January 2007
Celebration of
ATONEMENT
Newsletter of Atonement Lutheran Church,
Rev. Tina Koenig Ray, BCC, Pastor
"Called by God to serve and witness to all in response to God’s grace."
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F
rom the Pastor…
"Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people…"
2Ch 1:10a
The proverbial ‘They’ say that one should make New Year resolutions. Bah hum bug! I though that this year instead of making new year resolutions that I never keep I might seek out some advice.
"Blessed is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed. By wisdom the Lord laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew."
Proverbs 3:13-20
In case you haven’t noticed we have a lot of beautiful silver, gray and white hair here at Atonement. That silver hair is covering up great stores of wisdom. Why let all that wisdom go to waste? As a person with a few silver hairs on my head and some wisdom, I would like to glean wisdom from you (even if you don’t yet have a silver head of hair or if you dye it).
"Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom"'
Job 32:7b
"My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding."
Psalms 49:1-5Here’s what I would like you to do. Take a sheet of paper, sit down for a moment and pray. Then think of tidbits of wisdom that are floating around in your head like little fish. Throw out the net and see what you pull in and jot it down. Put your name on the paper and put it in my CHURCH mailbox. I haven’t quite figured out what will happen to all this collected wisdom yet. We might use all of it or some of it or none of it in what ever the final outcome is. (I know you’re thinking I couldn’t come up with a better newsletter lead so I’m giving you some malarkey about wisdom and silver heads.)
Seriously, wisdom is something that is in short supply in our society. No one seems to have much common sense anymore. What would you tell a child being bullied at school? Or a couple that’s having marital difficulties? What about the teenager who can’t stand her parents or the middle aged couple that is having trouble conceiving? What pearls of wisdom would you have to give to someone who is struggling with his or her faith?
Harvesting the collective wisdom that we have is indeed a good venture for the New Year.
"Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you."
Proverbs 4:1-13
Don’t forget to make a note & give Pattye your
favorite Christmas carols
for our Christmas Carol sing on December 31st.
Please have all reports for the
Annual Meeting to the office by
Friday, December 29th
.From the Council President ...
.
Happy New Year! I know I’m a little early with this, but this is the January newsletter. I can’t help myself since we’ve just come through the most exciting time of the year with Advent and celebrating the birth of our Savior. The New Year comes to us offering a new start with lots of opportunities and challenges for 2007. We will have our Annual Church Meeting on January 21, 2007 where we will elect new council persons to serve our church and begin the New Year with a new budget. Hopefully you have all done your part to insure that we, as a council, will have the funds to make a difference in our church, our community and our world. If you haven’t pledged and would like to, it is never too late. All you need to do is call the church, Don Reedy, or me and we’ll see that you get a pledge sheet. Like the Widow in the Bible who gave her last 2 cents, every pledge makes a difference, regardless of how large or small the pledge is.
That said, it’s also time for our annual Chili/Soup cook-off which will be held January 27th in the church basement and is put on by our Outreach Committee. The sign-up sheet is in the Chapel and I’m personally putting out the challenge to all who think they can whip me to bring it on, because I’m already signed up and ready for all you chili cooks. So mark your calendars, bring your appetite and prepare yourself for some fun the evening of January 27th Watch for the announcement of the time in our bulletin.
All God’s peace and Blessings to You for this New Year.
Yours in Christ,
Bruce Johnson
Congratulations to our seminarian
Deena Laird!
After completing a successful internship she has written her approval essay and received faculty approval from the professors at Wartburg Seminary.
On a day that was cold and blustery here in Beloit, December 1st, 2006, she meet with the South-Central Synod Candidacy Committee in Madison and was approved for ordination to the ministry of word and sacrament in the ELCA.
Sometime in January she will find out where she will be assigned for the call process. All that is left graduation! Keep Deena and David in your prayers as they continue on this journey.
YIPPEE!
THE TOP TEN PREDICTIONS FOR 2007
1. The Bible will still have the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4.God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.
November financial update as of 11/30/06
Total income for November $ 7854.27 Total expenses for November - $ 9771.55
Net income (November 2006) $ -1917.28
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November/December Worship
Date
Attendance General Fund Maint. CansNov
adults/youth
19 67/2 $1179.00 $ 23.00 $45.75
26 66/7 $1412.50 $ 37.00 $37.44
Dec
adults/youth3 61/4 $2815.44 $ 52.00 $42.02
10 70/4 $2403.00 $102.00 $44.75
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Due to the new privacy laws regarding health information, the hospital will not release the names of patients. So if you are going into the hospital, or know someone who is hospitalized, please call the church office, or let Pastor Tina know.
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ë
The Bulletin BoardThe following items are posted in more detail in the Klingberg Chapel or the hallway bulletin board:
ë
The Bishop’s Christmas messageë
Newest Caritas needs listë
Voluntary Action Center volunteers needed listë
Merrill CommUnity Center "Wish List"
January Flower &
Fellowship Schedule
Eternal Candle:
The Eternal Candle for January is from CaroleDoubleday in memory of grandchildren John and Rachel
Altar Guild: information not available
Weekly Beloit Daily News ad:
Norbert Larson——————————————————
January 7
Flowers:
Rich & Mary Wendtland for Mary’s 65th birthdayBread of Heaven: open
Fellowship: open
Acolyte: open
KidsKorner: open
January 14
Flowers: Bob Kristianson in memory of his mother
Bread of Heaven: open
Fellowship: open
Acolyte: open
KidsKorner: open
January 21
Flowers: Arlene Ruegger in memory of Richard
Bread of Heaven: open
Fellowship: open
Acolyte: open
KidsKorner: open
Y.A.G Host: open
January 28
Flowers:
Maggie Janke in honor of her Mom’s birthdayBread of Heaven: open
Fellowship: open
Acolyte: open
KidsKorner: open
Y.A.G. Host: open
January Birthdays
1/2 Carole Doubleday 1/24 Robert Anderson
1/5 Bob Brauns 1/25 Arlene Brauns
1/6 Don Holmbeck 1/26 Bruce Johnson
1/7 Mary Wendtland 1/26 Norbert Larson
1/11 Sue Grade 1/27 Claude Marvin
1/15 Justin Reedy 1/29 David Luety II
January Baptism Anniversaries
1/2 Jennifer Ramczyk 1/11 Peggy Johnson
1/2 Jacinta Ramczyk 1/20 Evelyn Herkis
1/4 Janice Adney 1/29 Charles Marvin
A Loss To the Atonement Church Family
Doris Marvin December 2, 2006
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Newsletter Articles
February Newsletter Articles are due
Monday, January 15. Newsletters will be assembled on Friday, January 19.
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January Dartball Schedule
1/2 Atonement Rejects @ Messiah Chiefs
Our Savior’s Trolls @ Atonement Rebels
1/9 Atonement Rebels @ 1st Congregational
Faith Lutheran @ Atonement Rejects
1/16 1st Baptist Bombers @ Atonement Rebels Atonement Rejects @ Sun Valley Too
1/23 1st Methodist @ Atonement Rebels
Atonement Rejects @ New Hope Hawks
1/30 Atonement Rebels @ Sun Valley Too
Messiah Thunder @ Atonement Rejects
God is like...
A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look
at TV commercials and see if they could use them in some way to
communicate ideas about God. Here are some of the results:
He gets the stains out that others leave behind.
The Community Thanksgiving Eve service with Atonement, Calvary, Pella, Our Lady of the Assumption, Common Ground Ministry and Espiritu de Esperanza raised $400 cash and 2 big boxes of food that were donated to Hands of Faith and Caritas.
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2007 Lenten Services
We will be participating in the city wide Wednesday Evening Lenten services. Atonement will be hosting Ash Wednesday this year. There seems to be interest in Wednesday morning services, also.
Pastor Tina suggests a service of the word (no communion) at 11AM each Wednesday after Ash Wednesday. Traditionally Atonement has been invited to St. Pauls Lutheran for their morning Ash Wednesday service. If you are interested in a morning service, please tear off the slip below and put it in the office on Pattye's desk. We're trying to see if people would want this. Thanks,
Worship and Music Committee
#
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Please check one and return this portion to the office.
__Yes, I would be interested in attending Wednesday morning services here at Atonement during Lent.
__No, I would not be interested in attending a Wednes- day morning service here at Atonement during Lent.
Name _______________________________________
ELEMENTARY BIBLE SCHOOL TESTS part 1
PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WORDING AND SPELLING. IF YOU KNOW THE BIBLE EVEN A LITTLE, YOU'LL FIND THIS HILARIOUS! IT COMES FROM A CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEST. KIDS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BIBLE WERE WRITTEN BY CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RETOUCHED NOR CORRECTED.
1.
IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS, GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF.2. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE. NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AND ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS.
3. LOTS WIFE WAS A PILLAR OF SALT DURING THE DAY, BUT A BALL OF FIRE DURING THE NIGHT.
4. THE JEWS WERE A PROUD PEOPLE AND THROUGHOUT HIS- TORY THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH UNSYMPATHETIC GENI- TALS.
5. SAMPSON WAS A STRONGMAN WHO LET HIMSELF BE LED ASTRAY BY A JEZEBEL LIKE DELILAH.
6. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES WITH THE AXE OF THE APOSTLES.
7. MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD, WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS.
8. THE EGYPTIANS WERE ALL DROWNED IN THE DESSERT. AF TERWARDS, MOSES WENT UP TO MOUNT CYANIDE TO GET THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
9. THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE.
10. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY.
11. MOSES DIED BEFORE HE EVER REACHED CANADA. THEN JOSHUA LED THE HEBREWS IN THE BATTLE OF GERITOL.
Thank You!
I would like to thank everyone for their prayers, cards & phone calls during my recent knee replacement surgery & recovery. It has helped me through this difficult time.
Sincerely, Judy Gundry* * * * * * *
Thank you for your donations of food for the Salvation Army. They were taken to the Salvation Army by the Boy Scout Troop on December 9
- Boy Scout Troop #316* * * * * * *
Thanks to all the people who helped decorate the tree in the front of the Sanctuary- Roland & Marge Mueller, Bob & Arlene Brauns, Rollyn & Char Affeldt, Duane & Bonnie Ottow, Carole Doubleday and Gary Pankonien
-Pastor TinaWay to go!
to Alyssa Garvey- her rabbit won Best of Breed (Best in Show) and Best Opposite Sex (Reserve in Show) at the Rex Specialty Show in Janesville on Sunday, November 26th. She did it twice, it was a double show. (Aly & Kaylee have approximately 80 rabbits.)
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to Norbert Larson, who got a hole in one!
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New 2007 sign up sheets
for Fellowship, Bread of Heaven, KidsKorner and Y.A.G. are all in the Klingberg Chapel.* * * * * * *
The sign up sheet for pointsettias is in the Klingberg Chapel. The cost is still $15 apiece. The plants will be delivered on the 23rd and can be taken home after the service on the 31st.
FOUND
after the Thanksgiving Eve service in the Sanctuary-a pair of ladies’ brown leather gloves. They can be picked up in the church office.* * * * * * *
Save your bulletins!
Daylight Donuts, 2240 Prairie Avenue, is offering a fundraising promotion-bring in your bulletin from the weekend service on either Monday or Tuesday of the same week. They take your bulletin and staple your receipt to it. Every 2 weeks they add up the total sales from our church and send us a check for 10% of those sales.
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First Congregational Church of Beloit will host a formal dinner, including prime rib, dinner music and ballroom dancing to raise funds for a scholarship to help send young people to college.
Attire for the dinner is formal, and black tie is optional.
The "Royal and Alice Everill Scholarship Dinner" will begin at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006 at the church, located at 801 Bushnell St. in Beloit. Tickets may be purchased now through Dec. 21, at First Congregational Church, 801 Bushnell Street, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 12 noon Monday through Friday for $30, or by calling (608) 362-4821. Every dollar raised at the event will be used to provide scholarships to graduating seniors. The event is named after the late Royal Everill, long-time principal of Beloit Memorial High School, and his wife Alice, who died this past year. Royal Everill served as principal of Beloit Memorial High School from 1949 until his death in 1969. He was inducted into the Beloit Hall of Fame in 1988 in honor of his life-long dedication to education in Beloit. "Both Alice and Royal shared a passion for education," said the Rev. Shawn Stapleton, pastor of the church. "We believe this scholarship dinner and award will honor their memories in a most appropriate way."
High school seniors may apply for the $1,000 scholarship by composing an essay of no more than 500 words, using the theme "How my faith helped me through my high school years." Essays must be typed, using 12-point Times New Roman font, and may be submitted to: Scholarship Review Committee C/O First Congregational Church, 801 Bushnell Street, Beloit WI 53511. One scholarship will be awarded annually. Those desiring more information about the dinner or the scholarship may call Rev. Stapleton at (608) 362-4821.
The Sisterhood will NOT meet in January.
Our next meeting will be Tuesday, February 6th at 1 PM at Riverside Terrace, hosted by Dolly Berner. Thanks to everyone who provided cookies for shut-ins and to those who helped pack and deliver them. Thank you to all who donated mittens & gloves and to the Adneys’ for taking them to Caritas, The Sparrow’s Nest, and the Salvation Army.* * * * * * *
The 4th Annual Chili/Soup Cookoff is Saturday, January 27th, 2007 from 4-7 PM. Last year was a huge success, and we hope you’ll consider being involved in this fundraiser. Sign up sheets for chili and soup cooks are in the Klingberg Chapel, and ticket packs will be available on the 31st. This year there will be separate tickets for adults and children. Admission for adults is $4, children under 10 is $1. Cook, or come and eat...it’s fun!
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ST. OLAF COLLEGE CONCERT IN MADISON ON JANUARY 27. Luther Memorial will host this concert at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 27. The St. Olaf Choir, internationally acclaimed ensemble and longtime creative influence behind the a cappella choral tradition, has toured annually since it as founded in 1912 by F. Melius Christiansen. The 1920 tour to the major music centers of the East Coast sowed the seeds of the ensemble's national reputation and established its unaccompanied style of singing as a significant force in American choral music. The annual tour brings the choir's artistry and message to thousands across the nation and around the world. Tickets are available now: call 258-3166 for order information or online at www.stolaftickets.com. Enjoy the concert and at the same time support the programs of one of our ELCA affiliated colleges. Order your tickets soon as this is a very popular event!
Hands of Faith guests will be arriving on Sunday, January 28th. The sign up sheets for Dinner and Overnight Hosts will be in the Klingberg Chapel shortly and the clothesline of needs will be going up after the first of the year.
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THE U IN JESUS