Bethel Lutheran Church Cupertino Bethel Lutheran Church Cupertino

Sabbath Blessings

Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath.”
Mark 2:27
Mark 2:27



Jesus had a series of escalating, tension filled encounters with the religious leaders of his day.
In our gospel story for Sunday, Jesus knowingly breaks sabbath laws in order to do something good for others.
He becomes angered when the Pharisees become so fixated on following rules that they rule out helping others on the sabbath.
God created the sabbath as a time of rest and recovery.
It is built into the structure of creation and central to the Jewish faith.
It is meant to be a liberating gift from God, not simply an ordinance to be adhered to.
Join us Sunday as we consider the gift of sabbath.



Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Holy Trinity

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
John 3:16



This week we celebrate Trinity Sunday, focusing on the nature of God as 3-in-1 and 1-in-3.
At the core of God’s nature is love.
Wherever love is found in the world, we see God at work.
God’s love is most fully demonstrated with Jesus on the cross.
God loves the world so fully that he gives himself, even to the point of death on the cross.
Join us Sunday as we consider God’s love and what it means for our life.



Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Spirit Power

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Acts 2:1–4



The festival of Pentecost was an occasion for Jewish pilgrims to gather in Jerusalem 50 days after the Passover.
This provided an opportune moment for the disciples to share the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
There was only a minor problem; everyone spoke different languages!
Not to worry God says, I will provide the power of the Holy Spirit to allow everyone to hear the gospel in their native language.
Such is the power of the Holy Spirit, through which God empowers us to God’s work in the world.
Join us Sunday as we celebrate the Holy Spirit at both services and Confirmation at 10:45am.



Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Easter Prayer

Message delivered by Pastor Nathan Winterhof.

Easter Love

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
John 15:10–11



This Sunday’s gospel is a continuation from last week.
Jesus encourages the disciples (and us) to abide in Jesus’ love.
Abiding in Jesus’ love allows us to bear the fruit of love but also to experience the JOY of Jesus.
Jesus’ prayer for us is we would have his joy and that would be completed or perfected in our lives.
Sign me up for JOY!



Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Easter Fruit

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower.
He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit.
Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.
John 15:1–2



I am not a gardener by any stretch, but I do understand the concept of pruning.
Cutting down the plant allows for new, vibrant growth to occur.
If the plant is left unpruned, the health of the plant begins to decline.
Spiritually, this suggests that our faith has natural ups and downs, with the low moments creating opportunities to grow.
Most of us would not volunteer to be pruned, rather the pruning happens to us.
In Christ, we know the power of resurrection, that death is not the end of our story and that God can always do something new in our lives.



Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.