Advent is most often seen as a time of preparation and inclination toward another place, another season, another light. We look forward to the coming of the One who will transform this world and “put flesh on” the promise of the world to come. But even as we look forward, it is always important to recognize where we are.

In November I participated in a Leadership Training event led by the Reconciling in Christ (RIC) program of Lutherans Concerned. This congregation is an RIC congregation. The process to become RIC was long, orderly, and challenging. It took place well before my arrival. Today, St. John-St. Matthew-Emanuel is clear in our commitment to be a place of welcome for gay and lesbian persons. And yet…

In the first 30 minutes of the RIC Leadership Training, I heard, “The work of being an RIC congregation begins once you are RIC.” This was news, a new thing, to me. What could they mean?

Then I recalled that on the night before the training began, I attended a Bishop’s Town Hall meeting for our Brooklyn Bridges conference. The Bishop and his staff gave what they hoped would be a thorough overview of all the ministries of our Synod. And yet…

Nowhere was there mention that our Metropolitan New York Synod is a RIC synod, a status achieved only after a very heated, often hurtful debate at Synod Assembly. Nowhere was there mention of the existence of our Synod’s Commission for Gay and Lesbian People (CGLP), which was formed in response to the RIC debate, and is tasked to continue supporting and educating our member churches on how to be places of welcome for all people.

I serve as co-chair of the CGLP, and continually experience all-but-indiscernible instances of resistance to the easy dissemination of our announcements and events. The bishop and his staff are personally very supportive of RIC and the CGLP, but… apparently, it can just be a little uncomfortable to talk about such things, to lift them up, to celebrate that we live out Jesus’ call to love one another, live with one another, as neighbors.

Advent is a time of promise: in our gospel texts, Jesus promises that we won’t know when is coming again; a little girl, unmarried and powerless, gives birth to a King, fulfilling the promise of the ages; John promises that for those do not repent, Jesus will bring unquenchable fire; and Jesus promises, in Matthew 11:11, that if we believe in him, his kingdom, we will do greater things than John the Baptist.

Jesus’ promise, the promise of Advent, is that God not only will be with us; God is with us. That is not necessarily a comfortable place to be. But it is a grace-filled place, a place where we have light to live by, light to lead us, light to show us where to walk, even when the path seems difficult.

Being an RIC church is a journey, as is our faith. We need to continue to witness, lovingly, openly, persistently, to the good news that Jesus lived and died and rose again so that ALL might have life, abundantly, eternally. May it be so.

Pr. Parsons

December 2nd

Isaiah 2:1-5
Psalm 122
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:36-44

December 9th
Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
Romans 15:4-13
Matthew 3:1-12

December 16th
Isaiah 35:1-10
Luke 1:46b-55
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11

December 23rd
Isaiah 7:10-16
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25

December 30th
Isaiah 63:7-9
Psalm 148
Hebrews 2:10-18
Matthew 2:13-23

Average attendance: 86
Average offering: $2427

December Birthdays

1 - Khumar Bholanauth
1 - Rondy Bholanauth
2 - Justin Ramkelawan
3 - Evelyn Larson
4 - Polina Elkind
7 - Mary Kenny
9 - David Santee
10 - Frank Freitag
10 - Richard Miller
13 - Eugene Hiigel
15 - Ethan Ramkelawan
19 - Eliza Dumais
19 - George Locke
23 - Laurel Axen
27 - Ernest Cox
27 - Flora Lennihan
31 - Isabella Hiigel

Anniversaries

30 - Paul & Carol Nicholson

MEMORIALS
were given in loving memory of

Billy Green, b. 12/3 - Barbara & Jim Ruggiero
Joseph Gegenheimer, Sr., b. 12/9 - Barbara & Jim Ruggiero
Louis Reichert, d. 11/22 - Eleanor Reichert
Marie Kriete, b. 12/12 - Ruth Gerlitz
Billy Green, d. 12/23 - Barbara & Jim Ruggiero
Lillie Baer, b. 12/25 - Margery Baer
Sylvia Baer, b. 12/25 - Margery Baer

Christmas Memorials by Margery Baer

Mr. & Mrs. Charles Baer
Mr. & Mrs. Frederic Baer
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Baer
Pastor C. Anthony Harvey
Henry Krooss
Grace Schwoyer
Mr. & Mrs. George Spach
Mr. & Mrs. Louis Spach

Christmas Memorials by Barbara & Jim Ruggiero

Florence & William Green
Josephine & Emma Louise Gegenheimer
Deceased members of the Gegenheimer/Green Family
Eleanor Reichert

A “dark and stormy night” was no obstacle for the more than 80 hardy souls who enjoyed a concert and sing-along by Faithful Folk on Friday evening, November 9th. The Social hall was filled with happy children, the sweet smell of coffee and desserts provided by those in attendance, and the sweet sounds of Faithful Folk. Our own choir joined with children from the Sunday School to begin the evening with a rousing rendition of “I’m Gonna Sing When the Spirit Says Sing .” Eliza Dumais and friends (aka The Minors) performed two songs as a preview of their show the following evening at a Park Slope club, and Pr. Parsons led the crowd in a sing-along of “You Are Mine” from our new, ELW hymnals. Rev. Tobias Anderson, singer and composer for Faithful Folk, reported that the evening was the group’s “favorite concert ever.” The crowd sang along enthusiastically whenever invited (sometimes even when we were not!), the youngest children had a (very gentle) mosh-pit down front, and more than $750 was raised to benefit Global Barnyard. That amount will be matched by Thrivent for Lutherans, thanks to Carolyn Miller, one of our Thrivent coordinators. Congratulations and thanks to all who helped, especially to Katherine Anderson for proposing the concert and working so hard to make it a reality, and to Faithful Folk, who loved everything about Brooklyn except Friday evening traffic!

On November 12, 2007, The Rev. Dr. Stephen P. Bouman, Bishop of our Metropolitan New York Synod, announced his resignation to accept a call from the national church. He wrote, in part: “With a heavy heart, but with a deep sense of calling, I am writing to tell you that I have accepted a call from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and our presiding bishop, Mark Hanson, to be the Director of the Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Ministry Unit of the ELCA. This unit of the ELCA is responsible for starting new ministries and helping congregations grow disciples and stewards for the Great Commission… It has been an immense blessing and honor for me to have served you these past years. We have shared much over these years, we have accomplished much, we have endured much, and we have forgiven much. I love our metropolis and our synod. For now this passage from scripture comes closest to expressing what is on my heart: ‘I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now….’” While many among us may not be aware of Bishop Bouman’s many duties and gifts, he has been a great friend and pastor to this congregation; he made us his first church “home” following his election as bishop in 1996, presided at Pr. Parsons’ ordination in 2002, and most recently preached and presided at communion on February 25^th , 2007. Transition plans include the appointment of an interim bishop to serve out the remainder of Bishop Bouman’s term, with a new bishop to be elected at our Synod Assembly in May.

Mark Hoglund announces the formation of a new “growth group.” This is the second such offering - the first session was very well received. The goal of the process is to enable participants to discover new paths to fulfillment in everyday life. Participants will receive a “workbook” to help you reflect on your values and life experiences, and inspire new ideas for your personal development. Group discussions are designed to explore and discuss ideas of common interest, and to afford an opportunity for individuals to share their reflections and receive feedback and encouragement. Four weekly group sessions are planned; extra sessions may be added based on interest. The group will meet at the Church on Thursday evenings for 1-2 hours, beginning promptly at 7:00 p.m. The first session is scheduled for Thursday, January 10, 2008. The optimal group size is probably 5-8 individuals, but no one will be turned away. In lieu of a participation fee, participants will be asked to make an extra contribution of $60 to the Church. The sign-up list will be open until Sunday, January 6, but don’t wait until then to let Mark know you are interested. If you would like to learn more, call Mark at home: 718-833-0478. Mark Hoglund, facilitator, is a teacher and holds an Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts, and completed NYU’s certificate program in Adult Career Planning and Development in 2004. He has conducted similar activities at SUNY Downstate, where he serves as an administrator and member of the faculty.