The Messenger St. Mark s Lutheran Church 1900 St. Paul Street Baltimore, MD 21218 Phone 410.752.5804 www.stmarksbaltimore.org DECEMBER 2015 St. Mark s Lutheran Church Staff Meeting of The Congregation Sunday, 6 December immediately following the Holy Eucharist. We will meet to approve a Budget for the calendar year 2016. Copies of the proposed budget have been mailed out. Additional copies will be available at the meeting. Pastor... The Rev. Dale W. Dusman Cantor...Mr. James Harp Administrator... Mr. Stephen Kohler Sexton... Mr. Jeffry Spangler Congregation Council Officers President... Mr. Daniel Wilkey Vice President... Ms. Teri Bennett Secretary... Mr. Woodland Pomeroy Treasurer... Mr. William Krim St. Mark s Mission Statement The mission of St. Mark s Church is to embrace diversity, practice hospitality, and make known Christ s presence in word and deed. Newsletter Editor Mr. Stephen Kohler Webminister... The Rev. Stuart Wright Your presence is important!
The Messenger Page 2 DECEMBER 2015 Birthdays & Anniversaries December 15 1 Odd Rune Helgas 4 Teri Bennett Sharon Manson 8 John LeBon 9 Joanne Hunt 11 Herbert White 13 Kathy Harris 14 Marion Malcolm 15 Kathy DuChene 16 Gilbert Miller, Jr. 17 Jesse Lisch 20 Ryan Patterson 21 Joan Hoyle John Lisch 23 Charles L. Smith 25 Carole Conors 26 Joyce Helgas Shawn McDowell 30 Eric Helgas FELLOWSHIP HOUR HOSTS DECEMBER 15 6 Congregation Council Members 13 Pastor Dusman, Teri Lura Bennett 20 Audrey Huka 27 Joe Blout, Austin Lee
The Messenger Page 3 DECEMBER 2015 A Message from Brad Schlegel (edited from Prince of Peace Newsletter) And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17) If one sticks around a Lutheran Church long enough, one will eventually encounter the name Thrivent. Though the name is relatively new, its origins are over 100 years old. The roots of what we know as Thrivent rest in two different support organizations borne in the 19th Century, and committed to serving immigrants (initially Germans and Norwegians) in the Lutheran community. In an attempt to provide support and assistance to these groups, two organizations were formed: Lutheran Brotherhood and Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL). The former was initially associated with the Norwegian Lutheran Church in America, and the latter with the Missouri- Synod Lutheran Church. Both organizations worked to supply scholarships for clergy, supported institutions of the church, trained church workers, and sponsored new congregations. In short order, the organizations grew and began to incorporate other Lutheran churches outside their original beginnings. Through the years they both developed the means to provide various financial services (life insurance and investment opportunities) to those within the church, while continuing to assist both congregations in providing ministries in the name of Christ. Merging in 2002 to form the current organization known as Thrivent, today, Thrivent is a fraternal benefits organization that is listed as a Fortune 500 company and was voted one of the world s most ethical companies in 2013 & 2014 by Ethisphere Magazine (a publication of a firm which looks into the ethical practices of corporations). As a not for profit membership organization, Thrivent continues to see its mission to help equip and sustain ministry for the greater good, as well as providing financial services to its members. Through the years, St. Mark s has benefited from the congregational support programs which Thrivent has sponsored. Matching grants, funding of workshops, donations of in-kind goods, and educational materials have been among some of the ways that the stewardship of Thrivent has been realized in the congregation. Currently, all Thrivent members are able to apply for a $250 mini-grant to help support various ministries in the congregation, by forming an Action Team. Thrivent members at St. Mark s have the potential to use this program to help support our ongoing Food Pantry and feeding of the needy. I lift Thrivent up to the congregation not as an endorsement of the organization, but rather as an acknowledgment and thank you for all that it has done and continues to do in the name of Christ. In a day and age where ministry and programs are often stifled by financial limitations, Thrivent can be a valued partner in helping proclaim the good news of the Gospel. If one is unfamiliar with Thrivent or its services and would like to know more, I do suggest you investigate all that they do at www.thrivent.com. Information on Action Teams can be found at: https://www.thrivent.com/making-a-difference/livinggenerously/thrivent-action-teams/ Brad Schlegel Congregational Advocate
The Messenger Page 4 DECEMBER 2015 AUGSBURG VILLAGE Sharing/Caring Christmas Project Once more the good folks at Augsburg Village are asking your help in making a happy Christmas for the residents of the village. Our goal is to collect $30 per resident to assure the success of this year s program. Volunteers are already assembling a wish list of items that residents have requested. For many, this will be the only gift they receive at Christmas. If you are able, please send a check for $30 or more to Augsburg Lutheran Home of Maryland, Inc. (marked Sharing/Caring Project) at 6811 Campfield Road, Baltimore, MD 21207. Your generosity will help make a difference in the lives of those who may well be forgotten on this generally joyful holiday. Please prayerfully consider your response. Thank you! Christmas Eve Reception Following our celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord on 24 December, it is our custom to hold a festive reception in Lehr Hall for all those attending the worship service. To this end, we need your help! Please consider that holiday buffet food item you would be willing to add to the feast on 12/24. A sign-up sheet will be available on the lectern in the main hall for you to sign up and indicate what you will bring. Thanks! Poinsettias and Greens Forms are included in Sunday bulletins beginning with the first Sunday of Advent for you to contribute toward poinsettias, trees, and greens, with which to decorate St. Mark s for the celebration of Christmas. We ask a minimum donation of $10, please.. Kindly PRINT your form, and note that the deadline is Sunday, 13 December. Thanks so much for your generosity! KEEN AGERS... A Christmas Lunch will take place on Wednesday, 16 December, at 12 noon, at the home of Pastor Dusman and Paul Walker. Please join us! Make a reservation for lunch today by calling the church office. We hope to see you there! Parish Christmas Card The Parish Christmas Card will again be placed in the hallway adjoining Lehr Hall. Greetings for the congregation may be placed on this card. In lieu of the expense of individual cards and accompanying postage, a donation to the Pastor s Discretionary Fund would be greatly appreciated. This fund is used year-long to assist persons with special needs. Thank you!
The Messenger Page 5 DECEMBER 2015 Please remember these friends & Members who are shut-in or otherwise unable to join us at worship! Thomas Barry Keswick AL 104 700 W. 40 th Street Baltimore, MD 21211 410.467.1455 Rev. Carl & Mrs. Markye Greenawald 1075 Old Harrisburg Road, Unit #117 Gettysburg, PA 17325 717.334.3384 Paul Gregory 106 Maryland Avenue Towson, MD 21286 410.823.2967 Marian Holmes Longview Nursing Home, 117A 3332 Main Street, PO Box 390 Manchester, MD 21102 410.517.6040 Rev. George Kibbe Augsburg Lutheran Village, 12-S Baltimore, MD 21207 Robert Klein Shrewsbury Lutheran Home, #331 200 Luther Road Shrewsbury, PA 17361 Elva Moser 30 Hammarlee Road, #104 Glen Burnie, MD 21060 410.595.5067 Joyce Moser 7477 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd., #939 Glen Burnie, MD 21061 410.636.3857 Jack Siegmund 6310 Bellona Avenue Baltimore, MD 21212 410.377.9381 Herbert & Dorothy White 6106 Rusk Avenue Baltimore, MD 21209 410.358.0022 Jennie Wohlmuther 22680 Cedar Lane Court, #1202 Leonardtown, MD 20650 301.475.9150 Rev. Robert Mack National Lutheran Home Maryland 2143 9701 Veirs Drive Rockville, MD 20850
The Messenger Page 6 DECEMBER 2015 Farewell & Godspeed! On Sunday, 15 November, we said farewell to Rev. Carl & Markye Greenawald. They recently moved to their new home at the Lutheran Retirement Community in Gettysburg, PA. We shall miss them and surely hope they enjoy their new home. We hope, too, that they will occasionally return to worship with us at St. Mark s Church. We will also be saying farewell to Lee Hohman as she prepares to leave Baltimore and more to Tucson, Arizona! While Lee is relatively new here at St. Mark s, she has made her presence known and has been most welcome and appreciated. Join members and friends of St Mark's to continue celebrating Christmas after all the presents have been unwrapped and the leftovers put away at the following events: Saturday, December 26, 2015 - Houses of Worship Holiday Tour in downtown Hagerstown, MD, 4:00-800. We'll meet at 2:00 at the Park-and-Ride lot at the eastern end of I-70 (in the Woodlawn area) to carpool to Hagerstown. Please contact Richard Spittel for more details and to confirm your participation. After we've visited the churches, we'll have dinner at one of the restaurants in Hagerstown. Free Admission. http://harccoalition.org/event/holiday-tourof-houses-of-worship/ Monday, December 28th, 2015 - Candlelight Tour of Historic Houses of Worship in Frederick, MD. 4:00-9:00. We'll meet at 3:00 at the Parkand-Ride lot at the eastern end of I-70 (in the Woodlawn area) to carpool to Frederick. Please contact Richard Spittel for more details and to confirm your participation. After we've visited the churches, we'll have dinner at one of the restaurants in Frederick. Free Admission. http://dc.about.com/od/christmaseven ts/a/candlelight-tour-frederick- Maryland.htm Saturday, January 2, 2016 - A Longwood Christmas at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. Purchase your tickets ahead of time at: http://longwoodgardens.org/ Admission: $27 Adults, $24 Seniors, $13 Students. We will meet at the Park-and- Ride lot near White Marsh Mall (just off I- 95) at 11:00 to carpool to Kennett Square. We'll stop to have lunch in Kennett Square before arriving at the gardens around 1:30. We will plan on staying until around 7:00 in order to enjoy the Christmas displays in the Conservatory, as well as the outdoor light display. Please contact Richard Spittel for more details and to confirm your participation. http://longwoodgardens.org/events-andperformances/events/longwood-christmas
The Messenger Page 7 DECEMBER 2015 CHRISTMAS AT SEA. Help us fill 20 shoe boxes as we participate in this program of the Baltimore International Seafarers Center. Gift items may be placed in the designated basket in Lehr Hall for boxing and wrapping early next month. Or you may fill and wrap a box yourself. Appropriate items include ballpoint pens and pads; warm socks, gloves, or a scarf; playing cards; Baltimore postcards; and small-sized toiletries (no unwrapped soap or toothbrushes). Most recipients are male. Pocket Bibles and St. Mark's postcards will be provided. We need shoeboxes! See Paul or Austin for information. Thank You. NEW YEAR S EVE On Thursday, 31 December, at 6:30 PM, we will gather in All Saints Chapel to celebrate the Holy Eucharist for New Year s Eve. Please join us as we say Good Bye to 2015, and anticipate the New Year of 2016. December 20th: O Antiphon O Clavis David (Is. 9:6; 22:22): "O key of David and scepter of Israel, what you open no one else can close again; what you close no one can open. O come to lead the captive from prison; free those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death." Epiphany Lutheran Church, 4301 Raspe Avenue, Baltimore, 21206 invites one and all to share in our Festive Celebration of the Epiphany on Wednesday, 6 January 2016. A Festive Dinner is shared from 6 til 7 PM and Holy Communion is celebrated with President David Lose of Philadelphia Seminary preaching at 7:15 PM. Dinner Reservations are $12 for adults and are appreciated by calling 410/485-7654 x101 by 31 December 2015. For more information, go to Facebook.com/EpiphanyLC. Home is Where the Heart Is! Join the New Wave Singers for their annual holiday concert celebrating 30 years of making diversity into harmony Saturday, 12 December, 7 PM Sunday, 13 December, 4 PM First Unitarian Church 12 West Franklin Street, Baltimore. Tickets are $20 and are available at the door or in advance from your New Wave Representative. 17 & under are admitted free of charge. www.newwavesingers.org
The Messenger Page 8 DECEMBER 2015
The Messenger Page 9 DECEMBER 2015 SERVING SCHEDULE DECEMBER 6 December Second Sunday in Advent Assisting Minister Paul Walker Chalicist Audrey Huka Richard Spittel Christine Bentley Petitioner Sue Romanic Caroline Bahr Tellers C. Byerly, P. Walker 13 December Third Sunday in Advent Assisting Minister Daniel Wilkey Chalicist Teri Bennett Louise Ricketts Barbara Hanson Petitioner Woodland Pomeroy Caroline Bahr Tellers B. Hanson, J. Hoyle 20 December Fourth Sunday in Advent Assisting Minister Deacon Sue Romanic Chalicist Audrey Huka Graham Poole Bruce Poole Petitioner Waetina Coles Caroline Bahr Tellers Louis Flake, Austin Lee 24 December Christmas Eve Assisting Minister Deacon Connie Lisch SubDeacon Paul Walker Louis Flake Torches A. Huka, L. Ricketts Thurifer Harold Sachs Gene Miller Petitioner Mark Schultz Caroline Bahr Tellers J. Lisch, S. Surrey 25 December Christmas Day Assisting Minister Richard Spittel John Schultz Carole Conors Petitioner Charlotte Floyd Caroline Bahr 27 December 1 st Sunday after Christmas Assisting Minister Deacon Sue Romanic Chalicist Teri Bennett Woodland Pomeroy Shawn McDowell Petitioner Jane Parker Caroline Bahr Tellers J. Hoyle, S. Manson 3 January Epiphany of Our Lord Assisting Minister Sub Deacon Torches Thurifer Petitioner Deacon Connie Lisch Richard Spittel Paul Walker L.Flake, A. Huka Woodland Pomeroy Waetina Coles Mark Schultz Rev. Tom Davison
The Messenger Page 10 DECEMBER 2015 Daily Lectionary December 15 1 Psalm 90 2 Samuel 7:18-29 Revelation22:12-16 2 Psalm 90 Isaiah 1:24-31 Luke 11:29-32 3 Luke 1:68-79 Malachi 3:5-12 Philippians 1:12-18a 4 Luke 1:68-79 Malachi 3:13-18 Philippians 1:18b-26 5 Luke 1:68-79 Malachi 4:1-6 Luke 9:1-6 6 ADVENT II Malachi 3:1-4 Philippians 1:3-11 Luke 3:1-6 7 Psalm 126 Isaiah 40:1-11 Romans 8:22-25 8 Psalm 126 Isaiah 19:18-25 2 Peter 1:2-15 9 Psalm 126 Isaiah 35:3-7 Luke 7:18-30 10 Isaiah 12:2-6 Amos 6:1-8 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 11 Isaiah 12:2-6 Amos 8:4-12 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 12 Isaiah 12:2-6 Amos 9:8-15 Luke 1:57-66 13 ADVENT III Zephaniah 3:14-20 Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3:7-18 14 Isaiah 11:1-9 Numbers 16:1-19 Hebrews 13:7-17 15 Isaiah 11:1-9 Numbers 16:20-35 Acts 28:23-31 16 Isaiah 11:1-9 Micah 4:8-13 Luke 7:31-35 17 Psalm 80:1-7 Jeremiah 31:31-34 Hebrews 10:10-18 18 Psalm 80:1-7 Isaiah 42:10-18 Hebrews 10:32-39 19 Psalm 80:1-7 Isaiah 66:7-11 Luke 13:31-35 20 ADVENT IV Micah 5:2-5a Hebrews 10:5-10 Luke 1:39-55 21 Psalm 113 Genesis 25:19-28 Colossians 1:15-20 22 Luke 1:46b-55 Micah 4:1-5 Ephesians 2:11-22 23 Luke 1:46b-55 Micah 4:6-8 2 Peter 1:16-21 24 Christmas Eve Isaiah 9:2-7 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-20 25 Christmas Day Isaiah 52:7-10 Hebrews 1:1-12 John 1:1-14 26 Psalm 148 2 Chronicles 24:17-24 Acts 6:1-7; 7:51-60 27 First Sunday after Christmas 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 Colossians 3:12-17 Luke 2:41-52 28 Psalm 148 Isaiah 54:1-13 Revelation 21:1-7 29 Psalm 147:12-20 1 Chronicles 28:1-10 1 Corinthians 3:10-17 30 Psalm 147:12-20 2 Chronicles 1:7-13 Mark 13:32-37 31 New Year s Eve Psalm 147:12-20 1 Kings 3:5-14 John 8:12-19
The Messenger Page 11 DECEMBER 2015 WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE FOLLOWING GIFTS TO ST. MARK S CHURCH: To the ELCA Disaster Relief Fund: For Refugee Relief by Rev. Lee Hudson To the Music Fund: In honor of The Greenawalds by the Gohl Family. To the Roof Fund: In memory of Catharine Walker by Joan P. Hoyle Christmas at St. Mark s: Join us for one or all of these liturgies! Sundays in Advent December, 6, 13, 20 Christmas Eve December 24 Christmas Day December 25 Sunday after Christmas December 27 Epiphany of Our Lord January 3 2016 11 o clock AM followed by Fellowship Hour. 5:30 PM Estonian Christmas Service 7:30 PM Holy Eucharist for Christmas Eve followed by a reception in Lehr Hall 11 o clock AM followed by Fellowship Hour 11 o clock AM followed by Fellowship Hour 11 o clock AM followed by Fellowship Hour
The Messenger Page 12 DECEMBER 2015 The Saint Cecilia Society of St. Mark s Church presents Alexis and Friends Sunday, 13 December 2015, 2 o clock PM Come to hear acclaimed vocal chanteuse Alexis Tantau and her jazz trio regaling us with music of the season and ending with a festive sing along!