St. Mary's Evangelical Lutheran Church

May 20, 2021

Dear Friends,

Light and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to thank all of you for your patience over the last year as we found new ways to be the Church of Jesus without being inside the church. We have been blessed with gifts of creativity, resources, and patience as we had to go online for a few months.

Through all of this, we had a plan that directed us based on Covid positivity numbers, local hospital capacities, and state regulations. The synod also provided suggestions and support. The governor has been somewhat confusing on whether churches are institutions and what restrictions or freedoms they may have. That too is taken into consideration.

Now, we are at a point of reopening. There is a plan for that too. At the last council meeting we looked at the issues of social distancing, masks, singing, with the idea of what will be best for us. It was decided that by continuing to social distance inside the church, those who have been vaccinated or have antibodies could safely remove masks for worship, but we also need to be respectful of those who still feel unsafe, and still choose to use masks. Also, for those who might have been exposed, we ask that you stay home for a week or wear masks.

As Christians, we are always called to be aware of the needs of others, and as such, we are not opening all at once. For the next few weeks, we will continue to not sing inside (but feel free to hum along with the music). Plus, communion will continue to be served the way that it is, in individual muffin papers and cups. Our hope is that if numbers keep going the way they are, we can revisit the issue of singing and communion by the end of June.

Some of you still will not feel safe and that is perfectly acceptable. I am happy to bring communion or the presence of the church to your home. We also have the option of having activities or worship outside, although the weather seems to keep sinking those plans. But we will persevere!

We also want to begin welcoming community groups back in. They will have similar requests for social distancing, and cleaning.

For now, we welcome you back to Sunday worship at 9:30am, trusting God and respecting one another, we look forward to being family together again,

In Christ,

Pastor Linda

Friday, October 15, 2021,

Carroll Lutheran School will hold their

19th Annual Golf Tournament, SWING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS.

Proceeds go to Carroll Lutheran School Scholarship Fund.

Oakmont Green Golf Course 2290 Golfview Lane Hampstead, MD 21074

Registration and Breakfast 8:30am – Shotgun Start You can help us raise funds by either joining the event as a golfer, or becoming a sponsor. A portion of sponsorships is tax deductible.

For golfers the registration is due by September 27th:

$90 per single player or $360 per foursome for 18 hole round.

Golf Outing includes continental breakfast, luncheon, prizes and more.

We are the Silver Run/Union Mills Lions Club, and we need your help. Our Club was started in 1961 and we are coming up on our 60th Anniversary. We are looking for new members and need you.

Our community service includes work to help both the economic underprivileged and victims of disaster. We assist community residents in need by loaning hospital equipment, arranging eye tests and glasses, donating to our local food pantry in Silver Run, and providing financial support for various community projects and organizations through fundraising campaigns. Proceeds are donated to various Lions International Programs involving vision research, health care services, and other area organizations that lend their hands and expertise to community betterment and safety. Our two $1,000 scholarships are now in memory of John Hopkins and John Leister and are for high school or vocational students in the 21158-zip code area. Annual fund-raisers include Basket Bingo and a Corn Roast.

Meetings are held 6:30 pm the second and fourth Thursday of each month at our Lions Club Park on Old Hanover Road. The Lions' Motto is: We Serve.

For more information, please contact: Terrie Bath E-mail: tc@qis.net, Phone: 410-346-6311 or Thelma Stonesifer E-mail: tjstoney@comcast.net, Phone: 410-346-7721.

St. Mary's is an assembly of Christian believers who gather together in the community of Silver Run. We are a collection of people with different needs and concerns, yet we are called to a unity which grows from joining together in worship of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Each of us has different God-given talents which we are called to use to witness to our faith in God's love revealed through Jesus Christ. We are called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to invite others to share in our faith in Christ and to welcome them into the life of our congregation.