Sunday May 13, 2012 11am
Saturday May 19, 2012 2pm
You are Invited
Our Saviour's Lutheran Church will be closing its
doors after almost a century of spiritual service to the
community. Both final services will honor the past, present and
future of the
Lutheran ministry at the corner of Talbot and Argyle Streets in Dorchester (500 Talbot Ave). The Sunday May 13
service will include the congregation's favorite hymns
accompanied by
Nancy Conrad, pianist, with special vocal music offered by Ms. Jordan
Lloyd.
The final Festival Eucharist has been set for Saturday, May 19, 2012 at
2pm giving members of the community, especially other Christian
congregations in the area, a chance to attend without creating a Sunday
morning
conflict. The Eucharist will celebrate the rich ninety-three year
history of Our Saviour's proclaiming the Gospel and serving the
community. As
well, it will mark the beginning of an intentional and hopeful
transition to
a new season of ministry.
Our Saviour's is
grateful to the many New England ELCA ministers who will participate in
the May 19 Celebraton Eucharist including Bishop Margaret Payne as
guest preacher, Pastor Nathan Pipho (Good Shepherd, North Quincy) as
presider, and Randy Rice (Resurrection, Roxbury) as musician.
Adelita
Callwood, OSLC’s Synodically Authorized Lay Minister, will serve as
Assisting Minister.
A reception will follow immediately after the Eucharist. Come and be
part of the sharing of stories, hopes and Easter joys! For more
information, please Contact Adelita (Addy) Callwood @ 857-205-7453 or
e-mail agcallwood@gmail.com.
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Ms. Adelita Callwood, authorized synodically
as Lay Minister, maintained the church's operation for the last four
years. During this period, she not only managed the
church's physical building and finances but the spiritual condition as
well. All the while, beyond Bible studies, Team Dorchester
meetings and Synod activities, she found time to start her lay ministry
studies. Addie's
contribution to the church's mission and to the lives of the
parishioners has been such a blessing.
As a tribute, the parishioners offer her this accolade:
To: Addie with Love
“God is good – when?” “All the time.”
For as long as some of us can remember, Ms. Adelita Callwood has been
shepherding Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Dorchester, keeping her
flock together, moving the congregation ever closer to the church’s
promised land, beginning the service with that same question. And
if we didn’t answer loud enough, she would ask again: “When?” and
this time, we would shout it out: “ALL THE TIME!”
For years before taking on a formal pastoral role, Addie set the tone
of the service from a quiet pulpit she filled as a member of the
congregation. “Do you have a greeting for us this morning?”
Pastor Tony would begin the service that way – knowing he’d better
check in with a voice, a spirit and a message that came from the heart
and from God and that spoke to and for the congregation in a way no
other voice could.
How could an untrained, non-clergy person speak so eloquently with an
opening message that often sounded better than the lengthy learned
sermons of the ordained? No one understood then how much God’s
hand was in her shaping.
Taking on the Role of Shepherd
Years ago, at yet another meeting where we parishioners were
defensively fending off those we thought were trying to seal Our
Saviour’s coffin, Keila Rodriquez, who had discerned Addie’s spiritual
gift, passed the baton her way. In the middle of a prayer circle
in the church’s social hall, Keila asked Addie a life-changing
question: “Are you willing to step forward and take on the role
of shepherd?”
We remember hearing that question. We remember seeing Addie’s
face. We each remember the moment of truth and reckoning, as if
her soul had been laid bare and ours as well.
From that day forward, the spirit within the hallowed walls of Our
Saviour’s took on a different cast, as if the church had become the
clay of God’s molding hands. Adelita climbed on the tall
spiritual steed, took hold of the reins and rode gently into a journey
that gathered about her an ever growing flock of followers and
believers.
Addie's Ministry
Addie’s ministry was special. She is one of the humblest people
you could ever meet. Nothing was beyond her reach – not dealing
with contractors to replace the roof, not networking with other clergy,
not cleaning the toilets and floors on a Saturday then going home to
complete the preparation of her sermon. And never did she
complain. Only when her body was close to exhaustion would she
admit to the need for a quieter and more reflective service.
Addie’s sermons touched us with warmth and with an understanding of how
strongly the Spirit of God rested in her heart. Spoken in a
thousand different words and without recourse to intellectually clever
sermons, Addie’s message was always the same: Jesus loves
you. Yes, Jesus was the message and John 3:16, the sacrifice of
the cross and God’s unconditional love.
Adelita Callwood has been such a blessing to the Our Saviour’s,
preserving her body and her spirit. The founders of Vasa Lutheran
Church would be – no, are – proud. Addie, Thank you. That
your journey continues blessed and in the service of God.
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