T H E  P A R I S H  N E W S

St. Mary’s United Church of Christ

Silver Run, Maryland

Volume XXXI October 2010 No 8 modified for the Web.

(Previous issues available:   2008, 2009, 2010)

 

 

MESSAGE FROM THE PASTOR

 

Much that happens in our life together during this month of October at St. Mary’s United Church of Christ reminds us of our reason for being gathered as God’s people. Communion is at the heart of our gathering. And the annual celebration of World Communion Sunday, on October 3rd emphasizes our participation in the wider body of Christ as the whole church gathers for this sacramental act around a worldwide table. On October 10th, our morning worship will be a blended service that will include our various music groups adding to a traditional liturgy. Our belief that all Christians are called to minister in Christ’s name makes appropriate our annual observance of Laity Sunday on October 17th. We have a strong sense of our shared ministry together and we are grateful for the leadership provided by those who will conduct this service of worship. On Sunday, October 24th, at our monthly contemporary praise service, we will begin this year’s Stewardship campaign in which we will ask for our promises to support our church in the coming year. And on the final Sunday of the month, we invite others to join with us as new members of St. Mary’s church.

 

Much in our world would try to frighten us and distract our attention from that which is important and essential. Worship is at the heart of our life together. We continue to be reminded of our need to know and experience God’s presence, God’s love, and God’s direction for our lives. We continue to be reminded of our need for supportive community with one another and our responsibility to reach out to others who are in need. We have the opportunity for focused and faithful living, committing ourselves to priorities which reflect the divine purposes to which we are called. It only takes a little faith to move a mountain. We are blessed with an abundance of faith. Let’s go move some mountains together in Jesus’ name and for his sake.

 

Grace and Peace, Dick



WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY

World Communion Sunday is October 3rd. We will observe this expression of our unity with Christians around the world as we gather to celebrate with a service of Word and Sacrament at our normal 10:30 AM service. Communion will be served in the pews. All are reminded that this is also the Sunday to receive this year’s Neighbors In Need offering.

NEIGHBORS IN NEED SPECIAL OFFERING

On Sunday, October 3rd, we will be receiving the Neighbors In Need special mission offering as part of our observance of World Communion Sunday. Your gifts to the Neighbors In Need offering will support the ongoing work of the United Church of Christ in alleviating poverty, improving education for children everywhere, and addressing injustice in all its forms. Please think about how your own generosity can help in coming to the aid of our neighbors in God’s neighborhood. Your continuing support is greatly needed and appreciated!

LAITY SUNDAY

Our annual Laity Sunday worship service will be held on Sunday, October 17th, during our worship hour at 10:30 AM. Paul  will be the featured speaker for the morning. He will be joined by other members of our congregation who will help to lead our Sunday service of worship. Let’s show them our support as we gather with them and each other as the people of St. Mary’s United Church of Christ.

NEW MEMBER SUNDAY

 

St. Mary’s United Church of Christ will be receiving new members at our 10:30 AM worship service on Sunday, October 31st. Anyone who has an interest in joining the church or is aware of someone interested should contact the church office as soon as possible. Current members are encouraged to save the date and plan to attend as we welcome new persons into our church family.

ST. MARY’S 250th ANNIVERSARY

In the year 2012, we will celebrate our 250th anniversary as the people of our St. Mary’s congregation. Starting out as St. Mary’s German Reformed Church, later as St. Mary’s Evangelical Reformed Church, and now as St. Mary’s United Church of Christ, we have a proud heritage as we continue to be a faithful witness of God’s love in Jesus Christ to the people of this community and the world. As we make our preparations for this anniversary year, Doug  will share articles with us about our history, and we will soon be preparing for a special anniversary year pictorial directory. Our 250th Committee led by Becky continues to meet and we look forward to this upcoming celebration of t been ours to inherit.

CATOCTIN FALL ASSEMBLY
On Saturday, October 23rd, the Catoctin Association will meet at Evangelical Reformed UCC in Frederick. Rev. Tony Robinson will be the keynote speaker on the topic, “Transforming Congregational Culture.” Registration will begin at 8:30 AM. Any St. Mary’s members interested in attending should speak to the pastor or contact the church office.

PLEDGE  CAMPAIGN for 2010


 Our Fall Stewardship Campaign will begin on Sunday, October 24th. Pledge cards for next year will be mailed out at the beginning of November. Watch for your letter from the Stewardship Committee and please give your church your prayerful response. Pledges can be mailed to the church office or brought to our dedication worship service on Stewardship Sunday, November 14th. Thanks to all of you who continue to support the ministries of our church through your faithful giving.

 

DID YOU KNOW? ST. MARY'S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST WILL CELEBRATE ITS 250TH ANNIVERSARY IN MAY 2012!

 

This article marks the first of a series of articles that will appear in the Parish News over the next two years. As we anticipate this celebration in 2012, I will share a little something with you about our history each month.

The Reverend S. Charles Hoover wrote “A Review of the History of St. Mary’s Reformed Church” to celebrate our 150th anniversary. He was our pastor in 1912 at the time of our 150th anniversary. I will draw from his writings, from memories of mine and others from years past, and from stories handed down from earlier generations.

The early days of our church read like an American History book, our heritage goes back to Germany. The area around Silver Run was settled predominantly by Germans who made their way across the Atlantic Ocean to Philadelphia and then south to the rich fertile land of this vicinity. Here they built their homes, started their farms and raised their families. There are still families in our congregation whose roots go back to these early residents of the Silver Run area in the mid 1700’s.

St. Mary’s Lutheran and Reformed Churches were organized at the same time under one constitution which was adopted May 31, 1762. Jacob Lischy was the founding pastor of the Reformed Church (our original denomination) and served from 1762 until 1773. He was born in the Alsace- Loraine section of Germany and came to the “colonies” in 1742. While there is very little in the way of records that we have from these early years, we know it was customary for rural churches to be supplied by itinerant pastors who came to the communities periodically on horseback.

The German heritage in our church is strong. All the early records and documents were written in German. Services were conducted strictly in German until about 1876 and the use of German was not entirely discontinued until the mid 1890’s. The inscription above our altar – “Allein Zu Gottes Ehre”, roughly translated --- All to the Glory of God, reflects that heritage.

Rev. Hoover wrote, “It would be … too much to say that the small group of earnest men and women in 1762 had any appreciable consciousness of what the result of their small beginning would be.... Today we reap those results which have become our blessings through the faithfulness and zeal of them and their successors.”

 

STEPHEN MINISTRY CORNER

 

We are presently seeking anyone who may be interested in the possibility of becoming a Stephen Minister and thus would be participating in the upcoming Stephen Ministry training which would take place in 2011. If interested, please ask for a Stephen Ministry packet/application to a Stephen Leader or to the church office by November 14th. For more information, please contact one of our Stephen Leaders: Pastor Scott, Steve, or Dorothy Ellen.

 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The annual luncheon to support the Women’s Place and The Breast Center will be held on Sunday, October 24, 2010. Formerly known as the Hope and Healing Luncheon, it is now called Pink Fling.

The event will be held at Piney Branch Golf and Country Club, 5301 Trenton Mill Road, Hampstead. It will include a Silent Auction opening at 11:30 a.m with lunch being served at noon. The cost is $40.00 per person. The keynote presentation will be given by Marcia Talley, the award-winning novelist of the Hannah Ives mystery series and a breast cancer survivor. As the daughter of a Marine officer, a former teacher and librarian, an avid sailor, an author and devoted spouse and mother, Ms. Talley’s experiences have taken her across the globe and put her in contact with many people. Her presentation promises to be insightful, inspirational and entertaining.

There will be a flyer on the bulletin board by the church office, if you would like more information about being a sponsor of this event. A sign-up sheet will be in the Vestry.

 

WOMEN OF THE BIBLE

 

Mark Your Calendar -  Sunday, OCT., 2 2010 @ 3PM

 

The Evangelism & Spiritual Life Committee is very excited to have scheduled a performance by ANITA GUTSCHICK, of WOMEN OF THE BIBLE in our Sanctuary. Anita is known in the Baltimore-Washington area for her stage work and has worked professionally in video, film and radio. Active in her church, she has served as a deacon, is trained as a Stephen Minister, and has participated in Bible Study Fellowship. Anita developed WOMEN OF THE BIBLE IN 1995 and through God's calling it has become her most passionate vocation. God's grace has allowed her to share the messages of biblical women with tens of thousands of Men, Women and Children across the United States. The program has a balance of humor and serious content and appeals to BOTH Men and Women. The gospel message is vividly presented through Anita's performances. Tickets will be sold in advance beginning September 1st for $10.00 each. Contact the Church Office 410-346-7977. Light Refreshments will be served following the performance, during which time you will have the opportunity to meet and speak with Anita.

 

LOOKING AHEAD TO NOVEMBER....

 

The Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg is hosting a lecture series on consecutive Saturdays in November, 8:30 am - noon covering three different topics.

On November 6th, the topic “Suffering and the Gospel Response” will be facilitated by Rev. Dr. Leonard M. Hummel, Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Care and Rev. Dr. Richard Carlson, Glatfelter Professor of Biblical Studies. The suffering of creation and the suffering of humanity pose questions for faith and human existence. In these presentations, a Biblical theologian and a pastoral theologian will each offer insights from their particular disciplines into Gods’ good news in the midst of the reality of suffering. On November 13th, the topic will be “The Hope and Promise of Youth and Young Adult Ministry”. There will be an exploration of current trends and discoveries in ministry with youth and young adults. The presenting team will include members of the faculty of the Youth Ministry Certificate Program.

And on November 20th, Rev. Dr. Kristin Largen, Associate Professor of systematic Theology will engage in an Islamic-Christian dialog with Zeynib Salim, who holds graduate degrees in Christian-Muslim Relations from Hartford Seminary. She is a doctoral student of Religious Pluralism in the Department of Theology at Georgetown University.

The cost for this series is $20 per Saturday, or $50 for the whole series. Anyone who is interested in
listening to and engaging in discussion of the above topics is encouraged to sign up for them. There will be a sign-up sheet available next month in the Vestry.


For updates, do to www.ltsg.edu/lifelong-learners.

 

CLOTHING DRIVE

 

This year’s Fall Clothing Drive will run during the month of October. Donations of clothing items can be brought to the church and left in the designated corner of the Vestry. In the wake of recent disasters, ongoing poverty, and economic hard times, our gifts of clothing items provide tangible evidence of our willingness to share with those in need. Thank you for your thoughtfulness in sharing with others.

 

QUARTER-MANIA ANYONE?

 

How would you like to play to win fabulous prizes for just a quarter? If this sounds like a fun way to spend a Friday evening, plan to join us in the downstairs Fellowship Hall on November 19. Doors will open at 6:00 PM for you to peruse the vendor's auction items. The auction will begin at 7:00 PM. Some possible vendor's offering
prizes will be Tupperware, Longaberger, Lia Sophia jewelry, Tool Man (Craftsman tools), Mary Kay, Tastefully Simple and more. Soups, sandwiches, lite fare and beverages will be available For purchase throughout the evening for your enjoyment. So, bring your quarters and come out to join us for an evening of fun! All proceeds will benefit the General Fund. For additional information or questions, contact Wanda or Tommie.

 

Submit Your Recipes

As part of our 250th Anniversary Celebration, we will be publishing a cookbook. Our goal is to include 250 recipes. So dust off your cookbooks and recipe collections and start submitting your favorites. You can submit your recipe(s) in honor or in memory of someone if you would like. There will be a basket in the back of the sanctuary where you can place your recipes or you can give them to Lisa  or Debbie, Any out-of-towners can mail or email their submissions to the church office.

 

PIZZA SALE

 

The Stewardship Committee is sponsoring another fundraiser featuring Joe Corbi products during the month of October. Brochures will be available in the Vestry October 17 so you and your family can begin asking friends, relatives and co-workers to purchase items from the Joe Corbi’s Family Favorites brochure. With delivery
being the week prior to Thanksgiving, the delicious desserts featured in the brochure should be popular sellers. The selling period will run through October 31. ALL ORDERS AND PAYMENT (in the form of a check payable to St. Mary’s UCC) MUST BE TURNED IN AFTER WORSHIP OCTOBER 31.
NO LATE ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Delivery will be November 18. All orders will need to be picked up between 6:00- 7:30 PM in the downstairs social hall.

All proceeds will benefit the General Fund. Our March sale realized a profit of approximately $1200.00. Let’s try to meet or beat it in October!

If you have questions, please contact Wanda or the church office.

 

YOUTH RETREAT

 

The Catoctin Association retreat for Middle & High School students will be held at Hashawa November 12-14. The theme is Peace, and there will be fun, games, activities, fellowship and “hands-on” peace activities. Contact the church office to sign up.

Thank You for sharing our Parish News! If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please contact the church office.

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