Pastor's Corner

It is Spring and we see new life around us everywhere. God wants all

of us to receive new faith, hope, and love. Christ came that we might have

life and have it more abundantly. Every Sunday at St. John’s we have the

opportunity to receive precious gifts from God. If your life or the lives of

those most precious to you could use some improvement, why not take the

opportunity to experience God with those who fellowship and worship

together in our congregation. You will be blessed and your presence will

be a blessing to others.

While I am on the subject of others, why not bring a friend to share the

good news of God's unconditional love. Our church mission statement,

“Loved by God . . . to love others!” includes making St. John’s a place of

welcome for all people.

Pastor Phil

Welcome to worship this Sunday!

The Grapevine St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 15 N. Church St., Thurmont, MD 21788 Number 88 May 2016

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Church Women United meet here at St. John ’s, in the fellowship hall, on Friday, May 6. We begin with a “celebration” at 10:00 a.m., followed by lunch.

Seeking Volunteers for PowerPoint Projection

We are looking for volunteers willing to be trained for projecting the PowerPoint used for our weekly “Sing and Rejoice” service. Brian Getz has been performing this “labor of love” faithfully and singlehandedly for a long time now, but we do need other technologically keen people—youth and/or adult—to help out. If this is a responsibility you could commit to, please let Brian know or call the church office.

PRESCHOOL NEWS

The Spring Program for our 2015/16 classes will take place on Sunday, May 15, in the Sanctuary at 1:00 p.m. for the three-year-old classes and at 2:30 p.m. for the four-year-old classes. Refreshments will follow each program in the fellowship hall. The four-year-olds will be presented with a Diploma and the three-year-olds will receive a Certificate of Completion. We will once again offer a Summer Program for our current students for two weeks beginning July 11. Students will meet three hours each day, 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. The last day of school is May 27; however, some of the classes will have to make up snow days. The Preschool will have an overnight retreat for the board and staff on June 13 at the Federal Pointe Inn in Gettysburg. Meetings will be held on June 13 and 14 to discuss our upcoming 50th Anniversary celebration, schedules, curriculum and policy.

Sunday School News

Pastor Phil will lead the Adult Sunday School class during the first four Sundays of May (May 1,8, l5, 22). Please consider joining us in the Corbett Chapel at 9:40 a.m. as Pastor Phil introduces us to the books of the Apocrypha. Please note that the current Sunday School year finishes on May 22 and will resume in September.

Next Council Meetings: Thursday, May 12 and June 9 at 7:00 p.m.

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THE KENYA CONNECTION

Greetings from our friend Benard in Kenya. As you will see, Benard has had a rough month

reaching out to friends in need, but he continues to stay strong in the Lord. Benard writes:

I am really very sorry my dear friend Lisa for taking too long without communicating back. Sometimes I feel ashamed when I take this long before communicating to my dear friend in heart. You have brought me from far Lisa and you still take care of me without getting tired. I received the money you sent to me. I have really lacked words to say thanks. I feel this is not enough to bring out the joy that is in my heart. But let the God who blesses those with a heart like yours dear, bless you abundantly. I have managed to buy fertilizer and corn seeds. I squeezed some of the cash to hire people to help me plant, and the corn has started germinating. May the Almighty Lord bless the work of your hands and give you long life. Why was I silent all this long is the question that I want to answer. In the last two weeks I have been in the funeral. My best friend lost his 6 year old daughter. The child fell sick in the evening and it was not as serious as such. But at midnight, what seemed not to be serious, turned to be more serious. The Hospital was too far to reach that night. They opted to go in the morning. Very early in the morning when they set off to the Hospital, the child passed away on the way before reaching the Hospital. Dear it was so painful when we heard this. I took most of my time with them just to help them accept the situation. Immediately after the burial of this child, my next neighbor and church member lost her beloved father. This took one and a half weeks preparation for burial. This is what took most of my time dear without replying to your messages. I appreciate you my friend for your patience and understanding please. Thanks a lot for a nice Easter you had with Jesse and her family and I am also happy to hear that Hannah is getting on very well. I pray for them and I know God is blessing Jesse’s family. Kindly pass my greetings to them all. Thanks too Lisa for the Lions Club you are joining. I believe God always guides your feet Lisa to the best destination. I believe this club will uplift your talents all around. Pass my greetings to the Kenya group as you will be meeting with them in the planned time. Tell them that I am fairing on well in the Lord. I am being pressured to pen off because of long line in the cyber. I still need to write to you but pressure is too much now for me. Have nice time. I am your best African black friend, Benard Omusolo

Please continue to keep Benard in your prayers as he uses his God-given talents to reach out to his fellow people. If anyone ever wants to donate money to help Benard, please contact me.

In Peace, Lisa

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COMMUNITY SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM

The Thurmont Ministerium is again sponsoring a summer lunch program for elementary school students at the pavilion/playground next to the Senior Center starting on June 21 and ending August 19. St John’s participated in past years by signing up for a week. Before committing to a week this year, however, we would like to know who might be interested in participating for one or more days to be there to make sandwiches in the Senior Center and supervise the activ-ity. This year, lunch will be from about 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; food will be furnished. Tyler Hauk and a friend have volunteered to help; the PTA and a Girl Scout Troop have also indicat-ed an interest in helping. Note that providing an activity is optional. A short training session will be available before the program begins. Please contact Dede at the church office by May 8 if you are interested in participating.

FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH Refreshment Providers

January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thurmont Thespians February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Social Ministry March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Worship and Music April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fundraising May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Women of the Church June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fellowship October . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sunday School November . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. John’s Preschool December . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Church Council

We extend our heartfelt sympathy

to the family and friends of Betty Ann Kerns and

to the family and friends of Alexander Holmes.

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ST. JOHN’S MEMBERS FAMILY AND FRIENDS Luke Bradley

Janet Heckert

Carol Ford

Dorothy Stowell

Sarah Johnson

Melinda Hobbs-Jarvis

Dale Wireman – friend of Debbie Ayers Larry Haga – family of Becky Smith Kelly Heath – family of Belle Grimes Jesse Wolf – family of Belle Grimes Jacob Matthias – family of Belle Grimes Rev. Frederick Simmel – former Pastor of St. John’s Betty Post – sister of Gayle Spahr and Judy May Lauren Jones – stepdaughter of Carol Donovan Brian Murphy – friend of Carol Donovan Eugene Myers – brother of Gloria Angleberger and Rodman Myers Debbie Ayers – sister of Darlene Fogle Diane Miller – friend of Gayle Spahr Lexie Sachlis – step-granddaughter of Mary Lou Royer Clarence Shriner – friend of Harriet and Randy Valentine Mike Kreitz – husband of Chris Kreitz Dr. Dave Johnson – brother of Kurt Johnson Wyatt Black – Catoctin High School student Ethel Brauer – friend of Carolyn Fraley IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY Dylan Goins Josh Waldron Brandon Meek

5/2 Ryan Delauter

5/11 Zachary Getz

5/12 Nancy Riffle

5/15 John Urian

5/18 Carroll Zentz

5/18 Warren Zentz

5/19 William Getz

5/20 Carroll Roderick

5/21 Gloria Angleberger

5/25 Michael Lewis

5/26 Brian Getz

5/26 Beulah Zentz

5/29 Lisa Riffle

5/30 Kristin Fox

5/30 Inus Lohr

5/31 Nathan Fox

Please remember in your prayers . . .

MAY

&

JUNE

BIRTHDAYS

6/3 Traci Getz

6/6 Emily Hobbs

6/7 Alexis Myers

6/10 Jesse Riffle Grubb

6/18 Judy May

6/18 Guy Whidden

6/19 Molly Spahr

6/22 Kandy Hauk

6/23 P. J. Donaghue

6/24 Mary Eyler

6/26 Travis Unger

6/28 Carol Ford

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AN INVITATION FROM ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN, CREAGERSTOWN

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Chasing an Eclipse 2016 — Another Look

by Ann Marie Bezayiff

Gerhana Matahari

Makassar Straight, Indonesia

March 9, 2016

8:30 a.m. Solar Eclipse-GPS 01degree 35.9 minutes South/118 degrees 2.6 East

Total eclipse: 2 minutes, 45 seconds

Total nautical miles traveled: 3648 (From Singapore back to Singapore)

The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. Ecclesiastes 1:5

There are those who chase eclipses. I was one of them on March 9th. Why chase an eclipse? It’s

a rare, heavenly phenomenon. God’s celestial oddity and a rare opportunity to witness a natural

event with the naked eye (solar glasses are part of the package). It’s a God thing.

We live in an exciting time where astronomers can predict solar eclipses. Not so with ancient civ-

ilizations. Their lives depended on the predictable movement of the stars, sun and moon through

the sky. Seasonal changes, equinoxes and solstices, provided the signs for ceremonial rites, wor-

ship and planting or harvesting. The rituals of a civilization depended on an orderly solar system.

(Our Easter is still determined by the moon.)

Even as late as a hundred years ago, a solar or lunar eclipse presented chaos in orderly, structured

civilizations. Eclipses were, and still are, elusive; most people will never experience one. But for

those who did, the explanation was mystical and troubling. How could someone explain the sun

or moon disappearing and then reappearing? They handled it with calls of sacrifice, death, bizarre

actions, hoping to appease the spirits, the gods, who had swallowed the sun. Thankfully for those

waiting to be sacrificed, the eclipses were relatively short and life quickly returned to normal.

People today can still expect the sun to rise every morning and the sun to set each evening. We

observe the lunar rotation as the moon passes through its monthly phases. Venus, the morning

and the evening star, appears in the night sky followed by the North Star. The path of the sun,

moon, planets and stars is predictable, orderly.

However, sometimes, as with a solar eclipse, the unexpected or unexplainable crashes into our

lives. Confusion reigns. Questions abound. Rational explanations are nonexistent. The unanswer-

able is beyond our ability to grasp or comprehend. So rather than offering a sacrifice as the an-

cients did, we turn to Christ, who sacrificed all for us. He is the ultimate sacrifice.

He makes the sun rise and the sun set. So we pray and trust.

He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces.

Isaiah 25:8

He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Romans 4:25

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May 2016 Worship Assistants’ Schedule

TRADITIONAL SERVICE

SING & REJOICE SERVICE

** Please Note **

If you cannot be present on the assigned date,

be sure to trade with another assistant. Thank you!

DATE SERVICE ASSISTING MINISTER

LECTOR WELCOMERS ALTAR

5/1 10:45 a.m. K. Muegge L. Riffle G. Spahr C. & J. Ford

5/8 8:30 a.m. J. Ford C. Fraley Dart Family L. Riffle

5/15 8:30 a.m.

L. Riffle S. Erlitz M. A. & S. Erlitz L. Riffle

5/22 8:30 a.m. S. Brown-Hobbs J. Ford H. & R. Valentine L. Riffle

5/29 8:30 a.m. S. Dart L. Riflle L. & N. Riffle L. Riffle

DATE SERVICE LECTOR WELCOMERS PRAYER

5/1 10:45 a.m. ONE SERVICE— Combined Worship at 10:45 a.m.

5/8 10:45 a.m. G. Spahr C. Fox M. L. Royer

C. Kreitz

5/15 10:45 a.m.

M. Andersen T. & A. Mumm G. Spahr

5/22 10:45 a.m. C. Kreitz Hauk Family K. Donaghue

5/29 10:45 a.m. B. Riffle C. Fox M. L. Royer

B. Watson

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Sunday School

9:40

One Service

“Combined” 10:45

2 3

4

5

6

Church Women United here at

St. John’s 10:00 a.m.

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8 Traditional Worship — 8:30

Sunday School

9:40

Sing & Rejoice 10:45

9

10

11 12

7:00 p.m. Church Council

13

14

15 PENTECOST

Traditional

Worship — 8:30

Sunday School 9:40

Sing & Rejoice

10:45

Preschool Programs

1:00 and 2:30

16

17

18 19

20

21

9:00 a.m. Auditions for

Footloose

22 Traditional

Worship — 8:30

Sunday School 9:40

Sing & Rejoice

10:45

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6:30 p.m. Auditions for

Footloose

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25

26

27

28

Beulah Zentz’s 100th Birthday

Party at Creagerstown

Parish Hall

29 Traditional

Worship — 8:30

Sunday School 9:40

Sing & Rejoice

10:45

30

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May 2016

Church Office: 301-271-7877

Interim Pastor: Rev. Phillip Fogarty Email: pdfogarty@comcast.net (Cell) 301-514-6390 Administrative Assistant: Dede Himes Email: admin@saintjohnlutheran.org

Web Site: www.saintjohnlutheran.org

St. John’s Preschool: 301-271-4109 Chairperson: Stacey Brown-Hobbs, 301-271-2390 Registrar: Marie Skillinger Email: stjpreschl@aol.com

Thurmont Thespians Beth Watson, 301-416-0864 Email: beth.watson@myactv.net

Please submit articles for the

June 2016 Grapevine by

May 16.

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 15 N. Church Street

Thurmont, MD 21788

“Loved by God … to love others!” Ministers: The People of St. John’s Interim Pastor: Rev. Phillip Fogarty

Sunday Worship Schedule

8:30 AM Traditional Worship 9:40 AM Sunday School, all ages 10:45 AM Sing & Rejoice Worship