Grace English Evangelical Lutheran Church Spirit of Grace But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 Looking toward Easter and Beyond...from the desk of Pastor Tormod The season of Lent is quickly coming to an end, and the events of Holy Week and Easter are in front of us. This is my first year with Grace, so I am still learning your customs and traditions. Every congregation is different, yet there are some things all Lutherans have in common, such as observing Lent, Holy Week and celebrating the risen Lord on Easter morning. We added some Wednesday evening events during Lent this year. The Bible study, 24 Hours that Changed the World, seemed to be much appreciated by those who attended. The soup suppers were delicious, and our Making Change worship services were attended by about twenty folks each week. On Maundy Thursday we will get together at 7PM to celebrate the last communion service before Jesus crucifixion. This will also be a service where we will offer anointing with oil and healing prayers. I will also offer to wash your feet as tradition tells us that Jesus did to his disciples at that last supper. We strip the altar at the end of the service, marking the beginning of the last three days of Lent. On Good Friday, we get together at Noon to retrace the last events of Jesus life as we observe the Stations of the Cross. On Holy Saturday at 7PM we invite everyone to celebrate the Easter Vigil, as we start outside with a bonfire, and the lighting of the Paschal candle. We then move inside to listen to several Old Testament readings, before we celebrate the first Alleluias of Easter. On Easter morning we will get together for breakfast and fellowship in Reinheimer Hall from 8:30-9:30 before we gather for a festive worship service at 10, including our Easter choir and a brass quintet, followed by an Easter egg hunt for the children. (continued on next page)
Looking toward Easter and Beyond (cont d) We are doing a lot of advertising for Holy Week and Easter this year, including sending out mailings to 5000 households. Growing a congregation is much about invitation and hospitality, and this is something we are all called to be involved with, so I ask that we all work hard on inviting family, friends, neighbors and coworkers to worship with us. I also ask of all of us to be very intentional in being good, hospitable hosts when we do have people worshipping with us. A friendly hello, great to see you, or an attempt to strike up a conversation goes a long way. After Easter, we will need to start our search for a new music director. We have been richly blessed with the musical skills of Barbara Skillman till the end of March. After that, Bettie Greene has kindly offered to fill in on Sunday mornings. We are very grateful for Bettie s offer! Part of the vision for our future music program is to be able to offer a wide variety of musical experiences. We are playing with the idea of a second, more contemporary worship service. This could possibly be a mid-week evening service. Any leads in the search for a new Music director are much appreciated. I continue to pray for God s blessing and guidance on our journey together. Pastor Tormod Boy Scout Troop 711 - Worshipped at Grace on February 14th
Worship, Music and Hospitality Team Report The Worship, Music, and Hospitality Team met after worship service on February 28, 2016. Members were brought up-to-date on the status of Grace Christian Church worshipping at our church beginning the first Sunday in March. Council had met with the leaders of Grace Christian Church and unanimously voted to extend the use of our church for their worship service and Bible study. Welcoming a new congregation into our church building and sharing space with them can cause some anxiety. Members were reassured that this congregation is a wonderful group of individuals with a clear mission who will work with us to resolve any space issues. With the approach of Holy Week and Easter, the team reviewed the various services planned and the requirements for each. The team discussed the important role ushers and greeters played and how to best position them in the narthex for visitors. Recommendations were made and training was scheduled for March 13 and 16 after worship services. With the resignation of our music director effective February 28 th, the team was most interested in learning about the music plans for Sunday and Wednesday worship services. We were blessed to find two individuals, Barbara Skillman and Cheryl Warren, to play the piano at our worship services through March. Barbara is the sister of George Weidley, Jr. and has served as a church organist and music director prior to her retirement. Cheryl is currently the music director at Hunts Methodist Church. Bettie Greene also offered to play for Sunday services when Barbara was not available. God has blessed us during this interim with the musical gifts of these three individuals, giving us time to begin a search for a permanent music director. Searching for a music director is a process that will take time. It is important to find the right person, someone who can not only play music but be a worship leader. Every member of the committee was asked to name one quality that they believed was most important for a music director to have. Those qualities were: Strong music background Understanding of church music and worship service Flexibility Enthusiasm Versatility Willingness to broaden worship experience and music Strong voice Ability to coordinate others, build choirs People person team player The team wondered whether one person could provide the worship music and leadership, as well as build a choir. As we begin our search, we pray for God s guidance in finding the individual who will help lead Grace Lutheran Church forward in discipleship through our music worship. LuJean Hall Chairperson
GRACE CHURCH HAS TEAMS!...LuJean Hall, Council President When the Church Council met at its January, 2016 retreat, Pastor Tormod challenged Council members to look at the Church s current committee structure and the ministries we had and ones we wished we had. Out of that day s work, Council developed a team structure composed of seven Teams designed to fulfill and support the mission of Grace Lutheran Church. Over the past couple of months, congregation members have been encouraged to join a team in which they have an interest. Council is pleased that every team has a minimum of three people on it. Council encourages each member of the congregation to look at the sheets posted in the Activities Room and see if there are any other teams for them. The teams are: Music, Worship and Hospitality Stewardship Finance Parish Education Youth and Family Property Evangelism Social Ministry and Fellowship Why Teams? Jesus had a team of disciples. Shouldn t we be teams of disciples as well? Perhaps we can also learn something about the importance of teams from the article below. (Printed in another church bulletin many, many years ago). A LESSON FROM THE GEESE 1. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the birds following. By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds 71% more flying range than if each bird flew alone. Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are travelling with the thrust of another. 2. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the birds immediately in front. Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will join in formations with those who are headed where we want to go. 3. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at point position. Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks, and sharing leadership with people, as with geese, interdependent with each other. 4. The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. Lesson: We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging -- not something less helpful. 5. When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow their fellow member down to help and provide protection. They stay with this member of the flock until he or she is either able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own, with another formation or to catch up with their own flock. Lesson: If we have as much sense as the geese, we ll stand by each other.
HEY KIDS! SUNDAY SCHOOL RETURNS TO GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH with the waving of palm branches and a parade! This Sunday is PALM SUNDAY (March 20 th ). Join us to learn about Jesus, do crafts, and have fun! Then the following Sunday is THE BEST DAY EVER! EASTER!!! What s the big Deal? Come and find out! After that, every week we ll meet to learn Bible stories: stories of bravery and choice, villains and heroes, and God s love peeks through it all! There will be singing and crafts and surprises and YOU are invited! Tell your mom or dad, grand-mom or grand-dad that you want to check it out! It s easy. Sunday School is for all pre-school and elementary school-aged children and occurs during the church service, so your family gets to go to church and you get to go to Sunday School! Bring a friend. The more the merrier. We ll see you there! Cheryl Conrad Parish Education Team Easter Egg Hunts THE ANNUAL LONGFORD NORTH EASTER EGG HUNT WILL BE HELD ON: SATURDAY MARCH 26, 2016 AT 10:30AM ON THE PLAYGROUND AT GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH (RAIN DATE: SATURDAY - APRIL 2, 2016-10:30AM) CONTACT MADDIE WILSON TO REGISTER: 410-321-0771 PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN BASKETS. THERE WILL BE PRIZES, DONUTS, COFFEE AND JUICE FOR EVERYONE. Grace Lutheran Church easter egg hunt will be held on: Sunday march 27, 2016 after the 10 AM worship service
Pastor Tormod Svensson Featured in Delaware-Maryland Synod Weekly E-Letter on March 8, 2016 Throughout the month of March, we will be sharing stories about Creation Care in the Delaware-Maryland Synod. Check out these stories to see how you can get involved with caring for the earth and stewarding God's creation. For more information, visit the Creation Care Team's page on our website. There are things we can do, both in our homes and our places of worship that not only save energy or water, but can also make a great difference in reduction of fossil fuel usage and hence harmful carbon emissions that are known to be connected to global warming. There are also currently seven states in the US experiencing water shortage, and the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more than 40 states will experience water shortage within the next 10 years. Tormod Svensson, Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Lutherville, Maryland, worked for 30 years in the plumbing and HVAC field before becoming a pastor. He has great interest in sustainability as it ties in with energy and water usage, and he has created a resource that you might find helpful, titled Stewardship Of Our Resources and Use of Energy. Here is the web address to this resource: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/0d270f5f756eaf3850a28b8c5/files/ Stewardship_of_our_resources_and_use_of_energy.pdf Here you will find practical advice on how to go about saving water and energy, using relatively inexpensive means, as well as how to make wise decisions when choosing heating and cooling equipment. Pastor Tormod is a member of the Care of Creation Team, and he is also available to visit congregations in the Synod for consultation in these matters. He can be reached by email at pastorsvensson@gmail.com to set up an appointment. Our synod's Creation Care Team is seeking nominations for recipients of the Gretchen Green Sheep Award. They are looking for projects done by congregations in Delaware-Maryland that promote care of creation. The award will be given out at the Synod Assembly for the congregation to keep for one year. Please email nominations to Pastor Tormod Svenson with a brief description, and a picture if possible, of the project you would like to nominate. Note from the Spirit of Grace editor.john Guthmann Since we lost our newsletter editor at the end of February, I volunteered to edit the newsletter. Please help me by submitting pertinent news and photos to me in a timely fashion so that I can meet deadlines. My email address is guthmann@yahoo.com. Thank you.
COFFEE AND CONVERSATION Anita Grooms Join us each week in the Activity Room as we socialize with a cup of coffee, goodies and conversation. All are welcome! If you would like to host, please sign up on the list posted on the microwave. Thank you, to all who sign up and take advantage of this opportunity for fellowship each week. Volunteers for March: March 6 th - Anita Grooms & Lew Nash March 13 th - Wolfs March 20 th - Weidleys March 27 th - Easter Morning Breakfast Assistance Center of Towson Churches Thank you for bringing in peanut butter and jelly, as well as baked beans last month. Ruth Ann and Paul Glace delivered 2 cartons of this food to ACTC on February 29th. Grace Church members continue to make lunches for the ACTC Lunch Project. Church members use the church kitchen or their home kitchens to put together and fill 50 lunch bags every other Sunday for folks in need in the Towson area. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Bill Phillips at 410-561-9120. Grace Lutheran Church Preferred Values (as approved at the third Visioning Gathering held on June 8, 2014) Strive for Excellence in all we do. Maximize the use of our building and related resources; Encourage supportive relationships among members, staff, and Clergy; and Implement Active Ministries and programs that serve our members and that reach out to the community.
TWO NEW BIBLE STUDIES AT GRACE FRIDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY GROUP A new study will start on Friday April 15th titled, Christianity s Family Tree. This is an 8 session study on a variety of Christian denominations. This group meets every other Friday at 6:30 PM for Supper and the study begins at 7:30 PM. WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY GROUP A new study will start on Wednesday, April 6th titled, When Christians Get It Wrong. This 6 week study will be looking at Christians response to politics, judgment, salvation, sexuality, tragedy and science. The exact meeting time is not decided yet. Following Jesus can be more about open doors than locked fences, more about serving people than judging them, more about joyful living than angry fighting. Please contact Pastor Tormod if you are interested in coming to either of these Bible Studies. His email address is pastorsvensson@gmail.com. GRACE CHURCH NEEDS MORE WORSHIP ASSISTANTS Worship Assistants are needed every Sunday. Rotating schedules that take your personal schedule into account are utilized. Please consider serving your brothers and sisters in worship, and helping new members to feel at home here at Grace! Calling those who would like to serve in the following positions: Assisting Minister, Lector, Greeter, and Usher. For additional information and to volunteer, please see John Guthmann, or e-mail John at guthmann@yahoo.com.
Thelma Davis Celebrates 94th Birthday Thelma Davis celebrated her 94th birthday this past February at Lorien Assisted Living where she is now living. Pastor Tormod Svensson attended the party and Vicki Svensson took these photos. 156 EASTER BASKETS GIVEN OUT Lenna Sheridan, Helping Hands Committee Thanks to all who donated candy during February. After the worship service on Sunday, March 6th, volunteers assembled 156 Easter Baskets. The Lutheran Mission Society picked up 120 baskets to give out in their organization. St. Matthias Episcopal Church was given 12 baskets to give out in their Soup Kitchen & Food Pantry, and Randy Terry (Grace Church s Sexton) was given 24 baskets to give out in his ministries. Wayne Lyngen, Dot Kaste, Lisa Nickles, Lenna Sheridan, Ruth Ann Glace, Jeannie Noll, Anita Grooms, Shirlee Baker, Audrey Rhodey, and Barbara Heavrin (who took the photo.)
OUR SINCERE SYMPATHY We express our sincere sympathy to the following members of Grace that have lost loved ones: Jeannie Noll on the loss of her lifelong friend Linda. Linda fought a three year battle and passed away on Friday, February 5 th. Lew Nash, on the loss of his nephew, Mark Nash, who passed away suddenly on Saturday, February 6 th. May God embrace those who have passed away and welcome them into His kingdom. May He also give peace to those that loved them that they are safely in His loving hands. Anita Grooms QUILTING Quilting for Lutheran World Relief takes place on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 am. We meet in the Activities Room at Grace Church. If you can tie a knot, then you can make these quilts. You will leave feeling good about how you spent this time. Our Handmade Quilts are sent wherever they are needed around the world by Lutheran World Relief. We hope that you will join us.bring a friend!..anita Grooms CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY! We have SPRUNG FORWARD into SPRING! We remind you that you have the opportunity to share your birthday with the congregation of Grace. Just sign up on the chart posted in the Activities Room and we will recognize your special day!
Vision Statement/Mission Statement We envision Grace Lutheran Church to be a place that works hard in word and deed to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, both inside and outside of the church. Inside, we pray that the church will feel like a family, with people connected to and caring of one another s faith and life. Outside of the church, we pray that the church will care for those in need while sharing our faith that drives this service. Grace-fully living. Grace-fully serving. We re on the web! www.gracelutherville.org We re listed as Grace Lutheran Church!