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St. Paul's Lutheran Church Events Sunday May 31 – Day of Pentecost Readings Acts 2:1-21 or Numbers 11:24-30 Psalm 104:24-34 (30) 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 or Acts 2:1-21 John 20:19-23 or John 7:37-39 Prayer of the Day O God, on this day you open the hearts of your faithful people by sending into us you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for Holy Spirit. Direct us by the light of that Spirit, that we may have a right judgment in all things and rejoice at all times in your peace, through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Gospel Acclamation Alleluia. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts | of your faithful, And kindle in us the fire of your love. Alleluia. Pastor Greg Hartman, Presiding Minister for the South Mountain Shared Ministry (Bethany Lutheran, Brunswick, and St. Paul's Lutheran, Burkittsville) will be offering an on-line worship opportunity for this Sunday's service. . You may join us in worship at 10:30 a.m. on the FaceBook pages for Pastor Greg Hartman and St. Pauls' Evangelical Lutheran Church Burkittsville Maryland. This service will also be available on YouTube (Pastor Greg Hartman) on Sunday morning. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, May 22nd, 2020 ~ Good Afternoon South Mountain Shared Ministry Congregations, I know know about you all but this week has been a little rough. The kids getting restless staying home. Pastor Naomi and I are longing to return to some form of normal life. I struggle with the constant noise in the house. Yet, we are also thankful for our time together the slower pace has been nice for us as a family. Before the pandemic we averaged 1 maybe 2 evenings together as a family every week. Usually Friday nights were our only chance to sit down together and have a non-rushed meal and family time. So I have enjoyed that not being the case right now. I share that because I hope you all are also able to find some ways that God has been using this time positively. I also ask your help once again, in forwarding this email to make sure everyone has received it, even if that means that they receive it twice. Here are some updates for this week. 1. Reopening: The joint council of South Maintain Shared Ministry will met Thursday, May 28th to discuss reopening. This is a conversation that could have many different outcomes. As soon as we have crafted a plan that will allow us to open up in a safe way we will let you all know. As part of the conversation regarding reopening I am going to ask you to fill-out this survey. Your answers will help guide the Joint Council's conversation on Thursday and in the time to come. Here is the link to the survey. This survey is anonymous but does ask which congregation you are a member of, your answers will help as we create our reopening plans and help me better understand where you all are as a ministry site. Reopening Survey 2. Church by Phone: In addition to the options to worship via Facebook, YouTube and Zoom, a new Church by Phone ministry has been set-up. This gives people an option to call-in 24/7 to be able to participate in worship. Below will be the breakdown of the options that will allow people to select what they would like to hear. This ministry will continue at least until the end of the year. We will look at usage, etc to determine if this is a ministry that will continue into 2021. Phone number: (240) 617-4376 Options: 1 Weekly Announcements 2 Scripture Reading and Sermon 3 Prayers of Intercession 4 Abbreviated worship service will a musical selection 3. Lunch with Pastor: This Wednesday I will once again be doing Lunch with Pastor via Zoom. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7711393338?pwd=d0thdStycW4zUEFwMHJhck93S1h3dz09 Meeting ID: 771 139 3338 Password: 1517 One tap mobile +13017158592,,7711393338#,,1#,1517# US (Germantown) +13126266799,,7711393338#,,1#,1517# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) Meeting ID: 771 139 3338 Password: 1517 4. Prayer Requests: Please join me in praying for the following: -Maddison -Tammy -Rodger -Rose -London -Floyd -Bucky and Brenda -All those that are struggling with the toll that the current time is having on mental, emotional, and spiritual health. -Those that are in the medical field -All Front-line workers -Those that have had life milestones disrupted especially those graduating from high school, and other institutes of learning. (If you have additional prayers that you would like added to the prayer list please let me know.) 5. One-on-Ones with Pastor: I am available via Zoom, FaceTime, and Facebook Messenger for face to face conversations. I am also available to chat over the phone or even to text with you if that is your preferred method of communication. Please let me know if you would like to schedule some time with me. 6. I continue to be blown away by how all of you are continuing ministry. If you personally need some kind of assistance please let me know and I will see what kind of assistance we can provide. 7. Pentecost Worship Service: For Pentecost I am asking you to download and color the attached coloring sheet. Once you have done that please take a picture and send it to me so that it can be included in the Pentecost worship service. I will begin to work on that worship video on May 27 so if I could have your pictures by the 27th that would be great! 8. A uplifting song: I don't know about you but I am getting more and more anxious with the passing days. There are a lot of questions and not as many answers as we would like. So I am going to offer a link to a song that has been meaningful to me this week. It's not Covid-19 related at all, just something that will hopefully lift your spirits like it has mine. Agape* Real Lutherans Until next time, God's blessings be with you all. -- Pastor Greg Hartman Bethany Lutheran Church St. Paul's Lutheran Church Pastorgreghartman@gmail.com 301-834-2929 NEW OPPORTUNITY Every Wednesday until further notice - Virtual Lunch with the Pastor, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Even with the easing of a few restrictions with COVID-19 it is our understanding from Bishop Gohl that it will be a while before we are able to gather again in person. Pastor Greg would like to try something “new”. On Wednesday, May 13th from 11:30am until 1:00pm Pastor Greg is going to set up a Zoom meeting space for “Lunch with Pastor”. This is normally the time he would have his public office hours at Beans in the Belfry” If you want to hear the audio only, you can join Pastor on Zoom at: Call 1-929-205-6099 Meeting ID: 771 139 3338 Passcode: 1517 To use your computer for audio and video, you can go to Zoom.com or click this link. You do not need to sign in or set up an account. Just click "Join A Meeting" at the top of the page. You will need to use the Meeting ID and Passcode provided in the audio information. There is also an app for Smart Phones/Tablets. https://zoom.us/?fbclid=IwAR3XhDgr1rlyx0fklL1dxYHm3Y80NoQ31FyUbzwoFQ7NBA8nAfGcZEQcvwY A message from Pastor Greg Hartman, May 16th, 2020 It has been a long few months. I am so thankful for those that have been able to engage in worship, meetings, prayer times, book studies, and the other offerings via Zoom and Facebook. Like so many of you, I long for the days when we can gather again in person. As we move forward, I am planning on sending out an email once a week to all the email addresses I have for both St. Paul's and Bethany. In this email I want to cover a few topics including reopening, and digital ministry. 1. Reopening: We certainly heard promising news from Governor Hogan's office this week. I want to let you know that leadership of both congregations are having conversation and reviewing guidelines. We are currently working on scheduling a meeting of the Joint Council of South Mountain Shared ministry to discuss our next steps forward. I want to take this opportunity to say that we all want to gather as soon as possible and we need to make sure that when we can do so it is with reducing the risks as much as possible. During the weekly meeting that Bishop Gohl has with rostered leaders in the synod the first thing he said was that we all need to breath. The next things regarding reopening is that we need to have a detailed and thoroughly thought out plan for opening. Below I am including a few links to some of the documents that we are looking at as we craft our plan. These links are included just to give you an idea of the documents that are being reviewed as we plan to regather. I want you to hear this from me, when we do regather it will not be like it was just a few months ago. It is going to take longer then any of us really want for things to resemble what worship was before our times at home. This is as painful for me to write as it is for you to read it. https://p.widencdn.net/r87ip0/CM0308-2020-05-RC-Recommendations-for-a-Safe-Return-to-Worship https://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/returning-to%20In-person-worship.pdf?_ga=2.6140147.1138717712.1589404658-1413037924.1544981917 https://goci.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/05/Faith-Based-Recommendations.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0GHd8MTVkRgtJYnf6Xz2a9OPBUgf4kwv70k6YyX7_2QD7hQBv42qq0Rlw 2. Digital Ministry: For many our online worship, meetings, book studies, etc have not been the ideal way for ministry to happen, and yet for others it has allowed them to reconnect with their faith communities. I have received messages from people that are members of either congregation that due to work schedules, and life, attending worship on Sunday was not possible. It is great that they have once again been able to connect with their faith communities. As we look forward to not just the next few months but also the foreseeable future, most pastors including myself, bishops, church leaders see digital ministry being here to stay in one way or another. I don't know what that will look like but we will learn together. If you would like to schedule a one-on-one face-to-face digital meeting with me for prayer, to check in, or simply to talk to someone please know I am available. Worship Links: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcmQRqHVyOmdFBzZbPHrELw/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pastorgreghartman Worship is also available via Zoom, this included the option to call in via phone to listen to the worship service. Please let me know if you need that information. 3. Offering: I have been thanking God every time I hear how you all have continued to support your congregations and the ministry that continues. I have heard reports of people maintaining their current giving to increasing it. This is a powerful witness. For those that have had to decrease or stop giving during this time, please know we understand. If there is anything you need please let me know. We continue to ask that those that can give continue to do so. 4. THANK YOU! You all continue to amaze me with how God is active in your lives and how you are proclaiming the love and grace of Jesus. I have tears in my eyes as I think about the many ways you have shown concern for each other, fellow community members, and myself and my family. There are no words that capture how encouraging and uplifting these stories have been. 5. A note about service on June 7th. On June 7th, we will be digitally worshiping with our siblings in Christ of the DE-MD Synod and hearing Presiding Bishop Easton preach. In the email prior to that worship service I will include the information necessary to participate in that worship service. Lastly, know that I miss you all dearly. I continue to pray fro each of you on a regular basis by name. These have been difficult, and frustrating times for all of us. It is OK for you to be struggling some days, I do as well. Like you I have shed my fair share of tears of frustration, anger, and isolation. If no one has told you, it is right and good for you to feel those things. Know that God is with you, and we are in this together. Recently a few Christian recording artists released a song and it has spoken to my heart so here is the link to the video. I pray that it touches you as it has touched me. https://youtu.be/lR1Hk0FVi_k God's Blessings to you all. Pastor Greg -- Pastor Greg Hartman Bethany Lutheran Church St. Paul's Lutheran Church Pastorgreghartman@gmail.com Pastor's Weekly Schedule: Tuesday - Office hours at St. Paul's (Burkittsville) from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday - Pastor Greg creates a weekly personal prayer list (although it can always be added to), so if you have anything you would like him to add to his prayer list please feel free to send an email to pastorgreghartman@gmail.com. Wednesdays, Until further notice - Virtual Lunch with the Pastor, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Even with the easing of a few restrictions with COVID-19 it is our understanding from Bishop Gohl that it will be a while before we are able to gather again in person. Pastor Greg would like to try something “new” on Wednesday next week. On Wednesday, May 13th from 11:30am until 1:00pm Pastor Greg is going to set up a Zoom meeting space for “Lunch with Pastor”. This is normally the time he would have his public office hours at Beans in the Belfry” You can join us on zoom at: Call 1-929-205-6099 Meeting ID: 771 139 3338 Passcode: 1517 An additional option to access Zoom Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7711393338?pwd=d0thdStycW4zUEFwMHJhck93S1h3dz09 Meeting ID: 771 139 3338 Password: 1517 One tap mobile +13017158592,,7711393338#,,1#,1517# US (Germantown) Join us for good conversation and fellowship electronically. Upcoming Services and Events: (dates and locations are subject to change) Thursday, May 27th - South Mountain Shared Ministry Council meeting, 7:00 p.m. Friday, October 2nd - Bingo Fundraiser Save the date We are currently planning a Bingo Fundraiser on Friday, October 2nd, at the Jefferson Ruritan Center in Jefferson, MD Community Events: South Mountain Heritage Society has many events scheduled for the remainder of the year. Check out their Fall newsletter to see upcoming events. https://mailchi.mp/c217fbc2fbbb/upcoming-events-in-and-around-burkittsville-2770181?e=3ec40d5aa5 Do you use FaceBook? Check out our page, St. Pauls' Evangelical Lutheran Church Burkittsville, Maryland. We would love to have you like and follow our page.
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