Epiphany Cross Connection
Dear Family and Friends of St. Luke,
+ Grace and Peace.
The Epiphany of Our Lord is a festival that is celebrated on January 6. The manifestation of Christ to the world and the recalling of the visit of the magi (Matthew 2:1-12) are central to this observance. The challenge, however, is that we rarely take the time to observe this festival. In a sense, it gets lost in the midst of our recovery from New Year celebration. By January 6 each year, we are getting back into a familiar rhythm that we set aside shortly before Christmas.
This year, let’s take on the intention of observing this ancient church festival (it pre-dates the December 25 Christmas observance by a century!). On Tuesday evening, January 6 at 7:00 PM, I invite you to join me in Epiphany Vespers in the nave of the church. Following the service, we will take down and store away the Christmas decorations and enjoy a time of fellowship.
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
Isaiah 60:1
The Epiphany Season is the final part of the Christmas Cycle of the church year, extending from the Epiphany of Our Lord on January 6 to the Transfiguration of Our Lord, the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. During the Sundays of this season, we will hear gospel accounts of various revelations of Jesus as the Christ, the Savior of the world. Core teachings for lives of discipleship will also be featured so that we too, may more faithfully be the manifestation of Christ for the world.
As I write this letter, I’m looking out of the window of my study onto the wet pavement of our memorial garden and columbarium. It is a quiet morning hour with haze in the air. The weather report highlights a Wind Advisory that is to last for the next 24 hours. One way or another, the sun will shine, the light will come, and this present dreariness will pass. In the meantime, I wait with expectation and in gratitude for this moment of reflection. I encourage you also to seize a moment of your day to reflect on your expectations and God’s intention for you. Mindful that whatever hinders us in the present will give way to our ability to respond with gratitude and grace, may we look to the weeks ahead with a blessed assurance of Christ’s manifestation in our life together.
During the weeks ahead look for ways to share your reflections, thoughts, and insight with at least one other person. Our spiritual growth and vitality depend on our active participation in faith practices. In this new year, resolve to be open-minded and willing to embrace God’s desire for your heart. In the meantime, may God be with you and grant you grace.
In Christ’s love for you,
Pastor Frye
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Year A 2025/2026
Year A focuses on the Gospel of Matthew. The semi-continuous Old Testament readings focus on major Genesis narratives, the covenant with Moses, and the establishment of Israel in the Promised Land. The second, New Testament, readings are from Romans, Philippians and 1 Thessalonians.
Advent – Nov. 27, 2025 through Dec. 23, 2025
Christmas – Dec. 24, 2025 through Jan. 6, 2026
Time after Epiphany – Jan. 7, 2026 through Feb. 17, 2026
Lent – Feb. 18, 2026 through Apr. 1, 2026
The Three Days – Apr. 2, 2026 through Apr. 4, 2026
Easter – Apr. 5, 2026 through May 24, 2026
Time after Pentecost – May 25, 2026 through Nov. 25, 2026
St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
We are a congregation in the Chambersburg Conference, Lower Susquehanna Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
We are a companion of the Kandete Parish, Konde Diocese,
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania.
Worship
Sundays and Special Days
Sunday, January 4th – @10am – Second Sunday of Christmas / Holy Communion
Sunday, January 11th – @10am – Baptism of Our Lord / Holy Communion
Sunday, January 18th @ 10am – Second Sunday after Epiphany / Holy Communion
Sunday, January 25th @ 10am -Third Sunday after Epiphany / Holy Communion
Sunday, February 1st @ 10am – Fourth Sunday after Epiphany / Holy Communion
Sunday, February 8th @ 10am -Fifth Sunday after Epiphany / Holy Communion
Sunday, February 15th @ 10am – Transfiguration of Our Lord / Holy Communion
Sunday, February 22nd @ 10am – First Sunday in Lent / Holy Communion
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
Wednesday
11 a.m. In-person worship
7 p.m. Zoom Prayer & Share online
6:30 p.m. Choir
Thursday
1p.m. (3rd Thursday) @Menno Haven; worship
Save the Date: Congregation Leaders Workshop
Saturday, March 14 | 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
An event to resource and training for congregation council members, officers, and leaders. Look for registration information and final details in early January.
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.
| November 2025 | YTD 2025 | |
| Total Income | $50,932.71 | $425,827.60 |
| Total Expenditures | $42,133.95 | $390,021.14 |
| Net Income | +$8,789.76 | +$35,806.46 |
COUNCIL Highlights—November & December 2025
November 2025
– Whitney Waters received a scholarship in the amount of $11,640.00
– Annual Congregational meeting – January 25, 2026
– Spending plan adjusted to include $5,200 for AV Tech
– Family and Youth will change its name to Faith Formation
– Outreach and Social Ministry have combined with a new name of Faith in Action
December 2025
– Child Clearance will start in January
– Heidi Frye will be serving as interim Financial Secretary
– Tiffany Fraizer and Rowan Frye will lead the AV Department
– The gas leak at the church was repaired in 2 days
Worship and Mission
For Lutherans, worship matters. In fact, worship
lies at the heart of how we understand
ourselves together. And, for Lutherans mission
matters as mission stands at the forefront of our
work and ministry. For a long period of time
both worship and mission were treated as
separate conversations and areas of focus.
Worship has often been thought of as what
happens “inside the church” and mission is what
happens “outside” the church. In this separation,
we have missed a foundational understanding of
our life together as a church. Each week we are
gathered around the means of grace and sent
into the world to proclaim the good news that
we have seen, heard, and tasted in that
gathering.
Our worship life is meant to be a formative
encounter with Jesus Christ that propels us into
the world for mission. Through the means of
grace, God empowers the church for the work
of mission. Worship is mission and mission is
worship. Our gathering does not simply end at
the conclusion of the worship service. The work
continues as we are sent into the world—“Go
in peace, Christ is with you;” “Go in peace serve
the Lord;” “Go in peace, share the good news;”
“Go in peace, remember the poor.” We are sent
in the peace of Christ to share and enact the
very things we have experienced in worship.
Davies Departure
On Sunday, December 21, 2025 the congregation
held a reception in honor of the Davies family
following the morning’s service which included
the rite of Farewell and Godspeed. We are
grateful to Shelly for her time as our Office
Administrator and Financial Secretary and her
entire family for their contribution to our life
together.
Accompaniment: A Model for Congregational Mission Alongside Individuals with Disabilities
United Lutheran Seminary invites you to join them on January 12, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. in the Brossman Learning Center or online for a special lecture by the Rev. Twila Schock.
In “Accompaniment: A Model for Congregational Mission Alongside Individuals with Disabilities,” Pastor Twila will explore how faith communities can accompany people with disabilities in ways that honor dignity, foster belonging, and strengthen congregational life. Drawing on her extensive experience in church relations, global service, and disability inclusion through Mosaic, she will offer both theological grounding and practical insights for communities seeking to build more welcoming and supportive relationships. This event is free of charge. Register.
Prophets, Saints and Kings: Resisting Christian Nationalism and Building the Beloved Community with King and Bonhoeffer
On Saturday, January 17, 2026, join LAMPa, ULS Kindling Faith, and Gettysburg College Department of Public Policy for a day with internationally renowned Bonhoeffer scholars, Dr. Stephen Haynes and Dr. Reggie Williams. On MLK weekend, learn about the intersecting legacies and lessons of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King, Jr., while deepening your understanding of how people of faith can confront and resist the growing forces of authoritarianism and Christian nationalism in our own time. Register for in-person attendance here. Register for the livestream here.
Living Lutheran Launches New Site and Features
The new LivingLutheran.org launched on Monday, December 8. Members of congregations in our synod will be able to set up a free digital membership that offers these perks:
· A welcoming, easy-to-access format.
· A personalized dashboard prioritizing the stories that interest them.
· Access to members-only content, and the ability to save and “like” articles.
· E-news delivery options to get the stories they want, both online and in their email inboxes.
Please visit livinglutheran.org/subscribe to sign up for your free digital membership. Living Lutheran tells the stories of the ELCA, bonding us as a church across congregations, synods, states, regions and countries. For more information, visit livinglutheran.org/subscribe. You’ll also find options for individual and group subscriptions to the print magazine. Please email questions to [email protected].
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]