Atonement Lutheran Church Newsletter - The Messenger

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June 9, 2009 - Volume 30, #24

• 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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  This past Sunday, almost 200 people gathered to celebrate Pastor Suarez' fifty years of ministry. We hope you were there!

  We've published photos from the event on the Atonement website. Just go to:

  www.alcsyracuse.org/envisage/photos.php

   

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• Summer Thursday Worship Returns June 11

  Thursday Evening Worship will begin on Thursday, June 11 with an informal worship service at 7:00pm, in the Chapel, preceded by a picnic supper in the Coffee Shop at 6pm. If your summer weekends are busy, please join us for this mid-week service.

  These services will continue through September 3rd (a week later than usual because Labor Day is so late this year).

  The Sunday schedule, with the exception of church school continues as usual: 8:30 and 10:45am in the main sanctuary.

  Since the entire church building is now air conditioned, we're prepared to be comfortable on the warmest of days–please join us!

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• Lutheran Homes Appeal

  The Women of the ELCA will be collecting for The Friends of the Lutheran Home after each service on Sunday, June 14.

  For $5, you can become a friend of the Lutheran Homes.

  The "Friends" contributions brighten up the residents days by providing "extra" things for them, such as welcome flowers, Christmas gifts, ice cream socials, and a spring fling.

  Won't you be a friend?

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• Important Meeting for Fabius Community

  Fabius Community Meeting
  Saturday, June 13 - 6:15pm

  Following the 5:15pm service, there will be a very important community meeting to talk about the future. There is another congregation interested in meeting in the same building we have services. This presents both opportunities and challenges. We need everyone's input, so your attendance is important!

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• Meetings!

  Women of the ELCA
  The Women of the ELCA will have their June meeting, to close out the year, at Danzer's Restaurant beginning at 6pm on Thursday, June 18.

  Bible Baked Goods and Beverage
  will meet on Saturday, June 20th in the coffee shop (at 9am) to finish up the study of Esther: Reversal of Fortune.

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  Literacy and Head Start

  Do you know someone who could use a little one-on-one help with their reading skills? Do they need to develop reading skills?

  Receive one-on-one help with reading and go at your own pace.

  Contact the Family Worker of Head Start, Andrea Bernard, right here at Atonement. 701-1867

  Details:

  • Once a week, each Wednesday, July 1-August 6
  • 5:00-7:00pm with dinner at 5:00.
   

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• Word [WURD] of the Week
  

  faith [feyth] - you don't need a whole lot, just use what you got.

  A great little camp ditty (quoted above) puts the idea of faith into a realm we can readily identify with on any given day. We often grapple with the quality and quantity of our faith lives - if we have enough, if it's any good at all.

  But we're in trouble right away, thinking about ourselves first when it comes to faith. It's only natural, isn't it. And of course faith involves us, but ultimately, is not about us. It is not about our quantity of faith - how do you measure that, anyway?

  Who do you put your faith in? This is what it's about, folks.

  There are days I start out on the wrong foot right away, taking control of things, putting things all on myself - trusting myself above all else. I've been known to put too much faith into electronic gadgets that, without fail, stop working right when I need them.

  Because we are in a relationship with God, that means there is a 2-way street. And while our faith my derail at times, God remains faithful to us, holding up God's end of the whole thing for us. Just read about Abraham and Sarah - they are perfect role models of "Sure, we have faith in you, God. Just wait a minute, we're going to fix this situation."

  Faith is always in motion, one step forward, two steps back. It's mysterious and frustrating. It gathers us into a community that believes in God for us when we feel too weak to do so. Faith sustains, agitates, pacifies, enlivens. Because our faith is in God, it is something that is an essential part of who we are.

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

   

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