Atonement Lutheran Church Newsletter - The Messenger

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December 1, 2009 - Volume 30, #44

• 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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• Appleseed's Latest Offering - Della's Diner: Blue Plate Special
  
   

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• Thanks!
  
  
  Thanks! Many thanks go to the kind donors and hard-working volunteers who made the annual packing of the Thanksgiving food baskets go so smoothly. Food was provided to twenty five families through lots of hard work and generous spirits. This year Atonement church provided not only Thanksgiving turkeys and a good supply of non-perishable food items for each family in need, but also for the first time ever milk, bread and eggs! For those of you who haven't seen how this works, Pastor Rodgers has gotten the planning, packing and delivery of the "baskets" down to a science. But even so many hands were needed! Individual food items were placed on the pews and volunteers "shopped" for whatever their anonymous family needed. Then once each care package was put together it was hand-delivered. If you've never done this before but think you'd like to participate, please consider volunteering next year. It was fun and worthwhile.

       

   

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• 4-5-6 Club - Festival of Trees and Christmas Tea
  

  A reminder that all Atonement outh in grades four, five, and six are invited to visit the annual "Festival of Trees" in Shoppingtown Mall on Saturday, December 5 (3-5:30pm). The trip will be followed by "tea" in the Atonement Coffee Shop. If you have not yet signed up to attend, or if you have questions, contact Judy Holmes at 673-9393 after 6pm or Pastor Rodgers at 492-9065.

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• WIGIAT? "Where is God in all this?"
  
  

  This year's autumn retreat for the teenage campers was a great success. Twelve teens and four adults made the four and a half hour trek to Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center (LCLC) for a weekend of prayer, Bible study and fun! The theme for this year's retreat was "Discipleship" and the campers spent time discerning their spiritual gifts, finding creative ways to express those gifts and contributing to the well-being of others in service projects. Luckily the weather held and the resources at LCLC provided the perfect opportunities for the campers to seek God in the outdoors as well as in fellowship with each other.

                   

   

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• Second Week of Advent
  
  

  Last week I suggested that the pilgrim road in Advent might have a few unexpected twists and turns, especially since we started the season with a rousing chorus of "Joy to the world, the end is near." Now would be a good time to check our map and if necessary (gulp!) ask for directions. But no worries, we're in luck. This week we meet someone who seems to know the way. But there's a catch. Instead of giving the directions to a clean-cut, friendly, chamber-of-commerce sort of person, God gave it to John; a hairy, unkempt, zealous prophet who munches on locusts and isn't going to win any congeniality prizes any time soon. God picked John out of all the people in the world to point us in the right direction and that might leave us feeling a little awkward. John doesn't look like us. He doesn't talk like us, and he certainly doesn't eat like us. But John is God's chosen prophet and this alone reminds us as we get closer to Bethlehem that this is and always has been God's road trip, not one we made up for ourselves. So let's pull over and listen to John É

  ~ Shalom y'all, Vicar Christine

   

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• Advent Wednesday Night Church Night

  You are cordially invited to three special evenings in preparation for Christmas.

  Dinner will be at 5:30pm in the Fellowship Hall, followed by 6:15pm Worship in the Sanctuary and class and recreation at 7:00 pm.

  A variety of options are available following worship, including a new adult class: "Spend Advent with Luke", led by Pastor Peter. The class will be held on Wednesday evenings in Advent: December 2, 9, 16, and 23, beginning at 7:00 pm.

  On December 23, the Christmas festivities will continue with Christmas Dinner at 5:30 PM and a service of Lessons and Carols at 6:15 PM followed by (your choice!) either the final class in "Spend Advent with Luke" series or the annual "Lights on the Lake" outing. Be watching future Messengers for more information about this festive evening.

  There will be no Wednesday Church Night on December 30. Regular schedule will resume on January 6.

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• Advent Sunday/Wednesday Adult Class

  Spend Advent with Luke

  The gospel of Luke is the primary gospel for the coming Church year, 2009-10. Get an insight into the "man" and his gospel by "SPENDING ADVENT WITH LUKE".....and Pastor Peter. Join us on either the Sundays or the Wednesday evenings in Advent (Nov 29-Dec 23) as we take a closer look at Luke and his book.

  Sundays classes will be at 10am in the Kiesewetter Center conference room, Wednesday's classes will be at 7pm in the coffee shop.

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• Learning at the Crossroads
  
  Educational Offerings of the Central Crossroads Conference, Upstate NY Synod, ELCA

  All workshops are held on Saturdays 9:30am-2:30pm at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 435 S. Main St., N. Syracuse, NY 13212 (Tel.(315) 458-1481). Classes are $20 and include breakfast and lunch.

  Visit the Learning at the Crossroads web site at: LearningattheCrossroads.googlepages.com

  A Look at Basic Spirituality, led by Pr. Diane Wheatley
  Saturday, December 12. Join us as we:

  • Identify basic definitions, assumptions, perspectives and practices;
  • Explore the wheel of balanced spirituality;
  • Discuss our own spiritual journey and how to engage others in conversation and growth.

  Exploring and Living into Hospitality, led by Pr. Craig Herrick
  

  Saturday, January 9. We'll take the concept hospitality and look at it from a Biblical perspective. From a Lutheran perspective. From the perspective of the early church and the early church writers. What might we discover? We might find out that we are on a journey together into the very heart of the Gospel. Let's see if Henri Nouwen is right when he says "if there is any concept worth restoring to its original depth and evocative potential, it is the concept of hospitality." Let's journey together and see.

  Download the Registration Form at LearningattheCrossroads.googlepages.com and mail with check made out to Central Crossroads Conference. Send to Luther Memorial Church, 435 S. Main St., N. Syracuse 13212. Check the website for workshops to be added later. Inquire about discounts for more than five from the same congregation.

  Questions? Email: LearningattheCrossroads@yahoo.com