March 2016 - Christ Lutheran Church Shrewsbury
Transcription
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.