Association of Lutheran Friends Winter 2012 Newsletter

WINTER NEWSLETTER!

2012

Association of Lutheran Friends A New A.L.F. President

UPCOMING A.L.F. EVENTS

George Price elected President at December Corporate Meeting After several years of faithful service by Rev. David Searing, pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Scranton, a Mr. George Price was elected the President of the Association of Lutheran Friends on Dec. 1, 2011. We are very thankful for his eagerness to serve. Mr. Price currently serves as an Elder of Peace Lutheran Church,

Thursday, March 15, 2012 !

7pm ALF member mtg.

Scranton. He is the first lay person elected as President of A.L.F. since Mr. Hames retired from the position over 10 years ago. Rev. Wagaman, Bjornstad, and Searing have served since, but A.L.F. was always envisioned to be led by a lay person rather than a clergy person.

Sunday, June 3, 2012, Ransom !

1:00 Luncheon !

3:30 Memorial Service.

A.L.F. is excited about new leadership and sharing the great things that can happen through our organization!

Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012, Scranton !

2pm Luther Day dinner

Sunday, July 15, 2012, Ransom !

3:30 Worship Service Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, Ransom !

3:30 Educational Event ! and Family Picnic!

NOVEMBER, 2011 LUTHER DAY DINNER HONORED MR. “PETE” FORNES On Sunday, November 13th, 2011, about 100 Lutherans from our area congregations gathered to celebrate our common heritage two days after the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther.

It was a beautiful time of good fellowship together, with Rev. Al Wagaman serving as Master of Ceremonies. The afternoon highlighted the congregational history of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Dickson City which was presented by Phyllis Reinhardt. Although Phyllis is a very new member at St. Stephen’s, she had an amazing way of communicating the beautiful faith of the congregation and its pastors down through the years. Everyone was very touched.

Praise God for His faithfulness to St. Stephens - even today!

The other main business of the afternoon was the awarding of the William T. Schmidt award to Roland “Pete” Fornes for his faithful and long service to his congregation (St. Luke’s, Archbald), and the community. He is well known for his many contributions to the community, and many people know him for his faithful service as a Thrivent volunteer.

Pete Fornes shares a few words following his reception of the William T. Schmidt award.

check out our web page: www.associationoflutheranfriends.org! !

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WINTER NEWSLETTER! MISC. CURRENT NEWS!

2012 Celebrate Faith through the Arts!

On April 28 ELCA artists will gather at the NE PA Synod Office in Allentown to “Celebrate Our Faith through the Arts.” This event will Baltimore, January 13, 2012 — give an opportunity to observe and The World Health Organization experience how faith can be recently released its World Malaria deepened and enriched through art Report 2011, showing that the our creations. This event is open to concerted global effort in recent years those who are in 8th grade through to combat malaria, including adults. Participants will: campaigns like the Lutheran Malaria • experience ways that using the Initiative (LMI), means that a third arts can help bring them in closer fewer people in Africa are dying of relationship with God; malaria now than in 2000.

• create and/or observe and/or “This is incredible progress,” said experience the visual arts John Nunes, president and CEO of (photography, sculpture, paintings, Lutheran World Relief. “When we sketches, etc), auditory arts (music, started the LMI campaign, a child drama), written art (poetry, stories), was dying of malaria every 30 and physical art (liturgical dance); seconds. Then we learned that rate had dropped to one child every 45 • get ideas for implementing a seconds. These new figures mean that day like this for their own a child in sub-Saharan Africa now congregations (if desired); and, dies every 60 seconds. That is still • become part of a supportive too many children dying from a network of people who are disease that is completely preventable interested in a specific art (if and treatable, but the remarkable desired). progress in such a short period of time shows me that, working MISSION FESTIVAL APRIL 29. 2012 together, we really can end malaria LCMS Congregations are planning deaths by 2015.” on joining together on April 29th at Lutheran Malaria Initiative Contributes to Global Decline in Malaria Deaths

The Lutheran Malaria Initiative, a partnership of Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), and made possible with support from the United Nations Foundation, seeks to raise $45 million to combat malaria in sub-Saharan Africa, the region most affected by this devastating disease. With programs currently in Mali, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, LMI is reaching 2.4 million people with messages about prevention and treatment. [A.L.F. has supported the work of LWR over the years because of its pan-Lutheran work. It must he noted that unfortunately the ELCA has this last summer withdrawn &om the LWR Malaria effort and established their own - although that does not impact other joint projects.]

St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church for their bi-annual NEPA Mission Festival. Guest speaker will be Rev. Joshua Gale, missionary to inner city Philadelphia.

OVER $30,000 RAISED FOR THE LUTHERAN ACADEMY, Scranton

In November, 2011, a generous donor made a matching challenge to supporters of The Lutheran Academy in Scranton. All money given would be matched up to $15,000!

Amazingly over 30 donors made contributions and the challenge was matched! The Academy is working with the Immanuel Lutheran Preschool to further extend and develop Lutheran Education in the Scranton area with these gifts. Please check out our programs at www.thelutheranacademyscranton.org!

check out our web page: www.associationoflutheranfriends.org! !

MARTIN LUTHER QUOTE:

“I have no pleasure in any man who despises music. It is no invention of ours: it is a gi! of God. I place it next to theology.

Satan hates music: he knows how it drives the evil spirit out of us.” ― Martin Luther THE STATED MISSION OF THE ASSOCIATION OF LUTHERAN FRIENDS The Association of Lutheran Friends, a not-for-profit Pennsylvania corporation, provides a forum for cooperation in social ministry, education, and social fellowship involving Lutherans living in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Further, the Association of Lutheran Friends shall strive to stimulate community awareness among its members; and shall foster service to the Church and community at large. Further, the Association of Lutheran Friends shall strive to improve the quality of life for all persons; regardless of race, color, creed, sex, or national origin.

THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE ASSOCIATION OF LUTHERAN FRIENDS... The corporate membership of the Association of Lutheran Friends, is comprised of Lutheran individuals who, by their adherence to the Christian faith and their Lutheran heritage, strongly believe in extending their personal and collective ministry to the community at large. The annual contribution for voting membership is ten dollars.

PLEASE SEND IN YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND 2011 ($10) MEMBERSHIP DUES TO: Audrey Russell 518 Florin St. Scranton PA 18509-1010

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