THE DOVE. From the Pastor THIS MONTH. Pledge Sunday Nov. 12. Child Care Meeting Nov. 14, 7:00 pm. Brown Bag Bible Study Nov.

Transcription

1 THE DOVE The Dove: Sharing the Good News at CALC November 2017 From the Pastor In the summer of 2019, the ELCA will meet in Churchwide Assembly to discuss, deliberate, and vote on our 13 th Social Statement. This one on Women and Justice. In anticipation of this important work, I am beginning a series of newsletter articles on the Social Statements of the ELCA (of which there are conveniently 12). This month, let us reflect on Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All. If you would like more information, you can find all of the Social Statements of the ELCA at elca.org/ socialstatements. As we continue to explore the social statements of the ELCA, we turn our focus to Economic Life. In Suffi cient, Sustainable Livelihood for All, the ELCA discusses various aspects of our economic life, not just as the Church but as citizens in a secular society. It is well worth a read, as they all are, but it is important to lift up the tensions that the social statement enumerates. These tensions are between societal expectations of economic life and our affirmations as faithful s. Take some time with these, prayerfully consider your own position, these really are tensions and yet we are called to hold them in tensions and live as faithfully as we can. Based on this vantage point of faith, sufficient, sustainable livelihood for all is a benchmark for affirming, opposing, and seeking changes in economic life. Because of sin we fall short of these obligations in this world, but we live in light of God s promised future that ultimately there will be no hunger and injustice. This promise makes us restless with less than what God intends for the world. In economic matters, this draws attention to: the scope of God s concern for all, the means by which life is sustained livelihood, what is needed sufficiency, and a long-term perspective sustainability. These criteria often are in tension with one another. What benefits people in one area, sector, or country may harm those elsewhere. What is sufficient in one context is not in another. What is economically sufficient is not necessarily sustainable. There are difficult and complex trade-offs and ambiguities in the dynamic processes of economic life. As believers, we are both impelled by God s promises and confronted with the practical realities of economic life. We often must choose among competing claims, conscious of our incomplete knowledge, of the sin that clouds all human judgments and actions, and of the grace and forgiveness given by Christ. Economic assumptions can conflict with what we as a church confess. Who we are in Christ places us in tension with priorities given to money, consumption, competition, and profit in our economic system. While autonomy and self-sufficiency are highly valued in our society, as people of faith we confess that we depend on God and are interdependent with one another. Through these relationships we are nurtured, sustained, and held THIS MONTH. Pledge Sunday Nov. 12 Child Care Meeting Nov. 14, 7:00 pm Brown Bag Bible Study Nov. 11,18, 12 noon Book Group Nov. 20, 7:00 pm Council Meeting Nov. 21, 7:30 pm Sunday Potluck Nov. 19 (after worship)

2 From the Pastor cont. accountable. While succeeding or making something of themselves is what matters to many in economic life, we confess that in Christ we are freely justified by grace through faith rather than by what we do. While a market economy emphasizes what individuals want and are willing and able to buy, as people of faith we realize that what human beings want is not necessarily what they need for the sake of life. While a market economy assumes people will act to maximize their own interests, we acknowledge that what is in our interest must be placed in the context of what is good for the neighbor. While competitiveness is key to economic success, we recognize that intense competitiveness can destroy relationships and work against the reconciliation and cooperation God desires among people. While economic reasoning assumes that resources are scarce relative to people s wants, we affirm that God promises a world where there is enough for everyone, if only we would learn how to use and share what God has given for the sake of all. While economic growth often is considered an unconditional good, we insist that such growth must be evaluated by its direct, indirect, short-term, and long-term effects on the wellbeing of all creation and people, especially those who are poor. When we pray in the Lord s Prayer, Give us this day our daily bread, we place ourselves in tension with economic assumptions of our society. Rather than being self- sufficient, we need and depend on what God gives or provides through people, practices, and systems. Daily bread is not earned by efforts of individuals alone, but is made possible through a variety of relationships and institutions.1 God gives in ways that expand our notions of who us includes, from people close at hand to those around the globe. In stark contrast to those who seek unchecked accumulation and profit, our attention is drawn to those who are desperate for what will sustain their lives for just this day. Peace to you this month, Pastor Jay Calling all CALC Bakers! We will again be providing desserts for PIHN's Annual Empty Bowl Dinner November 15 at United Lutheran Seminary. If you can contribute a dessert, please bring it to the church office by 12 noon on Wednesday, November 15 for pick up. Desserts may also be taken directly to the event, or dropped off to PIHN on Tuesday, November 14 or Wednesday, November 15. PIHN is located at 7047 Germantown Avenue, Reformation Celebration We continue our Reformation Celebration when we partner with St. Martin-in-the-Fields on Saturday, November 4th from 5-7pm at Upstairs at Campbell's for Dinner and Conversation with The Rev. Dr. Martin Lohrmann. We are asking for RSVP's for this event. Please contact Pastor Jay for more information and to sign-up!

3 Book Group Book Group will not meet in October. The next meeting will be Monday, November 20 at in Kimes Hall to discuss A Gentlemen in Moscow by Amor Towles. Be transported to The Metropol, the famed Moscow hotel where movie stars and Russian royalty hobnob, where Bolsheviks plot revolutions and intellectuals discuss the merits of contemporary Russian writers, where spies spy, thieves thieve and the danger of twentieth century Russia lurks outside its marbled walls. The wealthy Count Alexander Rostov, living under house arrest for a poem deemed incendiary by the Bolsheviks, meets Nina, a young girl who holds the keys to the entire hotel, and irrevocably changes his life. Curious? Let s get reading! Brown Bag Bible Study Fellowship Opportunities ElderDiner every Monday at 12 noon Clean Up Day Saturday, November 11 at 11:00 am Congregation Potlucks! Every third Sunday of the month November 19. Bring a dish to share Stay for fellowship after worship Join us! Saturdays at 12 noon-1:00 pm You are invited to bring your own lunch. We will be walking through scripture from Genesis to Revelations! (No meeting on November 4 or 25) Celebrations Baptisms Birthdays Desmond Baselice Nov. 23 Nov. 4 Harry Mann Nov. 19 Phoebe Ingersoll Joseline Clark Nov. 2 Nov. 11 Timothy Evans Nov. 22 Myron Hallock Clive Pinney Danihel Nov. 10 Nov. 12 Anthony McDowell, Michael McDowell Celeste Rivera, Noelia Rivera Nov. 26 Nov. 13 Beryl Evans Nov. 30 Marin Higgins Luca Rosso Nov. 1 Nov. 14 Beth Cammarata Nov. 15 Alexandra Ingersoll Nov. 15 Kai Heen

4 Helpers for October through December Date Greeter Usher Acolyte Lector AM Altar Guild Bread Fellowship 1-Oct Higgins Higgins Higgins Beck, T Brown, G Hallock Hallock Terry 8-Oct Galganski Beck, E Terry Terry Reumann 15-Oct Gerhart Gerhart Brown, M Beck, T Gerhart Gerhart POTLUCK 22-Oct Smith Gerhart, E Beck Beck Blum 28-Oct Terry/Catalan Galganski Brown Reumann Brown, G Mitchell Mitchell Council 5-Nov Higgins Higgins Higgins Blum Gerhart, E Gerhart/Evans Jones Beck 12-Nov Jones Bechert Hallock Hallock Jones 19-Nov Gerhart Gerhart Killinger Beck, E Mitchell Killinger POTLUCK 26-Nov Terry/Catalan Galganski See PJ Brown, G Beck Valentine 3-Dec Jones Beck, T Terry Terry Reumann 10-Dec Evans Bechert Hallock Hallock Jones 17-Dec Gerhart Gerhart Catalan Gerhart, E Mitchell Mitchell POTLUCK 24-Dec Beck, T Beck, E Evans Jones Hanging Greens 24-Dec Gerhart Gerhart Reception 24-Dec Galganski Brown Reumann Brown, G Gerhart Valentine 25-Dec Gerhart, E Gerhart, E Gerhart Gerhart Mitchell 31-Dec Terry/Catalan See PJ Gerhart, E Beck Beck Mitchell

5 Child Care Center The 2017 school year began with high hopes and anticipation. The staff and children have settled into their daily school day routines. In September we fulfilled our community outreach mission of providing backpacks and school supplies for the children living at Jane Addams Place. October brought picture day and the annual Halloween Party and Parade. This was a perfect time to bring our families together for a fun and relaxing afternoon. As we approach November, we will take pause to reflect on our purpose. Our families leave their most precious treasures in our care. We provide a supportive, caring, secure and loving, fun, educational environment. Although our families are thankful for our commitment, we the staff of CLCCC are thankful for the opportunity to serve this community and church congregation. We are reminded of the blessings and gifts we each have received. Please feel free to participate in our projects and programs, as you have extended invitations to us in the past. Let this Thanksgiving season allow all of us time to reflect on the true meaning of mission, caring and love. Ways to Give to Christ Ascension! 1. Sign up for automatic debit program, Simply Giving. Contact church office for Enrollment Form. 2. Contribute online via the DONATE tab on our website: donate/ 3. Download the GivePlus Church app for Apple and Android. Dear Friends in Christ, The family of Jim Boschker thank you very much for the floral arrangement Christ Ascension sent in memory of Jim. He s missed dearly. Fondly, Jim s sister, Janet Advent Devotionals Advent Is Coming! Mark your calendars now! contact the church office to sign up! Advent Wednesdays celebrating the holidays

6 November 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :00-10:00 am :00 pm Dinner/ Conversation with Rev. Dr. Martin Lohrmann :00-10:00 am 12:00-1:00 pm Brown Bag Bible CLEAN UP DAY 1:30-2:30 pm 12 PLEDGE SUNDAY noon ElderDiner noon ElderDiner Book Group 14 Child Care Meeting 21 7:30 pm Council Meeting THANKSGIVING DAY :00-10:00 am 12:00-1:00 pm Brown Bag Bible POTLUCK LUNCH noon ElderDiner MALT= Mt. Airy Learning Tree

7 Call for Building Improvement Fund Please consider donating to our Building Improvement Fund. This fund provides for building upkeep and repairs. Recent repairs: Replacement of slate roof tiles and painting of metal ridges on Kimes Hall; Repair of outside sign lights and the bathroom exhaust fan. Mark your donation Improvement Fund. Thank you! Memorial Mission Fund Gifts can be given to the Memorial Mission Fund anytime in memory of our beloved dead. Church council will have discretionary oversight of this account and use funds only for purposes that directly advance our mission, ministries and public witness. Thank you for supporting the congregation s mission in this way. Contact Us Give us a call or send us an for more information Christ Ascension 8300 Germantown Ave Philadelphia, PA (215) office@christascension.org Visit us on the web at and on Facebook: facebook.com/calcphilly The Dove: Sharing the Good News at CALC Christ Ascension Lutheran Church 8300 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, PA PLACE STAMP HERE A congregation of the ELCA Christ Ascension A Church United in Faith, Hope and Love Schedule 9:30 am Please submit your news directly to office@christascension.org. Deadline is the 20th of each month.