The First Word is The First Word is The First Word is

a monthly a monthly a monthly

publication of:publication of:publication of:

First Lutheran First Lutheran First Lutheran

ChurchChurchChurch

181 Western 181 Western 181 Western

AvenueAvenueAvenue

Albany, NYAlbany, NYAlbany, NY

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(518) 463(518) 463(518) 463---132613261326

flc.office@albanyflc.office@albanyflc.office@albany

.twcbc.com.twcbc.com.twcbc.com

Rev. Alison L. Rev. Alison L. Rev. Alison L.

LeitzelLeitzelLeitzel, Pastor, Pastor, Pastor

Roberta RowlandRoberta RowlandRoberta Rowland

---Raybold,Raybold,Raybold,

Dir. Of MusicDir. Of MusicDir. Of Music

Julie LindJulie LindJulie Lind,,,

Parish Parish Parish

AdministratorAdministratorAdministrator

Alex Nagy,Alex Nagy,Alex Nagy,

Parish CustodianParish CustodianParish Custodian

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The Capital Region

Theological Center

presents…

Nadia Bolz-Weber

Nadia Bolz-Weber’s

theological memoir,

Pastrix: the Cranky,

Beautiful Faith of a Sinner

& Saint came out in 2013, to critical acclaim

and popularity.

She is the founding pastor of House for All

Sinners and Saints, an ELCA mission church

in Denver, Colorado. She’s a leading voice in

the emerging church movement and her

writing can be found in The Christian

Century and Jim Wallis’ God’s Politics blog.

Phylis Tickle remarks,

“Nadia Bolz-Weber has probably done

more than any other pastor in recent times

to poke therapeutic fun at the

misdemeanors and flaws of overly-

churched Christianity and Christians. The

passion behind her words, however, is as

deeply pastoral as it is God-drenched and

liberating….thus the affection as well as the

respect that attend her and her work

wherever she goes.”

Want to know more? Check out Nadia’s

personal website at

www.nadiabolzweber.com

or find her on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/sarcasticlutheran

and at her Sarcastic Lutheran blog at

www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber

A Day of Learning with Nadia Bolz-Weber

Saturday, December 12, 2015

9:00am-4:00pm

First Lutheran Church

Time to open the cookbooks and find some recipes for

simple and tasty International dishes for our annual

Christmas International Potluck!

In the past years, we have shared foods from several

different countries and cultures.

What will you bring this year?

Sign-up Sheet is posted on the bulletin board outside

Pastor’s Office!

The The The First WordFirst WordFirst Word Monthly Newsletter of First Lutheran Church Monthly Newsletter of First Lutheran Church Monthly Newsletter of First Lutheran Church --- Albany, NYAlbany, NYAlbany, NY

www.FirstLutheranAlbany.orgwww.FirstLutheranAlbany.orgwww.FirstLutheranAlbany.org

December, 2015 December, 2015 December, 2015 …….

f|Çz g{|á a|z{àf|Çz g{|á a|z{àf|Çz g{|á a|z{à A Christmas CelebrationA Christmas CelebrationA Christmas Celebration

The Festival Celebration ChoirThe Festival Celebration ChoirThe Festival Celebration Choir

Annual Christmas ConcertAnnual Christmas ConcertAnnual Christmas Concert

Sunday, December 6Sunday, December 6Sunday, December 6

4:00 p.m.4:00 p.m.4:00 p.m.

First Lutheran ChurchFirst Lutheran ChurchFirst Lutheran Church

Admission: $18 Adults, $13 Admission: $18 Adults, $13 Admission: $18 Adults, $13

Seniors/StudentsSeniors/StudentsSeniors/Students

Page 2

December 2015

Dear First Family, I expect that in the next three-four weeks, we will encounter quite a number of people in some not-so-usual ways.

I’m thinking of people like bell ringers with large red kettles. Crazy drivers circling, circling, circling, looking for a

parking space. Harried, rushing shoppers. People with extra full grocery carts taking up

extra time at the cashier. And for those of us out walking down the street, we may see

people with thread-bare coats, looking extra cold. This time, usually thought of as filled

with Holiday cheer, may need you to offer some of that cheer – some goodness, kindness,

thoughtfulness, and blessing, as you go about your busy days. You have the power of God

within you to make these “Advent Encounters” with many people and experience of the

presence of our loving God.

At worship at First Lutheran, we will be experiencing another kind of “Advent

Encounter.” Each Sunday through the symbols and people of the lessons read at worship,

we will encounter symbols and people who come to us in unexpected ways with the power to change how we the

present, change our outlook on the future, even change our future. That’s what the Word of God can do. I hope you

will come to worship each week in Advent, seeking to be changed in holy ways, by Advent encounters with God’s

agents of grace.

Peace & Joy!

Pastor Allie

Here’s some highlights of our worship this season

• November 29th

, First Sunday of Advent - Wear blue, look for blue. Look for Mary and Joseph beginning their

travels to Bethlehem. After worship, any who are able to stay a few minutes are invited to hang some wreaths

and put up the window candles.

• December 6th

, Second Sunday of Advent – Two messengers, Malachi and John the Baptist, announce that the

preparation has begun. After Worship, the Sunday School will be packing the Christmas boxes for the Seafarers.

Stay and help them. Later in the day the Albany Festival Choir will present a concert of Christmas Music at FLC.

• December 13th

, Third Sunday of Advent - We encounter the prophet Zephaniah who sings of joy for God is in our

midst. John the Baptizer is back, and we encounter God’s very self through the sacrament of Holy Baptism given to

baby George Hackney. Mary & Joseph are getting closer to Bethlehem.

• December 20th

, Fourth Sunday of Advent - Our featured lesson is of Mary the mother of our Lord who, too, sings

joyfully her Magnificat. The Sunday School presents a dramatized Christmas Story, full of sounds and sights. After

worship we have our budget meeting and annual International Christmas Potluck.

• December 24th

, Christmas Eve Worship – Special music begins at 7:00 p.m. Worship at 7:30 features carols,

communion, candlelight.

• December 27th

, Sunday after Christmas - Joint worship with SJ here at FLC at 10 am. A service of Lessons,

Readings, Carols and Communion.

• January 3rd

, The Epiphany of our Lord – Even though the actual day of Epiphany doesn’t arrive until January 6th

,

we will observe Epiphany at worship to complete our Christmas season with the arrival of the three kings. Those

who can, are asked to stay after worship to take down the Christmas decorations.

Page 3

Altar Flower Dates Available in 2016

There are several dates available for altar flowers in 2016. They are January 31,

April 17, July 10, August 21, October 9 and December 4. Flowers on the altar can be

to memorialize, honor or recognize someone special. After the church service you may

pick up your flowers (in the kitchen) or share them with someone on our prayer list or

anyone celebrating a special occasion.

The price for altar flowers is $25.00. You can send your payment to church or

leave your payment in the mailbox outside Julie’s office. Please note in the memo area

on your check altar flowers and the date. Payment is not due until the month that you

have altar flowers on the altar.

Please contact Liz Peters—869-0387 or mommy5853@aol.com—if you are interested.

Share the Joy of Christmas

with our Homebound

Members

Lois Coon

Evergreen Commons

1070 Luther Road—Rm. 125B

East Greenbush, NY 12061

Marcia Coon

Evergreen Commons

1070 Luther Road—Rm. 245B

East Greenbush, NY 12061

Jane Culver

c/o Susan Harper

39 Clermont St

Albany, NY 12203

Gerry Hoyt

Northeast Center for Special Care

300 Grant Ave

Lake Katrine, NY 12449

James Leonard

Brookdale Commons

626 Watervliet Shaker Road

Latham, NY 12110

Mildred Logan

140 Washington Ave. Ext.—Apt. E74

Albany, NY 12203

Virginia (Ginny) MacVittie

Teresian House

200 Washington Ave. Ext.—Rm. 205

Albany, NY 12203

Stanley Polonski

138 Pershing Avenue

Wynantskill, NY 12198

Marc Salzer

49 Phillips Road

Rensselaer, NY 12144

Dorothy Seim

5000 Queen Philomena Blvd.—Apt. 151

Schenectady, NY 12304

Bill and Laura Shufelt

177 Mansion Street

Coxsackie, NY 12051

Elaine Smith

Teresian House

200 Washington Ave. Ext—Rm. 538

Albany, NY 12203

Lois Van Buren

Teresian House

200 Washington Ave. Ext.—Rm. 128

Albany, NY 12203

Jeanette and Stephanie Wiltse

186 Western Ave.

Albany, NY 12203

Adopt a Nursing Home

Once again the holiday season is fast approaching.

First Lutheran parishioners are always generous in

helping out needy people. This season we are adopting

30 residents from the Evergreen Nursing Home in East

Greenbush. Two of our members (Lois and Marcia

Coon) have been living at this nursing home for several

years.

On November 29th in the back of the church, a table

will be set up to take a tag or two. Each tag will have

the name of the resident and a gift the person needs or

wants. Please wrap your gift, cut off the bottom of the

tag that has the item wanted and attach the rest of the

tag to the wrapped gift.

Please bring your wrapped gift back to church no

later than December 13th. When you bring back your

gift, please leave it in the back of the church by the

ceramic Christmas tree. The gifts will be blessed by

Pastor Allie before they are delivered and given to the

Evergreen residents.

Page 4

CROP Walk Allocation

First Lutheran Church members have participated in the

CROP walk for many years. This year, I was made aware

that since we have a feeding program (community

dinners), we could apply to receive a portion of the

proceeds of this event to use for our dinners. We are

pleased to inform you that $250 was allocated by the

Capital Area Council of Churches to FLC for this purpose.

Thank you to those who participate in the CROP Walk,

both with their donations and their feet. We will

continue to support causes that have a goal of ending

hunger every day and every year.

Thank You

We wish to thank Kathy Ordway and Marcia Hoyt , not

only for organizing November 15th's delicious brunch,

but also for their decision to donate the proceeds of this

meal to the Christmas at Sea program. The additional

$102 collected at the brunch will allow us to buy more

items to fill the boxes for the seaman arriving at the Port

of Albany during the holiday season.

Bread For the World Campaign

Bread for the World is a collective

Christian voice urging our nation's

decision makers to end hunger at

home and abroad. The 2015

Offering of Letters asked members

of Congress to support the Global Food Security Act H.R.

1567/S. 1252, which supports a combined approach to

food security and agricultural development, with

domestic programs such as WIC and international

programs, such as Feed the Future. This initiative will

leverage resources from government, non-

governmental and faith-based organizations, foreign

governments and private enterprises, using data

collected from successful projects, to eradicate extreme

poverty and hunger by 2030.

A total of 63 letters were signed by members of First

Lutheran Church during the Octoberfest Luncheon on

October 25. These letters were mailed to House

Representatives Paul Tonko and Chris Gibson, and

Senators Schumer and Gillibrand.

Fruit Cup Collection for Equinox

Thanksgiving Dinner

Thank you to everyone who

donated containers of mixed fruit

cups for the annual Equinox

Thanksgiving dinner. A special thank you to Liz Peters

for picking up the extra cups we needed to meet FLC's

goal of 400 fruit cups. Our cluster's collection is

combined with many other donations of all types of

food to feed several thousand people on Thanksgiving

day.

Annual Christmas Cookie

Collection

It's that time of year to think

about baking Christmas cookies

for friends and relatives. This year, as in years past, we

are asking that you share some of your baked goodies

to share with our homebound members.

Please bring your cookie donation to the Library on

Sunday, December 20th. The cookies will then be

packaged in holiday tins, accompanied by a card and a

Christmas poinsettia and delivered to our members who

are unable to come to church during the holiday season.

Christmas at Sea

As in previous years, First Lutheran is participating in the

“Christmas at Sea” program. It involves purchasing items to

be placed in a box and then wrapped. The boxes are given to

seafarers as they arrive at the Port during the holiday

season. We are told that the look of joy that sweeps over the

seafarer’s face upon receiving an unexpected Christmas gift

from a stranger in a distant land is almost indescribable.

We would like to have the entire congregation involved in

this program. Our goal is to fill 30 shoeboxes with various

items. There is a sign-up sheet across from Pastor’s office. If

you are unable to purchase any of the items and would like

to give a monetary donation, please mark the envelope

“Christmas at Sea”. On December 6th

, we are asking

members to stay after church to fill the boxes and wrap

them. Our Sunday School will participate in this activity.

Pastor Allie will bless the boxes after they are packed. Please

remember our seafarer friends at this special time of year.

Christmas Poinsettias

These beautiful plants may be taken home after the evening Christmas Eve worship service, or you may choose to share them with our homebound and nursing home resident members who are unable to come to church to enjoy them. We also share our remaining poinsettia plants with hospitalized veterans at the VA Hospital. Please fill out the form below and return it to the church office via mail or by giving it to an usher on Sunday morning.

All orders for poinsettia plants need to be placed no later than December 15th. The plants will be Red, white & pink this year and the pots holding them will be wrapped with gold foil.

The donation is $10.00 per plant.The donation is $10.00 per plant.The donation is $10.00 per plant. Please print clearly: Name:__________________________________________ Number of plants ordered: ________ I will keep ________ . I will share _______ . Please indicate one or more of the following: [ ] In memory of loved ones _____________________________________________ [ ] In honor of children & grandchildren _____________________________________________ [ ] In honor / memory of parents _____________________________________________ [ ] In loving memory of _____________________________________________ [ ] In honor of _____________________________________________ [ ] Other wording _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________

Please make checks payable to: First Lutheran Church Mark “Poinsettia 2015” in memo section.

Annual Budget Meeting

Immediately

following worship

Sunday, December 20th

The proposed budget for 2016 will

be discussed and voted on.

Please make every effort to attend

this meeting!

Thank you!

Page 5

Christmas for the Salzer Family

As part of our Christmas giving, let’s remember the

Salzer family, who have been congregation members

for many years. Marilyn has had numerous physical

problems and Marc requires 24 hour care. They are

unable to join us for worship, but we want them to

know we still think of them often.

To assist with their every day costs, we are asking for

Price Chopper gift cards. Please give the gift cards to

Janice Logan or leave them in her mail slot in the office

by December 18. If you have any questions, please

contact Janice (437-1121 or jlogan6@nycap.rr.com).

Thank you for your generosity.

We have numerous good

leaders at FLC, and a some

committees who help keep

the church running. We

have two committees of

whom we wish to make

special mention at this time.

You may or may not have

noticed them. They often work largely behind the

scenes.

Personnel Committee formed just over a year ago,

this committee of Tim Eskeli - chair, JoAnne LaPlante-

Evans, and Kathy Ordway, have worked with Pastor

Allie to revise job descriptions, conduct staff

evaluations, and create a new employee handbook. As

well, they took the lead on the hiring of our new

organist. JoAnne LaPlante-Evans has now left the

committee for other commitments, so we are looking

for an additional person who has some experience

personnel matters.

Mutual Ministry Committee, whose task is to

support the vision of the congregation and the ministry

of the pastor, formed about 1 ½ years ago. They have

done excellent work in reviewing with Pastor and

council the stated priorities for the congregation from

when Pastor Allie was called. They also took the lead

in striving for resolution during some congregational

conflict during the past year. We continue to work

with the Matthew 18 premise: if you have a concern,

go directly to the person you have the concern with; if

you find that impossible take a someone with you, or

ask the mutual ministry committee to help to address

your concern. We thank Joe Markowski, Dorothy

Carlson, and Pr Paula Gravelle for their work. Paula

has now moved, and Dorothy has completed her term

on this committee. Our Council President Cara

Brousseau is joining Joe, and we hope to announce a

third member soon. Membership on this committee is

by suggestion of the pastor, with approval by the

council.

We give thanks for the fine ministry accomplished

by these two committees during the past year.

The Albany Senior Orchestra will be performing a concert at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 15

th in Wittenberg Hall.

You are also invited to come to First Lutheran on any

Tuesday morning and listen to them rehearse beginning at 9:30 a.m.

FREE Albany Senior Orchestra Concert

Huge shout out to our Congregational Partners -

Journey UCC, 1st Lutheran, St. John's Lutheran,

Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, St. Boniface

Episcopal Church, Delmar Presbyterian Church, New

Covenant Presbyterian, Hamilton Union Presbyterian

and McKownville UMC for hosting bake sales on

November 22nd! You help us raise $2,465!!!

Page 6

Page 7

Church Council Highlights

November 10, 2015 Meeting

St John’s and First’s council met together at 6:30 to

discuss how we will explore ways we can work toward

being together as one congregation.

The following committees were decide upon:

• Governance Committee

• Staffing Committee

• Building Committee

These committees will be explained to the

congregations through both temple talks and written

communication. Members of each committee will

include council members and non-council members.

The committees will begin meeting in January and will

communicate to the Congregations on their progress

once a month. More information will follow.

First’s Council meeting began at 7:35.

Congregational Life still needs someone to head it. In

the meantime we need someone who is willing to sign

up members for coffee hour each Sunday.

Need someone to take over as head usher to make up

schedule for ushers.

The Damien Center asked to add “Housing Work” to

their program. Council approved this with the

stipulation that this group does not lobby.

Protection One: Cannot do the work for the alarm

systems at west end of building. For the time being we

will install smoke detectors. We will need to decide how

many and where.

Snow removal: we will go with the company from last

year. A contract is needed.

The Mutual Ministry Committee is down to only one

member, Joe Markowski. Council appointed Cara

Brousseau. One more person is needed.

Capital Employment Assistance Program. Pastor Allie

will ask our employees if they would take advantage of

such a program. If so, we will decide at the next meeting

whether to contract for this service.

Dom Colafati presented the proposed budget for 2016.

Council discussed and changes were made. Council

approved the amended budget that will be presented at

the December 20th

Congregational Meeting. The 2016

budget will be available to the congregation by

December 1st

.

The Treasurer’s Report was presented and accepted.

As of January 2015 Morgan Stanley’s balance was

$764,000. As of October 2015 the balance is $705,501.

Although the account made money over the past 10

months, we needed to withdraw $9000 every month to

pay expenses, so therefore we still lost money.

Submitted by,

Sandy O’Connor

Council Secretary

The Albany Lutheran Cluster Churches

are collecting items in January and

February for local refugee families. The

refugee crisis has been in the news, and

therefore, our prayers over the past

several months.

The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants has an

office in Albany to assist the local population of refugee

families from Burma, Iraq, Bhutan, Sudan, Congo and

elsewhere around the world. This organization helps

people find jobs, health care, homes, and offers much

support.

Please consider helping them by donating new or clean

gently-used items.

They currently have a great need for the following:

• Winter coats (all sizes, men, women and children)

• Boots

• Winter hats, scarves and gloves

• Blankets

• Gift cards to Walmart and Price Chopper

• Items from USCRI Albany's Amazon.com Wish List.

All items will be delivered directly to their office.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/

wishlist/2K9PHQASZTFDY/

ref=cm_wl_sortbar_v_page_1

If you are interested in volunteering your time, they

have several positions available. You may call 459-1790,

email info@uscri-albany.org, or visit their website

www.refugeesalbany.org

FY 2015 FY 2016 Dollar Percent

INCOME:

Total Weekly Contributions: 146,650.00$ 140,000.00$ (6,650.00)$ -4.5%

Total Holy Day/Special: 8,450.00$ 8,450.00$ -$ 0.0%

Rents/Building Use 4,000.00$ 4,000.00$ -$ 0.0%

Damien Ctr Payment 18,000.00$ 18,000.00$ -$ 0.0%

Abiding Memorials -$ 2,000.00$ 2,000.00$

Homeless Shelter/All Other 8,000.00$ 5,750.00$ (2,250.00)$

Total Other Receipts: 30,000.00$ 29,750.00$ (250.00)$ -0.8%

Investment Income 28,465.20$ 28,000.00$ (465.20)$ -1.6%

TOTAL INCOME 213,565.20$ 206,200.00$ (7,365.20)$ -3.4%

EXPENSES:

Pastor 43,599.00$ 44,034.99$ 435.99$ 1.0%

Intern (FLC Share) 3,850.00$ -$ (3,850.00)$ -100.0%

Sexton: Regular 25,500.00$ 25,755.00$ 255.00$ 1.0%

Sexton: Damien 7,200.00$ 7,200.00$ -$ 0.0%

Housing Offset (6,456.00)$ (6,456.00)$ -$ 0.0%

Secretary 32,200.96$ 32,523.01$ 322.05$ 1.0%

Music Director 16,895.28$ 20,000.00$ 3,104.72$ 18.4%

Workers Compensation Insurance 3,800.00$ 5,200.00$ 1,400.00$ 36.8%

FICA (all FLC) 11,200.00$ 9,464.04$ (1,735.96)$ -15.5%

Total Payroll Expenses 137,789.24$ 137,721.04$ (68.20)$ 0.0%

Pastor ELCA Pension/Health Ins. 37,340.28$ 36,000.00$ (1,340.28)$ -3.6%

Pastor Longevity Pay (ELCA) 1,050.00$ 1,400.00$ 350.00$ 33.3%

Pastoral Housing 16,000.00$ 16,000.00$ -$ 0.0%

Pastoral Education/Expenses 3,200.00$ 3,200.00$ -$ 0.0%

Intern Health Insurance (FLC) 889.00$ -$ (889.00)$ -100.0%

Intern Housing (FLC) 3,500.00$ -$ (3,500.00)$ -100.0%

Intern One-time Fees/Costs (FLC) 1,961.00$ -$ (1,961.00)$ -100.0%

Other Employment Expenses: 63,940.28$ 56,600.00$ (7,340.28)$ -11.5%

Worship and Music 2,750.00$ 8,075.00$ 5,325.00$ 193.6%

Sunday School 275.00$ 400.00$ 125.00$ 45.5%

Other Education 100.00$ 100.00$ -$ 0.0%

Congregational Life 1,000.00$ 1,000.00$ -$ 0.0%

Stewardship 700.00$ 700.00$ -$ 0.0%

Synod 1,000.00$ 1,300.00$ 300.00$ 30.0%

Total Church Ministries: 5,825.00$ 11,575.00$ 5,750.00$ 98.7%

FLC 2016 PROPOSED BUDGET COMPARED TO FY 2015 AS UPDATED

Annual Change

Page 8

FY 2015 FY 2016 Dollar Percent

Evangelism 400.00$ 400.00$ -$ 0.0%

Social Ministry 1,000.00$ 4,000.00$ 3,000.00$ 300.0%

Damien Center: General 10,800.00$ 10,800.00$ -$ 0.0%

Homeless Shelter 8,000.00$ 3,500.00$ (4,500.00)$ -56.3%

Community Ministry 3,125.00$ 3,125.00$ -$ 0.0%

Cluster/Conference 1,200.00$ 1,200.00$ -$ 0.0%

PC/CACC/FOCUS/CRTC/Damien 1,925.00$ 1,925.00$ -$ 0.0%

Wider Church Ministry 18,000.00$ 14,845.00$ (3,155.00)$ -17.5%

Total Church Missions: 41,325.00$ 36,670.00$ (4,655.00)$ -11.3%

Repair and Improvements 17,500.00$ 10,000.00$ (7,500.00)$ -42.9%

Utilities 32,025.00$ 30,000.00$ (2,025.00)$ -6.3%

Grounds/Refuse/Snowplowing 4,430.00$ 7,000.00$ 2,570.00$ 58.0%

Property and Casualty Insurance 8,110.00$ 9,000.00$ 890.00$ 11.0%

Auto Insurance 500.00$ -$ (500.00)$ -100.0%

Total Facilities: 62,565.00$ 56,000.00$ (6,565.00)$ -10.5%

Advertising -$ -$ -$

Supplies 11,775.00$ 13,500.00$ 1,725.00$ 14.6%

Postage 700.00$ 700.00$ -$ 0.0%

Payroll Processing 950.00$ 1,357.00$ 407.00$ 42.8%

Total Administration: 13,425.00$ 15,557.00$ 2,132.00$ 15.9%

TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS 324,869.52$ 314,123.04$ (10,746.48)$ -3.3%

Income Over/(Under) Expenses (111,304.32)$ (107,923.04)$ 3,381.28$ -3.0%

Beginning Balance 924,951.00$ 813,646.68$ (111,304.32)$ -12.0%

Ending Balance 813,646.68$ 705,723.63$ (107,923.04)$ -13.3%

Annual Change

Page 9

It Could Happen!

Should there be winter weather that warrants the church closing

on a Sunday morning, these television and radio stations would

have the news that we are closed. As always, please assess driv-

ing conditions before you head out during a winter storm. It’s best

to be safe than sorry!

Capital News 9

WXXA TV (Fox 23)

WFLY – FLY 92

WTEN TV (ch. 10)

WGY – 810 WGY

WRGB TV (ch. 6)

WRVE – The River

WNYT TV (ch. 13)

WYJB B-95.5

First Lutheran Church—Proposed Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2016

The proposed budget for First Lutheran Church for fiscal year 2016 is attached for your

consideration. The Council approved the draft budget at its October meeting.

The FLC proposed budget for FY 2016 is intended to provide a complete picture of the Church’s

financial activity, as described below.

FLC’s financial activity is classified in the following three categories:

1. The General Fund, which accounts for the day-to-day operating needs of the Church;

2. Dedicated Funds for Mission/Ministry, which account for resources that have been set aside for

specific operating purposes, typically from designated gifts by FLC members. These funds include,

among others, the Harriet Funk Social Ministry Fund and the Homeless Shelter Fund; and

3. Dedicated Funds for Building/Capital Purposes, which account for resources that have been set

aside to maintain and improve the buildings and other tangible property, again typically from

designated gifts by FLC members. These funds include, among others, the Abiding Memorials.

Together, the activity in all three categories comprise the Church’s financial operations in a given

year. The budget reflects this reality by including not only receipts and disbursements from the

General Fund, but also the financial activity in the dedicated funds.

The budget format also includes opening and closing balances for each fiscal year. The balances are

a “snapshot” estimate of the value of FLC’s cash and invested assets at the start and end of each

fiscal year.

Budget Highlights

Disbursements are estimated to exceed receipts by approximately $111,000 in the current year

(FY 2015) and $107,000 in FY 2015.

We have lowered the estimate for annual giving in the current year by approximately $24,000

(from approximately $179,000 in the adopted budget to $155,000 in the revised budget).

We estimate that annual giving will continue to decline, falling to approximately $148,000 in FY

2016.

The FY 2016 budget provides a modest general salary increase of 1% for FLC staff (aside from the

organist, who was recently hired).

Giving to the wider church ministry is budgeted to decline from $18,000 in the current year to

$14,845 in FY 2016. The FY 2016 level is equal to 10 percent of estimated annual giving.

Page 10

A Prayer for Christmas Dinner

God of all gifts, we thank you for the many ways you

have blessed us this day. We are grateful each of those

who are gathered around this table. We ask you to

bless us and our food and to bless those we love who

are not with us today. In our gratitude and love, we

remember your humble birth into our lives and pray for

those who are without enough to eat. We remember

the stable in which you were born and pray for those

who have no place to live. We remember your

challenging message of caring and giving and we pray

for peace in families and nations throughout the world.

We bless you and give you thanks in your Spirit who

brings our hearts to life this Christmas Day and forever.

Amen.

The following table summarizes the balances and the estimated impact of our planned financial

activity on those balances.

It is important to note that the calculations are based on conservative estimates, including:

Modest earnings on our invested assets (in the range of just 3%); and

Minimal receipts from giving to dedicated funds.

Dom Colafati Finance Chair

OPENING BALANCE FOR FY 2015 924,951.00$

Expenses in Excess of Receipts (111,304.32)$ Difference funded from existing fund balance

OPENING BALANCE FOR FY 2016 813,646.68$ Estimated. Based on year-to-date results

FY 2016 Estimated Receipts 206,200.00$ See proposed budget

FY 2016 Est. Disbursements 314,123.04$ See proposed budget

Expenses in Excess of Receipts (107,923.04)$ See proposed budget

CLOSING BALANCE FOR FY 2016 705,723.63$

Est. FY 2016 Balances Held as Follows:

General Fund 427,143.16$

Operating/Mission&Ministry 118,799.46$

Capital/Abiding Memorial 159,798.00$

TOTAL 705,740.62$

FLC FINANCIAL RESOURCES: CASH AND INVESTMENTS

Page 11

New Forum—All Are Welcome

On behalf of Cornerstone Campus Ministry, I'd like to

invite your congregation to join us for an exciting

program this fall - Java and Justice!

Once a month - on the 1st Wednesday of each month -

we'll gather at Professor Java's, 217 Wolf Road in Albany

for a discussion of issues related to the Moral Monday

Movement.

The gathering will take place from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. in a

room we reserved. You'll be free to order your own

coffee, tea, refreshments. Emily McNeill from the Labor

Religion Coalition will introduce each topic and then

we'll invite a guest speaker to expand on the topic and

then I'll add some theological/scriptural reflection and

then we hope you'll join in the informal discussion and

we listen to and learn from each other.

The topic this month:

No Human is Illegal: Immigration Reform Professor Java's, 217 Wolf Road

Wednesday, December 2

7:30 - 9:00 p.m.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me

know.

Rev. Sandy J. Damhof

Protestant Campus Ministry

Chapel House

NEW Bible Study by Pastor Jo Page! Book of Job

Pastor Jo invites you to meet with her for a five-

week study of the timelessly relevant story of Job.

Using "A Taste of the Wise Life: Job and Theodicy," we'll

explore the background, settings, dialogues and

questions raised by the text. In addition we'll sample

some of the art that has been made in response to the

plight of Job and his final, powerful encounter with God.

Plan to join Pastor Jo at St. John's Chapel, 303 Sand

Creek Road either on Thursday mornings, 10:00 - 11:15

or Thursday evenings, 6:00 - 7:15, December 3 & 10.

Please call the church office to let us know you plan to

participate.

Page 12

Dear Pastor Allie,

On behalf of the Habitat for Humanity Capital District,

I wanted to thank you and your church for hosting the ten

AmeriCorps team in September and October that were

serving us! We are unbelievably grateful for your

willingness to open your doors to visitors without any

hesitation. It speaks volumes about the spirit of your

church and your heart for your community.

The team was able to complete a tremendous amount

of work on our homes under construction on Sheridan

Avenue, which would not have been possible without

your generosity. I’d love to tour your around our

development anytime if you are interested! I’ve included

a donation to your church as a small way of saying Thanks

Again! Please use it towards the shelter or anything else

you might need.

I hope you have a wonderful, restful Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,

Alicia

A special baby

Mark Lowry, who wrote the lyrics to the Christmas

song “Mary, Did You Know?” says he’s always been

amazed by Mary’s silence at the cross, as her son was

being crucified. Maybe she was remembering back to

that first Christmas, he wonders, when she counted

Jesus’ fingers and toes.

“I wonder if she realized then that those were the

same fingers that had scooped out the oceans and

formed the seas. I wonder if she realized those were the

same feet that had walked on streets of gold and been

worshiped by angels. Those little lips were the same lips

that had spoken the world into existence. When Mary

kissed her little baby, she wasn’t just kissing another

baby; she was kissing the face of God.”

Mary silently watched her son die 33 years later,

Lowry notes — not just for the world but also for his

own mother. “The baby boy she had delivered on that

first Christmas was now on a cross delivering her.”

Serving in December Serving in December Serving in December (Altar Guild & Coffee Hour schedule to be posted soon)(Altar Guild & Coffee Hour schedule to be posted soon)(Altar Guild & Coffee Hour schedule to be posted soon)

Please let Julie know of any schedule changes that you make between yourselves so that the Sunday bulletin will be as accurate

as possible. Many thanks.

Date of

Worship

Assisting

Ministers Lectors

Communion

Assistants Ushers Counters Altar Guild

Fellowship

Hour Drivers

December

6

10:00 a.m.

Colin

McKnight

Team 2

Colin, Liz,

Abby

Team 1

Cliff

Danielson

Janice w/

Ed & Carol

Engelhardt

Paul Hyde

December

13

10:00 a.m.

Judy

Greenwood

Bev

Hazzard

Team 3

Judy G.,

Peter, Ingrid

Team 2

Joe

Markowski

Joe w/ Kim

Ryan

Cliff

Danielson

December

20

10:00 a.m.

Mike Casler

Team 1

Judy C. Paul,

Kim, Amelia

Team 3

Fred

Sawyer

JoAnne w/

Shawn

Brousseau

Paul Hyde

December

24

7:30 p.m.

No

Transport

available

December

27

10:00 a.m.

Judy

Greenwood

Joe

Markowski

Team 2

Colin, Liz,

Abby

Team 5

Bob Frost

Janice w/

Doug

Siegenthaler

Cliff

Danielson

Page 13

On Sunday, December

6th, 2015 at 3:00 PM at

Chapel of Union College,

Octavo singers will once

again bring the majesty of

Messiah to the stage of

the Memorial Chapel.

Mark your calendars now to share in this wonderful

musical tradition. Tickets will be available at the door.

For more information visit www.octavosingers.com

Help The Homeless Shelter

The shelter has an ongoing need for certain items:

• Men’s winter coats, gloves, hats

• socks, underwear

• DVDs

• twin size bedding

• cereal, tea, coffee, oatmeal, juices, tuna fish,

microwave popcorn, canned stew & chili

• big plastic containers (to store food)

• duffle bags, TV tables

• travel size soap & shampoo

Schedule for Christmas Eve will be sent out the first week of December

December 6 In honor of Bob and Ann Howland on their 64th

wedding anniversary; and in loving memory of Mrs.

Shirley E. Sawyer, by Fred Sawyer, Jr. and family.

December 13 To the glory of our faithful and loving God, in loving memory of Bill Sippel and in honor of the

birthday of her daughter Alyson Ward by Barbara McGuiness; and in loving memory of his parents,

James and Helen Lind and her grandparents George and Ruth King and Merrow and Margaret

Dennis by Jeff and Julie

December 20 In loving memory of his wife, Flo by Peter Christoph; and in loving memory of loved ones by Ann and

Robert Howland

December 27 POINSETTIAS

Any new requests, questions or changes call Liz Peters, 869-0387

or email mommy5853@aol.com

Altar vase - $25.00 Sanctuary vase - $27.50

The Memorial Flowers in December are given to the Glory of God and ...The Memorial Flowers in December are given to the Glory of God and ...The Memorial Flowers in December are given to the Glory of God and ...

We continue to keep in prayer… Elga Alksnis, Faith Beebe, Dorothy Carlson, Lois Coon,

Marcia Coon, Jane Culver, Luther Dyer, Trudy Fedden,

Jan Frost, Judy Greenwood, Patricia Hansen, Sue Harper,

Gerry Hoyt, Beverly Ann Kurtessis, Jeff Lind, Clara

LeBaron, Jim Leonard, Mildred Logan, Ginny MacVittie,

Barbara McGuinness, Stan and Jeannie Polonski, Lisa

Rittberger, Bill and Laura Shufelt, Marc Salzer, Marilyn

Salzer, Geri Saulpaugh, Daniel Smith, Elaine Smith, Kay

Victorson, Ed Vining, Nathaniel Weeks, Matthew

Wentland, and Charlotte Wolffe.

Our Friends, Neighbors & Family:

· Greg Backus: son-in-law of Laura & Bill Shufelt

· Dan Brodax: brother-in-law of Anne Erling

· Luke Brodax: cousin of the Erling-Colafati family

· Marianne Brunner: friend of Lisa Rittberger

· Amanda Caswell: friend of Marcelle Olsen

· Janette Coluccio: friend of Liz Peters

· Chuck Conklin: brother of Bob Conklin

· Steve Corson: friend of Marcelle Olsen

· Chris Cymenman: friend of Barbara McGuinness

· Marie Delorenzo: friend of Sue Harper

· Brion Ebert: nephew of June & Cliff Danielson

· Marilyn Erling: mother of Anne Erling

· Patricia Havill: friend of Marcelle Olsen

· Beverly Hill-Olander: sister of Pat Hansen

· Nancy Hill: sister of Patricia Hansen

· Kathy Horner: sister of Judy Carlson

· Deborah Igris: great niece of Geraldine Saulpaugh

· Scott Jeffe: friend of Lisa Rittberger

· Jan Kaliski: friend of Elga Alksnis

· Michael Kilmade: friend of the O’Connor family

· Richard King: father of Julie Lind

· Rosalind Lombardo: friend of Marcelle Olsen

· Brittany Lunn: a Florida friend of Joan & Judy Greenwood

· Gloria Mangano: sister of Joyce Aiello and her sisters

· Joan Miller: friend of Pastor Hunter

· Pamela Petersen: niece of Joan & Judy Greenwood

· Lois Phelps: sister of Clara LaBaron

· Pastor David Preisinger: pastor of Holy Spirit

· Pastor Paul Rees-Rohrbacher: retired pastor of St. John’s

· Sheryl Ricciadelli: friend of Marcelle Olsen

· Kelly Salzio: friend of Marcelle Olsen

· Robert Schoneman, III: great-nephew of Joan & Judy Greenwood

· Teal Shamming: friend of Marcelle Olsen

· Melissa & Amanda Sippel: granddaughters of Barbara

McGuinness

· Janice Tate: sister of Clara LeBaron

· Lois Van Buren: aunt of Bob Conklin

· Alyson Ward: daughter of Barbara McGuinness

· Matthew & Michael Ward: grandsons of Barbara McGuinness

· Josephine Warren: niece of Geraldine Saulpaugh

· Mahammad Yahgi: friend of First Lutheran

· Gary Wilkie: nephew of Eve and Lyle Norton

· David Young: brother of Jan Frost

Our Men and Women in Uniform:

· SSgt. Taylor Engelhardt: grandson of Ed & Carol Engelhardt

· PO Lindsay Jaeger, Navy, Bahrain: niece of Joni Sanchez

Our Wider Mission Concerns:

· For the people affected by natural disasters.

· For peace.

· For the unemployed.

· For Allie Leitzel, Dean of Hudson Mohawk Conference

· For John Macholz, Bishop of the Upstate NY Synod

· For Elizabeth Eaton, Bishop of the ELCA

Page14

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First Lutheran ChurchFirst Lutheran ChurchFirst Lutheran Church

The Oldest Lutheran Congregation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaThe Oldest Lutheran Congregation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaThe Oldest Lutheran Congregation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

646 State Street646 State Street646 State Street

Albany, NY 12203Albany, NY 12203Albany, NY 12203---121712171217

Dated Material: Dated Material: Dated Material: Please deliver promptlyPlease deliver promptlyPlease deliver promptly!!!

Current Resident or

Visit our Facebook page & “like” us … https://www.facebook.com/FirstLutheranAlbanyVisit our Facebook page & “like” us … https://www.facebook.com/FirstLutheranAlbanyVisit our Facebook page & “like” us … https://www.facebook.com/FirstLutheranAlbany

Worship at First Lutheran Church on Christmas Eve!

7:00 p.m.7:00 p.m.7:00 p.m.7:00 p.m.

Prelude to Christmas Offerings of choral and organ music

7:30 p.m.7:30 p.m.7:30 p.m.7:30 p.m.

Festive Worship featuring the reading of the Christmas Story from Mark,

Holy Communion and the lighting of candles.

Service of Lessons & Carols

at First Lutheran with St. John’s Sunday, December 27

10:00 a.m.