Summer 2009 - Our Saviour`s Atonement Lutheran Church

Volume 3, Issue 6
June 2009
Our Saviour’s Atonement
Lutheran Church
A Word From Pastor Barrie Lawless
Dates to Remember
Saturday, June 13
OSA One-Day Retreat @ Stony
Point Retreat Center. Call 212-9235757 for info.
Thursday, June 18
Bible Study @ 8:00 p.m. in Lorenz
Library
Monday, June 22
Opera OGGINY @ 8:00 p.m. in
Sanctuary: Menotti’s “The Medium”,
$20 at door.
Greg & Daphne enjoy the
Sunday School Potluck BBQ
Greg & Daphne
Enjoy the Barbeque!
Inside this issue
A Word From Pastor Barrie
Lawless
1
The Return of the Spring
Fair!
1
See OSA Kids As Thespians!
2
OSA Recipe Booklet Planned
2
The Return of the Spring
Fair! (continued)
2
BOB (Building on Blessings)
Capital Campaign Update
3
Sunday School Recognition
and Potluck BBQ
4
Good Bye & Good Luck:
Ranko & Susumu
4
Garden Notes
5
New Members Attend Synod
Assembly Meeting
5
Wunsch Newsletter
Summer is typically a time
for churches to wind down
a little, but we have had an
amazing boost in the powerful and high-quality response to our capital campaign. Pledges to the
value of 2/3 of the total
campaign (i.e. $150,000)
towards the $225,000 total
is an extraordinary sign of
people's commitment to
OSA, its ministries, and its
community service.
The issue of lay leadership
is highlighted at the present because we are losing many key people this
year. Ranko & Suzumo
Okuzono have already left
(see page 4).
The Hughes family will be
moving to Washington,
D.C. this summer. We
have much enjoyed their
company and commitment
to OSA, not least their delightful children Susannah
and Garret. Bryan and
Naomi will be both taking
up very interesting jobs in
D.C. and we look forward to
hearing about their new life-especially through their
close friends, the Becks.
The Evans family will be
moving to Peekskill. Greg
has the job of leading the
arts program in the region. We will miss his commitment to the council and
to worship, and most especially, his work as a Sunday
School teacher over many
years. Lilly Ann and Rosie
have also been delightful
additions to so many aspects of our work. We wish
them, including Danielle
and Daphne, all well. They
plan to visit us on a regular
basis, but even so, we are
very sad to lose them from
our community.
So...this means that yet
again, there are lots of
spaces for our lay leadership. Do not be surprised if
I approach you during the
summer, seeing if you are
The Boys Assembling the Grill!
able to help in the roles vacated by these families and
others who have left in recent months! OSA, like most
churches, relies very heavily
on the voluntary commitment
of its lay people to make
things happen.
I look forward to the summer
with its easier schedule, but
don't forget our community
barbeques on Wednesdays
in July! These are a great
opportunity for congregation
& community to meet informally. Quite a few people in
the congregation came to
the barbeques before joining
the church.
Lois Ann joins me in wishing
you a wonderful and refreshing summer.
The Return of the Spring Fair!
Article by Maddy Hill
6-7
several years before the
Christmas Fair. Primarily a
rummage sale, it is a great
outreach to our neighbors.
After a hiatus of a few
years, June 6 saw the
return of OSA’s "Annual"
Spring Fair. This has actually been our longestrunning event, starting
There was also delicious
home-made chili and hotdogs cooked by Greg Greg
Evans and sold by daughter
Rosie.
There were also some incredibly delicious homebaked cakes, cookies,
brownies and pies! Many
thanks to Lois Ann Lawless,
Jennifer Doerr and Janet
Burke.
Children’s activities included drawing mural(continued on page 2)
V OLU ME 3 , I SSUE 6
S EEKING TO E XP RES S G OD’S LOVE IN OU R LIVE S AND IN OUR COMMUNITY
OSA Recipe Booklet Planned
See OSA Kids As Thespians!
Article by James Noyce
Article by Birgit Hickey
Calling all OSA members —
with a special “shout out” to
parents with children: please
come see several of our OSA
kids perform in a wonderful
production of “Tortoise and
the Hare” at the Pied Piper
Theatre, located at 20 Cumming Street, one block up
from Dyckman street, at the
Episcopalian church.
Performance times are
during the weekends of
June 13-14, and June 2020.
For more details, including
performance times, visit
the Piped Piper website at
http://piedpipertheatre.com,
or call Birgit Hickey at
(212) 795-7155.
The Hospitality Committee needs your
recipes! Please send up to three of
your favorites (those you actually
make yourself on a regular basis) to
[email protected]. The booklet will be available this fall – our taste
buds thank you in advance!
The Return of the Spring Fair!
Article Maddy Hill (continued from Page 1)
sized pictures and a lively game of
hide-and-seek in the garden.
Several volunteers came to organize
and price items in the evening during
the week before the Fair. The day of
the Fair we were gratified to have
many volunteers, some as early as
8:00 a.m. to set up tables, make coffee, etc., as neighbors eager for a bargain began circling the tables well before our official 10:00 am. start time.
Along with the rummage and food,
SERRV crafts remaining from the
Christmas Fair were for sale at a table
“personed” by Eleanor Hill who also
offered information on Invisible Children, an organization that both tries to
publicize the plight of refugees of an
over-20-year civil war in northern
Uganda and to bring pressure on the
US government to work to end that
war. We will be donating 10% of our
$750 income from the Fair to this
global organization as well as a local
initiative, to be determined.
Following the Fair, all remaining clothing and goods were bagged and
driven by Mark Hill and Henry Lopez
to the Good Will store on 181 St.
PAGE 2
All told, it was a great success as both a
community outreach and a chance for
OSA members and friends to get to
know each other better, and we estimate that about 25-30 volunteers/
customers from OSA. Good job!
V OLU ME 3 , I SSUE 6
S EEK ING T O E XP RES S G OD ’S LOVE IN OU R LIVE S AND IN OUR C OMMU NIT Y
PAGE 3
BOB (Building on Blessings) Capital Campaign Update
Article by Andy Beck
As with much great literature, in the
Bible there’s a recurring tension between the “I” and the “WE”.
•
4 pledges under $99.00
•
5 pledges between $100.00 and
$499.00
The most compelling stories, at least
for my tastes, so often focus on the
“I”: the lonely individual in a moment
of crisis. A struggling character
faces God or God’s handmaid alone,
ultimately relieved of a specific pain
or fear by God’s grace. To remember just a few: the desperate Abraham, finally promised by the Lord
that he will be a father of many nations; Isaac wrestling from Yahweh
both a blessing and a new
name; Mary, frightened to be the
sole object of Gabriel’s attention, told
by the angel that she alone is most
favored by God.
•
4 pledges between $500.00 and
$999.00
•
10 pledges between $1,000 and
$2,499
•
8 pledges between $2,500 and
$4,999
•
2 pledges between $5,000 and
$7,499
•
1 pledge between $7,500 and
$9,999
•
1 pledge between $10,000 and
$14,999
•
1 pledge between $15,000 and
$19,999
•
2 pledges between $20,000 and
$35,000
It’s maybe a bit melodramatic to
compare such biblical moments to
our lives. And perhaps it’s even
strange to hear their echoes in our
simple acts of stewardship. And yet,
while archangels may never speak
directly to us, it seems to me that our
giving to God often is also a difficult
struggle we make alone with
God. There is the internal wrestling
with the rationalizations of why MY
money shouldn’t be given up so
freely, the confidential pledge card,
and ultimately, if we’re fortunate, the
realization that there really is no
other option.
total amount pledged or given to
$162,919. This is clear evidence
for a broad-based support for the
campaign, and for the mission of
the church in our community and
in the world. Rather than led by
a lone hero, Building on Blessings has been driven by the Holy
Spirit alive in the “WE,” the many
different people that come together to worship and serve the
community as Our Saviour’s
Atonement. The next phase of
the campaign will reach out to an
even larger “WE”, the surrounding neighborhood, but, as a
member of OSA, if you haven’t
yet made a commitment, and
have found that you would like to
do so, please contact the church
office to request a pledge card.
The goal is $225,000, and we
truly are finding that the load is
never heavy when everyone
lifts .
Contrast these isolated struggles
with the “WE”: Jesus tells us that it
is only with our brothers and sisters
that we form his church: “For where
two or three are gathered in my
name, there am I in the midst of
them.” There is no church without
each other, without Communion.
When we look at the results of the
Building on Blessings Capital Campaign, it is impossible not to see the
“WE” so manifest in the affirmative
responses. Here’s a breakdown of
what happened on Commitment
Sunday, May 3:
In the past few weeks, four additional
pledges as well as four gifts from
Alumni have been received, which
brings the totals pledges to 42 and the
Thank you to everyone for their
generous sacrifices.
V OLU ME 3 , I SSUE 6
S EEK ING T O E XP RES S G OD ’S LOVE IN OU R LIVE S AND IN OUR C OMMU NIT Y
PAGE 4
Sunday School Recognition Sunday & Potluck BBQ
Article by Tony Alms
Sunday, May 31
marked the end of a
successful Sunday
School year.
Pupils and teachers
were recognized and
thanked during the worship service. A total of
16 kids received certificates for their hard
work, dedication, and
spirit. In addition, Bibles
were given to the Sunday Schoolers in the
upper and middle classes who did
not receive them
last
year: Annemarie
Alms, Katie Burke,
Meredith Ciccone,
Lily Ann Evans,
Maxine Hickey, and
Lukas Holsberg.
plause (and flowers). A potluck
barbeque in the church garden
capped off the celebration after
the service.
Finally, our wonderful teachers-Anna Campbell,
Adelle Reel, Greg
Evans, and Lenny
Hickey--got some well-deserved ap-
Goodbye and Good Luck: Ranko & Susumu
Article by Joanna Caldas
This past May our church learned
that two of our members, Ranko and
Susumu Okuzono, would soon be
leaving our congregation to return to
their home in Japan because of Susumu’s work. Ranko and Susumu
have been part of Our Savior’s
Atonement for the last four years and
have been active in so many areas of
our church. If you came to church
before service on Sundays, you
would see that the altar set-up was
frequently performed by Ranko and
Susumu.
hours. She contributed a lovely platter
of beautifully decorated cookies, iced in
assorted pastel colors and tasting just
as delicious as they were attractive. I
knew we must become better acquainted! It became quite apparent
from the offerings that Ranko brought
And at the end of each coffee hour
or event, when all dishes were
washed and put away, the floors
swept and any leftovers given
away, we would often just relax
with just one more cup of coffee
and catch up with everything that
had occurred in our lives, news
with our children (Ranko and Susumu have two grown boys!), upcoming vacations – etc.
Suzumo helped in the garden
and was on the financial team that
processed the giving on Sunday
mornings. Both Suzumo and Ranko
regularly volunteered with altar setup as well.
Ranko was in the choir, our deputy
musician, a frequent helper in both
the garden and with Hospitality. She
also filled in for the church organist
and performed as music director
when needed. She is an accomplished and talented musician and
her contributions in these areas will
be sorely felt and infinitely missed.
On a more personal note, I first met
Ranko at one of our Coffee Birthday
wordless appraisals of exactly
what needed to be cut, reheated,
refrigerated and what could be left
out and covered for every event. It
was a pleasure to make sure that
certain baked items were “ok” and
tested for worthiness before plating!
to our coffee hours that she was an
incredible baker and talented cook as
well. When the hospitality committee
was scouting for more members,
Ranko graciously stepped forward to
join. She made every event go so
smoothly and we worked in tandem
together so gracefully. She was quick
to set up and get things prepared for
the coffee hour and we often made
She retained this service commitment up to the last time she attended service (she has left before
Susumu to prepare their home in
Japan) and brought to it, a platter
of exquisite homemade sushi. As
Ranko said, she loved this church
and was really going to miss it. I
know this church and myself, really
will miss her too.
Ranko and Susumu will be sorely
missed, and we wish them well.
V OLU ME 3 , I SSUE 6
S EEK ING T O E XP RES S G OD ’S LOVE IN OU R LIVE S AND IN OUR C OMMU NIT Y
PAGE 5
Garden Notes
Article by Lois Ann Lawless
Hope you got to see the new tulips
blooming across the whole length of
our building and garden space – yellows, oranges and the odd reds
made a glorious display following
early crocuses, snowdrops, winter
aconites and daffodils. Lily of the
valley and violets were abundant too.
We have new floribunda and hybrid
tea roses along the fence in the side
garden. They are in bud now, so
look for their first blooms.
Each year we are adding perennials
so that the garden can be more selfsustaining with the irrigation system
in place. Last year’s purple salvia
not only brought butterflies, but hummingbirds! We have already added
more salvia this year. We’ll complete
planting for this summer when we
can take advantage of July sales, as
we did last year.
Sadly, we’ve had to say goodbye to
Ranko Okuzono who worked countless hours with Arlene Goodyear in
the garden. She and Susumu both
helped prepare the new garden layout last year and the sites for the
new roses this year. We will miss
them as they settle back home in
Japan. We’re thankful that Arlene
continues year after year to bring
her enthusiasm, good common
sense and special energies to the
gardens. We have two new volunteers; both are neighbors who live
on either side of OSA and are very
excited about being able to “join the
team.” What good timing!
We are very thankful for the garden
space, a great gift to us and the
community. Passersby show a lot
of interest (“what are those holes
for?”) and many comments of appreciation. By the way, the bees in
the tree
trunk
were
yellow
jackets,
not
honeybees,
and the
colony
is now
dead.
One final note – we enjoyed a barbecue in the garden this last Sunday
hosted by the Sunday School at the
end of their classes for this year.
Thanks again to Tom and all your
helpers. We’re looking forward to
the barbecues on Wednesdays in
July. If you would like to help host
one evening, please be sure to sign
up.
New Members Attend Synod Assembly Meeting
Article by Jennifer Doerr
Fledgling OSA members and firsttime delegates Bill Dunmyer and
Jennifer Doerr attended this year's
ELCA New York Metropolitan Synod
Annual Assembly on May 15 and 16
at the Melville Marriot Hotel in Long
Island. The event drew nearly
five hundred participants, with
both clergy and lay voting members represented. The weekend
was particularly exciting for
OSA's newcomers as they were
in for what proved to be an intensely spiritual as well as historic gathering for the ELCA
synod.
Doerr and Dunmyer attended
daily calls to worship, which were
followed by general sessions on
church business, from ELCA's
budget for the upcoming year to reports from the mission field and everything in between on the daily
docket. Following these reports, both
clergy and lay members were
charged with voting on critical issues
facing the Synod. Motions were
passed to begin a study on women's
issues, to begin the Book of Faith
Initiative throughout the Synod, and,
after some debate and amendment,
to declare an official statement on
historic motion was passed that NY
Metro Synod churches may call ordained clergy members who are in
loving and committed same-sex relationships.
The divide in feelings on this matter
did not, however, diminish the unity
that the Synod's members experienced in worship, and the Spirit continued to move the congregation
through both song and the magnificent words of NY Metro Synod's
Bishop Robert Rimbo, who, in addition to preaching beautifully from the
heart, also managed to skillfully preside over the challenging debates
throughout the assembly.
the Synod's position against torture.
But without question, the most
highly anticipated issue was the
Synod's new statement on homosexuality. After much debate, with
both sides airing their opinions, an
The highlight of the weekend for
OSA's members was Friday evening's Eucharist Festival, a joyful
celebration of song and praise, and
for Dunmyer and Doerr, an immersive education in the practical and
spiritual sides of the ELCA and our
Synod.
SEEKING TO EXPRESS GOD’S LOVE IN OUR
LIVES AND IN OUR COMMUNITY
Our Saviour’s Atonement Lutheran Church
178 Bennett Avenue
New York, NY 10040
Phone: 212-923-5757
E-mail: [email protected]
http://osa-nyc.org
[email protected]
2009 OSA Directory Is Now Available!
—Pick up yours at OSA —
Pentecost Sunday: Sunday School Recognition & Potluck BBQ