Our Saviour Evangelical Lutheran Church Newsletter

Transcription

1 Our Saviour Evangelical Lutheran Church Newsletter 56 Cleveland Drive, Croton NY Phone: DECEMBER This Month's Emphases Advent and Christmas What is Boxing Day Page 1 Christmas Earthkeeping Tips Page 2 Christmas Poinsettias Page 2 White Gifts Page 3 Christmas Worship Page 3 This Month's News Feeding the Jan Peek Homeless Page 2 Benevolence Plus Page 2 Bouman to Lead ELCA Outreach Page 3 Coffee Hour Cookbook Page 4 December Sunday Servants Page 6 December Calendar Page 7 WHAT IS BOXING DAY? Pastor Anthony Stephens ( ) The first thing that can be said about Boxing Day is that it falls on the Feast of Stephen. The Feast of Stephen (Deacon / Martyr) falls the day after Christmas. Immediately, therefore, we think of the carol Good King Wenceslas printed below. Growing up in England (Boxing Day is a British and Canadian holiday) I loved Boxing Day. The family who could not be present for Christmas was present for Boxing Day and truthfully their presence was a better present than the presents; which by that time might already be broken. Leftovers, marzipan and royal icing covered cakes, a Christmas Pudding re-ignited and served with more brandy butter, everyone that less frantic because the command performance dinner of the day before had been successfully cooked, eaten and admired, and, for a clergy family, Dad was a lot less stressed! Coming to America, people would ask me what Boxing Day is. The most mature answer to that question is that it is the day that churches opened their alms boxes. Alms boxes are box[es] for collecting alms, especially one in a church, and alms are money or goods contributed to the poor ( Being a British festival, this original intent and meaning became decoupled from the holiday, which 1 has now become a day off for Brits who are probably not too capable of working that day anyway. Nonetheless, this whole spirit of Boxing Day is what the church should be about. It would be tragic to break open the alms boxes but once a year. The whole concept of Boxing Day is once close and akin to what Christians would recognize as stewardship. We receive of God s largesse, all the time and every day, why then would we limit our responding to the needs of the poor but once a year? Further, why would we wait until we have wined, dined and fed finely before giving consideration to those in need? Claas Ehlers, Development Director of Interfaith Hospitality Network, told me that he and his family, including youngish children, go to the temporary homeless family shelters, provided by houses of worship in the network, on holidays. He says it is a great experience for his kids they appreciate their blessings more, and the richness of the Christian faith becomes the more apparent. Eventually the Ehlers family goes thankfully to its permanent abode and then really enjoys their modest gifts. More regal figures, such as Wenceslas, had a similar idea Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen, When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even. Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel, When a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel. Hither, page, and stand by me, if you know it, telling, Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling? Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain, Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes fountain. Bring me food and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither, You and I will see him dine, when we bear them thither. Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went

2 together, Through the cold wind s wild lament and the bitter weather. Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger, Fails my heart, I know not how; I can go no longer. Mark my footsteps, my good page, tread now in them boldly, You shall find the winter s rage freeze your blood less coldly. In his master s steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted; Heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed. Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing, You who now will bless the poor shall yourselves find blessing. The Child of Bethlehem did not by any means put the kibosh on eating, drinking and relaxing, but it was certainly his intent that the joy of the Nativity be spread deep and crisp and even. CHRISTMAS EARTHKEEPING TIPS Amy Gardiner ( ) -When possible, use recycled gift wrap. Also wrap presents in decorated newsprint, newspaper, or papers saved from last year. Chinese take-out menus have red and green print and make for a festive wrap! Any reused paper can be decorated with paint stamps, cut out snowflakes etc. -As you unwrap gifts, flatten and fold the paper and collect it in a paper bag. Use for next year. You d be surprised how much is reusable! -Save your Xmas cards and use them to cut up for gift tags next year. -Wrap presents in Xmas fabrics, which can then be used as fabric!! -Avoid using plastic bows and ribbons. Use yarns and raffia (of course save what you can for next year) -Save anything red,green, silver and gold! See how creative you can be decorating packages with recycled objects that would other-wise end up in the trash! FEEDING THE JAN PEEK HOMELESS Jennifer Stieglitz ( ) On the third Monday of each month, Our Saviour has the privilege of ministering to homeless people in our own backyard. The residents of the Jan Peek homeless shelter in Peekskill are most appreciative 2 for a nice warm meal. If you can help out, please give Jen a call. The more volunteers, the easier it is to provide a main entree and side dish for about 20 people. Our next date is Monday December 17. What a wonderful gift to give and receive during this holiday season. CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS Karen Magerlein ( ) If you would like to donate flowers for our altar this Christmas, please fill out the form which appears in this newsletter (copies are also available on the back table). Place the form, along with your payment of $15/plant, in the Christmas Flowers envelope that comes in your donation envelope box. This envelope may be placed in the offering plate or put in a larger envelope and mailed to the church. Thank you for adding to the beauty of our Christmas altar. BENEVOLENCE PLUS Janet Behning ( ) In November we sent a check for $1,664 to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, a combination of the Wheelbarrow and Potholder Sunday fundraising, Thrivent matches and member contributions. The Oktoberfest netted $ plus the $200 Thrivent match, which was forwarded to the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Thank you to everyone who contributed and to John Nurmi who shepherded our projects through Thrivent's Care Abounds in Communities program. WHITE GIFTS Frya Barnes ( ) When I first joined Our Saviour 43 years ago we had a wonderful practice at Christmas when the children brought White Gifts ( specific items of infant clothing wrapped in white tissue paper) that were placed under the Christmas Tree in church. When the tree was taken down in early January the gifts were gathered together and assembled into layettes that were requested by Lutheran World

3 Relief for distribution to places around the world where these things were and are desperately needed. I would love to see Our Saviour re-institute this practice. I remember my boys each bringing such a gift to church every Christmas way into adulthood. I think it is a good way to have children focus on the needs of other children, in this case infants, at a time when we focus on the birth of the baby Jesus. P.S. As a result of a generous gift from a few members my sister and I just purchased enough infant clothing and supplies to assemble and mail 5 layettes to Lutheran World Relief at a total cost of $ Following is a list of items called for in one layette: 4 Cloth Diapers, not prefolded (Target and Toys R Us has them) 2 Receiving Blankets 2 Wash Cloths 1 large bar of Mild Soap 1 Sweater 2 Onesies 1 Gown 1 Sleeper 2 Diaper Pins I would recommend that the gown and onesies not be smaller than 12 months in size. CHRISTMAS WORSHIP Lisa Stephens ( ) The first opportunity to celebrate the Nativity of our Lord on Christmas Eve will be at 7:30 pm. This will be a service of Lessons and Carols. All will hear readings of scripture surrounded by hymns where the congregation hears and proclaims the word of God. Additionally, special choral music echoes the messages of the lessons. At 9:30 pm there will be another Christmas Eve service, this time a Chorale Mass with joyful Christmas carols and the Lord s Supper. Rounding out our Christmas celebration is a service of Holy Communion at 10:30 am Christmas morning. We hope you will come and worship with us at each of these festive services. 3 BOUMAN TO LEAD ELCA OUTREACH Pastor Anthony Stephens ( ) The Rev. Stephen P. Bouman, bishop of the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was elected Nov. 11 by the ELCA Church Council to a fouryear appointment as executive director of ELCA Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission (EOCM) beginning Jan. 1, The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. The council met here Nov Assemblies are held every other year; the next is Aug , 2009, in Minneapolis. "Saying good-bye is so incredibly difficult. I have shared so much of my life with the wonderful lives of the people of this synod and this metropolis. We went through Ground Zero together. We buried our dead and re-imagined the church in the wake of that tragedy," Bouman said. "We have planted so many new ministries among people who are 'the road not taken' by traditional Lutheranism." "In some ways mission and ministry in the Metropolitan New York Synod has been 'going to school' on what mission and ministry are going to be like all across our country in the coming decades," Bouman said. "I've learned some things, and I'm looking forward to sharing them with the wider church," he said. "We have a lot to learn from each other, and it will be my joy to advocate and agitate for the missional heart of this church as the director of EOCM. I look forward to getting on the road with my many new colleagues who will share with me the ministries to which God has called them," Bouman said. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, announced the council's unanimous election of Bouman here Nov. 13."Bishop Bouman has exemplified in his parish and synodical ministries leadership that is Christ centered, Spirit gifted, biblically engaged, theologically formed and contextually shaped," Hanson said in a prepared statement. "He has a passion to proclaim Christ, make disciples and build up the church for the sake of the world." "Bishop Bouman developed a Diakonia program with over 800 graduates, some of whom are serving as pastors," Hanson said. "Under his leadership over 35 new ministries have been initiated. Worship occurs in over 25 languages in the synod," he said.

4 Hanson recalled that Bouman saw the ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod through the challenges of dealing with the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, He listed other "hallmarks" of Bouman's leadership as bishop: "accompanying those who live in poverty, working together for a more just society, extending hospitality to the immigrant, striving to become a multicultural, diverse church while building upon our strong global and ecumenical partnerships." Bouman will succeed the Rev. Richard A. Magnus, who will retire Dec. 31. EOCM is a program unit of the ELCA. Its 149- member staff facilitates "the efforts of congregations, synods, and related institutions and agencies in reaching out in witness to the gospel to people in all contexts and cultures" across the United States and Caribbean. It works to develop new congregations and ministries, and to renew and equip existing ELCA ministries in evangelical outreach. Born April 14, 1947, in Melrose Park, Ill., Bouman is a graduate of Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, Ind., and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He earned a master of sacred theology degree and a doctorate in ministry from New York Theological Seminary, New York. In 1992 Bouman became an assistant to the bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod and in 1996 was elected to succeed the Rev. James E. Sudbrock as bishop. The synod elected Bouman to a second six-year term as bishop in Bouman is author of several articles, curricula, devotionals and books, including "From the Parish for the Life of the World," published in 2000 by Augsburg Fortress, and "Grace All Around Us," published in 2007 by Augsburg Books. Augsburg Fortress is the publishing ministry of the ELCA. Bouman and his wife Janet are the parents of three adult children. COFFEE HOUR COOKBOOK Melanie Mueller ( ) With the holidays in sight, here are two festive recipes to brighten your table with the reds and greens of Christmas! PESTO CHICKEN POLENTA TARTS Served by Anita Baumann on November 19, These tarts are easy to prepare and are a nice alternative to crackers and cheese as an appetizer for the holidays. Prep time 30 minutes/yield 2-3 dozen tarts depending on the size of your cookie cutter shape. Prepare the polenta in advance so that it has a chance to 'set-up' and firm before you cut the tart shapes. Ingredients: 1 package instant polenta (You can find this is the supermarket in the pasta or rice section. It comes in a brick that resembles coffee packaging.) 2 cups heavy cream 1 whole chicken or 2 lbs. chicken breasts (I use a market prepared broiled chicken - it adds to the moistness and saves time) 1 container prepared pesto (You can certainly make your own, but store-bought is a time-saver) Dried cranberries Prepare the polenta following the package directions; it cooks in just a few minutes. Remove from the stove and stir in 2 cups heavy cream - this gives the polenta added smoothness. Transfer the polenta/cream mixture onto a large baking sheet and spread the mixture evenly over the surface with a spatula or wooden spoon. Allow the polenta to cool to room temperature. While the polenta cools, shred 2 1/2 to 3 cups of chicken - using two forks and pulling the meat in opposite directions is the best method I've found to do this. Put the chicken in a bowl and stir in the container of pesto, coating the meat evenly. Using a cookie cutter, cut rounds or shapes from the cooled polenta - about a 1 1/2-2" diameter works best. Place a heaping spoonful of the chicken mixture on top of each tart. Add two or three dried cranberries to the top of each tart. The tarts may be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated overnight, but they should be served at room temperature - so remember to take them out at least 1 hour prior to serving. Transfer the tarts to a holiday platter & Voila! Red and green healthy Christmas appetizers with fewer calories than traditional chips and dips! POTATO GATTO From the Anita Baumann s Favorite Recipes

5 This filling 'casserole-style' dish is attractive & tasty. The combination of red, green and white ingredients make for a festive presentation. The recipe is adapted from "The Italian County Table" by Lynne Rossetto Kasper. I've added my own suggestions for substitutions (in parentheses), since the gourmet ingredients the recipe calls for are readily available in prepared form. I will recommend that you do take the time to make your own breadcrumbs for this dish, as it really adds to the texture and flavor. Ingredients: 3 lbs Yellow Fin, Yukon Gold or red potatoes Extra-virgin olive oil 1 medium onion, diced Salt and pepper to taste 1 1/2 cups coarse, homemade breadcrumbs. These can be made in the food processor from a few slices of Italian or Sourdough bread, with the crusts, plus a clove or two of garlic. (You can also substitute flavored, prepared stuffing mix cubes - such as Pepperidge Farm or packaged croutons - available in many seasoned flavors in the produce section.) 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (You may substitute you favorite flavorful semi-hard cheese: plain grated Parmigiano or Asagio work well - use the fresh cheese available from the refrigerated section; not the preserved shaker kind.) 1/3 cup milk 1/4 lb soppressata (or any other spicy salami; pepperoni works, too), sliced 1/8 inch thick and diced. For this recipe you can buy the salami from a deli or at the deli counter in the supermarket and have it sliced to order. Columbus brand soppresata is the one recommended by the author. 1 1/3 cups frozen peas, defrosted; divided (buy the smallest package of frozen peas and you should have almost 2 cups; you can use them all without harming the recipe) 1/2 pound fresh mozzarella, drained and sliced 1 inch thick (packaged Polly-O or store brands work equally well for those of you who are not purists) Preheat the over to 400 degrees. Place the potatoes in a large pot, cover with water and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down and simmer 25 minutes or until a fork goes easily into the largest potato. Meanwhile, brown the onion in a scant tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat, seasoning 5 lightly with salt and pepper. Remove the onions to a bowl. Add a bit more oil to the skillet and saute your homemade breadcrumbs, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste, until lightly browned (5 to 10 minutes). Remove the breadcrumbs to another bowl. (Note: You don't need to brown the breadcrumbs if you've purchased packaged croutons - they have already been cooked in oil. You'll just need to smash them up a little to make smaller pieces for the casserole topping. This is most easily done by opening the package to let the air escape, resealing the package and lightly pounding with your fist - be forewarned, pound too hard and the bag will 'explode', spewing breadcrumbs all over your counter. When done properly, this activity is a welcome tension-reliever when you are frazzled during the pre-holiday rush!) Drain the potatoes and let cool 10 minutes. Slice the butter into a large bowl. Using a paring knife or your fingers, peel the potatoes. Put them into the bowl with the butter, Parmigiano, milk and salt and pepper to taste. Lightly mash the potatoes; they should be fairly lumpy. Stir in the sopressata and half the defrosted peas. Oil a glass baking dish. (The original recipe calls for an 8-inch square baking dish - Pyrex is your best bet here - you may want to use a 9" square dish if you have one, as the Gatto really fills up an 8" dish to the very top. Additionally the casserole will bubble a bit... Volume should be your guide in selecting the best dish to hold the entire mixture.) Press half of the potato mixture into the bottom. Top with the onions and remaining peas, then the mozzarella slices in a single layer. Spread the rest of the potatoes on top and smooth with a spatula or the back of a large metal spoon. Bake 30 minutes. (I advise placing a sheet of aluminum foil under the casserole dish in case of the bubbling over mentioned in step 5.) Remove from the oven and top with the breadcrumbs. Bake an additional 10 minutes. Serve hot. Yield: 4 entree or 8 side-dish servings. Author's Serving suggestion: Potato Gatto makes a really nice winter side dish for pork chops, veal, fish or chicken. You can also serve the Gatto with a simple steamed vegetable or contrastingly bitter green salad on the side. The Gatto makes a

6 complete meal by itself with a nice glass of wine - soft chenin blanc or gutsy but non-oaky chardonnay. Mario Batali suggests a full-bodied Campanian red such as Taurasi. A dry German Riesling also compliments this dish. However you choose to serve the Gatto, it's a safe bet that your dining companions will ask for second helpings...enjoy! DECEMBER LECTOR S LIBRARY DATE FIRST READING SECOND READING December 2 Isa 2:1-5 Rom 13:11-14 December 9 Isa 11:1-10 Rom 15:4-13 December 16 Isa 35:1-10 James 5:7-10 December 23 Isa 7:10-16 Rom 1:1-7 December 24 Christmas Eve Isa 9:2-7 Titus 2:11-14 Christmas Day Isa 62:6-12 Titus 3:4-7 December 30 Isa 63:7-9 Heb 2:10-18 DECEMBER SUNDAY SERVANTS December 16 Greeter&Usher: Anita and David Baumann Pam Schwartz Frya Barnes Mikiko Golberg Chuck Cooper Christine Gabrielsen Hospitality: Heather Cooper and Melanie Mueller December 23 Greeters&Ushers: Frya Barnes and Beatrice Bangura John Mueller Amy Gardiner Mikiko Golberg LeeAnn McCarthy Evelyn Gardiner Hospitality: Audrey Gabrielsen & Lee Ann McCarthy December 24 Christmas Eve Lessons & Carols Greeters&Ushers: John & Tom Magerlein 6 Lectors: Michael Gabrielsen December 24 Christmas Eve Choral Mass Greeters&Ushers: Nancy Riekert & Frya Barnes Eleanor Soderlund 6 Greg Scala Bob Riekert Decembe r 25 Christmas Day Greeters&Ushers: Jeanne Spacek & Loretta Rapetti Eric Golberg Nick Crumb Eleanor Soderlund Decembe r 30 Greeters&Ushers: Deborah Tobin & Evelyn Garrett Lori Esteves Ken Gabrielsen Ken Gabrielsen Steven Orts January 6 Greeters&Ushers: Chuck Cooper and Nancy Riekert LeeAnn McCarthy Bella Kachnic Karen Magerlein Frya Barnes Joseph Mueller Hospitality: Amy Gardiner and Evelyn Garrett

7 2007 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Key: HB - Happy Birthday HA - Happy Anniversary 2 First Sunday Advent Bible,Church and World 9:30am Christmas Fair 10:00am (blue) Confirmation 9:15am Choir Practice 7:45pm AA 7:30pm NA 7:30pm HB Evelyn Garrett!! 9 Second Sunday Advent Sewing Guild 10:00am 13 Bible,Church and World 9:30am (blue) Confirmation 9:15am Choir Practice 7:45pm AA 7:30pm NA 7:30pm HA Evelyn & Ed Garrett!! 16 Third Sunday Advent (blue) Confirmation 9:15am 23 Fourth Sunday Advent Danish Home Visit 2:00pm Choir Practice 7:45pm AA 7:30pm 25 Merry 19 Altar Guild Church Decorating 6:00pm NA 7:30pm Bible,Church and World 9:30am HB Barbara Befanis!! 21 Pizza Pajama 6:00pm Christmas Caroling 7:30pm HB Pastor Stephens!! HB Jennifer Stieglitz!! HB Marion Phillips!! (blue) Confirmation 9:15am 30 First of Christmas (white) Comfirmation 9:15am Services at 7:30pm & 9:30pm 31 Christmas AA 7:30pm NA 7:30pm

8 2007 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday