Downtown Issue # 26 – May, 2015
Posted by admin on May 1, 2015
Downtown
A Quarterly Publication of The Association of Downtown Lutheran Churches
c/o Historic First Lutheran Church, 808 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, CA 91104
DowntownChurches@aol.com
Issue #26– May, 2015
IN THIS ISSUE:
- WELCOME!
- MISSION STATEMENT
- NEWSLETTERS STILL BEING SOUGHT
- DEDICATED IN LOVING MEMORY
- WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS
- HELP EXPAND OUR REACH
- REPORTING VARIOUS CELEBRATIONS
- SPOTLIGHT ON MEMPHIS, TN
- SPOTLIGHT ON PITTSBURGH, PA
- SPOTLIGHT ON WASHINGTON, D.C.
- CLOSING
WELCOME!
A warm welcome to this issue of “Downtown,” a newsletter full of interchange and exchange between downtown Lutheran churches around our great world (yes, we have “international members” not just in the United States, but also in Canada and even Hungary!) As your editor, it’s my hope you’ll find this a helpful, powerful resource to further equip and empower your ministry in the great downtown. As your editor, I can only accomplish that goal when you respond to the content of this newsletter and feed me information about what’s going on with your own particular ministry. Responses, comments, constructive criticisms, etc. can be sent to DowntownChurches@aol.com .
MISSION STATEMENT
“The Association of Downtown Lutheran Churches celebrates the mission and ministry of the Lord through congregations in downtown neighborhoods, sharing and developing ideas and programs by communicating, networking and encouraging one another.”
NEWSLETTERS STILL BEING SOUGHT
If you’ve not yet added the Association to receive your weekly or monthly newsletters, won’t you please do so today? It is guaranteed that every newsletter is indeed read! If your congregation publishes a printed newsletter, would you please add us to your mailing list? Please address them to Rev. Christopher Schaar, Historic First Lutheran, 808 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, CA 91104-4317. If your congregation publishes an electronic newsletter, would you please add us to your e-dis list? Please send them to DowntownChurches@aol.com. If your e-news requires an email address to subscribe to receive your newsletter, please send notice of that fact to DowntownChurches@aol.com and we will subscribe.
DEDICATED IN LOVING MEMORY
This issue of “Downtown” is dedicated in loving memory of The Reverend Dr. John T. Braughler, the 17th Senior Pastor of First English Evangelical Lutheran Church in downtown Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. Braughler served First Lutheran from 1966 to 1989.
Jack died on Friday 13 February 2015 at the age of 93. A memorial service was held at First Lutheran on Saturday 11 April. “Rest eternal grant to him, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon him.”
If you have suggestions for future issues of “Downtown” to be dedicated in memory of other great veterans of downtown ministry, please do not hesitate to pass that information along to DowntownChurches@aol.com .
WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS
The Association of Downtown Lutheran Churches is proud to introduce and welcome the following new pastor to a great downtown church:
The Reverend Kelly Faulstich, currently Associate Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, IL, has accepted the call to serve as Pastor at Resurrection Lutheran Church in downtown Chicago, IL. Her ministry at Resurrection will begin on Monday 4 May with her first Sunday in the pulpit being Mother’s Day 10 May.
We welcome Pastor Faulstich into the great downtown!
HELP EXPAND OUR REACH
Every electronic distribution of “Downtown” elicits comments of thanks for this avenue of sharing, encouraging, resourcing and challenging downtown churches!
When did you last share “Downtown” with your staff and leadership? When did you last make your congregation aware of the existence of “Downtown”?
You are invited and encouraged to make copies of “Downtown.” You are invited and encouraged to forward “Downtown” to your members via email. You are invited and encouraged to send a link to the Association of Downtown Lutheran Churches website (www.downtownlutheranchurches.org) to all your contacts where ALL past issues of “Downtown” may be viewed. You are invited and encouraged to include blurbs about “Downtown” and the Association in your bulletins and newsletters. Most of all, you are invited and encouraged to encourage your staff and leaders and church members to request inclusion in our e-dis list. All anyone needs to do is send an email request to DowntownChurches@aol.com .
Thanks for whatever you can do to help us expand our reach!
REPORTING VARIOUS CELEBRATIONS
St. John’s Lutheran in downtown Des Moines, IA will host a retirement gala for Larry Christensen on Saturday 23 May 2015. Larry’s retirement celebrates his 40 years of service as Music Minister at St. John’s. For more information, contact Ellen Fisher (ellenfisher123@gmail.com), Julie Lowe (folkerts@aol.com) or Mary Kay Frasier (mkfrasier@gmail.com).
SPOTLIGHT ON MEMPHIS, TN
On Palm Sunday, the members of Trinity Lutheran in downtown Memphis joined with neighboring downtown churches at City Hall to offer prayers for the people and leaders of Memphis.
What does your congregation do to partner with other downtown churches for the benefit of your city? Email your stories to DowntownChurches@aol.com .
A member of the LCMS, more information about Trinity Lutheran’s outreach to downtown Memphis can be found at www.TrinityMemphis.org .
SPOTLIGHT ON PITTSBURGH, PA
Most of our downtown churches at some time or other struggle with the challenges presented them by annual city marathons and / or other major civic events. Previous issues of “Downtown” have included responses downtown churches have developed to creatively and positively respond to those challenges.
First English Evangelical Lutheran Church in downtown Pittsburgh, in response to the annual Pittsburgh Marathon scheduled for Sunday 4 May, will hold an additional celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Saturday 3 May at 5:00 p.m. to accommodate those who may find it difficult to get to church on Sunday morning. What a great response!
How has your congregation creatively and positively responded to civic events that may seemingly interrupt the life of your congregation? Email your stories to DowntownChurches@aol.com .
A member of the ELCA, more information about First English Lutheran’s outreach to downtown Pittsburgh can be found at www.flcpittsburgh.org .
SPOTLIGHT ON WASHINGTON, D.C.
Being in the “downtown” often intrinsically links a congregation with civic and historical events. Even more so when that downtown church serves the nation’s capitol!
On 15 April 2015, First Trinity Lutheran in downtown Washington, D.C. observed the 150th Anniversary of the assassination and death of President Abraham Lincoln, who died just 5 blocks away from First Trinity. The bells at First Trinity tolled for 56 minutes, starting at 7:22 a.m., one minute for each of the 56 years of President Lincoln’s life.
How has your congregation participated in civic or historical events important to the community around you? Email your stories to DowntownChurches@aol.com .
A member of the ELCA, more information about First Trinity Lutheran’s outreach to downtown Washington D.C. can be found at www.firsttrinitydc.org .
CLOSING
In closing, my sisters and brothers in Christ, my wish for each of you is simple: KEEP PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON FOR HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. As you preach Jesus, may He bless you in all ways, enabling you to continue to bless those around you!
Joined with you serving Christ and His people,
The Reverend Christopher Schaar
Editor
Senior Pastor, Historic First Lutheran, Pasadena, CA