THE BEACON. From the Pastor. Peace, Pastor Jamie

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1 From the Pastor THE BEACON Growing up there was one week every summer that I really looked forward to... camp week at LCLC (Lake Chautauqua Lutheran center). Just to be clear I wasn't the one going to camp my brothers were. I looked forward to the week because it was the one time each year where I got to be an only child. Each year my brothers would come home sharing inside jokes, singing the ridiculous songs they learned and recalling all the stories from their week. Each year my parents would see if I wanted to go too, but I was stubborn and liked my week as an only child and always said no. Then came the first year where I had plenty of time as an only child (my brothers were both older and out of the house) and so I went to camp. I had a fantastic time. I was amazed at just how fun it was I loved pretty much everything about it and couldn't wait to go back. I ended up going to Senior high week the next year, their summer long Staff in training program after that, then I worked there for four summers, volunteered there after that and still go back as a chaplain every year. Those summer weeks at LCLC have been some of the most important weeks of my life. I met Olivia there, I met some of my oldest and most dear friends there, I learned so much about myself and the world I live in there and of course I learned a lot about God and my own faith there. LCLC afforded me a place and an opportunity to grow in my faith and explore my faith in new and exciting ways. On top of that it was just plain fun. Unfortunately camps of all types across the country are being utilized by fewer and fewer kids. Circumstances of all types are resulting in kids missing this valuable opportunity. As someone who spent too many years of their youth missing the opportunity to go to camp for reasons that in the end weren't very important I can say it is an opportunity not to be missed. Throughout the Bible Jesus talks about children as a precious resource, as important and he most famously demonstrated this when he implored the disciples to "Let the children come to me". LCLC is a place where that mission is carried out each and every year. As you are making your summer plans for your children, grandchildren, and family friends I encourage you to consider LCLC in those plans. LCLC is a fantastic place, don't miss out. Peace, Pastor Jamie

2 TRINITY S SUNDAY SCHOOL Trinities Sunday School students can be very proud of themselves. During the Lenten period, they heard about a little 2-year old girl, Hannah, who has leukemia and has to travel to Tennessee for treatments of chemotherapy and a bone-marrow transplant. The students were made aware of this child s plight through Olivia Retallack, Pastor Jamie s wife, who worked with the little girl s mom. In return they have made a no-sew quilt where they painted designs on the blocks and tied the quilt blocks together, made a set of wooden dominoes with animals and child related pictures in lieu of dots, colored some pictures to mount on sewing cards and a cloth counting book. These items will be sent to Hannah to keep her busy on her feel good days, along with some handmade cards wishing her well and hoping they will put a smile on her face. Great job students!!! Book Bag Cards & dominos Quilt with painted designs Thank you to all who helped with the Spaghetti Supper & Basket Raffle, Saturday, March 27 th, whether it was through donations of food items, time of working, or purchasing a ticket for dinner. Thank you for all of your support!

3 FISHING DERBY APRIL 9, 9-12PM Trophies for the Largest, Smallest, & most caught! Free for children 15 and under: 9-10:30am Catch & Release only Licensed Fisherman: 11-12:30pm; $5.00 registration fee for more information call or visit www2.erie.gov/clarence/ Main St. Clarence Town Park 2 nd Annual Taste of Town Line & Basket Raffle April 10 th, 12:15-2:30 pm Town Line Lutheran Fellowship Hall 1159 Town Line Rd. Alden, NY $10.00 Adults/$5 youth (5-12) For more information call or check on line at Proceeds Benefit Hearts and Hands Plant For Hope May 14 th, 2016 Bedford s Greenhouse Exclusive Pink Hanging Baskets Huge Chinese Auction Annual Cookout Giving hope & support to patients with breast cancer. (Help create baskets 5/12 at 9am) Baskets to decorate Main St. Akron For more information call: Sue Houlihan at or Debbie Hehnen at or check online bedfordsgreenhouse.com Get Moving for LCLC! Saturday, June 4, 2016 (Optional Retreat Weekend, Friday-Sunday) Get Moving for LCLC! is a fundraising event that encourages people of all ages to get physically active while at the same time supporting the ministry at LCLC. If you're unable to make it to LCLC the weekend of June 4th, be a "Remote Participant" by doing your activity in your home town on a date that's best for you. Get Moving for LCLC! is a "multi-thon" fundraiser which includes the following activities: *Bike Ride Around the Lake (full or half loops) *Swim Across the Lake (from the Chautauqua Institution) *Walk-a-thon (on the LCLC trails and roads) *Run-a-thon (on the LCLC trails or local public roads) Participants are asked to solicit donations for all the biking, swimming, walking and or running they do for LCLC. Our goal this year is to raise $10,000. WHEN: Saturday, June 4 from 8:00-1:00 for the fundraising event. Or join us for the Retreat Weekend. Pamphlets available in the narthex area or call the LCLC office at for more information Alden Area Ecumenical Choir Performances: May 21 & 22 Alden Presbyterian Church Broadway & Crittenden More information to follow. Monthly Congregational Food Pantry Donation: April: Fruit Juices May: Canned Vegetables Sidewalk Sale On Saturday, June 18 th, Akron will be holding its Annual Sidewalk Sale Trinity & St. John s will be collecting items with the value being $1 or more. The items donated will be placed in a box, wrapped, and sold for $1 at the sidewalk sale. This is a great way to keep Trinity & St. John s name in the community, as well as, a great time of fun meeting others from the Akron-Newstead area. You are asked to donate items and drop them off in the Sunday School room across from the furnace room. If you have any questions, please contact Donna Kumpf.

4 Mission Moment 02/13/16 This report is about a homeland ministry of the ELCA. We ve all heard of the problems of lead in the water supply for the city of Flint, Michigan. Many residents there are unable to access safe water to drink, do laundry, wash dishes, or bathe. Lutheran congregations, volunteers, and local leaders are now working in Flint to help provide clean water for those in need. As ELCA World Hunger prepares to fund relief efforts, federal funding will be necessary to replace Flint s toxic water pipes. We are church together for the sake of the world. God s work. Our hands! Prayer Concerns We pray for: Family & Friends of John Burkhart, Bev Allen, Gerry Bitterman, Irene Heiman, Sandy Sultemeier, Betty Krzysiak Health & recovery for Jim Lobur, Bill Kissell, Chris Andersen, & Hannah Prayers of thanks for Ida Witkowski Safe travels for the Kropelin and Anderson families April Birthdays 4 th - Pam Hornung 8 th Becky Fix 9 th - Emerson Polkowski 12 th - Karen Brown 14 th - Deborah Greiner Lois Henley 16 th - Darla Infanti 19 th - Evan Eckerson 24 th - Mike Kropelin 25 th - Elaine Zeitler 27 th - Laura Kropelin Congregation Council Members and Officers Trinity: Pastor: Jamie Retallack President: Mike Kropelin Vice President : Dale Kruschke Secretary: Erik Polkowski, Treasurer: Lisa Kaminski Irv Easton, Glen Hersee, Ronda Lauridsen, Jane Dorr St. John s: President, Harold Finger Recording Secretary, Mary Lou Groff Treasurer, Daric Brege Assisting Treasurer, Carolyn Finger Trustees, Craig Blake, Robert Finger Members at Large, Paula Jendrowski, Diane Hurne, Pat Morgan

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