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Wings & Feathers Newsletter for
Sept/Oct 2017
Important information about what's going on around
Holy Counselor Lutheran Church
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Holy Counselor Staff
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Pastor |
Rev. Christopher Bruesehoff |
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Director of Music |
June Tarantino |
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Office Administrator |
Debbie Morris |
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Bookkeeper |
Larry Polagye |
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Custodian |
Harvey Kunnemann |
Congregational Council
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President |
Matthew Moller |
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Vice President |
Denise Urbaniak |
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Secretary |
Dawn McCormick |
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Treasurer |
Mark Rossi |
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Financial Secretary |
Sandra Wardell |
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Outreach Group |
Liz Walker |
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(Parish Activities Team, Membership & Social Ministry Teams) |
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Nurture Group |
Leslie Deutch |
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(Worship Team,Education Team, Youth Team) |
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Administration Group |
Roy Wherry |
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(Property Team, Information & Technology Team) |
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Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. - I Corinthians 12:14-27
What is the church? This is one of those questions that if asked it of a dozen people, perfectly reasonable people, from the same denomination, would result in a dozen different answers. And all of them would be at least a little bit correct - while still not really answering the question. Add in multiple Christian denominations and differences that you find from individual congregation to congregation and the whole question just gets more complicated. So when someone says, “Christians believe…” or “The church says…” or some variation of the above you should know first that no one really speaks for the whole church all the time. I’m not going to start now either.
Most of the time, the best answer I have for this question is, “The church is the body of Christ in the world.” Most folks don’t necessarily like that answer because most of the time we are only answering that question for our individual congregations within the church and we want something that feels more practical, a little more concrete. But here’s the thing, the answer stays the same for me. Holy Counselor is the body of Christ in the world here in Vernon at this point in time. Every other answer should come from that starting place - and there are lots of places to go from there. Watching the world over the last month has left most of us shaking our heads, screaming in frustration or crying in despair. What I know about Christ in the world tells me that we, the church, should be there, in all those places. We, the church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Holy Counselor Lutheran Church are part of the body of Christ in the world. We worship and praise, we pray, we teach, we gather together and we are sent out. We stand against racism, bigotry and oppression, we gather in sorrow for those in Texas who are suffering the effects of Hurricane Harvey, we worry and pray alongside those who are undergoing surgery or other medical interventions, we cry with those who are burying loved ones after the tragedy of overdose has claimed them and we stand alongside all our brothers and sisters in whatever stage of life or situation they find themselves in life and death.
Big and small, near and far - we are the church - the body of Christ in the world. It's not an easy answer, but then again I don’t think easy answers are necessarily the best ones and like I tell people time and time again, Lutherans tend to be complicated people.
Check out some of our ELCA resources on what the church, at least the ELCA, believes and does as the body of Christ in the world:
ELCA Social Statements - https://www.elca.org/Faith/Faith-and-Society/Social-Statements
If you want to have a study, workshop or conversation about any of these, let me (Pastor Chris) know the next time you see me, send me an email or give me a call.
-Pastor Chris
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COUNCIL PRESIDENT REPORT
Submitted by Matt Moller, Council President
Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart (Psalm 27:14)
I find so much energy and positivity at HCLC and I thank you all for making this place a respite from the negativity and divisiveness we see in the world today. I hope you are planning to enjoy the final days of summer and start up the autumn with renewed strength and energy.
- Update: The score is tied in our “Knock it out of the park” capital campaign, thanks to some very generous gifts. I want to acknowledge Denise Urbaniak and Pastor Chris for successfully driving this campaign during the summer months when it is sometimes difficult to get people’s attention. We have accomplished a lot in a few short months and we should all feel good about that. Yet we all know that while this game ended in a tie Holy Counselor's success is more like a series. Please consider how you will be a part of the last four months of this year. Your gifts will be used to help us move forward with necessary updates to the church, including lighting, signage and other improvements.
- I’d also like to thank the council for their leadership during the past few months. Our lawn mower issue was resolved, the floors have been polished, and they have been busy meeting with their committees about all of the upcoming activities and celebrations. At the same time, the council cannot do it alone, and they need your help. If you are part of a committee, thank you for your contribution. If you are not part of a committee, please speak to one of the council members about how you can use some of your gifts to help them and the church.
As always, please feel free to reach out to me at mkmoller@gmail.com if you have any suggestions or questions that you would like to discuss. I look forward to hearing from you.
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TREASURER’S REPORT
Submitted by Mark Rossi, Treasurer
God Be Praised!!! Our prayers are answered. The Hit it Out of the Park campaign has yielded the $19,000 needed to meet our expenses by the end of this year! HCLC comes through again!!!
But we are not done. I knew you knew I would say that! As of August 27th, we are at $124,705 contributed towards our projected need of $187,000 for 2017. We MUST continue to give at a pace to keep on track for the remainder of the year. This $187,000 includes the approved $12,600 budget deficit and our ongoing support of ministries through the NJ Synod and the ELCA, I don't think we can or should ignore these efforts in the wake of an event like Hurricane Harvey. We need to meet this remaining amount to break even, without it we will not be able to meet the needs of our current ministries and commitments.
Yet right now, let us focus in celebration that we are a faithful bunch seeking to spread the Love of Christ to all!!! I am reminded of the lyrics of Amazing Grace, "when we've been there 10,000 years, there's no less ways to sing God's praise, then when we first believed!!!"
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ADMINISTRATION GROUP REPORT
Submitted by Roy Wherry, Administrator
- The new lawn mower has been delivered and is working fine.
- The floors have been stripped, cleaned and waxed. We are hoping to have the money to have them waxed regularly and to maintain the neat and clean appearance.
- It is time to start thinking about a fall cleanup day. Stay tuned for future announcements about dates and times.
- The exterminator, Lou from Bag a Bug in Sussex, has taken care of the ant problem in the sanctuary and narthex for no charge.
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NURTURE GROUP REPORT
Submitted by Lelsie Deutch,
Nurture Group Coordinator and the church office
Worship
Our last Wednesday evening service was held on August 30. All who attended throughout the summer appreciated being outside in the evening for music and worship. Thank you to all who made this experience possible.
On September 3, our second service time returns to 10:30am.
September 24 will be our last outdoor 8:30 am service, weather permitting. This service was truly enjoyed by all who attended.
Reformation Sunday is October 29. There will be one service on this day at 10 am to give the congregation an opportunity to celebrate together!
Sunday school and the Blessing of the Backpacks
Sunday school rally day will be held on September 10 along with the blessing of the back packs. During worship we will gather to bless all of those who will be learning, teaching and working during the school year. We will offer blessings at both of the Sunday morning services. Please have children bring their backpacks to worship so we can bless them as well. Teachers are welcome to bring their work bags/briefcases and staff can bring something that signifies their work. Do you know any children or youth in your neighborhood, friends or families, that would appreciate this opportunity to receive a blessing prior to the start of another busy school year? Invite them to join us this Sunday! For Sunday school all children, grandchildren, cousins, and neighbors are all welcome to join the Holy Counselor family, even if it’s only once in a while. The teachers have developed a new and exciting curriculum.
Confirmation class is starting up again. That means we have orientation for new and returning students (primarily 7th and 8th graders) on September 17th at 6pm at Holy Counselor. This gathering is very important. Please make every effort to attend. If you cannot attend please let me know as soon as possible. Also, I will be looking for additional volunteers to make our confirmation ministry a success. Confirmation uses as many adults as it can gather to model faithful learning and discipleship for our young adults. We will need presenters to share material for classes, guides to mentor our young adults and others to fill in as substitutes when needed. If you are planning on or considering being a guide or presenter please let Pastor Chris know. If you have questions about being a guide please ask Pastor Chris or Diane Rossi they will tell you all about it.
Volunteers
Several training dates have been set up for ushers, communion and lay assistants. We are always looking for help at our services. If interested, even just to see what it’s all about, please check out one of these sessions.
Training Sessions:
Ushers:
Monday, September 18 - 10 am or 7:30 pm.
Sunday, September 24- after the 10:30 service
Lay and Communion Assistants:
Sunday, October 15- after the 10:30 service
Monday, October 16 – 10 am or 7:30 pm.
Altar guild: A group whose responsibility is to prepare the church for each service. This includes, preparing the bread and wine, as well as taking care of the altar’s appropriate furnishings and linens.
If interested in this, please see Nancy Knecht.
A time for mediation and silence
Submitted by Nancy Knecht
During this past summer our Wednesday evening bible study group participated in a workshop titled Worship Matters, An Introduction to Worship. For those who have wondered why and how we worship as Lutherans it was an excellent introduction to the ways we encounter God in our services and private worship.
One of the sessions was Responding to God in Prayer and Praise. Silence was one of the topics we considered. You may wonder how is silence a part of worship? Consider silence as space for God to speak. A good time to practice this is upon entering the sanctuary and offering a silent prayer and using that time for meditation. A short prayer that you may want to use upon entering church is: Almighty, ever living God, grant that I may gladly hear your word and that all my worship may be acceptable unto you, through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.
In our busy and noise filled world it can be difficult for us to be still and savor silence. Prayer is not only a conversation of words but also a stance of openness and listening for God. “Be still and know that I am God,” Psalm 46:10. As you go through the service you will notice that there are times when a brief silence is called for. We need silence in worship; it can help us listen more attentively to God and can be a profound response to the grace we have experienced.
For God alone my sole waits in silence, for my hope is in him.
-Psalm 62:5
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From the Music Director
Submitted by June Tarantino
Greetings from your Music Director! The choir has been on hiatus for July and August, and will be resuming regular Thursday evening rehearsals on September 7. Care to join us? Everyone is welcome. There are no auditions or requirements. Even if you have little musical knowledge or singing skills, we would be glad to have you participate! Can't make it every week? Talk to me! Our normal rehearsal time is Thursday night from 7:30-9:30. We take a break in the middle for coffee and fellowship. Why don't you come and give it a try!!!
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A special note of thanks to Adele Huttner for filling in as organist when our music director was away. Great job ! Thank you!
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Our church is having a Reformation 500 Bookstore!
The 500th anniversary of the Reformation is fast approaching! Do you want to learn more about Martin Luther, his writings, and their impact on Christianity? Do you want to reflect on the ongoing impact of the Reformation today? Stop by our Reformation 500 Bookstore to shop for engaging books on the Reformation for readers of all ages and interests! Save up to 50% plus receive free shipping on all Bookstore titles.
Beginning on October 1 thru October 29, you can order fascinating books on the Reformation for you and your family. Our Bookstore is sponsored by Augsburg Fortress, the publishing ministry of the ELCA. The books will include bestselling biographies like Luther the Reformer as well as an atlas of the European Reformations, a graphic novel for young readers, and primary sources from The Annotated Luther series. See Nancy Knecht for more information.
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OUTREACH GROUP REPORT
Submitted by Liz Walker, Outreach Group Coordinator, & the church office
Food Pantry: Sam Dupont did a food drive for the church in August and collected 15 bags of food for our food pantry. Aimee Nilsen expressed her appreciation and said the pantry is now fully stocked for this month. Please continue to bring your food donation items so we don’t fall behind for next month. Thank you Sam, for your mission work in helping our community’s families that depend on our food pantry. It does make a difference! During the months of July and August, 22 bags of food were handed out to the needy.
WELCA: The next WELCA meeting will be held on Tuesday, Sept 19 at 10am. The Ecumenical luncheon will take place on Sept 21 at St. Francis de Sales at 12pm. There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex for this luncheon. All ladies of HC are encouraged to attend and bring a salad. The October meeting will be held on Monday, October 16 at 10am.
Sisters in Prayer
Monthly meeting dates are Saturday mornings at 9 am at the church. The next meeting dates are September 9 and October 7. Currently a book called Listening for God: a series of short stories, with religious, thought provoking, and moral ideals, is being discussed.
Canning Workshops
Two events were held in the church backyard, July 18 and Aug 16 and attended by 20 people at each workshop, utilizing the outdoor chapel pews for sit down instructions on safe canning practices and reviewing the recipe for hands-on pickled beets in July and spiced tomato jam in August. Four groups utilized the picnic tables for preparing the food for canning. Liz brought a tent, all the vegetables for canning from the farm, supplied all the jars and spices and other canning materials, and brought a propane cook stove to prepare the hot bath for preserving. Each participant brought home the preserve they made. The class also made herbed butter with fresh herbs from the farm. Both events were taught by the educator, Daryl Minch, from the Family and Community Health Services out of Somerset County Rutgers cooperative extension. Our event did well, and a donation of $100 was made from each event to the church, in addition to giving the teacher an honorarium. Liz Walker and Bonnette Curtis are both certified food preservationist with the FCHS and have been studying with Daryl Minch for the past five and three years respectively. They also had a display table this year at the State Fair, and won best in show for their display. Hurray for the success sharing a personal interest in food preservation with the church and community, and having everybody benefit!
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Church Rummage Sale Fundraiser
This annual Rummage Sale fundraiser for the church general fund was gifted through the Auction of the Gifts by Janet Beach with the help of Liz Walker. Thank you to all who volunteered their time for this event. This year we earned over a $1,100 during this two day event. Also sold were hot dogs, popcorn, home baked goods, bottled water, coffee and tea. We received Thrivent seed money for the concession obtained by Thrivent member, Aimee Nilsen. Next year we will have greater restrictions on what is donated, no electronics, no shoes or clothes, no china dinnerware sets, a limit on books, and for big ticket items to have a minimum price. Also next year we will set up in the front parking lot to attract more people for Saturday only. All items not sold will have to be picked up and disposed of by the person who donated it. This year we had a problem disposing of the aftermath. All-in-all this seems to be an event the congregation and the community both enjoy. We are always looking for ways to improve the process, experience, and earnings to make it worthwhile.
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Celebrating Our Church’s Missions and Capital Fundraiser
Every four months, even though it may be difficult to pay our bills we celebrate the accomplishments of our church and appreciate that we are fulfilling our missions as a church. This past trimester included a capital fundraiser to help us pay our bills, and to purchase a much needed lawn mower. We met our goal of raising $19,000! We will celebrate all we’ve accomplished after the 10:30 service on Sunday September 3. We will have a church cookout and enjoy a picnic lunch together with hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill and potluck side dishes and desserts. We want to encourage everyone to join in the celebration.
Auction of the Gifts/Oktoberfest
It’s that time again when Liz Walker calls on the congregation to offer their gifts of service to be auctioned off as a fundraising effort for the church general fund. There are two ways you can make a gift. One is to make something or create an opportunity that can be bid on for only one winner to receive the gift. Example: for those that are crafty or can make something, a wreath, or crochet a baby blanket, bake dog biscuits, a cake, or offer a unique opportunity, like be an event planner for someone if you’re good at that, or cook a meal, or offer an airport ride, or babysitting services, or sew a Halloween costume. The other is to donate your service to do something for the church. This is something you can talk to the pastor about. Start a small group, or run a church event, or offer to refurbish a corner of the church. Pastor Chris will guide you. You can reach Liz Walker at lizzy128@gmail.com or call her at 718-496-6490. All the gifts have to be collected within the next two weeks. Please give it some thought.
You’re participation giving a gift and coming and bidding on a gift is important to the success of this event. Kids are encouraged to donate their services also.
The event will take place on Saturday, Sept 30. Dinner starts at 5:30pm, Silent Auction starts at 6:15pm, and Live Auction starts at 7pm. There will be a dessert and coffee break at the halfway point of the Live Auction, at which time the door prizes will be announced. The auction should run no later than 8:30pm. Mark VonOesen will once again be our auctioneer and entertain us while auctioning off the gifts.
A sign-up sheet will be in the Narthex for volunteers to help set up and take down for this event. We need cashiers, people to help count the bids and money at the end, to help Nancy Knecht with the food set-up for the Oktoberfest portion of the event. We also need someone to help our auctioneer keep track of things and someone to help write and send out the follow-up letters to the donors and auction winners.
Planning the 50/500 Celebration
This is the 50th anniversary of our congregation’s founding. Can you believe it? It is also the 500th anniversary of the day when Martin Luther posted the 95 theses on the Wittenburg Chapel door in Germany on Oct 31, 1517. What a coincidence. Pastor Chris says, “Let’s celebrate them together”. We have arranged a planning group meeting every Sunday between services in the fellowship room. Join Mark Rossi and Kathy Baumann organizing the commemoration of our Holy Counselor Lutheran Church’s history and future. They need volunteers. The date for the celebration is Oct 29, for a sit down dinner. Come be part of the fun!
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Frank & Denise Urbaniak Ray & Sue Loughren
Dave & Wynn White Donald & Maria Sugar
Derek & Sandra Chiappini
Bill & Carolyn Bonstra
Carl & Ginny Schotter
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Ken & Valerie Seufert
Mike & Dawn McCormick
Ron & Emilie Dupont
Bob & Nancy Knecht
Joe & Lynda Dans
Bruce & Sandy Laga
Joe & June Tarantino
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