Atonement DECEMBER 2017

CHRISTMAS WORSHIP AT ATONEMENT

December 24 9:30am Fourth Sunday in Advent Service of Holy Communion

December 24 4:00pm Festival Christmas Eve Service of Holy Communion

December 24 8:00pm Candlelight Service of Holy Communion

December 31 9:30am New Year’s Eve Service of Holy Communion

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Join us on the first Wednesday of each month for a 30 minute service of song, prayer and Holy Communion. This informal service will be followed by Lunch & Laughter, combining worship + fellowship + community.

Need a ride? Please call the church office and we will provide transportation!

JOIN US IN REISSIG HALL

Sundays from 10:45—11:30 AM

Dec. 3 Congregational Budget Meeting Dec. 10 Cookie Exchange Dec. 17 Sunday School Christmas Pageant and Reception Dec. 24 No Class: Merry Christmas! Dec. 31 No Class: Happy New Year!

DECEMBER NEWS

COMING UP

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3

at 10:45 AM

Topics:

2018 Budget

and

Constitutional Update

FIRST WEDNESDAY NOONDAY WORSHIP

Wednesday, Dec. 6 12:00 – 12:30pm

CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW AND UPDATE

Congregations in the Upstate New York Synod are required to update their Congregational Constitutions by June 2018. These updates include adding required changes from the 2017 ELCA Model Constitution, as well as updating by-laws and continuing resolutions. Our Board of Ministries has been working on these updates for the past several months with the assistance of Susan Touhsaent.

Atonement’s newly updated constitution has been reviewed by Synod. It will be presented for vote at our upcoming Congregational Budget meeting on Sunday, Dec. 3 and then ratified at our Annual Meeting on

Sunday, February 4, 2018. Copies of the updated constitution will be available in the church office during the month of November.

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FELLOWSHIP

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP NEWS

As part of our environmental stewardship initiatives, we have added a compost bucket in the church kitchen. If you are cooking or cleaning up in the kitchen, remember to place used coffee grounds and filters and any scraps of vegetables or fruits in the bucket. Also, remember to put recyclable materials in the blue box under the counter in the church kitchen. That includes paper, plastics, and cans (rinsed well please). Thank you!

VOLUNTEER MINISTRY

worship + fellowship + community building = Atonement Lutheran Church

LUNCH & LAUGHTER Wednesday, December 6 at 12:30 p.m.

Following noontime worship in the sanctuary

O Loving God, send your Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look forward to the celebration of

your Son’s coming among us.

How do you prepare for the coming of the Christ Child? Do you bring out special decorations for your home during Advent and Christmas? Do you make traditional holiday dishes? Do you have other family traditions? Share your holiday dishes, stories, and even small seasonal decorations for our tables this month. Join us for our pot luck lunch after worship. Or if you can’t come to worship, just come to our pot luck lunch! Bring a dish to pass and we’ll provide beverages, hot and cold. There will be a sign-up sheet in the narthex (this helps a lot with our planning), but if you forget to sign up, come anyway. There is always room for YOU at our table. Set-up or clean-up help is always appreciated. If you need transportation, call the office at 442-1018 and we will help secure you a ride.

MORNING PRAYER

Morning Prayer will resume in January. Watch for information in the Tidings.

ASBURY DINING CENTER MINISTRY Sunday, December 17

Volunteers are needed to serve lunch from 11:15am – 1:45pm at the Asbury Dining Center, 1050 East Avenue, Rochester, 14607. Please

sign up on the narthex bulletin board or contact Karen Goodyear if you can help.

RIT LUTHERAN CAMPUS MINISTRY MEAL Sunday, Dec. 10 6:30pm

Each Sunday evening, Lutheran and Episcopal students at Rochester Institute of Technology gather for worship followed by a home-cooked meal provided by local congregations. During these meals, students socialize and share in discussion s with Pastor Craig Swanson, Lutheran Campus Pastor at RIT. Can you help us host a meal by 1. Preparing food OR 2. Set -up and

serve the meal with Pastor Gail? Please sign up on the narthex bulletin board.

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REFORMATION 500 SOCK COLLECTION

Our Reformation 500 celebration continued with a "Blessing of the Socks." Over the past six weeks, we have been collecting new socks,

with a goal of 500 pairs. We are thrilled to announce our final

collection was 720 pairs! Our children learned about sharing the

many blessings we all have been given. God is good! The socks will be donated to Saint's Place in Rochester.

Saints Place genuinely thanks you for you contribution. With cold weather quickly approaching the refugees are in dire need of socks. Your actions encourage us to continue our determined efforts to wel-come the refugees on their difficult journey.

Isabel Miller, Executive Director

A NOTE OF THANKS

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PASTOR’S PAGE

The Word Became Flesh

Born among the poor, on a stable floor, Cold and raw, you know our hunger, Weep our tears and cry our anger,

Yet you tell us more, Born among the poor.

Ev’ry child needs bread till the world is fed;

You give bread, your hand enables All who gather round your table,

Christmas must be shared, Ev’ry child needs bread.

Son of poverty, shame us till we see Self-concerned, how we deny you,

By our greed we crucify you On a Christmas tree,

Son of poverty. - Shirley Erena Murray Most Christmas carols make my heart happy. This one makes my heart break – and with good reason. Even at Christmas - people cry, people suffer, people’s flesh becomes bruised or abused or as cold as death. Yet in the story of Christmas we are told “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” – the story of a God in the flesh who can feel with us the joy of a loving touch and the anguish of a broken life. A God who knows firsthand how fragile flesh really is. “And the Word became flesh.” For whose sake? Surely not for God’s sake, but for ours. God broke into the lives of broken people to live as one of us, for all of us. And to show us, in the life of the Christ Child, how to live for others, too. May this Word surround you – and send you out into the world – with love. Pastor Gail

CONGREGATIONAL CARE

Sympathy and Prayers to Pastor Debbie Johnson upon the death of her mother, Lillian, on November 13 .

It’s time to order your Christmas Poinsettias! Orders will be taken until Sunday, December 17th. The plants will decorate the altar on Christmas Eve and may be picked up after the 9:00 PM service. Given By: ______

Number of plants: @ $9.00 each

In Memory of: ______

In Honor of: ______

Please place this form and payment in the box in the

front entranceway, or mail it to

the church office.

Congratulations to Br ian Spillane and his wife upon the birth of their daughter, Amy Hazel, on Oct. 6. Baby Amy is the granddaughter of Jack Spillane and the late Marcia Spillane.

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FYI— FAMILY ~ YOUTH ~ INTERGENERATIONAL MINISTRY

YOUNG FAMILIES HALLOWEEN PARTY

LYO GAME NIGHT Friday, January 5

7:30 – 9:30pm

Reformation Lutheran Church, Rochester All 6th – 12th graders are invited of games,

snacks and fellowship.

“IN ALL THE WORLD IT IS CHRISTMAS TONIGHT”

Sunday, Dec. 17 10:30am

Join us for a journey around the world as our Sunday School children share the Good News of the birth of

Jesus!

Cookies and Fellowship will follow in Reissig Hall

SUNDAY CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

The Young Family group cleaned up the northwest corner of the church property on Nov. 19 th . Trash and “lean-tos” constructed of tree branches had been left there by unknown persons. The trash went into the dumpster and a huge pile of debris was collected for Town of Brighton pickup. Thank you for taking on this project to beautify your church property.

Norm Karsten, Director of Administration

THANK YOU YOUNG FAMILIES

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SING A SONG TO THE LORD! In December the choir continues rehearsals for the annual Advent Lesson and Carols service. Join us for inspired music making

MUSIC MINISTRY

SAVE THE DATES

CHOIR CHIME REVIVAL In 2009, through the generosity of the Carol and John Condemi Gift of Music Fund, Atonement acquired a new 2 octave set of Malmark Choir chimes. For several years we had an active chime choir until interest waned and the Chime Choir ministry took an extended break. This fall, thanks to renewed interest by some of our 4th grade Sunday School students, the Chime Choir Ministry has restarted. The choir meets for rehearsal on Sunday mornings at 11:30 AM. Anyone in 4th grade or older can join this group. If you want to participate in this renewed new musical opportunity at Atonement please contact Joshua Brown, (585 704 2576) or jhbrown@atonementrochester.org.

Wednesday, December 6

Rehearsal 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 10 The Second Sunday of Advent: Advent Lessons and Carols

Sunday Worship (Rehearsal)

9:30 a.m. Rehearsal at 8:30 a.m.

Thursday, December 21

Rehearsal 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 24 The Nativity of Our Lord

Festive Candlelight Service (Rehearsal)

4:00 p.m. Rehearsal at 3:00 p.m.

If you would like to participate in any of these opportunities to make a joyful noise please contact Judy Karsten (233-1431) or Director of Music Ministries, Joshua Brown (jhbrown@atonementrochester.org).

SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES SING IN WORSHIP

The Sunday School will present their annual Christmas program on Sunday, December 17 following the 9:30 AM worship service that morning. Sunday School student should plan on attending Sunday School on December 3 and 10 for rehearsals.

Mark these upcoming dates on your calendar to make sure you can attend these special events made possible through the generosity of the Carol and John Condemi Gift of Music Fund.

Sunday, December 10

Advent Lessons and Carols with the Rita Collective at the

9:30 AM worship service. The Worship Planning Team continues to welcome the submission of proposals for funding of future projects through the Condemi Fund. Please contact Joshua Brown, Director of Music Ministries (jhbrown@atonementrochester.org) for further information.

JOIN THE CHOIR!

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DISCIPLESHIP

ANGEL TREE AND ADOPTED CHRISTMAS FAMILY

An Advent tradition at Atonement continues this year with the Christmas tree decorated with tags containing gift suggestions for our adopted family. We are coordinating information with Flower City Habitat for Humanity, and will soon receive a selected family's Wish List. By sponsoring a family who lives in a Habitat home, we enable them to focus their finances on mortgage and heating payments during the winter months. The decorated tree will be set up in the entryway. Church friends and family may select a tag off the tree, purchase the suggested gift, and then return the wrapped gift for delivery to the family before Christmas. Because Christmas falls on a Monday this year, the delivery of gifts will occur before the 21st; this means the last day to bring gifts to church will be Sunday, Dec. 17. Thank you for your participation during this season of giving.

COOKIE EXCHANGE DECEMBER 10

Join us in Reissig Hall on Dec. 10 following worship for conversation, coffee and cookies during this time, you will be able to select from the trays of cookies, a nice variety for yourself to take home. Here's how it works … bring 3-4 dozen cookies on Dec. 10 and drop them off in Reissig Hall before worship. Your first dozen will be set aside to be shared with residents and staff at Bethany House. Your second dozen will be enjoyed by Atonement folks during this day's coffee hour. Finally, the amount of cookies you bring above two dozen will be considered "exchange cookies," and that is the amount you get to choose and package for yourself to take home. You may bring your own containers, but we will also supply boxes and bags. Please join in the fun ... the more, the merrier!

ADVENT GIVING

In the spirit of the season, during Advent we have several opportunities for you to bring gifts to benefit others in our community and worldwide. Dec. 3 - Bethany House - providing shelter for homeless women & children: we will collect diapers, baby formula, baby food, women's and children's winter coats (gently used is okay), hats and gloves. Dec. 10 - Lutheran Disaster Response - bringing God's hope, healing and renewal to people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters: we will accept your gifts of financial support; envelopes will be provided. Dec. 17 - Brighton Food Depot - providing kid-friendly food bags to students at RCSD School #4: collecting peanut butter, ravioli, cereal; regular size packaging, please. Dec. 24 - St. Joseph's Neighborhood Center - providing health care to people who lack access to health insurance: we will collect personal-sized toiletries such as soap, lotion, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste. Also, gift cards (suggested $10) to Wegmans or Tops. Calendars for 2018. Thank you for remembering and caring for these ministries and those they serve.

BRIGHTON FOOD DEPOT

For the month of December, we will collect canned vegetables and hot chocolate (individual envelopes, please). Thank you for your dedicated giving to BFD. Please remember, the food cart is now located in our "recycling and donation" center at the back of Founders Hall. If you would like help delivering your donations on Sunday mornings, please see an usher.

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FROM OUR FRIENDS AT THE LATVIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH

Dear Pastor Gail and our friends at Atonement Lutheran Church! I am writing to express the support of the Latvian Lutheran Church of the Cross for your Reformation 500 tree planting. As you know, we are a small congregation of limited means. This makes it difficult to fund projects on our own. When we read about your initiative to plant a tree in honor of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation , it resonated with many of our members, who suggested that by supporting your projects, we could in fact honor the Reformation anniversary ourselves! Please accept this donation from our congregation to help defray part of the cost of planting the tree. We are deeply grateful for the love and hospitality that the Atonement family continues to show us!

Thank you, and may God bless your congregation! Pastor Linda Sniedze Taggart &

The members of the Latvian Lutheran Church

On September 17, we began a four month trial period as we moved to a new Sunday Morning schedule: One Worship Service at 9:30am followed by Christian Education from 10:45 – 11:30am. As we journey towards the end of this trial period, we invite the entire congregation to provide feedback. A brief Worship Survey will be distributed to all members of our congregation (through email and mail) beginning December 8. We invite you to complete this survey and return it to the church office by December 22. An Adult Forum Discussion is planned for January 14, 2018 where responses from this Worship Survey will be shared as we discern our congregation’s worship and Christian Education goals for the future. We encourage your involvement in this process.

WORSHIP AT ATONEMENT: THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES

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CALENDAR PRAYER MINISTRY

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

PRAYER CONCERNS AND JOYS Members: Betty Browne, Phyllis F leming, Barbara Goodrich, Ed Heise, Pastor Steve Hluchy, Eloise Kress Friends and Family: Dolores Darch, Marge Domroes, Jon and Marilyn Fair (Brother of Nancy Heise), Marie Frew, Hope Hatch, Barb Macholz Grimaldi, Erika Grover, Charlotte Guenther, Dick Kress, Greg Laraby, Elaine Thompson (Tom Thompson’s mother), Susan Werner (Kristin Romell’s sister-in-law)

December Birthdays 1 Kevin & Rebecca Thompson 2 Daniel Carpenter 6 Norm Karsten, Craig Westervelt 7 Michael Kruidenier 8 Mary Teter 9 Connor Krapf 11 Katy Stenross 12 Nancy Heise, Joe Manthey 14 Betty Middlebrook 16 Alan Kaminsky 17 Caroline Bartlett 19 Phyllis Hennessey, Meghan Domroes 25 Carol DeLong, Lindsay Lazenby, Jesus 26 Nan Westervelt 27 David Templeman 29 Lin Macholz 31 Suzanne Pearson

Sun Dec 3 Worship 9:30 AM Congregational Budget Meeting 10:45 AM Sunday School 10:45 AM Chime Choir 11:30 AM Wed Dec 6 Noonday Worship 12:00 PM Lunch and Laughter 12:30 PM Choir Rehearsal 7:00 PM Sun Dec 10 Advent Lessons and Carols 9:30 AM Sunday School/ Youth Class/ Adult Forum 10:45 AM Chime Choir 11:30 AM Tue Dec 12 Board of Ministries 6:00 PM Sun Dec 17 Worship 9:30 AM Sunday School Christmas Pageant 10:45 AM Thur Dec 21 Choir Rehearsal 7:00 PM Sun Dec 24 Worship 9:30 AM Worship 4:00 PM Worship 8:00 PM Sun Dec 31 Worship 9:30 AM No Sunday School / Adult Class

New members will be received into our church family on Sunday, Dec. 3. If you are interested in becoming a member of Atonement,

or interested in learning more about our congregation, please contact Pastor Gail.

NEW MEMBERS

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NOVEMBER 2017

December 3

9:30 AM December 10

9:30 AM December 17

9:30 AM December 24

4:00 PM December 24

8:00 PM December 24

9:30 AM December 31

9:30 AM

Assistant Minister Joanne Scanlon

David T Wilkinson

Matt McGill Matt McGill Joanne Scanlon David T

Wilkinson Joanne Scanlon

Communion Assistant Jim Krapf

Betty Middlebrook

Judy Lazenby Sue Hauck

& Wally Short

Vi Price Vi Price Vi Price

Reader Kathy Wilkinson

David Irish Jess McGill Susan

Touhsaent Norm Karsten Jean Seager Jean Seager

Children’s Moment Andra Smith

& Alyssa Jones

Pastor Gail Swanson

XXXX Pastor Gail Swanson

XXXX Elizabeth Dollhopf-

Brown

Karan Thompson

Acolyte Connor Krapf Alexa Howe Faye Domroes

Madison Hauck &

Michael Hauck

Kevin Thompson

Eva Condemi Shannon Howe

Greeter

Amy Schrlau Carol Person Marion

Ginegaw TBA TBA TBA TBA

Usher Norm Karsten

Karen Goodyear

John Tokoli TBA

& TBA

TBA TBA Tom Thompson

Coffee Host Judy Lazenby Jan Hunt Barb Sanko XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

Assistant Financial Sec. John Kruidenier Jeff Fisher Bryan Howe XXXX Norm Karsten XXXX Bryan Howe

Counter Tom Thompson Stew Stover Amy Irish XXXX Stew Stover XXXX

Diane Christianson

Altar Care Judy Lazenby

If you are willing or able to assist in any of the TBA roles, please e-mail the church office at

office@atonmentrochester.org

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