Atonement Lutheran Church Newsletter - The Messenger

The Messenger is published weekly, except for holiday weeks and an abbreviated schedule over the summer. If you prefer a copy of the Messenger that you can print, click on the link below:

Print version of this issue
Messenger Archives

October 20, 2009 - Volume 30, #37

• 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

  ---

• What a Celebration!
  October will see something different and special every week!
  
  With a nearly full church, great music, and Bishop Marie Jerge presiding we had a great time! During the service Pastor James Jerge, Regional Development Director for the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, presented the Seminary's annual Excellence in Ministry award given in recognition of our support of theological education and community service. The citation read (in part):

  Served by two Philadelphia Seminary graduates as pastors, Atonement, Syracuse is a congregation in an urban setting having success in transitioning back into being a neighborhood church. A wide variety of programs serve the needs of our community: Day Care for 100 children, After School Program for 48 children, Head Start for 32 children, Universal Pre K for 16 children, Housing for 54 Low Income Families with 16 more under development, a community theater group Appleseed Productions. Believing passionately in being a place for learning, Atonement has hosted 14 Interns, most of whom have gone on to be excellent urban pastors. With such visibility of seminary education in the congregation they support Philadelphia Seminary directly through the regular church budget, individual gifts and encouragement of bequest.

  

  Also, during the service we were delighted to receive three persons into membership: Heather Roach, Dustin Czarny, Jackie Koslowsky.

  

  Following worship we processed to the back entrance for prayers of dedication for the renovations and our new bus. During the Bus Blessing, Bill Kemp was recognized for all his years of service as our "head driver." We were then honored to have Marge Tracy cut the ribbon. Marge is a long-time member of Atonement who is still able to make it to church because we have a bus that accommodates her wheelchair and she is a great supporter of many of our various programs.

  During the ceremonies outside we "commissioned" 27 Crop Walkers - one more than last year's record participation. Thanks to the congregation for their generosity (see inside for more about the CROP walk).

  

  Capping the day was a delicious dinner. Thanks to the Kitchen Crew: Chairperson Karen Douglass, Head Chef David Rodgers, Assistant Chef Gary Stensalnd, Barb Lasky, Pam Haumann, Carole Bar, and Phyllis Rodgers.

   

  ---

• CROP Walk Report
  
  
  The 27 Atonement youth (grades 4-11) and adults who participated in CROP Walk 2009 would like to again thank the congregation for its wonderful support of our efforts. We especially want to thank Kevin Smith for his generous gift that put our total over the top. We raised nearly $700! This year we participated in the Downtown Syracuse walk. It was a beautiful day for a three-mile trek through the cityÑand unlike last year, no one straggled in by "the road less traveled" (a.k.a. got lost). The following youth and adults participated:

  4-5-6 Club
  Anyia Ballard
  Catelyn Battelle
  Catherine Bell
  Isaiah Bell
  Sara Bell
  Michelle Brown
  Diamond Brown
  Joel Carroll
  Mariah Curtis
  Montana Curtis
  Desi Pecore
  Angelique Warren
  Abi Wood

  ALYO
  Wesley Bell
  Dylan Brynien
  Austin Draper
  Casey Draper
  Stacie Draper
  Jessica Fitzgibbon
  Jonathan Fitzgibbon
  Angelique Hamilton
  

  Adults
  Donald Brown
  Frank Fitzgibbon
  Jeffrey LaDuca
  Delores Smith
  Missy Wilbur
  Vicar Wulff
  Judy Holmes
  

   

  ---

• Reformation Day - October 31
  
  

  This week we're taking a short pit stop to remember a very important date. On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. His aim was never to split the church. Actually he was inviting people to a debate at the university where he taught. His aim was to remind all God's people, right up to the Pope himself that God's forgiveness could not be bought and sold like a bar of soap or a washcloth. Forgiveness comes from God alone when we repent of our wrongdoing and ask for forgiveness. For Luther true repentance, that is, recognizing when we have fallen short and accepting that things have got to change, was so important that he started the 95 Theses with, "When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, "Repent" (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance." A lifetime of repentance?!? What does that mean? Simply put, when we fall down, we ask God for forgiveness and we get right back up, and when we fall back down again ~ you guessed it ~ we get right back up again. Gosh, with all this falling down and getting back up, thank goodness Jesus is with us every step of the way! See you out on the road,

  ~ Shalom y'all, Vicar Christine

  If you'd like more information about the first Reformation Day and the 95 Theses, please see:
  http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/New-or-Returning-to-Church/What-Lutherans-Believe.aspx
  http://www.luther.de/en/95thesen.html

   

  ---

• Yes, It's That Time Again!

  At Atonement, we surely embody "God's Work, Our Hands."

  And while it is true that we are fortunate in having an endowment that allows us to go beyond the "norm," it is also true that we have a strong core that is just as vital to our mission as the endowment - it enables us to do all that we do.

  And, that core: worship, baptism, fellowship (including salary for a pastor, building maintenance expenses, administrative office support, and those things that everyone expects a "typical" church to provide.), all depends on you and your contributions. It takes about $200,000 to run that core ministry.

  Stewardship packets are going in the mail this week. Please return your pledge card as quickly as you can, so we can get the 2010 budget into place. If you don't receive a packet by Monday, 10/19, please call the church office at 492-9065 and we'll get one to you!

  ---

• Annual Crafty Ladyes Sale is Coming....

  

  The Crafty Ladyes are ready to accept donations! Just bring them by church on Sunday or during regular business hours during the week. Remember to mark your calendars for their sale on November 14th!

   

  ---

• Happy Anniversary!
  
  

  November Anniversaries
  3   Gerald & Beate Adams (1990)
  8   Michael & Karin Raimondo (1980)
  9   Robert & Elizabeth Dodd (1963)
  10  Mark & Debra Hier (1990)
  14   Mary & Henry Weaver (1992)
  15   Derek & Nancilee Lewis (2002)
  16   William & Betty McNamara (1957)
        June & James Quackenbush (1974)
  22   Arlene & Rodney Tyo (1975)
  24   Louise & Donald Brown Sr (1973)
  29   Tom & Barb Nelson (1953)

   

  ---

• Happy Birthday
  
  

  November Birthdays
  1   Nancy Hamilton, Robert Gaetz, Scott Kniffin, Donald Brown, Sr.
  2   Paul Savolainen
  3   Mary Smith, Chelsea Davidson, Adam Wood
  5   Gary Richer, Gary Robert Kubber
  6   Steven Smith, Logan Schad
  7   Walter Galaska, Sr., Martha Bort, Scott Hurley
  8   Kara McCandless, Sandy Walters
  9   Jaye Timian, Elisabeth Terek
  12  Sarah Kelley
  13  Martha Shay, Linda O'Brien, James Paul Goodrich, III
  14  Timothy Nelson, Carl Plochko, Gerald Walsh, Julia Boname
  16  Erica Strumlok
  17  Jazmin Griffin
  18  Thomas Taylor, Desma Reaves
  19  Brian Claeys, Montana Curtis, Matthew Johnson
  20  Kayla Miller
  21  Eleanora Ott, Uli Aserian, Paul Rubado, Frieda Thoryk, Jennifer Gaetz
  23  Lorlie Wood
  24  June Morton, Justin Tyo
  25  Andrew Valletta
  26  Robert Eipp
  27  Ruth Akins, Phyllis Rodgers