THE DOVE. Christ Ascension Lutheran Church. From Pastor Lohrmann. Sharing the Good News at CALC

Transcription

1 Christ Ascension Lutheran Church THE DOVE Sharing the Good News at CALC 2013 From Pastor Lohrmann Why Lutheran? That is a question I ll be spending some time with in the coming weeks. For one thing, I ll be in Germany visiting the hometowns of people like Martin Luther and J.S. Bach, among other places. This question is also the theme of a youth event that I will be a part of this summer. Each summer, a group of high school students meets at Gettysburg Seminary to go deeper into their faith. When the students were asked last year what they wanted to learn more about this time around, they answered with this question: Why Lutheran? I could answer that question all kinds of ways. There s the historical answer about Luther s efforts to reform late medieval Latin Christendom. There are theological answers about doctrines like faith, communion, ministry and the church. There are social answers about all the good things that congregations do and the good times people have together. Finally, there s the personal answer that I was born into a family of practicing Lutherans. But I am not a Lutheran primarily for any of those reasons. As much as I love the historical, theological, social and familial sides of my faith, I love the Lutheran church because it has always pointed me to Jesus. Of course, all kinds of Christians would probably say the same thing. But Lutherans have some unique ways of pointing to Jesus. For one thing, we believe it s okay to ask questions and use our brains. That s a big reason why the Lutheran Reformation happened in the first place: Luther and his colleagues had active and searching minds. They loved finding out what following Christ is like by meditating on the Bible, the world and their everyday experiences. And Lutherans don t just live in our heads. We use our heads so that the good news of Jesus Christ can be applied as wonderfully as possible to our hearts. Christ wants us to know the difference he makes for each of us personally. The Lutheran emphasis on pointing to Jesus also points to our own hearts, pointing to the Spirit who has been poured into our very own hearts. Finally, this faith is not only mine or yours Jesus is about building up individuals AND communities. Following Jesus means learning to see others the way God sees them. As St. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5: From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view. Or, in the words of 1 John 4: Beloved, let us love another, because love is from God. In Christ, we learn to see that Jesus is pointing us back to others. Why Lutheran? In today s marketplace of ideas, religions and spiritualities, Lutheranism is one option among many. It s definitely not the flashiest, fanciest or most alluring option. But it doesn t have to be. If we are about sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with our minds, hearts and strength, then we will always have something new to learn and something wonderful to share. I hope you enjoy your summer journey with the Lord. God bless you, Pastor Martin Lohrmann Inside this issue: Strawberry Festival 2 Phillies Night 2 Book Group 3 CALC Concert Series 3 Assisting Minister & Lector Training dates Finance 5 Coming Up Summer : begins at 9:30 a.m., starting 2! May 29: Book Group May 31: Lutheran Night at the Phillies Strawberry Festival: 1 Church Council: 18 4

2 P A G E 2 Summer Schedule begins this Sunday, 2. will begin at 9:30 a.m. LUTHERAN NIGHT AT THE Life Changes Welcome Theodore Robert Lohrmann and Matthew Daniel O Rear. Theodore (son of Martin and Carrie Lohrmann and younger brother of Hilde and Jonah) was baptized into Christ on May 5. Matt joined the congregation by affirmation of faith on May 26. Welcome to Christ Ascension! Condolences to Annette Murray and her family on the death of her father Robert Fryer this past month. Condolences also to Erik Heen and family on the death of his mother Marie Heen. + Blessed are those who have died in the Lord (Rev. 14) Congratulations to high school graduate Emily Brown. If you know of other graduates to recognize, please contact the office. Farewell & Godspeed to Mark, Sharlyn, Amelia and Ian Price, who are moving to London, England this month. They have been wonderful, active members of the community in many ways and we will miss them very much. Go with God! Our local Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod is sponsoring a Lutheran Night at the Phillies for the game on Friday, May 31. The game starts at 7:05 p.m. Tickets cost $20 each. This is the LAST CALL for tickets. Please contact the church office by Friday morning (05/31) if you would like to purchase tickets. Strawberry festival june 1 The annual Strawberry Festival will take place this Saturday, 1. We always have a lot to do to set up for the yard sale beforehand, prepare the food, and help on Saturday. Workers for Saturday are still needed. Please contact this year s organizers, Kristin and Marc Gray, (akoxford@msn.com) to volunteer your help. This is both a great fundraiser for the church and a great amount of fun for church members! Come enjoy it! Still needed are: Saturday workers (12-2pm) Markers Thank you for your support of LSH s sold-out 2013 Women of Courage Event! Read the article in the Daily News Clean up crew Hot dog rolls Soft pretzels Baked goods Tables or card tables Marking tape Labels for pricing Ladle and learn how LSH is helping three generations of adult learners.

3 P A G E 3 Pastor on tour Pastor Lohrmann and other members of the church will be on a tour of historical and cultural sites in Germany and Prague from Gordon Lathrop will preside at worship on 9 and John Puotinen of LTSP will preside on 16. In case you need to speak with a pastor or have a pastoral visit while he is gone, please contact the church office ( / office@christascension.org). Several pastors will be available in Pastor Lohrmann s absence. Book group The Book Group is meeting on May 29 at 7 p.m. in the Reumann Memorial Library section of our parish hall to discuss The Tenth Parallel by Eliza Griswold. In this non-fiction book, the author explores the tenth parallel below the equator as a geographical place where Islam and Christianity often meet. Next book is Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. Thank You! Thanks to all who helped host singers from the Wittenberg Gospel Choir. They had a wonderful visit. Their concert at the Lutheran seminary on May 14 was well attended and inspirational. Graeme Brown starring in opera at Media Theater Graeme, soloist with a key role in international opera Theater s current production of Jago on May 30, 31 and 1 at the Media Theater in Media, PA, will also travel with the cast in to Citta de Saluzzo, Italy. To read the full story, please visit: In Concert Roy Book Binder Friday, 21 The Preacher Picked the Guitar: songs and stories of life on the road with Rev. Gary Davis 6 p.m. Meet and Greet Dinner at Roller s Flying Fish 8 p.m. Concert at Christ Ascension Lutheran Church Tickets: Emusictime.com $75 Dinner & Concert $25 Concert only Church Special: Price for church members is $20 (must pay in advance) Contact the church office for your concert ticket.

4 P A G E 4 Training Dates for Assisting Ministers and Lectors To continue to serve our worship, a series of training dates for assisting ministers and lectors are being offered on Saturdays 10 am -12 pm and Sundays 1 pm -3 pm later in the summer: Saturday, Aug. 31 Training Assisting Ministers Sunday, Sept. 1 Practicing with Lectors Saturday, Sept. 7 Crafting Intercessions Sunday, Sept.8 Training Assisting Ministers Saturday, Sept. 21 Practicing with Lectors Sunday, Sept. 22 Crafting Intercessions The Music Studio THE-MUSIC-STUDIO.NET Composer and Guitarist Jim Dragoni invites you to unleash your creative potential.. study any genre you choose. Learn Piano, Guitar, Bass, Voice, Ensemble Performance, Violin, Composition, Theory and more. Now providing quality musical instruments, appraisals and restoration. Call: Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA Birthdays! 1 Matthew O Rear 2 Hilde Lohrmann Eugene Smith 4 Ian Price 15 Ana Clark Evan Gow 17 Ciaran Clark 18 Ralph Wellington 19 Elaine Gerhart 24 Per Loufman Sally Mann 29 Martha Reumann Joy Walter

5 P A G E 5 Financial Times at calc. Your offerings to Christ Ascension fund ministries like worship, visitation, education, outreach, and community involvement. Please continue to pray about how you might support these ministries with your time, talents, and money. Electronic giving is one way to give offerings. It helps the congregation meet its ongoing expenses. Contact the church office for details and an enrollment form. May s higher giving reflects some quarterly offerings, rather than increased weekly donations Avg. Monthly Expenses March Income April Income Expenses Offering Rental May Income Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good and His mercy endures forever. Avg. Monthly Expenses: $16,000 Mar. Apr. May Offering: $7,868 $9,093 $10,752 Rental Income: $4,447 $5,315 $ 4,785 Fundraising: $ 119 $ 0 $ 212 Sign up for Church Ministries The sign-up board that covers our Sunday ministries in the sanctuary is now located on the wall nearest the driveway. These roles help our worship go smoothly. They are also enjoyable in themselves and good ways to get involved in church in new ways. These ministries are: Altar Guild Ushers Acolytes Assisting Minister (worship assistant) Lector (reader) Communion Assistant Nursery Care Coffee Hour Sign up on the board or contact the church office to volunteer. Thank you! Memorial mission fund Church council has approved a Memorial Mission Fund. Gifts can be given to this fund anytime in memory of our beloved dead. Church council will have discretionary oversight of this account and use funds only for purposes that directly advance our mission, ministries and public witness. The first funds were given in memory of Peggy Wells and in memory of Jane Strasbaugh. The Hallocks have also recently made a donation in memory of family members. Thank you for supporting the congregation s mission in this way.

6 P A G E 6 june 2013 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 9:30 a.m Strawberry Festival :30 a.m p.m. Child Care Committee :30 a.m. 7 p.m. Church Council 8 p.m. Concert Guitarist Roy Book Binder 23/30 9:30 a.m

7 Assistants for & July 2013 ** There are a number of slots to be filled. ** If you are willing and able to assist in one (or more) of these slots, please contact the church office, or sign up using the chart posted in the church. Date 2 9 Assistant Kearea Maroni Gail Ramshaw Communion Assistant Lector Gail Ramshaw Irma Blum Ushers Altar Guild Pam Ansel Celia O Leary Jane Hallock Acolyte Coffee Hour Nursery Care ///////////// //////////// 16 Kearea Maroni Beryl Evans Sue Griffith Sara Murray 23 Elaine Gerhart Brad Gow ///////////// //////////// 30 Brad Gow Gail Ramshaw Gordon Gerhart ///////////// //////////// July 7 July 14 July 21 July 28 Summer Schedule begins this Sunday, 2.. will begin at 9:30 a.m.

8 CHRIST ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH 8300 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, PA Pastor Martin J. Lohrmann Phone: A congregation of the ELCA Make ChristAscension.org Your Home The congregation has a new website. By making it your homepage, you can see updated events and info. Visit us online at and on facebook: Christ Ascension Lutheran Church Chestnut Hill Christ Ascension: A Church United in Faith, Hope and Love Summer Schedule: Holy Communion: 9:30 a.m. Altar flower Coordinator: volunteer opportunity Strawberry festival Saturday, june 1 10 a.m. 2 p.m. There will be strawberries served any way you want them, baked goods, soft pretzels, penny candy, jewelry, books and white elephant items for sale. Hot dogs, snacks and soda will also be served for lunch. Volunteers are needed for Friday night set up (7 p.m.), Saturday workers, bakers, and clean up crew. Contact Kristen and Marc Gray at akoxford@msn.com with your offer to help and/or to donate. Have some fun get involved this is truly a good time for everyone! Let s make this a successful fundraising event. We are looking for a volunteer to coordinate the Altar Flower Chart. This is a simple task On a regular basis check the chart for name of persons signed up to provide Sunday altar flowers. 2. Phone the florist to place the order (delivery on Saturdays) 3. Contact person for dedication information & notify church office. 4. Mail an invoice to the person. Done! Invoices and postage provided by the church office. If you would like to volunteer, please call the church office or speak to Pastor.