February 23, 2021 Message from Pastor Alessandri (pdf)
HAVEN LUTHERAN CHURCH
Hagerstown, Maryland
February 23, 2021
Dr. Bill and Becky Plavcan have COVID. They have been so very careful, yet… Becky is quarantining at home. Bill is at the Shippensburg Health Care Center (121 Walnut Bottom Rd, Shippensburg, PA 17257) Please keep them both in prayer.
GRATITUDE AND GODSIGHTINGS
I WANT TO THANK YOU for the gift and ovation for my 14th year installation anniversary. You still surprise me! As the livestream showed, I was speechless. I continually ask the Lord why it is that I was so blessed to partner with a church that does such a good job of loving one another and caring for a pastor. And when there is no answer to that “why,” I simply say “Thank you, Lord.”
In case you are curious about the gift the Council gave me, let me share. It is Always a Guest: Speaking of Faith Far from Home, a book by favorite preacher, Barbara Brown Taylor. Thank you, Council. I’m looking forward to a good read!
SOAP ON YOUR MIRROR? I invited all of us to use the soap of repentance and cleansing to make a cross on the mirror where you wash your face for brush your teeth each morning.
“I am a baptized child of God, forever loved and forgiven.” I am wondering how many have made this part of their Lenten walk. Well, I heard from one member:
“Just a beloved wannabe follower remembering his baptism in a way suggested last Wednesday.”
Pastor Dave Kaplan
ANGLERS FOR JESUS (aka “God Squad Explorers at Cannon’s house) had an exciting lesson last weekend.
“Are you surrounding yourself with friends who would carry you to Jesus?”
This week the God Explorers journeyed with the disciples and learned about a place where some friends had to carry their friend on a mat to Jesus for healing. Roark, Quill and James Paul had to determine,” How would we get Quill to Jesus”? They could select from a blanket, yoga mat or sheet. They are coloring their accordion of disciples and when they have memorized the names of 4 disciples, have perfect attendance for 3 classes and memorize 3 scriptures, they earn a pizza and game night. This week, they recited “Come, follow me, Jesus said and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19. It was a night overflowing in blessings as Quill said “what does it mean to fish for people…what bait to you use”? And his brother very easily replied “the bait is love from Jesus.” James Paul, an avid fisherman told them about using different bait to catch different fish. (wow…now that is the start of great lesson.) Jamie Cannon
CAROL SHULL SENT A PRAYER for our Lenten walk.
A GIFT OF A SONG AND A SMILE from Pam O’Connor:
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BECAUSE WE NEED TO LAUGH
I don’t have grey hair. I have wisdom highlights.
I don’t trip, I do random gravity checks.
A PAUSE IN GOD’S WORD
Today I offer the reflections of DE-MD Synod Bishop Bill Gohl from his weekly posting.
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Prayer: In some ways, Lord, it feels like we have been on “pause” for a year. Yet I know it hasn’t usually been a stillness that brought rest, peace or a nearer walk with you. Help me to choose to pause each day to see you, my neighbor, your love and healing in small acts of kindness or the beauty of sunshine after days of gray. Help me to then return to you with thanks and entrust you with my worries so that I am ever freed to serve you and neighbor in love. Amen.
Music:
“Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song” ELW #808 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgwGPPM2ytc
“Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth” ELW #735 (based on Julian of Norwich writings)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oyR2SQKOY0
“Now the Silence” ELW #460 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJxNqY4sf70
LISTEN and begin to learn for our Annual Meeting on Sunday
“Build Us Up, Lord” ELW #670 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0Zz4X7ep3Q
Some rockin’ Contemporary Christian music:
“Your Grace Is Enough) (Matt Maher) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LISbMRp0Y64
“Strong Enough” (Matthew West) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_gCfA0Dmgg