Our Saviour Evangelical Lutheran Church Newsletter

Transcription

1 Our Saviour Evangelical Lutheran Church Newsletter 56 Cleveland Drive, Croton NY Phone: DECEMBER This Month's News Return of the Worshipper Page 1 Page 2 Treasurer s Report Page 2 Stewardship Page 2 President s Letter Page 3 Christmas Worship Page 3 Obituary Page 3 Thanks4Zak Page 3 Passover this Christmas Page 4 Croton Blood Drive Page 4 Directory Update Page 3 RETURN OF THE WORSHIPPER Pastor Anthony Stephens ( ) I look forward to the new liturgical year with excitement. The scaffold for that excitement is liturgical. Our liturgy guides us towards the joy of Christmas: a great celebration. Advent isn t pre- Christmas 1, pre-christmas 2 and so forth. Rather, although we already know what is in the box, it is a season of preparation that guides us to replicable joy. It s true that the Christ child is not ever going to be back in utero. Nevertheless, our liturgy doesn t force us to pretend what has already occurred is about to re-occur. Liturgy does not ask us to suspend belief or honor that which is illusory; rather, liturgy spells out our solid and earthy basis for faith, hope and, indeed, joy. It s also true that this December might not be as unrelentingly happy as those that saw more personal financial security last year. Yet, amid all kinds of reversal we are obliged to wonder why God would go to the not inconsiderable bother of sending his Son to be our savior absent God s very great love for us. Pastor Bob Wollenburg, who recently preached at Our Saviour, on the Sunday after the onset of the financial collapse, concluded with the words: 1 You ll be fine. This was a very gutsy thing to say, and there may even have been those who wanted to punch him on the nose, because they did not feel like they were going to be fine. However, ever single week we listen to texts about those needing deliverance and those receiving deliverance, and hear the promise that we will delivered. The shape, form and content of the liturgy are all about rehearsing these truths. We know that they are truths; before, even, that we die and experience, personally, the Resurrection, because we worship with those who have seen and been through every kind of adversity, and can yet personally validate that Christian hope is well founded, and reason for joy. Recently I was leafing through some old papers. I found an un-published manuscript by Michael Aune Professor of Liturgical & Historical Studies at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, entitled Return of the Worshipper. (I believe we called it Liturgy Made Difficult ). Seminarians came to Aune s class expecting to be told where to put their hands as they anticipated leading worship. Instead, seminarians learned where to place their hearts and those of the worshippers. This was not in a soppy or sentimental way. Rather, by examining what the liturgy really says, and has been saying since the early church, seminarians (eventually) realized that liturgy is not one thing after another, to paraphrase Aune. Luther noted: that to which your heart truly clings is, I say, your God. Aune quotes Reformer Philip Melanchthon in talking of striking the ear and moving the heart. This is what the aural (and of course other sensual) components of liturgy does. Through them God moves the heart to believe and to take hold of faith. Worship leadership and worship are the means through which our hearts are moved to a firm trust in God s promises and to work might and main for our neighbor.

2 I understand that some of the recent First Communion class were a little taken aback by what the elements actually tasted like. Of course the elements are never just bread and wine, but for us for the body and blood of a stricken and now triumphant Savior. In so being, they tell a story and remind us of a timeless truth. We may quibble with the taste, feel, sight and texture of our worshipping experience, but it is the message to which we should return. Indeed, those who truly know that we will, through God s love, be fine, already have returned. (My gratitude to Michael B. Aune for original quotes, comments and insight) CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS Sarah Doherty ( ) Please consider sponsoring a poinsettia plant to adorn the sanctuary at Christmas. This year s plant boast lusher growth (not your grocery store variety) at a very reasonable price of $20 per plant. Use the order form that appears in this newsletter. Enclose the form and payment in the Christmas Flower envelope that comes in your box of offering enevlopes and place it in the offering plate on Sunday morning. Poinsettia order forms can also be found in the narthex and link tables at church. TREASURER S REPORT Janet Behning ( ) I reported at the recent annual meeting that we ended our June 30, 2008 fiscal year in the black, but we are running in the red so far for this fiscal year. Income is lower than it was last year at this time, and our expenses are higher than budgeted, mainly because of unexpected property expenses. As of 10/31, our operating loss for the first four months of this year is $6,029. Christmas will help, but giving can be affected by non-financial factors summer vacations, snowstorms, absent mindedness, etc. Add the ongoing financial turmoil, and supporting our ministry through our budget becomes even more of a challenge but not an impossibility. STEWARDSHIP Eleanor Soderlund ( ) This time of the year we are bombarded with solicitations from animal shelters to veteran organizations all seeking funds to help their particular cause. To whom and how much we give certainly comes down to ones individual choice. Many of us to day are fearful. We read about job losses, the economy, higher prices, fixed incomes, it all paints a bleak picture. Were all holding our breath s, waiting with the expectation for things to change, waiting to exhale. The Advent season offers us freedom. Freedom from our worries. Take this time to concentrate on a different waiting and watching, and take part with your family and your church in the joyous preparations to celebrate the birth of the new born Christ. The times, situation and place of Jesus birth couldn t have been bleaker, yet His light shined and overcame the world. We may have to tighten our belts and adjust our lifestyles but, we should not fear. Let us be confident in the commitments we have made in our lives because no matter what our situation is, Christ is beside us and will continue to be with us. Take comfort in the word of the Lord: For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13 So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. Hebrews 13:6 An update on our recent Stewardship program: Our budget for 7/08 6/09 is $151,728. As of this writing we have received 25 pledges for a total of $74,800. It s not too late to submit a pledge, as your commitment will help to determine the direction that Our Saviour Church goes in (Last year we received 30 pledges for a total of $94,742. Wouldn t it be a great testament of faith if we exceeded these numbers?) 2

3 PRESIDENT S LETTER John Magerlein ( ) Karen and I have been following with interest our son Tom s confirmation studies this year. In this excellent curriculum, he is not only learning about the Bible and its significance, but is also being asked to think about important questions which he has probably never considered before. How do we interpret the well-known stories of the Old Testament? How do they relate to our lives today? For example, what issues might arise if a Christian marries a non-christian? As we become older, we find the need to continue learning about God s word and how it relates to our lives. Through study and discussion with others in our Christian community, we can continue to grow in grace. For example, this fall during the Sunday School hour a few of us have been viewing and discussing a video presentation entitled The Church of Tomorrow. In these thoughtful lectures, Prof. Tim Hoffman describes the factors he believes are behind the declining membership in mainline Christian churches in the United States. While there are no simple answers to some of these questions, I think we ve found the lectures and our discussion of them to be thought-provoking and interesting. I will put the DVD into the church library when we finish with it in case you would like to borrow it. As we conclude this series, we are choosing what we would like to study beginning in January. I hope you will consider joining us for this new adult study each Sunday morning. Please look for further information in the January newsletter. If you would like more information or would like to suggest a subject for study, please speak to me. Thanks4Zak Kuchnicki Family ( ) The Kuchnicki family thanks all who supported Pastor's marathon Run4Zack. Although difficult at first to accept, this is such a gift of the heart we are immensely grateful for your support...both spiritual and financial. We are awed. Zack has his next scans this Thursday and we will take your prayers with us. CHRISTMAS WORSHIP Melanie Mueller ( ) We will be celebrating the Nativity of our Lord on Christmas Eve with a service of Lessons and Carols at 7:30 pm and a Chorale Mass with Eucharist at 9:30 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 and in your heart by worshipping with us at any of these festive services. Christmas Eve and Day worship servants are needed. Please enhance your Christmas worship by signing up to play an active part in our services. Signup sheet can be found at the rear of the sanctuary. OBITUARY Eleanor Soderlund ( ) William Oscar Trent Jr. Born May 15, Died November 30, 2006 Friends called him Bill and some affectionately knew him as Willie. He was a long time resident of Croton-on-Hudson. Bill was a World War II veteran having served in the Navy from February 1943 to February 1946 and was part of the Pacific Theater campaign, receiving a Pacific and European war medal. After the war he was employed by the U.S. Postal service. Bill was proud of the fact that he was a member of the first confirmation class of June 5 th 1938 at Our Saviour Church under the leadership of Rev. John W. Kiahn. There s a photo of the class on page seven in our photo gallery on the wall in the link, and on page fifteen you will find a much later photo of Bill along with his mom, dad and his brother Robert. Fond remembrance of his past connection to Our Saviour Church led Bill to bequeath a sum of $ to the church with the request that $ be used for Sunday School programs and the balance to the church to be used as needed. Bill was predeceased by his father William, his mom Frances and his brother Robert. 3

4 PASSOVER THIS CHRISTMAS Robert Rimbo, Bishop MNYS Celebrate Christ s birth, celebrate the paschal mystery. The heart of our faith is the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the fact that what happened to Jesus will happen to us too. In various ways and at different times, we, too, will suffer and die and be raised up, all in the arms of God who loves us. This is what we call the paschal mystery. We celebrate the paschal mystery every Sunday and in a most important way in the great Three Days every year around the time of the Jewish Passover. We mark it with baptisms and alleluias year-round. This month as we celebrate Jesus birth, we also celebrate the paschal mystery. At Christmas we celebrate Easter. Christmas is a time for remembering and reveling in the birth of our Lord; the revelation of Christ to the Jewish shepherds; the revelation of Christ to the Gentile Magi; the baptism of Christ by John in the Jordan; and Christ changing water into wine at the wedding on the third day (John 2:1) in Cana of Galilee. In all these things we are again reminded that the Word became flesh and lived among us (John 1:14). CROTON BLOOD DRIVE Karen Kuchnicki ( ) IT'S COMING TO YOUR TOWN!!! Hudson Valley Blood Services will once again be bringing the opportunity to GIVE BLOOD right to your back yard! How convenient! If you can give blood and do not yet have an appointment please call Karen Kuchnicki to claim your 45 minutes of giving on SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 from 9-3. Appointments encouraged, but walkins welcome! Thank you! DIRECTORY UPDATE Janet Behning ( ) The new directory is coming just not in December as originally planned. DECEMBER SUNDAY SERVANTS December 7 Greeter&Usher: Anita and David Baumann Worship Assistant: Lawrence Oberhauser Nancy Riekert Ken Gabrielsen Cassandra Kelly Hospitality: Amy Gardiner and Sue Montgomery December 14 Greeter&Usher: Melanie Scala and Abbie Voss Worship Assistant: LeeAnn McCarthy Christopher Orts John Magerlein Jillian McCarthy Hosp: Melanie Mueller & Brigitte Anderson-Crumb December 21 Greeter&Usher: Evelyn Garrett and MaryBeth Soucy Worship Assistant: Lori Esteves Janet Behning Melanie Scala Joshua Voss Hospitality: Sue Gabrielsen and LeeAn McCarthy December 28 Greeters&Ushers: Frya Barnes and Chuck Cooper Worship Assistant: Pam Schwartz Anita Baumann Frya Barnes Evelyn Gardiner Hospitality: Eleanor Soderlund & TBD January 4 Greeters&Ushers: Loretta Rapetti & Deborah Tobin Worship Assistant: Lawrence Oberhauser John Magerlein Chuck Cooper Meagan Carroll Hospitality: TBD 4

5 2008 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Key: HB - Happy Birthday HA - Happy Anniversary Bible,Church and World 9:30am 5 6 Choir Practice 7:45pm 10:00am 4:00PM 7 Second Sunday Advent Sewing Guild 10:00am 11 Bible,Church and World 9:30am 12 HB Evelyn Garrett!! 13 (blue) Sunday School 9:15am Confirmation 9:15am 14 Third Sunday Advent (blue) Sunday School 9:15am Confirmation 9:15am Danish Home Visit 2:00pm 17 Church Council Mtg 7:30pm Choir Practice 7:45pm 18 Bible,Church and World 9:30am Choir Practice 7:45pm HA Evelyn & Ed Garrett!! HB Barbara Befanis!! 21 Fourth Sunday Advent Christmas Eve 25 Merry (blue) Sunday School 9:15am Confirmation 9:15am Altar Guild Church Decorating noon HB Pastor Stephens!! 28 First of Christmas (white) HB Jennifer Stieglitz!! HB Marion Phillips!! Services 7:30pm & 9:30pm Christmas

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