Elias Communicator

In this issue:

Kenya Trip – 1

Church Leadership – 2

Parish Life Committee – 2

Stewardship – 2

Head Deacons – 3

Altar Committees – 3

Acolytes – 3

From the Pastor – 3

Welcomers – 4

Assisting Ministers – 4

Council Corner – 4

Office Notes – 4

Here ’n’ There – 5

First Communion Class – 5

W/ELCA – 5

A Moment with Luther – 6

Thanksgiving Baskets – 7

VHE BASEMENV – 7

Wanted: Singers – 8

Chocolate PB Drops – 8

Christmas Supper – 8

Confirmation Class – 8

Solar Flashlights – 9

Poinsettias – 9

Copyright © 2008, Elias Evangelical Lutheran Church, Emmitsburg MD. Published by the Communications and Archives Committee: Bob Hampson, Polly Kittinger, Linda Knox, Shirley Rohrbaugh, and Frank Schmersal.

KENYA TRIP July 2009

Please pray for the ecumenical mission team preparing to go to Kenya July 13-28, 2009.

At this time our group consists of Phyllis Kelly, Dr. Holly Hoffman and her daughter Marie, Sam Valentine, and Pastor Jon. This is a Council of Churches extended ministry, so we are made up of every church in Emmitsburg either physically through support or spiritually through prayers. Interestingly, the Daughters of Charity have a mission nearby to where we are going, so we hope we can pay a visit to the sisters in Kitale. It is also a comfort to know we have this connection nearby.

We have had good success with our fund-raising efforts so far (there is approximately $2000 in the fund) as we have completed two fund-raising dinners and one HUGE yard sale. Thanks to all who contributed, helped or enjoyed partaking of these activities – stay tuned for future events in 2009 . . . perhaps a Spring Yard Sale can help you clean out more closets, garages or the attic!

The team will soon begin its series of immunizations/shots (ouch!) required for our travel. Dr. Holly Hoffman, who is our physician for the trip, is helping us with the series of shots we need. We have a schedule written out that tells us what we have to do and when . . . so we’re getting organized, immunized and energized for this mission trip!!

With God’s help, we’re going to accomplish great things and it will be a gratifying experience. If you could please remember in prayers all of the details of our organization, the people we’re going to see and the fund-raising efforts yet to be accomplished – it will be a blessing. Pastor Jon will be distributing brochures about the trip, including an opportunity for you to give and get a solar powered flashlight for Christmas or keep for yourself. See details about that on page 9.

Christmas Eve Service December 24, 7:30 PM

Church Leadership

Pastor:
Rev. Jon Greenstone
(301-447-6239)

Officers:

Wes Mumm – president

Frank Potts – vice-president

Betty Valentine – secretary

Staff:

Cheryl Carney – choir director

Cheryl Crum – custodian

Meg Garnett - organist

Bonnie Hahn - treasurer

Bob Hampson – sexton

Polly Kittinger – administrative secretary

Council:

Jay Gros
Bonnie Hahn

Phil Jeffcoat

Polly Kittinger

Linda Littell

Wes Mumm

Frank Potts

Allyson Rohrbaugh

Frank Schmersal

Nita Shank

Betty Valentine

Pat Zimmerman

Committees:

Audit

Communications & Archives

Evangelism

Finance
Memorials

Mutual Ministry

Nominating

Parish Education & Youth

Property

Special Events

Stewardship

Worship & Music

Parish Life Committee

On September 2, we provided refreshments to the Frederick Region’s Pastor’s meeting that was held at Elias. On September 24, we provided refreshments for the Emmitsburg Council of Churches Doctrinal Discussion held at Elias.

At the September 20 meeting of Women of the ELCA, the women voted on absorbing the activities of Parish Life into the Elias Unit of W/ELCA. This was due to the many activities that Parish Life does, but only two people are involved in the planning. For a better use of resources, it was decided to move the activities, along with the current budget amount of approximately $400 into the W/ELCA group. It is important to note the activities of Parish Life will continue, but the committee itself will dissolve and will no longer meet separately. At the September Congregational Council Meeting, the council approved the transfer of funds.

The first event sponsored under the Women of the ELCA was the New Member Celebration Potluck, held after the church service on October 19.

The primary contacts for parish life activities will remain Linda Littell, who can be reached at 301-271-3547 or by email at lindalittell@ earthlink.net, and Audrey Baumgardner at 301-447-6649.

- Linda Littell

Stewardship is Resource Management

(This is the third in a series of articles on stewardship, as presented in the May synod workshop “Rich Toward God” held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. The following was quoted from “Notes on the Theology and Practice of Stewardship For Evaluating Congregational Stewardship Programs,” written by Robert A. Kelly of Waterloo Lutheran Seminary.)

A “steward” is a manager of someone else’s property. Everything belongs to God, so stewardship involves the use we make of all of God’s resources. God is the creator of the whole world and is the loving redeemer of all creation. Those things we call “ours” (our bodies, our minds, our souls, our abilities, our homes, our families, our jobs, our income, our city, our environment- everything) all belong to God. God has lovingly entrusted these things to us so that we can participate in God’s mission in the world; that is, so that we can be part of God’s work of saving the world. Everything we have is a gift from God, nothing is our own property. Everything we have is given to us so that we can be a part of God’s mission. The point of any stewardship program is to teach us how to be better managers of God’s resources.

Take a moment to reflect, if you will, on how good a steward you are. How well do you manage the resources God has given you? Where could you improve?

In the next issue, we will look at stewardship as God’s mission.

Head Deacons

Nov.: Allyson Rohrbaugh
Frank Potts

Dec.: Betty Valentine
Pat Zimmerman

Altar Committees

Nov.: Pam Kemenyas

Dec.: Sharon Adams
Roger Adams

Acolytes

Nov. 2: Jacob Fannin
Isaiah Fannin

Nov. 9: Carrie Reaver
Bradley Reaver

Nov. 16: Jimmy Hoffman
Eric Himes

Nov. 23: Hannah Fannin
Arielle Mumm

Nov. 30: Jacob Fannin
Isaiah Fannin

Dec. 7: Carrie Reaver
Bradley Reaver

Dec. 14: Jimmy Hoffman
Eric Himes

Dec. 21: Hannah Fannin
Arielle Mumm

Dec. 24: Jacob Fannin
Isaiah Fannin

Dec. 28: Bryant Hoffman
Jimmy Hoffman

Greetings to all.

What times we’re living in! Are you feeling optimistic or gloomy? I hope and pray that none of us has been adversely affected by the disastrous financial downturn in the stock market and banking industry. No doubt, some of us have lost much or are feeling the effects at work or of lack of work. Let us uphold one another in prayer and by whatever support we can give.

Our faith should remind us that we trust not in the riches and cares of this world, but our faith is in the Everlasting God and his Son who was born for us, loves us and lives in us. For those of us who could be facing losing the house or inability to pay for gifts, groceries or necessities, the hardship has physical ramifications. If you are suffering, please don’t feel forsaken, but know there are means to help and agencies in town or nearby who can assist you.

We’re living in a time of testing. Some will endure this time patiently and wisely, others will not survive it because they don’t live by the right source of life – Jesus Christ our Lord. Instead they live in darkness, they allow Satan to get the best of them by living in fear, distrust and, for some, blatant evil. I’m going to be perfectly honest here, I don’t appreciate the sentiment of one of our neighbors on the western outskirts of Emmitsburg who has displayed a sign in their front yard depicting one of the Presidential candidates in a very negative and hate-minded fashion. While I do not dispute this person’s right to freedom of speech or expression, it does not instruct us in citizenship, but only encourages distrust, racial division and potential for violence – it is a poor example, one motivated by ignorance and fear.

As I have said above, now is not a time to go down into despair, where we are led by the gods of doubt, insolence and distrust, but now is the time to be led by Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord whose triumph over the devil, death and hell are our motivating example. With faith, we have nothing to fear accept fear itself, which is the absence of faith in a loving and saving God. Now is the time for us to shine! Behold our Savior comes!

In what ways can we shine when difficulty and hardship abound? First we can have the right attitude in our living and conversing with others. Let the hope that is in you, God’s love, Christ’s triumph over death, be first and foremost on your lips and in your heart. Many among us have experienced hardship before, how did we get through those times? What was the attitude of our parents or grandparents when times were tough? Did they not pray sincerely for deliverance while at the same time giving thanks for the blessings of what they had? Did they not work hard physically to care for the family? Indeed, they sacrificed, but they stayed together, they laughed and made the best of circumstances.

Perhaps it is a time to return to the basics, to give thanks for the company of our friends, spouse, children and neighbors who we love or are concerned about. As Paul has instructed us in his letter to the Colossians,

(continued on page 5)

Welcomers

Nov. 2: Jacob Fannin
Isaiah Fannin

Nov. 9: Erma & Neil Bechtol

Nov. 16: Allyson & Herb Rohrbaugh

Nov. 23: Bonnie & Bub Hahn

Nov. 30: Linda & Steve Wantz

Dec. 7: Tina & Wes Mumm

Dec. 14: Joan & Phil Jeffcoat

Dec. 21: Christy & Ernie Fannin

Dec. 24: Betty & Jim Brown

Dec. 28: Deirdra & Eric Himes

Assisting Ministers

Nov. 2: Linda Littell

Nov. 9: Matt Day

Nov. 16: Bonnie Hahn

Nov. 23: Frank Potts

Nov. 30: Linda Littell

Dec. 7: Matt Day

Dec. 14: Bonnie Hahn

Dec. 21: Frank Potts

Dec. 24: Linda Littell

Dec. 28: Matt Day

Have you met our new seminarian yet? His name is Matt Day and he’ll be with us throughout his first year at seminary.

Your church council has been active the last few months in preparing for end of the year events. The nominating committee will be meeting on Oct 19 in order to begin the process of seeking volunteers for the church council. If the idea of serving on the church

council is something you’ve been thinking of, let me or Pastor Jon know and we’ll be able to find a place for you.

Our 2009 budget submission process has begun. The church council spends many hours over the year watching how prudently your funds are being used. Our current (2008) annual budget is right around $129,000. As much as the council would enjoy cutting expenses, it’s not looking feasible due to increased fuel costs. Additionally our budget is pretty much a “bare bones” budget, meaning that there isn’t a whole lot of “fat” to trim. If you have an idea around the budget or where we can improve please let me know.

Our visitors from Mountain Manor continue to mention how wonderful it is to worship at Elias. Comments regarding how open our congregation is, or how friendly people are, continue to be heard every time I drive them back to Mountain Manor. I know that I enjoy worshipping at Elias, but also like to hear that others share the same sentiment.

Many of you have mentioned to the church council how awkward it is to switch back and forth from the green hymnal to the blue hymnal. Fortunately our Worship and Music Committee has a solution. After much research it appears that in the spring we will be using a new all-inclusive hymnal, Evangelical Worship. No more switching back and forth!

Wes Mumm

Council President

Office Notes

(In which Polly Kittinger keeps us updated on what’s really going on!)

Changes of address:
Scot Stitely
3300 Lakeside Drive 1-6
Falls Church, VA 22041

Anna Law
Gettysburg Lutheran Retirement Village
1075 Old Harrisburg Road, #403
Gettysburg, PA 17325

Please don’t forget to let us know if your e-mail address changes. We’re putting together an e-mail distribution list for news updates, and we wouldn’t want to miss you!

- Polly Kittinger

Here ‘n’ There

Elias will host the Emmitsburg Council of Churches meeting on Tuesday, November 11 at 7 PM. All are welcome to attend!

On November 9, Pastor Jon will be away visiting his wife, Suse, in New Jersey. There will be a guest pastor for Sunday Worship.

Emmitsburg Council of Churches Community Thanksgiving Service will be held on November 26, 7 PM, at Trinity UMC with Pastor John Rudolph presiding.

On December 21, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we will stage our Sunday School Christmas play during church: “Have a Holly Jolly ‘Retro’ Christmas!”

Service of Healing Prayers will be held on Sunday, November 16; no Holy Communion this Sunday only.  Those who wish, during time of prayers, may come forward to kneel or stand at the altar for annointing with oil and prayer.

Ecumenical Africa Trip Planning Committee meeting is November 10 at 7 PM. Check with Pastor Jon for the location – we may be headed to Carlisle, PA, to begin our immunization shots!

(continued on page 6)

First Communion Class

If your child is 5-11 years old and has not gone through Pastor Jon's First Communion class, please make your best effort to get him or her through the two-part study and workshop. Here are the dates:

Monday, November 17, 5-6 PM and

Monday, November 24, 5-6:30 PM.

Children need to participate in both class sessions. Please call or email the pastor to indicate your child's attendance. jsgreenstone@verizon.net Church phone 301-447-6239.

W/ELCA

The Women of the ELCA held their first meeting after the summer break on September 20. Election of officers for the coming year was held. They are: Linda Littell, president; Bonnie Hahn, vice-president; Audrey Baumgardner, secretary; and Lucille Valentine, treasurer.

The Parish Life Committee has now joined with the W/ELCA. The W/ELCA will assume the activities of this group.

The Frederick Cluster meeting will be held on Saturday, October 25, at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Frederick.

Remember to save your Campbell Soup products labels and cancelled stamps. They may be placed in the back windows of the church.

Our next regular meeting will on Saturday, November 15, at 10:00 AM at the church. There will be no meetings in December, January, or February.

- Audrey Baumgardner

From the Pastor (continued)

“…Clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which, indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father – through him” (Col. 3:14-17).

A blessed Advent and Christmas season to all. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Pr. Jon

Here ‘n’ There

Wedding Bells (continue) ringing at Elias! And so we rejoice, pray for, and celebrate with the following couples who are planning for their marriage at Elias: Krystal Keeney and Andy Wright (6/5/2009); Becky Ott & Dan Long (10/17/2009); Josh Whetherly & Brittany Glass (10/24/2009).

Elias will once again set up an Angel Tree in the weeks before Christmas. Roger Adams, Jr., has agreed to take on this project again. Last year, if you remember, the Angels of Elias provided a very bountiful Christmas for a local family in need. Let’s hope that, despite the dreary financial situation, our Angels will open their hearts again this year.

We are very grateful for all of the donations of altar flowers this year. Our new florist, The Lily Pad in Blue Ridge Summit, has been doing a great job of making our altar beautiful on Sunday mornings. We would ask, though, if you sign up to donate flowers, that you not forget to pay for them. The florist bills the church, so all you have to do is drop a check for $35 at the church office (or see Polly Kittinger or Bonnie Hahn.) Thank you!

(continued on page 7)

A Moment with Martin Luther

Mid-November 1523, Wittenberg, Germany.

A Crisis of Paying Rent!

Luther’s strong criticism of the papal church caused many people to become so unruly that they refused to fulfill their external obligations to the institutions of the church, such as the payment of rents for church-owned property. Consequently many church institutions were faced with financial difficulties. In addition, there was the question of what was to be done with the buildings which formerly had been occupied by members of the papal church but which for one reason or the other had been abandoned. Kind of sounds like our present day Sub-Prime Mortgage Crisis! We listen in as Martin describes his present dilemma . . . .

To Elector Frederick, Grace and peace in Christ!

Most Serene, Noble Sovereign and Lord: Your Electoral Grace this year permitted us to borrow some grain from the tax collector. Now the tax collector daily admonishes us severely [to repay it], yet we cannot do so since our rents do not come in; they have not yet been paid. In order to settle this matter I therefore humbly ask that Your Electoral Grace cancel our debt for this grain with the aforementioned tax collector. I think and hope it will not be necessary to do so again.

Further, Most Gracious Lord, I am now living alone in this monastery with the Prior (not counting some who were exiled by the enemies of the gospel [and] whom we lodge here out of Christian love). I have delayed this Prior more than a year to serve me; I cannot and do not wish to prolong his stay here any further, since his conscience requires him to change his [way of] life. In addition, I cannot endure the daily moaning of the people whom I must admonish to pay the rents. Therefore we are inclined to relinquish and hand over the monastery with all its property to Your Electoral Grace, as the last heir. For if the Prior leaves, then I no longer have any business here; I have to see where God will provide for me. I humbly request Your Electoral Grace graciously to grant, either to this Prior or directly to me, the property next to the hospital, which had been purchased by our monastery for … gulden, so that we, the last, do not depart from the monastery absolutely empty-handed. I do not mean that Your Electoral Grace should make a public grant or issue a deed for it, since I well know what problems this could cause Your Electoral Grace. I only ask Your Electoral Grace to look the other way so that we might take it over quietly, yet with good conscience. In this way we would be protected, and could oppose X if this property stood in my name. If X should become somewhat greedy, or make its own manipulations to get it, we could then appeal to Your Electoral Grace as if to acquire the permission at that time. Meanwhile [perhaps] God will also make an open bequest possible.

Responsibility and love force me to ask for this, since, because of the persecution of the gospel, the Prior must forego his inheritance from his

(continued on page 7)

Here ‘n’ There

Remember and pray for those serving in the military or private sector in Iraq or elsewhere. Let us surround: James and Joe Whitney, Brian Brotherton, Chris Sites, Wade Doan and Ted Pickering (friend of Pr Jon and Suse), their spouses and families with our love, notes of encouragement and offerings of help if needed. We thank you all for your service and sacrifice, we love you and support you in Christ.

Our midweek Holy Communion service continues to be held on Wednesday mornings from 9:30 to 10:00 AM. If you’re not a regular Sunday church-goer, please consider joining us for Wednesday morning. We keep it short and light. Come as you are, bring a friend! It’s sure to bless your mid-week

Are you a "crafter?" Do you knit, crochet, sew, needlepoint, cross stitch, paint, sculpt, woodwork, scrapbook, or anything else you can think of?? You know who you are!!! We are looking for crafted donations for the craft table at the church supper and bazaar on Saturday, December 6. Please bring your items to the big Sunday School room by Thursday, December 4. And don't forget to shop on the 6th - crafted items make great Christmas gifts!

A Moment with Luther (continued)

father, which is located in the territory of the bishop of Trier. Under other circumstances he would be rich enough.

May God’s Grace protect Your Electoral Grace. Amen.

Your Electoral Grace’s dedicated
Martin Luther

May God’s grace deliver and protect us during this time of financial crisis. May we be grace-filled in our dealings with one another and continue to live with hope beyond the present.

Your humble Luther editor: P.J.

Thanksgiving Baskets

Just a reminder to everyone that Elias is again providing Thanksgiving Family Friendship Baskets to local families in need this year. We will be collecting food items or donations each Sunday until Thanksgiving. If you will be donating a frozen turkey, please let Peggy Stitely (301-271-3459) know by November 9 as she will be purchasing the turkeys needed prior to November 23. So far we have collected corn, green beans, boxed stuffing, sweet potatoes, green beans, $5 for apple pie. If you missed any Sunday(s), please feel free to bring these items any Sunday before November 23, as all donations are greatly appreciated and needed. The weekly items remaining are: November 2 - sauerkraut (can); November 9 - frozen turkey or $$ donation; November 16 - cranberry sauce; November 23 - potatoes -5 lbs. bag (to avoid spoilage, bring today only)

VHE BASEMENV

VHE BASEMENV Coffee House for November 14 features an acoustic evening with recording artists John and Carrie Lewis, and our own Silver Lining Band. Then get ready for our Third Annual Gospel Christmas coffee house on December 12, featuring the Children’s Praise Choir, the Holy Harmony Quartet, and Thomas Sleigh & Treasured Hearts Ministries! It’s going to be ONE HOLY NIGHT of praise, celebration and rejoicing! Please come to support . . .

THE BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC IN EMMITSBURG!

Deadline for the next issue of the Elias Communicator is December 7.

Wanted: Singers

Now that choir practice has been moved to Wednesday evenings, those who couldn’t join the choir because they were busy on Monday evenings have no excuse! (And we know who you are!)

Seriously, we could use a few more ringers and/or singers, so if you’re available on Wednesday evenings, come on out and give it a try! You don’t have to be a professional singer, and you don’t have to be there every single Wednesday or Sunday. We have fun, and it’s a great way to participate in the worship service. Handbells practice at 7:00 PM, and the singers start at 7:45. See you there?

There will be lots of special handbell music at the worship service on Sunday, December 14. The handbell choir will be celebrating the return of its refurbished bells. Don’t miss this special event!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Drops

In early November we will be working on the Peanut Butter Drop project for Christmas. Plan to join us for two days of making drops, good conversations with old and new friends, snacks, and lunch.

We will be taking orders from the congregation in the near future for these delicious candies: $3.00 for (approx.) ½ pound of drops in a glassine bag, or $3.50 for (approx.) ½ pound of drops in a container decorated for Christmas. We plan to make the same amount as we did in the Spring – approximately 240 packs. These make great gifts for family, friends, teachers, and others. (Including editors! – Ed.)

More information about our work schedules, and order forms, will appear in our church bulletin soon. Thanks in advance for any time or support you are able to give to this project. Your support has made it possible for us to give, just during the last few months, $500 toward the new bronze plaque on the front of the church, $95 for restoration of the handbells, and flowers to a “candy volunteer” who was hospitalized.

The Peanut Butter Candy Committee

Christmas Supper and Bazaar

The Christmas Supper and Bazaar will be held on December 6 (providing no one has fallen through the dining room floor). Preparation begins Thursday morning at 8:30 am to roast the beef; same time Friday to roast the turkeys. Join us for lots of fun in the kitchen! A sign-up sheet will be on the bulletin board and Polly Kittinger will also be getting in touch with folks. (As in past years, tickets are in short supply for positions in front of the sink, so be sure to get yours early! – Ed.)

Remember to donate to the Bake, Craft and White elephant tables. The carry-outs dinners also need brownies, cakes without icing, etc. – things that can be put into baggies for traveling. We thank you in advance for your support. Come and eat if you are not able to make a donation. See you on December 6^th!!!

Confirmation Class

Confirmation Class is for young people grades in 6,7,and 8. Pastor Jon is presently teaching Confirmation in the pastor's office during Sunday School (9-10:15 AM).

We believe that the Confirmation program enables the young Christian to develop and mature in his or her faith life. It also reinforces the foundational truths of the Scriptures and our own unique Lutheran understandings of God's grace at work in young lives. Children who complete their Confirmation gain an ethical framework that serves them for a lifetime and enables them to be successful and productive citizens – members of the Body of Christ.

Elias Communicator

Volume 10, No. 5 “All The News We Feel Like Printing” October 2008

Altar Committees

Acolytes

A Moment with Martin Luther

Mid-November 1523, Wittenberg, Germany.

A Crisis of Paying Rent!

Your humble Luther editor: P.J.

VHE BASEMENV

Help us bring Solar Flashlights to Africa. For a donation of $20 you get a very cool Solar Flashlight for yourself and, at the same time, supply one for a child in Africa along with a LIFE SAVING MOSQUITO NET!