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THE WORD

THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED

FOR THE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF

REFORMATION LUTHERAN CHURCH

October 2005

      I tried a children’s sermon recently where I gave a little girl a banana and asked her to eat some of it and also to share some of with others.  She looked at the banana; she looked at the other children sitting there, and then she broke off three chunks to share with others.  The last piece she kept to herself.

    She illustrated exactly the point I was trying to make:  Sharing is something that should come first.

     When we share our gifts in the church, it is also something that should come first.  If you wait until the end of the month until you can see what’s left, if you figure out everything you “need” and then give what’s left over – well, you know how that works.  There’s usually not much left.    God wants us to give first.

     This month members of the congregation will have the opportunity to make their financial pledges for 2006 – for both the unified giving (which supports our ministry and what we share with others) and the building fund (which pays the mortgage.)  This process helps your church to plan for what we are able to do in our ministry in the year to come.  A strong response will make it more possible to expand the work we are doing in God’s name.  Pledging, however, is much more important than that.  It’s mostly between you and God.  It’s your way of saying –and by writing it down and handing it in, you are saying it clearly – that you are thankful for what you have received and that you trust in God’s care for you in the future.

     I know, we tend to think, “I’m not sure what’s going to happen next year.  How can I know what I’m going to be able to do?”  It’s not really true that you don’t know what is going to happen next year.  You know that God is good!  All the time!  God’s mercy will continue to fill your life in 2006, you can be sure of that!

     Making a financial commitment is always a matter of faith.  It’s sticking your neck out a little.  (When everything is worked out ahead of time, you don’t need faith.  This is what faith is for!)

     We set a goal for 2005 of increasing our congregational giving by 20%.  So far, we’ve had an increase of over 12%.  That’s pretty good  (but it’s not 20!)  What can you do in 2006?

                                                    --Pastor Simmons

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Have you checked out our new web site yet? www.welcomeplace.org

BIG EVENTS COMING UP IN WORSHIP

Check out these coming worship events:

October 30 is Reformation Sunday, when we remember the work of Martin Luther.  It’s also the day when the “Reformation Award” is presented to the Volunteer of the Year.  (Nominations can be received by a Council member until Oct. 25.)

November 6 is All Saints Sunday (when we remember those who have gone before us) and it is also our Tanzanian Sunday.  Our friends in Hale Parish will be praying for us that day, and we for them.  November 6 is also the concluding Celebration Sunday for the 40 Days of Purpose campaign.

The Worship Committee is conducting an experiment with multi-media technology for a couple of Sundays this fall.  A power-point presentation accompanied Pastor Simmons’ sermon on September 25, and it will again on October 30.  We’d appreciate your reactions.  At this point we are borrowing the equipment to make this possible.

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ADVOCACY CORNER

     As the recent tragedies along the Gulf Coast made apparent, poverty in America is on the rise, and the gap between rich and poor in this country grows larger every day.  According to Bread for the World,  more than 36 million Americans (including 13 million children) live in households that struggle to put food on the table.

     It is time again to take action!  In Washington, D.C., the end of the legislative year is fast approaching.  The congressional budget resolution passed in April requires a cut of $3 billion over five years to various discretionary programs, including nutrition initiatives and food stamps.  That nutrition programs and food stamps are threatened by budget cuts at a time of rising hunger and poverty in America reflects mistaken priorities:  increased spending on the military and a continuation of large tax cuts that benefit the wealthiest Americans, at the expense of programs for low-income people.  Budget cuts to Medicaid, student loans, and the Earned Income Tax Credit are being considered.  As Bread for the World explains, “war and tax cuts are threatening our country’s progress against hunger and poverty.”

     As people of faith and conscience, we must once again make our voices heard in the halls of power.  On Sunday, November 13, 2005, following both services, the Advocacy Committee will be asking you to participate in a letter writing campaign to our members of Congress.  We will urge them to support the Hunger-Free Communities Act of 2005 (S. 1120 in the Senate and H.R. 2717 in the House) and to oppose budget cuts to the Food Stamp Program and to national nutrition programs.  These programs are the fastest, most direct way to prevent hunger among the most vulnerable among us.  More than half of food stamp recipients are children, and virtually all the rest are elderly, disabled, or making the transition from welfare to work.  The Hunger-Free Communities Act also affirms the commitment of the United States to cut hunger in half by 2010, and to eliminate it entirely by 2015.  Widespread hunger and poverty should simply not be tolerated in the richest, most powerful nation on earth.

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YOUTH GROUP ELECTS OFFICERS

Congratulations to the following members of the high school youth group who were elected officers for 2005-06:

President               Maya Davis

Vice-President       Ashley Fulton

Secretary              Precious Gabriel

Treasurer               Brianna Jenkins

Peacemaker           Ryan Williams

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Internship Committee Starts Up

            The internship committee for Vicar Ari Mattson met for the first time on October 9.  The committee is responsible for providing guidance, feedback, and advice to the Vicar during his time at Reformation to aid in his learning and growth process.  Twice a year, they also officially evaluate the vicar in order to provide feedback to the seminary.

One concern raised at this first meeting was that the committee should be able to present the opinions of the entire congregation, but that many members of the congregation know little, if anything, about the committee and their purpose.  Therefore, the committee will be making announcements throughout the year before each meeting and will ask members of the congregation to speak to them of any praises or concerns they would like to be made known to the vicar.

The members of this year's internship committee are: Harold Adams, Charmaine Dales, Ted Horne, Carol Salber, Michael Edwards, Annette Sample, Pat Sykes, Bill Warner, and Marta Zehner.

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CATECHETICS CLASSES TO BEGIN…

     Reformation’s Catechetics program is an intense 2-year activity which culminates in the Rite of Confirmation.  The classes, usually led by the pastor, meet following the 11:00 service on Sundays.  This year the classes will begin on October 30.

    Students may begin Catechetics instruction in 7^th grade.  Many students attend in 7^th and 8^th grade and are then confirmed in November of their 9^th grade year.  There are also many others, however, who begin later, and attend in high school.  Enrollment for this year will occur following the 11:00 service on October 30.

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STEWARDSHIP REPORT

• First fruits Sunday on October 2 netted an offering of over $9,500!
• Regular giving for 2005 is up over 12%!
• Enclosed in this newsletter you will find your 2006 Pledge Card.  Please give it prayerful consideration and return in on October 23.

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DATES TO SET ASIDE:

October 19  10:30 AM First regular fall meeting of Generation on a Mission. Mayor’s Office of Community Services

October 27  7:00 PM PIA (Philadelphia Interfaith Action) meeting at First Presbyterian Church of Germantown (35 W. Chelten Ave.)  Issues:  crime, urban blight, neighborhood revitalization, children’s health concerns.  Contact Gail Hicks (See Church Directory for Phone Number).

October 31   6:00 PM Children’s Halloween Party sponsored by Youth Group

October 30   3:00 PM Men’s Day Concert of Sacred and Gospel Music

November 6  7:00 PM Stand with Africa Rally at Liacorus Center

November 17  Life Line Screening, the nation’s leading provider of health screenings, will be performing ultrasound screenings for stroke, abdominal aneurysms, & peripheral arterial disease, as well as osteoporosis screening. Individual tests for $35-45.  Package screening available.  You must pre-register:  800-324-1841.

December 3  Church Bazaar sponsored by Esther Circle  (NOTE CHANGE OF DATE THIS YEAR)

December 4    4:00 PM Service of Jazz Vespers, featuring Barry Sames, and Service of Healing for World AIDS Day

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40 Days of Purpose

            Participation in the 40 Days of Purpose Small Groups has so far been a great success.  In the first week, over one hundred people participated in one of the sixteen small groups and attendance numbers were up in the second week for most groups.  The response has been so strong that two groups had to be added to the original fourteen in order to accommodate everyone.  There have even been several people attending that are not members of Reformation, but heard about the program by print or word of mouth.

There have been many positive reports from participants on the quality of their experiences.  Some have enjoyed meeting new people through the small groups, while others have noted a new awareness of God in their daily lives.  Members of Reformation's Shepherds' program, who are leading the small groups, have reported on many good conversations that have happened in small groups.

It is the hope of church leadership that some of these small groups may continue to meet beyond the 40 Days of Purpose, and that this event might mark a renewed interest in adult education at Reformation.  If you have any suggestions for future adult education opportunities, please speak with Pastor Simmons or Vicar Ari.

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