News

Youth lunch sales earned $453 toward the National Youth Gathering in 2028.

The Lutheran Women in Mission's monthly appreciation card honored Ron Golem in March 2026 for installing a light in the Mission Stitchers' dark storeroom.

The Mission Stitchers, who make quilts, pillowcase dresses, and boys' shorts for Orphan Grain Train, have been honored as Mission of the Month, including October 2023 and August 2025. In March 2026 they were again the Mission of the Month in connection with a 'Tie a Knot' quilt-tying event for Orphan Grain Train.

The popular Everything Chocolate sale returned for Valentine's Day weekend 2026 as the year's only fundraiser, joined by the youth who will share proceeds toward the 2028 National Youth Gathering; an intergenerational candy-making work activity was held Feb 6. The sale brought in roughly $580 (bad weather canceled a planned youth/LWM work evening), with proceeds committed to the youth's 2028 NYG trip.

At its February 2026 meeting, the Lutheran Women in Mission voted to send $1,000 to the Fort Wayne and St. Louis seminaries and $400 each to Micah's Backpack, CASA (Women's Shelter), The Hope Center, and the Trinity Lutheran Food Bank. Members recognized Sam Moretz for his behind-the-scenes work.

Eight men, including Pastor Mark, Sam and Evan Moretz, Mark Eberly, Tim Buss, Dave Bouffard, Don Enterline, and Jesse Lowery, attended the SED Disaster Response Training Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC (early Feb 2026), covering LERT/chainsaw training, Stop the Bleed, tarping, and a Hurricane Helene round-table.

Youth lunch sales earned $453 toward the National Youth Gathering in 2028, reported alongside the June 15-19 VBS announcement.

The 2026 Lenten season followed the theme 'Miracles of Lent,' with each service focusing on a specific miracle from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday.

The program reported a fully stocked closet thanks to a large volume of recent donations, with no current needs.

For Easter, students went home with their usual three-day food bag plus an Easter treat bag including a card from their friends at Concordia.

The Children's Christmas program and Family Christmas Extravaganza, led by DCE Tim Buss and volunteers, opened with a Sunday school Christmas program followed by family rotations of crafts, games, and refreshments. Held December 20 (2-4:30 pm) and enjoyed by all who attended.

Concordia introduced Memento, an LCMS year-round men's devotional structure built around the Church Year, with daily devotions and weekly fraternity meeting guides. Kevin Long is the contact.

The Lutheran Women in Mission held a December 2025 luncheon with 9 themed-centerpiece tables, a 'year in review' of 2025 activities, and a drama and dance performance; Pat Fridgen served as MC and president Linda organized the event.

An ingathering of personal-care products at the Advent/Christmas luncheon collected 122 items for Hagerstown Community College's Care Cupboard for students.

Pastor Mark began a new Sunday adult Bible study using the book 'Wonderfully Made' by John Kleinig, following the group's completion of Proverbs.