TIDINGS from BETHLEHEM
-----Monthly News from In & Around Our Parish----
A word from our Associate Pastor
October 2023
This is a list of individuals who are commemorated by the church in the month of October. Consider doing an online search to learn more about them and open the front of our hymnal Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) before or after worship and flip to page 59-60 and find the prayers for Commemorations to give thanks for their lives and contributions.
October 4- Francis of Assisi, renewer of the church, died 1226 Born into the family of wealthy merchants, he formed the Order of Friars Minor (called Franciscans), who took on poverty and the task of preaching “using words if necessary.” Theodor Fliedner, renewer of society, died 1864 Fliedner helped to bring about a revival of the ministry of deaconesses among Lutherans. The motherhouse he founded in Kaiserswerth, Germany, inspired many around the world to take up this ministry.
October 6- William Tyndale, translator, martyr, died 1536 Tyndale was ordained a priest in England, and wished to translate the Bible into English. He was opposed in this by King Henry VIII, causing him to flee to Germany. He completed the New Testament in 1525, but before he could finish the Old Testament, he was tried for heresy and burned at the stake.
October 7- Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, pastor in North America, died 1787 Divided Lutherans in America asked leaders in Europe to send someone who could take charge and unite their work. Muhlenberg was sent, and was effective in organizing the American Lutherans. October 15- Teresa of Avila, teacher, renewer of the church, died 1582 A mystical writer and reformer of the monastic order (Carmelites) to which she belonged, Teresa may also be commemorated with John of the Cross on December 14.
October 17- Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, martyr, died around 115 Ignatius was the second bishop of Antioch in Syria, the city where the name “Christians” originated. Ignatius is known to us from his letters, which encouraged Christians to live in love, yet stand firm in true doctrine.
October 18- Luke, EvangelistIdentified as the author of both Luke and Acts, Luke was careful to place the events of Jesus’ life in their social and religious contexts. His gospel gives us some of the most beloved parables, as well as the songs of Zechariah, Mary, the angels, and Simeon.
October 23- James of Jerusalem, martyr, died around 62 One of three early-church leaders named James, this man is identified in the New Testament and by a historian of the time as a brother of Jesus. October 26- Philipp Nicolai, died 1608, Johann Heermann, died 1647, Paul Gerhardt, died 1676, hymnwriters These great hymn writers all worked in seventeenth-century Germany in times of war and plague. October 28-Simon and Jude, Apostles We know little about these apostles. Simon is listed as “the zealot” or Cananean in New Testament lists. Jude, also called Thaddeus, asked Jesus at the Last Supper why he had revealed himself to the disciples but not to the world.
(entries from sundaysandseasons.com)
Let me know if you learn anything more!
Pastor Ellen
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