Atonement Lutheran Church Newsletter

Atonement Ministries
116 W. Glen Ave
Syracuse, NY 13205
(315) 492-9065
©2012 Atonement Ministries

Atonement Lutheran Church Newsletter - 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

May 5, 2009 - Volume 30, #18

Save a Tree, Save a Stamp, Save some Money!
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Lutheran Charities Appeal
Word [WURD] of the Week

doubt [dout] hmmm, I’m not sure.
I looked in a few of the theological books I own for a definition on the word ‘doubt.’ In two of the book, there was no listing or hint of a reference. When I paged through my copy of the Handbook of Christian Theology, this is what I found:
DOUBT (See Agnosticism, Faith.)
Perfect! You see, too often I hear faith asserted in such a way that it slaps doubt around, or worse, refuses to acknowledge it. Doubt goes hand in hand with faith. In fact, their very fingers are laced together and you’re not sure which are the “faith fingers” and which are the “doubt fingers.” I don’t think you can accurately talk about doubt without also talking about faith and vice-versa.
Wondering about your life of faith, asking tough questions that scripture begs us to ask, and shaking your fist at God while demanding “why?” are essential parts of a faith that is alive and growing. Doubt does not mean lack of faith but, rather, signals a vibrant faith. And in the midst of our doubt, we are met by a certain, faithful God who joins us in our questions, in our faithlessness.
If doubt were more powerful than God, then we wouldn’t have a story to tell, we wouldn’t have matriarchs and patriarchs of faith to read about in scripture. But doubt is there, is part of the stories of our lives of faith. And God does not abandon us in our doubt but engages us to the end!
Have any suggestions of words your curious about? Contact Laura at 492-9065 or laura.aase@gmail.com.
Atonement Youth-and-Family Faith Walk and Picnic
What: Celebrate Pentecost by joining the Atonement Youth on their second annual Faith Walk and picnic. The event will also include a shorter nature walk for the Atonement Sunday School and Wednesday Kid’s Church children.
Who: The entire Atonement Congregation, the young and the young at heart, are welcome to attend. Come join us and help us celebrate our youth and children. They are the future of our church.
When: 4 p.m. Saturday, May 30—Meet at the church.
Where: Pastor Rodgers’ back yard & Webster Pond nature trails
Food: Hotdogs, beverages and dessert will be served after all return from their walk in the woods. Please bring either a large bottle of soda or a bag of your favorite snacking chips. ALSO: Bring a folding lawn chair.
Transportation: Rides to Pr. Rodgers’ house will be provided for those who need a ride.
Rain Date: None—pray for sunshine.
RSVP: Please let us know you are coming so we have enough hotdogs. Sign-up will be posted on the bulletin board outside the coffee shop.
QUESTIONS: Call Pr. Rodgers at the church (492-9065) or e-mail PrRodgers@earthlink.net; or call Judy Holmes (673-9393 after 6 p.m.) or e-mail EWHolmes@att.net.
Congratulations Beth!
We are pleased to announce that Beth Arthur has once again been awarded the Herman L. Joachim Graduate Fellowship for 2009-2010. Beth is a graduate student in the Department of Paper and Bioprocess Engineering - a program sponsored by SUNY Environmental Science & Forestry, Syracuse University, and Lemoyne College.
Being awarded this scholarship once is a high honor - twice is almost unheard of!
Congratulations Beth - and keep up the great work!
Changes to "Our Church Family" in the Messenger
In an effort to make the “Our Church Family” and “In the Service” lists easier to use and read, beginning with this 1st May issue we will begin to change how we list the names. In the first Messenger of the month all members and friends, those with critical needs and those with long term or ongoing needs for prayer will be listed. Also in the first Messenger of the month all service personnel will be listed both active duty and reserves.
For the rest of the month, the Our Church Family in the Messenger will only list those in the hospital and those with critical needs. Active duty service people will also be listed every week.
There will be no change to the Our Church Family and the In the Service lists in the worship bulletins and on the website. All lists will appear in the bulletin and he website every week.
Congratulations Aaron!
The Faculty and Staff of Wartburg Theological Seminary and the Class of 2009 anounce the one-hundred and fifty-fifth commencement excercises - to be held on Sunday, May 17, 2009. Aaron is in this graduating class!
Send him your best wishes at arichter7@gmail.com or:
Aaron Richter
485 Wartburg Place #1
Dubuque IA 52003
Vernon Downs - Here We Come!
On Friday, June 12, we are once again “going to the races” at Vernon Downs. See next week’s Messenger for more details.
WELCA Spring Conference and Assembly - You Are Invited!
On Saturday, May 16, the Women of the ELCA are holding the Spring Conference Assembly here at Atonement. All women from Atonement are invited, and encouraged!, to attend.
Our guest speaker is Nan Richard
To make reservations, please sign up on the bulletin board at the rear entrance.
The only cost is $5 (and that includes lunch!).
The Lutheran Theological Seminary

Over the years we have had a close relationship to almost all the seminaries (school for pastors) of the church. Pr. Joslyn went to Gettysburg, Pr. Suarez went to Hamma (Now Trinity) and we have had interns from Luther, Pacific, Wartburg and will soon welcome a student from Southern. That leaves only Chicago unconnected to Atonement.
However, Philadelphia Seminary is the official Seminary of the North East and our Synod in particular. Both Pastor Gaetz and Pastor Rodgers are graduates from Philadelphia.
With increasing enrollment (we are actually reversing the trend and a clergy shortage) and skyrocketing costs there are ever increasing financial pressured on those doing the valuable work. of training the next generation of out Church's leaders. This last Sunday was "Good Shepherd Sunday" when we focused on the bible texts about Jesus as the good Shepherd. It made a great day to celebrate the work of the seminary. A special offering was received during all the services. If you would like to add your support please send in a check to the church office marked "Seminary Fund" or ask an usher for one of the special envelopes next Sunday. The need is great. Please be generous.
Geraniums for Pentecost
Geraniums may be purchased as memorials to beautify our Sanctuary on Pentecost Sunday.
Plants may be taken home or to the cemetery for planting immediately following the Fabius Saturday or Atonement Sunday 10:45am service on Pentecost Sunday (May 31). Memorials wll be listed in the Pentecost bulletins and in the Messenger. Cost is $4/ea or $40/dozen
Special envelopes are available at church or call 492-9065 and we'll mail you one.
Is there a Pending Graduation in Your Family?
If you know someone in the Atonement family, and/or your family who is graduating from highschool or college this spring, please let us know! We’ll publish their name, school, and major in the June 2 issue of the Messenger.
Send email to june@alcsyracuse.org, call the church office at 492-9065, or put a note in the “Graphic Art” mailbox in the church office–by May 28.
Don't Forget our Mother's Day dinner performance at 12:30pm on Sunday, May 10 (Right before the performance)!

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