Atonement Lutheran Church Newsletter - Messenger

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December 18, 2007 - Volume 28, #45

• Worship at Christmas - December 24 and 25, 2007
  
  
  Please join friends and family at worship this Christmas. Come celebrate the birth of Jesus.

  St. Paul's Fabius - Christmas Eve:
  5:00pm Festival Candlelight Eucharist - Pastor Gaetz preaching

  Atonement - Christmas Eve:
  7:00pm Family Candlelight Communion Service with Children's Program
  10:30pm String & Choral Prelude featuring the Syracuse Symphony Clinton Strings
  11:00pm Festival Candlelight Eucharist - Pastor Gaetz preaching

  Atonement - Christmas Day:
  10:00am Christmas Day Carols and Communion- Pastor Suarez preaching

   

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• Last Messenger for 2007

  Note: This will be the last Messenger for 2007. Click on items in the left menu to check the latest weekly schedules for events and readings, and for Church Family information. Our regular publishing schedule resumes on 1/8/08

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• Snow Emergency!

  On Sunday, December 16, we had a full schedule of activities planned including the annual Youth Group Pasta Dinner and the Hanging of the Green for the main sanctuary. Then there was SNOW. well not exactly. There was ice, freezing rain, and then snow. Travel wasn't bad at church time but the weather reports made it sound like the end of the world - so most people stayed home. A small but jovial crowd participated in the day and the youth group put on a wonderful dinner. Unfortunately, not all the decorating was done. There is still a lot of "high" work to be done: garland, lights, tree decorations, etc. If you could help with that sort of thing please call Pr. Rodgers or the church office so we can arrange for a job for you to do.

  While we are on the subject of bad weather - please note that there is only one circumstance when worship services will not be held, as scheduled - when a state of emergency has been declared and travel is prohibited.

  And...finally, thanks to Jay Stone who filled in at the piano at 8:30 AM worship when our organist Phoebe Swope-Askland was unable to get out of her street. He did a great job as did Music Coordinator Kathy Woods who pulled everything together and even sang a beautiful solo accompanied by Jay.

  Don't forget to call (492-9065) if you can help with the decorations between now and Sunday, December 23rd.

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• Mark Your Calendar - Annual Meeting

  The Annual Meeting will be on Sunday, January 27. Dinner will follow the 10:45 service, followed by the meeting. Please plan to attend.

  ...speaking of the Annual Meeting....
  Annual Reports!
  If you are the chair of a committee or organization, or responsible for a group, please get working on that annual report for your organization. We're looking for just a few paragraphs that summarize your 2007 activities. We need those reports by the end of the year. The best method is to put them in an email and send them to June at june@alcsyracuse.org. If you don't have access to email, we'll take a hard copy. Just put it in the graphic arts mailbox in the church office. Remember, the sooner you get the report done and handed in, the less you'll be hounded!

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• Announcements
  • Year End Contributions
    Please remember that, in order to qualify as a 2007 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 7th to insure that we can properly account for gifts mailed prior to December 31st.
    If you have a question as to where you stand in your giving, please call the church office at 492-9065 and Ken Greig, our Financial Secretary, will get back to you promptly.

  • 2008 Pledge Cards
    Please remember to make your Financial Commitment for 2008. Return your Pledge card in the box in the rear of the Sanctuary or mail it to the Church Office as soon as possible. Extra forms are available from the ushers on Sunday or you may call the church office and they will be happy to send you another card. It really is important to hear from everyone.

  • New Wednesday Night Class
    Join Pastor Gaetz for a new Wednesday night class starting January 2nd. Topic wll be "Images of Jesus." See the January 2 schedule for details. Note: this class will NOT meet Wednesday afternoons, just Wednesday evenings.

  • WELCA Meeting - Thursday, December 20 The Women of the ELCA will present a Christmas program at their meeting on Thursday, December 20th in the Conference Room beginning at 6pm.

  • Altar Flowers and Eternal Light
    The 2008 Memorial Charts are now 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 $10 per 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.

  • Atonement Youth - Hold These Dates!
    • January 21 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)
      Luther Bowl - Noon-4pm
      Permission Form & $10 due by January 13
    • February (date to be announced)
      Ice Skating at Clinton Square - Noon-2pm
      After late service, we will share lunch in the coffee shop and then head to Clinton Square for ice skating.
    • March 7
      Volleyball Marathon at Syracuse University
      Permission Forms due by February 11
      Questions: Janet Holmgren (677-3846)
      Pastor Rodgers (492-9065)