The Messiah Messenger
Newsletter of
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH
915 Oneida Street, Lewiston, New York 14092-1420
Phone: (716) 754-4944 • FAX (716) 754-0903
Pastor Thomas Mason E-Mail masontr@verizon.net
Web site: www.messiahlutheranlewistonny.org
Sunday Worship Service: 9:15 a.m. • Sunday School: 10:30 a.m. • Adult Bible Study: 10:45 a.m.
Church Office Hours: Mon & Wed 9:00AM – 4:00 PM, Fri 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Messiah Pre-K School: Ms. Sue Ann Ross, Director Phone (716) 754-7755 or 754-8570
Carla’s Latchkey Learning Center – 807-7711, Carla Fasso
Sunday School Superintendent – Terry Walck • Kindermusik – Amy Teal 628-3454

December 2009

download a PDF, printable version of this newsletter

---

FROM YOUR PASTOR

This is the time of the year we especially give thanks for all of God’s Blessings and look to the excitement of the birth of Jesus among us.
So we can give thanks that the Father has sent his son to us to give us hope for our lives.

Getting It Right
There is a movie called “Groundhog Day” in which the actor Bill Murray portrays a weatherman who is sent on assignment to cover the annual appearance of Punxatawny Phil, the groundhog, on February 2. He winds up being snowed in by a blizzard and wakes up day after day and discovers that he is reliving Groundhog Day all over again. At first, he takes advantage of the situation as much as possible for his own advantage. However, as the movie progresses, he learns to care about others and changes from a self-centered person to a loving and caring one. Only then does time resume its normal course in his life.
We are not constantly reliving Groundhog Day, but we are constantly living because God has continued to bless us with this gift of life. And yet how often do we get up and go about our daily business without giving God the slightest thought? How often do we just take God’s gift for granted, like the nine lepers did. Do we ever wake up and thank God for the gift of life that he has given us, the gift of another new day to learn to “get it right”, as Bill Murray found out in the movie?
Let us get “it right” every day, as we realize the great gift that has been given to us, the Christ Child.

I would like to thank Bill Bennion for putting a new deck on our ramp, and the Lewiston Kiwanis for paying for it.

Also thanks to our President for making another repair to our heating system, so we are not “in the cold”.

Bishop Marie Jerge will be visiting with us on Sunday January 3 to participate in our service as well as discuss issues with regards to the recent ELCA Convention after the service during the coffee hour.

Shut In Organization, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Concordia Lutheran Church. Channels 12, 16, 26 depending on your TV reception. 11:30 am – 12:00 every Sunday.

In Peace
Pastor Mason

MARK YOUR CALENDARS
December 6 9:15 Chrismon Program
Light breakfast after service
December 6 11:00 Stewardship Meeting
December 13 Children’s Christmas Pageant
Full Breakfast after service
December 13 Lewiston Choraleers 2:00 pm
Refreshments to follow
December 19 11:00 am Filling Christmas
Baskets
December 20 First vote to change Messiah’s
Constitution after the Worship
Service
January 27 We Give Thee Thanks Dinner

CHRISTMAS BASKETS
Please bring in non-perishable food items and place them in the box in the Narthex. Please bring in your donation by Sunday, December 13th. We will be filling baskets for Christmas on Saturday, December 19th at 11:00 AM. If you or anyone you know can use a food basket for Christmas please contact Pastor Mason or Judy at the Church office.

Niagara Lutheran Home & Rehabilitation Center
We are looking for volunteers to assist our residents and the Activity Department with programs. This could include visiting residents, transporting to and from programs, or assisting during various activities.
If anyone is interested please call Helen Culverhouse at 716-886-4377 for more information.
Once again we are asking for help to defray the cost of helping us provide a little holiday happiness for our residents. Checks should be made out to the Niagara Lutheran Health System Guild and mailed by Friday, Dec. 11 to Niagara Lutheran Health System Guild, c/o Niagara Lutheran Home & Rehabilitation Center, 64 Hagar St., Buffalo, N.Y. 14208.
In addition to monetary donations our Activities Departments are looking for toiletry items to be used as stocking stuffers. PLEASE DO NOT WRAP THESE GIFTS and please DO NOT send shampoo, bars of soap (liquid soap is OK), or sample size sizes (they are too hard for the residents to handle). These items can be dropped off at any facility.

Special Interest Stories
Bob Brady received the Pep DiRamio Service Award at the 42nd Annual Induction Dinner for the Niagara Falls Old Timers Sports Hall of Fame on October 24.
Bob played for LaSalle High School. He was a junior basketball all-star and also participated in intramural basketball and baseball. He was a player and manager for the Bennett Home City Fast Pitch Champions in 1957. He was a catcher for DuPont Industrial Team. Managed the Marlboro Inn team and they were the 1958 State finalist. Bob was also manager of the Simon Pure State champions in 1960, 1963 and 1964.
Bob was the President of the Independent Softball Association. This group built the city’s first lighted field in 1961 at Swiezy’s Grove. He was District ASA Commissioner for 6 years from 1960 – 1965. Bob served as Governor of the Lower Niagara Moose Lodge #584 in Lewiston, NY and holds the highest degree, “A Pilgrim of Merit”. He was also President of DeFazio’s Stadium Grill Athletic Association. He was active with area charity functions. Bob served in the Air Force from 1951 to 1953. Bob was voted Board Member, Niagara Falls Old Timers Hall of Fame in February 2003. He was appointed Secretary in 2004 to present time. One of his goals as secretary was to computerize all documents for the Association and he has successfully accomplished this goal.

***

About four years ago we requested prayer for our grandson Kyle Peterson who had suffered a terrible skiing accident. He was in a coma for two days with brain injuries. The doctors advised that he should not go back to college because they felt that he would not be able to keep up with his studies and probably would not walk again. They were wrong.
Kyle finished Cornell University with a 4 point average. A week ago, Kyle, who is now working as an investment counselor in New York City, was given the unofficial title of Wall Street’s best athlete. He was the winner of the decathlon, a 20 event athletic competition which benefits the Lance Armstrong cancer research program. His achievement was noted when he was interviewed on the TV Morning Show.
It is good to remember that our prayers can be part of God’s miracles. Kyle is the son of Craig Peterson, who is battling prostrate cancer. Craig is on our prayer list.

Wallace and Barbara Moll

top of page

Social Concerns Committee
We raised $80 selling the raffle tickets for the German Theme Basket, which was donated by the Harold family. This basket was a fundraiser sponsored by the Social Concerns Committee. Congratulations to Gretchen Morgan who has won this basket. Please continue to support us by purchasing tickets for our Christmas Theme basket. Tickets are available in the Parish Hall after the worship service.

CONGREGATIONAL CONCERNS
Linda Adamson is recovering from Gall Bladder Surgery.

Frank Fulson is now residing at Our Lady of Peace Nursing Home.

STEWARDSHIP
Our members have all received their 2010 Stewardship package with a pledge card and a Time and Talent Sheet.
Please take the time and fill out your pledge for 2010. We need your support to continue our mission as a Christ Centered Church preaching the Gospel to all.
God bless you and thank you for considering Messiah in your budget.
If you have any questions please call Pastor Mason or George Spira at 745-9924.

Messiah’s Church Council
If anyone has an interest in serving as a Council member for 2010 please see George Spira.
Thank you.

LCW MEETING
The LCW met on Nov. 19 and had a wonderful potluck dinner. At the meeting plans were made to hold “We Give Thee Thanks Dinner” on January 27. George and Joan Spira will be preparing the meal for us. It was also decided to have a fashion show and luncheon in the spring. There will be more details to follow as they become available. The Fruits of our Labors Bazaar has been scheduled for October 1, 2010. The next LCW meeting will be on Jan. 27 following the We Give Thee Thanks Dinner. The Angel and Mitten tree is up in the Narthex. Your donations are greatly appreciated. We are having the Christmas Boutique in the Parish Hall every Sunday before Christmas.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Happy Anniversary to those celebrating the date of their marriage in December.

12-11-04 Jim & Brandie Bane
12-11-82 Doug & Cheryle Henderson
12-13-02 Brian & Sherry Sandstrom
12-27-88 Jake & Jen Adams
12-29-90 Ronald & Patricia Purdy
12-31-97 Christopher & Melissa Whitney

Lewiston Choraleers
Sunday, December 13, 2:00 pm at Messiah

Please keep us in mind when doing your Christmas baking. We would greatly appreciate donations of cookies. Any questions please see Terry Walck

IN THE NEWS
Alice Attardo, past president of the Niagara-Wheatfield Kiwanis Club is the newly installed lieutenant governor of the Niagara Frontier North Division of Kiwanis for 2009-10.

Dennis & Cathy Brochey were flown to Baltimore by the 914th AW of the Niagara Air Base on Oct. 10 in appreciation of their work in helping raise more than $37,000 for the Military Family Support Group.

Messiah’s Pre-K Children received a visit from Officer Scott Stafford and Radar. Radar is Lewiston’s Police K-9. Officer Stafford demonstrated Radar’s capabilities to the children.
Terry Walck along with other members of the Lewiston Choraleers were featured in the Buffalo News practicing “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause” at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Lewiston.

Please Stay in Touch
We would like to keep in touch with our members, family and friends who are serving our country in the military. We would also like to contact our college students who live away from home to let them know we are thinking of them. Please fill out the following and leave it in the church office.

Name ___________________________________

Address _________________________________

Birthdate_________________________________

PRE-K CORNER
Our first lessons were FUN and LEARNING! We began with the colors RED and ORANGE, and now we add yellow and brown. During ‘fire prevention’ lessons we learned the ‘hot colors’…red, orange, yellow. We also have begun several letters, some rhyming words, and words with similar beginning sound. Name recognition has been practiced in several ways as well as our pre-write skills. Each dot-to-dot pencil activity is a pre-k skill practice. We use glue and follow the directions of ‘dot, dot, dot; not a lot’ and do target practice which is for hand/eye coordination. We have even begun to use our scissors.
The “MAGIC PENNY” phonics cards have been added to our pre-reading program. This will give our students an advantage of being familiar with these particular picture/words.
Each child is feeling very special and important as well as feeling ‘warm fuzzies’ and enjoying his/her uniqueness, as well as learning to ‘make good choices’ and to ‘change our attitude’. We are talking about our imaginations, the ‘CHANGES’ all around us, and thinking about our WONDER-FULL universe.
November: ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE!!! We were counting our blessings’, being very thankful, and learning more about sharing. We brought non-perishable FOOD for our Thanksgiving baskets. This food was used by the Kiwanis and MESSIAH who worked together to prepare baskets for the ‘needy’ in our community.
Ms. Sue Ann Ross & Mrs Lisa Landers

top of page

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Happy Birthday to those celebrating their birthday in December

12-01 Kimberly Alexander
12-01 George Spira
12-02 Bill Ingwersen
12-02 Lisa Landers
12-04 Nicole Krawczyk
12-05 Pam Keller
12-07 Thomas Lowe
12-08 Dawson Bailey
12-08 Kaylee Stachowski
12-09 Vincent Simone
12-10 Carrie Carreno
12-10 Joseph Stevens
12-11 Gary Balcom, Sr
12-11 Kim Maglio
12-12 Kyle Scalzo
12-15 Amanda Buerger
12-15 Irene Grandin
12-16 Joyce Krajcirik
12-16 Carole Schroeder
12-17 Ed Brown
12-17 Jaclyn Davidson
12-17 Susan Mann
12-17 Nick Sliz
12-18 Norton Webb
12-20 Brandon Tamul
12-21 Sabrina Balcom
12-21 Jenn Payne
12-22 Laura Amantia
12-22 Lois Gleason
12-24 Bill Bennion
12-24 Christopher Salada
12-28 Melissa Hendershot
12-28 Richard Schimschack
12-30 Robert Harold

OUR SYMPATHY
Our sincere sympathy to those who lost loved ones recently.

Ann Gibson, mother of Sandra Stevens, passed away recently.

Constitutional Amendment Vote
According to the Constitution of the Lutheran Church of the Messiah our first vote of the amendments to the Constitution, which was approved to start at the Special Meeting of the Congregation on Sunday, October 18, 2009, will be held on Sunday, December 20, 2009 after the worship service. The second vote will be at the Annual Congregational Meeting to be held on Sunday, January 24, 2010.
The proposed Constitutional Amendments to vote on are:

• Constitutional Amendment #1 to prevent clergy of the Lutheran Church of the Messiah from being in a practicing same sex relationship.
• Constitutional Amendment #2 to prevent the clergy of the Lutheran Church of the Messiah from blessing the union of practicing same sex couples.

Voting will be by secret written ballot. All members of the congregation are encouraged to attend these meetings.

WE ARE PRAYING FOR
Those who are ill or shut in:
Vivian Austin, Sandy Person Butte, Marge Casper, Martin Darmstedter, Olaf Erickson, Mark Gibson, Gordon C. Gladden, Jane Gurr, Kathleen Harris, Thomas Hill, Butch Hilllman, Kate Jensen, Lynne Jensen, Mary & Clifford Joell, Bob & Shirley Knowles, Bob Lowe, Josh Maddox, George Mason, Wallace & Barbara Moll, Mary Lou Moore, Jerry Nashwinter, Mimi Pyne, Craig Peterson, Michelle Reeler, Cheryl Sadler, Betty Sandler, Donald David Shulenburg, Ethel Thomas, Doris Volk, Winifred Walton,

Those who are caregivers

Those who serve our country:
Airman Jim Bane, Sgt. Tanya Bills, Joshua Casper, Carol & Rene Cevaer, Lt. Cdr. James Condino, Lt. Joseph Condino, CWO Randy Evans, Lt. Daniel Gusich, S. Sgt. Joseph Jones, Michael Lammerts, Sgt. Ben Lord, MM3 Jeremy Lymburner, Pvt. Jonathon Serianni, S. Sgt. Ty Sutherland, Sr. Airman Mark R.Tupper, Pam Waller, T. Sgt. Melody Yates

Chaplains from Upstate New York Synod:
Greg Hager, Curt Heydt, Dan Nagle, Jean Vargo

top of page