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Our Saviour Parish News, August-September, 2024

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
August-September, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As you have no doubt noticed, almost every month I include in this newsletter my telephone number and my email address. My telephone number remains the same. But on July 6th I lost access to my Gmail account and have received no emails sent to it on and after that date. Despite my own efforts and the kind help of Richard Brown, I have been unable to recover that account and so I now have a new email address: charlesmcclean1942@outlook.com. Never hesitate to contact me. Believe me when I say I that I am always glad to hear from you. Please let me know if you or a loved one is ill or in some kind of need. My telephone has an answering device and I do regularly check it for messages.

Lewis Otto Bell fell asleep in the Lord at the age of 98 years on Saturday, July 20th. His funeral was held in church on Tuesday, August 6th. Burial followed on Thursday, August 8th, in Meherrin, Virginia. May the Light perpetual ever shine upon him and may Christ the Savior comfort Albert, Marco, Marvin, Debbie and all who mourn with the sure and certain hope of the resurrection.

In his Small Catechism Dr. Luther provides a form for both morning and evening prayer. Both prayers conclude with the petition, “Let Your holy angel be with me that the evil foe may have no power over me.” In the Calendar of the Church Year in the Lutheran Service Book (the hymnal we now use) and also in the hymnals formerly in use, The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) and Lutheran Worship (1982) September 29th  is designated as the Festival of Saint Michael and All Angels. This year September 29th is the last Sunday in September, and so we will have an opportunity to celebrate this bright festival.  At every celebration of the Holy Eucharist we in fact join “with angels and archangels” in singing praises to the triune God: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth.” The Hebrew word “Sabaoth” literally means “hosts” in the sense of “armies”: the holy angels are the heavenly armies of the Lord. When we consider the condition of the world today, we need to remember that hiding behind all the evil that we can see there is demonic activity on the part of Satan and all the fallen angels. Saint Paul writes: “For our fight is not against human foes, but against cosmic powers, against the authorities and potentates of this dark world, against the superhuman forces of evil in the heavens” (Ephesians 6:11 New English Bible). And so it is a great comfort to know that in this cosmic struggle Christ defends and protects us through the mighty power of the angelic legions who constantly worship and serve Him. Do read and ponder the mysterious Epistle which from ancient times has been read at the Divine Service on Saint Michael’s Day: Revelation 12:7-12 – “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated…”

Mark your calendars now! Sunday, October 6th, will be Family Day and the 94th Anniversary of the Dedication of this Church. The Rev. Dr. William Harmon, President of the Southeastern District of our Synod, will preach. Dr. Harmon is a native of Baltimore, having grown up at Emmanuel Church in Catonsville. Plan now on being present to hear him preach and to give him a warm welcome. And do remember him in your prayers as we in fact do at every Divine Service.

Be sure to read what Judy Volkman and Bernie Knox have to say at the end of this newsletter. Judy brings us up to date on our Free Flea Markets and Bernie calls our attention to the Aldi Gift Certificates which we provide at Thanksgiving and Christmas for needy families connected with the Waverly School – which I attended from kindergarten through the sixth grade. And do remember to bring items for the GEDCO Food Pantry and for the Helping Up Mission. Since 1885 the Baltimore Helping Up Mission has provided help to countless men. What a happy thing it is that a Helping Up Mission for women has recently been opened. The Helping Up Mission addresses not only the problem of homelessness itself but also the poverty, addiction and mental illness that can lead to homelessness. This is a truly Christ-like mission of mercy!

Let me again remind you that you can help suffering people around the world through our Synod’s LCMS World Relief and Human Care. It is so easy to be overwhelmed with a sense of helplessness when we see so much misery around the world as in the ongoing wars in Sudan and in Ukraine and in the Holy Land. But we must not permit a feeling of helplessness in the face of so much suffering keep us from doing what we can in fact do! As members of our Synod, we can make a contribution through our Synod’s Contributor Care Line 888- 030-4439 or through this secure website: lcms.org/givenow/mercy or you can send a check to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, PO Box 66861, St. Louis, Missouri 63166-6861. Make your check payable to “The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod” and write “LCMS World Relief and Human Care” on the memo line.

We continue to remember in prayer Bridget Bauman, James Bauman, Christopher Bell, Deborah Bell Dixon, Bertha Buchanan, Dana Carmichael, Timothy Doswell, Quilla Downs, Bunny Duckett, Steve and Joyce Eaves, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Sean Fortune, Sherry James, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Chris Mokris, Mary Mokris, Marion Rollins, Julia Silver, Robert Siperek Jr., Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson, Julie Watson. Yolanda Ford remains at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224. Julie Watson is now at Complete Care at Multi Medical Center, 7700 York Road, Towson, MD 21204.

We Christians gather every Lord’s Day to celebrate the Holy Eucharist in thanksgiving for our Lord and Savior’s resurrection on the first day of the week. The Lord’s People are in the Lord’s House for the Lord’s own Service every Lord’s Day. In the Epistle to the Hebrews – which we are studying in our Sunday morning Bible Class – we find these words: “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day [of Christ’s Second Coming] drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24,25).

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean

Free Flea Markets

In addition to the regular attendees, the Free Flea Market is seeing new faces. This is a result of placing more signage, mainly on the Flea Market day, in the 33rd Street median and having flyers handed our through the GEDCO food program. So we are reaching more people from our neighborhood! And some of those people are giving back to us through their donations.

We have received numerous donations through Eugene James and his family members and from his neighbors. Additional donations have come from the family of Lewis Bell. There have also been some mysterious donations, from whom I don’t know. Thank you so much for your generosity.

September 14th will be our last Free Flea Market for this year. We will pick up again in May of 2025, so if you have clothing or household items to donate at any time let Judy Volkman know now (443-425-3437). We have been blessed with much bounty and are glad to share it with those who need it!
– Judy Volkman

Aldi Gift Cards for Thanksgiving and Christmas

Again this year OSLC will be providing Aldi’s Gift Cards for Thanksgiving and Christmas to needy families whose names have been provided by the Waverly School. We are including this reminder in our newsletters and bulletins now so that our gifts may be as generous as possible. Please indicate on your check memo line or on an accompanying note that the funds are designated for those gift cards.

In 2023 we accumulated a total of $2,730 to distribute to 13 families. In 2024 our Lenten Soup Supper donations were $361. These donations are also used to support our Gift Card purchases.

Please begin now to think about making donations that will allow us to remember those less fortunate than ourselves provide special meals for their families. These holidays remind us to be thankful fr all the Lord has given us and to celebrate God’s greatest gift of all – the birth of our Savior Jesus.

Thank you!
– Bernie Knox

Mark your calendars now!
Joint Reformation Service of the Baltimore-Area LCMS Churches
Reformation Sunday, October 27th, 4:00 P.M.
Our Saviour Church
Followed by a reception
Plan on attending and bringing your friends!
Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, June-July, 2024

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
June-July, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On Sunday, June 9th, the Second Sunday after Trinity, we heard our Lord’s parable about a man who prepared a great feast; but when the feast was ready, those who had been invited all made excuses as to why they could not come (Luke 14:15-24). On every Lord’s Day the Lord Jesus continues to prepare a great feast, a feast in which He is both the Host and Food. But just as those who were invited in the parable made excuses and would not come, people continue to make excuses and refuse Christ’s gracious invitation. But as we can see in the Book of Acts, the earliest Christians gladly gathered on the first day of the week because it was on that day that Jesus’ tomb was found empty and He appeared in the splendor of His resurrection to the faithful women and His disciples. Our whole faith as Christians depends on Christ’s resurrection, and that is why from earliest times Christians have gathered to celebrate His resurrection every Lord’s Day by joining together in worship, prayer and praise, listening to His Word and receiving Him in His Sacrament. But that was a very long time ago. So let me say this as clearly as I can: when you fail to be present at the Divine Service on the Lord’s Day you not only deprive yourself of the Means of Grace, you also deprive your fellow Christians of the encouragement your presence could provide. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews admonishes his hearers: “Let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more, as you see the [Last] Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:23-25). Ponder these words and take them to heart!

Yes, “Let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering”! June 25th will be the 494th anniversary of the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession by seven princes and the representatives of two cities to Emperor Charles V in the City of Augsburg. This principal confession of the faith of the Lutheran Church is so important that the cornerstone of our church building is inscribed with the letters “U A C” which stand for Unaltered Augsburg Confession. In these days of so much confusion and uncertainty among Christians we need more than ever to be clear in our confession of the truth God has graciously revealed to us through His Son. It is our conviction as Lutheran Christians that the faith confessed at Augsburg was no novel teaching but none other than “the faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). And so on the last Sunday in June we will once again celebrate the anniversary of the Augsburg Confession, giving thanks to God for His great mercy. humbly confessing our sins, and praying for steadfastness in faith and hope and love. The text of the Augsburg Confession can easily be found online. I would also be glad to provide you with a booklet containing the text.

On Trinity Sunday, May 26th, we received two new members into our congregation: Andrew Layman, who was formerly a member of Faith Church in Troy, Michigan, and Paul Swank, who was formerly a member of Saint Paul’s Church in Kingsville.

On Thursday, May 16th, Pastor Carl Kruelle fell asleep in the Lord at his home in Newark, Delaware. He was 86 years old. Pastor Kruelle loved Our Saviour Church. He grew up in this congregation and was confirmed, married, and ordained here. He had preached here on Family Day last October and he last attended church here this past Easter Day. On Wednesday, May 22nd, I attended his funeral service at Our Redeemer Church in Newark, Delaware, where he had served as pastor for many years. On the following day I officiated at the committal service in Loudon Park Cemetery. May the Light perpetual ever shine upon him and may the risen Lord comfort all who mourn.

At the Voters Meeting on Sunday, May 19th, the budget for fiscal year 2024/25 was approved and the Church Council was re-elected. Bernie Knox, Merton Masterson, Gabe Purviance, Paul and Mary Techau, Gary Watson, Wayne and Jean West. The Council will be formally installed on Sunday, June 30th.

From May through September we have a Free Flea Market on the second Saturday of each month from 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 Noon. As always we are in need of donations and also of volunteers to greet and assist our visitors.

And do remember to bring items for the GEDCO Food Pantry and for the Helping Up Mission. Boxes for both are found inside the door from the parking lot north of the church.

And remember that you can help suffering people around the world – as in this time of war in Ukraine and in the Holy Land – through our Synod’s LCMS World Relief and Human Care. You can do this by calling our Synod’s Contributor Care Line (888)030-4439 or through this secure website: lcms.org/givenow/mercy or you can send a check to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, PO Box 66861, Saint Louis, Missoui 63166-6861. Make your check payable to “The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod” and write “LCMS World Relief and Human Care” on the memo line.

We continue to remember in prayer Bridget Bauman, James Bauman, Christopher Bell, Louis Bell, Dana Carmichael, Timothy Doswell, Quilla Downs, Bunny Duckett, Steve and Joyce Eaves, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Sean Fortune, Sherry James, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Chris Mokris, Marion Rollins, Julia Silver, Robert Siperek Jr., Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson, Julie Watson. Yolanda Ford remains at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224. Louis Bell remains at Autumn Lake Healthcare, 700 Sudbrook Road, Pikesville, MD 21208, Julie Watson is now at Complete Care at Multi Medical Center, 7700 York Road, Towson, MD 21204.

Let us continue in prayer for one another and for the troubled world, keeping in mind the words of Saint Paul: “We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean

Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, May, 2024

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
May, 2024

Thursday May 9, Ascension Day Festival Divine Service, 7:30 PM
Sunday, May 19, Pentecost Festival Divine Service, 11:00 AM

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This month of May brings two festivals of the Christian Year. Thursday, May 9th, is Ascension Day; Sunday, May 19th, is Pentecost which with Christmas and Easter Day is one of the three great festivals of the Church Year. Our Lord ascended into heaven on the fortieth day after His resurrection, and so Ascension Day always occurs on a Thursday. The word Pentecost means “fiftieth”; it is the fiftieth day after Christ’s resurrection. There was a time when both Ascension Day and Pentecost were joyfully celebrated throughout the Christian world. But we have come to a time when here in America Ascension Day passes all but unnoticed – even in most churches – and Pentecost is just another Sunday. In some parts of Europe Ascension Day is still a holiday as is the Monday after Pentecost. But be all that as it may, both of these festivals remain a joyful celebration of the mighty acts of God for our salvation. On Ascension Day we sing:

On Christ’s ascension I now build
The hope of my ascension;
This hope alone has always stilled
All doubt and apprehension;
For where the Head is, there as well
I know His members are to dwell
When Christ will come and call them. (LSB 492)

And on Pentecost we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit by the risen and ascended Lord: “For all this the whole earth rejoices with exceeding joy,” as we pray in the liturgy of the Sacrament on this festival. With the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and their proclamation of God’s saving acts in many languages, the Church begins its mission to the whole world, a mission that continues until the end of time. Through that on-going work of the Holy Spirit through the proclamation of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments, you and I have been brought to Christ and Christ to us. There can be little doubt that we are living in an age of indifference and even growing hostility to Christ and His Church, but there is also no doubt that it is not only our Christian duty but also our privilege as Christians to join together in giving thanks to God for all His mercies and receiving the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ as He comes to us in His Sacrament every Lord’s Day and festival. And so we need to pray fervently in the words of the ancient Pentecost prayer: “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people and kindle in us the fire of Your love!”

The First Free Flea Market of this year takes place on Saturday, May 11th, from 9:00 A.M.-12:00 Noon. As always we need donations and also volunteers to greet and assist our visitors.

Do remember to bring items for the GEDCO Food Pantry and for the Helping Up Mission. Boxes for both are found inside the door from the parking lot north of the church. Needless to say, the need remains great.

And do remember that you can provide help for suffering people around the world – as  in the Holy Land and Ukraine – through our Synod’s LCMS World Relief and Human Care. You can call our Synod’s Contributor Care Line: (888)930-4438 or you can give online through this secure website: lcms.org/givenow/mercy or you can send a check to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, PO Box 66861, Saint Louis, Missouri 63166-6861. Make your check payable to “The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod” and write “LCMS World Relief and Human Care” on the memo line.

We continue to remember in prayer Bridget Bauman, James Bauman, Christopher Bell, Louis Bell, Dana Carmichael, Timothy Doswell, Quilla Downs, Bunny Duckett, Steve and Joyce Eaves, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Sean Fortune, Sherry James, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Chris Mokris, Marion Rollins, Julia Silver, Robert Siperek Jr., Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson, Julie Watson. Julie has been hospitalized for some weeks at Sinai Hospital. Yolanda Ford remains at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224. Louis Bell remains at Autumn Lake Healthcare, 700 Sudbrook Road, Pikesville, MD 21208,

Miriam Brown-Kelly, who had attended Our Saviour Church, fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday, April 16th. Her funeral takes place at Journey of Faith Church, 7902 Liberty Road, on Thursday, May 2nd, at 11:00 A.M. May the Light perpetual ever shine upon her and may the risen Lord comfort all who mourn her departure.

The handbell ensembles of Concordia University Irvine, California, will give a concert on Saturday evening, May 11th, at seven o’clock at Calvary Church, 2625 E. Northern Parkway, using 127 handbells and handchimes, as well as other instruments.Concert Handbells and Spirit Bells are the touring ensembles of Concordia and represent a program that has become highly respected internationally. The performance is free, non-ticketed and open to the public.

I want to thank everyone who participated in the Work Day on April 13th: Bernie Knox, Andy Layman, Merton Masterson, Paul and Mary Techau. Dennis and Don Watson, Wayne and Jeanne West. I also want to thank those who helped to make the annual Saint Mark’s Conference a success again this year: Pastor Roy Coats, Pastor Thomas Foelber, Bernie Knox, Doug and Beth Skinner, Paul and Mary Techau, Richard Brown, and the indefatigable videographer Gene Wilken. God bless you all for your kindness!

Our Sunday morning Bible Class is continuing to study the Letter to the Hebrews. This is an informal gathering; questions and comments are very welcome.

My hope is that each one of us has been refreshed and heartened by the yearly celebration of our Lord’s resurrection from the dead. I also cherish the hope that all of us will continue to join together in the weekly celebration of His resurrection, because that is what every Sunday is, what every Sunday is for! The early Christians understood that and lived in that happy awareness as they gathered to meet the risen Lord in the holy mysteries of His body and blood. A Lord’s Day without the Lord’s Supper was unthinkable.

The Lord’s people are in the Lord’s house at the Lord’s own service every Lord’s Day.

Let us continue to remember one another in prayer and continue to remember in prayer the need of the whole church and the whole world.

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean

Our Saviour on the Web There are a number of places you can see Our Saviour on the internet. In addition to our web page and Facebook page, we have: a Youtube channel with a collection of videos featuring great hymns of the church and a tour of the bell tower; a Youtube video that presents a history and description of each of our 32 stained glass windows; and, most recently and thanks to the efforts of our organist, John Igoe, a Wikipedia page that has a details about our building’s history and the property including its architectural features such as the stained glass, the chancel, the bells, the bell tower, and the organ. You can find them all at oursaviourbaltimore.org/oslc-on-the-web .