Christ Lutheran Church

121 Cleveland Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10308-2825 + Reverend Dani Fey, Pastor

Phone 718-984-6595 / e-mail: [email protected]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Welcoming new members into the church is surely a joy, but the welcoming is just the beginning. It is my hope that we can continually encourage and support one another, that you will have the opportunity and motivation to actively participate in the life of Christ Lutheran Church.

In order to better help you become acclimated to this particular church, we have prepared this New Member Handbook. In this handbook you will find the necessary information to help you become more informed about all the possibilities and activities available here—things that can serve you and areas in which you may serve.

May God continue to bless you as you participate in membership here at Christ Lutheran Church!

In Jesus Name,

Rev. Dani Fey, Pastor

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Who we Are: CLC is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). We are a people of many shapes and sizes, many ages, and many backgrounds. Together we come together in fellowship and for worship, a community of Christ based on the teachings of Christ and strengthened by the love of Christ.

What we Believe: We believe in one God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into the dead. On the third day he rose again, ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.

We believe that God loves us, forgives us, walks with us and understands us. We believe that God also loves you, forgives you, walks with you and understands you.

For more about what we believe see the ELCA’s webpage about the beliefs of our national church body at : http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe.aspx Or check out your Small Catechism written by Martin Luther!

Contacting the Church Office: Christ Lutheran Church 121 Cleveland Ave Great Kills, Staten Island, NY 10308

Office phone: 718-984-6595 Office email: [email protected] Pastor’s email: [email protected] Website: www.clcsi.net 2

New Members:

New members will be received into church membership during worship after the conclusion of the New Member classes. You will be asked to come forward for a pastoral prayer and respond affirmatively, with the rest of the congregation, to your church membership. Each new member will receive a Membership Certificate. Your picture will be taken for a welcome poster for our bulletin board and for a new member page to be included in The Clarion, our church newsletter, so that other members of the church may place it in their pictorial directories and get to know you. As constitutionally required, you will be voted on for church membership by our church Council. While we journey through the membership class together, you will be assigned a New Member Shepherd. This “Shepherd” will serve as a familiar face, someone who can introduce you to the family of Christ Lutheran Church as you transition into membership here. You will be provided with this handbook, as well as the handbook Martin Luther himself wrote: The Small Catechism. It is hoped that you will read through and familiarize yourself with these items, as they explain the basics of our church and our faith.

What will be expected of you once you are a member?

Members are expected to: Gather regularly for worship Partake regularly in Holy Communion Pray for each other And to give of their time, talents and possessions to the church Ok. I understand the regularly worshiping, partaking in Holy Communion and praying things… but what’s this about giving time, talents and possessions? I thought that God loves us regardless of what we do or what we give! Well, you’re right! The grace of God is a free gift that we can neither earn or obtain on our own. Forgiveness and Eternal Life are gifts given to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord. The price was paid by Jesus, a price that we could never have paid on our own—for a gift we never really deserve. At Christ Lutheran Church we know that all we have has been given to us by God, as such, we strive to give back in thanksgiving for what God has first given us! We have the opportunity and the blessing of giving our time and talents (serving in the ministries of the church) and our possessions (giving financially to the church). 3

History of Christ Lutheran Church:

In 1924 a group of German American Lutherans met together in a In 1979, Kathleen Koran became our part-time Professional Lay store on Amboy Road and made plans to organize a Lutheran Assistant. congregation in Great Kills. With the help of Rev. Dr. Frederick Sutter and Synodical Officials, the first service was celebrated in In 1982, Walter Herold who had served as Organist and Choir the Great Kills Theater, now the Village, with the Rev. Carl F. Director for many years retired. The Rev. John Allan followed Mr. Knoll as pastor. Harold as Organist and Choir Director.

In 1925 the congregation was formally organized and chartered In 1983, the first “Free Standing” Altar was placed in the as Christ Lutheran Church. Worship services were held in a sanctuary. rented room above the Volunteer Fire Company quarters on In 1985, the 60th anniversary year of Christ Lutheran Church, Hillside Terrace. The first full time pastor was the Rev. William G. Pastor Cornish celebrated his 35th anniversary as our pastor and Klett who served the congregation from 1926-1928. the 40th anniversary of his ordination. At that time, the The congregation grew under the Rev. Frank H. Nickel from 1929 congregation served as a training field for a seminary student, a - 1942. The Clarion was first printed in 1932. After Pastor Nickel part-time intern, Virginia King. left to serve as an Army Chaplin, the Rev. Norman Sutterlin In February of 1985, 12 members of the congregation completed served the congregation for the next three years. From 1945 - the 2 ½ year Word and Witness Study. The congregation’s first 1950, the Rev. William E. Paul was Pastor. annual summer picnic was held in June at Camp Kaufmann and a The Rev. Henry J. Cornish came to Christ Lutheran in 1950. folk choir was again organized and led one of the Christmas Eve During the following twelve years the congregation grew and Services. purchased property on Cleveland Avenue where the present 1986 saw the first Lay President of the council and the church was erected and dedicated in May 1953. By 1955, the congregation elected, Mr. Ken Bulcroft. parsonage was completed. In 1957, an extension was made to the sanctuary and the parish hall was built in 1962. Much of this On June 30, 1987, Pastor Henry Cornish resigned the Pastorate work was done with volunteer labor. and retired to Syracuse N.Y. with his wife Ruth. The Rev. Paul Egensteiner served as vice-Pastor for seven months. Kathleen In the years that followed, Pastor Cornish was assisted by many Koran also left CLC in 1987. interns and chaplains. In 1972, a former intern, the Rev. David Asplin, became the full-time Assistant Pastor for Christ Lutheran On January 1, 1988, Christ Lutheran became part of the new Church. Also, in 1972, Christ Lutheran became debt free and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In February, Rev. Paul burned its mortgage. Britton began his pastorate at CLC

On January 21, 1973 The Cornish Christian Education Fund In 1990 and 1991, the congregation began studying the changing officially came into being. The Cornish Fund exists to financially community in which we live and changing our focus for Mission aid educational endeavors. and Ministry. Worship opportunities expanded as well as new opportunities for Education and Fellowship. The congregation In 1975, Pastor Asplin resigned to accept a call to another began to ask the question, “What are we being called to do today congregation. to meet the needs of our Changing population on Staten Island In 1976, the organ in the church was replaced with an electronic and in Great Kills?” The church building became a “Full Access one. Facility” as a lift and a handicap bathroom was added to the building. 4

On August 31, 1994, Pastor Britton resigned the pastorate to The Outreach and Fellowship Team began a new ministry in accept a call to Gloria Dai Lutheran Church in Huntington Station, 2000. The Telecare Ministry, made up of volunteers, makes New York. phone calls to the members of the congregation periodically to check in with how they are doing and report back to the pastor. From September 1, 1994 through June 30, 1995, The Reverend Kathleen R. Koran (former Lay-Professional at CLC and at that Also, due to increasing membership and educational ministries at time Assistant Pastor at Trinity Lutheran in Stapleton) served as CLC, in September 2000 Pathways Preschool and the Universal the Interim Pastor. During 1994 a new mission statement was Pre-K Program were no longer housed at the church. formed, job descriptions drawn up and consideration given to hire a full- time sexton for the congregation. In September 2001, like many churches throughout the New York area, CLC was affected by the tragedy of 9-11. There were July 1, 1995, The Reverend William H. Peacock, Jr. began his memorial services for those directly affected by the attacks. Also, pastorate at CLC in the months following 9-11, there was a small resurgence in attendance and involvement at church. In September of 1996, we entered an agreement with Pathways Preschool to share our facilities and offer a quality educational On November 30th of 2002, The Reverend Kathleen R. Koran experience for children of the congregation and of the community. resigned the Associate pastorate to accept a call to Trinity In 1997, a new sound system was purchased for the sanctuary. Lutheran Church in Brewster, New York.

In 1998, the congregation began a move to Weekly Communion CLC was blessed with Clown Ministry, beginning in 2003. at all the regular worship services and began a Chancel Re- Occasionally, the clowns grace the congregation with their Arranging Project. Also, in September of 1998, seminarian Eric presence in worship and in other events of the church. Olsen began his ministry at CLC as a field work from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Eric continued his In September 2004, an agreement between the TRACK (Truancy ministry to and with us until June 11, 2000. Reduction Alliance to Contact Kids) Program and CLC, brought the program to the grounds of the church. Since then, the TRACK On January 1, 1999, The Reverend Kathleen R. Koran began her Program has made use of the downstairs portion of the Parish call to the congregation as a part-time Associate Pastor. House on weekdays during the school year.

During the 1999-2000 school year, the congregation hosted a 2007 saw the refinishing of Cornish Hall. New radiators were put Universal Pre-K Program in the fellowship hall of the church to in, the wall and floors were redone. This room of fellowship was help alleviate the overcrowding in the public schools. revitalized and renewed—allowing for further revitalization and renewal of the fellowship we share there and of the work of On May 6, 2000, the fellowship hall of the congregation was outside organizations which use the space. officially named “Cornish Hall” in honor of the ministry of the late Pastor Henry Cornish, Mrs. Ruth Cornish and daughters Candy On August 31, 2008 The Reverend William H. Peacock, Jr. and Jennifer. The Reverend David Asplin preached the 10:30 resigned from the pastorate, entering retirement. worship hour and Asplin family (now living in Maryland) along with Ruth, Candy, and Jennifer were in attendance and our honored Throughout 2009 members, mostly volunteers, worked to refinish guests at a luncheon served by the Priscilla Circle of the the parsonage. First built by members, the parsonage has now Congregation. been renovated by members including a new kitchen, refinished floors, re-plastered walls, and refinished bathrooms. From the First Sunday in Advent (1999) through Christ The King Sunday (2000) the 75th Anniversary Year was celebrated with On January 6, 2010 The Reverend Danielle Fey began her special worship services and fellowship events of Thanksgiving pastorate at CLC. for the past and with anticipation for the Mission and Ministries Want to learn the History of the ELCA? God is calling us to be a part of in the future. Check it out at: http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/History.aspx 5

Worship at Christ Lutheran Church:

Worship is of the utmost importance in our Christian Lives. It gathers us together with our brothers and sisters in Christ, renews our commitment to the Gospel and nourishes us to move forward into another week in a world full of struggles.

Regular Worship Schedule: Sunday 8:30 and 10:30am, and 5:30pm Sunday School at 9:15am And Fellowship after the 10:30 service

Summer Worship Schedule: (Second week in June till Labor Day weekend) Sunday 9:30am and 5:30pm With Fellowship after the 9:30 service

We also have specially scheduled services for: Christmas Eve Christmas Day Epiphany Ash Wednesday Maundy Thursday Good Friday And Thanksgiving

Some Sundays are marked with special occasions such as: Reformation Sunday Youth Sunday Confirmation First Communions Baptisms

We also occasionally hold Funeral Services at the church.

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Education at Christ Lutheran Church:

Continuing Education is important to the vitality of faith. It is not just for young people, or something that must be done in order to progress through one of the life passages of the church.

Christian Education is a blessing! And it can change your life if you let it!

Classes include: Sunday School— 9:15am (September-June)

Confirmation Classes (for those preparing for Confirmation)

First Communion Preparation (on an individual basis)

Baptism Preparation (on an individual basis)

Vacation Bible School—offered in the summer together with the other South Shore Lutheran Churches

Adult Bible Study—10am Wednesday mornings (September-June) And other various times for special Studies

You can also continue your Christian Education at home! Reading through your Bible, your Catechism or many good books are some good ways to grow your faith and nurture your relationship with God.

But don’t leave your mind at home! Even if you do study at home, I hope that you will also join together with us to study and discuss the many questions of faith. It often helps to have some feedback and some other perspectives on such meaningful pieces of life!

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Other Helpful Items:

Visitation—Please keep the Pastor informed if you or a member of your family is sick or has a problem. Pastor is available for visits to the sick and homebound, providing Holy Communion for those who desire it. Pastor is also available for office visits, if you would like to schedule a time to sit and talk about something that is pressing upon you.

If you would like to donate to the Memorial Fund, the Building Fund or to have the Sanctuary Light, Bread and Wine, or Altar Flowers donated in memory or in honor of someone, please fill out the appropriate forms or contact the church office.

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