midweek advent servicesmidweek advent services

Income/Expense 2

From the Pastor . . . . 3

Adult Forum 4

President Ponderings 7

Library 8

Calendar 9

Worship page 10

Christmas Thoughts 5

Social Ministry 11

Inside this issue:

We at Atonement Lutheran

Church reach out with the

good news of God’s love

through Jesus Christ.

As Christ’s ministry includes

everyone, we, too, welcome

persons of any ethnicity, gender identity, race, sexual

orientation, marital status,

age, economic situation, and

physical or mental ability.

We celebrate the gifts each

one brings to the life and

ministry of this community of

faith.

Office Hours 10:00am – 3:00pm

Tuesday thru Friday

Christmas/New Year Worship ScheduleChristmas/New Year Worship ScheduleChristmas/New Year Worship ScheduleChristmas/New Year Worship Schedule Saturday, December 24 – Christmas Eve Services with Holy Com-

munion at 7:00pm and 11:00pm.

Sunday, December 25 – Service of Lessons and Carols for Christ-

mas Day with Holy Communion at 10:00am (Note: One Ser-vice)

Sunday, January 1 – One service at 10:00am.

M idweek Advent services continue around the theme “From

Heaven Above.” As the 500th anniversary of the Refor-mation approaches, this beloved hymn by Martin Luther provides

the theme for these Advent services. Join us each week as we fo-cus on the divine gifts that come down to us through the birth of

Jesus:

Dec. 7 – “The Gift of Love” (John 3:13-17): The steadfast love of

God is revealed in the gift of his Son. As redeemed peo-ple of God we share his love with others.

Dec. 14 – “The Gift of Peace” (John 14:25-27): In Christ Jesus

we have peace with God. We now share that good news of peace with the world.

Dec. 21 – “The Gift of Life” (John 1:1-5): Through faith in Jesus

we have forgiveness and life, a life of love and service now in his name and eternal life in his presence.

Join us each week as we “unwrap” each of these precious treas-

ures delivered to us by the One born on Christmas.

Midweek Advent ServicesMidweek Advent ServicesMidweek Advent ServicesMidweek Advent Services

Makin’ Waves

Income/Expense SnapshotIncome/Expense SnapshotIncome/Expense SnapshotIncome/Expense Snapshot...Atonement Lutheran Church ~ October 2016

Capital Fund

General Fund

Prayer & Bible Study Prayer & Bible Study Prayer & Bible Study Prayer & Bible Study

P lease join us on Mondays each week for prayer /meditation and bible study.

5:30-7:00pm in Narthex

Endowment Account

Pastor Ed Milliken

Makin’ Waves

From the Pastor … From the Pastor … From the Pastor … From the Pastor …

lavishness of God’s compassion and mercy

frame yet another year for us. With the arrival of Advent, we attend to this mys-

tery one more time. We are a people who are clearly apprehensive, yet curious

about the day of our Lord’s coming. Many voices around us, tell us that these are the

days of ending and that we’d better be careful if we don’t want to be “Left Be-

hind.” But the gospel proclaims that in every ending there is a new beginning, so

we live in hope, not fear.

The message of Advent and Christmas is the good news of God’s coming to this

earth in grace and in love. Jesus has come to set us free. He has come to save the

world from darkness and to usher in the time of his glorious light.

Advent and Christmas, then, call us not so

much to worship of a past event, but a present reality and a future hope; the

continuing and lasting incarnation of God in Jesus. He comes to us as Immanuel,

God with us, and he remains with us as Immanuel. The light shines in the dark-

ness and the darkness cannot and will not overcome it. The light of Christ is within

us, among us, and around us. The dark-ness has been shattered by his marvelous

light.

May the light of Christ fill you and overflow from you during this holy season, and may

you live as people of light, now and forev-er.

D ear Friends in Christ,

Creator of the stars of night,

Your people’s everlasting light, O Christ, Redeemer of us all,

We pray you hear us when we call.

In sorrow that the ancient curse

Should doom to death a universe,

You came, O Savior, to set free Your own in glorious liberty.

Come, Sun and Savior to embrace Our gloomy world, its weary race,

As groom to bride, as bride to groom: The wedding chamber: Mary’s womb.

At your great name, O Jesus, now

All knees must bend, all hearts must bow; All things on earth with one accord,

Like those in heav’n shall call you Lord.

Come in your holy might, we pray,

Redeem us for eternal day;

Defend us while we dwell below, From all assaults of our dread foe.

(8th century Advent hymn)

The month of December finds us celebrat-ing the season of Advent and preparing

our hearts for the coming of the Lord. We who live in an ever darkening world long

for that darkness to be reversed by the

coming of the Son, the Light of the world.

Advent summons us to the beginning. The

Monthly Setup/Cleanup/Snacks… Monthly Setup/Cleanup/Snacks… Monthly Setup/Cleanup/Snacks… Monthly Setup/Cleanup/Snacks… Please sign up on any open dates. Sign-up sheet located on bulletin board... We appreciate your time and effort!

Pastor Ed MillikenPastor Ed MillikenPastor Ed MillikenPastor Ed Milliken

Makin’ Waves

First Friday Lunch Bunch… First Friday Lunch Bunch… First Friday Lunch Bunch… First Friday Lunch Bunch… Friday December 2nd at Pig & Pancake, Newport @ 12 noon.

Please e-mail or call office if you are able to attend...Thank You!

Adult Forum News Adult Forum News Adult Forum News Adult Forum News … by Pastor Ed

I n December we will finish our look at the award winning documentary “A Path Ap-

pears and then begin a discussion of the video “Countering Pharaoh’s Production-Consumption Society Today,” featuring Dr. Walter Brueggeman who is an Old Testa-

ment scholar and retired professor from Columbia Theological Seminary. Upcoming ses-sions are:

December 4 – “A Path Appears – Violence and Solutions: Part 2”

December 11 – No Adult Forum

December 18 – “Countering Pharaoh - The Way Out”

December 25 and January 1 – No Adult Forum

January 8 – “Countering Pharaoh - The Decalogue”

January 15 - “Countering Pharaoh - Countering Caesar”

January 22 – “Countering Pharaoh – An Act of Imagination”

January 29 – No Adult Forum

February 5 - “Countering Pharaoh – On Not Doing God Any Favors”

Gather ‘Round the Christmas Tree, December 11Gather ‘Round the Christmas Tree, December 11Gather ‘Round the Christmas Tree, December 11Gather ‘Round the Christmas Tree, December 11 by MaryLou Mate

J oin the tree-trimming/decorating brigade on Sunday, December 11, at 9:15 or so,

between the two services! There will be fun tasks and cookies for all ages (especially if everyone brings one or two dozen cookies to share). Cookies can be

dropped off at the church office anytime from December 8, or on Sunday the 11th.

Shannon White and his stalwart crew will put up the tree on Saturday, December 10—

let him know if you’d like to join the crew. (Calling all stalwarts!)

Also, donations of poinsettias will be greatly appreciated and will help make the Christ-mas services even more beautiful. Bring your poinsettia(s) before December 24th.

Thanks to all!

Makin’ Waves

My Christmas Thoughts … My Christmas Thoughts … My Christmas Thoughts … My Christmas Thoughts … by Rhonda Harman

love. The meaning of Christmas is all

about true love, divine love. The meaning and purpose of Christmas has to do with

being willing to accept His love uncondi-tionally, not trying to understand all that

is not clear but be willing to accept our-selves as he created us, just as we are.

What we make of our lives is the sum to-

tal of His unique creation. This includes each decision and free choice made on a

minute to minute basis. Our good choices

make us happy and joyful while our other choices make us grow. It is the growth

that is important. What really matters is that we continue to try to love Him, try to

love ourselves and try to love each other! In loving we learn to ask forgiveness and

by His holy grace receive forgiveness ab-solutely.

Each and every year of Christmas, I am

so thankful for the baby Jesus and I ap-preciate who I am. I am filled with won-

der, awe and inspiration and filled with the hopes of peace, health and happiness

and I try to express my love by giving myself to others.

All He asks of us is love Him and love each other. He knows we are not perfect

but He wants us to try and keep trying

and keep growing. If we keep faith, just a little tiny bit, we can be happy inside.

G od gave us life and gave us the earth to support and enjoy life. He gave us the sun to warm us and the rain to make

things grow, the moon to make the tides ebb and a cycle to create time and make

sense of our lives. He makes the rain fall to fill the rivers that flow to the oceans,

for all of sea life. He makes the seeds which feed the birds, grow into plants,

fruits and vegetables and food for all creatures. He makes the air we breathe.

He created all life, you and me.

He gave you and me healthy bodies. Im-agine an atom, then imagine cells, tissue,

organs, bones, muscles. He make each one of us special totally unique, like none

other, and He made each one of us inten-tionally and with purpose. Living with our

bodies, we may choose to care for life to enjoy life because He gave us feelings,

taste buds, sensory excitement even the pleasures of sex. He gave us dominion

over the earth; the ability to reason, the freedom to make all of our choices, intui-

tion and insight into life itself.

He did all this because He loves us as His

perfect creation. Then, He created His most precious gift, His son. He sent Him

to us to live in a world just as we have made it imperfect as it is to teach us how

to live in the world and to try and make us understand His love. He created per-

fection in Jesus, true love, unconditional

Our Pink Pig piggy bank is available on the round tables each Sunday. Bring some change to feed our pink little guy, and we will be so grateful.

Our Atonement little guys and gals are thrilled when they decide to buy

chicks, a pig, a lamb or even a goat through ELCA or Heifer International. These gifts to families offer a food chain source and then income to end hunger and poverty. Let’s do

this together, we are one!

Makin’ Waves

Room RentalRoom RentalRoom RentalRoom Rental

WELCA News… WELCA News… WELCA News… WELCA News… by Jean Amundson

Find the Good News and Praise It Find the Good News and Praise It Find the Good News and Praise It Find the Good News and Praise It

O ur church facilities/rooms on the lower level are available for rent...short term

events (parties, meetings, weddings) or long term (weekly or monthly) if needed. Please, check with our office for available dates and time.

Phone# 541-265-2554 E-mail: [email protected]

T he Women of the ELCA (WELCA—

and if you’re a woman who attends Atonement, that means you!) will have a

“finger food” Christmas luncheon on Wednesday, December 14, at 12:30.

Please come and be prepared to have a wonderful time.

Anne Stangeland will present a short de-votional from the Gather magazine,

“What Waits to be Born in You?” about

the richness of the Advent season. With-out stealing Anne’s thunder, think about

Welcome New Members … Welcome New Members … Welcome New Members … Welcome New Members … by Pastor Ed

F ormer member of Atonement, Joyce Atchley, recently received Holy Orders to the

Diaconate in the Episcopal Church. The Diaconate has been revived in the Episco-pal Church as a Holy Order. Ordained deacons may serve a parish along with a priest

and are assigned by the bishop. Congratulations Joyce!

anticipation, getting ready, and times of

darkness and possibility . . .

If you have an antique Christmas ornament

you’d like to share, bring it for a special display, along with an index card or short

note that describes its meaningfulness for you.

In any case, we hope to see you and a

“finger food” appetizer on December 14th. No chance to make anything? Come any-

way, there’s always lots to share!

I n recent days we rejoiced in receiving Janice Delameter, Sabine Moresco, and Drema Hortonas new members at Atonement. We welcome them into our family of faith and pray that God will use their gifts in our mutual ministry in Newport and be-

yond. Please take time to get to know them and add your personal welcome.

More new members will be received soon! Exciting things are happening at Atonement.

Who can you invite to be a part of what God is doing among us?

Makin’ Waves

(continued on page 8)

Ponderings from the President ... Ponderings from the President ... Ponderings from the President ... Ponderings from the President ... By Susan Painter

I t wasn’t the persistent back pain; it wasn’t even the loss of weight or ap-petite; it was , finally, the sudden,

strange yellow cast to John’s skin that fi-nally took us to the emergency room.

Tests, admission… then, we were told to leave – at once! - for Portland and a spe-

cialist and more tests.

Many hours later in Portland, in a cold and sterile room, the doctor we didn’t know

took John away for the procedure… hours

passed… and more. Finally, the doctor we didn’t know came out to meet me.

“The tumor looks malignant,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

The doctor we didn’t know referred us to

an oncologist and disappeared. We would never see the doctor we didn’t know

again. Spilled out into the deafening summer sunlight, we found our world, in

an instant, upside down.

Days later, we had some details: all bad.

The biopsy confirmed cancer. Treatment would be grueling, with the outcome un-

certain. We had a year, at most. What do we do? How do we cope as we walk

through the valley of the shadow of death, our decades together unraveling?

How best to spend the remaining time? Panic. Despair. Sometimes, a debilitating

inability to move or to feel or to function.

We wanted to cling to each other, to sa-vor each moment; but there were mun-

dane things like laundry and groceries and bills to pay…

There are no courses on coping at such

times. But a good friend who’s been through this said, “A terminal diagnosis is

a gift.” As we clawed our way out of the darkness, we realized she was right. It is

a time to hold tight to each other. To

cling to faith. To choose most carefully

what to do and with whom to share our remaining time.

We chose, of course, to spend it together.

I took a leave from meetings and every-thing not completely essential to our life.

We traveled to favorite places on the coast. We chased all the dancing sea lion

sculptures around Florence and explored new restaurants we hadn’t found before.

We took special care to watch the rain-

bows and hold each other, promising anew that the tumor could never tarnish

our love.

A few weeks after we shared the devas-tating news with family, they decided to

hold a celebration for John. “Why,” he asked, “do they wait till I’m dying to have

a party?” Gradually he accepted the idea, mostly when we decided to couple

it with a celebration of our 37th wedding

anniversary – something we had done every five years until my own illness a

few years ago derailed that routine.

My disparate and sometimes divided family – separated by philosophy, geogra-

phy and trivial disputes over the years – came together. They made arrange-

ments, sent out invitations, coordinated music and photos, food and lodging and

even money. They insisted all we need-

ed to do was “show up.” Cate and Andy came from Atlanta. George arrived from

Illinois. Tim flew up from Sacramento. Liam took time from college at Pomona.

Pam and Will and Samina all came from Portland.

And so, a few weeks ago, we “showed

up.” John was in a wheelchair by then, pain medicine making him tired but deter-

Blessing

Makin’ Waves

Ponderings from the President … Ponderings from the President … Ponderings from the President … Ponderings from the President … (continues from page 7)

Library Committee … Library Committee … Library Committee … Library Committee … by Carol Baker

mined. As our friends – about 140 of them – streamed into the Performing Arts Center,

they thanked us for sharing our love and a chance to let John know how many lives he had touched and how deeply he was loved… while he was there with us.

Our family united around the chance to celebrate love, to cherish each other, to know

that, “the last enemy to be destroyed is death.” After the speeches, the songs, and the toasts, many couples left, hand-in-hand. John and I were truly blessed: by the new

closeness of our family; by the outpouring of reflected love; and by the celebration we shared that promised new life beyond our earthly shells.

Pastor Keith said that day,

“Life isn’t about waiting out the storm; it’s about learning to dance in the rain…

Faith is moving to the edge of all there is… and taking one more step.”

GOD’S HOTEL By Victoria Sweet

Victoria went to the Laguna Honda

Hospital in San Francisco with the idea of staying there only a couple

months. She ended up staying for over twenty years, as did many of the staff.

The recounting of her experiences with patients was very interesting. She also

explained her interest in doing research about Hildegard of Bingen who practiced

medicine in the 1200’s. She incorporated many of Hildebard’s practices in her own.

Victoria prefers to practice Slow Medicine

rather than fast. And at Laguna Honda she had that luxury for quite a while. And

it seemed efficient in the long run. But

the City wanted up update or tear down the old hospital and that led to a sort of

rebellion where people were torn apart in their loyalties.

Victoria seemed to be able to stay neu-

tral, but she clearly loved the old hotel. She was able to take some time off and

go to Switzerland to study for awhile.

She also hiked the Way with a friend and

split it into four segments, hiking a quar-

ter of the way each year. This gave her a perspective she wouldn’t have had, had

she stayed in San Francisco all this time.

San Francisco’s Laguna Honda Hospital is the last almshouse in the country, a de-

scendant of the Hotel-Dieu (God’s Hotel) that cared for the sick in the Middle Ages.

Ballet dancers and rock musicians, profes-sors and thieves—anyone who had fallen,

or, often, leapt, onto hard times and

needed extended medical care—ended up here. In the relatively low-tech but hu-

man-paced environment, these extraordi-nary patients began to transform the way

Victoria Sweet understood her work, evoking an older idea of medicine, one

where the body is a garden to be tended, rather than a machine to be fixed. God’s

Hotel tells their stories and the story of the hospital itself, which—as efficiency

experts, politicians, and architects de-scended, determine to turn it into a mod-

ern “health care facility”—reveals its own surprising truths about the essence, cost,

and value of caring for body and soul.

Makin’ Waves

December 2016December 2016December 2016December 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Hi Neighbor Month

Made in America

Month

Interfaith Month

National Stress free

Month

1 8:00am Men’s Bible Study Breakfast at Fish Tails

World Aids Day

2 12:00pm First Friday Brunch @ Pig and Pancake

3

8:00-11:30am Weight Watchers Mtg (Ed Rm)

4

8:00am Worship 9-12pm Blood Pressure 11:00am Worship 12:30pm Ed Mtg

5

Office Closed

5:30pm Prayer/ Bible Study 6:30pm Parish Life

6

2:00pm Staff Mtg

6:30pm Early Risers 7:30pm Chancel Choir

St Nicholas Day

7

4:00pm Finance

5:30pm HMT

7:00pm Advent Service

8

8:00am Men’s Bible Study Breakfast at Fish Tails

11-5pm OCQG Mtg (FH)

9

10 8:00-11:30am Weight Watchers Mtg (Ed Rm)

Human Rights Day

11

8:00am Worship

9:15am Christmas Tree Decorating 11:00am Worship

12:15pm Worship/ Music Mtg

12 Office Closed 9:30am Property

5:30pm Prayer/ Bible Study

13

2:00pm Staff Mtg

5:30pm Social Ministry Mtg

6:30pm Early Risers 7:30pm Chancel

14 12:30pm WELCA

7:00pm Advent Service


Bill of Rights Day

16

National Chocolate

Covered anything

day

17

8:00-11:30am Weight Watchers Mtg (Ed Rm)

18

8:00am Worship 9:30am Adult Forum Sunday School

11:00am Worship

19 Office Closed 9-12pm Work Party

5:30pm Prayer/ Bible Study

20 2:00pm Staff Mtg 6:30pm Early Risers 7:30pm Chancel Choir

21

Humbug Day

5:30pm Endowment

7:00pm Advent Service 7:30pm Council

22 WAVESWAVESWAVESWAVES Deadline 8:00am Men’s Bible Study Breakfast at Fish Tails

23

24 8:00-11:30am Weight Watchers Mtg ((Ed Rm) 7:00pm Christmas Service 11:00pm Christmas Service

25 10:00am Christmas Day Service

26 Office Closed

5:30pm Prayer/ Bible Study 5:00pm Stone Soup @ St Stephens

27 2:00pm Staff Mtg

6:30pm Early Risers 7:30pm Chancel Choir

28


30

31 8:00-11:30am Weight Watchers Mtg ((Ed Rm)

Makin’ Waves

Worship PageWorship PageWorship PageWorship Page Worship

4 8:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

11 8:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

18 8:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

24 7:00 p.m.

11:00 p.m.

25 10:00 a.m.

Readers

Paul Amundson Pete Kraack

Carla Johnsen Dean Hill

Jean Amundson

Deb Christensen

_____________ _____________

Terri Homer

Altar Guild

MaryLou Mate

Bette Harmon

MaryLou Mate

Bette Harmon

MaryLou Mate

Marian Brown

Bette Harmon

MaryLou Mate

MaryLou Mate

Musicians Marian Brown

Marian Brown

Tami Johnson

Tami Johnson

Jerryann Olson

Jerryann Olson

Tami Johnson

Marian Brown

Marian Brown

4 Terri McCully 11 Bonnie Powell

(Nik’s Birthday)

18 Deb Christenson

(Sister Karen/4th

Angel Birthday)

25 Congregation

Marilyn Day 12/2

Taylor Johnson 12/4

Shannon White 12/9

Susan Painter 12/11

Michael Banks 12/12

Tracy Goudy 12/12

Meredith Mann 12/25

4 Terri Homer &

Paul Amundson

11 Paul Amundson &

Pete Kraack 18 Pete Kraack &

Bob Olson

25 Bob Olson &

Peggy Gilman

26 Tom & Jean Hamilton

Social Ministry… ((((continues from page 8)

Thanksgiving Baskets Thanksgiving Baskets Thanksgiving Baskets Thanksgiving Baskets ………… by Sally Jennings

Game Party Game Party Game Party Game Party ………… by Sally Jennings

T hanks to the generosity of the people of Atonement Lutheran Church, Thrivent Fi-

nancial's Action Team grant of $250, and the anonymous donation of 20 turkeys, we were able to provide generous boxes of food to 19 families this Thanksgiving. Nine

Thanksgiving food boxes went to families who live at Samaritan House. Ten boxes were delivered to families who attend our monthly Randy's Feed & Read program and

are part of the L.C.S.D. Homeless Education & Literacy Program. We added apples, mandarins, mini carrots, salad boxes, butter, pumpkin pie, spray whipped cream, din-

ner rolls, a loaf of bread, and a turkey, to your food donations. Thank you to all the folks who helped sort food, shop, pack boxes and make deliveries on November

22nd. God's work, our hands.

for all the support we have received for this program. Anything is welcome and helpful, but this month we will focus on: Stews/Soups.

Food for Food Share Program Food for Food Share Program Food for Food Share Program Food for Food Share Program … by Terri McCulley

O ur church will be serving Stone Soup at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church on Monday, December 26th. Members of Atonement provide a delicious healthy meal to hungry, often homeless, people on the 4th Monday of each month.

Stone Soup …Stone Soup …Stone Soup …Stone Soup … by Sally Jennings

Makin’ Waves

Enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner, Wednesday, December 7, 2016, with an outstanding ocean view as you help Lincoln County's homeless fami-

lies. Georgie's will donate 15% of the days proceeds to Samaritan House Homeless Family Shelter.

M ark those new 2017 calendars. Social Ministry Committee is hosting a game par-

ty at Atonement on Sunday, January 29th, after our combined 10:00 church ser-vice. We'll be playing board games and card games in our Fellowship Hall and enjoying

refreshments and a potluck of finger food. We'll have more details in our January WAVES. For now, save the date, and practice your "game face".

Reminder...Reminder...Reminder...Reminder...

Audio

Worship Services

& Calendar

on website

Fill our Food Barrel This Month: Stews &

Soups

A T O N E M E N T L U T H E R A N C H U R C H 2 3 1 5 N O R T H C O A S T H I G H W A Y N E W P O R T O R 9 7 3 6 5 - 1 7 1 0

Phone: 541-265-2554

Fax: 541-265-2571

Email: [email protected]

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