Grace Ministries – September 2021

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- Yoked Communities of Faith and Service NON-PROFIT ORG.

c/o Zion Lutheran Church U.S. POSTAGE PAID

41 Whitmarsh Avenue PERMIT #205

Worcester, MA 01606-3296 WORCESTER, MA

NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2021 TIME SENSITIVE

PLEASE DO NOT DELAY

Our lives are formed by Word and

Sacrament, and we gather as the beloved

children of God around the means of grace

where our lives are in Christ.

Grace Ministries – September 2021

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PASTOR’S MESSAGE

Things have eased up…or, have they? We are

back to “normal”…or are we?

What is “normal”, where is center?

Jesus’ presence with us, the Incarnate on earth

to meet humanity, to meet us, isn’t a random

occurrence, but a planned arrival simply

because our race is so subject to the “rocking” of

our nature by the forces of this world that we

suffer from emotional/spiritual motion-sickness;

unable to stand-upright, breathe deeply and

allow ourselves to center within the embrace of

the Almighty!

In every generation, challenges meet us. And

the ability to thrive in the milieu of societal,

familial and personal pressures requires faith

that is rooted in the immovable, eternal, omni-

present, omniscient Essence that is God who

gives life!

“Normal” would be faith-centered living, and

abnormal the absence of relationship. Coming

together in-person for worship is what helps

normalize the human family in-community with

each other; us lifted up by the Divine and

resonating in-proximity to other spiritual beings,

our sisters and brothers of faith.

We do mask-up in worship to allow community.

We follow safety guidelines because we are

called by Christ in service with and for the sake

of each other. We meet the world in faith so that

authentic witness by Grace and Mercy working

in and through us mute what is abnormal in

order to provide space for change and the

ongoing redemption of the kingdom in this place.

We celebrate the return of our ministries’ regular

programs this month as together, in-faith, we

move forward in this blessing called life! We

humbly pray for continued revelation of the

Spirit’s intent for life together as dual-campuses

of Grace in witness to Central MA.

As more people return to in-house connections

with us, let us heartily lean-into the work our

Lord has for us to be about; proclaiming,

serving, sharing, BECOMING/growing in the

light of the Love that is God, revealing truth and

providing warning, sharing comfort and lifting up

correction and hope.

We revel in persistent Mercy, we are thankful for

unearned Grace, and we look towards the

continued revealing of the will of God for our

lives!

In Jesus’ name,

Pastor Andrew

Each Wednesday noon we serve a meal through Elder Services of Worcester at Zion!

Call the main office each week by 11 AM Mondays to register for a tasty/nutritious

meal and some great social time!

Meals are FREE to anyone 50+, with a suggested donation of $2.50/person.

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RALLY DAY

In-person Sunday School returns on

September 12th for 9 AM in Voosen Hall @

Bethel; we have moved from the lower level

to the sunlit environs above!

Sessions begin with Miss Brenda and music,

then continue with Miss Kate and our

lectionary-based curriculum of stories and

crafts!

Come, join the group already signed-up and

READY to GROW 😊

CONFIRMATION

We return to in-person gatherings @ 7PM;

2nd Thursdays @ Emanuel-Worcester, 4th

Thursdays @ Bethel.

We share our sessions with Minister Tom

and the youth of Emanuel.

The work we engage in is focused upon

helping our young people better realize who

they are in relationship with God, and the

hopes God has for us in this life that is

indeed a blessing.

This process, Affirmation of Faith

development, can provide for our youth the

means to center oneself amidst the ebb and

flow of life in order to thrive!

Confirmation, in part, fulfils the promise of

parents made at a child’s baptism:

Pastor: As you present xxx for baptism, you are

entrusted with gifts and responsibilities: to live

with them among God’s faithful people, to bring

them to the worship services of the Word of God

and the holy supper, and nurture them in faith

and prayer along with Christian Education, so

that they may learn to trust God, proclaim Christ

through word and deed, care for others and the

world God made, and work for justice and peace

among all people. Do you promise to help xxx

grow in the faith of Christ’s church as they lean

into life?

Parents: We do.

What is our Card Ministry?

Last March, Judy Sampson made an announcement

on behalf of the Social Ministry group asking if

anyone would be interested in participating in a ‘card

ministry.’ I love sending cards so, since I teach, I

volunteered for the summer months of July and

August. I have found this ministry so rewarding. It

has been a blessing and genuine pleasure getting to

know you on a more personal level by sharing in

your birthdays, anniversaries and other special

occasions.

Our Bethel card ministry is such a meaningful way to

support each other and maintain the connections of

our church family. It is easy too. Everything is

provided for you: cards for all occasions, church

directory, list of birthdays & anniversaries, and

stamps. Jackie Walsh (who has been sending cards

for years) and our church secretary, Ann, assist by

passing along information about who might need a

more specialized card.

However, only 2 of us volunteered last March, Bev

Sampson and myself. Please consider serving in this

very worthwhile ministry – we need your help. Let

Jackie, or anyone on the Social Ministry Team, know

that you are interested. You can seek me out at

church or by phone or e-mail and I’ll give you a more

detailed description of what this ministry entails.

~ Terry Hamilton

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LOOKING FOR A GROUP OF

LUTHERANS TO MEET WITH

AND SHARE SOME

EXPERIENCES AND HAVE FUN?

AS A SHARED MINISTRY WITH BETHEL/ZION, WHY NOT GIVE ONE OF THE

FOLLOWING A TRY?

MEN’S GROUP Men’s Club is back!!

Starting on Tuesday, September 14th, the monthly Men’s Club dinners will be returning. These dinners are open to anyone who would like to get together and socialize for an hour or 2. We have some excellent cooks amongst our members, and a tasty meal is always available. We meet on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6 pm in Voosen hall, but you can stop by anytime after 5:30. Dinners are $12.00, and all the profits go into the Calumet scholarship fund.

A sign-up sheet is in the Narthex so that a general head count can be obtained. If you have any questions, please contact Preston Sturdevant.

WOMEN’S: DOLs (Dine Out Ladies)

The Dine Out Ladies are going to lunch at 1:00

pm on Tuesday September 14, at Point Breeze,

Webster. Signup sheet in Bethel narthex or call

Leanne Carraher by September 12. Carpooling

from Bethel’s parking lot.

“BOOKIES” Book Club "Master Thieves" by Stephen Kurkjian. True Crime/biography. The definitive story of the greatest art theft in history: The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Thirty years later the case is still unsolved & the artwork still missing. Now a Netflix series "This Is A Robbery". The book is 280 pages

Meeting on Monday September 27th

SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

Bethel Dave & Kate Valleli - 09/02

Ken & Mary Johnson - 09/07 Arthur & Christine Belmonte - 09/14

William & Mimi Bylund - 09/18 Louise Klaven & David Naugle - 09/19

Kirsten & Steven DuHamel - 09/22 Doug & Kim Hanks - 09/24

Karen & James Baril - 09/26

Zion

Marlene & Bob Ekstrand – 09/30

TUESDAY ADULT FORUM

RETURNS – September 14th

@ 7 PM

Join us via Zoom for study & discussion!

God, humanity and the heavens!

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86831177373?p

wd=YUZKT0hIbWJweGpISmg1MFhTd3M

1dz09

Meeting ID: 868 3117 7373

Passcode: 122058

Grace Ministries – September 2021

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Doris Brick c/o Oakdale Nursing & Rehab. 76 No. Main St., W. Boylston, MA 01583

Ingrid Lawrence c/o Evergreen at Briarwood 67R Briarwood Circle, Worcester, MA 01606

PRAYER LIST John Berube – Karen Carlson - Liesl Voosen Fields – Paul Josephson - Bill Lewis - Eric Lewis –Jim Mooney – David Naugle - Bob Venning - Bob Ekstrand – Karleen Habin –Marilyn Caramielo - Tim Munyon - Greg & Sandy Linberg - the elder Vallelis – David Toombs – Jane Johnston - Gary & Kay Lemerise - Arnold Ariansen – Elise Borden – Helen & Steve Trilligan – Howie Evers – Bob MacMillion

BIBLE LINKS

1) In planning for worship services, I find

the following link helpful in looking up

bible texts in various translations:

https://www.biblegateway.com/

You can cut and paste into blogs or

papers you are creating and save

time from hand-copying out of your

hard-copy bible.

2) If you would like a copy of free-ware

for your computer, or other digital

device, on which to search the bible

away from an internet connection,

check out: https://www.e-sword.net/

3) Perhaps you are looking for a spoken

daily mediation accompanied by

spiritual music? This site may be

helpful: https://pray-as-you-go.org/

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS 2021

Zion Jaime Kach – 09/06

Philip Buckley – 09/09 Joshua Sundquist – 09/09

Julie Sundquist – 09/09 Tina Henry – 09/10

David Berglund – 09/17 Lynne Farsi – 09/17

Christopher Bowen – 09/18 Richard Harms – 09/17

Derek Fountaine – 09/24 Lisa Gagne – 09/24

Jerrilyn Mitchner – 09/26 Cynthia Safstrom – 09/26 Linda Bergman – 09/27 Birgit Koppetsch – 09/27 Stephanie Harms – 09/28 Jenna Mangsen – 09/30

Bethel

Dave Valleli - 09/02 Anderson Zifcak - 09/06 Arthur Belmonte - 09/08

Timothy Baril - 09/12 Christine Gagnon - 09/13

Nancy Berube - 09/17 Cheryl Cronin - 09/20 Ken Gaumond - 09/20

Ruth Thompson - 09/22 Doug Ducat - 09/23

Hazel Townsend - 09/23 Stephen Van Dyke - 09/25

Henry Lewis - 09/26 John Leslie - 09/27

Preston Sturdevant - 09/27

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When we till the soil, plant the seeds, water, and weed, and share the harvest with each other and with our local community, we are doing God’s work with our hands. When we gather together to assemble sandwiches and package lunches to deliver to the homeless, we are doing God’s work with our hands. When we gather as a community of faith to package nutritionally balanced meals for distribution to food banks and shelters, we are doing God’s work with our hands. There are a number of different activities our Grace congregations have engaged in that can be summed up in these simple words, “God’s Work, Our Hands.” This is at the heart of the mission of our Social Ministry outreach and where we are called to be; we were created by God, for God and for each other. The work we do together is done in a spirit of worship and community, while reaching out to a world in need. We wish to thank our Grace family for sharing and caring as we continue to follow where God is leading us. Thank you to all who donated school supplies for the children returning to school this fall. These gifts were delivered to Auburn Youth and Family Services. Our Grace Community Garden is looking great, thanks to the many hands that have been tending to its care, watering, and harvesting. Each week there are tomatoes and red cherry bomb peppers available in the Narthex. What ever is left from the weekly harvest has been delivered to either Veterans Inc. in Worcester or Auburn Youth and Family Services. We welcome your donations of home-grown vegetables from your own gardens which will be added to the harvest from the Community Garden. Please note, we are planning a special Harvest Sunday on September 12th and would appreciate your donations of home-grown vegetables which we will distribute to the community. We are looking to

expand the garden next spring and will be adding a new rain barrel to collect rain water for the garden thus conserving our precious water resources. On Sunday August 29th, at 9:00 AM we will be gathering in Voosen Hall to prepare bagged lunches consisting of sandwiches, chips, snacks, and juice boxes which will be delivered to Worcester Fellowship at All Saints Church in Worcester to be distributed to the homeless. This project has been funded by Thrivent seed money. On Sunday October 24th, following worship, we will be running three meal lines in Voosen Hall at Bethel, creating nutritionally complete meals through EndHungerNE. We will be making enough meals to feed 12,000. There will be an offering plate each Sunday for your donations as we seek to raise $1,800 at each campus. Checks can be made out to EndHungerNE. As we get closer to the date there will be a sign-up sheet for those who wish to participate in the event. This hands-on event is a lot of fun and a great learning experience. All are welcome. This year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s is being planned as an in-person event on Sunday October 3rd with a ceremony and walk starting from Hanover Insurance Office Park, 100 North Parkway, Worcester. The walk is scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM. We will be forming a Grace Ministries team with more details to follow. The news has been filled with images of much human suffering throughout the world. Among those stories and images are the plight of the people in Haiti, where a devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck southwest Haiti on August 14th. Over 1,400 people were killed, and that number is expected to increase as search-and-rescue efforts continue. ELCA Disaster Relief is helping to meet

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relief needs, including food, water, medical supplies, and temporary shelter. Our Social Ministry Team voted to allocate $500 from our funds to help in this effort. May God continue to bless our Grace Ministries, that

the work of our hands may be a blessing to each other, and to a world in need. Amen.

Dismas: Next dinner: Friday September 24th. They are now welcoming folks back to dine-in with residents. Only asking for no more than 2 volunteers to eat in if they are comfortable in doing so, otherwise meals can still be dropped off. As of August 1st, all residents fully vaccinated. The usual donations always welcome: gift cards (Shaws, Walmart, Target), toiletries (shampoo, shaving cream), the usual paper products and cleaning supplies. For more info call Jackie Walsh 508-407-8876.

New Sign To provide better visibility for our

congregation, Council voted for the installation of a new marquee on Bryn Mawr

Avenue.

Bethel’s Council Connection Bethel did not hold an August meeting, but still

has several items worth mentioning.

We are expecting a budgetary report on the

installation of video cameras around the

outside of Bethel any time now, and hope to

move forward with that project before the

first snow flies

The new sign has been installed in the front

of the church, and it looks great. It is

oriented perpendicular to the building so

that can be more easily seen by passersby.

Please check it out the next time you are in

the area.

The purchase of the rain barrel from the

Town of Auburn will have happened by the

time this goes to press, thanks to Social

Ministry. Look for it to be connected in the

next few weeks and serve as a free source of

water for the community garden.

No Bethel pre-school for 2021-2022. A

search is still underway to find a director to

replace Bev Sampson.

Upcoming events include the following

o Worcester Outdoor Fellowship lunch

prep on 8/29

o Meal line at Bethel on 10/24

Several major expenses are facing our

congregation, including the bell tower

project, as well as replacing the toilets in

both downstairs rest rooms. Please consider

an extra donation to Bethel to help offset

these extra expenses

Our next meeting is Sunday September 12th

at 11:30 in Voosen Hall, following worship.

Please feel free to drop by if you have any

issues or questions that you would like to

bring before the council.

Preston Sturdevant

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Council President

I’m a Lutheran: Anne Burghardt By Erin Strybis – Living Lutheran Magazine July 29, 2021

Erik Peinar

The Lutheran World Federation Council has elected Estonian theologian Anne Burghardt as the next general secretary of the global communion of Lutheran churches.

Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church

Lutheran World Federation general secretary-elect, head of development for the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church’s (EELC) Institute of Theology and adviser to the EELC for international and ecumenical relations

I grew up in a secularized family and found my way to the church as a teenager. A friend of mine invited me to join a confirmation class in the local Lutheran parish. The fact that I came into closer contact with the church primarily through worship life, through discussions with friends and through reading the Bible and religious literature impacted my formation as a Christian.

When I started attending church, I did not necessarily sense a strong presence of God in my life. I had several questions but not necessarily answers. I prayed, wondering if God was listening. It has been a faith journey for me to realize that Jesus Christ is not somewhere far away, but right here with his grace.

I’ll become general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation in November 2021. Currently, I work at the head office of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church (EELC) and at the Institute of Theology of EELC. I also serve as a vicar pastor in a deanery in Northern Estonia, holding worship in

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different parishes, offering biblical reflections on the radio, contributing to the church newspaper and more.

My church body, the EELC, has supported me by entrusting me with various tasks, both in the field of higher theological education as well as in ecumenical and international relations. The advantage of a small church is that, as a theologian, one is often active in different fields and by this acquires various competencies. The congregations where my husband and I have served have offered support with voluntary work, prayer and friendship.

My husband Matthias has served as a parish pastor since we married, which means that his congregations have always played an essential part in our family life. Since 2018, Matthias has served the St. Michael’s parish in Keila, a small town in Northern Estonia. I am happy that I have been able to serve this congregation both through worship and pastoral care as well as through contributing to a greater visibility of the congregation in the local community.

Our kids, since their early childhood, experienced church as a friendly and secure space where they can always come with their joys and sorrows. I am happy that their image of God is one of a loving and caring God.

“I hope that through my work, I can bring Jesus Christ closer to people, and contribute to making God’s new creation a little bit more tangible in this world.”

I pray for God’s protection and guidance for different persons as they make their life journey, as well as for more mutual understanding and reconciliation among people. I also pray for an end of conflicts that harm human dignity and create pain in the world. At the same time, gratefulness plays an important role in my prayers; for me, giving thanks to God belongs essentially to Christian faith.

A favorite Bible verse that gives me hope is “Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). It is essential not to lose hope when things seem to go astray in the world around us, but also within the church. I also like these words ascribed to Martin Luther: “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” It encourages us not to remain passive during difficult times but to continue to foster life.

My faith is closely connected to my work, and I consider it to be a great blessing that I may serve God through serving in the church. I hope that through my work, I can bring Jesus Christ closer to people, and contribute to making God’s new creation a little bit more tangible in this world. This includes aiming at more dignified relations between human beings, more readiness to forgive, more reconciliation, but also more readiness to protect those who are marginalized or left behind. Creation is closely interconnected. Estonian composer Arvo Pärt put this beautifully: “This tiny coronavirus has showed us in a painful way that humanity is a single organism and that human existence is possible only in relation to other living beings. The notion of ‘relationship’ should be understood as a maxim, as the ability to love.”

I like to spend my free time with my family and friends, reading a good book or visiting a concert or play. Our family has a summer house on one of the Estonian islands, Saaremaa, close to the Baltic

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Sea coast. It is a small haven for our whole family. There we can gather new energy and be close to nature.

My hope is that the church will continue to translate the words and deeds of Jesus Christ into a holistic theology which is Christ-centered, liberates human beings from their brokenness and empowers them to serve the neighbor. Further, I hope that the church manages to be a reconciler, to bring different sides into conversation and dialogue, as we all, including the whole creation of God, are through invisible ties connected to each other.

Grace means forgiveness, reconciliation but also a “counter-program” to the pressure to be always successful and to achieve everything just on your own.

I’m a Lutheran because I like the way Lutheran theology puts Jesus Christ in the center of all theology, empowering the followers of Christ to serve their neighbor. It’s very liberating and inspiring.

ZION PRESERVATION

Incorporated in 1914, our Zion Lutheran campus is the oldest, continuous-in-operation Lutheran parish within its original site in the city of Worcester and surrounding region.

At its July meeting, Zion’s council discussed and is ready to pursue the possibility of the original building becoming listed on the National Historic Register. This would provide some protection status for the campus, and open up possibilities for external founding for renovation and upkeep from various sources, possibly through the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Anyone interested in joining a newly forming team (we have one volunteer to date) to explore this topic is asked to contact Zion’s president, Donna Hayes or call the church office.

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AUGUST COFFEE HOUR+

Coffee Hours are being held after the 10:15 service outside while the

weather is good. Come and join us for some coffee and goodies and

chat with your fellow members and visitors.

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MISSION STATEMENT

"To boldly share God's Love and Grace universally in and through our communities."

VISION STATEMENT

Modeling the welcoming nature of God, we are humbly called and driven by the Spirit to witness, engage and walk with each other authentically, as Jesus’ hands and feet, providing spiritual,

emotional and physical nourishment.

Through evolving partnerships with ecumenical and other social service organizations we affirm justice and wholeness under the “agency of Grace” that feed the needs and hope of all.

The Rev. Andrew H. Borden, Pastor pastor_andrew.b@verizon.net

Ann Spinner, Parish Administrator

bethelauburn@verizon.net Main Office: 508-832-3427

Kate Valleli – Christian Education Coordinator

Shannon Papandrea, Sexton Garret Peters - Treasurer

Tom Houston – Licensed Lay Minister Louisa Klaven, AIM – Licensed Lay Minister

Worcester Campus - Zion Lutheran Auburn Campus - Bethel Lutheran 41 Whitmarsh Avenue, 01606 90 Bryn Mawr Avenue, 01501

The-Community-of-Zion-Lutheran-Worcester.org BethelAuburnELCA.org

Organist – Karen Couturier Principal Organist/Choral Director – Brenda Salvi Choral/Bell Director – Sally Bond Associate Organist/Choral Director – Lois Toeppner, Deacon Bell Director – Adam Hanks

President – Donna Hayes President – Preston Sturdevant Vice-President – Jennifer Courtney Vice- President – Dave Valleli Financial Secretaries – Ann Spinner/Kate Valleli Financial Secretary – Russell Harris

Council – Cheyenne Courtney, Stephanie Harms, Council– Joan Parker, Ruth Thompson, Theresa Toombs, Juliano Ruffo, Bev Sampson, Roberta Briggs, Don Leombruno Leanne Carraher, Marie Sturdevant

RECONCILING IN CHRIST