Worship Services

Voters Meeting

After service on Sunday, September 25th, we will have a voters meeting in the Fellowship Hall to vote on our pastoral candidates and the 2023 budget.

Sunday School

Join us each Sunday morning at 9:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall for our multigenerational Sunday school class. All ages are encouraged to attend. If you would like to help, please contact Ursula Pinckney. This week “A Shepherd Loves”. Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd as He promises to lead and guide his sheep. Jesus willingly laid down his life for His sheep, even those who often ignore the voice of the Shepherd. His flock includes other sheep (John 10:16), Gentiles not descended from Abraham. David’s familiar Twenty-third Psalm describes the work of our Good Shepherd. Next week, A Tree View. Students learn about Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector, who anxiously awaits the arrival of Jesus. Short of stature, Zacchaeus climbs a tree to see the Savior. Despite criticism, Jesus invites Himself to the tax collector’s home. Motivated by Christ’s compassion, Zacchaeus confesses his sin and promises to make restitution.

Fall Quilt

The Ladies Auxiliary is raffling a beautiful fall quilt on display in the narthex. Purchase 1 ticket for $5 or 3 tickets for $12. See Donna at church or the dinner/Worship Night to purchase tickets. The drawing is October 15th. You do not need to be present to win.

Coffee Hour

We will be serving coffee before service in the Fellowship Hall and after service in the Narthex. If you can help setup or cleanup, please let the church office know (410-672-3352 or churchoffice@felcodenton.org).

CAP

For the month of September we are collecting peanut butter and jelly for CAP. Please consider donating. Food can be left in the basket as you enter church.

There is a Food Bank delivery scheduled for September 16th at10 am. They could use help as follows:

1-2 people to help ride along and load the food onto the pick up trucks; meet at the Pantry at 9 am (2 of our regular helpers are not available)
6-8 people to help unload the boxes of food once the trucks arrive at the Pantry at 10 am
3-4 people to help sort food and check expiration dates on the donated items at 11 am

First Lutheran Church Prayer Campaign

As FELC works on searching for a Pastor and seeking out ways to ask the Lord’s help in revitalizing our relationships and worship, the FELC Elders are initiating a prayer covenant campaign within the congregation to daily pray for these and other FELC concerns. There will be no meetings or any other requirements, just an individual’s covenant to pray daily for FELC and its needs. Prayer times can occur daily for however long the Lord leads you to pray for FELC’s specific needs. Stay tuned for more information. If you are interested in participating in FELC’s growth by joining with us in this Prayer Campaign or have questions/comments regarding this initiative, email elders@felcodenton.org.

Congregational Discussion

Through the Visioning process, it became apparent that we as a church need to change in order to become more relevant and more effective as a Christian Church within this Post-Christian Era. Therefore, we have been considering ways to that we can evolve First Lutheran, while retaining our current identity. In preparation for future discussions regarding how our Lord wants us to evolve, we would like to start having discussions regarding What we DON’T want to change at First Lutheran. For instance We are a Lutheran church we want to remain a Lutheran church. That is a part of our identity that we DON’T want to change. However, what does it mean to be Lutheran?  This discussion was lead and facilitated by the Elders of the church. Thanks to everyone who participated in this meeting. All are invited and encouraged to participate in future discussions. For questions regarding this informal discussion, contact Wayne at wayne@felcodenton.org. 

On Wednesday, 17 August 2022 we discussed What Does It Mean to be Lutheran?  This discussion was lead and facilitated by the Elders of the church. Thanks to everyone who participated in this meeting. All are invited and encouraged to participate in future discussions. For questions regarding this informal discussion, contact Wayne at wayne@felcodenton.org. 

Future discussions may include topics such as:
– What Does It Mean to be a Member of the Church?
– What Does Christ (I.e. the Bible) Expect from His Church?
– What specifically are we (I.e. FELC) looking for in a Pastor?
– {Your Suggestions for Other Topics?}

FELC Confirmation Classes Forming for 2022-2023

Confirmation classes are now forming for 2022-2023 and are open to all youth ages 11 years and up who have not yet been confirmed. We will cover Bible history, stories, truth, the 10 Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and other topics. The goal of confirmation is to provide and strengthen our youth with the foundational truths of our Christian faith and to prepare them to be confirmed in the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. Classes will meet on Sunday mornings, starting October 2nd at 9:00 a.m. in the classroom in the church basement.
We have two returning second year confirmands: Jackson and Savannah. Starting also this year, any other church members who would like to brush up on their confirmation teachings are also welcome to attend. Contact Mike Petersen on-line at maprlp@verizon.net or on his cell phone at 443-223-5884 for additional information or to register. If registering, provide name, address, email, and phone number. Confirmation class schedules and other information will be provided at the first class meeting.

Odenton Day

Odenton Day is October 1st, 9AM-2PM at the Odenton Volunteer Fire Department! It is an annual community fair event for Odenton residents. This is an opportunity for us to make people aware of First Lutheran and what we are about! David Pinckney will be attending the fair and sharing information about our church. He would love to have someone else there with him. If you can sign up to volunteer for an hour or two, that would be great! Please call David at 443-995-3139 to let him know you are interested in joining him. Please leave a message and number where you can be reached. Thanks!

Ladies Night Out

September 22, 7PM. Join us for a night out at the Hideaway. All ladies are welcome! If you are interested, please contact Denise Bach or the church office at 410-672-3352 or churchoffice@felcodenton.org.

Night of Worship

September 24th @ 7PM. We will have a praise band for a night of meditation, live music, and prayer. Please plan to join us. For additional information, contact Wayne Van Dine at wayne@felcodenton.org.  For online viewing:
https://vimeo.com/event/2316672
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheFirstEvangelicalLutheranChurchofOdenton

Enchilada Dinner

September 24th, 4-6:30PM. Chicken enchiladas, refried beans, rice, pineapple salsa and dessert. Eat in or carry out: $12.00. Cost reduced to $10 if you donate diapers or baby supplies. Proceeds will go toward Wellspring Life Ministry. This is a Thrivent sponsored event. Pre-orders requested by September 21st. Call or text Margie at (443)838-8438. Join us after dinner for a Night of Worship (see above).

Operation Christmas Child

On September 26th @ 6:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall we will start filling the shoe boxes with items we have collected. If you can help that evening, please let Ursula know. The items we are still seeking are listed below. As we get closer to the shipping date in November, we will need some of the most important things yet, prayers. We can pray for the people working on the shipping/deliveries and the children receiving the gifts. They serve as a physical sign of the LOVE and CARING that helps them understand the Love of Jesus. We want to include a personal note for each child’s box to make a connection for the child, where you can wish them well and share your wishes for them as they are learning about and getting to know Jesus and the gift He gave to all of us! We would also like to include photos of real people, the ones that made those gifts possible, YOU! Ursula will have available, on the table in the narthex, some examples of letters or ideas you might write to a boy or a girl (please print so it is legible). She will also be available after church starting September 25th to take photos. It is important for the children to see the real people that are writing the letters and sending the gifts and making them feel loved! YOU! If you are not able to be at church but did participate, send us a selfie and note and we will include them! Some people like to include their names & addresses and perhaps some children will be moved to write back to their “special someone”. If you have questions, please contact Ursula Pinckney at 443-995-2035. The website for additional information on this project (Samaritan’s Purse, International Relief-OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD) is samaritanspurse.org.

For July and August:

• Flipflops (28 Small, 39 Medium, 19 Large)

• 22 boxes of crayons, 24 count
• 24 markers, 10 count
• 69 paint sets w/brush

For September:

• 67 notebooks w/flexible cover
• 25 boxes of kid-friendly band aids, individually wrapped
• 20 tubes of lip balm, non-medicated
• 55 single packages of tissues, sold in 6 packs at dollar store

Upcoming Meetings

October 3rd, Ladies Auxiliary, 6:30 PM

October 10th, Planning Council, 7 PM

Blood Drive

Mark your calendar! Our next blood drive is October 7th, 10 AM – 3:30 PM, in the Fellowship hall. Walk-ins welcome. if you plan to donate, please schedule an appointment so the blood drive isn’t canceled.. To schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code: FELC or call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). For more information or to volunteer to help, contact Denise Bach. (Future dates scheduled are October 7 and December 2).

Shut In Visitation Ministry

Pastor Harris visits shut-ins If you would like to be visited and/or receive Communion, please contact the Church Office (churchoffice@felcodenton.org).