by Bishop Bill Gohl
You are witnesses of these things. - Luke 24:48
As someone with a German background on one side of the family, Ascension Day was a favorite holy day of the church year if for no other reason than its name in German: Christi Himmelfahrt! A national holiday in Germany, the Ascension of our Lord marks the 40th day of the Easter season and signals a liturgical turn from Easter towards Pentecost. The risen Lord enters into the invisible presence of God in order to be present in all times and in all places to the church and the world. And we find that same risen Lord in the places where Jesus has promised to meet us, in the Word, at the Font, in the Bread and Cup and among God's people – both those who share good news and those who long for hope.
My grandparents had an image of the Ascension in their home that I always appreciated. In that lithograph, while Jesus was ascending over their heads towards the heavens, there were two details that have stuck with me all these years: that same ascending Jesus bore the marks of his crucifixion in his hands and feet, and though the disciples were looking up, in the midst of them remained Jesus' footprints on the earth below. There is no question that Jesus was fully human, that the incarnation was fleshy.
This Ascension Day, I found myself thinking of the many Pastors and Deacons whose footprints continue to follow in the path of Jesus among us. Women and men whose love and service, and, it needs to be said, sacrifices and woundedness, have instructed and encouraged us to be the witnesses Jesus calls us to be. At our Synod Assembly, we have the privilege of giving thanks for these servants of Christ on their significant anniversaries of commissioning, consecration or ordination. I invite you to join me in prayer and gratitude for their faithful ministry and service with and among us.
Ministers of Word and Service
Five Years: Michael S O'Donnell (serving Evangelical, Frederick), Reginald B. Price (serving Lutheran Campus Ministry at Morgan State and Augsburg, W. Baltimore),
Ten Years: Cynthia Uhl Ranker (serving New Hope, Columbia), Paula S Thistle (serving St. Martins, Annapolis and as Synod Chaplain)
Fifty Years: Robert Federwitz (retired)
Ministers of Word and Sacrament
Five Years: Kenneth Powell (serving Community of Grace, Edmondson Ave),
Ten Years: Linda A Lewis (retired) and Lura N Groen (serving Grace, Lutherville),
Fifteen Years: Neil O'Farrell (serving St. John Episcopal, Mt. Washington), Elaine V Swinehart (family leave caring for her mom), Jon R Greenstone (serving Elias, Emmitsburg), Kathryn A Rohrbach (Intentional Interim serving Faith, Cockeysville), Marsha E. Bell (serving St. Paul, Cumberland – ‘til she retires next Sunday!), Shawn O Brandon (serving Gloria Dei!, Arnold), Surekha Nelavala (serving Harmony Community, Global Peace & Beloved Community),
Twenty Years: Eileen F Kelley-Warner (serving as interim of St. Andrews, Taylor Avenue & St. Lukes, Harford Road), James E Luedeke (retired), Moses B. Gobah (Chaplain at Johns Hopkins Hospital & serving St. John’s, Sparrow’s Point), Patrick P Gahagen (serving Journey of Faith, Rockdale), Stacey L Brady (serving as Chaplain to Miller’s Grant), T Gregory Knepp (serving as Director for Contextual Formation at United Lutheran Seminary),
Twenty-Five Years: Anne C Durboraw (serving St. Luke’s, New Windsor), Blaine E Feightner (retired), Clarence E Pettit (serving Unity, Wilmington), G Julia Brigham (serving Foxville-Greensburg Parish – all 25 years!),
Thirty Years: Robert C Lehman (serving Redemption Episcopal, Locust Point), David S Schafer (serving St. Benjamins, Westminster), Gary A Dittman (serving Amazing Grace, E. Baltimore), John A Mohan (serving St. Michael, Perry Hall), Kathryn Vitalis Hoffman (serving Zion, Middletown & Dean of the Frederick Conference), Mark G Hoffman (serving as Gladfelter Chair Professor of Biblical Studies at United Lutheran Seminary),
Thirty-Five Years: Connie S Miller (serving Holy Trinity, Laurel), David A Wangaard (serving Lutheran World Relief), Susan E Tjornehoj (serving Christ, Inner Harbor),
Forty Years: Charles A Erzkus (retired in Florida!), Darrell L Layman (serving Luther Chapel, Petersville and agitator for cooperative ministry!), David C Baker (retired and recently married!), John D Ranney (retired and preaching again after recovering from a major stroke – thanks be to God!), Kenneth A Consie (retired), Robert J McConnell (retired),
Forty-Five Years: David H Myers (serving the Myersville Parish and retiring on June 30!), Harry F Biles (serving St. Peters, Ocean City), James G Cobb (serving as Special Assistant to the Bishop for Ecumenical Partnerships), Jerrett L Hansen (serving as interim pastor of Christ Episcopal, Easton), John W Keating (retired), Richard L Michael (just retired from St. James, Union Bridge after 40+ years!), William F R Gilroy (retired, but serving as Visitation Pastor for St. John, Linthicum),
Fifty Years: Michael G Merkel (former Bishop of Southeastern Pennsylvania, recently retired after serving Tree of Life, Middletown), Quentin J Fleming (retired to Cypress, Texas!),
Fifty-Five Years: Richard J Kiesling (serving as pastoral associate at Holy Communion, Fallston), Donald J McClean (retired), James W Kinney (retired),
Sixty Years: William R Fearer (retired)
Sixty-Five Years: Alfred M Buls (retired), Carl H Greenawald (retired to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania!), and John Yost Jr (retired, though I am so grateful that Pastor Yost was my colleague at Epiphany, Baltimore – he served that congregation from 1970-2015!)
Jesus said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. - Luke 24:44-53
This Ascension Day, I found myself thinking of the many Pastors and Deacons whose footprints continue to follow in the path of Jesus among us. Women and men whose love and service, and, it needs to be said, sacrifices and woundedness, have instructed and encouraged us to be the witnesses Jesus calls us to be. At our Synod Assembly, we have the privilege of giving thanks for these servants of Christ on their significant anniversaries of commissioning, consecration or ordination. I invite you to join me in prayer and gratitude for their faithful ministry and service with and among us.
Ministers of Word and Service
Five Years: Michael S O'Donnell (serving Evangelical, Frederick), Reginald B. Price (serving Lutheran Campus Ministry at Morgan State and Augsburg, W. Baltimore),
Ten Years: Cynthia Uhl Ranker (serving New Hope, Columbia), Paula S Thistle (serving St. Martins, Annapolis and as Synod Chaplain)
Fifty Years: Robert Federwitz (retired)
Ministers of Word and Sacrament
Five Years: Kenneth Powell (serving Community of Grace, Edmondson Ave),
Ten Years: Linda A Lewis (retired) and Lura N Groen (serving Grace, Lutherville),
Fifteen Years: Neil O'Farrell (serving St. John Episcopal, Mt. Washington), Elaine V Swinehart (family leave caring for her mom), Jon R Greenstone (serving Elias, Emmitsburg), Kathryn A Rohrbach (Intentional Interim serving Faith, Cockeysville), Marsha E. Bell (serving St. Paul, Cumberland – ‘til she retires next Sunday!), Shawn O Brandon (serving Gloria Dei!, Arnold), Surekha Nelavala (serving Harmony Community, Global Peace & Beloved Community),
Twenty Years: Eileen F Kelley-Warner (serving as interim of St. Andrews, Taylor Avenue & St. Lukes, Harford Road), James E Luedeke (retired), Moses B. Gobah (Chaplain at Johns Hopkins Hospital & serving St. John’s, Sparrow’s Point), Patrick P Gahagen (serving Journey of Faith, Rockdale), Stacey L Brady (serving as Chaplain to Miller’s Grant), T Gregory Knepp (serving as Director for Contextual Formation at United Lutheran Seminary),
Twenty-Five Years: Anne C Durboraw (serving St. Luke’s, New Windsor), Blaine E Feightner (retired), Clarence E Pettit (serving Unity, Wilmington), G Julia Brigham (serving Foxville-Greensburg Parish – all 25 years!),
Thirty Years: Robert C Lehman (serving Redemption Episcopal, Locust Point), David S Schafer (serving St. Benjamins, Westminster), Gary A Dittman (serving Amazing Grace, E. Baltimore), John A Mohan (serving St. Michael, Perry Hall), Kathryn Vitalis Hoffman (serving Zion, Middletown & Dean of the Frederick Conference), Mark G Hoffman (serving as Gladfelter Chair Professor of Biblical Studies at United Lutheran Seminary),
Thirty-Five Years: Connie S Miller (serving Holy Trinity, Laurel), David A Wangaard (serving Lutheran World Relief), Susan E Tjornehoj (serving Christ, Inner Harbor),
Forty Years: Charles A Erzkus (retired in Florida!), Darrell L Layman (serving Luther Chapel, Petersville and agitator for cooperative ministry!), David C Baker (retired and recently married!), John D Ranney (retired and preaching again after recovering from a major stroke – thanks be to God!), Kenneth A Consie (retired), Robert J McConnell (retired),
Forty-Five Years: David H Myers (serving the Myersville Parish and retiring on June 30!), Harry F Biles (serving St. Peters, Ocean City), James G Cobb (serving as Special Assistant to the Bishop for Ecumenical Partnerships), Jerrett L Hansen (serving as interim pastor of Christ Episcopal, Easton), John W Keating (retired), Richard L Michael (just retired from St. James, Union Bridge after 40+ years!), William F R Gilroy (retired, but serving as Visitation Pastor for St. John, Linthicum),
Fifty Years: Michael G Merkel (former Bishop of Southeastern Pennsylvania, recently retired after serving Tree of Life, Middletown), Quentin J Fleming (retired to Cypress, Texas!),
Fifty-Five Years: Richard J Kiesling (serving as pastoral associate at Holy Communion, Fallston), Donald J McClean (retired), James W Kinney (retired),
Sixty Years: William R Fearer (retired)
Sixty-Five Years: Alfred M Buls (retired), Carl H Greenawald (retired to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania!), and John Yost Jr (retired, though I am so grateful that Pastor Yost was my colleague at Epiphany, Baltimore – he served that congregation from 1970-2015!)
Jesus said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. - Luke 24:44-53