Our Savior Lutheran - Thomaston, CT

 

Another year is over. They do go by faster as one gets older, either that or we just get slower and don’t realize it.  The choir is like a fine wine and seem to get better with age.  Their dedication is unfailing and they are committed to singing to the glory of God, which enhances the worship service, (At least most of the time).
This year we added Tom Buchanan, who now is on a temporary leave of absence. He will remain in our prayers until his return. Haley Steyer has left the choir for the theater. The regulars are:  Karl Buckley, Ellie Gollenberg, Bob Gross, Linda Howard, Suzanne Pleasant, Bev Sabia, Amanda Steyer, Gene Talbot, Sandy Talbot, and John Vergauwen.  Cyndi Vergauwens work load and participation in Naugatuck Valley Project has left her little time to sing this year. Last but not least, Kyle Vergauwen plays percussion when he’s in town.
I want to thank the choir on the superb job they did during Holy Week and at the Vigil and on Easter Sunday. They added so much to an already intensely emotional week.
This year marked my 10^th anniversary as organist/choir director at OSLC. I would like to thank Pastor, Ellie, Eileen, the choir and the congregation. You have given me so much more than I can ever give back to you. Thank you.
I look forward to another year with a wonderful choir and congregation that I am truly blessed to be a part of.
Respectfully,
J. Kerney
 

W          Faith Formation/Christian Education              (Pastor Gollenberg)

“In times like these, we (need) to remember that we have a God who is bigger
than our biggest problems.  We have Jesus, for whom the grave was not even the end. 
We have the Holy Spirit, who was cheering for us with loving sighs deeper than
words can express.  I have stated this before, but it was so important for my family
to remember that we had a promise from God that if we were to train up our children
in the way they should go, then when they are old they will not depart from it (see Proverbs 22:6).
 We had to remember and hold fast to the hope that the Word of God is true
and the will of God for us was that our family would come through the trials with
beauty, depth, strength, resilience and joy.  We had to know this, believe this and
trust in this promise with all our hearts.”
(Rev. Rich Melheim, Holding Your Family Together, pp 214-215)
 
Holding a family together in these tumultuous, secular, violent, and technological times is at best challenging, at worst virtually impossible.  People are going in different directions, priorities can be screwy, and it’s hard for mom, dad, junior and little miss to take their noses out of their “devices.”  
 
That’s why it’s imperative to begin family life in the promises of Holy Baptism.  In this Sacrament we are “anchored” in the faith of our forefathers and foremothers.   Baptism also unites us with the community of the Church so that we have a built-in support system for family life.  Following-up on Baptism is more challenging.  Here is where parenting skills get pushed… do we attend Worship or sleep in;  do we pack everyone in the car for “Tuesday Night Sunday School” or do we go to soccer practice;  do we go to First Communion classes and then hardly attend Worship or do we reinforce what was shared in class and encourage dedicated Worship participation;  do we attend Confirmation Classes to merely gain some head knowledge or do we take a leap of faith and go to class AND Worship regularly?
 
These questions are answered every day as parents either follow through on the promises they made at Baptism, or, become invisible.
 
This sounds harsh, but, truth be told, most aren’t training up their children in the way they should go (see Proverbs 22:6). 
 
The Church as we know it will be dramatically different in the years to come because it will be nearly “child-less.”  The days of big and lively Sunday Schools is disappearing.  The times of large Youth Groups is a thing of the past.  Church, Worship, and Christian Education are diminishing in importance. 
 
And yet, we keep on keeping on.  We change some things so that we might touch more lives; we do some old things in hopes that a spark might ignite a flame of faith in our children.  We even have a Bible Study to search the Holy Scriptures for on-going inspiration.  And of all things, we even have an informal time of “Coffee and Conversation” on Sunday mornings to get to know one another and talk about life and faith.
 
Read the bold type-face for where Faith Formation takes place around here!