|
Dear Christ Lutheran Church Family and Friends,
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Occasionally, I have the joy of being invited to witness firsthand how members of our congregation are making a life-changing impact through their vocational callings and within their ministry contexts.
About a week ago, at invitation of Paul Erbes, I attended the Celebration of Generosity and Gratitude Luncheon hosted by Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake, where he serves as Chief Development & Marketing Officer.
We heard powerful stories marking 50 years of Habitat for Humanity national and international impact, as well as 45 years of Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake serving families here in Maryland. Story after story reminded us that safe, stable housing transforms not only individual lives, but entire generations.
Over the years, members of our congregation Diane Phelps, Kevin Buckley, Rich Walther, Paul Erbes, Deacon Vaughn Vigil, and others have led international mission trips to El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Fiji, Cuba, and beyond. Many of us have traveled multiple times to serve. As a congregation, we have participated in local and national builds, sponsored supplies, and supported this work in countless faithful ways.
This Sunday during the Adult Forum, we will hear from the Cuba Mission Team about their recent experience, as another team prepares to travel the week of March 13 with Deacon Vaughn Vigil. If you feel called to participate, Paul Erbes is also leading a mission trip to Honduras this August and is seeking team members.
What a rewarding and humbling experience it is to see how the hands and hearts of our congregation continue to reflect Christ’s love in such tangible ways both locally and internationally. May we continue to be a people who build not only homes, but hope.
Blessings!
| |
| |
Free Validated Parking
Available for all church services until 2:00 pm in the church’s PARKING GARAGE entered from 11 E. Lee St.
When you enter the church, you will receive a bulletin with a page of announcements that has a QR code on it. Take that announcments page with you when you leave church.
To receive free parking, upon departing please place your parking ticket in the machine and scan the QR Code on the back page of the announcements.
There are also limited spaces available on the church’s surface lot behind the building, entered via Charles St. Use of this lot is primarily for the handicapped, elderly, and families with small children.
| | By the way, the attendants of the garage have the tools, and the garage offers the services of providing a jump start for a dead battery, filling a tire with air, or even changing a tire if necessary. | | |
ADULT FORUMS
MARCH 8
Cuba Mission – Led by Deacon Vaughn Vigil
Come hear from Deacon Vaughn Vigil and members of the team who traveled with him as they share reflections and experiences from their Cuba Mission, offering a firsthand look at faith, partnership, and ministry across borders.
MARCH 15 and 22 – Psalms of Lament - Led by Dr. Rebecca Hancock
Join us as Dr. Rebecca Hancock returns to Christ Church to lead an insightful exploration of the Psalms of Lament. Discover how these ancient prayers of sorrow, questioning, and hope speak to our faith and life today.
| | |
WORSHIP ASSISTANTS - GREETERS
Together we can grow our congregation!
The Proclaim and Invite Ministry is recruiting Greeters for both the Traditional and Contemporary Services. Greeters serve an important role as ambassadors of Christ Church’s mission and are an essential part of our congregation’s future growth.
The only task is to offer a smile, a handshake, and a warm “good morning.”
We hope you will prayerfully consider joining this team to help us greet everyone like family and inspire visitors to return.
Contact Lynne Mason for questions or to volunteer (lamason5@hotmail.com)
Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you. ~ Romans 15:7
| |
RED CROSS FOLLOW-UP
We had another successful blood drive on February 25th. 39 people signed up ahead of time. Several church staff, church members, and CCHA residents donated, in addition to the greater community showing up. In total, 28 pints of blood were collected. Unfortunately, the Red Cross was short by one staff-person, so we couldn’t take walk-ins. But everything went smoothly otherwise, and there were no long waits.
The nurses and phlebotomists expressed how much they appreciate our hospitality and always look for us on their schedule. The Charge Nurse, who began with us as a trainee and who has moved up each time we’ve seen her, expressed how she’s come full-circle at CLC. It’s really a pleasure to work with familiar Red Cross staff members, and to see them return. It makes everything go more smoothly. And that starts with the CLC team being organized, welcoming, and hospitable. So, MANY THANKS to the Blood Drive Hosting Team, to the Social Ministry Committee, and to the CLC family! Let’s do it again May 14th!
|
Mission Trip to Cuba
Deacon Vaughn, along with The Church of the Holy Apostles and St. Stephen, and Church on the Square, are leading a mission trip to Santiago de Cuba in March of 2026.
| |
In addition to our work on the Day Center for Seniors, we will be bringing much-needed supplies and food that are difficult to obtain in Cuba.
We are collecting specific over-the-counter medications due to mosquito-borne illnesses currently affecting the island, including Dengue and Chikungunya. Most needed are Tylenol (for fever and muscle aches), multi-vitamins (for adults, seniors, and children), menthol topical ointments such as BenGay, and anti-diarrheal medications.
There is also an ongoing need for shelf-stable dry goods such as rice, beans, tomato sauce, powdered milk, soap, deodorant, and toothpaste. For the children, board games are requested—especially Scrabble sets that include the Spanish ñ.
Please bring donations to the church office by March 6.
| |
CONCORDIA CHOIR IN CONCERT
The world-renowned Concordia Choir of Moorhead, Minnesota, under the direction of Dr. Michael Culloton, will perform at The Cathedral of Mary Our Queen on Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 pm. From the music of J. S. Bach to familiar hymn arrangements, The Concordia Choir will amaze you with their technical mastery and incredible sound. The Concordia Choir has given our congregation a promo code for their concert. Click here for tickets and enter promo code CLCBALT for free tickets to their concert.
| |
"The Road to Freedom Choir Concert" being held at various cities across the US this spring. The concert will tell the story of the 1961 Freedom Rides that were so pivotal to the Civil Rights Movement.
The tour kicks off at First Lutheran Church in Ellicott City on
Saturday, March 21st at 7pm. Free and open to the public.
For more information go to https://nclutheran.org/event/the-road-to-freedom-lenoir-rhyne-a-cappella-choir-concert/
| |
FAMILY FUN NIGHT / EASTER EGG HUNT
Save the Date!
All are welcome to join us for Christ Lutheran Church's annual Easter Egg Hunt, Friday March 27 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Come for dinner, crafts, egg hunting, moon bounces and a special visit from the Easter Bunny!
Children of all ages are welcome!
| Treasurer's Report - January 2026 | Christ Church begins 2026 in a stable financial position. January operating activity was essentially break......... | | | |
What Happened You Might Have Missed....... | As usual, there was a lot happening at Christ Church this week....and not all of it was what you might expect..... Saturday evening, we played host to a church from the Washington area that is lookin... | | | | |
Clear the Clutter
Shredding Day Is Coming!
Start gathering those old papers now—Christ Church will be hosting a Shredding Day on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
More details coming soon, but mark your calendar and plan to safely shred and simplify!
| |
|
Looking for a Daily Bible Reading?
The Lutheran Church (ELCA) provides a daily bible reading to which you can subscribe. You will receive a daily email with that day's reading. If you click on the READ MORE below, you will be taken to their website where you may subscribe.
| | | | | The ELCA World Hunger Appeal is providing transformative, sustainable change and healing in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ in the U.S. and around the world, striving to see that families and children have enough to eat, clean water to drink, and safe places to live while acquiring skills that will carry them in the future. We can support the ELCA World Hunger Appeal by sending or bringing our gifts to the church office, by making checks payable to Christ Lutheran Church with the memo “World Hunger Appeal,” or by making a designated gift online at http://bit.ly/Give2CLC and checking “World Hunger.” Thank you. | | |
Celebrating a Birthday on Sunday: Marisa Eggers
Celebrating a Birthday this week:
9th Janet Fritz
10th Alice Eissels, Paul Erbes
11th Eric Schlegel
13th Tara Shifflett, Jacob Stroh
14th Bernie Annor, Erna Ray
| | |
We pray for our members and their friends. When possible, we have included the name of the member who put a friend on the list so that we may be able to be more personal.
Prayer list . . .
| | | | |
