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The The monthly Newsletter of Grace December 2010 Volume # 2010 Issue #12 Council Members 2010 Darcie Barman Nicole Mea Sandy Holz Rick Robertson Deb Searle Gus Hartig Steve Wheat John Orlowski Karen McNamara Pastor Jack Traugott 845 973 845 845 845 845 845 973 845 845 477-0315 853-1336 477-3230 783-3454 544-1592 987-8568 477-9254 853-2552 699-9544 477-3384 In case of emergency, You may contact Pastor Jack at the church at 845 477-3384 or Council President John Orlowski at 973 853-2552 Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church 25 Waterstone Road PO Box 394 Greenwood Lake, NY 10925 845 477-3384 Rev. Jack Traugott, Pastor email: [email protected] 2010 Officers (Elected Positions) President John Orlowski Vice President Karen McNamara 2010 Appointed Officers Treasurer Secretary Dick Anderson Janey Santarpia 2010 Appointed Positions Appointed Committee Chairs Altar Guild Bulletin Cleaning Coffee Hour Communications Cradle Roll Flower Fund Fundraising Lectors Memorials Property Sunday School Sunshine Synod Liaison VBS Director Worship & Music Darcie Barman Diane Bramich Karen McNamara Sue Toscano Janey Santarpia Lisa Orlowski Lorraine Mitchell Scott Santarpia Karen McNamara Edna Brodersen Gus Hartig Lorraine Mitchell Edna Brodersen Ron Bonnier Sue Toscano Pastor Jack Traugott Accounts Receivable Financial Secretary Nicole Mea Nicole Mea The Messenger is published monthly and is distributed without charge to members and friends of Grace Lutheran Church. We have an all volunteer staff, as follows: Janey Santarpia, Editor; Becca Rocke, Copy Editor; Janey Santarpia, printer; Mary Ann Schechter, Delivery Person; John Schechter, staples, folds & stuffs the Messenger in the envelope and Alexis Schechter, who helps a little. All copy is due on the 15th of the month! Volunteers are always welcomed! PAGE 2 Worship Schedule Sunday, December 5 Sunday, December 12 3rd Sunday of Advent 9:30 am Sunday School 9:30 am Communion Service Sunday, December 19 4th Sunday of Advent 9:30 am Sunday School 9:30 am Communion Service Friday, December 24 All are welcome to worship with us! 2nd Sunday of Advent 8:30 am Sunday School Rehearsal 9:30 am Worship Service with the Sunday School Pageant refreshments to follow. Christmas Eve Nativity of Our Lord 6:45 pm Carols 7:00 pm Communion, Choir & Candle Service Sunday, December 26 First Sunday after Christmas No Sunday School 9:30 am Communion Service Birthdays & Anniversaries Bits & Pieces Calendar Council Notes Cradle Roll Donations Editors Stuff Fundraising Committee Games & Puzzles Pastor’s Message Prayer List Sunday School Volunteer Lists Worship Schedule Page 6 Everywhere Page 21 Page 4 Page 8 Pages 7, 19, 20, Page 2 Page 5, 18 Pages 16, 17 Page 3 Page 9 Page 8 Page 22 Page 2 EDITOR’S PAGE Raina Update: She has a plastic pipe that starts just under the flap in the back of her throat and it goes down to the bronchi. She can breath just like we do now. And she talks in a whisper. Now she is a typical 11 year old. She never shuts up (oh, thank you, God) and she can run and talk and be happy. She will have another surgery December 2 to change the long tube for a shorter one. Then they will monitor the scar tissue. And there will be more surgeries. But she can breath and talk and run. And even be a brat. And it’s all a great gift. In the rest of the world...I found lots of old, mushy kind of Christmas stories for this issue. I think we’re all ready for an old fashioned kind of Christmas. Lots of love and family and friends and maybe not so much emphasis on presents. I like the first 3 much better myself. Grace is filling up the pews! How exciting for all of us. More people in the pews means I can sing at the top of my lungs again and I won’t throw everyone off key...as much. The Fundraising committee needs more help. If you want to help Grace out of its financial hole volunteer! Costs you nothing but some time. Try it. The Cleaning Committee needs some extra help. Make it your special gift to Grace. The Council needs a new secretary. If you can take notes and like to know what’s happening at Grace , try it. Don’t forget to come early on Christmas Eve. It’s my favorite service. The lights go out at the end when all our candles are lit and we sing ‘Silent Night’. Wow! It’s so powerful. And then on the ride home from church I start listening for the bells.... Hey, you’re never to old to believe in everything that’s good. Merry Christmas to you all, Your Editor, Janey Contact me at: [email protected] PAGE 3 Pastor’s Message for December As we prepare for the seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas we prepare to give thanks for our blessings and for the gift of Jesus as our Lord and Savior. At the end of the story of Christmas we are told of the visit of the Wise Men or Magi. Astrologers in the East (probably a thousand miles away) see something in the sky. They notice that it is a new star and that it has a special meaning because of its position in the heavens. They interpret it as a new King will be born in Israel. Convinced that their reading of the star’s appearance is correct they plan and execute the long journey by caravan. They want to see this new king and come and worship Him. They acted quickly and with abandon. In a short time they were on their way. When they arrived they told King Herod about their discovery in the sky and asked where the place might be where he was born. The king did not know but people in his court remembered a Bible passage in the book of Micah, which told of a future birth in Bethlehem. The Magi/Wise Men were told of this and given directions and were sent on their way with words from the King - “ Go and search diligently for the child, and when you find him bring me word, that I may also come and worship Him.” So they continued on their way to the little town of Bethlehem. They searched until they found Jesus - in a stable.......lying in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes. They then gave four gifts to Jesus. • They gave the gift of GOLD - a precious kind of currency. It was something of great value and would pay for expenses for quite a while into the future. • Another gave frankincense - this was expensive - worthy of a King - wonderful smelling. Frankincense could be used in worship to symbolize a person’s prayers rising to the heavens. • Another gift was Myrrh. It was a precious gift and therefore fit for a King. It was only later in history that this gift was also used in the process of embalming a body after death. • Everyone who made the journey, brought his very best. The fourth gift was the invisible gift that each one brought. They brought their gift of worship. “They fell on their knees and worshipped Him “. Only after they worshipped did they offer the gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. On Friday evening, December 24th, we gather together at 6:45 pm for carols and then 7:00 pm for Worship. We sing Praises. We give Thanks. We listen to the Birth story and we receive the Christ into our hearts and souls. O Come All Ye Faithful. Come and Worship. Amen. Faith, Hope, Love, Joy and Peace in Jesus Name............Amen Pastor Jack H. Traugott PAGE 4 NOTES FROM THE November COUNCIL MEETING - Rick Robertson suggested we get some more hymnals since our Sunday service attendance has increased. Pastor Jack will check a source that, hopefully, costs us nothing for 30 more hymnals. - The Fundraising Committee is working hard on the Murder Mystery Dinner and then will focus on December 11 for the Tree Decorating Party and Caroling. - Sunday School reports that rehearsals for the pageant are underway for the Pageant on December 5. - Janey Santarpia has resigned her position as Council Secretary as of December 31, 2010. She has been doing this job since December 1996. It’s time for someone new. - Darcie Barman has volunteered to take over the job of decorating the outside porch bulletin boxes from Janey Santarpia also. She will have the teenagers create the monthly decorations as part of their community service time. - The council approved an ad to be placed in the Warwick Dispatch for our Christmas Eve services. - Mike Linke will return to play the organ on Sundays until the middle of May, 2011. - Rick Robertson & Gus Hartig will work together on the octagon window in the sexton’s house when they replace it. - The Crafty Ladies requested that the new solar lights stay on a little longer. - Wayne Winters has been changing light bulbs at Grace as needed. - Next meeting will be December 14 at 6:30 pm. Thank you to all of you who The Cleaning Committee currently has 5 wonderful participated in the Operation teams. They each have one week to clean Grace in time Christmas Shoe Box collection. for Sunday services. They rotate so that now each crew I was proud to deliver 41 cleans once a month or almost once a month. shoeboxes filled with treats But it would be great if we could get at least one more for children around the world. team. Then, each team would only have to clean once in six Thank you again, weeks! It never seems as difficult if your turn is so Sue Toscano seldom. Please give it some thought and if your heart can see it happening , please contact me, Karen McNamara, at 845 699-9544 Thanks for thinking about it. Confirmation Classes On Wednesdays 7 th Grade 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm 8th Grade 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm PAGE 5 Thank you to everyone who helped “spruce up” the outside of Grace by raking leaves or by “shining up “ the inside of our church. We appreciate all the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Sunday School kids, church members and parents who came out to lend a hand and do a good deed. Sue Toscano Fundraising Committee Ongoing Project We have Shop Rite gift cards for you to purchase. You then take the card and shop just like you always do and at the checkout you present the card. We have $100, $50, & $25 denominations to start. When you use these cards Grace gets 5% of the card’s value. Since we all shop every week or every other week this is a great way to continue to support a fundraiser and do what you always do in your daily life. Sandy Holz will have the cards on Sundays at Grace or you can call her at 845 477- 3230 and make other arrangements to purchase them. Thanks to all the helper’s, bakers, crafters and buyer’s that came to our Craft Fair/Bake Sale this year. With your help we did well. The quilt was won by Anneliese Romahn, the Tree Skirt went to Joan Devine, the baby outfit went to Marian Kwolek and the Christmas tree went to Kathy Romano. Thanks again, Inge Beckenbach for The Crafty Ladies. Our Coffee Hour after church services has been wonderful! Thank you to all who have volunteered and looking forward to keeping this time for fellowship a great tradition. The sign up sheet is on the table in the narthex. Sue Toscano Now that we have only one service Coffee Hour just became much easier. You can come in a little before service, make the coffee and set up the table (don’t put food out until service is over) Now everyone comes out of service at the same time and we all can enjoy the fellowship of the drink and food and then you and your partner clean it up and go off on your merry way knowing that you have contributed to our new fellowship program and made some folks happy, too. Please sign up at the table in the narthex. PAGE 6 2 6 6 6 10 12 13 14 14 16 16 21 21 21 21 22 22 22 25 26 28 31 31 December Steve Wheat Betty Gjertsen Morgan Bladt Dennis Winters Kinsey Sammer Kaitlyn Ratsep Alexa Jo Anastasio Randy Vance Jeremy Bender Curt Hyers Mary Ann Schechter Jake Kelm Ellie Guarriello Walter Carroll Mayra Skeete Laura Sanders Mackenzie Demay Tristan Searle Cassie Searle Anthony Anastasio Keith Garley Jason Bladt Norman Cairns If you or someone in your family does not have a birthday or anniversary listed and you would like to be, please email the information to me at [email protected] or write a note and drop it in the collection plate or just send a note to Grace. Also, if we have the wrong date, don’t hesitate to let me know so that I can correct it. December 31st Lisa & John Orlowski You never know who you are sitting next to in church. We have a celebrity sitting among us. She is a very talented Mom, Sandra Frawley. She was tired of having to carry her baby in the car seat and a pocket book or her phone and wallet stuck in the seat. So, Sandra designed a special bag to attach to the car seat. She entered her idea in Huggies ‘Mom-Inspired Grant Program and she won. The new bags will be in production very soon. There are some very nice folks in our church…talk to them. You will be so surprised. Look for the newly created Birthday and Anniversary cards coming your way. We needed to find a way to save money for Grace and at the same time continue to congratulate you on your special days. We think we did it. You be the judge. PAGE 7 Many thanks to those who provide information for the newsletter and a very special thanks to those who volunteer their time and energy each month to ensure it is written, proofed, printed, collated, stapled, folded, stuffed, labeled and mailed on time! The November issue of news was gathered, typed and retyped by me from October 10 thru 18th. I printed 220 white mailing envelopes on October 18th. Becca proofed it Monday, October 18th. I made the corrections on Monday, October 18 & Tuesday, October 19 I printed 228 copies on my home printer. Don Santarpia dropped off the printed copies and envelopes at the Schechter home Thursday evening, October 21 for John Schechter to staple, fold and press tightly and stuff the copies into the white envelopes with some help from Alexis Schechter and Mary Ann returned them to me on Saturday, October 23rd. I labeled and sorted on Saturday, October 23 and Sunday, October 24 and filled out the forms for the Post Office and then we had to wait because it was the weekend. Don delivered 209 copies of the November newsletter to the Greenwood Lake Post Office between 10 and 12 noon on Monday, October 25. I emailed 60 copies on Sunday, October 24. I hand delivered 2, John Schechter hand delivered 4 and 14 were placed in the narthex for anyone who would like one. A total of 285 were distributed. Please remember that you need to get any info you want in the newsletter to me by the 15th of the month and so long as I get the info on time I can push to finish the newsletter and get it out on time. So, if you all continue to deliver the news to me I can deliver the Messenger on time to you ! Thanks everyone. The If you have any questions about this newsletter address them to me -Attn. Janey Santarpia, at Grace Church, or email: [email protected] or [email protected] Notice from the Financial Secretary As our fiscal year is drawing to a close, I am requesting that everyone gather their non-cash receipts and submit them for inclusion on their year-end statement. You can mail them to Grace, put them in my office mail slot, or place them in the offering plates on Sunday. PLEASE PUT YOUR NAME ON YOUR RECEIPTS! The books will be officially closed on 12/31/10. Any submissions received after that date will not be captured for the 2010 donation record, but will be stored for recording in the following year. Thank you for your cooperation. Nicole Mea 1. Replace radiator cover in basement. 2. Seal Parking lot. [Not til spring] 3. Paint parking spaces on both lots. GS Done 4. Repair cement walkway to basement BS? 5. Fix Porch steps BS? Please remember that this donation should be separate from and added onto the weekly amount you usually give. We will need approximately $40,000 to cover the construction costs. $40,000 $35,000 $30.000 $25,000 $20,000 $19,000 $18,500 $18,400 $18,300 $18,200 $18,100 $18,000 DONATIONS from: $12,087 PAGE 8 December 2010 Hi Everyone We are happy to welcome four new students within the last month to our Sunday School. As I write this, we are in the middle of Christmas Pageant rehearsals and the pageant will be held on December 5th. Sunday School will host coffee hour on that Sunday. I am asking parents to bring an item for the table, i.e. juice, cupcakes, brownies, etc. If everyone brings one thing, we will have a wonderful feast. There will be no Sunday School on December 26th, but we will return for classes on January 2nd. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Lorraine Mitchell Cradle Roll Welcomes Grace’s youngest members Mommy Anniversary It was about a year ago that I wrote a story in the Messenger about what it was like to be a mother when you don’t have a mother. I explained that although I have missed out on the joys of sharing motherhood with your own mother, my mom taught me to be strong, independent and smart. When I began my adventure with motherhood my mom was alive and she cared for me when my first child was born, she was extremely matter of fact on how to care for a baby, how to keep a house, visitors, nutrition and rest. When one child turned into two children, her advice was about sibling relationships and nurturing their respect for each other and juggling every day tasks and management. Then, that was it. My mom took her final cruise ship to heaven and I was left with all her knowledge she taught me. My mom seemed to have left an audio playback message in my head and when I’m struggling with motherhood and I ask myself what would my mom do.... my brain already has a message answer for me. Actually, she left messages for all five of her daughters, its really amazing. My point of all of this Mommy talk is to celebrate being a mom. My oldest son just turned six and although it was a wonderful celebration for him, I’m reminded about the day my life changed forever. Thanks for reading! Lisa O. [email protected] Catch me on Facebook too, Lisa Orlowski **Parent reminder,** After Sunday services, please remember to police the nursery room for any toy and/or food mess your child may have left behind. The Cleaning Committee does not clean on Sunday nights or Monday mornings. That leaves plenty of time for God’s smallest creatures to find what the kids left. Grace thanks you for your cooperation. Special Dates PAGE 9 December 5 Sunday School Pageant at the 9:30 am Service Saturday , December 11 Tree Decorating at Grace and Caroling for all and a little cocoa, too. Christmas Eve 6:45 pm Singing of Carols 7:00 pm Communion, Choir & Candlelight Service We pray that good health will be restored to the body and the mind of those we remember in our prayers Connie Anderson Pauline Bannon Bridget Cirbes Bill Clarke Constance Costello Gretchen Currie Eleanor Curtis Lori Davis Jacqueline Decre Marian Detro Katherine Devlin Anthony Dia Mary Jane Dickson Kate Duffy Torkile Eikaas Betty English Eileen Frey Mary Gillespie Sherrie Greehan Shari Hyers Maria Jones Samuel Jordan George Kammerer John Lachat, Sr. Jean Lachat Lucy Landri Michelle Laplaca Stephanie Lardner Kate Manes Logan Mason Siobhan McCormick John Meaden Theresa Nachowitz Noreen Nadolsky Irma Papagianakis Deanna Pearce Bob Riflard Maggie Rocke Ester Rohner Sylvia Salvesen John Santarpia Pat Santarpia Barbara Schmidt Arlene Scott Annabella Scotto Raina Searle Elaine Shaw Woodrow Skeeter Julia Skyberg Edward Smith Sarah Lou Smith Stephanie Thiel Edie Thomsen Mikey Traugott Barbara Vandermeulen Laura Vandermeulen Michael Vogt Robert Vogt Alfred Waldhelm Judy Widmer Hal Weinstein Ben Winstanley Christine Wright, Mary Frances Yates and the family of Jeff Rousseau, Sr. and for those serving in the Armed Forces here and abroad and for those who grieve and for those in need of prayers of healing. If you would like to add someone in need to this list please contact Pastor Jack or email the info to [email protected] PAGE 10 PAGE 11 Christmas Wishes May the songs of Christmas Come softly to your ear, And tell again the meaning Of this blessed time of year. May all the gifts of Christmas Be a means of sharing love, Like the gift of Christ, Our Saviour, Sent with love from God above. May the joy of Christmas May the bells of Christmas Chime their tunes so bright and gay, Dwell so deep within your heart Ringing out their cheer and hope That throughout the year to come It never shall depart. On this glad Christmas Day. May the peace of Christmas Fill your heart with strength anew As you know what God gaveth When He sent His Son to you. May the love of Christmas fill your heart and soul, So peace on earth, good will toward men Will be your greatest goal. -By Lois Anne Williams Greetings from Grace Help us Help our Neighbors Make a donation to have your GREETINGS FROM GRACE published in Grace’s Christmas Eve Bulletin and Grace will send 100% of this donation to the Greenwood Lake Food Pantry. As an extra bonus, your Christmas Greeting will be on display in the narthex for all to see. Anyone interested in participating, please fill out this sheet and mail it to Grace or drop it in the white box in the narthex. Here is an example: Mary & George Smith Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year. NAME: GREETING Please make sure all checks are made out to Grace Lutheran Church. When we have gathered all the donations Grace Church will write one check and send it to the Food Pantry. Remember this is a greeting and not a memorial! If you wish to make a memorial offering during this holiday season you can do so by donating flowers, candles or greens in memory of loved ones. Page 12 Who’s Your Daddy? A seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg, TN. One morning, they were eating breakfast at a little restaurant, hoping to enjoy a quiet, family meal. While they were waiting for their food, they noticed a distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from table to table, visiting with the guests. The professor leaned over and whispered to his wife, I hope he doesn’t come over here. “ But sure enough, the man did come over to their table. “Where are you folks from?” He asked in a friendly voice. “Oklahoma,” they answered. “Great to have you here in Tennessee.” The stranger said. “What do you do for a living?” “I teach at a seminary,” he replied. “Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do you? Well, I’ve got a really great story for you.” And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat down at the table with the couple. The professor groaned and thought to himself, “Great. . . Just what I need. . .another preacher story!” The man started, “See that mountain over there? (Pointing out the restaurant window). “Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up, because every place he went, he was always asked the same question, ‘Hey boy, who’s your daddy?” Whether he was at school, in the grocery store or drug store, people would ask the same question, ‘Who’s your daddy?’ He would hide at recess and lunch time from other students. He would avoid going into stores because that question hurt him so bad. When he was about 12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. He would always go in late and slip out early to avoid hearing the question, ‘Who’s your daddy?’ But one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast he got caught and had to walk out with the crowd. Just about the time he got to the backdoor, the new preacher, not knowing anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, ‘Son, who’s your daddy?’ “The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in the church looking at him. Now everyone would finally know the answer to the question, ‘Who’s your daddy’. This new preacher, though, sensed the situation around him and using discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the following to that scared little boy. . . “Wait a minute!” He said. I know who you are. I see the family resemblance now. You are a child of God.’ With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and said, ‘Boy, you’ve got a great inheritance. Go and claim it. ‘ With that, the boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked out the door a changed person. He was never the same again. Whenever anybody asked him, ‘Who’s your Daddy?’ He’d just tell them, ‘I’m a Child of God.’ The distinguished gentleman got up from the table and said, “Isn’t that a great story?” The professor responded that it really was a great story! As the man turned to leave, he said, “You know, if that new preacher hadn’t told me that I was one of God’s children, I probably never would have amounted to anything!” And he walked away. The seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress over and asked her, “Do you know who that man was who just left that was sitting at our table?” The waitress grinned and said, “Of course. Everybody here knows him. That’s Ben Hooper. He’s the former governor of Tennessee!” Maybe someone in your life today needs a reminder that they’re one of God’s children! - Shared by Hank Rapp PAGE 13 A Christmas Dream By: The Rev. Paul E. Henderson Episcopal Church Home Chaplain ’Twas the night before Christmas, I had just gone to bed, With visions of residents Still in my head. Another asked respite From suffering’s curse. He gave him the comfort And love of a nurse. As face followed face In a somnolent stream, My mind drifted off In a beautiful dream. One needed bravery, She was often afraid. He gave her the strengthening Arms of an aide. In fancy I floated High into the air, Where I could look down On this Center of Care To the man who wrote: “I must do what I can,” Were given a role In activities plan. The moon o’er the Church Home Turned night into day And there was Saint Nick With his reindeer and sleigh One said, “Father Christmas,’ Recover my sight.” He led her to Chapel And God’s inner light. I cried: “Where’s your bag Filled with trinkets and toys?” He answered, “I gave them To young girls and boys.” To a lady whose husband Had died the past year, He gave merciful solace Through a kind volunteer. “I bring other gifts To the people below, Gifts of more value Than ever they’ll know.” But one asked for nothing Save just one more breath To her he gave courage To bravely meet death. Then, into the building To visit each floor, And read the requests Which adorned every door. To the others he said, “I will see you next year, When I now fly away I will take all your fear. On the first list he read Just one word, “Dignity!” He granted that wish Through the girls in 0. T. The second sought physical strength just to stand. And was given the help Of a Therapist’s hand. These gifts all are yours now, You need not ask more. You must lean on the Staff That is what staffs are for!” Then, I heard him exclaim As he rose from my view, “HAPPY CHRISTMAS, MY DEAR ONES “ YOUR FATHER LOVES YOU!” - Shared by Sylvia Salvesen PAGE 14 I’ve been a good mom all year. I’ve fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor’s office more than my doctor and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son’s red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I’ll find anymore free time in the next 18 years. Here are my Christmas wishes: I’d like a pair of legs that don’t ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don’t hurt or flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I’d also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy. If you’re hauling big ticket items this year I’d like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television that doesn’t broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone. On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, “Yes, Mommy” to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don’t fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting “Don’t eat in the living room” and ”Take your hands off your brother,” because my voice seems to be just out of my children’s hearing range and can only be heard by the dog. If it’s too late to find any of these products, I’d settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container. If you don’t mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family. Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don’t catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don’t eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet. Yours Always, MOM.. . P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in you, Santa. - Shared by Anne Caric PAGE 15 ”To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I’ve ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more: 1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good. 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. 3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch. 5. Pay off your credit cards every month. 6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. 7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone. 8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it. 9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck. 10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. 11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present. 12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry. 13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it. 15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks. 16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind. 17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful. 18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger. 19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else. 20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer. 21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special. 22. Over prepare, then go with the flow. 23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple. 24. The most important sex organ is the brain. 25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you. 26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’ 27. Always choose life. 28. Forgive everyone everything. 29. What other people think of you is none of your business. 30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time. 31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 33. Believe in miracles. 34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do. 35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now. 36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young. 37. Your children get only one childhood. 38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved. 39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. 40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back. 41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. 42. The best is yet to come... 43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. 44. Yield. 45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.” Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio . PAGE 16 I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. I can carry the weight of killing another, My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.. My daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Who stand at the front against any and all, Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.” Transforming the yard to a winter delight. ” So go back inside,” he said, “harbor no fright, The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, Your family is waiting and I’ll be all right.” Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. ”But isn’t there something I can do, at the least, My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, ”Give you money,” I asked, “or prepare you a Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. feast? In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, It seems all too little for all that you’ve done, So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream. For being away from your wife and your son.” The sound wasn’t loud, and it wasn’t too near, Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. ”Just tell us you love us, and never forget. Perhaps just a cough, I didn’t quite know, To fight for our rights back at home while we’re Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow. gone, My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, To stand your own watch, no matter how long. And I crept to the door just to see who was near. For when we come home, either standing or Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, dead, A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. To know you remember we fought and we bled. A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold. That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.” Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, -Shared by Ron Bonnier Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child. ”What are you doing?” I asked without fear, ”Come in this moment, it’s freezing out here! Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!” For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.. To the window that danced with a warm fire’s light Then he sighed and he said “Its really all right, I’m out here by choice. I’m here every night.” ”It’s my duty to stand at the front of the line, That separates you from the darkest of times. No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I’m proud to stand here like my fathers before me. My Gramps died at ‘ Pearl on a day in December,” Then he sighed, “That’s a Christmas ‘Gram always remembers.” My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ‘ Nam ‘, And now it is my turn and so, here I am. I’ve not seen my own son in more than a while, But my wife sends me pictures, he’s sure got her smile. Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red, white, and blue... an American flag. I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away from my family, my house and my home. ”A Different Christmas Poem” PAGE 17 ACROSS 1 ____and Dumah, and Eshean (Joshua 15:52) 5 And ____ ye not, but pursue after your enemies (Joshua 10:19) 9 For yet a little ____, and the wicked shall not be (Ps 37:10) 10 ____ stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins (Prov 10:12) 13 But if thou ___ that which is evil, be afraid (Rom 13:4) 14 by violating the ____ on taking devoted things (1 Chr 2:7)(NIV) 15 they would have repented long ____ in sackcloth and ashes (Matt 11:21) 16 arose about Stephen travelled as f___ as Phenice (partial word)(Acts 11:19) 17 for I ___ ___ stranger with thee, and a sojourner (two words) (Ps 39:12) 19 Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou ____, go, flee (Amos 7:12) 21 king Solomon made a ____ of ships in Eziongeber (1 King 9:260 23 and shall give the vine____ to others (partial word) (Luke 20:16) 25 of good behaviour, given to hospitality, ___t to teach (partial word)1 Tim 3:2 26 according to the law of the M___ and Persians (partial word)(Daniel 6:8) 27 look of contempt or scorn 29 a man in a chariot with a ____ of horses (plural) (Isa 21:9) (NIV) 31 was the golden ____ that had manna, and Aaron’s rod (Heb 9:4) 33 wind direction 34 he leadeth me in the ____ of righteousness for his name’s sake (Ps 23:3) 36 ____ not into the path of the wicked (Prov 4:14) 40 For this ____ is mount Sinai in Arabia (Gal 4:25) 42 ___ud the son of Gera, a Benjamite (partial word)(Judg 3:15) 43 bind the ____ of thine head upon thee (Ezek 24:17) 44 My righteousness I hold ____, and will not let it go (Job 27:6) 45 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor ____ (Luke 12:24) 48 By this shall all ____ know that ye are my disciples (John 13:35) 49 Behold, I stand ___ the door, and knock (Rev 3:20) 50 we know that the law is good, if a man ____ it lawfully (1 Tim 1:8) 52 head covering 54 works of iniquity, and the a___ of violence (partial word)(Isaiah 59:6) 55 repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no ____ (2 Cor 7:10) (NIV) 57 remaineth therefore ____ ____ to the people of God (two words) (Heb 4:9) 59 saith the LORD of hosts, and I will ____ve the iniquity (partial word)(Zech 3:9) 60 belonging to youngest son of Jacob (Gen 35:24) PAGE 18 DOWN 1 I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, ___ Lord GOD! (Ezek 9:8) 2 they smote him under the fifth ____ (2 Sam 4:6) 3 Joshua said, ____, O Lord GOD, wherefore (Joshua 7:7) 4 They left ____ Jaakan and camped at Hor Haggidgad.(Num 33:32)(NIV) 5 to ____ every man his share, and his coulter (1 Sam 13:20) 6 mark, sign 7 Aaron made an ____ for them to cleanse them (Num 8:21) 8 abbr. for year 9 a certain ____ named Martha received (Luke 10:38) 11 Peace I l____ with you, my peace I give unto you (partial word) (John 14:27) 12 having no moisture (plural) 13 The ____ of his youth hast thou shortened (Ps 89:45) 18 Blessed ____ those servants, whom the lord when he cometh (Luke 12:37) 20 To him that overcometh will I give to ____ of the hidden manna (Rev 2:17) 22 classifieds 24 to be offered, and the time of my ____ is at hand (2 Tim 4:6) 28 just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall ____ (Prov 10:7) 30 each with c___ in hand because of his age (partial word) (Zech 8:4)(NIV) 32 thou shalt not add ____, nor diminish from it. (Deut 12:32) 34 Who in times ___t suffered all nations to walk in (partial word) (Acts 14:16) 35 and ____ decked herself with her earrings and her jewels (Hosea 2:13) 37 nickname for Timothy 38 ____ siege works against it, build a ramp up to it (Ezek 4:2) (NIV) 39 Then the high priest ____ his clothes, and saith (Mark 14:63) 40 Peter followed him ____ off unto the high priest’s palace (Matt 26:58) 41 Stand in the ____ of the LORD’s house, and proclaim (Jer 7:2) 46 And ____ told Jezebel all that Elijah had done (1 King 19:1) 47 she shall shave her head, and ____ her nails (Deut 21:12) 51 was the son of ____, which was the son of Noe (Luke 3:36) 53 names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ____ horns (Rev 17:3) 56 abbr. for Greek 58 sound a snake makes WORD SEARCH ANGEL APPEAR APPEARED AUGUSTUS BETHLEHEM BIRTH CAESAR DREAM ELIZABETH EMMANUEL GABRIEL GLORY JESUS JOSEPH MARY MESSIAH NAZARETH PEACE PROPHECY PROPHET SHEPHERDS ZECHARIAH PAGE 19 Editor’s note: The Council is looking for a new Council Secretary. The requirements are simple: Be a member of Grace, be available the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm to be at church where you take the minutes and then type them up and place them in a loose leaf for posterity. If you have computer knowledge that is even better. Please let Pastor or any council member know if you are interested. If anyone would like to share a poem or story that you wrote and is related to the good stuff in life, is nonpolitical, and uplifts folks, please send it to me and I will publish it in the Messenger. www.gracegwl.com Our web site is up to date. Deb Searle is the person in charge. If anyone has church information they would like to have placed on the site please email Deb at: [email protected] [Ed: I did the job for about 15 years so it can’t be too hard. Janey] THE Enclosed is my donation of $______ for the Messenger. In Memory of_________________________________ THE Other________________________________________ Many Thanks for your generosity! Donations to the Messenger: - To keep it going: from Mary Ann Schechter. - To keep it going from Karen McNamara. - In memory of Marilyn Carroll from her family. From_______________________________________ Please make your check payable to: Grace Lutheran Church Attn.: The Messenger PO Box 394 Greenwood Lake, NY 10925 And thanks very much! The Messenger of Grace is a ministry of our congregation and an important part of our evangelical program. To keep the Messenger going we need your financial support. Funds are needed to cover the cost of postage and printing. All donations made will be gratefully acknowledged in the next issue. Many thanks in advance. In Honor of___________________________________ PAGE 20 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (845)820-8603 CUSTOM PUBLISHING GRAPHIC DESIGN-EDITING-WRITING