As many of you have heard by now, I have accepted a new

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1 Farewell Barbecue June 23 for McGarry s Joint Worship June 24 with Godspeed The Men s Group will host a farewell barbecue for Pastor Joe McGarry and his family Saturday, June 23, at 4 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church. Please bring a salad or dessert. Contact Barry Tresback or Keith Jorgensen with any questions. The following day, June 24, will be Pastor Joe s final Sunday at Faith. We will have one joint worship at 10 a.m. to thank Pastor Joe for his four years at Faith and bless the family as they transition to Connecticut, the nutmeg state. A recption will follow in our Fellowship Hall. Come and wish Pastor Joe, Katie, Logan and Addyson godspeed. Saying Good-bye As many of you have heard by now, I have accepted a new call to be the Redevelopment Pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Kensington, Conn. While I am excited about starting something new I am not excited or even happy about leaving Gardner. While we have only been here four years so much has happened, and I am sad to go. The Gardner Community and the church community has been able to offer us everything we could ever imagine and my family has made deep meaningful relationships. However, everything has its life cycle and our time in Gardner is ending and we will be moving. Saying good-bye is always hard. It means that one relationship is going to end. I will no longer be your pastor. But whenever there is death, new life will come out of that. We will still be friends and we can foster that friendship when we see one another on the shores of Lake Ossipee, at Hammonassetor other synod events. One of my favorite memories at Faith Lutheran Church was the Year of Meatballs. I don t know why we thought this was a good idea but that year we must have rolled more than 1,000 meatballs through the various events. There were the meatball dinners, meatballs at Relay for Life, meatballs at the summer sidewalk sale. I will remember that because it was a decision we made at the church and we were willing to try something a little different to come together as a congregation. I think it was a turning point of unity for our church. Katie always has loved working with the kids of the church and she has said her favorite memories have come from working with the junior youth group. We have met on a regular basis for the last three years and we have seen so many wonderful things come out of the relationships the kids have built with one another. We enjoyed painting the Faith rocks together, working in the garden, building the CONTINUED

2 Logan s confirmation set for Sunday, June 17 Logan McGarry s confirmation has been rescheduled for Sunday, June 17. We will have one joint service at 10 a.m., followed by a reception in Fellowship Hall with cake! Come and celebrate this joyous occasion with us and the McGarry family! Let Us Pray Our brother, Olavi W. Palojarvi, 89, of Westminster died Wednesday, May 9, in the Baldwinville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Baldwinville.The funeral was Monday, May 14, at Faith. Memorial donations may be made to Youth Ministry at Faith. Our prayers are with Olavi s family, including his son, David Palojarvi, a member of the Congregation Council, as well as with all those who mourn. SAYING GOOD-BYE butterfly garden, going bowling and so many more activities. When I talked with the kids about their feelings about Faith Lutheran Church, Logan said that his personal faith has grown the most here because he feels comfortable asking questions about his faith, and he said he is not judged because of the questions he has and he feels welcome in the church. He also enjoys having communion every week because I need communion as a reminder that God loves me no matter what. Addyson told me that she has learned a lot about God over the last four years and that she enjoys going to youth group because we get to help other people. She also enjoys helping with Sunday school. She told me, I like help others and I know it makes a difference in their life and mine, too. Faith will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we have grown as a family because of our experiences here. Thank you so much for all that you have done for us. There is no way that we can ever fully express how our lives have been changed because of the relationships we have built here. Thank you. Pastor Joe Synod Assembly June 7-9 Pastor Joe and Sister Virginia will be Faith s representatives at this year s New England Synod Assembly Thursday, June 7, through Saturday, June 9, at the Mass Mutual Center, Springfield, Mass. Please keep them in your prayers, as well as the rest of the voting members. The theme, Stir It Up, is what synod leaders hope to see happen across the New England Synod this coming year. We will elect a new synod bishop. The Rev. Carrie Smith of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Jerusalem will preach, as well as present a session on her work in partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. You can view the proceedings online. Call

3 Pastor Joe behind bars at car wash. Car wash raises $450 for camperships, youth experience God-moments The Youth Group had an amazing car wash Saturday, April 28, at Advanced Auto Parts, washing 60 vehicles in about four hours. With your support we raised $450. Not only were we able to raise money for scholarships to Camp Calumet but we had lots of fun! As you would expect, all the kids went home with smiles and a little wet. We had two significant things happen. First, two Gardner policemen stopped by to have us wash their police cruiser. They let the kids see inside the car and a few kids (and Pastor Joe) got their picture taken from the back of the patrol car (hopefully the last time any of them sit in the back of a police cruiser). The officers showed everyone the items in the back of the police car and gave us a very nice tip! The second significant event was very unexpected. Two men drove up in a very large landscaping truck. It was white and we could see it was VERY dirty. ALL the kids (and adults) needed to step up and wash this truck. There were some spots that no matter how hard we tried we could not get it clean. The driver handed us $20 for the job (we were only charging $5). Then he started to talk with Pastor Joe about the purpose of the car wash. He asked what we were raising funds for and wanted to know a little about the church. Pastor Joe told him about Calumet and the fun that we have there every year. He talked about the spiritual component of the camp and the difference it makes in the lives of kids, not only from our church but from around New England and really from around the world. Then Pastor Joe talked about Faith Lutheran Church and how the church does everything it can to support the youth. This man was touched by the conversation and felt the spirit to help out even more then he did. He then took out his wallet and pulled out a $100 bill and gave it to Pastor Joe to help our youth even more. This was true generosity and the movement of the Spirit in that conversation. We ll be back at Advanced Auto Parts, 270 Main St., Saturday, June 2, at 9 a.m. for another car wash. We hope that you ll come out and get your car washed and support our youth. We also will be on the lookout for more God-moments in the people we encounter. Thank you for your prayers and support. Sign up now for Faith s Relay for Life Team The 25th Greater Gardner Relay for Life will begin Friday, June 8, at 6 p.m. and end Saturday, June 9, at 6 p.m. on the track at Mount Wachusett Community College, Green Street, not far from the church. To sign up for our team, the Faith Walkers, google Greater Gardner Relay for Life / Faith Walkers or talk with Ray Pfeifle or Pastor Joe. We need people to walk the track each hour of the 24 hours. We ll also have a tent. ON DUTY Logan (from left), Chad, Damien, Gardner Police Officer L. Paine, Isabelle, Alex, Natalia, Gardner Police Officer J. Braun, Quincy, Cierra, Aiden and Anthony.

4 Outreach Team sends donations In May, the Outreach Committee dispersed $250 each to the Gardner CAC, Winchendon CAC, Templeton Food Bank and Calumet Lutheran Ministries thanks to the generous coffee hour donations from the congregation. They also discussed their monthly visits and special upcoming birthdays of members of Faith. Quincy, Zoe, Cierra, Logan and Kayta pose for the camera at Confirmation Weekend at Calumet in April. Robert Pack June 10 Quincy Jorgensen June 11 Betty Wiinikainen June 13 (88) Gemma Marinelli June 15 Mary Chace June 17 Pastor Joe McGarry June 21 Harmony Zisk June 23 Julie Meehan June 26 Jacob Boutwell June 27 Lina Carlberg June 28 God made you one-of-a-kind amazing! On your birthday, we celebrate God s work in you. Is your birthday missing? Misspelling? Please call the church office at so we may celebrate the day God introduced you to the world. for Gardner CAC during June Barry and Karen Tresback at Memorial Day Parade in downtown Baldwinville. Faith Welcomes Alcoholics Anonymous Monday through Friday 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and noon to 1 p.m. Saturday noon to 1 p.m. CONDIMENTS ketchup, mustard, relish, pickles, jams and jelly, soy sauce, olives, BBQ sauce, honey, olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, salsa, salad dressings, grated cheese, etc. Youth Group Car Wash June 2 Saturday, June 2 Our Youth Group will hold another car wash, from 9 a.m. until noon, at Advanced Auto Parts, 270 Main St., Gardner, between Rite-Aid and CVS, to help raise money to send campers to Calumet this summer. $5 per car.

5 Church is family and second home for Celia Letendre Note: Each issue, we feature an interview with a member of our Faith family. This month Celia Letendre, 92, shares her faith story. By Maxine Pincott Celia (Johnson) Letendre, a lifelong resident of Gardner, is a cradle Lutheran whose Swedish grandparents helped found the first Lutheran church in Gardner in 1887, the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Church, which later changed its name to First Lutheran Church. After being confirmed at First Lutheran Church, then on Cross Street, she joined Immanuel Lutheran Church at the corner of Church and Leamy Streets because it was within walking distance of her home on Jean Street. Celia s baby sister, Betty Wiinikainen, four years younger, is also a member of Faith Lutheran. The Lutheran church in Gardner in all its different forms has been central to Celia s life; she s served in just about every area from church council to The Johnson sisters Betty (left), 14, and Celia, 18. Celia Letendre with Dalahast. property committee to leader of the women s organization. Everything except being pastor, she quipped. As a Sunday school teacher, she helped form the belief system of the two members of Immanuel who later became pastors, the Rev. Albert R. Ahlstrom, now retired in Kingston, N.Y., and the Rev. Otto Jacobson. Celia is the proud mother of a son, Forrest, married to Kathy, and a daughter, Karen; the grandmother of two, Todd, married to Marnia, and Josh, married to Rachel, and twice a greatgrandmother. Her daughter lives in Hingham, while her son lives in Acworth, Georgia. Forrest was transferred to Georgia about 20 years ago when the GE plant in Massachusetts closed. Forrest s son, Josh, remained in Gardner, while Todd moved to Georgia with the rest of the family. Todd has two children, Gavin, 10 and Sophia, 8. Celia is very proud of her great-grandchildren. Gavin recently won first prize for a school video that he made. He entered the video in a state contest in Georgia and won first prize there, as well. Sophia cut off one foot of her long blond hair to donate to Locks of Love. Both greatgrandchildren read to puppies, a program run by their local veterinarian. Sophia found out that a cat needed a hip replacement, and gave all her money to help pay for the operation. CONTINUED

6 SPOTLIGHT: CELIA LETENDRE Celia met her husband (Forrest, known as Dan), when she was a cashier and he assistant manager at the local A&P on Parker Street, where Insurance Center of New England is now located. She relates that when they were courting, Dan asked her to go to the movies on New Year s Eve. However, Celia, who loves to dance, instead chose to go to a dance that same evening at the Acadien Social Club, since she could go to a movie any time. Dan decided he better learn to dance if he wanted to be with Celia. And he did. They married in Dan wasn t a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church when they married, and she never pressured him to join. However, he surprised her after their marriage by joining. Prior to becoming a mother, Celia worked at A&P stores, Penney s and Rod s Auto Parts. Life was not easy for Celia. Her father passed away when she was nine. Her mother only remarried shortly before Celia got married. Dan passed away in 1986 shortly after Celia s mom died. The historical event that resonates with Celia is 911. She first saw the tragedy on TV and immediately called her sister, Betty. Celia also recalls the bombing at the Boston Marathon in (Interestingly, Celia was interviewed on the fifth anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing.) Celia has been an avid observer of the marathon since She took her post on Mile 8 to view the event. The first time she went with Karen, then afterwards with members of Immanuel and later Covenant after Bethel and Immanuel merged to form Covenant. She also got together with many members/friends from the church for Super Bowl Sunday. The personal event that looms large in Celia s memory is the time she went to the Rose Bowl Parade, New Year s Day in This was a dream come true. Celia said, To see the parade is unbelievable. All those roses. Celia likes to do puzzles, embroider and, of course, dance. Halloween is a special time of year for her. Pastor Lou Roder receives a surprise visit from Celia Letendre in her Halloween finest in She is known to have dressed up for Halloween and played some funny pranks. Her belief in God has helped her throughout her life. God has been present in helping her through the rough turns in life. hen her mother passed away, God helped her through the grieving so she could take care of her dying husband, Dan. The Church is her family, community and her second home. (I would) not have anything if it wasn t for Faith. God always provided, Celia said. Indeed, faith, family and friends have been paramount to Celia s secret to longevity. I have always enjoyed living. Sunday School Ice Cream Social Sunday, June 3, at 10:15 a.m. Everyone invited! Summer Sunday Worship schedule begins July 1 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

7 Faith in Action in May 1) Maxine Pincott and April Lunny at 60th Annual Silver Tea at Phillipston Congregational Church; 2) Youth and adults work together on building Noah s Ark at inter-generational gathering between Sunday services; 3) members of Faith serve at the Gardner CAC s Fellowship Table at First Congregational Church.

8 Church Staff Pastor Joe McGarry Organist Sue Sawyer Band Director Bob Boutwell Office Secretary Andi Hinckley Sexton Ray Pfeifle IV Pastor Joe McGarry Contact Us Faith Lutheran Church 627 Green St., Gardner, MA Church Office Hours Andi, our church secretary, is usually in the Church Office: Tuesdays, 1-5 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m Please Call the Church Office When: You or a family member is sick or in the hospital; You are planning a meeting or scheduling an event, so it can be placed on the church calendar; A baby is expected in your family; You want to arrange for a baptism or wedding; A family member has died; Your telephone number or address has changed or if you are planning to move, locally or out of town; You feel the Church can help you in any way. Pastor Joe McGarry is available by appointment. Please call the office: or pastor@ faithgardner.org. In an emergency, you can reach Pastor Joe on his cell: Sunday Worship June 3 9 a.m., Contemporary worship with praise band 10:15 a.m., Sunday School Ice Cream Social 11 a.m., Traditional worship with organ June 10 9 a.m., Contemporary worship with praise band 11 a.m., Traditional worship with organ June a.m., Joint worship with Confirmation of Logan McGarry June a.m., Joint worship with Godspeed for Pastor Joe and Family COUNCIL MINUTES AVAILABLE A white three-ring binder containing copies of the minutes and the church treasurer s monthly report from all Council meetings is located on a table in the narthex for anyone to view. Anyone with questions about Council meetings is urged to contact any member of the Council. Congregation Council Jennifer Chagnon Secretary Keith Jorgenson Vice President April Lunny Steve Nolin Dave Palojarvi Paula Rocheleau Two Vacancies Maxine Pincott Church Treasurer Steve Pincott Congregation Council meets the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at Faith. Open sessions. Minutes are posted on the bulletin board. Watch Pastor Joe s latest sermon on YouTube: faithgardner.org/youtube Connect with us on Facebook: facebook.com/ faithlutherangardner

9 June 1 (Friday) June 2 (Saturday) Car Wash for Summer Camp at Advanced Auto Parts 9 a.m. JUNE 3 (SUNDAY) Worship 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday School Ice Cream Social 10:15 a.m. June 4 (Monday) June 5 (Tuesday) June 6 (Wednesday) Bible study on Sunday s lessons 10 a.m. June 7-9 New England Synod Assembly June 7 (Thursday) June 8-9 Relay for Life, MWCC June 8 (Friday) June 9 (Saturday) Coptic Orthodox Church 10 a.m. JUNE 10 (SUNDAY) Worship 9 and 11 a.m. June 11 (Monday) June 12 (Tuesday) Congregation Council 6:30 p.m. June 13 (Wednesday) Bible study on Sunday s lessons 10 a.m. June 14 (Thursday) June 15 (Friday) June 16 (Saturday) Writer s Workshop 2 p.m. On the Calendar at Faith Faith Lutheran Church / 627 Green Street / Gardner MA / JUNE 17 (SUNDAY) Joint Worship 10 a.m. CONFIRMATION June 18 (Monday) DEADLINE for July Newsletter June 19 (Tuesday) June 20 (Wednesday) Bible study on Sunday s lessons 10 a.m. June 21 (Thursday) June 22 (Friday) June 23 (Saturday) Barbecue and Farewell for Pastor Joe and his Family 4 p.m. JUNE 24 (SUNDAY) Joint Worship 10 a.m. PASTOR JOE S LAST SUNDAY June 25 (Monday) June 26 (Tuesday) June 27 (Wednesday) June 28 (Thursday) June 29 (Friday) June 30 (Saturday) Men s Group 10 a.m. (downstairs) St. Mary and St. Thomas Coptic Orthodox Church is temporarily renting our sanctuary for worship Tuesday mornings and on the second and fourth Saturday mornings of each month from 8-11 a.m. NOTE: Dates and times of meetings at Faith during the week may change. Please call the church to verify.