Breathing new life into the ministry of Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer

Pastor’s Page Speaking Other Languages May, 2005

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. (Acts 2:1-4)

Fifty days after Easter, the church celebrates the day of Pentecost, when those who had followed Jesus to his death on a cross and had witnessed or heard about his resurrection now received the gift that he had promised – the Holy Spirit. Although the Spirit has also been called “the Comforter,” this was not a gift given to provide these early Christians with personal comfort and assurance of their individual salvation. The gifts brought to them by the Spirit were the gifts of being able to speak in other languages. Those who heard them that day were amazed and perplexed and exclaimed, “in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” (Acts 2:11b)

Our modern minds may strain to imagine such an event in which followers of Jesus suddenly begin speaking in languages they had not previously known. And yet, look around this community of faith. When the cross leads us out of our worship gathering to the places where God calls us in the world, some of you go out those doors to witness to God’s deeds of power in your social work, speaking the languages of foster children and disabled adults. Some of you speak the language of pregnant women or new parents, helping them and their partners be more open to experiencing the deed of power God is making possible through this new life. Some of you speak the language of your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, incarnating the grace of God that these children may know that they are loved, no matter what. Some of you witness to God’s power by your work with new computer systems and other technologies that transform the ways in which all kinds of good work and communication can be accomplished. Some of you speak languages of medicine and healing in your medical or counseling practices. Some of you have found very special callings in your retirement years or used it as a time to be available for those important things that our society or church might otherwise allow to fall through the cracks.

Through the rich diversity of gifts God has poured out upon the church, those of us who are members and friends of Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer have also been gifted with abilities for speaking many languages to witness to God’s deeds of power. After focusing so much of our energies towards the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, the Spirit once again seems ready to unleash our God-given gifts for the benefit of those who speak so many languages. Here are just a few examples during the month of May:

 At the invitation of the Worship Steering Team, our musician, Dennis Kalfas, is hard at work preparing to minister to those who speak the language of jazz music. We will hold a jazz style worship service on Memorial Day Sunday, May 29, when many people are in town to celebrate Sacramento’s well known Jazz Jubilee.

 The Worship Steering Team will be meeting with the choir and Maestro Dennis on Tuesday, May 3 to celebrate the ways in which the choir has learned to communicate the Gospel through the power of music and to strategize for the future growth of the choir.

 Clergy from our congregation and St. John Lutheran Church will seek to speak the language of youth with an overnight event at St. John’s on May 6-7 focusing on “Drugs and My Faith.”

 The sign language team has continued to help our congregation learn sign language responses for worship in order to make our worship more accessible to those who are deaf and hard of hearing.

 At the request of the Internship committee and council members, Intern Pastor Jay has been hard at work organizing classes to help us better speak the language of transgender people in our community and also those with disabilities.

 On Sunday, May 22 following worship, Todd Feather and I will be convening a conversation on how we speak the Biblical language of justice through our congregation’s commitments and involvement in the larger community. Whether you are interested in promoting practices within the congregation that are more friendly to God’s earth or whether you want to join other members of the congregation in advocating for state or federal legislation for those who are marginalized, your language and your ideas are welcome.

 Kim Bradley, Intern Pastor Jay and Children’s Church leaders continue to learn the language of children, particularly children in the apartments around our church as they join us for worship and Children’s Church on Sunday mornings.

Maybe passages in the Bible like the one listed above from Acts weren’t so much intended to tell us about a historical moment at which the Spirit came to some of the disciples 2000 years ago. Maybe they are means of opening our eyes to the fact that God continues to give us the ability to speak many languages, so that others might know about God’s deeds of power and the reconciling love of Jesus Christ. Come, Holy Spirit, Come! Pastor Robyn

INVITE!

“He entered his own realm, and his own would not receive him.”- John1:10

In these few words from John’s prologue we glimpse the intractable depths of human estrangement from God. The One from whom all things receive their form, the One whose vitality animates each creature, the One whose proprietary claim upon the world is without boundaries, once journeyed to his own domain and no doors opened to receive him. Placed within the richly developed context of ancient near eastern hospitality, such an event would be beyond imagination. In Greek and Roman society hospitality to foreigners was a sign of culture as well as a religious obligation. Down the centuries the people of Israel were repeatedly called to offer hospitality to strangers as a work of mercy and a reminder that once they had been aliens in the distant land of Egypt. The possibility that an earthly sovereign could enter his own kingdom and not receive the most minimal expression of hospitality was unthinkable. How much more inconceivable is it, then, that we should refuse to welcome the very Source of our life?

The bedrock importance of hospitality for the early church and for us derives from the drama of human inhospitality being embraced and transfigured by divine hospitality. In Jesus Christ, God has tasted to the full the precarious existence of the stranger in an unfamiliar land. But the excluded God is in reality the inclusive Host who invites to the banquet not only the privileged and well respected but also the destitute and disparaged. Indeed, God’s hospitality draws so wide a circle that it sets a place at table for strangers in their original role as the fearsome, enigmatic enemy. Thus Jesus instructs his followers to love their enemies and embodies his teaching by sharing a meal with his betrayer. It is the fundamental re-weaving of basic human relationships in Jesus Christ that motivates Paul to declare: “Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7)

Hospitality is a concrete expression of the love that now binds us to God and to one another. A story from the desert tradition illustrates the redemptive impulse deep within Christian hospitality: “A brother asked an old man: ‘If I see a monk whom I have heard is guilty of a sin, I cannot persuade my soul to bring him into my cell. But if I see a good monk, I gladly bring him in.’ “And the old man said: ‘If you do good to a good brother, it is little to him. To the other, give twofold, for it is he who is sick.’ ” The abba could have added that offering hospitality only to a ‘good’ brother also would do little for the monk himself. Hospitality, which shares linguistic history with ‘hospital,’ brings healing to host as well as guest because welcoming the stranger is a medium of growth toward fullness of life. In the experience of hospitality both guest and host receive something they need that can only be obtained through the unique ministration of hospitable relationships. Indeed, because hospitality demonstrates a radically transformed human posture of receptivity to God and generosity toward God’s creatures, it is a primary sign of the new creation, God’s reigning in our midst. The task is to enlarge our appreciation for the spiritual significance of personal and corporate hospitality.

- from the editor of Weavings, John S. Mogabhab

Jesus calls us to share the love of God with the world; it is our obligation to extend hospitality to all those we meet. In that spirit, we are to welcome others in our work places, neighborhoods, schools, homes, and daily lives. Who is on your list this month to invite to church?

Recycle and Help a School in Your Community!

Tania's school is participating in a fundraiser called "Cartridges for Kids". Her school is paid cash for empty inkjet, laser, fax, and copier cartridges and used cell phones. If you have any of these items you want to get rid of, bring them to church and Tania will take them to school. Your help is greatly appreciated!

The 3^rd Sunday of each month will be “Coffee Sunday”

Our Joint Ecumenical Good Friday Worship service.

There were 200 in attendance. The offering received was $1020.00

which was divided ½ going to Weave and ½ going to Loaves & Fishes.

Prayer List: Knowing that God hears prayers, please pray for the following this month.

Healing for: Kim’s nana who fell; Carol; James; Carlos Hernandez out of ICU & off respirator; Danny Reath; Jeff Ranstrom; Ron Barrett; Sylva Barber; Grace Schauf; Grace Walima; Sally Thayer; Goldie’s eyes; Susann Winters; Vicki Camblin recovering from broken ankle.

Prayers for: Lucie, Donna, Lynn; ELCA & all religious groups struggling with division and conflict; Margaret Scott with a stoke; Forgiveness & re-unification of families in today’s global village; Jane Brock with heart problems; David Brock in the loss of his job; Staff Sergeant Luis Castro in the war; Carol McConnel in ICU & prayers for entire family; a purpose driving life for Doug; reconciliations for the sons & daughter of the late David and Louise Batson; the homeless & poverty stricken, most of all watch over the children living in the streets in filth & cold; struggling relationships, that hurtful words & actions can be forgotten & forgiven and the true, loving honest parts of the relationship will be blessed and remembered and positive outcomes will be seen; Raymond Schou afflicted with Bi-Polar; earthquake victims in Japan; Terry Shivo’s family & friends; peace of mind for Derek; renewal on vacation for Rick & Orte; People of Sudan; employees at state printing plant especially Marty; Tsunami survivors & communities rebuilding; Intern Pastor Jay Wilson; the families of all who have lost their lives in the war in Iraq; Ron Raiber; Sharon Mobbs and all seeking employment; hurricane victims; those in Africa; Pastor and members of Peace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley.

Comfort & Strength for: Marlene Andrade who lost her mom & husband; Ursula Schroeder; personal commitment to the Lord; for the addicted; Kim Bradley’s grandmothers & their families; Tim Kreamer; Juanita’s mother; Peg Gregoire.

Comfort for all who grieve especially: Alleah Fahey in death of her companion David McHenry; family of Chet Patriatisin in his recent death; Orte’s family; family & friends of Mary Jane Millert on the anniversary of her death; Gwen & Gordon Lokke & family; Family & friends of the following who have died over the past year: Eleanor McPeak, Charlotte Allred, Fil Vogt, Doris Bozonier, Bill Nicholas, Robyn Sadowski, John Zacharias, Mary Lou Olson’s brother & Louie Guadagno.

Thanksgiving for: the life of Pope John Paul; saving Grandma Maffetone from breast cancer; Val’s positive test results; your gift God, to us, your Son, Jesus Christ.

1^st Annual

Who: All families (kids, teens, adults)

When: Saturday, June 18, 2005

Where: LCOR

What: BBQ, Games, Prizes

Please come and join us to kick off the summer with fun for everyone! We will be announcing other fun events for all of you to enjoy throughout the summer.

3 Orte Knight

4 Phillip Winter

5 Mark Callander

6 Glenn Campbell

8 BJ Rose

11 Aaron Walima

13 Wanda Collins

19 Zachary Leander

20 Deanna Major

20 Cassie McDonald

22 Torey’on Castle

21 Sandra Chartrand

25 Pam Webster

27 Alex Callander

28 Alonso Ayala

28 Ray Hinricks

28 Elaine Verbarg

Is there anyone out there that has a nice piano that you would like to donate to Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer? We would greatly appreciate your piano and would take very special care of it. You can call Maestro Dennis at 729-5518

Attention

All Worship Participants:

Each year you fill out a Legacy Commitment Form telling the office what duties you would like to participate in for the current year. You select one or more from the following categories: Assisting Minister, Cantor, Choir, Lector/Communion Assistant, Greeters, Ushers, Counters, Children’s Church and Servers. You are then scheduled for certain Sundays, this schedule is printed on the Spirit calendar each month. It is your responsibility to check to see when you are scheduled to participate.

If you do not come to worship on a Sunday that you are scheduled it results in someone trying to find a replacement for you. Out of consideration for each other, would you please remember to always check the spirit calendar to see what Sundays you are scheduled for so that you can either plan on participating or you can arrange someone to take your place. The office thanks you.

STAINED GLASS WINDOW PROJECT UPDATE!

Have you forgotten that we have a Stained Glass Window Project team and that we have Stained Glass windows being made for us?? It seems like it was a long time ago – and as a matter of one’s personal perspective it may be a long time!

Here’s the scoop!

Pr. Robyn and I heard from the artesian Pr. Ruth Frost and she provided this for us:

An update on the Marconi Wall. All of it is cut out and half of it is leaded up! (It's nine windows total as the big one is in five sections).

What does this all mean? Phase Two of our Stained Glass Window Project the “Marconi Side Windows” are near completion! As we get closer to the installation date/dedication date we will let you know!

Blessings,

Darlene Romero

Stained Glass Window Team

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Kenney Hanson

E-mail: Kenney.Hanson@thrivent.com

Phone: (916) 786-0112

Hanson earns FIC designation

SACRAMENTO, CA

(April 14, 2005)

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans financial representative Kenney Hanson recently earned the FIC (Fraternal Insurance Counselor) designation granted by the Fraternal Field Managers’ Association.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a Fortune 500 financial services organization. Hanson lives in Sacramento and serves Lutherans and their family members in surrounding communities.

The FIC designation is given only to those who complete basic, intermediate and advanced training courses in fraternal life insurance, pass three comprehensive exams and meet specific production requirements. The courses include topics such as life insurance underwriting, ethics, individual and family markets, total needs selling and advanced sales.

About Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a not-for-profit Fortune 500 financial services

organization helping 2.8 million members achieve their financial goals. Thrivent Financial and its affiliates offer a broad range of financial products and services including life insurance, annuities, mutual funds, disability income insurance, bank products and more. As a not-for-profit organization, Thrivent Financial sponsors national outreach programs and activities that support congregations, schools, charitable organizations and needy individuals. For more information, visit www.thrivent.com.

Securities are offered through Thrivent Investment Management Inc., 625 Fourth Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55415-1665, 800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836) a wholly owned subsidiary of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Member NASD. Member SIPC.

California license number: OE295111

Benefits of Assistive Listening Systems

By David Baquis

From the online web site of the National Association of the Deaf814 Thayer Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910-4500 - http://www.nad.org ~ NADinfo@nad.org

Hearing loss is not an all or nothing phenomenon. People with hearing loss are often not completely deaf. Ordinarily they show varying degrees of hearing loss at varying frequencies in both ears. Although this fact is obvious, its implications are often overlooked for a variety of reasons that include a lack of interest in maximizing hearing by some people who are deaf, and often, a lack of understanding about modern technology that improves auditory skills.

This article is written from the perspective that cochlear implants can be beneficial to some people who are deaf, and that Assistive Listening Systems (ALSs) can benefit both CI users and hearing aid users. Although performance varies, research shows that most implantees receive some degree of benefit. This is true for both people who are late deafened, who often find an improvement in speech reading skills, to people who are pre-lingually or culturally deaf and enjoy the added value of hearing environmental and speech sounds.

What are ALSs?

Assistive Listening Systems (ALSs) are sometimes called Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs). Essentially they are amplifiers that bring sound directly into the ear. They separate the sounds, particularly speech, that a person wants to hear from background noise. They improve what is known as the "speech to noise ratio".

Why Are ALSs Necessary?

Research indicates that people who are hard of hearing require a volume (signal to noise ratio) increase of about 15 to 25 dB in order to achieve the same level of understanding as people with normal hearing. An ALS allows them to achieve this gain for themselves without making it too loud for everyone else.

Can ALSs Be Used By Some People Who Are Deaf? -- YES!

ALSs are used by people with all degrees of hearing loss, from mild to profound. This includes hearing aid users and cochlear implantees, as well as consumers who do not use either hearing aids or cochlear implants. Although obtaining a hearing aid or cochlear implant is probably the most important thing a person can do to cope with hearing loss, these hearing instruments have performance limitations and do not work well in all situations. ALDs are sometimes described as "binoculars for the ears" because they "stretch" hearing aids and cochlear implants, thus extending their reach and increasing their effectiveness.

Where Do People Use ALSs?

ALSs help address listening challenges in three ways: minimizing background noise; reducing the effect of distance between the sound source and person with hearing loss; and overriding poor acoustics such as echo. People use ALSs in places of entertainment, employment, and education, as well as for home/personal use.

What Are The Types of ALS?

ALSs utilize FM, infrared or inductive loop technologies. All three technologies are considered good. Each one has advantages and disadvantages.

What Are FM Systems?

FM systems are ALSs that use radio broadcast technology. They are often used in educational settings and offer mobility and flexibility when used with portable body-worn transmitters. Some newer FM systems utilize miniaturized receivers that fit onto a hearing aid via a ²bootÓ.

This smaller type of receiver is not available through a catalogue. It must be dispensed by a hearing aid professional and is more expensive than traditional FM systems. It also uses a high frequency making it incompatible with other FM systems.

What Are Infrared Systems?

Infrared systems are ALSs that utilize light-based technology. They guarantee privacy because light does not pass through walls. They are the appropriate choice for situations such as court proceedings that require confidentiality. They are frequently installed in places of entertainment. They are also frequently designed and marketed for use in television listening.

What Are Inductive Loop Systems?

Wide area loop systems utilize an electromagnetic field to deliver sound. They offer convenience to groups of t-coil hearing aid users because those users do not require body worn receivers. Loop systems can be used by non-hearing aid users through use of a headphone and inductive loop receiver.

What Are The Basic Parts of an ALS?

Each ALS has at least three components: a microphone, a transmission technology and a device for receiving the signal and bringing the sound to the ear. This is important to understand in order to troubleshoot problems systematically and to improve a system's effectiveness.

When Do I Need to Obtain Assistance from a Sound Contractor?

Sometimes users stretch a limited system too far by using products ordered from consumer catalogues. Group set-ups are frequently complex enough to justify hiring a professional sound contractor to sell and install a system. This is especially true when multiple microphones are needed, for example in large meetings of 10 or more people. In this case, a mic mixer is indicated. A automatic microphone mixer turns microphones up and down when an individual speaks so that the "closed" microphones do not detract from the "open" microphone's signal quality.

What Are the Differences in Listening Couplers?

It is important to learn about the variety of hearing aid listening attachments. Your decision to use a headset, earphone, neckloop, silhouette inductor or other connector will depend upon whether you have a telecoil, as well as other factors. For example, you cannot put an earplug into an ear that already has a hearing aid! Some couplings are more effective than others. You should discuss these issues with your hearing aid dispenser.

Cochlear implant users may use a patch cord to connect an ALS receiver directly to their speech processor. (See explanation of patch cord below.) Some speech processors are "body pack" sized. Others are "ear level" and miniaturized to the size of a behind-the-ear hearing aid. Consumers with ear level speech processors can utilize neckloops for listening in the same way as hearing aid users.

What Are Patch Cords?

Familiarity with patch cords is necessary to ensure optimal connections. Patch cords are short wires with a plug at each end, enabling a connection between a CI speech processor and the jack of the equipment the CI user is listening to. One patch cord manufacturer advises connecting the short end to the speech processor. Some cords have a mini plug (2.5 mm instead of 3.5 mm) for connecting to devices requiring the smaller plug. Consumers report varied experience with the quality and effectiveness of patch cords.

Electrical requirements of devices vary, as do patch cord features. Therefore, consumers need to be aware that one cord may not work with everything. It is frustrating, for example, to want to patch into a cell phone without knowing whether the cord will work and to be unable to receive advice on this specialized issue from the local retail sales person. However, some vendors, such as Audex, sell patch cords that work with the phones they sell.

Patch cord manufacturers may be able to provide information on compatibility, as may ALD manufacturers and CI manufacturers. There is no central list at this time to guide consumers through the confusion of compatibility between all brands and models, although there is an FM system/patch cord compatibility list available through Cochlear Corporation.

What About 1-on-1 Personal Amplifiers?

ALDs (assistive listening devices) are personal amplifiers that are used to increase volume in face-to-face and small group conversations. They are boxes about the size of a deck of cards with both a microphone and listening cord connected to them. Both talker and listener share the same device. This type of ALD is less effective when you hold it far from the sound source, however it is relatively inexpensive. It will cost approximately $200, whereas a personal FM system, for example, could cost between $700 and $1,000.

What Is a Sound Field System?

Sound field is a speaker system that brings the sound closer to listeners and is often used in schools. It may be helpful to people with mild hearing loss as well as people who want to use inconspicuous (hidden) speakers. Some speakers are wireless and designed to look like lunch boxes or books. Hearing aid users as well as cochlear implant users who want to hear the regular way through their microphones may appreciate use of sound field.

One interesting feature of using a sound system is the concept of 'electronic curbcut". That is a metaphor for the secondary benefit of cuts on sidewalks, which are designed to help wheelchair users but also benefit people who push shopping carts and baby carriages. Similarly, a sound system heard by many people is proven to result in a general rise in class test scores, even by those who do not have a hearing loss. It also saves the teacher from having to "speak up" all day.

Are ALSs Required?

Wide area ALSs are covered under Title III of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990). This title stipulates that ALSs be provided in public places unless a provider can prove that it is an undue burden. Examples of such venues include movie cinemas, live performance theaters, and public classes. The ADA specifies that ALS receivers be provided at no cost and specifies the number of receivers that must be provided depending on the number of seats (4% rule). Revised ADA Guidelines to be released in the future are expected to increase standards for performance of ALS and address related issues.

ALSs may also be indicated under ADA Title I (employment accommodations) as well as Title II (accommodations provided by state and local governments). Other public policies that may require use of ALSs include Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (affecting federally funded agencies) and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Submitted by Karen Idler