Volume 14, Issue 2

Pastor’s Pen
March 2010
“Celebrating Holy Week”
Some Christians are
uncomfortable with setting
apart one week and calling
it holy. They will point out
that in Christ's work for us
on the cross, He has sancti-
fied us and our whole lives.
Each week of a Christian's
life is holy in this way.
These Christians are
certainly right to point out
that the baptismal life is in
SAINT JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH (LCMS)
and the Good Friday Chief
Service. Palm Sunday
celebrates our Lord's trium-
phal entry into Jerusalem.
Maundy Thursday cele-
brates Jesus' great com-
mand for us to love one
another and His institution
of the Lord's Supper. The
Chief Service on Good
Friday is a solemn remem-
brance of the day that Jesus
allowed Himself to be cru-
that when the service be-
gins, we are still in the
season of Lent. When the
service ends, however, we
have come into the great
feast of Easter.
The Easter Vigil has
several distinct parts. It
begins with a service of
light during which the pas-
chal (Easter) candle is lit
and processes into the

its entirety a holy life that church followed by the

cified to save us sinners,
has been redeemed and congregation (also carrying
even though we were the
sanctified by God through candles). After this is the
ones putting Him to death.
His work on the cross. But service of readings. In
that also gives us the rea- Last year at Saint these readings we hear
Cove Christian

son why we call one par-
ticular week holy.
Holy Week is the week
from Palm Sunday through
Chronicle
John's we added two ser-
vices to those three. We
celebrated a Good Friday
Tre Ore service and the
Great Vigil of Easter.
about how God saved His
people throughout biblical
history. After the readings
we move into the part of
the service where we re-

the following Saturday. It

is the week that immedi-
ately precedes Easter. We
call this week holy not
because of ourselves but
because of Christ. Holy
Week is the week that we
remember Jesus' final jour-
ney into Jerusalem. It was
on that journey that He
entered Jerusalem as her
King, was crowned with
thorns, and won life and
salvation for all people. It
is during this week that
Jesus made His Church
holy by washing away all
her sins by shedding His
precious blood on the
cross.
Because of the holiness
of this week, the church
has celebrated it with spe-
cial reverence for nearly
two thousand years. Most
congregations celebrate
just three of the possible
nine or more services that
can be observed during it.
The services most often
celebrated are Palm Sun-
day, Maundy Thursday,
member what Christ has
The Good Friday Tre
done for us in our baptism.
Ore Service is a meditation
Baptism is a very important
on the last seven sentences
part of Easter. We are bap-
(or “words”) that Jesus
tized both into Christ's
spoke from the cross. “Tre
death and into His resurrec-
Ore” means three hours.
tion (Romans 6). Finally,
The service starts at noon
we begin the celebration of
and continues for the next
Easter with the Easter ac-
three hours split into a se-
clamation, hear a short
ries of seven mini-services.
Easter sermon (written
The services take place
1600 years ago by the great
during the hours that Jesus
pastor John Chrysostom),
hung on the cross and dark-
and receive the Lord's Sup-
ness covered the whole
per. The service begins
world (Matthew 27:45,
with quietness and ends
Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44,
with exuberant joy. Pastor
and John 19:14). Last year
Riebau will also be assist-
during the Tre Ore service
ing with this service.
we heard meditations on
the seven words written by As you prepare for
Pr. O.P. Kretzmann. This Easter during this month, I
year Pastor Riebau and I encourage you to take ad-
will be preaching the ser- vantage of the services we
mons for Tre Ore. will have during Holy
Week. At these services
The Great Vigil of
you will have the opportu-
Easter is the way the early
nity to receive God's gifts
church began the celebra-
through His Word and be
tion of Easter. The service
reminded of the wonderful
beguns just as the sun is
things that Jesus did FOR
setting on the Saturday
YOU during Holy Week.
before Easter. This means
News from the Church Council: The Board of Elders
Randy Harman resigns from Board of
Elders
As of the end of January, Randy Har-
man resigned from Saint John's Board of
Elders. We thank Randy for his year of
service. This means that we currently
have a vacancy on the Board of Elders. If
you are interested in serving, please con-
tact a member of Saint John's nominating
committee (Jim Joslin, Myrtle Hanft,
Lyndsay Miller, or Pastor Lehmann).
Pastor Lehmann
What does the Board of Elders do?
This is the second in a series of arti-
cles that provides information to the con-
gregation each month about how St.
John’s is structured according to its con-
stitution and bylaws. This series of pres-
entations was approved at the Council
meeting in January of 2010.
Since there is a vacancy in the Board
of Elders at this time, this month’s article
will focus on the Board of Elders respon-
sibilities as enumerated in the bylaws.
The bylaws governing the Board of
Elders is Bylaw 6.7. It reads:
6.7 Board of Elders
6.7.1 Responsibilities
The Elders are the Pastor’s chief assis-
tants in caring for the spiritual life of the
congregation. They are responsible for
the Spiritual welfare of the Pastor and
congregation members. They are to assist
the Pastor in the following areas of minis-
try:
6.7.1.1 Care and Concern
The Board of Elders will assist the Pastor
and work with the Care and Concern
Committee in visiting and ministering to
the sick, the shut-ins, the elderly, the
widows or any member of the congrega-
tion needing personal assistance.
6.7.1.2 Altar Area Care
The Board of Elders will assist the Pastor
and work with the Altar Committee in
Page 2
keeping the chancel and its furnishings
clean, caring for the candles, buying and
arranging flowers, taking care of the sa-
cred vessels, linens, and vestments, mak-
ing the baptismal napkins and candles
available, and other such projects that
further glorify God’s Alter and Church,
enlisting such members as are necessary
to help in the services of this committee.
6.7.1.3 Ushering
The Board of Elders will assist the Pastor
and work with the Ushering Committee
to provide for the collection of the offer-
ing, orderly conduct of worship services,
comfort of the worshipers, distribution of
materials, and needs of people attending
church functions.
6.7.1.4 Worship
The Board of Elders will assist the Pastor
and work with the Worship Committee to
enlist assistants for services, form music
programs, develop and schedule special
services, and along with the Pastor for-
mulate a yearly Worship schedule.
6.7.2 Membership
The Board of Elders will consist of three
(3) elected members.
6.7.3 Terms of Office
6.7.3.1 Elders will be elected to a term
of three (3) years.
6.7.3.2 They may succeed themselves
one (1) term.
6.7.3.3 Filling and unexpired term
does not constitute a term of office.
6.7.3.4 The third year of their term
they shall hold the position of Chairman
of the Board. As such they can call meet-
ings of the Board, and will provide lead-
ership along with the pastor for the
Board.
6.7.4 Elections
One (1) Elder shall be elected each
year.
6.7.5 Meetings
The Board will meet on a monthly
basis.
7.0 Committees
7.1.1 Worship committee
7.1.1.1 The Worship Committee
shall be appointed by the Board of Elders
7.1.1.3 The committee reports to the
Board of Elders.
7.1.2 Altar Committee
7.1.2.1 The Altar Committee shall
be appointed by the Board of Elders.
7.1.2.3 The Committee reports to
the Board of Elders.
7.1.3 Care and Concern committee
7.1.3.1 The Care and Concern com-
mittee shall be appointed by the Board of
Elders.
7.1.3.3 The committee reports to
the Board of Elders.
7.1.4 Ushering Committee
7.1.4.1 The Ushering Committee
shall be appointed by the Board of Elders.
7. 1.4.3 The committee reports to
the Board of Elders.
At the present time there are only two
members on the Board of Elders as
Randy Harman has resigned. We want to
thank Randy for his service. Keith Har-
man is chairman of the Board for 2010.
Pete Smith is also an elder as He just
began his three year term in January of
2010. The bylaws do not spell out how a
vacancy is to be filled so I will propose to
Council at their next meeting that the
nominating committee be reactivated and
present nominees to the Congregational
Assembly at their April meeting. Jim
Joslin our Vice President is the chairman
of the nominating committee along with
members Pastor, Myrtle Jenkins and
Lyndsay Miller. Should you be interested
in the important position or have a rec-
ommendation, please advise the nominat-
ing committee. Also should anyone have
suggestions for the Board of Elders in
regards to their responsibilities, please
contact them.
Edgar Harman
C O V E C HR I S T I A N C H R O N I CL E
Youth Group News
HIGHER THINGS
Last month Higher Things was forced
to move its gathering at the University of
Memphis to Vanderbilt University in
Nashville, Tennessee. The dates (July
6th-10th) are still the same as are regis-
tration fees. Nashville will also be a bit
shorter of a drive for us. Unfortunately,
registration for
the conference is
now closed be-
cause the spots
have filled. If
you haven't reg-
istered and want
to go, I can still
get you on a
waiting list.
Lenten Schedule
Please join us for our special Lenten
services:
Midweek Service @ Zion
Wed., March 3rd, 7:30 p.m.
Midweek Service @ St. John's
Wed., March 10th, 7:30 p.m.
(Soup Supper at 6:30)
Midweek Service @ Zion
Wed., March 17th, 7:30 p.m.
Potpourri (Other News)
DEADLINES
Please be sure to check the calendar
for the deadlines for submitting items for
the council agenda and the newsletter.
These are important dates as they make it
possible for Edgar to plan council meet-
ings and for Pastor Lehmann to release
the newsletter in a timely manner.
GENESIS BIBLE STUDY
Please join us at Jim and Ruby's house
on Thursdays for our ongoing study of
the book of Genesis. This month we will
begin to learn about how God saved His
people through the work of Joseph in
VOLUME 14, ISSUE 2
YOUTH GROUP AT WILDSIDE SOUP SUPPERS
On Saturday, March 20th, at 5:00 Please come to the soup suppers be-
p.m., the youth group will meet at the fore the Lenten services at Saint John's
Wildside (near Nemacolin resort) for (up to and including Maundy Thursday)
bowling and rock climbing. The cost for and enjoy a good meal and support the
unlimited bowling and climbing is $15. youth group in raising money for their
Youth are also asked to bring money for trip to Nashville this summer.
food. Parents are also welcome to come
as chaperones and drivers.
Midweek Service @ St. John's The Great Vigil of Easter
Wed., March 24th, 7:30 p.m. Sat., April 3rd, 7:30 p.m.
(Soup Supper at 6:30)
Maundy Thursday Divine Service
On Easter morning, there will be a
Thurs., April 1st, 7:30 p.m.
communion service and a breakfast
(Soup Supper at 6:30)
served by the youth group. The schedule
Good Friday Tre Ore Service for this will be set at the March Council
Fri., April 2nd, 12:00 p.m. meeting.
Good Friday Chief Service
Fri., April 2nd, 7:30 p.m.
Egypt. These bible studies are fun nights
of learning about our Savior by studying
His Word.
GAME NIGHT
There will be a game night on March
28th at 6:30 p.m. Bring yourself, a snack,
a drink, and a game to share. I think I
can safely say that no one has come to a
game night and NOT enjoyed it. We
always have a lot of fun. If you haven't
come, you're missing out. We would
LOVE to see you! Games that have been
played include the infamous Marble
Game, Quelf, Sequence, Dominoes,
Rummikub, and more.
Page 3
SAINT JOHN'S EVANGELICAL
LUTHERAN CHURCH (LCMS)
1065 Cove Road
Accident, MD 21520
(301) 746-8466
www.stjohncove.org
stjohncove@gmail.com
"We preach Christ crucified!"
THE COVE CHRISTIAN
CHRONICLE
"We preach Christ crucified!"
www.stjohncove.org
C ome, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters!
He who has no money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy
wine and milk without money and without price… Lis-
ten diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight
yourselves in the richest of fair! Incline your ear, and
come to me: Hear, that your soul may live: and I will
make with you an everlasting covenant, My steadfast,
sure love for David.
Isaiah 55:1-3
God comes to you each Sunday with His rich gifts of for-
giveness, life, and salvation! Come, be fed by the word
of life that Jesus has for you! Receive the gifts He won
for you on the cross!
Divine Service: Sunday, 9:00 a.m.
Bible Study: Sunday, 10:00 a.m.
To:
Accident, MD 21520
1065 Cove Road
Saint John's Evangelical Lutheran Church (LCMS)