OSLC Response to Hurricane Ian
Ian struck Florida (Naples) as a Cat 4 storm and traveled through SC, NC, VA, and MD Damage assessments are being made by the LCMS Synod Disaster Response office and the District Disaster Response Coordinators of the Florida-Georgia District and the Southeastern District. Not enough information is available to start sending material items. Nor is sufficient information available to begin deploying LERT volunteers. DO NOT SELF-DEPLOY! The best way to help at this time is to donate financial resources: lFL-GA…
The Old Rugged Cross
I have no words to express the thoughts going through my head. I am heartbroken for the families, the friends, the relatives, and the neighbors. What do you say when there are two devastatingly horrific acts of violence in one seven-day period. Over 30 lives lost. Over 30 lives that could have impacted thousands, if not millions of people, ended. This level of evil, this depravity, and wanton disregard for life disgust me. While I sit and ponder how someone…
Hurricane Ida Damage Assessment and Response
Ida was a deadly and destructive Category 4 hurricane that became the second-most damaging and intense hurricane to strike the U.S. state of Louisiana on record, behind Hurricane Katrina. On August 29, the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Ida made landfall near Port Fourchon, Louisiana and its effects were felt all along her track until she exited over the North Eastern U.S. Most of the damage is in Louisiana. The Southern District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) is leading…
Covid Update
Masks are Required… Again. From Pastor Peter on 2021-08-06 Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, When I went to Sam’s Club this past Monday and was told that I needed to wear a mask even though I have been vaccinated, I knew this was coming. I just didn’t know when. Due to the new CDC guidance regarding the Delta variant, Laurel City has posted notice requiring masks in public venues starting tonight. Prince Georges County is requiring people in public venues…
Calling All Garden Helpers
Calling all garden lovers: If you love the look of our new front garden, might you be willing to donate a few hours each month to help with its upkeep? Until our new plants grow to cover more of the open garden areas, weeds are going to show up in those areas. Several helpers have been working to try to keep the front garden weed-free since it was completed, but they could use more help. This is not a task…
COVID Update from the Pastor
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, We’re almost there. We’re not quite there yet. Governor Hogan has lifted restrictions for many businesses to operate normally without restrictions, for which we are all thankful to God. However, as we look at the executive orders given by Angela Alsobrooks, our Prince Georges County Executive, there are some details we still need to be mindful of. 1. Social distancing is still required. 2. Masks are still required. Social distancing is what has caused…
Missions Update: Haiti – Village of Hope
Those who were interested and able to make it to a zoom meeting on 5/11, met to discuss the current our status of Village of Hope in Haiti. Due to many issues we have been unable to partake in a mission trip to VOH in Haiti, so in this meeting we talked about what is currently going on in Haiti, what we can do now to serve, and what our plans are for the next mission trip – most likely…
Large Volunteer Need for Community Vaccination Center at the Greenbelt Metro Station
The South Eastern District has reached out to Our Savior Lutheran Church looking for volunteers to be support staff at the Greenbelt Vaccination Center. Please read below to find more information on how to help and how to sign-up to volunteer! “FEMA has tasked Maryland VOAD and its Member Organizations to recruit and manage the volunteers. We need 30 volunteers per day (divided between two shifts), 7 days per week, for 8 weeks. The site opens formally today, Wednesday, April…
April Sounds
Here is your April Sounds! Do you believe in miracles? Most of us might answer, “why yes, anything is possible if it is God’s will!” Others might be more skeptical, especially in today’s world, when everything seems to be skewed, or distorted in some way. And yet today, on this Easter morning, we set down our glasses stained by disbelief and skepticism, and we just sit in awe of the miracle of the resurrection. No, we REJOICE in awe! We fully rest…
March Sounds
Here is your March Sounds! It’s March and can you believe it? We are now a year into this pandemic, and I am sure you don’t need the reminder, but it was just the “other day” I came here to be interviewed… meaning last March. No way did we think this would last a year; masks and social distancing, and surely our plans would resume to “normal” quickly. Well, once again, we are reminded we are not in control, and here…