STANZAS IN THE SPIRIT Luke 15 is devoted to Jesus’ ministry of revealing the true nature of God. He spoke the three parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Child (Prodigal Son) to those who said, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” The following poem is taken from the first parable. It is called: ONE IN A HUNDRED. One in a hundred, yea the story goes, He loses one and his sadness grows. So he seeks us when we’ve wandered, Giving light to his lambs, And he brings us together, One hundred again. One in a hundred he seeks to find, Leaving in peace the well ninety-nine. So he gathers lost children, And warms them when cold; If lost his angels find them, So his flock can be whole. Most times we’re happy, thanks to his way. Sometimes we’re sad when we’ve gone astray, Yet he finds us in our caverns, Of darkness and sin, And he brings us together, One hundred again. We are all one in a hundred, And one hundred again. In the Parable of the Lost Sheep, the character of God is again revealed by Jesus, saying "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." (Luke 15:7). Do you have a story of being lost and found to share with others? Help us to spread the good news that God speaks through his people, for his people. The Two Options of Faith: Which Will You Take? In John 11:25-26, Jesus says, "Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" We live our lives with a comfortable understanding of Jesus’ first option regarding faith. We accept as truth and live by the assurance that those who believe in Jesus Christ will die and then be resurrected on the Day of our Lord. But every once in a while, I notice someone that is living Jesus’ second option: someone devoted to Christ, and those goose-bumps appear. You know the ones I’m talking about. Like the ones you feel while singing harmony inside a choir of 50 voices in perfect pitch. Through such servants of God I begin to understand, "Yes Lord, I see. Those who believe AND live in you will never die." Is it enough to believe, or should we live in Christ? So many people today are looking for choices: seeking knowledge about optional paths for going up the mountain: other truths, other Gods. Perhaps there is an option. Jesus tells us to give everything to the poor, and then follow him. A good start for a life with goose-bumps is devoting a few dollars or a couple of hours a week in Jesus’ ministry to those in prison. What will you do? Hey, Why Are We Celebrating? Four men in Hagerstown prisons are preparing for baptism in April. We had a wedding at MCTC for Edward and Barbara Elligson in March. MCTC has had a 500% increase in attendance (from 1 to 5). There was such joy and healing in MCIW’s Easter Service. RCI had a powerful meeting with the Lord through a foot-washing Maundy "Wednesday" service. The men of MCIJ are studying forgiveness on Tuesday nights, and the sharing has been extraordinary. PRAISE GOD!!! Pastor Bill Lundgren’s Bio Pastor Bill Lundgren was born in Hayward, California, in December of 1950, to Minor Mae and George William Lundgren. He is the fourth of four siblings, which include his brother Jerry and two sisters, Valerie and Linda. Both parents are deceased, as is his sister, Valerie. After his father’s death in 1956, the family moved to the Sierra Nevada community of Strawberry, CA. "The town sign proudly displayed the population as 158 residents, but I knew better. I delivered the local newspaper." During his childhood years in the Sierras, Pastor Bill gained a deep appreciation for the natural beauty of God’s Creation. “The National Forest boundary was just 100 feet from our back door.” Pastor Bill attended the University of California during the "60’s" and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture. While at Cal, he played football for the "Golden Bears," as both a fullback and linebacker. After graduation, Pastor began a 25-year career in urban planning, working as a public planner for cities and counties, and also as a planning consultant and a land developer. In 1992, he received a MA Degree from UCLA in Urban Planning. While working in Southern California for the City of Burbank in 1989, his bride, Dot, thought going to church might be a good thing to do. This led to his baptism, and was the beginning of a steady movement toward the ministry. "We immediately became very active in the church. We became Stephen Ministers, choir members, and served on the Church Council. I believe that coming to faith at the age of 38 has given me a wealth of experience for ministering to both prodigal believers and to those who have lived without Christ." In 1993, Pastor Bill began to go into prisons as part of the Kairos Prison Ministry, and it was while serving on one of their weekends that he came to understand that he was being called to ordained ministry. After five years of Kairos, Pastor entered Seminary on a full-time basis at the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, CA, and then transferred and finished at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg. Both he and Dot are now ordained pastors of the ELCA. Dot’s church is the Israel’s Creek Parish in Frederick County, MD. Upon completion of his seminary work, Pastor Bill served as Pastor for Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Baltimore. His call at Jerusalem ended on March 9th, and he began his new ministry as Pastor of St. Dysmas on the following day. "When my wife started her call at Israel’s Creek, I stayed behind in California so that our daughter could finish her Senior Year in High School without having to move (again). Dot called me and told me about this Lutheran prison ministry in Maryland she had heard about, and she gave me the web address for St. Dysmas. When I read Pastor Charles Frederick’s letter entitled, 'Macedonian Call,' I felt called to this ministry. That was six years ago. I have been a volunteer for St. Dysmas at RCI, MCIH, and MCTC in Hagerstown, for about four years. It is awesome, what God can do when we follow Christ." The Intern is Coming!! Sadie Pounder, a CSD volunteer and currently a seminarian at Gettysburg (LTSG), will be coming to CSD for a year beginning in July, 2006, to serve as an Intern. Her time will be divided between the two congregations that will share in her ministry and training. St. Mark’s in Hagerstown and CSD. Thanks be to God, that Pastor David Kaplan, the congregation at St. Mark’s, the CSD Congregational Council, LTSG, and the Delaware-Maryland Synod of the ELCA all understand the value that prison ministry can contribute to the formation of our future ELCA pastors. To make this possible, St. Mark’s has assumed the greater share of the cost, while LTSG has reduced several of the other costs associated with internships. Sadie will be available primarily to the facilities in Hagerstown: MCTC, MCIH, and RCI. This will reduce her need for transportation between St. Mark’s and CSD, reduce costs, and make better use of her ministry time. The total cost to CSD will be $4,000, plus related travel expenses. Sadie has vast training and experience as a licensed, professional therapist, and an easily accessible love for the Lord. God is good! Help is needed for this internship to be successful. Three to five volunteers are needed to form an internship committee that would provide reflection, guidance, and feedback for Sadie during her year with us. The comments of the committee are required also for the Seminary to evaluate her internship. Bi-monthly meetings with the intern during the course of the year, and the filling out of an evaluation form constitute the commitment of the committee members. Will you help us in this way? From the Church Council At the CSD Council meeting of March 12, 2006, the following items were discussed and actions taken: The officers for CSD in 2006 include: Paula Thistle, President David McGarvey, Vice-President Elizabeth Fixsen, Secretary Joanne Hunt, Treasurer Thrivent Financial Coordinators are needed to participate in their programs. The Order of St. Stephen at St. Mark’s is interested in helping us develop an after-care program. A decision regarding Pastor Kline’s past salary issues will follow a report from the Treasurer at the May meeting. A partnership for funding and supervising the internship of Sadie Pounder, seminarian from Gettysburg, with St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Hagerstown, was approved, at a total cost of $4,000 plus mileage at $100 per month or less. Vicar Pounder will work in Hagerstown, at RCI, MCIH, MCTC. Team ministry issues were discussed and support for volunteer training, team formation meetings, and a volunteer retreat were voiced with no action taken. The next meetings of the Council include: May 21st at 2pm at 2nd English LC July 9th at 2pm at Good Shepherd LC, Frederick

VOLUNTEERISM— It’s a Two-way Street I did not sleep well the night before. On the morning after my first visit inside a prison, I could not justify the benefits I had received in my life through privilege. When I rose out of bed, I prayed, "Jesus, only by your grace am I free." When I returned to the prison for my second visit, I shared with two inmates that I was haunted with the knowledge that I was very much like them, but at each critical moment in my past, someone turned me away from my greed, someone soothed my anger, someone else showed me another way. I told them, "Only by the grace of God will I return home this evening." The inmates smiled and one of them put his hand on my shoulder and said, "I did the crime, and I’m doing my time. It’s OK." He did not blame me for the life of privilege I had lived. He consoled me. It was then that I realized I was in the presence of Christ, inside that small chapel, surrounded by 2,000 convicted felons. We spent the rest of the day in community, sharing our discoveries from the Scriptures, teaching each other about the life in Christ, praying together for God’s healing, and singing God’s praise. When you volunteer for the ministry of Christ within prisons, be prepared to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever portion you are missing can be found on this journey. It’s a two-way street, and the travelers on this highway minister to each other, regardless of where they sleep at night. Pastor Bill Lundgren Quotable "Forgiveness is an attitude." The Rev. Martin Luther King Who is CSD? The Community of St. Dysmas proclaims the Year of the Lord’s Favor to those who are oppressed, brokenhearted, captive and imprisoned, whether they live inside or outside of correctional institutions of Maryland. The Prophet Isaiah tells us that, "The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor." (Isaiah 61:1-2a) Jesus chose this text to define his ministry (Luke 4:18-19). The Year of the Lord is a time in which forgiveness flows like a river. Sometimes called Jubilee, it is a river that we stand within as stewards of the manifold grace of God, where we serve one another with whatever gifts we have received (1 Peter 4:10). May the Lord bless you with the water of life that comes through the stewardship of his relationship with people. Schedule of Opportunities CSD Worship Opportunities Monday Nights           MCTC Hagerstown Wednesday Nights     RCI/MCIH Hagerstown Friday Nights             MCIJ Jessup Saturday Nights          MCIW Jessup Pastor Bill’s "Outside" Installation May 13, Saturday at 6pm Evangelical Lutheran Church, Frederick Bible Studies Monday Nights         RCI, MCIW Tuesday Nights         MCIJ, MCIH Wednesday Nights    MCTC Speakers and Preachers If you would like a special word on freedom, grace, discipleship, volunteerism, or need pastor supply for Sunday worship, support us! Invite us to serve your needs. Call Bob :            410-233-7897 (office) Pastor Lundgren: 301-514-8473 (cell) Member Letter Pastor David Kaplan, of St. Marks Lutheran Church in Hagerstown, who helps lead the MCIH bible study with Mrs. Viola Noffsinger, has passed this letter along to us from a member and participant in the Bible study: "To the Saint Dysmas Community, The members of the Lutheran worship service, here at MCIH, would like to thank you for providing us a pastor. In doing so, you have brought to mind Hebrews 13:3: ‘Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them..’ Actions always speak louder than words. And we want you to know that your good deeds have not gone unnoticed. Pastor Lundgren’s desire to serve the Lord is apparent. His guitar playing and music sheets, with new music, are a welcomed addition to the worship service. We hope and pray that the acclimatizing process will go smoothly for him. We are also thankful for Viola Noffsinger (volunteer) who always comes to Bible study with a smile on her face. Her example of altruism brings to mind Galatians 5:22-23, ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…’ Another volunteer for whom we are thankful is Reverend Dave Kaplan. His knowledge of the Bible adds sophistication to our study. In closing, we offer prayers of thanks, and extend our gratitude to include all who have given of their resources and time to this prison ministry. Maranatha!" Darrin Ridgway, on behalf of the Lutheran members at MCIH Report from MCIH Volunteer Viola Noffsinger has provided us with the following news from the MCIH Study Group: "Bible Study at MCIH is held every Tuesday with 5 to 8 members present. We have been using the Augsburg Series with a different topic (beginning) the first Tuesday of each month. Some of those topics were the geography of the area of the New Testament, the 95 Theses, and the Augsburg Confession. The members of the study group lead the special sessions. One inmate was to have a report to Pastor Kaplan next Tuesday, April 4th (see Member Letter from Darrin Ridgway, MCIH). Do we send the newsletter to the inmates?" We most certainly do, Viola, and praise God for this Bible Study group. From the Office Manager: The Gifts of God in Psalm 23 Can you match the following phrases of Psalm 23 with the gifts of God listed below? The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters, He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anoints my head with oil. My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Gifts of God Eternity Relationship Security Supply Blessing Refreshment Guidance Healing Purpose Rest Hope Abundance Discipline Faithfulness Confidence Testing Consecration Hint: Each phrase may have more than one answer, though every phrase has a different answer. From the Mouths of Babes A six year old was overheard reciting the Lord’s Prayer at a church service: "Forgive us our trash passes, as we forgive those who passed trash against us."

The Community of St. Dysmas
5010 Briarclift Road
Baltimore, Maryland 21229-1393

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