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FRIENDLY MESSENGER
June 2006This Month's Contents:
Exciting things are happening at St. Peter's. A few weeks ago we started our reading program at Stony Brook School. Eight volunteers participated for three weeks in the Extended Day Program, and right now they are working for another three weeks with teachers in the classrooms during regular school hours. Everybody involved seems to thoroughly enjoy the program - children, teachers, and volunteers. Thank you all for making this program a success! |
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Barbara Henriksen reported that donations will be accepted on June 4th and June 11th to support Katie's Quilters.
The Spring Fling has been scheduled for May 20th. We will need refreshments to be donated to make this the usual success.
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The title may sound a little strange because usually when you start a journey you immediately have started to reach the end of the journey. In September of 2004, I remember writing in the Friendly messenger that we were in a period of change for St. Peter's. We did not know if we would be able to get a new pastor and we didn't know the direction for St. Peter's. We did not know the outcome of our journey, but we all had to travel together to see where we would end up. We started with supply pastors, and then Pastor Kiesling was appointed our Vice Pastor. He led us through the start of our transition phase, and then in April of 2005, Pastor Storck was sent to us to be our new interim pastor. Pastor Storck made it clear to us that she would guide us through an interim period of 1 to 2 years, but at some point we would have to determine our long term vision for the church. Pastor Storck has been with us for over a year and has led us faithfully, diligently and with great dignity. During her first year we made advances and have kept moving forward on our journey. Under her guidance we have started a program of reading to students in Stony Brook School. Now that we are further along on our journey, Pastor has led us to our next transition and decision point.
The New Jersey Synod contacted St. Peter's and, as you may know, they have a Pastoral candidate for us. This past Sunday, May 8th, the Call Committee traveled to Zion Church in Rahway to hear Sara Kay Olson preach. The Call Committee met with Sara and Pastor Schantzenbach Sunday afternoon and, after a long interview, the Call Committee voted 10 in favor and none opposed to passing Sara on to the Congregation Council to continue the Call process.
The Congregation Council and Call Committee met with Sara on Monday, May 9th, and voted 10 in favor and none opposed to inviting Sara back to St. Peter's June 18th to preach to the congregation. Immediately following the service St. Peter's will have a Congregational Meeting. The purpose of this meeting will be to have the congregation vote whether or not to extend a call to Sara to be our next Pastor. This will be truly an important moment in the history of St. Peter's.
The events of the weekend that Sara will be preaching will begin on Saturday, June 17th. That day St. Peter's will host a reception so that all members of St. Peter's will have the opportunity to meet Sara and get to know her. More details about this event will be forthcoming. Please plan to attend both Saturday and Sunday.
As you can now see, St. Peter's is now ready to continue our journey, and if the congregation approves, we will have definitely reached the beginning or our next journey. Let us pray that The Holy Spirit will guide our congregation and stay with us during this next phase of our journey.
In Christ's Service,
Art Klatt, Council President
AND visitors to Lutheran World Relief's home office in Baltimore are greeted by thousands of colored bricks arranged in the quilt pattern called "Many Trips Around the World." They were donated in honor of a person, parish or group. It is wonderful to know Katie's Quilters with your support also has a brick. There is a picture on WELCA's bulletin board.
AND Katie's Quilters thanks you for your continuous support no matter how large or small. THANK YOU!
Barbara Henriksen
In June, 2005, our women delivered an additional 100 quilts to Lutheran World Relief center in Maryland. Food items for FISH, the local food bank, are continually collected and delivered. They assist our Lutheran Men in Mission at our Annual Dinner Theater. Thankoffering Sunday is held in November. Many other opportunities for fellowship and service are coming along. As you can see, our women are very active.
To find out how you can join in, and to find out what's happening when, please talk to an active member, watch for announcements in the Sunday bulletin, or call the church office (908-754-0530)for further information and/or the name and phone number of the proper contact person. Our Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America look forward to welcoming you!
Work days at the church are also scheduled when a need arises. Each month, the men collect and deliver many bags of food to the local FISH program. Many other opportunities for fellowship and service are coming along.
As with the Women's Group, to find out how you can join in, and to find out what's happening when, please talk to an active member, watch for announcements in the Sunday bulletin, or call the church office (908-754-0530) for further information and/or the name and phone number of the proper contact person. Our Lutheran Men in Mission look forward to welcoming you!
Please continue to be a part of this picture by giving generously to our church's World Hunger Appeal."
ELCA Domestic Disaster Response, working with our Lutheran Disaster Response partners throughout the Gulf Coast region, is already caring for disaster survivors. Of particular concern are those who were in vulnerable situations even before Katrina struck, including the 28 percent of New Orleans' residents living below the poverty line, those who were homeless, and migrant farm families.
As in past disasters, our church's response to this hurricane will include spiritual and emotional counseling, care for caregivers, hardship grants, volunteer support, and, eventually, home rebuilding. You can find more information, including giving and volunteering opportunities, at www.elca.org/disaster
Your gifts to ELCA Domestic Disaster Response, designated for 2005 Hurricane, will ensure that we can accompany disaster survivors at every stage of the relief and rebuilding process. All-100 percent-of your gifts will go to help individuals and communities rebuild their lives following this disaster.
Please pray for those whose lives have been uprooted by the disaster, and for the health and safety of rescuers and caregivers."God is our refuge in the day of disaster." (Jeremiah 17:17).
Give through your local congregation, or send directly to ELCA Domestic Disaster Response, P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60696-1764, or call 800-638-3522 to give by credit card. For more information go to www.elca.org/giving. Thank you for your generosity in this time of great need.
