Church Council

Scott Allen Perkins, a dispatcher, trumpet player and church leader, died Monday at University of Maryland Medical Center of a heart attack. The Abingdon resident was 41. Born in Baltimore, Mr. Perkins graduated from Edgewood High School in 1980. He worked as a dispatcher for Caton's Plumbing, Heating and Cooling. He enjoyed volunteering with Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, playing the trumpet at amateur events and serving as president of the Church Council at Lord of Life Lutheran Church.

Joseph Charles "Shorty" Thompson, a retired printer who had been an active member of Centennial-Caroline Street United Methodist Church for more than 60 years, died Feb. 9 of complications from gastric surgery at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. He was 79. The son of a truck driver and a homemaker, Mr. Thompson was born and raised in East Baltimore. When he was 14, he was hit by a streetcar, which caused a loss of hearing in one ear and partial amputation of a foot. "He made many trips to the hospital and went through a lot. However, he'd run and play with his sisters and brothers and never let it become an impediment to him," said a daughter, Joanne Thompson Kess of Woodlawn.

25 years agoOn Sunday night, some time after the church council meeting and Aid Society left, thieves entered St. Peter's Church. Two fire extinguishers, which the church council had recently installed, were used to spray everything in sight. Empty beer bottles and broken dishes littered the floor. An antique clock which hung on the wall was stolen as was the antique Communion set. Both of the above had been in the original stone church many years ago and were of great sentimental value to the congregation.

Anne Arundel County's churches should join together under an umbrella group to more efficiently assist the needy, according to a prominent county leader who has proposed creating a church council to pool resources. Eugene Peterson, who represents the Laurel area on the county Board of Education, said in a recent interview that the proposed Ecumenical Church Council of Greater Anne Arundel County would be "a place where people could exchange information on ideas and programs that work.

Elsie Irene Zeuch, a homemaker and churchwoman, died Tuesday of Parkinson's disease at the Augsburg Lutheran Home. The former longtime Anneslie resident was 91. A member of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in East Baltimore for 70 years, Mrs. Zeuch served as the church's secretary from 1969 to 1989. She taught Sunday and vacation Bible schools and served on the church council. She also held positions on the local, state and national boards of the American Lutheran Church. A lifelong concern for the needy led Mrs. Zeuch to develop a program called "Love Loaves" that was later adopted by several hundred congregations and helped feed the hungry.

John Melvin Fair, a retired railroad employee and church organist, died Sunday at Union Memorial Hospital of complications after surgery. The lifelong Hampden resident was 81 and had lived on West 33rd Street since 1950. A 1942 graduate of City College, he joined the Army Air Forces that year and served in requisitions for 3 1/2 years in the Pacific. He attained the rank of staff sergeant and later was an active member of Disabled American Veterans. Mr. Fair was an office manager and rate analyst for the Western Maryland Railway and successor companies Chessie System and CSX, from which he retired in 1981.

Services for Ralph K. Huber, a retired network operations manager for the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co., will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at Christ Lutheran Church, 701 S. Charles St.Mr. Huber, who was 71 and lived on Ruxway Road in Ruxton, died Sunday at the Manor Care Towson Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of complications to a stroke.He retired eight years ago after working for the telephone company for 42 years. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.Born in Baltimore, he was a graduate of the Polytechnic Institute and studied engineering at the Johns Hopkins University.

Tackling an issue that threatens to splinter many mainline Protestant churches in America, the chief legislative body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will decide this week on whether to ordain homosexuals in committed relationships and to continue allowing clergy to bless same-sex unions. Although embracing diversity has been a priority in the church in recent years, leaders say they will be more focused on preserving unity as they answer the question of whether homosexuality is a sin according to Scripture or a natural condition.

A memorial service for Carol Virginia Easter, a retired hair stylist who was active in church work, will be held at 11 a.m. today at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1609 Kurtz Ave., Lutherville.Mrs. Easter, who was 69 and lived on Myamby Road in Baynesville, died Saturday at a hospital in Mount Pleasant, Pa., while visiting relatives.She retired about 20 years ago after working for about 10 years at the beauty shop in the Hecht Co. store in Northwood.In 1942, she joined the Women's Army Corps, and in 1945 received a medical discharge after becoming ill.Born in Baltimore and reared in the Govans area, the former Carol Virginia Pettingill was a 1939 graduate of Eastern High School.

Stanton L. Bien, former owner of a Baltimore shoe store and thoroughbred horse enthusiast, died from complications of an ulcer Oct. 11 at Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care. He was 75 and lived in Lutherville. Mr. Bien was born in Baltimore and raised in Forest Park. After graduating from Forest Park High School in 1945, he served briefly in the Air Force until he was discharged after suffering injuries in an accident. He was the owner of Levie's Shoes in the 1800 block of Pennsylvania Ave., a business that had been established by his grandfather in 1900.

Turkey, homemade brownies and a piece of fresh fruit have been staples at Carpenter's Kitchen in Mount Vernon for nearly 25 years. They'll be on the menu one last time Saturday for Christmas dinner, the final meal for the weekly program that serves the city's needy. The program is one of the few in Baltimore that offers free hot meals on Saturday nights when many soup kitchens are closed, and has seen its regulars increase to nearly 300 in tough economic times. But Carpenter's Kitchen in the basement of Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, is having economic problems of its own. Organizers say they're reluctantly shutting it down, citing a steady, long-term decline in church contributions.

John Melvin Fair, a retired railroad employee and church organist, died Sunday at Union Memorial Hospital of complications after surgery. The lifelong Hampden resident was 81 and had lived on West 33rd Street since 1950. A 1942 graduate of City College, he joined the Army Air Forces that year and served in requisitions for 3 1/2 years in the Pacific. He attained the rank of staff sergeant and later was an active member of Disabled American Veterans. Mr. Fair was an office manager and rate analyst for the Western Maryland Railway and successor companies Chessie System and CSX, from which he retired in 1981.

OCEAN CITY -- Forty years ago, the owner of nearly 340 acres of woods, marsh and fields just across Assawoman Bay from this bustling beach resort decreed that the land should be spared from development until the last farmer working the corn and soybean fields had died. That time has come. The waterfront property that seems a little like Brigadoon and overlooks the Route 90 bridge is to be auctioned Saturday on behalf of three beneficiaries, all local churches. Developers are practically swooning.

Tackling an issue that threatens to splinter many mainline Protestant churches in America, the chief legislative body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will decide this week on whether to ordain homosexuals in committed relationships and to continue allowing clergy to bless same-sex unions. Although embracing diversity has been a priority in the church in recent years, leaders say they will be more focused on preserving unity as they answer the question of whether homosexuality is a sin according to Scripture or a natural condition.

A Sudanese prelate touring the United States to gather support for peacemaking efforts in Africa's largest country brought his message to fellow church leaders and volunteers in New Windsor last week. The Rev. Haruun Ruun, executive secretary of the New Sudan Council of Churches, spoke passionately of refugees, aid and stalled peace talks. He wove geography and economics into a brief history of the war that has devastated Sudan for more than 20 years for an audience at the Brethren Service Center, a faith-based, international relief organization in the Carroll County town.

A Sudanese prelate touring the United States to gather support for peacemaking efforts in Africa's largest country brought his message to fellow church leaders and volunteers in New Windsor last week. The Rev. Haruun Ruun, executive secretary of the New Sudan Council of Churches, spoke passionately of refugees, aid and stalled peace talks. He wove geography and economics into a brief history of the war that has devastated Sudan for more than 20 years for an audience at the Brethren Service Center, a faith-based, international relief organization in the Carroll County town.

Trinity Lutheran Church has been part of Anna Gorsuch's life since the day she was born."I've always been a member of the church," she said. "I joined when I was baptized by Pastor (William) Seabrook athome."From serving on the church council to teaching Sunday School, the68-year-old has made the church a central part of her life.In the early 1970s, Gorsuch became the first woman to serve on Trinity's church council. For the next eight years, she attended every weekly meeting save one, and a woman has served on every council since, she said.

A minister who saw his congregation double in size at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Hampstead has left to become assistant pastor at a larger church in Lancaster, Pa.The Rev. John M. Smaligo moved last week to Lancaster, where he will begin duties July 1 as associate pastor of the 1,800-member St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church."

Scott Allen Perkins, a dispatcher, trumpet player and church leader, died Monday at University of Maryland Medical Center of a heart attack. The Abingdon resident was 41. Born in Baltimore, Mr. Perkins graduated from Edgewood High School in 1980. He worked as a dispatcher for Caton's Plumbing, Heating and Cooling. He enjoyed volunteering with Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, playing the trumpet at amateur events and serving as president of the Church Council at Lord of Life Lutheran Church.