Reformation Cross Connection
Dear Family and Friends of St. Luke,
+ Grace and Peace
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Psalm 46:1,11
These verses serve as “bookends” for Psalm 46. They boldly proclaim assurance of God’s promise of presence and protection, grounded in covenant grace. This is likely a welcome word these days as everyone seems to struggle with feeling overwhelmed with life in the world. In times like this it may be tempting to retreat into the comfort of isolation.
However, God has created us to function best when we are engaged in community. The anecdote to despair is frequently found in the benefits of being in relationship with God and with one another in the community of faith.
There are days when hibernation seems a more desirable alternative to the status quo of business as usual. It is especially on those days that I find necessary encouragement in the Word. We pray for God to give us this day our daily bread. Often that bread is found in the bread of life that is God’s Word. We don’t need to complicate what God has made clear.
* * *
On Sunday, November 9, Bishop Stephen Herr (and his wife, Jill) of the Lower Susquehanna Synod will be visiting with us at St. Luke for worship. Bishop Herr is preaching that Sunday and will have some time to give and receive greetings. I encourage you to come and see him that Sunday and take the time to invite someone to come along with you. In the weeks ahead, please commit to praying for those in need, for one another, and for the light of justice and peace to shine in all the world that God so loves.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Christopher Frye
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Worship
Sundays and Special Days
¨ October 5 *17th Sunday after Pentecost: A little faith goes a long way is Jesus’ point in the gospel.
¨ October 12 *18th Sunday after Pentecost: It’s a miracle! Multiple miracles! The waters of holy baptism have healed us.
¨ October 19 *19th Sunday after Pentecost: Pray always. Do not lose heart. This is Christ’s encouragement in the gospel today.
¨ October 26 *Reformation Sunday: Trusting in the freedom given to us in baptism, we pray for the church, that Christians will unite more fully in worship and mission.
¨ November 2 *All Saints Sunday: In holy baptism God makes saints out of sinners.
¨ November 9 *22nd Sunday after Pentecost: We worship on the first day of the week because Jesus was raised on that day
¨ November 16 *23rd Sunday after Pentecost: The end is near. There is no doubt about it. The warnings are dire.
¨ November 23 *Christ the King Sunday: Yet through the gate of death Jesus opens the door to paradise.
¨ November 23 *Conococheague Mission Cooperative Community Thanksgiving Service; 3pm @ Calvary United Methodist
¨ November 30 *1st Sunday of Advent: The new church year begins with a wake-up call: Christ is coming soon!
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
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.
| August 2025 | YTD 2025 | |
| Total Income | $24,731.45 | $283,311.89 |
| Total Expenditures | $27,854.46 | $277,832.28 |
| Net Income | $3,123.01 | +$5,479.61 |
Church Records
Deaths
September 14 – Betty Geist
September 16 – Catherine Peters
September 29 – Howard Anderson
Baptisms
August 24 – Lena Douglas
September 7- Sadie Waters
Giving Update
This month, your benevolent giving has gone to many places including locally to St. Paul’s Sharing Box, St. Seraphim Center, WIN Ministries, PowerPacks, and globally to Lutheran World Relief, Lutheran World Hunger, Lutheran Disaster Response, LWR-School Kits. And don’t forget our benevolent yearly giving that goes to places like the United Churches Clearing House, Global Missions—Konde Diocese, Fayetteville Fire Department, Meals on Wheels, Lutheran Camping, South Mountain Restoration, and the Chambersburg Conference Homeless Connection. Once again, you’ve outdone yourselves in generosity!
Education
Adult Faith Formation coming up!
For two weeks in October, join us to learn more about the science surrounding The Star of Bethlehem. We will look at the story found in the Biblical Gospel of Matthew about the star that guided the Magi to the Christ child, combining the words of Roman and Jewish historians, the visions of ancient prophets, and a modern study of celestial objects. 8:45am October 5 & 12 in the Fellowship Hall.
Confirmation
Confirmation for the 2025-2026 is off to a great start! All nine students are back. We’ve just finished our book on the new testament and are starting now on our book entitled Lutheran Living. Remember to encourage the confirmands as you see them in the halls. Ask them how their classes are going and share stories with them about your time in confirmation.
Glo-Nite party
All kids are invited to an evening of blacklights, glow-in-the-dark games, pizza, drinks, games, and prizes. Grab your friends and parents and wear your best white or neon outfit and join us in the space formally known as the Fellowship Hall, now ‘The Glow Room’, for an evening like no other. All ages are welcome!
Outreach
Bingo!
Join us at the Manor @Luther Ridge for a time of fellowship and Bingo. We will play, eat and enjoy from 1-2:30pm on Saturday, October 11. Help is needed to set up and run the games – if interested in helping, please contact Shelly, or just join in for the fun! Refreshments are also needed so if you like to bake, we’d love to enjoy! Please sign up on the Bulletin Board at St. Luke to attend.
Manicotti Luncheon
Please join us following worship on Sunday, October 12 at St. Paul Lutheran in Fayetteville. Sign up on the bulletin board at St. Luke and please bring a dessert to share.
Kandete Korner
Stay in touch with what’s happening with our sister congregation, the Kandete Parish, in Tanzania. We now have the ‘Kandete Korner’ which is located on the Outreach bulletin board in the hall near the Fellowship Hall. Check it out for monthly updates!
In August, Kandete Parish elected all of their leaders for the church in ten villages. They will start working in January 2026. The elections of the church leaders has to be done before their Synod Assembly which will take place in November. These leaders will serve as the church elders, secretaries of women, children, youth, music, and others.
COUNCIL Highlights—September 2025
-August treasurer’s report – regular giving is up 10.84% from the same time period last year.
– Recommendation will go to congregation to have Communications Committee added to the Constitution as a functioning committee.
– Personnel has been meeting to finalize job descriptions for hiring.
– Council approved purchase of a new computer for our treasurer, Brian Corwell (to be funded from the Furry Fund).
Installation of the Reverend Stephen R. Herr
Join us Saturday, October 25 @ 2pm to celebrate the installation of the Rev. Stephen R. Herr as Bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod, ELCA. This joyful worship service is a time for the whole church to gather, give thanks, and pray for Bishop Herr as he begins his call to serve and lead our synod. ELCA Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry will preach and preside.
All are welcome to attend as we share in fellowship and celebration. A reception will follow the service.
For those unable to attend in person, the service will be livestreamed on St. Matthew’s YouTube Channel.
Update: 2025 Pentecost Projects
This year two opportunities to make a difference are being lifted up to you during this Pentecost season and for ‘God’s Work. Our Hands.’ Sunday. The first project is for WIN Victim Services in our local community. The second is to assemble School Kits for Lutheran World Relief for distribution in our global community.
UPDATE on School Kits:
Well done, faithful servants of St. Luke! We gathered school supplies to complete 125 school kits for Lutheran World Relief. You are enabling 125 children to get an education and begin the journey out of poverty. The dollars you donated that were not used for supplies will be used for shipping the kits. $665 has been donated to WIN Ministries thus far, as well as a collection of some personal care items. Your donations help a victim of abuse step forward into a new and safe life. Thank you for your witness to these individuals needing your support. Pentecost ends November 29th. There is still time to make monetary donations to either organization through St. Luke or donations of personal care items (see below). Thank you!
WIN Victim Services
WIN Victim Services provides services to domestic and sexual violence victims, and their significant others, and has done so in Franklin and Fulton counties for over three decades.
You can donate in two ways:
1. Physical items needed right now are shampoo, conditioner, hairbrushes, toothpaste, individually wrapped toothbrushes, hair ties, baby shampoo, and deodorant. Please place your items in the marked box next to the keypad door.
2. If you would like to give towards the ministries of WIN via the offering, write your check out to St. Luke and put “WIN” in the memo.
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]