Atonement Lutheran Church Newsletter - The Messenger

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January 5, 2010 - Volume 31, #1

• Save a Tree, Save a Stamp, Save some Money!

  Have you signed up to get the Messenger Online?

  To sign up for electronic "delivery" complete the online form at: http://www.alcsyracuse.org/mailinglist.php

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• About the Organ
  

  The organ is fixed!

  It turned out to be a minor problem that was not terribly expensive to fix.

  We can once again enjoy the sounds of our organ at the 8:30 Sunday services.

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• Wednesday Church Night - 1/6/10
  

  As part of the Epiphany celebration on Wednesday evening, January 6, the folks who attend the service will be taking down the decorations. Thanks to everyone for helping out!

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• New Wednesday Evening Class
  

  Pastor Gaetz will start a new class for Wednesday Church Night starting January 13. Details to be announced!

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• Acolyte Training

  On January 10th at 9:45 there will be acolyte training for new acolytes. Meet Deacon Karen Douglass in the front of the sanctuary.

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• January Means Business

  As we move into the New Year, our attention will turn to the business of the congregation. Please mark your calendars with the following important date:

  Sunday, January 24, 2010 PREPARE FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING
  As we have in past years, we'll have a "pre-annual" meeting between services (about 9:45). Bring your questions! Annual reports will be available for distribution.

  Sunday, January 31, 2010 ANNUAL DINNER/MEETING
  Immediately following the 10:45 AM service we will gather in the Fellowship Hall for dinner and then move to the Chapel for the business meeting (about 12:45pm).

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• More Business...
  

  2010 Pledges
  As we ended 2009, we are still missing a number of pledges. Did you forget yours? Please look around. If you still have it, send it in. If you can't find it... call the church office for a replacement. Or, better yet, pick one up at church next Sunday and fill it out. We need everyone's support to keep the bills paid. On a related subject....

  2010 Offering Envelopes
  Envelopes were mailed on December 29. If you have not yet received yours, call the church office for a replacement.

  2009 Statements
  Year End Giving Statements will be mailed shortly. Please look yours over very carefully. If anything is missing or if something doesn't look just correct, please call the church office and leave a message. Someone will get back to ou quickly. We want to be sure everything is accounted for properly.

  Year End Contributions
  Please remember that, in order to qualify as a 2009 charitable donation for IRS purposes, your year-end gifts to the Church must meet one of the following criteria:

  • ...be received in the offering or in the church office on or before December 31st.
  • ...mailed to the church with a postmark no later than December 31st. Our books will remain open until January 11th to insure that we can properly account for gifts mailed prior to December 31st.

  Altar Flowers and Eternal Light
  The 2010 Memorial Charts are posted at the parking lot entrance to the church. It's time to get these important memorials spoken for.

  • Two arrangements of flowers are placed on the Altar at a cost of $40 per week. Your memorial inscription is listed in the bulletins and after the services the flowers are delivered to shut ins or those in the hospital. You may designate persons if you wish, by calling the church office the week before your flowers are placed.
  • The Eternal Light (red candle) that burns in the main sanctuary at all times as a reminder of Jesus' presence may also be placed as a memorial. The cost is $4/week or $15/month.

  Please make your choice as soon as possible to avoid conflicts. AND, please be sure to list all the information we will need for the bulletin. Your donation is due the week before your chosen week.

  It's COLD Outside!
  Help us to keep it warm inside. Now is a good time to pull out that fuel envelope from 2009 if you haven't used it. If you used it, thanks! ....and we can always use more help.

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  Notes of thanks....

  Deeply appreciated are the many greetings and remembrances received by Betty and myself during this blessed and joyful season. It is our prayer that all may experience God's abundant blessings of grace and peace throughout the coming year
  - Pastor Peter

  I would like to say thank you for all the prayers, cards and visits during my hospital stay. Thank you also to the ladies for the beautiful blanket. I am home and on the mend and look forward to being in church again soon.
  - John Geis

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• Souper Bowl of Caring
  

  On Sunday February 7th, 140 million Americans will tune in to the Super Bowl football game. There will be parties with abundant food, friendship and fellowship. At the same time, there will be people worrying about staying warm, finding shelter and a warm meal.

  Our youth will hold soup pots at church doors on Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday, February 7, 2010. They will join young people in churches across the country to collect money for those who are hungry and hurting. Drop $1 (or more) in the soup pot as you leave worship on February 1st. Those who need help may not know that you cared, but God will. And our young people are developing hearts for giving that can last a lifetime. Please support their efforts. Money collected will be split between St. Paul's Pantry on the Westside and the ELCA world hunger fund. A little goes a long way when we work together.

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• Hunger Doesn't Stop when the Holidays are Over
  

  When you shop this week, please remember our food pantries. Of special need are meaty soups, stews and other canned meat (tuna, spam, chicken, Vienna sausage). Peanut butter, crackers, mayo (for tuna) and creamed soups for casseroles are always needed. Pasta sauce and pasta, Mac and cheese, and Raumen noodles are staples of which the pantries never have enough. Thanks for your help and generosity.

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• Bible, Baked Goods, and Beverage Group Meets January 16
  

  9:00am - Coffee Shop

  Our January Roman's Bible Study will be on the theme of ÒTrust: Nothing Can Separate Us.Ó The theme verse is Romans 8:26:

  ÒIn the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.Ó

  All women of Atonement are invited. Any one needing a ride, please call Karen Douglass at 492-9347

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• Bible, Baked Goods, and Beverage Group Meets January 16
  

  On Sunday February 7th, 140 million Americans will tune in to the Super Bowl football game. There will be parties with abundant food, friendship and fellowship. At the same time, there will be people worrying about staying warm, finding shelter and a warm meal.

  Our youth will hold soup pots at church doors on Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday, February 7, 2010. They will join young people in churches across the country to collect money for those who are hungry and hurting. Drop $1 (or more) in the soup pot as you leave worship on February 1st. Those who need help may not know that you cared, but God will. And our young people are developing hearts for giving that can last a lifetime. Please support their efforts. Money collected will be split between St. Paul's Pantry on the Westside and the ELCA world hunger fund. A little goes a long way when we work together.