Atonement Lutheran Church Newsletter - The Messenger

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JAugust 11, 2009 - Volume 30, #30

• 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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• Summer Messenger Schedule - Next Messenger will be 8/25

  As it was last year, the Messenger will be printed every other week during the months of July and August. Each issue will have the weekly events and assisting schedules for two weeks. If something critical arises and we need to get the word out, we will publish a "special" issue.

  The planned publication dates are: July 13, July 27, August 11, and August 25. The regular weekly schedule resumes with the September 7 issue.

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• Come Celebrate!
  

  Sunday, August 16 will be Vicar Laura Aase's last Sunday with us. We are planning a celebration and hope you will be able to participate!

  Following the service (a special 10 o'clock service where we will be joined by our friends from OVPC), there will be an ice cream social in honor of Vicar Laura.

  Note there will be no 10:45 AM service at Atonement. Bus transportation will be provided for the 10 AM service running about 15 minutes earlier than usual.

   

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• Planning a Septemer Getaway?

  If you are someone who regularly volunteers for an “Assisting at Worship” function and are planning on being away on any September Sunday, please let Karen Douglass know so she doesn’t schedule you for service when you are gone. Call Karen at 492-9347 and leave her a message.

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• Atonement Women of the ELCA News

  For everything there is a season...
  At the June meeting, the Thursday night Atonement Women of the ELCA decided to disband and focus our strength on creating a stronger Saturday group.

  ...a time to build up.
  Bible, Baked Goods, and Beverage - sponsored by Women of the ELCA and led by Pastor Rodgers - will meet 9-10:30am on the third Saturday of each month (except September when we will meet on the fourth Saturday). The bible study is followed by a short meeting to update folks on events for Women of the ELCA, for those wishing to stay.

  This year's bible study topic is Paul's letter to the Romans. As written at the beginning of the bible study: "We will read some mail - St. Paul's letter to the followers of Rome. It allows us a glimpse into those very earliest years as believers gathered into little groups all around the Mediterranean world. What did Paul write? What did he think was important for the Roman Christians to hear? How do we read mail addressed to others so long ago and find strength and guidance for our own time?" Come and find out!

  On Saturday, September 19, the Fall Assembly for Women of the ELCA will meet at Our Saviour in Utica. Patsy Glista, Associate in Ministry and Upstate NY Synod Disaster Response Coordinator, will be the guest speaker. The event runs 9:30am-3pm. The cost (including lunch) is $5.00.

  Any one wishing a ride to these events please leave a phone message for Karen Douglass at 492-9347.

   

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• Word [WURD] of the Week
  

  vic·ar - [vik-er] - who, me?

  It seems fitting to end this column with how it began. Throughout the year I found myself explaining again and again what a vicar is. This is how I often described it when a confused look would cross someone's face: "Vicar is a church word for intern. I'm an intern. I am practicing to be a pastor." Vicar is a church word that often confuses. And, ironically, the confusion over church words is why I wanted to write this column. The life of faith I have lived through the church means an awful lot to me and I hate to see others scared by or put off by words that seem to exclude them. Our language can so often stand in the way of what it is we really mean or would like to convey.

  Here are the definitions I discovered for vicar this year:
  victor
  intern pastor
  pastor
  preacher game-player (with daycare program)
  teacher
  worship leader
  friend
  song leader
  story-teller
  confidant
  chaplain
  visitor
  bus attendant

  The great thing about this title is it will be re-defined once again beginning in just a few short weeks. While I don't know what Christine will want to be called, I do know she's your next vicar who will have the opportunity to live into this role for a year, just as I have.

  Thank you for helping me to discover my inner-vicar. The definition of Laura as pastor now awaits.

   

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• Appleseed Youth Theater
  

  This a picture of the Lay Internship Committee. Carole Barr & Jay Berry from Atonement and Carol Gentry & Fred Whitney from OVPC. The picture is from our last committee "meeting" at Onondaga Lake.

  The committee meets once a month, providing support for the intern, listening to cares and concerns, talking about professional development and their experience during internship. They also provide periodic evaluations of the intern (guided by the seminary). For all of that, I thank them!

  Jay Berry was the chair of the committee - this year is his final year. Carol Gentry and Fred Whitney will serve as co-chairs next year. Jerry Holbrook will fill the empty spot created by Jay's leaving.

  Ask Carole Barr how she enjoyed the ride!

  Note: your name need not be Carol to join this committee.

   

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• Thanks from Atonement Campers

  A Thank-you from our Atonement campers. Thanks to your support, they were able to attend Lake Chutauqua Lutheran Camp (LCLC) last month.

  

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• Oops!

  OOPS! Please accept my apology for the errors in the Assisting at Worship schedules in recent weeks. I'll do my best to avoid those mistakes in the future! - June