The name of the church

On February 4^th 1934, the congregation decided upon a name of the church.  The following is from the bulletin on that day.

BETHANY

Beautiful little town of Bethany!  It is found on the eastern slope of the mount of Olives, fully a mile beyond the summit, and not very far from the point at which the road to Jericho begins its more sudden decent toward the Jordan valley. 

Jesus had no home of his own and although He often took refuge in the garden of Gethsemane yet it was to Bethany that He was want to go when evening approached; to Bethany, where He knew that He would be welcomed at the home of Lazarus; to Bethany, to be in company with his many dear friends and followers that dwelt there, among whom was Mary and Martha.  It was here that our Lord proclaimed his sublime, “I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”  What mighty encouragement!  Yet what a beautiful and restful assurance it renders the believer’s heart of the life that is to come, of heaven and eternal happiness!

Bethany, how serenely you lie basking in the noon-day sun!  It is here in this little village that our emotions are lowered to the depths of sorrow, when we read “Jesus wept”; then soaring to the state of undeniable faith in Him as “Very God of Very god” when we behold the miracle of Lazarus being raised from the dead; to the sublime heights of joy as we are told that many when they saw this miracle “believed on Him.”

Beautiful little town of Bethany!  Your very name inspires peace and tranquility; above all, may it ever be the symbol of the place of refuge in which our Lord is found.

 

THE COMMITTEE ONCHURCH NAMES REPORT

The committee elected for the selection of a suitable name for the church submits the following report.

A gratuitous response met the plea that members submit a favored name for our church.  Thirteen names in all we submitted to the committee for deliberation.  The names are the following:

10 Bethel, 2) Bethlehem, 3) Bethany, 4) Christ, 5) Calvary, 6) Trinity, 7) St. Mark’s, 8) St. Matthew’s, 9) St. Paul’s, 10) St. Peter’s, 11) St. Luke’s, 12) Church of Our Redeemer, 13) Grace

Of these the committee selected 4 names:  1) Bethlehem, 2) Calvary, 3) St. Matthew’s, 4) St. Mark’s

However, how true the old, old saying, “Man proposes, god disposes.” It took the congregation (perhaps due to the fact that our good ladies had something to say about it, although we hesitate on giving anybody credit for superior judgment) to select the most beautiful and appropriate name for our Church, namely Bethany Bethany! Of course it’s Bethany!! What other name could be more appropriate than this, — listen —  Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church .

 

All Who Heard Him were Amazed!

Luke 2:40-52                      

And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.  The Boy Jesus in the Temple ⁴¹ Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. ⁴² And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. ⁴³ And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, ⁴⁴ but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, ⁴⁵ and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” ⁴⁹ And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” ⁵⁰ And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. ⁵¹ And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.  ⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.