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J U L Y / AUGUST 2 0 0 3 ======================================================================================= FROM THE PASTOR
- Summer
has come, at least I hope this is true when you read this.
As I write this there
are some lingering doubts about it.
I grew up in another time.
Summer was the time for
a change of pace.
School was out by Memorial Day and didn’t start
again until Labor
Day. Today
it seems that the rush of life can just go on straight
through the summer with
no change. Even
thinking about it seems tiring sometimes. Other signs of change in the times are in our shopping areas. In the old days we didn’t shop much on Sunday because stores were closed. There were laws about closing. They were called the old blue laws. We thought it was progress to get rid of those laws so stores would be open on Sunday. Now I wonder if it was really progress. So often we see an attitude that says getting rid of all laws and limits is progress. So we got rid of limits on marriage, financial liability to some extent and limits on free expression of everything. I’m
not sure life has become all that much better or more free.
As Christians we have forgotten the whole idea of
Sabbath. Sabbath
is more than a rule to set a day aside so we can’t keep
doing what we want to do anyway.
It is the Third Commandment and thus forms a bridge
between commandments about loving God and loving our
neighbor. This
bridge has a rhythm of life in it. It
has the Lord of the Dance right in the middle of it.
Sabbath is a time to do the life dance or to catch
our rhythm for the life dance anew.
Many people in the world can’t dance much anymore
nor do they catch the rhythm of God’s time. God’s time has a different pace and rhythm than our time.
We get a hint of this in the first chapter of the
Bible. We talk
about a day as beginning in the morning and going to the
evening. God doesn’t talk this way in Genesis. “And it was evening, and it was morning – the first
day.” The
words “it was
good” are
added as well. We
begin our time of dance in the morning when we wake up and
plan our day and what we will do by our strength.
God’s day begins at evening when we are tired and
weak and ready for sleep. God gives us rest in His grace and embrace.
The day begins in His powerful grace and our
helplessness in sleep which comes in faith.
Then He raises us up with the light and refreshed in
grace to do His will in our vocation or calling during the
day. All of these days of creation and the evening morning rhythm
comes to climax in the Sabbath day at the end of the first
creation story. The
rhythm of the Sabbath for Jewish people is as follows:
cease, rest, embrace, feast.
We cease productive labor and our need to achieve,
rest in God’s grace, embrace God’s love and others He
has given to us, and the feast on the wonders of all of life
with eyes, ears, smell, taste, touch and feel.
Think of a meal shared with others.
Celebrating Sabbath shifts our life and rhythm from a
“me” center
to a Christ center and changes us inside and with others.
(continued on
next page) =============================================================================== SALEM
LUTHERAN CHURCH
10
McClellan Circle - Buffalo, New
York 14220 Phone
- 824-2787
e
– mail: salemoncircle@yahoo.com website: www.salembuffalo.com Rev.
David F. C. Wurster, Ph. D.
- Pastor Rev.
Richard E. Blemaster, Pastor Emeritus (Pastor’s
Message continued) - Why does it surprise us that this same rhythm is in creation, too. All nature dances in the rhythm of dying, grieving, rising anew and rejoicing. And right in the middle of it is our Lord Jesus Christ, the one with nail prints from the cross who is reshaping us into the dance or rhythm of eternal life. The hymn – “Lord of the Dance” sums all of this up with an old Shaker tune. “I danced in the morning when the world was begun, I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun, I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth. At Bethlehem I had my birth; Dance then wherever you may be, I am the Lord of the dance said he, and I lead you all wherever you may be, I am the Lord of the dance said he.” Other verses tell the story of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and ascension. It is all full of grace and praise. Why should it surprise us that the Christian Sabbath
or Lord’s Day comes at the end of the Bible?
Revelation 22:20 says – “Amen, Come Lord
Jesus.” These
words were used at the feast of Holy Communion in the early
church. They
point us to the eternal rest in the Lord when all is finally
“in tune” with the Lord’s will and presence.
It’s called eternal life. So let’s go back to summer.
I hope you have a chance to celebrate some sabbath
this summer. Take
the time to cease, rest, embrace and feast in the wonder of
creation. Pray
that you can step into God’s rhythm of time where there is
a taste of eternity in our life. If you are interested in reading about it, go get or order
the book – Keeping
The Sabbath Wholly by Marva Dawn.
It’s ok if you learn some theology from a lady.
The cover picture on the book is of trees in summer. Remember God blessed the Sabbath.
May He also bless you this summer.
Pastor Wurster +
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+ + L U T H E R A N “3 0” Salem
is in the rotation for Lutheran
“30.” This
is a radio broadcast on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. on WXRL
at 1300 on the AM dial.
Salem’s first time on the air will be on August 17th.
As time goes on we can develop formats with different
parts from people at Salem.
We are in a rotation with St. Mark’s in North
Tonawanda; Immanuel in North Tonawanda; Calvary in
Eggertsville; St. John in North Tonawanda; Trinity in West
Seneca; Salem in Springville; and St. Luke in Cheektowaga.
We will be on the air every couple of months.
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O R S H I P S
E R V I C E S (Summer
Schedule) Our worship services will begin at 9:30 a..m.
starting Sunday, July 6, 2003 through Labor Day weekend.
We will have worship outdoors, weather permitting.
Please bring your own lawn chairs.
REMINDER: Ushers must be
here at 8:30 a.m. for set-up. Bible Classes and Sunday School will resume Sunday,
September 7, 2003. +
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+ OFFERING
UPDATE
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Weekly current collected for June 22, 2003 -
$2,843.75; Weekly
current needed - $2,958.83;
Weekly attendance – 201.
Financial Update:
“Current” is presently at: negative
$2,593.19 as of May 31, 2003. Our
society picnic/meeting will be held Thursday, July 24, 2003
at
4:00 p.m. at Claire Carlson’s house, 5282 Oakridge
Dr., Hamburg, N. Y. This
will
be
a potluck picnic.
Julie
Diehl
Secretary &
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GUILD Our Salad Bar
Luncheon on Wednesday, June 11, 2003, was enjoyed by all. The food was delicious.
Tickets sold: 106; profit: $598.14. Our picnic
will be on Tuesday, August 12, 2003.
Snacks at 4:00 p.m., and picnic supper at 5:00 p.m.
in the social room in the basement.
Check the bulletin and calendar in case of time
change. Our next
meeting will be on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. Have a
wonderful summer! May
the Good Lord watch over you and keep you safe until we meet
again. See you
in September.
Frances E. Wiedemann
Vice-President
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# # GOLDEN AGERS On Thursday, July 3, 2003 the Salem Golden Agers will hold their annual picnic at Camp Pioneer, Angola, N. Y. A
trip is being planned for August 14, 2003 to Artpark and
Niagara-on-the-Lake. For
more information, contact Dick or Pat Bundt at 876-7717.
Ann Nicosia
Secretary &
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McKINLEY PARADE of CIRCLES What a beautiful day! A very special “THANK YOU” to all participants in the Sunday, June 8, 2003 parade. Some of those who added their special “touch” - Warren Miller Jr. and Warren Miller Sr. for the use of the flat bed truck; Bob Getter for “Ichabod” – a very special horse for Pastor Wurster to ride; Craig Wetzel, from Jack Atkin’s Ford, for the use of their convertible; Maureen Wilke for the special signs made and unique V.B.S. cupcakes for our potluck; Lois Jones and some choir members; Bill Carr, for his great sounding trumpet; B. David Sylvia and Lois Doll and all Sunday School children and parents; those distributing V.B.S. flyers to those watching the parade; and let us not forget Chuck Harvey for his participation in the parade. Also,
many thanks to all who contributed to the potluck luncheon.
It was a great success; and to Steve Jarmusz, our
custodian, for all his help.
Maxine Ford & Joyce Vassallo, Parade Chairmen LANDSCAPING
R E P O R T The landscaping around the church grounds began on Saturday, May 31, 2003 and was completed Saturday, June 7, 2003. The project involved planting grass seed, flowers, shrubs and spreading mulch and topsoil. The total cost of the project was $418.04. Many
thanks go to the crew whose hard work helped make our
property more appealing:
Fred Bartz Jr., Melvin Beyers, Steve Jarmusz Sr., Dan
Krzywick, Buck Richards, Renee Richards, Paul Yox, Chuck
Yung, Paul Crowley and
“Y.E.S.” (a
youth group from the Southtowns).
A special thank you to Craig Miller who delivered the
mulch and donated 10 years of topsoil. *
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* * * CONGRATULATIONS
TO -
- - Katelyn Carr, who received a Bausch-Lomb Scholarship
and a Renassalaer Metal Scholarship to be used at a future
date. Katelyn
is a student at Cheektowaga Central High School and will be
a senior in September.
and Tracy Thomas - Daughter of Paul Jr. & Dawn Thomas, and a student of Holy Family School, has been announced as the third place winner in the Campbell’s Experience America Essay contest. The contest was open to students ages ten to fifteen across the United States. Tracy received the book – “Our Country’s Founders, Words of Wisdom,” and in addition, her school receives a certificate for one hundred Campbell’s bonus Labels for Education.
and Sara
Bartz - Daughter of Fred Jr. & Barbara Bartz, who graduated from
St. Ambrose School and will be attending Holy Angels Academy
this September. She
received an academic scholarship award. (If
any other young people have graduated/received any special
awards, please notify the church office.) + + +
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Sympathy to
- - Robert
and Carol Wolf, whose aunt – Evelyn Fromm, died March 18,
2003 in Montana at the age of 95 years.
She was the sister of the late Pearl Ahl.
A service took place June 12, 2003 with cremation and
burial at Mt. Hope Cemetery, West Seneca, N. Y. +
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+ Attention . . Pastors . . Evangelism Boards . . L.L.L. & L.W.M.L. Friends ----Erie Zone Lutheran Laymen’s League (L.L.L.) has rented a booth again this year at the Erie County Fair – under the grandstand. We distribute tracts, crosses, children’s materials, bags, pencils, etc. Needless to say, the booth cannot take care of itself. We need people and churches to keep the booth neat and to hand out materials. The booth will cost $750.00, and we will need to purchase materials costing over $1,200.00. 1. Could you or your church “man” the booth for all or part of a day? We like to have a church sign up for a day and then among themselves set up a schedule. You will receive passes to the fair for your help at the booth (part 1 of form) 2. Could you and your church send a contribution to help cover the expenses? A large share will be paid by the Lutheran Laymen’s League, but the rest must come from donations. (part II of form) FROM
W X R L -
1300 AM
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“THE LUTHERAN HOUR”
- Sundays
– 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., starting June 22, 2003
“WOMAN TO WOMAN”
- Saturdays
– 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., starting June 28, 2003 I am very pleased that both of these fine programs will be aired on WXRL. I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for your support in helping to make this possible. This will give Western New York and Southern Ontario, three (3) Lutheran programs on WXRL.
1.) LUTHERAN
3 – 0
9:00 – 9:30 a.m.
Sundays (Salem –
August 17)
2.) THE
LUTHERAN HOUR
9:30 – 10:00 a.m.
Sundays
3.) ST.
JOHN’S LUTHERAN
11:00 – 12 noon
Sundays
CHURCH with Pastor Blackwell Sincerely yours, Lou Schriver (Rambin’ Lou) – President & General Manager =
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= CHURCH
DIRECTORY CHANGE
-- Please
change Marjorie Nagel’s telephone number
to 655-9028. Change of address for – Mrs. Lana
Zielinski, 1262 Penora St., Depew, NY 14043; phone:
681-7004. (Please
call in to the church office any change of addresses,
telephone numbers, names, etc. – 824-2787.
Thank you.) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
LUTHERAN
NIGHT AND
THE BISONS Friday, August 1, 2003 - Family Fun Night - $8.75 Open tent party – 5:30 p.m.; First pitch at 7:05 p.m. with fireworks after the game Contact Salem’s church office – 824-2787 – by July 15, 2003 W O R S H I P The
Worship Committee has developed a page for the DOVE that
will communicate to the congregation the themes, liturgies,
sermon texts and titles and other points of worship
(LW = Lutheran Worship
TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal
WOV = With One Voice) Hymns
and liturgy are being chosen by Pastor, the Music Director,
and the Worship Committee.
Comments are invited for future growth. SUNDAY
LITURGY
1st HYMN
SERMON HYMN Communion
Hymns
Last Hymn
Text and
Title
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