Are You Really Forgiven?

By the Interim Pastor

I collect stories and that’s why surfing the Internet for me is like going on a treasure hunt. My library has an abundance of books on folklore from all over the world. The parables of Jesus have always held a fascination for me. For me, a short story that reveals an eternal truth is like heavenly food. A case in point I is the following fable:

A little boy visited his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with in the woods. He practiced, but couldn’t hit the target. Getting discouraged, he headed back to dinner. As he walked  back, he saw Grandma’s pet duck. Out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch that day Grandma said, _Sally, let’s wash the dishes._ But Sally said, _Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen._ Then she whispered to him, _Remember the duck?_ So Johnny did the dishes. Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing. Grandma said,  _I’m sorry, but I need Sally to help make supper._ Sally smiled and said, _Well that’s all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help._ She whispered again, _Remember the duck?_ So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing his chores and Sally’s, he could stand it no longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt beside Johnny and said, _I know. I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you._

Thought for the day: Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done that the enemy throws in your face (lying, debt, fear, hatred, anger, an unforgiving attitude, bitterness, etc.), whatever it is, Jesus Christ was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. He wants you to know He loves you and that you are forgiven. He wonders how long you will let the enemy make a slave of you. Remember, God not only forgives you, He forgets.

As far as the east is from he west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12)

I wish I could tell you who wrote that story. Perhaps you recognize it and can tell me. It does contain one of those eternal truths that is like heavenly food for the soul. How often we come to God asking again and again for forgiveness of some sin that God has already forgotten. Could it be that our repetitive confession is a sign of our unbelief? Is God truly so loving and merciful that He forgives and forgets our sin? Have we allowed ourselves to become enslaved by our guilt?  When will we believe what scripture tells us, that God so loved the world, that he sent his Son, not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved?  Now that’s food……for thought_

Community Breakfast at Zion

is held the first Sunday of each month!

Join us after the 8:30am worship service or come early before the 11am worship service.  This is a great way to get to know one another.  If you would like to volunteer in assisting with the breakfast call the church office at 234-3381.

Legal Ramifications/Change Committee Report

The Legal Ramifications / Change Committee have met twice since being established at the December 10, 2009, Council meeting.  The members of the committee are: Don Alkinburg, Dan Bates, Nancy DeSando, Pastor Ferenczy, Dave Hayner, Jim Kerr, Rich Quirion, Karl Schwarzenegger and Sandy Thorington.  The committee agreed to explore the possibility of affiliating with another Lutheran denomination, separating us from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). 

On January 14, 2010, Council approved a recommended letter be sent to Bishop Marie Jerge and Pastor David Preisinger of the Upstate New York Synod, and Pastor Elaine Berg – Dean of the Foothill Conference announcing our intentions.  The Council is currently reviewing another letter drafted to the Congregation and it is expected to be distributed to you in mid-February. 

The Congregational letter provides some answers to potential questions you may have about the issue.  It also identifies web sites you can access for more information.  Lastly, it announces the dates for three (3) open forum meetings to be held for congregational members to ask questions.  These forums have been scheduled after both Zion (11:00 AM) and St. Matthew’s Sunday services, and Zion’s Adult Bible study.

The committee looks forward to providing you as many resources as possible, so you can educate yourselves on what the issues are in order to make informed decisions.  Please contact any committee member with questions or comments. 

By Dan Bates – Chairperson

 

Zion’s W.E.L.C.A. Circle 

Our January meeting was cancelled because of the very cold weather.  Our next regular meeting will be February 13, 2010 weather permitting.  We will meet at 10am in Zion’s assembly hall.  Bring your bibles, Lutheran Woman Today for December 2009 and January 2010 for our bible study of Romans.  If time permits we will tie off a quilt.

Prayer Shawls – February is a good time to share God’s love with others.  Remember this as you knit or crochet a prayer shawl.  The love and prayers you work into the shawl mean so much to the one who receives it.  Keep knitting/crocheting and praying.

Bold Women’s Day is Sunday, February 28, 2010!  This is a day to celebrate the bold women in our midst and in our memories.  Remember these women in your prayers and follow their example to be bold in your faith.

 

Dear Zion and St. Matthew’s parishioners,

A family member recently gave me the September newsletter of which the domination of the newsletter was regarding the August ELCA Synod vote regarding same sex relationships within this Synod of Lutheran faith.  She knows how uncomfortable I have been at my current congregation with the lack of acceptance of same sex individuals, but that I love the Lutheran faith, communion in the Lutheran faith and the people within my congregation.

Out of respect for my family, I am writing this letter anonymously.  I do not believe now that any one of them would be offended or embarrassed by it because today I know they love me as their son, brother, and friend.  Having seen what they world still does to gay’s everyday I will spare them any opportunity for hatred because of what I am.

I was very proud of the ELCA’s voting and wish the Synod the church I attend would be as understanding and accepting.  It would give me great pleasure to be a part of my past congregation and be accepted for me.  My current homes location will not allow this, however.

For those in the congregation that do not agree with alternate lifestyles I respect your opinions and beliefs.  For those of you in the congregation that agree with alternate lifestyles, be patient and continue to love thy neighbor, no matter what their beliefs.

You see, here is my story.  I knew at 9 years old I was gay.  I told no one.  I couldn’t.  There was a minister at Zion and St. Matthew’s who said homosexuals go to jail for something called sodomy.  He said God did not love them.  They went to hell.  Yet, at the same time, I was being taught that God loves everyone and sacrificed His only Son for this love.  How terrifying for a pre-teen boy!  I struggled with this dilemma for the next 35 years of my life.  Even getting married having a child and trying to be ‘straight’.  Lying my entire teen years, early adulthood and into middle age.  Denying my son an education about God and His love because of what the church had taught me.  I wanted to shield him from hypocrisy.  Although I never stopped believing in God, I had distanced myself from Him.  Finally, at 44 I revealed to my family, friends, wife, and most importantly, my son, what I am.  I cared only about my son.  That he know that he did not have to live that lie if he was living it.  God saved my life through him because I had planned suicide.  Everything was in order for me to take my life.  After all, I had many years to dwell on it but never the cowardness to actually do it.  The life insurance and mortgage insurance and other loss of income insurance would provide my now ex-wife and son a very comfortable living.  But a  husband and father would have been gone.  A brother and a close friend to several would have been lost.

To those who believe this is a choice (and my experiences now tell me that only heterosexuals believe this) I ask you, do you ever consider having sex with the same gender?  Probably not.  And that is because it is not a choice for you either.  Anymore than it is a choice for me.  I tried to choose for 35 years, hating myself and God and what He had done to me for those 35 years.  The choice that I needed to make was to accept what I am and love God the way I was taught to.  And know that God loves me and He created me and, therefore, I know I am accepted in His eyes.

I have a very close relationship with God today.  Only one regret, which is amazing after 35 years of pain and anger great enough for me to almost take my won life, and a true testament to the power of God’s love.  The regret is I denied my son God.  I try today to teach him the best I can and little by little.  I pray frequently that he will be able to understand and receive the love I am able to receive from God today.

To the members of the church who are thinking of leaving the congregation, I respect your beliefs and opinions  I think of leaving the congregation I belong to sometimes as well because of the lack of acceptance.  But then I reflect on my family and growing up and throughout my adult life; never once have I heard a thought uttered about leaving the Zion and St. Matthew’s congregation.  My family still belongs to it and while I have heard differences of opinions over the years, there has always been acceptance and understanding of others beliefs and opinions.

I am not writing this to change anyone’s beliefs, only to hopefully have them remain as faithful Lutheran to Zion and St. Matthew’s.  I am writing to ask that what I was taught in the Zion and St. Matthew’s church that understanding, compassion and acceptance of others is continued.

Finally, in our faith there are some very important guidelines.  One of these says, “love thy neighbor”.  It doesn’t mention love thy neighbor unless they are Italian, unless they are Polish, unless they are American, unless they are gay, unless they are lesbian or unless they are trans-gendered.  It simply says, “Love they neighbor”.

Sincerely,

One of God’s children

 

St. Matthew’s matters

The Ministry Board at St. Matthew’s Chapel held its December meeting on Tuesday, December 1.  Nine people attended.
 
The meeting began at 7:08 with prayer led by Jean Bakkom, after Tom Collins reported on the four-hour Council meeting held the night before.
 
Dave Hayner  explained that his wife was quite calm that day about her December 2 surgery in Albany Medical Center. Dave then showed us a prayer  letter  that Marge received from the  congregation of Cedar Crest Baptist Church in  West Monroe, LA. Dave’s final report was on how the Chapel’s organ was repaired that morning. The repairman called what he did a “band aid” that may last a few weeks, a few months  or a few years. He wasn’t sure.  His bill was $250. 
 
Barb Cousineau told us how we may be able to get the organ at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church after its last-ever mass on December 27.  The local Methodist church, though, may need that organ  more than we do.  That organ in question was originally the Chapel’s.
 
John Jarvis reminded the MB that he’ll be going off Council next month. The MB will thus ask his wife Pam to represent St. Matt’s.  John also promoted the December 19 Sunday school Christmas program, directed by Suzanne Graulich.
 
Jackie Costello is collecting money for poinsettias. The following Sunday was the last day for buying the traditional Christmas plants.
 
Barb Cousineau reminded the MB that there will be a covered-dish supper  immediately before the annual Sunday school Christmas program on December 19.
 
Janet Lynk reported that the Chapel collected $63.86 at the recent Thank-offering service attended by 14 people. She also told us that she would like to transfer the St. Matt’s WELCA funds to another account like Outreach or the Memorial Fund.  Board members agreed to put the money into the latter account.
 
Jean Bakkom got some volunteers to help in decorating the sanctuary on the morning of December 5. Bill Wright agreed to donate greens. [On the following Saturday morning, Jean Bakkom, Dave Hayner, John Jarvis, Pam Kostbar-Jarvis and Bill Wright did the decorating. Before we went home, Bill Wright commented, "This does look like a tree decorated by three guys!]
 
We offered names of people who need  prayer: Dawn, Cody, Melinda, Frank, Willard and the Mackey family.
 
The meeting ended with a prayer, led by Deacon John Jarvis, for those people listed in the previous paragraph.
 
We were out well before 8:00 PM.  Thanks be to God!
 
In service to Christ and His church,
John Jarvis,
Ministry Board secretary 

Boy Scout food drive huge success

November 14, 2009 was the date of a Boy Scout food drive that was—to say the least—a huge success for the five local food pantries that shared the nonperishable food items collected on a rainy Saturday.
 
Scouts delivered the food to First Baptist Church of Cobleskill, where volunteers from four of the food pantries sorted the food, as it came in,  onto tables in the church’s fellowship hall. Tables were clearly marked with signs, like “soup” or “canned pasta,” telling what food belongs on each table.
 
When the Scouts delivered their last load, the volunteers then  took food items from the tables to designated areas set aside in the fellowship  for each food pantry. Then the loading of vehicles began.
 
John Jarvis took three small boxes and 33 shopping bags of food from First Baptist to the hallway outside the Zion food pantry. 
 
First Baptist provided snacks and beverages for volunteers, Scouts and their leaders.
 
All in all, the Boy Scout food drive was a huge success. Billy Fucillo would have been proud.
 
The Social Ministry Team at Zion wishes to thank the Scouts, their leaders and their parents for organizing this amazingly successful food drive. The SM Team also wishes to thank the food pantry volunteers at First Baptist for hosting the events and sharing the collected food with Zion, Cobleskill United Methodist Church, Catholic Charities of Schoharie County and  SCCAP.
 
Jesus would be proud too.
 
In Christ,
 John Jarvis, from the Social Ministry Team

winter driving tips from AAA

By the time you read this report, we will be well into winter with its snow and icy roads.
 
Recently I got an email report from the American Automobile Association with four tips for safe winter driving. One tip was to make sure that your antifreeze is good—or you won’t be driving anywhere. Secondly, our batteries should be strong enough to start our cars on the coldest winter days—or we won’t be driving anywhere.  Thirdly, we  need safe tires with adequate tread  for driving on  the numerous  hills and twisty roads that we  have in our county.
 
Finally, the last item here—and the first on the AAA list–really hit home as I was walking on a cold December morning, when I saw a car approaching me on Elm Street. The front window was covered with frost–except for a small rectangle over the steering wheel. I estimated that 80% of that windshield was covered in frost, yet the driver was sailing down Elm Street as if she were driving on a summer day. All she could see was what was directly in front of her.
 
That frost on  the windshield prevented her from seeing anything to her right, like a car pulling out of a driveway or a cat running across the street. This driver was actually driving  as if she were partially blind.
 
My readers can ask Dave Hayner to share an experience that he had on his way to church on the morning of December 6, when a car with side windows frosted over backed out of a driveway.  Dave swerved to avoid an accident.
 
What is AAA’s number-one safe driving tip for winter? We should completely clear off our windshields, all other  windows and our side mirrors as well. We must be  able to see where are are going and what is off to the sides of our cars. Our  very health  or lives may depend on it.
 
In His name and image,
John Jarvis, 
Health Ministries   

 

American Red Cross

On behalf of hospital patients in your community, thank you for your commitment to the Northeast Division blood program. As a dedicated blood drive sponsor, your leadership in the coming months will help prevent blood shortages.

Thank you for your blood drive on January 8, 2010

Blood donation goal was 64               Donors scheduled 69

Donations collected 92                       Patients helped 276

 Thank you for sponsoring an American Red Cross blood drive!

 

Babysitting Valentine’s Day at Zion

Cadette Girl scout troop 2345 will be sitting for children 4-12 years of age.

DATE: February 14, 2010

TIME: 4pm-8pm

PLACE: The assembly hall of Zion Lutheran Church.

We have planned fun games and activities for that evening.  The Girl scouts will provide a meal for the children.  There will be adult supervision.  The cost will be $5 per child.

To reserve a  call 296-8122.  hurry, the number of participants is limited!

Worship service attendance

December 2009

Date        8:30am        9am                        11am

12-6         51                            16                            29

12-13       54                            20                            32

5pm                        7:30pm                  11pm

12-24                          109                          51

2010       8:30am            9am             11am

1-3           50                            11                            7

1-10         52                                                            18

1-17         38                            14                            24

1-24         48                            24                            21

 

Prayer Ventures February 2010

1   During this Black History Month, pray especially for African American women leaders in communities, congregations, families and all contexts, that they might be supported, uplifted, encouraged and blessed in all the ways they serve.

2  Presentation of Our Lord

Pray for All Saints in Big Sky, Montana, a new joint ELCA/Episcopal ministry.  May its pastor, Darius Larsen, and its members continue to reach out and welcome all who come to explore and enjoy the beauty and wonders of God’s creation.  

3  Give thanks for Pastor Mark and Marcia Holman as they serve the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem and assist the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.  Pray for peace in the strife-torn Holy Land.

 4   During this Youth Leadership Month, give thanks for the young people of color in this church who continue to live into their vocational calls as witnesses to new beginnings and generational collaboration, that they might be nurtured by their communities to live toward God’s vision of life lived in love for others.

5  Pray for Patricia Bentsen, a longtime nurse in Madagascar who is medical administrator to the Malagasy Lutheran Church Health Department in the capital city of Antananarivo.

6   Pray for the Oromo Evangelical Church of Washington, D.C., that was organized in October.  Give thanks to God for this new congregation, their ministry among Ethiopians, and their mission developer, Pastor Waqtola Dinagde, who is retiring after 40 years in the ordained ministry.

7 5th Sunday after Epiphany

Merciful God, we give you thanks for the diversity of ministry among the churches in Ireland and the United Kingdom.  We pray for the continued companion relationship between the Lutheran Church in Great Britain and the ELCA Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod.

 8  We ask God’s blessing on the ministry of Pastor Bill Lundgren and the Community of St. Dysmas.  An ELCA congregation within the Maryland correctional system—behind prison walls—St. Dysmas continues to proclaim repentance, acceptance and forgiveness in Christ’s name.  

9  Thank God for Kirsten and Pastor Stephen Kienberger. Pastor Kienberger is a parish pastor of the American Lutheran Church in Oslo, Norway.  This international congregation seeks to bring together people of different nations and denominations as followers of Christ.

10  Give thanks for all who participate in the life and ministry of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Argentina and Uruguay.  Remember especially the Young Adults in Global Mission, Chris Jarvis and Cristina Kinz, as they serve in congregational and social service ministries in Argentina.

11  Let us pray for discernment for Peace Lutheran Church, Eyota, Minn., as they consider whether God is calling them to move out in faith and construct their first building.  Peace organized as a congregation in 2001. 

12  Pray for Martin and Suzanne Schoffner, who serve the church in Jerusalem. Martin serves as the coordinator for both the Young Adults in Global Mission program in Palestine and the Holy Land trips program. 

13  Pray for Sarah and Pastor Peter Grow-Hanson who serve in Dakar, Senegal.  They provide direction for leadership development and early childhood education, as well as orientation for visitors and new missionaries to Senegal.

14  Transfiguration of Our Lord 

God in heaven, bless all who strive for peace and human welfare in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.  Take away any anxiety about the future and give them a sense of responsibility for where you have called them.

15  We thank God for Ed Halter and his coordination of the Mission Partners program in the ELCA Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod for the past 21 years.  As Ed retires from this volunteer position, may God continue to direct his journey as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

16  Pray for the presidents of ELCA colleges and universities as they gather for their annual meeting at the Lutheran Educational Conference of North America (LECNA). Pray especially in thanksgiving for many years of faithful service by Ralph Wagoner, who is retiring in June 2010 as the executive director of LECNA, having served in that capacity since retiring as the president of Augustana College, South Dakota.

17  Ash Wednesday

As we enter Lent keep in your prayers all the volunteers who donate their time and talents to your congregation. 

18  Pray for Don Huber as he begins his leadership of the “Stewards of Abundance” project, following his retirement as academic dean of Trinity Seminary, Columbus, Ohio. The project will explore options for reducing seminarian indebtedness and sustainable financing for the ELCA’s system of theological education and pastoral ministry.

19  Praise God for the witness of Pastor Jeffrey Truscott.  His classes in liturgy and theology at Trinity Theological College in Singapore equip students from many Asian countries to cultivate a worship life that will shape their faith communities.

20  The Evangelical Lutheran Education Association (ELEA) is an organization serving the approximately 1700 schools and early childhood education centers of the ELCA. Pray for Gayle Deny, its executive director, and the board of ELEA, as they work to improve this church’s day school ministries with children.

21   1^st Sunday in Lent

O God, you who stand in the midst of the silent ones, bless the churches of Portugal, Spain, Italy and Malta, and their ministries among children, workers, the sick and the elderly.

22   Lutheran Partners, a magazine for leaders in the ELCA, will cease publication with its March/April issue. Pray with thanksgiving for the 20 years of ministry of Lutheran Partners and the faithful service of its departing editor, Bill Decker.

 23  Remember, Jenifer Brown, Matthew Linden, and Carolyn Stypka who are serving as English teachers in Tokyo and Kumamoto, Japan, as part of the J-3 program of the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church.

24  Pray for strength, guidance and openness for all who are part of harmful systems like racism and sexism, that we might recognize the barriers in our lives that keep us from fully loving and serving our neighbors and living out God’s call in our lives.

25  Pray that the Holy Spirit continues to guide, direct and inspire the ELCA South Carolina Synod’s newest outreach ministry, Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey in West Columbia.  Only 1 ½ years old, the ministry already has 100-140 people in weekly worship and has conducted 23 baptisms. 

26  Pray for the many young people participating in the Young Adults in Global Mission program.  Today we remember Joe Beasley, Amanda Dahlseng, Marta Diehm, Elayna Dush, Traci Hawkins, Edwin Johnson, Dana Olson, Amy Pennenga, Kristina Rogers, Rebeckah Selnick, Rebecca Truland, Whitney Wallace, and others who serve in a variety of social ministry settings in Great Britain.

27  Give thanks to God for Cathryn Proctor, serving as an intern at the American Church in Berlin, Germany, and studying at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Ask that her experiences in these contexts shape her future ministry. 

28  2^nd Sunday in Lent

We give you thanks, O God, for signs of your presence and activity among the people of Germany and France.  Continue to bring vitality, we pray, to the churches, that the awakening that happened with the Reformation may live on in ongoing renewal.