Atonement Lutheran Church Newsletter - Messenger

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September 25, 2007 - Volume 28, #33

• Atonement Reaches Out

  Sometimes our tendency is to focus on the large things we do in service to and with the community-like our housing ministry, child care center, and community theater group. While those efforts are absolutely worth noting, we need to remember to take time to celebrate a wide variety of other ways we serve:

  • CROP Walk - every year a lively group of youth and adults participate in CROP walk in Syracuse and Fabius
  • The Women of the ELCA sponsor a number of efforts each year, including
    • Bread for the Hungry
    • Friends of the Lutheran Homes in Clinton
    • Blanket Sunday
  • All year long we collect can "pop tops" for Ronald McDonald House
  • Food is collected every week for three food pantries:
    • Our own here at Atonement that serves members and friends of the congregation and families involved in our various programs.
    • The Onondaga Valley Ecumenical Food Pantry at Onondaga Valley Presbyterian Church.
    • The Fabius-Pompey Outreach pantry.
  • Our St. Paul's, Fabius Community offers "Through the Roof" education and fellowship for persons with developmental disabilities
  • Our Youth participate in The Super Bowl of Caring on Super Bowl Sunday and the annual conference-wide Volleyball Marathon for Lutheran Charities
  • AND - many of our members participate in a wide variety of efforts including overseas mission trips and various walks and runs
  Be looking for more information about these and other efforts in this and future Messengers. And share your stories. If you have a story to tell about how you make a difference or about someone you know who is making a difference, let us know. Send email to alcprint@dobbytron.com or call the church office: 492-9065.

  Atonement Church is proud to be a people in Mission!

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• From Deacon Karen Douglass...
  I recently attended a Women of the ELCA program on Missing and Exploited Children. There was a wealth of informationÐbut the thing that made a lasting impression is something I want to share with you. So many times in our mail we receive a picture of a missing child. Do you realize we get that particular picture because the authorities believe that child could be in our area? Take a look at the picture. Be conscious of children around you. If you feel it matches the child call the authorities. You just may help unite a missing child with their loved loves.

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• Volunteering in Peru
  - Lisa Quackenbush
  I have been fortunate to have traveled several times to Central America. Because I was visiting family who lived there, I was not your typical tourist. While I did indeed see the "nice" places, I also saw what it was like to actually live in a third-world country.
  
  Since I am a teacher, I had the option of "taking the summer off" and this past summer, I wanted to do something different. I wanted to again travel to Latin America, but this time to learn and to help. After some research, I discovered the Cross-Cultural Solutions organization. This organization takes volunteers from around the world to locations where they work in, learn about, and gain an understanding of, a different culture. Through them, I was able to spend five weeks as a volunteer in Lima, Peru. I lived, worked, and explored the area with other volunteers of different ages from around the United States and Great Britain.
   
  
  I volunteered in a daycare center for children (infant-five years) with Down Syndrome in downtown Lima. I worked with four and five year-olds, assisting the teachers with activities and taking the kids to their various therapy sessions. Pictured here with me is Naydeline.
   
  
  When we were not working, guest speakers visited our home and taught us about the history of Peru and communities through out the region. We went on excursions to different parts of Lima and visited the cities of Ica and Trujillo. When my assignment ended, I traveled to the Inca cities of Cuzsco and Machu Picchu.

  While seeing the country and taking tours was great fun, it was the people that I met, the Peruvians and fellow volunteers, and the work that I was able to do that made the trip amazing. I was grateful for the experience and hope to do something similar again! If you are curious to learn more about my summer, send me an email (lisa_quackenbush@hotmail.com).

   

  Have a story to tell? Send email to alcprint@dobbytron.org or contact the church office at 492-9065.

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• September 10 Council Meeting Highlights
  
  • The Council welcomed Vicar Aaron Richter to the council meeting. Vicar Aaron led us in a devotional.
  • Pastor Gaetz reported that we are still interviewing for a music director and a head custodianÐand that the Joslyn Court II dedication was wonderfully attended.
  • Our finances are below projections. If you have been away and are behind in your commitment please consider catching up soon so bills can be paid.
  • The Youth Group is soliciting for apples sales to help with youth events and they will soon be asking for money for the annual CROP walk held in October which helps the hungry in our community.
  • Atonement has been approved for an intern for the 2008-2009 year. We all should be proud that the seminaries see Atonement as a good learning site for those people going into the ministry.
  • The Building Committee reports they have not gotten final costs for repairs to the office area. Stay tuned.
  • There will be a dinner and special program on Reformation Sunday, October 28th. Save the date.
  • Council members will be exploring stewardship materials that Vicar Emilie created before she left. More information will be coming. (Council: remember we are meeting at 6:30pm next time to begin the review.)

  - Karen Douglass, Secretary

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• Bible Study Opportunity
  Each Wednesday, beginning September 26th Pastor Gaetz will be offering two identical Bible Study opportunities:
  • Noon - Hosted by the Crafty Ladies - Bring a sandwich and join the Crafty Ladyes for lunch about 11:45 in the Coffee Shop.
  • 7:00pm - During Wednesday Church Night.
  The class, entitled "Paul: An Appealing or an Appalling Apostle?" will focus on the writer of a large proportion of the New Testament. Included will be such topics as:
  • Paul's Place in the formation of the Church.
  • Gender balance/imbalance.
  • Justification by Faith (Luther's key discovery in Paul.)
  • Sacramental Theology - Baptism & Eucharist
  All adults are welcome to join one of these groups and as each week's lesson will be some what independent you can come any week, or weeks, you can. Invite a friend.