Pastor's Corner
(Excerpt from Chaplain Kemp's 1st Annual National Prayer Breakfast presentation, Vermont Air National Guard, S. Burlington, VT, May 6th 2010.)
May 6th was a National Day of Prayer and, of course, it was an opportunity for those so inclined to engage in the confused and tiresome battle over separation of church and state. Instead of letting some lead us into a fight we will instead take a moment to re-discover the power of prayer.
Some people scoff at prayer. They see prayer as fit only for the weak, as a mere babbling of words spoken into the abyss. Prayer to them seems to be only an empty spasm of words sent into the void to serve as a self-calming mantra. They would rather hang their hope of help on what man can do for himself and trust only in advancements made in wealth, medicine, sciences, and psychology. They return to build and re-build the tower of Babel where prayer really does become a hollow babble and a pathetic venture to discover their own inner god.
No such delusions for us! We will enjoy the true power of prayer, thank you very much. Prayer is how we live. We are a people of prayer, and our prayers are neither mechanical routines, nor are they only for cases of emergency prayer.
Our prayer is not a fire escape in our hour of need. It is our “day in” and “day out”. It is our inhale and exhale of life because we know that in prayer we are in the realm of the divine. In prayer we reach out to God, we ask for a more abundant life and we get to touch an infinite glory. Our prayer isn't an add-on talisman; it is woven through all the minutes of our lives. Yes, certainly in the times of stress, but also in the regular events, appointments and tasks of our lives. For us prayer isn't about the separation of church and state and it doesn't have a national day. For us, everyday is a day of prayer.
Rejoice always,
Pray without ceasing,
In everything give thanks;
For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
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Eric Carlson Receives Vicarage Call
by Donna Carlson
Eric will be starting his Vicarage on July 1st at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Norwood Park, Chicago, Illinois. This is in the NW corner of Chicago. He'll be installed on July 4th and then he is off and running with his first church service July 11th. He will be doing the church service each week as there will be no ordained minister there. I think they have a vacancy pastor now.
This vicarage is his last stop before graduation next May/June and ordination, God willing. Please keep Eric and his family in your prayers.
Congratulations to our Graduates!
Bonnie Jo Lange ~
Bonnie Jo was commissioned on Saturday, May 15th as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Air Force as a Logistics Readiness Officer, and she graduated on May 16th from Norwich University.
Her summer plans are fairly open and involve "being a tourist" in the New England area, horseback riding and competition and enjoying not going to school. She will be taking a missions-focused trip to Guatemala in July with Valor ROTC ministries and staying with cadets from the Guatemalan Military Academy. Bonnie Jo is looking forward to this experience and asks for our prayers and support.
August, September and October are up in the air as she is "assuming" her EAD (Enter Active Duty) date will be around October. She will return home to California at least a month before entering active duty at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. We may be seeing her back in Vermont in August, but no guarantees at this point.
Bonnie Jo wishes to thank everyone at WLC for being such a blessing to her. She is happy that so many were able to attend her celebration on May 17th.
Andrew Kemp ~
Andrew also graduated from Norwich University on Sunday, May 16th. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and was commissioned in the US Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant in a ceremony at Norwich University on May 15th.
Andrew plans to serve as an aircraft maintenance officer at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas.
Troy Laughlin ~
Troy will be graduating from Williamstown High School on June 18th and will be off to Johnson State College in the fall. He will be playing basketball for Johnson State and is very excited about that!
Katie Currier ~
Katie will be graduating from Hanover High School on June 18th. She is scheduled to attend Butler University in Indianapolis in the fall, majoring Ballet Performance.
On June 19th & 20th, Katie will perform in her final dance recital at the studio where she has danced since age three! Early in July she will attend a dance workshop and convention in New York, and then she will be attending Ballet Austin (Texas) for remainder of July.
Spirituality of the Cross ~ a book review
by Ellie Corrow
Sometimes it is difficult to wade through the plethora of books offered to us which promise to help us grow in our faith, spirituality and relationship with God. Many of these books make grand promises, but upon closer inspection are a little disappointing: they can be trite, shallow, or even out-right unbiblical.
I had the pleasure recently of coming across a nice little book which is an exception to this norm. Gene Edward Veith’s Spirituality of the Cross is very short, at less than 120 pages, very accessible, but does not shy away from significant theological issues. I was profoundly impressed with Dr. Veith’s ability to condense complex topics into easily digestible chapters while remaining precise in his approach to the subjects he addresses.
If you are looking for something straight forward to read which will help you better understand the Christian life and that is, above all things, biblical, then this is a book you need to read-- and for $10 from Amazon.com, who can say no?
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!...
…to Mike Schumacher for his beautiful paintings that have hung over our inside double doors during the Lenten and Easter season. They show his wonderful talent and understanding of ecclesiastical, liturgical art. We may have the honor of seeing more of his work as the year progresses!
…to Eric Schumacher for helping Kyle Laughlin and Derrick Sheridan as an acolyte for Holy Communion. We have a great team assisting Pastor Kemp!
…to all those who contributed items for the LCMS World Relief Health Kits and to the ladies who assembled them at the LWML meeting on April 27th… And to Kristin and Mike Belding who delivered the completed kits to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bristol, CT before the truck came.
Last LWML Meeting of the Season ~
The last WLC-LWML meeting of the 2009-2010 season will be held at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, May 25th. A light supper will be provided so you can come right from work! Come to enjoy a tasty meal, study of God’s Word and fellowship! This will be the last meeting before we break for the summer. We will resume our meetings on the last Tuesday of each month beginning again in September.
Don’t forget to bring your mites as there are still some projects left to be funded for this year!
Tea Time !!!
Again this year, the ladies of WLC are invited to join the ladies of CLC for their annual Victorian Tea on Sunday, June 13th at 1:00 PM. This is a lovely festive event and a great way to start your summer! Carpools will leave from the church following the service that Sunday.
See the “Ladies Only” special flyer for all of the details. If you are able, your contributions of appetizers, tea sandwiches or salads would be appreciated. Questions? - Please contact Sandy Dienst.
In Honor of Father’s Day ~ June 20th
Daddy's Poem
Author unknown
Her hair was up in a pony tail, her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school, and she couldn't wait to go.
But her Mommy tried to tell her that she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand if she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates, of why he wasn't there today.
But still her mother worried, for her to face this day alone.
And that was why, once again, she tried to keep her daughter home.
But the little girl went to school, eager to tell them all.
About a Dad she never sees, a Dad who never calls.
There were Daddies along the back wall, for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their seats
One by one the teacher called a student from the class,
To introduce their Daddies, as seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name; every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching, a man who wasn't there.
'Where's her Daddy at?' She heard a boy call out.
'She probably doesn't have one,' a student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back, she heard a Daddy say,
'Looks like another deadbeat Dad, too busy to waste his day.'
The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her Mom.
She looked back at her teacher, who told her to go on.
With hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak;
And from the mouth of a child came words incredibly unique.
'My Daddy couldn't be here, because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be, since this is such a special day.
And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know
All about my Daddy, and how much he loves me so.
He loved to tell me stories; he taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses, and taught me to fly a kite.
We used to share fudge sundaes and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him, I'm not standing here alone.
'Cause my Daddy's always with me, even though we are apart,
I know because he told me, he'll forever be in my heart.
With that her little hand reached up, and lay across her chest,
Feeling her own heart beat, beneath her favorite dress.
Somewhere in the crowd of Dads, her mother stood in tears,
Proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her years.
For she stood up for the love of a man not in her life;
Doing what was best for her, doing what was right.
When she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd,
She finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud.
'I love my Daddy very much; he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here, but Heaven's just too far.
You see he is a soldier, and he died just this past year,
When a roadside bomb hit his convoy and taught brave men to fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away.'
And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day.
And to her mother's amazement, she witnessed with surprise,
A room full of Daddies and children, all closing their own eyes!
Who knows what they saw before them; who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side.
'I know you're with me Daddy,' to the silence she called out.
What happened next made believers of those once filled with doubt.
None in that room could explain it, for all of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her, was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
A child was blessed, if only for a moment, by the love of her shining star.
She was given the gift of believing, that Heaven is never too far.
Next Newsletter Deadline ~ Tuesday, June 22nd
Please email committee reports, prayer requests “Good News” articles, announcements of upcoming events, and other items of interest to sdienst@pshift.com.
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