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

September 30, 2008 - Volume 29, #33

  • Special Days at St. Paul's Fabius

    The Fabius worshipping community cordially invites you to join them for three special events in the month of October. All are welcome Ñ this would be a great opportunity to invite friends. Additional copies of this Messenger are available in the church office for you to use as invitations or we would be happy to mail them for you. Just call the church office with names and addresses.

    Sunday, October 5, 2008 - Blessing of the Animals
    9:00am- The Fabius worshiping community will gather for a blessing of the animals. Pastor Rodgers will lead this service celebrating all sorts of animals. We will celebrate with worship, song, Holy Communion and at the close of the service will gather outside the church to bless the creatures that enrich our lives and with their faithfulness, become part of our families. (For more information on the Blessing of the Animals and its roots, see the article inside.)

    Sunday, October 19, 2008 - Service of Healing
    9:00am - Pastor Gaetz will lead a service of prayer and anointing for healing as part of the regular Sunday worship hour. This tradition in the Atonement family has become a moving opportunity for focus on health and renewal of body, mind and spirit.

    Sunday, October 26, 2008 - Reformation/Anniversary Celebration
    9:00am - A celebration, with guest speaker, to commemorate both our reformation heritage and our ministry and mission in Fabius. Following the service you will want to stay for the famous Fabius Anniversary Dinner. There will be more food than you can imagine and great fellowship!

     

  • Youth News

    First Sunday - October 5th

    Our special guest will be Noah. Join us during chapel time for some "Bill Cosby style" fun. Parents are invited to attend.

     

    Because of the Columbus Day Weekend, the Teen Class "Second Sunday" will be on October 19th. Join us to talk football - The Brett Farve "Never-Quit" Attitude.

     

    CROP Walk - October 19

    Annual Crop Walk in Tully - October 19 - Noon-4pm

    All Atonement youth in grades 4-12 are invited to "Walk with the World," by participating in the annual CROP Walk on October 19. Last year CROP Hunger Walks raised more than $15 million to support the hunger-fighting work of local food banks around the block and of Church World Service around the world.

    All members of the Atonement family are invited to help fight world hunger and support our youth by donating to CROP Walk. Youth will be collecting donations after all services on Oct. 5 & 12.

    More information will be in next week's Messenger. But save the date and please let us know you are coming by no later than Oct. 12. Contact Judy Holmes (673-9393; e-mail EWHolmes@att.net), Janet Holmgren (677-3846), or Pastor Rodgers (492-9065).

  • Welcome Ryan!

    On Sunday, September 28, we welcomed Ryan Christopher Millhouse (son of Chris and Shanley Millhouse) into the Lord's family through baptism.

     

  • Word [WURD] of the Week

    - contemplating the language of faith

    vicáar - [vik-er]

    It seems fitting to start this column with looking at this word - my "title" for the year. I was often asked two questions when I told people I would be in Syracuse for my internship year as a vicar:

    Question #1: "Where is Syracuse?"
    Question #2: "What's a vicar?"

    A good friend of mine from MN said to me "I think being from Syracuse is like being born on Christmas: everyone gets all caught up in Christmas and your birthday gets lumped in with it." I think she's right. Most of us not "from here" think about NYC first and all the rest gets lumped in with it. Now I know better.

    I could more easily answer question #1. I had to look up the definition for 'vicar' and found plenty of definitions connecting the term closely to the Catholic church. However, I found this definition that I like best: a person who acts in place of another; substitute.

    In my worship class in seminary, we talked about the role of worship leader as one who serves in place of Christ to lead a community in worship of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Of course, this is also our role as Christians in this life - to be "little Christs" to one another, as Luther so wonderfully said.

    So, thank you, Atonement Lutheran Church, for helping to broaden my vocabulary in "church speak." Vicar has a nice ring to it.

    Have any suggestions of words your curious about? Call me at the church (492-9065) or drop me an email: laura.aase@gmail.com.

     

  • Blessing of the Animals

    October 5 is the day we commemorate the life and work of St. Francis of Assisi. He has been remembered for his conviction that the Christian life is one lived without material possessions and with strict personal self denial, but also one that is filled with joyful friendship and fellowship, a strong sense of humor, and gladness in God's creation. Francis has been memorialized in many statutes and paintings showing him with birds and animals in forest, field or garden. The animals in our lives, our pets, bring great joy and unconditional love into our lives. This joy and unconditional love reminds us of the joy and love that God has for us - in creation and in God's creatures we have at hand, God's wealth and gracious abundance given for our use.

    We will celebrate (at the 10/5 service) with worship, song, Holy Communion, and at the close of the service, will gather outside the church to bless the creatures that enrich our lives and, with their faithfulness, become part of our families. All animals must be on leads, leashes, or in crates, carriers, or covered baskets. Your animals are welcome indoors for the worship if the number of people and other animals will not be too upsetting. Otherwise, we ask that your pet remain restrained out of doors or with your vehicle until the end of worship. Worshippers are encouraged to dress informally as there will be lots of fur, fuzz, and hair to be had! Questions may be directed to Pastor Rodgers @492-9065.

  • Join the Choir!

    Choir is starting! If you are interested in helping lead the worship service with song, please see Kathryn Woods between services on Sunday, 10/5. No experience necessary and rehearsal times are negotiable. Enthusiasm welcome!

     

  • Renovations Update

    Things have been slow - but they are moving along!

    The furnace is almost compete. With impending cold weather, that's a very good thing. We anticipate that it will be "fired up" any day now.

    Other work is then scheduled to begin:

    • The roof replacement/insulation system should arrive any day now and will only take a few days to install.
    • The office wing windows will be installed one at a time over the next few weeks.
    • The office wing air conditioning - which we sure don't need now - will be staged at the same time as the roof work as condensers need to be "set" in coordination with the roof installation to insure proper water seal.
    • Other work may need to be delayed till spring. We have experienced some design and city permit problems that probably can't get solved until so late in the fall as it makes construction difficult. We are, however, told that the work can begin in very early spring 2009.

    Finally, things have been slow on the pledge drive as well. After an early very encouraging influx, we have slowed down to about one new pledge per week. We still have a long way to go. So, if you have not made a commitment to this important work, please do so at your earliest convenience. If you have lost your pledge card, call the church office at 492-9065 and they will send you a replacement.

  • Fellowship Breakfast - October 19

    Please join us for breakfast in the fellowship hall following the 8:30 service on 10/19.

    We are looking for people to bring coffee cake to supplement the regular breakfast food. If you would like to contribute, please call the church office at 492-9065 and let Laura know. There will be a free will offering.

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