Oh, the weather outside (finally) is frightful, as the song says. Following a semi-tropical Christmas and Epiphany season, the end of January has brought some frigid weather to Brooklyn. Even as some of the older windows in the parsonage allow a bit of the great outdoors indoors on windy days, I have been warmed by the delightful workings of the spirit around the congregation.

Our Epiphany focus on Lutheran Missions Around the World seems to have born some wonderful fruit. As we’ve learned about the Augusta Victoria Hospital in Palestine, our Companion Synod in Tanzania, the ONE Lutheran Campaign to Make Poverty History, and our Reconciling-In-Christ mission (ELCA World Hunger Appeal and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services are still to come), the heat has slowly been turned up on some great ideas cooking in our parish.

Emma Vizzini and the Sunday School have decided to sponsor an ELCA Missionary family in Madagascar (details here). Pastor emeritus Richard Miller will offer a five-week Lenten series on “Disciples and Discipleship” for the Adult and Older Youth Bible Class (details here). There is a new church directory in the offing (details here), so we can all get to know one another better, especially our newer members.

As we approach the season of Lent, many of us will decide to enhance our faith journey by making a promise to God regarding our activity during that season of preparation. Traditionally, many people give something up for Lent. While this can be a faith-affirming act, there is also an inherent challenge: the idea that we need to give something up during Lent might inadvertently imply that, for the remainder of the year, we need not be as mindful of our faith, need not be quite so attentive to our baptismal vocation as disciples of the risen Christ.

In the light of our focus on mission and discipleship, I want to propose a Lenten alternative. As we prepare for Lent this year, let’s not ask, “What am I going to give up?” Rather, ask yourself, “What am I going to take up for Lent?” What mission, what activity of faithful discipleship, might you take up, take responsibility for, this Lent?

Christ calls us into the world, beckons us to go out and share the warm, good news with all people, wherever they be, far away, or close to home. The fire (of the Spirit) is so delightful. Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow…

Pr. Parsons

Emma Vizzini, Sunday School Supervisor, reports that as part of the ECLA Missionary Covenant Program, the Sunday School plans to raise at least $1,000 to sponsor an ELCA missionary family serving in Madagascar, the Rev. Andrew and Mrs. Barbara Hinderlie, and their children, Michael, born in 2000; and Kristian, born in 2005.

Emma says, “Here’s why we are so excited about this program.”

1) We have introduced the concept of Mission and Missionaries to our classes as part of the Epiphany Mission emphasis, and we find the children extremely responsive and positive; one child in the Nursery program told his teacher we should send toys as well as food!

2) The Hinderlies need sponsors, according to the ELCA office, and by donating at least $1,000, we will establish a relationship with them. The Covenant Program means that we will receive a photo of the Hinderlies, reports from them, and maybe even a visit when they come to the US on their home leave.

3) It costs $79,000 total to support an ELCA Missionary Family, including salary, expenses, regular trips home, etc. So the more we raise, the better!

4) Because the Hinderlies are in Madagascar, there is a natural connection to our members who trace their heritage to that island nation. We hope our members from Madagascar will be able to share information with the children about their country, thus putting flesh on (incarnating) the sometimes abstract concept of “international” mission.

5) Part of the ECLA Missionary Covenant Program sponsorship includes a commitment to pray for the Hinderlies; we invite the entire congregation to do so.

6) The children will also be writing to the Hinderlies, and we will give out information so other members of the congregation can do so also.

Some back-ground on the Hinderlies: Andrew is a graduate of St. Olaf College in Minnesota and Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary; has served as a missionary previously in Cameroon, and also as a Pastor at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Kenner, Louisiana. Hobbies include guitar, writing, photography, computers. Barbara is a graduate of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology with a BS in Chemical Engineering; previously worked as a chemical engineer for Shell Chemical Company. Her hobbies are reading, writing, movies. The Hinderlie family has been in Madagascar since January 1, 1998.

The Sunday School will be holding bake and other sales and raising money in all sorts of other ways (we are encouraging the children to come up with creative ideas). Please contribute as generously as you can to our drive to support the Hinderlies. (Make out checks to St. John-St. Matthew-Emanuel; memo “Madagascar missionary”)

A closing word from Emma: “This is a tremendous opportunity for our whole church, and especially our children, to broaden our horizons and contribute to spreading the Good News.”

The children and youth of our Sunday School have chosen their major gift to Heifer International. This is the final step in the “simple” crafts project that evolved into a $2600 dollar fundraising drive, aided by matching funds from Thrivent for Lutherans. The children in the first three grades met and decided to allocate their funds as follows: A $1500 gift of the Joy To The World collection of animals from Heifer International, including two sheep, four goats, a heifer and two llamas. These animals mean new hope in the lives of the hardworking poor families who receive them. The remaining funds have been divided equally between the four classes of Sunday School to purchase gifts as they choose. The choices made thus far include goats, rabbits, pigs, sheep, chickens and bees.

Pastor emeritus Richard Miller will be teaching a five-week session on “Disciples and Discipleship.” The classes will take place the first five Sundays during Lent, February 25 - March 25, meeting at 10:00 a.m. in the Social Hall. The class will focus on the 12 disciples most closely associated with Jesus in the four Gospels, and offer reflections on how their example might inspire our own discipleship.

Sunday, February 25th, Bishop Stephen Bouman of our Metropolitan New York Synod will preach on the First Sunday in Lent. We will be joined by representatives of Lutheran HealthCare, including Wendy Z. Goldstein, President and CEO, and Rev. Donald A. Stiger, Senior Vice President for Mission and Spiritual Care, who will make a presentation in memory of Caroline Erskine, a late member of this congregation. Ms. Erskine left a bequest of $470,000 to St. John-St. Matthew-Emanuel, and more than $1,800,000 to Lutheran HealthCare. February 25th is the annual commemoration day of Sister Elisabeth Fedde, who founded Lutheran Medical Center more than 120 years ago. A special coffee hour, sponsored by Lutheran HealthCare, follows worship. Be sure to be with us for this very special day in the life of our congregation.

We’re currently working on updating our records in order to compile a new church directory. Please complete this form and return it to the office via “snail mail,” or email the information to ccooper@stjme.org.

Thank you.

Name(s): ____________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________

Telephone: __________________________________________

Email address(es): _____________________________________

Your birth date: _______________________________________

Birthdates of other family members:

1. ___________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________
5. ___________________________________________________

Wedding/Commitment Ceremony
anniversary: _________________________________

St. John-St. Matthew Emanuel Lutheran Church
283 Prospect Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215
718-768-0528

Scripture Readings For February