The Seeker NOVEMBER/DECEMBER Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. -Matthew 7:7

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1 Our Saviour Evangelical Lutheran Church 56 Cleveland Drive Croton-On-Hudson, NY (914) The Seeker NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 Rev. Anthony Stephens, Pastor Sunday Worship Schedule Sunday School: 9:30 am Confirmation Class: 9:15 am Worship: 10:30 am Coffee Hour: following worship Weekday Office Schedule Office hours: 9:00 am - 12:00 Office Phone: (914) Office mail@oursaviourcroton.org Website: Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. -Matthew 7:7 Weekday Activities Choir Practice: 7:45 pm

2 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 Our Saviour Lutheran Church 56 Cleveland Drive, Croton-On-Hudson, New York The Seeker A PENNY FOR THE GUY - Rev. Anthony Stephens For the several British ex-pats in the congregation November is most memorable because of November 5, Guy Fawkes Night. Remember, remember the 5 th of November, gunpowder, treason and plot. On November 5, 1605 an anti-royalist faction sneaked into the undercroft of the British House of Parliament in an effort to assassinate James I, then King of England. Guy Fawkes was one of the conspirators who was nabbed. He was persuaded, with the aid of thumb screws, to confess to the plot. What was memorable as a child were the weeks ahead of Guy Fawkes Night when small children begged for the money to buy fireworks, which would be set off on the dark, cold night of November 5. On November 5 a Guy would be burned on top of a bonfire. In the weeks before Guy Fawkes Night, the Guy (a scarecrow like dummy, complete with Machiavellian painted face) was dragged around, as the children would ask for A penny for the Guy. The original plot was essentially a religious conspiracy. James I was trying to navigate a line between the Puritans and Roman Catholics in England. James I was a great proponent of the Divine Right of Kings, and denied Papal authority over the English and Scottish monarch. Guy Fawkes may thus be said to be part of a fundamentalist Roman Catholic plot. James I responded with many draconian measure, which were fiercely anti-catholic. However, he also convened a conference of scholars who produced The King James Version of the Bible. The KJV was an effort to harmonize Geneva Puritans with pro-royalists. The result, miraculously, was a translation of the Bible that still catches people s imagination, and, which, many contend, is The Bible. Luke s Gospel promises an imminent reign of justice, and Isaiah and other prophets also look forward to a future reign of justice. Part of that reign of justice is an inferred cultural, religious, ethnic and gender harmony: The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them (Isaiah 11:6 New International Version). What are we seeing today? Inter-racial and inter-faith marriages, churches Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant all gathered around common themes of economic justice, and a Pope who says: And I believe in God, not in a Catholic God, there is no Catholic God, there is God and I believe in Jesus Christ, his incarnation. Jesus is my teacher and my pastor, but God, the Father, Abba, is the light and the Creator. This is my Being A Pope who says: A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person? We must always consider the person. He chose Francis because Francis: [i]s the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation. We need not all dash out and rejoin the Roman Catholic Church any more than we need jettison all newer and clearer translations of the Bible in favor of the KJV. However, when one person has voice that it is heard across the planet it is significant what that voice says, and what trend it advocates. For instance, I believe that it is truly important for everyone to confront in dialogue the historical reality of the Reformation, its consequences and the responses it elicited. Catholics and Lutherans can ask forgiveness for the harm they have caused one another and for their offenses committed in the sight of God. Together we can rejoice in the longing for unity which the Lord has awakened in our hearts, and which makes us look with hope to the future. That this essential unity may crystallize not around issues of sexual orientation or reproductive choice, but economic justice and a faith based response to hunger, is nothing short of thrilling.

3 PRESIDENT S MESSAGE John Magerlein I have long had a special liking for the period late in the church year Reformation Sunday, All Saint s Sunday, and the final Sunday of the year celebrating Christ the King. These services emphasize some of the most important aspects of our faith and also have some of my favorite hymns. In addition, they give us an opportunity to review the past year and to make plans for the new church year beginning with the season of Advent. As we move into the new church year, I look for our congregation to grow in grace and also in numbers so as to better carry out our mission. Growth in grace involves first increasing our assistance to those in need, where our focus has been largely on fighting hunger in our community and around the world. We would also like to increase the involvement of our members in educational opportunities and other activities of the congregation. I see a need to grow congregational leaders and hope that you will seek ways to serve the congregation and will accept if you are asked to join one of our congregational committees. To increase our numbers, we need to find ways to increase the visibility of our congregation in the community, especially in the upcoming joyous seasons of Advent and Christmas. In closing, I would like to thank my fellow Council members, Pastor Stephens, and our other staff members for their support during the past year. I am certain that the Lord will again richly bless us as we enter a new church year. SEAFARERS AND INTERNATIONAL HOUSE CHRISTMAS MINISTRY Each year Seafarers and International House coordinates the giving of Christmas Gifts to mariners aboard ships visiting the ports of NJ/NY ports. Many of these seafarers come from desperately poor circumstances and are very touched at being remembered at this time away from their homes and very appreciative to have warm clothing as they stand watch on board on bitter cold nights. Each seafarer met by our port chaplains in the days and weeks before Christmas will receive a Christmas satchel containing these NEW items: A hooded or unhooded sweatshirt (size L-XL) Three pairs of socks thermal or white gym One casual pullover T-shirt (size M-L) One knit winter cap One can of nuts or large bar of chocolate If you would like to support this holiday ministry, please purchase any of these items. Contents can be left in Pastor s office and will be delivered to SIH in mid-december COUNCIL MEMBERS Our Congregational Council members would like to keep the conversations and ideas that will move our church in the right direction going. If you have any ideas that you feel Our Saviour can benefit from.. Please...Talk To Us!! Here is a list of our 2013 Council Members : Circle School: Dianne Carroll Property: Steven Millar Christian Education: Dianne Carroll Social Ministry: Angie Nuwesra Evangelism & Outreach: Stewardship: Greg Evans Finance & Secretary: Peter Ling Worship & Music: Greg Evans President: John Magerlein Treasurer: Eric Golberg Pastor / Parish Relations: Bryan Montgomery, Vice President Ex Officio: Barbara Henninger, Financial Secretary

4 TREASURER S REPORT: JULY-SEPTEMBER - Eric Golberg, Treasurer The council recommended a Treasurer s update, as we are three months into out fiscal year. We are running a $5,935 YTD deficit due to lower offerings. Offering in July, August and September was lower than last year, with September $2,500 less than September The good news is that expenses are running below budget as well. Please consider your stewardship pledge and ability to give your time and talents. We thank and praise God for all blessings and each person attending our church. CROTON I spend a lot more time in November and December thinking about breakfast and lunch than I do about turkeys and Christmas cookies. This November Lori and I invite you to think about breakfast and the Cortlandt Food Bank: oatmeal, cereal, canned fruit. December is lunch with peanut butter, jelly, canned fruit, mayonnaise, tuna fish. Of course, any food staple or cash that you want to contribute is welcome. If you have any questions please contact Lori Esteves or Janet Behning. POINSETTIAS Every Christmas Eve poinsettia plants magically appear and brighten our sanctuary. Please consider donatinging a poinsettias plant in memory or in honor of someone special. Cost per plant is $20. Send orders with payment to the church office or place in the offering plate on Sunday. Order forms can be found at the bottom of this page and will be available on the tables in the narthex and link starting in November.

5 We will be celebrating the Birth of our Lord on Christmas Eve with a service of Lessons and Carols at 7:30 pm and a Chorale Mass with Eucharist at 9:00 pm. Christmas celebration will continue with a service of Holy Communion at 10:30 am on Christmas morning. Keep the true meaning of Christmas alive & in your heart by worshipping with us this year. There are many opportunities for Worship Assistants, Lectors, Communion Assistants and other Worship Servants at this time. Look for the sign-up sheet on the Link Table during Advent. ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING Our Saviour s 2013 Annual Congregational Meeting is Sunday December 8. Meeting will begin directly following our Sunday Service. All members are encouraged to attend this important meeting for our congregation. All Committee Reports was requested to be handed in by November 8. If your report is not in as yet, please be sure to contact Melanie.

6 NOVEMBER SUNDAY SERVANTS November 3 Greeters&Ushers: MaryBeth Soucy & Lily Evans Greg Evans Anita Baumann Karen Magerlein John Magerlein Zoe Staats Hospitality: Anita Baumann & Karen Polacek November 10 Greeters&Ushers: John & Tom Magerlein Lori Esteves Frya Barnes LeeAnn McCarthy Lee Ann McCarthy Leon Johnson Hospitality: Karen Kuchnicki & John/Laura Keil November 17 Greeters&Ushers: Alexandra Stephens & Rosie Evans Matilda Weekes-Johnson Eric Golberg Jeanne Spacek Bob Riekert Harry Cooper Hospitality: Lori Esteves & Brigitte Anderson-Crumb November 24 Greeters&Ushers: Chuck Cooper & Diane Carroll Lily Evans Alexandra Stephens Lori Esteves Evelyn Garrett Taylor Cunningham Hospitality: Lee Ann McCarthy & Heather Cooper LECTIONARY READINGS 11/3 Dan 7:1-3, Eph 1: /10 Job 19:23-27a 2 Thess 2:1-5, /17 Mal 4:1-2a 2 Thess 3: /24 Jer 23:1-6 Col 1: /1 Isa 2:1-5 Rom 13: /8 Isa 11:1-10 Rom 15: /15 Isa 35:1-10 James 5: /22 Isa 7:10-16 Rom 1:1-7 12/29 Isa 63:7-9 Heb 2: /05 Jer 31:7-14 Eph 1:3-14 DECEMBER SUNDAY SERVANTS December 1 Greeters&Ushers: Anita & David Baumann Lee Ann McCarthy Matilda Weekes-Johnson Lori Esteves & Greg Evans Shoshana Nuwesra Emma Montgomery Hospitality: Abbie Voss & Sue Montgomery December 8 Greeters&Ushers: Frya Barnes & Eric Golberg Rosie Evans Tom Magerlein Lee Ann McCarthy Alexandra Stephens Zoe Staats Hospitality: Jen Stieglitz & Karen Callahan December 15 Greeters&Ushers: Evelyn Garrett & Lily Evans Greg Evans Lee Ann McCarthy Janet Behning Chuck Cooper Harry Cooper Hospitality: Michelle Hough & Lee./Angie Nuwesra December 22 Greeters&Ushers: John & Tom Magerlein Lori Esteves Janet Behning Greg Evans Evelyn Garrett Leon Johnson Hospitality: Christmas Cookie Party December 29 Greeters&Ushers: MaryBeth Soucy & Alex Stephens Matilda Weekes-Johnson Ken Gabrielsen Janet Behning Frya Barnes Taylor Cunningham Hospitality: Mikiko Golberg & Greg Evans January 5 Greeters&Ushers: Rosie Evans & Chuck Cooper Shoshana Nuwesra Anita Baumann TBD John Magerlein Emma Montgomery Hospitality: TBD

7 NOVEMBER 2013 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY KEY: HB Happy Birthday HA Happy Anniversary All Saints Sunday (white) HB Lisa Stephens HB Greg Befanis 10 Twenty-Fifth Pentecost (green) Abatiello Baptism HB Pam Schwartz 17 Twenty-Sixth Pentecost (green) 18 HB Sue Montgomery HB Pastor David HB Lee Ann McCarthy 21 HB Tom Carroll HB Susie Gardiner 24 Christ the King (white) 25 HB Cliff Gabrielsen HB Alec Hough Happy 29 30

8 DECEMBER 2013 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY First Advent (blue) HB Evelyn Garrett 8 Second Advent (blue) ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HB Shoshana Nuwesra HA Ed & Evelyn Garrett HB Arlita Hoyt 15 Third Advent (blue) HB Barabara Befanis HB Pastor Stephens 22 Fourth Advent (blue) Christmas Eve HB Jen Stieglitz Services 7:30pm & 9:00pm 29 First Christmas HAPPY NEW YEAR KEY: HB Happy Birthday HA Happy Anniversary (white)