St. Mary's Evangelical Lutheran Church

Worship

Modified in-person worship services Sundays at 8:45 a.m.

Lenten Journey for 2023

ASH WEDNESDAY - FEBRUARY 22

12pm - we gather in Trinity’s chapel to hear God’s Word and be reminded that we belong to God, even as we are dust. There will not be communion during this worship gathering.

7pm - we gather at St. Mary’s around God’s Word and Holy Communion while we are reminded that we, though dust, are still claimed by God.

LENTEN STUDY - FEBRUARY 26, 5:30 - 7PM

During the season of Lent, we will gather on Sunday evenings for soup and study. A simple meal of soup and bread will nourish our bodies while God’s word and exploring our faith will nourish our spirit. These gatherings will be held at St. Mary’s in the “overflow room” and members of Trinity will be joining us. We will explore what we can learn about God through the story of Les Misérables (as told in the movie version of the musical). Take some extra time to explore your faith during this important season.

Invitations to provide soup and RSVPs are requested. You can sign up at https://bit.ly/LentenStudy2023 or on the sheet in the overflow room.

Looking ahead to Holy Week, we will gather at Trinity for Maundy Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

On Good Friday, we will join the entire Taneytown community for an ecumenical worship service at Trinity at 7:00 p.m.

Siblings in Christ,

We are now officially partners in ministry as we begin the Shared Ministry Covenant. I’ll offer a few reminders about what this means:

1. There is a contract between St. Mary’s and me for me to be your pastor. On paper it works a little differently than a usual call, but the end result is the same. I am serving this congregation as part of my ministry with Trinity.

2. Through the Covenant we have established, St. Mary’s is contributing to Trinity to cover 1/3 of my compensation. That doesn’t mean I am working 1/3 of the time. I will do everything I can to meet the needs of both congregations. I will be open and honest about what I can and can’t do with the time I have available in the work week. I ask that you be open and honest with me as well.

3. Regarding communication: it is critically important that you realize I do not have the power to read minds. In fact, I don’t know of any pastor who has been able to master that skill. If you want me to know something, please tell me. If you think someone may have already told me, tell me anyway. I’d rather hear something three times than not hear it at all.

4. Related: we’ve connected the phone number at St. Mary’s to a comcast voicemail system. That means that when a voicemail is left on the church phone, I get an email within moments with the sound file attached. I don’t mind phone calls to my cellphone, but simply calling the church will get to me just as quickly.

5. Getting acquainted: we’ve had this unusual start to my work with you all as I have been leading worship for four months already, but we still don’t know each other well. I will be contacting each of you to arrange some kind of conversation to get to know you. I hope to accomplish as many visits as I can between now and the end of August.

6. Whenever a new pastor begins ministry in the congregation, it takes time to understand traditions and ways of doing business. For example, it took me a few weeks to realize that you’re used to the candles being extinguished before the postlude. That’s not necessarily a big change to how things are done, but it’s still different. I’m trying to observe and learn your traditions as we go. If there is something I do differently that you don’t like, or simply want to understand better, as stated above, please just ask me. We will continue to learn together.

I am grateful for the welcome you have offered me and my family (more about them in future ponderings) and I am excited for the work we will be doing together.

Yours in Christ, Pastor Cris

We are the Silver Run/Union Mills Lions Club, and we need your help. Our Club was started in 1961 and we are coming up on our 60th Anniversary. We are looking for new members and need you.

Our community service includes work to help both the economic underprivileged and victims of disaster. We assist community residents in need by loaning hospital equipment, arranging eye tests and glasses, donating to our local food pantry in Silver Run, and providing financial support for various community projects and organizations through fundraising campaigns. Proceeds are donated to various Lions International Programs involving vision research, health care services, and other area organizations that lend their hands and expertise to community betterment and safety. Our two $1,000 scholarships are now in memory of John Hopkins and John Leister and are for high school or vocational students in the 21158-zip code area. Annual fund-raisers include Basket Bingo and a Corn Roast.

Meetings are held 6:30 pm the second and fourth Thursday of each month at our Lions Club Park on Old Hanover Road. The Lions' Motto is: We Serve.

For more information, please contact: Terrie Bath E-mail: tc@qis.net, Phone: 410-346-6311 or Thelma Stonesifer E-mail: tjstoney@comcast.net, Phone: 410-346-7721.

St. Mary's is an assembly of Christian believers who gather together in the community of Silver Run. We are a collection of people with different needs and concerns, yet we are called to a unity which grows from joining together in worship of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Each of us has different God-given talents which we are called to use to witness to our faith in God's love revealed through Jesus Christ. We are called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to invite others to share in our faith in Christ and to welcome them into the life of our congregation.