Our readings for November 1, All Saints Sunday were: Revelation 7:9-17; Psalm 34:1-10, 22; 1 John 3:1-3; and Matthew 5:1-12.

All Saints celebrates the baptized people of God, living and dead, who are the body of Christ. As November heralds the dying of the landscape in many northern regions, the readings and liturgy call us to remember all who have died in Christ and whose baptism is complete. At the Lord’s table we gather with the faithful of every time and place, trusting that the promises of God will be fulfilled and that all tears will be wiped away in the new Jerusalem.

Connect with Bethel Lutheran Church:
• To have Bethel news and updates delivered to your email, sign up by sending an email message to office@blctempleton.org.
• Donate for ministry.
• Come join us on Sunday: 9:30 AM, corner of 3rd Street and Crocker Street in Templeton, California.
• Web site: www.blctempleton.org

Our call to worship for Sunday, Oct. 4, the 19th after Pentecost, was Psalm 80:7-15. The other texts we used were Isaiah 5:1-7; Philippians 3:4b-14; and Matthew 21:33-46.

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus tells a vineyard parable, which serves as an image of Israel, the prophets’ mission, and Christ’s death. For Christians, the vineyard also speaks of God’s love poured out in the blood of Christ, given to us for the forgiveness of sin. Grafted onto Christ the vine at baptism, we are nourished with wine and bread so that we may share Christ’s sufferings and know the power of his resurrection.

Connect with Bethel Lutheran Church:
• To have Bethel news and updates delivered to your email, sign up by sending an email message to office@blctempleton.org.
• Donate for ministry.
• Come join us on Sunday: 9:30 AM, corner of 3rd Street and Crocker Street in Templeton, California.
• Web site: www.blctempleton.org

Our texts for Sunday, October 18 are: Isaiah 45:1-7; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; and Matthew 22:15-22.

Do we worship and love "Caesar"--that is, wealth, power, the powerful-or do we love and worship God? Worshipping money, wealth and power leads to fear and to control, but loving God brings joy and mercy.

Connect with Bethel Lutheran Church:
• To have Bethel news and updates delivered to your email, sign up by sending an email message to office@blctempleton.org.
• Donate for ministry.
• Come join us on Sunday: 9:30 AM, corner of 3rd Street and Crocker Street in Templeton, California.
• Web site: www.blctempleton.org

This past Sunday, October 25th, we celebrated Reformation Day in the Lutheran Church. Our readings for the day were: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Romans 3:19-28; and John 8:31-36.

Rooted in the past and growing into the future, the church must always be reformed in order to live out the love of Christ in an ever-changing world. We celebrate the good news of God’s grace, that Jesus Christ sets us free every day to do this life-transforming work. Trusting in the freedom given to us in baptism, we pray for the church, that Christians will unite more fully in worship and mission.

The sermon this Sunday was a chat with Martin Luther's wife, Katrina von Bora, better known at Katie. She tells us a bit about Martin's journey toward understanding grace in a deeper sense and how he came to call the universal church to take a closer look at itself and begin a process of reformation that continues even today.

Connect with Bethel Lutheran Church:
• To have Bethel news and updates delivered to your email, sign up by sending an email message to office@blctempleton.org.
• Donate for ministry.
• Come join us on Sunday: 9:30 AM, corner of 3rd Street and Crocker Street in Templeton, California.
• Web site: www.blctempleton.org

Our readings for Sunday, September 13 are Genesis 50:15-21; Romans 14:1-12; and Matthew 18:21-35.

In today’s second reading Paul questions why we judge one another, since we all stand before the judgment of God. Yet we sin against one another, and Jesus’ challenge that we forgive seventy-seven times (or 70 times 7 times or truly that we are not to count the number of times that we forgive, as God does not count the number of times that God forgives) reveals God’s boundless mercy. When we hear the words of forgiveness in worship and sign ourselves with the cross, we are renewed in baptism to be signs of reconciliation in the world.

Connect with Bethel Lutheran Church:
• To have Bethel news and updates delivered to your email, sign up by sending an email message to office@blctempleton.org.
• Donate for ministry.
• Come join us on Sunday: 9:30 AM, corner of 3rd Street and Crocker Street in Templeton, California.
• Web site: www.blctempleton.org

Our readings for Sunday, September 20, the 17th Sunday after Pentecost are Jonah 3:10—4:11; Philippians 1:21-30; and Matthew 20:1-16.

Matthew narrates one of Jesus’ more controversial parables in which Jesus says that the reign of God is like that of a landowner who pays his workers the same wage no matter what time of day they began to work. When God changes God’s mind about punishing Nineveh for their evil ways, Jonah is angry. Yet God is gracious and merciful, abounding in steadfast love. In baptism we receive the grace of God that is freely given to all. As Martin Luther wrote, in the presence of God’s mercy we are all beggars. And sometimes that irritates us, to no end!

Connect with Bethel Lutheran Church:
• To have Bethel news and updates delivered to your email, sign up by sending an email message to office@blctempleton.org.
• Donate for ministry.
• Come join us on Sunday: 9:30 AM, corner of 3rd Street and Crocker Street in Templeton, California.
• Web site: www.blctempleton.org

Our texts for Sunday, October 11 are: Isaiah 25:1-9; Philippians 4:1-9; and Matthew 22:1-14.

In Isaiah we are given a vision of the great feast to come, when God will wipe away death forever. In Jesus’ parable about a great banquet, those invited do not come, so the invitation is extended to others. In our liturgy God spreads a table before us. Even amid anxiety and hardship we rejoice in the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. With great joy we feast at the table of the Lord, and we go forth to share the wonderful invitation with others hungering and thirsting for the abundant life of God.

Connect with Bethel Lutheran Church:
• To have Bethel news and updates delivered to your email, sign up by sending an email message to office@blctempleton.org.
• Donate for ministry.
• Come join us on Sunday: 9:30 AM, corner of 3rd Street and Crocker Street in Templeton, California.
• Web site: www.blctempleton.org

Our readings for Sunday, September 6th, the 15th Sunday after Pentecost are:

Ezekiel 33:7-11, Psalm 119:33-40, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20

How does anyone live in the family of God, loving and following Jesus?

Connect with Bethel Lutheran Church:
• To have Bethel news and updates delivered to your email, sign up by sending an email message to office@blctempleton.org.
• Donate for ministry.
• Come join us on Sunday: 9:30 AM, corner of 3rd Street and Crocker Street in Templeton, California.
• Web site: www.blctempleton.org