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Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, December, 2024

OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
December, 2024

CHRISTMAS AT OUR SAVIOUR

Christmas Eve – Festival Divine Service, 7:30 P.M.
Christmas Day – Festival Divine Service, 10:00 A.M.
First Sunday after Christmas Day – Divine Service, 11:00 A.M.
New Year’s Eve: Eve of The Circumcision and Name of Jesus –
Divine Service, 7:30 P.M.
The Epiphany Of Our Lord, Monday, January 6th
Festival Divine Service, 7:30 P.M.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Before Christmas comes the Church keeps the holy season of Advent. Advent can be described as “waiting in the darkness for the coming of the Light.” But we live in an age which does not like to wait! We want what we want when we want it – right now! Instant gratification is what we seem to want – and expect! Given this state of affairs, Advent is good for us because our whole life as Christians is one of waiting – of waiting for the Day when Christ who came in lowliness to be our Savior will come again in glory to be our Judge. But our waiting is not an aimless waiting because as we wait we prepare to meet our Judge: by placing our whole trust and confidence in His mercy, by loving and serving Him, and by being instruments of His love and peace in a sad and loveless world. We wait in full awareness that every human being and every human institution, all lands, all the governing authorities, are accountable to Him who will on that Last Day come as the Judge of the living and the dead.    Mindful of our own sin and the sin of the whole world, the Church prays in the Litany: “In the hour of death and in the day of judgment, good Lord, deliver us.”

Juliana Watson fell asleep peacefully in the Lord on the evening of Sunday, October 27th, after a long and very difficult illness. Her funeral was held in church on Saturday, November 9th. May the Light perpetual ever shine upon her and may Christ our merciful Savior comfort her parents and all who mourn her departure with the sure and certain hope of the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

You may have noticed that the Advent Wreath has three purple candles and one rose candle. The rose candle is lighted on the Third Sunday in Advent which is also known as Gaudete Sunday because of the first Latin word of the introit or entrance chant for that Sunday: “Gaudete/Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, Rejoice…The Lord is at hand.” In some churches it has long been the custom to use the rose color on Gaudete/Rejoice Sunday. We have acquired a set of rose vestments which will be worn for the first time on the Third Sunday in Advent and will also be worn on the Fourth Sunday in Lent when the introit begins with another Latin word for Rejoice: Laetare. Festive vestments are worn at every Divine Service because the risen Lord is truly present in the Sacrament and because every celebration of the Sacrament is pledge and foretaste of the joyful marriage supper of the Lamb with all His saints in light (Revelation 19:6-9).

It gives me no pleasure to note that, ever since the COVID pandemic, church attendance has declined – even at Christmas! Dear friends in Christ, such things ought not so to be! For Christians the heart of the Christmas celebration is the Christ Mass: The Christ Mass is the Divine Service of Word and Sacrament on the day of Christ’s birth as the Child of the pure and lowly virgin Mary. Our church’s principle confession of faith, the Augsburg Confession, declares: “Our churches have been falsely accused of abolishing the Mass, for the Mass is retained among us and celebrated with the highest reference.” In the Lutheran churches of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland the Divine Service has continued to be called the Mass down to the present day and the historic Mass vestments have continued to be worn as they once were in Germany and now are in many Lutherans churches including Our Saviour Church.

Be all that as it may, what matters is that Christians worship our Lord on the day of His birth in the way He Himself has commanded: by celebrating the Holy Mysteries of His Body and Blood in which He comes to feed us with that very body, born of Mary in Bethlehem. and with His blood – as the One who is not only true and mighty God but also our fully human Brother. Apart from illness or the infirmities of old age or the urgent need to care for someone, there is simply no excuse for failing to be present in the Lord’s House at the Lord’s Own Service, the Holy Communion, on the day of His birth – which of course begins on Christmas Eve. We all rightly lament the growing secularization in the world, but when you absent yourself from the Divine Service for no valid reason you in fact contribute to secularization! Let us then joyfully come to God’s House on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day that, as the shepherds found the Savior wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, we may find Him hidden in the hallowed Bread and Cup. In the manger and at the altar,

How silently, how silently
The wondrous Gift is given!

For many years Judy Volkman sang Adolphe Adam’s lovely Christmas song, Cantique de Noel/O Holy Night, on Christmas Eve. She is now taking a very well-earned rest, but we may have a special guest soloist on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve we sing all the old familiar carols: O Come All Ye Faithful, Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and Luther’s great Christmas hymn, From Heaven Above to Earth I Come. Our Christmas Day Divine Service always begins with God Rest You Merry Gentlemen and closes with one of the loveliest and oldest carols, Now Sing We Now Rejoice/In dulci jubilo. Remember that our Christmas Day celebration begins at TEN O’CLOCK – not eleven! The wise men brought frankincense to the Christ Child: so incense will be used on Christmas Day and also on the Feast of the Epiphany, the coming of the wise men.

Jean West reminds us that it is now time to place our orders for poinsettias. They are 6″ pots for the price of $11.00 each. There are order envelopes available on the piano and at the back of the church. All orders and monies are due by Sunday, December 15, 2024. Be sure to include the names of those you wish to remember or honor. This list will be included with the bulletin on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Poinsettias will be available to pick up after the Christmas Day Divine Service.

Be sure to read Bernie Knox’s article about the Aldi Gift Certificates for needy families connected with the Waverly School – of which your pastor happens to be an alumnus as he is of City College High School just across the street from church.

Conditions in the world continue to be utterly deplorable: the ongoing war in the Holy Land that now has expanded into Lebanon and Syria, the continued Russian aggression in Ukraine, the murderous civil war in Sudan – the list goes on and on.

As disciples of the Prince of Peace once born in Bethlehem, we must pray for peace in the world, especially in that land where He was born and lived and died and rose from the dead to save the whole lost world. There are many ways of providing help to the people suffering so terribly in all these wars, but one way is through our church body, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. You can contribute through our Synod’s Contributor Care Line (888-030-4439) or by sending a check to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, PO Box 66861, Saint Louis, MO 63166-6861. Mark your check payable to The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and designate the check for LCMS World Relief and Human Care. You can also donate through our Synod’s secure website:lcms.org/givenow/mercy.

As we pray for peace also in this City of Baltimore we continue to pray for all those for whom our prayers are desired: Bridget Bauman, James Bauman, Christopher Bell, Bertha Buchanan, Dana Carmichael, Quilla Downs, Bunny Duckett, Steve and Joyce Eaves, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Sean Fortune, Sherry James, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Christ Mokris, Jake Mokris, Mary Mokris, Marian Rollins, Julia Silver, Robert Siperek Jr., Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson. Intercessory prayer is our duty and privilege as Christians. From the very beginning of the church’s story (Acts 2:42) there has been prayer for the whole church and the whole world as Christians gathered every Lord’s Day – the weekly celebration of Christ’s glorious resurrection – to hear God’s Word and to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, the blessed Sacrament of the risen Lord’s body and blood. These intercessory prayers always followed the reading and preaching of God’s Word and formed a kind of bridge to the celebration of the Eucharist – just as they do every Lord’s Day here at Our Saviour. Yolanda Ford remains at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224.

There are many questions and answers surrounding the deplorable decline of church attendance in Europe and America and other parts of the world. But I am convinced that one reason for this sad situation is that so many Christians have completely forgotten – if they ever knew! – that on every Lord’s Day we celebrate the glorious resurrection of our Lord God and Savior from the dead. And with that we have lost the awareness that Sunday worship is not a bare remembrance of a long departed friend, but that in the Holy Eucharist the crucified and risen Lord is truly present under the forms of the hallowed bread and wine. And so the Sacrament is always a celebration of love and life in a loveless, dying world, and is indeed the joyful anticipation of the heavenly banquet. And not only on every Lord’s Day but on every Holy Day – such as Christmas! Once you truly realize Christ’s Real Presence in the Sacrament to love and bless and sustain you, you will eagerly come to God’s House whenever this Feast of Love and Joy is celebrated – most certainly on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day!

O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!

I look forward to seeing you in church – and at the altar – as we yet again celebrate the birth of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Affectionately in our newborn Savior and Lord,

Pastor McClean

Aldi’s Gift Cards and Christmas

Again this year OSLC will be providing Aldi’s Gift Cards for Thanksgiving and Christmas to needy families whose surnames 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. Sunday, December 8th, will be the last opportunity to donate to the Gift Cards. These holidays remind us all to be thankful for 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

Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, November, 2024

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
November, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

November 1st is All Saints Day. As always we will celebrate this festival on the first Sunday in November. On this festival we rejoice in the glorious reality of the communion of saints which is Christ’s whole Church both in heaven and on earth. Recent surveys suggest that there are now 2.4 billion Christians in the world, but the Church here on earth is small in comparison to that “great multitude which no man can number standing before the throne of God and the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9) – as we hear in the Epistle read on All Saints Day. As in our custom, we will remember those who have departed this life since the last  All Saints Day Queenie Hardaway, Helen Gray, Gregory and Deborah Dixon and Lewis Otto Bell. I love the words of John Keble (1792-1866)

Tis sweet as year by year we lose
Friends out of sight, in faith to muse
How grows in paradise our store.

As Christians we both mourn our loss and rejoice in their gain. What we lose on earth we gain in paradise; what we lose from the present time we gain for the eternal future. “I believe in…the communion of saints.” As we sing in that wonderful hymn of William Walsham How (1823-1897):

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee for all are Thine!

The first Sunday in November brings the end of Daylight Savings Time. Remember to set your clocks back one hour! “Spring forward, fall back.”

Pastor Lucas Witt will be installed as executive director of the Lutheran Mission Society of Maryland at Immanuel Church, Loch Raven and Belvedere, on Saturday, November 23rd at 11:00 A.M. For over a hundred years the Lutheran Mission Society has been bringing “health and wholeness to people through the love and compassion of Jesus Christ” (Mission Statement). Pastor David Maack recently retired after serving as executive director for many years.

November 28th is Thanksgiving Day. Our celebration of the national day of thanksgiving will take place on Thanksgiving Eve at 7:30 P.M. People of a certain age are much given to nostalgia, and I have to admit that as a person “of a certain age” I have real nostalgia for the days when our churches were full on Thanksgiving Day. But that was a very long time ago, and we now have a situation in which perhaps most churches have abandoned the celebration of Thanksgiving Day. But I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised by that in a time when so many people ignore even the Lord’s Day, the weekly celebration of the Lord’s resurrection! Now there is nothing wrong with family dinners and football games, but there is something wrong when such things become more important than the worship of the One who has given our nation all good things. In a recent sermon the President of Synod, Pastor Harrison, said that what most scares him about our Synod is ingratitude. Is that also true of our country? Do we Americans take for granted all the blessings that are ours? Perhaps we should all pray with George Herbert (1593-1633):

Thou that hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, a grateful heart.

Be sure to read what Bernie Knox has to say about Aldi Gift Certificates for Thanksgiving at the end of this newsletter.

I think everyone will agree that Family Day was a happy occasion. We enjoyed the presence and preaching of Pastor Harmon, the President of the Southeastern District of Synod, and it was good to see so many people we had not seen in some time. And the meal that followed was also much enjoyed. I certainly enjoyed it and want to thank everyone who made Family Day possible.

Congregations of the Southeastern District have been affected by Hurricane Helene. The District activated its Disaster Response Team and at the October church council meeting, our own congregation decided to send aid. If you wish to contribute to hurricane relief you can go to the District website se.lcms.org and there you will be able to make a contribution. The ongoing wars in Ukraine and Sudan and the expanding war in the Holy Land have brought unspeakable suffering to so many of our fellow human beings. Our Synod is trying to provide help to those who suffer You can make a contribution through 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, Bertha Buchanan. Dana Carmichael, 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, Jake Mokris, Mary Mokris. Marion Rollins, Julia Silver, Robert Siperek Jr., Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson, Julia Ford. Yolanda Ford remains at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224. Julie Watson is now in hospice care at Northwest Hospital.

November 5th is Election Day and, if we have not already voted, this is our opportunity as citizens to exercise our right to vote for those who will govern us in the days ahead. Apart from what may be valid and conscientious reasons for not voting, it is surely our duty as citizens to do so. If for no good reason we fail to do so, do we then have a right to complain when the government disappoints us? It is our duty as Christians to pray that God would guard and guide our nation especially at this time. And it is also our Christian duty in this time of such stark polarization to respect the conscientious decisions of our fellow citizens when they differ from our own. It is the devil who takes delight in creating animosity and hatred in the world.

You may have noticed the new green vestments first worn on Sunday, October 20th. They match the green frontlet – altar cloth – which was made by the widow of Pastor Adolf John Stiemke and given in his memory. I have given these new vestments in memory of my father Charles Louis McClean and my mother Anna Eleanor nee Moesta who in 1911 was baptized by Pastor Theodore Sorge in Jackson Square Church. These vestments are the historic “eucharistic vestments” which from ancient times have been worn by celebrants of the Holy Eucharist..

I again have a new email account, having lost access on October 7th to my “new account.” Richard Brown very kindly created this new account including features to keep me from losing access yet again! Never hesitate to email me at this new address charlesmcclean1942@gmail.com or call me at (10)554-9994!

As we say in the Divine Service: “For the peace of the whole world, for the-well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.”

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean

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, 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 .

Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, April, 2024

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
April, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

No one can doubt that we live in a broken world and that we are all in various ways broken human beings. Our Lord’s disciples, fearfully gathered behind locked doors following His death and burial, were very broken indeed. All their hopes were ended and their hearts were filled with fear that they might suffer the same fate as their beloved Teacher and Friend. But then on the evening of that first Easter Day, unhindered by those locked doors, “Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” The risen Lord’s word of peace means more than the absence of conflict, it conveys a sense of wholeness, of restoration of what has been broken and out of joint, of God’s unmerited grace and favor toward broken, mortal sinners. And the risen Savior’s word of peace to His broken disciples is His word of peace to this whole broken, sorrowing, death-bound world. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

No wonder the Church continues to celebrate Christ’s glorious resurrection throughout the forty days following Easter Day and indeed on every Lord’s Day which is the weekly celebration of His triumph! Since singing better expresses our Easter joy than does the spoken voice, we will be singing the Nicene Creed throughout the Easter season and on other festivals of the Church Year. In the old Lutheran Church the Creed was always sung: either the actual text of the Nicene Creed was sung in German or in Latin or Luther’s wonderful paraphrase of the Nicene Creed, “We All Believe in One True God” (Lutheran Service Book 954, The Lutheran Hymnal 251) was sung as it always was in German services in our Synod’s churches. And on every Sunday during the Easter season we sing the hymn “Christ is Arisen” which had already been sung long before the Reformation of the 16th century. The forty days of Easter end on Ascension Day, which this year falls on May 9th, when we will celebrate a Festival Divine Service at 7:30 P.M.

Saturday, April 13th, will be a Work Day here at church from 10:00 A.M. until 12:00 Noon. Various outdoor and indoor chores need attention as we prepare for this year’s Saint Mark’s Conference which takes place April 22nd and 23rd. Information about the Conference can be found at our church’s website (2024 St. Mark’s Conference | Our Saviour Lutheran Church (oursaviourbaltimore.org)). Although intended primarily for pastors, everyone is welcome to attend the services and presentations.

On Saturday, May 11th, the First Free Flea Market of this year will take place beginning at 9:00 A.M. Judy Volkman reminds us that we have been blessed with clothing for women and lots of household items. We are lacking in jewelry and in men’s clothing. If you have any of these items you would wish to donate, please call Judy at (443) 425-3437. And volunteers are always needed to greet and assist our visitors. Judy asks, Who knows what will happen because of these interactions? Help to someone in need? A new member?

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. The need remains great!

Remember in your prayers all those for whom our prayers are desired: 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.

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

The familiar prayer that is prayed after we have received Holy Communion, based on the old Latin liturgy, was written by Dr. Luther for his German Mass of 1526 and has had a firm place in the Lutheran liturgy ever since. It is found in both the liturgies we use (Lutheran Service Book, pp. 166, 201; The Lutheran Hymnal, p. 30).  In this prayer we ask that God would through the Holy Sacrament of His Son’s body and blood “strengthen us…in faith toward [Him] and in fervent love toward one another.” And so we see that the fruit of receiving Holy Communion is the strengthening of faith in the Lord who has so loved us as to offer Himself for us and also the increase of “fervent love toward one another.” It therefore goes without saying that, in coming to the altar, we repent of the weakness of our faith and the coldness of our love. We cannot seek the mercy of God if we are unmerciful toward those who may have offended us in some way. We cannot seek the peace of Christ if we refuse to be at peace with others. We all need to ponder the words of this prayer and take them to heart. How we pray shows what we believe.

Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed!

Alleluia!

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

I ask you to keep me in your prayers as you are in mine.

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean

Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, March, 2024

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
March, 2024

Holy Week and Easter

Palm Sunday – Distribution  of Palms, Procession and Divine Service, March 24, 11:00 A.M.
Maundy Thursday – Divine Service and the Stripping of the Altar, March 28, 7:30 P.M.
Good Friday – The Liturgy of Good Friday, March 29, 7:30 P.M.
Easter Eve – The Easter Vigil and the First Holy Eucharist of Easter, March 30, 7:30 P.M.
Easter Day – Festival Divine Service, March 31, 11:00 A.M.
Bible Class will not meet on Easter Day

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The last day of March is Easter Day, the glad feast of the Lord’s resurrection. The joy of Easter is so wonderfully expressed in the great Easter hymn of Saint John of Damascus (A.D. 657-749):

Now let the heavens be joyful,
   Let earth her song begin,
Let all the world keep triumph
   And all that is therein.
Let all things, seen and unseen,
   Their notes of gladness blend;
For Christ the Lord hath risen –
   Our joy, that hath no end!

In the resurrection from the dead of His only and eternal Son we see God’s purpose for the whole creation. As Vladimir Lossky (1903-1958) memorably said: “An infinite ocean of light flows from the body of the risen Lord.” Christ’s resurrection is the foundation of our faith, Christ’s resurrection is the foundation of the Church for there would be no Church had not the crucified Lord conquered death and the grave. And as the resurrection of the Savior is the foundation of the Church, so also is it the Keystone of the Church Year. For the light that shines at Christmas and Epiphany and Pentecost, the light that shines on every Sunday of the year and in all the festivals of the saints is none other than the light of the risen Lord, the cause of our eternal joy! How I wish that we 21st century Christians could recover the spirit of the ancient Church which had such a vivid sense of every Sunday as the weekly celebration of the Lord’s resurrection! If we would but realize that every Sunday is a “little Easter,” we would be very eager to join our fellow Christians to meet the risen Lord as He comes to us Sunday by Sunday in that Sacrament which the ancient fathers called “The Medicine of Immortality.” Yes, “Christ the Lord hath risen – our joy, that hath no end!”

From ancient times the Church’s celebration of the Lord’s resurrection has begun on Easter Eve with The Easter Vigil. Beginning with the lighting of the Paschal (Easter) Candle – symbol of the risen Lord with His five glorious scars, we hear the story of God’s loving purpose beginning with the story of creation and continuing with the flood and Israel’s deliverance at the Red Sea in both of which our baptism into Christ crucified and risen is prefigured. Baptism follows or, if there are none to be baptized, the renewal of baptismal vows. The Litany is sung and the Vigil comes to its climax in the joyful first Holy Eucharist of Easter.

But before we come to Easter there is the Holy Week of the Lord’s passion. On Palm Sunday we join the crowds that went to greet the Savior, bearing palm branches and singing His praises as the promised Son of David who comes in the name of the Lord. Every celebration of the Holy Eucharist is a participation in that first Eucharist celebrated by the Savior in the upper room on the first Maundy Thursday. At the end of the Maundy Thursday Eucharist the altar is stripped and left bare. Since the altar is itself a symbol of Christ, the stripping of the altar reminds us that, when Jesus was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, “all the disciples forsook Him and fled.”

On Good Friday we go in spirit to Golgotha and worship the Lamb slain for the sins of the whole world, “God’s own sacrifice complete” (Hymn 436). From ancient times the Passion according to Saint John has been read on Good Friday, the Passion history which emphasizes the victory won through the Son of God’s passion and death. It is Saint John who records our Lord’s “last triumphant cry” (Hymn 420): “It is finished!” We also join in praying the Bidding Prayer which since ancient times has been prayed on this day. In it we pray for all for whom Christ died, the whole Church and the whole world.

My hope is that we will all make an effort to be present as we remember these mighty acts whereby we have been given pardon for our sins, life and immortality. In addition to the evening Liturgy of Good Friday here at Our Saviour there will also be the customary Tre Ore Service at Bethlehem Church (4815 Hamilton Avenue) from 12:00 noon-3:00 P.M. Baltimore pastors will preach on the Seven Last Words of Jesus. If you are hesitant to go out after dark, this service is an opportunity to keep Good Friday. Few people stay for the whole three hours: come when you can, leave when you must.

The Concordia University Nebraska A Capella Choir will sing at Immanuel Church, Loch Raven and Belvedere, on Thursday, March 7th, at 7:00 P.M. They will be joined by the choir of Concordia Preparatory School in Towson. The Concordia Nebraska Choir is on a concert tour of the east coast.

Remember the Lenten Vespers which will be held on March 6, 13, and 20. Vespers with the Litany begins at 7:30 P.M. There is a soup supper at 6:30 P.M. Donations made at the soup suppers will help us provide gifts cards for needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year we have been having a good attendance at these midweek services and suppers. If you need a ride to church on Wednesdays or on Sundays, please do not hesitate to email me at charlesmcclean42@gmail.com or call me at (410) 554-9994. And please do not forget to let me know when you or a loved one is sick or in need of pastoral care. That’s what pastors are for!

Our dear brother in Christ, Gregory Dixon, fell asleep in the Lord on Thursday, February 22nd. May the Light perpetual ever shine upon him and may the risen Savior comfort his family and all who mourn with the sure and certain hope of the resurrection. His funeral will be held here on Tuesday, March 19th, at 10:30 A.M. with visitation beginning at 10:00 A.M.

As we approach Holy Week and Easter we are painfully aware of the devastation of the on-going wars in Ukraine and the Holy Land and in other parts of the world. Let me remind you that you can provide help through our Synod’s LCMS World Relief and Human Care. You can give by calling Synod’s Contributor Care Line 888-930-4438 or you can give online at lcms.org/givenow/mercy or you can send a check to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, PO Box 66861, Saint Louis, MO 63166-6861. Make your check payable to The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and write LCMS World Relief and Human Care on the memo line. And do remember to support the GEDCO Food Pantry and the Helping Up Mission. Boxes for donations can be found just inside the door which opens on the parking lot north of the church.

Remember in your prayers all those for whom our prayers are desired: Bridget Bauman, James Bauman, 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, Christ Mokris, Marion Rollins, Julia Silver, Robert Siperek Jr.,Julia Silver, Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Gary Watson, Juliana Watson, Dennis 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.

Here is a prayer which can be used as we approach Holy Week and Easter.

Assist us mercifully with Thy help, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the meditation of those mighty acts whereby Thou hast given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast!
(I Corinthians 5:7)

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean

Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, February, 2024

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
February, 2024

ASH WEDNESDAY
Divine Service with the Imposition of Ashes
February 14, 7:30 P.M.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Once again we are about to begin our annual journey through Lent and Holy Week to Easter. Although Christmas is a more popular festival, which is in various ways celebrated even by those who do not see in the Child born of Mary our God and Savior, it is Easter that is for Christians the Feast of Feasts, the Holy Day of Holy Days, the Crown of the Christian Year, and all the seasons and festivals of the Christian Year (including Christmas) only make sense in the light of the Day of the Lord’s resurrection.From ancient times Christians have felt the need to prepare for Easter and that is why the Church has always the holy season of Lent in preparation for the glad feast of the Lord’s resurrection.

On Ash Wednesday there will as usual be Divine Service with imposition of ashes at 7:30 P.M. On the following Wednesdays there will be Vespers and Litany at 7:30 P.M. preceded by a soup supper at 6:30. Offerings given at the soup supper will be used to provide gift certificates for needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year the meditations at the Lenten Vespers will be based on the Passion as narrated by Saint Matthew. In using the Litany at Lenten Vespers we remember that Dr. Luther once said that after the Lord’s Prayer itself the Litany is “the best prayer that can be made” It was Pastor Wilhelm Loehe (1808-1872), that great 19th century father of the faithful Lutheran Church who founded the Seminary in Fort Wayne and then gave it to our Synod, who had this to say about the Litany: “Beginning with adoration, confessing Christ in its heart, it ends with the lovely Agnus [O Lamb of God…have mercy] which leads our thoughts to eucharistic heights…how evangelical, how entirely agreeable to our Church.”

The A Capella Choir of Concordia University Nebraska will give a concert of sacred and secular music at Immanuel Church, Loch Raven and Belvedere, at 7:00 P..M. on Thursday, March 7th. This choir of 72 auditioned voices has performed both internationally and throughout the United States. The Upper School Choir of Concordia Preparatory School in Towson will open the evening and will sing with the A Capella Choir. There is a need for people willing to provide lodging for members of the choir on the night after the concert. If you are interested, you may email
averykaser@concordiaprepschool.org.

The Epiphany Choral Vespers on January 21st, was a wonderful celebration of the new organ console which had been dedicated to the memory of Joseph Silver last October. I am sure that everyone will agree that Cameron Kuzepski, our guest organist for this service, is a remarkably gifted organist, composer, and choirmaster. It was a real treat to hear him play and to hear the quartet which sang settings of Psalm 72 and the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) which he had composed. This service was well attended and the reception that followed was delightful. We are much indebted to everyone who helped make this happen. I am hoping that we can from time to time have such choral Vespers on Sunday afternoons. Such services provide a good opportunity to invite our friends who attend other churches and those who are unchurched to worship with us.

Helen Gray, our dear sister in Christ, fell asleep in the Lord early in the morning on Thursday, January 11th. She was given Christian burial following the funeral service here at church on Saturday, January 20th. May the Light perpetual ever shine upon her and may the risen Lord comfort all who mourn with the sure and certain hope of the resurrection!

Remember in your prayers all those for whom our prayers are desired: Bridget Bauman, James Bauman, 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, Elaine Schwab, Julia Silver, Robert Siperek Jr., Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Gary Watson, Dennis 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.

When we see terrible suffering in so many parts of the world, such as the ongoing wars in Ukraine and in the Holy Land, we can have a sense of helplessness in the face of so much needless suffering. But one way to provide help is through Synod’s LCMS World Relief and Human Care. You can give online through this secure website: lcms.org/givenow/mercy or you can call Synod’s Contributor Care Line: 888-930-4438. 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 learn in Holy Scripture that the Lord Jesus began His earthly ministry in this way: “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14,15). Lent is a “penitential season” when we are especially conscious that – as Dr. Luther said in the first of his 95 Theses – “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ says, ‘Repent,’ he intended that the whole life of Christians should be one of repentance.” Both the Greek and the Hebrew word for repentance show that repentance is a change of heart, a change that God alone can work in us as we listen to His word of judgment and mercy. For Christians every day is a day of repentance. Lent is the season of the Christian Year that we are most especially conscious that this is so, and therefore we are called to examine our lives in the light of God’s Word. So consider your life in the light of the Ten Commandments or in the light of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 – 7) or in the light of Saint Paul’s catalog of “the works of the flesh” and “the fruit of the Spirit” (Galatins 5:19-24). And then confess your sins to the Lord. And remember that – as we are taught in the Fifth Chief Part of the Catechism, The Office of the Keys and Confession – pastors are always willing to hear the confession of penitent sinners. The hymnal we use in fact provides a form for individual confession and absolution at page 292. I am always willing to answer any questions about this. Call me at (410) 554-9994 or email me at charlesmcclean42@gmail.com. As a dear friend of mine likes to say: “In private confession we learn not so much how sinful we are but how forgiven we are.”

The Lord’s People are in the Lord’s House at the Lord’s Own Service every Lord’s Day. May it be said of us as it was of the first Christians: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42).

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean

Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, January, 2024

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
January, 2024

New Year’s Day: The Circumcision and Name of Jesus –
Divine Service, 10:00 A.M.
Eve Of The Epiphany Of Our Lord, Friday, January 5th
Divine Service, 7:30 P.M.
Epiphany Choral Vespers in celebration of the new organ console, Sunday, January 21, at 4:00 PM

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Although the world more or less ends its celebration of Christmas on Christmas Day, the Church continues to celebrate the twelve days of Christmas which conclude on January 5th, “Twelfth Night,” the Eve of the Festival of the Epiphany of our Lord. Epiphany has often been called the “Christmas of the Gentiles” because the wise men were the first Gentiles to worship the Christ Child and offer Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. As the poet Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (A.D. 348-413) says in his Epiphany hymn:

Sacred gifts of mystic meaning:
Incense doth their God disclose,
Gold the King of kings proclaimeth,
Myrrh his sepulcher foreshows.

As the magi offered frankincense to the Savior, so we will offer incense – pure frankincense – at our Epiphany celebration; and we will sing those familiar carols which speak of the journey of the wise men and of their gifts: The First Nowell, What Child is This, and We Three Kings of Orient Are. The celebration of the Epiphany of our Lord is a joyful way to bring our annual celebration of Christ’s coming into this world to its happy conclusion.

The Rev. Philip Jaseph will be installed as the ninth  pastor of  Martini Church at Hanover and Henrietta Streets on Saturday, January 6th at 10:00 A.M. Please let me know if you plan on staying for the reception that follows. Call me at (410)554-9994 or email me at charlesmcclean42@gmail.com.

On Sunday, January 21st, at 4:00 P.M. there will be a Choral Vespers in celebration of our new organ console which on October 22 was dedicated to the glory of God and in loving memory of Joseph Silver. Mr. Silver served faithfully as president of Our Saviour congregation for a number of years and held other offices in the church as well as serving as our sexton. The Choral Vespers will celebrate the Epiphany season in which we celebrate Christ’s manifestation of His deity in the guiding star and the worship of the magi, in His baptism and in His changing of water into wine at the marriage in Cana,  and in His glorious transfiguration. Our guest organist for this service is Cameron Kuzepski who is the principal organist at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen here in Baltimore. He studied organ and piano at the Peabody Conservatory, attended the Juilliard School of music’s pre-college division, has studied orchestral conducting in Bulgaria with the International Musicians Academy and the Vidin Sinfonietta, and participated in an internship with the Netherlands Bach Society in Utrecht, Holland. Do plan on attending this Choral Vespers and invite your friends! A reception will follow the service.

The January Voters Meeting will be held following Divine Service on January 28th. Every member of Our Saviour, eighteen and older, is eligible to participate in this congregational meeting.

Because Easter is early this year (March 31st)  the Christmas Cycle of the Church Year – Advent, Christmas, Epiphany – ends with the Festival of the Transfiguration of our Lord on Sunday, January 21st, and the Easter Cycle – Pre-Lent, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost – begins with Septuagesima Sunday on January 28th. The Latin names of the three pre-Lenten Sundays – Septuagesima, Sexagesima, Quinquagesima – tell us that it is approximately 70, 60, and 50 days until Easter. This year Ash Wednesday falls on February 14th – which is also Saint Valentine’s Day!

Please do not forget our on-going support of the GEDCO Food Pantry and of the Helping Up Mission. The need remains so great!

Thanks to the generosity of our members we were able to provide thirteen $40 Aldi gift certificates to needy families connected with the Waverly School at Thanksgiving and thirteen $100 gift certificates at Christmas.

Sherry James, the daughter of Eugene James, has been hospitalized since before Christmas Day. Remember her in your prayers, also Bridget Bauman, James Bauman, Louis Bell, Dana Carmichael, Timothy Doswell, Quilla Downs, Bunny Duckett, Steve and Joyce Eaves, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Sean Fortune, Helen Gray, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Chris Mokris, Marian Rollins, Elaine Schwab, Julia Silver, Robert Siperek Jr., Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson, Marvalisa Sierra, Jonathan and Steven Gibson. Helen Gray remains at Keswick Multi-Care Center, 700 W. 40th Street, Baltimore, MD 21211. 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.

I am writing these lines on December 28th which in the calendar of the Church Year is the Holy Innocents Day when we remember the infants slaughtered by King Herod in his vain attempt to destroy the infant Savior. How sad it is that the slaughter of innocent children continues in our own day! It goes without saying that as disciples of Him who is the Prince of Peace we Christians will pray fervently for peace throughout the world, especially in Ukraine and in the Holy Land. Every life is precious to Him who is the Maker and Redeemer of the whole world. And so let us turn to Him who “makes wars cease to the end of the earth” (Psalm 46:9). The late Rev. Dr. Alfred Fuerbringer, who for many years was like his father Ludwig the president of our Synod’s Saint Louis Seminary, noted that during the First World War the congregation of Trinity Church in Saint Louis – the “mother church” of our Synod – at the end of every service sang the ancient prayer for peace which Dr. Luther had translated and which now is found in our hymnal (777. 778):

Grant peace, we pray, in mercy, Lord; Peace in our time, O send us!
For there is none on earth but You, none other to defend us.
You only, Lord, can fight for us. Amen.

Let me conclude this letter by thanking you for your Christmas cards and gifts and by reminding you of the blessing and privilege that is ours as Christians: that every Lord’s Day the God of great mercy is present for us through the preaching of His holy Word and in the Sacrament of our Lord’s true body and blood. The Lord of Mercy graciously invites you. How will you respond?

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean

Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, December, 2023

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
December, 2023

CHRISTMAS AT OUR SAVIOUR

Christmas Eve – The Holy Night Communion, 7:30 P.M.
Christmas Day – Divine Service, 10:00 A.M.
First Sunday after Christmas Day – Divine Service, 11:00 A.M.
New Year’s Day: The Circumcision and Name of Jesus –
Divine Service, 10:00 A.M.
Eve Of The Epiphany Of Our Lord, Friday, January 5th
Divine Service, 7:30 P.M.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The beginning of this month of December brings with it the beginning of the season of Advent in which we make ready for the annual celebration of our Savior’s birth.  I often think that the best image for the Advent season is that of waiting in the darkness for the coming of the Light. As another candle of the Advent wreath is lighted on each of the Sundays in Advent, the increasing light of the candles tells us that we are drawing ever closer to the coming of Him who is Himself the Light in all our darkness both through His coming in lowliness at Bethlehem and through His coming in glory at the Last Day. The Epistle which from ancient times has been read at the Holy Night Communion points both to His coming in Bethlehem and to His final coming in glory. Saint Paul writes: “The grace of God has appeared” and then he speaks of how we Christians are “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus” (Titus 2:11, 13). As Christians we live in joyful hope between these two comings of our Savior, our hope meanwhile sustained by His coming to us in the Holy Sacrament of His Body and Blood. Christ came, Christ comes, Christ will come again! With Christ’s coming again in glory faith will give way to sight and hope will give way to fulfillment. In the words of a familiar Christmas carol:

For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heavens and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace their king,
And the whole world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.

Every few years Christmas Eve falls on the Fourth Sunday in Advent as it does this year. This means that the Sunday morning service is an Advent – not a Christmas – service. Our Christmas celebration begins with the Holy Night Communion at 7:30 P.M. and continues with Divine Service at ten o’clock on the morning of Christmas Day. Note that the New Year’s Day Divine Service also begins at ten o’clock. On the eighth day after His birth the infant Savior was circumcised and given the name Jesus (Saint Luke 2:21). And so on January 1st we not only celebrate the New Year but also the circumcision and Name of Jesus.

December 3rd is the deadline for contributions for the Aldi Gift Certificates for needy families connected with the Waverly School. Be sure to mark your check “Holiday Gift Certificates.” In giving to others we express our thankfulness for God’s generosity to us in His gift of His Son to be our Savior.

The church will be decorated for Christmas following the Divine Service on December 17th, the Third Sunday in Advent, which is also the deadline for ordering poinsettias. Wayne and Jean West are in charge of ordering the poinsettias: (410)236-6392, (410)236-8092. Each plant costs $11.00.

Our dear sister in Christ, Queenie Hardaway, fell asleep in the Lord on Thursday, November 9th. Her funeral service was held here at church on the following Thursday. May the Light perpetual ever shine upon here and may the risen Lord comfort all who mourn with the sure and certain hope of the resurrection.

A memorial plaque for the new organ console has now been affixed to our organ. It reads:

Console given to the Glory of God
and in memory of Joseph Silver
a devoted servant of God and His Church
1924-2022
October 22 the Year of Our Lord 2023

Do remember to bring food items for the GEDCO Food Pantry and personal items for the Helping Up Mission. The need remains great and each of us can and should make a contribution as we are able.

We continue to remember in prayer Bridget Bauman, James Bauman, Louis Bell, Dana Carmichael, Timothy Doswell, Quilla Downs, Bunny Duckett, Steve and Joyce Eaves, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Sean Fortune, Helen Gray, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Chris Mokris, Marian Rollins, Elaine Schwab, Julia Silver, Robert Siperek, Jr., Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson; Marvalisa, Sierra, Jonathan and Steven Gibson.

Helen Gray is now at the Keswick Multi-Care Center, 700 W. 40th Street, Baltimore, MD 21211. Yoland Ford remains at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224; Louis Bell at Autumn Lake Healthcare, 7 Sudbrook Road, Pikesville, MD 21208.

Please do not hesitate to email me (charlesmcclean42@gmail.com) or call me (410-554-9994) if there is anything on your mind that you would like to talk about or if you wish me to visit you or bring you the Sacrament. If you need a ride to church, I will see to it that that need is met.

There is a prayer for the Advent season, written by John Goter (1650-1704), which wonderfully expresses the spirit of this season:

We ask Thy grace, O God, that we may make a due use of this holy time for preparing our souls to receive Christ our Lord coming into the world at the approaching solemnity of Christmas. Grant that we may be watchful at this time above all others, in avoiding everything that can be injurious to our neighbor, whether in afflicting him, or giving him scandal, or drawing him into sin or casting any blemish on his reputation; but in all things, O God, may we follow the spirit of charity, being forward in bringing comfort and relief to all, as far as their circumstances shall require, and ours permit. Grant, O Lord, that thus we may prepare to meet our Redeemer.

It goes without saying that in these difficult days Christians will turn in prayer to the Lord “who makes wars to cease to the ends of the earth” (Psalm 46:9).

God bless us all in these Advent days.

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean

Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, November, 2023

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
November, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

November 1st is All Saints Day and, when November 1st does not fall on Sunday, we keep the festival on the following Sunday, this year November 5th. On this festival we celebrate the blessed reality of the communion of saints, the wonderful fellowship of all who belong to Christ both in paradise and on earth. For many years our custom at Our Saviour has been to remember especially those members of our church who have been called to Christ’s nearer presence since the last All Saints Day. This year we will remember Lucille Carmichael, Maggie Doswell, and Robert Siperek. In the words of Bishop William Walsham How’s great hymn, “For All the Saints”:

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine,
Yet all are one in Thee for all are Thine.

November 24th is Thanksgiving Day and as is our custom we will keep this holiday with a service of  Vespers on Thanksgiving Eve at 7:30 P.M. People of a certain age are much given to nostalgia: that’s certainly true of me! I freely admit that I am nostalgic about Thanksgiving Day when I was a boy. In those days our churches were full but that is – sadly – true no more. Many churches have simply abandoned public worship at Thanksgiving. It seems that nowadays most Americans see no reason to go to God’s house to give Him thanks for all His blessings to us as a nation. Of course we all are troubled by many circumstances in our country’s life, but – especially when compared with less fortunate lands! – we have so many reasons for thankfulness for all the blessings we do in fact enjoy.

And looking ahead to Thanksgiving, be sure to read Bernie Knox’s article at the end of this newsletter about the gift certificates which we give to needy families both at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Family Day, which we keep as the anniversary of the dedication of this church building, was as always a very happy occasion. Our good friend Pastor Elliott Robertson preached a wonderful sermon showing how God has guided and blessed our congregation through the years, highlighting the fiftieth anniversary of the merger of the Church of Our Saviour and Saint Matthew’s Church which was founded by people who had been members of Saint Matthew’s Church in Meherrin, Virginia. That congregation had been founded in 1888, four years before Our Saviour, (then known as Jackson Square) was founded in 1892. In the late 19th century the Missouri Synod to which we belong was – to put it mildly! – emphatically German! Yet Saint Matthew’s Meherrin was founded as an African American congregation and Our Saviour was founded for English-speaking people. To this day there are members of our congregation whose roots are in Meherrin. This is a unique history and one of which we can be justly proud! Copies of Pastor Robertson’s sermon will be available on the table in the back of the church and on the piano.

Our new organ console was dedicated on Sunday, October 22nd, and we are also planning to have a special celebration in January. Details will be announced in the December newsletter. We owe a great debt of gratitude to Paul Techau for his tireless efforts in bringing this project to a happy completion. A plaque will be affixed to the organ noting that this new console is dedicated to the memory of Joseph Silver.

A crepe myrtle tree has been planted in front of the church near the bus stop. We are hoping that when it has grown it will provide shade for people waiting for the bus. Wayne West procured the tree and he and Paul and Mary Techau planted it.

We continue to remember in prayer Bridget Bauman, James Bauman, Louis Bell, Dana Carmichael, Timothy Doswell, Quilla Downs, Bunny Duckett, Steve and Joyce Eaves, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Sean Fortune, Helen Gray, Queenie Hardaway, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Chris Mokris, Marian Rollins, Elaine Schwab, Julia Silver, Robert Siperek Jr., Jonah Rogness, Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson; Marvalisa, Sierra, Jonathan, and Steven Gibson. Yolanda Ford remains at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224; Louis Bell at Autumn Lake Healthcare, 7 Sudbrook Road, Pikesville, MD 21208, Queenie Hardaway at Augsburg Village, 6825 Campfield Road, Baltimore, MD 21207.

Please call (410-554-9994) or email (charlesmcclean42@gmail.com) me if you are unable to come to church and want me to visit you or bring you the Sacrament. Also let me know if you are in need of a ride to church and I will see to it that that need is met.

Let us be diligent in prayer for the whole Church and the whole world, and especially for our own congregation and country and for one another.

The Lord’s People are in the Lord’s House for the Lord’s Own Service every Lord’s Day.

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean

GIft Certificates

Again this year OSLC will be providing Aldi’s Gift Certificates to needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas. We are including this in our bulletins and newsletters 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 these Gift Certificates.

We also use the collections taken at our Lenten Soup Suppers to help support our Gift Certificates. In 2022 our four Soup Suppers yielded a total of $143.00. By Thanksgiving, including the Soup Supper funds and congregational donations, we were able to provide 12 families with a $65 gift certificate. At Christmas time our congregational donations were greater and we were able to provide 12 families with a $100.00 gift certificate. The recent 2023 Soup Suppers provided $348 as a beginning for our 2023 Thanksgiving and Christmas Certificates.

Please begin now to think about making generous contributions that will allow us to continue to help those less fortunate than ourselves provide a special meal for their families at a holiday which reminds us to be thankful for all the Lord has given us and at a second holiday which celebrates God’s greatest gift of all – the birthday of our Savior Jesus.

– Bernie Knox

Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, October, 2023

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
October, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Family Day is Sunday, October 1st. Our guest preacher will be our good friend, Pastor Elliott Robertson, who for many years was pastor of Martini Church in south Baltimore. Lunch will follow the Divine Service. As is our custom we will also celebrate the 93rd anniversary of the dedication of our church. When Jacob awoke from his dream of a ladder reaching from heaven to earth with the angels of God ascending and descending on it, he exclaimed: “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven” (Genesis 28:16,17). For 93 years our Lord and Savior has been graciously present in this place through His holy Word and Sacraments. We think of all who have heard the preaching of the Gospel and of all who have been made children of God through Holy Baptism and then confessed their faith in their Savior in confirmation, of all who have here been absolved of their sins and received the holy body and precious blood of Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar. We think of all the couples who have spoken their marriage vows and received the blessing of Christ the heavenly Bridegroom. We think of the mourners who have here been comforted with the sure and certain hope of the resurrection. We think of all who have offered their prayers and praises through Christ our heavenly High Priest. Like Jacob at Bethel we too must say, “Surely the Lord is in this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” Since all this is so, it is a joyful thing when year by year we give thanks for so many blessings!

Our dear sister in Christ, Maggie Doswell, fell asleep in the Lord at Medstar Hospital in Washington on the evening of Tuesday, September 12th. Her funeral was held here on Friday, September 22nd. For several years she was cared for at Cadia Healthcare in Hyattsville. It was always a privilege and a pleasure to visit her and bring her Holy Communion. Her cheerfulness and courage, her steadfast faith in her Savior, are a wonderful example for us all! May the Light perpetual ever shine upon her and may the risen Lord comfort all who mourn.

The fall Voters Meeting will be held after Divine Service on October 15. Every member of Our Saviour eighteen years old and older is eligible to participate.

God willing, on Sunday, October 22nd, we will dedicate the new organ console to the glory of God and in loving memory of Joe Silver who served this congregation so faithfully for so many years. His faithfulness and cheerful spirit are an example to us all. Be sure to read Paul Techau’s article about the new organ console at the end of this newsletter, also Judy Volkman’s report on our free flea markets and Bernie Knox’s article about the Aldi gift certificates we give to needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

On the last Sunday in October we will as always celebrate the Festival of the Reformation. In the first of the 95 theses – propositions intended for debate among theologians – posted on October 31, 1517 Dr. Luther said: “Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, in saying ‘Repent,’ meant the whole life of believers be one of repentance.” That call to repentance continues to resound down through all the ages as do the words of the 62nd thesis: “The true treasure of the church is the most holy Gospel of the glory and grace of God.” And these words are but the echo of the words of our Savior. Saint Mark tells us that  “Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel ” (Mark 1:14,15). As Christians, we are called daily to repent of our sins, examining our lives in the light of the Word of God. As one looks at the state of the churches today, who can fail to see the very widespread indifference to the Gospel and the holy Sacraments, to the public worship of the church? When we absent ourselves without a valid reason from worship on the Lord’s Day, we are creating an impression of indifference to the means of grace and to fellow Christians who are robbed of the encouragement our presence at Divine Service provides for them.

We continue to remember in our prayers James Bauman, Bridget Bauman, Louis Bell, Dana Carmichael, Quilla Downs, Bunny Duckett, Steve and Joyce Eaves, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Sean Fortune, Helen Gray, Queenie Hardaway, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Chris Mokris, Julia Silver, Jonah Rogness, Marian Rollins, Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson; Marvalisa, Sierra, Jonathan and Steven Gibson. Yolanda Ford remains at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224; Louis Bell at Autumn Lake Healthcare, 7 Sudbrook Road, Pikesville, MD 21208; Queenie Hardaway at Augsburg Village, 6825 Campfield Road, Baltimore, MD 21207.

If you are unable to come to church and would like me to visit you and bring you Holy Communion at home, please email me at charlesmcclean42@gmail.com or call me at (410)554-9994. If you need a ride to church, please let me know and I will see to it that that need is met.

The Lord’s People are in the Lord’s House every Lord’s Day.

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean

New Organ Console

This month we anticipate the installation of our new organ console. Our Moller pipe organ was installed when the church was built in 1930. It was rebuilt and slightly expanded in 1988. The console, however, has begun to show its age. After some research, we concluded that the most economical solution was to replace the console with a Viscount digital organ that will play the 1142 pipes in the organ chamber. In addition, the existing pipework will be supplemented with digital stops in a “hybrid” arrangement that will again expand the sounds that the organ can produce. The new console is expected to be delivered on October 9, and we will be without the organ one Sunday on October 15. If all goes according to plan, on October 22 the new console will be dedicated to the glory of God and in memory of Joe Silver who passed away January 5, 2022. He served this congregation faithfully for many years and in many ways, including many years as our sexton. We hope you can join us for this wonderful occasion.

  • Paul Techau

Free Flea Markets

On September 9th, 24 people attended the Last Flea Market of the year. There were 347 items distributed. This was a special Flea Market since we gave each person attending a large bag they could fill with clothing and/or shoes. Many people just took the clothes and left as “happy campers.” It seems that this year, many of the attendees also contributed to our inventory. We were happy to see that they were sharing their bounty with us. Many thanks to the volunteers who assisted this year: Eugene James, Paul & Mary Techau, Abigail Scheck, Pastor McClean, Jean & Wayne West, Bernie Knox, Gabe Purviance and Ben Orris. This wouldn’t have happened without them!

This is the 10th year that we have been sponsoring this Free Flea Market. There are times when I wondered if we were making an impact on the community. The statistics for 10 years show that 1435 people visited us and we distributed 10,350 items. WOW! It goes to show that small things really do add up. And the Lord has given us the ability to share our bounty with those who need it. Praise the Lord!!

We will continue to carry on next year. Donations of clothing, shoes, jewelry, linens and household items will be gladly accepted during the winter months. Since we hold the Markets during warm weather, winter clothes are not very popular.

  • Judy Volkman

Works of Mercy

Again this year OSLC will be providing Aldi’s Gift Certificates to needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas. We are including this in our bulletins and newsletters 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 these Gift Certificates.

We also use the collections taken at our Lenten Soup Suppers to help support our Gift Certificates. In 2022 our four Soup Suppers yielded a total of $143. By Thanksgiving, including the Soup Supper funds and congregational donations, we were able to provide 12 families with a $65 gift certificate. At Christmas time our congregational donations were greater and we were able to provide 12 families with a $100 gift certificate. The recent 2023 Soup Suppers provided $348 as a beginning for our 2023 Thanksgiving and Christmas Gift Certificates.

Please begin now to think about making generous donations that will allow us to continue to help those less fortunate than ourselves provide a special meal for their families at a holiday which reminds us to be thankful for all the Lord has given us and at a second holiday which celebrates God’s greatest gift of all – the birth of our Savior Jesus.

– Bernie Knox

Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, September, 2023

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
September, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I must begin by telling you that our search for an organist has just come to a very happy conclusion: John Igoe will again be our organist, beginning Sunday, September 24th. We were certainly very fortunate to have had him as our organist and are very happy that he will be with us again! I hope that many of you will be in church on the 24th to welcome him back.

Mark your calendars now for Sunday, October 1st, which will be Family Day. Our guest preacher will be our good friend, Pastor Elliott Robertson, who for many years was Pastor of Martini Church in south Baltimore. As usual there will be lunch following Divine Service. There is a sign-up sheet on the piano where you can indicate whether you will join us for lunch on Family Day so that we know how many to prepare for. As has been our custom for several years, we will celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of this Church on Family Day. The actual date of dedication was September 7, 1930, but there is an old church custom that the celebration of the anniversary can be moved to a different date if the actual date is in some way inconvenient. In Baltimore the weather in October tends to be better – less hot and humid! – than early September can be.

Our last free flea market of this year will take place on Saturday, September 9th, 9:00 A.M.-Noon. As always we need volunteers to greet our visitors and help them.

Remember to bring food items for the GEDCO Food Pantry and personal items for the Helping Up Mission. Why not make it a habit to pick up a few items to donate to the GEDCO food pantry when you do your grocery shopping? Toward the end of this newsletter Bernie Knox calls our attention to the Gift Certificates for needy families which we provide at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Surely no one needs to be told that the need is great.

Also at the end of this letter is Paul Techau’s report on the Milwaukee convention of our Synod. Paul was the lay delegate for the circuit of Baltimore churches to which we belong. Be sure to read his encouraging report. The convention showed that, as members of our Synod, we belong to a worldwide fellowship of churches united in faithfulness to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. Four more church bodies were received into fellowship with our Synod: churches in South Sudan and Sudan, Uganda, Finland and Ukraine. The convention also showed that, whatever difficulties our Synod is facing, there is a degree of unity which is remarkable in this day when there is so much strife and uncertainty and even apostasy in many parts of Christendom. Yet we cannot take this for granted and so must pray – as we do in the Prayer of the Church we customarily use in the Divine Service – “that all who confess Your holy name may agree in the truth of Your holy Word and live in unity and godly love.” Satan and his minions delight in sowing seeds of doubt and confusion and division wherever the flock of the good Shepherd is found. And “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). And so we pray in Dr. Luther’s morning and evening prayer: “Let Your holy angel be with me that the evil foe may have no power over me.”

We continue to remember in our prayers James Bauman, Bridget Bauman, Louis Bell, Dana Carmichael, Maggie Doswell, Quilla Downs, Bunny Duckett, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Helen Gray, Queenie Hardaway, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Mary Mokris, Julia Silver, Elaine Schwab, Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson; Marvalisa, Sierra, Jonathan and Steven Gibson. Maggie Doswell continues to recover at Cadia Healthcare, 4922 LaSalle Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782. Yoland Ford remains at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224; Louis Bell at Autumn Lake Healthcare, 7 Sudbrook Road, Pikesville, MD 21208; Queenie Hardaway at Augsburg Village, 6825 Campfield Road, Baltimore, MD 21207.

Please remember me in your prayers. You are in mine. If you are unable to come to church and wish to receive Holy Communion at home, you may call me at (410)554-994 or email me at charlesmcclean42@gmail.com. If you are in need of a ride to church, please let me know and I will see to it that that need is met.

Please remember me in your prayers. You are in mine.

Pastor McClean

Works of Mercy

Again this year OSLC will be providing Aldi’s Gift Certificates to needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas. We are including this in our bulletins and newsletters 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 these Gift Certificates.

We also use the collections taken at our Lenten Soup Suppers to help support our Gift Certificates. In 2022 our four Soup Supper yielded a total of $143. By Thanksgiving, including the Soup Supper funds and congregational donations, we were able to provide 12 families with a $65 gift certificate. At Christmas time our congregational donations were greater and we were able to provide 12 families with a $100 gift certificates. The recent 2023 Soup Suppers provided $348 as a beginning for our 2023 Thanksgiving and Christmas Gift Certificates.

Please begin now to think about making generous donations that will allow us to continue to help those less fortunate than ourselves provide a special meal for their families at a holiday which reminds us to be thankful for all the Lord has given us and at a second holiday which celebrates God’s greatest gift of all – the birth of our Savior Jesus.

– Bernie Knox

Report on the Synodical Convention

At the end of July, I had the privilege of representing our circuit (each circuit in the LCMS gets one pastoral delegate and one lay delegate to the convention) at the LCMS National Convention in Milwaukee. Mary attended the convention with me as a representative of the Wyneken Project here in Baltimore, which serves to help our churches continue to faithfully preach the Gospel and preserve their Lutheran identity.

The four and a half days of convention business were packed full of addressing a number of items, from the election of officers and board members for the coming triennium, to recognizing the faithful service of many who have served the church, adopting resolutions that enable the Synod to carry out its business, and addressing matters of controversy within the LCMS.

The highlight of the convention occurred early in the week. On Sunday afternoon, four church bodies were received into fellowship with the LCMS: Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Sudan and Sudan; Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland; Lutheran Church of Uganda; Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine. All four were represented by their bishops. In hearing their stories, it was very evident that these men and the churches they lead have truly sacrificed for the faith more than we in this country can truly appreciate. In addition to recognizing fellowship with these four church bodies, the convention also recognized the Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sri Lanka, up to this point a mission of the LCMS, as a “Self-Governing Partner Church.” If you have a little bit of time, you might consider watching this as it happened online (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1-Kw3dpf7I starting at about the three-hour mark).

Throughout the convention, there was remarkable unity apparent. Many resolutions were adopted by voice vote. There were some more contentious issues for which debate continued for extended periods. However, in the end, even on these issues, good results were obtained with votes of 70%, 80%, and even 90%. I thought that to be a good sign for the direction of the Synod.

Each day began and ended with worship, generally one of the daily offices. Each afternoon session also began with worship. Worshiping with a thousand other Lutherans is a very unique and uplifting experience. There were a number of addresses, essays, and catechetical lectures (all things that are specified by the synodical constitution to happen at convention), all of which were very good and very worth listening to. The video for these can be found on Synod’s website (https://www.lcms.org/convention/national/livestream) and if you get a chance to listen to some of them, it is well worthwhile. You’ll have to poke around on the videos to find the lectures and essays, but it is worth doing.

– Paul Techau

Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, July/August, 2023

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
July-August, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Although Independence Day is not a festival of the Church Year, it has been our custom to conclude the Divine Service on the Sunday nearest Independence Day with the singing of the hymn, “God Bless Our Native Land,” a poem written by Charles Timothy Brooks (1813-1883) while he was a theology student in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The tune is the very familiar melody of the patriotic song, “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” which is also the tune of the British national anthem, “God Save the King.” Saint Paul exhorts us to make “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks…for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (I Timothy 2:1,2). And so the Church has always included prayers for the civil authority in the Divine Service every Lord’s Day.

This year the first Sunday in July is July 2nd which in the calendar of the Church Year is the Festival of the Visitation of Mary. Having received the astonishing news that she was to be the mother of the Savior, Mary “went with haste” to visit her cousin Elizabeth, the expectant mother of Saint John the Baptist, the Forerunner of Christ (Luke 1:39-56).

Our newly elected Church Council will be installed on this first Sunday in July. The members of the Church Council are Bernie Knox, Merton Masterson, Gabe Purviance, Paul and Mary Techau, Wayne and Jean West. Ben Orris has served on the Council as director of worship but he will be moving to Washington as he takes up a position at the National Institutes of Health. Ben has now completed his doctoral studies in biochemistry at Johns Hopkins and so we congratulate him and wish him well in this new chapter of his life. We also thank Jake Mokris who has been making the bulletins and the newsletter for the past three years.

The July and August free flea markets will take place on July 8th and August 11th, 9:00 A.M.-12 Noon. We always need volunteers to greet those who come and hand out items.

Remember to bring food items for the GEDCO food pantry and personal items for the Helping Up Mission. When doing your grocery shopping, why not purchase a few items to donate to the food pantry?

At the Voters Meeting on May 21 it was decided to proceed with the purchase of a new organ console. The Church Council had recommended the acquisition of a new console as the most cost efficient solution to the problems presented by a console which was installed in 1930 when our present church building was dedicated. Although we have in hand the funds to do this, contributions to the organ fund are of course very welcome. Be sure to mark your check for “organ fund.”

Debbie Lewis has informed us that she will not be continuing as our organist following her summer vacation. And so we are again looking for an organist. We thank Debbie for her service and wish her well.

We continue to remember in our prayers James Bauman, Louis Bell, Dana Carmichael, Maggie Doswell, Quilla Downs, Bunny Duckett, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Sean Fortune, Helen Gray, Queenie Hardaway, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Mary Mokris, Julia Silver, Lawrence Smallwod, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson, Marvalisa, Sierra, Jonathan, and Steven Gibson. Maggie Doswell continues to recover at Cadia Healthcare, 4922 LaSalle Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782. Yolanda Ford remains at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224; Louis Bell at Autumn Lake Healthcare, 7 Sudbrook Road, Pikesville, MD 21208; Queenie Hardaway at Augsburg Village, 6825 Campfield Road, Baltimore, MD 21207.

The triennial Convention of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod will meet in Milwaukee July 29th-August 3rd. Our Synod is divided into districts and the districts into circuits. Each circuit chooses a pastor and a layperson to represent the circuit. The circuit we belong to has chosen Paul Techau to be the lay delegate and Eric Bednash, the pastor of Saint James’s Church in Overlea, to be the pastoral delegate. Pastor Matthew Harrison has again been reelected President of Synod. He has been a good and faithful chief pastor, a true shepherd of this part of Christ’s flock here on earth. You may remember that two years ago he spoke at the Saint Mark’s Conference here at Our Saviour. Remember in your prayers all the leaders of our synod and all the delegates to the synodical convention.

Please let me know if you are unable to come to church and wish to receive Holy Communion at home. Email me at charlesmcclean42@gmail.com or call me at (410)554-9994. If you are in need of a ride to church, please let me know and I will see to it that that need is met.

Please remember me in your prayers. You are in mine.

Pastor McClean

Works of Mercy

Again, this year, OSLC will be providing Aldi’s Gift Certificates to needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas. We are including this reminder in our bulletins and newsletters now so that our gifts may be as generous as possible. Please include on your check memo line or on an accompanying note that the funds are designated for these Gift Certificates.

Please begin now to think about making generous donations that will allow us to continue to remember those less fortunate than ourselves and provide a special meal for their families at a holiday which reminds us to be thankful for all the Lord has given us and at a second holiday which celebrates God’s greatest gift of all – the birth of our Savior Jesus.

– Bernie Knox

Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, May/June, 2023

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
May/June, 2023

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 7:30 PM
ASCENSION DAY—FESTIVAL DIVINE SERVICE

SUNDAY, MAY 28, 11:00 AM
THE DAY OF PENTECOST—FESTIVAL DIVINE SERVICE

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christmas, Easter and Pentecost are the three chief festivals of the Christian Year.

This year Pentecost falls on the last Sunday in May. But before we come to Pentecost we celebrate Ascension Day, which is always the sixth Thursday after Easter Day because it was on the fortieth day after His resurrection that our Lord ascended into heaven. Preaching on Ascension Day, Saint Leo the Great (A.D. 400–461) had this to say: “Since, then, the ascension of Christ is also our exaltation, for there is hope that the body will be summoned whither the Head has preceded in glory, let us give worthy expression to our exceeding great joy and be glad in fervent thanksgiving. For today we have not only been confirmed as possessors of paradise, but in Christ we have scanned the heights of heaven. Greater benefits have we obtained through the ineffable grace of Christ than we had lost through the malice of Satan. Those whom the raging foe had thrust from their first peaceful dwelling, the Son of God has united to Himself and has placed them at the right hand of the Father.”

Ten days after His ascension, on the Day of Pentecost, Christ sent the Holy Spirit to His disciples who then proclaimed His saving work to people of many languages gathered in Jerusalem. The Savior’s victory for us was accomplished on the cross, revealed in His resurrection, and proclaimed on the Day of Pentecost when three thousand people were baptized and so added to the Church. Saint Luke tells us that the members of this first Church “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). And so it has continued as the churches throughout the world have continued to gather every Lord’s Day to hear the teaching of the apostles in the words of Holy Scripture and in the preaching, and as the risen and ascended Lord gathers His church into one body through the gift of His holy body and precious blood in the Sacrament of the Altar.

And so it will continue until the Lord Jesus comes again in glory.

The first Sunday in June is the Festival of the Holy Trinity, commonly called Trinity Sunday, and the last Sunday in June is the 493rd anniversary of the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession by the Lutheran princes and cities to Emperor Charles V. These two festivals are connected because the Augsburg Confession begins by confessing the doctrine of the Holy Trinity which shows that the Lutheran confessors did not imagine themselves to be “founding” a new church but continuing steadfast in the faith the one Church that has been in the world since the first Pentecost. Through His incarnate Son God has revealed Himself as the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—one God. This is a great mystery—the mystery that God Himself is no solitary being but communion in love who in love redeems the fallen world. What happened at the Reformation is that everything in the church’s life that had obscured the truth that our salvation is wholly the gift of God’s love was removed so that the pure Gospel of God’s saving grace could shine in all its splendor. We remember that in his 95 Theses Dr. Luther wrote: “The true treasure of the Church is the most holy Gospel of the glory and grace of God.” This is what is confessed in the Augsburg Confession, and so important was the Augsburg Confession to those who built our church that on the cornerstone, right after the name of our church, we find the letters “U A C” which stand for “Unaltered Augsburg Confession.” Christ alone is our Savior and He bestows salvation through the preaching of the Gospel, through Baptism, Absolution, and the Holy Sacrament. Through these means of grace the Holy Spirit brings Christ to us and us to Christ who brings us to the Father.

The first Free Flea Market of this year will be held on Saturday, May 13, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM. We always need volunteers to help greet those who come and hand out items. Saturday, June 10, will be our second free flea market. We are grateful to Judy Volkman who has taken the lead in making this happen. This is a way of reaching out to our community and sharing with others what God has given us.

The spring Voters Meeting will be held after Divine Service on Sunday, May 21. Every member of Our Saviour, eighteen years and older, is eligible to vote. At this meeting we will elect the Church Council and approve the budget for fiscal year 2023/2024.

I wish to thank our members who helped with this year’s Saint Mark’s Conference: Paul and Mary Techau, Bernie Knox, Richard Brown, Jake Mokris, Ben Orris, and Ted Jones. I have heard good things from those who attended the conference and who are looking forward to next year’s.

We continue to remember in our prayers James Bauman, Louis Bell, Dana Carmichael, Maggie Doswell, Quilla Downs, Bunny Duckett, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Sean Fortune, Helen Gray, Queenie Hardaway, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Mary Mokris, Julia Silver, Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson, Jean West, Wayne West. Maggie Doswell continues to recover at Cadia Healthcare, 4922 LaSalle Road in Hyattsville, MD 20782. Yolanda Ford remains at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224; Louis Bell at Autumn Lake Healthcare, 7 Sudbrook Road, Pikesville, Md 21208; Queenie Hardaway at Augsburg Village, 6825 Campfield Road 21207.

Please remember to bring food items for the GEDCO food pantry and personal items for the Helping Up Mission. The need continues to be great, even daunting.

The Sunday morning Bible class continues to study Saint Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. Come join us! Questions are very welcome!

Please let me know if you are unable to come to church and wish to receive Holy Communion at home. Email me at charlesmcclean42@gmail.com or call me at (410) 554–9994. Please let me know if you need a ride to church and I will see that that need is met.

I have been invited to the 175th anniversary of Saint John’s Church in Springfield, Pennsylvania, which will be celebrated on Trinity Sunday, June 4. I served there as pastor from 1976 to 1982. Kathy Panek became organist at Saint John’s the same year as I began my ministry there and continues as organist to this very day. Our good friend, Pastor Noah Rogness, associate pastor at Immanuel Church in Alexandria, will be here in my absence.

In his presentation at Saint Mark’s Conference, Pastor Kurt Reinhardt of Trinity Church in Kurtzville, Ontario, showed us how even when most alone a Christian’s prayer is not solitary. In all our prayers we pray with the entire communion of saints in heaven and on earth—as we say at every celebration of the Holy Eucharist: “Therefore with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name…” As those baptized into Christ and His Body the Church we are never alone. We pray as our Lord and Savior commanded and taught us: Our Father… In that awareness let us continue in prayer for one another, for the whole Church and for the whole world.

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean

Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, April, 2023

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
April, 2023

PALM SUNDAY—APRIL 2; DISTRIBUTION AND PROCESSION OF PALMS AND DIVINE SERVICE, 11:00 AM
MAUNDY THURSDAY—APRIL 6; DIVINE SERVICE AND STRIPPING OF THE ALTAR, 7:30 PM
GOOD FRIDAY—APRIL 7; THE LITURGY OF GOOD FRIDAY, 7:30 PM
EASTER EVE—APRIL 8; THE EASTER VIGIL AND THE FIRST HOLY EUCHARIST OF EASTER, 7:3O PM
EASTER DAY—APRIL 9; FESTIVAL DIVINE SERVICE, 11:00 AM

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Once again we stand at the threshold of that week in which the Church throughout the world celebrates the memory of the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord. At the approach of Easter there come to mind the memorable words of Walter Kuenneth (1900–1997) in the preface to the second edition of his book, The Theology of the Resurrection. The first edition had been published in 1933, the year when Hitler came to power, the second edition in 1951 after Germany and the world had suffered the consequences of Hitler’s rise to power in all the misery and terrors of the Second World War. Kuenneth’s words continue to speak the truth also in our day:

The course of history, as it has so terribly disclosed itself to us, can only be a confirmation of the Christian insight that all mankind is trembling on the brink of destruction and groaning under the tyranny of death. In this dark night of the world there is only one single source of light: the joyful news, “Christ is risen!”

Easter Day is the very heart and center of the Christian year, the day when every Christian will be present in the House of God to meet the risen Lord in the Holy Sacrament of His body and blood.

In addition to the Holy Week services at Our Saviour there will again be a Good Friday Tre Ore Service from 12:00–3:00 PM at Bethlehem Church, 4815 Hamilton Avenue. Come when you can, leave when you must.

Palm Sunday is the deadline for ordering Easter lilies which this year cost $16.00. Be sure to enclose with your check the names of those you wish to remember or honor.

I think that the Lenten soup suppers were much enjoyed and want to thank those who prepared and served them: Bernie Knox, Merton Masterson, Gabe Purviance, Mary and Paul Techau, Jean and Wayne West. The offerings at the soup suppers will help to provide ALDI gift certificates at Thanksgiving and Christmas for needy families connected with the Waverly School. Do remember to bring items for the GEDCO food pantry and for the Helping Up Mission.

Some necessary work on the organ has been completed ahead of schedule; the result is very pleasing. After careful study and reflection, the Church Council is planning on moving forward with still more improvements to the organ. And the floors in the education building were recently cleaned by professional cleaners. I think that our property has been well cared for down through the years; it remains a continuing challenge.

Our Sunday morning Bible class has completed its study of the First Letter of Peter. We have begun a study of Saint Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. Come join us! But note that the Bible class will not meet on Easter Day.

This year’s Saint Mark’s Conference will take place April 24–25. The theme of this year’s Conference is The Praying Church. Although primarily intended for pastors, everyone is welcome to attend. More information on the Conference can be found at our website: oursaviourbaltimore.org.

On Sunday, April 30, Redeemer Church at 4211 Vermont Avenue in Irvington will celebrate its 125th Anniversary with Divine Service at 5:00 PM followed by dinner. If you will stay for dinner, be sure to email church@redeemerlutheranbaltimore.org.

We continue to remember in our prayers James Bauman, Louis Bell, Dana Carmichael, Maggie Doswell, Qulla Downs, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Helen Gray, Queenie Hardaway, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Mary Mokris, Julia Silver, Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson, Jean West, Wayne West. Maggie Doswell continues to recover at Cadia Healthcare, 4922 LaSalle Road in Hyattsville, MD 20782. Yolanda Ford remains at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224; Louis Bell at Autumn Lake Healthcare, 7 Sudbrook Road, Pikesville, Md 21208; Queenie Hardaway at Augsburg Village, 6825 Campfield Road 21207.

If you are unable to come to church but still wish to receive the Sacrament, email me at charlesmcclean42@gmail.com or call me at (410) 554–9994. And please do not hesitate to contact me if you need a ride to church. I hope that those who are able to come to church will do so, especially during Holy Week and on Easter Day. It is in fact the Lord Christ Himself who invites you to meet Him as He comes in the preaching of His Word and in the Sacrament of His body and blood. When He so graciously invites us, how can we fail to respond with gladness?

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean

Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, March, 2023

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
March, 2023

Mid-Week Lenten Vespers
Wednesdays, 7:30 PM
Soup Suppers 6:30 PM

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

At this year’s Lenten Vespers we are meditating on the Passion of our Lord according to Saint Mark. He was not himself an eyewitness of these events, but from earliest times it has been understood that Mark’s Gospel is based on the teaching of Saint Peter, who was an eyewitness. Typical of the witness of the early church fathers is that of Saint Irenaeus who wrote: “After the death of Peter and Paul, Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, himself handed down to us the things preached by Peter.” So as we listen to the Gospel according to Saint Mark we are hearing the voice of Saint Peter.

Remember that Lenten Vespers at 7:30 each Wednesday is preceded by a soup supper at 6:30. Donations at the soup suppers will be used to purchase Thanksgiving and Christmas ALDI gift certificates for needy families connected with the Waverly School.

Several weeks ago, in his weekly message to the people of Immanuel Church in Alexandria, Pastor Esget called their attention to two prayers which can be used in our private devotions during Lent. One is the Lenten prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian, a theologian and hymn writer who lived during the 4th century:

O Lord and Master of my life,
Take from me the spirit of sloth, faint-heartedness, lust of power and idle talk.
But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to your servant.
Yes, O Lord and King,
Help me to see my own faults and not judge my neighbor,
For You are blessed unto the ages of ages.

The other is the church’s Collect—the appointed prayer—for Ash Wednesday which was written by Thomas Cranmer in 1549 for the first Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England. This prayer came into use among English-speaking Lutherans here in America in the late 19th century. The service books of our Synod at one time directed its use throughout the season of Lent.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that Thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

Both these prayers are so rich in content that they also provide much food for meditation during the Lenten season.

With Easter little more than a month away, it is time to order the Easter lilies. Each plant costs $16.00. Be sure to include with your check the names of those you wish to honor or remember. The deadline for ordering the lilies is Palm Sunday, April 2. Envelopes are available at church.

At the end of this newsletter you will find the schedule of our Holy Week services. It is not a minute too soon to make plans to attend these services in which we remember and celebrate our Savior’s passion, death and resurrection, the foundation of our faith as Christians. In truth this is the heart of the Christian Year. Is it too much to expect that Christians will join in the services of these great holy days?

Some necessary work will be done on the organ beginning Monday, March 6. That means that we will not be able to use the organ for several weeks. In the meantime we will use the piano, which has recently been tuned. The work will be completed before the beginning of Holy Week.

I am grateful that the pastor’s study has gotten some long needed attention. There has been some water damage which predates my arrival here in May 2013. That has now been repaired and the study given a fresh coat of paint. Jean West put us in touch with Rafael Montoya who has done a splendid job for a very reasonable price.

Let us continue to remember in prayer: James Bauman, Louis Bell, Dana Carmichael, Maggie Doswell, Quilla Downs, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Helen Gray, Queenie Hardaway, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Mary Mokris, Julia Silver, Robert Siperek, Jr., Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson, Jean West, Wayne West. Maggie Doswell remains at Cadia Healthcare, 4922 LaSalle Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782; Yolanda Ford at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224; Louis Bell at Autumn Lake Healthcare, 7 Sudbrook Drive, Pikesville, MD 21208; Queenie Hardaway at Augsburg Village, 6825 Campfield Road, Baltimore, MD 21207. It is now possible to visit them; cards are always welcome.

Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 12. Remember to set your clocks forward by one hour: “Spring forward, Fall back.”

Please remember to bring food items for the GEDCO Food Pantry. I am sure we all realize that the need remains very great. And remember to bring personal care items for the Helping Up Mission. Boxes for these works of mercy can be found just inside the door from the parking lot north of the church.

The Sunday morning Bible Class is continuing its study of the First Epistle of Peter. The Christians Peter addressed were suffering because of their faith. Come join us at 9:45 AM! Questions are very welcome.

If you are sick or wish to talk with me or bring you the Sacrament, do not hesitate to call me at (410) 554–9994 or email me at charlesmcclean42@gmail.com.

Lent was anciently the time when candidates were prepared for Holy Baptism at Easter. At your baptism (and again at your confirmation) you promised to be faithful to the triune God by walking in conformity to the will of God, being sustained by faithful use of the means of grace: by listening to the preaching and teaching of God’s Word and by the Holy Sacrament. Ask yourself: Have I been faithful to the promises made at my baptism and confirmation or am I negligent, even indifferent to God’s gracious gifts in His Word and Sacrament? There is also this. As a baptized Christian, you are a member of Christ’s mystical body, the Church, and therefore have an obligation to your fellow members, not least by encouraging them by your presence at Divine Service on the Lord’s Day. When you needlessly absent yourself from the Divine Service, you not only sin against God but also against your fellow Christians. Lent is especially a time for repentance, for new beginnings. Think on these things! Says the psalmist, “O Lord, I love the habitation of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells” (Psalm 26:8).

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER 2023

Palm Sunday—Distribution of Palms, Procession and Divine Service; 11:00 AM
Maundy Thursday—Divine Service and Stripping of the Altar; 7:30 PM
Good Friday—Liturgy of Good Friday; 7:30 PM
EASTER EVE—The Easter Vigil and first Eucharist of Easter; 7:30 PM
EASTER DAY—Festival Divine Service; 11:00 AM. Bible Class will not meet.

Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, February, 2023

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
February, 2023

ASH WEDNESDAY
February 22, 2023, 7:30 PM
Divine Service with the Imposition of Ashes

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Easter Day is the heart and center of the Christian Year, for apart from the resurrection of our Lord there is no salvation. Saint Paul writes:

If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:17–20)

From ancient times the Church has prepared for Easter by forty days of fasting and prayer which call to mind the Savior’s fast of forty days in the wilderness. In the English-speaking world this forty day season is called “Lent,” a word which comes from an old English word “lencten” which means “spring” and refers to the lengthening days at this time of year. And just as earth comes to life after the death of winter, so also the Lenten season is a time of spiritual renewal through reading and meditating on God’s Word, through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In Christ’s sermon on the mount (Matthew 6:2–21) it is very clear that our Lord expects those who would follow Him to devote themselves to prayer, fasting and almsgiving—not because God needs our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving but because we do if we are to be ever more closely conformed to the image of the Savior. We pray in response to God’s command and promise that our prayers are heard. We fast because our bodily appetites—though good in themselves—are disordered through sin. We give alms as a weapon against selfishness remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35) and because of the tremendous need that meets us on every hand. Do keep in mind the needs of the GEDCO food pantry and the Helping Up Mission. Boxes for donations are just inside the door near the church office.

Lent is a time for saying no to everything in our lives that contradicts Christ and His love for us and for every human being. We need to hear God’s Word calling us to repentance, we need to hear God’s Word showing us the Lord Jesus in whose death our sins are dead and who calls us to follow Him in faith and hope and love. Again this year we will have our Wednesday evening Lenten services at 7:30 PM, preceded by a soup supper at 6:30 PM. On Ash Wednesday we have the Divine Service with imposition of ashes. On the other Wednesdays in Lent we have Vespers, the church’s order for evening prayer, with the Litany. Dr. Luther regarded the Litany as “next to the holy Lord’s Prayer the very best that has come to earth.” The late Rev. Dr. Luther Reed wrote: “The Litany is a responsive prayer of the church, penitential in character but unselfish in its intercession for all human need and mighty in its grasp of the grounds for divine compassion.” In a word, the Litany is one of the church’s treasures; sadly, it has in more recent times been a neglected treasure.

No one can look at the world today and fail to see the ravages of human selfishness, greed, and lust for power. No one can fail to see the groaning of the fallen creation in earthquake, fire, and flood—to say nothing of the ravages of disease. Through all of this God is calling us to repentance and amendment of life. Is His voice being heard? Are you and I hearing His voice?

The Church Council continues to address the maintenance of our buildings and will keep you informed as progress continues. We are hoping to have some necessary work done to the organ in the weeks ahead which will mean that we will be without the use of the organ for several Sundays. The piano in the front of the church was recently tuned so that it can be used while the organ is out of commission.

Do consider joining us for the adult Bible Class on Sunday mornings at 9:45. We continue our study of the First Epistle of Saint Peter.

We continue to remember all those for whom our prayers are desired: James Bauman, Louis Bell, Dana Carmichael, Maggie Doswell, Quilla Downs, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Helen Gray, Queenie Hardway, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Mary Mokris, Robert Siperek, Jr., Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson. In my recent visit to Maggie Doswell she told me how much she appreciates the cards sent to her. She remains at Cadia Healthcare, 4922 LaSalle Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782. Yolanda Ford is still at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224. Louis Bell remains at Autumn Lake HealthCare, 7 Sudbrook Road, Pikesville, MD 21208. Queenie Hardway is at Augsburg Village, 6825 Campfield Road, Baltimore, MD 21207.

If you are not able to come to church and want to receive the Sacrament at home, do not hesitate to call me at (410) 554–9994 or email me at charlesmcclean42@gmail.com. Do let me know if you need a ride to church. We are continuing to livestream our services at Our Saviour Baltimore Facebook.

Remembering that every Sunday—also every Sunday in Lent!—is a “little Easter,” the Lord’s People are in the Lord’s House at the Lord’s Own Service every Lord’s Day.

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean

Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, January, 2023

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
January, 2023

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6
THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD
FESTIVAL DIVINE SERVICE, 7:30 PM
followed by a reception

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Let me begin by thanking you for your Christmas cards and gifts! And speaking of gifts, through the generosity of members of our congregation we were able to give twelve ALDI gift certificates, each worth $65, at Thanksgiving and twelve certificates, each worth $100, at Christmas to needy families connected with the Waverly School.

I suspect that almost everyone is familiar with that delightful song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” The song can remind us that the Church’s celebration of Christmas continues for twelve days. The twelfth day of Christmas, January 5, is often referred to as “Twelfth Night,” the Eve of the Feast of the Epiphany when we celebrate the coming of the magi to Bethlehem. The coming of these Gentile wise men to worship the infant Savior was both a fulfillment of prophecy and itself a prophecy of the coming of all nations to worship Him, and of the blessed hope that at His great epiphany—His coming in glory at the Last Day—every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. The Festival Divine Service on Epiphany begins at 7:30 PM. Come and join in singing familiar carols: “The First Nowell,” “What Child Is This,” “We Three Kings of Orient Are”—and bring your friends! The wise men offered frankincense to the Christ Child; pure frankincense will be used at this service. A reception will follow Divine Service.

During the week before Christmas two of our members were called to Christ’s nearer presence. Lucille Carmichael fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday, December 20. Robert Siperek fell asleep in the Lord on Wednesday, December 21. May the Light perpetual ever shine upon them and may the Savior comfort those who mourn with the sure and certain hope of the resurrection. When many years ago a dear friend of mine died around the middle of December, a mutual friend sent me a note saying: “We know that his is the real Christmas.” And so I say of Lucille and Robert: “We know that theirs is the real Christmas.” As we sang on Christmas morning: “Oh, where shall joy be found? Where but on heavenly ground? Oh, that we were there! Oh, that we were there!”

Our new organist is Deborah Lewis. She has been playing for us for a while but now has been offered and has accepted the position of organist. This is good news as anyone knows who has heard her play! She took the lead in providing for the playing of chimes on the Fourth Sunday in Advent and on Christmas Eve. And I thank those who played the chimes: Gabe Purviance, Justin Ricci, Abigail Scheck, Judy Volkman, Mary Techau, and Paul Techau, our faithful cantor.

Let us continue to remember in prayer: James Bauman, Louis Bell, Dana Carmichael, Maggie Doswell, Quilla Downs, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Helen Gray, Queenie Hardaway, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Mary Mokris, Julia Silver, Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson, Wayne West. Maggie Doswell remains at Cadia Healthcare, 4922 LaSalle Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782, Yolanda Ford at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224, and Louis Bell at Autumn Lake Healthcare, 7 Sudbrook Road, Pikesville, MD 21208. Queenie Hardaway is at Augsburg Village, 6825 Campfield Road, Baltimore, MD 21207.

The winter Voters Meeting will be held following Divine Service on January 15. Every member of Our Saviour, eighteen years old and older, may participate as we consider our work as a congregation.

The Lord’s People are present in the House of the Lord at the Lord’s Own Service—the Holy Communion—every Lord’s Day. If you are unable to come to Church and want me to bring you the Sacrament in your home, you need only call me at (410) 554–9994 or email me at charlesmcclean42@gmail.com.

I wish you a truly happy new year in the name of Jesus.

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean

A WORD FROM GABE PURVIANCE

We’ve had quite a year, with in-person worship services back to normal, the dedication of the bells, adding new members, and endless other blessings. We’d like to sincerely thank you for making all of the good we did this year possible with your generosity.

We also have had lots of projects this past year, and one large one was the replacement of the 60-year-old boiler that was original to the Education Building. This replacement is approximately $24,000. The council approved going ahead with the replacement, as the heating season is upon us and we did not want to have a failure. The installation of the new system was completed in mid-December. Money from the church savings account, which has about $65,000 in it, was used to fund the replacement. We are hoping to replenish the money in the account in order to maintain our cash reserves.

We need your help with replacing these funds. If you are able to make a donation, please designate your donation for “boiler replacement.” If you are not able to give at this time, please share our need with your family and friends.

A WORD FROM JUDY VOLKMAN

On December 11, a gathering was held to thank me for my 60-plus years of involvement with Our Saviour. My involvement was not undertaken for accolades; I did it because the Lord put me where I was supposed to be. Sometimes, I liked it. There were other times when I asked “Why!” As I look back, I am proud to have been part of a significant time in the life of Our Saviour, the merger with St. Matthew’s. Yes, there was a departure of a number of members, but we hung in there and are now on the upswing, thanks to new and younger members. It is time for others to step in and take on the responsibilities that I had assumed. If I stay in the positions, there is no need for someone to step up! So this is an opportunity to revitalize our congregation!

Thank you so much for the recognition. It has been a joy and a learning experience.

Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, December, 2022

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
DECEMBER, 2022

CHRISTMAS AT OUR SAVIOUR

CHRISTMAS EVE—FESTIVAL DIVINE SERVICE, 7:30 PM
CHRISTMAS DAY—FESTIVAL DIVINE SERVICE, 11:00 AM
NEW YEAR’S DAY—DIVINE SERVICE, 11:00 AM
EPIPHANY (FRIDAY, JANUARY 6)
FESTIVAL DIVINE SERVICE, 7:30 PM

Sunday School and Bible Class will not meet on December 25 or January 1.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

How quickly this year has gone by! Soon we will enter the year of our Lord 2023. All time is divided into the time before Christ, B.C., and the time since the coming of Christ, A.D., Anno Domini meaning “in the year of our Lord.” And it is at Christmas that we celebrate the coming of God into time as the Child of blessed Mary. This is the great mystery of the incarnation, of God in the flesh that is yours and mine. The word “incarnation” consists of two Latin words: “in” meaning in, and “caro” meaning flesh. At the Divine Service on Christmas Day we will hear the wonderful prologue of Saint John’s Gospel in which he writes: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.” In the translation of The New English Bible we read: “When all things began, the Word already was…” That is in reality more of a paraphrase than an exact translation, but I think that it does express the truth in a compelling way. And the humanity God’s eternal Son and Word took from His virgin mother He has never put aside. Through all eternity He remains not only true and eternal God but also our truly human Brother who knows all our weakness yet loves us still. The incarnation is the mystery long hidden but now revealed, it is the mystery of love beyond all knowing: that the Creator of the universe, out of love for you and for me and for the whole world, chose to come into the world He had made as a tiny infant. No wonder it was long the custom to kneel in adoration when in the Creed we confess our faith that God’s eternal Son “was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man”!

It goes without saying that every Christian will come to Divine Service on the festival of the nativity of our Lord. As the humble shepherds found Him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, we find Him in the lowly bread and cup of the Holy Sacrament: “How silently, how silently the wondrous Gift is given!” On Christmas Eve Divine Service begins at 7:30 PM. And because Christmas Day falls on Sunday this year, Christmas Day Divine Service begins at 11:00 AM—not 10. The Sunday morning Bible Class will not meet on Christmas Day nor on New Year’s Day.

A combined donation of $29,000 in memory of Joseph Silver has been received from the families of Dennis and Christine Watson, Don and Lisa Watson, and Gary and Catherine Watson. These monies will be placed in the Historical Preservation Fund. Many thanks to these families for sharing their bounty with Our Saviour!

On Sunday, December 4, Ben Orris and Richard Brown will be cooking breakfast for anyone who wishes to stay after Divine Service. If you have been to one of these breakfasts, you know that Richard and Ben are good cooks. Come and join us!

Following Divine Service on Sunday, December 11 there will be a reception to thank Judy Volkman for over sixty years of service at Our Saviour. She has served as president of the congregation and Sunday School director and in a multitude of jobs that needed to be done. I must say that she has been a tremendous help to me from the time I arrived here at this church. Our congregation owes her a great debt of gratitude.

The church will be decorated for Christmas following Divine Service on December 18, the last Sunday in Advent. December 18 is also the deadline for ordering poinsettias. Be sure to include the names of those you wish to remember or honor with your check earmarked “poinsettias.” Wayne and Jean West are in charge of ordering the poinsettias this year ((410) 236–6392, (410) 236–8092).

Remember that we are giving ALDI gift certificates to needy families connected with the Waverly School. Be sure to mark your checks “Gift Certificates.” And do remember the ongoing need of the GEDCO food pantry and the Helping Up Mission. Boxes for contributions to these works of mercy can be found inside the door from the small parking lot north of the church.

Offering envelopes for 2023 are available for pick up in the back of the church. Please do not use them until January since they have been renumbered.

Let us continue to pray for all those for whom our prayers are desired: James Bauman, Louis Bell, Dana Carmichael, Lucille Carmichael, Maggie Doswell, Quilla Downs, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Helen Gray, Queenie Hardaway, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Mary Mokris, Julia Silver, Robert Siperek, Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson. Maggie Doswell is making progress in her recovery at Cadia Healthcare, 4922 LaSalle Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782. Yolanda Ford remains at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224. Louis Bell remains at Autumn Lake HealthCare, 7 Sudbrook Road, Pikesville, MD 21208. Queenie Hardaway remains at Augsburg Village, 6825 Campfield Road, Baltimore, MD 21207.

Please do not hesitate to email me at charlesmcclean42@gmail.com or call me at (410) 554–9994 if you need a ride to church or if you want me to visit or bring you the Sacrament. For those who are unable to attend church, we continue to livestream our services Our Saviour Baltimore Facebook.

In one of the Church’s most ancient prayers for the Christmas season we speak of how God “wonderfully created and even more wonderfully restored the dignity of human nature,” but both in our own land and throughout the world we daily see so much that utterly contradicts the dignity of human nature. As Christians, it is our duty to pray for all who suffer such degradation and to do what we are able to do to resist it as God gives wisdom and strength. Our Saviour lay in the manger for every human being, and therefore every human being is precious in His sight. Let us then this Christmas come to the House of God to give thanks for the great mystery of the incarnation, and let us continue to pray fervently “for the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all.”

The Lord’s People are at the Lord’s own Service in the Lord’s House every Lord’s Day.

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean