Index

 

Pastors Report                      pg 1

Redwood Food Pantry        pg 2

News From The Pews          pg 3-4

ELLA                                   pg 5

Mission Report                     pg 5

Sunday School                     pg 5

Evangelical Website             pg 6

Prayer Circle                        pg 7

February Calendar               pg 8

March Calendar                   pg 9

 

Northern Lights

  February – March 2010

 

A Message from the Pastor

Did I Get Your Attention?

 

My goal during January was to come up with some new ideas that resonated with the insight that coming to Church produces health and happiness.   Some of you helped me develop a whole list of group activities that can bring people together.  I was all set to ask for even more when I got your attention in a way I had not planned.  Many thanks to those at the January 17^th service at Orleans who supported me at a difficult time.  The blurred vision that occurred during my sermon did not really stop me.  However, more knowledgeable people made me sit down and go to the ER in Watertown.  The good news is that the tests all came back to show that nothing serious had happened

 

My thanks to Pr. Windle who did the Church service at Redwood on that Sunday with the assistance of Deacon Norma Gee.  I also have new appreciation for Eric Hoselton who understands medical emergencies, and Terry Valin who checked me out as the ambulance was arriving.  I am sure that many more have put me on their prayer list.  For all that support I am grateful.  But I also think there is a higher message.  God only knows why all this happened as I was talking about the healing power of worship services.  My insight is that there is a positive side to being surrounded by friends who can help us respond to the uncertainties of life.  A Church service is not just about what the pastor says.  It is people with a variety of abilities coming together to share them.

 

During Lent this year I will be talking about the reality of being human.  We will remember that even Jesus had his bad days.   The good news is the miracle of a resurrection.   This month invite a friend so that we can all be together when God gets our attention.  The message is clear… we need each other.

 

Pr. Jim

 

An Ash Wednesday service will be held at Evangelical, Orleans, on Feb. 17, 7:00 p.m. led by Pr. Dave.  A similar service will be held at St. Paul's, Redwood, same day, same time, led by Pr. Jim.  You will be touched with ashes at either location and the Lenten spirit that you feel will show how to find support as we go on our Lenten journey together.

 

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Redwood Food Pantry

During the month of November , St Paul’s Redwood Food Pantry served 48 households 3 meals a day for 3 days.  Sixty children, 95 adults and 11 elderly people were served a total of 1494 meals.   A total of 1485 meals were served during the month of December.    There were 39 households, 57 children, 95 adults and 13 elderly people served from our food pantry site at the Fellowship Hall in Redwood.   The shelves were well stocked , thanks to the generosity of Hannaford, Garlocks’ Lumber, The Thousand Island Christian Church, Catholic Charities of America, Bernier and Carr, Flat Rock Hotel, The Harvest Tea, Noah’s Ark Preschool, Alexandria Bay Methodist Church, Kirkland Grange, Route 37 Lumber Company, the North Redwood Club, Mission Possible, Alexandria Bay Thrift Store, Alexandria Central School, Alexandria Bay Big M and several caring individuals in our area.  We appreciate your help and dedication to our food pantry. 

This is the time of year to start planning your gardens.  We appreciated all the farm fresh produce donated to our food pantry on a regular basis last growing season.  The smaller zucchini and summer squash were well received.   In the fall we had a good supply of winter squash and pumpkins to add to our menu.  Thanks.  Please plan on planting another row of green beans, a couple of tomato plants, a hill of squash, carrots, leaf lettuce or any vegetable to your garden and donating the produce to our food pantry.   Everyone we served benefitted from your donations.  Thanks!!!!!

The needs  for the month of January and February are personal hygiene products , cleaning supplies and boxed or canned macaroni and cheese.

Thank you for helping us meet or goal, to feed the hungry.

 

Jan Atkinson

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ACTUAL Church Bulletin Bloopers:

· Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Memorial Church in Racine.  Come tonight and hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.

· “Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale.  It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house.  Don’t forget your husbands.”

· "The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus."

· "Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered."  

· The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to conflict.

· The sermon this morning: “Jesus Walks on the Water.” The sermon tonight: “Searching for Jesus.”

· Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir.  They need all the help they can get.

· Don't let worry kill you. Let the Church help.

· Thursday night will be a potluck supper. Prayer and medication to follow.

· For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

·A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.

·This afternoon there will be a meeting in the south and north ends of the church. Children will be baptized at both ends.

·Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

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News From the Pews

 

Orleans

Sunday School Program, December 13^th

A delightful Nativity program was held on Sunday, December 13^th, involving all of Gerri Sammons’ Sunday School students.  We want to thank ALL of the following for their part in the resulting very fine production:

Ø  ALL the parents for helping their children learn their lines, getting them to practice and keeping the true meaning of Christmas in their hearts and minds.

Ø  Becky Sullivan, (Gerri’s Mom and Hunter & Peyton’s Nana) for assisting with making the costumes

Ø  Jeff Sammons for his handiwork with set design & acting as stage manager

Ø  Glenn Thompson for the sound system

Ø  Lila & Frank Arquitt for supplying pizza at dress rehearsal, promoting the program on the website, and taking photos

Ø  Donna Drake & Christine Schell for supplying beverages for the dress rehearsal

Ø  Polly Shaud for supplying her musical talent to the production

Ø  Norma Gee & the Confirmation Class for assisting with costume changes during the program

Ø  The Congregation and Pastor for continually supporting the  Sunday School Program

AND ESPECIALLY, from all of us, an ENORMOUS THANK YOU TO GERRI for the countless hours she spends as director and teacher of our children in Sunday School, and in presenting the weekly children’s sermon during the Worship Hour.  Know you are appreciated!

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Thank You's

Thank you TO Fred Duffany for his faithful snow removal at Evangelical.

 

Thank you FROM Ashlee Davis for prayers, cards & flowers while ill.

 

A big thank you FROM Esther Houghtaling for cards & prayers.

 

Thank you TO Norma Gee & the Confirmation class for their Sunday morning volunteer services.

 

Thank you TO Norma Gee  FROM Janice Davis for transportation to the Bay hospital for blood work.

 

Thank you TO Lila Arquitt for her 5 year management of our popular website as she retires.

 

Thank you TO Barbara Thompson for her years of service in keeping  the Prayer Circle current

 

Thank you FROM  Emily Krahn (Art’s 85 yr. old cousin) who is most grateful for those Lutheran prayers that were most effective in her recovery from a serious accident.

 

Thank you TO All the families who have provided “goodies” for after Service fellowship

 

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NEWS FROM THE PEWS OF ST. PAUL’S

Although the Christmas Sunday School program was over a month ago, we would like to thank the participants and their fearless teachers (Louise Faubert and Wendy Davis) for the excellent and creative production involving puppets and an animal chorus.  Everyone who attended church that day also received a special Santa mix packet.

Thank you to Norris Handschuh and his crew for replacing the ancient door in the parsonage kitchen with a weather-tight door.   We also thank Norris for coming to the rescue when a pipe in the church bathroom burst, causing a flood in the narthex.

Dorothy Handschuh, jigsaw puzzle queen of Redwood, has boxes of puzzles that she would like to pass on to others.  Doing jigsaw puzzles is guaranteed to keep one out of trouble.

The Redwood Historical Society will hold a Scoop Dinner at the Odd Fellows Hall on Friday, February 12, from 5 to 7 p.m.  Plan to attend this first-time event.

A Cabin Fever pot luck supper will be held at the St. Paul’s Fellowship Hall on February 19, beginning at 6:30.  Everyone is invited.  Bring a dish to pass and a game to play.  (If you haven’t yet played Bananagrams, the #1 game for 2009, now is your chance.)  Don’t believe the rumor that Lutheran Pot Luck suppers consist only of twenty varieties of tuna casserole and jello salad.

The Redwood Neighborhood Association will hold its second Friend and Family Day at the Fire Hall on March 6 from 2 to 4 p.m.  There will be food to sample and many recreational handouts.

 

JOINT ANNOUNCEMENTS

HAITIAN RELIEF is being coordinated by Lutheran World Relief.  If you are a Thrivent member, your contribution will be matched.  Go to the website for details, www.thrivent.com.

A sincere thank you to Barbara Thompson for faithfully maintaining the prayer list for many years, and to Mary Krahn for graciously stepping in and carrying it forward.

Sympathy is extended to Wendy and Verik Probst and their family on the death of Wendy's father, "Ike" Eisenhauer.  A funeral service was held on January 16 in Carthage, Pastor Jim officiating.

 

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Please email any newsletter submissions or ideas to Tatia Kennedy at tzina25@yahoo.com. Our next deadline is March 23. Thank you

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An adult group from both congregations will continue to meet on Monday nights at 7:00 p.m.  We are trying to find the best location for those who are interested.  Check with the pastor before you go to a specific meeting and make sure you know where it is.

 

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Enlightening from ELLA

 

ELLA will not meet in February.  Our first meeting for 2010 will be held on March 17, at 6:00 pm in Hope Hall.  We extend an invitation to all the ladies of the congregation to join us at this meeting.  If any member has not yet paid her dues and wishes to do so please give them to Lila Arquitt.  Lila will make sure it is noted and then placed in our account.  ELLA dues are still $5.00 per year and are strictly on a voluntary basis.  We hope to see you at the March meeting!

God Bless and Godspeed,

Barbara Thompson - president of ELLA

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Mission Report

 

The confirmation class has completed the Ten Commandments and have started the section on creeds.  I go over the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed and the Apostles' Creed in the introductory of the creed so they will know that the church has had more than one creed. It saddened me when they didn't include all creeds in our red hymnal.  I enjoyed saying the Athanasian Creed on Trinity Sunday.  I think history of the creeds are important in rounding our faith.

The youth group met to talk about the volleyball marathon.  It is usually held the first Friday in March.  Sports are just starting to interfere with the 8:30 AM confirmation class.  We will try to have the majority on Sunday mornings and then at 3 PM on Sunday when all cannot attend the early class.  We are being flexible so the group can stay together and we do not have to have many make up classes.

Bible Study has not started up yet but I still hope it will happen someday in the future.  Most of my visitation has been on phone lately.  But I have given communion to some of our shut ins.

God's peace,
Pastor Norma

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Evangelical Sunday School is currently studying the story of Noah’s Ark.  The children are enjoying lesson time filled with singing, Bible verses, prayers, activities, crafts and snacks all relating to Noah’s Ark, faith and trust in the Lord and promises.  Valentine’s Day will provide a break to our usual lesson and allow the Sunday School children time to express their love in a creative and special way.

 

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Evangelical Lutheran Church Web site

 

Evangelical Lutheran’s Church website is such a wonderful way to spread God’s word.  As February arrives our website visitor’s totals will go over 10,780 hits.

 We hope you are enjoying the many pictures, slideshows, and information the website has to offer.

In January our site received a couple very strange comments which I deleted as we do not want comments from people who are trying to sell things or who are saying mean or hurtful things to anyone. 

We welcome all comments concerning our church, services and people
that are about what we are doing to spread God’s word.

We thank all our viewers for logging on and checking us out and coming
back time and after time. We feel the site has a lot to offer for those people who
cannot make it to our services or church.  We welcome all who visit us.

Some sad news to share with all of you, I am giving up being web master
for our site. I have been web master now for almost five years and have enjoyed
spreading God’s word through our site, but now it’s time for me to give it to
someone else to take over.  We are looking for someone who would be willing
to take on this job for our church.  I can show you how to update the site and fill
you in on all the stuff you need to know to assume this job.  I am planning on being done by 1, February but will continue a week or two longer until I train someone and then I will be around to answer questions concerning the site.  

    Our church website offers many pages such as: Sunday service, Sunday school, Daily Bible Readings, Baptisms, Weddings, Newsletter, a Fort Drum page, St. Paul’s website, and upcoming events and more.

    You can contact me about the site by calling (315) 681-3253 or e-mail me at farquit1@twcny.rr.com.  I would love to hear from any of you.  No matter where you are from, drop us line and tell us about your church and let us know what you think of our web site.

Our website address is until February 16, 2010: http://www.lutheranorleans.com, The web site address will be changing back to the old address at http://www.freewebs.com/lutheranorleans.

We wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day!

I have had lots of fun working on the web site for all of you to enjoy and I have also enjoyed helping to spread Gods words through the site.

Lila

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At the service on Transfiguration Sunday, February 14, Pastor Jim will be sharing valentines that can bring light to the world, and will also provide guidance for the forty days of Lent.  That would be a good time to invite a friend and help God's love to shine in a real way.

 

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Prayer Circle of Evangelical and St. Paul’s Lutheran Churches

 

“Prayer, and let God worry.” Martin Luther

 

There will be a few changes affecting the prayer list.  Mary Krahn has graciously agreed to take over the care of the prayer list.  You may pass your prayer request to her at e-mail:  mmkrahn@twcny.rr.com or phone: 686-5357, or you may contact any member of the Prayer Circle.  As always, a list of the members of the Prayer Circle can be found posted at both churches.

            When a person is placed on the prayer list, they will remain on there for two months.  After that time, unless we have been requested to keep that person on the list, their name will be removed. If a person’s name is removed from the prayer list it may be placed back on as soon as we receive a request to do so.  This change is being made in order to keep the prayer list as up to date as possible.

            We hope these changes will not cause too much confusion and will be of help to both churches.  If you have any thoughts or suggestions please feel free to let us know.    

 

Remembering you in our prayers always,

Barbara Thompson ~ Prayer Circle member

 

PRAYER LIST:

Lynn Abbass, Jill Ahlgrim, Alice, Kenneth Anderson, Annabell, Larry Armstrong, Ashley Atkinson, Charles Atkinson, Jan Atkinson, Susan Benas, Betty Coon, Jill D’Amico, Janice Davis, Tim Dillenback, Linda Drake, Ann Duffany, Family & Friends of Garland Eisenhauer, Bobby Ely, Family & Friends of Lloyd Eves, Elizabeth Grooms, Jim Hagen, Lilia Hance, Hiltz Family, Esther Houghtaling, Mary Hudson, Nicole Johnston, Shirley Kennedy, Kathy King, Mel Klock, Gloria Knapp, Elaine McCarthy, McCarthy Family & Friends, Bill Miller, Donald Milligan, Hank Ogren, Michele Paddock, Colleen Papin, Gary Parson, Lilliana Passage & Family, Doris Perkins, Pat Piper, Jean Potempa, Fred Rogers, Pastor Jim & Polly, Joan Shelley & Husband, Bob Smith, Paul Soules, Hazel Stine, Ellen Sykes, Jean Truman, Family & Friends of Nancy Valin, Wanda, Joel Zimmer, Arianna Zumbach

 

 

PRAYERS FOR THOSE DEALING WITH NATIONAL DISASTERS, ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE OF HAITI AS THEY RECOVER FROM THE EARTHQUAKE DESTRUCTION

 

THE MEN & WOMEN OF THE ARMED FORCES SERVING AT HOME & AWAY, including:

Florian Barrie, Jacob Culbertson, Luke Dinsmore, J. D. Hodge, John Hunter, Cory Jodan, Justin Nicol, James Roop, Joe Tanner, Eugene Tellez, Jerry Zavecke, Patrick Zimmer

 

CONGREGATIONAL CONCERNS:

Helen Bartlett, Junia Bertram, Katherine Carmon, Bob Coon, Peg (Marguerite) Dingman, Audrey & Bill Dominy, Henrietta Geisendoerfer, George Graham, Vivian Kendall, Ernie LaClair, Tootsie O’Connor, Albert & Pearl Payne, Sandra Perry, Evelyn & Paul Saphier, Alma Sourwine, Elise Spies & Family, Doug & Hazel Stine, Rusty Wright

                             

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An impoverished old man applied for membership in a rich church. The pastor attempted to put him off with all kinds of evasive remarks.  The old man, becoming aware that he was not wanted, finally said that he would pray on it.  Several days later he returned.   "Well," asked the pastor, "did the Lord give you a message?"   Yes Sir, he did" was the old man's answer.  "He told me it wasn't any use.  He said, 'I've been trying to get in that same church myself for ten years, and I still can't make it.'