Lenten Series celebrates our Neighbor’s Faith

Special to Community of Faith
By Pastor Joe Vought
Community Lutheran Church
Sterling, Virginia
http://www.communitylutheran.org

Throughout this recent Lenten Season, we welcomed other Christians to join us for Wednesdays in Lent to share their faith and witness with us. It was an informal and relaxed way to welcome our Christian Neighbors to Community Lutheran and have them share the distinctive gifts and blessings of their tradition. Over five Wednesdays in Lent we were privileged to hear from the following leaders and churches:

Pastor Wayne Snead Galilee United Methodist Church
Father Rob Merola St. Matthew Episcopal Church
Father Art Johnson Christ the Redeemer Roman Catholic Church
Pastor Brian Clark Riverside Presbyterian Church
Thomas Varghese Immanuel Mar Thoma Anglican Church.

We offered this series mindful of the fact that, although we gather as Lutherans in Worship every Lord’s day, whenever we gather to pray for the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, we pray for the One Church in all of its diversity- Christian disciples who are Methodists, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Indian Anglicans and many more who name the name of Jesus. St. Paul reminded the Corinthians, “Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many are one body, so it is with Christ.” (Corinthians 12: 1-2) “There is one body and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one God and Father of all…” (Ephesians 4:4-6). And yet, within this one Body there are many expressions and gifts that give glory to Christ, expressions and gifts which we may learn to appreciate in each other.

Each guest was a blessing and shared gifts which we as Lutherans might do well to emulate ourselves. From Pastor Wayne of Galilee United Methodist we learned of John Wesley’s devotion to Jesus and the “method” of Methodists to live lives of sanctification and growth in grace. From Fr. Rob of St. Matthew’s Episcopal we learned of the Anglican “middle way” between Roman Catholicism and the Reformed Faith that finds expression in a Book of Common Prayer, Sacraments, beauty and reason. From Fr. Art of Christ the Redeemer Atonement we learned of Franciscan spirituality in the Catholic Church that embraces the poverty of Christ and serves Christ in the neighbor in parishes, hospitals and among the poor. From Pastor Brian we appreciated the Presbyterian gifts of God’s Sovereign reign and grace and churchly life that values freedom and democratic worship. And finally from our Immanuel Mar Thoma friends we met an ancient tradition originating with St. Thomas himself that finds expression in Orthodox liturgy, Indian ethnicity, Anglican theology, a Reforming spirit and Ecumenical outlook to share with other Christians.

I want to thank all those who attended for your gracious hospitality and welcome toward our guests, your eagerness to learn more about their faith. I think we made new friends as we shared a simple meal at the tables and then gave our attention to each guest to learn and appreciate another Christian tradition. The simple gifts of hospitality, sharing a meal and giving our attention to others cannot be underestimated, but in my mind are the very essence of Godly welcome and love. It is what Jesus did with his disciples. When we do this with strangers and welcome newcomers, I believe we welcome them as we welcome Christ. Read the Emmaus Road Easter story (Luke 24:13-32) and I don’t think there is any doubt about it.

To welcome other Christians as fellow disciples, to share our faith with them, to be curious about their traditions, to discover what we have in common and what we might learn from one another is to live into the mind of Christ, who called his disciples “to be one, as He and the Father are one, so the world might believe.” (John 17:20-21) When we do this we not only strengthen our own faith but the witness of Christians around the world. But then that is what the Risen Christ of Easter always does as He goes before us to make all things new, promising that He will gather other sheep who do not belong to this fold, so there will be one flock and One Shepherd (John 10:16).

May the risen Christ go before us to make all things new, help us continually to share the gifts of hospitality, our friendship and faith with others so the world might believe!

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Loudoun County, VA:  The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) Eastern Loudoun Station (ELS) will hold its second annual Open-House on Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Residents are encouraged to attend and meet Sheriff Mike Chapman, Station Captain Allen Gabrielli and members of the Eastern Station staff, take a guided tour of the facility, and view Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office displays. Light refreshments will be provided. Last year, 350 residents logged in and attended the Open House.

This year the annual event will include several area high schools participating in the Open House. The Park View High School Band will have a portion of their team playing music throughout the event. Dominion High School will have their Step-Team perform and Potomac Falls, Art Department will have several students on hand for face painting. 

The Virginia State Police H.E.A.T. (Help Eliminate Auto Theft) Program will also be available to provide VIN Etching. VIN etching is the process of placing a light but visible stencil of your vehicle identification number on each piece of glass in your car - windshield, windows and sun roof. This deters vehicle theft, since in order to resell your car with an altered identification number the thief would have to replace all of the glass in the vehicle. For more information about VIN Etching and to view H.E.A.T.’s calendar of events, check out the H.E.A.T. web site at http://www.heatreward.com. 

The ELS is located at 46620 East Frederick Drive in Sterling adjacent to Rolling Ridge Elementary School.

The ELS provides substantial public safety services to the community and reduces travel time to the Sheriff’s Office Headquarters in Leesburg. The ELS also provides for some specialty offices. The LCSO domestic violence coordinator has an office here as does the agency’s interpreter. While both those positions serve cases and deputies countywide, a majority of their work lies in the easternmost areas of the county.

The National Criminal Information Center and the Virginia Criminal Information Network are housed there as well, with computers used to check criminal histories, vehicle registrations and people’s identifications.

Other services provided are fingerprinting, criminal history checks (only within Loudoun County) and good conduct letters. All services are provided from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The station also offers a community room available for public use to local non-profit organizations. To reserve the room, please call 571-258-3356. Please visit the ELS web site http://www.loudoun.gov/index.aspx?NID=593.

The ELS is the agency’s first stand-alone station. The facility is one of four planned stations for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office opened their first county-owned station, the Dulles South Public Safety Center, in 2007 in the South Riding area. The station serves as a combined fire-rescue station and law enforcement station. 
 
A Deputy Sheriff’s Prayer

“Oh, Almighty God, whose great power
and eternal wisdom embraces the universe.
Please watch over all our Deputies.
Protect them in their everyday duties of serving papers,
traffic violations, riots, evictions, domestic violence, and more.
Give them the strength to accomplish
the difficult tasks that lie before them.
Give them the wisdom and quick reactions that will result
in the safety of the people in their community.
God, protect these brave men and women.
Grant them your Almighty protection
and please unite them safely with their families
after their duty has ended.
Amen”

The Station Dedication Celebration Program took place on Wednesday, June 9, 2010. During the Dedication Remarks presentation a number of elected officials had praise for the completion of the new facility and its impact on the community. “We are overwhelmed by the tremendous outpouring of support from the local population attending the dedication ceremony,” they said. “The new station can only assist with our goal in building relationships with the residents of Loudoun to help keep the county a safe place to live and work.” Photo Courtesy LCSO.

“All the people assembled as one man at the square…He (Erza) read from early morning until midday…and all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law” (Nehemiah 8:1-3).

Loudoun Awakening 2012 Celebrates Fifth Annual Bible Reading Marathon

A mighty, spirit-filled and anointed week in Loudoun County

The 2012 Bible Reading Marathon (BRM) Judeo-Christian opening worship program commenced Saturday April 28 at noon on the steps of the old Leesburg Courthouse. About sixty people attended the opening ceremony in unseasonably chilly weather with light rain in the forecast. The program then moved over to the Loudoun Awakening tent positioned on North King Street on the patio adjacent to the law library to begin a public reading of the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

The Honorable Kristen C. Umstattd Mayor, Town of Leesburg set the stage for a mighty, spirit-filled and anointed week in Loudoun County. Mayor Umstattd kicked-off the six day and five night event with a reading from Genesis 1. Later in an email to the BRM organizer’s, Umstattd wrote, “Helping to read the Word of God is a blessing to all of us who are able to participate. On a personal level, two small miracles have always accompanied this event every year: whatever passage I’ve been given to read has had a surprisingly deep personal meaning for me at that particular time, as if the Lord had selected the passage for the reader and the reader for the passage; and, to my continuing surprise, even when the Biblical print is smaller than any I could normally read with ease, it has always been completely legible as I have read it. I have experienced these two small miracles each and every year during the Bible Reading Marathon, but, even so, they continue to amaze me. When we think about all the sacrifices that Jesus made for us, it is such a small thing to publicly acknowledge and honor Him. I hope we are making Him feel at home in our town as we read His Father’s Word.”

The one hour opening ceremony facilitated by Patricia Phillips, included a Presentation of the Flag by Boy Scout Troop 1550, the National Anthem by Passionate Patriots, Invocation by Rev. Jack Grubbs, Potomac Falls Anglican Church, Opening Remarks from Bishop Treadwell, The Living Word of Jesus Christ (Leesburg) and Ken Reid, Leesburg District County Supervisor, provided the ‘Hebrew Blessing’ and explained to the audience the purpose and history of the ‘blessing’.

The first two hours of the Bible Reading included elected officials, Randy Minchew, Delegate 10th House District, Tom Reed, Loudoun County School Board, Bob Wertz, Commissioner of the Revenue, Jill Turgeon, Loudoun County School Board, Eugene Delgaudio, Sterling Supervisor and Dave Ramadan, Delegate 87th House District.

The BRM organizer’s are seeking people to participate by signing up in advance to read. Ideally, we would like for each church, synagogue, civic organization, Bible study group, choir, prayer group and youth group to fill an hour block of time by providing four or more readers (15 minutes each). For more information or to sign up to read, visit http://www.loudounawakening.org.

Bible Reading Marathon Schedule:
Saturday, April 28th - Opening Ceremony 12 - 2p.m. - sign up 2 p.m. - 12 a.m.
Sunday, April 29th - 6 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Monday, April 30th - 6 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Tuesday, May 1st - 6 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Wednesday, May 2nd - 6 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Thursday, May 3rd - 6 a.m. - 12 p.m. (noon)