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• We arrived safely! - Saturday, July 24th - We are safely at Hayama. All are well except for the internet connection which foiled our well planned blog writing on iPad and then transfer on to the Blog. (no wireless connection... no Blog posting it turned out! ) We have the first blog write up ready and will up load as soon as the connection is established. Ken

  What is We arrived safely!? Click here to find out.

• DIAKONIA GRADUATION: - - Lynne B, Carol J, and Irene K graduated from the two-year diakonia program of spiritual growth and formation, after many hours of studying, writing papers, completing projects, and prayer. They wish to thank all the members and friends who came to wish them well at the June 12th graduation. They deserve our congratulations - and thanks for the servanthood they have already been demonstrating - Lynne as our Resident Artist and chair of the Worship Committee, Carol as representative of the Christian Children‘s Fund (ChildFund) and Thrivent, and Irene as leader of the Social Ministry Committee. Congratulations and Thank you, ladies!

• Labyrinth at Emanuel - Dedication to be announced - The first phase of our labyrinth project is now completed and plans are underway to create a Meditation Garden surrounding it. People from the community have already come to walk the spiritual journey. We encourage you to give it a try, and watch for information on its dedication and future use!

• Summer Discussion Group - Summer Sundays @9am - A new discussion group is planning to meet from 9:00 – 9:45am on summer Sunday mornings (before worship) to discuss the American Public Radio’s weekly Saturday program - Speaking of Faith. More info coming in the June Digest.

• COUNCIL CAPSULES - - At the June Council meeting we heard that the elevator project was about to “go out for bids” from contractors; one will be selected this summer and work should start soon thereafter. The Laby-rinth will be landscaped by our “Garden Angels,” with one or more benches placed around the area (these can be memorial gifts; speak to Lynne B or the Pastor). Thanks were given to the Westchester Recorder Guild and the Sunday School for their gifts to the Elevator Fund and World Hunger, respec-tively. Other business may be read about elsewhere in this newsletter.

• Ecumenical Vacation Bible School - August 9 thru August 13 - SAVE THE DATE Ecumenical Vacation Bible School at Holy Innocents, Pleasantville Monday, August 9 - Friday, August 13 9:00am-12:00pm For children in grades K-8 (pre-K and nursery available for volunteers) *Registration forms will be in the Narthex in May. If you would like to volunteer or have any questions, please contact: Darlene Esposito @ espodar@aol.com

• LUTHERAN LEADERSHIP SCHOOL - August 12-22, 2010 - Pinecrest is one of the oldest camping programs to provide leadership training for Lutheran youth, and has re-mained relevant to young adults aged 15 and older through the active involvement of campers. In fact, this summer will be our 83rd session! Our mission is to develop young leaders within the church, and have fun doing it! Therefore, our program is run almost entirely by the campers. This includes the student-elected Student Council President and Vice President, the Cabin Leaders, the Curriculum Committee that chooses the courses and faculty, and the students elected to Student Council. The Pinecrest Staff and Faculty consist of pastors and laypersons to help guide and train the campers throughout the year and especially during the week of camp. Pinecrest is a week-long program in Sussex, New Jersey, at camp Lou-Emma which is approximately 1 ½ hours from Pleasantville. If you are interested in learning more about Pinecrest, you can speak with Pastor Paul (the camp Director!) or most of our youth group… at least 10 kids participate from Emanuel each year.

• Bedford Hills Children’s Center - This Summer - The Center again is looking for host families for the children (ages 5-14 years) of the inmates. Most of the children come from instate but some come from out of state and may stay with a family 4 or 5 nights or longer. The children stay with their mothers from 9AM-3PM and then stay with the host until the next morning. This truly is an opportunity to serve families that neither the host family nor the inmates? children will ever forget. For more information, call Riitta P. Sue P. or call directly to Alessandra Rose, the Children?s Center Director @ (914) 241-3100 ext. 4050. -Karen N and Irene K

• Men's BIBLE STUDY - Thursday and Monday - Men's Bible Study is continuing along very well. We're still meeting the FIRST Thursday and THIRD Monday of the month. We'll continue through June and then pickup again in September.

• OBERGAMMERGAU 2010 UPDATE - 22 September, 2010 - We have enough sign-ups now for our group discount to apply! Departure date from here 22 September, 2010 Our 10 day tour includes: 1 night in Munich, 1 night in Oberammergau, Best tickets to the Passion Play 7 night Viking River Cruise from Nuremburg to Budapest All staterooms have river views, 7 guided tours Most meals (9 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 8 dinners, Welcome Cocktail Reception, Captain’s Farewell Dinner and din- ner on Passion Play day), Plus “Old World Highlights” such as apple strudel workshop & tour of baroque Benedic- tine Abbey at Melk & much more! Commitment deposit (non refundable) is $200 per person by check to: Going Places. Specific cabins can now be reserved on payment of $500 per person by credit card. Trip Protection Insurance is also now available. Call Sheila at 866 567-8126 or 914 747-2233 - Christine Pelham

• THRIVENT - Submit request prior to event - THRIVENT UPDATE Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has established a new program called Thrivent Choice. The Care in Congrega-tions program has been eliminated. However, the Care in Communities program continues to function as in the past; Joan Baum will continue to handle these requests. All Thrivent members had the opportunity in April to vote for one of ten nationwide organizations to be the recipi-ent of part of $1 million in Thrivent outreach funds. This summer, eligible Thrivent members will be able to direct Choice Dollars to organizations they care about, which have registered to be beneficiaries. Emanuel is registered as one of those beneficiaries. The amount of their allocation will depend on the level of their ownership of life insurance, health insurance and annuities, or volunteer Thrivent involvement. Members who own more fraternal benefit society products are the ones who are helping generate the funds that allow Thrivent Financial to give back through its programs like Thrivent Choice and Care in Communities. We?re hoping, of course, that each eligible member will direct his or her dollars to Emanuel. Thrivent members, age 16 or over, will be eligible to direct Choice Dollars if they meet one or more of the following: ?Have $800 or more in annual premiums of qualifying insurance products. ?Have $20,000 or more in contract value on qualifying products. ?Hold a Thrivent Financial volunteer leadership position. If you meet the criteria above, you?ll get a letter this summer with more information. Choice Dollars will officially launch with a direct mail campaign to members over seven weeks. If you have any questions, please contact Carol J.