August Newsletter Atonement Lutheran Church 7250 Eckstrom Ave., San Diego, CA 92111 Phone: (858)278-5556; Fax: (858)751-0771 Email: atonementsd@hotmail.com Pastor Kate Schlechter (619) 916-9630 Email: Revdup2@outlook.com Website: www.atonementlutheranbalboa.weebly.com Sunday Service is at 9:00 a.m. Dear People of God, PASTOR S PONDERINGS I couldn t believe how much London has changed since my last visit over 12 years ago when I traveled there with my Godson Eric. The sidewalks were brimming with World Cup banners, the buzz of the English soccer team making it to the semi-finals, and every language in the world could be heard. Standing amidst the crowds, it felt as if Pentecost were a daily event in the town square. Life was a panoramic vision of diversity, cooperation, and respect. This was especially evident at Oxford, most famous these days for the home of the Harry Potter movies and Hogwarts, and for me, the writing table where C.S Lewis and JRR Tolkien --Lewis friend and author of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Trilogy-- would sit to discuss plot ideas for their forthcoming attempts to be published! They would meet each week with a group of friends at The Eagle and the Child pub to smoke cigars and drink a pint or two. What you may not know is that Tolkien, a Christian, is credited with his sharing his faith in Jesus during his time with Lewis, an atheist. Their friendship, conversation, collaboration and their pub singing and drinking led to Lewis converting to Christianity. It was at the writing table pictured in this newsletter that Tolkien collaborator with Lewis on the final scene of Aslan s (The Lion/Christ) death in his famous novel, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. My recent travels abroad found me standing on land traversed by Page 1 of 9
peoples eight thousand years ago who came to Stonehenge to practice the rituals of their faith, exploring the mysteries of the four circles of Avebury and listening to a wonderful American choir from Alabama sing Evensong in Wells Cathedral, home of the Magna Carta. It was time spent in the magical contemplative Chalice Wells Gardens of Glastonbury which reminded me of the beauty of God s presence and the communion we share with each other even when we are thousands of miles apart. Legend declares that The Holy Grail Chalice, once used by Jesus at the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday made its way to Glastonbury through the wit and intent of a wealthy trader by the name of Joseph of Arimathea who had given his unused garden tomb for the burial of Jesus on Good Friday. It was this same chalice, the mythical King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table quested for. In Glastonbury, King Arthur and King Jesus meet at Glastonbury Abbey. The Chalice Wells are said to be the final resting place for the lost chalice and mythological Arthur. I didn t actually find the missing chalice on this most recent pilgrimage, but what I did discover was the importance of sitting at table with people unlike myself, non-christians, who wonder about what it means to be spiritual and trust in something that is not seen. What I did see and experience was the human quest to be known, heard, seen, and respected by others who may not share the same language, but who like each of us share a common story: a communion cup filled to the brim with humanity. In the Merton Chapel at Oxford, encased in glass, is a chalice dedicated to T.S. Elliot. It is used only once a year on Ascension Sunday. The gold chalice is a reminder to each of us that Christ may not be with us physically, but we each are to ascend daily from our places of bondage into the possibilities of fulfilling the will of Christ for our neighbors. After all, the world is in need of God s love. And for each of us to ask, Just who is my neighbor? My neighbors speak the language of Pentecost, even in England. Through conversation, Tolkien shared his faith with C.S. Lewis. With whom are you sitting at table and sharing humanity? Upcoming Events August 9 1:00 p.m. Board of Trustees Meeting off site. August 12 10:30 a.m. Dorcas Circle meets in the fellowship hall. Fellowship Fellowship is a spiritual necessity. Our fellowship with Christ is depended and enriched by time spent with our ALC family. Do you have a great idea for fellowship at ALC? Hiking, picnic, game night, bowling, concert, cooking, dining, museum, sporting event you name it! If you love to do it, chances are others will too and if you are willing to help out with planning and carrying out the event, contact Pastor Kate to share your ideas. With you on the pilgrimage. Pastor Kate Schlechter Page 2 of 9
Bible Study Adult Bible Study Come join our study with Pastor Kate, Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall after Church Service around 10:30 a.m. We will continue our study of the next Sundays lessons throughout August. Women s Bible Study Dorcas Circle normally meets on the second Sunday of the month in the Church Office after the Church service. They will meet this month on Sunday, August 12th. August Birthdays 2 Debra Marulli 7 Ann Molina 11 Gordon Greeson 14 Mark Reathaford 24 Jon Bozarth Social Events Lap Robes for the Needy Come join us for our meeting as we work on some lap robes. We meet on the second Wednesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall (August 8 th ). Everyone is welcome. For more information contact Doris Greeson. Retirees Potluck & Bingo Join us at noon on third Tuesday, August 21st for a fun-filled afternoon of food and Bingo (where everyone wins). Questions? Give us a call. 858-278-5556. Goddess Novala (Avalon Backwards) Page 3 of 9
In the Community TACO Job Opening "Going Home" Services Social Worker The Third Avenue Charitable Organization, Inc. (TACO) is a Christian non-profit organization, which started out of the social ministry work of the First Lutheran Church, San Diego and continues with great support to this day. The Going Home program provides supportive services to homeless persons diagnosed with terminal illnesses or struggling with chronic illnesses. This position requires knowledge of community services and resources. The Going Home Social Worker supervises and trains volunteers known as the Simon's Walk volunteers. These faith-based volunteers accompany each client in a one-on-one relationship. In addition, collaboration with medical providers and other service providers is required to meet the various needs of our clients. Interested parties should email Silvia Covarrubias at silvia@tacosd.org. Community Christian Service Agency (CCSA) On the first Sunday of each month, we ask that you bring your CCSA Food Drive offering and place it in front of the altar, so that we might bless it to God s use during the service and pray for the people who will be receiving this food. CCSA can always use your donations of clothing and household goods. CCSA 2018 Back-to-School Backpack Program Each year CCSA assists low-income children with backpacks and essential school supplies. We are hoping to distribute 200+ backpacks to children in grades K-9. You can help by taking donations of filled backpacks to the Clairemont Center starting July 9 th, M-F (9:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m.) We ask that each backpack comes filled with grade appropriate school supplies. K-2 nd grade backpack list 3 rd -9 th grade backpack list 2- spiral note 1 - pencils (pk of 10) 1 - binder 2 - spiral notebooks 1 - pencils sharpener 1 - pencil box 2 - notebook paper 1 - pencil holder 1 - erasers (pk of 6) 1 - box of crayons 1 - pens (pk of 10) 1 - pencils (pk of 10) 1 - box of magic markers 1 - glue sticks 1 - box colored pencils 1 - pencil sharpener 1 - glue bottle 1 - scissors 1 - eraser 1 - highlight marker 1 - glue stick 1 - glue bottle 1 - ruler 1 - scissors For additional information contact Connie at: cvillarreal@ccsasd.org or call (858)274-2271 Page 4 of 9
Clothing Men s socks Men s jeans CCSA Monthly Needs Men s underwear (new) Flip-flops Hygiene Food Deodorant Lotion (travel size) Cereal Mac & Cheese Shampoo & Conditioner (all sizes) Capri Sun Gatorade Church Service Volunteer Information 2018 Flower Chart The 2018 flower chart is hanging on the wall next to the mailboxes in the narthex. There are numerous openings. Please sign up in advance so that you can give the congregation (and yourself or a loved one) the gift of flowers on Sunday morning. August 5 August 12 August 19 August 26 Sedlund Molina Hofstetter August Worship Schedule August 5 th August 12 th August 19 th August 26 th Altar Duty Coffee Fellowship Ushers Assisting Minister Hofstetter Williams Susan Arnold Andreasson Monica Molina Lynn Hurst Lynn Hurst Lector Denise Hofstetter Ruth Sedlund Acolyte Denise Hofstetter Our Sunday worship is the center of our life together. It is the time when we all gather to worship the Lord and receive both Word & Sacrament. The monthly schedule sign-up sheet is in the Narthex (Entrance to the Church). Take a look at it. Now would be a wonderful time to try something new. Please sign up or call the Church Office. If you re new at it, we ll teach you. Page 5 of 9
Board of Trustees Minutes Congregational Summary July 8, 2018 Atonement Lutheran Church is now under Synodical Administration as of May 20, 2018. Trustees, who are solely responsible for the property and finances for Atonement, have been appointed by the Pacifica Synod Council: Rev. David Nagler, Pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Pacific Beach Rev. Karen Marohn, Pastor of St. Peter s by the Sea Lutheran Church in Ocean Beach Meri Jo Petrivelli, Director of Administration at St. Andrew s Lutheran Church in San Diego Jim Grutkowski, retired accountant and member of St. Peter s by the Sea Rev. Dennis Laherty, Assistant to the Bishop, Pacifica Synod The Trustees met on July 5, 2018. Actions taken by the Trustees: A financial statement will be provided on a quarterly basis. Weekly offering will continue to be reported each week in the worship bulletin Members with concerns regarding Synodical Administration should contact Dennis Laherty in the Pacifica Synod Office (714-692-2791 or DennisLaherty@pacificasynod.org) The trustees will meet on August 9, 2018 at 1:00pm offsite. The Abbey ruins at Glastonbury, England Page 6 of 9
Wells Cathedral Home of the Magna Carta Stonehenge The Chalice Well, Glastonbury The Lion s Head filling the Holy Grail, Glastonbury Page 7 of 9
Oxford Merton College Oxford Home to C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and Harry Potters Hogwarts Abbey Ruins Home of King Arthur Abbey Ruins, Glastonbury Page 8 of 9
Article or Updates for the Newsletter If you have any updates or articles for the September newsletter, please submit them to the Church Office by Tuesday, August 21st. Articles are put into the newsletter at the discretion of Pastor Kate. Errors or Omissions Should there be any errors or omissions, please contact the Church Office so the correction can be made. Page 9 of 9