We are almost half-way there! The Capital Campaign Committee reports that, as of August 24th, pledges and donations have been received totaling $72,000. We are almost 50% of the way toward realizing our fund-raising goal of $150,000.
We are working toward a goal of 100% participation. Nearly 25% of the membership has pledged to date. No amount is too small - or too large! Contributions range from two pledges in the $15,000-$20,000 range to a pledge of $2.00/week for 52 weeks. Please keep the committee in your prayers as they work to realize our goal of funding major renovations in the church to prepare for the celebration of our 150th anniversary in 2009.
Pr. Parsons, Robert Proffitt and Chris Sundheim participated in a “Build Day” with Habitat for Humanity on Saturday, July 26th. The spirit of the day was fantastic, and, with able direction of our Americorps volunteer, one of the 41 apartments in the site at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Eastern Parkway - Habitat’s first-ever apartment building - gained four surfaces of dry wall by the end of the day.
The following is adapted from the latest issue of the Metropolitan New York Synod E-letter:
As you may already know, a DRAFT social statement on human sexuality was released… in March, and the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality has begun collecting feedback from synods. This will be part of a long process, including the issuance and review of a PROPOSED social statement and then finally the issuance of a RECOMMENDED social statement in April 2009, to which synod assemblies will have a chance to respondbefore the ELCA Churchwide Assembly votes on the statement in August 2009.
There will be two hearings (9:30 - 11:30 a.m. and 1 - 3 p.m.) for our synod on September 20 at Advent Lutheran Church, Manhattan (2504 Broadway) on this DRAFT social statement, conducted by ELCA representatives who will be with us that day.
The timeline for the entire process, a copy of the DRAFT social statement, and other information can be found at www.elca.org/faithfuljourney.
The E-letter went on summer hiatus, but a return is promised for the Fall. If you would like to receive the Link and/or the e-letter electronically, please email stjme@stjme.org, using the email address where you wish to receive them. Enter “E-list” in the subject line.
If you would like to opt out of the paper version of the Link, thus saving paper, toner, and postage, please make a note of that in the body of the email.
September 7th —- Ezekiel 33:7–11; Romans 13:8–14; Matthew 18:15–20
September 14th —- Matthew 18:15–20; Romans 14:1–12; Matthew 18:21–35
September 21st —- Matthew 18:21–35; Philippians 1:21–30; Matthew 20:1–16
September 28th —- Matthew 20:1–16; Philippians 2:1–13; Matthew 21:23–32
The Reverend Robert Rimbo will be installed as Bishop of the Metropolitan New York Synod on Sunday, October 12th at 3:00 p.m. The Festival Eucharist will take place at Central Synagogue, 123 East 55th Street, Manhattan. Gathering music will begin at 2:30 p.m. Bishop Mark Hanson, presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, will preside at the installation.
Bishop Rimbo wrote about the process for selecting Central Synagogue as the site of his installation in the latest Metro New York E-letter:
“I’m sure that some people are wondering about that location… Let me share some basic facts about why the installation will be at this historic place of worship. We were invited by the Senior Rabbi, Peter Rubinstein, a personal friend of mine. There is a long history of Central sharing its space with Lutherans: St. Peter’s, Manhattan, used it when their church was being built in the mid-‘70s, and Central worshiped in St. Peter’s after their fire in the late ‘90s. So it’s not the first time a Christian, even Lutheran, congregation has worshipped there… I think we must make efforts in this synod to broaden our partnerships with other faith groups as well as strengthen our own ecumenical relationships.”
Make plans now to attend this historic worship service in one of New York City’s most beautiful houses of worship. It promises to be an auspicious day in every way.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
This morning, just as I was printing out my sermon (I thought I’d done a pretty competent job, frankly, found some interesting historical tidbits, made a few semi-witty remarks, brought things together in a way that might possibly offer food for reflection in the week to come), two members burst into my study. They had just learned that a relative whom they had visited earlier this week had died last night in a car accident. They were devastated, desolate.
We shared some tears, a hug, some words of God’s promise - and then it was time to begin worship. And my modest little sermon, indeed the entire worship service, took on a deeper urgency. Each Sunday I do my best to include in my preparation the person or persons who are going through a particularly challenging life passage…and who have not shared it with me, perhaps have not shared it with anyone. I know they are there - I just don’t know the details. Our gospel lesson from Matthew 16 included these verses: 15[Jesus] said to [his disciples], “But who do you say that I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” “Messiah.” Savior. When we say that, when we confess that truth, we are transformed. Jesus even gives Simon a new name - Peter, that is, Rock -and tells him that he will be the foundation of the church. Each of us, when we confess and embrace the reality that Jesus is Messiah, our Savior, find ourselves standing on new ground, rooted in a new way. No matter how the wind blows, no matter how deep the valley or dark the night, we are founded in a faith that can withstand any assault. We are accompanied by the promise that, wherever we journey, we do not travel alone.
Pr. Parsons
