Welcoming, Growing, Sharing in God's Grace
First Lutheran Preschool has openings for 3-4 year olds. We offer weekly chapel and the best nature and play-based learning environment for this age group. Our caring teachers are credentialed through the Maryland credential program for early childhood professionals. Scholarships are available, and church members receive a 10% discount. Please call Jenny to set up a tour. Additional information may be found on the preschool’s website: www.firstlutheranpreschoolec.com
In January 2018, we held our first Midweek Worship Service, a service envisioned by a team of worship leaders as a way of offering folks (current parishioners as well as people new to the community) a way to participate in worship at First in addition to our Sunday worship services. This service began long before the advent of livestreaming and other online opportunities for prayer, devotion and worship were a part of our community lives.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, our Midweek Worship Service was a life-line for many folks, providing an opportunity to gather for worship and to check in with members of God’s community. This was the only opportunity, for a long period of time, in which we gathered as God’s community for the celebration of Holy Communion.
Since returning to onsite worship and with the continuation of our livestreaming, attendance at our Midweek Worship Service has dwindled. After much prayer and conversation, we are placing our Midweek Worship Service on-hold while we discern where and how God is calling us to gather for worship in this community going forward. You are invited to join us, via ZOOM, on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 7:00 PM for a special worship service in which we will give thanks for the gift that this service has been for God’s community and ask for the Spirit’s guidance on our future discernment conversations.
As decisions are made regarding additional worship opportunities, we’ll be in touch!
To those who have so faithfully been a part of this worship service over these past years, a heart-felt thank you!
Pastor Mike Pastor Tamika
Abby’s Carts of Courage gifts children with cancer a new wagon to help them maneuver through their cancer journey. Many times, the treatments leave the young patients fatigued and weak. Strollers are a great option, but have a weight limit, making the wagons a much better option. Abby’s Carts of Courage stuffs each wagon with items to help the young cancer warriors keep their mind off of their diagnosis and recharge their spirits. These items have been specially chosen by Abby herself!
Our mission is to fund three wagons a year, along with their contents, for distribution to young cancer patients. We are asking for Amazon gift cards that will be delivered to Abby’s Carts of Courage, for them to shop, and deliver the wagon stuffed with goodies, to the next cancer warrior in need. (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080e4da9a628a5fe3-abbys – /) Collections for the gift cards will be done two times a year. ALL giftcards should be returned to church, in the Social Ministry mailbox, by 28 May 2023. Questions, please contact Malia Schlichting at 410-259-8446 or 443-778-9182. More information about Abby’s Carts of Courage, through Respite Retreats, can be found here: https://respiteretreats.org/abbys-carts-of-courage
Prior to the pandemic, we offered a time for worshipers to receive prayers of healing at our Sunday morning worship service. During communion, one of our healing prayer ministers would be available by the font to offer these prayers (for your self or for someone you love). We are bringing this ministry back into worship beginning Sunday, November 27 which also marks the First Sunday in Advent. For those God gathers online, your prayer requests can be made via the comments function during the service and we’ll include those in our intercessory prayer ministry the following week. A special thank you to those who have agreed to serve in this ministry (Colleen Fowler, Jay Zumbrun, Lisa Coster, Cheryl Mason, Lynn Anderson, Sue Wehr, Jim McDonald, Ken Danker, and George Conklin).