From the President

I've been hearing a lot of comments such as, "Well, 2022 can't be any worse than 2021!" or "We deserve a break after the last two years!" Well, I'm with them. However, as I complete the catastrophes of 2021, I am inclined to remark on some achievements that might have gone unnoticed. Between COVID's deadly path of destruction, losses of loved ones and heroes, isolationi...

Friends in Christ, Here it is December again! The years seem to be flying by faster the older I get. Just when I finally got used to following school buses again, Christmas music is being played in every store, shop, and restaurant I enter. We used to get the Christmas rush right after Thanksgiving, but now it's Halloween that triggers the department store and municipal a...

With the Homecoming celebration behind us, and the education year kicked off, the Huddles and Small Missional Communities that sometimes take a hiatus over the summer are starting up again! St. John's members join these small groups to continue our Christian education as well as enjoy fellowship with other folks within St. Johns. There's no real structure to the huddles ex...

I hope many of you made it out to the campus for National Night Out. What fun! I was coming from National Harbor and thought I better change my clothes (which I did) and got there in the nick of time (meaning the food trucks were set up). I didn't' realize we were going to have the bouncy tent, (which I still resent because where were THOSE when I has little?!). Besides b...

As my first blog as congregational president, I thought I'd introduce myself. I'm originally from Melbourne Beach, FL, but moved to Maryland in my early teens. I was confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Glen Burnie, MD, married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington Park, MD, and joined SJLC in 2014. Since joining SJLC, I have served on hospitality teams, welcoming/...

There are A LOT of unique experiences fostered by these pandemic times we live in. How's that for an understatement? Just think about all the hands involved in our recent outdoor Easter service. So many things had to be thought through (did you know we had to have a Fire Marshall inspection of our tent?) to make it come together as flawlessly and joyfully as it did. As I ...

We are approaching a New Years Eve of sorts one year since COVID-19 forced us to suspend in-person services, church activities, and just about everything fun and enjoyable. As vaccine deployments ramp up and more and more of our community are getting the opportunity to be protected, we can see a growing light of hope ahead. Whew! It's tempting to think "Let's put last yea...

How many of my blogs have started with "Who would have thought that we are still here" but yet here we are, still. Trying to figure out how to stay connected and take care of each other. News of vaccinations is a ray of hope, especially for me personally, knowing that the older members of my extended family are getting their vaccinations. But it is still hard to picture w...

Sure is a crummy holiday season. It is isn't it? Blech. This is an actual text exchange with my Mom. My brother and I (mostly my brother, because he is thoughtful and responsible) just had a talk with my Mom about not coming to visit for Christmas. "This is a hard pill to swallow," she said. I can't disagree. I grew up in a military family then made my own military family...

Gosh, here we are, 8 months (8!!!) since we stopped in person meetings at St. Johns. And the reported increases in infection rates makes it seem like we are getting further from "normal" instead of closer. Thanksgiving is full of time with family and friends and oodles of good food, but for many now, probably not. Gah! Is there anything we can possibly be thankful about? ...