Showing posts with label Religion Grace Lutheran Church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Religion Grace Lutheran Church. Show all posts

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Pastor Martha Clementson shared a children’s sermon at services at Grace Lutheran Church this morning in Westminster, June 12, 2016.




Pastor Martha Clementson shared a children's sermon at services at Grace Lutheran Church this morning in Westminster, June 12, 2016. 
 
The gospel message this morning, 2 Samuel 11: 26- 12: 10, 13-15; and Luke 7: 36 – 8:3 appears to have been torn from a tawdry realty talk show. Pastor Martha did a great job of bringing it to life, making sense of it and making it relevant today. She taught us lessons that we can use in the coming weeks and months. And Galatians 2: 15-21, the third gospel lesson at services this morning; glued it all together.

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Sun. May 23, 2016 Welcome to services at Grace Lutheran Church.


Sun. May 23, 2016 Welcome to services at Grace Lutheran Church. Of course, I am so surprised that it is raining, but here at Grace, it's all sunshine and rainbows.

Friday, May 20, 2016

I really enjoyed the Celebrating America Luncheon with Mark Zwonitzer at Grace Lutheran Church. Friday, May 21, 2016


I really enjoyed the Celebrating America Luncheon with Mark Zwonitzer at Grace Lutheran Church. Friday, May 21, 2016 Tony Eckard Gainor Davis Richard Weaver Doug Howard Kathy Zepp Wantz Pamela Zappardino Charles Collyer Michael Shipley

Zwonitzer, the author of "The Statesman and the Storyteller," about the relationship of John Hay and Mark Twain; is being by interviewed McDaniel professor, historian Dr. Bryn Upton

Sitting with Pam Zappardino and Charles Collyer and so many good friends and colleagues. Hat's off to the leadership of Commissioners Howard, Weaver, and Wantz – and for Lynn Wheeler and the great staff of the Carroll County Public Library… for bringing this program forward…

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Welcome to services at Grace Lutheran Church Sun. Feb. 21, 2016 Second Sunday in Lent


Welcome to services at Grace Lutheran Church Sun. Feb. 21, 2016 Second Sunday in Lent. Today's sermon noted that Grace provides our community 12,000 meals a year.

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Grace Lutheran Church Council President Ron Fairchild leads the discussion


Sat. Jan. 30, 2016 Grace Lutheran Church Council President Ron Fairchild leads the discussion at our winter leadership retreat. Ron is awesome and Grace Lutheran Church rules. Just saying....


Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
21 Carroll Street
Westminster, MD 21158
(410) 848-7020

The Reverend Kevin Clementson, Senior Pastor
The Reverend Martha Clementson, Senior Pastor





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Saturday, January 23, 2016

Grace Lutheran Westminster Sat. eve. and early Sunday 7:45 am services cancelled

Update: All services at Grace Lutheran Church in Westminster cancelled for this weekend http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2016/01/grace-lutheran-westminster-sat-eve-and.html

1:33 pm, Saturday, January 22, 2015


At 1:33 this afternoon, it was announced that all services have been cancelled for this weekend. Which is good because everybody needs to stay home and stay off the roads. Just saying.

At 1:33 Pastor Martha wrote in an e-mail, “If you have been outside you won't be surprised to hear that the worship services and Christian Education Hour are canceled for this weekend. This is a decision that we don't make lightly, but seemed like the only thing we could do this weekend! I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend. Sometimes we all need to be forced to slow down for a bit! Hopefully, we will see you all next weekend!”




Grace Lutheran Westminster Sat. eve. and early Sunday 7:45 am services cancelled #stormjonas #Blizzard2016 #snowday http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2016/01/grace-lutheran-westminster-sat-eve-and.html



Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 12:25 PM Pastor Martha Clementson announced that it has been decided to cancel the Saturday 5 pm services at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church at 21 Carroll Street in Westminster, Md.

Pastor Martha said in an e-mail, “Hi Everyone: Just wanted you to know that so far we've decided to cancel two of our services. We are still holding out hope that one or more of the services can be held on Sunday. We'll see about that tomorrow. Please share the word with anyone you know that might try to attend one of these services. We're making some phone calls, but would rather that people be told more than once. Thanks for your help! Pastor Martha

Pastor Martha Clementson
Co-Senior Pastor
Grace Lutheran Church
Westminster, Maryland

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
21 Carroll Street
Westminster, MD 21158
(410) 848-7020

The Reverend Kevin Clementson, Senior Pastor
The Reverend Martha Clementson, Senior Pastor





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Carroll Co Community Events, Religion, Religion Grace Lutheran Church, Dayhoff photos, Dayhoff photos churches, Dayhoff Daily Photoblog,

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For Westminster MD Online

Snowtastrophe Maryland Snowmageddon Snowpocalypse French Toast





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Maryland State Police: Caution Urged As Snow Storm Moves In January 20, 2016 http://news.maryland.gov/msp/2016/01/20/caution-urged-as-snow-storm-moves-in/ (Pikesville, MD) – Maryland State Police are urging drivers to use caution and think twice before heading out this weekend due to the potential snow storm. http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2016/01/maryland-snowmageddon-snowpocalypse.html


Mary Morris - “Snow” an Adele "Hello" Parody (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO) http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/2016/01/mary-morris-snow-adele-hello-parody.html

Post Offices Close Early Due to Winter Storm Jonas January 22, 2016 http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2016/01/post-offices-close-early-due-to-winter.html


Snowtastrophe - These days big government cannot get anything right. Friday, Jan. 22, 2015 Kevin Dayhoff http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2016/01/snowtastrophe-these-days-big-government.html


Snowtastrophe - These days big government cannot get anything right.

Friday, Jan. 22, 2015 Kevin Dayhoff http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/468852.html

KevinDayhoff Art:

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Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: 
Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:
Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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Saturday, January 16, 2016

Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016 5 pm services at Grace Lutheran Church, 21 Carroll St. Westminster Md. www.gracelc.org


Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016 5 pm services at Grace Lutheran Church, 21 Carroll St. Westminster Md. www.gracelc.org

Dayhoff photos Grace Ch, Religion Grace Lutheran Church, #Dayhoffphotoblog, Religion Grace Lutheran Church #Dayhoffphotoblog,

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Richard Henry Bollinger died September 12, 2015 at Hope Hospice at Health Park in Fort Myers, FL.



Richard Henry Bollinger died September 12, 2015
at Hope Hospice at Health Park in Fort Myers, FL.
He was born on November 30, 1924, in Hanover, Pennsylvania, the eldest of nine children born to Percy and Pauline Becker Bollinger.

He grew up on the family's farm in Taneytown, MD and graduated from Taneytown High School in 1941.

He married the former Ruth Ellen Eckard of Westminster, MD, on April 3, 1948.

He was employed at Union Trust Company in Baltimore and later at Maryland National Bank from which he retired in 1989.

He was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church in Westminster where he served two terms as President of the Church Council, taught Sunday School, was Chairman of the Bloodmobile for 18 years, Treasurer of the Shepherds Staff, and assisted in organizing the first Soup Kitchen.

He served as the first President for the Carroll County Luther League which he helped to organize in 1947.

He was also a volunteer at Carroll County General Hospital and was a member of the Westminster Elks Lodge.

He and his wife moved to Fort Myers, FL in 1997 and joined Zion Lutheran Church where he served as an usher, a member of the Social Committee and as a Stephen Minister.

He also volunteered at the Southwest Regional Hospital. He was a volunteer for many years with the Community Cooperative Ministries, Inc. (CCMI) in Fort Myers, serving meals to those in need and packing Meals on Wheels.

He was passionate about feeding the poor and homeless. In his spare time he enjoyed reading the Bible, playing golf, Baltimore Orioles' baseball games, and family get-togethers.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth Ellen, of Fort Myers, his daughter, Susan (Barrett) Genson of Fort Myers, FL, and Grafton, WI; three grandsons, Scott (Anna) Oakes of Brookfield, WI; Stephen Oakes of Grafton, WI; and Ryan (Staci) Oakes of Wauwatosa, WI; five great-grandchildren; brothers Robert of Taneytown, MD; Lester (Dorothy) of Union Bridge, MD; Maurice (Betty) of Hanover, PA; sisters Evelyn (Harry) Newlin of Frederick, MD; and Doris (Kenneth) Crouse of Taneytown, MD. He is further survived by sister-in-law Frances Duttera of Littlestown, PA. and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; brothers Glenn and Donald, and sister Pearl Sell, all of Taneytown, MD; and by sisters-in-law, Arlene Bollinger, Charlotte Bollinger, and Mildred Bollinger, all of Taneytown, MD; and brothers-in-law Eugene Sell of Taneytown, MD, and James Duttera of Littlestown, PA.

A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, September 19, at 11am at Grace Lutheran Church, 21 Carroll St, Westminster, MD 21157.


In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Richard Bollinger may be sent to CCMI, 3429 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33916; Zion Lutheran Church, 7401 Winkler Rd, Fort Myers, FL 33919; or Grace Lutheran Church at the address above. The family wishes to thank the staff at Brookdale at the Lakes Senior Living Center and Hope Hospice at Health Park for their loving care. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/carrollcountytimes/obituary.aspx?n=richard-henry-bollinger&pid=175848719&fhid=11209#sthash.ETSM9x9e.dpuf
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Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: 
Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:
Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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Tuesday, September 8, 2015

James Handley, CPA, Army Vet, and member of Grace Lutheran Church, died September 5, 2015.

James Handley, CPA, Army Vet, and member of Grace Lutheran Church, died September 5, 2015.

James R. Handley

James Richard Handley, of Westminster and resident of Carroll Lutheran Village, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Visitation Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015 5-8 p.m.

Services: Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 at 10:30 AM, Grace Lutheran Church, 21 Carroll St.  Westminster, Maryland 21157, United States


He was born in 1927 in Frederick. He was the son of the late Charles R. and Laura (Stine) Handley. He was the husband of the late Violet D. (Duvall) Handley, his wife of 54 years who passed away in 2004.

Mr. Handley was an Army veteran serving in Germany from 1945 - 1948. He was a graduate of George Washington University where he received a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. He worked as a CPA for Pannell, Kerr & Foster.

He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church and the Valley Lions Club. He was a Stephen Minister for Carroll Lutheran Church, and also volunteered thousands of hours at Carroll Hospital Center over the past 10 years. He enjoyed golfing and goofing off.

Surviving are children Mary Handley of Harrisonburg, VA, Michael Handley and wife Beth of Dedham, ME and Patrick Handley and wife Carolyn of Chicago, IL; sister Clara Hobbs of Mt. Airy and grandchildren Robyn and Ethan Handley and Elliot and Hannah Kulakow.

He was predeceased by siblings Curtis, Clarence and Richard Handley and Catherine "Betty" Walters.

Visitation will be held on Thursday Sept. 10th from 5 to 8pm at PRITTS FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 412 Washington Rd., Westminster.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday Sept. 11th at 10:30am at Grace Lutheran Church, 21 Carroll St., Westminster with Revs. Kevin and Martha Clementson officiating.

Interment will held at Taylorsville Cemetery at 1:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in his memory to Habitat for Humanity International, Gifts for the Heart, 121 Habitat St., Americus, GA 31709-3498 or to Carroll Hospice, 292 Stoner Ave., Westminster, MD 21157.

Online condolences may be offered at www.prittsfuneralhome.com
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Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: 
Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:
Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

French Boys’ Choir to perform Wednesday, August 26, at 7pm at Grace Lutheran Church


Les Petits Chanteurs de France to perform Wednesday, August 26, at 7pm at Grace Lutheran Church http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2015/08/french-boys-choir-to-perform-wednesday.html 

Grace Lutheran Church will be co-hosting, with the Children’s Chorus of Carroll County, a performance by Les Petits Chanteurs de France in the Sanctuary on Wednesday, August 26, at 7pm, as part of our Pot Luck and Song series. 

Les Petits Chanteurs de France is a French Boys’ Choir consisting of 22 boys from the ages of 7 to 17 performing classical repertoire as well as folk, Broadway and even Disney tunes.

They have received notoriety through their many concerts in prestigious places, TV shows, national and international tours, radio broadcastings, religious ceremonies, charity galas, etc (http://www.petitchanteursdefrance.fr/).

Please do not miss what will truly be a memorable musical event for Grace Lutheran Church!





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Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: 
Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:
Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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Hellen C. Widerman, 87, of Westminster, Maryland died Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Hellen C. Widerman, 87, of Westminster, Maryland died Tuesday, August 25, 2015  http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2015/08/hellen-c-widerman-87-of-westminster.html


Hellen Widerman

Born: Wed., Dec. 7, 1927
Died: Tue., Aug. 25, 2015
Visitation

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Fri., Aug. 28, 2015
Location: Westminster Location

Memorial Service

11:00 AM Fri., Aug. 28, 2015
Location: Westminster Location

Hellen C. Widerman, 87, of Westminster, Maryland died peacefully Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.  Born December 7, 1927 in Melrose, she was the daughter of the late John and Mabel (Anderson) Chamberlin.

Hellen was a secretary, having worked for Atty. Ralph G. Hoffman, and as a civil and criminal clerk in District Court.  She retired in 1991 while serving as secretary for the Honorable Luke K. Burns, Jr.  She was the first woman named to the Board of Carroll County General Hospital, where she also volunteered for many years and served as president of the Hospital Auxiliary.  Hellen was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Westminster.  She taught Senior High Sunday School at Leister’s Lutheran Church for many years.

Surviving are daughters, Carol S. Richard and husband Clayton E. Richard, Jr. of Birmingham, AL, and Connie S. Buczkowski and husband Ron Buczkowski of Westminster; grandchildren, 1st Lt. Jade C. Hill, USMC, of Okinawa, Japan, and Molly Hill of Westminster; and great-grandchildren, Landon G. McQuin and Ella R. Harris; and step-son, Ronald Siegman and wife Joanne of Westminster.  She is also remembered by devoted friend and long-time companion, John V. Lowe, of Westminster.  She was predeceased by son, James Allen Siegman; first husband, George C. Siegman; second husband, Bernie Widerman; and brother, James Chamberlin.

A memorial service to celebrate Hellen’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, August 28, 2015 at Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home, 91 Willis St, Westminster, MD, with the Rev. Kevin Clementson officiating.  The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.  Interment will be private.
  
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Carroll Hospice, 292 Stoner Ave., Westminster, MD, 21157.
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Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: 
Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:
Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Changes




Kevin E. Dayhoff

Last night I covered the Westminster mayor and common council meeting for the newspaper: “Broad range of topics discussed at the Westminster mayor and common council meeting Monday night http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2015/08/broad-range-of-topics-discussed-at.html. And I had spent almost all day in church at Grace Lutheran Church in Westminster. 

At the end of the day, as I was writing the article on the council meeting, I could help but to recall one of my all-time favorite sermons about change.

Both Westminster city government and Grace Lutheran Church need to continue to change in order to continue to relevant.

Fortunately, Grace Lutheran, under the leadership of Pastors Martha and Kevin Clementson, and church council – especially Council President Ron Fairchild are continuing in the correct direction of adapting with the times.

Along with my sister-in-law, United Methodist Church Pastor Sarah Babylon Dorrance, this simply must be some of the brightest and best church leadership around.

Same goes with the Westminster city government.

As I sat last night in the Westminster council chambers beside city attorney Elissa Levan, I reflected upon the fact that I have now been going to Westminster City Hall since the late 1950s and have always been impressed with the level of care, diligence and expertise exhibited by our government at work.

But the current administration simply must be one of the best in the state of Maryland – and the current mayor and common council are going some great things. We should all be proud and help in any way we can.


So, anyway, this one of my all-time favorite sermons…. June 14, 2001: "Sharing Faith in a New Century” By Lutheran Bishop H. Gerard Knoche

"Sharing Faith in a New Century”
By Lutheran Bishop H. Gerard Knoche

** Here is the text of the sermon by Lutheran Synod Bishop H. Gerard Knoche at Synod Assembly Opening Worship, June 14, 2001, based on Acts 17:16-34; given at Western Maryland College in Westminster, MD.

Permission is given for congregations to reproduce it for their own use.

This one of my all-time favorite sermons…. June 14, 2001: "Sharing Faith in a New Century” By Lutheran Bishop H. Gerard Knoche http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2001/06/thisone-of-my-all-time-favorite-sermons.html

Labels: #Dayhoff5EasyPieces, Change, History This Day in History 0614, Religion Grace Lutheran Church, Religion Lutheran, Religion Lutheran Bishop H. Gerard Knoche, Religion Shrinking Church - See more at: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2001/06/thisone-of-my-all-time-favorite-sermons.html#sthash.MTtrx3fN.dpuf
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If we do not share faith in the new century many of the congregations in the Delaware-Maryland Synod will die.  I am sorry that my first words as a preacher at Synod Assembly carry bad news.  But in my travels around the synod in these last nine months, I have come across too many congregations where the largest demographic group in the congregation is over 55.  Two urban churches have closed since I took office, both being sold to other denominations that expect to make a go of it.  If they can do it, why can’t we?  It was almost shocking last Sunday to be in a congregation where there were more teenagers worshiping than in any other church I have attended (20 or 25 at least).  “If this church can do it, why can’t others?”  I asked myself.  Churches that will survive, that will grow, are churches that have, as our assembly theme suggests, learned how to share the faith in a new century.

The lesson from Acts tells the story of Paul sharing the faith with a group of people who are new to him.  Paul has been left in Athens and is depressed to see the city is full of idols.  Apparently there were beautiful statues to every imaginable Greek god or goddess throughout the city.  He is waiting for Silas and Timothy and so decides to argue for the faith with the Jews in the synagogue and with the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers.  Like other Athenians, the text says, they “spent their time in nothing but telling or hearing something new.”
This evening I would like to look at Paul’s speech to see what it might tell us about Sharing Faith in a New Century.  First, Paul went out to the Areopagus, the public square where folks gathered to talk.  Unlike times past, we cannot expect folks to come to church looking for us.  Those who do that are largely those who have had some experience with the church in their background.  Increasingly, there are many Americans who have had no contact with Christianity, know nothing about it—and may even feel it is irrelevant or may be hostile to it.  A telling commentary on our culture is the fact that ”spell check” in Windows 95 does not have all the books of the Bible in its list, much less many of the Biblical names.  They are not part of the general basic knowledge base.  In campus ministry it was not unusual to have a student come in timidly saying, “I’m dating a Christian.  I have no idea what that means.  Can you tell me?”  To share faith in the new century we will need to go to the unchurched where they are.

Secondly, Paul knew the world-view of those with whom he wanted to communicate.  He had discovered their altar to an unknown God and he knew that they shared his belief that God had created all things.  He spoke the gospel to them in a form they were most likely to understand and accept.  We need to be more attentive to our audience.  Leonard Sweet is one of the writers who has researched what the postmodern culture is like. I don’t have time to share all the characteristics, but I will say that it is a culture more interested in spiritual experience than spiritual arguments.  They want to feel God more than they want to understand God.  Stories of personal belief are more convincing than explanations of doctrine.
Today’s culture also seems to be able to hold two contradictory notions at the same time.  F. Scott Fitzgerald said that the test of a first-class mind is the ability to be able to hold two opposing ideas in the head at the same time and still be able to function.  Book titles catch the doublespeak with ”Ordinary Miracles” or “Open Secrets” and movies with “True Lies.”  More significantly, it is true that new houses are bigger while families are smaller; more farmers are making big bucks and more farmers are facing financial catastrophe; more people are becoming rich than ever before and more people are becoming poor than ever before.  The postmodern is able to handle paradox, which in other days we have called dialectics.  We need to understand the worldview of the unchurched if we are to share the faith in a new century.

Thirdly, and perhaps most obviously, we need to know the gospel ourselves. 
Paul makes his connection to their thought world and then moves on to talk of
God’s judgment, of their need to repent, and of the resurrection.  It pains me to read that pollsters have determined that four out of ten folks who call themselves Christians are unable to name the four Gospels.  If the way that
Jesus speaks to us and guides us in our life is through the Scriptures, then
if we don’t know the Scriptures we don’t know Jesus very well either.  There
is no question in my mind that the key factor in churches that are reaching
out to share the faith is the rostered and lay leadership.  Folks who know Jesus, know the Bible, and are excited about sharing that relationship with
others do it best.  To share faith in the new century, we need to deepen our
Biblical knowledge and our love of Jesus, so that we will have something
fresh and dynamic to share.

One of the fears about changing the way things have always been with new
music or the use of the Internet or coffee house churches is that what is most precious to us will be lost.  The story is told that in the early days of the Tennessee Valley project, a dilapidated homestead was going to be torn down.  They were damming the river and the valley would be flooded out.  A new split-level ranch house was built for the Appalachian family on a hillside nearby.

The day of the flooding arrived and the bulldozers were there to tear down the old house.  The family refused to move out of the homestead.  Finally, out of desperation, a social worker was called to find out what the problem was.  “We ain’t goin’ anywhere” was the reply.  The social worker pleaded with them to tell her what the problem was and why they would not move into their beautiful new home.

”See that fire over there?” the man asked, pointing to a blazing fire in the
primitive hearth of the log cabin.  “My grandpa built that fire over a hundred years ago,” the man explained.  “He never let it go out, for he had no matches and it was a long way to the neighbors’.  Then my pa tended the fire, and since he died, I tended it. None of us let it die, and I ain’t goin’ to move away and let grandpa’s fire go out.”

The social worker got an idea.  She arranged for a large apple butter kettle
to be delivered to the home.  The hot coals would be scooped up and transported to the new home, kindling would be added, and the grandfather’s
fire would never go out.  The Appalachian family accepted and moved up to the
split-level rancher on the hillside after they knew that they would have the
fire of their ancestors.

As we share faith in the new century, we will keep the fire—of water, of bread and wine, of the book that is a love letter from God, but we will move to new places, where we do things differently, lest the flood of modernity wipe us out.  Paul and Jesus would want it that way.  Then, just like with Paul, some will scoff; others will hear us again; and some will become believers.
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Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: 
Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:
Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/


See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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