December 3, 2021

December 3, 2021 Message from Pastor Alessandri (pdf)

GOD SQUAD EXPLORERS TO ADVENTURE INTO CHRISTMAS THIS SUNDAY
at 10:45 am this Sunday (December 5.) Preschoolers to fifth graders are invited! If you are able, bring some new socks for children in need. Fun, music, craft, prayer and some more fun.

A request: We ask that a parent or grandparent attend with our preschoolers to help us make the most of our diverse-aged group of explorers. Thank you.

CHRISTMAS FOOD BASKET COLLECTION IS GOING WELL There are no more tags on the Giving tree.  Each tag has items needed for the 10 families from Fountaindale Elementary School for whom we are providing Christmas food baskets. Many items have already arrived at church. Food and money collection will continue through Sunday, December 19th . Blessed to be a blessing – Thanks be to God!

LUNCH FOR RESIDENTS AT POTOMAC TOWERS – Among Haven’s various outreach ministries for December, we are providing bag lunches for the residents of Potomac Towers on Thursday, December 30. Can you help?
Items needed are listed on a sign-up sheet in the narthex (lobby). Because of the Christmas holiday and there being no in-person worship service on December 26, items need to be placed in the church kitchen by Sunday, December 19.
Please label your items “Potomac Towers” along with your name. If you have questions or difficulties bringing your items to the church by the 19th, contact Prue Yelinek (717) 643-1593. Thank you for helping share the joy of Christmas in this way!

                                                          CHRISTMAS PROJECT:
NEW WINTER CLOTHING URGENTLY NEEDED FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES
I know Haven has always responded generously when we collected toys and clothing for local children. I know that collecting practical winter items — coats, scarfs, gloves, hats and socks — for men, women, boys and girls doesn’t seem as “festive” of fun. So why did I say “yes” to collecting these items for Afghan refugees who are being assisted in their settlement by Catholic Charities Immigration Refugees Services of Harrisburg?

First, I thought of all the U.S. veterans who had been assisted by these Afghan refugees. I thought of the many, many report I read and heard of U.S. servicemen/women and veterans who were working tirelessly and desperately to get Afghan allies out of harm’s way by August 30. These servicemen/women and vets knew these Afghan allies would most likely be hunted down and killed by the incoming government, who would consider them “traitors” since they had assisted the U.S. forces who had opposed them. Each winter item I give is in honor of one of those U.S. military personnel who was aided by an Afghan ally.

Second, I saw “dire need” and I imagined being relocated into an area that had much colder temperatures than previously experienced. Brrrrr.

Last but not least, I think of who I am and whose I am. “When you did it for the least of these, you did it for me,” Jesus said.

In this year where, again, nothing seems normal, I ask you to consider this unusual Christmas requests. NEW or LIKE-NEW coats, hats, gloves, scarves for boys, girls, men and women of all ages and sizes AND NEW socks. There are boxes and designated area in each of the church’s coatrooms for donated items. Collection ends December 19^th. Thank you for opening your heart and Christmas to these neighbors in need.

DO YOU HAVE SOME JIGSAW PUZZLES TO GIVE AWAY?

We have learned of a need for jigsaw puzzles at Dorsey Run Correctional Facility in Jessup where Haven member Harold Rice is currently incarcerated. After speaking with one of the DRCF officers, I learned they would greatly appreciate used (all the pieces please) or new jigsaw puzzles.
Many of us like to do jigsaw puzzles in the winter, on vacation and especially the pandemic. If you have complete puzzles you are willing to donate, please bring them to church and we will mail them together. Thanks.

ARE YOU ONE OF THE FOUR ADVENT LOG WINNERS WE’RE LOOKING FOR? When we drew the raffle winning tickets, there were several chosen that did not have names on the back. If that may be you, can you please check your tickets and let us know as soon as possible by contacting the church (301-733-5056; havenoffice@havenlc.or)   The numbers are:
4313196        4313192         4313191          4313201

NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS RIGHT THIS VERY WEEKEND?

  Winter Market at Evangelical Lutheran Church (Frederick)
December 4, 11 am – 5 pm  December 5   9 am – 4 pm
If you are in downtown Frederick this weekend, please stop by our Winter Market to find some wonderful holiday gifts crafted by our own ELC artists! Silent Auction bids will be taken until noon on Dec 5th – items on display during the market. Bring kids of all ages to the This & That Shop where they can find gently used treasures at Secret Santa prices.

There will be fresh baked cookies and hot cider for sale and our youth will be caroling in the courtyard on Saturday afternoon. Proceeds from the 2021 Winter Market will benefit SHIP of Frederick County. To learn more, click here

AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANIST ADVENT CONCERT DECEMBER 5^th  4 P.M at Christ Reformed UCC (130 West Franklin Street, Hagerstown, MD.) Come hear seasonal music presented by local organists. Haven’s own Stephen Pastena will be the narrator for the concert. Masks are encouraged, and light refreshments will be provided afterward.

MAR-LU RIDGE ADVENT FAMILY GATHERING DECEMBER 5, 2021 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.  You are invited to join us Sunday, December 5 for crafts, wreath making, fellowship and campfire. Fun for all ages! 1:00pm – 4:00pm in Agape Hall. Adults $10, ages 3-12 $7, under 3 free Light meal and craft supplies included, bring your own wreath form. Please register at https://form.jotform.com/212914810099053

 UPCOMING HAVEN EVENTS FOR YOUR CALENDAR

DON’T FORGET NEXT SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 5 PM Haven’s Annual Christmas Concert is back!  St. James Brass and the Haven Lutheran Church Senior Choir. Come enjoy beautiful music and some Christmas peace. Tell and invite other!

ADD DECEMBER 19, 4:30 PM DRIVE-UP CAROLING PARTY on Haven’s parking lot. Safe, COVID-defying fun. We’ll provide a songbook and a votive light. YOU bring your favorite warm beverage and Christmas hope. Pass the word.

BECAUSE WE NEED TO LAUGH

Washington County Interfaith Coalition
INTERFAITH PRAYERS FOR TODAY

November 30, 2021

Anima Christi, Catholic Prayer

Lord put courage into my heart and take away all that may hinder me serving you.

Free my tongue to proclaim your goodness, that all may understand me.

Give me friends to advise and help me, that by working together our efforts may bear abundant fruit.

And above all, let me constantly remember that my actions are in vain unless guided by your hand.

Islam: Mohammed

O God, give me I pray Thee,

Light on my right hand

And on my left hand

and light above me

and light beneath me,

o Lord, increase light within me

and give me light

and illuminate me.

Holiness, may your gifts of discernment enable us to see the opportunities you offer: opportunities to share energy, to share love and to share hope with each other.

May we have the strength, the discernment and will to offer our own unique holiness to all who live and cross our path.

Hold us…as we hold each other, we pray  Amen

Reverend Valerie T. Wills, Coordinator
Hagerstown Interfaith Coalition

MUSIC TO SOOTH THE SPIRIT

“Be Still My Soul”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E5nBJeuMls

Be still, my soul, The Lord is on thy side
Bear patiently, the cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God, to order and provide
In every change, He faithful will remain
Be still, my soul, thy best thy heavenly friend
Through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end
Be still, my soul, thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake
All now mysterious shall be bright at last
Be still, my soul, the waves and wind still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below
In You I rest, in You I found my hope
In You I trust, You never let me go
I place my life within Your hands alone
Be still, my soul
Be still, my soul, the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored
Be still, my soul, when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed, we shall meet at last
In You I rest, in You I found my hope
In You I trust, You never let me go
I place my life within Your hands alone
Be still, my soul
In You I rest, in You I found my hope
In You I trust, You never let me go
I place my life within Your hands alone
Be still, my soul Be still, my soul Be still, my soul

by C. Rand Matheson, a setting of Sibelius’ Finlandia

“All is Well”  children’s choir,  from Michael W. Smith’s first Christmas album  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdlwrhxomfA

“The Promise” Michael W. Smith  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdlwrhxomfA
(“Emmanuel. God is with us, God is for us, God is in us. We will sing” gets me every time.)

MUSIC TO GET YOUR FOOT TAPPING
“Oh What a Glorious Night” Sidewalk Prophets  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aGLV5CfoTU

Bulletin 12052021 Advent 2

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE 9:30 AM

Worship Service with Communion in person in the Sanctuary

Worship Service LIVE on the Haven Facebook page

At this time, we will NOT be requiring vaccinated persons to wear masks when attending worship.

However, we want you to know that vaccinated persons are WELCOME to wear masks if that is their preference in the current COVID upsurge.

Starting around 2 p.m. on Friday, you can pick up a bulletin, hymnal and communion sets on the parsonage back porch.  For extra precaution, use hand sanitizer before opening cartons/boxes. Keep the hymnal at your home for future use. The baggie of communion elements are enough for one person so please take one for each person watching at your home. (Haven Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Haven-Lutheran-Church-134647913268366 or you can get to the page by clicking the ‘F’ icon in the upper right corner (center of page if on a mobile device) of the Haven website www.havenlc.org The live service will remain on the page for viewing later too.  If you are not familiar with Facebook please scroll down past the ads, map and photos until you see Haven Lutheran Church with a small circle of the church photo in a post. It will say ‘Haven Lutheran Church is live’ Sunday at 9:30am. This will be the first post Haven will have that day. If you have issues please email the church office or call and leave a message and I will try to get back with you so I can walk you through how to find it.)

Haven Messenger (Newsletter) December 2021 (pdf)

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Bulletin 11282021 Advent 1 (pdf)

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE 9:30 AM

Worship Service with Communion in person in the Sanctuary

Worship Service LIVE on the Haven Facebook page

At this time, we will NOT be requiring vaccinated persons to wear masks when attending worship.

However, we want you to know that vaccinated persons are WELCOME to wear masks if that is their preference in the current COVID upsurge.

Starting around 2 p.m. on Friday, you can pick up a bulletin, hymnal and communion sets on the parsonage back porch.  For extra precaution, use hand sanitizer before opening cartons/boxes. Keep the hymnal at your home for future use. The baggie of communion elements are enough for one person so please take one for each person watching at your home. (Haven Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Haven-Lutheran-Church-134647913268366 or you can get to the page by clicking the ‘F’ icon in the upper right corner (center of page if on a mobile device) of the Haven website www.havenlc.org The live service will remain on the page for viewing later too.  If you are not familiar with Facebook please scroll down past the ads, map and photos until you see Haven Lutheran Church with a small circle of the church photo in a post. It will say ‘Haven Lutheran Church is live’ Sunday at 9:30am. This will be the first post Haven will have that day. If you have issues please email the church office or call and leave a message and I will try to get back with you so I can walk you through how to find it.)

Bulletin 11252021 Thanksgiving Eve (pdf)

THANKSGIVING EVE WORSHIP SERVICE 7:00 PM

Worship Service with Communion in person in the Sanctuary

Worship Service LIVE on the Haven Facebook page

At this time, we will NOT be requiring vaccinated persons to wear masks when attending worship.

However, we want you to know that vaccinated persons are WELCOME to wear masks if that is their preference in the current COVID upsurge.

Starting around 2 p.m. today, you can pick up a bulletin, hymnal and communion sets on the parsonage back porch.  For extra precaution, use hand sanitizer before opening cartons/boxes. Keep the hymnal at your home for future use. The baggie of communion elements are enough for one person so please take one for each person watching at your home. (Haven Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Haven-Lutheran-Church-134647913268366 or you can get to the page by clicking the ‘F’ icon in the upper right corner (center of page if on a mobile device) of the Haven website www.havenlc.org The live service will remain on the page for viewing later too.  If you are not familiar with Facebook please scroll down past the ads, map and photos until you see Haven Lutheran Church with a small circle of the church photo in a post. It will say ‘Haven Lutheran Church is live’ Sunday at 9:30am. This will be the first post Haven will have that day. If you have issues please email the church office or call and leave a message and I will try to get back with you so I can walk you through how to find it.)

Haven Lutheran Church
November 19, 2021

WHAT A SUNDAY THIS WILL BE!
At 9 a.m. in the Gathering Room, the Hagerstown Sunday School Orchestra will treat us once again to some wonderful music. It will be well worth the effort to get there early.
At 9:30 am we will celebrate a whole year of worship in one service AND the Bell Choir will play.
Immediately after worship, we will hold the annual congregational meeting to pass our 2022 Financial Plan for Ministry (also known as “the budget”.) We need 50 voting members to accomplish that annual task. You can attend that meeting in person OR on-line.

HAVEN ANNUAL MEETINGTO PASS NEXT YEAR’S FINANCIAL PLAN FOR MINISTRY (A.K.A. “THE BUDGET”) IS THIS SUNDAY

           November, 21 2021 at *10:30 AM In-Person and via ZOOM

We need a quorum of 50 voting members to pass a budget!
PLEASE make every effort to participate!

*ZOOM participants: We will start the meeting immediately after worship. IF worship goes longer than an hour, the meeting may start a bit later than 10:30 am. PLEASE stay on-line or on the phone… DON’T disconnect. The host will invite you into the meeting as soon as worship is concluded. Thanks for your patience.

Pastor Linda Alessandri is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Haven Congregational Zoom Meeting
Time: Nov 21, 2021 10:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting on your computer click (or copy and paste in your browser)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87288729392?pwd=REFDVWtFQlowc3J3WnN4NHJ0QkhUQT09

Meeting ID: 872 8872 9392   Passcode: 216094

Join Zoom Meeting on your phone
Dial  +1 301 715 8592      Meeting ID: 872 8872 9392     Passcode: 216094

When you join the meeting on-line, please MUTE yourself as you join the meeting. Let seminarian the host “unmute” you to check you in and whenever you want to ask a question or make a comment. One of the causes for excessive noise that folks complained of at previous meetings was caused by everyone picking up the background noises in everyone else’s home. This will help with that. Don’t worry, the host won’t ignore you! You can use the  “Raise your hand” or use the “Chat” features if you want to get the host’s attention to ask a question or offer a comment. Thank you for your patience! We are still learning!

When you join the meeting on your phone You can“Raise your hand” to ask a  question or make a comment AND vote by hitting *9 on your phone
Use *6 to mute/unmute (the host can also do this from his/her end)

CHRISTMAS FOOD BASKETS RETURN

We will be providing food baskets for 10 Fountaindale Elementary School families. A larger number of families then we have collected for in a long time. The need is great!

The Giving Tree went up in the church narthex last week. On it are tags with food items that are needed for the baskets. PLEASE take as many as you can. New tags will appear each week to complete our list of needed items. Those who are worshipping at home, may call or email the office to ask for tag(s) or ask another member  to pick them up for you.

Food and money will start being collected this Sunday, November 21 and will continue through Sunday, December 19^th.  More information will be posted in the December Haven Messenger.

ORDER YOUR CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS THIS WEEK  There are order form/envelope, found on the tables in the narthex.  Please fill out all the information on the envelope and submit by the DEADLINE NEXT SUNDAY DEADLINE (Nov. 28).
If you prefer you can order via phone (301-733-5056) or email (havenoffice@havenlc.org) please let us know who the flowers are in memory/honor of, your name and how many you would like to order, then mail your payment to the church or bring it to the parsonage back porch offering box or the church.  Please note “Poinsettias” on the memo line of a check.
NOTE: IF you will not be attending Christmas Eve worship, please try to make arrangements with someone who is attending to deliver your poinsettia to you.

ENJOY SOME HAVEN HISTORY, SUPPORT HAVEN’S FUTURE AND HAVE SOME FUN.

TICKETS AVAILABLE
Proceeds benefit the Building Faith Together roof  fund.

The wood from the cross that once stood in front of the Education Wing was repurposed into Advent logs or centerpieces that could be used any time of the year. We only have 19.
To try to distribute them fairly and impartially, we are selling raffle tickets for them. $2 for one ticket and $10 for 6 tickets. ALL proceeds will go to the Building Faith Together debt reduction fund. To allow as many households to win one, there will be only one winner per household, no matter how many tickets you purchase or are drawn. Winning tickets will be drawn on November 28.
You can buy tickets before or after worship OR by contacting the church office by email or phone.

ADVENT BEGINS NEXT SUNDAY WAIT UPON THE LORD

During the four Sundays of Advent we will join some of our biblical ancestors to explore what it means to “Wait Upon the Lord” with faith, with hope, with rejoicing and with gratitude.
The first Sunday of Advent, seminarian Katy Moran will return to preach on waiting with faith.
Advent devotionals for adults and teens are in the church narthex and the parsonage back porch. The children will get their Advent materials “special delivery.”
Amid the holiday bustle and our Covid fatigue, take some time to breathe in the hope and peace the Lord so wants us to have.

THIS IS BABY JOEY THAT WE HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR.

Baby Joey was born August 2020 in Brisbane Australia. He had a transesophageal fistula; hisesophagus was not joined to his stomach. He had to be fed through a tube in his stomach and a tube down his throat to suck up saliva so it didn’t go in his lungs.

He had various procedures to try and stretch his stomach to attach it.
The first picture is from February 2021. Australia had much stricter lock down rules so his mother went through this basically by herself.

This picture is from his 1st birthday, August 2021.
September 2021, he had a successful surgery to connect the esophagus to the stomach. He still has away to go with learning to swallow and chew. The family is thankful and grateful for all the prayers sent Joey’s way. This picture is of his beautiful smile.

Bulletin 11212021 (pdf)

Bulletin 11142021

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE IN-PERSON & FACEBOOK LIVE 9:30 am

Worship Service with Communion in person in the Sanctuary

Worship Service LIVE on the Haven Facebook page

At this time, we will NOT be requiring vaccinated persons to wear masks when attending worship.

However, we want you to know that vaccinated persons are WELCOME to wear masks if that is their preference in the current COVID upsurge.

Starting around 2 p.m. on Fridays, you can pick up a bulletin, hymnal and communion sets on the parsonage back porch.  For extra precaution, use hand sanitizer before opening cartons/boxes. Keep the hymnal at your home for future use. The baggie of communion elements are enough for one person so please take one for each person watching at your home. (Haven Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Haven-Lutheran-Church-134647913268366 or you can get to the page by clicking the ‘F’ icon in the upper right corner (center of page if on a mobile device) of the Haven website www.havenlc.org The live service will remain on the page for viewing later too.  If you are not familiar with Facebook please scroll down past the ads, map and photos until you see Haven Lutheran Church with a small circle of the church photo in a post. It will say ‘Haven Lutheran Church is live’ Sunday at 9:30am. This will be the first post Haven will have that day. If you have issues please email the church office or call and leave a message and I will try to get back with you so I can walk you through how to find it.)