Atonement Lutheran Church Newsletter - Messenger

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March 31, 2009 - Volume 30, #13

• 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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• Lent!

  Make sure you click on "Lent 2009" in the left menu to read about all the activities happening during Lent!

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• Palm Sunday
  
  

  Choose from three very different worship opportunites for Palm Sunday (April 5):

  • 5:15 PM Saturday (April 4) at St. Paul’s in Fabius, we will celebrate Palm Sunday with a Service of the Passion with drama by Appleseed Productions (and a visit from Jake and Rusty)
  • 8:30 AM Sunday (April 5) in the Sanctuary we will hold a traditional Palm Sunday Service (and a visit from Jake and Rusty) - Pastor Gaetz Preaching.
  • 10:45 AM Sunday (April 5) in the Sanctuary, join us for a Service of the Passion with drama by Appleseed Productions (and a visit from Jake and Rusty).
   

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• Holy Week Services
  
  

  April 8: Wednesday
  11:30am & 7:00pm Service of Healing and Renewal.
  Vicar Aase preaching
  6:00pm Dinner (all are welcome)

  April 9: Maundy Thursday
  11:30am & 7:00pm Services of the Last Supper.
  Pastor Suarez preaching

  April 10: Good Friday
  7:00pm Tenebrae
  The ancient and beautiful service of shadows and darkness. Pastor Gaetz preaching.
  6:00pm Dinner (all are welcome)

  April 11: Saturday Easter Vigil
  5:15pm Easter Vigil Services
  Lighting of the New Fire, Renewal of Baptism Vows, Baptisms, Confirmations, and Eucharist.
  Vicar Aase preaching.

  Note special times for Wednesday, April 8. There will be no classes or recreation time this week. Regular activities resume on Wednesday, April 15.

   

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• Introducing Christine Wulff - Our New Intern
  

  Christine Wulff, a student at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia SC, has been appointed to serve Internship with us in the 2009-10 academic year. She will be visiting in Syracuse Palm Sunday weekend and you can meet her at the various worship hours.

  Christine was born and raised on Long Island and received both a BS and PhD in Animal Science and Microbiology from Cornell in Ithaca–so coming to Syracuse is a bit of a homecoming for her. Before going to seminary Christine worked in research at the University of Kentucky. In her leisure time she reads, hikes, and rides a Ducati motorcycle.

  We look forward to having her with us.

   

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• KNOT In My Life!
  
  

  A two-part program for 7th-12th graders

  Come and discover how to go from negativity being a "knot" in your life, to saying "Not in my life!" to negative attitudes.

  What can 1 piece of twine teach you about being a positive light for the world?

  More than you might think!!

  Come and See! Part 1
  March 29th from noon to 1:30
  Pizza Lunch Provided.
  Coffee Shop

  Part 2
  April 4 during the Spring Day Retreat

   

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• Word [WURD] of the Week
  

  re-mem-ber {ri-mem-ber} - Hmmm, what was that again?

  I can still remember the first time I knew when my grandmother no longer remembered me. The look of panic on her face flashed before she could recover, trying to hide that she didn’t recognize the three young ladies at her door. This is a heartbreaking kind of not remembering, for my grandma and for those who loved her.

  As we get closer to the cross, to Good Friday, it is difficult, once again, to remember what is going to happen to Jesus. I almost shudder as I re-read familiar scripture passages of Jesus’ trial, the beatings, the humiliation. It is heartbreaking. There is a large part of me that wants to forget this, to push it away, to get right to Easter.

  Yet, we remember these events weekly if not daily in our lives of faith. When we splash water on our face in the morning, we remember the waters of our baptism and the promises that this water brings to us. We gather at the table and remember the night when Jesus was betrayed. We remember that we have new life through the bread and the wine.

  We are not forgotten by the God who created us. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” utters one of the criminals on the cross next to Jesus. The criminal who sees Jesus as the one to bring about a new kingdom wants to be part of that kingdom, that promise. We believe in a God who forgives our sin and remembers the promise made to us through Jesus.

  Have any suggestions of words your curious about? Contact Laura at 492-9065 or laura.aase@gmail.com.

   

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• Atonement Lutheran Youth Chocolate Cross Sale
  

  Help support Youth Group activities
  Sunday, April 5
  $1.00

   

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• Easter Food Baskets

  We have approximately 17 families for whom we will be making Easter food baskets.

  Your donations of food and money are vital for this ministry of care.

  With the hams we will buy we need donations of: Boxed potatoes, Canned green beans and corn, Canned fruit and Jell-O, Funfetti Cakes, Funfetti Frosting, Easter Candy, and Coffee,

  We also fill out our baskets with non perishable foods for the days when children are not getting meals at school.

  We can also use canned meat and meat entrees like chili, stew, “Chunky” soups, tuna, cream soup, elbows or noodles, mayo, crackers, peanut butter, jelly, ramen noodles, pasta and sauce, canned or bottled juice.Your generosity will make the most important of Christian festivals special for families in need.

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• Easter Memorials
  

  We will be accepting memorial donations for the plants that beautify our sanctuary on Easter and are then distributed to members of our congregation who are not able to join us for services. Easter plant memorials can be made through April 7. The entire memorial list will be printed in the Easter Bulletin and the Messenger. Thank you!

  Please send checks payable to Atonement Lutheran Church (116 W. Glen Ave, Syracuse, NY 13205). Mark them "Easter Plant Memorials." Make sure you send the information for who we should recognize. Memorials received by April 7 will be listed in the Easter Bulletin and the Messenger after Easter.

   

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• Carin' for Erin Benefit

  Erin Beitz is a sophomore honor student at Paul V. Moore High School in Central Square. She has been a friend of Luther Memorial congregation member Megan Syrell since they were in elementary school. Erin was diagnosed in January with a rare form of brain cancer and lymphoma, just after her 16th birthday. Erin and her parents spent 6 weeks at Children's Hospital in Boston, where Erin underwent evaluation, a craniotomy, and received her diagnosis. Erin is now undergoing aggressive chemotherapy treatment at University Hospital, which will continue for the next 6-8 months. Family and friends are trying to raise money for the Beitz family in an attempt to ease the financial burden of medical and travel expenses during this trying time. Please come support Erin and her family by attending her upcoming benefit. There will be food, live music, an auction, sale of t-shirts, pins, bracelets, and more.

  May 3rd, 2009
  1-6pm
  American Legion in Cicero, 5575 Legionnaire Drive
  Tickets: $10 advance sale, at the door - $15 for adults, $10 for kids

  (Co-sponsored by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' "Care Abounds in Communities Program")

  For advance sale tickets or to make a donation, please call Tina Syrell at 668-9190 or email her at tmsyrell@aol.com.

  To track Erin's progress or to leave her a message, please visit www.erinbeitz.com

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• Once Upon a Tree - and Gary Stensland
  

  Countryside Community Chorus
  presents
  Once Upon a Tree

  Sunday April 5
  St Paul's Fabius Community Church
  Fabius, NY
  2:30pm
  Free-Will Offering

  Note: Our own Gary Stensland will be performing!

   

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