Latino Ministry
Día de los Reyes Celebrated
in the Gettysburg Conference
By Seminarian Ursula Schreffler
The Gettysburg Conference sponsored a bilingual Epiphany service, “Día de los Reyes,” on January 6, 2011 at St. James Lutheran Church in Gettysburg. The service was part of the Conference’s ongoing Spanish language outreach, which focuses primarily on Latinos in Adams County. President of the Gettysburg Seminary, The Rev. Michael Cooper-White, presided over the service in Spanish as well as in English, with seminarian Ursula Schreffler assisting. Latino Missioner Sharon Kaya gave the message in both Spanish and in English. Special music was provided by the St. James Choir and Gettysburg Conference band members, all under the leadership of St. James’ Minister of Music, Timothy Braband. The liturgy came alive in the service through the Creed and Lord’s Prayer, which were spoken in worshippers’ choice of language.
In the spirit of gift giving, The Rev. David Fisher, Assistant to the Bishop for Evangelical Mission, presented the Gettysburg Conference Lutheran Latino Ministry with a check for $500. This generous gift from the Lower Susquehanna Synod will promote further outreach into the Latino community. The next bilingual service will be held on Ash Wednesday at 7p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in York Springs, PA. Bishop Penrose Hoover will preside and Latino Missioner Sharon Kaya will preach a bilingual sermon.
Gettysburg Area Latino Ministry
Plans Ash Wednesday Service
By Rev. Ben Leese, Pastor, Holy Trinity, York Springs, Pennsylvania
It started with ashes. Holy Trinity, York Springs, is in the midst of a community with many Latino immigrants living in it, and the congregation even shares its building with a Roman Catholic congregation that worships in Spanish. But the Spanish congregation never had an evening service on Ash Wednesday; instead many Latino folks would go to Holy Trinity’s service to receive ashes. Slowly but surely, the congregation made its service bilingual for that occasion, and in two languages that congregation confesses its sin on that night, including “For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, and for our prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us.” Yes, a mission across that cultural boundary would necessarily include repentance and ashes. Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return. Recuerda que eres polvo y al polvo volverás.
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church was not alone in seeing an opportunity and a calling to explore a Spanish-speaking mission in Adams County. St. James Lutheran Church and Christ Lutheran Church in Gettysburg made more and more contacts with the Latino community. Camp Nawakwa began working with Latino children for a summer program. A seminarian preparing to be a diaconal minister helped to open eyes to possibilities. All over the county, congregations saw a chance to connect with their neighbors.
So the conference pastors took the initiative in the summer of 2009 to plan for mission, hoping that Pr. Dave Fisher, Director for Evangelical Mission, would be able to lend expertise and guidance. Knowing that only one half or two-thirds of Latino immigrants consider themselves Roman Catholic, the conference was confident that there was a mission field among the Latino population right in our communities. The conference congregations began to pray for each other, arranged a pulpit exchange, and agreed to work together in the area of Latino mission. Taking advantage of the congregational mission grants from the synod, and providing another half of the funding from within, the conference was able to invite Sharon Kaya to serve as Latino Missioner for the conference.
She has been busy helping the congregations of the conference in this mission – visiting Vacation Bible Schools, helping with a fiesta at Trinity, Arendtsville, leading Bible study at Holy Trinity, York Springs, and preaching at a variety of congregations. Together, the congregations of the Gettysburg Conference have been able to set out on a mission that no single church could accomplish on its own. Together, with Sharon’s leadership, the congregations are making disciples and walking alongside their Latino neighbors.
A few weeks ago, the conference congregations gathered for worship on Epiphany, Día de los Reyes. They sang together in Spanish and English, and the Word was shared in both languages, too. Three young Latino boys from York Springs dressed as the three kings presented the offering. The Epiphany star, the star of revelation, shone brightly that night. What began in ashes was coming to light, and with it God’s continuing plan for the Gettysburg Conference’s Latino Mission. Thanks be to God.
For more information on this new ministry, contact
Pastor Ben Leese or Sharon Kaya, Latino Missioner
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
216 Main Street
York Springs, Pennsylvania 17372
(717) 528-4393
LOWER SUSQUEHANNA
SYNOD
900
South Arlington Avenue, Suite 220B Harrisburg,
PA 17109
(717) 652-1852 (800) 692-7282 (PA Only) Fax:
(717) 652-2504