PILGRIM LUTHERAN CHURCH

44 CHAPEL ROAD – KENMORE, NY 14217

(716) 875-5485

A Congregation in Mission, Community and Service

PILGRIM’S PROGRESS JANUARY 2016

PASTOR: Rev. Ben Eder SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:00 AM

EDITOR: Mary Werth TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY: 9:30 AM

ASSOC. EDITOR: WORSHIP: 10:00 AM

Sharing Jesus

The true story is told of two men sitting together on a train. When one shared with the other, a committed

Christian, that he was heading home to donate a kidney to his father, the Christian listened intently. Sensing his

seatmate’s genuine interest, the speaker confided that he didn’t know his life’s purpose.

Sensing an openness in his new friend, the Christian told him about Jesus and the purpose Jesus had given to

his life. The Christian man said later that he’d never met someone so appreciative of hearing the Good News.

A key Epiphany theme is sharing the news of Jesus. “Ordinary” Christians can do that best by listening for

an opening when visiting with someone and sharing part of their faith story in relation to something the other

has said. There’s no need to accost strangers on street corners. Just be yourself, let the Holy Spirit guide you

and invite your listener to follow Jesus, too.

The story behind Epiphany

Epiphany is the Christian festival celebrated each year on January 6. Along with Christmas, Easter and

Pentecost, it is one of the oldest Christian holy days.

The festival was first celebrated in the Eastern Church (Orthodox) and was adopted in the Western church by

the fourth century. Epiphany commemorates the first “showing forth” or manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles,

particularly the Magi or Wise Men. The Epiphany story is meant to explain that Christ was not just for the Jews,

but for non-Jews (Gentiles) as well, anywhere in the world.

The eve of Epiphany is called Twelfth Night and relates to the arrival of the Wise Men from the East at the

birthplace of the Lord in Bethlehem.

“The Name Above Every Name”

O what is Jehovah El Shaddai to me?

My Lord, God and Savior, Immanuel, He;

My Prophet, Priest, Sacrifice, Altar and Lamb:

Judge, Advocate, Surety and Witness, I AM;

My Peace and my Life, my Truth and my Way;

My Leader, my Teacher, my Hope and my Stay;

Redeemer and Ransom, Atonement and Friend;

He’s Alpha, Omega, Beginning and End.

—Rev. John H. Sammis

SUNDAY SERVER SCHEDULE

JANUARY 2016

DATE Jan. 3 Jan. 10 Jan. 17 Jan. 24 Jan. 31

READER Wes Wiers Mary Werth

Gary Smith Tyrone Bryant

Karen Smith

USHERS Jim O’Brien *

Tyrone Bryant

Peggy Clark

* George Alessi

Naomi George

* Harvey Caldow

Eric Fellner

* Gary Smith

Jim O’Brien *

Tyrone Bryant

COMMUNION ASSISTANT

Eric Fellner Jim O’Brien

Jack Hambridge

George Alessi

Frank Alessi

Resolve to revitalize

Church revitalization is a hot topic, and ideas for congregations can bring fresh energy and meaning to

personal and family life, too. Consider the following tips:

• Have a clear vision. It’s easy to go along day to day without considering what you’re moving toward. Beyond

the everyday routine, what bigger vision does God have for you? This year, take specific steps toward living

that out.

• Ask questions. What gets you excited — even passionate? What issues or situations break your heart? What

are you good at? Resolve to use a talent or something you enjoy to help heal hurts.

• Balance history with innovation. Honor your past as God’s gift that makes you who you are, but be open to

change. Dare to step out in faith for the sake of your life’s mission. Try something new in the spirit of the God

who’s always doing a new thing (Isaiah 43:19; Revelation 21:5).

The best way to revitalize a church might be to revitalize the lives of its individual members!

Rev. Ben Eder Jan. 5

Amber Trimmer Jan. 9

Michael Donnelly Jan. 25

Bryan Hinterberger Jan. 25

Traci LaFalce Jan. 28

Patricia Watkins Jan. 31

Always doing a new thing

In 2015, scientists discovered more than 18,000 new species — some ancient and extinct,

others contemporary. They include a cartwheeling spider; fossils of a “feathered dinosaur”; a

beautiful sea slug that photographs in brilliant blues, reds and golds; a Christmas-colored plant

that grows in near isolation in Mexico; and a pufferfish whose males make intricate seafloor

“crop circles” as spawning nests.

Such discoveries — regardless of how old or new the species are — demonstrate the

ongoing creativity of God, who both does new things and gives people new abilities to discover

them.

Recently, we began a new church year with Advent. At Christmas, God did a new thing

by becoming human. Now we launch into a new calendar year, in which scientists will surely

discover more new creatures. The newness all around us reminds us that God is always doing a

new thing in our lives, too!

COMMUNITY DINNER

Our next Community Dinner will be held on Friday, January 8th, from 5-7 pm. The menu will be spaghetti and meatballs with desserts and beverages. Come and join us – and bring a friend! (The dinner is sponsored in part by the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.)

TIME TO UN-DECORATE

We are asking for volunteers to help take down the Christmas decorations on

Saturday, January 9th, at 9:30 am. If you have any questions, please call Gary Smith at 874-

8757 or 348-4096. Thank you.

ESTHER CIRCLE

Welcome to a brand new year of service and fellowship! Our next meeting will be on

Monday, January 11th at 6:30 pm (weather permitting). All ladies are invited to attend and

bring ideas as to what the Esther Circle will do in 2016.

Our Fellowship Hour charity this year is “Journey’s End”. This is an organization that

assists refugees in our area. Servers for the January hour are Pat Watkins and Carol Obot.

REMINDER: We still collect:

Dash’s Market tapes – Give to Sue Holway

Used inkjet print cartridges, used cell phones (also chargers if the phones have them), cancelled postage stamps (cut around stamp leaving at least ¼ inch edge of envelope paper on each side) – Give to Pat Watkins

Pennies (mites) for LWML missions – Give to Karen Smith

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Ode to Sunday

Of all the days that’s in the week

I dearly love but one day,

And that’s the day that comes betwixt

A Saturday and Monday.

—Henry Carey

VOTERS’ MEETING

The last Voters’ Meeting of 2015 was held on December 13th after the service. The new

Church Council members are:

Carolyn Alessi – President

George Alessi – Vice President

Peg Clark – Secretary

Ann Seyboldt O’Rourke – Treasurer

Carol Obot – Financial Secretary

Elders are: Jim O’Brien, Rodney Moore and Mike Wuerch

The 2016 budget was discussed and approved.

Our monthly Community Dinners are going well. Other types of outreach were

discussed. Can Pilgrim “adopt” a family or two who are in need? How can we help refugees

in the area?

Our Sunday School attendance is very low. How can we encourage our own children

and others to come?

We now have a new stainless steel table in the kitchen, replacing the folding table. It

has a bottom shelf which comes in handy. The shelf for the new microwave is now in place,

freeing up counter space.

The next meeting is set for Sunday, March 13th, 2016.

We adjourned and closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

(P.S. We had no Christmas Program this year due to the low Sunday School attendance.)

More than reading, ’riting and ’rithmetic

You may recall that many followers of Jesus called him “Rabbi.” In essence, the word means teacher.

Clearly the word describes the brilliant Nazarene who was constantly teaching his listeners about God and

God’s expectations of humans.

In a secular society, it is of paramount importance that the teachings of Christ be proclaimed and affirmed

wherever possible. In the early days of our country, it was customary for public schools to teach reading,

writing and arithmetic as well as Christian principles. Subjects being taught were presented in a setting of

morality, religion and character development.

The reading book compiled by William H. McGuffey in 1836 focused on such themes as self-denial,

temperance, obedience, and warned against laziness, profanity, stealing and vanity.

In our time, however, when it is difficult to focus on God and spiritual matters in public schools, our

churches and families have a great responsibility. Sunday school attendance, not only for children but for adults

as well, must be of primary importance. Prayer, as well as discussion of social issues from a Christian point of

view, must be practiced in the home and church. We must learn and teach about Christ.

“Learn from me,” Jesus said. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in

heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29 NRSV). Where shall we learn of him or from him

if not in our churches and homes?

Who is that knocking at the door?

A nurse on the pediatric ward was checking out 4-year-old David with a stethoscope. To put him at ease,

after listening to his heart, she put the disk on his chest and the earpieces in his ears, “Listen,” she said, “What

do you suppose that is?” David wrinkled his eyebrows, and apparently recalling a verse learned at Sunday

school, answered, “Is that Jesus knocking?”

Remember this? “Here I am, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I

will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

A safe haven

Don’t ride in automobiles; they cause 20 percent of all fatal accidents. Don’t stay at home; 17 percent of all

accidents occur in the home. Don’t walk on the street or the sidewalk; 14 percent of all accidents happen to

pedestrians. Don’t travel by air, rail or water; 16 percent of all accidents happen on these.

However, only 0.001 percent of all deaths reported occur in worship services. Therefore, the safest place for

you to be is in church. Sunday school is also relatively safe.

India Ministry Center Responds to Struggling Families after Chennai Floods

Dec. 22, 2015

Between November 9 and December 6, southern India—in particular, the states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh—experienced the region's heaviest rains in a century. One of the hardest-hit areas was Tamil Nadu's capital, Chennai, a city of 6.7 million people, which suffered severe flooding. An estimated 500 deaths have been attributed to the floods; approximately 1.7 million people were displaced in Chennai and Tamil Nadu; damage estimates range from 3 billion to 15 billion U.S. dollars.

According to LHM—India Director Rev. C. David, the LHM ministry center building in Chennai was not flooded, although flood waters reached up to the center's property, and the loss of electricity and telephone service to the building hampered ministry activities. Four of the center's staff members live in an area where the water level reached 6 to 7 feet and were forced to leave their homes.

With support from LHM's St. Louis headquarters, Lutheran Hour Ministries—India mounted an effort to reach out to affected families with emergency food, clothing and shelter materials. On December 8, LHM—India kicked off its holistic outreach by providing relief packages to 450 families. Rev. David says the center is equipped to help up to 1,000. In addition, LHM—India has begun a series of three medical camp events to assist flood survivors with their health needs.

"We gratefully acknowledge and convey our thanks to our leaders at LHM for their generosity, which enabled us to show the love of Christ to many thousands in their distress," says Rev. David. "In the month of December we hope to complete the distribution work of flood relief materials."

Rev. David urges LHM supporters, "Please pray for the suffering people."

You can learn more about the work of Lutheran Hour Ministries—India at lhmindia.wordpress.com.

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