Author: Church Office

There are signs that things are improving. As I write this article there is a slow trend toward decreasing numbers of new cases of COVID-19 Lancaster County and an increase in numbers of people becoming fully vaccinated.
While encouraging, it is necessary to note that this is just the beginning. We may have come a long way from one year ago, but we still have quite a ways to go before declaring this wilderness journey completed.
So we keep doing what God has called us to do. Which is to love the neighbor by continuing to adhere to the necessary practices (masks & distancing to name two) that we know help keep people safe. We must keep trying to get an appointment for the vaccine. We must not give in to the temptation of becoming lethargic in remembering and using these safe practices.
What a journey to go through during this season. Throughout the remaining weeks of Lent we follow Jesus on his own, unique journey which leads to the cross and the empty tomb. He continues to explain what is going to happen. And we continue to learn what this great, loved filled act of Jesus means for us.
This learning intensifies during Holy Week, which starts on March 28 with the Sunday of the Passion, and reaches its climax on Easter.
God bless your journey during this season. I hope you can avail yourselves of the times for worship on Wednesday evening and Sunday morning (all services are live on our Facebook page). Of course remaining safe and healthy, as God leads us with those
improving signs of God’s grace for this needy world.

Clifton D. Eshbach,
Pastor

Join us for Sunday School on-line at the Holy Spirit web site. Click on the Sunday School tab to view a lesson prepared for children. But really, everyone will enjoy the lesson!

Go to www.holyspiritlutheran.org and click on the Sunday School tab at the top.

The monthly drive-up food drives on a Saturday have proven effective and they will continue in 2021. The time is from 10 a.m. until noon.
The dates are:
April 10
Just drive up to the front door of the church and place your donation onto the cart that will be located on the sidewalk. Simple! Thank you for your continued witness to assist the hungry of this community.

Requested Items:

Canned green beans, canned corn, canned peas, cereal, pancake syrup,
Pancake mix, large grape jelly, canned applesauce, bagged noodles.

After a year away due to the pandemic, we are able to resume our bi-annual clean-up of running Pump Road. If you can help, gather at the church at 7 a.m. on Saturday, April 24. Thank you for providing this ministry to the community.

I am composing this article four days before Barb and I head out on a short time of rest and vacation during the first week of February. We enjoy getting away in the wintertime. It is a welcome time to recharge after the Christmas season and before Lent begins.
I’m sure this has happened to you. The week before going away is very busy. You are working ahead so that when you return things are in place, and the daily schedule can proceed with little interruption.
The past six months have felt like one long interruption as we have had to move, pack up, throw away, and wait, and wait and wait for the fire restoration work to be completed. I’m ready for it to end. And by the looks of things, as we enter February, it will soon end (if only we can same the same about the pandemic). To get to this place, attention to detail has been necessary as well as a healthy measure of patience.
As our buildings and the groups who use them return to their accustomed rooms and schedules, here comes Lent. Some might call it another time of interruption. After all we have been on a spiritual and emotional high celebrating the birth of Christ and learning again of his marvelous ministry of the salvation of humanity.
I view Lent as another opportunity to achieve a spiritual and emotional high. It is achieved through our renewal to Christ. It is achieved by using the disciplines of Lent; prayer, fasting and the call to serve, for the raising up the good news of Jesus.
This year our Wednesday sermon series will focus upon a group of people who followed their call to serve in very different, yet faithful ways. Hearing their stories can be a help to us as we strive to follow the great commandment of Jesus, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
However you participate in our times of worship, prayer, study and service; either live or on-line, through wearing your mask, providing a box of food, a phone call, email or note, know that the risen Christ goes with you to guide as you serve in his name.
Have Lent become your time to recharge and renew. Peace be with you as you journey through this next season of God’s church.

Clifton D. Eshbach,
Pastor