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The Parish Visitor of Bethel Lutheran Church, Auburn, Massachusetts
January 2016 Volume LXXI No. 1 Church Office: 508-832-3427
The Rev. Andrew Borden, Pastor [email protected] The Rev. Edward W. Voosen, Pastor Emeritus
The Rev. Robert F. Fenby, Pastor Emeritus
Administrative Assistant: Ann Spinner: Email: [email protected]
Music Director: Greg Martiros Phone: 978-360-4868 Email: [email protected]
Homepage: http://www.bethelauburnelca.org. Twitter: http://twitter.com/bethelauburn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethellutheranauburnma
Bethel Preschool Director: Beverly Sampson Phone: 508-832-9411
Bethel’s Purpose: Loving~Serving~Growing~in Faith!
Worship Schedule for January
8am and 10:15am
Sunday, January 3 Epiphany of Our Lord Worship
Blood Pressure Clinic after services
Sunday, January 10 Baptism of Our Lord Worship
Sunday, January 17 Epiphany 2 Worship
Sunday, January 24 Epiphany 3 Worship
Sunday, January 31 Epiphany 4 Worship
Wednesdays Midweek Worship at 5:30pm
PASTOR’S CORNER Watchers, lookers-on, people focused outside of themself and taking note of changes in the world, the region, the community; we hopefully all have a bit of this in our make-up. Because if we aren’t aware of the wider-world, if we’re only navel-gazing then something is going to missed, some-thing is going to be lost.
What if the wise men, Gaspard, Melchior and Bal-thassar, what if they had been too busy in doing whatever that they didn’t notice the brightly shining star and remember what they had read about its prophecy? Their witness of the wider world taking note of this extraordinary event, God’s breaking in, would not have happened and their lives would not have been changed.
God doesn’t sleep, ever, at least that’s the take-away from scripture’s testimony to us. Understand-ing God this way might just suggest Godly work is in-play and could show up on our doorstep, in our neighborhood, on the world-stage any time of the day or night. Our challenge is in being aware and purposely attentive for grace manifesting itself around us so that not only we take heart but can point out to others how God is near, how God is here!
The camel-ride from the east through desert lands wasn’t a piece of cake. Our three gift-bearing gen-tlemen made a commitment to confirm the blessed
event so that it could be made known and make a positive difference for humanity.
Being a person of faith in a world that seems in-creasingly secular isn’t always a piece of cake, ei-ther. Yet, our commitment in confirming the heart of love that is Jesus, the Love come down at Christmas and breaking into our imperfect yet beautiful world, is necessary and right for making a positive difference for humanity on our age.
May the wonder of the birth of Jesus and its reve-lation to the wider world, initially testified to in scripture with the coming of the wise men and shepherds from the hills, instill in us confidence that the Dawn From On High is still breaking in, and may we know the peace of God which sur-passes understanding and our hearts skip with joy at the hope manifest I our midst!
Peace & grace + Pastor Andrew
Annual Meeting
January 24th after worship The Annual Meeting of the Congregation will follow
the service in the Parish Hall (west end) and we will
approve reports; adopt a plan for minis-
try (a budget), elect Council members, a
Nominating Committee for 2016, and
elect Voters to the 2016 N.E. Synod As-
sembly. All Confirmed members of Bethel are eligible
to vote and attend. Snow date will be January 31st.
Dear Friends at Bethel: Please know that I appreciate the great send-off you gave me in my last days of serving at Bethel. My time with you has been a blessing to me, and I thank you all for your support and your partnership in the church’s mission. God bless you in Bethel’s ministry in all the days to come. —Pastor John Nieman
THE PARISH VISITOR Page 2
LIPY-CM’s 9th ANNUAL GIFTING EVENT On Sunday, 12/13 five churches came together at Zion-Oxford to bring cheer to Worcester inner-city kids who were looking at a bleak holiday.
Sixty-seven of us gathered, were assigned kids to buy for and then made our way to North Oxford’s WALMART where management had agreed to give us 10% our total purchases and our tax-exempt status is honored (THANK YOU WALMART!!!)
The wrapping was intense (like how do you conceal a hu-la-hoop??) and the pizza and desserts great! We wor-shipped and packed Pastor Andrew’s truck FULL and the delivery was made the next day to Concordia Lutheran on Murray Avenue.
A BIG THANKS to everyone who donated monetarily and of their time for this wonderful expression as Christ’s hands and feet on the ground: $1,800 was raised be-tween our 5 regional cooperative ministry sites!!!
DINE OUT LADIES (DOL’s!)
January 12th
at 6pm at “Jasmine” on 711 Southbridge
St. Auburn. Meet at the restaurant - each person is
responsible for the cost of their meal. Sign up in the
Narthex
ALTAR FLOWERS FOR 2016
There is now a Flower Chart in the Nar-
thex. If you wish to put flowers on the
altar in 2016 please sign up. First come
first served so sign up as soon as possi-
ble. Cost is about $30.00 for 2 bouquets
and you will be billed directly from Berg Florist.
Jan. 12th
MEN’S GROUP DINNER Chinese Restaurant for Buffet All men are invited to take part in this
monthly Fundraiser. Proceeds from
these dinners have helped fund many
different causes, including scholarships
for Camp Calumet. Dinners are the 2nd Tuesday of
the Month. January we are going out to eat at a local
Chinese Restaurant for their buffet. Cost will be de-
termined depending on where we go. Watch the sign-
up sheet in the Narthex for location where we will car
pool at Bethel at 5:30 and eat at 6:00
Thanks, Larry Stidsen
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INCLEMENT WEATHER
CANCELLATION POLICY In the event of inclement weather notices regarding
building closures and cancellation of notices will be found
on the following:
Television – WBZ Channel 4 and
WCVB Channel 5
Website – WHDH Channel 7 is on
internet only www.whdh.com
Radio – WSRS 96.1 FM or WTAG
580 AM
Messages will also be kept on the
church answering
PRAYER LIST Members names are underlined: Bold face are newly added as of 12/30/2015
Donald Aulenback Jr., Phil Becker, John Berube, Roberta
Briggs, Joyce Bylund, Bernard Carlson, Karen Carlson, Nick Caruso, Nancy Copeland, Cormier Family, Lynn
Sherwin Crystoff, Shirley Cummins, Lori Deso, Jill Ducat, Bette Elia, Rocci Elia, Bill Garneau, Jack Haringa, Har-old Johnson, Mary E. Johnson, Olof Johnson, Melissa Kneeland, Jerry LaFleur, Jean Latti, Diane Ela-Lauzon, Bill Lauzonis, Cynthia Lauzonis, Sal Luco, Sheri Madsen, Bob Marshalkowski, Matthews family, Alice Nobert, Gil-bert Nobert, Priscilla Odgren, Waldo Pierce, Ron Ring-
gard, Thyra Steelman, Bob Tee, Steve Trilligan, Linda Vernon, Edward Warren
Hospitalized or other Health Care Facilities Life Care: Margaret Sjoberg, Barbara Pierce, Carolyn
Dumais
Millbury Health: Delores Bengtsson Beaumont, Northboro: Betty Earley Overlook, Charlton: Pastor Harold Haas Lincoln Hill Manor, Spencer: Dot Reid Lutheran Health Care Center: Velma Blanchard Sterling Village Nursing & Rehab: Frances Gadde
DISMAS HOUSE The following Fridays we will be serving and joining in meal with the folks at Dismas. Call church office and leave your name if you are interested in joining us for any of these dates.
Friday January 29th 6:00 pm Friday February 26th 6:00pm Friday March 25th @ 6:00 pm
To our Bethel Friends,
We would like to thank you all for your prayers for our family members over the past weeks.
Stephen & Jennifer Johnson
PASTORAL ACTS
Eternal Life: Our sympathy to the family & friends of
Evelyn Ventura, Rev. Gerry Sanders who has en-
tered Eternal Life since our last Parish Visitor. May
God comfort all who mourn.
New Life in Baptism: for Liliana Taubinger who
was baptized on November 22 and Jackson Zifcak,
son of Nicole & Brian who was baptized on December
2oth. God’s Blessings!
MEMORIAL FUND GIFTS
A Memorial Fund gift has been given in memory of
Ray Ogden by Judy Sampson, Ruth Thompson, John
Lamb, Richard & Patricia Olson Anita & John Haynes,
Belmonte Family, Leanne & Tom Carraher, Tim and
Cheryl Cronin and Mary Nelson.
Congratulations to Christine & Michael Gagnon on
the birth of their grandson, Aidan Michael Gagnon.
Aidan was born to Alec Gagnon and Chloe Jolin on
December 18th. God’s blessings to all.
God’s Work ~ Our Hands
As of Sunday, December 27, 2015 Received YTD Budget YTD $117,805.73 $117,000.00
NEW 2016 PRAYER LIST All names on the prayer list, except members AND
those added in December will be cleared as of Janu-
ary 1st. If you want a name to stay on contact the
Church Office at 508-832-3427 or con-
[email protected]. This is done twice a year now
with the second time July 1st.
JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES
If your Anniversary is missing please let us know - 832-3427. Thank You!
Judy & Roger Bohn 01/05/62 Alden & Bev Sampson 01/19/68
BOOK GROUP
“The Orphan Train” by Christina Baker Kline on Friday January 15th @ 200 pm.
Up coming books will be “The Im-mortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloots (Feb.19th) and “Flight of the Sparrow” by Amy Brown (March 18th). If you have already read any of these books or if they interest you to read, please come and join us!
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WORSHIP SPACE & THE LITURGY Jesus never told us how to create worship space or laid out a particular worship model; except that worship include scripture, prayers and the Sacrament of the Table.
What we largely experience today in the ELCA and other liturgical denominations are ancient practices that developed over time as pastors and theologians sought to help believers adorate the Trinity when coming together to worship.
The thing to understand is that God isn’t static and neither should be our lives of faith or our worship.
Within the church year we have the seasons of worship: Advent, Christmastide (albeit very short), Epiphany, Lent, East-er, Pentecost and the Sundays after Pentecost. Each time has a particular focus in scripture that flows from the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) that ELCA churches largely follow.
There is a “flavor” to our coming together in worship for each season where alternation of liturgical music (like the Kyrie, Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy), gospel gradual (Alleluia or other), etc.) help to highlight the shift in focus and for which ad-justments to our worship space can help to bring the whole together. For instance; on Pentecost Sunday red is the color of the day (reminiscent of the scriptural tongues of fire) and so draping’s of fabric can highlight this understanding and reinforce the impact of the day and season’s theme. And we exchange what may be the Alleluia in Lent before the gos-pel for a more solemn piece such as “Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful..” all in keeping with our focus of the season.
Unless it is actually bolted to the floor, the baptismal font can rove throughout the worship space: sometimes greeting worshipers at the head of the main aisle, encouraging us to remember our baptism. Sometimes it may be front and cen-ter in the chancel as we baptize the faithful. Sometimes it may be off to one side as another element takes precedence in the dance of the worship space.
At Christmas, candelabra can help to emphasize the light of love come down in the Christ-child’s birth. During other sea-sons the candelabra may await their reemergence as simplicity for the space helps bring our attention to another focus.
Music and adornments exist to help us in our adoration but don’t exist to simply be statically in place. Their incorpora-tion into thoughtful expressions of the liturgical seasons are components of congregations sensitive to the movement of the Spirit within the life and faith of the people.
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Worship & Music News Committee Chair: Joan Parker Members: Phil Becker, Roberta Briggs, Adam Hanks and Judy Sampson.
As request, readings for Sunday worship are printed in advance. Our readings rotate on a three year cycle (Years A, B & C). We are currently in year C (which began on the First Sunday of Advent). Below are the readings for January: January 10, 2016 ~ Baptism of Our Lord First Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7 Psalm: Psalm 29 Second Reading: Acts 8:14-17 Gospel: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 January 17, 2016 ~ Second Sunday after Epiphany First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5 Psalm: Psalm 36:5-10 Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 Gospel: John 2:1-11
January 24, 2016 ~ Third Sunday after Epiphany First Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 Psalm: Psalm 19 Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a Gospel: Luke 4:14-21 January 31, 2016 ~ Fourth Sunday after Epiphany First Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10 Psalm: Psalm 7:1-6 Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Gospel: Luke 4:21-30
Choir Rehearsal Schedule All are welcome regardless of age or musical ability! Sundays: Children's Choir 9:00-9:15am Bethel Choir 9:15-10:00am Thursdays: Handbell Choir 5:45-6:45pm Bethel Choir 7:00-8:30pm
Hymn Suggestions: Do you have a favorite hymn you'd like to sing in worship? We have a suggestion box in the Narthex where you can let us know your favorite hymns. Pastor Andrew will review your suggestions and incorporate them into worship when appropriate!
Congregational Council 2015-2016
Name Address Phone Email Terms Expiring 2018 Christina Nelson 3 Otto Avenue, #2 Worcester, MA 01607 508-868-6523 [email protected] Betsy Baird 33 Eastford Road, Auburn, MA 01501 508-864-6537 [email protected] Roberta Briggs 36 Arrowhead Avenue Auburn, MA 01501 508-832-3793 [email protected] Lisa Ferreira 26 Old Brook Rd., Shrewsbury 01545 508-842-0965 [email protected] Bev Sampson 211 Whitins Rd., Sutton 01590 508-234-6903 [email protected]
Terms Expiring 2017 Christine Belmonte 99 Haggerty Road Charlton, MA 01507 508-248-4779 [email protected] Adam Hanks 28 Priscilla Lane Charlton, MA 01501 508-838-1427 [email protected] Terms Expiring 2016 Diana Stolberg 547 Pleasant Street Leicester, MA 01524 508-892-8580 [email protected] Judy Sampson 34 Chestnut Hill Rd., No. Oxford, MA 01537 508-987-5969 [email protected]
Officer Terms Expiring 2016 President Adam Hanks 28 Priscilla Lane Charlton, MA 01507 508-838-1427 [email protected] Vice President Christina Nelson 3 Otto Avenue, #2 Worcester, MA 01607 508-868-6523 [email protected] Recording Secretary
Emily Chunis 364 Greenwood Street, Millbury, MA 01527 [email protected] Financial Secretary Russell Harris 83 Bryn Mawr Ave., Auburn 01501 508-832-3688 NA Treasurer Betsy Baird 33 Eastford Road, Auburn, MA 01501 508-864-6537 [email protected] Pastor Andrew Borden 81 Sterling Street, W. Boylston, MA 01583 508-835-3710 [email protected]
THE PARISH VISITOR Page 6
CHRISTMAS FLOWER FUND 2015
In Loving Memory of:
Loved Ones by Karen Baril Loved Ones by the Belmonte Family Loved Ones Ken & Mary Johnson Loved Ones by the Blash Family Loved Ones by Carolyn Salmonson
Loved Ones by Ruth Thompson Loved Ones by Judy Sampson Love Ones by Howard & Pam Evers Parents, Jean & Ralph Foster by Leanne & Thom Carraher Parents, Edna & Thomas Carraher by Leanne & Thom Carraher Parents, Stephen & Stephanie Berryman
and Shirley Stolberg by Diana & Jay Stolberg Doris Lewis by the Ferreira Family Exilda Soucie by the Ferreira Family
Tom Thompson by Ruth Thompson John Benoit by the Gagnon Family Bonnie Lindberg by David Lindberg Ray Odgren by Priscilla & Family
Ray Odgren by Carolyn Salmonson Grandparents by the Benvenuti Family Tom Thompson by the Benvenuti Family Carl & Shirley Hagberg by Rick, Deb, Alexis & Alana Ron & Fran Desmarais by Rick, Deb, Alexis & Alana
To the Glory of God Velma Blanchard
In honor of Children & grandchildren by mom & Grandma, Mary Nelson Children, Heather, Dan & Robin
and grandson, Kade by Diana & Jay Stolberg
COUNCIL CORNER
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We are in the midst of new growth here at Bethel! Our average at-tendance has risen in the last 4 weeks. We now have between 100-120 on Sundays as opposed to 60 in the weeks prior. The Bethel Choir has seen a few new members in recent weeks! Our parking lot is overflowing on Sundays along with a packed Parish Hall during coffee hour (we might need to open the wall)! How excit-ing is this?!? As I have said many times God will provide and he certainly has!
As we move into 2016, stewardship letters with pledge cards will be sent in the coming week. I urge you to please consider how you might serve The Lord. With this new growth more hands are needed to help in many areas.
Lastly, there has been some changes, especially in worship and in physical appearance, with more to come. Including a new website, http://www.bethelauburnelca.org. Please check it out! Also if you need to email the church office please use [email protected] as the email address. There is so much more I could write but you will have to wait for my Annual Report which will be available in the coming weeks.
Peace, Adam Hanks Congregation President
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION NEWS
Sunday School Our Sunday School meets each Sunday at 9:00 starting with Children's Choir rehearsal upstairs in the Choir Room. We then move to our classroom with the week's SPARK lesson. Children in grades preschool through 6 are eligible to participate. Special activities and programs will be announced.
Children's Message Pastor Andrew provides a children's message each week prior to his homily. Children are invited forward to the front of the church.
Adult Forum Our Adult Forum meets each week in the Parish Hall discussing a wide variety of topics with occasional guest speakers. So grab a coffee and stop by!
Confirmation Beginning on January 18th, Pastor Andrew will be leading out 7th & 8th grade classes on the first and third Mondays of each month from 6:30-8 pm. Current 9th graders will be evaluated by Pastor Andrew for confir-mation in the coming weeks as we transition to a 2-year program.
JANUARY AT BETHEL
Church Office Hours: Mon. through Thursday 9:00am to 3:00pm Pastor’s Office Hours: Wednesday 9:00am to 12:00pm, Thursday at Starbuck Auburn 2:00pm – 4:00pm Preschool Hours: Mon through Fri.: 9:00am - 12:00pm Mon through Fri 11:30am – 2:00pm Lunch Bunch
Community Use of Meeting Rooms Schedule for September
AA Monday – Friday 5:00pm – 6:00pm Thursday 7:30pm – 8:30pm Saturday 11:00am – 12:00pm OA Monday 7:00pm – 8:00pm Alanon Wednesday 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Girl Scouts Troop #30200 Monday 5:30pm – 7:00pm Troop # 64714 E/O Tuesday 6:00pm – 7:00pm Troop # 30940 E/O Wednesday 3:30pm – 4:45pm Troop # 30944 E/O Wednesday 3:30pm - 4:45pm Troop # 30197 2nd & 4th Wed. 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Boy Scouts Troop #121 1st & 3rd Thursday 6:30pm – 7:30pm
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS If your Birthday is missing please let us know - 832-3427. Thank You!
Camden Rockwood 01/02 Nicholas Chunis 01/03 Howard Miller 01/03 Lois Chinigo 01/03 Daniel Blash 01/05 Paul Henry 01/10
Betty Stough 01/11 Roberta Briggs 01/12 Larry Olson 01/14 Nicole Vernon 01/17 Parker Plona 01/19 Linda Vernon 01/20
Kimberly Boulanger 01/21 Brianna Gagnon 01/21 Howard Evers 01/22 Kevin Olson 01/25 Allison Berryman 01/27 Kevin Ratcliffe 01/28
Alex Morrow 01/28 Catherine Spanos 01/30 Leanne Carraher 01/31
THE PARISH VISITOR Page 8
SERVING YOU SUNDAYS IN JANUARY
January 2016 January 3 January 10 January 17 January 24 January 31
Readers
10:15 Russell Harris
10:15 Grover Gentry
10:15 Judy Hodgerney
10:15 Christine Belmonte
10:15 Ruth Thompson
Communion Assts
10:15 Betsy Baird & Adam Hanks
10:15 Roberta Briggs & Phil Becker
10:15 Roy Benoit Jr.
& Shirley Connor
10:15 Ruth Thompson & Judy Sampson
10:15 Grover Gentry &
Nancy Nims-Gentry
Worship Assistants
10:15
Grover Gentry
10:15 Adam Hanks
10:15 Joan Parker
10:15 Christine Bemonte
10:15 Roberta Briggs
Ushers
10:15
Kevin Ratcliffe & Anita Haynes
10:15 Don Hanks &
Preston Sturdevant
10:15 Jeff Bylund &
Judy Sampson
10:15 Lynne Crystoff & Lauren Kneeland
10:15 Roy Benoit Jr.
& Kevin Ratcliffe
Greeters
10:15
Lynn Crystoff & Lauren Kneeland
10:15 Dottie Hultin &
Olive Berg
10:15 Shirley Connor & Judy Hodgerney
10:15 Brannon Smith
& Gini Varg
10:15 Helen Talbot &
Jeff Bylund
Acolytes
10:15 Emily Wambach
10:15 Matthew Smith
10:15 Alyssa Wright
10:15
Brian Belmonte
10:15
Nicolas Spanos
Bakers
10:15
Betsy Baird & Anita Haynes
10:15 Lois Chinigo & Karen Baril
10:15 Cynthia Lauzonis
& Barbara McCarthy
10:15
Judy Sampson & Pam Evers
10:15 Catherine Spanos & Diana Stolberg
Altar Guild
To Be Scheduled To Be Scheduled To Be Scheduled To Be Scheduled To Be Scheduled
Candle Filler
Karen Baril
Off Week Adam Hanks Off Week Ruth Thompson
Coffee Maker
Betsy Baird
Adam Hanks
Betsy Baird
Adam Hanks Betsy Baird
Coffee Clean-up
Jackie Walsh
Pam Sutton Anita Haynes Pam Sutton Jackie Walsh
Church Closer
Joan Parker
Joan Parker
Joan Parker
Joan Parker
Joan Parker
THE PARISH VISITOR Page 9
Bethel Lutheran Church Auburn, Massachusetts
Purpose Statement
Loving ~ Serving ~ Growing~ in Faith
Vision Statement
We are called to embrace God’s transformation of our lives and to serve and
grow as compassionate witnesses of God’s love and grace.
Mission Statement
Our Mission is to serve and grow as compassionate witnesses of God’s love and
grace, transforming our lives and the lives of others. We do this by nurturing our relationship
with God through
Daily prayer
Weekly celebration of Word and Sacrament
Daily Bible readings
Spiritual formation
Serving within and beyond the church
Developing spiritual relationships
Generous giving.