March 2016 - Christ Lutheran Church Shrewsbury

105 South Main Street
Shrewsbury, PA 17361
Church Office 717-235-2053
Web: www.clcshrewsbury.org
christevangelicallutheranchurch-shrewsbury
Our 2016 Lenten
Journey Continues
It’s March; signs of spring are all around us, as a church we
are well into our Lenten Journey, Easter is Coming! How we
live our Lenten journey matters. How we live into our call to
be followers of Christ matters. Worship, prayer, dwelling in
God’s word matters.
This year we have been challenged to read scripture and
pray daily. We are on a journey to find God in our ordinary,
yet sacred lives. In worship we will focus on prayer, with
prayer request cards in the pews, and in sharing God
sightings we have had throughout the week. Seeing God in
the world is seeing others. Seeing others is to God’s eyes
and knowing that God is with us, always.
Our journey of Lent culminates with the 3-day feast:
Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. In the
midst of that is Holy Saturday, a day when Jesus was
thought to be dead and gone. The day his friends mourned
his death and hid in fear of the government coming for them
next. Holy Saturday! Jesus was busy that day, we believe
as Christians it was that day that Jesus descended to the
dead and resurrected all who “fallen asleep”. Holy
Saturday! We all know the emptiness and hopelessness
that death bring. We need Holy Saturday in order to grow in
our faith; to become mature in our spirituality and sit in the
quietness of God.
My longing for Easter is always before me, Christ’s coming
again is always a hope I carry, and in that longing I have
learned to live in that holiness of Saturday. Where grief and
pain are real, where sitting in emptiness and wonder are
with me. It is in Saturday where I learn to live out my faith. I
believe we as Christians need Holy Saturday living. We
need to live in the wonder and mystery of not knowing when
Christ will come again, but dwell in his word and remember
his teachings. To gather in worship and in community to
recognize we are God’s children and we are loved by a God
that died for us, that died to bring us salvation and a life
freely lived by the death of Christ who freely took on our
burdens and sins so that we may live in grace and mercy.
How I live in this time and place must recognize all the
brokenness of this world and all the glory of who Christ is
for us all.
Blessings to you as you grapple in Saturday living, in Holy
living. Easter IS Coming!!
Peace to you,
Pastor Grace
Wednesday, March 9th
Dinner Church “Come to the Table of Justice”
6pm Parish Hall*
Wednesday, March 16th
Dinner Church “Come to the Table of Grace”
6pm Gathering Area
Saturday, March 19th
Pancake Breakfast & Egg Hunt 8-10am
Palm Sunday, March 20th
Palm Sunday Worship at 9am
Wiggle Worship at 4pm
Thursday, March 24th
“Maundy Thursday” - Seder Meal
6pm Parish Hall
Good Friday, March 25th
7pm Sanctuary
Easter Sunday, March 27th
“Resurrection of our Lord”!
Traditional Worship at 9am
Wiggle Worship at 11pm
Youth Group will be hosting their annual
Pancake Breakfast & Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, March 19th 8am-10am
$6 for Adults and $4 for Kids (5-12)
Kids 4 and under are FREE!
Easter Egg Hunts @ 9, 9:30 & 10
Questions contact Becky at 717-683-6935
WELCOMING, WORSHIPING,
WORKING FOR CHRIST…TOGETHER!!
Dwelling in the Word
March 6th, 2016
 Gospel of Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
March 13th, 2016

Gospel of John 12:1-8
March 20th, 2016

Gospel of Luke 23:1-49
March 27th, 2016

John 20:1-18
PRAYER CHAINS
Call the church office Monday—Friday, 9am—1pm
For immediate email prayer requests
Email Charlotte at: [email protected]
Year to Date
1/1/16—2/22/16
General Offerings
Mission Support Offerings
Capital Improv. Offerings
Actual
$16,573.00
$ 906.00
$ 1,620.00
Budget
$18,318.93
$ 952.55
Total Income
Total Expense
$23,312.36
$26,388.80
$29,677.00
$27,120.64
Net Income
$ -3,076.44
$ 2,556.36
Our Current fundraiser
is selling cards from
Papa John’s Pizza for
$10 each. This Card gets
you a free medium, 3
topping pizza with each
purchase of a large,
regular price pizza. You
can use this 12 times
per year. Buy one for
yourself, sell many to
your family, friends &
neighbors! See Robyn,
Kelly or Becky if you
would like cards.
David Dubel, Ken Cronise, Ida May
Stein, Emilee Bortner, Jerry Adey,
Wilma Mackoviak, family & friends of
Susan Marcum; and the men and
women who are serving our country
overseas and also for their safe return
home.
Get Fit w/Christ Zumba
Thursdays at 6:30pm
Lead by Dia Kleeman
$5.00 per person
Judgement-Free Fun!
Fools Potluck & Game Night
Friday, 4/1 @ 6pm in the Parish Hall
March 25th
Good Friday
March 27th
Easter Sunday
March 6th
March 13th
March 20st
Palm Sunday
Acolyte
Michael Fisher
Alternative Team
Abigail Fisher
Worship Leaders
Rachel Banchiere
Announcer
Dave Novotny
Dave Novotny
Dave Novotny
--
Dave Novotny
Chancel
Stephanie Mayoryk
Jill Steines
Jill Steines
Kim Martin
Kim Martin
Communion
Andy & Kathy Shifflett
Bev Cronise
Laura Wagner
Phill Attig
John Harvilicz
--
Rich Steines
Scott Watts
Counters
Dan Stevenson
Kelly Gillispie
Stella Chavez
Dee Behrens
Charlotte Dubel
Bev Cronise
Dagmar Ream
Mike Swift
Evelyn Rehmeyer
--
Burnetha Rehmeyer
Vada Wales
John Harvilicz
Greeter
Usher
Jim & Kathy Shifflett
Greg & Donna Sheddy
Bob & Robyn
Banchiere
Worship Leaders
Rich & Jill Steines
Hospitality
Kim Martin
Don & Gigi Hauk
Karen Folfas
Kelly Gillispie
--
Charlotte Dubel
Open/Close
Craig Piercy
Phil Attig
Evelyn Rehmeyer
--
Ron Rohrbaugh
Prayer
Scott Watts
Pastor Grace
Rich Steines
--
Connie Wood
Reader
Walter Bird
Pastor Grace
Rich Steines
--
Connie Wood
Sunday School
Meal Prep (All)
Robyn Banchiere
Robyn Banchiere
--
NO Sunday School
Nursery
Stella Chavez
Robyn Banchiere
Stella Chavez
--
Chris Watts
Wiggle Treats
Erin Swam
Carpenter Family
Osterhaus Family
--
--
Contact the Church Office
if you are interested in
sponsoring Coffee, Flowers
or Bulletins on an
upcoming Sunday.
Coffee
Flowers
Bulletins
March 6th
Open
Kelly Gillispie
Open
March 13th
Open
Open
Burnetha Rehmeyer
March 20st,
Open
Open
Open
March 27th
Open
Open
Open
Church Leaders and Staff
Office Hours: 12 noon to 3 pm, Monday through Thursday
Church Office: 717-235-2053
Pastor—Grace Gravelle (cell) 651-262-4942
email: [email protected]
CHECK OUT THE NEW
Administrative Assistant—Kelly Gillispie
email: [email protected]
GREEN COMMUNITY
EVENTS BINDER
Communications & Outreach Specialist—Cecily Amrhein
email: [email protected]
Council President—Rich Steines Preschool Director—Becky Stevenson
Organist—Helen Blasser
Sexton—Robyn Banchiere
Pianist—Phil Attig
Treasurer—Mike Wirz
Praise Band Coach—Jon Frey
Renewal Team – Ken Cronise, Larry Dubel,
Kim Martin, Jennifer Osterhaus, Kathy Shifflett,
Chris Watts, Scott Watts, Judy Wertz
IN THE GATHERING AREA.
FIND SOMETHING FUN TO
DO AND SUPPORT OUR
LOCAL COMMUNITY!
WELCOMING, WORSHIPING,
WORKING FOR CHRIST…TOGETHER!!
Here’s a response to last month’s article…
An Open Letter about Worship from a Baby Boomer Pastor
By: The Rev. Mark A. Miller, United Methodist Pastor
May 29, 2015
Dear Church,
I read Jonathan Aigner's open letter to the Church with dismay and curiosity. I am a 55-year-old Baby Boomer who
enjoys contemporary worship, but I’m not sure if I am "still stuck in my rebellion against the establishment," as
Jonathan puts it. I’ve actually been part of the establishment for most of my life. I have been an ordained United
Methodist pastor for nearly 30 years. I grew up in the UMC, attended a United Methodist-related college and a United
Methodist seminary. I’ve served as lead pastor at the same United Methodist Church for 20 years. Every Sunday we
worship in both traditional and contemporary styles.
Jonathan contends that he and other Millennials prefer traditional liturgical worship. I say, "Good for you." Most United
Methodist Churches offer traditional worship. But I need help understanding why it's necessary to harshly criticize and
condemn the contemporary worship style that does not resonate with some preferences. I thought Millennials were all
about being tolerant and being non-judgmental. I thought one of the things that Millennials hate about Christians of
previous generations is that they tended to be too harsh, too close-minded, and too quick to judge what didn’t fit their
narrow perspective. Perhaps it wasn't intended that way, but Jonathan's open letter feels a bit condescending and
judgmental to me.
Setting aside the pejorative language used to describe the contemporary worship, the other assumptions that
contemporary worship -- fog machines, booming audio and good coffee – are done as a marketing scheme to try and
reach Millennials is just plain wrong.
Here is the truth: Contemporary is just a worship style. No one has to like it, no one has to join the band or sing "Shout
to the Lord" unless he or she wants. That’s the beauty of variety. Contemporary worship obviously doesn’t appeal to
everyone. No problem. Enjoy traditional liturgy.
However, I find confusing the claim that contemporary worship "hasn’t worked." If by that Jonathan means that it
"hasn’t worked" in reaching everyone among the Millennial generation, I would agree. But worship isn't about reaching
the Millennial generation; it is about worshiping God. Whether one offers worship to God with a loud guitar or a soft
organ, the focus is on glorifying God, not pleasing a demographic group. How can we suggest that God is not pleased
with contemporary worship? How do we know?
Of course, the style of worship that a church uses will appeal to certain demographic groups, and there may be
strategic missional reasons for choosing one style over another. But the point is to worship God. Unless we know the
hearts of those who are worshiping, we are on dangerous ground to assume it is all about superficial marketing and
good coffee in the hope that a few Millennials may wander through the door.
I am not suggesting that it is never appropriate to offer a thoughtful critique of certain methods of worship. It can be
helpful to raise questions and clarify the motives behind our methods. Respectful dialogue can foster deeper
understanding. But I think we must be careful when we make assumptions and presumptions based on our limited
experience with worship styles. I am "chief of all sinners" in this area, and I know how deeply such an approach can
harm others.
Here is my final point: I am weary of the "worship wars." I am tired of hearing contemporary worshipers criticize
traditional worship as "dead liturgy" and "a mindless ritual." I am also tired of hearing traditional worshipers criticize
contemporary worship as "Jesusy entertainment" and "a rock concert trying to appeal to young people." It is not
helpful to the Body of Christ for any of us to assume that a particular style of worship is not acceptable to God simply
because it is not acceptable to us. I’ve attended many worship services in several mega churches and they have
helped me offer heartfelt worship to God. They do not match the description that Jonathan outlines in his open letter to
the church. I’ve also attended traditional worship services and been captivated by the beauty of the liturgy. But when
we elevate a worship style preference to the level of a spiritual virtue, we become modern-day Pharisees who strain
out a gnat and swallow a camel.
I’m glad that many Millennials find traditional worship to be helpful in their faith journeys. But if we think that churches
are offering contemporary worship in an attempt to "reach Millennials," we’re wrong. We are offering contemporary
worship because we believe that some people prefer that worship style. In the church I lead, our attendance at the
contemporary service is about twice that of our traditional service, so I am thinking that there are a lot of people in our
community who resonate with that style (we have a great band, but no fog machine). I can’t see into everybody’s heart
on Sunday morning, so I can’t say for sure if they are truly worshiping God or if they just show up to enjoy a rock
concert and a good cup of coffee. But we’ll keep singing "Shout to the Lord" anyway, and leave the rest up to the Holy
Spirit.