Annual Northeastern Pennsylvania

LUTHER DAY DINNER

2 pm

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Melting Pot

Washburn St. , Scranton

Sponsored by: The Association of Lutheran Friends

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WELCOMETo A Celebration of

THE REVEREND DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER

Hosted By

THE ASSOCIATION OF LUTHERAN FRIENDS, INC.

In Cooperation with Congregations Affiliated With The

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN

CHURCH IN AMERICA

And the

LUTHERAN CHURCH – MISSOURI SYNOD

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LUTHER’S MORNING AND EVENING PRAYERSMartin Luther wrote two short prayers for individuals and families to use in the morning after waking and in the evening before going to sleep. These lovely prayers, taken from Dr. Luther’s Small Catechism, can help you begin and end each day with the Lord.

Luther's Morning BlessingIn the morning, as soon as you get out of bed, you are to make the sign of the holy cross and say: "Under the care of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen."

Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles' Creed and the Lord's Prayer. If you wish, you may recite this little prayer as well:

I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have protected me through the night from all harm and danger and I ask that you would also protect me today from sin and every danger, so that my life and actions may please you. Into your hands I commend my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.

After singing a hymn, or whatever else may serve your devotion, you are to go to your work joyfully.

Luther's Evening BlessingIn the evening, when you go to bed, you are to make the sign of the holy cross and say: "Under the care of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen."

Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles' Creed and the Lord's Prayer. If you wish you may recite this little prayer as well:

I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have graciously protected me today, and I ask you to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously to protect me tonight. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Then you are to go to sleep quickly and cheerfully.

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THE ASSOCIATION OF LUTHERAN FRIENDSThe Association of Lutheran Friends is an unusual, if not unique, gathering of Lutheran individuals (not congregations) who, by their adherence to the Christian faith and their Lutheran heritage, work across denominational lines to educate and build up our congregation, and who strongly believe in extending their personal and collective ministry to the community at large.

One of the responsibilities of A.L.F. is the custody of the Historic Ransom Valley Lutheran Church and Cemetery. Begun by a small group of Lutherans in 1846, a humble building was built where visiting pastors conducted services occasionally until 1910. After that time, the property was maintained by a Cemetery Association, which ceased to exist in the early 1970’s. In 1988 the deplorable condition of the property was brought to public attention and several groups worked to restore it. Capping off that effort with a service of rededication in October of 1989. In 1990 the custody of the property was given to A.L.F. Each year a memorial service is conducted there, and in recent years additional services and programs have been added during the summer months.

One of A.L.F.’s special concerns is education. In addition to our Scholarship program, we have sponsored seminars on Legal Issues for Churches and teaching sessions for Church Treasurers. Our additional services at Ransom Church have had an educational thrust, and of course, this Luther Day Dinner has an important educational component as well as the opportunity for fellowship it provides.

THE STATED MISSION OFTHE 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.

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In Loving Memory of

Dorothy M. Travis

She will live in the hearts of the friends she made

and be known always for the foundations she laid,

because Goodness and Fairness never die -

they go shining on like the sun in the sky,

just as Honor and Truth endure forever.

Death is powerless to destroy or sever.

So her gallant soul has taken flight

into a land where there no night.

She is not dead,

she has only gone on to a brighter,

more wonderful dawn.

- Harry S. TravisSusan Daniels

Harry Travis, Jr.

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MARTIN LUTHER’S SEALIn a July 8, 1530 letter to Lazarus Spengler, Luther interprets his seal:

Grace and peace from the Lord. As you desire to know whether my painted seal, which you sent to me, has hit the mark, I shall answer most amiably and tell you my original thoughts and reason about why my seal is a symbol of my theology. The first should be a black cross in a heart, which retains its natural color, so that I myself would be reminded that faith in the Crucified saves us. "For one who believes from the heart will be justified" (Rom. 10:10). Although it is indeed a black cross, which mortifies and which should also cause pain, it leaves the heart in its natural color. It does not corrupt nature, that is, it does not kill but keeps alive. "The just shall live by faith" (Rom. 1:17) but by faith in the crucified. Such a heart should stand in the middle of a white rose, to show that faith gives joy, comfort, and peace. In other words, it places the believer into a white, joyous rose, for this faith does not give peace and joy like the world gives (John 14:27). That is why the rose should be white and not red, for white is the color of the spirits and the angels (cf. Matt. 28:3; John 20:12). Such a rose should stand in a sky-blue field, symbolizing that such joy in spirit and faith is a beginning of the heavenly future joy, which begins already, but is grasped in hope, not yet revealed. And around this field is a golden ring, symbolizing that such blessedness in Heaven lasts forever and has no end. Such blessedness is exquisite, beyond all joy and goods, just as gold is the most valuable, most precious and best metal. This is my compendium theologiae [summary of theology]. I have wanted to show it to you in good friendship, hoping for your appreciation. May Christ, our beloved Lord, be with your spirit until the life here after. Amen.

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WILLIAM T. SCHMIDT MEMORIAL AWARDThe Association of Lutheran Friends re-established the William T. Schmidt Memorial Award in 1997. The award had previously been a project of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Branch of Lutheran Brotherhood. The purpose of the award is to recognize and honor a Lutheran Christian residing in Northeastern Pennsylvania for outstanding and dedicated service to their home congregation, an agency of the church, and/or the community at large. The ward serves as a memorial to the late William T. Schmidt, a former mayor of the city of Scranton and an outstanding Lutheran layperson. After completing his term as Scranton’s mayor, Mr. Schmidt was appointed by then Pennsylvania Governor Raymond P. Shaffer to the post of Pennsylvania Secretary of Commerce; a post he held until his death. He was an active member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Scranton, and, as a volunteer, served on the boards of various community-based organizations. Mr. Schmidt, working in cooperation with the local business community, founded the annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast in Scranton – a successful event that is still held in the Fall of each year. The William T. Schmidt Memorial Park is the site of the South Scranton Sports Complex. To be eligible to receive the Schmidt award, a person must be a member of a Lutheran congregation, and must be nominated by a third party, such as a congregation, pastor, or person that is knowledgeable of the activities of the nominee. Nominees who are members of the Association of Lutheran Friends are given preference, but it is not a requirement. Nominations are submitted to the A.L.F. board, who, having reviewed them, make their selection by secret ballot. Presentation of the award is made at the annual Luther Day Dinner. In addition to the award, a $200 contribution is made to the charity of the award recipient’s choice in his or her honor.

The recipient of the 2012 William T. Schmidt award is Roger and Jane Borchin,

member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Scranton.and the NEW Young Person’s Award:

Sarah Walker, of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Wilkes Barre“I thank Him who has given me strength for this, Christ  Jesus our Lord,

because he judged me faithful by appointing me to His  service...”

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        - 1 Timothy  1:12

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A.L.F. SPONSORED MISSION EXPERIENCE WITH LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF

It was a wonderful time of sharing and learning as a team of six took two days in July to participate in the A.L.F. sponsored “LWR Mission Experience” trip to Baltimore, MD. This annual trip has been running for close to 10 years now in a variety of ways and it has the aim of contributing to and learning about the work of Lutheran World Relief. LWR is one of the organizations that A.L.F. likes to support because it is pan-Lutheran and is highly regarded for its relief work around the world.

On July 5th the participants left by van in the early morning and arrived at the LWR intake, processing, and shipping warehouse in a small town about 45 minutes away from Baltimore. At this warehouse they volunteered the day by helping sort and package Health Kits to be shipped around the world. After spending the night at the lovely conference center there they drove to Baltimore Inner Harbor where they experienced a wonderful tour of the LWR headquarters and heard a detailed explanation of all that they do. They spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the city sights on their own before returning to Scranton. A beautiful time indeed! Please join us next year!

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See your Vet regularly…There’s no bones about

that!

In Loving Memory of

Alan Ladd Russell

VCA DUNMORE ANIMAL HOSTPITALMedical – Surgical – Dental – Behavioral

Laser Surgery Available – Emergency ServiceBoarding and Grooming Available

1317 East Drinker Street, Dunmore PA 18512570-344-7651

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LUTHER DAY DINNERPROGRAMME

Toastmaster: Rev. Al Wagaman

Welcoming Remarks and Pledge of Allegiance

Hymn: “The Church’s One Foundation” (see next page)

Invocation Prayer: Rev. K. Bjornstad

DINNER

Entertainment: George, Karen, and Sarah WalkerSt. Matthew Lutheran Church, Wilkes Barre

“The Intersection of Faith and Art”Presentation by Ky Betts, Illustration Major at Marywood University. Member of Peace Lutheran Church, Scranton.

Presentation of the William T. Schmidt Memorial Award

Roger and Jane BorchinMembers of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Scranton

Northeast Pennsylvania Lutheran Laypersons of the YearIntroduced by Rev. Anthony Mandile, III

William T Schmidt Memorial Young Person’s Award

Sarah WalkerMember of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Wilkes Barre

Words of Introduction by Rev. Gary Schaarer

Hymn: “A Mighty Fortress” (see next page)

Benediction: Rev. Anthony Mandile, III

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"The Church's One Foundation"by Samuel J. Stone, 1839-1900

Text From:THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

(St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942) pp. 473-474 

  

1. The Church's one foundationIs Jesus Christ, her Lord;

She is His new creationBy water and the Word.

From heaven He came and sought her

To be His holy bride;With His won blood He bought

her,And for her life He died.

 2. Elect from every nation,Yet one o'er all the earth,Her charter of salvation

One Lord, one faith, one birth.One holy name she blesses,

Partakes one holy food,And to one hope she presses,

With every grace endued. 

3. The Church shall never perish!Her dear Lord, to defend,

To guide, sustain, and cherish,Is with her to the end.

Though there be those that hate her.

False sons within her pale,Against both foe and traitor

She ever shall prevail. 

4. Though with a scornful wonder

Men see her sore oppressed,By schisms rent asunder,

By heresies distressed,Yet saints their watch are

keeping;Their cry goes up, "How long?"And soon the night of weeping

Shall be the morn of song. 

5. Mid toil and tribulationAnd tumult of her war

She waits the consummationOf peace forevermore,

Til with the vision gloriousHer longing eyes are blest

And the great Church victoriousShall be the Church at rest.

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NOTICE OFANNUAL CORPORATE MEETING

Please be advised that the ANNUAL CORPORATE MEETING of the Association of Lutheran Friends, Inc., will be held on THURSDAY, December 6st, 2012 at 6 pm at Friendly’s Restaurant, Dunmore. The business meeting at 7 pm will be preceded by a DINNER. We would appreciate your presence.

A.L.F. HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPAt the Annual Meeting of 2003, it was agreed to promote a $500 scholarship to any NEPA Lutheran person attending a Lutheran Affiliated College or Seminary. Since an important goal of the Association of Lutheran Friends is education, we want to take a specific role in encouraging our young Lutheran Christian in the pursuit of their educational goals, as well as strengthen the great heritage of Lutheran Higher Education.

We have only had the opportunity to present this Scholarship once, and so we urge our members and their congregations to consider eligible candidates!

Applicants should submit the following information to A.L.F.: Name, address, phone; letter of church membership; short description of educational goals; copy of list of registered classes on official school letterhead; record of cumulative GP|A. We look forward to awarding many of these scholarships!

“The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom”

Prov. 9:10

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LUTHER DAY DINNER

PROGRAM SPONSORS

Snowdon Funeral HomeRamona BrownLorraine Pensak

Emma & Otto KleesCarol De CandisPhillip De CandisNorma Duddek

Jill GroganArthur Grogan

Arthur Grogan, Jr.Renee KowalskiOlivia Kowalski

Ed KowalskiElsie SchweitzerAudrey RussellVernon Sallock

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A.L.F. WEB SITEThe Association of Lutheran Friends has merged into the 21st Century with a website:

www.associationoflutheranfriends.org

On this web site you will be able to find all our newsletters and other information updates on A.L.F. happenings and event changes.You will also find a growing list of church histories as they have been presented at our various educational events (see below!)PLEASE CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE and if you have any suggestions, please let Rev. Bjornstad know!

NEPA Lutheran History Project

One of the stated goals of the Association of Lutheran Friends is to enhance and promote the Lutheran community. We have recently endeavored to help accomplish this by helping to gather and tell the history of Lutheranism here in NEPA. We are asking for any contributions to the history of Lutherans and their congregations. We will post them here at this web site and perhaps in the future we would like to produce some sort of publication setting forth the story of Lutheranism and how God blessed it through the years.

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To the Glory of God

and

In Memory of Loved Ones

- Esther and Bob Rayner

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St. Matthew’s United Evangelical Lutheran ChurchA congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Rev. Lester E. Stephenson, Jr., PastorWorship 10 am

425 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, PA 18510 570-342-1000

email: lutherangels@epix.net

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Paul D. Horger, Esquire

OLIVER, PRICE & RHODESATTORNEYS AT LAW

Specializing in: Probate + Estate Planning + Real Estate + Business Transactions

Ph: (570) 585-1200 1212 South Abington Road

P.O. Box 240 Clarks Summit, PA 18411www.oprlaw.com attys@oprlaw.com

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A VERY WARM WELCOMEto the

VIEWMONT DINERFamily Restaurant

With Homemade Cooking and a To Go Menu

448 Scranton-Carbondale Hwy., Dickson City, PA570-558-1771

GREETINGS AND BEST WISHESfrom

SAINT LUKE LUTHERAN CHURCHMain and Bank Streets

Archbald, Pennsylvania 18403Rev. A. Wagaman, Pastor

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LOOK FOR:

The Bonhoeffer Seminars!

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Each Day You Liveby Ranza Devereaux

Each day you live be gratefulYou are alive another day...Take time to gather flowersIn abundance to give away.

Give the flowers to the livingWe were taught long ago...

Speak while they can hear you,If you love them tell them so.

Seek no man out to slanderOr ridicule his name...

We all belong to Jesus andHe loves each one the same.Do what you can for others,Hear their distressful cry...God sees how we treat others,

He knows when we pass them by.Never leave kind words unspoken,

Greet each one with a smile...Each day will grow brighterEach day more worthwhile.

In loving Memory ofElsie Pesut

Audrey Russell

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ASSOCIATION OF LUTHERAN FRIENDS MEMBERSHIP APPEAL!You were invited to become a member (or renew your membership) of A.L.F. when you bought your Luther Day Dinner. If you did not take advantage of that opportunity, we would invite you to make out your $10 membership application below and hand it in to one of the A.L.F. board members. Otherwise you are welcome to send it in to the address indicated below at any time!

The Association has five meetings a year that members are encouraged to attend. We of course would appreciate any help that you might be able to give to running the association and accomplishing its aims.

Membership benefits are simple: A membership card, A.L.F. Newsletters sent to your mailbox, a vote at any of our meetings, and the good notion you are counted among Lutheran (Sinner/Saint) Friends who want to do great things together!

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Association of Lutheran FriendsMembership Application/Renewal

NAME:

ADDRESS:

TELEPHONE NUMBER:

____ $10 CHECK ATTACHED

____ I am willing to help with Association Activities if I am able.

Please send to:Association of Lutheran Friends / CO Audrey Russell 518 Florin St.,

Scranton PA 18509

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