April 2016 Handclasp - St. Mark`s Lutheran Church

The Handclasp
St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
Growing Disciples for the 21st Century
APRIL 2016
So Easter has come and gone, right? I write on April 1st, so I can say April fools!
Every Sunday is a little Easter, as Luther teaches. These next Sundays before
Pentecost we will ponder the mystery and the wonder of resurrection living.
Resurrection living is forged in the fire of suffering. The resurrection is made known
today as we do what Jesus asked us to do…love one another as I have loved you.
We come into the Easter season with all our baggage. Our highs and lows. Our
sorrows and our joys. And all the stuff in between. So much stuff.
We live into Easter as we give all of it to Jesus and let him fill our cup again. That’s
where the challenge is, at least for me…giving it all to Jesus. The pain, the sorrow,
the questions, the anger, the disappointment, the unfulfilled dreams, the poverty of
our hearts, the success, the fulfillment, the challenge, the hope in a new tomorrow. I
pray we can give it all to our Lord in the days ahead. We will be richer if we do, and
the world can be sweeter because of the fruit we grow along the way.
Remember our Explorers classes on the 10th, 17th and 24th of April. These classes are
for those who want to explore the Christian faith, the Lutheran “flavor” of the faith and
consider joining us as disciples in mission here at St. Mark’s.
We will receive new mission partners on May 1. Also that day a new mission partner
will be baptized. Her name is Ella Lee, daughter of Eric and Lori, sister of Clara.
Yahoo!
Please remember the wonderful, awesome, overwhelming and completely dedicated to
Jesus, the NESAP Spring Concert at St. Bartholomew Roman Catholic Church at
2:00 on April 10 NESAP concert. Our Own choir and Praise Band will be featured
with a bunch of other talented musicians. Come be “wowed”.
Pastor Jason
CALL COMMITTEE
Now that the Profile Committee has sent the profile to the Synod, the Call Committee has begun the
next phase in the process of finding our new Pastor. We met on 3/7/15 to review this portion of the
process. We are meeting with Pastor Schlack on 4/6/15 for his input and guidance. As soon as we
have the name of candidates from the Synod we will be on the road to finding the next Pastor for St.
Mark's.
If you have any questions or input please do not hesitate to contact any member of the committee
( Tina Grube, John and Liz Charitonuk, Andreas and Mary Lundstedt, Elizabeth Lotz,
Pam Bamberger and Martha Hyson)
THE NEW EXPLORERS CLASSES are for those who want to learn about the Christian faith, the Lutheran
flavor of that faith, and those wishing to join St. Mark’s in our mission together. We will meet in the
upstairs adult Sunday School room at 9:30am on April 10, 17 and 24, New mission
Partners (members) will be received on Sunday, May 1st at 8:30AM.
SAVE THE DATE:
Mother Daughter Banquet
Friday, May 6 at Hampstead Fire Hall
Dinner at 6:30 pm
Ticket Prices: $16 for Adults
$9 ages 4 to 10
3 and Under are Free
For tickets contact Carol Aberts at 410-239-8655
Deadline for ticket sales is April 24.
SOCIAL MINISTRY
Have you ever wondered who sent those Birthday and Anniversary cards “from your St. Marks
family”.
The Social Ministry is alive and well. This is a small group of individuals who are there to help members of the Congregation or Community in need.
If you are interested in signing a card or two or making a meal for a member of the Congregation join
us. If you have an idea for a Community outreach let us know.
Contact Lois Miller 410 239 6952
SUNDAY PRAYER LIST:
Beginning November 1, 2015 names will be kept on our prayer list for 4 weeks. You can add a
request or renew one by calling the church office.
THE MEN’S PRAYER BREAKFAST GROUP
we meet on Saturday, April 2
BILE STUDY GROUP: TUESDAY, APRI19 10:30 AM AT HOMEWOOD. LUNCH TO FOLLOW.
THE WESTMINSTER CLUSTER Women’s Organization of the Women of the ELCA will hold its Spring
Meeting on Saturday, April 9 at the Krug Chapel, Carroll Lutheran Village, Westminster Md.
Agenda:
9:30 Registration with light refreshments
10:00 DEVOTIONS – St. Benjamin’s Lutheran Church
10:30 Program- Mar-Lu Ridge Summer Camp and Education and Conference Center.
There is no charge for this event so bring friends.
A free will offering will be collected. The funds go to support Churchwide and Synodical Women’s
ministry of support to sisters in Christ throughout Maryland and the world.
Carpol from St. Mark’s at 8:45AM.. Contact Martha Hyson if you plan to go.
SEAFARERS PROJECT
Dear Members:
The Women of the ELCA Unit St. Mark’s were very proud to have worked with the
Confirmation Class of St. Mark’s for the Seafarer’s Project. Working together is a very good way to
learn what is occurring within our congregation and how God blesses all of us a s we work to do
God’s Will here and abroad. The wonderful young women working with the youth, “Our Confirmation
Class”, Sherry Delmont, Stacy Little, Elizabeth Lotz, Lori Miller and Amy Rink, Thank God for these
women.
Loris Miller wrote the article below, which has been sent for publication in “The Lutheran”, the
magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
The magazine shares the good news of Jesus Christ through future stories, news and
information resources, theological insights and so much more.
MMH
SUBJECT: The Seafarer’s Christmas Project – St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
The Confirmation Class of St. Mark’s Evangelical Luther Church in Hampstead, Maryland, worked
with the Women of the ELCA, (Unit : St. .Mark’s ) during the Christmas Season in order to assemble
gifts for the seamen at the Port of Baltimore. Christmas Day is another day at sea for the world’s 1.3
million seafarers, and because they are not to be with family and friends during the Christmas
holiday, it can be a lonely time.
The goal of the Seafarer’s Christmas Project is to assemble shoeboxes filled with specific items for
the men when they reach the Port. Through the very generous donations (hats, gloves, socks,
toiletries, pens, paper, playing cards, etc.) by the congregation, the Confirmation Class was able to
assemble and wrap more than 30 shoeboxes.
UPCOMING CONFIRMATION CLASS EVENTS:

April 2-3 - Church lock-in Saturday night and attendance at 8:30 worship service on Sunday
morning. More details to follow.

April 3 - No Confirmation Class.

April 23 - Stratosphere and Glory Days Restaurant (4:30 PM – 7:30 PM)

May 15 - Confirmation Sunday and Pentecost Sunday. All confirmation students should plan to
attend.
LUTHERAN CHURCH MEN
of the
WESTMINSTER CONFERENCE, E.L.C.A.
The Lutheran Church Men of the Westminster Conference will hold their Spring Dinner Meeting,
Monday, April 25, 2016, at Messiah Lutheran Church, 5600 Old Washington Rd., Sykesville, in their
“Celebration Hall” – directly behind the church building. The church is about 20 minutes from
Westminster on Rte. 97 about ¾ mile south of Rte. 26, (Liberty Rd.), and the roundabout.
The ladies of the church will be serving a family-style fried chicken dinner at 6:30. As has been
customary, a free-will offering will be received for the meal, with at least $12.00 expected.
Following dinner a short devotion and hymn sing will be led by Messiah’s Pastor, Rev. Michel
Dubsky, with the Rev. Bill Gohl, of Epiphany Lutheran Church, Baltimore, bringing the devotional
message.
These semi-annual dinners have become a wonderful opportunity for the men of the churches of
our conference to socialize and renew old acquaintances. It has been a long time since we have met
at Messiah and we look forward to seeing a large group.
Please contact Dr. George Resh (410- 374-2369) by April 3rd to make your reservation.
THANK YOU
We appreciated the lovely anniversary card sent to us by the Social Ministry Committee and
also the ones from some of our friends for our special day.
Best wishes to all
Herb and Mary Wessel
Dear St. Mark’s
Words can never express my thanks for the lovely gifts and many calls I received for my 25 th
anniversary as office Manager at St. Mark’s. I am truly blessed to have a job I love and to have the
support of the Church Council and the friendship of so many kind people.
Fondly, Nancy Klein
MEMORIAL AND GIFTS
In Memory of Whitmer (Pete) Lindsay
Judy’s Beauty Haven ( Judy Wilhelm)
John and Catherine Hinegardner
Hampstead Volunteer fire co.
Charles and Verna Bankert
Herbert and Mary Wessel
Sir Speedy Printing Center
Eileen and Randy Nafe
Wilma and George Harman
Ruth Shilke
Betty Sprinkle
Kathleen P. King
Auxiliary to Hampstead Fire Co.
In Memory of Whitmer (Pete) Lindsay.
(Designated for SMT Fund)
John and Anglee Mandish
In Memory of Mary Scarpati
Herbert and Mary Wessel
Donna L. Barnes
In Memory of Mildred Wolfinger
Wayne and Patricia Long
Bruce and Jane Bretthauer
In Memory of Mildred Wolfinger
(Designated for Kati’s Fund)
St. Mark’s Unit of Women of the ELCA
(Lee Byrn, Mary Wessel, Martha Hyson,
Bonnie Hare and Betty Sprinkle)
In Memory of Mary Scarpati
(Designated for Youth ministry)
Robert (Buzz) and Gerry Geist
In Memory of Whitmer (Pete) Lindsay
(Designated for Youth Ministry)
Robert (Buzz) and Gerry Geist
WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS
April 3
8:30
Lector: Elizabeth Lotz
Ushers: Stephen Lotz, Kamden Estes
Power Point: Tiernan Delmont
Nursery: Corinne Sigai
10:30
Assisting Minister: Betty Sprinkle
Communion Assistant: Roberta Lindsay
Lector: George Harman
Ushers: Stuart and Judy Hafele
Bread and Wine: Roberta and Debbie Lindsay
Nursery: Corinne Sigai
Altar Guild: Wilma Harman, Deanna Berger
Counting Team: Ivy Storey, Dana Pipp
April 10
8:30
Lector: Craig Schenning
Ushers: Matt Rock, Andreas Lundstedt
Power Point: Carson and Tyler Allen
Nursery: Corinne Sigai
10:30
Assisting Minister: Margy Ziegler
Communion Assistant: Chris Winemiller
Lector: Lois Treuchel
Ushers: Lou Lang, Tom Heeter
Bread and Wine: Dot Resh, Martha Hyson
Nursery: Corinne Sigai
Altar Guild: Brenda Covington, Susan Hines
Counting Team: Howard Schultze, George Harman
April 17
8:30
Lector: Holly Schlossenberg
Ushers: Makenzie and Kamden Estes
Power Point: Zach Taylor, Alex Stephenson
Nursery: Corinne Sigai
10:30
Assisting Minister: Bonnie Hare
Communion Assistant: Pam Lindsay
Lector: Pat Cornell
Ushers: Scott McCabe, Pat Cornell
Bread and Wine: Susan Hines, Chris Winemiller
Nursery: Corinne Sigai
Altar Guild: Margy Ayers, Tina McCann
Counting Team: Art Risso, Wendall Sisler
April 24
8:30
Lector: Betty Murkey
Ushers: McKenna Miller, Lexi Sperko
Power Point: Alyssa Rink
Nursery: Corinne Sigai
10:30
Assisting Minister: Lori Lee
Communion Assistant: George Harman
Lector: Warren Miller
Ushers: Stuart and Judy Hafele
Bread and Wine: Anna and Sara Berger
Nursery: Corinne Sigai
Altar Guild: Debbie and Roberta Lindsay
Counting Team: Stephen Bamberger, Dave Yaruta
Opening church in April: Jake Ziegler
MAY 1
8:30
Lector: Ken Ziegler
Ushers: Grayce and Jacob Little
Power Point: Zach Taylor, Gavin Stetcher
Nursery: Corinne Sigai
10:30
Assisting Minister: Lois Miller
Communion Assistant: Susan Hines
Lector: Bonnie Hare
Ushers: Scott McCabe, Pat Cornell
Bread and Wine: Ann and Wendall Sisler
Nursery: Corinne Sigai
Altar Guild: Wilma Harman, Deanna Berger
Counting Team: Ivy Storey, Dana Pipp
Opening church in April: Jake Ziegler
MAY 8
8:30
Lector: Susan Miller
Ushers: Carsen and Tiernan Delmont
Power Point: Corrin Aberts, Alex Stephenson
Nursery: Corinne Sigai
10:30
Assisting Minister: Stephanie Brewster
Communion Assistant: Dana Pipp
Lector: Eric Lee
Ushers: Lou Lang, Tom Heeter
Bread and Wine: Deanna and Rachel Berger
Nursery: Corinne Sigai
Altar Guild: Ivy Storey
Counting Team: Howard Schultze, George Harman
MAY 15
8:30
Lector: Tina Grube
Ushers: Stephen and Elizabeth Lotz
Power Point: Lexi Sperko,
Nursery: Corinne Sigai
10:30
Assisting Minister: Ivy Storey
Communion Assistant: Martha Hyson
Lector: Chris Winemiller
Ushers: Stuart and Judy Hafele
Bread and Wine: Bonnie and Ray Hare
Nursery: Corinne Sigai
Altar Guild: Brenda Covington, Susan Hines
Counting Team: Art Risso, Wendall Sisler
May 22
8:30
Lector: Karen Mon
Ushers: Lee and Betty Murkey
Power Point: Kamden Estes, McKenna Miller
Nursery: Corinne Sigai
10:30
Assisting Minister: Margy Ziegler
Communion Assistant: Ivy Storey
Lector: Ivy Storey
Ushers: Scott McCabe, Pat Cornell
Bread and Wine: Debbie and Roberta Lindsay
Nursery: Corinne Sigai
Altar Guild: Margy Ayers, Tina McCann
Counting Team: Stephen Bamberger, Dave Yaruta
Opening church in May: George Harman
May 29-9:30 Unity Service
5th Sunday Intercessory Prayer
Assisting Minister; Pat Cornell
Communion Assistant: Margy Ziegler, Pam Bamberger
Lector: Cassie Klein
Ushers: lou Lang, tom Heeter
Bread ans Wine: Dot Resh, Martha Hyson
Nursery Corinne Sigai
Altar GuidL Debbie and Roberta Lindsay
Power Point:
Counting Team: Stephen Bamberger, Dave Yaruta
APRIL BIRTHDAYS
Leah Kwayi
Jared Rink
Hailey Albright
Kammy Neuhaus
Jen Masteran
Christopher Sauer
Leah McCann
Jaime Miller
Alexander Smith
Gabriella Geyer
Bryan Knouse
Steven Treadwell, Jr.
Arthur Phillip Boone III
Carroll Georg
Joshua Geyer
Charlotte Chaapel
Kathryn White
Carl Delmont
Rebecca Stremmel
Debbie Lindsay
Barbara Boone
Steve Shifflett
Aubrey McCormick
Patricia Bohn
Hella Groves
Evelyn Lloyd
Rebecca Stecher
Chad Myers
Barbara Treadwell
Amy Myers
Brittany Phillips
Michael Hare
Jason Uhler
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APRIL ANNIVERSARIES
Susan and Ronald Hines
Robert and Mary Garrett
Scott and Deborah McCabe
Stephen and Pam Bamberger
Stephen and Pam Lindsay
John and Susan Miller
4/5/97
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4/12/03
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ALTAR FLOWERS-APRIL2016
April 3- To the Glory of God given by Terri Wise.
April 10- To the Glory of God and in celebration of the 87th birthday of Carroll Georg given by Louise
Georg.
April 17- In honor of Evelyn Lloyd’ 89th birthday given by her daughter, Judy Cofiell
April 24- in memory of our daughter Ursula Mahon given by her parents George and Hella Groves.
APRIL 2016 BULLETINS
April 3 To the glory of God and in loving memory of Bonnie’s grandmothers, Burnett Ormston and
Mary Murrary, and Pat’s grandmother, Rose Villeponteaux, from Bonnie and Pat and
Nicole Cornell
April 10
To the glory of God and in honor of Debbie Lindsay’s birthday, on April 14, from her
mother, Roberta Lindsay
April 17
To the glory of God
April 24
To the glory of God and in loving memory of loved ones from Wilma and George
Harman
Order Your St Marks Commemorative
Building Replica
Throughout the years the Church Women United Programs have been committed and dedicated to serving the needs of the church
community and the various mission areas. One of these commitments was to the annual Mother/Daughter banquet. This
Mother/Daughter banquet has been held every year from 1969 through 2016. It was the dues from these programs that helped to fund
this initiative.
The banquet has become a great tradition for many over the years, and expenses have risen without the benefit of the dues from these
wonderful programs. In order to contain the costs of this banquet, provide the same level of service, while keeping the ticket price
affordable, our committee has organized a creative fundraiser commemorative to all.
The Mother/Daughter committee is proud to offer this year, a wooden replica of our church, through the Cats Meow Company. The
replicas even detail the stained glass windows in the front of the church. These commemorative items can be ordered beginning April
3rd for $20. These are great commemoratives of the First Holy Communion, Weddings, Baptisms, Confirmation or just as a keepsake.
Please see Melissa Boone-Miller in the Social hall between services to place your order beginning April 3 or contact Melissa at (410)
428-9934 or by e-mail [email protected]. Once the order is placed, the production takes 3-4 weeks.
A special thanks to Margie Ziegler for her pictures that helped to make this commemorative even more beautiful!
Inscribed on the back of the church is the following:
The story of any congregation begins with the people of God coming together in worship and praise. Then, most often a
building establishes the congregation in the community. The poem of dedication dated April 20–27, 1941 expresses the
meaning of this building as follows:
“I love to come to this still place
Where deeper peace is always found,
To kneel as though on holy ground,
And feel my Master face to face.
I do not know how I could live
If there were not this refuge sweet,
Where I could linger at His feet
And He to me sweet healing give.”
A MOTHER’S DAY REMEMBRANCE
This Mother’s Day, May 8, 2016 we want to honor the women of our congregation by giving a small
gift of remembrance to each woman, young or old, in attendance that day. We also want to give you the
opportunity to honor your mother by having her listed in the bulletin that day (either in memorium or in
honor of). Listings will cost $2.00 for each mother named and will be used to fund the special Mother’s
Day remembrance. Please fill out the form below and turn it in via the offering or to the church office
by May 2, 2016
Please include the following mother (s) in the church bulletin on Mother’s Day ....
In Memory Of_____________________________________
Given by:___________________________________
In Memory Of:____________________________________
Given by:__________________________________
In Honor Of_______________________________________
Given by:_____________________________________
In Honor Of:______________________________________
Given by:________________________________________
Make checks payable to St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
Church & Village: Partners in Ministry
April 2016
Quilt Show
Save the date for the Carroll Lutheran Village Quilt Show on Saturday, April 9 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in
the Wellness Center. More than 30 quilts of all shapes and sizes will be on display. Some are family
heirlooms. The event is open to the public. The Wellness Center is located at 902 Mission Square behind the
gazebo with the red roof. Admission is free but donations will be accepted. For more information call 443605-1025.
April Lifelong Learning Courses
Register now for the following Lifelong Learning opportunities. Courses are open to all older adults in the
community. Come join us!
Awareness Through Movement – Guild Certified Feldenkrais practitioner Jerry Eaton shows you how
to improve everyday movements using small, gentle movements while lying on the floor. Class meets
Wednesdays April 6 through June 8 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Cost is $30 per adult.
Art History Series: The Group of Seven - Susan Williamson from the Carroll Arts Center is the presenter. Tuesday, April 12 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 pm. in the Carroll Lutheran Village Wellness Center. Cost is
$8 for CLV residents and Arts Council members and $10 for all others.
Being Human: Wealth & Poverty – Julie Castillo from Carroll Community College covers the human elements of these very different economic classes. Class meets Fridays, April 15 through May 16 from
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Cost is $40 per adult.
I’m Over 65! Why Should I See My Gynecologist? – Dr. Sushma Sidh provides insight on why it’s important for older women to still care for their reproductive health. Class meets Friday, April 29 from 1:30
p.m. to 2:30 p.m. There is no charge for this session.
Please register in advance for all Lifelong Learning opportunities by calling 443-605-1070. To see the full list
of Lifelong Learning opportunities visit www.clvillage.org/lifelong-learning.
Upcoming Lunch & Learn
Lunch & Tour – April 20 - Did you know that Carroll Lutheran Village is the most affordable continuing care
retirement community in the Baltimore area? Learn more about life at the Village, tour a few residences, and
have lunch with residents to hear their stories about making the move to the Village.
Seating is limited. Please call 410-848-8922 for more information or to register.
Visit Us at Seniors on the Go
Again this year Carroll Lutheran Village is a proud sponsor of the Seniors On the Go Aging and Disabilities Expo
at the Carroll County Ag Center on April 6 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Expo focuses on the needs and
interests of older adults, people with disabilities, their families and caregivers in Carroll County. Admission to
the Expo is free.
Graceful Generosity
Published to help you grow as a steward of God’s grace.
A Stewardship Thought
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave us a very
important principle for the handling of our material
possessions which include any kind of financial
assets and income. He taught the “God first”
principle. “But seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given to
you as well” (Matthew 6:33). When we give first
priority to God with our time and treasures, he is
honored, and he will provide us with what we need.
Are you using your time in reading God’s Word and
serving others? Is God receiving the firstfruits of
your income? God wants us to seek him first, and
he promises that he will be found (Jeremiah 29:13).
The Joy of Giving
A pastor of a small, rural congregation was visiting a shut-in widow who lived in a run-down
house at the end of a dirt road. Bedridden, sick and
weak, she looked forward to the pastor’s visit. On
the occasion of his first call, she handed him her offering envelope with her tithe enclosed. He tried to
refuse. She said, “Pastor, this is one of the only joys
I have left. I can no longer attend church or be part
of the fellowship. But I can give.” The joy in her
countenance demonstrated a spirit that loved to
give.
Testing your Knowledge of Scripture
Can you identify who the people in Scripture, associated with the picture in the next column might
be?
If you said Noah and his wife, you were right. Do
you remember what Noah did after the flood was
over, and he left the ark? In Genesis 8 and 9, we
read of Noah’s sacrifice. As a first act of worship
for the protection he and his family received, Noah
built an altar and sacrificed some of the clean animals as burnt offerings. Noah made the sacrifice to
thank God for saving them from the flood, and he
trusted that God would continue to provide for him.
“Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him:
‘I now establish my covenant with you and with
your descendants after you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature
that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all
the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark
with you—every living creature on earth: Never
again will all life be cut off by waters of a flood;
never again will there be a flood to destroy the
earth.’ ” (Genesis 9:8-11).
Making Choices
Each of us makes hundreds of choices a day,
perhaps beginning with the sound of the alarm clock
when we choose whether or not to get out of bed.
Many of our choices are made unconsciously. We
choose what we’ll wear and what we’ll eat and
whether we’ll spend our leisure time reading or
watching TV. We choose our friends and our pets
but not our families. Those we’re born into without
our having a voice in the matter. It is similar with
the family of God, for it is our heavenly Father who
has chosen to adopt us into his family. We were
dead in sin, but God speaking through Hosea said,
“I will redeem them from death” (Hosea 13:14).
That is God’s choice. Paul wrote to Timothy that
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners . .
.” (1 Timothy 1:15). That is his choice. Matthew
recorded Jesus’ words: “The Son of Man did not
come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life
as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). We are, as
Peter wrote, “A chosen people” (1 Peter 2:9).
We can choose to follow the example of Joshua
who counseled those headstrong Israelites:
“Now fear the Lord” and serve him with all
faithfulness . . . But if serving the Lord seems
undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this
day whom you will serve . . . But as for me and my
household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:1415).
Living the Proper Lifestyle
Scripture does not dictate that we are to live in a
certain way. God does not tell us what we can or
can’t own. He does not list the specifics on the type
of home, the number of cars, or clothes we are to
have, but there are attitudes that God wants us to
develop within the area of financial responsibility.
First of all, God wants us to have an eternal
perspective. With an eternal perspective we act and
live differently:
 We are called to store up for ourselves treasures
in Heaven (Mathew 6:20).
 Our lifestyles will reflect our relationship with
Christ.
 We will be good stewards by using our gifts and
financial blessings in God-pleasing ways.
 We will live moderately and share generously
for the work of the Lord.
 Our financial decisions will be spiritual decisions. Jesus said, “So if you have not been
trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who
will trust you with true riches?” (Luke 16:11).
 What we do, how we handle the stuff of life,
will be done with an eye on eternity.
As the redeemed and chosen people of God we
now can choose to respond by declaring “the
praises of him who called [us] out of darkness into
his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). We can choose to
follow Paul’s directive to “serve one another in
love” (Galatians 5:13).
© Copyright Parish Publishing, LLC  May not be copied without permission.  www.parishpublishing.org
Blessings on Your Stewardship Journey!
Money Matters
Personal Financial Stewardship
Loving Money
God’s Word warns us about the love of money: “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap
and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a
root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves
with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:9-10). Jesus said, “You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24).
How much we love money is not dependent upon the amount of money that we may have. We can love
money and have very little love of it, or we can have lots of it and not love it at all. Loving money is very
subtle, and it can manifest itself in different ways. For example for those who have accumulated some money, it
could be seen in an unhealthy obsession with the investment markets. It could be seen in our desire to hoard our
money and not give. Power and success for those who focus on
money is relative to how much money they have.
Because we live in a very materialistic society, there is a
great deal of interest in money. Webster’s Dictionary defines
materialism as “the tendency to be more concerned with material
things than with spiritual goals or values.” Materialism leads us
to spend money we don’t have in order to buy things we don’t
need so that we can impress people we don’t even like. A
materialistic person loves his possessions, is greedy, and lacks
contentment.
The following are three negative consequences of both loving
money and becoming part of our materialistic society:
 Distorts our thinking: Our hearts become darkened. “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor
gave thanks to him, but their thinking become futile and their
foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:22-23).
 Stimulates our pride: We become self-sufficient rather than relying on God. “You may say to yourself, ‘My
power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me’ ” (Deuteronomy 8:17).
 Preoccupies our thoughts: We have no time or concern for the needy or for God. “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things” (Philippians 3:19).
When we call upon God’s strength, he will empower us to serve him rather than our money. As we spend
time hearing and reading God’s Word, he will strengthen our faith so we can break the power that money and
possessions can have over us.
© Copyright Parish Publishing, LLC  May not be copied without permission.  www.parishpublishing.org
THE HANDCLASP
APRIL 2016
ST. MARK’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
1373 NORTH MAIN STREET
HAMPSTEAD, MD 21074
410-374-6944
NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR ST. MARK’S:
[email protected]
WEBSITE: www.stmarkshampstead.org
MINISTERS: ALL THE PEOPLE OF ST. MARK’S
Pastor: The Rev. Jason Burns (interim)
Minister of Music: Mr. Jake Ziegler
Office Manager: Mrs. Nancy Klein
Nursery: Mrs. Corinne Sigai
Council
President-Ken Ziegler
Secretary- Lois Miller
Financial Secretary: Bonnie Hare
Vice President- Tom Heeter
Treasurer: Steve Covington
Stephen Bamberger,Jeff Miller, Jim Rink, Jake Ziegler, John Charitonuk, John
Clagett, Andreas Lundstedt