Atonement Lutheran Church Newsletter - The Messenger

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Messenger Archives

December 29, 2009 - Volume 30, #47

• 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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• Christmas Eve at Atonement
  

  Over 200 people joined together for Christmas Eve services. As happened so long ago, for the late service, our organ was broken. Fortunately, we had Clinton Strings for the entire service instead of just a prelude - they were a beautiful addition. Thanks, also, to Kathryn Woods and Judy Holmes for the wonderful children's program at the family service.

  More photos

   

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• About the Organ
  

  At this point, we don't know what it will cost to repair our organ. It would be a great time to pull out one of the special pink envelopes from your box and make a contribution towards it's repair. Thanks!

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• Christmas 2009 Memorials
  

  The two live trees in the Sanctuary are given in Honor of Chase Bauer's First Christmas by Sydney, Nathanial, and Zachary Woods. Instrumental music for our service tonight is made possible by a generous gift given In Loving Memory of Marie Ott by Eleanora Ott and Family Our Christmas bulletins were given in loving memory of Pastor Henry Cornish by Mrs. Ruth Cornish & her daughters Jennifer & Candace. Our Christmas Poinsettias are given in loving memory or honor of the following:

  Given in Memory/Honor of:	By
  Loved Ones	Baxter Simmons
  Loved Ones	Roberta Mettler
  Our Family	Pam & Bob Haumann
  Loved Ones	Charles & Robyn Scharoun
  Ella B. Irwin and Mary C. Irwin	Tom Irwin
  Leslie Metz	Wednesday Night Church Family
  Loved Ones	Carole Barr
  Loved Ones	John Baker
  William Schrieber, Wihelmina Schrieber, and William Schrieber, Jr.	Barbara & John Voltz and family
  Joann Burman	David & Jackie Koslowsky
  Loved Ones	Evelyn Goings
  Loved Ones	Barbara & Colleen Lasky
  Loved Ones	Mr. & Mrs. Paul Claeys
  Loved Ones	Baxter Simmons
  Loved Ones	Strumlok Family
  Loved Ones	Gayle Wentworth
  Loved Ones	Craig Miller
  Our Son Kenneth K	Ken & Jeanette Greig
  Loved Ones	Harriet, Sandy & Sherry
  Marie Ott	Ott Family
  Dorothy ÒDottieÓ Davison	Eleanora Ott
  Loved Ones	Ruth Akins
  Our Parents	Clare & Dick Doerle
  Loved Ones	Dorothy Phillips
  Loved Ones	John & Merikay Harper
  Gil & Louise Quackenbush Ed Potter & Edwin Merkt	June & Jim Quackenbush
  	June & Jim Quackenbush
  Loved Ones	Richard & Joan Kanfoush
  For Jesus	The Hobbs Family

   

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• Acolyte Training

  On January 8th 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.

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  Notes of thanks....

  Thanks to all who did so much to make Christmas so wonderful this year. I need to tell so many how personally grateful I am for all the kind greetings and generous gifts with which you remembered me and my family.
  Wishing you all a very Happy New Year.
  - Pastor Gaetz

  Dear Atonement Church family,
  Thank you so much for the kind thoughts, prayers, cards and gifts you gave me at Christmas. I appreciate all that we do together in Jesus' name. May you have a happy, healthy New Year!
  Blessings,
  Pastor Rodgers