From the Desk of Pr Jon
BACK TO SCHOOL!—BACK TO
CHURCH! EVERYBODY’s WELCOME…
We all remember what it’s like to return to school for the first day
in a new grade or to a new school building. When I was a kid, I
remember how the first day was both exciting and terrifying! The
excitement comes because you get to experience a new place, meet your
old friends and get ready to learn new things. I suppose at a certain
age, there’s new “love” to be discovered and/or admired from a safe
distance. The terror comes if you don’t know many of the kids in the
school, or you don’t have the nice clothing or popular styles everyone
else seems to be wearing or if you don’t have the right school
supplies, or worse yet, someone teases or picks on you. We adults
often forget that our children may have a rough day ahead of them the
first day in a new school if they don’t soon make new friends or have
their old pals to hang with or talk to. Perhaps it’s the same with a
new person coming to our church! What if you were visiting Elias for
the first time? Would you be able to feel comfortable? Would you worry
you were not wearing the right kind of clothing? Would you feel you
had the “right stuff” to fit in? If you did not know a soul here,
would you feel comfortable making conversation with your neighbor?
This is something all of us need to keep in mind, especially when a
visitor or guest comes in for worship. *Please note, that, actually,
from all I see and hear, we’re doing a good job at this. However,
please keep remembering that our visitors are as shy or shyer than you
are and they may be disoriented when coming into our sanctuary the
first time. Please greet them and make them feel at home, but don’t
overwhelm them – this is a difficult balancing act, but with practice
we get better and better at it.
Make sure our visitors
get a bulletin when they come in—sometimes they come through Parish
Hall door or arrive late, so, if you are their neighbor, please get a
bulletin for them or give them yours. It’s ok to step out a moment and
get yourself another one if service has begun. Help them find the
correct page in the hymnal—believe it or not -- we almost always list
the page numbers of “where we are” in the service in the bulletin. And
if you can learn their name during the peace or at service’s end, this
is a wonderful way to begin new friendships. Even better, when they
say their name, please write it down if you can and share this with
the pastor or ask them to record it in one of the little red booklets
in the pews—this would be an easy and quick way for you to remember
their name.
Also, if you have time
and they are interested, offer to show them around the church—esp.
point out where rest rooms are. Some visitors want to be noticed and
will go out the front door of the church to see Pastor Jon. Others may
wish to exit without fanfare and seem to already know how to go out
Elias’ side doors…then we may not get their name—so you be the
missionary. Finally, without being overbearing, invite them to sign
our Elias Guest Book at the back of the church, and if they’d like to
learn more about the congregation give them our church brochure. We
can all work together to welcome our guests and visitors, and with the
Spirit’s leading we shall grow the church to the glory of God and
Christ our Lord.
If you have an idea for a
special service at Elias (note: there are some special Sunday services
coming up) please tell Pastor or Council person your idea . . . we are
learning that anything special we do with worship may be an avenue for
a new person to visit or get involved with our ministries. Even
better, when we do something “out of the ordinary” please invite a
guest and/or tell your children, grandchildren (let alone invite your
parents back) -- to come with you to church. Blessings to you, see you
for worship and ministry in and around Elias. Let’s show and tell the
Good News about God’s Love in Christ Jesus to all we meet and be
missionaries wherever we go. Amen!
Pr Jon
Here N’ There: September and October
THE BASEMENT
Elias’ Coffee House
Ministry, Jumps into the FALL SEASON on September 10th 7-9:45 p.m.
FEATURING: “SOUL’D OUT! BAND” and our own SILVER LINING BAND! The
evening begins early at 4:30 p.m. with a Grilled Chicken Dinner
($10/person or your kind donation—nobody goes hungry!). We will serve
until 7:30 p.m. Then the Coffee House starts. Proceeds from the
CHICKEN DINNER will benefit the Mission to Kenya 2011…. Coming on
October 8th is PRECIOUS DAY! This band was one of the first to play at
The Basement Cofee House, they like to get us all involved, so it’s
going to be much fun. Please mark your Calendar for these upcoming
exciting evenings down in the The Basement, where CHRIST IS OUR
FOUNDATION!
ELIAS’ BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS SERVICE
It’s not in the Red Book,
but we’re going to do it anyway -- to the glory of God! The Blessing
of the Animals is happening at Elias on Sunday, October 3rd 10:30 a.m.
Details are yet to be worked out, but the word is – bring your pet to
church on this special Sunday morning! We ask you bring any “people
friendly pets” (dogs must be on a leash, cats are perhaps best in a
small carrier) to church—do your best to prepare them before service.
Other animals too small for a collar—please keep them in a
carrier—suitable bowl for fish and/or whatever is appropriate,
comfortable for them and you--and safe. Animals of larger sizes may
need to be on halters and perhaps best to stay just outside church
front door on the Elias lawn – “We’ll bless ‘em if they come to
church!” So bring your creatures that you can keep controlled and
disciplined (for safety sake). All are welcome, (our new church growth
strategy). Also bring a friend for this first-ever Elias service of
worship and celebration. Due to the blessing and “communing” with our
animals—this will be a non-communion service. Of course, the hymnody
will reflect our admiration and appreciation of “All Creatures of our
God and King.” Perhaps a photographer will be on hand to capture this
special moment of blessing and fellowship as we share in faith and
appreciation for “All God’s Creatures Great and Small.” See you here,
the good Lord willing, with “Myles E. Boy” Coon Cat in tow – all
Church mice beware!
Kids Sunday School
Schedule:
Elias Sunday SChool is
every Sunday starting in September 12th at 9:15 a.m.
ECC VBS 2010 Another GRAND SUCCESS!
Thanksgiving and
appreciation for our LEADERS of Emmitsburg Council of Churches
Vacation Bible School Program: Johanna and Renata Schmersal – with
just a little bit of help from Papa Schmersal! Thanks so much to
everyone who helped to make ECC VBS 2010 a great success!
Fair Trade Coffee
We have a fresh shipment
of Fair Trade coffee now on sale in the vestibule of Parish Hall. 12oz
bags of ground coffee are $7 and 2lb. Bags of Breakfast Blend—whole
bean are $15. For the extra serious strong coffee lover, there is (1)
– 5lb. Bag of whole bean Nicaraguan $36—see Pr Jon --- its in the
office. Enjoy these delicious coffees—it’s good for small farmers and
will positively make your day!J
The Emmitsburg Council of Churches bi-monthly Meeting is on September
14th at 7 p.m. at St. Anthony's.
Mar-Lu Ridge Camp Thank You Letters:
Dear Elias Congregation,
Thank you for all the
things you did [to get me to camp]. I had a lot of fun and met new
cool people, learned new things. I would really want to go [again]
next year. I am going to miss all my friends I had the funnest week
ever, thank you for enabling me to go!
Isaiah Fannin
Dear Elias Congregation!
Thank you for letting us
go to Mar-Lu-Ridge this year. I would really love to go back again. I
loved all the things I did at this camp, and the best year at MLR
ever! It takes all the stress away from home because your always
having fun at MLR. You don’t know what you’re going to do at MLR, but
you know its always going to be fun. It feels like a vacation from
electronics, TV, and the rest of the world. Thank you for this
enjoyable experience at Mar Lu-Ridge. Your member of Elias and
sincerely, Jacob Fannin
Indeed, a GREAT TIME was had be all our Elias Kids!! The Camp really
serves our children well – they didn’t mention that they did a lot of
Bible Studies, talked about their faith, ate fantastic food, sang a
lot of silly songs—but also sang a lot of praise songs to God and our
Lord Jesus. Our Junior Campers were: Eric and Sean Himes and Hannah
Fannin. Pr Jon also had an awesome time hanging out with the kids and
assisting with the dramatized story of the Exodus, which was the theme
for CONFIRMATION CAMP 2010 – as well as PRAYER—GOD’s FACEBOOK! If you
ever need a stand-in Joseph son of Jacob, just provide a rainbow
colored moo moo night gown . . .and Pastor Jon will do the rest.J
SPECIAL SUNDAY NOVEMBER 14TH!
Once again, on Sunday,
November 14th, 10:30 a.m., we’re looking forward to another great
service with our guest musicians The Monocracy River Boys -- featuring
our own, William Boyd Sr.! This service will be a combination
celebration of Veterans Day and Fall Harvest time. So if you’re a
Veteran or a family member of one, please come and bring a picture of
you or your loved one – these will be placed on a special table
located on the front pews—so photos of many sizes will be
accommodated. Please invite a guest (one who enjoys Bluegrass Gospel
music), let’s worship the Lord Jesus, share the love of God and give
thanks to those who have given of their lives and service for our
Country.
Acolyte Schedule September & October 2010:
Sept 5 – Bryant Hoffman & Bob Hampson
Sept 12 – Taylor Wiles & Eric Himes
Sept 19 – Hannah & Isaiah Fannin
Sept 26 –Arielle Mumm & Taylor Wiles
Oct 3 – Eric Himes & Jacob Fannin
Oct 10– Hannah Fannin & Arielle Mumm
Oct 17 -- Eric Himes & Isaiah Fannin
Oct 24 – Hannah Fannin and Taylor Wiles
Oct 31 – Jacob Fannin and Eric Himes
Nov 7 – Bryant Hoffman and Bob Hampson
WEDNESDAY MORNING HOLY COMMUNION:
9:30-10 a.m. Come as you
are, bring a friend! Join the group after service at McDonalds for
coffee!
A Moment with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
The Stress Should be on
Faith in Particular…
In defense of Luther’s
Thesis at Leipzig, published in 1519 (2 years after the 95 Thesis)
“With great danger works are preached before Faith. But faith without
works is preached without any danger, because people are ready and
inclined to rely on works, and works readily mean more than faith to
them. But where pure faith is taught in the right way, works will come
spontaneously and without danger, if only people have learned that
more, yes, all, depends on faith, which is to produce the works.”
From another of Luther’s sermons based upon Jesus reply to John’s
disciples in Matthew chapter 11: “Jesus answered them, "Go and tell
John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame
walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and
the poor have Good News brought to them” (Matt. 11:4-5), Luther
clarifies that Faith is the primary medium before God and humanity—by
believing the “Good News,” and Works are the primary medium by which
we must relate to one another – blind receive sight, lepers are
cleansed, etc.
Luther writes: “[Christ]
here teaches us to use our works to good purpose and shows us which
are good works. With the exception of faith, we should direct all our
works to our neighbor; for God requires us to do no other work for Him
except to believe through Christ. This satisfies God [the Father],
thereby we give Him His honor that He is gracious, merciful, wise,
good, truthful, and the like. Thereafter think of nothing more than
doing to your neighbor as Christ has done to you, and let all your
works with your entire life be directed to your neighbor.”
Sometimes I think we find
it difficult to feel the completeness of our salvation in Christ,
because we are asked to do much for him by serving in the church or
doing some good deed or baking a cake for someone else’s party – not
our own! And so we place a great deal of emphasis, and guilt on our
ability or inability to ever do enough for others, and so we feel
inadequate and guilty much of the time when we should be filled with
joy and gratitude at all that God has done for us. All that is
required of us is to believe in the Gospel – that Christ died for our
sins. Everything else should come as a free-flowing, joy-filled
response to this incredible proclamation. Enjoy the faith! Act out
your joy in ways inspired in you -- by the Holy Spirit – these are the
works of Proclamation (because I’m so thankful – I want to share that
I know and believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and acts of service
or charity, because I know the Love of God at work in my life – I want
to share this gift with you – that you also may believe. Live the
Faith Life—you will be blessed. PJ
Kenya MISSIONS, July 2011!
The Mission Team is
actively praying that 2-4 additional Team members may come fourth from
either near or far. I spoke to a man from Florida two days ago about a
program called Glasses for Mission. This is a ministry of testing
people’s eye sight, determining what vision prescription they need for
reading and then custom making the eyeglasses for them. A kit has all
that is needed to make the eyeglasses from lens to the wire frame,
which is formed using a special jig for bending the wire. The kit
costs less than $300 (including shipping) and will make up to 300
pairs of glasses! I’m hoping that our local Lions Club might like to
finance this, but we shall see, and then we need someone to learn the
system and be able to train a Kenyan when we get there – Lord please
give this person a call! Present fund-raising events include the BBQ
Chicken Dinner September 10th (three kinds of grilled chicken will be
available)—along with delicious side dishes and an apple or cherry
cobbler that was a hit last time.
Admittedly, it
feels like an uphill struggle to do another foreign mission during
these hard times, but we are blessed more than we know and will be
rewarded through this endeavor in ways unknown—God is faithful. Thanks
in advance for all support or leads on potential missionaries.
From Elias Church
Sexton, Bob Hampson
We all need to be
vigilant to be sure the Basement Door that opens to outside steps is
closed tightly and latched. Since the Fire Marshall made us remove the
dead-bolt, it is not latching unless it is firmly pulled or pushed
shut. Please double check that it is latched if you are last one out
of building. Also, please note our recycling boxes, Paper upstairs by
Sunday School room and Aluminum and plastic bottles in box outside of
men’s room in basement. Thanks to all, Bob
