Lutheran Light. The. The Pastor s Prism. Opinion or Conviction?

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1 The Lueran Light As e Body of Christ, St. Mary s Evangelical Lueran Church is called by e Faer rough e Holy Spirit to worship God and witness to oers. Vol. 32 No. 03, March 2010 The Pastor s Prism Opinion or Conviction? One of e qualities of our humanity is at of being fickle. Being fickle means we are constantly changing between one opinion and anoer, often depending on how it will benefit us at e moment. For example, President Obama was greatly supported by many a year ago but now, only a year later, many have turned against him, because, allegedly, he has not done enough to address e unemployment and financial woes of our country. Could it be at we Americans are fickle? Anoer example, ere are people who seem chronically unwilling to make decisions, seemingly indecisive, and say whatever decision is made doesn t matter. Yet when someone else makes e decision for em ey get upset and blame e one who made e decision when ings don t go eir way! Fickleness seems to arise in part from self-centered attitudes at are constantly seeking affirmation and approval of oers, and/or perhaps just out of ego centralism, as ough ey were saying, If e ing (in question) will make me happy or do me some good, I m for it! It takes wisdom to know when to change our mind and when to hold to at which we believe to be true. This is seen in e Passion account of Jesus Christ, which we reflect upon particularly on Good Friday. The people were all for Jesus when He entered Jerusalem as ey welcomed Him as a future king wi palm branches and acclamations (John 12:12-14). Just a few days later after Jesus was arrested, ey denounced Him as a criminal, even calling for His crucifixion (John 18:40; 19:6, 12, 15). In e Passion of Jesus ere was enough fickleness to go around from e crowds, from Pilate, and even e disciples as ey abandoned Him! Pilate originally had wanted to set Jesus free, but because of his fear of unrest among ose he governed, he decided to yield to e crowds demand and have Him crucified (John 19:1-16). Peter who was so willing to die wi Jesus (John13:37) denied Him ree times (John 18:17, 25, 27). All e disciples fled when Jesus was arrested (Matew 26:56). At e same time we know ere are ose who have lived out eir convictions, holding on to ose core beliefs/convictions at were a part of eir lives. Certainly is is exemplified in Jesus Christ as He lived among us in spite of e adversities He faced. We see similar steadfastness of conviction in Jesus followers like Paul, Peter, and e oer disciples, who ough ey wavered at times, ultimately lived eir convictions, even dying for what ey believed to be true. The temptation for us humans is to have opinions about everying else while having few convictions, including ose about our relationship wi God. In is age of individuality and ego centralism our opinions are more often based on what someing or someone will do for us at e moment. We are fickle. During Lent we are reminded at Christ s conviction to go to e cross for us demonstrated God s conviction at we humans should be spared from e ravages of our sin, including our ego centralism. We can be grateful at God is not fickle in His judgment about e human condition but has called us to know redemption by living out wi conviction at which we have been taught from His Wo and believe by fai. That is why e Creeds are so important to us Christians. Against our fickle nature, e Creeds remain e core of Christian belief for ey state e convictions of Christians across e ages who have distilled from God s Wo e essence of eir fai, which we make our own. The Creeds reveal to us Who God is as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, while at e same time telling us who we are and how we are to live out our convictions. It is no wonder at Luer recommended we use of e Apostles Creed at e beginning and end of each day as a means for staying focused on e core of beliefs at have come down to us. The Creeds are Christian convictions, not opinions. Praying e Creed twice each day could become a part of our Lenten devotion if we are not already doing it. Such an approach might help us in living out our humanity as children of God, and help free us from our ego centralism of our fickleness in matters of fai. + Pr. Lee Our heavenly Faer, we acknowledge our fickleness towas serving You. We confess at we too often find ourselves willing to give our opinions wiout stopping to reflect about our convictions. Forgive us and free us so at we might live out ose convictions which have been distilled from e Holy Scriptures into e Creeds, so at You may receive all e glory. We pray at You would help us to live less for ourselves and more for oers in e Spirit wi Jesus Christ. AMEN

2 Council Highlights Council met on February 22, The Maryland-Delaware Synod will hold its assembly June 10, 11, and 12 in Gettysburg, PA. We are in need a couple of delegates willing to represent St. Mary s. Let e pastor know if you are interested. 2. The Sunday held a bowling party Feb. 20 at Thunderhead Bowling Alley in Taneytown. They had 10 young people participate in e party and all ose involved had a great time. Special ank you to Laura Bennett for organizing e event. 3. The council would like to extend a special ank you to Craig Fleischer and Gary Meadows for eir diligence in removing e snow from e parking lot after e reco breaking snows. 4. The property committee is beginning to plan e spring cleaning day. Volunteers will be needed to come and help clean and fix up around e church one day is spring. The actual date for is event will come in e near future. 5. Attached is e treasurer s report [page 6 of is newsletter] on where St. Mary s donations went is past year. Exercise Class ~ Gail Wisner, Secretary A free exercise class now being held in our parish house on Mondays and Wednesday evenings from 7-8 p.m. in classroom #2. Focus of e class is on core stabilization and abs, but also includes arm, leg, and caio work. Anyone is welcomed to attend but attendees must bring eir own equipment (exercise ball, towel or mat to door floor exercises on, and light hand weights 2-4 lbs.). Contact Cynia McNemar at missy5218@hotmail.com or for more information. Sunday School Calendar Sunday, March 7 Sunday, March 14 Sunday, March 21 Satuay, March 27 Easter Celebration Party / Egg Hunt 4-7 p.m. Sunday, March 28 Game Day - In e Tomb, Out of Tomb Sunday, April 4 No Sunday School - Easter Sunday, April 11 Satuay, April 17 Sunday school clean-up day, Noon -2 Sunday, April 18 Brunch for church Sunday, April 25 Newsletter Deadline: 3 Wednesday by 10:00 a.m. Church Office Hours: Mon/Wed/Fri 9am-1pm Electronic Newsletter - By joining St. Mary s list, you ll be notified monly when e newsletter has been posted in PDF format to our website. To join, send an request to smelc@mail.com. Pastor: The Rev. Dr. H. Lee Brumback, II Council President: Craig Fleischer, Council Vice-President: Dwyn Fleischer, Council Secretary: Gail Wisner, Treasurer: Art Wisner Outreach & Welcome: Jim Crist Christian Ed Chairperson: Laura Bennett Property Committee: Gary Meadows Staff Support: Rick Sparacino, Stewaship Committee: (vacant)) Worship & Music Committee: Don Kaufman Flower Committee: Ru Warfield Altar Guild Cooinator: Fran Crist Lector Cooinator: Jim Crist Funeral Reception Committee: Viola Haines , Marion Matias Sexton : Mark Ruby Secretary: Susan Blizza Organist: Joye Kaufman Thrivent Liaison: Donna Myers Carroll Lueran School Delegate: Shirley Stansbury Carroll Lueran Village Delegates: Jim and Fran Crist Acolyte Cooinator: Alec Shapiro Stamp Cooinator: Helen Wolf Lueran Marriage Encounter Weekend A Weekend of Discovery...A lifetime of Love Sunday, May 2 Sunday, May 9 Sunday, May 16 Sunday, May 23 Sunday, May 30 Sunday, June 6 Sunday, June 13 March 5-7, 2010 Gaiersburg, MD For details call or jakenjune@citlink.net To register online Sunday, August 15 Ice Cream Social Last Day, closing ceremony Confirmation during worship service For more information contact Christian Education Chairperson: Laura Bennett

3 - Prayer Ventures - March During Women s History Mon, give anks for all e women and girls who heed God s call to leadership in is church, as rostered and lay leaders in many vocations, at God sustain em in eir calls. 2 Pray for God to heal our resistance to addressing all forms of oppression. 3 Thank God for Pastors Claudia Bergmann and Scott Moore, serving in Germany. May Claudia and Scott s ministry help strengen e church as it seeks to engage Germany s secular culture. 4 Take a moment to reflect what it means to work togeer as women and men, girls and boys, to address sexism in church and society. 5 Pray for Dorcas Wang as she teaches leadership development and capacity building of bo e ELCA and its companions in China. She ministers to Chinese returnees and expatriates. 6 We pray for ELCA congregations behind prison walls: Church of e Damascas Road, Ft. Dodge, Iowa; Followers of Christ, Fir, Neb.; Living Stones, Shelton, Wash.; New Beginnings, Aurora, Colo.; Prisoners of Hope, Appleton, Minn.; St. Dysmas, Jefferson, Md.; and St. Dysmas, Sioux Falls and Springfield, S.D. 7 3 Sunday in Lent - Holy God, we give you anks for e witness of Christians in Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino. Grant renewal and streng to e churches in ese countries, at e gospel might reach ose who have not yet hea e wos of our Lo. 8 Praise God for e continued grow of churches in China, Hong Kong and Macao, as ese countries journey rough a long period of adjustment. 9 Thank God for e companion relationships between e ELCA Soueastern Synod, e Lueran Church in Singapore, and e Lueran Church in Malaysia and Singapore. 10 Harriet Tubman; Sojourner Tru; renewers of society - Remember in prayer Elaina Styblo, a seminary intern from Trinity Lueran Seminary. Elaina is serving her internship at e Lueran Church of e Good Shephe in Mexico City. 11 Ask e Holy Spirit to surround e people God is calling to be a part of Rivers of Life Community Church, Colora, Md., a new ELCA ministry in Cecil County, Md. Pray at God will strengen e fai of ese new Christians. 12 Gregory e Great, bishop of Rome - Remember in prayer Candise Heinlein, a volunteer at e Kenya Evangelical Lueran Church headquarters. Candise serves as a communication assistant and uses her expertise to provide various media services. 13 Please pray for Redeemer Lueran Church in Minneapolis, and Pastor Kelly Chatman. Ask God to bless eir continued efforts to be a vital presence for healing and transformation in eir community Sunday in Lent - We lift up to you, merciful God, e members of e emerging Christian communities in Myanmar and Thailand, at ey may expand eir holistic ministries in eir countries. 15 Praise God for Pr Benjamin and Margit Coltvet, serving at e American Church in Berlin. The congregation capitalizes on its diverse membership to reach out to e changing population of e German capital. 16 Pray for candidacy committee members and candidates as ey work togeer to discern God s calling to e next generation of pastors, deaconesses, diaconal ministers and associates in ministry. 17 Patrick, bishop, missionary to Ireland - Pray for e staff and volunteers who are already busy planning for e next ELCA You Gaering to be held in Pray for confirmation students as ey prepare to affirm eir baptism in ELCA congregations and for e pastors and mentors who are walking wi em at is important time in eir lives. 19 Joseph, Guaian of Jesus - Remember in prayer Pastor Wayne Nieminen and Pastor Christa von Zychlin, seminary professors at e Lueran Theological Seminary in Hong Kong. Praise God for e dedication of e students, many of whom go for to serve in countries including Cambodia, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand and Hong Kong. 20 Thank God for e energy and commitment of young people to God s work. Our hands. 38 you and 12 adults from four Pittsburgh area congregations worked on e homes and yas of struggling families Sunday in Lent - We give you anks, O God, for e vitality of e churches in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Build up ese dynamic communities, at ey may encourage oer churches wiin e Lueran communion. 22 Jonaan Edwas, teacher, missionary to American Indians - Pray for Carol Anderson, Jennifer Christen and Stephanie Olson, volunteer teachers at Evangelické Gymnazium Juraja Tranoveskeho in Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia. The Gymnazium is one of several church-related schools to which e ELCA sends teachers. 23 Pray for Dale Goodman, executive director of Ewalu Camp and Retreat Center, Strawberry Point, Iowa, and for all outdoor ministry staff as ey prepare for anoer summer of activity. Pray for e you and adults who will take part in outdoor ministry experiences in e mons ahead. 24 Thank God for Patrick and Jacqueline Bencke, who serve at Kyushu Lueran College, a college of e Japan Evangelical Lueran Church in Kumamoto, Japan. Patrick teaches English and Jacqueline directs a college choir. 25 Annunciation of Our Lo - Pray for college, university and seminary students and especially for ose who are experiencing financial difficulties at could make it difficult to continue in school. Pray for generous and encouraging partners to help em follow eir callings. 26 Thank God for e newly oained Asian pastors: Betty Chen, Nengyia Her, and Frank Wang; for ose received rough e candidacy process from oer traditions: Inba Inbasarasu, Seok Hwan Jeong, Stephen Kung, and Omega Varma. 27 Thank God for e faiful service of Barbara Robertson in e area of e Morogoro Diocese of e Evangelical Lueran Church of Tanzania. Ask God to bless her work as she develops and implements a program to deal wi HIV and AIDS for e surrounding communities. 28 Palm Sunday - Lo, you entered Jerusalem wi a peaceful heart. Be our example at we too can live as people of peace in is world. 29 Monday in Holy Week - Please pray for William Okweari, a Sudanese lay minister (Anyuak tribe) whom God is using to gaer Sudanese immigrants for worship in Minneapolis and Austin, Minn. 30 Tuesday in Holy Week - Renton Lueran Church., Renton, Wash., gifted its community upon its closure. Their generosity is creating apartments for homeless veterans and a new ministry called Luer s Table. Please pray for former members of Renton Lueran and for ose who ll be served by ese ministries. 31 Wednesday in Holy Week - Give anks for Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, and its century of partnership wi e ELCA and its predecessors. Pray for Waldorf in e next phase of its life, now under private ownership, as it continues to educate young people. Pray for e Waldorf Lueran College Foundation and its ongoing work along side e college to offer campus ministry, scholarships and oer support. -3-

4 Caring Carroll YOU CAN HELP OLDER ADULTS REMAIN INDEPENDENT! Caring Carroll, a fai-based non-profit organization in Carroll County, needs volunteers to help homebound older and disabled adults in Carroll County wi tasks such as light house cleaning, errands, transportation, ya work, and minor home repairs. Very flexible; you determine your availability. Adults 18+ welcome. Caring Carroll s New Volunteer Training will be held on Satuay, March 20 from a.m. and Tuesday, March 23 from 5-6 p.m. (you choose one session) at e Westminster Branch of e Carroll County Public Library, 50 E. Main Street, Westminster. For more information, contact Maggie Kunz at or caringcarroll@hotmail.com Carroll Lueran School Basket/Pampered Chef Bingo Satuay, March 27 at e school 1738 Old Tanetyown Road Westminster, MD Doors open 12:00 Noon Games begin 1:00 p.m. Food and refreshments available Door Prizes & Raffles All Baskets Filled Home Show Vendors and Businesses will be present for your shopping convenience. Admission by Ticket Only $12 /Advance $15/ Door Advance ticket price valid until 3/20. For tickets, contact: Beverly Thank Yous "THANK YOU" As chairperson of e "Outreach & Welcome Committee" I would like to ank everyone who helped wi e Christmas Bazaar. Everyone worked so well togeer to make is a successful event. Here are e final figures; We received $ from Thrivent to make our grand total $3, % or will go towa Benevolance, 30% or to each of e following groups, New Life for Girls, Carroll County Food Sunday and Special Needs of St. Mary's. Thanks again, Jim Crist. LENT IN 2010 Lenten Focus Meetings will be held on Sunday evenings, beginning at 5:30 p.m. wi a simple supper of bread and soup in e Parish House. From 6 p.m. to about 6:45 p.m. we will have presentations and discussions wi our ecumenical partners. This will be followed by a brief devotion in oer at everying can be completed by 7 p.m. Ecumenical partners are ose churches, at e ELCA share an agreement of fellowship regaing Baptism and e Holy Communion. Speakers from e Moravian, Presbyterian, Meodist, Episcopal, and UCC churches will share wi us someing of eir church s history, mission emphases, and what makes eir denomination unique, along wi additional information. Speakers will be: March 7 Rev. Dr. Richa Scott, St. Mary s UCC Soup/bread providers/servers Fleischers March 14 Mr. Delmas Woody Wood, Lay Minister, Westminister United Meodist Church Soup/bread providers/servers Wisners March 21 Fr. Ron Fisher, Ascension Episcopal Church, Westminster Soup/bread providers/servers Gary & Brenda Meadows March 28 Review, reflection, and towas e future Soup/bread providers/services Volunteers needed Please contact Pastor Lee if you can provide soup/bread for e Lenten Focus Meeting. Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, March 28 at 9:30 a.m. wi e blessing of e Palms in e rear of e church. st Maundy Thursday service is on April 1 at 7:30 p.m. wi e laying-on-of-hands for individual forgiveness, pedilavium (foot washing), Holy Communion, and stripping of e altar and sanctuary. On Good Friday, April 2, we will have two services. The first service, Stations of e Cross, will be at 2 p.m. and outside, weaer permitting. Please dress casually but warmly. In case of inclement weaer, we will conduct e Stations of e Cross in e Parish House auditorium. This service lasts about an hour. At 7:30 on Good Friday, our service is centered around Jesus Passion accoing to St. John and Jesus cross. [The Resurrection of our Lo is celebrated on Sunday, April 4, wi a festive worship service at 9:30 a.m.] -4-

5 From Our Missionaries The Lueran Light - March 2010 Dear Friends of St. Mary s In ese days of and abstract communication we wanted to send you an actual handwritten note to say ank you. The vicissitudes of work normally require us to use mass mailings to our sponsors, but ey are so impersonal. So Thank you, for your kind sponsorship. Certainly ELCA Global Mission needs your gifts to keep us here, but your gifts are also important to us, a real sign at you are wi us in is journey. Life in Tanzania and our work here is ha to describe in a note, or even a book. We have learned so much since we have been here. We have seen God s work blossom in e hands of many of our partners and e work of our missionaries. We have also seen problems and situations of intractability at make one weep. Learning indeed. We look forwa to one day visiting you and sharing some of our experiences and e work of your church. We will be home is summer to visit all our sponsors and we hope you will have a place for us probably in June or August. We will be in touch to try to set up a time. In e meantime, may God bless you and your ministry wi every good gift. Wishing you Peace in The Lo Amani na Bwana iwe ningi. Bob & JMe Lowden -5-

6 St. Mary s Lueran Donations 2009 Mon Date Amount Monly Donation: Carroll County Prison Ministry Jan. 1/25/ Pleasant Valley Fire Co. Mar. 3/27/ New Life for Girls Apr. 4/22/ Habitat for Humanity May 5/23/ ELCA Vision for Mission June 7/27/ Carroll County Food Sunday July 7/27/ Silver Run Lights Fund Aug. 8/30/ Gettysburg Lueran Sem. Sept 9/26/ Alpha Fire Co. Oct. 11/2/ St Dysmas Nov. 11/27/ Carroll County Food Sunday Thankg. 12/18/ The Gideons Int'l Dec. 12/18/ Delaware/Maryland Synod: Benevolence 6, Missionary 1, World Hunger , Christmas Bazaar: Benevolence Carroll Access Human Services Program of Carroll County Special needs of St. Mary's 2, Total Christmas Bazaar * 3, Basket Bingo: Silver Run Lights Strawberry Fest.: Shephe's Staff Rape Crisis Missionaries Support Special needs of St Mary's Benevolence , Total Strawberry Fest * 3, Total outside Donation 14, Delaware/Maryland Synod Summary: Benevolence 7, World Hunger Synod Mission Missionary 2, , * To special needs of SMELC. -6-

7 March 2010 **Holy Communion is celebrated each Sunday** Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Satuay Anniversaries Rodney and Linda Bupp - March 17, 1990 Arur and Gail Wisner - March 20, Shirley Hare Kelsey Powell Worship & Music 7 p.m. 2 Dominic Vonella 3 4 Kelli Scott 5 Glenn Snyder Sarah Bollinger Lueran Marriage Encounter Weekend Bera Miller 3 Sunday in Lent - Purple Isaiah 55: 1-9 Psalm: 63: Corinians 10: 1-13 Luke 13: 1-9 Basket Offering - Pleasant Valley Fire Co. 5:30 p.m. Lenten Focus -Rev. Dr. Richa Scott, St. Mary s UCC 8 Laci-Jo Ernst 9 10 Paul Sell Faye Boughter Donna Myers Sunday in Lent - Purple Joshua 5: 9-12 Psalm: 32 2 Corinians 5: Luke 15: 1-3, :30 p.m. Lenten Focus - Mr. Delmos Wood, Lay Minster of Westminster United Meodist Church Daylight Saving Time Begins 15 Church Council Meeting - 7 p.m Marie Snyder Jason Bennett 20 Spring Begins 21 Ann Brumback 5 Sunday in Lent - Purple Isaiah 43: Psalm: 126 Philippians 3: 4-14 John 12: 1-8 5:30 p.m. Lenten Focus - Fr. Ron Fisher, Ascension Episcopal Church of Westminster 22 Nicholas Middleton Doroy Bowman 27 CLS Basket / Pampered Chef e school Doors open Noon Easter Celebration Party / Egg Hunt 4-7 p.m. 28 Sunday of e Passion / Palm Sunday - Purple Isaiah 50: 4-9 Psalm 31: 9-16 Philippians 2: 5-11 Luke 22: 14 23:56 Social Hour - Council Members 5:30 p.m. Lenten Focus - Review, reflection, and towas e future April 1 st Maundy Thursday Service - 7:30 p.m. April 2 nd 2:00 p.m. Stations of e Cross 7:30 p.m. Good Friday - St. John s Passion March Worship Helpers Acolyte - Zach Scott Head Usher - The Fleischer Family Altar Guild - Ru Warfield Communion Assistant - Ann Brumback