News

Charlotte Brown, Thomas Davidson, Katy Hector, and Nethanel Lowery were confirmed during the 11:00 service on Reformation Sunday, October 27, 2024 — a milestone for the students and their families.

Sara Hilmer, Susan Pekari, Sylvia Shives, Nancy Flicek and Linda Schnaser attended the Chesapeake District LWML Convention (Sept 20-22) at the Hyatt Regency-Dulles in Herndon, VA, where about 130 people voted on nine mission grants toward a $110,000 goal (including Orphan Grain Train projects and Lutherans for Life). Sara carried the Potomac Zone banner, past president Sylvia lit the convention candle, and Sara won the Maryland Basket raffle.

Concordia's Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) chainsaw team made repeated disaster-response deployments to North Carolina, including a week at Camp Linn Haven in Linville/Hendersonville in August 2025 (with Pastor Mark shadowing trainers to become the SED Northern Region chainsaw trainer) and another NC trip in October 2025 (Pastor Mark, Evan, Mark Bell, Mark Eberly). Earlier, Pastor Mark and son Evan represented the team in Asheville after Hurricane Helene flooding (Oct 2024).

They represented Concordia's team in Asheville, NC after the hurricane, handing out water, food, and necessities and serving hot meals.

At its September 2024 meeting the women's group approved updated bylaws including a name change to Concordia Lutheran Women in Mission, reflecting the national LWML name change; the outdated bylaws had been revised for discussion and approval, with officer elections set for November.

Concordia hosted a Basic LCMS Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) training class on Saturday, August 17, 2024 (9am–2pm), introducing participants ages 14–90 to disaster response and providing a manual, ID badge, and T-shirt.

The youth held a Variety/Talent Show with an ice cream social on Friday, August 16, 2024, open to all ages, as a National Youth Gathering fundraiser. The fun evening of shared talents drew a strong turnout and raised $415.

Concordia hosted a Basic LCMS Lutheran Early Response Team training (Aug 17, 2024) for participants ages 14–90.

After serving as Concordia's DCE Intern, Tim Buss was called by congregational vote and installed/commissioned as full-time Director of Christian Education during the July 7 (11:00) service, featuring the Laying on of Hands, a surprise song from his mother and sister, and a catered lunch.

Tim Buss attended his Mid-Year Reflection Conference at Concordia University Irvine, the National Director of Christian Education conference in Houston, and the National Lutheran Youth Workers Conference in New Orleans, previewing the 2025 LCMS Youth Gathering and its ENDURE theme.

Diane Braun, Nancy Flicek, Sara Hilmer, and Marge Ziegler filled two vehicles delivering Mission Stitchers items to the Orphan Grain Train warehouse in Millersville, MD: 60 quilts, 316 pillowcase dresses, 41 boys' shorts, 23 baby blankets, 23 market cloths, and 668 pairs of underwear. The June 11 trip followed a June 8-9 sanctuary blessing of the items.

A new 'Pie in the Face' fundraiser let people pay to throw whipped cream pies at Mr. Tim, Pastor Mark, Wendy Radek, and Tim Davidson after the June 8-9 services, raising $465.00 for the youth trip.

The program sends its last weekend food bags as the school year ends, then pauses donation requests until late summer/September. Coordinators thanked included Brenda Horsch and Paul Zuelsdorf (storage and deliveries; Brenda also on the HARC Steering Committee). Final-bag dates: May 31, 2024 and the week of May 30, 2025.

Following the April 2024 Zone Rally, LWML collected 239 pairs of underwear and $195 for shipping to Orphan Grain Train.

A special April 20 packing prepared 32 bags for WCPS students in transitional housing (homeless), distributed by a WCPS staff member as part of a church rotation serving school personnel. WCPS reported 710 students qualify as homeless and 92 are in foster care; Concordia provides 32 food bags monthly. Eight volunteers packed PPW bags valued at $20-30 each, with HARC grants funding about half and donations the rest.