Grace Lutheran Church

Grapevine
Grace Lutheran Church
Easton, MD
A welcoming community of believers,
proclaims the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
equipping disciples to serve
our congregation, community, and the world.
From the Pastor’s Desk
Ad Hoc Committee on Worship
At the February 10, 2015, meeting the Church
Council approved a motion to form a committee
to explore the issue of one or two Sunday services.
Craig Bester, Bernie Coates, Melissa Corbin, and
Pete Lesher have agreed to participate in exploring
the issue. Melissa Corbin will serve as chairperson.
The group held its initial conversation on March
17. In order to understand the issue fully the committee agreed to begin by answering two questions:
1. What is worship? Not styles of worship, but
the act of worship. Then, why/how do we worship?
We worship, that is “bow down before, show
reverence, adoration” because of who God is and
what God has done. Our worship is a response to
God, to God’s nature and activity.
Our worship and praise is centered on the
Gospel, the good news of what God has done for
us in Jesus Christ. That’s why we continually remember the Gospel in our worship, whether in
word or sacrament, in praying or singing, in silence
or celebration.
2. What is a congregation? Then, how does (or
does not) our Grace congregation meet that definition? How does our congregation function?
Although the word is most usually assigned to
the members of a church, any gathering might be
called a congregation. The Latin root of congregation, grex, gregis (“flock or “herd”) easily becomes
congregare, meaning “to gather together,” and finally congregationen, giving the current meaning
of “people of common faith gathering together as
a group.” Come to think of it, a congregation of
church members is often called a “flock.”
You will be hearing more from us in the coming weeks. Watch your mail, This Week at Grace,
and the Sunday worship bulletin.
April 2015
Last month, I confessed to you how icky a month I think
March really is. That is the official, technical name for it –
“icky.” I apologize if you are really a fan of the muddy,
cold, time-changing-and-challenged month that includes both the “Ides of
March,” and the somewhat redeeming St. Patrick’s Day and of course, the
first day of Spring. Now that we are just about through March, we can look
forward to the “season of hope,” as I have now dubbed April.
For a month that begins by making “fools” of most of us, April is surprisingly chipper. Birdsong fills the air. The days are noticeably longer, brighter,
and more colorful. All of this leads us to hope – that even the cold, blustery
days that might still invade from time to time – cannot forever forestall the
onward march of warmer days, and the new life which comes with them.
The flowering trees and shrubs, and the earliest of flowers and blossoming
bulbs testify to the change in seasons. And our hearts are glad.
It seems entirely appropriate that Easter falls right at the beginning of April
this year. Easter Sunday – the day that reminds us of the real hope we have and
the new life which has begun because of the first Easter that took place so long
ago; Easter Sunday – the day in which Jesus conquered death and the grave,
and rose, body and all, leaving the bonds of evil and sin in his wake.
Easter Sunday reminds us of the hope and joy we have in life because of
Jesus and his resurrection. Not only does Jesus shatter the bonds of sin and
death, but Jesus gives us new life and new direction each day, assuring us
that no matter what has held us captive in the past, each day, this day, we are
set free. We are forgiven. We are born anew to live in the grace of God.
The hope of Easter Sunday is ours to enjoy through our baptism, and in
this season of Easter, we will be reminded again and again that it is the resurrection promise that we receive in this sacrament, in this means of God’s grace,
that makes a difference in our living and our dying. The hope of Easter is that
whoever you are, wherever you’ve been, whatever has troubled you, God’s
hand reaches you and God’s love embraces you in mercy and grace. The hope
of Easter is that nothing in this world can keep you from God’s love.
Thanks be to God!
Blessed, Happy Easter in the name of our risen Savior, Jesus the Christ!
Grace and peace,
Pastor Karen+
To Pastor Karen, Grace Council, Staff, and Congregation:
It will be a year in April that I joined the staff at Grace as the Office Administrator.
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their warm welcome
and assistance when needed as I transitioned into the position. I appreciate all
those who work so hard to serve the church, and I continue to grow not only
in my job but in the spirit of community that is Grace Lutheran Church.
Blessings,
Marilou @ Grace
Reasons for
joyfully singing
in the church choir!
10. Singing in the church choir allows you
to sing songs that God has inspired men
and women to write, which then becomes
part of your own spiritual journey.
So the Levites stood ready with David’s instruments, and the priests with their
trumpets. Hezekiah gave the order to sacrifice the burnt offering on the altar. As
the offering began, singing to the Lord began also, accompanied by trumpets
and the instruments of David king of Israel. The whole assembly bowed in worship, while the musicians played and the trumpets sounded. All this continued
until the sacrifice of the burnt offering was completed.
When the offerings were finished, the king and everyone present with him knelt
down and worshiped. King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to
praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang
praises with gladness and bowed down and worshiped.
(2 Chronicles 29:26-30 NIV)
9. Singing praise to God is the closest thing to Heaven you or anyone can
experience on earth.
…and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:
“Great and marvelous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
King of the nations.[a]
Who will not fear you, Lord,
and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
(Revelation 15:3-4 NIV)
Wa t c h f o r n u m b e r s 8
a nd
7 i n Ma y Gr ape vine .
Grace Lutheran Church
Member Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA
111 Brookletts Avenue
Easton, MD 21601-2954
410.822.2904
gracechurcheastonmd@gmail.com
www.gracelutheranchurcheaston.org
The Reverend Karen E. Larson, Pastor
pastorklarson@gmail.com
Kevin Thomas,
Director of Music &
Coordinator of Youth Ministries
gracemusicandyouth@gmail.com
David Nicholson, Organist
Marilou Russ, Office Administrator
gracechurcheastonmd@gmail.com
Grapevine is produced by Grace Lutheran Church
for our members and friends. April 2015
Leadership-Discipleship Retreat, March 7…
…opened with a prayer and team-building activities.
The opening activities were followed by a presentation of the partial history of Grace and a discussion
of the insight that although we are charged with
moving forward, it is important to recognize the history of the congregation as we meet current challenges. The participants then completed and
analyzed a survey of their perceptions of the congregation’s strengths and weaknesses.
Ron Lesher then presented a description of the
congregation’s current status. The group discussed
the need to define our community and to identify a
part of the mission to emphasize. The group brainstormed on the potential strategies for emphasizing
a specific mission.
Celebration of the Eucharist concluded the retreat.
Stuff those boxes!
You may remember the little coin boxes which were
tied to a Lenten devotional and stewardship activity
in which we took part last year. Your response was
amazing! We collected 50 pounds of coins which,
together with checks and cash netted a generous
$1,000 for the ELCA World Hunger initiative. Well,
they're baaaack!
Right after Easter you will find boxes in the
pews, boxes in the church office, boxes in the fellowship hall (some of those boxes will even be
dressed up to look like piggy banks). You are invited
to bring your loose change each week, and stuff
those boxes! You are also welcome to take a box
home with you, and devise a family project wherein
you stuff a box with coins, cash or check and return
it to the church by May 3.
Why are we doing this? The annual Delaware
Maryland Synod Assembly will take place at the end
of May. The synod has set as a goal of collecting at
least of $15,000 to be given from our synod toward
the ELCA World Hunger program at the assembly.
In Our Prayers
In our congregation: Dave Dunker (broken ankle), Barbara Allison (Alex Lankford’s grandmother-cancer); Doris Asam (fractured hip), David Kleinke, Patrick
Hechmer.
Homebound Members: Phyllis Bill, Lena Marie Cole, Marie Swartz, Elizabeth
Schaefer, Lorraine Warner, Betty Stinchcomb, Richard VanVoorhis, Herbert Seeba.
Our friends and family: Melissa Thomas, (Amy Endzel's sister-surgery on cancerous tumor), Josie Grove (friend of Pastor Karen), Kenny Asche (brother of
Susan Endzel –diagnosed with lymphoma), Daouda Ouattara (friend of Tina
Baxter), Jonna Hjemvik (breast cancer-Bill & Lorraine Bruckner’s daughter),
Joyce Vagts (lung cancer), Julie Todd, Dinah Sprouse (Ray’s mother), Tyler
Plunkard; Robin, (family of the Howarths); Belsey Rucker, heart trouble; Robert
Miller, (Kathy Bodey’s brother, kidney disease); Bill Ball, Helen Brennan.
We offer Thanksgiving for continued healing: Bill Ball, Helen Brennan and
Elmer Frantz.
For successful surgery, healing and home coming: Jackson Hart.
For the Family & Friends of: Bruce Hasbrouck, Millicent “Mitzi” Schroeder.
The Church throughout the world and our bishops: Evangelical Lutheran
Church of the Good Shepherd, Wilmington, DE -Pr. Kathleen Ierien, Lutheran
housing projects throughout Delaware Mosaic of Delaware, Elizabeth Eaton
(ELCA) and Wolfgang Herz-Lane (Delaware-Maryland Synod).
3
Investment Committee Report
The Investment Committee has been meeting monthly since the beginning of the year with
the goal of being the best possible stewards of the Grace Lutheran Church
Don & Nancy
Endowment Fund. The committee members (Bernie Coates, Michelle Bullock, Cecil
Zepp,
Criss, Mariana Lesher, Pastor Karen, Rick Schiming) have been examining the previous
both from Littlestown,
investment guidelines and are working on updating those guidelines to better reflect
PA, were high school
our investment goals.
sweethearts. Don graduated
The Endowment Fund is a wonderful financial resource for the congregation
from Penn State and Nancy
to help us meet God’s mission for our congregation. By balancing current and fufrom Washington Hospital Center.
ture needs, the hope is that this resource will be an ongoing stream of funds that
They were married in 1959 and
will provide both earnings, liquidity, and preservation of principal.
moved to Preston in Caroline County
After revising the investment guidelines, the committee plans to
in 1960 where Don started his teaching
address how best to manage the investment fund in terms of investment
career. Nancy worked as a nurse at Easassets to minimize risk and maximize rewards from the Fund.
ton Memorial Hospital. They adopted two
daughters, Cindy and Melissa and while
they were in the process of the second adopIf…you have found yourself moving around the church, looking for the
tion, Nancy became pregnant with their son
“sweet spot” where you can hear what is going on and found your efforts
Kenny. It’s interesting how often that hapfrustrated;
pens!!
If… you have a favorite seat (especially if that seat is in the back of the
Three under the age of three kept Nancy very
church on the left) but can never seem to hear what is going on;
busy so she stayed home until Kenny reached
If …you have listened to the lament of your friends that they can never
school age and then she returned to her nursing
quite hear what is going on, HAVE NO FEAR!
career. Don retired in 1990 after 31 years of teachWe will soon have a new sound system, which we hope will be ining and Nancy retired in 1996.
stalled before Palm Sunday. The council approved the purchase and inTheir son Kenny is a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force
stallation of a system which will include: two lavaliere microphones, two
and resides in Florida with his wife and daughter.
hand held microphones, a new pulpit microphone, new speakers and a
Their daughter, Cindy resides in Salisbury and has
new amplifier.
two sons, one in college and one still in High
Close inspection revealed the old speaker on the left of the church
School. Melissa as many of you know is a member
was not working at all, and the speaker on the right had been marginal.
of grace and married to Peter Corbin and between
The existing microphones were not the type to correctly pick up and focus
them they have three daughters and one son.
sound to suit our needs. Our new set-up should serve the needs of the
Don and Nancy joined Grace right after they
church and add to the flexibility of our worship for many years to come.
moved to the area. They have always been very acThanks be to God!
tive through the years. Don served on Council and
helped with Pancake suppers. Nancy has been on
Worship Life committee as well as Altar Guild and
Passages
was involved in the Women’s Group as well as the
Bruce Hasbrouck, who joined Grace in 1999, passed away February 12,
quilting group. They have served as ushers as well.
from complications of cancer. Bruce’s wife, Mildred died in 2007.
They both enjoy doing cross stitch and I’ve seen
Since Bruce’s family is scattered about, services were held in New Jertheir
work and it’s quite lovely. They also like to
sey. In the event a memorial service is held here in Easton for local friends
read and in the summer work in their yard and
and family, details will be released as soon as possible. We remember
garden. They are also avid travelers and can say
Bruce’s family and friends in our prayers.
they have been to all 50 states as well as other
parts of the world, their most recent being a
The synod office just received notice today that the Reverend Robert K.
river cruise in France. This summer they are
Shaull passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2015, following a brief hospitaltaking their whole family on a trip to
ization.
Bermuda. Their passports must be brimPastor Shaull served congregations in Pennsylvania and Maryland, includming with stamps from so many couning St. Paul Lutheran Church (Cordova), and The Talbot Lutheran Parish.
tries!!
Pastor Shaull is survived by his daughters, Jen Shaull (Elizabeth Erhardt)
It was really fun to get to know Don
and Judy Riley (Pete), his granddaughters Hannah, Erin, and Jade, and his longand
Nancy through our dinner group
term companion, Mary Vaughan. A memorial service was held on January 18 in
with
Grace’s Getaway but I learned
Easton.
even more about them when I
compiled their profile.
Oh?
Eh? What Was That?
“Owners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water
and shelter and affection, they will think you are god. Whereas owners of cats are
compelled to realize that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and
affection, they draw the conclusion that they are gods.”
― Christopher Hitchens
Profile prepared by
Tina Baxter
4
for the
love
of
MUSIC
The final installment of the 2014-2015 concert
series at Grace will take place on Sunday,
April 26, at 3:00 pm when the Burnished
Brass Quintet makes its return. The quintet
delighted audiences two years ago with their
performance at Grace; they return this year
with two new trumpet players.
From composers William Byrd to
Leonard Bernstein, from classical pieces to
jazz tunes with some Gustav Holst and Scott
Joplin in between, the Quintet’s program will
be such fun to listen to. There will also be
some solo and duet surprises!
The Quintet has been together for several years now and last year welcomed
two new trumpet players to the group. The members are all friends and so enjoy
getting together each week for rehearsal. Besides making great music together, a
great fun time is had by all. Please come and enjoy the fruits of their “fun”!
The members of the quintet are Bruce Burgess, trumpet, Tom Hehman,
trumpet, Lyn Banghart, horn, Craig Duerling, trombone, and John Banghart, tuba.
April Commemorations
April 25, Saint Mark, the Evangelist
6 Albrecht Dürer, Matthias Grünewald, Lucas Cranach
These great artists revealed through their work the mystery of salvation and the wonder of creation. Though Dürer remained a
Roman Catholic, at his death Martin Luther wrote to a friend, “Affection bids us mourn for one who was the best.” Several religious works are included in Grünewald’s small surviving corpus,
the most famous being the lsenheim Altarpiece. Lucas Cranach
was widely known for his woodcuts, some of which illustrated
the first German printing of the New Testament.
9 Dietrich Bonhoeffer
In 1933, and with Hitler's rise to
power, Bonhoeffer became a leading spokesman for the Confessing Church, a resistance movement against the Nazis. On
April 8, 1945, he led worship at Schonberg prison., On April 9, he
was hanged.
Many scholars think that the second Gospel in the New Testament was actually the first of the four Gospels to be written. If
this is so, then its author, Mark, was an exceptionally brilliant
Christian, since he was the first person to write a Gospel and
must be said to have invented this remarkable form of religious writing.
Ancient tradition says that although Mark had not been
one of Jesus’s own disciples, he was the mouthpiece of St
Peter. This means that Mark’s gospel must reflect the views of
this great apostle, probably more than any of the other three.
This ancient tradition is supported by a phrase in the first letter
of Peter, when the writer speaks of ‘my son Mark’.
Mark also was a companion of St Paul. Paul and Barnabas
both worked with Mark, but for a time Paul grew to distrust
their fellow-missionary and did not wish him to come on a
second journey with them. Barnabas, for this reason, left Paul
and went to Cyprus with Mark. Paul and Mark must have become friends again, for we know that when Paul was a prisoner in Rome, Mark supported him and stayed with him.
Mark’s Gospel starkly sets out the demands of Jesus on
his followers. Jesus had suffered, says Mark. His followers will
suffer similarly. Indeed, Jesus had explicitly warned the disciples about this. But it is also clear that those who can endure
such sufferings will be greatly rewarded, for what Mark claims
to be bringing is ‘good news’ (this is the meaning of the word
‘gospel’): ‘the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God’, as he
states in the very first verse of his Gospel.
10 Mikael Agricola
Agricola began a reform of the Finnish
church along Lutheran lines. He translated the New Testament,
the prayer book, hymns, and the mass into Finnish and through
this work set the rules of orthography that are the basis of modern Finnish spelling.
19 Olavus Petri & Laurentius Petri
These two brothers are
commemorated for their introduction of the Lutheran movement
to the Church of Sweden after studying at the University of Wittenberg. Together the brothers published a complete Bible in
Swedish and a revised liturgy in 1541.
21 Anselm, an eleventh-century Benedictine monk, stands
out as one of the greatest theologians between Augustine and
Thomas Aquinas. He is perhaps best known for his “satisfaction”
theory of atonement, where God takes on human nature in Jesus
Christ in order to make the perfect payment for sin.
Source: Bentley, James, A Calendar of Saints
Grace Lutheran Congregation Directory
“The directories are at the printer. This has been a longer-than-expected process, but we want to get it right.” Becky Decker
5
Lections and Service Hymns
Maundy Thursday through Easter 5
4/2
Maundy Thursday
4/19 Easter 3
Exod 12:1-4 [5-10] 11-14; Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19;
1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35
ELW 343
My Song Is Love Unknown
4/3
Good Friday
Isa 52:13—53:12; Ps 22; John 18:1—19:42
ELW 347
Go to Dark Gethsemane
ELW 349
Ah, Holy Jesus
ELW 351
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded (vv 1 & 3)
4/5
Acts 3:12-19; Ps 4; 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36b-48
ELW 384
That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright
ELW 374
Day of Arising
ELW 542
O Living Bread from Heaven
ELW 483
Here Is Bread
ELW 391
This Joyful Eastertide
4/26 Easter 4
Acts 4:5-12; Ps 23; 1 John 3:16-24; John 10:11-18
ELW 502
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
ELW 789
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
ELW 764
Have No Fear, Little Flock
ELW 782
My Shepherd, You Supply My Need
ELW 836
Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
Easter Sunday
Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Acts 10:34-43;
Mark 16:1-8
ELW 365
Jesus Christ Is Risen Today
ELW 385
Good Cristian Friends, Rejoice and Sing!
ELW 368
With High Delight Let Us Unite
ELW 369
Christ The Lord is Risen Today; Alleluia!
ELW 389
Christ Is Alive! Let Christians Sing
5/3
Acts 8:26-40; Ps 22:25-31; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8
ELW 377
Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen!
ELW 629
Abide with Me
ELW 485
I Am the Bread of Life
ELW 708
Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love
ELW 619
I Know That My Redeemer Lives! Vs 1,2,7,8
4/12 Easter 2
Acts 4:32-35; Ps 133; 1 John 1:1—2:2; John 20:19-31
SBH 106
Come, Ye Faithful, … 1st tune (ELW 363)
ELW 635
We Walk by Faith
ELW 491
Come, Let Us Eat
ELW 494
For the Bread Which You Have Broken
ELW 376
Thine Is the Glory
Easter 5
5/10
Easter 6
Acts 10:44-48; Ps 98; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17
ELW 835
All Creatures, Worship God Most High!
ELW 658
O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts
ELW 470
Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether
ELW 838
Beautiful Savior
ELW 631
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
Congregational Singing
Good people, cheer God! Right-living people sound best when praising.
Psalm 33:1 (The Message)
For some time now I have been trying to figure out a way to improve our congregational singing here at Grace. There are some
Sunday’s when the choir is not in the loft that I feel there is a duet
going on for most of the service, Pastor Karen and I, so I have been
researching what other congregations are doing to encourage their
members to sing stronger as a group. The number one thing that
keeps popping up in my research is “congregations that sit closer
together sing better as a group”. I recently found an article by
Joseph Chase on a worship leading website which I will share with
you in parts over the next few issues of the Grapevine.
In my work I’ve been blessed to lead the singing for many
congregations. There are several common problems in most all
congregations that hinder great singing. There are somethings
that will make the singing more powerful and effective if they are
practiced consistently.
Sit Closer Together
This may seem too simple to be true, but this one thing can make
the difference between poor singing and powerful singing. It matters not if you have 12 or 1200 voices sitting closer together will
improve the sound of the congregation immediately. I’ve experimented with this and have yet to be proven wrong.
It seems odd that people spread out all over the room instead of sitting close together. I used to joke about how people al-
ways want the front row at the ball game and the back row at the
church building. Encourage the congregation to move closer together. Have the leadership encourage people to sit close together. Ask the preacher to mention it every so often until the
congregation forms the habit.
When people sit more closely together they are encouraged
by the singing more. They hear their parts being sung; they are
bolstered to sing out themselves. This simple change will vastly
change the participation and impact of the worship in song. The
command is to sing to each other as we sing to God. It’s hard to
connect with people scattered so far apart that you cannot hear
them or they you.
With this in mind, I propose a challenge to all who attend
services at Grace. Instead of spreading out in the church why don’t
we all come a little closer together as brothers and sisters in Christ
and lift our voices stronger in the praise of God. We can accomplish this in some simple ways. First all attendees at the 8:30am
service should sit no farther back than the 4th pew. At the 11:00am
service let’s make that the 6th pew. Try to not worry that your
neighbor is listening to you, but sing out as if only God is listening
to you in praise of God. After all isn’t that what worship is about?
God! Not ourselves.
Kevin Thomas
6
Transformers (Unlikely Leaders) Retreat
Youth Group Activities
April
5 Happy Easter, All
12 No Meeting: LYO & MS Youth
at Transformers
19 Snap4U, 6:30
25 (Sat) Work day at Rita’s
Detroit Fundraising: Time, TBD
METAL UPDATE:
NO metal collection in April.
Metal collection will resume on May 3.
FACTS:
•All monies will benefit the Youth’s 2015 RISE UP!
Detroit Mission trip •Metal can be brought to the
church and dropped off outside. Youth will be
available outside with containers to collect the
donations. •Questions or to schedule pick up:
Contact parent organizer, Sandy Banko
sandybanko64@gmail.com
RECYCLE ANY, ALL :
•Aluminum cans •Steel cans •Old metal tools
•Metal roofs •Metal furniture •WIRES (all types)
•Appliances (stoves, pans, curling irons)
Not certain? Contact Sandy
REMEMBER:
No metal collection in April.
Collection dates: Sunday, May 3 & June 7.
Summer Camp registration is open to all campers
ages 6-17, as well as Families and Adults.
•A wide variety of programming to choose from something for everyone!
•View the brochure. www.mar-lu-ridge.org
•Certified by the American Camp Association
•Over 55 years of experience providing a safe,
active, awesome week of camp!
•Open House Dates for Mar-Lu-Ridge:
•April 26, •May 31.
Visit between 2-4 pm; meet our staff; tour the
facilities;enjoy yummy camp food!
The weekend of April 10-12 middle school youth (Elizabeth Criss) and our 3
LYO’ers (Chris and Jeanette Banko and Ben Corbin) from Grace will attend the
Transformers Retreat at Mar-Lu-Ridge. We will explore different types of art; from
famous paintings to music and how we ourselves are
constantly evolving and changing as God's own beautiful
masterpieces. Each of us is a unique piece of art, each of us
an artist as we carry out his good word to the world in our
own ways. Keep our youth in your prayers as they travel for
this weekend of exploration as leaders in our church,
community and the world.
"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10)
Saint George & the Dragon
A Roman soldier of Christian
faith, Saint George saved the
daughter of a pagan king by
subduing a dragon with his
lance; the princess then led the
dragon to the city, where the
saint killed it with his sword,
prompting the king and all his
subjects to convert to St.
George’s faith.
The painter, Raphael (Raffaello
Sanzio) was born in Urbino, a
central Italian duchy noted for
its elegant gentility and Renaissance scholarship. He died in
Florence toward the end of
1504, at the age of 37.
For a short family-friendly
video describing this work:
http://www.artbabble.org/video/ngadc/saint-george-and-dragon-c-1506-raphael
Youth Fundraising for Detroit
Our youth are continuing fundraising efforts to support their trip to Detroit this
summer. Here are a some additional ways in which you can help.
‡ There are still many envelopes on the fundraising wall in fellowship hall.
Check out the mural that our youth painted and take an envelope in the amount
you wish to donate. Place it in the offering plate or give to Kevin Thomas. Since
not everyone makes it down to fellowship hall regularly there is also a poster on
the bulletin board in the narthex with blank envelopes that you may take and make
a donation of any amount.
‡ On Saturday, April 25 from 1-5pm our youth will be serving up Italian ice at
Rita’s. Stop by to see them and have a treat. A portion of your purchase will go toward the youth trip to Detroit. The youth will also be selling quarts of Rita’s goodies
that you may take and have filled at your convenience. A portion of these sales
will also go toward the Detroit trip.
‡ Look for information to come about another fundraiser in May. We will be
having a Grace Youth Group night at Chipotle. A portion of all sales that night will
support our trip. Date and time will be in the May Grapevine.
‡ As always our youth are available to help out with yard work and other odd
jobs around your house. Speak to Kevin Thomas to set up at date and time. The
youth will provide their services for any donation you wish to give to support the
Detroit trip.
Our youth are very busy trying to pay their own way to Detroit. Please help
them as you are able.
7
We are thankful for all the ministry and service of all of our
members. While we hate to run the risk of missing anyone, we
do want to raise up a joyful shout of thanks for these offerings
of time and talent:
♥ To Peter Corbin, for answering the call to look after one of our
heating units when a neighbor of the church called late one Saturday evening, alerting us that something was amiss.
♥ To Pete Lesher for shoveling duties carried out several times
over the past month.
♥ To Dick Filbird, Roger Banko, Peter Corbin, Ben Corbin and
others who looked after icy walkways and stairs on more than
one Sunday morning.
♥ To Tuti Dangin and the members of Altar Guild who met one
cold Saturday morning to discuss and plan for worship set-up;
and Sandy Dunker, Trish Hargrove and Rick Schiming, and Beverly and Ray Sprouse for answering the call to serve Grace
through the ministry of the altar guild.
♥ To Sandy Banko (along with a jar of hand cream) for cleaning the servers’ gowns.
♥ To the members of council who gave up one cold Saturday
and braved the vagaries of utility service (translation – we
had no heat and eventually lost all power in the building
in which we met) in order to meet together in fellowship,
team-building and holy conversation.
♥ To the staff of the church for their commitment to working
around snow-days and facility challenges in order to serve
the needs of the church.
♥ To our senior high youth who plan and carry out teaching
our younger students on a monthly basis.
♥ To Anne Dudley, who has been helping in the office, particularly with “stuffing the bulletins.”
♥ To all those who work tirelessly behind the scenes, often unknown and unrecognized, but whose service to the Grace
congregation is priceless.
Thank You
Thank You
April 19th three of our younger members
• Holy Communion is about celebration –
First Holy Communion
will receive their First Holy Communion.
so often the big celebrations of our lives are
Angela Criss, Abigail Cowell and Jack Kilshared by being together and sharing food
bourne, each with a parent or grandparent in tow,
and drink – around the table. In the Eucharist, we
all spent a snowy February Saturday in a workgather around a table too – the altar – and we celshop style class with Pastor Karen, learning
ebrate our life together in Christ. God provides
about this sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.
both the food and drink – and draws us all toHoly Communion is one of what we call the
gether in this celebration.
“means of grace” – that is, the means by
• Holy Communion is about growing – just as
which, through God’s Word and element
we eat food to grow, in our eating around the
(bread and wine), God produces change
communion table Jesus comes to us to help us
within us, grants forgiveness of sin – and
grow stronger in faith, wiser, and more loving.
equips us for discipleship in the name of Jesus
• Holy Communion is about being strengthened
Christ.
to serve God – these gifts are not simply for our
New learning for these students and a
own personal enjoyment. They are to strengthen
refresher for the rest of us include:
us to serve God and serve others. In so doing, we
• Holy Communion is about remembrance – rememstrengthen and grow the kingdom of God.
bering all that God has done for God’s people from the begin- • Holy Communion is about telling – we “thank the Lord and sing
ning of creation to the present, and most especially through
his praise; tell everyone what he has done.” In this meal we
God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
tell each other and the world – that we believe in Jesus, and
• Holy Communion is about thanksgiving – one of the names for
are willing to serve him forever.
Holy Communion, Eucharist means “thanksgiving” – through Why would we not want to partake in this holy meal as often as
this meal we give thanks to God for God’s continuing grace.
we possibly can? We pray for the continuing growth and strength• Holy Communion is about confession – we admit that we are ening in these children and the body of Christ through Holy Comsinful and that our sins made it necessary for Jesus to die.
munion.
• Holy Communion is about forgiveness – each time we celebrate
Join us for some cake and refreshment in Fellowship Hall folthis meal we receive God’s grace and the forgiveness of sin, lowing the service, and view the projects the children created in
which frees us to love and serve God with our whole lives.
preparation for their First Holy Communion!
Congregational Life
Property
The Congregational Life Team has planned
a number of activities for 2015. From time
to time we may need help with baking or
cooking for specials events, picking up
food or supplies, bringing in food or supplies from cars, setting up events, and
cleaning up after events. If you can help
with any of these activities, please let Anne
Dudley know. Your help would be greatly
appreciated. Thank you!
Spring Spruce Up Day is Saturday, March
28 at 9:00 am. Please join our youth in getting the church grounds looking their best
for Easter. We will be tending the planting
beds and spreading mulch, and perhaps
adding a few plantings. We will identify a
few indoor jobs, too, so join us rain or
shine. Bring your preferred gardening
gloves and tools, if you wish. Contact Pete
Lesher for details or express interest, but
no advance sign-up is necessary. Don’t
pass up the opportunity to learn and share
with other members and guests.
IN APRIL
We have rescheduled our pancake supper
for Tuesday, April 21st at 6:00pm. Plan to
join us for this special evening of good fellowship and good food. And please thank
our special chefs Melissa and Peter Corbin,
Gary Edsall, Dick Filbird, and Don Zepp.
Mark your calendars now.
8
Stewardship Committee
Carbon Fast Calendar
We hope that you have been looking at the Carbon Fast Calendar distributed at the beginning of Lent. This calendar contains
one activity for each day of Lent that will help care for God’s creation. By participating in as many activities as you can, you will
help lower your carbon footprint and heal the planet.
Creation Care Part II
Earth Day, 2015
Be Green!
Let’s make it Earth Month.
Just look at all these neat activities:
Easton’s “Illumination: Found Art Show”
Month of April, Talbot County Visual Arts Center.
In keeping with Earth Day, the Talbot County Visual
Arts Center will celebrate the works of regional
found object artists as a part of the "Illumination:
Found Art Show.” These artists have taken ordinary
objects such as hardware, industrial tubing and
household items – many cast off and destined for
the landfill – to create one-of-a-kind works of art.
Easton’s Clean Stream Cleanup
Saturday, April 14, 9am – 12pm.
Join Pickering Creek Audubon Center and the town
of Easton to beautify Easton’s Rails to Trails trail.
Volunteer a few hours to help make the community
and its streams cleaner and safer.
Pickering Creek Environmental Center’s
Earth Day Work Day
Saturday, April 21, 9am – 12pm.
Celebrate the earth with Pickering Creek! Get your
work gloves out and join staff for Earth Day Work
Day. Volunteers will tackle a number of projects including invasive plant removal, trail clearing, gardening and more. The day will wrap up with a
picnic lunch from Easton’’s new Chipotle restaurant. Pickering Creek will provide lunch and tools
for the day. Just bring a water bottle and a friend!
Earth Day is April 22nd. To help commemorate this event and to remind us all to care for
God’s creation, the Stewardship Committee will be
passing out seed packets on Sunday, April 19th, at
both services. By planting these seeds, we will add
to the abundance of God’s creation and provide a
daily reminder of our responsibility as stewards of
that creation.
Ketchup Sunday
The Stewardship Committee has another special
event planned for Sunday April 26th. We are calling it
“Ketchup Sunday”. More details will be forthcoming as we
get closer to the event. Not to give too much away at this point,
but this event will give us a chance to renew and perhaps even to
augment our stewardship in our congregation after a tough spell
of winter weather.
Volunteers Needed
The Stewardship Committee is always ready to welcome new
members. If you are interested in being part of our committee,
please contact Pastor Karen or Rick Schiming. The more members
we have, the more we can do for the community of God!
❏
New Council Member:
Becky Decker
Council Member Becky Decker has been a member of Grace for almost 3 years.
She has been serving as the Christian Education Liaison, helping the teachers
and parents coordinate Sunday School classes and activities. She warned, however, that she will be looking for some new teachers this summer!
Becky is a Maryland native and the daughter of a Lutheran pastor. She
grew up and went to school in inner city Baltimore. Although Becky has taught
English, she currently is pursuing her second Masters degree (English.) Previous
education was at Franklin Pierce, Loyola, and Johns Hopkins.
Becky and her family moved to the area from the Western shore in 2011
because of her husband’s job as Caroline County Administrator. She and Ken
have 3 grown daughters. Two of their daughters are successful professionals
and one daughter is a senior at Colorado State University. Becky and Ken are
also the proud grandparents of an amazing 3½ year-old grandson.
Easter Sunday:
Light breakfast between services.
❏ Sun. Apr 19 First Holy Communion
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Tue. Apr 21: Pancake supper, 6:00 pm
Sat. Apr 25: Women of Grace Lunch, 12:00 n
Sat. Apr 25: Youth Fund Raising at Rita’s
Sun. Apr 26: Burnished Brass Quintet, 3:00 pm
Sun, May 3: Information Forum
Join the Church Council for coffee and
conversation between services (9:45). This
is your opportunity to ask questions and
discuss issues in an informal setting.
Sun. May 24: Confirmation Sunday.
Reception after second service.
Sun. Jun 14: Picnic at the Endzels’
Sunday
6
Monday
Tuesday
Office Closed
Wednesday
Thursday
Grace Lutheran Church: April, 2015
Friday
10
17
Saturday
5:30 Palabra Miel
4 Vigil of Easter
5:30 Palabra Miel
11
18
5:30 Palabra Miel
5:30 Palabra Miel
May 2
5:30 Palabra Miel
12:00 Women of Grace Luncheon
Youth Fund Raiser-Rita’s
St. Mark, Evangelist
25
Delmarva Conferemce Retreat (PKL)
May 1
24
Transformers Youth Leadership Retreat
Passover
(Begins at sundown)
7:00 Worship
7:00 Worship
2 Maundy Thursday 3 Good Friday
16
9
April 1
8
9:30 Quilters
6:00 Chimes Choir
6:30 Palabra Miel
7:00 Grace Choir
7
…on Easter Monday, April 6.
We will resume normal office
hours Tuesday, April 7.
Office Closed
• Office Open: Daily, Monday – Thursday,
10:00a–2:00p (except where noted)
• BYOL: Daily, Monday – Friday 12:15p
• Worship Folder Deadline: 12 noon, Wed.
5 Easter Sunday
Festival Worship
7:00 Palabra Miel
15
1:00 Worship Planning (Staff)
6:00 Chimes Choir
6:30 Palabra Miel
7:00 Grace Choir
14
10:15 Staff Meeting
11:00 Candlelight Cove (PKL)
6:30 Stewardship
13
8:30 Worship -Communion
9:45 Breakfast
11:00 Worship-Communion
12 Easter 2
10:15Staff Meeting
7:00 Church Council
23
10:00 Communication Team
7:00 Palabra Miel
22
9:30 Quilters
6:00 Chimes Choir
6:30 Palabra Miel
7:00 Grace Choir
21
8:30 Worship
9:45 Christian Education
11:00 Worship-Communion
20
Orthodox Easter
19 Easter 3
9:00 Hymn Selection
St. George Day
10:15 Staff Meeting
6:00 Pancake Supper
29
30
6:00 Chimes Choir
6:30 Palabra Miel
7:00 Grace Choir
Earth Day
28
Adminstrative
Professional’s Day
27
6:00 Chimes Choir
6:30 Palabra Miel
7:00 Grace Choir
5:30 Outreach
7:00 Palabra Miel
26 Easter 4
7:00 Palabra Miel
10:15 Staff Meeting
7:00 Ad Hoc Worship Comm.
8:30 Worship
9:45 Christian Education
11:00 Worship-Communion
First Communion
Reception
12:15 Investment Team
12:30 Children’s Music
6:30 SNAP4U
8:30 Worship
9:45 Christian Education
11:00 Worship-Communion
12:30 Children’s Music
3:00 Concert
Burnished Brass
Quintet
Grace Lutheran Church
The Reverend Karen E. Larson, Pastor
2015 Church Council
Position/Committee
Member
President
Ron Lesher
lesher.ronald@gmail.com, 410-822-4357
Rick Schiming
richard.schiming@mnsu.edu, 507-317-5168
Pete Lesher
plesher@cbmm.org, 410-763-8190
Becky Decker
beckyjdecker@yahoo.com, 443-570-9020
Anne Dudley
410-770-3561
Traci Corbin
Traci.corbin@longandfoster.com, 410-820-5524
Ralph Romano
ralph.romano@yahoo.com, 443-951-9750
Pete Lesher
Rick Schiming
Susan Wolfberg
susan.wolfberg@genesishcc.com, 410-924-3577
Council Appointments
Financial Secretary Cecil Criss
Recording Secretary Trish Hargrove
Treasurer Mariana Lesher
1st Vice President
2nd Vice President
Christian Education
Congregational Life
Evangelism
Outreach
Property
Stewardship
Worship Life
Facilitator
Michelle Bullock