Two months out
Folks attending the July Fourth fireworks in Williamsport, Pa., don’t only find free park- ing in St. Mark Lutheran’s lot, they’re treated to popcorn and other snacks and trinkets, all compliments of the congregation’s members.
Good one! Sheep and Goats Sunday
Location results in July Fourth evangelism
S
t. Mark Lutheran Church, Williamsport, Pa., has practiced park- ing lot hospitality for 13 years. When they noticed people park- ing in their lot and walking past their church to attend the local Fourth of July fireworks, they decided to offer them snacks for the celebration.
The congregation began by setting out popcorn and sodas. Today they also offer baked goods, bottled water and hotdogs (400 served last year). Each item includes a label that says: “This is a gift from St. Mark,” along with worship times and its website address (www.
stmarkswilliamsport.org). Near the snacks, members set out additional gifts: coloring- page packets for children, old Sunday school material and donated books. It’s all free, but a donation box stands nearby (the money supports St. Anthony’s Center, a soup kitchen). St. Mark also offers a free concert of patriotic music in its nave prior to the fireworks.
For a couple of weeks prior to the Fourth of July, volunteers sign up and donations are brought to church. Volunteers working the hospitality stand are ready for visitors beginning at 5:30 p.m. until 9:10 on July 4. Fireworks begin at 9:35. Kenneth Elkin, pastor of St. Mark, said people come back every year and say: “We were hoping we’d see you again this year.” “It’s a great feeling that people experience our goodwill and hospitality in Christ’s name and acknowledge it,” Elkin said, adding that at first people are suspicious of the free gifts. But that’s the way of evangelism, he said: keep trying. For more information contact pastor@stmarkswilliamsport.
org. M Sandy Grier Grier is the Upper Susquehanna Synod social ministry project coach. Tom Henderson, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran
Church, Berea, Ohio, still recalls his sermon on Christ the King Sunday in 2004 on the parable of the last judgment (Matthew 25). He told the congregation that every time he hears the story about the sheep and goats he feels guilty, but he goes home to watch the Browns football game and forgets about it. Unable to fathom how he could make a difference alone, he asked the con- gregation to work with him. “Each month I figure I have at least $50 that I have no idea where it goes,” he said. He challenged members to come up with a similar “God only knows where it goes” amount. Each month, the con-
gregation now holds a Sheep and Goats Sunday. Since 2005, St. Paul has sent more than $119,138 (beyond budgeted benev- olence) to one interna- tional and one local minis- try described in Matthew 25: hungry, naked, thirsty, stranger, sick, prisoner. When possible, someone from the ministry gives a sermon or temple talk, which Henderson said “has led individuals to give their time and talent, in addition to their treasure.” For more information,
contact THenderson@
stpaulberea.org.
Send congregational stories—both those for a specific month/holiday or your best timeless idea—to
julie.sevig@
thelutheran.org. May 2011 39
DESIGNPICS
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52