Lake Oconee Lutheran Church
A Stephen Ministry Congregation
“Our vision is to become an expanding community of faith,
growing in the Holy Spirit
and practicing before the world a Christ-centered life.”
October 2011
Ministers: All the People of God
Pastor: Ron Schornhorst
Director of Music: Brad Rudisail
Newsletter Editor: Darlene Zenami
1089 Lake Oconee Parkway Pastor’s Home: 706-484-9855
Eatonton, GA 31024 Church Office: 706-485-4600
Pastor: lolc@plantationcable.net Darlene: lolcsec@plantationcable.net
www.lolc.info
RUMOR CONTROL
The other day at Publix, I was surprised by someone I know. Running into folks I know at
Publix is nothing new. What surprised me, though, is what this person said to me: “I heard
that you’re turning 65 and going to retire.”
The comment caught me off guard. And I thought to myself, “How many people around the
church are assuming that, just because I’m turning 65, I’m going to immediately retire?”
I have talked with church council members and elders about retirement some time in the
future. Those talks have been in the context of doing some “long range planning” for our
congregation. I have not fixed a date for my retirement. Be assured, when Karen and I do
decide on a retirement date for me, I will not spring it upon you as a surprise.
Until then, in the words of an old prayer of the Church: “Help us, O Lord, to do the work that
has been given to us while it is day, before the night comes when no one can work.”
Thankful to be in ministry with you,
~ Pastor Ron
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Halloween or ALL HALLOWS EVE?
“What’s a nice Christian doing in a devil of a costume like that?” Good question, considering the
conflict of interests that comes with Halloween.
On the one hand, the day is a fun day. Kids get to dress up, bang on the neighbors’ doors and come away
with all the candy they can carry – for free!
On the other hand, Halloween has an unpleasant past. Its roots lie with the Druids of ancient Ireland
and Scotland. October 31st marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of the season of darkness
and cold. It was a day for giving due respect to Samhain, the Druids’ lord of the dead. And that “due
respect” was often given with animal and human sacrifices.
During the Middle Ages, October 31st took on a Christian character as the “Eve of All Hallows” (i.e., “All
Saints"). That’s because November 1st was the “Day of All Hallows,” the day for remembering all the
Christian dead. October 31st was simply the eve of that holy day, the way December 24th is the eve of
Christmas.
But a separation took place between the evening of October 31st and the morning of November 1st. While
November 1st remained the day for celebrating the blessed dead, October 31 st became the evening for the
accursed dead. The “Eve of All Hallows” became “Halloween” – hell’s recess time, the opportunity for
the demonic and the damned to again wander the earth. Because evil things were afoot in the darkness,
people sought ways to safely make it through that night. One way to appease the evil spirits was to
leave them gifts of fruit, nuts and candy. It was faith turned into superstition. It was the beginning of
“Trick or Treat!”
All of this bothers some Christians. If it bothers you, don’t get involved with Halloween. It’s not good
to do anything that goes against your conscience.
However, I think today’s celebration of Halloween does more to mock the devils than to honor them.
Little kids with bags full of candy are a long way from Druids gathering to worship their lord of the
dead.
I say that as I remember what St. Paul says about my Lord in Ephesians 1:22. There we are told that God
the Father “has put all things under the feet of Christ Jesus and has made Him the head over all things
for the church.” The “all things” include the ghosts and goblins and whatever else still roams the
darkness on the “Eve of All Hallows.”
If you do celebrate on October 31st, don’t make it a halfway celebration. Don’t stop with the “Eve of All
Hallows.” Go on to celebrate the “Day of All Hallows” (i.e., “All Saints”). We will do exactly that here at
LOLC on Sunday, November 6th, this year. We’re going to remember with thanksgiving the blessed
dead, those who know the eternal joy in heaven.
The condemned and the damned may have October 31st pretty much to themselves. The forgiven and the
blessed in Christ Jesus have heaven forever.
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Who’s in the SPOTLIGHT?
*** Pastor Harold Campbell ***
Milledgeville, Georgia is where Harold Campbell
started out in life, and it is his home once again, after
many years of living in Los Angeles, Columbus, Ohio,
Kansas City, Missouri and Savannah. Now LOLC is
blessed to have Pastor Harold as a member.
Becoming a Lutheran minister was something that
happened later in Harold’s life, after a career in the
aircraft industry as a die-sinker and union official in
Southern California. Raised as a Baptist, there was a point when Harold saw the need to visit
other churches in his area and ended up becoming a member at Loving Shepherd Lutheran
Church. This led to his joining the Coalition of Black Lutherans and Black Lutherans of
Southern California, then also the National Coalition of Black Lutherans. As a part of this
organization, he traveled to many other cities and became acquainted with many Black
Lutheran ministers. At one meeting, a minister approached Harold with the idea of his
attending Lutheran seminary. Harold’s initial reaction to this proposal was laughter, but
after further consideration of this idea, he thought that there would be no better way for him
to be able to positively influence young Black males.
The path to ministry led Harold to Trinity Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, where he
enrolled as a non-traditional student with only an Associates degree as his academic
background. The rigorous courses were very challenging; Harold ended up leaving for
academic reasons, but he also felt that “God didn’t send me here to fail.” So he went to work
for Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries of Cleveland, then continued studies at Capital
University in Columbus, where he also married and started a family. While working for
Rockwell International in Columbus, he completed his B.S. degree in Communications at
Capital. Working at Rockwell provided him many other important experiences while serving
as a union rep, editor of the union paper, treasurer and president of the local union; this lead
him to conventions all over the country. Sheer determination led Harold to resign and
return to Trinity Seminary, where he finished his ministry studies and completed an
internship at St. Peters Lutheran (A.L.C.) in Columbus.
Christ Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Missouri and Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in
Savannah were the two churches Harold served as minister. Harold also taught a course in
homiletics at Bryant Baptist Seminary in Savannah. In his retirement, Harold has dedicated
himself to serving in many ways: a substitute teacher in Baldwin County, a Bible studies
leader at his retirement center, a volunteer hospital chaplain, a volunteer for Habitiat for
Humanity and also a volunteer for Kairos Prison Ministry.
The work that is now “dear to my heart,” according to Harold, is connecting with male
prisoners at Central State Prison in Macon through Kairos. Along with Ivan Bagby, he is our
representative for LOLC with this “Christ-centered” organization, reaching people who are
from weak, dysfunctional families: those with no coping skills in life, including caring for
themselves. The Kairos Ministry volunteers help prisoners connect with Christ through
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offering them “good food,” then offering fellowship in the name of Christ. The goal is to
nourish both the bodies and souls of these men. Lay and minister volunteers sometimes give
speeches, trying not to be “preachy,” but giving correct theology. Harold works just as hard
preparing for his speeches as he does for sermons.
Harold says that Kairos volunteers do not take their work for granted. The Kairos
groups have a huge impact on the prison population, achieving a calm, a sense of peace not
found at other prisons. He would like to see more Kairos groups at prisons and would really
like to have more LOLC members become involved in Kairos Prison Ministry. (Perhaps we
can bake some great cookies for his group twice a year as a start. Note: Get those cookie
recipes ready! )
In the near future, Harold is to “give away” one of his two daughters and also perform
her marriage ceremony in Minneapolis. Harold also has a daughter and two grandsons who
live in Los Angeles.
By Carol Riesmeyer
I would like to thank everyone who brought and made the wonderful food that we
were able to serve to the fine men of Habitat for Humanity on Tuesday, Sept 13th. We
had Sloppy Joes, buns, pickles, cookies, brownies, potato-chips, ice tea and bottled
water. Kathy, my contact and organizer of food for Habitat, was grateful for the
opportunity to take leftovers home and freeze them for another time. My thanks goes
out to all who donated their time and food: Kathy Roper, Peggy Uehlin, Judy and Jim
Cerny, Rosalyn Carson, Barbara Hersh, Connie Piepenbrink, Shirley Mai and my
husband, Ed Blosser. Without all of these people I would never be able to do
something like this. I also thank my father in heaven for all he lets me continue to do
with his help. May our Lord continue to bless our congregation as he has from the
very first. ~ Lillian Blosser
The ladies of Trinity Lutheran Church cordially invite you to the Fall Rally on Saturday,
October 15th in Savannah. The theme is Seasoned with Love. Registration is from
9:30-10 a.m.; this includes a light breakfast. The in-gathering will be for Lutheran
Services of Georgia. Linda Larson is their representative and will be on hand to receive
cash or check donations (made out to Lutheran Services of Georgia.) Please RSVP by
Monday, October 10th. We hope to see lots of you there! Your Sister in Christ, Jackie
Deemer, President, Trinity Lutheran Ladies' Guild (912) 728-6280
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God’s Holy Word
What do you do with a Bible just lying around gathering dust? You put it back in circulation! Phil
Larsen’s nephew is a pastor on the San Carlos Indian Reservation, Arizona. Pastor Duane said that
they can use the Bibles and appreciates our efforts and prayers for this ministry.
Bring your unused Bibles to church; a box will be placed on the round table in the narthex.
LOLC Men’s Breakfast
Join us for a taste of wonderful foods as LOLC men fix you breakfast. From pancakes, scrambled
eggs, grits, sausage gravy & biscuits, to whatever the cooks decide.
We will continue with our Sunday school lesson on Genesis, entitled “What they didn’t teach me in
Sunday school.”
We start eating at 8 a.m. on the second Saturday, which in October is the 8th. Come share the
wonderful food and fellowship and find out what they left out of Sunday school lessons.
Greetings from Concordia Seminary
Dear LOLC,
As I write this to you, I am on the eve of Concordia Seminary’s theological symposium. We are, at
present, in the third week of classes. The year up to this point has been a good one
full of interesting classes.
Interesting: it has been only 28 days since I left from my apartment near the church. What had come to
be my home for that year, is now part of the past. It is a somewhat surreal feeling.
I very much thank you, the congregation, for all of your support this last year and your continued
prayers. Thank you for the farewell party and the many very generous gifts you gave me. I pray that the
Lord may continue to bless all of you in your continued service to those whose lives you touch.
In Christ,
Neil Wehmas
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Below is a Response from a recipient of a blanket from Project
Linus/Loving Hands Quilters. Sometimes we really don’t realize
how very much small acts of kindness can touch others. These
blankets truly matter to a child in a stressful situation.
Please join us!
Dear Project Linus;
Your outreach in quilts for children has touched our family twice now in
our sorrow. Almost 2 years ago, our son died as result of a violent car
accident, leaving his 3-year-old fatherless. Now on August 14th, at the
age of 5, his mother died by suicide. We thank you for the loving
prayerful hands that have blessed Peyton through Project Linus.
God Bless You!
Lynn Turner
The Snowball Express is again asking for blankets for the children
of fallen military; we sent 25 last year. Also a children's cancer
organization is requesting blankets.
Did you know that when a child is burned, and being transported to
a burn facility, they are allowed to receive a Project Linus Blanket?
So let’s always keep in mind that our blankets need to be very
clean, in fact washing them prior to bagging and tagging may be a
good idea.
Thank you to each one of you for all you do for “Our Kids.” You
really do make a difference to a child!
Dot Strother, coordinator
Project Linus Middle Ga. Area Chapter
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“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:2
What Stephen Ministers Are and Do
Stephen Ministers are volunteer lay-Christians who provide one-to-one spiritual and emotional
care focused on their care receivers’ needs. They have been recruited through their interest in care
giving, carefully selected because of their gifts and capabilities. Then they are equipped, through 50
hours of intensive Stephen Minister training, with the skills that allow them to minister to people with
many different needs.
Stephen Ministers offer care, support and encouragement to a person whose life has been turned
upside down by crisis or tragedy. Stephen Ministers support people who, for the most part, have their
basic coping skills intact, their thinking in order and their emotions under control. These care receivers
can meet the routine demands of everyday life and would be likely to overcome their challenges even
without the assistance of a Stephen Minister – although perhaps not as quickly or as well. These care
receives need someone to walk beside them, to encourage them, to pray with them and for them and to
bear their burdens with them. The Stephen Minister offers his or her support through attentive, active
listening and a caring presence.
The Stephen Minister might offer support to a resident in a long-term care facility or a student
who is far from home. Sometimes Stephen Ministers care for people who serve as primary caregivers for
loved ones who are chronically ill, disabled or in pain.
A Stephen Minister might care for a person who is bereaved, terminally ill, hospitalized or facing
separation or divorce or any number of other problems. A Stephen Minister reaches out man to man and
woman to woman. All people and meeting discussions are kept in the strictest confidence. Only the
Stephen Minister care assigner and the assigned Stephen Minister know who is a care receiver.
If you know of someone whom you think may benefit from a Stephen Minister care giver, please
let one of our leaders know. The leader will contact the individual and evaluate with the individual to
see how they feel about having a trained Stephen Minister caregiver.
For more information, contact one of our Stephen Leaders: Phil Larsen (706-473-1078), Virginia Daley
(706-485-3564) or Leroy Horst (706-453-1602)
Thank you to everyone who prayed and sent well wishes when my 23-
year-old daughter was in a bad wreck recently. Bonnie is healing up
and already back at work. Thank you for always being concerned
. . . and showing it! ~ Darlene Zenami
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Reformation Day at Emory 2011
Each year the Candler School of Theology celebrates Reformation Day with special events. This
year’s events take place on Thursday, October 27 th, 2011. The twenty-fourth annual Reformation
Day at Emory program will take as its theme “Luther and the Translation of the Bible,” and include
lectures, musical presentations and worship. All events are free of charge and open to the public.
9:00– Registration and Reception
9:45 a.m. Formal Lounge, Cannon Chapel
10:00– “Luther as Translator of the Bible,” M. Patrick Graham, Margaret A. Pitts Professor
10:45 a.m. of Theological Bibliography, Candler School of Theology, Emory University
Sanctuary, Cannon Chapel
11:00– Chapel Service, Rev. Dr. Marcus J. Miller, President, Luther Theological Southern
11:50 a.m. Seminary
Sanctuary, Cannon Chapel
12:15– Luncheon Musical Program, Rev. Barbara Day Miller, Associate Dean of Worship
1:30 p.m. and Music and Assistant Professor in the Practice of Liturgy; and The Candler
Singers. Please make reservations for the luncheon by calling (404) 727-6352 or
emailing candleralum@emory.edu.
Cox Hall
1:45– “The Books Behind the King James Bible: The Influence of the Continental
2:45 p.m. Reformations on the Making of the English Bible,” Valerie Hotchkiss, Professor of
Medieval Studies, Religious Studies and Library Science and Head of the Rare
Book & Manuscript Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne
Sanctuary, Cannon Chapel
2:45– Refreshments & Break
3:15 p.m. Formal Lounge, Cannon Chapel
3:30– “Sun of Righteousness, Arise!” The Justification of Sinners and Victims, from Martin
4:30 p.m. Luther to Martin Luther King, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Moltmann, Professor Emeritus of
Systematic Theology, University of Tübingen
Sanctuary, Cannon Chapel
.5 CEUs will be awarded to those who request continuing education credit. To receive credit,
participants must attend all Reformation Day events, print and submit the request form (CE course
664) at http://www.pitts.emory.edu/community/alumni/CEU_Request_Form.pdf along with a $10
payment (checks made payable to Emory University) to Pitts Theology Library, 505 Kilgo Circle
NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322. A certificate of attendance will be mailed following the event.
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RECIPES
Easy-Easy-Breezy Vegetable Pot Pie (with substitutions)
This recipe is an original of Darlene Zenami's.
It's so simple, but tasty enough that guests will think you've cooked all day!
2 prepared pie crusts 1 can mixed vegetables, drained
1 can cream of mushroom soup
Mix veggies and soup together. Pour into pie crust and top with other crust, pinching sides
together. (I prefer Pet-Ritz, because it's most like homemade.) Bake at 425° until crust is golden
brown.
Substitutions:
Chicken Pot Pie
Use the same ingredients, but you may exchange the mushroom soup for cream of chicken. Add
one can of chunk chicken. Bake as with the vegetable pie.
Beef Pot Pie:
Buy can of prepared roast in gravy. Add 1 can of mixed veggies. Prepare in crust, as with the
others; bake at 450°.
Broccoli-Cauliflower Surprise
Thanks to Rosemary Bonnough for passing this recipe onto us!
10 oz. frozen broccoli, thawed 10 oz. frozen cauliflower, thawed
16 oz. stuffing mix (preferably herb and spice)
Mix these together and set aside.
1 can cream soup (your choice!) 1 cup grated cheese
2 cups milk
Mix these together, then pour over vegetable and stuffing mix. Mix well. Pour into greased
baking dish. Bake at 325° for one hour.
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Elegant Cherry Triumph
Thanks to Karen Schornhorst for this recipe!
1 pkg. angel food cake mix 1 pint vanilla ice cream
1 can slivered almonds, toasted 1 lb., 14 oz. can Bing cherries, pitted
2 TBS. currant jelly 6 oz. package cherry flavored gelatin
1 tsp. lemon juice ½ cup sherry
1 cup heavy cream
Make, bake, then cool the angel food cake using a 10" tube pan. Meanwhile, drain
cherries, reserving juice in a saucepan. Heat juice; stir in gelatin until dissolved.
Remove from heat; stir in sherry, then ice cream until melted. Refrigerate until set.
When cake is cool, level the top, if necessary, with long sharp knife. Invert on serving
plate and cut a 1' layer from the top of cake; set aside. With fork, hollow out center of
cake leaving a shell 1" thick around sides and 1 ½" thick at bottom. Fill hole in center
with piece of cake to level off bottom.
When gelatin has set, beat gelatin until fluffy and smooth, using a mixer at medium. Stir
in ¼ cup of almonds and all but ½ cup of drained cherries. Spoon gelatin mixture into
cake shell; replace reserved cake layer; refrigerate.
In small saucepan, combine currant jelly and lemon juice. Melt over low heat; stir in
remaining cherries until all are just coated. Cool.
Whip cream until stiff; use to frost cake, leaving top hole empty. Arrange about 3 TBS.
almonds in whipped cream on sides. Fill hole with glazed cherries. Refrigerate until
serving time. Makes 12 servings.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Please consider donating to Libertas (operated by Darlene
Zenami) or Circle of Love Center for Battered Women and Children in Greensboro. For more information, you
may contact Darlene at 706-816-7674 or dzenami@yahoo.com.
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The Domestic Violence Awareness Project...
In 1995, the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV)
convened several national domestic violence organizations – the Family
Violence Prevention Fund, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the
National Domestic Violence Hotline and later the National Network to End Domestic Violence –
to launch a new effort to support domestic violence programs’ awareness and education efforts
for Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), observed annually in October. The
collaborative effort became the Domestic Violence Awareness Project (DVAP).
Today, the DVAP is a diverse and unique partnership of local, tribal, state and national
domestic violence organizations and networks. The DVAP collaborates to collect, develop and
distribute resources and ideas relevant to advocates’ ongoing public and prevention awareness
and education efforts not only in preparation for DVAM, but also throughout the year.
The work of the DVAP strives to creatively bring to life its statement of purpose:
The Domestic Violence Awareness Project (DVAP) supports the rights of all individuals,
especially women and girls, to live in peace and dignity. Violence and all other forms of
oppression against all communities and families must be eliminated. The purpose of the DVAP
is to support and promote the national, tribal, territorial, state and local advocacy networks in
their ongoing public education efforts through public awareness, strategies, materials,
resources, capacity-building and technical assistance.
These strategies include campaigns that address the victimization of women throughout their
lifespan. The voices, leadership and expertise of women who have been battered are
acknowledged as critical and necessary components of these campaigns. To change belief
systems and practices that support violence and abuse that disproportionately affects women,
and other marginalized people, the DVAP recognizes and promotes the participation of the
entire community in building social intolerance towards domestic violence. We will use our
diverse and collective voice to promote safe, respectful and equitable relationships; increase
survivor’s access to support systems that are culturally and linguistically appropriate; and foster
programming that is responsive to the needs of the LGBTQ community, as well as survivors of
abuse in later life.
http://dvam.vawnet.org
SAFETY ALERT: If you are in danger, please call 911 or (in the U.S.) the National Domestic
Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233.
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October 2011 LAKE OCONEE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
EVERY SUNDAY EVERY MONDAY
Sunday School & Exercise Group,
EVERY THURS
Divide Drama
EVERY FRIDAY
Divine Drama 1
Choir Practice, 6:30pm Class, 6:30pm Class, 9:30am
9am
Worship Service,
10:30am
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Elders Mtg, 9am Quilt Workshop, Mens Bfast,
9-4 8 am
Quilt Guild,
9:30am
Quilt Board, Barb Smolinski Vern Lovell
12:30-1:30pm Bob Elkins
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Council Mtg, LHQuilters, LHQuilters,
after service 10am Blanket Day
Fall Rally
Roger Martinson Ed Blosser (Savanah)
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Collecting Mites SM Mtg, 6:30pm Newsletter
articles due,
Oktoberfest, noon
after service Barb Hardesty
Nursing Home, Bob Stallings
1:30pm PETREA, W/A Abbie Ringer
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Free BP check &
Fellowship Cmte,
after service
Harold Campbell
Caitlyn Vern Lucas Joel Smolinski
Hitchcock HELMS, W/A LANGAN, W/A Ray Hilpipre
30 31 USHERS
P. Johnson
FLOWERS
2: Crawford
COFFEE HR VOL
2: Helms/
LAWN MAINT
Lucas/Elkins/
HAT SUNDAY! J. Campbell 9: Martinson Piepenbrink Hardesty
ALTAR CARE 16: Petrea 9: Larsen/Lucas GREETERS
Schaefer/Lucas 23: Stefurak 16: Oktoberfest Whitten
30: Helms 23: Crockett Crawford
30: NONE J. Campbell
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