Joy Reigns Makes a Difference in Annapolis Area

If you notice a deluge of yellow in the Annapolis area this Sunday, you won’t be seeing things. Members and friends of Joy Reigns Lutheran Church in Edgewater will don bright yellow shirts and take on several service projects throughout the area. It is all part of “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday, created by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Through the “God’s Work. Our Hands.” project, the ELCA encourages its members and friends to restore and reconcile communities at home and around the world. Some 58,000 people across the country gathered last year to serve communities in ways that share the love of God near and far.

Here in the Annapolis area, over 60 members of the Joy Reigns team will join others around the country to show their community spirit in a variety of ways, by rolling up their sleeves to improve Jonas Green Park, making cookies for The Lighthouse Shelter, providing food and support for animals at the SPCA, and working in the Joy Thrift shop. They also will prepare personal care kits that will be sent to Lutheran World Relief to distribute where the global needs are greatest.

According to Rev. Sara Yotter of Joy Reigns, “Our goal and hope is to make the love of Christ known to our neighbors through our serving. We want to make a difference and do something that matters to help others. Our faith directs us to that that, not out of guilt or hopes of getting to heaven, but out of a profound sense of joy. Joy in knowing that the grace of God is for the whole world.”

The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with about 4 million members in nearly 10,000 congregations across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of “God’s work. Our hands,” the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA’s roots are in the writings of the German church reformer, Martin Luther.

Rev. Yotter explained that Joy Reigns is an ELCA church that shares a living, daring confidence in God’s grace. For the congregation, this faith comes through the good news of Jesus Christ, providing the freedom and the courage to wonder, discover and boldly participate in what God is up to in the world. Liberated by faith, Joy Reigns is committed to embracing everyone as a whole person—questions, complexities and all.

Joy Reigns Lutheran Church is located at 35 Mayo Road in Edgewater. The Rev. Sara Yotter was recently installed at pastor of the congregation, which welcomes all people to worship at 9:15 or 10:30 on Sunday mornings. Sunday School is also available for all ages at 9:15. For more information about Joy Reigns, please call 410-266-5691 or visit the church website.