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Christ Lutheran ChurchChrist Lutheran ChurchChrist Lutheran ChurchChrist Lutheran Church
REPORTERREPORTERREPORTERREPORTER
June 2013
A Publication of
Christ Lutheran Church
113 Union Street
Natick, MA 01760
Phone: 508-315-3170 E-mail: [email protected]
The Rev. Rebecca Bourret, Pastor [email protected]
Interim Music Director
Karin J. Gustafson [email protected]
Kim Petot, Junior and Youth Choir Director
and Junior Bell and Chime Director [email protected]
Tamara Nevens
Church Office [email protected]
Leaders of the Congregation:Leaders of the Congregation:Leaders of the Congregation:Leaders of the Congregation: Marianne Swenson, President
Jeff Pearson, Vice President Edie Lohr, Treasurer
Lisa Eck, Secretary Laraine Marthinsen, Flowers
Doris Brand, Coffee Hour Hilding Hedberg, Financial Secretary
Martha Cronin, Outreach John Whitlock, Resource
Cathy Gallagher, Endowment Edie Lohr and Roma Brown, Altar Guild
Joyce Simon, Worship, Music, & Visual Arts
Bruce Schnepper, Property Celeste Larson, Sunday School
Jeffrey P. Kinney, Stewardship Evangelism, open
Pamela Goloskie, Nate Pearson, Lisa Eck, and James Salerno, Youth Leaders
Church Council:Church Council:Church Council:Church Council:
Jerry Precious (2015) Mary Avalos (2014)
Patricia Bianco (2016) Marianne Swenson (2015)
Jeff Pearson (2014) Michelle Dalzell (2015)
Edie Lohr (2014)
Mary Pollard (2015) Phil Roberts (2016)
Joyce Simon (2016) Lisa Eck (2014)
Jennifer Bagley (2016)
Youth Sunday - 5/12/13
Photos courtesy of Ruth Colson
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Pastor’s PagePastor’s PagePastor’s PagePastor’s Page
Now the L� said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the
land that I will show you. I will make of you a great na"on, and I will bless you, and make your name
great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will
curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:1-3
This �me of year tends to Church be one of comings and goings—mostly the la�er. In the Church we
have just celebrated the departure of Jesus to the right hand of the Father, and the coming of the Ho-
ly Spirit to be among us as Ins�gator, Advocate, Helper, Teacher, Comforter, and Community-maker.
In our daily lives college students are leaving school for the summer, or a life�me, coming home to
family or going off to new jobs or graduate school. High school students are preparing to leave soon
for college, a gap year, or military service. (These days, it’s unlikely any high school grad is leaving
home for any other kind of work without further educa�on and training.)
In the life of our congrega�on, too, this is a season of goings and comings. In May we bid farewell and
godspeed to Chris and Kristen Stahl, as the US Air Force Band of Liberty, with which Chris has been
bassoonist, is dissolved and its members absorbed by others; and we blessed the Herold family on
their way as they return to Germany to begin a new business there, close to extended family. We also
welcomed back Diane Stevens a9er many years.
This month we hope to welcome our new Music Director, inaugura�ng a new season of music-making
to the glory of God. We at CLC consider ourselves a welcoming people, and I believe that we are. Let’s
take the welcome of our new Music Director a step further: introduce yourself, be open to new offer-
ings, new hymns, new se:ngs of the liturgy of Holy Communion, new musical undertakings. If you are
a choir member, recommit yourself to regular a�endance at rehearsals. If you have been—or have
ever thought of being—a choir member, what be�er opportunity could there be to give it a(nother)
try?
The arrival of a new Music Director will mean releasing Karin Gustafson to play for all of the other
congrega�ons where she frequently plays. Fortunately, we won’t have to say good-bye to her, but we
will take the opportunity to properly thank her for these months of highly capable, generous and
faithful service among us.
Peace.
Pastor Rebecca Bourret
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Farewell and Godspeed
John & Katja Herold-Schmidt & children
Green is the universal color of nature and symbolizes growth, life
and hope. We will see green paraments on the altar during the sum-
mer months, the season the church refers to as the Sundays a9er
Pentecost. Our church has two sets of green paraments.
Quoted from the Reporter dated September 1975.
“On Sunday, 7 September 1975, Christ Church dedicated a new
matching set of green paraments and vestments. Highly contempo-
rary in character, they have been provided through the generosity
of one of our families and through the memorial fund in memory of
Mary Kall, a charter member who died in 1973. The mo�f of bread
and fishes from the story of the feeding of the five-thousand
(Ma�hew 14:13-21) is carried through on pulpit and altar hangings,
and on the matching stole and chasuble (pastor’s communion robe).
The Altar Guild recommended the replacement of our old green set,
which had become worn and faded. The next �me the liturgical col-
or is green you are invited to study the richness of the designs of our
new hangings close-up. How many different symbols of the Chris-
�an Faith can you find?”
A few years later, David Linares, a former helicopter pilot seeing ac-
�on in the Vietnam War, donated a second green set in gra�tude to
God for his safe return home. This second set is not adorned with
applied symbols. The simple beauty of these paraments is in the
weave of the material and the more subdued color.
Chris & Kristen Stahl
Pictures and ar"cle on this page courtesy of Ruth Colson
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Junior and Youth Music
I want to give thanks to the children and youth who worked hard prepar-ing and offering music for the May 12 Youth Service. It was wonderful to have some of our young adults, home from college, join us as well. The Junior choir used this opportunity to “stretch” a bit, playing a VERY challenging bells piece as prelude, and closing the service with an improvised “drumming circle”. The children LOVE the percussion component of our musical time together. I plan to continue developing their growth with this activity. We offer music once more before school vacation begins. I’ve lined up several children and youth pieces for Father’s Day June 16, hopefully, out door service. Junior choir members please note the following rehearsals.
June 1 - -4pm June 8 - 4pm June 15 - 4pm June 16 Father's Day we offer music 9am warm-up (this will most like-ly be an outdoor service)
The Junior choir will break June 17 through August. Over the summer I would like to have a few children offer special music, either as solos or duets. Junior choir resumes after Labor Day.
News from the Resource Commission
Three fully paid pledges for 2013 have made the treasurer’s job (never easy) a bit easier by
insuring posi�ve cash flow for the first several months of the year. Thank you! Apart from
these gi)s, however, adult giving is behind pledged amounts by about $4000 for the first four
months of the year. With higher-than-budgeted snow removal costs this past winter, a con�n-
ued trend of under-budgeted giving will eventually lead to a deficit. As we head into the sum-
mer months, please do your part to keep our congrega�on current with regard to our financial
obliga�ons. Our thanks to all who give generously to the work of Christ Lutheran Church.
The commission is also pursuing the purchase of fireproof storage for our most important rec-
ords, in accordance with ELCA guidelines for record-keeping.
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Bible Studies
Come, join us on Thursday mornings at 9:45 a.m. to experience Bible discussions with Dick Brown.
The group is reading and discussing The Book of Revela�on.
These sessions will last one hour. Coffee, tea, and cookies are provided.
If Thursday morning is not possible, consider Monday evenings at 7:00 pm. We will con�nue to in-
ves�gate the early Chris�an church as revealed in the New Testament wri�ngs. Specifically, we will
review the pastoral epistles. This gathering is for one hour each Monday.
No coffee or cookies are provided.
CLC @ the MOVIES presents
TWO WHO DARED The Sharps’ War
Sunday, June 16, 4 PM Memorial Room, Christ Lutheran Church
The little known story of the courageous work of
Waitstill and Martha Sharp, a young Unitarian
minister in Wellesley and his wife, to assist Jewish
refugees fleeing the Nazi’s. For their daring heroism
they were posthumously named Righteous Among
the Nations, the highest honor accorded by the State
of Israel to non-Jews. 70 minutes.
Followed by a cook out themed potluck
to celebrate Father’s Day!
FAMILY PROMISE METROWEST
*** SAVE THE DATES - 8/18 - 9/1***
Our next Host Week for Family Promise is actually 2 weeks, beginning 8/18 and ending
9/1. We did a similar 2-week s�nt last year, the guests appreciated it very much, and we've
been scheduled to do the same this year! It will be a challenge to fill every volunteer slot and
I am ac�vely looking for addi�onal volunteers outside of our congrega�on, but please keep in
mind that this will be the end of our commitment for 2013 - no Host Week in October! If you
can find the �me to volunteer in both weeks, we will be in good shape. To that end, please
look over your plans for August and include Family Promise in your busy schedule.
Many, many thanks to all,
Laraine
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CLC Craft Day
The last Saturday of the month 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The next Craft Day will be June 29th
People can come and scrapbook, sew, knit, draw, any project they would like to work on or any of those unfinished projects they have been intending to finish but
haven't gotten to.
Do you have a friend or family member
who would enjoy receiving an inspira6onal card from our church?
Please give Janice Laakko the informa�on, and she will ensure that a card or cards are sent to you
friend or loved one.
Janice's email address is [email protected]
2013 Living Stones Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
Join Bishop Jim and Pastor Lisa Stoen Hazelwood on The New England Synod’s Companion Mission
Trip to Ethe Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan ad the Holy Land (ELCJHL)
Dates: November 12-26, 2013
Approximate cost: $3,500 all-inclusive (airfare, room & board, ground travel)
Tour Leader: Pastor Tim Keyl, Bethesda Lutheran Church
For more informa�on contact Pastor Keyl at 203-787-2346 or [email protected]
The Global Mission Team and Bishop Jim Hazelwood invite you to be transformed by the “living
stones” of the Holy Land, to pray and learn as pilgrims, and to be companions for our brothers and
sisters who seek peace with jus"ce. Tour Leader Pastor Keyl has studied and toured there six of the
past seven years, and currently serves as coordinator for the synod’s companion rela"onship.
Congratulations to our
confirmand!
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We keep in prayer our members and friends with long-term needs:
Sara Dale
Heather Dawson
Barbara Day
Dick
Evelyn
David Fabricius
Barbara Fitzpatrick
Geoff
Nancy and Russ Golly
Bob and Jean Grout
Dorothy Hall
Arthur Hurst
Richard Hurst
Skip Hurst
Jennifer
Stephen Joseph
Harmke Jung
Julie Laverdiere
Chui Yuk Lee
Ron LeShane
Lisa
Lynne
May
Steve McKee
Mike
Jon Nelson
Pa:
Barbara Peterson
Kerry Ann Precious
Conwell Rife
Skylar Rosen
Marsha Rutledge
Al & Lois Ru�er
Nadia Salerno
Juliet Seaberg
Lauren Stevens
Rindi Taylor
Dorothy Whitlock
Summer Book Group
Adult Forum concludes for the summer on June 2, but this seasonal interlude offers an opportunity for
us to come together for a book discussion or two. Might you be interested in reading Take This Bread by
Sara Miles? It’s the memoir of a woman who was raised in an atheist home, but came to faith by way of
St. Gregory of Nyssa, an “emergence” Episcopal church in San Francisco, where Ms Miles eventually
founded a remarkable feeding ministry. Here’s an excerpt from the back cover:
“Early one morning, for no earthly reason, Sara Miles, raised an atheist, wandered into a church, received
communion, and found herself transformed—embracing a faith she once scorned…Take This Bread is rich
with real-life Dickensian characters—church ladies, millionaires, schizophrenics, bishops and thieves—all
blown into Miles’s life by the relentless force of her newfound calling. Here, in this achingly beau"ful,
passionate book, is the living communion of Christ.”
Let Pastor Bourret know if you’d like to read her story, and we’ll find a date in July to gather for conver-
sa�on and refreshments. If �me permits, we can choose another book to explore.
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PRAYER VENTURES
June 2013
These pe""ons are offered as guides to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the
church. Thank you for your con"nued prayers for the life and mission of this church.
1 Pray for the delegates to the Synod Assembly of the ELCA Northwest Synod of Wisconsin as they
begin mee�ng today.
2 Second Sunday a=er Pentecost
O Lord, be with all who minister in difficult places. Be their guide and give them comfort as they in
turn give guidance and comfort to others in your name.
3 Pray for the delegates to the Synod Assembly of the ELCA South Carolina Synod as they con�nue
their work today and tomorrow.
4 Pray that a path to peace in the war in Syria will be found through diplomacy rather than con�nued
violence and deaths.
5 Remember in your prayers ELCA missionaries the Rev. Timothy and Maryann Stewart and their par-
ish ministry at the American Lutheran Church in Oslo, Norway.
6 Pray for the delegates from the Allegheny, Central/Southern Illinois, Southern Ohio and Upstate
New York synods of the ELCA as they begin their Synod Assemblies today. Also remember the dele-
gates from the Lower Susquehanna, New Jersey, Northwestern Pennsylvania and Central States syn-
ods as they meet in assembly to elect bishops.
7 Remember in your prayers the delegates from the Western North Dakota, Indiana-Kentucky, New
England, Northeastern Iowa, Southwestern Minnesota and the Virginia synods of the ELCA as they
begin their Synod Assemblies today. Remember also the delegates from the South Dakota, Southeast-
ern Minnesota, Southwestern Washington, Northwestern Minnesota and Southwestern Minnesota
and Virginia synods as they meet in assembly to elect bishops.
8 Pray for the theological educa�on ministry of the Rev. Ann Klavano, an ELCA missionary in Fin-
schhafen, Papua New Guinea.
9 Third Sunday a=er Pentecost
Everlas�ng God, help us prepare our own hearts and meet us in worship. We pray for all worship
leaders, called and lay, musicians, congrega�on administrators and secretaries. In the name of Jesus
we pray. Amen.
10 Pray for ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission volunteer Morgan Dodson, who is working with
youth in London.
11 Barnabas, Apostle
Remember in your prayers the evangelism ministry of the Rev. Mawien Ariik, an ELCA missionary in
South Sudan.
12 Pray for the work of Lutheran Immigra�on and Refugee Service and its efforts on behalf of the 4.5
million people worldwide forced into sex work and the 16.4 million who are vic�ms of forced labor.
13 Pray for the delegates from the ELCA Grand Canyon Synod as they begin mee�ng today. Also re-
member the delegates from the ELCA Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod as they begin mee�ng in as-
sembly today to elect a bishop.
14 Pray for the delegates of the Northeastern Pennsylvania and Northern Illinois synods of the ELCA
as they begin their Synod Assemblies today. Remember also the delegates from the ELCA Upper Sus-
quehanna Synod as they meet in assembly to elect a bishop.
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15 In your prayers remember Joseph Helgeson, an ELCA missionary teaching in Bra�slava, Slovakia.
16 Fourth Sunday a=er Pentecost and Father’s Day
Good and loving God, bless all who care for children, let them be examples of faith and love. Grant
them pa�ence and kindness and lead them in your grace; through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and
Lord. Amen.
17 Pray for ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission volunteer Taisha McWilliams, who is spending a year
of accompaniment at the Kwazamokuhle Diaconic Centre in Estcourt, South Africa.
18 Include in your prayers the work of the Rev. Philip and Lou Marie Knutson, ELCA missionaries who
are regional representa�ves for southern Africa and are living in Cape Town, South Africa.
19 Pray for ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission volunteer Rachel Coen-Tuff, who is in Wigan, United
Kingdom, working with youth.
20 On this World Refugee Day, pray for the 47.3 million people around the world who have had to
flee their homes under the threat of persecu�on or due to poli�cal conflict and violence.
21 Include in your prayers the delegates from the ELCA Caribbean Synod as they con�nue their Synod
Assembly today. Pray also for the ELCA Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod delegates as they begin
mee�ng in assembly to elect a bishop.
22 Remember in your prayers Phillip and June Nelson, ELCA missionaries in N’gaoundéré, Cameroon,
where June is a nurse at the Protestant Hospital and Phillip works in business administra�on.
23 Fi=h Sunday a=er Pentecost
Lord, be with all who travel this summer season. Watch over those who are far from home and hold
them in your loving care.
24 John the Bap6st
Pray for the volunteer work of Ka�e Jus�ce as she spends a year in Bloemfontein, South Africa, as part
of the ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission program.
25 Remember in your prayers ELCA missionary Erin Odgers-Chew, who is teaching in Cairo, Egypt.
26 Remember in your prayers Morris and Patricia Casper, ELCA missionaries teaching in Cieszyn, Po-
land.
27 Pray for Aaron Schaedler, an ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission volunteer who is spending a year
in Cuernavaca, Mexico, teaching English as a second language.
28 Include in your prayers the theological educa�on ministry of the Rev. Kathryn Schifferdecker and
the Rev. Doug Steinke, ELCA missionaries in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
29 Peter and Paul, Apostles
Remember in your prayers the volunteer work of ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission par�cipant Mi-
chael Soneson at the rehabilita�on center in Reading, United Kingdom.
30 Sixth Sunday a=er Pentecost
Almighty God, we thank you for all of the leaders of this church. We especially li9 in prayer all of the
newly elected synod bishops as they take on their new responsibili�es. In Christ’s name we pray.
Amen.
-- This resource may be copied and shared among members and friends of the congrega"ons of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ameri-
ca. Contact [email protected] for addi"onal informa"on. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 8765 West Higgins Road, Chicago, IL
60631. Telephone: 800-638-3522, ext. 2458.
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Thank You… ~ Excerpts from letters and cards we have received this past month ~
Dear Supporter from Christ Lutheran Church:
On behalf of the Na�ck Service Council (NSC), please accept our hearZelt apprecia�on for your gener-
ous dona�on of $270.00 received on 4/30/2013.
With your thoughZul support, NSC is able to assist hundreds of families during these challenging eco-
nomic �mes.
We remain deeply commi�ed to our 50 year mission of serving our less fortunate neighbors and look
forward to sharing our progress and success stories through our website
(www.na�ckservicecouncil.org), social media (please like us on Facebook), and newsle�ers.
If you would like to visit us and see firsthand the difference your gi9 is making, please contact me di-
rectly at 508-655-1791, extension 11.
With Sincere thanks, Gregory W. Tutuny
Execu�ve Director, Na�ck Service Council, Inc.
Dear Members of Christ Lutheran Church,
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did
for me.” MaGhew 25:40 (NIV)
For the past 74 years Lutheran congrega�ons have welcomed the �red, poor, huddled masses yearn-
ing ot breathe free in the America. Together, your congrega�on and Lutheran Immigra�on and Refu-
gee Service have helped nearly 400,000 people make a new start in our country. But our work is not
yet complete! ...
That is why your gi9 of $2,994.00 is so appreciated! Your support is cri�cal to our mission: Witnessing
to God’s love for all people, we stand with and advocate for migrants and refugees, transforming
communi�es through ministries of service and jus�ce.
Thank you for all you do to welcome newcomers to the United States and for your support of LIRS!
In faith, Linda Hartke, President and CEO
Dear Pastor Bourret, Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
Thank you for the check for $1200.00 which was raised from the annual Spaghe: Supper to provide
support for Calumet Campership for our youth. The people of Resurrec�on appreciate your partner-
ship and we thank God for you.
Wishing you all God’s con�nued abundant blessings.
Nu�fafa (God’s peace to you all).
Miriam E. Sedzro, Pastor
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Pride Parade Saturday, June 8
The number of ELCA congregations in greater Boston that have
become “Reconciling in Christ,” that is, expressly welcoming all
people, irrespective of gender identity or sexual orientation, into
full participation in the life and leadership of the church, is grow-
ing! (CLC became RIC three years ago.)
Some of these congregations are planning to walk together in the
Boston Pride parade on Saturday, June 8, carrying banners to
demonstrate that the welcome each of us has received in Jesus
Christ is the welcome that awaits our LGBT brothers and sisters in RIC congregations. The pa-
rade begins at 12:00, but walkers will gather beforehand in order to be “staged” for the event. De-
tails will be forthcoming. If you are interested in participating, please be in touch with Pastor
Bourret or Council President Marianne Swenson.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
New England Synod Assembly: June 7-9, Springfield, MA
Pride Parade: Saturday, June 8th (see page 13)
Outdoor Worship (weather permi:ng) Sunday, June 16
Movie Night: “Two Who Dared,” followed by pot-luck cook-out
Sunday, June 16, 4:00 p.m. (see page page 5)
Apprecia6on Coffee Hour for Karin Gustafson: Sunday, June 30, following worship
Deadline for JULY Reporter Submissions is JUNE 21, 2013
Christ Lutheran Church
113 Union Street
Natick, MA 01760
(508) 315-3170
www.christnatick.org