News

Orphan Grain Train filled and sent a long-anticipated container to South Sudan with school supplies, furniture, medical equipment, solar lights, and Bibles. A separate container to Sudan, delayed in the Port of Baltimore after the Key Bridge collapse, reached its destination July 10, 2024; OGT also received a $1,500 LWML SELC District grant and added a fourth-Saturday sorting day.

Pastor Mark met with DCE assignment leaders in Irvine, CA and with the congregation's new DCE Intern Tim Buss; Buss and his mother Beth arrived by U-Haul and he was installed at all three weekend services with a catered lunch, welcomed by children holding WELCOME signs.

Open Arms Preschool annually closes its school year with a Field Day, a graduation ceremony for students moving on to kindergarten (caps and gowns, standing-room-only sanctuary of family members), and an end-of-year picnic at Marty Snook Park.

Open Arms' annual Touch-a-Truck event draws hundreds of attendees with dozens of vehicles and a silent auction, raising funds for the preschool: nearly $8,000 (2023, 800+ visitors), over $7,730 (2024, ~500 attendees despite rain), and a record nearly $9,000 (2026, with the youth group raising $550 for a national youth gathering).

Special thanks were given to Tim Davidson for working with the Youth Group for most of the Sundays during Lent.

Near the end of the 2022/23 school year the program reported supporting 25 children at Lincolnshire, with ongoing needs for oatmeal, mac and cheese cups, and snacks.

Concordia celebrated Easter with an Easter Vigil and two traditional services, an Elders-hosted breakfast, and a youth-stuffed-and-hosted Easter Egg Hunt during the breakfast.

Open Arms' flagship spring fundraiser (Touch-a-Truck with silent auction, bake sale, and youth concessions) grew each year: ~800 visitors and ~$8,000 in 2023, ~500 attendees/30 vehicles and ~$7,730 in 2024, ~$7,000 in 2025 (rescheduled to June 14 to avoid a city event), and a best-ever ~$9,000 in 2026 with a 100+ item silent auction.

Open Arms children joined Palm Sunday processions and shared songs learned in weekly chapel with Pastor Mark.

Open Arms closed each school year with a Field Day, a cap-and-gown graduation in a standing-room-only sanctuary, and an end-of-year picnic at Marty Snook Park.

Lutheran Women in Mission announced the complete funding of all LWML Mission Grants for the 2021-2023 biennium through mite offerings.

Over 30 volunteers from Kiwanis, Specialty Granules, and others processed the program's spring food distribution of 2,290 cases (roughly 50,000 pounds, $49,422), serving 45+ sponsor congregations and 1,160+ children weekly across Washington County, funded by HARC grants and sponsor funds.

Restaurant fundraisers raised $485 in 2023 and $847 in 2024.

Proceeds from the LWML 'Everything Chocolate' sale totaled $679.00.

The 2023 Vacation Bible School enrolled 30 children for a week of songs, Bible lessons, and rotating activity stations led by numerous crew leaders, station helpers, and volunteers. Planned by Becky Brown and Cari Lowery.