Easter Cross Connection
Dear Family and Friends of St. Luke,
+ Grace and Peace
Let your way be known upon earth, your saving health among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. — Psalm 67:2-3
These verses from Psalm 67 suggest that there is a mutuality between us and God. Both verses are petitions in a single prayer and they necessarily go together. In a similar way, our confession of faith and our actions are meant to reinforce one another. There is an intended mutuality between them. To put it bluntly, our walk should reflect our talk.
Sometimes I think we hesitate to do the walking because we are uncertain that we have our talking figured out. The result could be that we find ourselves in a state of perpetual procrastination. Stuck-ness at any stage of life is debilitating.
Regular engagement with the five faith practices that were outlined in the Lenten issue of this newsletter, will ensure more faithfulness in our ability to praise God from whom all blessings flow! What better time is there than now to have God’s way known upon the earth — God’s saving health among the nations?
___________________
In the coming months new bishops will be elected. At the 2025 Lower Susquehanna Synod Assembly (June 5-7 in York, PA) a new synodical bishop will be elected. At the 2025 Churchwide Assembly (July 28-August 2 in Phoenix, AZ) a new Presiding Bishop will be elected. Please keep these processes in your prayers – that the Holy Spirit would be active in the church’s discernment. And please remember Bishop Dunlop and Presiding Bishop Eaton in your prayers in their time of transition. And while you are at it, please pray for me, as I was elected to serve as the new Dean of the Chambersburg Conference.
Meanwhile, may there be hope, healing and wholeness in our midst as we seek ways to embody the joys of the resurrection promises in our life together.
In Christ’s love for you,
Pastor Christopher Frye
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Worship
Sundays and Special Days
¨ May 4 *3rd Sunday of Easter: The disciples make a big splash and eat breakfast with the risen Jesus.
¨ May 11 *4th Sunday of Easter: The gift of new life, of eternal life, is the gift of the risen Christ. 2nd Sunday Fellowship
¨ May 18 *5th Sunday of Easter: Easter initiates a new day. It anticipates a new heaven and a new earth.
¨ May 25 *6th Sunday of Easter: Visions abound in the readings for the sixth Sunday of Easter.
¨ June 1 *7th Sunday of Easter: It is possible to hear in Jesus’ high priestly prayer, a prayer he offered shortly before his death, the petitions of the ascended Christ for his own throughout history—to our day—and beyond.
¨ June 8 *Day of Pentecost: On Pentecost, we celebrate that we have been given an Advocate to accompany us.
Weekly Worship & Study Opportunities
Sunday
8:45 a.m. Faith Formation classes
10 a.m. In-person and online worship
Tuesday
1 p.m. (1st Tuesday) @ Luther Ridge; worship
1p.m. (2nd & 4th Tuesdays) @St. Paul: Bible study
Wednesday
11 a.m. In-person worship
7 p.m. Zoom Prayer & Share online
Thursday
1p.m. (3rd Thursday) @Menno Haven; worship
Church Records
Births
February 12-Sadie Marie Waters
The LSS and a New Bishop
This year, the Lower Susquehanna Synod (LSS) is in the process of calling a new Bishop. Please continue to be in prayer for the process. Several candidates have been identified but the official election will take place at the Synod Assembly, the first weekend of June and they will start officially in September.
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.
| March 2025 | YTD 2025 | |
| Total Income | $59,208.67 | $124,908.34 |
| Total Expenditures | $31,578.59 | $103,876.05 |
| Net Income | +$27,630.08 | +$21,032.29 |
Ministry Spotlight
So far this year, your offerings to St. Luke have gone to support the following ministries and organizations:
Fruitbelt Farmworkers Christian Ministry, Easter meals for local needy families, Mbeya Hospital in Tanzania, House of Grace, Lutheran Disaster Response, Lutheran World Relief, World Hunger, local PowerPacks program, Souper Bowl of Caring, Emergency Clearinghouse, St. Paul’s Sharing box, St. Seraphim soup kitchen, WIN Ministries, Little Daisy’s Closet, & Otterbein Fayetteville Clothing Closet! Wow! Thank you for affecting the lives of so many in just four short months.
Education
Faith Formation
Join us for our current adult Faith Formation class: Ruth: an Immigrant Story led by Janet Lundblad & Marty Brendle
Faith Formation for adults and children will take a summer hiatus, starting Memorial Day weekend, May 25.
Join us again, for our Faith Formation Kick-off, on Sunday, September 7 @8:45am in the Fellowship Hall. All ages are encouraged to attend for this time of celebration, food, and multi-generational fellowship.
Youth
Progressive Dinner
May 17, 5-7:30pm
Join us for food and fellowship while traveling from restaurant to restaurant—appetizers at one place, dinner at a second, and dessert at a third place. Sign up on the bulletin board at church or by contacting Shelly.
End of Year Family Picnic
June 1, 4-7pm
Families with children, join us for our ‘end of the school year’ picnic and celebration. Join us at Caledonia State Park for food, games, and fun in the creek. Meat, drinks, and games to be provided—please bring a side dish to share. Sign up on the bulletin board at church.
Outreach
Mbeya Hospital in Tanzania
Thank you for your generous contributions to the new hospital in Mbeya, Tanzania built by the Konde Diocese. Your donation of $2485.00 is helping expand accessibility to vital medical care for thousands of people who previously were not able to find the care they needed. Additionally, this ministry of healing makes it possible for the Konde Diocese to widen its witness to Jesus. You are making a difference in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Tanzania.
Shelly Davies will be traveling to Tanzania as a representative of the Lower Susquehanna Synod and will attend the Mbeya Hospital dedication on June 28. In addition to her synod responsibilities, she will also take the opportunity to visit our sister congregation-Kandete Parish-and share some fellowship time with
them. Please pray for her and her two colleagues, as they travel the last week of June and first week of July. Shelly would like to thank the congregation & church council for their support of this trip.
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’ Luncheon
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!
Council Highlights
March 2025
-Joy Shinn resigned from Council due to health issues.
-Giving is up 47% from March 2024.
-Vesper services in the park will be in June, July, August and a picnic in September with St. Paul’s
-An outside pipe to the sewer needs to be cleaned out at cost of $2,100.00/to be paid from Capital Projects.
-Shelly Davies requested to attend the Mbeya Hospital dedication for 2 weeks. Council approved her request for time off work with pay and expenses.
-An audit committee has been selected – Toby Forrester, Lisa Horton and Norma Huss.
April 2025
-PA Virtual School will be here April 28-May 2 and May 13-15 using the building for student testing.
-Audit Committee – the books and records for the Church appear to be materially accurate.
-Parking lot lights repaired.
-Spring cleaning, Saturday May 3.
-Sewer pipe repair starting May 5.
Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church
The Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC) sent a draft of its final report to the Conference of Bishops and the Executive Committee of the Church Council for consultation in mid-February. The CRLC is also creating educational materials and information to prepare the wider church to receive its full report in advance of the 2025 Churchwide Assembly. Since starting their work in July 2023, the members of the CRLC have met 11 times, and they plan to meet once more in March.
Read about the the commission’s progress through their meeting notes. Link available in the online version of the newsletter on the stlukechambersburg.org website.
Calendar
Visit our online calendar for the most current updates to meetings, events, and services.
Connect
2695 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, PA 17202
717-261-1213
[email protected]