Lutheran Church of Our Savior

This is Christ's Church.
There is a place for you here.

We are the church that shares a living, daring confidence in God's grace. Liberated by our faith, we embrace you as a whole person -- questions, complexities and all. Join us as we do God's work in Christ's name for the life of the world.

Lutheran Church of Our Savior

A congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

12 Franklin Avenue, Port Washington, NY 11050

Phone 516-767-0603

Website lutheranchurchportwashington.com

email lcosoffice@optimum.net

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lutheranpw/

Church Office Hours

The Church Office will be open on Monday, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9 am and 3 pm.

Church Office - Sue Waiter

Pastor - Roger Berner

Director of Music - Federico Teti

Custodian - Marvin Mora

Facilities Use Coordinator - Linda Murphy

Worship

There's a place for everyone at Our Savior to be involved and make new friends through small group ministries, fellowship events, and committees for the congregation's life and mission. Membership is voluntary and personal.

Persons join when they express the desire to affiliate. Adults may join formally the congregation by either a letter of membership transfer from another Christian congregation or by adult Confirmation.

The sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated with this understanding: that the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ are truly present in, with, and under the bread and wine; and, that the penitent receive the full forgiveness of all their sins. All baptized Christians who, in good conscience, can receive with this understanding are invited to partake.

Baptisms and weddings are conducted as needed. A church wedding requires a couple to spend a period of time preparing for marriage in consultation with the pastor.

An elevator and access ramp are available for entering and exiting the building. Refreshments are usually served after worship on Sunday. In warmer weather, the church is air-conditioned for your comfort.

The Weekly Caller

Phone 516-767-0603
Website lutheranchurchportwashington.com
email lcosoffice@optimum.net
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lutheranpw/

Pentecost 18

Sunday, October 1, 2023

at the
Lutheran Church of Our Savior

Holy Communion 8:15 am and 10:00 am

Jesus’ parable about two sons who don’t do what they say reveals surprises in the reign of God. In the reading from Ezekiel the people claim the ways of the Lord are unfair, while God offers repentance and new life. Paul urges us to look to Christ as a model of humility, putting the interests of others above our own. Nourished by the broken bread and shared cup, we offer our lives for the sake of our needy world.

Let us pray,
God of love, giver of life, you know our frailties and failings. Give us your grace to overcome them, keep us from those things that harm us, and guide us in the way of salvation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

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Sunday’s Readings
click on the hyperlink to read the entire text

Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32

The fairness of God’s way

Philippians 2:1-13

Christ humbled to the point of death on a cross

Matthew 21:23-32

A parable of doing God’s will

Leading Our Liturgy - Pentecost 18

Roger Berner, Pastor

Federico Teti, Director of Music

Sandra Dello-Iacono, Acolyte

Janice Crawford, Assisting Minister

Martha Schweitzer, Lector

Conny & Thorsten Kothe, Coffee Hour

Laura Boehm, Gladys Dello-Iacono, Fabiola Knight,

Kate Laber, Irene Wood, Altar Care

Luke DePalma, Joe DiVito, Charles Kietzman, Michael Liu,

Jerry Lockwood, Richard Swenson, Ushers

Altar Flowers October 1 Pentecost 18

The Centerpiece is given in Honor of their Parents’ 63rd Wedding Anniversary and Michael Murphy’s 30th Birthday from the Marra & Murphy Families.

The Vases are given In Memory of Mildred Boehm’s Birthday
from Her Loving Family.

The Baptismal Flowers are given In Loving Memory of our Nana, Althea Dunn, by Christina & Eliza Carrington.

The Candles are lit In Memory of my mother, Carol B. Kietzman,
from Charles Kietzman.

In Our Daily Prayers

Christ’s Church
for our Congregation: Lutheran Church of Our Savior;

our Synod, Metropolitan New York Synod and Bishop Paul Egensteiner;

our Church, the ELCA and Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton;

our Lutheran World Federation and President, Archbishop Musa Panti Filibus

God’s World
especially for peace in: Afghanistan, Central African Republic, China, Ethiopia,

Haiti, Israel, Libya, Morocco, Myanmar, Palestine, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Ukraine, Yemen, and the United States.

An Invitation to Grace

It is so easy and so tempting to build ourselves up at the expense of others. “I can’t imagine ever doing that.” “How can people live like that?” “Who would do such a thing?” At some point we all think or say these sorts of things. We use these words to comfort ourselves at the expense of others. These words remind us that all people stand in need of God’s grace.

Each of this day’s readings shows us this reality. In the parable of the two sons, Jesus invites us to choose between two sons when neither fully does the will of their father. Here Jesus makes the point that we are all equally in need of God’s grace. Ezekiel proclaims God’s invitation, “Turn, then, and live” (Ezek. 18:32) - an invitation extended to all people. Paul tells us that Jesus on the cross, emptied himself, becoming sin so that all people might be redeemed through him.

So today we confess our need for God, our distance from God, and our failures before God. As we claim God’s forgiveness for us, we discover again the grace of God that we do not deserve.

All of today’s readings reveal the way in which all humans are equal in the eyes of God.

Bringing In the Sheaves

The agrarian cycle of our ancestors lives on in many ways in this world. In autumn, farmers would know the gifts that they would have on hand for the coming year, both monetary and otherwise, and so it was at this time of year they’d be able to make their pledge for God’s mission in their local parish.

In many ways autumn remains a time of beginnings, even as the Earth in this part of the hemisphere begins to go out in the blaze of glory. It remains a good time to talk about stewardship. But instead of “campaigns” or even “appeals,” I think, the community of Christ should call them “invitations to renewed generosity.” After all, our agrarian ancestors were really deciding how to use God’s generous harvest to multiply that generosity through their faith communities. The same remains true for us.

My ancestors, the ancient Christian Celts, would do this cool thing at this time of year. As their last fields were gathered, they’d all come together to raise up the final sheaf and they’d process it back into town, giving thanks to God that God was generous again that year. They’d celebrate the generosity of the Divine, both in the harvest and through the gift of Christ for the world. They’d do as that old hymn in so many hymnals sing, “come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.”

Beloved, bringing in the generous sheaves God has given you!

Pax,

Tim Brown

Director of Congregational Stewardship Support

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Council Highlights- September 2023

While the Council did not officially meet in August, the work of your church leadership continued faithfully! Our Nominations Committee, under the leadership of Bob Carpentier, started their exploration of sourcing candidates and officers for the 2024 Council, the slate which will be presented for consideration at our November 5 Annual Meeting. Our Treasurer, Rich Ertel, has been leading the effort to craft the 2024 Budget, and will be working with the Finance and Endowment Committee to present a budget that the Council will approve next month and then present to you, for a vote, also at the November 5 Meeting.

Please mark your calendars again for November 5 and be sure to attend!

As most of you know, Pastor Berner’s sojourn as Interim Pastor will come to a close at the end of October. The timeline that we shared at our Semi-Annual Congregational meeting in May with its goal of a new Pastor by mid-November was predicated on receiving a roster of candidates from the Synod in April. Unfortunately, things did not go according to this plan. Proverbs 19:21 reminds us, “Many are the plans in the mind of man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand”. Not to stand idly by, however, the Call Committee, under Pia’s leadership has been meeting regularly and will conduct a series of mock interviews with Pastor Berner as their subject. This will serve to hone their powers of discernment when they are most needed. It may also be worth reminding everyone that the average call process suggests a month for every year of service from the retiring pastor; by that logic, we should have allocated almost 4 years for this process! We may be tempted to feel discouraged but should turn to our faith and trust in God’s grace that we are on the right path.

So, what does that mean for us now, practically? Together with the Council and Pastor Berner, we have crafted a plan that will provide coverage through Easter of 2024. The details are as follows:

Pastor would continue as half-time Interim Pastor (half time in Port Washington and half time in Maryland) during November and December. He will prepare the worship folders for all Sunday and holiday worship services, lead the worship services on two Sunday’s each month, and coordinate supply Pastors for the other Sundays and holidays, attend Executive Committee and Church Council Meetings (in person and Zoom), and be available to us by phone, email and Zoom.

Beginning in January of 2024- March 31(Easter), he will continue as quarter-time Interim Pastor (no time in PW). As such, he would continue to prepare the worship folders for all Sunday and holiday worship services, attend the Executive Council and Church Council Meetings (by Zoom) and be available by phone, email and Zoom.

As a congregation, we are steadfast in our devotion to this church and its ministry. This devotion may be tested in the months ahead but I believe we have an opportunity to grow deeper in our faith and service. I also believe there is a path for our lay members to do more pastoral visitation to the sick, hospitalized, and homebound, and perhaps prepare meals for our aged brethren, etc. I will look to develop a plan for this over the next two months and invite your participation.

As always, I am thankful for your support and welcome any questions or concerns.

Respectfully submitted,

Denise DePalma

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A draft of the Ministry Calendar 2023-2024 is on the table in the church entrance for your review. Please mark any corrections, additions, or deletions to the calendar. Thank you!

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ALL MEMBERS

are asked to complete a Membership Information Form - copies are available in the church entry, or CLICK HERE for a copy to print. Please complete what you know and return it to the church office. This will be a big help to the new pastor.

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OCTOBER IS MOUTHWASH MONTH!

The LCOS Paper and Personal Care Ministry needs your help.

YOU are invited to bring bottle(s) of mouthwash (18 – 24 oz) with you as part of your offering to God in care of others in our community. Bottles may be placed in the red bucket in the narthex.

Thank you, and God bless you!

The LCOS Paper and Personal Care Ministry

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LCOS Clothing Ministry is no longer accepting donations.

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Thank you!

to all who volunteered before, during and after
the 2023 Rummage-Bake Sale.
Total funds raised= $3,708.55 (up $178.60 from 2022).

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Supporting the ministry of LCOS has never been easier!

There are several way to contribute:

1. Place your offering in the offering plate or mailing it to the church;

2. Direct your bank to automatically send a weekly or monthly check to LCOS from your account (no fee ACH);

3. Check out the new and improved electronic giving page on the LCOS website:

click HERE to go to the LCOS Online Giving page directly, or
go to the LCOS website by typing https://www.lutheranchurchportwashington.com into your browser, and then click on the Online Giving tab in the upper right corner, or
use your smart phone to scan the QR code below to go directly to the Online Giving page

On the new Online Giving page you can set-up and designate one-time and recurring giving to: LCOS General Fund, Altar Flowers & Candles, Personal Care & Paper Pantry, or Lutheran World Relief – Ukraine. Also, you can adjust existing giving, set up new gifts and update your personal information on the secure eGiving page.

If you’re a new giver to LCOS, you can sign up for a Vanco Online account - click the Sign Up button at the top right of the page, or select Sign Up from the menu in the upper left corner of your smart phone screen.

If you currently have recurring giving to LCOS set-up with Vanco (formerly Thrivent/Simple Giving) then nothing changes for you as you already have a Vanco account. You can log in using your current username and password - click the Log In button at the top right of the page, or select Log In from the menu in the upper left corner of your smart phone screen. If you do not know your username and password, please contact Sue Waiter in the Parish Office, lcosoffice@optimum.net, for assistance.

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Announcements

Fall Sunday Schedule

The Lutheran Church of Our Savior will begin a new Worship & Education Schedule each Sunday,

beginning Sunday, September 10, 2023.

8:15 am Spoken HOLY COMMUNION - 30 minutes
9:00 am Christian Education - 45 minutes in the Conference Room
we will begin with adult education, and hopefully add youth
Sunday School if parents are interested.
10:00 am Sung HOLY COMMUNION
11:10 AM Coffee /Fellowship Hour

For a few of decades, people have told me that they want to come to Worship and Christian Education on Sunday mornings, but they can't because of their schedule.

Some say that they just want to go to Worship and Christian Education, but the whole morning is gone after the 10:00 am service. They want or need to have the whole day to be with family, friends or go to work.
Others tell me that our worship service is too long.
But for parents with young children or teens, the reason is that their children have school activities on Sunday morning - sports, music, drama.

We can bemoan the culture, or we can try to offer Worship and Christian Education at times that will accommodate people's schedules. This schedule is an attempt to offer a shorter worship service at an earlier time so that people can:

Have all of Sunday after 9:00 am to go to work or be with family.
Attend a shorter worship service, for those with limited time on Sundays.
Be at the school activity by 9:00 am after worship, and be at the school activity by 10:00 am if they stay for Christian Education.

So, we will try out this new schedule for a few months starting tomorrow, Sunday September 10. Perhaps our members and neighbors will find an 8:15 am worship service, followed by time for Christian Education will make Worship and Christian Education will be well received.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Roger Berner

Pastor Roger Berner
Our Interim Pastor

I grew up on the Great Plains, in the fifth largest (14,007 people) metropolitan area in South Dakota – Watertown. We lived on the edge of “town”, and had a huge garden – or was it a small farm? We had a tractor and a plow to turn the soil over in the spring. My father ordered 1,000 tomato plants and 3,000 cabbage plants from Georgia every spring. We also grew carrots, onions, cucumbers, squash, corn, beans, peas, beets, and potatoes. The entire garden was surrounded by hundreds of peonies.

I enjoyed planting the corn and potatoes, because I did that with my father. He dug the hole and I threw in a few kernels of corn or some old smelly potatoes cut up with “eyes” sticking out. I did not enjoy weeding the garden. In fact, the weeds usually won out toward the end of the summer, but the harvest was nonetheless bountiful and delicious. Growing up, I never tasted sweet corn that was more than 15 minutes old. My father picked the corn, I husked it, my mother cooked it, and we all ate it together. My father would also take me with him to seine for minnows, or to go fishing and hunting. While driving, my father quizzed me on what crop was growing in each field we passed. He would point to the right or left and I would say: corn, wheat, barley, flax, soy beans or rye. The most difficult to distinguish were wheat and oats – they look so much alike. My favorite crop was flax (linen is made from flax, as is the fine paper used for Bibles), because when it was in bloom it looked like a blue sea.

Joseph and Mary must have taught Jesus about agriculture because his parables were filled with images of “the farm” – mustard, sheep, grapes, goats, mint, wolves, wheat, doves, barley, dogs, olives, cows, and lilies. My mother, Sunday School teachers, pastors, and professors taught me the parables of Jesus; but I came to understand his parables through what my father taught me in the garden and the fields.

I studied history at St. Olaf College in Minnesota and continued on at Luther Seminary in St. Paul. While at seminary I organized a “summer internship” outside of Phoenix, doing youth work and going door to door, inviting people to “Come and See!” the new mission church. I also served as “the Vicar” at Zion Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, New York for my official internship. Those two places were very different, but both were filled with amazing, wonderful, and faithful members who were also my teachers.

I was ordained in January at my home congregation in South Dakota. It was -27 degrees (-69 degrees wind chill factor), and no one even suggested postponing the service. St. John Mark Lutheran Church in Homestead (Pittsburgh), PA had called me as their Pastor, and I served there for 9 years. Then Trinity Lutheran Church in North Bethesda, MD called me, where I served for 28 years until October 2018. Both were places of faith, hope, love, and great joy for me. After a year of retirement, the Interim Bishop of New York asked if I would serve as the Interim Pastor of Emanuel Lutheran Church, Pleasantville, NY – a delightful experience to share the good news of Christ in Westchester County with a wonderful congregation, even through the challenges and learning opportunities of a pandemic.

Now I have begun a new adventure of faith in Christ Jesus – getting to know and love the people of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Port Washington. I trust that we will laugh and cry, work and play, sing and pray together during this “in between” time for LCOS, as we continue to trust in God’s grace and mercy to lead us into a future of Spirit-led ministry.

Lutheran World Relief

Will you help in Ukraine, Libya, and Morocco?
And people in 32 other countries?

In the days and weeks after a human or natural disaster, Lutheran World Relief is on the ground helping to meet people’s immediate needs. In the following months and years we are dedicated to working with them so they can rebuild better and stronger than before.

Send your gift: click the box below;
or by calling 1-800-597-5972;

or by check to: Lutheran World Relief, PO Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21297-1061.

Lutheran World Relief is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.
Your gift is tax deductible.

CLICK TO GIVE TO LWR

Lutheran World Relief

Ukrainian War Victims Need YOU Food, clothing and shelter.

These three basic needs are crucial for an individual's well-being and potential growth. Unfortunately, the world's poorest suffer most acutely, since they have the fewest resources to prepare for a crisis and to rebuild afterward. Lutheran World Relief is in a unique position to reach highly vulnerable families whose immediate needs may not be met by other responders following an emergency.

With nearly 75 years of demonstrated expertise helping to transform some of the hardest-to-reach places in the developing world, Lutheran World Relief is an innovative, trusted international nongovernmental organization (INGO) committed to those otherwise cut off from basic human services and opportunities.

When you make a donation, your gift will reach our poorest neighbors suffering from hunger and malnutrition right now. You can deliver lifesaving nutrient-rich food, clean water, safe shelter, school supplies, medical care and more for our neighbors in desperate need.

Send your gift to: www.lwr.org; or by calling 800-597-5972; or

or by check to: Lutheran World Relief, PO Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21297-1061.

Lutheran World Relief is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Your gift is tax deductible.

Future Church - God's Love Made Real

Dear siblings in Christ,

Many have responded to the survey at Future Church: God's Love Made Real, sharing input and joining in the conversation. We continue to learn about our church, what is strong and good, and where we need to grow in Christ.

If you've already taken the survey, THANK YOU! Your voice helps us discern the future of our church. If you haven't, please take the survey and help us lean into what it means to create a world experiencing the difference God's grace and love in Christ make for all people and creation.

Watch for future listening session opportunities and how you can participate! We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Louise Johnson
Executive for Administration, Office of the Presiding Bishop

Lutheran Disaster Response

FROM CHURCHWIDE

SUPPORT FOR FARMERS IN UKRAINE

Lutheran Disaster Response and Lutheran World Relief are working together to help farmers and families in recently freed areas of Ukraine.

Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) that helps communities recover after disasters worldwide, is stepping in to assist urgent needs and aid agricultural recovery in Ukraine. They are providing a $1million grant to Lutheran World Relief, an organization under Corus International.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

2024 ELCA Youth Gathering

Every three years, thousands of high school youth and their adult leaders from across the ELCA gather for a week of faith formation known as the ELCA Youth Gathering. Through days spent in interactive learning, worship, Bible study, service and fellowship, young people grow in faith and are challenged and inspired to live their faith daily.

The 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans is scheduled for July 16-20, 2024, with pre-gathering events from the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) and the tAble July 13-16, and the ELCA Gathering for Young Adults (18-35), which will run concurrently with the ELCA Youth Gathering.

For more information about this exciting event, please email The Rev. John Hickey, Synod Champion for Metro NY, at pastorjohn@ourredeemerlutheran.church.

Prepare and Enrich

Have you ever been on the receiving end of a bad apology? Or have you ever tried to apologize to your spouse, but it was not received well? In either case, what do you think went wrong? The truth is, a meaningful apology is more than just saying you're sorry.

This week on its blog, Prepare & Enrich reveals five things that can undermine an apology.

Grow stronger in faith through worship, deeper through learning, warmer through fellowship and broader through service to our neighbors...

Fall Sunday Schedule

Pastor Roger Berner

Lutheran World Relief

Lutheran World Relief

Future Church - God's Love Made Real

Lutheran Disaster Response

2024 ELCA Youth Gathering

Prepare and Enrich

A Thank You