the messenger...2020/05/29 · members patty and david dickson, for his recommenda-tion and...
TRANSCRIPT
St. Michael Lutheran Church
The Messenger
Inside this issue:
Pastor’s Message
1
SMLC Updates 2
Prayer List 3
Our Mission & Vision
4
by Pastor John A. Mohan
All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
~Acts 2:14
Who would have ever thought reopening our ministry would be harder than shutting it down?
On March 13, the Congregation Council voted to “suspend its public gatherings until further notice. The congregation will effectively close our facility to all but essential operations….” The congregation was notified the same day.
I don’t want to minimize the difficulty of those first days of the pandemic. So much changed, and for much of it we were not ready. Yet, in retrospect, sus-pending public gatherings and closing the facility was a fairly straight-forward decision. Deciding whether to reopen our facility and resume public gatherings is far more complicated (see “Returning to Church, page 2).
When faced with challenges, I’ve learned to seek the wisdom of the saints of God as found in scripture. I’ve found some in the Acts of the Apostles. I can only imagine the disciples’ shock and disorientation at the death and resurrec-tion of Jesus. The 72 hours from the Last Supper to the supper at Emmaus must have been so very difficult. So much changed, and for much of it they were not ready. Now fast forward to the Ascension when Jesus gathered his disciples and told them that they would be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. Then he disappeared into heaven and left the disciples looking, shall we say, confused (Acts 2:11).
Three years of Jesus’ teachings were meant to prepare them for this moment. I’m sure the previous 40 days of resurrection appearances by their Lord had helped immensely, but how were they to reach the whole world with the Gos-pel? What were they to do, and how were they to do it? Their grief and shame at the Cross was now replaced by confusion and doubts about the immense task before them. So, what did they do?
They followed Jesus’ instructions and waited. Ten days later the Holy Spirit came and the Church was born. The disciples’ openness and patience pre-pared them for the rush of a mighty wind, the dance of tongues of fire, and the Spirit’s grace poured out so that the Good News of Jesus could be shared in a way that all could understand. A new age began!
As we anticipate the reopening of our ministry, let us follow Jesus’ instructions and wait. I pray our openness and patience will prepare us for a new birth for this new age! May the Holy Spirit come upon us. Who knows, maybe we can reach the world!
Together with you in Christ, Pastor John A. Mohan
Waiting for a New Age
5/29/20 SPECIAL EDITION
Mock Orange
ONLINE WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Sundays @9:30 AM
Living in the Spirit Devotions
Wednesdays @12 noon
Find our online
worship at stmichaelperry hall.org/Online
and/or our Facebook page
Events
Page 2 The Messenger
Returning to Church—COVID-19 public health advisories continue to change as we learn more about how the disease is transmitted. As restrictions are lifted, St. Michael is developing a plan to resume public gatherings. The issues are complex. Gathering the necessary equipment and accomplishing the nec-essary training will take weeks.
Two surveys paint a picture of congregational atti-tudes about returning to in-person gatherings. There is a growing reluctance to return to worship. When asked about attitudes regarding returning to worship, the May 10 survey reported 39 percent were willing to wait several weeks to “quite a while” after govern-ment bans were lifted before returning to worship. On May 24, that number grew to 55 percent.
Coupled with that, both surveys reported strong sup-port for making safety protocols a top priority for wor-ship. On May 10, 78 percent listed all protocols as a top priority. On May 24, the number grew slightly to 81 percent.
In addition to those insights, the following questions were unique to the May 24 survey:
If worship required a reservation system, 63 per-cent of respondents are highly likely or somewhat likely to attend.
If singing was not allowed in worship, 56 percent reported they were highly likely or somewhat likely to attend.
If spoken responses were not allowed in worship, 53 percent reported they were highly likely or somewhat likely to attend.
If worship aids (bulletins or hymnals) were not al-lowed in worship, 52 percent reported they were highly likely or somewhat likely to attend.
If designated seating was required for worship, 80 percent reported they were highly likely or some-what likely to attend.
If children’s programing (nursery and Sunday School) were not allowed in worship, 82 percent reported they were highly likely or somewhat likely to attend.
If bathroom access was controlled for public gather-ing, 72 percent reported they were highly likely or somewhat likely to attend.
Finally, even with delays and full implementation of safety protocols, there is a significant portion of our respondents (between 11 and 30 percent) who con-sistently reported they “would definitely stay home and worship online.”
Thank you to all who responded! Weekly surveys will continue as we work our way through this pandem-ic and the complexities of gathering during a public health crisis.
Did you notice our cover art? The Mock Orange usually goes unnoticed along the far southwest boundary of our property near the parking for the Belair Road office buildings. Our Property/Beautification Team tended it, and Don Outen photographed it. Walk around our property on a nice day and also look for the five new Encore Autumn Twist azaleas, which bloom spring, summer, and fall, near the staff entrance. Thanks, Don & Team!
Financial Realities—Thank you to those who have continued your faithful giving. Without receiving your regular gifts and offerings during worship, we would experience a drop in financial resources for ministry. We encourage you to use any of these methods to help maintain our ministry:
Mail your offering to our church’s secure locking mailbox. Please note: when we were gathering for Sunday worship, offerings were counted and de-posited on Sundays. Gifts made by check would appear as cleared on your bank statement within a few days. You may have noticed it takes a little longer for your checks to clear since we stopped meeting on a weekly basis. Currently, deposits are made weekly but not on a fixed day each week as our staff continues to stay safe by working primarily from home; we appreciate your patience. If you have any concerns you may contact the church of-fice (see page 4).
Give by QR Scan—Use your mobile de-vice to scan this QR (Quick Response) code, which takes you to the secure elec-tronic giving page on our website.
Give electronically—Sign up from our website to have your offering automatical-ly transferred from your credit card, checking, or savings account.
Thank you to Adam Dickson, part of the man-agement team at Oak Crest and son of St. Michael members Patty and David Dickson, for his recommenda-tion and assistance with the purchase of no-touch ther-mometers. These thermome-ters will be one important part of our future returning-to-church protocol.
Page 3
May 29, 2020 SPECIAL EDITION
You may send prayer requests through our website, www.stmichaelperryhall.org,
by calling the church office, 410.256.6441, or by posting on our SMLC Care Facebook group page.
Grieving (family & friends of:) Jack Banoczi (cousin of Barb Harant) John Myers (friend of Joanne Myers) William Wittler (father of Steve Wittler)
Healing/Other All affected by COVID-19 Dahle Amendt, health concerns Alma Arnold, shut-in (mother-in-law of Bill Pohlman) Andrew Kay Asher, recuperating from fall Tori Banks, radiation and chemo, continued healing Bill Behanna, home after cardiac rehab (Harant friend) Michelle Blevins, new home Bronson, re-hospitalized (Jean Borne) Rose Marie Brusca, health concerns Fred Bunn, health concerns (father of Jeff Bunn) Audrey Byrd, health concerns (Jim & Pat) Don C., medication/surgery concerns (Mary Osgood) Ryan C., discernment, employment (Harant friend) Cassie, continued healing (Marge Smith) Char, surgery (friend of Donna Spooner) Charlotte, return of tumors, healing (Pat & Dave) CJ, Will, Joanne, Chris, Christine (Anita Heffner) Corey, Roo, Baby G., pregnancy concerns (Kelly
Gregory) Shoshanna D., Tay-Sachs disease (Tricia Isennock) Gloria Diegel, health concerns Bridget Diveley, cancer (Courtney Topolski) Ally Droboniku, nurse working ICU-COVID First responders & medical personnel (Anna Shea) Connie Flagg, cancer (friend of Jeff Bunn) Chuck Freeman, comfort care, COVID + Gladys Friedel, cancer treatments (Girl Scouts) Patryk & Rod Faulhaber, safety at work Lois Fritz, health concerns (mother of Linda Wittler) Baby G., health concerns (unborn granddaughter of
Donna Spooner) April Glanville, COVID (mother of Marcy Lapp) Samantha Glenn & Braun Family, health concerns Norma Gough, health concerns Emma Hahn, health concerns George Handiwerk, health concerns (friend of Norman
Ray, father of Barb SanBoeuf) John Heath, Jr., cancer (Joan Peterson, Terry Sage) Mary White Hemling, recuperating from fall (sister of
Linda Gibbons) Those in self-isolation, blessings, health
Henry, heart issues (Nancy & George Wagner) Charles Johnson, stem cell treatment Tom Jubb, home from hospital (father of Kelli Jubb
Marsh) Kathy, Diane, Dennis, Ken (Anita Heffner) Mehrle Keil, recuperating from knee replacement
(husband of Lynn Keil) Pr. Bruce Kelley, broken rib & leg, care center Shirley Lanehardt, healing Jacquelyn Lockard, deployed/Middle East (W. Meeks) Lois Loewer, health concerns (Linda King) Katelyn McChron, 2-yr.-old w/leukemia (Shirley Traub) Maria Meeks, deployed/Kuwait (Meeks Family) Len Meusel, completed PT for broken arm, dislocated
shoulder Mickey, spinal stenosis (uncle of Kelli Jubb Marsh) Bob Mohan, hospice care (father of Pastor Mohan) Melanie Mohan, continued healing Claude Morris, health concerns (Joan Peterson) Nations of the world, especially USA/COVID Dave Olsen, serious condition after auto accident
(Kim Yackulak) Don Outen healing Ben Paepcke, spinal cord injury (Courtney Topolski) Elliott Petty, cancer (Anna Shea) Porter, brain bleed (Nancy & George Wagner) Douglas Potter, recuperating from stroke (Irene Butler) Drew Potter, recuperating from foot surgery (I. Butler) Reese, 2-yr-old, COVID, hospitalized (Kim Yackulak) Ricky, continued healing (Jean Borne) Sunny Rudolph, chronic pain Ruth, health concerns John Schultz, continued healing Wallis Shamieh (Lynn Keil) Josh Stevens, cancer (Harant friend) Bob Stine, cancer, clinical trials (Harant friend) Amanda Sumpter, works in hospital Nancy Sumpter, back surgery, continued healing Donna Trhlik, cancer treatments (Joan Peterson) Camilo Valencia, health concerns (Meeks family) Bobi Van Hattun, health concerns (Irene Butler) Emma Wagner, 30th b-day blessings (Nancy & George
Wagner) Avery Watson, 3-yr. old, osteosarcoma, healing Patricia Wessler, works in hospital (Sumpter family) Steve Yackulak, cancer treatments (father of Sean
Yackulak)
Concerns from 5/15/20-5/29/20
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The mission of St. Michael Lutheran Church is to praise and serve God and make disciples for Jesus.
The vision of St. Michael Lutheran Church is to be a Christ-centered, welcoming community of ac-tive, compassionate, Spirit-filled disciples, working in harmony to spread the Word of God.
Our Mission and Vision PLACE
POSTAGE STAMP HERE
9534 Belair Road Baltimore, MD 21236-1508
Look for us on the web:
www.stmichaelperryhall.org
The Messenger Published by
St. Michael Lutheran Church 9534 Belair Road
Baltimore, MD 21236-1508
410.256.6441 (Office)
410.256.7081 (Fax) www.stmichaelperryhall.org
SUPPORT STAFF
Barbara A. SanBoeuf Office Manager
Barbara L. Harant Communications Assistant
Joanne Myers Custodian
PROGRAM STAFF
John A. Mohan Lead Pastor
Joseph E. Skillman, Jr. Assistant Pastor
Wm. Jeffrey Bunn Director of Music
MESSENGER STAFF
Norma Allred, Publisher
Ruth Tucker, Assembler
Barbara L. Harant, Editor [email protected]
COUNCIL EXECUTIVE TEAM
Judy Meusel, President [email protected]
Mark Ermer, Vice-President [email protected]
Jim Blucher, Treasurer [email protected]
Pat Chason, Secretary [email protected]
Charles Kirsch, Financial Secretary [email protected]
Now more than ever . . . Visit our website,
www.stmichaelperryhall.org and click
“Connect/Get Email Alerts”
Contact St. Michael . . . Call: 410.256.6441, or 443.273.1112 for
pastoral care; fax: 410.256.7081. Website: www.stmichaelperryhall.org Email: [email protected]
Worship With Us!
Online Worship Live Stream Sundays @ 9:30 AM
Living in the Spirit Devotions Wednesdays @12 noon
stmichaelperryhall.org/Online
Missed the live stream? View later:
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Also available on our Facebook page.