Pentecost 1 Cross Connection
Dear Family and Friends of St. Luke,
+ Grace and Peace
”For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” -Romans 8:14
My spiritual director reminded me recently that Christ died so that we might be family. The we to which she refers is the “we” of the world. All people in this world that God so loves. While it is easy to be overwhelmed by the weight of our world’s collective dysfunction and the serial and systemic self-centeredness, we need not be paralyzed.
While there are many ways that we let our light shine in the darkness, one way that I would like to lift here and now is our congregation’s involvement in Stephen Ministry. Stephen Ministers are lay congregation members trained to provide one-to-one care to those experiencing a difficult time in life, such as grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, transition or relocation.
Stephen Ministers come from all walks of life, but they all share a passion for bringing Christ’s love and care to people during a time of need. Since 1975, more than 600,000 people from more than 13,000 congregations and other organizations have been trained as Stephen Ministers.
We have a dedicated team of Stephen Ministers in our congregation who have been trained, commissioned, and are accountable in monthly supervisory sessions and continuing education classes. If you are interested in becoming a Stephen Minister, please speak to me or the other Stephen Ministry Leaders: Cheryl Vorhauer and Carol Angstadt.
Here, though, is where I really need your help. If you know someone who would benefit from being considered a Care Receiver from a Stephen Minister, please encourage them to reach out. Maybe you are such a person . . . someone going through a tough time now for whatever reason and could use a confidential, caring, listening Care Giver for a season or several months. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you or anyone you think would be helped by this ministry.
In Christ’s love for you.
Pastor Christopher Frye
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Worship
Sundays and Special Days
¨ June 8 *Day of Pentecost: On Pentecost, we celebrate that we have been given an Advocate to accompany us.
¨ June 15 *The Holy Trinity: Today we celebrate the holy Trinity.
¨ June 21 *Vespers in the Park; Greene Township pavilion #3 @ 6pm
¨ June 22 *2nd Sunday after Pentecost: This Sunday’s texts paint startling pictures of the horrific nature of sin.
¨ June 29 *3rd Sunday after Pentecost: We have no good apart from God.
¨ July 6 *4th Sunday after Pentecost: God is the source of our nourishment.
¨ July 13 *5th Sunday after Pentecost: To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind is to reflect God’s mercy in responding to one’s neighbor.
¨ July 19 *Vespers in the Park; Greene Township pavilion #3 @ 6pm
¨ July 20 *6th Sunday after Pentecost: Perhaps the church, at its best, is “all ears.”
¨ July 27 *7th Sunday after Pentecost: Persistence in prayer is encouraged by Jesus and wins the attention of God when Abraham intercedes for Sodom.
Weekly Worship & Study Opportunities
Sunday
8:45 a.m. Faith Formation classes (on hiatus for the summer)
10 a.m. In-person and online worship
Tuesday
1 p.m. (1st Tuesday) @ Luther Ridge; worship
Wednesday
11 a.m. In-person worship
7 p.m. Zoom Prayer & Share online
Thursday
1p.m. (3rd Thursday) @Menno Haven; worship
Stewardship Report
Thank you! We are grateful for your generous giving to support St. Luke’s ministries & mission. Your contributions continue to grow our community.
| May 2025 | YTD 2025 | |
| Total Income | $40,823.77 | $165,832.11 |
| Total Expenditures | $39,551.04 | $145,370.37 |
| Net Income | +$1,272.73 | +$20,461.74 |
Ministry Spotlight
During the month of May, your offerings have gone beyond the church walls to support ministries and organizations including: Lutherans Restoring Creation, Mbeya Hospital in Tanzania, Lutheran Disaster Response, Lutheran World Relief, World Hunger, St. Seraphim Center, our local PowerPacks program, Little Daisy’s Closet, & Otterbein Fayetteville Clothing Closet! Wow! Thank you for affecting the lives of so many this month! Thank you!
LSS Synod Assembly
This year, the Lower Susquehanna Synod (LSS) Assembly takes place June 5-7 in York, PA. Pastor Frye and Shelly Davies will be attending the Assembly this year as voting members. The new Bishop will be elected this weekend!
Education
Vacation Bible School
VBS-Champions for Christ, will take place this summer, July 20-24 from 5:30-8pm. Get ready for an exciting time of learning about Christ through games, sports, and activities! Sneak peak-the VBS Olympics, Glo Party, pool party & potluck are just a few of the activities to look forward to! This week will be action packed!! Sign up now on our website. Children ages 4-12. Interested in volunteering to help—join us Sunday, June 22 following worship for a planning meeting.
Summer Prayer Study
Join us Wednesdays at Noon starting June 11 for lunch and a video study on prayer. All are invited to enjoy this time of faith formation and fellowship.
Youth Group/Family
End of the School Year Picnic
A good time was had by all at the end of year picnic in Caledonia State Park. We enjoyed the cool weather, the roaring creek, burgers and dogs on the grill, salads & desserts, as well as a mummy relay, hula hoop relay, water balloon toss & fight! Enjoy the summer kids and we will be back in action in the fall!
Outreach
Pentecost Projects
Our two Pentecost projects for the 2025 season of Pentecost will be for WIN Victim Services (formerly Women in Need) and school kits for Lutheran World Relief.
WIN Victim Services
In addition to collecting financial contributions, WIN is in need of personal care items. Shampoo, conditioner, hairbrushes, toothpaste, toothbrush (individually wrapped), hair ties, baby shampoo, and deodorant can be dropped off in the box by the Keypad door throughout the summer.
Lutheran World Relief
School kits consist of several items including, but not limited to, paper, pencils, crayons, and more. Each group of items will be packed into a backpack (provided by St. Luke). Individual items, or full kits will be accepted. For a list of items and the particulars, please find the list in the Gathering Area at St. Luke or call the office at 717-261-1213.
Summer Vespers in the Park
Join us at pavilion #3 in Greene Township Park this summer at 6pm on the third Saturday of each month—June 21, July 19, & August 16, for evening vespers and fellowship. In June, vespers will be followed by our annual ‘Dips for Dads’ ice cream fellowship. See you there!
‘Get to know your neighbors’
Join us for our 2nd ‘Get to Know Your Neighbors’ luncheon with Luther Ridge residents. July 30 @11:30am, following our Wednesday Healing Service, we will enjoy a summer garden party-themed luncheon and fellowship. All are invited to attend. Sign up will be posted on the bulletin board soon and invitations will go out to Luther Ridge residents in the next few weeks. Mark your calendars now!
St. Luke 2025 Graduate Spotlight
Stephen Pettyjohn
Stephen graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with Summa Cum Laude honors on May 4th, 2025. He earned his Bachelor of Science in chemistry, as well as minors in physics, Mediterranean art, archaeology and an ACS certification. Stephen received the Hillman and University Scholarships from Pitt, the Lenfest Scholarship, and the Walk-Fahnestock Scholarship from St. Luke. He also worked summers at Walmart, Target, and TJMaxx throughout the last four years. Stephen completed undergraduate research where he created and tested a chemistry lab for future students that is likely to be published in a few years. During his time at Pitt, he joined the national honors fraternity Phi Sigma Pi, where he was elected scholarship chair and held events like Geography Bees and Jeopardy. He also was a member of the Chemistry Club and Chess Club. He is currently looking for and applying to research and development chemistry jobs in the Pittsburgh and Chambersburg areas. He’d like to thank everyone from the St. Luke congregation for very generously supporting his education for the past four years. He has learned and experienced so much, and he is truly grateful for the opportunity he’s been given. Thank you!
Jake Corwell
Jake graduated from Shippensburg University with a BA in Psychology on May 10th, 2025. While at Shippensburg University, Jake was involved in the Kappa Sigma Fraternity since 2022, where he was involved as Pledge Master and House Chair. Jake helped to finance his college by working at Target. Jake completed his internship shadowing an Educational Psychologist, and is currently employed at Zoeller Company. He is considering a graduate program at this time. Jake wants to thank St. Luke for the prayers and support he received as well the financial assistance through the Walk-Fahnestock Scholarship fund.
Joe Corwell
Joe graduated from Shippensburg University in December, 2024 with a BS in Geoenvironmental Science and a minor in Sustainability. While at Shippensburg University, Joe was involved in the Kappa Sigma Fraternity since 2021, where he was involved in many philanthropy events, such as Relay for Life and Military Heroes Campaign. Joe helped to finance his college by working at Humphrey’s Cleaning Service, as well as doing work for his grandmother and cousin. Joe is currently employed at Rosenbaum Landscaping and Nursery. Joe wants to thank St. Luke for the prayers and support he received as well the financial assistance through the Walk-Fahnestock Scholarship fund.
Scott Pettyjohn
Scott recently graduated from The George Washington University on May 17th, 2025. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biophysics, and was the only Biophysics major in his graduating class. From GWU, he received the Presidential Academic Scholarship, as well as the University and Alumni Award. Moreover, he generously received the Lenfest Scholarship from the Lenfest Scholarship Foundation, and the Walk-Fahnestock Scholarship from St. Luke. During three of the four summers in between semesters, Scott worked full-time at Walmart here in Chambersburg. From March of 2024 until now, he worked closely with his Experimental Biophysics professor in developing an Artificial Intelligence system capable of remotely measuring gorillas in images. He presented this research paper in front of my physics professors and colleagues in the beginning of May. Scott intends to continue with this research in hopes of publishing this work. While at GWU, Scott joined the Society of Physics Students and participated in a chess club. Likewise, he joined the intramural basketball league in two different years. During his junior year, he organized community flea markets that were held in the center of campus. He is currently applying to research jobs in fields like Biology, Physics, Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence. The St. Luke community has generously supported his education for the past four years, but also throughout his entire life. For this dedication to Scott and his education, he is eternally grateful and thanks you all for everything!
Council Highlights
May 2025
-The Walk-Fahnestock Scholarship applications are available and should be returned by June 10.
-The sewer pipe that was backing up was found to have a 3-foot long crack and was replaced. It was most likely broken during the install of the down spout in the 2017 renovations.
-Online giving has moved from Vanco to Servant Keeper.
A Note from James
A Joyful Noise
In case you hadn’t noticed, the choir has taken a turn towards celebration and joy after a dark, grueling Lenten Season. The world is in chaos. We know that too well. But it is in these times, during these Great 50 Days of Easter, that we must be a light to the world, reflecting the love of Christ in the way we move through our daily lives and how we intersect with our fellow citizens: both believers and nonbelievers.
So, the music is a little lighter, it might use more popular-based idioms, and it may even get your toes tapping, hands to clapping, and you just might even hear yourself utter a small “Amen!” All of this is good. When the Spirit moves, if we move with it we make manifest the will of God in the darkness. Our faith gives us the strength and hope we need to be the change we desire to see in this world. So, If you think God is trying to tell you something, God probably is. For He did not come to condemn the world, but that through him the world might be saved.
Good news for troubling times, but not a light, easy read. We must be prepared, armed with truth and righteousness to brighten our days. We do that through communion and fellowship, through singing songs together and sharing the Holy Sacraments. And we do it by being ready. Ready to act when the Spirit moves, and ready to receive all the gifts it brings – even if it means changing some of the ways we’ve always done things. Not the spirit in which we do them, but we must be open to the possibilities of just how we can make our lives, our world better.
God will challenge you from the darkness of your solitude back into communion with creation and hope. We saw this with little Jayden’s good shepherd solo a few weeks ago, and last week when the choir sang a gospel song with the congregation’s help. The spirit was definitely present and we all carried a little of that spirit of praising Him with the lyre and timbral back out into the world singing psalms, songs, and spiritual hymns.
I would encourage you to listen for God in this difficult moment. Listen with new “ears,” knowing that things can, will, and do change. Let it challenge you to be open to new ways of celebrating the Divine. New ways to praise and worship on a Sunday, and new approaches to scripture.
We will survive the current miasma we’re facing, with God’s help. With Him all things are possible, even getting Lutheran’s to sing gospel music, utter spontaneous Amen’s, and even to knowingly clap in church.
I leave you Peace.
In Christ, James Martin, Choir Director
Calendar
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Connect
2695 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, PA 17202
717-261-1213
[email protected]