Bethesda Episcopal Church

Old Testament Bible Study
2023-10-15 09:20 - 09:50, 2023-10-22 09:20 - 09:50, 2023-10-29 09:20 - 09:50, 2023-11-05 09:20 - 09:50, 2023-11-12 09:20 - 09:50, 2023-11-19 09:20 - 09:50, 2023-12-03 09:20 - 09:50, 2023-12-10 09:20 - 09:50 (America/New_York) | Bethesda Episcopal Church, 26 Washington St., Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866
Old Testament Bible Study, led by Dr. Blaine Edele, begins at 9:20 am. All welcome and no registration required.

Sung Eucharist (Rite I) and Sermon
2023-10-15 10:00, 2023-10-22 10:00, 2023-10-29 10:00, 2023-11-05 10:00, 2023-11-12 10:00, 2023-11-19 10:00, 2023-11-26 10:00 | Bethesda Episcopal Church, 26 Washington St., Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, welcome!
This sung Eucharist is a Rite I service, meaning that it uses the more traditional language of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. This service includes lessons, prayers, congregational singing, a sermon, and Holy Communion. All baptized Christians are welcome to make their communion in The Episcopal Church.
If you aren’t yet baptized but are considering it, let us know! Contact us and we’ll be happy to talk about it.
Resources
Service Bulletin
Parking and Accessibility
Give via PayPal or Credit Card

Holy Eucharist (Rite I)
2023-10-22 08:00, 2023-10-29 08:00, 2023-11-05 08:00, 2023-11-12 08:00, 2023-11-19 08:00, 2023-11-26 08:00 | Bethesda Episcopal Church, 26 Washington St., Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, welcome!
This said service of Holy Eucharist occurs most Sundays at 8am. It is a Rite I service, meaning that it uses the more traditional language of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. This service includes lessons, prayers, a short sermon, and Holy Communion. All baptized Christians are welcome to make their communion in The Episcopal Church.
If you aren’t yet baptized but are considering it, let us know! Contact us and we’ll be happy to talk about it.
Resources
Parking and Accessibility
Give via PayPal or a Credit Card

Victorian Stroll Open House
2023-11-30 18:00 - 21:00 | Bethesda Episcopal Church, 26 Washington St., Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866

The First Sunday in Advent
2023-12-03 | Bethesda Episcopal Church, 26 Washington St., Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866
Advent is the first season of the church year, beginning with the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continuing through the day before Christmas. The name is derived from a Latin word for “coming.” The season is a time of preparation and expectation for the coming celebration of our Lord’s nativity (the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas), and for the final coming of Christ “in power and glory.”
During Advent, we traditionally light special Advent candles, as symbols of our preparation for Christ’s coming. Every Sunday, we light one of four candles, each symbolizing one of the Sundays in Advent. The fifth candle is lit on Christmas Eve.
The candles come in three colors: purple, pink and white. The purple candles symbolize repentance. The pink candle symbolizes joy. The central candle is called the Christ candle and is not lit until Christmas day.

The First Candle (The Candle of Prophecy/Hope) – The first candle is sometimes called the candle of prophecy because it symbolizes the promises the prophets delivered as messages from God; promises that foretold Christ’s birth. Others consider the candle to be a symbol of the hope we have in Christ and so it is called the Hope candle.
The Second Candle (The Candle of the Way) – The second candle shows that Christ is the Way. Christians are lost in sin and Christ is the Light sent into the world to show them the way out of darkness.
The Third Candle (The Candle of Joy) – The third (pink) candle indicates that the only lasting Joy to be found in life on earth is through Christ. All other joy is fleeting and does not last.
The Fourth Candle (The Candle of Peace) – The fourth candle reminds that Jesus comes to bring Peace to both the world and to people’s hearts. Without Christ, there is no peace in this world.
The Fifth Candle (The Christ Candle or Christmas Candle) – The fifth candle represents Christ himself who is born to save people from their sins. It is a celebration of the fulfillment of prophecy as represented in Christ’s birth and the hope for the final fulfillment when Christ comes again and all Christians join him.

Collect
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Appointed Readings

Isaiah 64:1-9
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:24-37
Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18

Worship Services for the First Sunday in Advent

Sunday 8am, Sunday 10am – Litany in Procession & Sung Eucharist
About the image

“The Archangel Gabriel” by Masolino da Panicale – circa 1430 from the National Gallery of Art.
Resources
Parking and Accessibility
Give via Paypal or Credit Card

Holy Eucharist (Rite I)
2023-12-03 08:00 | Bethesda Episcopal Church, 26 Washington St., Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, welcome!
This said service of Holy Eucharist occurs most Sundays at 8am. It is a Rite I service, meaning that it uses the more traditional language of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. This service includes lessons, prayers, a short sermon, and Holy Communion. All baptized Christians are welcome to make their communion in The Episcopal Church.
If you aren’t yet baptized but are considering it, let us know! Contact us and we’ll be happy to talk about it.
Read more about the First Sunday in Advent
Resources
Parking and Accessibility
Give via PayPal or a Credit Card

Litany in Procession & Sung Eucharist
2023-12-03 10:00 | Bethesda Episcopal Church, 26 Washington St., Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, welcome!
This sung Eucharist is a Rite I service, meaning that it uses the more traditional language of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. This service includes lessons, prayers, congregational singing, a sermon, and Holy Communion. All baptized Christians are welcome to make their communion in The Episcopal Church.
If you aren’t yet baptized but are considering it, let us know! Contact us and we’ll be happy to talk about it.
Read more about the First Sunday in Advent
Resources
Service Bulletin
Parking and Accessibility
Give via PayPal or Credit Card

Holy Communion (Said)
2023-12-07 12:10 | Bethesda Episcopal Church, 26 Washington St., Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866
Resources
1979 Book of Common Prayer
Parking and Accessibility
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Church Decorating for Advent / Christmas
2023-12-09 09:00 - 12:00 | Bethesda Episcopal Church, 26 Washington St., Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866

The Second Sunday in Advent
2023-12-10 | NY
Advent is the first season of the church year, beginning with the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continuing through the day before Christmas. The name is derived from a Latin word for “coming.” The season is a time of preparation and expectation for the coming celebration of our Lord’s nativity (the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas), and for the final coming of Christ “in power and glory.”
During Advent, we traditionally light special Advent candles, as symbols of our preparation for Christ’s coming. Every Sunday, we light one of four candles, each symbolizing one of the Sundays in Advent. The fifth candle is lit on Christmas Eve.
The candles come in three colors: purple, pink and white. The purple candles symbolize repentance. The pink candle symbolizes joy. The central candle is called the Christ candle and is not lit until Christmas day.

The First Candle (The Candle of Prophecy/Hope) – The first candle is sometimes called the candle of prophecy because it symbolizes the promises the prophets delivered as messages from God; promises that foretold Christ’s birth. Others consider the candle to be a symbol of the hope we have in Christ and so it is called the Hope candle.
The Second Candle (The Candle of the Way) – The second candle shows that Christ is the Way. Christians are lost in sin and Christ is the Light sent into the world to show them the way out of darkness.
The Third Candle (The Candle of Joy) – The third (pink) candle indicates that the only lasting Joy to be found in life on earth is through Christ. All other joy is fleeting and does not last.
The Fourth Candle (The Candle of Peace) – The fourth candle reminds that Jesus comes to bring Peace to both the world and to people’s hearts. Without Christ, there is no peace in this world.
The Fifth Candle (The Christ Candle or Christmas Candle) – The fifth candle represents Christ himself who is born to save people from their sins. It is a celebration of the fulfillment of prophecy as represented in Christ’s birth and the hope for the final fulfillment when Christ comes again and all Christians join him.

Collect
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Appointed Readings

Isaiah 40:1-11
2 Peter 3:8-15a
Mark 1:1-8
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13

Worship Services for the Second Sunday in Advent

Sunday 8am, Sunday 10am
About the image

“The Annunciation” by Fra Filippo Lippi circa 1435-1440 from The National Gallery, London
Resources
Parking and Accessibility
Give via Paypal or Credit Card

Holy Eucharist (Rite I)
2023-12-10 08:00 | Bethesda Episcopal Church, 26 Washington St., Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, welcome!
This said service of Holy Eucharist occurs most Sundays at 8am. It is a Rite I service, meaning that it uses the more traditional language of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. This service includes lessons, prayers, a short sermon, and Holy Communion. All baptized Christians are welcome to make their communion in The Episcopal Church.
If you aren’t yet baptized but are considering it, let us know! Contact us and we’ll be happy to talk about it.
Read more about the Second Sunday in Advent
Resources
Parking and Accessibility
Give via PayPal or a Credit Card

Sung Eucharist (Rite I) and Sermon
2023-12-10 10:00 | Bethesda Episcopal Church, 26 Washington St., Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, welcome!
This sung Eucharist is a Rite I service, meaning that it uses the more traditional language of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. This service includes lessons, prayers, congregational singing, a sermon, and Holy Communion. All baptized Christians are welcome to make their communion in The Episcopal Church.
If you aren’t yet baptized but are considering it, let us know! Contact us and we’ll be happy to talk about it.
Read more about the Second Sunday in Advent
Resources
Service Bulletin
Parking and Accessibility
Give via PayPal or Credit Card
