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Slide 1: FOOTNOTES C H R U I T S H T E T R H A E N L S C E H R U V R A C N H T September 2006 Volume 33, No. 1 Dear Friends in Christ, My Cocoon tightens—Colors tease— I’m feeling for the Air— A dim capacity for Wings Demeans the Dress I wear— A power of Butterfly must be— The Aptitude to fly Meadows of Majesty implies And easy Sweeps of Sky— So I must baffle at the Hint And cipher at the Sign And make much blunder, if at last I take the clue divine. This is clearly an Easter poem, so you might wonder why I am sharing it with you in September—beyond the obvious reason that it is always a good time to share an Emily Dickinson poem. Autumn leads us to meditations opposite in mood from those of Spring, the goddess Eastre, the feast of Easter. True, but remember, every Sunday is a celebration of Easter. In a world rotten with sin and crushed by the power of death, Christians are called to be partisans of life and hope. Emily refers to our “dim” capacity for wings—that word “dim” reminds us of the great human tragedy of living so far below capacity. We are creatures made in God’s image. We have “the Aptitude to fly.” Despite all our blunders, God still sends us the “clue divine.” For Christians, Jesus is the divine clue. Jesus came among us to call us back from enslavement to sin and death and to teach us how to fly again. His gospel of love and compassion is really flying lessons. We may be baffled at the hint, we may cipher at the sign, but it keeps coming, week after week, in the love assembly, in the bread and wine that calls us to be transubstantiated into Body of Christ, in our growth through learning and serving. It is September. School and church activities swing back into high gear after the lovely doldrums of Summer. It is not a time to get moody about falling leaves and other Autumnal melancholies. The Reverend Peter Bastien, Pastor www.cts-lutheran.org † † 9801 Centerway Road September 2006 † Montgomery Village, MD † (301) 977-0285 page 1
Slide 2: Prayer Concerns Viveka Bhasker Jean Bonald Justin Brunce Margaret Condon Thomas Dombrowskie Walter Fisher Patricia Flynn Millie Garvey Dave Gearing Dorothy Gerald Pat Guss Delia Harman George Harrison Fred Jaeger David Lashof Lauren Sue Masoero Pr. John Muller Irene Paar Joyce Pacheli Ron Pacheli Bob Petersen Ingse Petersen Patty Petersen Robin Peterson Jane Rhine Ann Schwill Family of John Springer Dana Swan Lucy Vela Orlando Vela Joe Wheeler Please notify the church office (301-977-0285, Prayer Concern box, or wcgarvey. comcast.net) if you would like anyone removed or added to the prayer concern list. Names will be removed after a six-week period if no update is received. Because of God’s love shown forth, among many others, in Jesus of Nazareth, our cocoons tighten, colors tease, and we are sensing the Air that will lift us high as we fly on the wings of love. Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer go round and round. Youth, maturity, old age, and death come to us all. But by God’s grace we transcend fear of finitude and fly up, soar high. I am a tiny particle, but I am part of a great poem of love. I am a single note, but I am a moment in God’s Symphony. My cocoon tightens. Yours in Christ, —Pastor Bastien NOTICE Congregation Meeting SUNDAY October 1, 2006 6:00 P.M. Featuring The annual kick off of the fall Stewardship campaign And Other topics of interest The annual meeting will be preceded by the traditional Congregational dinner beginning at 5:00 p.m. All members and non-members who have been attending services are encouraged to attend and participate fully in the life of the CTS community. Get to know us and let us learn about you. Children are welcome. “Just Come”—October Trip Room is still available on a hurricane recovery team heading for Biloxi, MS, from October 8-24. The rebuilding program is being sponsored by our friends at Good Shepherd Lutheran. Anyone interested should contact Dennis Luther at 301-948-1279 (home) or 301-651-0632 (cell). Polly Bergtold was a member of a work team that was in Biloxi in late July and early August. Talk to her and let her tell you about this special kind of service for the Lord and for some very needy people in Mississippi. —Steve Garvey page 2 † September 2006 †
Slide 3: Sunday Readings September 3—Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 17) Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 Psalm 15 LORD, who may dwell in your tabernacle? (Ps. 15:1) James 1:17-27 Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 September 10—Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 18) Isaiah 35:4-7a Psalm 146 I will praise the LORD as long as I live. (Ps. 146:1) James 2:1-10 [11-13] 14-17 Mark 7:24-37 September 17—Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 19) Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 116:1-8 (Psalm 116:19 NRSV) I will walk in the presence of the LORD. (Ps. 116:8) James 3:1-12 Mark 8:27-38 September 24—Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 20) Jeremiah 11:18-20 or Wisdom of Solomon 1:16— 2:1, 12-22 Council Meeting Summaries July 10, 2006 Christ the Servant Lutheran Church Council (The complete versions are posted on the CTS hall bulletin board.) Financial—Beth Lashof and Doreen Foge submitted a written report that income for June was about $1,200 behind for the month, but is on target with the budget for the first six months of the year. Chuck Eater reported that expenses are pretty much in line with budgeted amounts with a year-to-date positive balance of $1,446. Youth Ministry—Cruzando was a success. CTS members can read about it and see photos at http://crosseyedsheep.blogspot.com. The youth will be planning a quilting service project for the fall. CTS members can contribute time and flat bed sheets in good condition. Council approved revising the Council policy to reflect the change of facilities use responsibility from Property to Business Administration. Council finished the 2006 calendar, including the addition of 6 pm Saturday services. August 14, 2006 July was a good, five-Sunday month for both income and expenses with income on-budget and expenses below. Various council members are working with the Sharp program to get them set up at CTS. We have no start date yet, but they are close to hiring a director. Stewardship—Council is planning to personally contact CTS members in October as part of the Every Member Response program. Stewardship will be the main subject of the September council retreat. Respectfully submitted, —Joyce Backus, CTS Council Secretary FYI— Council Officers and Ministry Area Leaders President ..................... Pat Andersen Vice President ............... Mike Mayer Secretary ..................... Joyce Backus Worship ....................... Sandy D’Angelo Outreach ...................... Roger Rasnake Service ........................ Melanie McMichael Learning ...................... Mike Mayer Stewardship ................. Business Administration . Property ...................... Parish Care .................. Parish Life .................... Youth .......................... Treasurer ..................... Financial Secretary ........ Steve Garvey Steve Garvey Dave Larrabee Jo Johnson Paul Bender Barbara Harner Chuck Eater Doreen Foge † September 2006 † page 3
Slide 4: Psalm 54 God is my helper; it is the LORD who sustains my life. (Ps. 54:4) James 3:13—4:3, 7-8a Mark 9:30-37 Music Notes In the best of CTS tradition, our music ministry continues to explore new dimensions in the world of sound! There will be two new, major happenings this year which will require a number of different musical talents. Here’s what’s coming up: 1. September music: September 10—Rally Day: Featuring music led by our awesome teens. Albert Ticona has been honing his guitar skills under the dubious tutelage of Tom Lipe and Bob McMichael, so anything is possible! September 17—Feast Day of Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179): Anne Lipe and Joanne Eater are always looking for a good excuse to sing the music of this great spiritual teacher and composer! Several selections will be offered, some “traditional” and some with assistance of guitar, drum and chimes. Our hymn for the day will be “O Holy Spirit, Root of Life” (WOV 688) which is by Hildegard. 2. The debut of Evangelical Lutheran Worship: The ELW, the new worship and song book for the ELCA is scheduled for the beginning of Advent. The new book contains ten settings of Holy Communion: three from the LBW, one from This Far By Faith, two revised from Renewing Worship, a hymnbased setting, a setting in Spanish, and two new settings. Approximately 700 hymns are included, 53% of which are from the LBW, 20% from With One Voice, 21% from Renewing Worship and 6% from other sources. We will be inviting all singers and instrumentalists to assist in learning and preparing the music so that we can help the congregation to become familiar with the new liturgies and hymns. Stay tuned for information on practice times and arrangements. 3. Saturday Evening Worship: Evening services will be offered each month beginning at 6:00 PM, and will feature a variety of different styles. In part, these services are designed to reach out to people in our community who might wish to explore different approaches to worship than those offered on Sunday mornings. Musicians will be needed to assist with these services, so if a particular style intrigues you, please let Anne or Tom Lipe know. October 14: Jazz Vespers (to include Blessing of Pets. Tom’s already thought of special music such as “Birdland,” “Alley Cat,” “Who let the dogs out?”) (continues) Other Readings September 14—Holy Cross Day Numbers 21:4b-9 Psalm 98:1-5 (Psalm 98:1-4 NRSV) or Psalm 78:1-2, 34-38 The LORD has done marvelous things. (Ps. 98:1) or - God was their rock and the Most High God their redeemer. (Ps. 78:35) 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 John 3:13-17 September 21—St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist Ezekiel 2:8—3:11 Psalm 119:33-40 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes. (Ps. 119:33) Ephesians 2:4-10 Matthew 9:9-13 September 29—St. Michael and All Angels Daniel 10:10-14; 12:1-3 Psalm 103:1-5, 20-22 Bless the LORD, you angels of the LORD. (Ps. 103:20) Revelation 12:7-12 Luke 10:17-20 November 11: Taize-style Vespers (contemplative) page 4 † September 2006 †
Slide 5: The Happiest of Birthdays to: Max Koehler .................. 9/1 Jackie Severynse ....... 9/2 Vernon Toelle .............. 9/3 Zan Saavedra ............... 9/4 Carson Fehner ............. 9/7 Ben Eater ..................... 9/7 Joann Eastlack ............ 9/8 Tom Lipe ....................... 9/8 Garrett Fehner .......... 9/12 Heidi Petersen ........... 9/12 Richard Lurix .............. 9/15 George Mohn ............... 9/19 Dorothy Gerald ......... 9/20 Alexander Hagen ...... 9/22 Beth Lashof ............... 9/25 Tom Eastlack ............. 9/26 Ron Backus ................. 9/30 December 9: January 6: February 10: March 10: April 7: May 12: U2 or Rock Mass Epiphany High Mass (traditional) Jazz Vespers Celtic Contemplative Vespers Service Easter Vigil (at 7:30 PM) Jazz Vespers Reminder: You don’t need to be asked!! If you would like to share music at a worship service, just let Anne or Marjorie know in advance. Children and youth are especially encouraged to share their talents with the congregation. —Anne Lipe Benedictine Work Day—Saturday, September 9, 8 AM to 3 PM On Saturday, September 9 from 8 AM to 3 PM we will meet at CTS for our semiannual Benedictine Work Day. I invite each one of you to prayerfully consider joining us on this special day to get CTS ready as we return to our normal worship schedule. As our building, which is over 30 years old, continues to age, it is all the more important to be good stewards of what God has given us. A list of tasks will be posted on the bulletin board. Please feel free to sign up for any task you feel comfortable with. I truly understand that we live busy lives so if you will be unable to attend this special day, please talk with me about completing one of the tasks on another day. I look forward to seeing each one of you on September 9. Parish Life will provide lunch but side dishes and desserts will be needed. Your brother in Christ, —Dave Larrabee Happy Anniversary to: M’baya & Marcy Kabemba ........................ 9/3 Roger Rasnake & Inge Harman ............... 9/10 George & Patsy Huson ............................ 9/15 Nathan & Cecilia Meyer .......................... 9/27 John & Jackie Severynse ................... 9/30 Christ the Servant Lutheran Church Montgomery Village, MD Footnotes Staff Editor ................... Joanne Eater Calendar .............. Tom Eastlack Servants’ List ....... Wilma Garvey Youth Grp News . Barbara Harner Production ............ Steve Garvey Footnotes is issued eleven times a year by Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod. Articles of interest to the congregation are solicited from members of the CTS community and are due to the editor by the third Sunday of each month. Articles for the July/August issue are due by the third Sunday of June. Coming in October… Fifth Annual CTS Youth Ministry Yard Sale Save the date… Saturday, October 28 Start cleaning out your closets and garages …and save the good stuff for us!! † September 2006 † page 5
Slide 6: Ethnic Recipes—New Feature! We have a rich diversity of parishioners at CTS who also happen to be great cooks, and this year, as part of our multi-cultural efforts, I will be calling on you to submit a recipe reflective of your heritage to be printed in Footnotes and shared with everyone. I am including below a recipe for meatballs as the first offering for September. Enjoy!! —Jo Johnson Carmela and Dom’s Italian Meatballs You can also substitute up to half the meat with ground pork if you want. I usually just use a half pound of pork and the rest chuck. 2 1/2 pound ground chuck 1⁄2 pound ground pork (or if you are health conscious, you may use 3 pounds ground turkey) 1 large onion, finely chopped 5 garlic cloves, minced 5 eggs 2 cups milk (yes, milk) 2 cups Progresso Italian style bread crumbs 3⁄4 cups grated parmesan cheese 1 cup fresh parsley chopped Salt and pepper to taste Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Shape into medium sized meatballs. Please use exact ingredients! You can either fry these in olive oil or, what I do is place aluminum foil over a large cookie sheet and lightly oil. Place meatballs on cookie sheet and bake at 350 until brown and done inside—about 25 to 40 minutes. Meatballs can be frozen in Ziploc bags very well. You can also add pignoli nuts to this recipe if you choose (about a half cup). This recipe also makes great meat loaf. Makes about 40 to 70 meatballs, depending on how big you make them. You can use frozen meatballs in your home-made sauce by adding them in the last half hour of cooking. Retreats and Quiet Days Offered and Led by the Reverend Linda Harrison Christ the Servant Lutheran Church is a community of faith, where all are deeply committed as God’s representatives and agents of divine love, compassion, and justice. In order to have the strength, courage, and wisdom to stand on the side of biblical justice, it is imperative that we care for our own spiritual and faith journeys. We must nourish our souls, and take rest and comfort in our God. We must ground our being and our action in the God who calls us to serve this broken world. One of the many ways to ground ourselves in God and grow in our spiritual journey is through retreats: times set apart and away to explore, meditate, pray, and rejuvenate our souls. To that I end, I sent a proposal to the CTS Council requesting the space and the time to offer one-day retreats and quiet days for just that purpose. Out of that proposal, the Council extended to me, and I accepted, a call to be Retreat Coordinator for CTS. Beginning this fall, with the support and blessing of St. Hildegard’s Church, Arlington, VA, and using the building and grounds of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, I will offer one-day retreats on a variety of aspects concerning spiritual formation, as well as quiet days. The retreats and quiet days will be held on Saturdays from 9:30 to 3:30. The first retreat date is September 30 (see separate article on the next page for particulars). Other dates for the fall are October 7 and 14, November 11 and 25, and December 9. As this new ministry grows, my prayer is that we will be able to expand retreats to include weekend and weeklong retreats. I am humbled and excited as I answer this call as your Retreat Coordinator and pray your spiritual journey and growth in God will be enhanced through this new ministry area. page 6 † September 2006 †
Slide 7: How Do You Talk to God? A Look at Prayer a one-day retreat led by the Reverend Linda Harrison on Saturday, September 30, 2006 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church As a people of faith, Paul exhorts us to pray ceaselessly. Yet, many people feel uncomfortable with the notion of “prayer” outside of the worship experience. Prayer seems to be shrouded in mystery, sometimes inaccessible and often ethereal. Bewildered, confused, and baffled, some progressive Christians shun personal prayer as either superstitious or as an expression of conservative faith; others avoid prayer because of misconceptions concerning prayer. However, prayer is neither superstitious nor the exclusive purview of one group. Prayer is a gift from God available to all people. Sadly, many people do not avail themselves of this great gift that is so essential to our walk in faith and our walk with God. Whether you consider yourself a prayerful person, or are unsure about prayer, come and explore prayer in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. This one-day retreat is designed to help us discover prayer, either anew or for the first time, as the multi-faceted, glorious, and grace-filled activity it truly is. What to expect: · · · questions to stimulate thought and conceptions about prayer; voluntary group sharing; time to reflect and pray. Bring an open mind, a bagged lunch, a journal or notebook, and a pen or pencil. You may also want to bring a Bible and/or book of inspirational poems or other inspirational writing if you have one. Reservations are not required, but would be helpful. A free-will offering will be taken. Contact Linda Harrison at 301.540.7472 or at RevLindaSHarrison@comcast.net for more information. Future retreats will look at meditation, different spiritual disciplines that compliment prayer and meditation, spirituality and social activism, and of course quiet days to reflect on seasonal spiritual themes. Future dates this fall for one-day retreats and quiet days are scheduled for October 7 and 14, November 11 and 25, and December 9. Your spiritual journey is not complete without prayer. † September 2006 † page 7
Slide 8: Nursery Volunteers Needed Please let me (Cathy Kuchinsky) know if you would like to volunteer to periodically help in the nursery during services. Also, if we had a regularly staffed nursery, are there any CTS families that would use the nursery besides the visitors? Please let me know. Thank you. —Cathy Kuchinsky Help Local Students Succeed in School This fall, Montgomery Village will have a new SHARP Suspension Program hosted by Christ the Servant Lutheran Church. SHARP suspension programs are grass roots community-school partnerships that offer academic and emotional support to suspended students who otherwise would be wandering the streets and in danger of dropping out of school. The goals of the program are: to provide a safe, supervised place where students can volunteer to serve out their suspensions; to access and assist students in the completion of their classroom and homework assignments; to encourage students to examine and take responsibility for behaviors that led to their suspensions and consider behaviors that will yield more positive results for them; and to provide students and their families with referrals to appropriate community and school based services. SHARP serves middle and high school students who have been suspended from school for disruptive behavior or skipping school. All students who participate do so voluntarily and agree, with their parents, to comply with SHARP policies. None are accepted who might be dangerous to other students or staff. The program, which runs from 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM during the school year, maintains very structured schedules, with academic activities and discussions as important components. As a result, most students who participate in SHARP are ready to participate successfully in their normal classes at the end of their suspensions. The SHARP Program is looking for compassionate, communityminded adults to tutor and mentor students at the Montgomery Village and Gaithersburg sites. Volunteers need not be professional educators; students need sincere adult help with organization, writing skills, study habits and reading interpretation. Ideally, volunteers will agree to a three hour “shift” at least every other week. Volunteers must undergo a criminal background check, which is a required standard for all agencies serving youth under the age of 18. Initial and ongoing training are provided and prospective volunteers are always encouraged to speak with the site director and make a visit to the site during operating hours to determine if this program is the right fit for their volunteer goals and interests. If you have any questions about the SHARP Suspension Programs, please feel free to call Isaac Kornegay, Program Coordinator at 240683-6580, extension 216, or Sharon Levine, MVF Director of Government Relations, at 301-948-0110, extension 313. Gaithersburg HELP’s Current Panty Needs • 16 oz. canned fruits (peaches, pears, fruit cocktail) • Cereal • 16 oz. canned vegetables (green beans, corn, peas, mixed vegetables) • Boxed rice • Instant potatoes • Spaghetti sauce with meat (Don’t know if the mac and cheese embargo has been lifted yet. Stay tuned.) —Joanne Eater † September 2006 † page 8
Slide 9: Biloxi Journal July 30August 2, 2006 By Polly Bergtold Sunday, July 30, 2006 Marlin Strand, five other Good Shepherd people, and I journeyed to Biloxi to help in the “Lutheran Disaster Response” effort (motto: “Just Come!”) on July 30. Marlin had been in Biloxi in April and he knew where the devastation was at that time. On this trip, he and I had time to spare before we joined the rest of the group, so we drove down the coast. Here’s what we saw: fragments of houses with small FEMA trailers next to them—that’s where the people were living while they tried to salvage their houses. Fifteen-foot-high piles of debris; the Gulf water looks like you could walk on the debris for miles out, and never sink down (we were there at low tide—it’s not as visible in high tide) this, after almost a year! We saw: the brand-new homes (some on stilts!) next to places with no roof, or trees lying crisscross over or around partially damaged homes; boardedup businesses, houses with the Condemned “X” on the front of them, some tents, everywhere the small FEMA trailers and debris. We decided that if all we did were to rent a huge truck and simply go around and haul off debris, we would be at that simple task for many, many months. That night, at Bethel Lutheran Church (our host church) one of the host Pastors (Ed) and his wife talked with all of us volunteers (from many states). They showed a video of the horrors of Katrina and its aftermath, and talked about “The Face of God”; that is, people willing to put their lives on hold to help those destitute and desperate. So many stories of miracles wrought in the storm and after. But also, eighteen landfills overflowing with debris, and no end in sight of the need for more. So much still to do, but people so grateful to all the volunteers for whatever they can accomplish. The accommodations at this church are palatial: a big meal with plenty of snacks, thick mattresses on the floor, indoor bathrooms, three showers, and towels furnished and laundered daily! We are very blessed. Monday, July 31 I’m an early riser so I became the 6:00 a.m. alarm clock. No problem. I’m normally up by 5:00 a.m. and Biloxi is an hour behind, so I actually slept in an hour. Got everyone up from G-Burg—we all slept in one room—at 6:00; breakfast for all was at 6:30. The crew from Good Shepherd included Marlin Strand, John, Sandra and Denise Redmon, Emily Cole and Matt Miller. Emily, Denise and Matt are all young adults home from college for the summer. Holding-hands-in-a-circle prayer, then breakfast was the way we all started the day at Bethel. Good coffee, a great variety of breakfast offerings—no one went away hungry except by choice. The Gaithersburg crew was at our work site and up on the roof by 7:30 a.m. Although I have helped repair/replace/rebuild all kinds of roofs, I had not done so south of Maryland. I had felt smug because I had on a combination bug spray and sunscreen and felt thoroughly protected. We had a cooler full of a water bottles and ice. We’d brought two cases of bottled water and a five-gallon container of Gatorade. We were all dressed for a hot climate in lightweight clothing. † September 2006 † page 9
Slide 10: We had the tools, the ladders, and the building materials. We were ready! However, by 9:00 a.m. that roof was very hot. I learned that wearing shorts to roof was a very bad idea. I could hardly sit, kneel or lean on it for fear of blistering my legs. I thought longingly of the jeans I’d decided not to wear, and had about decided to go back to the church and change. About that time, a breeze stirred the trees and I looked up. Clouds were gathering fast, and soon became dark and threatening. Thunder boomed and lightning flashed. It started to rain. The roof cooled, but got slippery and dangerous and the lightning flashes grew closer. We had been taking turns being inside the house shell, mucking out, sweeping and trying to salvage what were left of tools and other things. When the sprinkling drops became steady rain, we all retreated inside. The front and back doors did close, but the inside was not habitable, and the rain dripped everywhere. The rain continued, so after about an hour of working on inside projects, we ate an early lunch. The rain was supposed to quit soon and the day to become hot and humid again. It did; by 1:00 p.m. we were back on the roof. We had secured bathroom privileges with the house’s owner, Tom, an aging contractor suffering from liver cancer and emphysema, who lives behind the ruined house in a small FEMA trailer. But Tom apparently forgot and went out, locking the door. We saw him leave but assumed he had left the door unlocked. About 2:00 p.m., when he hadn’t returned, and the door was obviously locked, some of us were desperate. Meanwhile, the thunder and rain began anew—a good time to run errands! By the time we returned, the rain had lightened again; the rest of the crew were back on the roof; we joined them. We all finally quit about 4:30 p.m. to allow time for showers (clean up) before dinner at 6:00 p.m. We had accomplished a lot that day, in spite of the rain. That night the Pastor’s wife, Judy, spoke to us all about the day Hurricane Katrina hit, and all that happened after and how many miracles there had been. Her story was so completely awe-inspiring that I’ve asked her to come to CTS to speak with us about her experiences. She is planning a trip to the DC area after January and hopes to make a stop here. After her talk, she looked around the room at the fifty or more volunteers and asked, “Now who will do the Devotions tomorrow night?” No one raised a hand. She asked again. I hadn’t planned on raising my hand, but I did. The rest of the G-Burg group, my Good Shepherd comrades, volunteered to do the service with me. While everyone else was settling down for the night, I went back outside for contemplation. I also called Tom and Anne Lipe for inspiration and just to talk with them, and suddenly decided that the jazz version of the “Lord’s Prayer” might work very well. Meanwhile, Sandra was figuring out readings, etc. After trying to pick out the tune on my pennywhistle, I sought out John and Sandra Redman’s daughter Denise, to see if she’d play it on guitar with me. We worked for a couple of hours on it, then fell exhausted into our beds, satisfied that we could do it. Tuesday, August 1 The cooks move quietly about the kitchen, making breakfast. I check my watch; it’s just 5:00 a.m. I get up to check whether my jean shorts had dried enough to put them back on for roof work. I only have one pair each of jeans and shorts, and the shorts are definitely skuzzy from grime and muck. I need something clean for Devotions. It has rained again in the night, page 10 † September 2006 †
Slide 11: and my shorts are not even close to being dry. The person who launders the towels said that she would be glad to add my jean shorts to the wash. I am very grateful. It promises to be a hot day on the roof. At 6:00 I get our room folk up. Good food, great fellowship, good work to do. Sandra says she’s working on her part of the Devotions. I have the day on the roof to figure out music possibilities. Sandra has been asked to stay behind to help in the kitchen. She is eager to do so. The rest of us head back for the roof, stopping by the Good Shepherd church where all our supplies and tools are kept. Interesting fact: Bethel Lutheran is an ELCA church; Good Shepherd Church in Biloxi is Missouri Synod. Both groups are working for the common good with no conflicts there. The day is hot. We have our drinks and tools. We are ready. We work, we drink, we dump water over our heads, come down from the roof for about 10 minutes every hour or so to cool off a bit and rest, and then go back up and repeat the process. There are actually 4 roofs: a very steep high roof, a standard sloping roof, a shed roof and a flat roof. We have basically finished the standard-sloping roof the day before, and are working on the steep sides. Tom has come out to check on our progress; and shows us where the trailer key is, in case he’s not around when we need to use his facilities. He’s miserable. He has fallen in the night and thinks he has cracked a rib but is afraid of going to the clinic or seeing a doctor. He is so immuno-compromised from the chemotherapy and other meds he’s taking that he is afraid of exposure to someone else’s illness. A neighbor is taking care of him. About noon we break for lunch. It is just too hot to be on the roof for very long. After about an hour break we all go back to work. The materials, shingles and tarpaper, are sticking together because of the heat. The work moves slowly but steadily. Every now and then a cooling breeze wafts by us. But by 2:00 p.m. we are done in and unable to go on. Marlin and John decide it is just too dangerous to work in our exhausted state. We go back to Bethel for an hour or so of rest and refreshment in the church. It is welcomingly cool in the church. Some people there admonish us that it’s still too hot to be roofing. But by 3:30 p.m. we all are energized and ready to go back to work. We divide into two teams: Marlin and I will work on the flat roof. It needs new tarpaper, and a coat of roofing tar to secure it to the old roof. John and his team, the three college kids, will work on shingling the steep roof. Marlin and I worked carefully, measuring everything, laying down the tar only in places required. Despite this, somehow we both got tar all over us, our shoes, inside the roll of measuring tape, on the hammer—but we got that roof done! The rest of the crew finished what they needed to for the day, and packed up and were ready to leave. They thoughtfully spread big plastic black bags all over the seats of the other car and left us with two new pairs of gloves for the trip back to the church— testimony that they knew we were filthy! Marlin and I doused our tarry hands and arms in paint thinner, scrubbing off what we could. Back at the church, we were given priority for showers. My shorts were clean and dry; I left my filthy shoes at the door, removed my tarry clothes in the shower, knowing that I would need them again tomorrow but clearly recognizing that then they were destined for the trash bin. We made it to dinner by 6:15 p.m. We started the Devotions about 7:00 p.m. Marlin’s idea was to warm up the participants by a sing-along. He suggested “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and “Angels Watchin’ Over Me” † September 2006 † page 11
Slide 12: (“All night, all day…”), singing them each separately, then dividing the group into two and half singing one while the other half sang the other song—simultaneously. Since we all know Lutherans love to sing, that worked beautifully, all (or if not all, it was not obvious who did not) singing lustily and enthusiastically. Then Denise and I taught them the Gapfiller’s version of the “Lord’s Prayer.” Afterward, Sandra had us do several readings from the Bible, and talked about her own “Face of God” experience, inviting the congregation to share theirs. We closed with “Evensong” (“If I have wounded any soul today…”). After Devotions, Marlin and I went in search of a stronger soap to rid us of what was left of the tar. Marlin had a streak down his cheek. I had a stubborn patch on one arm and elbow. WalMart was open. “Goop” hand cleaner works just fine. Marlin and the rest of the crew headed for bed. I went back outside to contemplate the day and to enjoy the warm evening, listening to night sounds, thankful for fellowship, music and all the caring evident in this place. Wednesday, August 2 Up early. Woke everyone in the room as arranged, at 6:00 a.m. Good breakfast, great coffee. I dragged on my smelly, tarry clothes again. We’re back on the roof by 7:30AM, all of us eager for today’s work. Tom still abed, neighbor there taking care of him. Bathroom privileges assured. It is not quite so hot today. Marlin and I must leave the roof by 1:00 p.m.; we need to be leaving for the airport by 2:00 p.m. The rest of the Gaithersburg crew will leave the roof at the same time. They’ll have a few hours of R&R at a nearby water-park, and they richly need and deserve the afternoon off. We finish what we need to—a little work remains for the rest of the crew to finish on Thursday. We all bid farewell to Tom and his caregiver. Marlin drops me off at the terminal about 2:30 and goes to look around the Biloxi/Gulfport area once more, in planning future projects there. In heading for the gate at which I will board my plane, I encounter two men who ask if I was at the Bethel church the previous night. They had also been there and were checking out how the Lutheran Disaster Response plan was working out in Biloxi, in hopes of starting a similar project in New Orleans. That’s where they were headed next. I wished them well. FEMA wants all of its trailers back, in order to be ready for the next disaster. So all those folks now in FEMA trailers must be leaving that housing soon, whether or not they have someplace ready to go! The need is so overwhelming for volunteers to help them… I will be back. If not in 2006, then definitely in 2007; it is so good to be able to help, if only in some small way, the huge effort to relieve people of suffering. I am bone-weary but so elated to have been part of that great effort. Peace to all and Love. —Polly page 12 † September 2006 †
Slide 13: Adult Education at Christ the Servant 2006—2007 Sunday Mornings Except for Advent and Lent, when Pastor Bastien will be teaching the 4th–6th grade Sunday School class, he will be the regular teacher at adult forum. This year, in the fall term, we will continue our study of Church history by examining the lives of the fathers and mothers of the faith commemorated in our Book of Worship. This year we will be looking at the April saints. In the Spring Term, we will begin a careful reading of the Book of Joshua. Theology Club This group meets monthly―usually on the last Sunday of the month at 7:00 p.m.—to discuss a current or classic book of interest from the perspective of Christian faith. The year our readings will be: September The Left Hand of God by Rabbi Michael Lerner. (A rabbi tries to rally religious folk of progressive values to fight the takeover of religion by right-wing political forces.) Bowling Alone by Robert D. Putnam (This is social criticism and is about how our society is increasingly fragmented and isolated.) Descartes' Secret Notebook by Amir D. Aczel (Yikes! A book about the mysteries of math.) The Future of Religion edited by Santiago Zabala (A conversation between two important philosophers. The American agnostic, Richard Rorty, and the Italian radical Roman Catholic, Gianni Vattimo.) Shadows on the Hudson by Nobel Prize winner Isaac Bashevis Singer (A novel about the lives of Holocaust survivors in New York City after WWII.) Children of Disobedience by Asta Scheib (A novel about The Love Story of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora.) The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (A famous writer deals with the death of her husband while her daughter is in the hospital in a coma.) Othello by William Shakespeare October Forest Oak Film Buffs On the third (or, sometimes, the sec o nd) Sunday of each month, at 5:30 p.m., lovers of film gather to watch a movie together and then to discuss its meanings. Everyone brings some finger food to share. The host each month provides the movie and the drinks. Come and share a favorite movie experience with the group. November January February Seminar This group of people meets once a month—on a Saturday morning from 10:00 a.m. to noon (after which we normally share lunch together)—to read together and analyze in depth the works of a major religious thinker. This year we will be finishing Joseph Campbell's Oriental Mythology (volume II of his magnum opus, "The Masks of God") and we will begin volume III, Occidental Mythology. Come and join us as we study the history of human religion. March April May ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Adult Education Registration Name______________________________ Phone No. __________________ E-mail: _________________ Please check the classes for which you wish to register. Turn this form in to the church office. Sunday Mornings Adult Forum Forest Oak Film Buffs Seminar Theology Club
Slide 14: CTS YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2006 FaithTalk: Confirmation at Home: The Fall retreat will focus on Worship, so use this month to begin to share your thoughts about worship with each other. As a family, come up with a list of questions about worship – an “I’ve always wanted to know….." about worship list. Write these down and bring them to our prep sessions on Sunday afternoons. And take time to talk about the service each week – the readings, the hymns and music, was there anything different about the service this week, what stuck with you as you left. And try to attend a different worship service this fall – maybe a weekday evening prayer service or one of the lesser festivals (Holy Cross on Sept 14, St. Matthew on Sept 21, or St Luke on Oct 18). Finally, watch for the new ELW (Evangelical Lutheran Worship) book coming this fall! Chi Rho: Michelle Backus spent a week in July participating in this Metro DC Synod Youth Ministry Servant Event in Neon, Kentucky. Ask her to share her week's story with you…. (Barbara went along as one of the adult leaders – you can ask her, too!) 2006 ELCA Youth Gathering - Cruzando: Journey with Jesus – Hopefully you’ve had a chance to visit our weblog, read about our journey and view our pictures. If not, you can access it all through the CTS website. (If the link is not on the homepage, you can find it via the Youth and Family Ministry link.) Welcome Back to a New Year of Youth Ministry! Senior High (Grades 10-12) Koinonia / Agape Supper Thurs, Sept 7, 6:30 - 9:00 PM / H-K Come join us for our annual Agape Supper kick-off for youth Koinonia. Bring a can of soup (any flavor - just not one with a cream base) for the pot and enjoy an evening of food and fellowship with other youth as we start a new year on our faith journey. (We may change the evening in future months if Thursdays don't work for most, so let me know if Thursdays don't work for you!) Benedictine Workday Sat, Sept 9, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm / CTS Help get the church clean and ready as we begin a new Sunday School year. Plan to be there to help with whatever projects need doing I'm sure there will be a long list with tasks for all ages and skill levels! Lunch will be provided. We need your help! And maybe we can even get some things – like the sheep! - finally added to the Youth Room…. Rally Day Rehearsal Rally Day Youth Service Sat, Sept 9, 3:00 - 4:30 pm / CTS Sun, Sept 10, 11:00 AM / CTS Come help us prepare for the service. Everyone is needed and welcome! And if there’s any interest, we can go out for dinner and a movie afterwards…. We need everyone's help with this service that kicks off the 2005-2006 Sunday School year with great music and a service written by the Confirmation youth. We'll have a quick run through during the Sunday School hour that morning - wear your CTS or a Youth Ministry event T-shirt! Fall Retreat Preparation Sessions Sundays, Sept 10, 17, 24 and Oct 1, 1:00 – 3:30 PM / CTS This fall’s retreat will focus on worship. To prepare for writing our service during the retreat, we’ll learn about the liturgy and various parts of the worship service during these four Sunday afternoon sessions. We’ll start each session with a quick lunch and then move on to the material; we should finish by 3:30. Gaithersburg Help Sheepdogs (Parent Support Group) Mon, Sept 11, 5:00 - 7:00 PM Thurs, Sept 28, 8:00 - 9:30 PM / H-K We need 2-3 volunteers each month to help with our ongoing service project at the food pantry. Please call Beth Lashof or Barbara to volunteer or with questions. Parents of youth in grades 7-12 are welcome as we share with and encourage each other in our ministry to our children. At this first meeting, we'll come up with a list of topics and a meeting schedule for the year. (If Thursdays won’t work for you, please let Barbara know as we set up a schedule for this year.) Upcoming Activities and Events Fall Confirmation Retreat Fri, Oct 6 - Sun, Oct 8 / Camp Nawakwa, Arrendstville, PA Our Fall retreat will focus on Worship - we will learn about worship and the parts of the service and we will compose a new liturgy for use at the next three years of Confirmation retreats and Rally Day and De-Rally Day services. We’ll be going to a new site – Camp Nawakwa in Arrendtsville, PA! Senior High (Grades 10-12) Koinonia / Agape Supper Film Night Youth Ministry Dream Team Confirmation Koinonia Youth Ministry Yard Sale Thurs, Oct 5, 6:30 - 9:00 PM / H-K Fri, Oct 13, 7:00 – 10:00 / H-K Mon, Oct 16, 7:30 - 9:00 PM / H-K Tues, Oct 17, 6:30 - 8:30 PM / H-K Fri, Oct 27, 7:00 PM; Sat, Oct 28, 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM / CTS Start getting your stuff together now and get ready for the fifth annual CTS YM Yard Sale. Plan to join us Friday evening (we'll start at 7 PM) as we sort and set up (we'll have pizza to help us!) and bring a sleeping bag and pillow, clothes to sleep in, your toothbrush and your CTS t-shirt to wear Saturday for the sleepover so we'll be all set to go first thing in the morning! We need everyone's help - including parents! Reformation Service Sun, Oct 29, 4:00 PM Join Lutherans from all over the Synod for the annual Reformation Service at the Washington Cathedral We’ll meet at CTS at 2:00 pm to carpool down – bring some money for dinner as we always stop at Armand’s for pizza on the way home. We’ll be back around 8:00. Chrysalis 2006 Check your email 1-2 times per week for reminders and updates! Fri, Dec 1 - Sun, Dec 3 Metro DC Synod's annual Youth Ministry event for Senior High youth. Watch for registration forms sometime in Oct... For information about current/future CTS Youth Ministry Activities, contact Barbara at 301-963-6236 or by email at bharner@comcast.net (H-K: activities at the Harner-Kerlavage home; CTS: activities at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church)
Slide 15: CHRIST THE SERVANT LUTHERAN CHURCH September 2006 Tuesday Sunday As of August 20th, 2006 Monday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9:30 AM Holy Communion 13th Sunday after Pentecost Labor Day 5:30 PM -8:45 PM AA groups 12:00 PM -1:30 PM NA group 5:30 PM -8:45 PM AA groups 6:30 PM Sr High Koinonia 8:00 AM -3:00 PM Benedictine Workday 3:30 PM Rally Day Rehearsal 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 8:30 AM Matins 9:50 AM Christian Education 11:00 AM Holy Communion 8:00 PM Parish Council 8:30 AM Montg. Conf. Pastors' bible study 5:30 PM -8:45 PM AA groups 12:00 PM -1:30 PM NA group 5:30 PM -8:45 PM AA groups 7:30 PM Holy Cross Day Eucharist 10:00 AM seminar 1:00 PM -3:30 PM Fall Retreat Prep Session Rally Day 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 8:30 AM Matins 9:50 AM Christian Education 8:00 PM Worship Committee 8:30 AM Montg. Conf. Pastors' bible study 5:30 PM -8:45 PM AA groups 12:00 PM -1:30 PM NA group 5:30 PM -8:45 PM AA groups 7:30 PM Saint Matthew's Day Eucharist 11:00 AM Holy Communion 1:00 PM -3:30 PM Fall Retreat Prep Session 5:30 PM Film Buffs 8:00 PM Outreach Committee 15th Sunday after Pentecost 24 Council Retreat 25 26 27 28 29 30 8:30 AM Matins 9:50 AM Christian Education 8:30 AM Montg. Conf. Pastors' bible study 12:00 PM -1:30 PM NA group 5:30 PM -8:45 PM AA groups 11:00 AM Holy Communion 11:30 AM Lunch Bunch 5:30 PM -8:45 PM AA groups 8:00 PM Sheepdogs meeting St Michael and All Angels All day workshop "What is Prayer?" 1:00 PM -3:30 PM Fall Retreat Prep Session 7:00 PM Theology Club 16th Sunday after Pentecost Footnotes deadline is third Sunday of each month.
Slide 16: Servants’ Lists for September 2006 Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 3, 2006 9:30 a.m. Holy Communion Acolytes ...................Dave Larrabee, Amos Keller Altar Preparation .......................... Wilma Garvey Communion Assistants................... Joyce Backus Steve Garvey Communion Bread..................Melanie McMichael Prayer Leader ............................... Joanne Eater Lector ........................................ Dave Larrabee Usher ......................................... Vernon Toelle Greeter ...................................... Joann Eastlack Flowers ....................................... Kwan Koehler September 17, 2006 Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost 8:30 a.m. Matins Acolyte .............................................. Tom Lipe Lector ............................................... Tom Lipe Usher ........................................... Doreen Foge Greeter .........................................Erica Adams 11:00 a.m. Holy Communion BEGIN REGULAR SUNDAY SCHEDULE September 10, 2006 Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost 8:30 a.m. Matins Acolyte ....................................... Wilma Garvey Lector .............................................Bob Adams Usher .............................................. Ernie Graf Greeter ..............................................José Vela 11:00 a.m. Holy Communion Acolytes ..............Bob McMichael, Ellie McMichael Altar Preparation ........................ Joann Eastlack Communion Assistants ...................Pat Andersen Melanie McMichael Communion Bread ............................ The Eaters Lector .........................................Polly Bergtold Prayer Leader...............................Polly Bergtold Usher ............................................ Chuck Eater Greeter ......................................... Amos Keller Hospitality ................................... Joyce Backus Flowers given today by................. Garvey Family 7:30 p.m. September 21, 2006 St. Matthew Holy Communion Acolytes ..................... Frank Foge, Tom Eastlack Altar Preparation ......................................Youth Communion Assistants............... Maggie Rasnake Melissa Foge Communion Bread.........................Julia Rasnake Lector .....................................................Youth Prayer Leader ..........................................Youth Usher .....................................................Youth Greeter ...................................................Youth Hospitality...............................................Youth Flowers given today by .............. Petersen Family Altar Preparation ........................ The Andersens Communion Assistant.....................Pat Andersen Lector ........................................... Chuck Eater Prayer Leader................................Pat Andersen September 24, 2006 Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost 8:30 a.m. Matins Acolyte ...................................... Robin Peterson Lector ......................................... Vernon Toelle Usher .......................................... Steve Garvey Greeter ............................................ Ernie Graf 11:00 a.m. Holy Communion 7:30 p.m. September 14, 2006 Holy Cross Day Holy Communion Altar Preparation ......................... The Andersens Communion Assistant ......................Chuck Eater Lector ......................................... Bob Andersen Prayer Leader .................................. Frank Foge Acolytes ................. Albert Ticona, Bob Andersen Altar Preparation ........................... Joanne Eater Communion Assistants .................Dave Larrabee Chuck Eater Communion Bread ........................ The Eastlacks Lector ..........................................Pat Andersen Prayer Leader..............................Dave Larrabee Usher ....................................... James Kabonge Greeter ................................... Mary Ann Jasper Hospitality ................................. Christiana Carr Flowers given today by............................. OPEN Launder Altar Linens in September ... Sandy D'Angelo