January  2009

OUR  SAVIOR  LUTHERAN  CHURCH

505 South Main Street    Thomaston, CT

phone:  860-283-8480           fax:  860 283-1651

e-mail: pastorGOSLC@optonline.net

office e-mail:  OfficeOurSavior@optonline.net

website:  OurSaviorThomaston.org

The Reverend Wayne P. Gollenberg, Pastor

Home Phone:  860-283-2250

Every Epiphany Sunday!

CHURCH  COUNCIL  MEMBERS

Carolyn Chesto           Karen Grabherr            Betsy Kearney

  Judie Schwalm           Cyndi Vergauwen

President:  Allison Boutot               Vice President:  Sandy Talbot

Secretary:  Diane Elwood                Treasurer: Beth Ouellette

Financial Secretary: Karen Ligi

Mission  Statement

Our Savior Lutheran Church is by God’s grace a forgiven people, guided by God’s Spirit, committed to strengthening the Body of Christ by living and sharing God’s Word, by worshipping and inviting persons to faith and new life,

by being instruments of God’s love.

+       Worship  this  January

       (that’s not just an invitation or an announcement…

                  if you check it out, it’s a Commandment!)

Epiphany Worship

with Holy Communion

is at 10:15 AM

(Adult Christian Perspectives will take place

at 9:15 AM every Sunday in January)

The Epiphany of Our Lord                        January 4, 2009

Our Christmas Pageant will take place at Worship!

Bring a non-perishable food item as your “gift”

to the new-born King!

The Baptism of Our Lord                         January 11, 2009

The Second Sunday after the Epiphany  January 18, 2009

The Third Sunday after the Epiphany     January 25, 2009

“You are daily under the dominion of the devil,

and he does not rest day or night in seeking to take you unawares and to kindle in our heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against these three commandments.  Therefore you must constantly keep God’s Word in your heart, on your lips, and in your ears.

 For where the heart stands idle and the Word is not heard,

the devil breaks in and does his damage before we realize it.”

(Martin Luther, Large Catechism, on the Third Commandment)

Pastor’s Corner

“Epiphany JOY and January Reality”

We are blessed to have a team of people ready and willing to work hard in order to have our “Pageant” take place on January 4^th.  The story of the patriarchs and matriarchs, the prophets, the angels, the holy family, shepherds, and the magi we can’t hear too often.  So, this year, on the 10^th day of Christmas, the Pageant will be a blessing for us at Worship.  Our “thanks” to all those who helped to bring JOY to our hearts through the proclamation of the Word… especially the Word become flesh!

The Pageant concludes with the visit of the magi.  Those curious star-gazers add a universal flare to the Christmas narrative.  Did you ever wonder what they thought about or talked about on their way home?   Did you ever wonder what difference it made in their lives that they saw the “King,” not in a palace in Jerusalem, but in a house in the little town of Bethlehem?  Did they carry the JOY of their journey into the grind of everyday life?

Will you? 

For most families the tree is down, the seasonal trappings put away, and the pine needles vacuumed up long before the season of Christmas is over.  Along with the pine needles does the JOY get sucked away?  Is “Christmas” packed up in the boxes and put somewhere in the basement or attic?  Is there any way to make the JOY of the season last?

There is no simple recipe for making Epiphany JOY conquer January reality.  The bills will come in if you put purchases on your credit cards. The relationship issues that were killing you before Christmas will raise their ugly heads in the coming weeks if they haven’t already.  The children will still need to be driven to their events.  Health concerns will not go away.  Parents will need to be cared for.

So where’s the JOY in all of that?

Every-day January realities fight hard to dominate our lives.  Our struggle is to remember the real “reality” of Christmas is Emmanuel - God with us, now and forever.  That’s Epiphany JOY… Jesus breaking into our lives in new ways!   If you haven’t found the JOY, come and Worship (the magi did!)… feast on the Word, delight in the Meal, everything is ready, it’s all for you because God’s love for you was so great God sent his only Son… for you!

“Tuesday  Night  Sunday  School”

The “Advent Destinations” of Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem were informative and fun as we plotted a course for our “Mapquest Messiah” during our Tuesday’s in Advent.  Starting January 6^th on the Epiphany of Our Lord, we will get back to the Ten Commandments of the Great “I AM.”

We can’t repeat it often enough:  Everyone is Invited to “TNSS!”

This gathering is not just for children but for our whole community of faith.  If you don’t have children in the house anymore and want to be around children for a while, this is the place to be on Tuesdays… to get a wonderful dose of spontaneous enthusiasm, to learn something from our lesson or from a child, to share a meal, to refresh your depleted “faith” batteries. 

Sunday School on Tuesdays is a good time, a wholesome time, a learning time, an exhausting time, and fun.  If you haven’t given it a try, a new year might be a good time to come on down!

Winter  Bible  Study

Tuesday evenings at 7:30 PM, starting January 13^th and concluding on February 17^th, the opportunity is given to gather for Bible study.  We’ll pray the weather will cooperate and give us the occasion for opening our Bibles and looking at the Word of God for us. 

No experience is necessary.  We’ll gather for about an hour and a half to read Holy Scripture, discover what it meant to the first hearers/readers, discuss its importance for us today, and pray God’s Spirit to move us to action as the Word takes root in us and grows disciples.

This being the Year of Saint Paul we will explore his Letter to the Galatians in our time together.  The Year of Saint Paul urges us to reflect more deeply on the theological and spiritual legacy Paul left to the Church through his vast efforts to spread the faith.  Our prayer is that the “Pauline flame” may ignite our lives in devotion and service as we read, ponder, and pray during our time together!

Children  at  Worship

Jesus not only said, “Let the children come to me.”   Jesus extended his invitation with these words, “…and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 

Our inclusion of children at Worship should be just as inviting as Jesus, both by the warm welcome children and their parents receive, and by our tolerance of the small noises that children sometimes bring with them.  If “the kingdom of heaven” belongs to children then maybe there is something adults can learn from them. 

Over the past months we have had LOTS of children at Worship on several occasions.   It has been wonderful!  This is where children and their parents belong on Sunday… together, Worshipping, learning the liturgy, listening to the Word, feasting on the Meal or receiving a blessing.  What a glorious time it is for families to have this “moment” together, and what a glorious sign it is for this community of faith to have children at Worship.  It’s a sign of welcome, it’s a sign of a healthy congregation, and it’s also a potential difficulty.

The “difficulty” arrives when children sometimes make more noise during Worship than some folks find tolerable (and that’s always a fine line). Some parents take their children out of the Worship room at the first hint of a sound.  Others wait a while.   

Some guidelines:  if your child is “preaching” louder than the pastor or lector, please use the “Quiet Room” off the narthex… or take them down to the welcoming area for a breather.  Three important times during our liturgy to be especially quiet are during the readings, the sermon, and the Eucharistic Prayer (Those are also times when “traffic” in or out of the Worship Room should be avoided unless it’s an emergency).

This can be a “touchy” area in our life together, but it doesn’t have to be.   The important thing is we are “together”… one Body, in Christ, all ages, sometimes rejoicing, sometimes struggling, sometimes offended, sometimes offending… but always keeping our eye on the important thing:  Jesus has been born for us and is now revealed as our Lord and Savior; thanks be to God! 

Christian Caregiving

On Tuesday mornings from late September through mid-December ten of us read and discussed the book Christian Caregiving by Kenneth Haugk.  Though our formal time together has ended we all realized that we were all beginning the next leg of a new journey.  On this leg of our trip hopefully we will feel more comfortable carrying with us some of the basics of Christian caregiving: prayer, forgiveness, absolution, the Word of God, hope, blessings, and the living waters from which we draw “cups of cold water” to offer other members of our family, church members, friends, and those with whom we have contact in the days ahead.

Where will this journey lead us?  We can’t even begin to guess what adventures lie ahead of us on this quest.  We simply know that this is a journey into caring and service, and it is our to pursue for a lifetime as a part of Christ’s family.

                                                Carolyn and Henry Brau, facilitators

Adult  Christian  Perspectives

The video, “Where Are The People?,” and the book, “The American Church in Crisis,” were the topics discussed at Adult Christian Perspectives at 9:15 AM Sunday mornings over the past three months.  The information provided by David Olson in the video and book has prompted a response from the small cadre of people who dare to wake up a bit earlier on Sunday than most.

Pr. Gollenberg quoted Olson in his sermon the third Sunday in Advent:  “We are to herald God’s good news in the midst of the pain and suffering of this world.  Our focal point is the story of Jesus, forever alive through the power of the resurrection.  Our prayer is that the kingdom of God will break in upon this world like the new day’s dawning of the sun, as the people of God courageously speak and live out the Good News.”

If congregations in the United States are to survive, and thrive, it is crucial every person of faith share the story, in a first-hand way.

I wonder what Adult Christian Perspectives will be doing in the coming weeks to prompt Christian thought, Christian action, and Christian responsibility!   Come down and discover what’s going on!

CONFIRMATION CORNER 

On October 8, Confirmation classes started.  We are learning about Martin Luther.  Pastor gave us all of us a Martin Luther Book, a Bible with our name in it and of course the Small Catechism.  Then we all watched a movie about Martin Luther’s life and yes it was in black and white!  Now we are starting to learn about the Ten Commandments and their meanings.  We are now concentrating on the first 2 commandments.

                             Christopher Varanko

 Worship Assistants   January 2009

Financial  Picture

More than optimism is going to be needed in 2009 to meet our financial obligations.  It’s going to take some downright hefty praying; some out-and-out robust generosity; some absolute healthy writing of checks and remembering the congregation in your estate planning; and it will take some vigorous visioning to see the ministries and mission of this congregation worth supporting to the best of our sacrificial ability.   However, will all of us pitching in, regularly, heftily, we can continue our joyful proclamation of God’s Word and the celebration of the Sacraments that strengthens us for serving.

Remember, offerings will need to be at least $3700.00 every week for us to meet our commitments in 2009.  Over the last four months we have only reached that goal on five Sundays.  Your continuous giving is greatly needed… and appreciated.

Action Plan

The Special Congregational Meeting in November approved an “Action Plan” in order to oversee the finances and Special Fund dilemma that was discussed at the meeting.  The Church Council is moving forward in order to accomplish each of the “Immediate,” “Short Term,” and “Longer Term” aspects of the plan.    From adding our “situation” to the Prayer Chain, to inviting an estate planning specialist to address our congregation, to forming an Ad Hoc committee to research and make recommendations, the council is moving ahead.  Your continued prayers are encouraged!

Pictorial Directory

You would think that with the simplicity of digital photography and the genius of computerized technology we would be receiving our new pictorial directories any day now.  Well… not so fast.  There have been some “complications” along the way.  For instance, sometimes computers don’t talk to each other nicely… or in the same language.  Also, sometimes humans aren’t clear in their sales pitch about the “ease” of making the whole process a seamless progression from photo taken to photo seen in a directory.    So, we wait for the details to be sorted out.  Please have some patience while we in the office fight the good fight of attempting to communicate with computers, production companies, and salesmen.

What To Do With Those

New Year’s Resolutions!

Sometimes, without even knowing it, we “resolve” to do something different in the New Year.  The making of official “New Year’s Resolutions” is down over past years to less than 50% of the population.  In the past it was well over 85%. 

The most common three resolutions are:  to lose weight, exercise more, and eat better… or at least that’s what one article talked about.  And there is sense to making a resolution.  You’re more likely to stick to your resolution if you actually make one. 

But what to do with all those broken resolutions?  Were you better off not making any so that you don’t feel like such a failure when you break what you’ve resolved?

Never.   Resolve away!   It’s good to try to start over, to plan something new, to try to better yourself, to plan for the future.  It’s healthy to make substantive changes for the better in your eating habits, your exercise routine, and bringing your weight down to what your doctor recommends. 

It’s also good to stop a few other bad habits you may have fallen into over the past year/s… whatever they may be.

One thing seems certain, resolutions will probably be broken.  And when they break you can either bemoan your lack of self-control, or, you can start over.  The Bible has some great inspiration for starting over:  Adam and Ever after the Garden of Eden fiasco; King David after the Bathsheba incident; Peter after his denial; Paul after his persecution of Christians; and the list goes on and on.  These folks found forgiveness through God’s great mercy and moved on… so can we. 

The place for receiving a significant dose of forgiveness is at Worship!  There we rejoice in sins forgiven and celebrate together the vast riches of God’s amazing grace.  Go ahead, resolve something… and then come and Worship and put those broken resolutions at the foot of the cross!

                Letters to the Pastor

(actual letters written to pastors from children)

Dear Pastor:  I know God loves everybody but did he ever meet my sister? 

           (Arnold, age 8, Nashville)

Dear Pastor:  My mother is very religious.  She goes to play bingo at church every week

 even if she has a cold.  (Anne, age 9, Albany)

Dear Pastor:  I would like to go to heaven someday because I know my brother won’t be there.    (Stephen, age 8, Chicago)

Dear Pastor:  Who does God pray to?  Is there a God for God?      

      (Christopher, age 9, Titusville)

Dear Pastor:  Are there any devils on earth?  I think there may be one in my class.

  (Carla, age 10, Salina)

Dear Pastor:  Please say a prayer for our Little League team.  We need God’s help or a new pitcher.  (Alexander, age 10, Raleigh)

When the groundswell reaches tsunami magnitude it’s time to do something.  The “groundswell” is the small book, The Shack.  The “tsunami” is the conversation that’s taking place around the book.  The “magnitude” is the number of people who want to talk about the book together and share their observations, insights and questions. 

Therefore, we will gather together for “breakfast” (not sure how that will happen yet) on two Saturday mornings in January (weather permitting) at 9:00 AM (this was the most agreeable time for a few who cornered pastor in the fellowship hall one Sunday after Worship).

If you’ve read the book and can’t wait to talk about it; if you have no idea what the hub-bub is about;  if you just want to see what’s for breakfast;  COME ON DOWN on January 10^th and 24^th. 

Prayer  for the Month

(Offer this prayer to God each morning!)

O thou, whose name is Love, who never turnest away

from the cry of Thy needy children,

give ear to my prayer this morning.

Make this a day of blessing to me,

and make me a blessing to others. 

Keep all evil away from me. 

Preserve me from outward transgression

and from secret sin.

Help me to control my temper. 

May I check the first risings of anger or sullenness. 

If I meet with unkindness or ill-treatment,

give me that charity which suffereth long

and beareth all things.  

Make me kind and gentle towards all,

loving even those who love me not. 

Let me live this day as if it were to be my last.

 O my God,

show me the path that Thou wouldest

have me to follow. 

May I take no step that is not ordered by Thee,

and go nowhere except Thou, Lord,

go with me.  Amen

(Ashton Oxenden   1808-1892)

“Thank You”

So many to thank, and so little space to do it in:

   TO:           Pr. Henry and Carolyn Brau, for leading us in “Christian Caregiving”, Ron Richards for his $100 donation to “OCC” in memory of Betty, Scott and Rosanna Varanko for the wreaths for our doors, Jennie Kerney for the Christmas tree in our worship room, all the Worship Assistants who gave freely to our Christmas Worship, the musicians who filled our worship with music, and to the choirs who led us in singing we say THANK-YOU! 

          May you all be filled with God’s peace!

So far, 59 people filled out a Time and Talent Booklet

49 will worship every Sunday,

32 will worship when I am out of town

34 will invite others to worship with me

40 will worship during Holy Week, the Great

37 will worship even when I don’t feel like

11 will be available to drive others to worship

16 will serve as an usher 

  8 will serve as a crucifer 

10 will serve as an acolyte

21 will serve as a lector 

14 will serve as communion assistant

11 will serve as sacristan

4 will pick up flowers for worship (at the florist)

7 will serve in the choir

11 will serve as counters

22 will serve coffee and refreshments

5 will serve on the Worship Committee

2 will serve on the Stewardship Committee

4 will serve on the Property Committee

4 will serve on the Finance Committee

3 will serve on the Fellowship Committee

8 will serve on the Church Council (if elected)

3 will attend the Synod Assembly

11 will serve on the Prayer Chain

12 will help on work days around our building

5 like to paint, or do lawn care, or carpentry, etc

21 will read my Bible every day

5 will attend Adult Christian Perspectives

13 will attend Bible Study when offered

many will help with our “New Beginnings”

many will help with “Operation Christmas Child”

7 will help with newsletter mailings

4 will help organize, plan and supervise youth

6 will participate in the Women’s Group

many will participate in “TNSS”

7 will help with the planning team for “TNSS”

Our Thanks to all who volunteer to share their time and talent with us.