Nichols Bethel United Methodist Church (one of our CAP partners) will hold a blood drive on Monday, May 12, 2008 from 2—8 p.m. Nichols Bethel is located just around the corner from our church at 1239 Murray Rd. in Odenton. Please contact Hillen Grason at 301-498-3237 to schedule your donation.
 

by J. McHenry

The Ladies’ Auxiliary will hold their Spring Flea Market on Saturday, May 17, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come and have lunch at the Hot Dog Stand or buy some home made cakes/pies, etc. from the Bake Sale. Since we only have a few ladies on the auxiliary we’re asking for our church members help again for items for the Bake Sale. If you’d like to rent a table or a space to sell your own items, please contact the church office at 410-551-9189 or Alice Andrzejewski at 410-987-4575 ($15/$10 respectively) so we will reserve one for you. If you have items you’d like to donate for the flea market, members of the auxiliary will be in the Fellowship Hall on Friday, May 16, 208 at 7 p.m. to receive your donations. Questions should be directed to Alice. Thanks for your support.
 

We will be walking along the Baltimore and Annapolis Trail, starting at Marley Station Mall and heading south to the Earleigh Heights Ranger Station. Hikers will return along the same route, for a total of 7 miles. All money raised will fund the 2008 Thrivent Builds house.
If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Moseley by phone at (410) 384-9212 x124 or by email . I hope you will join us on this exciting day!

One Memorial Day, some children were asked what the holiday meant to them. “That’s the day the swimming pool opens!” answered one eager boy. What he didn’t realize or appreciate was that he can freely go the pool because more than one million people have put their lives on the line to preserve America’s democracy. Many of them have died so citizens of other countries might also enjoy the privileges of political, social and economic freedom.

Memorial Day is our opportunity to pause and remember the sacrifices of many of America’s best citizens. They made the supreme sacrifice on our behalf, so please remember to honor these heroes on May 26.
 

by J. McHenry

Beginning on Sunday, June 1st, we will begin our summer worship schedule. Services will be at 8 a.m. (Blended Service) and 10 a.m. (Traditional Service). Sunday School is not offered.
 

by D. Starke

We are nearing the date for the Voters’ Assembly (June 1) for election of new board members. The following positions are vacant and we are seeking individuals to fill these slots:

• Recording Secretary
• Director of Fellowship
• Director of Church Properties

These positions are vital to our church and many folks have offered to assist in support of them, so you would not have to manage it all by yourself! Please prayerfully consider serving. For more information about these positions, please contact a member of the nominating committee. Members are: Pastor MacDonald, N. Hayward, A. Potter, T. Lowry and D. Starke.
 

by P. Diacont

Arundel Middle School’s Student Government Association is having an Athletic Shoe Drive. They are trying to help a family in Ghana. They are collecting 600 pairs of gently used athletic shoes (men’s and women’s) size 7 and up (tennis shoes, soccer cleats, hiking boots, crocs, etc.). This will provide the family with an irrigation system, land for organic farming, livestock/beehive, fruit trees and improved quality of life. Questions can be directed to P. Diacont. There is a box in the narthex for our contributions.
 

• Balance in Church Expansion Fund is $278,990.20.
• Handicap Lift is in working order, doors to be refurbished by end of month.
• Three vacancies on Nominating Committee - still need Church Property Chairman, Recording Secretary and Fellowship Committee Chairman.  Contact D. Starke if interested.
• Telephone internet service and copy service being examined for most cost effective.
• Amended architectural drawings of proposed expansion not what we had in mind.  Changes will have to be made.
• No prayer service will be conducted in church on National Day of Prayer (not well attended).
• Rental house has been rented.
• No dates set as yet for Vacation Bible School.
• Summer worship schedule will start at 8 and 10 a.m. on June 1, 2008.  No Sunday School.
• Visitor bags being delivered to all who sign guest register.  Postcards being sent to new homeowners in area.
• Ladies' Auxiliary Turkey Dinner netted approximately $1400; Thrivent Financial will provide matching funds.
• Voters’ Assembly to be held on May 19th at 7:30 p.m. for election of officers.

by J. McHenry

The auxiliary will have a potluck dinner on Monday, June 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall to close their activities until September. All church members are invited. Bring enough food and dessert for your family and enjoy the fellowship.
 

by C. Aleksei, Food Pantry Manager

The woman in her 50s could not understand what had happened. Her husband, a photographer for Channel 7, had lost his job. Was it his age? So begins another day of stories at the Christian Assistance Program (CAP) food pantry.

I never look at the masses in line at the door, eager for food. I look at the individual. I can love only one person at a time; I can feed only one person at a time. Just one, one, one…

So I begin. The whole work is only a drop in the ocean. But if I don’t put the drop in, the ocean would be one drop less. Just begin one, one, one…

As Jesus once said, “I was hungry, and you gave me to eat. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.”

Hungry, not only for bread, but hungry for love. Naked, not only for clothing, but naked of human dignity and respect. Homeless, not only for want of a room of bricks, but homeless because of rejection. This is Christ in distressing disguise. “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers….”

Since the beginning of 2008, CAP has served 410 families enough food for 1,187 individuals. The CAP donation basket is located just inside the main door of the church. Please consider purchasing an extra bag of groceries each week to aid families in need throughout our community.
 

by D. Starke

Consider using Travel for Charity, sponsored by The Vacation Stop. The Vacation Stop, (owned and operated by First Evangelical Lutheran’s very own S. Mencik) makes it possible for you to make a difference simply by traveling. Book your cruise or vacation package with them, select First Evangelical Lutheran from the list, and they will donate 50% of the commission to our building fund. That's all there is to it!

Check it out at: www.thevacationstop.com

If you have a group, and want to go together on a special cruise fundraiser for your organization, you can raise even more money. See the Fund Raiser Cruises page at http://thevacationstop.com/fundraiser.shtml

**Note: Domestic airline tickets produce no commissions, and generally can be obtained cheaper by booking direct with the airline's website.

by J. McHenry

Donating flowers in May are:

• 4th — T. Cubendri Bach, Anniversary and  The Vitchock's in memory of J. Vitchock and M. Walls
• 18th — The Petersen's, 40th Anniv. and  M. Pinckney, Birthday
• 25th — The Cole's, 27th Anniv. and  J.  Vitchock, 22nd Birthday
• 11th — Confirmation Flowers

Donating flowers in June are:

• 1st — The Susie's in memory of Albert and remembering J. Bach's, birthday
• 8th — The Susie's for Anna’s 10th birthday
• 15th — OPEN
• 22nd — B. Williams in memory of Joe and I. Lello’s birthday
• 29th — OPEN
   

If you wish to donate altar flowers, please enter name of donor(s) and special occasion on the Altar Flower Chart found in the narthex. Flowers cost $8.00 per vase. Donations may be placed in the regular church offering in the envelopes above the chart. Donors are reminded to come up to the working sacristy (to left of altar) after either service and a member of the Altar Guild will see that you get the flowers.
 

by D. Starke
The cell phone drive netted 42 phones and they have been sent to Pace Butler. Pace Butler will determine which are usable and cut a check according to the going market rate.
The cell phone box will remain in the fellowship hall for ongoing collection. The first of the year is coming and people tend to clean house. If you, your friends or co-workers have any cell phones in working order, please consider donating them. You would be surprised how many people have old phones lying around!

By I. Fischer
I would like to ask everyone to prayerfully consider if they would be available to provide transportation for members in our congregation. I am trying to form a pool of people available so that as rides are needed, I am not calling on the same people.

We currently have a need for transportation for 2 ladies living 1 mile from the church to and from the 8 a.m. service. We also need transportation from Odenton to Crofton in the a.m., and from Crofton to
Odenton in the p.m., for a member who would like to visit her ailing mother. If you would be available for any day or time, please send me an e-mail or call the church office at 410-551-9189.

Please keep in mind as you consider being a transportation volunteer that this does not have to be an every Sunday or daily commitment. Also, if you are not available for the specific times listed above; but have other availability, you are still needed to round out our pool of volunteers. Thank you.

by L. Weaver
Please send all of your prayer requests to prayerrequests@felcodenton.org or contact the church office at 410-551-9189. Please indicate if you would like an immediate e-mail sent to the congregation or if you would like the prayer to just be added to the weekly list for Sunday. Thank you.