Happenings

I will not be leading worship this Sunday.  It will be a vacation Sunday for me.  I am pleased to say Rev. Susannah DeBenedetto will be leading worship in my absence.

Vacation Sundays are odd things for me.  For one thing, they have a different rhythm.  Instead of getting up early (sometimes very early) and preparing for a Bible study or Sunday School, and worship time, vacation Sundays have a certain and unusual freedom for me.  There is a release and opportunity that often seems foreign to me.  Sometimes I, and my family don’t know what to do.  Sometimes we all worship together at a different church.  Many times, my family sleeps in and I find a church to attend by myself.  Here are a few of my vacation experiences.

Zion Evangelical Lutheran United Church of Christ (Zion, Golden Ring – My home church):  On several occasions over the years I have returned to my home church to worship.  On two occasions I have led worship.  Once was during Lent in the late 1990’s and one was more recently during a difficult time for their church.  They were between pastors and after leading worship I almost got hired on the spot.  It was not a good thing.  It has been interesting to see the changes in membership and attendance at the church since I left there in the mid 1980’s.

Trinity UCC, York, PA:  While I was in seminary, I worked part time for this congregation and in 1990 and 91, while it’s membership was declining, it was still a very large and strong church with attendance well over 200, maybe even 300 or more (at least that’s what I remember).  When I went back to Trinity during a sabbatical about fifteen years later, attendance was down to about fifty.  It was a very different congregation and was on the verge of hiring a new pastor who was to be charged with maintaining the tradition of high liturgical worship while reaching out the local community – surely a recipe for failure in my mind.  I remember only one or two people remembered me.  It felt strange to worship in a such cavernous but empty church.

Ocean City:  In years past, Diana and I often gave a week of summer vacation to her family at Ocean City  every year as a Christmas present.   Sunday worship was often a part of that experience.  On two occasions we attended St. Matthew’s by the Sea.  I remember that church as one that tried very hard, even too hard, to welcome the vacation visitors.  I think I attended a Presbyterian church on a Sunday when they celebrated the military and recapped Vacation Bible School.  It was good.  And I also, by myself, attended the Greek Orthodox congregation one Sunday.  As a Protestant pastor, I appreciate the history of the Eastern Orthodox tradition and the strong spiritual practices that come with the tradition.  As a worshipper that Sunday, I did not appreciate the priest saying only Greek Orthodox were true Christians.  Despite my appreciation for their faith, I did not feel welcome.

In the last year or so, I also went back to Webster Congregational Christian Church of the United Church of Christ.  This was my first full time pastorate and I was there from 1991 to 1996.  As you might be aware, I have lost a lot of weight in recent years and between my weight loss, twenty-some years passing, and worshipping with two children by my side, only one person recognized me when I entered the building for worship.  In fact, during the passing of the peace, I greeted a few of the “old ladies” by name, and they kind of flipply asked me who I was.  I thought it was hilarious when I introduced myself!  The service that day was an anniversary service which was a great celebration.  The congregation changed greatly since I was there.  It is much smaller, and after several “splits,” welcomes a whole different group of new folks. 

I could go on, but I will just say, I enjoyed worshipping at a church in Danville, PA with a three or four old Leah while Diana slept late back at the hotel many years ago.  I attended the baptism of nephews at a Methodist church in Harford County but missed the baptism of our niece at the same church due to a rather frustrating miscommunication.  I enjoyed a simple, early morning communion service at the big downtown UCC congregation in Carlisle, PA last year while visiting Leah on her first parents’ weekend.  I also enjoyed attending a Lutheran church where one of my former bosses, a gifted Peabody trained organist, played.

I enjoy sitting back and anonymously worshipping on a vacation Sunday.  At this moment, I am not sure where I will up on Sunday, unless I sleep in or go fishing, I will let you know!

Peace,

Pastor Dale

Scripture:  Luke 13:10-17

THIS SUNDAY’S LEADERSHIP TEAM:

Presiding:  The Rev. Dale Krotee

Music Director and Organist: J. Curtis White

Immanuel Church Chancel Choir

Pianist:   Lynne Breil, Tina Lyte        

Acolyte:  Adam Elzey

Ushers:  Carole & Roger Segar, Ashton Elzey, Brady Lyons

Nursery Staff:  Stephanie Dixon

Nursery Assistant:  Amanda Bair

Sound System:  Jack Breil, Keith Malkus, Tom Wilkison

This Week at Immanuel:  (Office hours  M-F, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)

Today              9:00am                        Sunday School

9:15-11:30am Nursery Care

10:00am          Worship – Rev. Susannah DeBenedetto

Blessing of the Backpacks

11:00am          Fellowship in the Narthex 

BIBLE STUDY:  We will be discussing the book “Faith Is The Answer, But What Are The Questions?” by James Moore.  Come join us for soup and study starting Tuesday, September 10, 2019 from 12noon to 1pm.  Books are available from the office at Immanuel.  Please RSVP Donna Campbell 443-521-0112 or luth4502@gmail.com or Claudia McDonald 410-463-4055 or mcgingermud@aol.com.