Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, February, 2023

OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
February, 2023

ASH WEDNESDAY
February 22, 2023, 7:30 PM
Divine Service with the Imposition of Ashes

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Easter Day is the heart and center of the Christian Year, for apart from the resurrection of our Lord there is no salvation. Saint Paul writes:

If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:17–20)

From ancient times the Church has prepared for Easter by forty days of fasting and prayer which call to mind the Savior’s fast of forty days in the wilderness. In the English-speaking world this forty day season is called “Lent,” a word which comes from an old English word “lencten” which means “spring” and refers to the lengthening days at this time of year. And just as earth comes to life after the death of winter, so also the Lenten season is a time of spiritual renewal through reading and meditating on God’s Word, through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In Christ’s sermon on the mount (Matthew 6:2–21) it is very clear that our Lord expects those who would follow Him to devote themselves to prayer, fasting and almsgiving—not because God needs our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving but because we do if we are to be ever more closely conformed to the image of the Savior. We pray in response to God’s command and promise that our prayers are heard. We fast because our bodily appetites—though good in themselves—are disordered through sin. We give alms as a weapon against selfishness remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35) and because of the tremendous need that meets us on every hand. Do keep in mind the needs of the GEDCO food pantry and the Helping Up Mission. Boxes for donations are just inside the door near the church office.

Lent is a time for saying no to everything in our lives that contradicts Christ and His love for us and for every human being. We need to hear God’s Word calling us to repentance, we need to hear God’s Word showing us the Lord Jesus in whose death our sins are dead and who calls us to follow Him in faith and hope and love. Again this year we will have our Wednesday evening Lenten services at 7:30 PM, preceded by a soup supper at 6:30 PM. On Ash Wednesday we have the Divine Service with imposition of ashes. On the other Wednesdays in Lent we have Vespers, the church’s order for evening prayer, with the Litany. Dr. Luther regarded the Litany as “next to the holy Lord’s Prayer the very best that has come to earth.” The late Rev. Dr. Luther Reed wrote: “The Litany is a responsive prayer of the church, penitential in character but unselfish in its intercession for all human need and mighty in its grasp of the grounds for divine compassion.” In a word, the Litany is one of the church’s treasures; sadly, it has in more recent times been a neglected treasure.

No one can look at the world today and fail to see the ravages of human selfishness, greed, and lust for power. No one can fail to see the groaning of the fallen creation in earthquake, fire, and flood—to say nothing of the ravages of disease. Through all of this God is calling us to repentance and amendment of life. Is His voice being heard? Are you and I hearing His voice?

The Church Council continues to address the maintenance of our buildings and will keep you informed as progress continues. We are hoping to have some necessary work done to the organ in the weeks ahead which will mean that we will be without the use of the organ for several Sundays. The piano in the front of the church was recently tuned so that it can be used while the organ is out of commission.

Do consider joining us for the adult Bible Class on Sunday mornings at 9:45. We continue our study of the First Epistle of Saint Peter.

We continue to remember all those for whom our prayers are desired: James Bauman, Louis Bell, Dana Carmichael, Maggie Doswell, Quilla Downs, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Helen Gray, Queenie Hardway, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Mary Mokris, Robert Siperek, Jr., Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson. In my recent visit to Maggie Doswell she told me how much she appreciates the cards sent to her. She remains at Cadia Healthcare, 4922 LaSalle Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782. Yolanda Ford is still at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224. Louis Bell remains at Autumn Lake HealthCare, 7 Sudbrook Road, Pikesville, MD 21208. Queenie Hardway is at Augsburg Village, 6825 Campfield Road, Baltimore, MD 21207.

If you are not able to come to church and want to receive the Sacrament at home, do not hesitate to call me at (410) 554–9994 or email me at charlesmcclean42@gmail.com. Do let me know if you need a ride to church. We are continuing to livestream our services at Our Saviour Baltimore Facebook.

Remembering that every Sunday—also every Sunday in Lent!—is a “little Easter,” the Lord’s People are in the Lord’s House at the Lord’s Own Service every Lord’s Day.

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean

Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, January, 2023

OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
January, 2023

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6
THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD
FESTIVAL DIVINE SERVICE, 7:30 PM
followed by a reception

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Let me begin by thanking you for your Christmas cards and gifts! And speaking of gifts, through the generosity of members of our congregation we were able to give twelve ALDI gift certificates, each worth $65, at Thanksgiving and twelve certificates, each worth $100, at Christmas to needy families connected with the Waverly School.

I suspect that almost everyone is familiar with that delightful song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” The song can remind us that the Church’s celebration of Christmas continues for twelve days. The twelfth day of Christmas, January 5, is often referred to as “Twelfth Night,” the Eve of the Feast of the Epiphany when we celebrate the coming of the magi to Bethlehem. The coming of these Gentile wise men to worship the infant Savior was both a fulfillment of prophecy and itself a prophecy of the coming of all nations to worship Him, and of the blessed hope that at His great epiphany—His coming in glory at the Last Day—every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. The Festival Divine Service on Epiphany begins at 7:30 PM. Come and join in singing familiar carols: “The First Nowell,” “What Child Is This,” “We Three Kings of Orient Are”—and bring your friends! The wise men offered frankincense to the Christ Child; pure frankincense will be used at this service. A reception will follow Divine Service.

During the week before Christmas two of our members were called to Christ’s nearer presence. Lucille Carmichael fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday, December 20. Robert Siperek fell asleep in the Lord on Wednesday, December 21. May the Light perpetual ever shine upon them and may the Savior comfort those who mourn with the sure and certain hope of the resurrection. When many years ago a dear friend of mine died around the middle of December, a mutual friend sent me a note saying: “We know that his is the real Christmas.” And so I say of Lucille and Robert: “We know that theirs is the real Christmas.” As we sang on Christmas morning: “Oh, where shall joy be found? Where but on heavenly ground? Oh, that we were there! Oh, that we were there!”

Our new organist is Deborah Lewis. She has been playing for us for a while but now has been offered and has accepted the position of organist. This is good news as anyone knows who has heard her play! She took the lead in providing for the playing of chimes on the Fourth Sunday in Advent and on Christmas Eve. And I thank those who played the chimes: Gabe Purviance, Justin Ricci, Abigail Scheck, Judy Volkman, Mary Techau, and Paul Techau, our faithful cantor.

Let us continue to remember in prayer: James Bauman, Louis Bell, Dana Carmichael, Maggie Doswell, Quilla Downs, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Helen Gray, Queenie Hardaway, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Mary Mokris, Julia Silver, Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson, Wayne West. Maggie Doswell remains at Cadia Healthcare, 4922 LaSalle Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782, Yolanda Ford at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224, and Louis Bell at Autumn Lake Healthcare, 7 Sudbrook Road, Pikesville, MD 21208. Queenie Hardaway is at Augsburg Village, 6825 Campfield Road, Baltimore, MD 21207.

The winter Voters Meeting will be held following Divine Service on January 15. Every member of Our Saviour, eighteen years old and older, may participate as we consider our work as a congregation.

The Lord’s People are present in the House of the Lord at the Lord’s Own Service—the Holy Communion—every Lord’s Day. If you are unable to come to Church and want me to bring you the Sacrament in your home, you need only call me at (410) 554–9994 or email me at charlesmcclean42@gmail.com.

I wish you a truly happy new year in the name of Jesus.

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean

A WORD FROM GABE PURVIANCE

We’ve had quite a year, with in-person worship services back to normal, the dedication of the bells, adding new members, and endless other blessings. We’d like to sincerely thank you for making all of the good we did this year possible with your generosity.

We also have had lots of projects this past year, and one large one was the replacement of the 60-year-old boiler that was original to the Education Building. This replacement is approximately $24,000. The council approved going ahead with the replacement, as the heating season is upon us and we did not want to have a failure. The installation of the new system was completed in mid-December. Money from the church savings account, which has about $65,000 in it, was used to fund the replacement. We are hoping to replenish the money in the account in order to maintain our cash reserves.

We need your help with replacing these funds. If you are able to make a donation, please designate your donation for “boiler replacement.” If you are not able to give at this time, please share our need with your family and friends.

A WORD FROM JUDY VOLKMAN

On December 11, a gathering was held to thank me for my 60-plus years of involvement with Our Saviour. My involvement was not undertaken for accolades; I did it because the Lord put me where I was supposed to be. Sometimes, I liked it. There were other times when I asked “Why!” As I look back, I am proud to have been part of a significant time in the life of Our Saviour, the merger with St. Matthew’s. Yes, there was a departure of a number of members, but we hung in there and are now on the upswing, thanks to new and younger members. It is time for others to step in and take on the responsibilities that I had assumed. If I stay in the positions, there is no need for someone to step up! So this is an opportunity to revitalize our congregation!

Thank you so much for the recognition. It has been a joy and a learning experience.

Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, December, 2022

OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
DECEMBER, 2022

CHRISTMAS AT OUR SAVIOUR

CHRISTMAS EVE—FESTIVAL DIVINE SERVICE, 7:30 PM
CHRISTMAS DAY—FESTIVAL DIVINE SERVICE, 11:00 AM
NEW YEAR’S DAY—DIVINE SERVICE, 11:00 AM
EPIPHANY (FRIDAY, JANUARY 6)
FESTIVAL DIVINE SERVICE, 7:30 PM

Sunday School and Bible Class will not meet on December 25 or January 1.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

How quickly this year has gone by! Soon we will enter the year of our Lord 2023. All time is divided into the time before Christ, B.C., and the time since the coming of Christ, A.D., Anno Domini meaning “in the year of our Lord.” And it is at Christmas that we celebrate the coming of God into time as the Child of blessed Mary. This is the great mystery of the incarnation, of God in the flesh that is yours and mine. The word “incarnation” consists of two Latin words: “in” meaning in, and “caro” meaning flesh. At the Divine Service on Christmas Day we will hear the wonderful prologue of Saint John’s Gospel in which he writes: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.” In the translation of The New English Bible we read: “When all things began, the Word already was…” That is in reality more of a paraphrase than an exact translation, but I think that it does express the truth in a compelling way. And the humanity God’s eternal Son and Word took from His virgin mother He has never put aside. Through all eternity He remains not only true and eternal God but also our truly human Brother who knows all our weakness yet loves us still. The incarnation is the mystery long hidden but now revealed, it is the mystery of love beyond all knowing: that the Creator of the universe, out of love for you and for me and for the whole world, chose to come into the world He had made as a tiny infant. No wonder it was long the custom to kneel in adoration when in the Creed we confess our faith that God’s eternal Son “was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man”!

It goes without saying that every Christian will come to Divine Service on the festival of the nativity of our Lord. As the humble shepherds found Him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, we find Him in the lowly bread and cup of the Holy Sacrament: “How silently, how silently the wondrous Gift is given!” On Christmas Eve Divine Service begins at 7:30 PM. And because Christmas Day falls on Sunday this year, Christmas Day Divine Service begins at 11:00 AM—not 10. The Sunday morning Bible Class will not meet on Christmas Day nor on New Year’s Day.

A combined donation of $29,000 in memory of Joseph Silver has been received from the families of Dennis and Christine Watson, Don and Lisa Watson, and Gary and Catherine Watson. These monies will be placed in the Historical Preservation Fund. Many thanks to these families for sharing their bounty with Our Saviour!

On Sunday, December 4, Ben Orris and Richard Brown will be cooking breakfast for anyone who wishes to stay after Divine Service. If you have been to one of these breakfasts, you know that Richard and Ben are good cooks. Come and join us!

Following Divine Service on Sunday, December 11 there will be a reception to thank Judy Volkman for over sixty years of service at Our Saviour. She has served as president of the congregation and Sunday School director and in a multitude of jobs that needed to be done. I must say that she has been a tremendous help to me from the time I arrived here at this church. Our congregation owes her a great debt of gratitude.

The church will be decorated for Christmas following Divine Service on December 18, the last Sunday in Advent. December 18 is also the deadline for ordering poinsettias. Be sure to include the names of those you wish to remember or honor with your check earmarked “poinsettias.” Wayne and Jean West are in charge of ordering the poinsettias this year ((410) 236–6392, (410) 236–8092).

Remember that we are giving ALDI gift certificates to needy families connected with the Waverly School. Be sure to mark your checks “Gift Certificates.” And do remember the ongoing need of the GEDCO food pantry and the Helping Up Mission. Boxes for contributions to these works of mercy can be found inside the door from the small parking lot north of the church.

Offering envelopes for 2023 are available for pick up in the back of the church. Please do not use them until January since they have been renumbered.

Let us continue to pray for all those for whom our prayers are desired: James Bauman, Louis Bell, Dana Carmichael, Lucille Carmichael, Maggie Doswell, Quilla Downs, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Helen Gray, Queenie Hardaway, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Mary Mokris, Julia Silver, Robert Siperek, Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson. Maggie Doswell is making progress in her recovery at Cadia Healthcare, 4922 LaSalle Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782. Yolanda Ford remains at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224. Louis Bell remains at Autumn Lake HealthCare, 7 Sudbrook Road, Pikesville, MD 21208. Queenie Hardaway remains at Augsburg Village, 6825 Campfield Road, Baltimore, MD 21207.

Please do not hesitate to email me at charlesmcclean42@gmail.com or call me at (410) 554–9994 if you need a ride to church or if you want me to visit or bring you the Sacrament. For those who are unable to attend church, we continue to livestream our services Our Saviour Baltimore Facebook.

In one of the Church’s most ancient prayers for the Christmas season we speak of how God “wonderfully created and even more wonderfully restored the dignity of human nature,” but both in our own land and throughout the world we daily see so much that utterly contradicts the dignity of human nature. As Christians, it is our duty to pray for all who suffer such degradation and to do what we are able to do to resist it as God gives wisdom and strength. Our Saviour lay in the manger for every human being, and therefore every human being is precious in His sight. Let us then this Christmas come to the House of God to give thanks for the great mystery of the incarnation, and let us continue to pray fervently “for the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all.”

The Lord’s People are at the Lord’s own Service in the Lord’s House every Lord’s Day.

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean