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Star Gift: Acceptance Happy New Year! For a couple of years, we did something called Star Gifts on Epiphany. We each drew a star with some gift written on it, and were charged with con-sidering how God’s love and grace were made manifest in this gift in your life and the world. Then the following year, we talked about it in worship, sharing our insights.
Last year, however, we didn’t do the sharing part. This year, in the interest of starting the year off right, I have a New Year’s confession for you: the reason we didn’t do Star Gifts for Epiphany 2016 was… that I didn’t want to talk about my own Star Gift.
There, now that that’s off my chest, let me tell you why. I drew the gift of “acceptance.” The day we did this in worship was mere days after I found out I was pregnant with Grace. Naturally, my enthusiasm about this pregnancy was genuine, but cautious, and my first thought was, “No, not ‘acceptance.’ The stakes are high, and there are too many things about this pregnancy that I would not be willing to accept.” Miscarriage, major disease, my own body-image and fears about motherhood. Of course, none of those things ended up being a concern, which I knew by the time Epiphany 2016 came around. But I was still disappointed in myself for being so resistant to the possibility of seeing God’s work in this gift that scared me so much.
Because the truth is, I’m still wary of my gift. The stakes are still high, and there are still a lot of things in life that I would have a difficult time accepting. There’s a new baby in my life now, and all the joys and fears that go with that. There is a new president taking office this month whose fear-based rhetoric throughout his campaign has caused grave concern for many, and whose election has caused much division, unrest, and uncer-tainty in this country. And there are all the other things in life – new things, old things – that come up and make the possibility of “acceptance” one that is difficult at best, and dangerous at worst.
Why dangerous, you ask? Because I want to be very cautious about accepting things that are, in fact, unacceptable. Some things, yes, should be accepted – I have had to accept three cancer diagnoses, deaths of people I love, etc. But, if I see someone on the street being assaulted, verbally or physically, based on their race, gender, religion, sexuality, etc., I cannot accept this. I cannot accept the number of people who live in the scary reality of food insecurity, or whose drinking water is being threatened, such as natives in North Dakota. I cannot accept bullying or abuse in schools, or in workplaces, or in homes. I cannot accept these things, because my faith tells me not to. My faith tells me to care “for the least of these,” and this includes not accepting their poor treatment. My faith urges me instead to stand up for those in need, to share the life-giving gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed, to tend to my brothers and sisters in whatever way my skills, position, and life situation allow me to.
So maybe that is a more helpful way to think about acceptance: rather than accept the sometimes unac-ceptable world as it is, to accept that God calls me – us! – to do something about it: to lift up the fallen, to serve the poor, to heal the broken, to listen and learn from those who need an advocate, to stand up to evil and speak God’s loving word to those who need to hear it. In short, to do as the prophet Micah implores us in Micah 6:8: “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God?”
My initial reaction to “acceptance” was one of fear and resistance. This new way of understanding ac-ceptance is no easier, but it is certainly a way that God’s grace might become manifest in my life. With fear and trembling, I accept acceptance of this call. May it be so for us all.
Peace and grace, Pastor Johanna
The
Worship and Prayer
Date, Time, Location Event Description
Jan. 1, 9am (BLC) Service of Lessons and Carols Christmas-themed lessons and carols
Jan. 1, 10:30am (SMLC) Service of Holy Communion This service will include the baptism of Isaac Karl Rehbaum
Jan. 8, 9am and 10:30am Epiphany/Star Gifts We will remember our previous star gifts, and draw new ones.
Join us for a special…
Bi-lingual Epiphany Worship
January 6th, 7:00 pm
Grace Episcopal Church
9 Phelps Street
Lyons, New York
The last of our Christmas stockings will be giv-en out as Epiphany gifts to some members of this community. The service will be conducted in English and Spanish, to serve both communi-ties.
Hope you can attend this special worship
opportunity. There will be a gift for all children and snacks and drinks for all. For more infor-mation, please call 315-871-4041.
Star Gifts: January 8
We are resurrecting Star Gifts this year for Epiphany! We
took a year off last year, but several have mentioned they
still have their stars from January 2015. If you are one of
those, be thinking about how you might like to share how
that has been a gift to you these two years, how God’s love
and grace have become manifest to you through that gift.
Be prepared to talk about your star gift on January 8th.
There will be space in the service for sharing! (If you lost
yours – just make up a new one!)
A Study of Galatians On January 8, we will begin a journey through the Book of Galatians. Galatians is often referred to as “Luther’s book,” because Martin Luther relied so strongly on this letter in all his preaching, teaching and writing against the prevailing theology of his day. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Gala-tia to remind them of Grace and that the only means to be justified is by faith in Jesus, not by the law. During this study, we will learn to apply the lessons and scripture to our own lives today. Join us Sundays, beginning Jan. 8, 11:45 a.m., at St. Martin. (Study Guides are available for $5)
Bible Study dates in January
January 8 11:45 am
January 15 11:45 am
January 22 11:45 am
January 29 11:45 am
Special Services in January
Worship and Prayer
At Bethlehem…
Finnegan O’Grady, Alice Tynan, the family of Jimmy Cammisso, Carl Bauer, Joe Pickett, Brad, Charles Allen, Gary Ayers, Emily Bar-ber, Shirley Bauer, John Brayer, Emily Briggs, Steve, Jean Gage, Nancy Gotte, Shirley Jennejohn, Lin Maier, Kay Heckle, Jean Lund, Patty Martins, April Peck, Daniel Rose and family, Nancy Smith, Bev Steele, Gladys VanDusen, Tori, and Carol Winters. We also pray for those in the military and their families: Nicholas Piano, Morgan Hauer, Sharon Verges, Brad Verges, Mark Baker, Joe and Melanie Geiger. Also remember in prayer the Shove family.
At St. Martin…
Frannie Caruso (friend of Kris Weingartner), Alan Gaines (friend of Pr. Johanna), Jared Courage (son of Lynda Courage), Harry Hil-bert, Bill Gardner (father-in-law of Anne Mitchell’s daughter), Jean (Cindi Bouchard’s friend), Cindy (Cindi Bouchard’s friend), Caurie (daughter-in-law of Becky Hilbert), The Hubbard Family, Betty Clancy, Laura and son, Jamie, Ruth Gulde, Karin Ewanow, Barb Moeller, Amy Moeller, Lisa M., Rich Keller, Ian Cummings, James Simmons, Jan Weishaar and her husband and grandson, Sue Carleton Jahn, Dawn, Ray, and people serving in the military, especially Bryan Podgorski, Chad, Derrick, Jeff, Jim and Evan. We also pray for the safety of our police officers, especially Eric, son of Becky and Harry Hilbert and Eric Weingartner (nephew of Kris Weingartner), and Josh, (son of Sharon and Paul Haffen).
If you would like names added or removed from the prayer list, please contact the church office at St. Martin, and Laurie Brigden if you’re at Bethlehem.
FINAL INSTALLMENT: Let’s Stop Being a “Welcoming Church”
How can we be active inviters, not just passive welcomers? Not every congregation is everything to everyone,
but your church is something important to you, and it might just be important to someone else, too. Inviting is as simple
as telling people so.
CHALLENGE #5: Invite someone to come to church with you. For the past
four months, we have tried different ways of talking about our church, and now it’s time to
jump in and actually invite someone! Who knows, they might surprise you.
Online Giving at SMLC
You can give online during worship or at home by using your smartphone! To the side is a QR Code, which can be read by the QR Code reader app on your smartphone (free to download). Scan it, and it will bring you to Vanco, the com-pany with which St. Martin has set up an
online giving program.
Mission
Youth and Children
Confirmation Class for January Note: we changed the topics for these days (swapped them with February topics).
NOTE: While Pastor Johanna is on maternity leave, classes will be held at Transfiguration Lutheran Church, 3760 Culver Rd, and led by Pastor Craig Swanson. Classes will resume at St. Martin in February.
Jan. 3 Transf. BAPTISM: Why did Jesus get baptized?
Jan. 17 Transf. BAPTISM: What does it mean to be born again?
January 2017
SMLC Sunday School Schedule
Jan 1 Jan 8 Jan 15 Jan 22 Jan 29
SMLC News Altar Flowers—New Policy at St. Martin in 2017 Over the last few years, there has been an ongoing problem of altar flowers being requested, and not being paid for. While not frequent, this situation has lowered the balance in the flower fund significantly. Looking forward, beginning in 2017, flowers will only be ordered when they are paid in advance. Money for requested flowers must arrive in the church office by Wednesday of the week prior to the Sunday they are to be on the altar. People may still sign up on the flower chart in advance without paying, but remember that payment must reach the church office no later than Wednesday before the designated Sunday. Thanks for your cooperation.
The Mad Hatters Rise Again!!! For many years, St. Martin had a knitting group known as “The Mad Hatters”. We are hoping to revive that group, but reach out to include sewers as well. The goal…. to make 500 hats for the Christmas stocking project for 2017. The first meeting will be Saturday, January 14th at St. Martin, from 9:00 am until noon. All are welcome! We will be sewing fleece hats, so please bring fleece scraps, a portable sewing ma-
chine if you have one, and sewing supplies. We’ll supply the patterns. Knitters, bring your needles, yarn and patterns. Don’t know how to sew or knit? Come anyway, and we’ll help with that. Have a friend who’d like to help? Bring your friend along. We will be placing a bin at St. Martin to collect fleece and yarn for the hats.
To Be Announced
BLC News
Prayer First Prayer First continues on Wednesdays at 11:30 am. 3rd Sunday—Loose Collection for World Vision Please remember that every third Sunday of the month, our loose collection will go to Samara, our World Vision child. The next date is January 15. Benefit for Hope Johnson The Wolcott Fire Department is hosting “Hope’s Spaghetti Lunch Benefit” for former BLC member, Hope Johnson, who is undergoing chemo treat-ments for breast cancer. The lunch will be held on January 28, 2017, 11:30—2:30 pm at the Wol-cott Fire Dept., 6162 West Port Bay Road, Wol-cott, NY 14590. Cost: Presale: $8.00 per adult, $5.00 for children under 5, at the door: $10.00 per adult, $7.00 for children under 5. Call Angela McIntyre at 315-573-5156 with any questions.
Welcome to Baby Isaac! Pastor Johanna and Michael welcomed the arrival of a baby boy, Isaac Karl Rehbaum on Wednesday, Decem-ber 7th at 7 lbs. 10 oz., 20” long. He joins Big Sister Grace in the Rehbaum household. Congratulations to Pr. Johanna and Michael! Isaac’s baptism took place on January 1st at St. Martin Lutheran Church, presided by his grandfather, Pastor Richard Johnson.
St. Martin Birthdays: Adam Geier 1/6 Lisa Moeller 1/11 Mike Moeller 1/12 Josh Haffen 1/14 Debbie Jackson 1/14 Mike Geier 1/25 Catherine Tesoriero 1/26 Gregory Detwiler 1/29
St. Martin Anniversaries: No anniversaries to report.
Bethlehem Birthdays: Dianne Klafehn 1/2 Giavonna Duval 1/8 Christy Smith 1/8 Ken Francis 1/11 Harry Weidman 1/11 Jan Mohrman 1/15 Nancy Bardo 1/16 Brandon Anderson 1/19 Jim Brigden 1/21 Marian Craft 1/21 Larry Leisten 1/23 Wendy Weidman 1/24 Lori Lutz 1/27 Betty DeVolder 1/28 Greg Francis 1/30
Bethlehem Anniversaries: No anniversaries to report.
Please contact the church office with any
additions or corrections.
Pastor Johanna’s Contact Info
Cell: 585-270-0712
Bethlehem: 585-872-1425
St. Martin: 585-671-1899
Pastor’s Office Hrs:
BLC on Wednesdays and by appt.,
SMLC on Tuesday & Thursday.
Mondays vary—call her cell if needed.
Congregational Deacon: Sharon Haffen
Sharon can be reached at: 585-703-1441
Email: [email protected]
Note: During Pastor’s maternity leave, Deacon Sharon is on call for any pastoral needs.
***Next Council Meeting (joint) will be held on Wednesday, January 11, 6:30 pm at SMLC***
January—St. Martin Worship Assistants
Coordinators: Lay Readers: Anne Mitchell Counters: Ushers: Doug Gomez
Altar Guild: Nancy Lewis Greeters: Evangelism Team Coffee Hr: Jeff & Mary Ann Peters
Items can be left in the mailbox outside my door, mailed to my address below or sent by email. Would you like the church to be more “green”? You may also consider switching to the electronic version of Covenant Connections by emailing me at [email protected]. Thank you, Nancy Panneitz, Editor
February Newsletter
Deadline - January 15th
Nancy Panneitz
St. Martin Lutheran Church
813 Bay Rd, Webster, NY 14580
Laurie Brooks
Bethlehem Lutheran Church,
1767 Plank Rd, Webster, NY 14580
January 1 January 8 January 15
Family Sunday
January 22 January 29
Lectors Mary Lou
Alexander
Anne Mitchell Jim Matteson Carol Geier
Assisting Minister
Sharon Haffen Anne Mitchell Mary Lou
Alexander
Paula Haffen Sharon Haffen
Acolyte Gavin Kulak Makayla
Mohrman
Allyson
Mohrman
Miguel Ovando
Counters
Greeters Cindi Bouchard Jeff Peters Ed Currier Milford Apetz
Altar Guild Nancy Lewis Nancy Lewis Nancy Lewis Nancy Lewis Nancy Lewis
Coffee Hour Men’s Group Cindi Bouchard Nancy Elder
Aerianne Elder
Sunday School Teachers
PreK:
4-6:
PreK:
4-6:
PreK:
4-6:
PreK:
4-6:
Teachers to be announced
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
Baptism of Isaac Karl Rehbaum
2 3 6-8 pm Confir-mation Class @ Transfiguration
4 5
8 am—Men’s Group at Atlan-tic Restaurant
6
7pm Bi-Lingual Epiphany Worship/Lyons
7
8
Epiphany
Star Gifts
11:45 Adult Bible Study
9
10
11 11:30 am Prayer First @ BLC 6:30 pm Joint Council Mtg @ SMLC
12
8 am—Men’s Group at Atlan-tic Restaurant
13 14
9-Noon
Mad Hatters @ SMLC
15 11:45 Adult Bible Study
16
17
6-8 pm Confir-mation Class @ Transfiguration
18 11:30 am Prayer First @ BLC 6:30 pm Council Mtg. @ SMLC
19
8 am—Men’s Group at Atlan-tic Restaurant
20
21
22
11:45 Adult Bible Study
23
24
25 11:30 am Prayer First @ BLC
26
8 am—Men’s Group at Atlan-tic Restaurant
27
28
29
11:45 Adult Bible Study
30 31
Sunday Worship & Council Mtgs. Bethlehem: 9:00 am Worship
9:00 am Sunday School during worship Communion on 1st & 3rd Sundays
Council meets on 2nd Monday of month
Sunday Worship & Council Mtgs. St. Martin: 10:30 am Worship Sunday School during worship
Communion on 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays
Council meets on 2nd Wednesday of the month
St. Martin Evangelical Lutheran Church
813 Bay Road
Webster, NY 14580
St. Martin Church Council Members
St. Martin Lutheran Church
813 Bay Road
Webster, New York 14580
585-671-1899
www.stmartinwebster.org
Office Hours: Tues, Wed, & Thurs., 9—1:00 pm
Worship: 10:30 am, Sunday School during worship Holy Communion offered on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the
month.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
1767 Plank Road
Webster, New York 14580
585-872-1425
Website: www.bethlehemlutheranchurch.org
Worship: 9:00 am, Sunday School during worship , except the 3rd Sunday of the month, Holy Communion offered on the 1st
and 3rd Sundays of the month
February 2017 Newsletter Articles
Are Due On:
January 15, 2017
President: Doug Gomez Vice President: Mike Moeller Treasurer: J. Alexander/L. Moeller Secretary: Sharon Haffen Outreach: Kris Weingartner Evangelism: Nancy Currier Music & Worship: Barb Devers
Activities: Nancy Elder Property: Jason Simmons Christian Ed. Amie Kulak Stewardship: Mutual Ministry: Christian Kulak
Bethlehem Church Council Members
President: Dick Howard/ Laurie Howard
Treasurer: Janice Mohrman
Secretary: Melanie Geiger
Property: Ed Borkhuis
Stewardship: Sandy Borkhuis
Deacons: Steve Borkhuis
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
1767 Plank Road
Webster, NY 14580
and
Contacting Pr. Johanna Rehbaum
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 585-270-0712
