Christmas Pageant Photos

Hendrik Hudson Photos

Christmas Dates 2009

Sunday School pageant: Sunday, December 20, 2009
Luncheon to follow. Side dishes and desserts requested.

Decoration of the church for Christmas: Saturday, Dec. 19th, 10:30 AM.
All are welcome to come make the church festive with the hanging of the greens.

Christmas Eve Service: Thursday, the 24th, 8:00 PM

Christmas Tree Fest on Sun., Dec. 27th with more holiday singing! We love that!

Looking Ahead to 2010

Aren't we lucky we have another year of worshipping together ahead - and many more!

Here are some things to look forward to:

Sunday, April 25, 2010:
Celebration of consolidation of Christ Lutheran and Emmanuel Lutheran churches and formal installation of Pastor Bob Isaksen. (Talk about a cause for celebration!) Reception is to follow. Hopefully, Bishop Jerge will join in the fun.

ANNUAL CONGREGATION MEETING
January 24, 2010, after Service.
Voting: Council Members---7 (3 for one year, 4 for 2 years)
Treasurer---one for 2 years

The nominations for Council and Treasurer by the congregation are being confirmed for service. A slate will be discussed at the January Council meeting for presentation at the annual meeting. Nominees: Gary, Patty, Marcia, Doug, Linda, Mac, Ken, Hank, Tara, Debby, Richard, Bob, Linda O., Christa
Nominations will also be possible at the time of the annual meeting.
New Council members will be installed the next Sunday, on January 31st.

Next Interim Council meeting: January 7, 2010, 7:00 PM

Epiphany will be celebrated on January 3rd in the Sanctuary. The following Sunday, January 10th, the congregation will begin to meet in the basement for the winter months.

Online Forum with the Bishop

Advent greetings to you! I am pleased to invite you to participate in an online Town Hall Forum with ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson on Sunday, December 6.

The hour-long forum begins at 5:30 p.m. EST (4:30 p.m. CST) in a live Web cast.

Here’s how you can participate:
Watch the event via live stream video at www.elca.org/townhall
Log in to chat and post questions while watching the live streaming video
Post comments using Facebook Connect
Tweet about the event using the hashtags #ELCA #BishopHanson
Gather members of your congregation for a viewing party

I hope you’ll join us in this unique opportunity to talk with Bishop Hanson about the mission and ministry of this church.

Kristi Bangert
Executive Director, Communication Services
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Posted for Pastor Isaksen

Youth Lock In

The first New East of the River Gang (NERG) Lock-in for Junior High and Senior HIgh youth will be held on Friday, December 4 at St. Luke's in Valatie beginning at 7:00pm. and end on Saturday morning.


The over night will include -
- mixers and fun games
- a discussion on teen addiction
- a movie
- evening devotions
- plans for the future

Bring sleeping gear, change of clothes, morning toiletries, and snacks to share.
RSVP to Cari Smith diva_princess616@hotmail.com

Posted for Pastor Isaksen

Inspirational Post from Pastor

www.stewadshipoflife.org

It’s Not Up to Us

By Rev. Larry Iverson

The council had gone over the figures a half dozen times, and now two
hours into this discussion they were no closer to an answer than when
they started. “I think it’s time to table this conversation and move
on,” the pastor said. “It’s pretty obvious we aren’t going to come to a
solution here tonight. We each seem to have our own ideas of whether we
want our congregation to grow and move forward.”

The council president nodded in agreement and was about to make a
motion to adjourn when Fred Larson spoke up.

Fred hadn’t said anything during the meeting. He was a quiet man who
always went out of his way to avoid confrontation. Fred said, “The
pastor just made the point that I believe we have all been missing
during this long discussion about our ability to expand our sanctuary.
Let me say it in a different way. The pastor said we couldn’t agree on
whether WE want to grow and move forward, but I submit to you that it’s
not up to us.”

John, the council curmudgeon, shot back, “Well, who else is going to
make that decision? We’re the church council and it’s up to us.” “No,”
said Fred, “the decision whether to build an addition is not up to us.
It doesn’t make any difference what WE want. It’s what God wants that
matters here! We are just the custodian’s of this house of God and I
don’t ever recall reading where he wanted it to cease growing.
Everywhere you look in the Good News, Jesus is asking you and me to
reach out and spread the gospel. You can’t do that if you are going to
stop growing and using the argument that it’s not in the budget. We
have to plan to grow. That’s what God wants us to do!”

“Thank you for saying that Fred,” said the pastor, “Growth is a part of
the Great Commission for us to each personally grow through our love for God and
then pass that love on to our family, neighbors and friends. We can’t
decide to stop growth – that only leads to decline.”

“In view of what you just said, pastor, I want to hear a motion to have
a planning committee look into the costs for the addition,” said the president.
“I’ll move that,” said the old curmudgeon, John. “Second,” said Fred.

“I move we adjourn”, he added. “Now that’s the way I like to have
meetings go.” “And that’s the kind of witness I love to hear,” said the
pastor. “Let’s close with the Lord’s Prayer.”

The Rev.
Larry Iverson serves as Synod Minister for the South
Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This essay is
reprinted from "Stewardship
Now," a free online newsletter available through ELCA
Stewardship Resources.

Pastor suggests this Table Prayer for Thanksgiving

Gracious God, we give you thanks for the gift of family, friends, and loved ones gathered around this table.

We give you thanks for all your abundant blessings to us and for the bounty of the earth's resources made available to us.

Help us to exercise care in the use of all natural resources and to share our plenty with those in need.

Guide our nation and all our leaders, that together we may use our freedom and power to make our world a place of peace and prosperity for all people. Bless our own gatherings in the days and weeks to come, that our homes might be places of peace and joy in a world filled with conflict and stress.

We ask this all in the name of Christ our King. Amen.

Hendrick Hudson Program - December 13, 2009 - Join in!

Here's the program for the HHMC concert. The first half is  a mix of traditional old favorites, folk songs, Broadway, sacred, classical, and seasonal. The second half is Christmas and holiday music. There is also a possibility that a group from Chatham HS may sing a few numbers.
1. Festival Piece on "Sine Nomine" (For All the Saints)
2. Let me Call you Sweetheart
3. The Bells of St.Mary's
4. Finlandia, Sibelius
5. Down in the Valley
6. Camelot
7. At the River (Shall we Gather at the River), Copeland
8. De Gospel Train
9. The Boar's Head Carol
10. Coventry Carol
11. Who's that Baby?
12. Wassail Song
13. Hark the Herald Angels Sing
14. White Christmas
15. Ding Dong Merrily on High

It's That Time - Marion Stegman Fund is Collecting

Ken Wilber announced in church yesterday that the Ghent VFW and Kinderhook Elks are joining forces again this year to put together toy/food baskets. Last year over 150 families were served. (Is that correct, Ken?) This is such  good local support for those in need. If you know of a family who would benefit, Ken has a form you can fill out.

The VFW and Elks are looking for monetary donations. $50 will buy a basket that includes toys and food for a family; $30 will fund a food basket. Won't you consider joining the effort?

Beginning December 13 (the evening of the fabulous concert that will be filling our church with wonderful male voices - who can resist?), help is needed every evening to help put the baskets together at St. Luke's in Valatie. (758.9461 - Why is this number different than the one I have on the website?)

Getting to church

"80% of life is showing up."
Woody Allen
Quoted by Pastor Isaksen in his sermon yesterday. Ain't it the truth?

Hendrick Hudson Male Chorus to Perform

Come hear the joyful voices of the Hendrick Hudson Male Chorus, of which Pastor Isaksen is a member. The performance will be on Sunday, December 13, 2009 at 2pm. Tickets will be available at the door for $6. Refreshments will be served afterward. To find out more about the group, check out http://www.hendrickhudson.org/.

Excerpt from All Saints' Day sermon

When the people we know die, they take with them the experiences of the First World War, the Great Depression, and the Second World War. They take with them the sounds and smells of the machine shop, the barn or the kitchen in a house that has long been torn down. Their faces look back at us from the photos in an album, their expressions coming from a time that is now out of reach. When the people who are closest to us pass away, a part of our world passes away.

Attributed to Dr. Craig Koester

Trusting in God’s Promises

How do you trust God’s faithful promises? Do you do so with openness and confidence? Many times after worship I feel renewed and ready to face the challenges of the week ahead. My faith is affirmed and I know that I am not alone. However, as I go through the week, some established patterns can start to bear on me in the office, on the road or at home. Some weeks I transition from a strong and hopeful spirit to one of concern or sometimes despair.

As Bishop Mark Hanson writes, “Into a context of fear and distrust, God speaks faithful words of promise.” These words take three forms. First, God’s promises clearly establish an identity. Who are we really? What does it mean to be a faithful Christian? We see God’s promise through Holy Baptism. This is when we are marked with cross of Christ and claimed for life. We also see God’s promise through Holy Communion. This is when we are gathered to share in Christ’s presence and forgiveness. We are renewed believers with a Christian identity.
Second, we see God’s faithful promise through the community of faith. We gather each week to worship. We gather regularly to use the gifts God has given us. We are sent into the world empowered to use our gifts to send others. We are renewed servants with a Christian identity and community.

Third, we see God’s promise answered through a life of meaning and purpose. Have you discovered a purpose in your life? Has this purpose changed over the years? This desire for purpose is as essential for a good life as food, shelter and clothing.
A college student visited a seminary campus to explore vocational opportunities. After a week of listening and reflection, the student was asked, “What have you learned?” With great enthusiasm the response was, “I may not have this exactly right, but I learned that in Christ I am absolutely free – subject to no one- and at the same time, in Christ I am a servant to everyone. That is so cool!”

How do you feel absolutely free? How are you a servant to everyone? It is this apparent contradiction which only becomes clear when one accepts God’s promises and discovers the meaning of Christian identify, community and purpose.
By Jill Hetland, who is a member of the staff with the ELCA's Evangelical Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission. This essay is reprinted from "Stewardship Now," a free online newsletter available through ELCA Stewardship Resources.
 
Submitted for Pastor Isaksen

Draft of Bylaws

BYLAWS TO THE CONSTITUTION


OF CHRIST OUR EMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH

CHATHAM, NEW YORK


ARTICLE I

Congregation Meetings



Section 1. The president of the Congregation Council shall preside at congregation meetings. In the absence of the president the vice-president shall preside. In the absence of the president and vice-present the following order of responsibility shall be: secretary, financial secretary, chairperson of the worship & music committee.



Section 2. The annual meeting shall be held on or about the 15th of January and include a comprehensive report to the congregation by all committees and the treasurer with the general order of business as follows:



A. Scripture reading and/or prayer

B. Attendance taken by the secretary

C. Reading of minutes from previous meeting

D. Report by pastor on the state of the congregation

E. Reports from committees and church sponsored groups

F. Old business

G. Treasurer report to include:

Financial reports of the previous year

Audit Committee report

H. New business:

Election of council members

Election of treasurer

Election of nominating committee

Appointments

Annual Budget discussions and approval

I. Adjournment



Section 3. The congregation shall appoint volunteer voting members as delegates in permitted� numbers to the conventions of the Synod and to the meetings of the conference to which this congregation belongs. The expenses incurred by such delegates in connection with their attendance shall be paid by this congregation.



Section 4. Voting: Only Members in Good Standing will be eligible to vote on issues brought before the congregation for decision annually and from time to time. A Member in Good Standing shall be baptized and confirmed, a regular contributor to the church treasury at least within the six months previous to a vote, and a regular participant in Holy Communion at least within the six month previous to a vote. Exceptions to this rule shall be decided on a case by case basis by the Congregation Council.



Section 5. Additions or changes to the Constitution and Bylaws shall require due notice, and a majority vote of the congregation.





ARTICLE II

The Congregation Council



Section 1. A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of a majority of the members of the Congregation Council.



Section 2. Congregation Council meetings shall normally be held monthly on a fixed day and time, as mutually agreed by the Council members. Dates and time of Council meetings shall be posted in the narthex. Special meetings may be called with due notice by the pastor, Council president, or at the request of at least three (3) congregation members



Section 3. The Congregational Council shall elect a president, vice-president, secretary, and appoint a financial secretary at the congregation annual meeting, or as soon thereafter as practical.



Section 4. All officers shall be voting members of the congregation. The Congregation Council may at times need to declare an office vacant and shall make an appointment for the unexpired term.



Section 5. The president shall preside at all congregation meetings and all meetings of the Congregation Council. The president shall be a member ex-officio of all church committees.



Section 6. The vice-president shall preside at all meetings in the absence of the president and work in cooperation to assist with the requests of the president.



Section 7. The secretary shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings of the congregation and the Congregation Council in a volume provided by the congregation. This volume shall be preserved permanently in the church archives.



Additional responsibilities include:

· a prompt attention to all correspondence and written inquiries

· posting the written Council minutes each month in the church narthex

· liaison contact with the Secretary of the Lutheran Cluster for input to

· weekly bulletins, monthly newsletters, and cluster events

· management of voting procedures at the annual meeting

· acceptance of votes by personally written absentee ballots with reason by members in good standing at least one day before a scheduled and duly announced congregation vote

· caretaker, preserver, recorder and organizer of the church records: current and former membership lists, marriages, baptisms, funerals, minutes of the Congregation Council, as well as active committees, accounting ledgers, legal documents, and correspondence



Section 8. The financial secretary shall receive and keep a record of all income from contributing members. The financial secretary shall have the following responsibilities:



· to provide numbered offering envelopes to church members

· to appoint and schedule weekly counters of church plate offerings, with the responsibility:

1. to list all cash and/or designated donations;

2. to assure a timely transfer of funds for deposit

3. to maintain an up-to-date ledger on church income to include:

a. a record of offerings by envelope number

b. listing all other cash and designated donations

4. to distribute individual giving statements to contributors annually before April 1st.

5. to participate in annual Fall budget preparation as needed

6. to consult with the treasurer as needed

7. to cooperate fully with the inquiries of the annual audit



Section 9. The treasurer shall keep the accounting books of the congregation to include:



· recording and receiving funds for deposit from the financial secretary

· disbursing funds in a timely manner for payment of bills or as needs arise, as directed by the Congregation Council

· maintaining a checking account in the name of the church for check

· disbursements or withdrawal of funds with the requirement of the signature of the treasurer and/or the president of the Council

· managing, recording and recommending status changes in church investments

· overseeing Synod benevolence contributions and remittance

· directing and taking responsibility for the annual Fall budget preparation in consultation with the finance committee

· giving full cooperation to the inquiries of the annual audit



Section 10. The treasurer shall:

· submit a monthly written report of all financial transactions to the Congregation Council

· provide a written financial summary report to the congregation at the annual meeting.



Section 11. All Council meetings shall be open to the general membership, but only duly elected Council members may vote on suggested issues. The normal order of business shall include a scripture opening, minutes of the previous meeting, a treasurer’s report, a pastor’s report, committee reports, old business, new business, adjournment.





ARTICLE III

Standing Committees



Section 1. The Congregation Council shall appoint standing and temporary committees to address the concerns of the congregation at the first meeting after the annual congregation meeting. Each committee shall be chaired by a Council member and directed by a volunteer member of the congregation. These committees shall be recognized as representative of the interest of the congregation as a whole, and perform essential services on the basis of the responsibility vested in them by the Congregation Council. The duties of all committees, including instructions to serve in the best interest of the congregation, shall be assigned by the Congregation Council.



· All actions of committees shall be subject to review by the Council.

· The pastor shall have a voice on all committees.





Section 2. There shall be a Christian Education Committee.

A Sunday School Superintendent in consultation with the pastor and other committee members shall determine the content, conduct and promotion of all educational services of the church. An important focus of this committee is to implement programs which direct children, youth and adults to the teachings of the Bible and the good news of the Gospel.



Section 3. There shall be a Church Property Committee.

This committee shall take responsibility for proper maintenance, repair, protection and safety, as well as assessments for adequate insurance for all property of the congregation.



Section 4. There shall be a Worship and Music Committee.

This committee shall consult with the pastor and assure that the services of God’s House are conducted regularly and in accordance with the liturgy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.



Additional duties include:

· scheduling ushers, acolytes, and communion assistants

· providing hymnals, devotional materials and weekly bulletins

· assessing needs and providing for the upkeep of service materials and equipment

· promoting the organization of a choir for special occasions

· consulting with the organist and pastor to provide liturgical music and hymns appropriate to each church season



Section 5. There shall be an Altar Committee.

The care of paraments, vestments, altar equipment, and communion needs shall be the responsibility of this committee. This committee shall also provide for decoration and orderliness of the church as needed, and weekly and/or seasonal altar flowers as desired.



Section 6. The Audit Committee shall make inquiries in order to make recommendation to the Congregation Council and, upon approval, secure the services of a certified account to annually audit the accounting books of the congregation. The committee shall present this report at the annual meeting.



Section 7. The Nominating Committee shall meet annually to interview and designate candidates for the Congregation Council and the Nominating Committee. A slate of candidates shall be read by the Nominating Committee at the annual meeting. Nominations from the congregation may also be made.



Voting shall be by secret ballot unless candidates are unopposed. If there are no further nominations a motion shall be requested and, if accepted, the secretary will cast one ballot for the slate as presented.



Section 8. There shall be a Finance Committee.

The treasurer, the audit committee, and the financial secretary, are the responsible members of this committee. The committee, with approval of the Council, shall exercise oversight of all financial affairs of the congregation to ascertain they are conducted efficiently and honestly.



Duties include:

· preparation of an annual financial report for the congregation

· presentation of monthly financial activities to the Council

· drafting an annual budget for decision at the annual meeting

· attention to benevolence contributions to the Synod

· supervision of incoming and outgoing funds of all committees

· transparency in all business and financial decisions

· recommendations for stewardship programs as needed

· consultation on adequate accounting practices for the annual audit



Section 9. There shall be a Social Ministry Committee.

The purpose of this committee shall be to extend Christian compassion and helpfulness to the ill, the aged, the orphaned, the underprivileged, the spiritually and physically hungry, and to community needs.



Duties shall include:

· visitation of church members and others in times of need or if housebound or in rehabilitation centers

· cooperation with other churches and social institutions to assist in community outreach

· establishment of a program of congratulations and support for special occasions, and successes, such as birthdays, rites of passage, personal- educational-, or sport- accolades

· participation in the local Lutheran Cluster program which promotes short conferences on current health; social, emotional and physical needs



Section 10. There shall be a Fellowship Committee.

This committee shall strive to establish events as needed to strengthen the fellowship among congregation members spiritually and socially.



Duties shall include:

· integration of new members in the congregation traditions

· promotion of mutual trust and cooperation among members

· problem solving and networking

· enjoyment through special activities and learning experiences

· frequent scheduling of Kaffeeklatsches and opportunities to share meals, recipes and food together

· cooperation with fellowship gatherings of the wider Cluster

Confirmation Class

Confirmation class started last week. Do you know any seventh or eighth graders who would like to join?

Autumn Dates

October 4, 2009: Question & Answer period for the congregation after the worship service

October 11: First congregational vote on the constitution and by laws

December 13: Second vote after Synod suggestions & approval.

Confirmation Class

TO: All present and prospective Confirmation Class students and parents

            Confirmation Class is a two-year program of instruction, usually for 7th and 8th graders, on the fundamentals of Christian doctrine.  This year we will study the Lord's Prayer in the Fall semester and the Apostles Creed in the Spring semester.  The next year will cover the Sacraments and the Ten Commandments.  The class prepares a student for the rite of Affirmation of Baptism, the joining of a congregation as an adult member.  The class consists of instruction sessions and church participation.  The program is conducted cooperatively with the congregations of the Northern Columbia County Cluster, including St. Luke's in Valatie, Emanuel in Stuyvesant Falls, Christ Our Emmanuel in Chatham, and Emanuel/St. John's in Hudson.

            Our instruction sessions are held on Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30pm.  All classes will be held at St. Luke's Lutheran Church on Route 9 in Valatie.
            The tentative schedule of sessions (always subject to change!):
September 13, 2009
September 27
October 18
November 1
November 8
November 15
November 22
December 6
December 13

            Students will be excused only one session per semester.  Please speak with me if this is a problem for anybody.
            Session times consist of devotions, instruction by Pastor Jim, and small group discussions.  Teen and adult mentors will help with the leadership of the small groups.

            Church participation is gauged by a point system.  Students receive 2 points for attending worship, 1 point for some form of church service, and 5 points for occasional special activities.  Church service will include ringing the bell, lighting the candles and carrying the cross (acolyte), Junior Usher and Junior Altar Guild for all students.  Other activities such as Reader, Greeter, Choir, Nursery and Sunday School assistant may be chosen also.  A minimum of 40 points (attending worship every other week) must be attained during the class year for passing for all Valatie and Stuyvesant Falls students.

            Our first class for new first year students and returning second year students will be on Sunday, September 13th, at 6:00pm. at St. Luke's.  Class will include a review of expectations (listed above), training the students for church service, and collecting contact information.

            I look forward to seeing you all at worship and in class.  If you have any questions, just let me know.

Alive in Christ,
Pastor Jim

Stained-glass window

Clearly, these are in reverse order!

ELCA Adopts Full Communion Agreement with the United Methodist Church

MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) - By a vote of 958-51, the Churchwide Assembly ofthe Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a fullcommunion agreement with the United Methodist Church (UMC). Theagreement is the ELCA's sixth full communion relationship. In 2008 the UMC General Conference adopted the same agreement. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of theELCA, is meeting here Aug. 17-23 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.About 2,000 people are participating, including 1,045 ELCA votingmembers. The theme for the biennial assembly is "God's work. Our hands." The assembly also adopted an implementing resolution by a vote of922-15. Full communion makes possible a variety of joint ministries, sharingof resources and interchangeability of clergy.

August 16 - Service & Picnic at Crellin Park

No worship at Emmanuel/St. john’s, Hudson Emmanuel, Chatham /Christ, Ghent St. Luke’s, Valatie.
There will be worship at Emanuel, Stuyvesant Falls at 8:30 AM &
Crellin Park, Chatham at 11 am
followed by the Cluster Picnic. Bring salad or a dessert and maybe a lawn chair. See you there!

Twitter, Facebook Expand Opportunities to Follow ELCA Churchwide Assembly

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Twitter phenomenon has spilled over into the
multimedia coverage of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in Minneapolis.
This is the first year blogging and social media sites will be used
during a churchwide assembly, said Ben McDonald Coltvet, managing editor
of the ELCA Web site -- http://www.ELCA.org.
"Twitter offers new opportunities for sharing information
instantaneously, and it's a venue where anyone can join the
conversation," he said. "Through social media sites people will be able
to share their perspectives online with sisters and brothers in the faith
around the world."
ELCA members will be able to keep up with the actions of the 2009
Churchwide Assembly via live video streams of plenary sessions and news
conferences, plus photo galleries, news releases, blogs and social media
sites Facebook and Twitter.
"We have an unprecedented opportunity to share assembly updates with
a wide audience," McDonald Coltvet said. "Whether you're in the
Minneapolis Convention Center or on the other side of the country, you'll
be able to witness the actions of the assembly."
Twitter users are asked attach the tag "#CWA09" to their tweets, so
anyone can follow these messages by search for "#CWA09" on
http://search.twitter.com on the Web. Assembly voting results will be
posted to http://twitter.com/ELCA and http://facebook.com/Lutherans on
the Web.
Assembly highlights in video, photo and audio formats will be posted
online at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/multimedia on the ELCA Web Site.
Highlights will touch on particular assembly actions, McDonald
Coltvet said.
He expects more than 15,000 visitors a day to the site during the
assembly. The assembly Web page -- http://www.ELCA.org/assembly -- has
seen increased traffic in the past three months.
The 2005 Churchwide Assembly recorded the highest Web traffic ever
for ELCA.org, while the highest so far this year has been the 2009 ELCA
Youth Gathering in New Orleans, he added.
Winners of an ELCA Video Contest will be announced during the
afternoon plenary session Saturday, Aug. 22. Selected entries will be
shown during other plenary sessions, McDonald Coltvet said.
All videos are at http://www.GodsworkOurhands.org on the Web. Links
to the winning videos will be posted by Aug. 23 to the ELCA.org home page.

* Carrie L. Draeger is a senior communication major with a concentration
in journalism at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wash. This summer
she is an intern with the ELCA News Service.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog

Dates for votes - clarification

Just so you know, the vote for the actual consolidation is to take place on
Sept. 13, but pending the consolidation, there will be another vote to accept the constitution.

August 23rd and 30th -- informal question and answer sessions at Chatham.

September 13th -- both congregations will vote for consolidation approval.

September 20th? -- vote to accept constitution

The Ghent Cornerstone Boys

I would like to add some info here about the cornerstone. What year is on it? What were the documents that were in it? Thanks.
Send me an e-mail at my webdeb90210@gmail.com.

Tag Sale News from Carol

Annual Tag sale nets $3592.00

July 10 and 11, 2009 were sunny and warm days with no rain just perfect weather for the annual tag sale to benefit Christ Our Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 23 Park Row, Chatham. This Church's foundation comes from the consolidation of Christ Lutheran of Ghent and Emmanuel Lutheran Chatham. Friday a multitude of people shoppers and bargain hunters crowded into Linda and Doug Stalker's yard to view and buy from the tremendous variety of items that had been donated. There was something for everyone. By the end of the first day the money collected $1645.00 was greater than last years 2 day total $1600.00. Saturday was another beautiful tag sale day. New shoppers came and some from the day before returned to check what was still there. The day was soon over and time to close up and total up. It had been a very successful year. This years tag sale will add $2542.00 to the IMPROVEMENT FUND of Christ Our Emmanuel Lutheran Church. In addition the church secured a grant of $1050. through Thrivent Financial for Lutherans "Care in the Congregation Program" . This program allows Thrivent Financial members and other interested volunteers to join in service on fund raiser activities or hands on projects of congregations here in our local area, the Southeastern NY Chapter, of Thrivent Financial covering Columbia, Greene and parts of Dutchess Counties.. A Lutheran congregation can earn up to a $1050 grant this year by matching at least $1 collected to each $1 from Thrivent Financial.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a Fortune 500 services membership not for profit organization helping members achieve their financial goals and give back to their communities.. Thrivent Financial sponsor fundraisers and hands on activities that support congregations, certain not for profit organizations and families and individuals in need. For information call 1-800-thrivent (800-847-4836)

During the tag sale there was a special collection for the area food pantries. The money will be shared by the Ghent Food Pantry and the Chatham Silent Food Pantry.
Thanks to all who gave.

Christ Our Emmanuel Lutheran Church 23 Park Row Chatham thanks everyone who made this year's tag sale a huge success.

They're ba-a-ack!

Beverly and Pastor Bob have returned to us. He gave a wonderful sermon to a good crowd (esp. for August) about Abundance. Rev. Isaksen: "It's not a matter of scarcity; it's a matter of giving. If we all chip in, we've got plenty. People, talent, positive attitude toward the future (rather than a focus on what we have lost), an open-ness, money." We can do what we want!!!

I spent Thursday (in Chatham) and Friday (in NYC on 57th Street with the cast & crew - how cool is that!) watching Ang Lee's new movie, "Taking Woodstock," which was filmed in Columbia County. Rich Kraham is in it; so is one of the Calhoun boys and Graham, a senior at Chatham High. Joe's band was in it for about 20 seconds - it was great! Of course, I am biased as Joe's mom.

Anyhoo - the message of the film was the same as pastor's sermon in some ways. Did Jesus provide all the needs of the concertgoers? Maybe! Three days of love, peace & happiness at a time when war was raging and there was a lot of unrest in the country? Hmmmmm....go figure.

WORSHIP ASSISTANTS - NEXT WEEK
Communion: TBA
Acolyte: E. Tucksmith
Readers: D. Tucksmith & A. Jackson
Greeters: Wilbers & Bervys

CHRIST OUR EMMANUEL NEWS
The New Constitution for Christ Our Emmanuel has been drafted.
August 23rd and 30th -- we will have informal question and answer sessions at Chatham.
September 13th (note corrected date) -- both congregations will vote for consolidation approval.

50 DAYS OF PRAYER As the days count down to the ELCA Assembly in Minneapolis in August, church members are encouraged to lift up our national church body in prayer and to ask for God’s wisdom and insight upon all who will vote on difficult issues at the assembly.

CLUSTER PICNIC The annual picnic of the Northern Columbia County Lutheran Cluster is being planned for Sunday, August 16, at Crellin Park in Chatham. Worship will begin at 11:00am in the pavilion closest to the lake. Then we’ll share in the picnic feast. The Emanuel/St. John’s Parish will be supplying a few card tables for those who cannot sit at the regular picnic benches. The cluster will provide hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks. Please bring a dish or dessert to share, lawn chairs, and any group games that all might enjoy.
There will also be a worship service at Emanuel, Stuyvesant Falls at 8:30 am on August 16.

August Dates (corrected)

Pastor will be home next Sunday. I think that is what Rev. Preisinger said in church yesterday. Correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks to Sharon Smith, our efficient Cluster Secretary, for e-mailing me the weekly bulletin so I can pull info out to post here.

AUGUST 16 - 11am worship at the Cluster Picnic at Crellin Park in Chatham. Please bring a dish or dessert to share, lawn chairs and any group games that all might enjoy. The cluster will provide hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks. The Emanuel/St. John's Parish will be supplying a few card tables for those who cannot sit at the regular picnic benches.

August 23rd & 30th - We will have informal Q&A sessions after the service to review the new constitution for Christ Our Emmanuel Lutheran Church.

September 13 - Both congregations will vote for consolidation approval.

The votes that we have already taken this year have been about the decision to consider consolidating and what our name would be if we did. Now (on Sept. 13) we need to make it final - and legal! Thanks to Liz for the correction.

Have a good week!

DAR News from Carol B.

DAR earns $1000.00 contribution from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans


The Hendrick Hudson Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution having received more than $3000 in donations from recent "Replace the Roof"' fund raising events secured a $1000 contribution throuth Thrivent Financial for Lutheran. and the "Care Abounds in the Community" program. $ 1.00 for every $3.00 collected. This funding towards replacing the back section of the roof on the DAR chapter house., the historic Robert Jenkins home at 113 Warren Street Hudson was made possible by volunteers from the Southeastern NY chapter of Thrivent Financial's local chapte, serving Columbia, Green and parts of Dutchess Counties..

Thrivent Ffnancial for Lutherans is a Fortune 500 services membership, not for profit organization helping members achieve their financial goals and give back to their communities through programs like the "Care Abounds" programs.
Thrivent Financial members and other interested volunteers can join in service to use the financial resources of Thrivent Financial to support projects and fund raising activities benefiting individuals, families and qualified non profit organizations..

In 1896, the Hendrick Hudson Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was organized in Hudson to encourage education, preserve history and promote patriotism. The home of Robert Jenkins,one of Hudson's first proprietors, was built in 1811 It stayed with the Jenkins family until 1900 when a granddaughter Mrs. Frances Chester White Hartly gifted Robert Jenkins home to the Hendric k Hudson Chapter of the DAR with the stipulation they maintain a library and museum. Until 1959 when Hudson opened the Hudson Area Library, the Library at the Robert Jenkins/DAR Chapter house was the only public Library in the city of Hudson. This Library remaining at the historic Jenkins homestead is one of the largest collections of Columbia County genealogical records. The Robert Jenkins house is magnificent with its wide sweeping staircase and DAR insignia depicted in a stain glass mural. The house displays some period furnishings . artifacts and collections of the civil War, items connected to the history of Hudson and its whaling industry, paintings by artists of the Hudson River School and a large collection of genealogical records and books.

The DAR Chapter House at 113 Warren Street, Hudson is open for tours or research Saturdays 1-5 pm from July 11 to the Arts Walk in early October and the Chapter House will be open September 13 Sunday !-5pm or by appointment.

Call 518-828-9764 for information

Chatham Our Emmanuel Tag Sale

It's that time! The tag sale will be on Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th graciously hosted by Linda and Doug Stalker at their home next to the Price Chopper in Chatham. To help: Wednesday, the 8th, meet at 6pm to move items from the Church garage on Park Row to the Stalkers' house. On the 9th, join the Stalkers to set up the tag sale. Of course, volunteers are always welcome to help at the sale itself. Even an hour or two makes the workload a lot lighter - and it's fun!!

Pray for more sun!

Letter from Bishop Hanson - July 2009

July 1, 2009

Dear colleagues in ministry,

As we approach the churchwide assembly, I am thankful for the thoughtful and respectful discussion at synod assemblies of the proposed social statement on human sexuality and the ministry policy recommendations. I am mindful, however, that we remain a church body that is not of one mind about these decisions, and that these continuing differences have raised concerns among some about whether we are headed toward a church-dividing decision.

I am writing to express my shared, heartfelt commitment to the church's unity, and, even more, my deep confidence that this unity will not be lost. For this reason please join me in reflecting on the unity of Christ's church that is the foundation both for our life together in the ELCA and our relationships with other Christians throughout the world.

The unity of Christ's church is God's daily work through the Holy Spirit calling, gathering, enlightening and sanctifying us with the gospel. Sometimes, when I hear concerns about division in the ELCA, I worry that they express a fear that unity depends on the actions of church leaders or assemblies. Our unity, however, comes to us because God gives it freely and undeservedly in Jesus Christ. Although everyone in leadership shares responsibility for stewarding our unity in Christ, it will not be won or lost at the churchwide assembly in a plenary session vote. Rather, it will be received as a gracious gift from God when the assembly is gathered each noon by the Word and Sacrament through which God gives us unity, making us one in Jesus Christ.

We hold in common this confession that God makes us one in Jesus Christ, but it is not making this confession that makes us one. Rather, because God unites us to Jesus Christ in Baptism we are also united to each other in one body that transcends any other difference. Paul states this clearly. "For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ" (Galatians 3:26-27).

A marvelous insight into this unity was made recently during a Bible study as members of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Executive Committee took turns reading Paul's familiar words about the body of Christ in their own languages. The differences were fascinating. Several read, "all the members of the body, though many, are one body" (1 Corinthians 12:12). Others read, "all the members of the body, being many, are one body." Our Bible study leader suggested that "though many" implies that our "many-ness" (that is, our diversity or differences) is a problem that compromises the unity of the body of Christ. But, "being many" within the Body of Christ implies that diversity is unity's strength, not its weakness. The witness of Scripture is that both unity and diversity are God's gifts. There is one Spirit, one Baptism, one faith, one Lord of us all, but a variety of gifts and callings are given for the sake of the gospel and the common good.

God's gift of unity in Christ informs our life and witness together in the community of Christ's church. Rather than approach the assembly apprehensively, I invite you to see it as an opportunity for faith-filled witness to the larger human family that struggles with division and yearns for healing and wholeness that is real and true. We live in a polarized culture that equates unity with uniformity and sees differences as a reason for division. This moment, and our witness as a church body in the midst of it, deserves something better from us. We have the opportunity to offer the witness of our unity in Christdiverse, filled with different-ness and differences, broken in sin, and yet united and whole in Christ. This moment deserves the witness of a community that finds and trusts its unity in Christ alone, engages one another with respect, and seeks a communal discernment of the Spirit's leading.

In recent weeks I have been re-reading Bonhoeffer's Life Together where he writes, "God already has laid the only foundation of our community, because God has united us in one body with other Christians in Jesus Christ long before we entered into common life with them." He says that other Christians who may be different and yet live by God's call, forgiveness, and promise are a gift and a reason to give thanks. He continues with this remarkable insight about all of us and the unifying power of Christ's forgiveness:Even when sin and misunderstanding burden the common life, is not the one who sins still a person with whom I too stand under the Word of Christ? Will not another Christian's sin be an occasion for me ever anew to give thanks that both of us may live in the forgiving love of God in Jesus Christ? Therefore, will not the very moment of great disillusionment with my brother or sister be incomparably wholesome for me because it so thoroughly teaches me that both of us can never live by our own words and deeds, but only by that one Word and deed that really binds us together, the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ? (Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, vol. 5, pp. 36-37.)Some may question why I am writing and wonder if this letter is advocating for a particular position on the questions before the churchwide assembly. It is not. Rather, it is an honest expression of my conviction that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, God's mission for the life of the world, and the members of this church deserve this witness from us: In Christ we are members of one body serving God's mission for the life of the world.

As we approach the Assembly, I invite you to join me in confident hope, grounded in Christ, where we meet one another not in our agreements or disagreements, but at the foot of the cross. We meet as we hear the Word, confess our faith, receive Christ's presence in bread and wine, sing our praises to God, make our offerings, and then go in peace, to share the Good News, remember the poor and serve the Lord.

God is faithful. Christ is with us. By the power of the Spirit we are one in him. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:31)

In God's grace,
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Photos from Final Service at Christ Church - Thanks, Doug!

Christ Church Final Service Photos

Bulletin Announcements - Third Sunday after Pentecost

MAKE SURE you check out the bulletin board at the back of the church for the beautiful postcard Beverly and Pastor sent from Norway.

*****

SUMMER CAMPS
Pastor Jim has registration forms for:
- Senior High Camp at SonRise – June 28 to July 3 – for all 9th through 12th graders. Cost $230.
- Confirmation Camp at Fowler – July 5 through 11– for all 7th through 8th graders. Cost $300.
- Lutheran Summer Conference at Silver Bay
SUMMER TAG/YARD/BAKE SALES Friday and Saturday, July 10 and 11, are the dates for the annual Yard Sale at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Chatham.

*****

GRAVESIDE SERVICE
Eleanor Williams, age 100 and 3 months, died last week. She had been the senior member of Christ Lutheran Church in Ghent and was quite likely the senior member of the Northern Columbia County Lutheran Cluster. A graveside service will be conducted by Pastor Jim on Friday, June 26th, at the Ghent Union Cemetery at 1:30pm.

Final vote next week - name the church

Today June 21st, we voted from our list of eighteen (18) names that were submitted for consideration in naming our new consolidated church.

Next week on June 28th, we will be selecting our new name with our final vote.

Please select one name from the following either by voting in person or sending an e-mail either to me or one of the council members.

There were 61 votes cast and the following are the top 5 choices;

PLEASE PICK ONE:

NEW HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH

CHRIST OUR EMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH

UNITY LUTHERAN CHURCH

UNITED in CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH

ABIDING LOVE LUTHERAN CHURCH

Submitted by Deb for Mac MacDonald

Naming the consolidated churches

Let's keep in mind that the churches in Ghent and Chatham are involved in a "consolidation," which is two churches joining, rather than a "merger" which indicates one church is taking over another.

The vote for a new name is this Sunday, the June 21st after church (unless the date has been changed since I have been out of commission for a couple of weeks. If so, please e-mail me immediately and I will correct this posting.) I believe absentee ballots are being considered for those who cannot make it to the service so spread the word.

Here are the suggested names (as always please e-mail me with any omissions or spelling corrections):

Christ Our King Emmanuel Lutheran Church
New Hope Lutheran Church
Unity Lutheran Church
United in Christ Lutheran Church
New Missions Lutheran Church
Abiding Love Lutheran Church
Christ Lutheran Church
Abiding Word Lutheran Church
Abiding Faith Lutheran Church
Lord of Life Lutheran Church
The Lord's Lutheran Church
Christ Our Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Risen Christ Lutheran Church
The Third Evangelical Lutheran Church (see previous posting from Pastor re: "Evangelical"
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (same note on line above)
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (There's one in Loudonville.)
New Creation Lutheran Church

Note on using "Evangelical" in the name:
Pastor mentioned in church before he left for Norway (Hi Pastor Bob! Hi Beverly!) that Luther did not want the name of his church to be eponymous (I think this is the correct use of this word. Martin Luther did not want his name used in the naming of the church.) Anyhoo . . . if you care to hear more about Pastor's musings on using "Evangelical," see his previous posting.

Pastor suggested we choose a name that reflects what we are about and that we pray, "Gracious Spirit, Guide the naming of our new community of worshipers."

I am so sorry to have missed "The Last Supper" at Christ Church last week but, God willing, I will see you this Sunday - with Joe on the drums thanks to Richard!

Have a good end of the week.

June 14 @ 1pm- Final Service at Christ Church

Dear brothers and sisters,

I regret that a prior commitment will take me out of the country on June 1 so that I will have to miss the final service of Christ Lutheran Church in Ghent on June 14 at 1 pm. The congregation is not disbanding. The members have voted to sell their building to a Mennonite congregation which has a school and would like to get started as soon as possible in renovations to ready the building for the new school year.

Christ Lutheran Church is deeply involved with Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Chatham to consolidate the two congregations and form a new congregation. It seems that in voting to sell their beloved building, Christ Church is all but said yes to the consolidation even before all the details are worked out. My observation is that the mood is just as positive at Emmanuel, though they are not selling their building in order to prove it. I am happy to say the level of trust seems to be high in both congregations.

The willingness of Christ's members to sell their building seem to be driven by four factors. 1. They have come to the conclusion that they cannot continue on as a freestanding congregation. 2. They want very much to see their beloved church building continue to be used as a church. 3. They have an interested buyer, which is very important in this market, and that buyer happens to be a church. 4. Christ and Emmanuel have already been worshiping together every Sunday at 10 am in Chatham since January.

In the months since January the church building in Ghent has been used for meetings but not for worship. The people of Christ rightfully desire to have one final service and at its conclusion to carry out certain items which symbolize their life together in that place. These items like the Bible, chalice, cross, membership roster, historic documents like minutes of meetings for over two hundred years will be brought to the Chatham building as part of Christ Church's contribution of its life and history to the new congregation under formation. Other furniture and items specifically used in worship will be moved to Chatham later.

A consolidation of the two congregations is not the end of a ministry that began in Ghent in 1801, nor one that began in Chatham in 1874. These are efforts to build something new on these foundations.

What will be observed on June 14 is the final service in the venerable old building in Ghent by Christ Church. Meanwhile Christ Church continues to worship together with Emmanuel Church in the building on Park Row in Chatham until the new congregation is officially formed. They may choose a name for the the new congregation as early as this coming Sunday, May 31, 2009, the festival of Pentecost, the day on which Christians observe the birthday of the Christian Church.

Come and join the members of Christ Lutheran Church as they say farewell to a church building which has served them so well for nearly a century. Come and celebrate with them and encourage them, and their fellow Lutherans in Chatham as they together take a bold next step in the process of forming a congregation that can position itself for a new and stronger ministry together which will continue to serve the neighboring communities they have previously served separately.

Pastor Bob

"Evangelical" explanation by Pr. Bob via Christa

Christa,

Evangelical is for Lutherans -and for Luther- preferable to the word Lutheran. Luther said 'How can we name a church after a bag of maggots like me?' I think Evangelical would continue to be part of our name, but probably not our first name. We are all, with 12,000 other congregations part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. There is only one church that I have ever heard of that is simply named Evanglical Lutheran Church, the one in Postenkill, not far from us. Thus, it becomes awkward to describe it as Evangelical Evangelical Lutheran Church. 

Also, the word Evangelical has been used by a large segment of conservative protestants to describe their movement. Many of them do not consider Lutherans to be evangelical enough, meaning a strict, conservative, often politically conservative church that expects people to 'make a decision for Christ.' Lutherans, who have used the name since the 16th century, have a theology of Grace that would better say that God has chosen us, rather than that we have chosen to follow him. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America boldly chose to claim the word again in it's name in 1987 when our new church was constituted. We together spend a lot of time and energy trying to to clarify what WE mean by Evangelical. Luther preferred it because it means we are 'of the Gospel'. Some Lutherans would say, we did not form a new church at the time of the Reformation. We claim with most other Christians that we 'believe in the ONE, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. Lutherans claim to be part of that one church, but we do it with a radical commitment to the Gospel, the evangel.

Sorry for the long response. I would wish that the word Evangelical be part of our name, but we have a 'first name' that describes this particular congregation of Evangelical Lutherans. 

You are probably aware that 'Lutheran' is not necessarily the name that is used to describe the Lutherans in Germany. It is the EKID. Evangelishe -pardon my German spelling - Kirche in Deutchland. Most Lutherans in other countries call themselves 'The Evangelical Lutheran Chuch in ______. In 1987 we decided to do that in naming our newly merged church. Thus we are known like the Germans with a church named with four letters: ELCA. 

Pr.Bob

Cluster Meeting Notes from Pastor Bob

The Lutheran "Cluster Meeting" was held at Emanuel/St.John's in Hudson on May 18, 2009.

Six representatives were present.  Pastor Slater, _______  Pultz,  _______(Stuyvesant),  Linda O'Reilly, Claus Marzahl, Christa Lordi
            (sorry don't know all names)

Pastor Slater presented the major agenda item:  "An Agreement For Sharing Ministry Among The Congregations of Northern Columbia County"
    This paper included categories after a "Mission Statement":  Cluster Committee, Shared Ministries, Finances

Discussion and suggestions ensued by the members present:

    1.The cluster committee shall consist of two representatives from each church, one elected annually, a second appointed annually from among church Council members. The committee will meet 4 times a year, rotating meeting place at each church:  February, May, August/September, November. The November meeting will be designated as time for budget and financial discussions.

        The Harlemville Church is also a part of the Cluster, as well as St. Luke's, Emanual Stuv., Emanuel/St.J. Hudson, Emmanuel Chatham, Christ Ghent. The Harlemville Church is a recognized ULCA endorsed church, but a membership list is unavailable.  Pastor Vogel officiates there once a month on a Sunday during the summer time.

    2.To be added to "Shared Ministries" category:  Youth Programs (grades 7-12); Strategies for Information Exchange among the churches. The Cluster Committee may consider undertaking the responsibility for presenting special programs of social importance from time to time such as:
            "visitation training", "family and children crises training" --particularly suicide issues, "grieving assistance", "single parent household issues", as well as information of general interest or concern.

    3. The finances to be considered annually in November will need to include a re-evaluation of the percentage each cluster church contributes for the shared ministry expenses, which include Secretary and Office Services, education, worship, fellowship and programming. The estimation of the current percentages have evolved with the participation of cluster members over the last couple of years, based on a broad formula of:
            attendance in each church, income in each church,  pastoral services, secretarial workload for each church.

        The financial demands are variable, thus percentages will need annual reconsideration. Pastor Slater will make the revisions to the "Agreement" and send to each church.

****The date for the annual "Cluster Picnic", as held traditionally at Crellin Park in Chatham will be:  August 16, 2009.*****
    It has generally been a "bring-a-dish" to share event.  Pastor Slater will contact Marcia Sarro at Emmanuel Lutheran Chatham for reservations at the park.
    The Cluster committee will plan additionally via E-mail.
    (The Closing ceremony of Christ Lutheran in Ghent may coincide with this gathering also.)

Pastor Bob says: "Wear Red on Pentecost Sunday - the 31st"

This upcoming Sunday is the the final Sunday of the Easter Season. Next Sunday is the great festival of Pentecost. Some have called the day the birthday of the Church. Christians everywhere celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church. The color of the day is RED. If you have clothes with red in them, wear them on May 31st. If you have any red flowers, bring them. If you have any plants with red flowers, bring them so we can use them to decorate the church and plant them outside after-wards.

Next Sunday will be the last service led by Pastor Bob Isaksen for two months as he will be serving a short interim in the Stavanger International Church in Stavanger Norway for eight Sundays. He served that ecumenical English speaking congregation for eight months back in 2003. It is a congregation of people from every continent and has members from twenty different denominations. Their web page, if you are interested is sic.no. Our web page address has been shared with them. The Isaksens have promised to send back pictures from their time in Stavanger to our web page chathamlutheran.org.

During the Summer months, you are all invited to send pictures and greetings from your travels to Deb Ulmer our webmaster. debulmer@fairpoint.net

Thrivent - Contributed by Carol Bartel

The Hendrick Hudson Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution is asking for donations to REPLACE THE ROOF on the historic Robert Jenkins house (the meeting place and home of the DAR) at 113 Warren Street. Hudson. This building houses an extensive collection of genealogical records and books, artifacts of the Revolutionary and Civil Wars as well as history and artifacts of Hudson's own whaling industry. During the months of May and June 2009 Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Southeastern NY Chahpter through their Care Abounds in the Community program will match donations received at a $1.. for every $3 collected, Help save these irreplaceable collections DONATE TO:

REPLACE THE ROOF!
NSDAR
112 Warren Street
Hudson, NY 12534

Norwegian Trip

In case anyone is interested, the website of the Stavanger International Church where we will be for June and July is http://www.sic.no. You can get a little flavor of what kind of a group it is. I finally got to speak with the current president this evening. He is a Scotsman working in the Norwegian oil industry and is married to a Filipino. He was a member when we were there. He told me they now have a sizable contingency of Indonesians. That 's new from when we were there. The US chaplain at the NATO base, who just was transferred, was a member.

Sermon-Fifth Sunday in Easter

By Pastor Bob on 5-9-09
Today’s gospel reading is all about tending grapevines.
Last week 60 Minutes featured family vineyard 800 years old.
I’ve read a lot about grapevines. But my only experience with wild vines.
I’ve been cutting down grape vines & pulling them out of trees for years.
These grapes are bitter & in trees they are ‘widow makers’ for foresters.
Actually I’ve had a lot more experience learning to tend our apple trees.
All our apple trees were in the woods, only planted 1. Forget variety.
The was a man named Jack on synod committee who was a ‘pomologist’.
I discussed our trees with him. He volunteered to come & help me prune.
He came in loaded Jeep with ladders, chain saws, pruning saws, etc.
I had always been gentle with the trees, afraid I would hurt them. He wasn’t.
I was shaken when he took to the trees with the chain saw & other saws.
Jack said, ‘The purpose of an apple tree is the fruit.’
He looked at my favorite little tree, the one that I liked the most.
Jack said, ‘That one should be turned into heat!’
Apple trees’re full of suckers & water spouts. Use energy- produce nothing.
I’ve given the trees a hard pruning again this year. Ended up with big pile.
Now when new apples start to grow from blossoms I’ll need to thin them.
Jack said, ‘The purpose of an apple tree is the fruit.’
Jesus said, I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
Paraphrasing Jack,The Purpose of the Church & of Christians is to bear fruit
Right now seems many churches in America are going through hard times.
Diocese of Albany is in the midst of closing parishes and schools.
Also Lutherans. In Metro NY, 40 congregations can’t afford a pastor.
In Hudson St.John & Emanuel merging, St.Matthew & St.Mark merging.
Here Christ & Emmanuel moving toward merger, selling Ghent building.
We’re discussing new name, what furniture & equipment to use, important
But the purpose of the Church is not to survive and have a nice building.
The Purpose of the Church & of Christians is to bear fruit.
Jesus said, I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
We have the interesting word Abide. Greek: meno. Used 7x in John’s gospel
Dean Lueking noted 17 uses of word abide listed in the Oxford dictionary,
8 of them are obsolete. The word seems to belong to another time.
Abide is about persevering, continuing, lasting, staying with it.
No wonder we rarely use it.
Much of our experience is temporary: relationships, jobs, homes, churches
But Jesus is clear: You want life? Then stay connected to him.
We’ll sing: From him we draw the juice of life.Amid the world’s bleak wilderness. LBW 378
It’s Jesus & his love that drew us in the first place, usually thru a person.
Life doesn’t come thru our connections, knowing the right important people
But by being connected to the ‘lowly One’ Jesus Christ.
We find him here in humble gathering of the lowly ones in humble spaces
We hear him speak through a Book, thru other people, words & gestures.
We meet him in a simple shared banquet of bread and wine.
We don’t exist for ourselves, to simply grow leaves, no matter how pretty.
Growth alone is not our purpose.
Rose bush doesn’t exist for its canes, leaves or thorns but for its roses .
Apple tree doesn’t exist for its branches, twigs or leaves- delicious apples.
Grape vine doesn’t exist for its shoots, leaves, but for its fine grapes.
Church doesn’t exist for its members, buildings, programs but for Mission
Our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love that shows itself in action. 1 Jn 3:18
Our mission is not merely to survive as Lutherans in northern Columbia Cty
But to be a force, an active force where the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
God’s people are engaged in action to confront forces of death in world.
To share ‘the juice of life’ as we work for health, homes for all neighbors.
To announce to our neighbors that Jesus has turned things around.
He brings hope to the hopeless, life to the dying.
Abide [or remain rooted in] Jesus, in his vine the Church.
Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing....If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. John 15:4-5, doesn’t exist for its 7-8.

Online Bible Discussion

Posted for Pastor Bob:
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are reading and discussing the Bible as part of the church's Book of Faith initiative. That discussion is being propelled with Internet technology.
An estimated 2,400 members have signed on to the Book of Faith social network -- http://bookoffaith.ning.com/ -- made possible through Ning, an online platform for users to create their own social networks.
"Ning is really very similar to Facebook," said Bill Huff, assistant director for the Book of Faith initiative, ELCA Vocation and Education, St. Paul, Minn.
"Social networking is one of the fastest growing vehicles for personal communication right now," Huff said. "The essence of Book of Faith is that it's not a program. We don't want it to be a top-down initiative," he said.
"The motivation for a social networking site is to stay in contact with individuals and to be in contact with large groups of people who have similar interests," Huff said. "You'll be able to socialize with your colleagues throughout the country, but also you'll be able to share ideas and be able to see what
other people are doing."
"The Book of Faith tag line is 'Open Scripture. Join the Conversation.' So much of what the Ning site is about is joining the conversation," Huff said. "Once you're signed up you have a profile, and you can tell a little bit about yourself. Then you
can join the conversation."
Someone reading the Bible can find study helps as well as others who may be reading on their own. There are more than 45 videos and other resources on the site. There is an area of the site to find or add events.
Augsburg Fortress, the publishing ministry of the ELCA, Minneapolis, established the Book of Faith's Ning site.
The initiative is generating resources in congregations across the church, and the Ning site is a means for sharing "what's working in my setting," Huff said.
"If you are a Sunday school volunteer, you can go on to the conversation piece and see what's going on with people as they teach their kids," he said. "People post ideas, but also people post questions or theological concerns."
"The goal is to get people engaging in Scripture, so anything we can do to help that along is meeting the mission and will help the ELCA," Huff said.
---
Information about the ELCA's Book of Faith initiative is at http://www.bookoffaith.org/ on the Web. An audio report of this story is at http://tinyurl.com/ELCANewsAudio on the ELCA Web site.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog

Worship in Times of Public Health Concerns

Provided by Pastor Isaksen:
Guidance from the Worship and Liturgical Resources Section of the Office of the Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
April 30, 2009
When anxiety is high in our culture, worship continues to be a primary location for the proclamation both of the good news of Jesus Christ and of the continuing compassion and care of God in the midst of our humanity. It is a place where we can find solace and reassurance in the midst of our fears. Great care should be taken to continue this central ministry of the church, especially in these times.

Congregations are advised to use common sense and intentional action with regard to preventing the spread of pathogens while continuing to gather around the means of grace. In times of anxiety about the spread of such pathogens as influenza, churches are advised to follow the advice of the CDC with regard to gatherings of people. At this time, it is not necessary to cancel worship services or stop gathering around the means of grace. However, worship leaders should take some time to be well informed of the situation in their local area and to examine worship practices with regard to the spread of pathogens, perhaps making small changes that will help alleviate the anxiety of the gathered assembly.

Passing of the Peace
The passing of the peace is an integral way that the assembly recognizes the presence of the peace of Christ in their midst. It is not necessary to eliminate the passing of the peace from the worship service. However, it may be advisable, based on your local situation, for the presider to suggest how the assembly may greet one another without handshakes.

The verbal greeting paired with a reverent bow may be suggested. Alternatively,
congregations may offer hand sanitizer for use after the passing of the peace in an
inconspicuous way by placing sanitizer bottles at the ends of pews, in pew racks or under chairs.

Holy Communion
Many of our worship concerns in times of fear concerning the spread of pathogens center around the means of distribution of the elements at communion. Consider your local situation and consider if the risk is real or imagined. There may be no reason in your area to alter your communion distribution practices. Some common-sense precautions may be all that is necessary:
· Servers of the meal should wash their hands before distributing the elements.
This can be accomplished by servers leaving worship at the passing of the peace to wash their hands in the sacristy or nearby washroom, by providing hand sanitizer in the sacristy or at another convenient location near the chancel, or by providing on the credence table to the side of the altar a lavabo bowl that contains warm water and a small amount of antiseptic soap.
· Keep in mind that our hands carry more pathogens than our mouths. Use of the common cup is preferable to intinction, especially if sacramental wine with a higher alcohol content is used. Sacramental wine has an alcohol content of 18% and has antiseptic qualities.
· An alternative to intinction or drinking from a common cup may be provided. During times of great fear and concern, congregations may choose to distribute wine by pouring the wine from one common pouring chalice into small cups, thereby maintaining the symbol of the common cup.
· If individuals are particularly hesitant about the communion elements for pressing reasons of health, they may commune under one element (The Use of the Means of Grace, Application 44C). The pastor may assure them that the crucified and risen Christ is fully present in, with, and under this one element.
While our Confessions speak against communion “in one form,” their intent is to protest the practice of withholding the cup from the whole assembly (The Use of the Means of Grace, Application 44D)

Conclusion
Especially in times of need we are reminded that Jesus Christ is God’s living bread come down from heaven for the life of the world. During this time of anxiety around a new form of influenza, the Sunday assembly of Christians around word and sacrament is a particularly important sign of resurrection hope in the midst of fear and trouble. We taste and see the Risen Christ’s presence in the community gathered around word and meal. In this eucharistic assembly we pray for the needs of a suffering world, and from this eucharistic assembly we are sent to care for all our neighbors who are sick, hurt, and hungry.
Further questions may be directed to Worship and Liturgical Resources at 800.638.3522
ext. 2590 or worship@elca.org.

How We Worship: Be a part of God's saving story

ELCA Quick Facts from Pastor Isaksen
For Lutherans, worship matters. In fact, worship lies at the heart of how we understand ourselves together. While some of the approaches to worship may differ from one congregation to another, we hold certain things in common.
There is a basic pattern for worship among Lutherans. We gather. We encounter God’s Word. We share a meal at the Lord’s table. And we are sent into the world. But we do not think about worship so much in terms of what we do. Worship is fundamentally about what God is doing and our response to God’s action. Worship is an encounter with God, who saves us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Think about it like this. God’s Spirit calls us together. God speaks to us through readings from the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, through preaching, prayer, and song. God feeds and nourishes us in a saving way. And God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world. Taken together, the Word proclaimed and the sacraments -- both Holy Baptism and Holy Communion -- are called the means of grace. We believe that Jesus Christ is present in these means through the power of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we describe worship as a “gathering around the means of grace.” This is a way of saying that we trust that God is genuinely present with us in baptism, in preaching, and in sharing the bread and wine of Holy Communion. In that sense, Lutherans believe that God’s presence permeates all of Christian
worship.
The cross is the central symbol that marks our worship spaces and when Lutherans worship, singing fills the air. The voices of all the people joined in song and the participation of all the people in the worship is a witness to our conviction that in worship we are being drawn in to God’s own saving story.

Get deeper into worship — including arts, worship, liturgies and lectionary resources. Find it in the Worship section of the website: www.elca.org.

Problems & Ideas

Hi Patty - I posted the post for Dawn. I think only the owner of the blog can do that. Everyone else needs to comment. Not sure about this either! Dawn is still having trouble posting a comment. So am I! What's your secret?
FUNDRAISING IDEA:
If we ever get this blog thing going we could have a section for people to sell stuff. For instance, Bruce has a great truck for sale. I have a house for rent. Then people would be expected to donate a portion of the proceeds to church - all on the honor system. Thoughts?
See you tomorrow for coffee & brownies in the basement!

Problems commenting

Dawn writes:

It let me join the blogspot as a follower, but it's not accepting any 
of my posts! (I tried three times under my new google account.) It just 
basically freezes as soon as I click post comment.
????

Anyone have any suggestions? 

Hendrick Hudson Male Chorus

Pastor is participating in these two concerts:
May 2, 2009 - 7:30 p.m.
St Paul's United Methodist Church
Carney Road
Castleton NY
Featuring Maple Hill Swing Choir
Adults $7 / Seniors-Students $5

May 9, 2009 - 7:30 p.m.
First United Methodist Church of East Greenbush
Gilligan Road
East Greenbush NY
Featuring Columbia HS Chamber Singers
Adults $7 / Seniors-Students $5

For information:
237.0032

Sunday after Easter

Well, it seems that it is not as easy to post as I thought. Would you try clicking on "Comments" below and see if you can post using a Google account? It is easy to create one if you don't have one.

Welcome!

Hello Everyone!
Let's keep this active!