SUNDAYS:
Traditional Lutheran Liturgy at 8:00 and 10:00a.m.
This service follows
the structure of the more formal traditional Lutheran liturgy. The congregation
sings traditional hymns and is supported by organ or piano and the senior choir.
Holy Communion is celebrated every week.
Cross Walk on the 2nd &
5th Sundays at 10:00 a.m.
This hour of contemporary worship is more informal
than our traditional service. The Rite of Healing from Evangelical Lutheran Worship
will be offered at this service, with laying-on of hands and anointing for all
wishing to receive prayers for healing in body, mind or spirit.
Childcare
Professional childcare provider, Dawn Markovic, is available at all Sunday
Services for infants through 4 years. Our Cribbery now has a wireless paging system.
Each parent who entrusts a child to our Cribbery staff on Sunday morning will
be given a pager. If a situation should arise that requires the parents’ attention,
such as illness or injury, the Cribbery Director can silently page them, whether
they are in the sanctuary or Celebration Hall. A clear guideline for what constitutes
a “page-able” incident is available in the Cribbery.
Weekly Lectionary:
If you are a Lay Assistant for a worship service and would like to review
the assigned lessons you are to read or if you would just like to view the lessons
for the week, use the following link to access the Revised Common Lectionary.
We are currently in the Year B cycle. First click on the appropriate season. Then
on the next page click on Sunday you wish to view. http://divinity.library.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary
MUSIC
ENSEMBLES
Chancel Choir: This SATB-voiced choir for older youth and adults sings
on Sunday worship, two times a month at early and two times a month at late services.
In addition to Sunday worship, we also sing major choral works at Advent and Lent
with instrumentalists. Not experience necessary, but be prepared to work hard
and learn lots! Rehearsals: Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary Director:
Deborah Woods
Our Fathers Band: This group sings and leads music
for the Contemporary service on the 2nd and 5th Sundays of the month. Yout must
like microphones and corny jokes! Practice begins 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays in the
Music Room. Band Leader: Margee Williams
Seven Days: Our youth
band ensemble really rocks! You must like Christian rock and have a sense of worth
and commitment in your life! Speak to Jeffrey Herget rehearsal times and place.
Director: Jeffrey Herget
Resounding Joy Bell Choir: This talented
group plays hand bells on the 3rd Sunday of the month. Music knowledge is definately
helpful. Rehearsals: Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Room. Director: Deborah
Woods
DayChimers Choir: This group is currently full, but speak
to Lee if your are interested in ringing. Rehearsals: Tuesdays at 9 a.m. Director:
Lee Siebold
Children's Choirs:
Angel
Choir (grades 1-3) rehearse on Saturdays from 2 to 2:45 p.m. We bounce balls,
play chimes, rhythm games and instruments, as well as move and sing. Director:
Deborah Woods Good
Shepherd Singers (grades 4-8) rehearse on Saturdays from 3 to 4 p.m. This
group rings hand bells and plys rhythm instruments as well as moves and sings.
Director: Deborah Woods | Mike
Stafford, Church Custodian
Have you noticed an improvement in the cleaning of our church building? The floors
are waxed and polished, some of the “clutter” in the office area is moved, and
our shelves, windows, and bathrooms are cleaned regularly and thoroughly. For
those of us who spend a lot of time in the building (full-time staff ), this change
is very much appreciated. This remarkable transformation is due to the efforts
of our new church custodian, Michael Stafford, who is a cheerful and hard-working
individual who runs a landscaping business, as well as a commercial cleaning service.
Mike is 40 yrs old and married to his wife Tammi who is the secretary for the
New Covenant Christian School which is housed in our Celebration Hall. Mike has
two sons-Cody (16) and Nick (13), and, remarkably, a very interesting side job.
You see---Mike is
highly-involved in a movement known as “Youth for Christ.” Mike is the Harford
County representative for this organization which targets middle and high-school
aged kids who do not grow up in the church. “Youth for Christ” reaches out to
the non-churched with a message of Christian caring and concern in a friendly,
environment where youth can make the connections and build the relationships which
bring them to the Gospel. Mike’s home is open on Monday nights to approximately
15 kids who meet for games, snacks, and discussions. Conversations are on a wide
range of topics--anything from peer pressure, self-image, to alcohol and drug
use and abuse. Discussions are followed by a tie-in to scriptures. There is no
“Bible-thumping”--- just a sense of the stories of the scriptures and how everyday
issues can be addressed through the lens of the Christian outlook. This ministry
operates by “word of mouth” and “friend-to –friend” and gently, but effectively,
it appears, spreads the “good news” to those the church sometimes has trouble
reaching.
I know that this column is supposed to focus on aspects of the
music ministry of LCGS, but I thought that this month, I would “digress” to let
you know about Mike Stafford. I found it very interesting that of the many people
who are connected with the ministries of LCGS and its building, even the church
custodian is a highly-dedicated and involved servant of Christ. Mike says that
he became involved in “Youth for Christ” because he himself did not grow up in
a church family and was invited by a friend to a YFC meeting. His outlook and
ideas are fresh and enthusiastic. If you are in the building on a midweek afternoon,
stop by and talk to him. You’ll be glad for the conversation!
-
Debby Woods |
