Solid Rock Worship

What's up with the rock?

Hello Everyone!

I hope you're all having a great week (and gearing up for a stellar weekend)! This Sunday marks a very special occurrence: Pastor Gretchen's last Solid Rock. L Gretchen and Ryan have blessed us each in numerous ways, and while we'll be sad to see them move on, we have the fortune of this one final, BIG shebang to send them off in style. The service will be jam-packed : a baptism, Pastor G's last sermon in Madison, and a "best-of" song list featuring everyone's favorite Pull songs from over the years. In addition, we'll be holding a special community potluck at 6 p.m. (directly after Solid Rock). Please feel free to make food, bring food, buy food, or come and eat food (just please refrain from throwing food). Whatever you do, COME! Contact Stacy Gahlman at pyroboop@sbcglobal.net for any additional potluck details or to volunteer to bring your favorite dish. See you Sunday!

God bless,

~Karl and SR

"The religious community is essential, for alone our vision is too narrow to see all that must be seen. Together, our vision widens and strength is renewed." ~Mark Morrison-Reed

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I. Announcements

II. Solid Rock Contact Information

III. This Week's Readings

IV. Questions to Ponder

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I. Announcements

-Pastor Gretchen Weller's last day with Bethel will be on Jan. 29

. There will be a reception for her in Borgwardt Hall on that Sunday morning. The Genesis Café will be closed. There will also be a Going Away Potluck after Solid Rock on Sunday, Jan. 29, at about 6:00 pm. Come with or without food; e-mail Stacy with questions, at pyroboop@sbcglobal.net.

-Solid Rock is looking for a few good leaders! We'd appreciate any volunteers willing to help with prayers, greeting, scripture reading, setup, and with whatever else you'd be willing! If you're interested, please e-mail Corey Chambas at

chambas@charter.net or me at karltschweitz@yahoo.com . A greater depth of input will only strengthen the impact of our service. Thanks for your continued help!

-Bethel Builds is currently in need of volunteers who will work Tuesdays on the Apostles Build Habitat for Humanity home. If you are available please contact Tracy at bethelbuilds@yahoo.com or 255-4306. The workday is 8:30-4:00. Please contact Blanca Cruz soon at 332-7296.

-Interested in getting together with young adults to talk about faith stuff? We are starting a weekly young adult bible study, lead by Julius Svoboda and Erin Ficken. This group will meet weekly on Wednesdays, at a time and location to be determined. If you are interested in this group, contact Julius at

jvsvoboda@wisc.edu or Erin eficken2001@yahoo.com.

-The Art Show in the Fireside Room is the work of Bethel member, Gerry Bernards. He will be present this Sunday morning, Jan. 29, to meet guests and answer questions.

-Christian Men's Fellowship

will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 7, to learn about Stem Cell Research by Dr. Rupa Shevde of WiCell Research Institute. Invite a friend.

-Do you have any specific topics that you'd like to discuss, or other things you'd like to see happening at Solid Rock? We want Solid Rock to not only be a place where you feel welcome and have a great time, but also where you learn and are challenged. Send your ideas to me and I'll pass them along to the pastors for their consideration.

II. Solid Rock Contact Information

Solid Rock is blessed by the guidance of two gifted pastors, Gretchen Weller and Peter Narum. With any questions regarding the service, please feel free to contact them:

-Gretchen Weller:

guitarchick@bethel-madison.org ; 257-3577

-Peter Narum:

pnarum@bethel-madison.org ; 257-3577

III. This Week's Readings

Deuteronomy 18:15-20

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: "If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die." Then the Lord replied to me: "They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die."

Mark 1:21-28

They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

IV. Question to Ponder

I find it fascinating that in this week's gospel reading, both the demon and the people in the synagogue have very similar reactions to Jesus' teaching and power. It sounds kinda like Homer Simpson - "What the...?" Just like the characters in this story, we have questions about Jesus too. This week, ponder "what the.." Jesus is doing in your life!