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: Office@ChristNatick.org

The Rev. Rebecca Bourret, Pastor Pastor.bourret@christnatick.org

Interim Music Director

Karin J. Gustafson kjgustafson@verizon.net

Kim Petot, Junior and Youth Choir Director

and Junior Bell and Chime Director Kim3petot@gmail.com

Tamara Nevens

Church Office Office@ChristNatick.org

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 jlaakko2585@verizon.net

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 pastor@bethesdanewhaven.org

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 info@elca.org 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

office@christnatick.org

www.christnatick.org