Announcements

Update from Pastor-Elect Rebekah Swanson

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Meet the Parsonage Cats: Petunia and Peregrin

Greetings members and friends of LCOS!

Phil and I are officially in unpacking mode here at the parsonage. We are so grateful for the warm welcome and the support we've received from Leslie, Martha, Linda, and Noreen, which has made our landing in Port Washington so comfortable. I thought I might take a couple of moments to introduce you to the two other occupants of the parsonage– our cats Petunia and Peregrin.

Petunia, the Tabby, moved with us from Vancouver, British Columbia, in March 2023. Driving across the country in the winter with two cats (Agatha, our older cat, passed away in January of this year) is not for the faint of heart! However, through high winds, ice storms, snow, and seemingly endless highways, Petunia was an excellent travel cat thanks to some prescription help from her veterinarian.

Peregrin, the Ragdoll, came to live with us after our older cat passed away earlier this year. Despite being almost 12 pounds in size, “Pip” is just nine months old. The breeder mentioned that he might be big, but we had no idea he would be this big! He and Petunia get along well, and we are thankful for that.

The cats have been a delightful addition to our unpacking process, often 'helping' us by inspecting boxes and taking breaks to stare at the birds and squirrels in the backyard. They seem to be enjoying the new home and we're sure they'll love the fireplace once the weather turns cold. Here are a couple of photos of them in action, exploring and taking in the scenery from the den.

See you all on September 15th!

 

Pastor Rebekah Swanson+
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Interim Office Manager

Please welcome Dorothy Schweitzer as our Interim Office Manager! Ms. Schweitzer joined the staff on July 15, following the departure of Sue Waiter, who has served our church diligently since January 2022. Ms. Waiter had been dividing her time between the church and a graduate program at the Parsons School of Design and will now focus full-time on completing her master's degree. Ms. Schweitzer grew up in the church and is looking forward to helping us welcome our new Pastor. Thanks be to God for these women of faith!



Pray for the Peace of Israel and Palestine

Pray for the Peace of Israel and Palestine

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The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem was built between 1893 and 1898. It houses Lutheran congregations that worship in Arabic, German, Danish, and English.  It serves as the headquarters of the Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, the Arabic-speaking (Palestinian) Church of Jordan, Palestine, and Israel.  The LCOR has a congregation of around 3,000 members.

Sally Ibrahim Azar was ordained as the first female Pastor in the Holy Land on January 22, 2023. She is now the Pastor of the Church’s English-speaking congregation.

The church was built on land given by Sultan Abdülhamid of the Ottoman Empire.  In 1898, Kaiser Wilhelm II made a trip to Jerusalem to personally dedicate the new church.  For the dedication of the church, the Kaiser entered the city on horseback through two specially made ceremonial arches, one a gift of the Ottoman Empire and one a gift from the local Jewish community.  The church was dedicated on Reformation Day, 1898.  The church tower (one of the tallest structures in the Old City) is open to the public and offers a spectacular view of the city.

 

 

Augusta Victoria Hospital began its ministry in East Jerusalem, which was part of the Kingdom of Jordan, to serve the medical needs of Palestinian refugees in 1950.  Operating from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, the Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) is a health care institution of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) primarily serving the Palestinian population.

AVH is one of six specialized hospitals in the East Jerusalem Hospital Network, which has contributed to the development of the Palestinian health care system and the education of healthcare workers and specialists. The hospital provides specialty care for Palestinians from across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip with services including a cancer center, a dialysis unit, a pediatric center, and a bone marrow transplant unit.  It is the sole remaining specialized-care hospital located in the West Bank or Gaza Strip.  With 120 in-patient beds, it is the only radiation therapy facility serving 4.5 million Palestinians.


Lutheran World Relief

Faithful Lutherans have a long history of rushing aid to the frontlines when crisis strikes.

From sending emergency health care supplies to delivering LWR Mission Quilts, your love has been reaching children, women and families in the direst situations. With your support, together, we will not abandon these neighbors now.

Your gift will deliver critically needed resources like medical care, food, water and essential supplies where they are needed most.  

Thank you for putting your faith in action and sharing God’s love with your neighbors.  

 

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


Complexities of Forgiveness

The Complexities of Forgiveness

I forgive you. Is forgiveness as simple as saying those three words? Occasionally, it might be. Other times, it’s much more complicated. While the benefits of forgiveness seem straightforward enough, forgiveness itself can actually be quite complex. Let’s explore some of the reasons why!

 

In this week's blog post, we're talking about the complexities of forgiveness.
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