The Bellringer
May 2015
Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church 600 Shepard Avenue
Hamden, CT 06514
Pastor’s Message BY THE REV. OWEN J. SANDERSON
“Ascension, Overlooked Day!”
Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are Your
Ways, King of the ages. All nations will come and worship before You, for
Your righteous acts have been revealed. (Revelation 15: 3-4)
Ascension Day, when we commemorate the translation of our Lord to heaven, is often a
neglected observance in the lives of many Christians. It occurs 40 days after Easter, and though it
never falls on Sunday, the Lord’s Day following Ascension Day is designated as Ascension Sunday.
It is certainly one of the important events in the life of Christ, and it should be celebrated along with
His birth, death, resurrection, sending of the Holy Spirit, and the promised second coming.
It is always thrilling to relive with our imagination the ascension scene on Mount Olivet
described in Acts 1. There was the parting blessing from the Lord to His disciples and His final
instructions regarding their mission to be worldwide witnesses after being empowered by the Holy
Spirit. Then the one who had been nailed to a Roman cross just a short time before was dramatically
taken up before their very eyes. And the two men dressed in white who suddenly appeared
reminded the disciples that Christ’s ascension must always be related to His return – “This same
Jesus . . . will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:10).
Thomas Kelly wrote an appropriate hymn called “Look, Ye Saints! The Sight is Glorious,”
which is generally regarded as one of the first ascension hymns in the English language. It is one that
is worthy of much greater use than it normally receives. Thomas Kelly is recognized as one of
Ireland’s finest evangelical preachers, as well as one of its most distinguished poets of the 19th
Century.
The words of the first verse are most penetrating. They are as follows:
“Look, ye saints! The sight is glorious; see the man of sorrow now, from the fight returned
Victorious, every knee to Him shall bow; Crown Him! Crown Him! Crowns become the
Victor’s brow.”
On this Ascension Sunday, may we all rejoice in the truth that our Lord not only rose
triumphantly but ascended into heaven victoriously to be our personal representative before the
Father.
—From the Pastor (Continued on Page 8)
Church News . . .
Coming Events . . .
LCW TO MEET: The
COUNCIL CATCH-UPS:
Lutheran Church Women
The Church Council met in
regular session on April 12.
Among the items discussed:
(LCW) will be meeting in
May to discuss charitable
disbursements for the 2014-15 fundraising


Pastor mailed the March issue of “The
year. The date and time will be announced in
Bellringer” plus Sunday bulletins and
an upcoming Sunday bulletin and on Christ
the Easter Flower Charts to 44 families.
Lutheran’s Facebook page. All women of the
A free Memorial Day Tribute concert
church are welcome to attend.
will be held at Lyman Center on

Sunday, May 24. Pastor has tickets.
LCW BANQUET: The
Improvements will be made on the
Women of the Church
Sanderson Hall exit, including a canopy
traditionally hold their
over the door and a ramp.
End-of-the-Year Banquet
at an area restaurant in
The next council meeting will be held
June. This is always a
following the morning worship service on
fun night of fellowship and good food. If
Sunday, May 10th.
anyone is interested in planning or co-chairing
this year’s event, please speak with Sharon
MATCHING FUNDS:
Napolitano.
Many thanks to John
Schatzlein for preparing
SAVE THE DATE –
and submitting the
FOR THE SUNDAY
paperwork to the New
SCHOOL PICNIC:
Haven Chapter of Thrivent
As the Sunday School year
Financial so as to obtain matching funds for
winds down, hot dogs,
money raised at the Palm Sunday Pancake
hamburgers and lots of
Breakfast. Christ Lutheran Church recently
delicious food will be served
received a check in the amount of $482, which
up at the Sunday School cookout on Sunday,
represents $241 raised at the breakfast and
June 14th. The congregation is invited to attend
$241 matched by Thrivent to be added to the
the annual event, sponsored by the Church
Furnace Fund. These monies are distributed
Council, to celebrate the conclusion of another
through Thrivent's Care Abounds in
successful Sunday School year.
Communities program. Any help to offset the
Sign-up sheets will be posted.
cost of the two recently installed new furnaces
is much appreciated.
2
Coming Events (Cont.) . . .
Center for Performing Arts on the Southern
HONORING OUR
Connecticut State University campus.
VETERANS: This year, the
The evening concert will feature the music
Hamden Boy Scouts and
of Orchestra New England and a special guest
Cub Scouts will place 2,200
reading by Pastor Sanderson, who has been
American flags on Veterans’
invited to read a wartime remembrance from
graves in Hamden
Don Perna to Tom Brokaw in Brokaw’s book,
cemeteries, thanks to donations from Beecher
“An Album of Memories: Personal Histories
and Bennett, Sisk Brothers, Peter H. Torello
from the Greatest Generation.”
and Son, and Howard K. Hill Funeral Homes.
The program will begin at 5 p.m. and will
The flag placement will begin on Saturday,
include a musical tribute by the orchestra
May 16th. If you have any questions, please
honoring the various branches of Service.
speak with Abner Oakes III CDR USNR (Ret),
Admittance is free, but tickets are required.
Chairman, or Gail Vasil in the Mayor’s Office.
Pastor Sanderson has tickets available; if you
would like to attend, please speak with Pastor.
VETERANS
AWARENESS DAY:
MEMORIAL
On Thursday, May 21,
DAY PARADE:
450 area students will
The 79th Annual
learn from 90 Veterans
Memorial Day
and their exhibits at the
Parade will step
15th Annual Veterans
off from
Awareness Day at Quinnipiac University. The
Hamden High School promptly at 10 a.m. on
exhibit will be held in the gymnasium on the
Monday, May 25th. The reviewing stand will be
main campus from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. All are
across from the Government Center, and
welcome to attend.
immediately after the parade, a ceremony will
be held at the Veterans Memorial in front of
A SPECIAL
Hamden Middle School.
TRIBUTE: A
Please advise Gail Vasil in the Mayor’s
“Memorial Day
Office if you plan to march. Parking will be
Tribute,” hosted by
available in the Government Center with a bus
the City of New
available to take you to the high school.
Haven and assisted by the Veterans Affairs
Advisory Committee, will be presented
Sunday, May 24, at the John Lyman
3
People’s News . . .
BOSTON
RELAY FOR LIFE:
MARATHON:
On Saturday,
Daniel Oakes,
April 18, Kathryn
the grandson of
Napolitano
Abner and
participated in
Cynthia Oakes,
Boston
ran in the
University’s Relay
Boston Marathon April 20th for “Team John
for Life campus
Hancock,” completing the 26-mile race in a
event. During the 12-hour fundraiser,
little over four hours. His parents, David and
Kathryn's team, “Relay for Sharon,” took turns
Nancy of North Haven, were among those at
walking around the track to raise money and
the finish line to cheer him on. Daniel, who
awareness for the American Cancer Society.
graduated with a business degree from
With the help of friends and family, the
Stonehill College, lives in the North End of
team raised $500 to help finish the fight in the
Boston and works for John Hancock in
world's largest movement to end cancer. By the
investments.
closing ceremony at 5:45 a.m., the BU
WELCOME NEW
participants raised a total of $128,106.33,
GRANDCHILDREN:
hitting their greatest fundraising goal ever.
Abner and Cynthia
Pictured above with Kathryn (center) are team
Oakes have welcomed
members Rachel Podber and Alex Yen.
two new granddaughters to their family.
Azalia (age 7) and Elizabeth (age 3) were
ST. BALDRICK’S
recently adopted by their son Jeffrey and
DAY FUNDRAISER:
daughter-in-law Molly (both 55), who live in
On Wednesday,
Manassas, Virginia. They join older brother
March 11, John
Timothy (age 25) who is on board nuclear
Napolitano shaved
submarine USS St. Petersburg and older sister
his head for a good
Meghan (age 22) who graduates in May from
cause. He was among
those participating in Hofstra University’s
Virginia Tech.
seventh annual St. Baldrick's Day fundraiser.
By the afternoon, the Hofstra community had
raised nearly $37,000 for children’s cancer
research, topping last year’s record of $34,800.
4
People News (Cont.) . . .
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
GRANDCHILDREN UPDATE: Fred and
Phyllis Kallert’s grandchildren had a good year:
GRADUATE: Kathryn
Napolitano will graduate
Haley Kerrigan of
from Boston University's
Bainbridge Island,
College of Communication
Washington, will graduate
on Friday, May 15, 2015, followed by an All-
from Connecticut College
University Commencement Ceremony on
in May. She will go on to
Sunday, May 17. She will receive her Bachelor
of Science degree in Public Relations with a
attend graduate school.
minor in Business Administration and

Katrina Kerrigan transferred from
Management and a liberal arts concentration in
Southern Methodist in Texas to Whitman in
Psychology.
Walla Walla, Washington. She now plays
During her four years at BU, Kathryn was a
Lacrosse instead of Crew.

member of the Public Relations Student Society
of America, studied “abroad” at BU's Los
Younger sister, Faith Kerrigan, 10, has won
Angeles Internship Program and held
several prizes for horseback riding.
numerous campus jobs, for which she was
honored as one of BU's Student Employees of
Carly Caliendo of Hamden will
the Year in 2015.
graduate from Fairfield
Kathryn interned with a handful of media
University the same day as
and entertainment companies, gaining
Haley. She is job searching.
experience in radio, special events,
digital marketing and media relations. She

looks forward to remaining in Boston and
Doug Caliendo, a junior at Notre Dame,
finding a full-time job at a PR/marketing
West Haven, has done well with Varsity
agency.
Hockey.

Kathryn is the daughter of Phil and Sharon
Napolitano of Hamden.
Ryan Kallert, Branford, has completed his
first year at Eastern Connecticut State
University and played goalie for Club
Prayer is not a “spare
Hockey.

wheel” that you pull out
when in trouble, but it is
a “steering wheel” that
directs the right path
throughout.
Olivia Kallert is a freshman at Branford
High and plays soccer.
All did well scholastically.
5
People News (Cont) . . .
A BRIGHT
PATH: Meghan
Oakes, the
granddaughter of
Abner and
Cynthia Oakes
and daughter of
Jeffrey and Molly Oakes of Manassas,
Virginia, will be graduating this month from
Virginia Tech. Following is an excerpted
article about Meghan’s college career that was
recently featured on the University’s
Spotlights on Achievement Web page.
diplomacy and international development, but
I felt that if I wanted to work internationally
for the United States, I needed to have a better
understanding of its domestic politics.”
For the 113th Congress, Wolf chaired the
Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee
for the House Appropriations Committee.
Among her tasks, Oakes created a spreadsheet
that showed the budget allotment for NASA
and the National Science Foundation from the
1960s to the present day, taking inflation into
account. She researched human trafficking in
When Virginia Tech Honors student
the United States, specifically how states
Meghan Oakes of Manassas, Virginia, begins to
combat the problem. And she wrote letters to
apply for jobs on Capitol Hill, her resume will
constituents to clarify the congressman’s stance
boast titles such as “secretary general,” “chief
on issues.
of staff,” ambassador,” and “referee.”
She was then invited to work with the
Oakes, who will graduate in May 2015 with
House Ways and Means Subcommittee on
a double major in international studies and
Social Security that summer. There she met
religion and culture and a minor in Russian, all
Margaret Hostetler, a professional staff
in the College of Liberal Arts and Human
member whom Oakes calls a mentor.
Sciences, tapped a diversity of disciplines
Oakes returned to Washington, D.C., in
during her undergraduate career.
November 2014 to serve as chair for the Joint-
A nine-month stint in Washington, D.C.,
Defense Council at the Capital Area Model
will help boost her resume’s appeal, too.
Arab League, a diplomatic simulation and
She spent spring 2015 in the office of U.S.
leadership development program.
Rep. Frank Wolf of Virginia through the
She helped “control and choreograph the
Hokies on the Hill program, which allows
flow of the debate” and ended up winning the
students to earn a semester of academic credit.
award for Outstanding Chair for her abilities
“I was not very interested in domestic
as a parliamentarian.
politics until I joined Hokies on the Hill,”
Oakes said. “Initially, I was very interested in
To read the story in its entirety online, visit:
http://www.vt.edu/spotlight/achievement/2015-0323-oakes/capitolhill.html.
6
Church Notes . . .
TO REACH THE PASTOR:
Call (203) 288-3196. The phone
is answered 24 hours a day.
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: Type
in Christ Evangelical Lutheran
Church (Hamden, CT) in the
search bar to view postings and
“join” our growing group.
SUNDAY SCHOOL: Classes
for children ages 3 through 8th
grade are in session! Classes
start at 9 a.m.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE at www.lutherans.com,
www.Hamden.com, www.elca.org; or go
directly to www.christlutheranhamden.org.
COFFEE HOUR: Do you have
something to celebrate? Please
consider hosting Coffee Hour!
A sign-up sheet for the second
half of the year has been posted.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
Do you have news to share?
The deadline for the June issue
of The Bellringer is Sunday,
May 31. Please give your news items to Sharon
Napolitano or e-mail her at
snapolitano1@yahoo.com.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: If
you are interested in serving in
the nursery during Sunday
morning worship services,
please sign up on the chart on
the nursery door.
Bits & Pieces . . .
Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
Did you know? The four lines of the Doxology have been the most frequently sung words of any
known song for more than 300 years. Even today nearly every English-speaking Protestant
congregation still unites at least once each Sunday in this noble ascription of praise. It has been said
that the doxology has done more to teach the doctrine of the Trinity than all the theological books
ever written. It has often been called “the Protestant Te Deum Laudamus.”
Words by Thomas Ken, 1637-1711
Music by Louis Bourgeois, c. 1510-c. 1561
7
Sunday Servants. . .
Please check the Sunday Servants listing on the bulletin board for the schedule.
Usher and Acolyte Conflict? Please call Dave Shine at (203) 230-1011.
May 3 – Holy Communion Service – 10 a.m.
Ushers: Harry Richetelle (C), Elaine Richetelle
Ursula Hunter, Carl Rennie
Acolyte: Morgan Kovacs
Lector: Ken Allen
Nursery: Please Volunteer
Coffee Hour: Please Volunteer
May 24 – Sunday Worship Service – 10 a.m.
Ushers: Abner Oakes (C), Art Civitelli,
Phil Napolitano, Kathryn Napolitano
Acolyte: Samantha Kovacs
Lector: Harry Richetelle
Nursery: Please Volunteer
Coffee Hour: Please Volunteer
May 10 – Holy Communion Service – 10 a.m.
Ushers: Loraine Brown (C), Dave Brown,
Dave Shine, Paul Snyder
Acolyte: Emily Simpson
Lector: Peter Hawkins
Nursery: Please Volunteer
Coffee Hour: Simpson Family in Honor of
Emily’s 12th Birthday
May 31 – Sunday Worship Service – 10 a.m.
Ushers: Earle Douglas (C), Carolyn Douglas,
Ursula Hunter, David Zeppieri
Acolyte: Morgan Kovacs
Lector: Sharon Napolitano
Nursery: Please Volunteer
Coffee Hour: Napolitano Family in Honor of
Kathryn’s College Graduation
May 17 – Sunday Worship Service – 10 a.m.
Ushers: Gerlinde Kirbs (C), Jerry Barton,
Peter Hawkins, Barbara Simpson
Acolyte: Mario Persiani
Lector: Durbin Hunter
Nursery: Please Volunteer
Coffee Hour: Please Volunteer
June 7 – Holy Communion Service – 10 a.m.
Ushers: Harry Richetelle (C), Elaine Richetelle,
Loraine Brown, Dave Brown
Acolyte: Emily Simpson
Lector: Ken Allen
Nursery: Please Volunteer
Coffee Hour: Please Volunteer
* Captain
From the Pastor (Continued from Page 1)
May we sing joyously “Look, ye saints! The sight is glorious; see the man of
sorrows now; from the fight returned victorious, every knee to Him shall bow.”
I look forward to seeing you on Ascension Sunday, May 17th.
Sincerely,
Pastor Sanderson
8