January 5, 2020 Sermon – Epiphany Sunday

Announcements      January 5, 2020

 A: Arise, shine; for your light has come,

C: And the glory of the LORD has risen upon us. (Isaiah 60:1)

God’s peace to all this Epiphany Sunday. A special welcome to all guests visiting with us today. Your presence is truly a blessing.

*All poinsettias are up for grabs and need homes. PLEASE take them to enjoy or giveaway.

*The Nominating Committee asks that you please prayerfully consider the opportunity to serve your church community as a member of the congregational council.

*Today, Pastor Alessandri will be leading our youngster Sunday School class on a Wise Men adventure. Pastor Kaplan invites the Adult Sunday School Class to consider what we know about Jesus as a child. Start the New Year digging into the wealth of God’s Word.

This week’s concerns and joys

*During the Christmas season, Haven member Pauline Hull died at Fahrney-Keedy, where she had been living for many years. Her funeral was on December 31^st. Please keep her family in prayer.

*Best wishes to Eric Kagle who celebrates a birthday this week.                                   

December 24, 2019 Sermon – Christmas Eve

December 22, 2019 Sermon – Advent 4 – Eternal Light

Announcements ~ December 22, 2019

A:        Restore us, O God     C:       let your face shine upon us.

 *Welcome to the Fourth Sunday of Advent. A special welcome to all guests visiting with us today. It is a delight to worship together in God’s presence.

*This Tuesday, there will be two Christmas Eve Services at Haven. At 6:30 pm, there will be a Holy Chaos Family Christmas Service with Holy Communion. At 10 pm, there will be special music before the 10:30 pm candlelight worship with Holy Communion. Invite family, neighbors or friends to come with you as we celebrate the wondrous gift of Emmanuel, God-with-us, on Christmas Eve.

* Today, Pastor Alessandri has something special planned for the children in Sunday School. In the Adult Sunday School class, come hear about Pastor Dave Kaplan’s Christmas favorites.
*2019 church offering envelopes are in the narthex. The monthly and weekly envelopes are separated and in alphabetical order. If you do not find your name OR you would like to begin to have Haven offering envelopes, please put that on your attendance sheet or contact the church office.

*The church office will be closed from December 24^th through January 1st. On Christmas Day, Pastor Alessandri will fly to Atlanta to be with family and be back in the office on January 3rd. While she is away, please contact Pastor Allen Reed if you would have a health or personal emergency and want a pastor’s presence. His phone number is in the bulletin. Be sure to take your bulletin home with you so you can have the information at hand.

*Haven’s Nominating Committee are looking for members to serve on the Congregational Council. Please prayerfully consider this opportunity to serve your church community.

This week’s concerns and joys

*Sadly we share the news of the death of Haven member, Sharon Sellers. At here insistence, a private graveside service was held yesterday. Please keep Sharon’s family in your prayers.

*Thank you to all who brought gifts in for our six adopted Christmas children. The children and their parents will truly know the grace of God through your generosity.

*Nine, Micah’s Backpack families are very grateful for the Christmas food baskets we provided last week. Thanks to all who provided food and funds. Thank you to all who sorted & counted items and to those who shopped, packed and delivered baskets. To God be the glory.

*Best wishes to Becky Plavcan, Jensen Richards, and Jamie Cannon who celebrate birthdays this week                              

(after the announcements) 

A:        The Lord is my light and my salvation        C:        whom shall I fear?

December 8, 2019 Sermon – Advent 2-Reflecting Light

Announcements ~ December 8, 2019

A:        Restore us, O God       C:        let your face shine upon us.
*Welcome to the season of Advent and a special welcome to all guests visiting with us today. What a delight to worship together in God’s presence.

*Today is the Second Sunday of Advent — the church season in which we prepare for the coming of our Lord. Copies of the Advent devotional booklets for adults, teens and children are in the narthex or lobby of the church. Let the practice of Advent bring some peace to this busy season.

* Today, Valerie Wills has something special planned for the children in Sunday School. Jamie and Jim Canaan will lead the Adult Sunday School class into a look at some Advent Poets, Prophets and Painters to enrich your Advent. Young or old, it’s always time to draw closer to our Lord and learn.

*Those who are not in Sunday School are asked to please join the Parish Life Team as they lead us in decorating the church for Christmas. After a little coffee fellowship, meet in the narthex or church to find a way to help deck the halls and church for our upcoming Christmas Concert.

*Haven has adopted six children for Christmas. We have one week —- just one week — to get their gifts and bring them back to church, unwrapped and with their tags. With the late Thanksgiving, the time creeped up on us. But we can do it, Haven! Please take one of the gift tags off the Giving Tree today. Buy the gift this week and bring it back to church by next Sunday, unwrapped and with the tag attached. Yes, we can do it, Haven! Let’s share Christ’s love with Isaiah, Lily, Zyaire, Emily, Larkala and Jerry.

*Please stop in the narthex to write a message in a Christmas card for a homebound member of Haven.

*Haven’s Annual Christmas Concert is this Saturday, December 14^th at 5 p.m. The Appalachian Winds and Haven’s Choirs will delight us with music. Put it on your calendar and invite a friend, neighbor or co-worker. It will definitely deepen your Christmas Spirit.

*We will pack our Christmas Food baskets in the morning of Thursday, December 19^th . If you can help, please sign up on the attendance form. More information is in the bulletin.

*Haven’s Nominating Committee are looking for members to serve on the Congregational Council. Please prayerfully consider this opportunity to serve your church community.

*In case you missed it —- Christmas gifts for our adopted children are due back next Sunday.

This week’s concerns and joys

*Thanks to Music Director, Steve Pastena and all the choir members who participated in Washington County Conference e Advent Vespers service at St. John’s Lutheran last Sunday. It was a wonderful blend of God’s Word and wonderful music.

*Many thanks to all who took tags from the Giving Tree last Sunday and bought back coats for children and parents in need. We will be sure to get them to San Mar’s as soon as possible so they can begin keeping them warm.

*Sari Kilheffer arrived safely in Minnesota with her daughter last weekend. Please keep Sari in prayer — that her transition to her new home goes well.

*Best wishes Joy Bergschneider, Kevin Pile, Kathy Amos, and Michael Manspeaker who celebrate birthdays this week.                                           

A:        The Lord is my light and my salvation          C:        whom shall I fear?

December 1, 2019 Sermon – Advent 1  (click the link to view as a pdf)

Announcements ~ December 1, 2019

A:        Restore us, O God.            C:        let your face shine upon us. 

*Welcome to the season of Advent and a special welcome to all guests visiting with us today. What a delight to worship together in God’s presence.

*TODAY is the deadline for ordering poinsettias for Christmas. Envelopes are in the narthex for you orders. How red can we make the church this Christmas Eve?

*Today is the First Sunday of Advent — the church season in which we prepare for the coming of our Lord. We have some tools to help us stay in the light of Christ as we travel toward Christmas.

If you haven’t already, please pick up the first week of an Advent devotional booklet as you leave worship. You will also find an Advent calendar in your bulletin created by Haven’s Youth. The Parish Education has one more tool for your Advent toolkit. Let the practice of Advent bring some peace to this busy season.

*Today at 4 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church is an Advent Vespers service of readings and lots of great music by the musicians and choirs of the Washington County Lutheran churches. Come begin this Advent season with this wonderful opportunity for prayer, inspiration and great music.

* There is no Sunday School today. But next Sunday… Valerie Wills has something special planned for the children… and in our Adult Sunday School Class, Jamie and Jim Cannon will introduce us to some Poets, Prophets and Painters to enrich our Advent.

*Next Sunday, after coffee fellowship, the Parish Life Team will decorate the church for Christmas with your help. If you are not in Sunday School, please stay to help deck the halls and church for our upcoming Christmas Concert.

*This first Sunday of Advent we are sponsoring a coat drive for some specific children and parents identified as in need by the San Mar Children’s Home staff, who know they walk to school in all kinds of weather. If you are able, please take one of the tags on our giving tree and bring back a coat next Sunday. Haven member, Jamie Cannon, has offered to deliver them to San Mar.

*Please stop in the narthex to write a message in a Christmas card for a members of the military deployed outside the U.S.

*In case you missed it —- orders for Christmas poinsettias are due TODAY Sunday, December 1^st.

This week’s concerns and joys

*Thank you to all who stayed after worship last Sunday for our annual meeting to consider next year’s Financial Plan for Ministry. It was passed unanimously.

*Today we are grateful for the Hagerstown Sunday School Orchestra who started our morning with such lovely seasonal music.

*Best wishes Joan Schupp, Jaclyn Muse, JoAnn Shankle, Otelia Dumpe, Benjamin Lightfoot, Dorothy Zinkard, and Stephen Kauffman who celebrate birthdays this week. A belated congratulations to JoAnn and Will Sellhammer who celebrated their wedding anniversary last Thursday.                                           

A:        The Lord is my light and my salvation.          C:        whom shall I fear?

November 24, 2019 Sermon – Christ the King Sunday

Announcements November 24, 2019

A:        The Lord is my strength and my shield. C:       In God my heart trusts. (Psalm 28: 7a)

*God’s blessings to all this morning and a special welcome to all guests visiting with us today. It is a joy to be in God’s presence and worship together.

 *NEXT Sunday is the deadline for ordering poinsettias for Christmas. It came up fast, didn’t it?  So far, we only have one poinsettia order! Envelopes are in the narthex for you orders that are due next Sunday, December 1^st.

*We hope you will plan to stay after worship today for a brief congregational meeting about Haven’s 2020 Financial Plan for Ministry. Your presence and vote are needed as we Move Forward Together in Generosity.

*This Wednesday at 7 pm is our Thanksgiving Eve worship service. Come start the holiday weekend giving thanks to our Lord with psalms and hymns. And, you get a small loaf of pumpkin bread, too.

*Next week is the First Sunday of Advent — the church season in which we prepare for the coming of our Lord. It can often become a rather frantic, busy time so Advent is our church’s gift to help us stay connected to the “Christ” in Christmas.

As we start on this grounding Advent path, we have some very special plans for next Sunday —

1) We will handout Advent devotional booklets and calendars

2) The Parish Education Team has a gift for everyone.

3) At 4 p.m. in the afternoon, at. St. John’s Lutheran Church, there will be an Advent Vespers service with readings and special music from the choirs and musicians of the Washington County Lutheran churches.

4) And finally, a just confirmed gift of music right here at Haven at 9:00 am, before worship, in our Gathering Room. Dick Hess has some more information about this beautiful opportunity.

*Did I happen to mention that orders for Christmas poinsettias are due NEXT Sunday? Order envelopes are in the narthex.

* Today Pastor Alessandri will lead our Adult Bible Study Class today as we look the Bible’s Good News about Living a Generous Life.” We will start class a little late to allow some extra time in our after-worship farewell fellowship.

*In case you missed it —- orders for Christmas poinsettias are due NEXT Sunday, December 1^st.

This week’s concerns and joys

*Today we will send off our dear member, Sari Kilheffer, to Minnesota. Please be sure to give her your best wishes and a farewell hug. Sari, you will be missed!

*Best wishes Phyllis Kerns, Danny Kiblinger, Ann Conrad and Owen Schupp who celebrate birthdays and Will & Joanne Seilhamer who celebrate a wedding anniversary this week.                                    

A:        We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, here and in heaven. C:        The Lord’s name be praised. Alleluia!

November 10, 2019 Sermon

Announcements ~ November 10, 2019

A:        The lord is my strength and my shield. C:       In God my heart trusts.  (Psalm 28: 7a)

*God’s blessings to all and a special welcome to all guests visiting with us today. It is a joy to be in God’s presence and worship together as we are Moving Forward Together in Generosity

*We still have two more weeks to collect the food for our annual Christmas food baskets. Please pick up a tag or two from the Giving Tree in the lobby and bring the items back to church by Nov. 24th. The food baskets help the families of the children who received our Micah’s Backpacks.

*Today, Jamie and Jim Cannon will lead our Adult Bible Study Class through the final chapter of St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Come; be enriched as you consider God’s Word with fellow believers.

*Mark your calendars! On Sunday, December 1^st, all the Lutheran churches of Washington County will gather at 4 pm for an Advent service of carols and readings at St. John’s Lutheran Church. There will be special music by church musicians and a joint choir. Refreshments will follow. THIS is a wonderful way to begin the Advent season and set our spirits on the Christ of Christmas.

*Pastor Alessandri will be away starting tomorrow and return to the office on Thursday, November 21^st. If in need of pastoral care, please do not hesitate to call Pastor Regina Beard. Her phone number is in your bulletin and the November newsletter. Please pray that Pastor Alessandri has safe travels and come back refreshed for the busy seasons of Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas.

*Looking for something to do this afternoon? Looking to hear some great organ music? This afternoon at 4 PM, St. John’s Lutheran Church will host a “Bach to Rock” Pops Concert, featuring organists from around the area. This free event is sponsored by the Cumberland Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Come hear popular music, re-imagined for the organ, including selections from West Side Story, Flight of the Bumblebee, and Star Wars. Light refreshments will be provided afterwards.

This week’s concerns and joys:

*Thanks to all who showed up for Haven’s Fall Clean-Up day yesterday. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. We still need the help of members and friends as our annual autumn clean-up continues next Saturday, November 16^th, 9 am to 12 noon. Tasks for all abilities. Please come for an hour or the entire time. Help us take care of God’s church here at Haven.

*We also thank all who contributed food and served at the REACH Cold Weather Shelter last evening. It was a lovely, warm meal for about 40 men and women who had spent the day in the cold. They were grateful and said so.

*Best wishes to Diana Staley and Elaine Michael who celebrate birthdays this week.                          

A:        We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, here and in heaven. C:        The Lord’s name be praised. Alleluia.

November 3, 2019 Sermon

Announcements ~ November 3, 2019

 A:     Blessed be the name of the LORD, from this time on and forevermore

C:     From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised.

*Blessings to all this All Saints Sunday and a special welcome to all guests visiting with us today. It is a joy to be in God’s presence and worship together as we are Moving Forward Together in Generosity

*The Giving Tree is up in the lobby and the number of tags is dwindling! We are collecting food for our annual Christmas food baskets. Please take a tag or two and bring the items back to church by November 24. The food baskets help the families of the children who received our Micah’s Backpacks.

*Haven’s Fall Clean-up Days will be this coming Saturday, Nov. 9^th and the following Saturday, November 16, 9 am to 12 noon. We need the help of many to maintain this property God has given us AND to keep down our costs. There are a variety of tasks for a variety of abilities. Come for the entire time or just an hour. All help is appreciated. As we conclude at noon, we will share a prayer and snacks.

*Today, Jamie and Jim Cannon will begin to lead our Adult Bible Study Class through the final chapters of the Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Time spent in God’s Word with fellow believers is always rewarding.

*This coming Saturday evening is Haven’s turn to feed and staff the REACH Cold Weather Shelter here in Hagerstown. There is still need for some food donations and volunteers. See the sign-up sheet at the Sign-up Central board or speak with Dave Resh for more information.

This week’s concerns and joys:

*Haven served a hearty Halloween lunch to over 35 residents of Potomac Towers last Thursday. Thank you to those who contributed food and served. Our next time at Potomac Towers is in January.

*Last Sunday’s Trunk or Treat was blessed with wonderful weather, 13 trunks and 2 trunkless distributors of Halloween treats and one pumpkin patch.  Over 150 children and guests made about 126 s’mores and had a good time. Many, many thanks to all who helped to make this outreach event possible.

*Best wishes to Eric Meredith and Kathy Yaraghi who celebrate birthdays this week. Congratulations to Pat and Karl Pile and Misti and Gary Grimmer who have wedding anniversaries this week.