Worship Services

August, 2020

You now have two options for worship at First Evangelical Lutheran!

First, as we’ve been doing since early in March, First Evangelical will be holding our worship services online on our YouTube channel. Online services start just before 10:30 AM every Sunday.

The YouTube link will also be posted directly to the church’s Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/FirstLutheranOdenton/

We hope to continue and even expand our online ministry through this forum into the future to provide not only for those folks at high-risk for COVID-19, but also for shut-ins, out-of-state travelers and those who prefer online access to God’s word.

Watch this space for more info about our online service plans.

Note: online service videos follow our Online Worship Bulletin.

Secondly, as of July 2020 we’re now holding in-person services again!

As before, service will be held in the sanctuary Sunday mornings at 10:30 AM. (Yes, at the same time as the service on the YouTube channel.)

In accordance with Maryland COVID-19 guidelines and our desire to keep everyone safe, you must pre-register every week as we will be limiting attendance to 50 people to ensure social distance remains in effect.I f we begin to see a rise in the desire for in-person services going beyond that, we’ll add another service.

Note: in-person worship follows our COVID worship guidelines. Please read the guidelines before registering.

A Message From the Pastor

August 8th, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

After two weeks of in-person services the attendance seems to be on the rise, which is great. As I’ve said before, we will continue to have services both online and in-person to provide Word-ministry to meet the needs of a variety of situations. Our online ministry is not going away. Also, if you are not attending the in-person services but would like to schedule a communion visit, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone or email, and we’ll get something setup. We also have another event coming up – a drive-thru dinner on Saturday, August 15th! Please see details below!

In-person services are open only to those who pre-register. The full worship guidelines can be found here and must be followed throughout the duration of the service.

Registration for In-Person Services

Currently, our in-person services are limited to 50 people. If we begin to see a rise in the desire for in-person services going beyond that, we’ll add another service. However, we aren’t quite there yet. Again, in order to attend you must pre-register.

This week’s service pre-registration (August 9th) can be found here. Next week’s service pre-registration (August 16th) can be found here.

You must re-register every week. Again, please see the worship guidelines linked above and note that masks covering the nose and mouth are required.

Pork BBQ Dinner

Saturday, August 15th

4:00-7:00 PM

Menu:

Pork BBQ
Scalloped Potatoes
Green Beans
Cole Slaw
Roll
Choice of Dessert

Carry-out only: $10

Pre-orders requested: call or text Margie (443) 838-8438

Request for Donations for Video System

First Evangelical is soliciting donations for a new video system. See more details here.

God continues to guide us…

This week I thought I’d share with you some words that the Lord spoke when he finally responded to Job. Of course, for Job this is a reprimand. It can function similarly for us. It can also simply be a reminder of how we stand in awe of and marvel at our God. He says, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

Sometimes we like to convince ourselves that we’re in charge of our lives and the world around us. We’re not. It seems obvious when stated outright, but how often do we make our decisions and carry out our actions as if we are? I’d like to highlight that final verse above. Not only did God lay the foundations of the earth, but he says that, as it was happening, “the morning stars and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Instead of trying to exercise control over a world that is beyond our own power, this week, I encourage you to rest in the saving grace of Jesus, sing praises to our God, and shout for joy for all of the marvelous things he’s done and continues to do in his creation. Even in the midst of crisis and turmoil, God holds everything together and will one day bring about a restoration that will have no end. I pray that this week you find rest in the gospel by the power of his Spirit.

In Christ,

Pastor Alec

Email List Subscription

If you know of anyone who would like to get the emails but does not know how to go about it, please ask them to contact me. If you know someone who was once getting the emails but is no longer, it’s possible that it’s due to a typo in the system or that the email address has unsubscribed from the email list. Again, please ask them to contact me, and we’ll work to get it figured out.

Wednesday Morning Bible Study

Join us Wednesdays at 10:30am for a congregational Bible Study as we are reading through Acts and following St. Paul as he navigates different cultures while proclaiming the gospel of Jesus on his 2nd missionary journey. Simply click the link below or dial in via the phone # given.

Join Hangouts Meet: https://meet.google.com/coh-qrme-gmc

Join by phone: +1 631-618-8074 (PIN: 559341419)

More Devotional Material

You can always find additional devotional material on my website:

https://www.alecfisher.org .

Copies of Portals of Prayer are also available as well and can be picked up anytime from the information box at the Fellowship Hall main entrance. I also remind you of the resources from Lutheran Hour Ministries. They have free daily devotions (which can even be emailed to you) and the weekly broadcast of The Lutheran Hour radio program, all of which can be found at:

https://www.lhm.org/

Updated Contact Information and Call Request

We now have an online form to help keep our information current. If you would like to have your contact information updated, you can do so via the following link. You can also make a request for a phone call.

https://felc.churchcenter.com/people/forms/119816

Giving

There are currently two ways to give. One way to give is by mailing your offering directly to the church office (8397 Piney Orchard Parkway, Odenton, MD 21113). Only a few months ago we installed a secure mailbox with a lock to keep our mail safe. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to consider another way to give online. It is one easy way to be faithful in financial stewardship.

For online giving:

https://felc.churchcenter.com/giving

For further instruction see:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oqxqUbWiQE

Upcoming Events

August, 2020

We have one “socially distant” event planned for August:

Pork BBQ Dinner

Saturday, August 15th

4:00-7:00pm

Menu: Pork BBQ—Scalloped Potatoes—Green Beans—Roll—Cole Slaw—Dessert

Carry-outs only: $10

Pre-orders requested: call or text Margie (443) 838-8438

Calendar

About Us

From its humble beginnings almost 80 years ago, First Evangelical Lutheran Church has brought the Gospel Of Jesus Christ to Odenton and the surrounding areas.

Come and join us on Sunday mornings at 10:30 AM for worship as we come together in fellowship to grow as disciples of Jesus.