WOL NEWSLETTER JUNE 2016 Stirring the Waters As I sit at my

WOL NEWSLETTER JUNE 2016
Stirring the Waters
As I sit at my desk at home, I am looking out at the waters of Togus Pond, hoping an eagle will fly by, and
trying to come up with the words for this article. Soon I will be leaving to go meet Linda at Dad’s apartment
to go through all of dad’s stuff that remains there. I went there yesterday and happened to meet the staff
person who shows the apartments to potential new tenants. Dad loved her. She often stopped in to say
hello to him and she brought him seafood chowder and a lobster roll in his last weeks. She was a very nice
lady. I had given her permission to show the apartment. I know life goes on. But somehow it seemed
disrespectful to me. It turned out she was showing it to someone I know. Life can be interesting. Part of
me does not want to let go of the apartment where Dad was so very happy and where we watched the
Kennebec River with all it’s changes and this spring with a plethora of sturgeon jumping. We saw eagles
together, one almost flying into Dad’s living room, or so it seemed.
Since I am the Pastor of Dad’s church it is up to me to put together the service and bulletin (with Sue’s help
of course) for Saturday. I am grateful to all the people who are willing to help on Saturday, especially with
the luncheon. Since there are no visiting hours, this will be the time for family and friends to gather and
share favorite John stories. There will be photos and perhaps a slide show of the many memories that we as
a family shared with Dad. We are oh so blessed to have had a father like him. Death is the easy part because
we know that Dad is in a far better place now.
Separation is the really hard part.
So many of you have gone through similar things, caring for your parents or elderly relatives, experiencing
the separation and holding on to fond memories. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble.” Psalm 46:1. I can’t imagine a life without God and knowing the saving grace of Jesus. Dad taught
me so many things and this knowledge was part of it. The apostle Paul wrote these words in
1Thessalonians, “we do not grieve like those who have no hope.” And that is certainly true. We have the
hope of resurrection and eternal life with God.
Dad’s favorite hymn is “How Great Thou Art.” In his last weeks he was hearing music that no one else
could hear and the only song he could identify was this beloved hymn. He also kept feeling someone
tapping on his arm. I remember specifically sitting on the sofa in his apartment, next to his recliner where he
was sitting and him looking over to me saying, “someone just tapped me on the arm.” I simply replied, “It
must be God calling.” I also remember so many times when Dad pointed his finger to the sky and said, “I
just don’t understand why He is so good to me. What have I done?” Dad was always the positive one. He
knew how to live life to the fullest and he knew who to thank for his many blessings. Praise be to God for
his immeasurable gift in Jesus. And praise be to God for the wonderful gift of my Dad.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Carolyn
John Wesley Neighoff
John Wesley Neighoff, 91, went to be with his Lord on June 12, 2016. John was born in Baltimore, MD
on December 22, 1924 and grew up in Linthicum Heights.
John is a veteran of World War II, having left High School in his senior year to serve in the U. S. Navy as
a gunner’s mate. He was deployed to North Africa from which he participated in the amphibious
invasions of Sicily, Salerno, Anzio, and Normandy.
After returning from military service, he acquired his G.E.D. and met Dorothy Carolyn Harman and they
were married on April 4, 1948.
John was a self-employed painting contractor and had several businesses in Maryland until moving to
Readfield, ME in 1976, where he supervised maintenance of the State Capitol complex in Augusta.
While he spent his later years golfing in Maine, his early years as a father were spent teaching his children
to horseback ride and water ski. John was well known for his charming, fun-loving personality. Many
folks over the years were drawn to his very positive attitude about life. This was evident by his work with
the youth in his early church years, adventures in canoes, on horseback, motorcycles, and river trips with
his kids, winters in St. Croix and New Orleans and always his appreciation for the good care and food
during any hospital stay. He was an active member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Augusta, ME,
serving as deacon and many other roles and later at Water of Life Lutheran Church in Newcastle, ME,
where he assisted with worship, and meticulously cared for the grounds.
John was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Dorothy Carolyn Neighoff.
He is survived by his four children: James Neighoff and wife Linda, Carolyn Neighoff and husband Jack,
Steven Neighoff and wife Laurie, and Linda Mueller and husband Bob. He is also survived by his brother
-in-law, John Harman, his sister, Virginia Neighoff Citgo and her husband Stanley, seven grandchildren:
Eric Neighoff and Allison Neighoff , Krista Meyer Chase and husband Brett, Seth Meyer and wife Erin,
Andrew Mueller, Katie Mueller Labbe and husband Michael, Emma Mueller Orion and husband Caleb,
and 8 great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Water of Life Lutheran Church, Rt. 1 Newcastle, Maine on June 25 at
11:00 AM.
The family would like to extend thanks to the wonderful staff of the Inn at City Hall in Augusta where he
lived and watched the Kennebec River flow beneath his window. We are grateful to Hospice for their
care of John, especially to Patti Mason, his nurse. Thank you to the doctors and the staff at “Togus
Springs” at Togus Veterans Administration for lovingly caring for John in his last days.
In lieu of flowers John has requested that memorial contributions be made to Water of Life Lutheran
Church mortgage fund at PO Box 21 Newcastle, Maine, in his name.
Church Servers for July 2016
COFFEE HOUR
for July
July 3 Dawn and Myrna
July 10 Gwen and Margee
July 17
July 24 Patsy and Lori
July 31 Barbara and Lois
Acolyte Schedule
Readers
July 3 Schuyler Farrell
July 10 Sandra Thelander
July 17 Samuel White
July 24 Will Farrell
July 31 Landen Chase
Lay Assistant
July 3
July 10 Ragnhild Baade
July 17 Bill Gaydos
July 24 Ragnhild Baade
July 31
Communion Assistant
July 3 Trish Higgins
July 10 Trish Higgins
July 17 Hedy Ertman
July 24 Hedy Ertman
July 31 Hedy Ertman
July 3 Wendy Keller
July 10
July 17
July 24
July 31
Flowers
Ushers
July 3
July 10 Gildersleeve Family
July 17
July 24
July 31 Omland Family
Ed and Liliana Thelander are
ushers for the month of July
Please Help!
We need Volunteers
PASTORAL NEEDS AND SERVICES
The Rev. Carolyn Neighoff
Church Phone: 563-1142
Home Phone: 626-3693
Cell Phone: (207) 650-7990
E-Mail: [email protected]
Church E-Mail: [email protected]
Secretary E-Mail: [email protected]
Office Hours:
Carolyn Neighoff: Tues./Thurs. 1pm - 3 pm
Secretary: Tues./Thurs.—1:15 pm—3:30 pm
Watered by God's Word
We are Growing in God's Love through faith in Christ
Our thirst for a faith Community is Quenched
We are refreshed by the Holy Spirit to Serve
WATER OF LIFE MISSION STATEMENT
Since we are the body of Christ and Jesus is the Head of the Church, we seek the mind of Christ in unity
and act upon His leading. Our mission is to make disciples of all people by proclaiming the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. This evangelism is a personal commitment and an intentional ministry of the congregation
continually discovering our personal talents by means of prayer, praise and fellowship. These we share
in service to the congregation, the community, and the world.
Water of Life Lutheran Church - 2015 Church Council
President
Larry Omland
VP/Long Range Planning
Wendy Keller
Secretary
Treasurer
Doug Foster
Ed Brunner
Parish Life
Tom Gildersleeve
Music and Worship
Mission and Outreach
Christian Education
Property
Rebecca Vogel
Ragnhild Baade
Nancy Parker
Rick Fehlau
207-882-6280 (home)
207-449-9240 (cell)
207-563-8741 (home)
207-380-6122 (cell)
207-522-1907 (cell)
914-671-1591 (cell)
207-633-0712 (home)
207-677-2382 (home)
207-380-1939 (cell)
207-557-1617 (cell)
207-882-7794
207-563-8455
207-522-8395 (cell)
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
To submit newsletter information contact Sue Wironen at [email protected].
A Blog from the ELCA
On Not Living Steel Plated Lives
Pastor Tim Brown, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church , Raleigh, NC
I’m at the age now where my parents are giving me family household items. Sometimes it feels like they’re
saying, “Here, throw this away for me.” But sometimes they’re gems beyond compare.
Last week my father handed me my maternal grandfather’s New Testament from his military service in
World War II. It is steel plated on one side, the idea being that you would keep it in your front breast
pocket and perhaps the steel would save you from being shot in the heart.
A pragmatic use for a book that’s anything but pragmatic.
And it’s a lovely broken symbol, like all great Christian symbols. It’s broken because, if there’s something
the Scriptures do well, it’s encourage our hearts and lives to break, to be pierced. Broken by the word of
God who wages peace and resurrection across the ancient world. Pierced by story after story of salvation
and letter after letter testifying to grace and mercy for people who far prefer the steely existence of
tribalism, war and discord.
It’s broken like the bread of the eucharist. Broken like the dead-but-reigning lamb of Revelation’s visions.
Broken like the imperfect body of Christ who rises to sing a hymn on Sunday morning even though that
week their voice was choked out of them by tragedy, greed and desperate attempts to steel themselves
against the world.
I say all this, but I would be lying if I didn’t admit that part of me wishes that the men and women at the
Pulse dance club in Orlando, Fla., had been wearing some steel. Something to protect them from the
bullets of that night. And that’s the danger of thinking we can protect ourselves from everything and
anything, I guess. We start to steel ourselves against everything, even love and freedom.
But it wasn’t a lack of steel that killed those people that early morning—it was a steeled ideology.
Steel-plated ideologies, steel-plated theology, only becomes brittle and rigid. Steel-plated faith and dogmas
aren’t porous enough for the movement of the Spirit. And when we’re not careful, they can lead us to do
and believe things that betray the very Scripture we hold so dear. Steel-plated lives and ideologies only
repel the ones we’re commanded to serve, which is an important truth to remember in the aftermath.
Steeled Scriptures don’t help us care for the hurting and dying—only broken Scriptures that know this
pain can help us do that.
Our fears of having our faith, our being, pierced and broken are taken by the one who was pierced by
nails and a spear, broken on the cross of Rome and public opinion.
While it may have been practical for my grandfather to carry the steel-plated Scriptures over his heart (he
still received the Purple Heart for a gunshot that missed the steel and hit his gut), it is impractical for the
Christ-follower to live a steel-plated life. Not just impractical, but unfaithful.
Our hearts, our very lives, must be broken open if they’re ever to reveal Christ to a world steeled against
self-giving love, mercy and forgiveness in deference for hate and grudges and winner-take-all mentalities.
Beloved, it’s not pragmatic to live a life open to being broken open. It’s pricey. It can sometimes feel like
you’re throwing your life away, such is a life of self-giving love. But remember that we have a God of
resurrection and nothing is lost, even the broken fragments of our vulnerable lives of love.
They are gems beyond compare, after all.
Long Range Planning Committee
What is God Calling Us To Do?
That is the question that we, the Long Range Planning Committee, are trying to figure out.
Please join us on Sunday, June 26th at 7:00 pm in PRAYER.
We, the Long Range Planning Committee, know there are so many directions that our
congregation can go.
But, where is God leading us? We have been wrestling with the question for a long time. So,
we are trying something different.
We are asking God to show us the way. Pray from wherever you happen to be at this time home, work, a meeting, it doesn’t matter.
Pray alone or pray with a partner or your entire family.
Pray as long as you would like. Just pray for what God is calling us, Water of Life, to do.
Let’s see where the power of unified prayer leads us.
Sally Farrell
Men’s Bible Study
Book of Colossians
Coffee and breakfast offerings at 730am Study 8-9am
Our study is the Book of Colossians—Christ’s preeminence and sufficiency in all things.
Noisy Offering
We will have our Noisy Offering on June 17. We will collect our loose change to support
Nancy Marshall and her mission in Belize, a church for deaf people and a school for deaf
children.
WOL CALENDAR
Sun
Mon
3
Tue
4
5
JULY 2016
Wed
Thu
6 5PM Worship
& Music Clean-
7 9AM Prayer
Fri
Sat
1
2
8
9 7:30 am
Men’s Bible
10AM Lectionary
ing Party
6:30 PM Choir
10 Church Picnic
11
12
Study
13 6:30 PM
Choir
14 9AM Prayer
10AM Lectionary
17 Noisy Offer- 18
ing
19 Newsletter
Deadline
20 6:30 PM
Choir
21 9AM Prayer
24
26 VBS
27 VBS
6:30 PM Choir
28 VBS
9AM Prayer
25 VBS
6:30 PM
Night of Joy
16
22
23
29 VBS
30
10AM Lectionary
10AM Lectionary
31
Anniversary Blessings
July 1 Joel and Trish Higgins
July 19 Tom and Sally Farrell
July 20 Rich and Gretchen Fehlau
July 24 Linda and Bob Mueller
July 29 Brett and Krista Chase
Birthday Blessings
7/6 Jim Poole
7/10 Danny Keller
7/11 Joel Higgins
7/13 Hugh Holm
7/14 Peg Brunner
7/15 Krista Chase
7/20 Bob Mueller
7/22 Lisa Yedlin
7/23 Shirley Jameson, Liliana Thelander
7/28 Gretchen Fehlau, Dan Jameson,
Larry Omland
7/31 Faye Shea
Worship & Music Meeting of June 8th
For the past several months, anyone who can make it has arrived a half hour before our
meeting to work on rewriting the job descriptions of lay assistance, acolytes, ushers,
and communion assistants. Many of the lists haven’t been done in a long time (one of
the lists had ringing the church bell before worship) or we just couldn’t find one (as
was the case with the lay assistants). We have been making great progress and almost
have them completed.
Our meeting official started at 5pm. Pastor Carolyn and Ragnild were not able to attend. We first reviewed the services in the past month. There was much praise about
how good the bulletins have been looking. Taking out the first row of chairs on the
piano side of the sanctuary has made communion a lot easier for the assistants to do
their job. We will be talking to the pastor about having 2 loaves of bread for communion during the summer because there are more people in attendance.
We have a lot of gaps in our list of helpers for communion assistants, lay assistants,
readers, and altar flowers. We are asking you, the congregation to help us fill in the
blank lines. It takes a lot of people to make our church run. But if every member picks
out one job to do for the church every month, we would be overflowing with help.
One of our Credence table linens is missing. I would ask anyone who has every taken one home to be washed to please check and make sure you returned it. It is very
easy to bring things home and then forget about them. I have done that many times.
Worship and Music will not be having a meeting in July but we will be getting together
on July 6th at 5pm to work on cleaning out the sacristy. Our next meeting will be on
August 10th.
Rebecca Vogel
No Reservations
This was the theme of the 2016 Synod Assembly. There are no reservations in the kingdom of
God. All are welcome at his table at any time.
From June 10 through June 12, we met with 619 people from around the New England Synod in
Springfield Mass. We heard how the ELCA is working around the world with many different
organizations to end hunger, house the homeless, and work toward tolerance.
Some of the speakers we heard from were Mikka McCracken, Director Planning & Engagement,
ELCA World hunger appeal. She had been the keynote speaker for the youth gathering and told
them as well as our assembly how she believes we can end world hunger. We also heard from
US Rep. James McGovern (D-MA) on how he is working to end hunger in his state. A leader
from the Islamic Center in Springfield came to greet us and to thank our assembly for joining
with them to package meals for people in the community.
On Saturday night there was a Future-casting Panel Discussion lead by Bishop Hazelwood. The
panel included David Lose, President (Lutheran Theological Seminary Philadelphia), Bishop
Claire Burkat (SE Pennsylvania Synod), Rev. Peter Boehringer, and Rev. John Spangler
(Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg). They were there to discuss the merger of
Gettysburg and Philadelphia Lutheran Theological Seminaries. In the last decade, we have seen a
decline in pastors being ordained and a rise in pastors retiring. The seminaries are in the very
early stages of restructuring. They are also looking into more online classes with the possibility of
having weekend on-campus classes periodically. We were asked as a synod to keep them in our
prayers and also to be on the lookout for those who might have a special calling to ministry.
The assembly approved the budget for 2017 and well as the one resolution to encourage our
congregation to give money and prayer to the seminaries of Philadelphia and Gettysburg.
As always the worship services were wonderful. It is always fun to be with sooooo many
Lutherans praising and worshiping God. This year during one of the services we remember those
who were celebrating special anniversaries of ordination as well as those who had died since our
last assembly.
I thank you for this opportunity to be your voice at this assembly and to encourage anyone who
has not gone to do so. I have been to over 23 assemblies since Jon and I have been married and
I have never ceased to be amazed at the work our church does in the world. I will leave you with
the words from the song especially written for our assembly by Mark and Sarah Huber.
“Your love has no reservations, expanding our experience of grace; may we have no hesitation to live your love, to share your love, to be your love in the world.”
Rebecca Vogel
IN OUR PRAYERS
Please keep these people in your hearts and prayers: Your continued prayers are asked for
Water of Life: the Church Council; the community of faith that makes up Water of Life
Lutheran Church.
PRAYER LIST:
NURSING HOME: Hutch Hutchinson
OTHER PRAYER CONCERNS: Raymond Berthiaume, Susan Yudowitch, Lawrence Wiles,
Carrol Schroeder, Hugh Holm, Nathan Miller-Foster, Carl Russell, the family of John
Neighoff, Mike Russell, Pastor Luger, Mitch Pinkham, Penny Sherwood, Forrest Jerome,
Mima Lindquist, Rob Arrouet , Dorothy Mueller and Chapel of the Living Water.
Please update/remove people from the Prayer Board as their situations change and please
write names legibly. Thank you.
Lectionary Scriptures for July
July 3
First Reading Isaiah 66:10-14
Psalm 66:1-9
Second Reading Gal 6:[1-6] 7-16
Gospel Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
July 10
First Reading Deut 30:9-14
Psalm 25:1-10
Second Reading Col 1:1-14
Gospel Luke 10:25-37
July 17
First Reading Gen 18:1-10a
Psalm 15
Second Reading Col 1:15-28
Gospel Luke 10:38-42
July 24
First Reading Gen 18:20-32
Psalm 138
Second Reading Col 2:6-15[16-19]
Gospel Luke 11:1-13
July 31
First Reading Eccles 1:2,12-14; 2:18-23
Psalm 49:1-12
Second Reading Col 3:1-11
Gospel Luke 12:13-21
Important Dates to Remember
Vacation Bible Camp
It’s coming!! Save the
dates: July 25-29. Five days
of a “thrilling ride with Jesus!” This year’s theme is
"SonWorld Adventure
Park.” We need your
help! Please contact Nancy
Parker or Carolyn Neighoff if
you can help by teaching, assisting, doing crafts, snacks,
recreation, publicity—You name it, we need help with it! Vacation Bible
School is Water of Life’s most direct outreach in the community. 80% of
the children are not connected to Water of Life. We need our teenagers
and anyone else who has a willing heart to let us know asap that you’d like
to help. Thus far we have Linda Mueller, music; Carolyn Neighoff and
Kay Whitner, crafts; Nancy Parker, Carol Andersen, Krista Chase, teachers. We’re hoping last year’s craft people will be able to help again, as well
Church Picnic
Jack and Carolyn will be hosting a get together at their house on July 10.
WATER OF LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH
618 US Route 1, P.O. Box 206
Newcastle, Maine 04553
(Route 1, south of the large American Flag)
2