Francesca Norsen Tate, Editor

Bethlehem Lutheran’s Pastor Knudsen Celebrates 25 Years in Ordained Ministry

Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Bay Ridge this weekend honors its pastor, the Rev. Paul Knudsen, who marks the 25th anniversary of his ordination.

A native New Yorker, Knudsen was born and raised on Staten Island, and attended Zion Lutheran Church. He is a graduate of Wagner College, and Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, which are affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). He served his internship at a suburban church just north of Detroit.

Following his November 11, 1984 ordination, Pastor Knudsen began his first church assignment in his native Staten Island—at Eltingville Lutheran Church & School and served there for eight years (1984-1992). He then discerned that he should continue his ministry by providing interim support to churches that were in between pastors. Meanwhile, he pursued a career in computer programming to support his growing family.

Knudsen served as interim pastor at two churches in Staten Island and, starting in 1995, at the Bay Ridge congregation where he serves today. Bethlehem Lutheran Church, which originally hired Knudsen as an interim, eventually changed his status to a part-time, but permanent, ministry.

The luncheon in Pastor Knudsen’s honor takes place around noon, following the morning liturgy, in Bethlehem’s Fellowship Room. Those wishing to attend should call the church at (718) 748-9502 as soon as possible to give the organizers an accurate head count.

Friends of Historic New Utrecht presents Brian Worsdale’s latest group, the Brooklyn Jazz Collective, in a free concert this Saturday, Nov 21, at 7:30 p.m.

The Jazz Collective, whose members are high school and collegiate-level musicians mostly from Brooklyn, is a large ensemble that performs a wide variety of jazz pieces. The concert in the Parish House of the New Utrecht Reformed Church, at 18th Ave. and 84th St., will be a “jazz cabaret� featuring instrumental and vocal solos.

The Brooklyn Jazz Collective is one of many new projects being developed by the Brooklyn Youth Music Group, which Worsdale founded to develop a system of youth ensembles in Brooklyn modeled after the famous El Sistema social and music program in Venezuela.

The Brooklyn Jazz Collective first performed in March 2008 at a benefit for BrooklynOne Theatre, whose executive director is the Brooklyn Eagle’s and Bay Ridge Eagle’s very own Tom Kane. Earlier this fall, the group performed for a celebration at Visitation Academy.

Says Tom, “I look forward to the Brooklyn Youth Jazz Collective's debut on Saturday under the direction of Brian Worsdale. This is one amazing group of young people that have a unique sound and perform these pieces as if they were written just for them.�

A reception with light refreshments follows the concert, and parking is available in the lot of the church compound.

The Parish House is next to the New Utrecht Reformed Church’s main building, which is undergoing a $2 million restoration and repair. Both the Parish House and main church building are known for their magnificent stained glass windows. The church, now within the Reformed Church in America (RCA), was founded in 1677.

“Be a blessing� is the invocation theme of Bethlehem Lutheran Church’s Thanksgiving Service, taking place on the Sunday before the national holiday. Worshipers are encouraged to bring donations of hats, gloves, scarves and other winter-wear for clients of The Healing Center, Bethlehem Church’s program serving victims of domestic violence.

Several neighborhood organizations are gearing up to continue the tradition of presenting the Heights & Hills Thanksgiving Dinner next week. The Thanksgiving Dinner, which serves elderly and homebound persons, is a community effort whose co-sponsors include Heights & Hills Community Council, Grace Church/Brooklyn Heights, which has for decades hosted the event, and the Cobble Hill Health Center, which also provides the turkey, stuffing and sweet potatoes. Officers of the 84th Precinct transport the meal to Grace Church, and they also provide transportation for some of the guests. Moreover, neighborhood residents—many of whom are accomplished bakers—provide the pies for dessert.

While a $1 contribution is requested from the guests, nobody with a hardship is denied a dinner. Meals are also delivered to about 75 homebound neighborhood seniors.

Notices have appeared in many local church and synagogue newsletters calling for volunteers to assist in almost every aspect of this community outreach, which includes serving, cleaning up and socializing with the guests. Volunteers are needed on Thanksgiving Day between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Volunteers are also needed to bake and bring pies to Grace Church on or before Thanksgiving Day. Volunteers may call Heights & Hills at (718) 596-8789 to sign up or for further information.

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