We have all watched those tense moments on Oscar night when the celebrities have introduced the category, the nominees, and then they open the envelope saying, “...and the winner is!â€
Well, it’s not quite like that—but sort of. Replace the celebrity with Bishop Jerry Knoche. The category is faithful service in the name of Jesus Christ. There is no envelope. But there is a banquet and a large gathering.
And so, people of God at Evangelical Lutheran Church—you should know that the winner is...US! All of us really, but specifically the dedicated men and women serving on our Urbana Ministry Team who were recently awarded the Delaware-Maryland Synod Ministry Award for service to Christ in 2007 at a banquet on April 27.
John Bush and Roger Randall (past and present UMT chairs) were there (with a delegation from ELC) to receive the award from the bishop. It was a joyous event!
This award is well deserved by all who have served and are serving in this area of leadership at Evangelical.
This decision of the awards committee emphasizes how important our creative mission efforts are to others.
Not only those who are welcomed into the love of our congregational family through our mission work— but to many outside of Evangelical who are also inspired to risk, work, and trust in the power of the Holy Spirit so that the Gospel might extend to more and more.
My thanks to the Urbana Ministry Team! My thanks to the whole congregation for heeding the words of Christ to be his witnesses throughout Frederick County and beyond!
I look forward to seeing you in worship soon! God bless.
Pastor Dave Oravec+
MAY EVENTS3rd ~ 1st Saturday (page 3)4th, 10th & 11th ~ Informational Meetings (page 1 & 3)
17th ~ New Members Class (page 3)18th ~ Congregational Meeting (page 1 & 3)18th ~ Fine Arts Series Organ Recital (page 3)31st ~ Confirmation Banquet (page 5)
Please click on the "Newsletter" link to the right to find out more about these great events!
Luke 24: 13-35 tells about something that happened on the evening of the first Easter.
Cleopas and another disciple are walking towards a village called Emmaus when a stranger joins them on the journey. They don't recognize this man but he enters the conversation by asking them what they were speaking about.
They tell him they are brokenhearted because Jesus had been crucified and buried. Their hopes are dashed because they thought he was the one whom God had promised as Messiah.
Then Jesus goes into action explaining that the Hebrew Scriptures actually had foretold that the Messiah would be a suffering servant who must die and rise.
Something starts to happen in their hearts. They start to blaze!
Evening falls, Emmaus is reached and Jesus pretends he'll walk on but they plead for him to stay. And so he does and when they sit at table and he breaks the
bread-- they see! It is Jesus- alive- never to die again. He is Risen.
They run back to tell the others- and they find that back in Jerusalem the reports of his resurrection are breaking out as well!
I love this text because I believe Jesus gives us a model of how we can be Good News-sharing-Easter people.
We walk the journey with friends/colleagues/loved ones. We LISTEN to their story first.
Next we add our understanding of the Word so that the Spirit might set their hearts ablaze when they are confronted with the notion of God's unconditional love made perfect in Christ.
Next we invite them to the Table- where in the breaking of the bread we know Him still.
I've found that God usually makes Himself known in gentle and loving ways. Your words to those who have not heard matter.
Remember that you are precious in the eyes of the Lord and share that Easter news with others too. If you're close to ELC Frederick or Urbana-- this is the message we celebrate at every worship service. We hope you'll join us for worship or find a place of worship where grace is celebrated close to you.
Easter joy! Ours is the victory in Jesus Christ!
Pastor Dave+
