god with us - emanuel hartford...god with us (usps 174-740) is published monthly by emanuel lutheran...
TRANSCRIPT
G o d W i t h U s T h e N e w sl e t t e r o f E m a n u el L u t h e r an C h u r c h i n H a r t f o r d
December 2018 C E L E B R A T I N G 1 2 9 Y E A R S I N H A R T F O R D - 1 8 8 9 - 2 0 1 8 Volume 113/No.11
www.emanuelhartford.org www.facebook.com/emanuelhartford
To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is
the Messiah, the Lord.
Luke 2:11
Sundays in December December 2 1st Sunday of Advent
Services at 8:00 and 10:00 AM Luke 21:25-36
December 9 2nd Sunday of Advent Services at 8:00 and 10:00 AM
Luke 3:1-6
December 16 3rd Sunday of Advent 8:00 AM Service, 10:00 AM Nativity Festival
Luke 3:7-18
December 23 4th Sunday of Advent Service of Lessons and Carols at 10:00 AM
Luke 1:39-55
December 24 Christmas Eve Services at 5:00 and 11:00 PM
Luke 2:1-20
December 30 1st Sunday after Christmas Service of Lessons and Carols at 10:00 AM
Luke 2:41-52
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Contents From the Pastor .................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Thrivent Action Teams ...................................................................................................................................................... 4
Sweet & Savory Celebration of New Members, New American and Stewardship ...................................... 4
2019 Offering Envelopes .................................................................................................................................................. 5
Reminder — Your 2019 Pledge is Needed................................................................................................................. 5
Year End Accounting—An important year-end reminder ................................................................................... 5
Children’s Library News.................................................................................................................................................... 5
Members of the Church Council ..................................................................................................................................... 6
Stewardship ........................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Children’s Library News.................................................................................................................................................... 7
Alternative Ideas for Christmas ..................................................................................................................................... 8
Congratulations to Martha Kannah! ............................................................................................................................. 8
First Emanuel Women’s Retreat at Camp Calumet ................................................................................................ 8
105th Annual St. Lucia Festival ...................................................................................................................................... 9
Worship Themes for December ..................................................................................................................................... 9
Worship Ministry for December .................................................................................................................................... 9
Special Emanuel Birthdays in December ................................................................................................................. 10
Special Emanuel Anniversaries in December ........................................................................................................ 10
Prayer Requests ................................................................................................................................................................ 10
Altar Flower Order Form ............................................................................................................................................... 10
Poinsettia Donation Order Form ................................................................................................................................ 10
Emanuel’s Calendar of Events...................................................................................................................................... 11
Emanuel Lutheran Church Staff
GOD WITH US (USPS 174-740)
is published monthly by Emanuel Lutheran Church, 311 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT 06106. Periodicals postage paid at
Hartford, CT.
Postmaster: send address changes to God With Us, 311 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT 06106
The Reverend Dr. Paula V. Mehmel
Senior Pastor—extension 2
The Reverend Elizabeth Krentz-Wee
Visitation Pastor—extension 3
Jonathan Reuning-Scherer
Director of Music
Jeff Potter
Christian Education
Jane Wunder
Operations Manager—extension 5
Naomi Ngoma
Community Life & Outreach —extension 4
John Franzis
Administrative Assistant—extension 0
Rachid Chelali
Sexton
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From the Pastor
A s I believe many members of Emanuel are
aware, my home congregation, Bethel
Lutheran Church in Willmar, Minnesota, was a
Swedish Lutheran Church that also had a Lucia
Festival.
However, Bethel’s Lucia Fest (as it is called) is
very different. Rather than a music focused cele-
bration with singing in Swedish, their celebration
focused on Lucia and her acts of service. I was
raised always connecting Lucia with her mission
of bringing food to the poor.
Last year, I discovered how beautiful Emanuel’s
tradition was, but this year, Iwanted to add one
small piece to this years celebration, which is in
keeping with who Lucia was. In addition to the $5
ticket price, those attending are encouraged to
bring items to donate to the food pantry, so that
we are able to connect Emanuel’s traditions to the
very origins of St. Lucia, the Italian martyr, who
was killed because she gave away her dowry to the
poor.
The reason that Lucia wears a crown of candles is
because it was used to provide light for her as she
entered the catacombs where persecuted Chris-
tians were hiding. Her hands were too full of the
trays of food she was bringing to hold a lantern, so
her crown of light led the way.
As a congregation, Emanuel has a history of
“lighting the way,” in the city of Hartford. Whether
it is a mission like Capitol Towers, Center City
Churches, or programs like SPROUT and Friday
Night Program, Emanuel has been “in the city for
good,” lighting the way for this community.
This December, in addition to encouraging those
who attend Lucia to bring food for the Hands on
Hartford Food Pantry, we will be exploring other
ways that Emanuel can help capture the spirit of
Lucia that is so integral to our heritage.
The first will be a World Hunger Focus that will be
integrated into our life together in Advent.
Members of the congregation will be given an Ad-
vent Calendar distributed by the ELCA World Hun-
ger Appeal that highlights both ways to give and
acts of service.
In addition, children will be given a piggy bank to
fill, as we look at purchasing items for God’s Global
Barnyard and there will be Christmas Decorations
that will be available that people can take and use
as gifts for the person who has everything, helping
them provide for those with nothing and teaching
the value of seeing beyond yourself. For example,
in addition to their Christmas gifts, this year, I plan
to buy “honey bees” for $20 a colony, for each of
my five grandchildren.
Through the ELCA Global Barnyard program, this
gift will provide a community with a colony of
bees. The honeybees have a growing importance
as the shrinking honey bee population worldwide
is especially worrisome. Beeswax can be trans-
formed into handcrafted soaps, candles, honey and
other products to create a small, sustainable busi-
ness. But that’s not all – we know that their mere
presence on a farm means that they are pollinating
plants and boosting crop growth far and wide.
Throughout our Advent time together, and into
Christmas, look for opportunities to learn more
about the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, which is
one of the best, most cost effective ways to provide
for the hungry of the world, with their low over-
head and high rate of success.
In addition, during December, we will be working (Continued on page 4)
4
D o you have a Thrivent life insurance policy or
any other Thrivent product? Anyone who
has any Thrivent product has the ability to apply
for a Thrivent Action Team, which includes $250
in seed money for an educational, service, or fund
raising event. Applying for an Action Team Card is
quick and easy. They can be used to support a
whole variety of activities at Emanuel--providing
materials for the Friday Night Program or
SPROUT, food for a Community Luncheon, the
Craft Fair, or a new member event, or pizza for a
Confirmation or youth activity. They can be used
to expand our mission and outreach. If you are a
Thrivent member and have not used your Action
Team Funds this year, please contact Pastor Paula
if you would like to use them to help Emanuel. It
costs you nothing and expands the ministry of
Emanuel in effective stewardship.
Thrivent Action Teams
toward living out the spirit of Lucia in our own
neighborhood, as we prepare for what we hope
will be a January opening of our new food pantry,
Emanuel is in partnership with Hands on Hartford
in an innovative new program that will allow us to
be a satellite food pantry, starting with outreach
for two hours one Saturday a month. What that
means is that we will be able to reach people who
are food insecure at a time when they often run
short of food and offer the only Saturday food
pantry option in Hartford.
During December, our Food Pantry Committee will
be working to get the space, which is the office op-
posite my office in that wing of the church, ready
for inspection and establishing protocols. If you
are interested in this ministry, please let Naomi
know--it truly is an exciting new venture and we
wish to engage as many people as possible.
It is wonderful to see how God is working in
Emanuel--keeping alive the traditions that have
defined it all these years--with music and service--
and adding new pieces to keep us connected with
the community where we are “in the city for good.”
Peace,
From the Pastor (continued)
W e will have a Sweet & Savory Celebration of
New Members, New Americans and Stew-
ardship on December 9th. All are invited to bring a
sweet or savory dish to share—hot or cold! We’ll
have the ovens in Luther Hall available to keep
things warm. A sign-up sheet is in Luther Hall.
Sweet & Savory Celebration of New Members, a New American & Stewardship
5
2019 Offering Envelopes
I n 2019 Emanuel will continue to issue bi-
monthly packets of offering envelopes imprint-
ed with your name and envelope number. If you
no longer need to receive these envelopes be-
cause you give online or have your bank automat-
ically issue checks, please let the Church Office
know so we can remove your name from the data-
base. And, of course, if you change your mind lat-
er and find you miss the envelopes, we will gladly,
easily restart them.
In this year’s packets, you might notice several
small changes:
Extra opportunities for giving to World Hun-
ger -- With so many people in the world who
are hungry and food insecure, gifts to World
Hunger are critical. Emanuel members contin-
ue to be exceptional contributors to the
ELCA’s World Hunger effort, giving over
$6,200 in 2017 and over $3,700 to date in
2018.
A Flower Offering envelope -- While many
people choose to give altar flowers in memory
of loved ones on specific dates, any gift at any
time during the year can be made to support
this important ministry -- beautifying the
chancel area each Sunday morning and then
helping cheer those in our Emanuel family
who are unable to get to church.
Mail back envelopes -- We’ve reduced the
number of mail back envelopes during each
bi-monthly period. If you use them and need
more – please just let the Church Office know
and we’ll mail you an additional supply. (And
to those who don’t use them -- thank you for
bringing your extras in to church so that we
can redistribute them as needed!)
Reminder—Your 2019 Pledge is Needed
I f you haven’t made a pledge to Emanuel yet,
please consider sending in your 2019 pledge
form during December. Pledge forms are availa-
ble from an usher, on the table at the back of the
church, or in the Church Office, and can be placed
in the collection plate or mailed back to the
church (please note Stewardship Pledge on the
mailing envelope). Thank you for your support
of Emanuel’s ministries.
Year End Accounting—An important year-end reminder
A s the close of 2018 is approaching, members
and friends are reminded that they must ei-
ther deliver or mail (postmark) contributions on
or before December 31 in order to claim them as
a charitable deduction for 2018. (Contributions
placed in the offering plate during the first wor-
ship services in 2019 or postmarked in 2019 will
count as 2019 deductions regardless of when the
check was dated or written.)
If you have any specific questions about this,
please contact either our Treasurer Bobbee Can-
field, Financial Secretary Lee Sherman, or Jane
Wunder.
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Mark Hollertz, President ..................................................................................................... [email protected]
Sarah Parmelee, Vice President...................................................................................... [email protected] Chet Brodnicki, Exec At Large ............................................................................................. [email protected]
Bobbee Canfield, Treasurer ......................................................................................... [email protected] Mindy Olson, Secretary ........................................................................................................... [email protected]
James Flanders ........................................................................................................................ [email protected] Karen Rock .......................................................................................................................... [email protected]
Linnea Bloomquist ....................................................................................................... [email protected]
Eric Carlson .......................................................................................................................... [email protected] Jacob Fulmer .................................................................................................................................. [email protected]
Melissa Johnson ..................................................................................................................mjohnson529@hotmail.com Peter Murphy............................................................................................................................. [email protected]
Deepak Pedada .....................................................................................................................deepak.pedada@gmail.com Gary Troutman.................................................................................................................................... [email protected]
Yvonne Gardner......................................................................................................................... [email protected]
Members of the Church Council
Stewardship
C omplaining and grumbling are to Satan what
praise and thanksgiving are to God. I don’t
know who said that, but when I first heard it, I im-
mediately thought, “Bingo! That is exactly right!”
Think about it—what do you feel like, how does
your body react, and how do people around you
respond when you grumble and complain, looking
for what is wrong? Chances are you feel ornery or
cranky, your body tightens up, and the mood
around you fills with negativity. It certainly isn’t
refreshing or life giving. And the powers and forc-
es of evil rejoice, because through grumbling and
complaining, the seeds of dissent are sown, and
people are not focused on God.
But what happens when you are full of thanksgiv-
ing and praise—how do you feel, what is your
body doing, and how do people around you re-
spond? People who exude thankfulness and
praise are kinder people, more hopeful, generally
healthier, and certainly more fun to be around. In
addition, our God, who told us “in everything, give
thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Je-
sus” (I Thess. 5:18), is definitely more pleased
with us, because God’s will is truly accomplished
in thanksgiving and praise.
But what, exactly, is an attitude of gratitude? It is
an attitude that focuses on what God has given us,
and one that is grateful for those gifts, seeking to
respond to those gifts by giving freely, as we have
received.
When we have an attitude of gratitude, we will be
full of thanksgiving and praise, not grumbling and
complaining. When we have an attitude of grati-
tude, we will have a theology of abundance. A the-
ology of abundance is one that takes the promises
of God seriously, believing that God will provide
us with exactly what we need to live according to
God’s riches in glory, just as it says in the Bible.
(Phil 4:19)
The opposite of a theology of abundance is a the-
ology of scarcity, which is nothing more than a
failure to believe that God will always keep the
promise to care for us. It is an approach to life
that clenches tightly to what one has and seeks
(Continued on page 7)
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T he Holy Moly Christmas Story by Re-
becca Glaser is now part of our
Christmas collection. The book begins
with the angel’s visit to Mary and contin-
ues as Mary goes to visit Elizabeth. It then
tells the story of Jesus’ birth and continues
to the visit of the wise men. The book is
paired with “The Holy Moly Christmas Sto-
ry Collection” DVD.
Ada and Leo have also made a Christmas
appearance. In Volume 1 of “Ada & Leo’s
Inspired Christmas Adventures”, Ada and
Leo learn about patience and repentance.
There are questions about whether Christ-
mas presents will be received by their
friend Ruby and whether their friend Clara can
forgive herself for her mistakes. In Volume 2, Ada
and Leo learn about the true meaning of
Christmas as they practice for the annual
church Christmas pageant.
Sunday School classes will be visiting the library to check out books from our won-
derful Christmas collection. Please make sure they are returned after the first of the year.
Children’s Library News
Stewardship (continued)
out reasons to grumble and complain rather than
rejoice and give thanks. It is an attitude of negativ-
ity that breeds discontent and leads to unhappi-
ness, because nothing is ever good enough.
My hope is that every member of Emanuel will
consider taking a step up in giving this year, and
deliberately and intentionally pledge two percent
more of your income to the work and ministry of
Emanuel than last year. In other words, if you gave
3 percent, we encourage you to give 5 percent this
year. However, if you want to move beyond that,
and take the leap and try tithing, we would be
thrilled, and our ministries would be blessed. We
need to give out of our abundance to a God whose
abundant love never ceases to share our mission
to be “in the city for good.”
You can approach giving with an attitude of scarci-
ty, believing that God is not faithful and that you
will never have enough to share freely. If you take
that approach, you can be assured that attitude
will spill over into your whole life. Or you can ap-
proach it with open hands and an open heart, full
of praise and thanksgiving for what you have and
believing in a God who is faithful to promises
made in Scripture.
God tells us that we will have enough. When we
believe that and Live What We Believe, we will
find a wealth beyond our wildest imagining. A
wealth of love, a wealth of peace, and a wealth of
joy.
Give boldly, trust deeply, and live what you be-
lieve.
(Continued from page 6)
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Alternative Ideas For Christmas
I f you don’t feel like giving Uncle Lou another tie
he will never wear, or your parents a knick-
knack they don’t need in an already overcrowded
house, why not consider an alternative idea for
Christmas giving. You can give a gift to World Hun-
ger to buy rabbits for a Ugandan Village in
someone’s honor, or money to buy trees in the de-
sert of South Africa. The ELCA has an excellent
booklet full of alternative giving ideas at
www.ELCA.org/goodgifts or you can check with
Pastor Paula, who has a copy of the book. Why not
consider a gift in honor of the homeless child
whose birth we celebrate to someone who really
needs it?
Congratulations to Martha Kannah!
C ongratulations to Emanuel member Martha
Kannah who became an American citizen on
November 15th in a Naturalization Ceremony at
the District Court. Pastor Paula and Naomi were
there to celebrate the occasion with her family.
First (hopefully annual) Emanuel Women’s Retreat at Camp Calumet—March 22-24, 2019
G et the dates on your
calendar now for
the First (hopefully an-
nual) Emanuel Women’s
Retreat. We were able to
reserve the Village Cab-
ins and the Micah Room for that weekend. If you
are interested in being on the Retreat Planning
Team, let Pastor Paula know. As time draws closer
we will get more details, but we wanted it on
everyone’s calendar now.
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Worship Ministries for December
Would you like to help with Sunday Worship? Please contact our ministry coordinators: Greeters ............................................................................................................................ Eileen Mitchell 860-688-4867 Lectors................................................................................................................................Lynn Sherman 860-523-1702 Ushers ...................................................................................................................................... Jim Ashwell 860-667-0264 Assisting Ministers ...................................................................................................... Janice Favreau 860-978-1681
Acolytes & Crucifers Dec 2 Acolyte Gavin Emmons Crucifer Aron Kiehne Dec 9 Acolyte Kylie Hazard Crucifer Braden Hazard Dec 16 Acolyte Geneva Swanson Crucifer Brittany Caldwell Dec 23 Acolyte Gifty Kannah Crucifer Lily Maynard Dec 24 Acolyte tbd Crucifer tbd Dec 24 Acolyte Emmy Karim Crucifer Libby Karim
Assisting Ministers Dec 2 Janice Favreau Dec 9 Mal Doyle Dec 16 Meredith Swanson Dec 23 Lynn Sherman Dec 30 Trey Hazard
Communion Preparers To be announced
Greeters Dec 2 Jennifer Jarvis, Olivia & Ethan Dec 9 Andy and Nancy Gray Dec 16 Nativity Festival Participants Dec 23 Susan and John Franzis
Lectors 8:00 a.m. Dec 2 Randy Olson Dec 9 Bill Kasmarzyk Dec 16 Kathy Haller Dec 23 no service Dec 30 no service
10:00 a.m. Dec 2 Janice Favreau Dec 9 Bill Farquhar Dec 16 Nativity Festival Dec 23 Rae Ann Gremel, Craig Bloomquist, Melissa Johnson Dec 24 5:00 PM Lee Sherman, 11:00 PM Janice Favreau
`
Worship Themes and Schedule for December
Dec. 2 ................................................................................................................................ Prophetic Promises—Jeremiah Dec. 9 ........ Prophetic Promises—Malachai; Baptism at 8 am service, receiving New Members at 10 am Dec. 16 .................................................. 8 am Prophetic Prophecies—Malachi and 10 am Nativity Celebration Dec. 23 ............................................... no 8 am service, 10 am Service of Lessons and Carols with Communion Dec. 24 ...................................................................................................................................... Services at 5 pm and 11 pm Dec. 30 ..............................................no 8 am Service, 10 am Service of Lessons and Carols with Communion
105th Annual St. Lucia Festival
This year’s St. Lucia Festival will be on Friday,
December 7th. There will be performances at
5:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Admission is $5.00 at the
door. However, in the spirit of Lucia, in addition to
the admission charge please bring an item of food
for the Food Pantry.
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Please remember the following individuals in your prayers.
Peggy Zachariasen † Joy Hackett † Clayton Medling † Elyanna Roman †
Yvonne Gardner † Carol Johnson † Karin Gottier
Homebound: Rudy Peterson † Elaine Wilson † Joan Feldmann † Doris Barron †
Burt Hedling † Betty Fairchild † Betty-Lois Benson † Inger Swanson † Beverly Swanson
Altar Flower Order Form
Special Emanuel Birthdays in December Elaine Krause (December 6), Karin Stetson (December 10), Inger Swanson (December 14), Eleanor Olson (December 18)
Please make checks payable to Emanuel Lutheran Church and note “Altar Flowers” on the memo line.
Place your check or $45 along with the order form below in the offering plate or mail it to the church
office.
Date for Altar Flowers: ________________________________________________________________________________________
In Honor/Memory of: __________________________________________________________________________________________
Given by: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone Number:_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please Contact the Church Office (860-525-0894) if you have any questions.
Special Emanuel Anniversaries in December Elaine and Lanard Krause (December 15)
11
God With Us
Emanuel Lutheran Church
311 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
Address Service Requested
Periodical
Postage Paid at Hartford, CT
Emanuel Lutheran Church
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Rev. Dr. Paula V. Mehmel, Pastor
Church Office: 860-525-0894