![[ Pastor Sonja Tillberg Maclary ]](images/sonja2b.jpg)
Pastor Sonja Tillberg Maclary (Pastor Sonja), conducting services.
Pastor Sonja Tillberg Maclary (Pastor Sonja), conducting services.
Here is how the January Beacon summarized "A New Century of Ministry"(1):
Unless otherwise indicated, all the information on this page, about events in 2007, comes from successive 2007 issues of Christ's Beacon. (Close)
Looking back into our congregation's history during our 200th Anniversary year was both enlightening and enjoyable. It taught us many things about the people who have come before us, their joys and sorrows, their challenges and the faith that saw them through. We learned that they were not much different than we are today, and that lessons learned from our past can help guide us in our future.For our future is exactly what we are now looking forward to. This new year marks the beginning of a new century of ministry for our congregation, and I think we can all agree that we are off to a good start!
Our Christian Education program continues to teach our young members about God's love through Sunday School, Christ's Kid's Club and Vacation Bible School. Our adult members continue to learn through Bible Study, book groups, and seasonal special study groups.
Our membership continues to grow, with new members jumping right in to give of their time and talents.
Our musical outreach through Faithful Folk has grown in leaps and bounds, with more musicians adding their talents to the group, and more concerts than ever held last year to benefit worthy causes.
Our grounds and buildings continue to be maintained to offer a welcoming visage to visitors and to provide us with space for our worship and gatherings.
We continue to serve the community through our hosting of the Daily Bread Soup Kitchen in Fellowship Hall and our participation in the Good Neighbor Food Pantry.
With the help of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, we continue to multiply our ministry in the community and throughout the world to further help those in need through the Care programs and Thrivent Builds.
The Mission Endowment Fund, established last year, has grown and will pay out its first benefits this year, and WE get to decide at our annual meeting where the money goes! How exciting!!
As we begin the next 100 years of ministry in the Woodstock community, let us give thanks to God for the many blessings we already enjoy, and for the strength of our ongoing ministries. Let us also be firm in our faith and trust that God will provide and guide us in this new century of ministry.
Celebrating the bicentennial but looking forward to the next hundred years, the congregation established during the preceding year the Mission 300 Endowment Fund to reach out to serve the needs of others within the Woodstock community and throughout the world. The investment of fund assets in this permanent endowment are intended to preserve the Fund's long-term integrity while providing money for annual distribution to various programs and projects according to the following formula:
The fund's Board of Advisors announced during February for recipients for distribution during 2007:
During this year, two individuals who were significant in the life of the congregation were honored by gifts in perpetuity to the Mission Fund: Ruth Elizabeth Langling, whose niece Carolyn Barrette said: "she taught us how to love," and Rev. Dr. Arnie Bentz, an internationally known theologian and teacher who often came back to visit our congregation. It is fitting that these two remarkable individuals will continue to be a part of this congregation through the memorials in their honor to the fund.
As we begin this third century of faithful witness by Christ's Church family, Ruth Langling and Arnie Bentz and others who are so memorialized will continue to teach others how to love.Many contributions to the fund also came in honor of Stuart Lee Bomar, son of Barbara and Walter Kortrey, who was tragically killed during this year.
During the Lent and Easter season, several congregation members took part in a 7-week Lutheran Course on the fundamentals of Lutheranism, exploring what it means to be a Lutheran, what Lutherans teach about baptism and holy communion, how Lutherans read the Bible, and how we understand God's work in our lives.
Marie S. made a beautiful and delicious cake for Pastor Sonja's surprise baby shower brunch. A soft and squishy bright blue bear sat atop the pile of shower gifts from members of the congregation. There was a larger than usual attendance.
On Wednesday, March 28, at 10:49 a.m., Pastor Sonja gave birth to a son, Hans Michael Tillberg Maclary, who weighed 7 pounds 5 ounces, and had an initial "height" of 1 foot 9 inches. He was baptized into God's Family and Christ's Church on Sunday, June 24, by Pastor Bob Wollenburg (who preached and presided at worship on that day).
During Pastor Sonja's maternity leave (until June 3), the following ministry coordinators ("go to" people) volunteered to be available to help keep things running smoothly and to assist the congregation, overseeing the opportunities and needs of a particular ministry area, working with assistants who took responsibility for manageable bites:
The beautification committee published terrific plans for planting projects, landscaping, pastoral and disabled parking places, and banners to make the church even more beautiful and accessible.
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans offered our congregation $1,300 supplemental funds grant for the year. At the March Stewardship meeting, members decided to create three fund raisers to raise $1,302 in sales and earn $434 in Thrivent supplemental funds each. Carmen Adler volunteered to run the annual garden and bake sale on Memorial Day weekend. Eileen O'Neal volunteered to run the rummage and bake sale fund raiser in the fall.
The annual garden and bake sale that Carmen organized on May 26 was a huge success, with beautiful weather and the church grounds "abuzz" with the many busy "bees" needed to pull it all off. Assorted plants and flowers and many delicious varieties of baked goods were sold throughout the day. There was also a "Fair Trade table," with coffee, chocolate bars, and other assorted items from Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and Greater Gift, a partner with LWR for the LWR Handcraft Project, organized by deacon Barbara Bambina. Here are Barbara's words:
Delicious chocolate and coffee! Beautiful handcrafted items! I hope you had an opportunity to see these Fair Trade items that were for sale.… This was our first venture into what I hope will be an expanding relationship with Lutheran World Relief, and Greater Gift.… This project is making a difference in people's lives, and I am excited that our church is a part of it.The LWR catalog was fun to look through, and it was filled with stories of people who are part of this program. I read how higher wages enable people to sustain their families, and give them hope and dignity. I read how funds from the program have been used for schools, health care, and clean water. I also read how women, who had been liabilities to their families, are now assets, and how this gives them a new position of respect in their family and in their community. It is wonderful that we are able to help people so directly. Also, the proceeds from our fair will be donated to the Crossroad Springs School in Kenya, so the blessings from our fair will continue to ripple out into the world.…
May was also the month for our congregation to staff the Good Neighbor Food Pantry, coordinated by Carmen Adler. Several volunteers staffed and contributed food items for the pantry, open for two hours each Thursday morning during the month. There was a special food drive from the Letter Carriers Association, distributing close to 900 pounds of food to 13 different organizations feeding the hungry, which helped replenish the shelves at CLC, giving us a variety of foods plus such bonus items as juices and peanut butter.
I would like to thank Joe Jorgensen and Sue Cocozza for their leadership of this program in the past. Feeding the hungry is a big responsibility, but it can be made easier with help. The need is great and making a difference is based on our church community's support. When we share from the abundance that has been given to us by God's grace, we better recognize the blessings which have been given to us.
Deacon Barbara Bambina and Donna Duma attended the ELCA Metro Synod Assembly in May at the St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Huntington Station on Long Island. This year's theme was "Living in God's Amazing Grace: Thanks Be to God!" Barbara and Donna were able to use the new Lutheran Book of Worship for four different services, and they listened to inspiring presentations given on Project Connect, the Lutheran Asian Ministry, the Immigration Task Force, the Zion Lutheran Church building project, the Youth Ministry, Tanzania, the Hunger Committee, and the New Hope Valley Stream church merger. Resolutions were presented on HIV/AIDS awareness and the elimination of the stigma regarding the disease. A new Transition and Call Process for pastors and other rostered leaders was adopted, to give congregations and new call pastors more opportunities for filling vacancies. Bishop Bowman challenged the audience with the following two questions: "What do we want to leave for a legacy for our grandchildren?" and "How do we help pass on the faith and stories that will help keep Christ alive in their lives?"
Among the high school graduates in the congregation this spring were Kevin Davidson, Sarah Schonbrun, Danielle Barthel, Ayden Wilbur, and Katie Cortina. As Pastor Sonja said in the summer "Word from our Pastor":
We are so proud of all of them! It must be acknowledged that it is truly a gift to watch children grow from babies, to kids, to young adults. We remember many of this year's graduates from when they were babies or small children. Even I am amazed at how quickly the years have gone by and how much and how well they all have grown! Think of how many prayers God has answered through them! Whether it be health, or well being, or simply their physical growth, the development of a human being through the years of childhood is absolutely a miracle! Even as we pray for continued blessings on this year's graduates, we must give thanks and praise to God for what they have grown to be today!
Kid's Club, a free-of-charge Bible school for preschool and early elementary aged kids, met during the year. Kids shared in Bible stories, books, music, games, and crafts.
The sixth annual Vacation Bible School was held in late June; Bible stories included were Jesus calming the storm, Jesus healing the lame man, the Good Shepherd, and the Good Samaritan. The children explored how such "Fruits of the Spirit" as patience, love, and kindness are shown in these stories.
Deacon Barbara Bambina left our congregation in mid-July to be closer to her work in Dutchess County. Here is part of her farewell message:
I want to tell you all how much I love you, and I want to thank you for your support over these past 27 years. You have been a part of my family. I am not living so far away that I will never be able to visit, but I cannot continue to attend church on a regular basis, and I cannot continue to be your deacon. This change means that I will get to experience the new adventures that God has in store for me. It also means that opportunities have opened up for you to explore new areas in your faith life. Take some time to consider how you might take a leadership role in the areas of visitation, or adult studies. The choir could also use another soprano! I will continue to keep you in my prayers, and I ask you to pray for me.Deacon Barbara preached on Sunday, September 9, and there was a brunch in her honor after the service. The congregation bid her farewell and Godspeed.Yours in Christ,
Deacon Barbara Bambina
On September 6, the churches involved with the Food Pantry met and discussed inviting other churches into the mission. Victoria Langling spoke of other aide programs that might be useful to the pantry. The Food Bank provided a larger grant for purchasing food items. Carmen Adler suggested a dinner fund raiser with the Care Abounds in Community challenge grant program of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.
On Saturday, September 15, the Stewardship Ministry hosted the "Bounty in Our Lives" family fun night, where participants named the bounty in their lives--from health and family (adults) to butterflies and umbrellas (children). Bounty® paper towels were given a new look with pictures and words expressing the abundance of God's gifts in our lives. A "quilt of Bounty" was hung in Fellowship Hall. A pictionary version of "Ways we give back this bounty at home and in the community" was particularly enlightening and entertaining. Music and dancing concluded the evening.
The third annual yard sale was held on Saturday, September 22. It was a huge success, with perfect weather (except for a brief shower) and customers in large numbers. Everyone played an important part in this success--whether they baked, donated, sorted, or worked on Saturday. The sale raised $1,317.06, and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provided an additional grant of $435--for a grand total of $1,752.06. It was not just "about the money"; it was a great time for fellowship, with several new stories to pass around. Our church was exposed to many people who could see Christ at work.
On Sunday, September 30, the congregation celebrated its udugu, or "companion," covenant with the North Western Diocese in Tanzania and took a loose-change offering to help support the Tanzania Endowment Fund, to benefit the ministries in that country, including the Kibeta English Medium Primary School (KEMPS). The synod as a whole collected more than $15,000 on that day.
On Sunday, October 7, the congregation culminated its month of stewardship activities with Response Sunday. A special guest preacher, the Rev. Erica Kennedy, led the service.
On Sunday, November 4, the congregation celebrated All Saints Sunday. After the worship service, they moved to Fellowship Hall, where Pastor Sonja led a prayer of thanks for the Mission Endowment Fund. A plaque was dedicated honoring the Founding Members; fund board president David Adler placed the plaque in honor of all the individuals, families, and organizations who contributed during this first year of the fund.
The Thanksgiving Pie Bake, organized by Eileen O'Neal, was a huge success. Congregation bakers prepared scores of Thanksgiving pies on November 18 at the Ashokan field campus. The sales of the pies, which were supplemented by the Care in Congregations program of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, benefited the ministries of Christ's Church, including the "Raising Hope Around the World" project. Two area businesses generously donated ingredients and supplies: Borchert Orchard in Marlboro donated five bushels of apples, and Spiegel Brothers Paper Company in Kingston donated pie boxes.
![[ the Mejia home in Newburgh ]](images/newburghhouse.jpg)
On Saturday, December 1, the Mejia home on Washington Street in Newburgh (one of the economically hardest hit areas in our region) was dedicated, culminating 8 months of the volunteer efforts under the auspices of Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity. Over a hundred people were present for the heartwarming occasion, including executives from Habitat for Humanity International and the Thrivent regional office. Here is a picture of the completed home for the Mejia family.
On Sunday, December 16, the congregation held a Family Dinner and Theater--a potluck dinner for family and friends followed by a short Children's Christmas play, "Christmas Treasures" (including songs, poems, playlets, narration, and a live nativity).
During Christmas week, 14 poinsettias were personally delivered to shut-in members and friends of the congregation. Given in memory and in honor of loved ones, they had graced the chancel for the Christmas pageant and Christmas worship services.
| There is no context history of the Woodstock region, the United States, or the world at large for the years beyond 2006. Sorry. |