NEWSLETTER
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION
DECEMBER 2008
Last
year I did not get around to making my grandmother’s Christmas cookies: date
balls, almond short bread, oatmeal with date filling, and the best gingerbread
people ever. I took time to buy all the
ingredients but the mixing, baking, and enjoying never happened.
This
year I decided to take a different approach.
The first week of Nov., I took time on my day off to make date
balls. Two weeks later we finished
eating them. Then I made almond
shortbread; next oatmeal; hopefully the gingerbread too.
The idea
behind this is a little repose during a season that often has people, including
myself, running haggard. I have found
making the cookies bit by bit, with no deadlines, to be a prayerful
exercise. Knowing they will be eaten
right away has taken away the stress of trying to hide them from the family,
and gorging on too much variety later on.
Baking
cookies this way is really what Advent and life are about; not saving all the
good stuff for later. Continually I talk
with people who have saved items, stuff, money, gifts, ideas, good intentions
for a time when they may need them, or for later when they will have time to
enjoy them. Unfortunately many people never get the chance to enjoy and pass on
the goodness they have received.
God’s kingdom is about taking risks...sharing
the kingdom now....lighting the darkness, fostering joy all year, eating
grandma’s cookies in the present.
As I
embark on my continued baking experience, I realize that I am reminded more
often of my grandmother. Since I am not
in a rush to get the job done, I can take time to ponder the care grandma took
in baking, loving, and sharing. I am
reminded of her encouraging sayings; her faithful living; her
role-modeling. As I bake, I am being
shaped and called to risk bringing God’s kingdom and joy to the people around
me now. In my home this season, love and
story- telling starts with the sharing of cookies; good gifts that bring great
joy.
I pray
that your home is filled with smells of hope, sharing, and love.
Blessings
and Son-shine!
+Kimber
Roof Project Update
The roofing project completed on time and
within budget. It’s cost was $39,030.20.
The bell tower project has completed with a cost of $2,072.88. This
expense represents making the bell tower safe. We closed in the
tower. We will need to discuss how to proceed in the future.
The good news is that we could work on it from the inside now.
The Parsonage roof is next summer. I
have put up the fund raising thermometer and we are on our way.
Church Council Update
Our council is a small group and I would like
to increase the number. As the AGM approaches I ask you to consider
becoming involved. We meet once a month.
We welcome you input. I have left
envelops up on the bulletin board if you have any new items you wish to
pass on.
Sincerely,
David Winfield
Congregational President
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STEWARDSHIP PACKAGES:
Stewardship
packages are available at the church for pick up. These packages include a reflection on
stewardship, a letter, information on the budget for next year, Pre-Authorized
giving, and envelopes. If you do not
receive envelopes and are interested, in envelopes or the information that is
included, please contact the church office.
lutheranchurch@eastlink.ca,
or 902-422-9224.
The
package focuses on financial stewardship.
There are many other forms of stewardship - time, talent, and treasures
- as one of the Holy Communion prayers reads.
The emphasis in the reflection for the year, is that stewardship has us
thinking about how much we choose to give from what we own. Is it not more
correct to think in terms of TRUSTEESHIP; out of what is available and given as
gift to the world, how much do we keep for ourselves? Take time to reflect that you own
nothing. How much do you really need to
live on? Everything else is a gift to be
passed on.
TRUSTEESHIP OF “STUFF”:
NO LONGER NEEDED
Thank-you for your
generous support over the years. Please
note that the following items are no longer needed by mission organizations:
·
Soap ends...CLWR has restocked their
stores
·
Sobey’s tapes....no longer accepted by Sobey’s
·
Eye glasses...the organization we sent them
to, no longer accepts glasses as the missions they set
up now make their own glasses; glasses can be recycled through eye glass
retailers.
ITEMS APPRECIATED
·
Yarn
for knitting prayer shawls
·
Cotton
fabric for making quilts
·
Old
sheets, blankets, throws to use as filler in quilts made for the local Half-way
House
·
Stamps
·
Campbell soup labels
CONTINUED ITEMS
NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY
Please take time to
read the small newspaper put out by HRM about garbage removal, recycling, and
the waste treatment facility. On the
back page of this publication, you will find a list of charities and items they
are looking for from people like you.
·
Coffee,
whitener, sugar, spray deodorant, laundry detergent (non-liquid): Metro Turning
Point
·
Baby
food, peanut butter, canned fish, canned beans: Food Bank
TRUSTEESHIP OF SPACE
- sharing the building
·
SUNDAY
activities include: 10am church, 11am
Sunday school and fellowship hour, choir practice, 2-4pm African Full
Gospel Church,
6:30pm confirmation class
·
MONDAY:
alcoholics anonymous
·
TUESDAY: 11am lunch bunch, 7pm gambler’s anonymous
·
WEDNESDAY:
quilting, Halifax Lutheran Hospital Chaplaincy meetings, Atlantic Lutheran
Campus Ministry Meetings, council meetings,
7pm Venturers
·
FRIDAY:
prayer shawl group
·
SATURDAY:
9am Tai Chi, 11:30am Narcotics
Anonymous, German Coffee group
Other groups using
the church include: OVO Housing Co-op, Halifax Community Chaplaincy-CSC, German Heritage
Language School,
Finish Association, Chebucto Links
TRUSTEESHIP OF THE EARTH - GREEN SUNDAYS
The last Sunday of
every month, congregation members are encouraged to observe a Green
Sunday. This means putting thought into
using less (water, gas, electricity, food, make-up, oil based products). Bulletins will use less paper. Emphasis will be drawn to using Fair Trade
coffee and eating locally (apples rather than bananas for breakfast). People are encouraged to carpool, take the
bus, bike, or walk to church.
As a church we
believe in the stewardship of creation.
We have insulated the ceiling in the church hall, put a lighter shingled
roof on the building, heat only to 68 degrees, use energy-efficient light
bulbs, do not use Styrofoam, take care to ensure our garbage is separated, and
keep the environment in our prayers.
TRUSTEESHIP OF TIME and ENERGY -JOINT ANGLICAN-LUTHERAN BIBLE STUDY
Every Wed. you are
invited to join us at St.Matthais for a joint Bible Study. We read together and discuss the lessons for
the following Sunday. Meet the group in
the church hall, parlour room to the left, 9:30am-11am. Tea and coffee provided. Come once, twice, or every week.
Bible Study is one
of the most important activities of the people of God. This is one of the ways we learn about
trusteeship; reading together, dialogue, and prayer. Church growth studies overwhelmingly show
that there are three main features present in growing communities: reading
Scripture together, praying together, and a common vision. “GOD YOU ARE ON A MISSION AND WE WANT TO BE PART OF IT!”
REVIEWING OUR TRUSTEESHIP -ANNUAL MEETING
Resurrection’s
Annual Meeting is scheduled for Sunday Feb.1, 2009.
Annual reports will
be available beginning Sunday Jan. 18, 2009.
This meeting is a
time to share our joys and sorrows, to reflect back on the past year, and plan
for 2009. It is about everyone in the
community offering their time, gifts, and resources. Trusteeship works only when we are acting as
trustees. The responsibility is too
great to be left in the hands of the pastor and church council members. As a
child of God you are baptized and called to a life of purpose. You are a trustee!
Come and walk with
us! Please bring a lunch with you on
this day.
