Hurricane Sandy RestorationRededication Service

November 2, 2013

October 29, 2012

Thank You

During these challenging days ofongoing recovery from Hurricane Sandy-- also known as Superstorm Sandy -- thesupport and generosity of faithful friendshas brought great comfort and made aworld of difference in helping restore ourcongregation and community. We aregrateful for the many contributions oftime, talent, treasure and prayers.

We offer special thanks today to:

Our staff: secretary, Linda Engler;sexton, Peter Brusca; organist, SusanShelhart and Pastor Baum

Our Church Council: Laura Forbes,Monica Mercado, Carol Scheper,Dave Issardin, Michael Wiener, BillieLee Whelan, Anthony Caleca, DeniseLobody, Ronnie West, John Scheper,

Dora Codd, Debra Pignatelli, andRandy McNeil

Those assisting in leading the servicetoday: Debra Pignatelli, ChristopherJones, Billie Lee Whelan, WilliamAnderson, Michael Wiener, SarahJones, and Randy McNeil

Verdino’s Garden Center & Floristfor the lovely altar flowers

Finally, we thank our bishop, the Rev.Dr. Robert Alan Rimbo, along with hiswife, Lois, for their gracious support andguidance.

Saint Barnabas Church is a congregationof the Metropolitan New York Synod ofthe Evangelical Lutheran Church inAmerica.

Rededication of Saint Barnabas Church

The ministers assemble at the entrance.

Bishop: Brothers and sisters in Christ, we have come together to seek God'sblessing as we rededicate this building to the service of God.

Bishop: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you.

Bishop: Let us pray. Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe. Youfill the entire world with your presence; your name is to be hallowed through allthe earth. Bless all those whose work has contributed to restoring this building.

A ribbon is cut and the ministers proceed to the cornerstone.

Bishop: May this continue to be a place where your glory dwells and where yourway is revealed in Word and Sacrament. May your gracious blessing descend likethe dew from heaven upon this place and upon all who shall gather here to worshipyou. You have given us joy in work begun in your name; may we continue tocelebrate your presence in the house of your Church, and, in the time to come,praise you forever in our eternal home; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who livesand reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. People: Amen

The cornerstone is inscribed 2 + 0 + 1 + 3. The assembly proceeds to the chancel.

Bishop: Most high God, whom the heavens cannot contain: We give you thanks forthe gifts of those who have restored this house of prayer to your glory; we praiseyou for the fellowship of those who by their use will make it holy; and we pray thatall who seek you here may find you and be filled with your joy and peace; throughyour Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. People: Amen

Recognition of Honorees and Contributing Congregations

Bishop: Almighty God, Father, + Son and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.People: Amen

After the hymn is sung, please join us downstairs for music and refreshments;And outdoors for fun and games, and the awesome bouncy house!

Hurricane Sandy Building Restoration Committee

Committee ChairMaria del Toro

Project SupervisorJohn Engler

Building Committee ChairJohn Scheper

Project ManagerEdward Wagner

Vice PresidentDebra Pignatelli

PastorThe Rev. William Eric Baum

Community Service Honorees

Chief of Department - West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire & Ambulance CorpsJonah Cohen

New York State SenatorJoseph P. Addabbo, Jr.

New York City CouncilmanEric Ulrich

Community Board 10 ChairBetty Braton

New York State AssemblymanPhillip Goldfeder

Contributorsof

Time, Talent and Treasureto the

Recovery of Saint Barnabas Church&

Community

The Rev. Dr. Robert Alan Rimbo, BishopMetropolitan New York Synod

The Rev. Brooke L. SwertfagerChrist Lutheran ChurchManhattan

The Rev. Leo E. Longan, Jr.Trinity Lutheran ChurchMiddle Village

The Rev. Terrence L. WeberTrinity-St. Andrew's Lutheran ChurchMaspeth

The Rev. Harry T. SchenkelThe Rev. John JurikSt. Paul's Lutheran ChurchEast Northport

The Rev. David ParsonsSt. John-St. Matthew-Emanuel Lutheran ChurchBrooklyn

The Rev. Martin F. HauserGrace & St. Paul's Lutheran ChurchManhattan

The Rev. Daniel Ward, Ms. Abby TriebelSt. John's Lutheran ChurchPoughkeepsie

The Rev. Carla Meier, The Rev. Gaylon BarkerSt. Andrew's Lutheran ChurchRidgefield, CT

The Rev. Michael MastersonSt. Matthew's Lutheran ChurchFort Worth, TX

Mr. William BlassSt. John's Lutheran ChurchPotts Grove, PA

The Rev. Amandus J. DerrSaint Peter's ChurchManhattan

The Rev. Christopher MietlowskiGustavus Adolphus Lutheran ChurchManhattan

The Rev. J. Elise BrownAdvent Lutheran ChurchManhattan

The Rev. Tiina TalvitieNew York Finnish Lutheran ChurchManhattan

The Rev. Jennifer LinmanChurch of the EpiphanyManhattan

The Rev. Robert P. SchoepflinAbiding Presence Lutheran ChurchFort Salonga

The Rev. Gerald SpiceSt. James Lutheran ChurchGrosse Pointe Farms, MI

The Rev. Paul EgensteinerEmanuel Lutheran ChurchPleasantville

The Rev. Dr. Timothy J. KennedyGrace Lutheran ChurchYorktown Heights

The Rev. Mark ErsonSt. John's Lutheran ChurchManhattan

The Rev. Aubrey BougherChrist Lutheran ChurchRosedale

The Rev. Rodney L. EberhardtSt. Luke's Lutheran ChurchFarmingdale

The Rev. Dr. William BogholtzLutheran Church of the RedeemerWoburn, MA

The Rev. Norman SchmoockZion Lutheran Church and SchoolVictorville, CA

The Rev. John GrodzinskiResurrection Lutheran ChurchAvon Park, FL

The Rev. Brenda C. B. IrvingPrince of Peace Lutheran ChurchCambria Heights

The Rev. Emily M. D. ScottSt. Lydia’s Dinner ChurchBrooklyn

Ms. Leila JohnsonSt. Jacobi Lutheran ChurchBrooklyn

The Rev. Paul E. BlockTransfiguration Lutheran ChurchBronx

Mr. Mark HillOur Saviour - Atonement Lutheran ChurchManhattan

The Rev. Benjamin F. C. McKelahanParables & St. Paul’s Lutheran ChurchBrooklyn

The Rev. Gary SchulzHoly Trinity Lutheran ChurchBellerose

The Rev. Paul B. MilhollandTrinity Lutheran ChurchAstoria

The Rev. Laurie ClineSt. John's Lutheran ChurchBellmore

The Rev. Jeanne R. WarfieldGrace Lutheran ChurchForest Hills

The Rev. Greg HarbaughZion Lutheran ChurchHollidaysburg, PA

The Rev. Robert G. SonnenbergSt. John's Lutheran ChurchRichmond Hill

The Rev. Jeffrey H. KolboTrinity Lutheran ChurchRocky Point

The Rev. Mark KieselAscension Lutheran ChurchFranklin Square

The Rev. Micah J. StummeSt. James - St. Matthew's Lutheran ChurchSouth Ozone Park

The Rev. Dr. William HeisleyMr. Rick EricksonHoly Trinity Lutheran ChurchManhattan

The Rev. Eric Olaf OlsenGood Shepherd Lutheran Church & SchoolPlainview

The Rev. Dr. R. Guy Erwin, Bishop,Southwest California Synod

Mr. Robert & Mrs. Janet Buescher, Long Island

Ms. Marie Rampino, Thrivent Financial Services

Corey and Annie Swertfager, Wichita, KS

Kathryn Kors-Jacobson, Croton-on-Hudson, NY

Nancy Swartz, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI

Paul & Cheryl Davis, Poulsbo, WA

Carol & Tom Ciccone, Morgan Hill, CA

The Rev. Leo E. Longan, Jr., Manhattan

Deacon John Malone, Brooklyn

Kathryn Graley, Manhattan

Marion Ratschki, Lagrangeville, NY

Denise, Sal & Lauren Cappello,Lake Grove, NY

Anne E. Miller, Tonawanda, NY

The Barron Family, Manhattan

Marsenna & Bill Rentel, Sebring, FL

Gladys King, Brentwood, TN

Gertrude & Edward Hilgendorf, Hamilton Beach

Mr. Ron DrewsLutheran Social Services of New York

Joseph Milano, Esq., Howard Capell, Esq.,Capell Barnett Matalon & Schoenfeld LLP

Kevin and Deborah Cook, Bronxville, NY

Tammi Sweeney, Honolulu, Hawaii

The Summers Family, Olympia, WA

Steven & Jeanne Jones, Poughkeepsie, NY

Ted Ziegler, Lincoln Park, NJ

Maria del Toro & Stan Rustin, Manhattan

Helen Morton, Prescott, AZ

Jennifer Adams, Birmingham, AL

Laura Forbes, Ozone Park

Susan Lyles, Denver, CO

Warren & Pat Wygand, Ozone Park

Mary Gaulke, Sarasota, FL

Ms. Adamczak, Clintondale, NY

Joan Franks, Rosedale

Mr. Neuder, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI

Sarah Gioe, NJ

Janice & Richard Risdale, Fairfax, IA

Minerva & Manuel Melendez, Bronx

Christiane Merrow, Westborough, MA

Dan Rios, Ozone Park

Lynn & Joe Giackette, Ozone Park

Frank & Laurie Porcella, Broad Channel

Grace Hammesfahr, Metuchen, NJ

Evelyn Bulcroft, Staten Island

Chris & Nancy Jones, Howard Beach

Katherine & Richard Wanner, Bayville, NY

Debbie & Richie Pignatelli, Howard Beach

Joan Bleir, San Antonio, TX

Richard Bertucco, Oak Park, IL

Bea McAssey, Howard Beach

Wanda Montanez, Winter Haven, FL

Jeanette Dunn, Kingston, NY

Shobha Issardin, Richmond Hill

Darlene Ferrer, North Fort Myers, FL

Cherry McElwee, Des Moines, IA

James & Peggy Conmy, Fountain Hills, AZ

Toni Spoerl, Howard Beach

Alice & Richard Steigerwald, Howard Beach

Diane Rivera, Howard Beach

Anthony & Cindy Caleca, Howard Beach

Kathy Ryan, Howard Beach

Janet Wanner, Bayville, NY

William & Pat Anderson, Howard Beach

Maggie & Buster Cerillo, Hamilton Beach

Billie Lee & William Whelan, Atlantic Beach

Carol Schust, Willow Springs, NC

Arthur Keehner, Winter Haven, FL

John Scheper, Howard Beach

Richard & Nancy Scheper, Howard Beach

Martin & Linda Liana, Howard Beach

Elvia & Helmut Weber, Howard Beach

Patricia Fogarty, Howard Beach

Eileen Scivoletti, Howard Beach

Elizabeth & Michael McGuiness, Wantagh, NY

Jo Ann & Ed Tatlain, Lakeland, FL

Lena DiBlasio, Howard Beach

Tony & Ruth Clemente, Howard Beach

David & Maureen Ayres, Manhattan

Marie Persans, Hamilton Beach

Patricia & Charles Hilgendorf, Howard Beach

Gary & Lindsay Clemente, Howard Beach

Nancy DiCroce, Howard Beach

Barbara Gavers, Howard Beach

William & Carol Baum, Lewiston, NY

Steve Lackner, Howard Beach

Margaret & Leonard Johnson, Ozone Park

Harmon Floors, Jamaica

Cathy & John Lucking, Hamilton Beach

The Rev. Karl Donfried, Northhampton, MA

Marie & Peter Zaun, Ozone Park

William & Anabel Englund, Howard Beach

Katherine Warren, Brooklyn

Ron & Laurie Laliberte, Clermont, FL

Tony & Wendy Maringo, Spring Hill, FL

The Rev. William Baum &The Rev. Brooke L. Swertfager, Manhattan

Walter Baum & John Baum, Manhattan

Tom Massey, Manhattan

Marilyn Valente, Howard Beach

Susan Shelhart, Brooklyn

James Achan, Howard Beach

Denise Lobody, Howard Beach

Linda & John Engler, Howard Beach

Betty & Jack Englert, Howard Beach

Karen & Luis Velez, Ozone Park

Gena Gilbertson, Mount Laurel, NJ

Barbara & Kameshwar Issardin, Ozone Park

Jennifer Phillips, Wallkill, NY

Joseph & Felicia DeMasi, Howard Beach

Maryann Gallucci, Howard Beach

The Rev. Grace Olson &The Rev. Roy Olson, Allentown, PA

Bernd & Hildegard Koch, Howard Beach

Robert Arfmann, Howard Beach

The Rev. Gerard Gaeta &The Rev. Jane Gaeta, Bethlehem, PA

Ronnie West, Howard Beach

Thomas Dugan, Henderson, NV

Scott & Julianna Stelloh, Hamilton Beach

Gary & Diane Graziano, Howard Beach

Dr. Marie Colon, Howard Beach

Inge & Horst Danielsson, Howard Beach

Dora, Brian, John & William Codd, Ozone Park

Evelyn Pfister, Howard Beach

Daniel Vizzinni & Nora Vizzini, Brooklyn

Eagle Scout Robert Codd, Ozone Park

Wendy Healy, Danbury, CT

Kathy Schmidt, Manhattan

Quinton & Tracey Vernon, Breezy Point

Bette & Gene Woody, Howard Beach

George & Joyce Gifford, Cumberland, RI

Kenneth Bulcroft, Staten Island

Margaret Bertucco, Oak Park, IL

Kathy & Tommy Campanelli, The Villages, FL

Phillip Giackette, Ozone Park

Robert & Barbara Lackner, Lecanto, FL

Roberta Novak, Acra, NY

Ronald & Joellen Senna, Kendall Park, NJ

Brian & Kristen Restivo, Monroe, NY

The Rev. Dr. & Mrs. Charles StreichPittsboro, NC

Robert Haussel, Howard Beach

Robert, Rob & Michael Nappi, Howard Beach

Dave Issardin, Ozone Park

Eagle Scout Patrick Brown, Bayside

Peter Brusca, Howard Beach

Kate Scrimale, Manhattan

James & Marilyn Arnone, Howard Beach

Ellie Rosher, Manhattan

Dennis Frado, Lutheran World Federation

Christine Scheper, Howard Beach

John Annunziata, Howard Beach

Kristopher Mercado, Howard Beach

Michael Wiener, Ozone Park

Randy & Joanne McNeil, Howard Beach

Blue Sky Landscaping, Howard Beach

Mike Pipitone Carpeting, Howard Beach

Bill Moser, Wamco Electric, Westbury

Dave Roche, Hannigan's Sons Moving &Storage, Howard Beach

The Rev. Cindy Halmarson, Bishop,Saskatchewan Synod, Canada

Gary Krull & Associates, Amherst, NY

Jeff & Mary HansenJemsco Services, Howard Beach

Howard Beach Kiwanis

Saint Barnabas Daisies, Brownies & JuniorGirl Scouts, Nancy Jones, Lindsay Clemente

Saint Barnabas Sunday SchoolSuperintendent Kathy Ryan

The Rev. Craig Miller, Metropolitan New YorkSynod Disaster Response Coordinator, Brooklyn

Lois Rimbo, Manhattan

Phil Lynch, Howard Beach

Sarah Diaz, Ozone Park

Claudio Zamparini, Ozone Park

Monica Mercado, Howard Beach

Carol Scheper, Howard Beach

Citywide Construction, South Ozone Park

Tom Reilly, Classic Plumbing, Forest Hills

Sally Perizzo, Howard Beach

Tom Issing, Consultant, Manhattan

JoAnn Breslin & Jean Marie KrugerWilliston Park, NY

Scott Butler, Howard Beach

Gayle Ruege, Long Island

Benefit Outsourcing SolutionsCommerce Township, MI

Andy's Remodeling, Lindenhurst

Last Call A.A. Group, Howard Beach

Saint Barnabas Cub Scouts & Boy ScoutsJohn Engler, Richard Pignatelli

American Red Cross

Barbara & Carl Scheper, Howard Beach

Roger Bybee, Manhattan

Jonah Cohen, Chief of DepartmentWest Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire &Ambulance Corps

Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., New York State Senator

Eric Ulrich, New York City Councilman

Betty Braton, Community Board 10 Chair

Phillip GoldfederNew York State Assemblyman

The Rev. Elisa Buberwa, BishopLutheran Church in Tanzania

The Rev. Dr. Veikko MunyikaLutheran Church in Namibia

The Rev. Mark & Mrs. Ione HansonPresiding BishopEvangelical Lutheran Church in America

Ruth Ann Cohen, Manhattan

It’s Only Stuff

The King James Version conveys thepainful project of emptying a home:“Then shalt thou bring forth thy stuff byday in their sight, as stuff for removing.”This Ezekiel 12:4 passage is rendereddrably, “Bring out your belongings” inthe New International Version. Nodoubt, we need contemporarytranslations of ancient scripture. But I domiss some of the more lively olderlanguage.

I serve as pastor to a small congregationin one of the “beach” communitiesringing Jamaica Bay in New York City.As the community reeled from theeffects of Hurricane Sandy, there was amind-numbing parade of ruinedbelongings being brought out anddragged to the curb. The storm surgedestroyed all the cars, the contents ofmany first floors, and every family’sbasement. Through the early weeks ofthe calamity, the waves of fear and shockmade it difficult to gauge the depths oftrauma and possible longer-term effects.It wasn’t until the fourth week that Islowly began to hear people saying, oneby one, “Oh, well, it’s only stuff.”Admittedly, piled all together, it’s onebig mound of expensive stuff. But, onlystuff. Some of the more spirited folksfound colorful adjectives to placebetween only and stuff. But, still, it wasonly “stuff for removing.” And Ithought, how biblical. Gradually, ahealing sense of perspective wasemerging.

But then came Christmas. And therealization that some stuff was special,sacred stuff. No one mourns a lostemotional bond with their hot waterheater. But, grandmother’s antique angelChristmas ornament? Some stuff is notmerely stuff.

There was a lovely Christmas Dayeditorial “Unpacking Christmas” in theNew York Times. It noted tenderly howpeople cherish “the ritual of goingthrough the decorations that havegathered over time. Each year, theChristmas archive is unpacked again.”And with this unpacking, generations offamily bonds and religious sentiment arestirred. Some stuff is sacred stuff.

Yet, sacred stuff gets stored in thebasement alongside the “only stuff,” hotwater heaters, washers and dryers. Andit all gets dragged to the curb in one bigsoggy mess.

Still, the Christmas story of Emanuel -God with us - pours forth from SaintLuke in all its lustrous glory, no matterwhich translation. And redeemed is thestuff of the world, the stuff we are madeof, the stuff in the basement,grandmother’s stuff. All stuff is placedin perspective of eternity, beloved of aLove Supreme. It is all sacred. Nothing“only” about it.

The Rev. William Baum forWineskins, a theology journalJanuary 2013