THE DOVE The Dove: Sharing the Good News at CALC September 2018 From the Pastor The calling of Lutherans and of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in education is closely tied to a Lutheran understanding of vocation. These are the opening words to the ELCA s social statement Our Calling in Education. Adopted by the Churchwide Assembly in August 2007, this statement looks at public education, Lutheran schools and universities, and faith formation, especially in children. By rooting in this Lutheran understanding of vocation, it calls followers of Christ to be active in educational processes of all kinds. Specifically, it notes that our particular calling in education is two-fold: to educate people in the Christian faith for their vocation and to strive with others to ensure that all have access to high-quality education that develops personal gifts and abilities and serves the common good. The ELCA recognizes that different people have different responsibilities and accountabilities in the various aspects of education. Parents and congregations are called to the task of faith formation in the young, while ELCA colleges, universities, and seminaries have specific roles I preparing students for their life-long vocations, whether in the Church or in the world. The ELCA affirms and advocates for the equitable, sufficient, and effective funding of public schools, while also lifting up ELCA educational centers for all ages. But how does the statement define education, and what does God have to do with that definition, anyway? Education, as understood in this social statement, refers in a broad sense to learning, teaching, and knowing as a dimension of human life In a narrower sense, education refers to intentional activity in which we engage one another in learning Through education human beings are formed as people, acquiring knowledge, wisdom, attitudes, beliefs, skills, and abilities to think, feel, and act in particular ways. As for God s participation in education, we believe that God s creative activity encompasses all people and their education, and the redeeming gospel of Jesus Christ gives the Church a distinctive mandate in education. The Lutheran Church has been focused on the role of education since the time of Martin Luther. Luther himself was a university professor, and throughout his ministry paid attention to the role that education plays in the Christian life. Many of his most well-known writings, such as the Small Catechism, were written to be aids to education. THIS MONTH. Good Brews Sept. 4, Council Meeting Sept. 11, Child Care Meeting Sept. 5, Book Group Sept. 20, 7:00 pm Movie Night Sept. 27, 7:00 pm Bishop Davenport Installation Sept. 22, 2:00 pm, New Covenant Church Rummage Sale Sept. 30 Wednesdays
From the Pastor cont. There are three paragraphs which embody the main points of this statement: The necessity, capacity, love, and delight to learn, teach, and know come from God. Human beings are blessed with the gifts of memory, self-consciousness, and anticipation. We marvel at the divinely given abilities to communicate, reason, explore new realities, discover meaning and truth, create art, technology, and complex societies, enjoy beauty, and discern what is right and good. We approach education with awe, wonder, and gratitude to the triune God. Sin s power persistently warps and corrupts human learning and educational institutions. Our lives are marked by ignorance the opposite of knowledge and by folly the opposite of wisdom. In a society of inequalities, our school systems often reinforce privilege, denying equitable access to a highquality education for all. In pride humans claim too much for our limited grasp of intellectual or moral truth, and in despair we think that there is no truth and no right and wrong. We use knowledge to dominate or harm others, to deny them their humanity, and to ravish the earth rather than to serve the neighbor. We put our trust in our knowledge or wisdom to justify our existence before God. Faith formation is a gift of the Holy Spirit that continues throughout life. This truth shapes the ELCA s understanding and practice of educating in the faith for vocation. A teaching and learning church invites the baptized of all ages from infants to older adults into a continuous discipline of learning and faith formation Where adults are vigorous learnings in the faith, children and young people will have models and companions for their own learning, adults will learn from children and young people, and all generations will grow together in their faith. Education is essential to our society, our faith, and our Church. A Lutheran understanding of education is grounded in our understanding of the baptism vocation of all Christians, and that vocation refers not only to those called to ordained service in Christ s Church, but to the roles that all people of God play in the world in many and different ways. I will conclude with one last paragraph taken from the statement, which sums up the calling of ELCA in education: Within this complex, changing, and challenging context the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America claims and aspires to renew its calling in education. We are grateful for and challenged by the legacy we have received, and we are aware that we too often fall short in our calling. We pledge to sustain, renew, and where need be, reform our calling in education for this time and place so that we will be a stronger, livelier, and more faithful teaching and learning church. Choir Season begins again! If you are able to... 1. Carry a tune (no need to read music ) 2. Blend with the group and 3. Attend rehearsals & services most of the time, please speak with Katherine or Charlotte and join us for rehearsals on Sunday mornings at 9:00 am. If you would like to commit for only a month or two, or just want to come & check us out, that s good too! (Sopranos and altos are especially needed.) Sing a new song to the Lord!
2 9:30 am September 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 9 16 23/30 RUMMAGE SALE 3 Labor Day Holiday 4 Good Brews 10 11 Council Meeting 17 Book Group 24 Movie Night 5 Child Care Meeting 12 18 19 25 26 6 13 20 27 1 10:30-12 noon 7 8 14 15 21 22 2:00 pm Bishop Installation 28 29 Good Brews Good Brews meets every 1st Tuesday at 7:00 pm for conversation, dinner, and drinks. September 4 @ Earth + Bread In Mt. Airy New Members! We will be receiving new members on Sunday, September 9 If you are interested in joining, contact Pastor Jay! Potlucks! After worship Potlucks are held every 3rd Sunday. Our first Congregational Potluck returns on Sunday, September 16! We will have a picnic, bring a dish to share and plan to stay for the fun!
Book Group Join us every 3rd Monday at in Kimes Hall for book discussion, friends and fun! The Book Group is on hiatus for August. Next meeting is September 17 to discuss Swann s Way: In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust. Meet Charles Swann, a wealthy connoisseur in 19th-century Paris and a victim of an agonizing romance. Ways to Give to! 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: http:// christascension.org/donate/ 3. Download the GivePlus Church app for Apple and Android. Everyone is welcome. September Celebrations Birthdays 1 Daniel Baselice 6 Karen Rile Smith 17 Megan Terry 18 Cameron Brown 22 Nigel Baselice, Isabel Catalan 25 Noelia Rivera 28 Celeste Rivera 30 Ian Pinney Danihel Movie Night every 4th Monday at Movie & Conversation August 24 This is a BYO Event will be holding a Rummage Sale during the Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts Festival on September 30. Please submit your news directly to office@christascension.org. Deadline is the 20th of each month. If you have donations, please contact the church office. Please.NO BOOKS OR CLOTHING.
Assistant Schedule Schedule Change! Program Year Schedule in effect beginning September 9! Adult @ 9:15 am @ Fellowship to Follow Join us every Wednesday evening for Bible Study, Feasting on the. Journey through Scripture Building Improvement Fund Please consider donating to our Building Improvement Fund. This fund provides for upkeep and repairs for our three buildings. Mark your donation Improvement Fund. Thank you! 8300 Germantown Avenue, Phila, PA 19118 A Church United in Faith, Hope and Love Schedule Contact Us Give us a call or send us an email for more information 8300 Germantown Ave Philadelphia, PA 19118 (215) 247-4233 office@christascension.org Visit us on the web at www.christascension.org and on Facebook: facebook.com/calcphilly A Reconciling in Christ congregation of the ELCA