as it is about the various and varied seasons of our lives. And how God’s presence is infused in all of it, the joyful and the challenging, the painful and the hopeful.
Nonetheless, the seasons here are real and the reality is that many of our beloved parishioners will be away for the summer months. I will miss them! But I take solace in the fact that the bonds of community transcend physical presence — people stay connected to Bethesda through both technology and the power of prayer. And I rejoice in that.
This weekend begins our return to two Sunday services. Rather than 8, 9, and 11 am, we’ll offer services at 8 and 10 am. And we won’t exactly be easing into this — this Sunday, Bishop Peter Eaton will join us for Confirmation at the 10 am service. And then next Sunday is the great feast of Pentecost. So there is much to celebrate at Bethesda in the coming weeks, and however you join us — whether in person or online — I look forward to being with you all.
Peace,
Tim