March 2013 - St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Kingsville, MD

March 2013
Rev. Dr. Michael Wollman
Pastor
Rev. Ferdinand Noske
Pastor Emeritus
Kenneth Waibel
Interim Principal
Michael Hartley
Dir. of Christian Education
Doug Hentz
President of Congregation
Keith Munski
Chairman, Board of Elders
Theresa Kissinger
Church Secretary
Laura Ramey
School Secretary
Catherine Myers
Newsletter Editor
Sunday School 2
Did You Know? 4
Color Me Liturgical 6 5
Holy Baptism 3 8
God’s Mercy 10
The Slap 11
Les Misérables 13
Bdays & Anniversaries 14
Principal’s Notes 16
Calendar 19
The Beacon on the Hill
A Newsletter of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School, Kingsville, MD
Dear Friends in Christ,
Whose church is it anyway?
Sometimes I hear people say that if we don’t do this or that, we will
not make it as a congregation. I really appreciate those people and
their concern for the church that we share as a fellowship. I find
myself praying for their peace and for guidance from the Holy Spirit
as I seek to encourage them in the Lord. The decline in attendance
by God’s people here at St. Paul’s creates a genuine loss and with that loss comes fear and
doubt as to our future. So when someone comes to me with genuine concern for the future of
St. Paul’s, the first thing I do is thank God for their love for this fellowship and their desire to
see it continue under God’s blessing. I encourage them to keep praying for God’s blessing
and to be as positive as they are able to others in our fellowship as we seek God’s will for us.
Bad news travels fast. Good news takes a bit longer, even in the church because the devil is
straining to muzzle it.
The second thing I do is enlist them to show their love by inviting someone that they haven’t
seen in a while to return to meeting again with our family in worship. One of the most important
things a person can do to encourage attendance is to show someone that you care
about their presence by calling them or visiting them in person. We all need to do more of
this to show our love for each other.
A third thing I do is to encourage that person to always speak positively about the church. If
they hear a concern from someone, invite that person to pray with them about it. The prayer
of a righteous person has great power in its effects (James 5:16). The battle we are always
fighting is a spiritual one and it takes spiritual weapons to win it (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Finally, I try to encourage that Christian brother or sister by reminding them that the church
belongs to God and He will not let it fail! The tools to growth in the church are God’s holy
Word and His sacraments. The Holy Spirit alone is responsible for calling, gathering enlightening
and sanctifying the church on earth (Explanation of the Third Article of the Apostles
Creed). We grow only as the Holy Spirit works through God’s means. We can take credit for
nothing which belongs to God. We must remember that sometimes the Holy Spirit prunes the
church by allowing us to suffer a while but always for the purpose of making us stronger in
the faith.
(continued on page 4)
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church seeks to strengthen Christians
and to bring others to Christ: to present Jesus
Christ intentionally and truthfully through the verbal
and life witness of individual members, congregational
worship, education, service, and fellowship.

The Apostles’ Creed is one of
the Church’s most precious
possessions. We confess it regularly
in our worship services,
we use it every time there’s a
baptism, and we base much of
our catechetical instruction of
both young and old on it.
Luther said that the Creed “sets forth to us everything that we
must expect and receive from God, and… teaches us to know
Him fully.” Would you like to mine the treasures of this
profound and marvelous confession? If so, join Mark Myers as
he leads a Bible study called Life Everlasting: A Study of the
Apostles’ Creed. The group meets every Sunday morning in
between services in Middle School room A. Study guides are
available while supplies last, or visit stpaulskingsville.org/
biblestudies.htm to download a copy.
Everyone from ages two to eighteen—join us for Sunday
School! We meet at 9:45a.m. in the chapel. From there you
will go to your individual classrooms or the Parish Hall for the
lesson, activity, and a craft. Our preschool class is growing! If
you are interested in helping with this class, please contact me
or the church office.
We will continue with the new Cross Explorations curriculum
for grades 1-6 for the spring quarter. Please look for a survey
to come home so we can get you and your child’s feedback on
the new curriculum. We welcome your input. Our lessons focus
on the life of Christ and His miracles and ministry as we
lead up to Easter. We will continue to look at Jesus’ teachings
during the Easter season.
Our Easter egg hunt is Palm Sunday, March 24, rain or shine.
Come learn about our Savior’s resurrection. There will no
Sunday school classes on Easter Sunday, March 31.
Ellen Marquardt
Sunday School Superintendent
The next Women’s Bible Study is
on Sunday, March 3 at 6:30 p.m.
in Middle School room B. They
will continue Beth Moore’s The
Patriarchs, a 10-lesson series on
great men of God. Contact Cindy
Wollman or Ellen Marquardt. for
more information.
NOTE: The men’s Bible study group will NOT meet in
March. The group will start their studies again after
Easter—watch for more information in future Sunday
bulletins and The Beacon.
Coming Soon! A new exciting DVD-based experience
for all men—Conquer Series: The Battle Plan for Purity.
The Conquer Series is a 5-week small group study
for men which lays out practical battle strategies, based
on Scripture, for how men can prevail against hell’s
master plan. The men meet Saturday mornings from
8:30 to 9:30. Contact Harvey Blessing if you have any
questions or for more information.
Our next Women’s Retreat is scheduled for Friday and
Saturday, April 19-20, at Lancaster Host Resort and
Conference Center, 2300 Lincoln Highway East (Route
30). The event will begin on Friday evening (check-in at
6 p.m.) and will end Saturday afternoon. We had a great
trip last year. Please contact Ellen Marquardt, Cindy
Wollman or the church office for more information.
Page 2 The Beacon on the Hill

Our next Voters’ meeting will be on Sunday,
March 10 at 9:45 a.m., between services. Please
plan to attend.
Calendar Calculations
So many important liturgical dates
depend on when Easter occurs. Since
Easter falls on a different Sunday every
year, you need to perform a few
calculations to get the dates of other
important church festivals. We’ve made it easy
and crunched the numbers for you!
March 2013
Palm Sunday – March 24
Maundy Thursday – March 28
Good Friday – March 29
Easter – March 31
Ascension Day – May 9
Pentecost – May 19
Trinity Sunday – May 26
Midweek Lent 3, March 6
Theme: “Grieving for Joseph” (Amos 6:6)
Midweek Lent 4, March 13
Theme: “Locust Here, Locusts There,
Locusts Seem to Be Everywhere” (Amos 7:1-6)
Midweek Lent 5, March 20
Theme: “Lion Alert!” (Amos 7:10-17)
Daylight Saving Time begins on
Sunday, March 10 at 2 a.m.
Remember to set all your clocks
forward one hour before you go to
bed on Saturday. Get to bed early;
you’re going to lose an hour of sleep
and you don’t want to be late for
church. We’ll get that hour back in
November!
In the one-year lectionary, the Sundays of
Lent are named after the Latin
Introits for those Sundays.
The 6th Sunday is called Palmarum or Palm
Sunday in English.
1st Sunday in Lent: Invocabit. “When he calls to me, I will
answer him…”
2nd Sunday in Lent: Reminiscere. “Remember, Your mercy,
O LORD…”
3rd Sunday in Lent: Oculi. “My eyes are ever toward the
LORD…”
4th Sunday in Lent; Laetare. “Rejoice with Jerusalem…”
5th Sunday in Lent: Judica. “Vindicate me, O God…”
The title of this year’s midweek Lenten Vespers series is Restore the Roar. The themes and
sermon texts for this series come from key parts of the Old Testament book of Amos.
Various church committees and school organizations will serve fellowship dinners before each
Wednesday service (except Ash Wednesday). The dinners start at 5:45 p.m. in the Parish Hall.
All are invited to share in these meals before Vespers at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary.
DATE TIME HOST / DINNER THEME
Wed., March 6 5:45 - 6:45 p.m. Choir / Barbeque Dinner
Wed., March 13 5:45 - 6:45 p.m. Evangelism / Soup and Salad
Wed., March 20 5:45 - 6:45 p.m. Faculty and Staff / Chili
We would appreciate a freewill offering to support our ministries.
Page 3

Palm Sunday / Sunday of the Passion, March 24
8:30 a.m. - Early Service (with Holy Communion)
11 a.m. - Late Service (Confirmation Service)
NOTE: The late service will be centered on the Rite of Confirmation for those youth of our
congregation who have completed their two years of catechetical instruction. The confirmands'
first communion will take place at our Maundy Thursday service on March 28.
Maundy Thursday, March 28
7 p.m. - Service of Holy Communion
followed by the stripping of the altar
Theme: “The Taste Test” (Amos 8:11-14)
Good Friday, March 29
7 p.m. - Tenebrae Vespers (Service of Darkness)
Theme: “Buried!” (Amos 9:1-6)
Easter, March 31
6:30 a.m. - Easter Vigil / Sunrise Service (with Holy Communion)
Theme: “Exodus for All” (Amos 9:7)
8:30 a.m. - Early Service (Non-communion)
11 a.m. - Late Service (Non-communion)
Theme: “Come to the Feast” (Amos 9:11-15)
Lent is the forty-day liturgical season that occurs between Ash
Wednesday and Easter. The duration of the season of Lent is
based on the ancient church custom of requiring catechumens to
undergo a forty-day period of doctrinal instruction and fasting
before being baptized on the evening before Easter. This probationary
period was called the quarantine (from the Latin word
for forty).
The number forty occurs frequently in both testaments of the
Bible. It signifies the time that is required for discipline, testing,
and separation prior to achieving a goal or new beginning. For
example, we read in the Old Testament that it rained forty days
and nights during the Great Flood (Genesis 7:12), Moses communed
with God on Mount Sinai for forty days before receiving
the Ten Commandments (Exodus 24:18), the people of Israel
were forced to wander in the wilderness for forty years (Numbers
14:33-34), Elijah journeyed for forty days before he reached
Mount Horeb and had a vision of God (1 Kings 19:8-9), and the
inhabitants of Nineveh fasted and repented for forty days in response
to the preaching of Jonah (Jonah 3:4-5). The outstanding
instances of the number forty in the New Testament are the account
of Christ’s ordeal in the desert fasting, praying, and being
tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; and Luke
4:1-13) and His various appearances to the apostles and others
between His resurrection and ascension during which He
strengthened their faith and prepared them for the coming of the
Holy Spirit (Acts 1:3).
From the Pastor (continued)
(continued from page 1)
God works when and where He wills. Our call is to
remain faithful and continue to spiritually feed faithfully
upon His Word and sacraments for our salvation
and the health of His church.
May Jesus grant us a rich partnership of love and
devotion to each other and release us from fear for if
God is for us who can be against us (Romans 8:31)?
In Christ,
Pastor Wollman
Page 4 The Beacon on the Hill

Color Me Liturgical – Part 6
We are now at part 6 of the series entitled “Color Me Liturgical.” The author of this interesting
series of articles is Rev. Boettcher, organist and cantor of Emmanuel Lutheran Church (LCMS) in
Adell, WI.
We use the color BLACK only two days a year—on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, and
Good Friday, the commemoration of our Lord’s death. These two days of the church year have one
major theme in common: SIN. As we begin to walk with our Lord on His path to the cross on Ash
Wednesday, we are somberly reminded of the great load of sin that led our Lord to the cross. And
of course, our Lord died on that old rugged cross on Good Friday…
Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out
with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Darkness. Isaiah chapter 60 proclaims to the people, “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the
people.” That darkness is sin. Sin separates man from God. Sin prohibits us from standing before the God of the universe. This
is the sin that separated Jesus from His Father while he was hanging on the cross dying to take our sin away from us. And that
is why the earth was dark for that period of time when Jesus was struggling with Satan, and winning the battle against him.
The liturgical color black represents the pinnacle of contrasts in the Bible. It is seen in contrast to WHITE, the color of purity,
the color of holiness, the color of life, the color of rejoicing, of triumph, of victory. On the other hand, BLACK is the color of
sin, the color of impurity, the color of death, the color of sadness, mourning, and defeat. Hence its use on Ash Wednesday and
Good Friday.
[W]hen you see people at the funeral home or the church for a funeral, you see a whole lot of black being worn. People are
mourning the loss of their… their loved one. But did you ever notice that the church does not use black paraments for a
funeral…? Why, you may ask, is this the way things are done?
Simple. Let’s go back to our passage from Isaiah: “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the
people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.” Because of sin in this world, people will wear
black at your funeral. You are not perfect. You will die a sinner. But the Lord will arise over you and His glory will be seen
upon you. Your Savior, Jesus Christ, died on the cross and rose from the dead, and it is with His glory—His death and resurrection—that
He, by means of the Holy Spirit and His means of grace, can and will shower you with [forgiveness,] life, and
salvation... We don’t use black paraments for a funeral; rather, we use the appointed color of the day according to the church
calendar to remind us that we are under the grace of God who has brought us light and life through the actions of the Holy
Spirit through the Gospel…
Let us remember… that we hear [God’s] Word, study His Word, memorize Luther’s Small Catechism, and partake of His
blessed sacraments as a constant reminder that we were once in the darkness of unbelief but have now been raised into the
glorious life of a Christian, always ready to meet the day when He comes to return us home to be with Him in heaven. To God
be the glory!
Source: emmanueladell.org/kantorskorner/?p=149
March 2013
Thank you to everyone who came to the Pancake Supper! We appreciate your continued support
for the Evangelism Committee and our projects.
The Evangelism Committee will sponsor the soup and salad Lenten dinner at 5:45 p.m. on
Wednesday, March 13, followed by the Lenten service at 7 p.m. We hope to see you there!
Page 5
Submitted by Miriam Chalk
Evangelism Committee

Feasts and Festivals
March 25
The Annunciation of Our Lord
The angel Gabriel appears to Mary and announces that God has shown her favor and will
use her as the means for the Messiah’s birth. So Mary conceives Jesus when the angel
says: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow
you” (Luke 1:35). This same Spirit who hovered over the waters and brought forth
creation (Genesis 1:2) will now “hover over” the waters of Mary’s womb to conceive the
creation’s Redeemer. As the Holy Spirit comes upon Mary, she conceives Jesus “through
her ear” (as Martin Luther says). The one who is conceived is called Holy, the Son of God.
This is the moment of the incarnation of our Lord. The date of the Annunciation falls on
March 25, because the Ancient Church believed the crucifixion occurred on that date. In
antiquity, people linked the day of a person’s conception with the day of his or her death.
Thus, in the Annunciation, the Church joined together both the incarnation of Jesus and
the atonement He accomplished.
Source: Treasury of Daily Prayer, p. 1287
Why did Jesus have to suffer and die on the cross? Why didn’t God save us in some other
way? Our Faith Reflection column turns to the pen of St. Athanasius the Great, the prolific
and influential fourth century bishop of Alexandria, for the answer.
But if any honest Christian wants to know why the Lord suffered death on the cross and
not in some other way, we answer thus: in no other way was it expedient for us, indeed the
Lord offered for our sakes the one death that was supremely good. He had come to bear
the curse that lay on us; and how could He “become a curse” [Galatians 3:13] otherwise
than by accepting the accursed death? And that death is the cross, for it is written “Cursed
is every one that hangs on a tree” [Deuteronomy 21:23, Galatians 3:13]. Again, the death
of the Lord is the ransom of all, and by it “the middle wall of partition” [Ephesians 2:14] is
broken down and the call of the Gentiles comes about. How could He have called us if He
had not been crucified, for it is only on the cross that a man dies with arms outstretched?
Here, again, we see the fitness of His death and of those outstretched arms: it was that He
might draw His ancient people with the one and the Gentiles with the other, and join both
together in Himself. Even so, He foretold the manner of His redeeming death, “I, if I be
lifted up, will draw all men unto Myself” [John 7:32].
Source: The above is a portion of chapter four of Athanasius’ treatise entitled On the Incarnation
of the Word of God. Quoted in Treasury of Daily Prayer, pp. 176-177.
St. Paul’s recently inducted the
following new members to our
congregation through Adult Instruction
Classes (AIC) and transfers. Welcome!
Seth and Heather Cowand
Katie Kissinger
Michael McFarland
R.J. McNew
Brianne Packham
Ronnie Raymond
Connie Ward
Amy Wonder
Page 6 The Beacon on the Hill

March 3
Third Sunday in Lent (Oculi)
Exodus 8:16-24 or Jeremiah 26:1-15
Ephesians 5:1-9
Luke 11:14-28
March 10
Fourth Sunday in Lent (Laetare)
Exodus 16:2-21 or Isaiah 49:8-13
Galatians 4:21-31 or Acts 2:41-47
John 6:1-15
March 17
Fifth Sunday in Lent (Judica)
Genesis 22:1-14
Hebrews 9:11-15
John 8:(42-45) 46-59
March 24
Palm Sunday / Sunday of the Passion (Palmarum)
Matthew 21:1-9 or John 12:12-19
Zechariah 9:9-12
Philippians 2:5-11
Matthew 26:1-27:66 or Matthew 27:11-54
March 28
Holy (Maundy) Thursday
Exodus 12:1-14 or Exodus 24:3-11
1 Corinthians 11:23-32
John 13:1-15 (34-35)
March 2013
Are you interested in doing odd jobs
or helping around the church and
school campus? If so, please contact
Martin Lotz, Property Committee
chairman. Email your information to
him at martin@deerfieldelectric.com.
Please include your name, address,
contact information, skills, and a
desired hourly wage.
March 29
Good Friday
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
2 Corinthians 5:14-21
John 18:1-19:42
March 31
Easter (Sunrise)
Isaiah 25:6-9 or Exodus 14:10-15:1
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 or 1 Corinthians 15:12-25
John 20:1-18
March 31
Easter (Day)
Job 19:23-27
1 Corinthians 5:6-8 or 1 Corinthians 15:51-57
Mark 16:1-8
March 31
Easter (Evening)
Exodus 15:1-18
Acts 10:34-43
Luke 24:13-35
Remember Our Shut-Ins
Don’t forget our shut-ins and those
recovering from illness. They would
appreciate hearing from you via mail, a
personal visit, or a phone call. Pastor
Wollman, Mr. Osbourn, and the Stephen
ministers visit our homebound members
and friends every month—these are the
only visits some receive. Please call the
church office for contact information.
Page 7

Holy Baptism – Part 3
In part 3 of our monthly series on Holy Baptism, Rev. Daniel Preus concludes
his defense of infant baptism.
St. Peter seems to have anticiapted that one day people would deny Baptism to
young children. In the Book of Acts, which records the events of Pentecost, we
are told that many who heard Peter’s sermon that day were shocked by his
description of their sinful condition. They asked, “Brothers, what shall we
do?” (Acts 2:37). Peter answered: “Repent and be bapitzed every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord
our God calls to himself” (Acts 2:37-39). Not only did Peter indicate that “every one of you” should be baptized, but, in case
they should misunderstand, he stated that the “promise is for you and for your children.”
In Acts 16, we are told about the baptism of Lydia and her household. There is no indication that children were excluded. In
the same chapter, we read that Paul and Silas baptized the jailer at Philippi “and all his family” (Acts 16:33). Again, there is
no indication that children or infants were exculded. In fact, there is no indication anywhere in the New Testament that babies
or children are not to be baptized and that the blessings of this precious Sacrament are not meant for them.
Source: Daniel Preus, Why I Am a Lutheran, pp. 111-112.
Holy Week
The week before Easter is called Holy Week and culminates
the preparation time of Lent. This week begins on Palm
Sunday and ends with Holy Saturday. During these days, we
focus on the events of Jesus’ life from His entrance into
Jerusalem until His glorious resurrection from the dead. Palm
Sunday, the first day of Holy Week, commemorates the
triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:9).
Because the complete account of the Lord’s Passion from
Matthew, Mark, or Luke is often read, this Sunday is also
called the Sunday of the Passion.
On Holy Thursday (also known as Maundy Thursday), the
Church gives thanks to Jesus for the institution of the Lord’s
Supper. The Holy Thursday service closes with the stripping
of the altar while Psalm 22—a prophecy of the crucifixion—is
read or sung. This reminds us of how our Lord stripped to the
waist to wash His disciples’ feet—and how He was stripped
and beaten before His crucifixion.
Good Friday is the most solemn of all days in the Christian
Church, yet a note of joy remains, as the title of the day
indicates. On Good Friday, we remember that on account of
our sin the Lord was crucified and died, we give joyful thanks
to God that all sin and God’s wrath over sin falls on Jesus and
not us, and that by His grace we receive the benefit of this
most sacrificial act.
Source: Treasury of Daily Prayer, pp. 10-11.
Lectionary Summary
Holy (Maundy) Thursday
March 28, 2013
Exodus 12:1-14 or Exodus 24:3-11
1 Corinthians 11:23-32
John 13:1-15 (34-35)
Let Us Love One Another, as Christ Jesus Has Loved Us
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you
proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26).
By eating His body and drinking His blood, we proclaim to
all the world that Jesus is, indeed, our Passover Lamb (Ex.
12:1-14), who was sacrificed for us on Calvary. In Christ,
the Lord remembers us in mercy and remembers our sin no
more; He forgives us all our iniquity. With such love, he
“loved His own who were in the world,” and even loves us
“to the end” (John 13:1). As He washes us and feeds us in
love, let us love one another, just as He has loved us (John
13:34).
Page 8 The Beacon on the Hill

The Death of God by Rev. Harold Senkbeil
March 2013
This is the true offense of the cross—that God died for the sins of the world. True, there is
life in the cross for us all, but that life begins with the death of Jesus. And Jesus is God. All
the fullness of God was confined within His flesh. When Jesus died, God died. It’s as simple
as that and as profoundly mind-boggling as that. All complex theological argument and
intellectual debate recede in the face of the cross. You don’t argue your way to this truth.
You don’t arrive at this conclusion by rational debate. Human wisdom will always consider
this message foolishness and weakness. But the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s
wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength (1 Corinthians 1:25).
And so this foolish, weak cross of Jesus is the heart and center of the Christian faith. All
other reality flows from it. In this dying world we have no other hope beside the cross of
Christ and its message—the death of God for the life of the world.
Source: The above is taken from page 49 of Rev. Senkbeil’s book, Dying to Live: The Power
of Forgiveness. Rev. Senkbeil is an LCMS pastor with many years of parish experience. He
was an associate professor at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN from 2002-
2008. Since 2008, Rev. Senkbeil has served as Executive Director of DOXOLOGY, an
organization that offers a program of advanced study retreats to strengthen pastors for the
task of faithfully shepherding the souls entrusted to their care.
DEBT REDUCTION FUND
In loving memory of her aunt, ERMA R. GREEN on her birthday (Jan. 28) by Barb,
Dennis, Jonathan and Nicholas Kurgansky.
In loving memory of her aunt, MILDRED B. NOLAN on her birthday (Feb. 5) by
Barb, Dennis, Jonathan and Nicholas Kurgansky.
SENIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP FUND
In loving memory of his father, IGOR KURGANSKY by Barb, Dennis, Jonathan
and Nicholas Kurgansky.
In loving memory of EDWIN “BUD” HUSON on his birthday (Jan 26) by Barb,
Dennis, Jonathan and Nicholas Kurgansky.
In loving memory of ALLY BEAULIEU by Barb, Dennis, Jonathan and Nicholas
Kurgansky.
In loving memory of EDWIN “BUD” HUSON on the anniversary of his death
(March 14) with love from his family, Eleanor, Steve, Andrea, Matthew and
Jonathan.
Page 9

God’s Mercy Delivered to Us in the Sacrament of the Altar
During this Lenten season we have heard our Lord’s call to intensify our struggle against
sin, death, and the devil—all that prevents us from trusting in God and loving each other.
Since it is our intention to receive the Holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ on this night
when He instituted this blessed meal for our salvation, it is proper that we complete our
Lenten discipline by diligently examining ourselves, as St. Paul urges us to do. This holy
Sacrament has been instituted for the special comfort of those who are troubled because of
their sin and who humbly confess their sins, fear God’s wrath, and hunger and thirst for
righteousness.
But when we examine our hearts and consciences, we find nothing in us but sin and death,
from which we are incapable of delivering ourselves. Therefore, our Lord Jesus Christ has
had mercy on us. For our benefit He became man so that He might fulfill for us the whole
will and law of God and, to deliver us, took upon Himself our sin and the punishment we
deserve.
So that we may more confidently believe this and be strengthened in the faith and in holy living, our Lord Jesus Christ took
bread, broke it, and gave it to His disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you.” It is as if He said, “I
became man, and all that I do and suffer is for your good. As a pledge of this, I give you My body to eat.”
In the same way also He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new
testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Again, it is as if He said, “I have had mercy on you
by taking into Myself all your iniquities. I give Myself into death, shedding My blood to obtain grace and forgiveness of sins,
and to comfort and establish the new testament, which gives forgiveness and everlasting salvation. As a pledge of this, I give
you My blood to drink.”
Therefore, whoever eats this bread and drinks this cup, confidently believing this Word and promise of Christ, dwells in Christ
and Christ in him and has eternal life.
We should also do this in remembrance of Him, showing His death—that He was delivered for our offenses and raised for our
justification. Giving Him our most heartfelt thanks, we take up our cross and follow Him and, according to His commandment,
love one another as He has loved us. As our Lord on this night exemplified this love by washing His disciples’ feet, so we by
our words and actions serve one another in love. For we are all one bread and one cup. For just as the one cup is filled with
wine of many grapes and one bread made from countless grains, so also we, being many, are one body in Christ. Because of
Him, we love one another, not only in word, but in deed and in truth.
May the almighty and merciful God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by His Holy Spirit, accomplish this in us.
Source: The above is the “Confessional Address for Maundy Thursday” taken from the Lutheran Service Book, Altar Book.
Holy Saturday
The commemoration of Holy Saturday encompasses our Lord’s rest in the tomb and descent into hell.
The descent into hell is not, however, the depth of Christ’s humiliation but rather the demonstration of
His complete victory over death. This day takes us out of the depths of most painful sorrow and out of
the solitude of holy meditation upon Christ’s Passion to the celebration of victory as we anticipate the
Lord’s resurrection breaking forth in all its glory on Easter.
Source: Treasury of Daily Prayer, p. 181.
Page 10 The Beacon on the Hill

The Slap Heard Around the World
From the editor: Holy Week is the time of year that we celebrate the Rite of Confirmation. The
article below tells the story of an interesting confirmation tradition. We don’t practice it here
at St. Paul’s, but it’s certainly a graphic reminder of why junior confirmation is so important
to us.
Your confirmation day is supposed to be exciting. It’s important, it’s a big deal, it’s formative.
It’s also the day that my pastor slapped me. On the face. In front of the whole congregation.
Yeah. You heard me.
My confirmation pastor was the best. He taught us from the Book of Concord, read to us in Latin and tried to teach us German,
made us learn our Small Catechism, heard our confession, and actually cared whether or not we were retaining what he was
explaining.
So when that fateful Sunday arrived, I was ready. I stood there next to my friends in my white confirmation robe, proud of my
accomplishments and anxious to be able to receive the Lord’s Supper. My grandmother was there. My aunts and uncles and
cousins were in the pew. My parents and my sisters looked on… as I got smacked in the face.
I heard it before I felt it: an echo that I’m fairly confident bounced off the church’s walls for at least five seconds. (Ok, so
maybe I’m being a little dramatic. So maybe I was the only one who heard it. So maybe it wasn’t that loud at all.)
It stung. I looked at him, shocked, while flipping through my bulletin. Where was THIS fine print in the rite?!
He explained it to the congregation then, that this was an ancient practice, this slap of peace, a slap that marked us confirmands
for the pain and the suffering we would endure from the world on behalf of Christ. It was beautiful really. It made complete
sense.
And it hurt like heck.
So keep this in mind, you pastors out there. You want kids to remember their confirmation vows when they leave for college?
You want them to recall why it’s important to haul themselves out of bed on Sunday to go to church? You want them to
remember what you taught them?
I think you’ve got your answer.
Source: The above is the September 30, 2011 posting on a blog called Stet. The blogger is Adrianne Dorr. Ms Dorr is the
managing editor of The Lutheran Witness.
St. Paul’s Golf Tournament
March 2013
Hold the date! The 20th Annual St. Paul’s
School Golf Tournament will be held on
Monday September 16 at Winters Run Golf
Club in Bel Air, Maryland. Proceeds benefit the
education program at St. Paul’s School. Look
for registration and sponsorship information in
the spring. If you have any questions, please
contact the school office at 410-592-8100.
Submitted by John Bruck
We will celebrate the Rite of Confirmation at our
11 a.m. Palm Sunday service on March 24. At that
service, our youth will publically confess their faith
in the Triune God, the very faith that the Holy
Spirit created in their hearts in Holy Baptism.
Please join or this important event in the life of our
congregation.
Page 11

TREASURER'S REPORT
January 2013
ST. PAUL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH AND SCHOOL
BUDGET THRU ACTUAL DIFFERENCE
31-Jan 31-Jan
INCOME
REGULAR WEEKLY OFFERING 206,000.00 165,428.22 -40,571.78
BUILDING FUND 2,000.00 1,716.00 -284.00
OTHER GENERAL INCOME 1,250.00 24,088.52 22,838.52
SPECIAL GIFTS 12,154.00 20,000.00 7,846.00
INTEREST 0.00 0.00 0.00
TUITION 239,615.00 286,306.82 46,691.82
REGISTRATION 18,000.00 18,495.51 495.51
TUITION ASSISTANCE 2,961.64 2,537.41 -424.23
GOLF TOURN NET 4,000.00 4,362.37 362.37
RENTAL INCOME 25,500.00 21,100.00 -4,400.00
MISSIONS 1,000.00 2,697.00 1,697.00
GROSS INCOME 512,480.64 546,731.85 34,251.21
LESS ACCURED TUITION INCOM 46,691.82 46,691.82
NET INCOME 500,040.03 500,040.03
EXPENSES
CHURCH 93,765.32 95,752.16 1,986.84
SCHOOL 269,089.50 269,773.05 683.55
PAYROLL TAX 17,440.50 17,859.23 418.73
MAINTENANCE 30,044.50 31,835.22 1,790.72
HEALTH 69,656.00 67,557.50 -2,098.50
UTILITIES 24,985.00 22,813.20 -2,171.80
MISSIONS 2,100.00 2,000.00 -100.00
TOTAL EXPENSES 507,080.82 506,089.38 -991.44
TOTAL INCOME 512,480.64 500,029.73 -12,450.91
PRIVOUS YEAR'S DIFFERENCE -22,258.28
DIFFERENCE -28,317.93
Page 12 The Beacon on the Hill

Les Misérables: The Most Lutheran Movie Ever?
by Rev. Peter Jonas
At first glance, anointing Les Misérables as a Lutheran movie may seem kind of silly. Victor
Hugo, the author of the novel the movie is based on, was raised a French Catholic and later
became an anti-clerical skeptic. The movie is set in 18th century France. Historically there
probably wasn’t a Lutheran closer to 200 miles from where the action takes place. Yet it is
remarkable how the themes and characters of the movie illustrate the heart of Lutheran
theology.
SPOILER ALERT: If you have not seen the movie and do not want to know any details of
the plot before going, it would be best to stop reading here.
The main character of the movie is Jean Valjean [portrayed by Hugh Jackman]—a man who
has been imprisoned for seven years for the crime of stealing a loaf of bread to feed his
starving family. At the beginning of the movie, a desperate Jean Valjean steals the silver service of a godly bishop who has
taken him in. The police capture him and bring him to the bishop. Amazingly, the bishop covers for Valjean by saying the silver
was a gift and then goes on to give him his silver candle sticks. At this point Valjean commits himself to living a life dedicated
to God and helping others. But he must break the conditions of his parole in order to embark on this new life and claim a
new identity.
This scene exemplifies grace. Valjean receives new life and a second chance as undeserved gift, not because he deserves it, or
even because he has repented of his faults, but out of sheer mercy and grace. As the Gospel of John says, “From Christ’s fullness
we have received grace upon grace.”
The two major characters of the movie are Valjean and a police captain named Javert [played by Russell Crowe]. After his
narrow escape from the law, Valjean does go on to fulfill his vows, successfully building a factory that employs many people
and becoming the mayor of his city under an assumed name. Javert relentlessly pursues Valjean for breaking his parole and at
long last discovers his identity. Javert’s life revolves around the “letter of the law.” [Javert sings that] the law, like the beautiful
stars in the sky, is what is necessary to navigate through this sinful life.
Lutherans have always stressed the importance of both law and gospel in interpreting scripture. The law serves primarily to
convict us of our sin, thus paving the way for recognizing that we need salvation. But it also creates a foundation for a just and
civil society. The gospel of Jesus Christ is what saves humans and frees us for truly good works.
Valjean and Javert embody the tension between law and gospel. Lutherans believe that ultimately, in the light of the gospel,
the demands and the accusations of the law “must die” and a forgiven sinner “dies to the law.” Because Valjean has [violated]
his parole, Javert sees him as a plain criminal. There is no room in Javert’s black and white world for Valjean’s good works or
the mitigating circumstances surrounding his “crimes.” Through a strange chain of events, Valjean actually has the opportunity
to kill Javert and chooses to spare his life. Javert cannot bear to be in the debt of a criminal. His universe based on the “letter
of the law” is shattered. Finally Javert commits suicide. Javert’s suicide is an ominous fulfillment of 2 Corinthians 3:6, “The
letter kills but the Spirit gives life.”
Space does not permit an analysis of the many other Christian themes that pervade the movie version of Les Misérables. But
the two themes we have examined—the beautiful depiction of unmerited grace and the tension between law and gospel certainly
resonate with the heart of Lutheran thinking about the Christian gospel.
Source: Rev. Jonas is pastor of Christ Lutheran Church (ELCA), Arcadia, WI. Pastor Jonas’ review of Les Misérables is reprinted
from the February 2013 edition of Christ Line, Christ Lutheran’s monthly newsletter. Les Misérables will be available
on DVD and Blu-ray this month.
March 2013
Page 13

1 Madison Coons
1 Paul Gilland
2 Michael Dzambasow
2 Alma Tober
3 Gail Rye
4 Herbert Grueninger, III
5 Michelle Estremsky
5 Christopher Reich
6 Scott Hanna
7 Nicole Andrews
7 Matthew Stroh
7 Ester Winskowski
9 Rebecca Smolenski
10 Judy Bauernfeind
11 Patricia Katzenberger
Baptism Birthdays
for March
1 Wendy Dannenfelser
1 Herbert Grueninger, III
1 Janet Thomas
1 Chris Wilson
2 Kevin Coons
2 Larry Rohrbaugh
5 Zachary Haas
7 Gavin Class
8 Martin Lotz, III
13 Ruth Deinlein
13 Madison Denis
13 Mary Beth Lingner
11 Ryan Ophardt
11 Hannah Watson
12 Dean DiNatale
13 Kevin Gruszecki
13 Dustin Weisbecker
14 Elizabeth Dzambasow
14 Loren Goehner
14 Eugene Kolb
15 Ron Meyer
16 Mae Buttner
16 Donna Hawman
16 Brendan Link
17 Barbara Kurgansky
17 Ed Sexton
19 Mason Gordon
20 Richard Boord
20 Ashley Huber
20 Madison Reeves
21 H. Scott Lewis
22 Donna Gossman
21 David and Beth Garner 20 years
13 Thomas Puckey Jr.
14 Colin Amy
14 Isabella Lotz
14 Hannah Taylor
15 Kristin Addison
15 Betty Richter
16 Brendan Link
18 Douglas Adams
20 Andrew Kautsch
21 Ronald Corun Jr.
22 Doris Stroh
25 Colton Smith
22 Annette Marsh
23 John Kreiner
23 Mary Richter
24 Kimberly Class
25 David Dzambasow
25 Leah Haas
25 Lisa King
25 Mary Scharf
26 Sherrie Durrant
28 John Addison
28 JD Bruck
28 Jodi Nelson
28 Bethany Smith
29 Florence Coons
29 Donald Sehlmeyer
30 Eva Heier
30 Eunice Kolb
31 John Higgins
31 Mike Noske
31 Carrie Rye
27 Kay Wilson
28 Danielle Lassahn
29 Megan Kutchey
29 Barbara Markwordt
30 Connie Donato
30 Laura Rye
30 Grace Walker
30 Joshua Walker
31 Carrie Rye
31 Hannah Watson
Page 14 The Beacon on the Hill

Mission Project
In January, the Mission Committee announced that they are considering a long-term connection with an organization called
Children’s HopeChest in Guatemala. Pastor Wollman and Michael Hartley will make a vision trip March 11 through 15 to
Guatemala.
Why a mission project for our church?
A mission project is a perfect opportunity to reach out to others with the Gospel and, at the same time, grow in our own faith.
Jesus said, Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19-20.
What is Children’s Hope Chest?
Children’s HopeChest connects Christian communities in the United States and Canada with impoverished communities of
orphans overseas. Over 10,000 orphans have been impacted with Jesus’ love by this organization.
Why Guatemala?
The mission committee members all offered different perspectives and interests. After several months of meetings and prayers,
the committee selected Guatemala.
What is a vision trip?
A vision trip is a preliminary trip for the pastor and a congregational leader (Pastor and Mr. Hartley) to experience and evaluate
first-hand what Children’s HopeChest is all about. They will visit sponsored and unsponsored communities in Guatemala
to see what a difference our church can make partnering with Children’s HopeChest.
How can I get involved now?
Pray for the March vision trip.
Pray to see how God will use me in this new ministry.
Visit hopechest.org to learn more about Children’s Hope Chest.
Stay tuned to learn about more opportunities after the vision trip.
St. Patrick’s Day
It’s common knowledge that March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day. But what do we know about the man after
whom the day is named? Who was this Patrick (known as Patricius in Latin and Pádraig in Gaelic)?
Where was he from? How did he become so closely associated with Ireland? Why is he often depicted
holding a shamrock? Did he really get rid of all the snakes in Ireland as is traditionally claimed? Here
are a few informative websites that will give you the answers to these and other questions you might
have about St. Patrick:
Pádraig of Ireland, Bishop and Missionary
aardvarkalley.blogspot.com/2012/03/padraig-of-ireland-bishop-and.html
Biography of St. Patrick
ccel.org/ccel/patrick
Six Little-known Facts About St. Patrick
articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/17/nation/la-na-nn-st-patricks-day-who-was-st-patrick-20120316
The St. Patrick You Never Knew
americancatholic.org/Messenger/Mar1997/feature1.asp
March 2013
Page 15

Principal’s Notes
We celebrated National Lutheran
School Week from February 2
through 9. Students sang at St.
John’s Lutheran Church (Glen
Arm); we had an open house; and
each day was a specially-themed day, such as hat day,
grandparent day and baptismal remembrance, dress from a
country day, and spirit day. We ended the week with a trip
to Skateland for a roller skating party.
Registration for the 2013-2014 school
year is underway. Please contact the
school office is you are interesting in
enrolling, for a tuition and fees schedule
or for more information.
“Walk-in Wednesdays” began last
month. Visit St. Paul’s any Wednesday
from 8:30 to noon. Individuals may visit
classrooms and get a tour of the school.
We hope that this will help increase
enrollment.
We are in the process of studying the use of
Edline as a communication tool for the
parents and teachers. We are also looking
into redesigning the school web site and
considering Rosetta Stone for a foreign
language program.
The current school mission project is
Giving Gardens. Our offerings will go
toward seed packets we’ll send to Haiti,
which will give them food and a source of
income when they sell extra produce. The
offerings will also help support missionaries
and teachers in the area to spread the
Gospel. We have set a goal of $500.00 for
this project.
Upcoming P.A.L.S. Meetings
In Christ,
Mr. Waibel
Thursday, March 7, 2013, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 9, 8:30 a.m.
Thursday, May 2, 8:30 a.m.
Staff/Faculty March Birthdays
17 Joseph Shortall Music
31 Carrie Rye Middle School
We, the members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School, are dedicated
to providing a CHRIST-CENTERED education within a caring
and challenging environment, where all students are encouraged to
develop skills as lifelong learners and progress spiritually, physically,
academically, and socially.
Page 16 The Beacon on the Hill

Tickets go on sale for this year’s middle school production,
Hydrangea Albright: Comedy or Tragedy Tuesday,
March 5 in the school lobby. Our middle school students
will perform at two shows on Friday and Saturday,
March 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Tickets are
$7 for adults, $5 for students, and free for children 3 years
old and under. Come for an entertaining evening of
comedy (or will it be a tragedy?) and support our school’s
drama program.
Bonus Shopping!
March 2013
Please see Giant Customer
Service during your next
shopping trip in order to
re-register. St. Paul’s School
ID code is 01093.
Safeway and ShopRite shoppers
can register online at
escrip.com. Click “sign-up” and
enter group ID #6572251. Enter
your information and your Safeway and/or ShopRite card
numbers. You have the option to provide additional information
in the next two sections. Click next until you reach
the confirmation screen.
If you have a Target charge
card, you can register it
online for our school to receive bonuses. Visit target.com
and look for “the REDcard” at the bottom of the page.
Click on card benefits to register.
The Child Who Cries in Church
The phrase “The Child who Cries in
Church Dies in Church” will never be
as popular as “The Family that Prays
Together Stays Together.” It probably
will not be embossed onto artwork at
your local Christian bookstore. It likely
will never even find its way onto the
top of some organization’s letterhead.
But it is equally as true as the much more popular phrase
above. Oh yes, there are exceptions to every man-made axiom,
but the general wisdom is true. And what is the wisdom here?
It is this: people brought to church in infancy are more likely
to still be there in their maturity.
Wisdom says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even
when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
I think way too many people assume that this wisdom only
becomes applicable once a child has the mental and vocal faculties
needed to understand the content of our faith. That is not
true. It is relevant from day one of life. All research reveals
that even the youngest of children are learning all the time.
The beginning of their training is gained by observation of the
habits of those who care for them.
Many young moms and dad worry about bringing their infants
to church because despite their best efforts, the child may
break out into loud cries. And when this practical fear is combined
with the satanic lie that infants cannot really benefit for
being in church anyways, often young parents and their infants
remain willfully away for a time from Christ and His church.
And sadly, those willful choices often become permanent habits
for parent and child alike. All the while Satan chuckles at
how he can use one or two disapproving looks in the pews
combined with a simple misunderstanding to remove people
from Christ and His church...
So young moms and dads, bring your infants into the Lord’s
house. Doing so trains them in the way that they should go.
When they are old, they will not depart from it. And next time
someone gives you that look when your baby is not as quiet as
they remember their own being years ago, go up to them after
and say, “The Child Who Cries in Church Dies in Church.”
They certainly will not know how to respond. The chuckle can
be yours that day.
Source: The above is an edited version of the March 29, 2011
posting on the blog Meditations of My Heart. The blogger is
Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
(LCMS), Ellsworth, KS.
Page 17

Submitting to The Beacon on the Hill
Submit material to The Beacon on the Hill by e-mailing beacononthehill@comcast.net.
The deadline is the 20th of each month. We encourage early submission to be sure your
announcement or information is included in the next issue. Please include the month(s)
you would like the information to run and a contact phone number in case of questions.
Please be sure the church office has a current e-mail address for you. We do not share or
distribute your e-mail address or personal information.
Page 18 The Beacon on the Hill

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School
12022 Jerusalem Road, Kingsville, MD 21087 410.592.8100 410.592.3282 FA www.stpaulskingsville.org
March 2013
March 2013
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
2
1
OTE Dates and
times of events are
subject to change.
Please contact the
office for details.
9
8
7
6
8:40 Chapel
10:00 Adult Bible Study
5:45 pm Lenten Dinner
7 pm Lenten Vespers
8 pm Choir Rehearsal
5
4
7 pm PALS
7 pm Bd. of Education
3 Lent 3
8:30 Communion
9:45 SS / Bible Study
11:00 Communion
6:30 Women’s Bible Study
6:30 pm Confirmation
16
15
14
13
8:40 Chapel
10:00 Adult Bible Study
5:45 pm Lenten Dinner
7 pm Lenten Vespers
8 pm Choir Rehearsal
12
11
SCHOOL
CLOSED
6:30 pm
School Open House
Hot Lunch
(Parish Hall)
10 Lent 4
Daylight Savings Begins
8:30 Communion
9:45 SS/Voters’ Meeting
11:00 Communion
7 pm MS Play
7 pm MS Play
6:30 pm Confirmation
23
Pastor Wollman’s Day Off
22
Pizza Lunch
(Parish Hall)
21
20 Spring Begins
8:40 Chapel
10:00 Adult Bible Study
5:45 pm Lenten Dinner
7 pm Lenten Vespers
8 pm Choir Rehearsal
19 St. Joseph,
Guardian of Jesus
18
7 pm Bd. of Directors
17 Lent 5
St. Patrick’s Day
8:30 Communion
9:45 SS / Bible Study
11:00 Communion
6:30 pm Confirmation
30
29 Good Friday
28 Maundy Thursday
8:40 Baptismal Chapel
27
26
25 Passover
The Annunciation
of Our Lord
24 Palm Sunday
8:30 Communion
9:45 SS / Bible Study
11:00 Rite of
Confirmation
Page 19
St. Paul’s CLOSED
10:00 Adult Bible Study
7 pm Service of Holy
Communion
7 pm Bd. of Elders
7 pm Vespers
7 pm Choir Rehearsal
6:30 pm Confirmation
Key
SCHOOL and OFFICE CLOSED for Easter Break
MS Middle School
SS Sunday School
31 Easter
6:30 Sunrise Service
(Communion)
8:30 Non-communion
11:00 Non-communion

The Beacon on the Hill
A Newsletter of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School, Kingsville, MD
12022 Jerusalem Road
Kingsville, MD 21087
Phone: 410.592.8100
Fax: 410.592.3282
Church Office: Mon - Fri., 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
School Office: Mon - Fri., 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Church Website: stpaulskingsville.org
School Website: stpaulseagles.org
E-mail: beacononthehill@comcast.net
Sunday Worship 8:30 and 11 a.m.
Sunday School / Bible Study 9:45 a.m.
Copyright Gospel Communications International, Inc. - www.reverendfun.com