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Advent Message “Let there be Light!” It’s that time of year again, a time when days at first grow shorter, but then grow longer. The outside light fades rapidly until December 21, the winter solstice, but then it returns. A similar thing happens as Advent draws near. Going and coming! Advent, a penitential season, begins with somber reflection upon the dark places in our lives, but then welcomes the coming of the “Light of the World.” Often, this “changing” time in nature is something of which we are barely aware, except for feeling the need to turn the lights on a little earlier. Sometimes, though, it is a “down” time, with a subtle feeling of inner darkness, as well as outer darkness. We do not hibernate as some animals do, but we may retreat a bit and turn inward. If we experience this, it is good to seek some perspective on it. Perhaps, it is more than the season. Is there an emptiness in our lives that needs to be filled? The goals we have pursued may have been attained, or may not. The question really is not our measure of success, but whether our goals are appropriate and still worth pursuing. Are they what we most want now, or have our values changed? Advent can become a time of healthy growth. We can grow stronger with firmer roots. When the light around us fades, we can discover the inner light that is part of our very being. Often, we find it difficult to see this in ourselves, but see it clearly in others. One person seems to be hopeful. Another always expresses warmth and caring. Would we like to capture some of that spirit? All of us have this potential and God can help us utilize it. There are ways of restoring that inner light. In this “going and coming” season, we do well to recognize both our problems and our potential. We do have dark places in our lives, but God can help us to join with those who overcome the darkness. We accept the fact that we are in need, but God provides help to meet the need and to grow beyond. In addition to our Sunday worship services at 8:30 and 10 AM, we gather Wednesdays at noon for mid-week Advent devotion, and at 7:30 PM for a sung setting of Evening Prayer. Join us as we place at the foot of the cross the dark places of our lives, and turn to the Light of the World, our Savior Jesus. In Christ, John A. Jurik Interim Pastor, St. Paul’s
ADVENT/CHRISTMAS WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES “Let There Be Light” Advent Theme Recently our congregational Bible studies (Wednesdays at 1 PM and Saturdays at 7:30 AM) discovered that the Genesis story of creation is far more than an account of how our world came to be. It is a picture of how our world actually is and of how God is at work in that world. God is still creating; we are still moving from darkness into light, from chaos into order, from the empty void into fullness. “Let There Be Light” is the theme of our mid-week Advent services, Wednesdays at noon and 7:30 PM in the chapel. This is an invitation to all members and friends to set aside 45 minutes each Wednesday of Advent, and allow the Light of Christ, the Light of the World, to enter our lives more deeply. Advent services on Wednesdays at noon and 7:30pm on 11/30, 12/7, 12/14, 12/21 December 18th – Celebrate with the Sunday School as they come to church and sing for us. Hector the donkey will be making his annual appearance too! Christmas Eve: 5pm Family worship with Holy Communion 7:30pm Candlelight Service of Holy Communion 9:30pm Candlelight service of Holy Communion Christmas Day 10am – We’ll gather in the chapel for a Christmas Day service of Holy Communion. Christmas Day is a lovely, simple and beautiful way to greet our Lord’s birthday. Please note that there is only one service on Sunday, December 25, at 10 AM. January 1st – Celebrate the second Sunday of Christmas at regular 8:30 and 10am times
ADVENT FAIR December 11th Fa la la! St. Paul's Annual Advent Fair is here. Everyone is invited to the Advent Fair. We will be baking cookies, singing Christmas carols, and making Christmas decorations. The Sunday school students will go to the youth building with their teachers during Sunday school. After the 10:00am service, all are invited to join us for fun, fellowship and food. We will be serving soup and refreshments. May God Bless us everyone and Merry Christmas!
Dear Friends We are moving forward with our plans to attend the National Youth gathering in New Orleans, Louisiana next July. Several of our young people have expressed interest, which is wonderful; Barbara Gai, our wonderful youth coordinator, is diligently and joyfully making the requisite plans. On Monday, November 24th, we will have an informational meeting for parents and youth interested in this amazing opportunity. Boys and girls currently in grades 8-12 are invited and encouraged to attend the 2012 National Youth Gathering. I would be happy to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have regarding this trip. The best way to contact me on this is through email at bobcederstrom@aol.com May the peace of the Lord be with you all. Pastor Bob COMMEMORATIVE GARDEN DEBT REDUCTION PROJECT A word of explanation about the relationship between St. Paul’s “Debt Reduction” efforts and the “Commemorative Garden” fund: At the last meeting of the congregation (October 16, 2011), voters unanimously approved the plans to establish a Commemorative Garden as the means by which St. Paul’s will meet the goal of $100,000 debt reduction. Anonymous donors have already pledged/contributed the amount of money necessary to construct the Commemorative Garden. Therefore, every dollar contributed to the Commemorative Garden in effect goes to reach our debt reduction goal of $100,000. In the near future, members and friends will also have the opportunity to purchase engraved commemorative bricks and pavers to be placed in the garden, providing yet another way to contribute to the $100,000 goal. The church has a fiduciary responsibility to use the gifts of donors for their specified purpose; that is St. Paul’s policy.
ADOPT A FAMILY CHRISTMAS TREE All churches in our area participate in the Adopt a Family Christmas Tree Program. Once again our Christmas Tree will enhance the Narthex with its colorful tags. These tags will state a gift wish for families who visit the Ecumenical Lay Council Food Pantry in Northport. Pick tags of your choice and sign the note pad, listing your name and tag number. Shop and bring the gift to St. Paul’s to be placed under the tree. It is requested that the gifts should not be wrapped. These gifts will be distributed just before Christmas to bring joy and will be a symbol of God’s love for all people.
LADIES AID By Eleanore Aebisher
LADIES AID would like to invite ALL WOMEN interested in joining our group to our Annual CHRISTMAS PARTY to be held on DECEMBER 13th at noon in the Friendship room. Entertainment will be provided by our St. Paul's LuDay Children's Choir and there will be a delicious Hot and Cold Buffet with dessert and beverages. Come and find out what Ladies Aid is all about!!!
Our kitchen project is on the way. We have purchased the new refrigerator, range, range hood and new faucet. We have the design for the cabinet placement down on paper and have chosen the new counter top as well. We are so excited to have this project come into being. It will not be ready for Christmas but hopefully by January or thereabout. We want to thank everyone who has supported our goals for this new Kitchen makeover. It will surely add to the functionality of the space. We take pride in the work we do, with God's help, for our wonderful St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
We also want to wish everyone at St. Paul’s a Blessed Christmas and New Year, and especially good health and happiness.
Witnessing Stewardship By Richard Klein I’ve only been a member of St. Paul’s for a few years. There are so many committees, so many things going on. It’s easy to attend church here and yet not truly be a part of worship life. I wanted Christian Fellowship where I could grow in Faith, have others pray for me and my family and have opportunities to pray for the needs of others. I found that fellowship when I joined the choir. The choir gave me an opportunity to meet weekly for one and a half hours of rehearsal and two hours on Sunday. Those few hours each week spent learning music together, praying, laughing, crying and singing together created bonds and friendships. When I heard that a Men’s Bible Study was starting, I eagerly attended. The study led by Pastor Jurik is a blessing. Reading the Bible together and speaking about it helps us to understand Holy Scripture and each other in the light of God’s Word. “As iron sharpens iron so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend”. Proverbs 27:17 NKJV September 2010 I became a member of St. Paul’s Church Council and was given the Chairmanship of the Stewardship Committee. The monthly council meetings are quite remarkable. Pastor Jurik and fifteen volunteers working together to insure that the church’s ministries continue to function effectively. At the November meeting Pastor Jurik asked us to reflect on the funeral for Alan Nichol and the recent deaths of Helen Brancik and Dorothy Freeman. The theme expressed was how the St. Paul’s community supported the families of the deceased and each other at these times. I attended a Seminar on Grief Counseling soon after 9/11. The facilitator shared that he once counseled a woman who cried for the 45 min session. He was surprised when she returned the following week and thanked him for letting her cry and not interrupting. He had exhibited the “Ministry of Presence”. Attending worship services at St. Paul’s is a blessing but being involved with small groups or committees is an opportunity for you to be a blessing to others just by your “Presence”. St. Paul’s Mission Outreach 2011-12 Update By Bill Shurbet Thank the Lord! Because of the generosity of so many of you during this past year, St. Paul’s is once again able to resume its Mission efforts, after a one year suspension due to our congregation’s need to make the outstanding payments of our final St. Paul’s Day School obligations during Fiscal Year 2010-11. So St. Paul’s is once again able to share the financial ‘gifts’ given us by God to those in need of our assistance. To date, in addition to the resumption of our Mission payments to Metropolitan New York Synod, the Evangelism and Missions Committee has made recommendations to the Congregation Council and the Council has approved that gifts be provided to the following recipients: 1) Ecumenical Lay Council (Northport-E. Northport Food Pantry) $500 2) Western No. Dakota Synod (Repairs needed to 4 Congregation’s Churches due to Extreme Flood Damage) $1,000 3) Samaritan’s Purse (in Support of St. Paul’s efforts for Operation Christmas Child) $250 4) Long Island Cares (Harry Chapin Food Bank) - Provides food for Long Island’s hungry. $250 5) Hospitality Too Soup Kitchen (Peanut Butter Gang) - Provides food, wash-up kits, et al to homeless via various LI Churches $250 6) ELCA’s Malaria Campaign- Provides medication, mosquito netting and education needed to combat Malaria in Africa $250 Again thank you so much for allowing us to share the gifts you have provided to St. Paul’s to those in need, both locally and throughout the world. Our lives our immeasurably blessed when we do so. OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD from Linda Burns
Thank you so much to the St. Paul’s family for their generosity and kind hearts as you filled your shoeboxes of Christmas items for Operation Christmas Child. So many children will be able to smile on Christmas when they can open a gift sent with love from around the world. Thank you again. ‘ AGNES’ ATTIC Regular Hours Tues & Sat 10:00am – 2:00pm Extended Pre-Christmas Hours Thursdays 10:00am – 2:00pm November to Mid-December Many beautiful Holiday Decorations, Gifts & Clothing Come visit us!
Music and Worship By Debbie Peltz Taizé worship On the first Friday of each month, Abiding Presence Lutheran Church hosts a Taizé worship at 7 p.m. Taizé is a simple worship of repetitive prayer in song combined with reflective periods of silence. These songs and ample silence are means for those gathered, “With a common voice…to proclaim and respond to the Word of God.” Please join us for this wonderful evening of praise and a great way to end your busy week. If you have any further questions, please contact Deacon Lori Scaffidi at loriscaffidi@optonline.net or call 631-269-4788. Gathered by Christ. Growing in faith. Sent to serve. All are welcome!
St. Paul’s Youth Group On November l6th, when 21 of our teens and 1 guest gathered at our 2nd meeting, they proved that youth are truly “Action People”. Again, there was Beach Ball Volleyball, Foosball, Ping Pong, Pizza and some serious “Minute to Win It” competition. Amidst the fun, food and games there was a true sharing of Christian Fellowship as we reflected on the importance of prayer and bible study. At our first meeting we spent time thinking about and discussing who Christ is to us and who we are to Him. We are blessed to have such enthusiastic kids with obvious Christian hearts and a desire to know Christ better. Our December meeting is schedule for December 11th. So, if you are in 7th-12th grade, and want to share in Christian fellowship come join us from 6:30-8:00 in the youth building. PARISH ED
The Advent Fair is December 11, 2011, after the 10:00 service. Please join us for some fellowship and some of Nancy's delicious soup and other goodies. The kids will be busy making crafts. Come and join the fun!
Our little Sunday School angels will be performing their Christmas Pageant on December 18, 2011 at the 10:00 service.
Confirmation Retreat: December 2, 2011 is the first retreat at Abiding Presence for their Taizé service. Please call Marianne Winthrop to attend at 757 7498.
ONE SIZE FITS ALL Looking for a truly special present? Honor family members and acquaintances with a gift donation to the Ecumenical Lay Council Food Pantry. This is an ongoing mission to assist the less fortunate in our neighborhoods. A gift that keeps on giving all year long for whatever the occasion may be, a special ‘GIFT TRIBUTE ‘ card may be sent. These GIFT TRIBUTE cards will be available this coming month in the Narthex and in the Church Office.
LONG ISLAND LUTHERAN DAY SCHOOL AT ST. PAUL'S
LuDay is filled with happy children looking forward to the wonders of Thanksgiving and the special gifts of the Christmas season.
Our students will have plays with Indians and Pilgrims, turkeys and corn as they learn of the meaning of Thanksgiving. (Do you know what corn says? Pop, Pop, Pop!) The Elementary students will celebrate with a feast as they taste the bounties of the season.
The children and their families are packing shoe boxes filled with goodies to send to those less fortunate. They are loaded with candy, tooth brushes, socks, hair ribbons, dolls, cars, trucks, hand lotion as well as lots and lots of other treats.
We will also continue to make goodies, card and projects for the Veterans at the Northport Veterans Hospital. We are thankful to all Veterans and to all the soldiers who keep our Nation safe and who help protect the Freedoms we all enjoy.
Our students from the Two year olds to Grade Five are all practicing for many different Christmas performances. The Nursery School has Baby Jesus coming to the world through many different presentations. The Kindergartens are gearing up for another outstanding performance of the Nutcracker followed by a wonderful Nativity production with songs in English and Spanish. The Elementary School will ring in the season on December 21st with the Christmas Alphabet presented in St. Paul's Church. Angels, Shepherds and the Holy Family will all help us celebrate the wonders and Joy of this special time of year. January brings registration as we start to prepare for the 2012-2013 school year. We are looking forward to another outstanding year at LuDay as we add more and more children to our school. It has been a great beginning for LuDay as we are well into our second year. We are grateful to the many people from St. Paul's and Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School for their continued support and encouragement. We also celebrate our school families as they continue to allow us to be part of their lives.
The faculty and staff of LuDay wish the Bounty of Thanksgiving and the Blessings and Joy of the Christmas Season to all our friends. We look forward to seeing you in 2012.
Margaret G. Anderson
“Youth Sports – St. Paul’s Basketball Program” Basketball Program Project: New Score Board! The St Paul's Church Congregation Council has approved the Basketball Program's request to raise funds for a new wall mounted game clock. The new wall mounted game clock will have a large LED numbers display and a wireless control base. We will be able to order the clock as soon as we've collected funds to pay for it. To support this objective, we have been approved to begin fund raising at home games. The Bantam Girls Coach, Darlene Flynn, and parent Michelle Nickerson will lead the effort. Each participating team will be asked to have a parent volunteer to help with the fund raising efforts before, during and after games. As soon as we can raise the funds from sales proceeds and/or donations, we can order the clock and have it installed. St. Paul’s basketball program has a goal to raise $1,500 by December 15th; after which they will order the new clock and have it installed by January 8th, the first Sunday home games after the Christmas & New Year's break. We need your help to accomplish this goal. Thank you all for your continued support of the St Paul's Basketball program. As a result of everyone's collective efforts, St. Paul's has an outstanding youth and adult sports program which has become such a great success in our congregation and community. First ELCA member installed as National Council of Churches president Nov 09, 2011; 11-134-MRC CHICAGO (ELCA) Kathryn M. Lohre was installed as president of the National Council of Churches Nov. 9. A member of the ELCA, Lohre is the first Lutheran and ELCA member to serve as president of the council and the youngest woman to serve in that role. While her presidency marks these two historic firsts, it will also be the first time a woman succeeds a woman as president of the council. Lohre said her presidency also provides a unique opportunity for the ELCA. It will "visibly demonstrate (this church's) commitment to the ecumenical vision, as well as its commitment to lifelong ecumenical formation, leadership development and women's leadership," she said.
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Nearly 60 of 65 synod bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) expressed their concern over new state immigration laws in Nov. 2 letters to President Barack Obama and members of Congress. In their letter, the synod bishops asked that both Congress and the administration work together on a complete federal overhaul of the U.S. immigration system and offered provisions for what the reform should entail. The synod bishops said federal reform should restore trust in communities and include: + An earned pathway to lawful permanent residency and eventual U.S. citizenship for immigrants and their families who learn English and pay back taxes. + Expeditious reunification of families and protection against separating families. + Expansion of legal avenues for workers to allow immigrants to migrate to the United States in a safe and legal manner.
AED ("defibrillator") and CPR training - - DATE CHANGE to December 12, Monday The training date has been changed to Monday, December 12, 6:30 - 9:30 PM, at the East Northport Fire Department. Cost is $15 per person. For the people who signed up for the November date, please indicate on the new form if you can make the new December date.
A little smile, a word of cheer, A bit of love from someone near, A little gift from one held dear, Best wishes for the coming year... These make a Merry Christmas! —John Greenleaf Whittier
“The Bible is the cradle wherein Christ is laid.” —Martin Luther |
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The Viewpoint |
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St. Paul’s Lutheran Church |
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120 Vernon Valley Road East Northport, New York 11731 631.754.4422 |