The Friendly Visitor MAR 2019 - Amazon S3...tracing Jesus’ own journey to the cross. On Wednesday...
Transcript of The Friendly Visitor MAR 2019 - Amazon S3...tracing Jesus’ own journey to the cross. On Wednesday...
www.sselca.com - [email protected]
The Friendly Visitor ST. STEPHEN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH ELCA NEWSLETTER
MAR 2019
ISSUE 3
VOL 47
Get ready – it will soon be time to
spring forward.
Daylight saving time starts March 10, 2019, moving clocks ahead one hour. The official start time for the change is 2 a.m. Sunday morning, so most people conduct the annual “spring forward” ritual before they go to bed
Saturday night.
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Phone: 828-322-3211 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.sselca.com 8:00 a.m.—Worship Service 9:15 a.m.—Sunday School 10:30 a.m.—Worship Service
Pastor: The Rev. Greg Brown Administrative Assistant: Barbara Gilbert Choir Director: Brent Talley Organist: Marc Longlois Sexton: Bobby Elmore Council President: Gene Frye Council Vice President: Linda Baker Council Secretary: Kim Frankel Treasurer: Brenda Duncan
Where to find it and Who to talk to….
In this issue… Parish Leadership
3 Pastor’s Page
4 Council Minutes
6 Servants
7 Birthdays/Anniversaries
8 Calendar
9 Prayers
10 Announcements
Pastor’s Page
Dear Friends in Christ,
We’ve had an awful lot going on at church lately. In this part of the liturgical
calendar, the seasons change rapidly, and in the life of the congregation, there’s a
lot of business to attend to in the first part of a calendar year. All of the busy
parts of our lives are added to that, and quickly church can become an
afterthought.
But with the next liturgical season cresting the horizon in a few short days, now is
a good time to remember our priorities as God’s people. We’re getting ready to
begin our annual pilgrimage with Christ through the season of Lent, tracing Jesus’
footsteps from the Mount of Transfiguration to the Cross on Calvary. This
intentional journey takes time. It takes commitment. Missing parts of it leave the
story and our experience of it incomplete.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 6th
, with worship at 7pm. We continue the
journey each Sunday morning, hearing the gospel lessons from the lectionary,
tracing Jesus’ own journey to the cross. On Wednesday evenings beginning March
13th
, we’ll enjoy worship with Holden Evening Prayer and a brief reflection on the
Old Testament lessons from Sunday. We spend very little time in worship,
generally speaking, focusing on the lessons that we hear from the Hebrew
Scriptures, yet they point us directly to the One that we follow. Having a change of
pace and listening to the voices of our spiritual ancestors can help deepen our
own sense of connection to the God of Israel (and indeed, the entire cosmos).
Taking time to dig into these powerful lessons can help serve as a link to our
Sunday gospel lessons and the entire experience of worship, creating a more
cohesive structure for our worship life together throughout the whole of this new
season.
I invite you to prayerfully consider committing yourself to the discipline of Lent,
where we are called to especially pay attention to our life of prayer, fasting, and
alms-giving. We’re incredibly blessed to be able to worship together and to
journey together with Christ to his cross, where we find love, grace, and mercy
freely flowing down for each of us.
May peace be the journey,
Pastor Greg+
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St. Stephens ELCA Council
Minutes of Monthly Meeting February 10, 2019
The meeting was called to order by President Gene Frye and opened with prayer by Carol Talley. Twelve members were present.
Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Lora Huhn and seconded by Linda Baker to accept the January 2019 council minutes. Voted and
approved.
Treasurer’s Report : Copy on file
Ministry Team Reports:
Christian Education
VBS will be at SSLC ELCA July 7-11, 2019.
Congregational Life No Meeting
Evangelism
Community Fest will be held In the spring of 2020
Planning a new member breakfast on March 10, 2019
Finance No Meeting
Property
Received bid from Pringle & Son for AC for Centro Latino for $25,524. A motion was made by Corky Miller and seconded by Chuck Witherspoon to approve this project, using $25,000 in grant money that we have received for this purpose and also to approve $1000 from capital improvement to cover the remainder of the cost plus any incidental costs. Voted and approved.
The compressor in the Heating/AC unit in the narthex is out. The cost of a new unit is comparable to repair of the old unit. A motion was made by Corky Miller and seconded by Phil Barton to purchase a new unit at the cost of $1371 from Shell
Heating& Air. Funds for this would come from Capital Improvement. Voted and approved.
Social Ministry Report on File.
Worship and Music
The committee recommended that we present a project for a new sound system to the congregation during the semi-annual meeting on February 24, 2019. The committee would like to recommend that we use Larry’s Music and Sound to replace our sound system at the cost of $21,299.36. A memorial gift of $10,000 from the George Barger family would go toward this project and the congregation would need to enter into a fundraising effort to complete the cost. This will be voted on
at the congregational meeting.
Youth Report on File.
Old Business
The semi-annual meeting will be held on Sunday February 24, 2019 at 9:15AM in the Fellowship Hall. Gene Frye has contacted the City of Hickory engineer concerning improvements to the parking lot apron. The engineer is
contacting the NC DOT. The Columbaria will be dedicated on February 24, 2019. The Kitchen committee will meet with representatives from the Men’s Breakfast group to disperse of items remaining in the
hall closet. Duke Energy did an Energy Efficiency Proposal for our facility. The changes they recommended would cost $3621.54 and
should reap savings of $4967.94 per year. A motion was made by Chuck Witherspoon and seconded by Dustin Rushing to approve this project. Funds for this would come from the General Fund under the line item property/Facilities. Voted
and approved.
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New Business
Meals on Wheels has requested that we be a distribution site. Meals would be dropped off Monday through Thursday by their caterer and then picked up to be delivered to clients. Motion was made by Pastor Greg to participate and seconded by Gene Frye. Voted and approved.
The disbanded Men’s Group wishes to distribute their funds to the following: $500 seed money for a possible future Men’s group $1000 to CCM $500 to Salvation Army $500 to Hickory Soup Kitchen $500 to Centro Latino food pantry $ Remainder ($1140.97) to kitchen fund A motion was made by Pastor Greg and seconded by Linda Baker to distribute these funds as designated. Voted and
approved.
*Meeting Extended*
There was discussion about the need for an updated and more user friendly software system for our administrative, financial and social media needs. A motion was made by Pastor Greg and seconded by Corky Miller to purchase the Church 360 cloud based program. The cost is $1725 per year plus a one time start up fee of $597. The current system costs $1421 per year. Voted and approved.
We need better lighting for the picnic shelter/back parking lot. The property committee will investigate options. A motion was made by Chuck Witherspoon and seconded by Kim Long to approve the use of the Fellowship Hall for the
Red Cross Blood drive on the following dates: 2/11, 4/15, 6/10 plus one TBA. Voted and approved.
*Meeting Extended*
Lenten services with meals will be on the following dates: 3/13 open,3/20 Women’s Ministry,3/27 open,4/3 Church council and 4/10 Youth
Approved the use of the chapel and fellowship hall for a Via De Cristo gathering on May 4, 2019.
A motion was made by Linda Baker and seconded by Kim Frankel to adjourn the meeting. Voted and approved.
The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Gene Frye, President
Kim Frankel, Secretary
Reminders: Council retreat and business meeting March 10, 2019 after the 10:30 service.
Copies of the Treasurer’s report and Ministry team reports are available upon request from the church council secretary.
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GREETER—8:00 LAY READER—8:00 NURSERY– 8:00
3 Tiffani Bolick Elaine Frye Cathy Ollis 10 Ann Kraft Marge Chandler Sharon Miller 17 Regina Reece Gene Frye Regina Reece 24 Cathy Fox Brent Talley Cathy Ollis 31 ONE SERVICE
WORSHIP ASSISTANT— 10:30 ACOLYTE—10:30 NURSERY - 10:30
3 Cathy Baker Alyssa Corpening Lora Huhn 6 Brenda Duncan Katie Ramsey 10 Vickie Eckard Kara Ramsey Elisabeth Mauck 17 Robert Ollis Henley Huhn Barbara Gilbert 24 Tiffani Bolick Mia Sexton Carolyn Haas/Kara R. 31 Brenda Duncan Katie Ramsey Pat Patton
LAY READER—10:30 COMMUNION ASSISTANT- 10:30
3 Cathy Baker Judy Fincannon & Carol Talley 6 Brenda Duncan 10 Phil Barton 17 Loyd Hoke
24 Carol Talley 31 Brenda Duncan
SOUND CONTROL - 10:30 ALTAR GUILD
3 Chuck Witherspoon Helen Miller & Billie McMahan 6 10 Chad Putnam 17 Bruce Godfrey 24 Steve Baker 31 Greg Deitz USHERS
*Kim Long, Kim Frankel, Cathy Ollis, Betty Ann Crump, Carla Tucker, Gloria Huffman, Peggy Hoke
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Servants of the Lord
Celebrations!
Lifting up those who celebrate
this month…
Birthdays Anniversaries
1 Jacky Baker, Harry Reep 8 Wayne & Kim Long
4 Philip White 24 Leland & Melissa
7 Colton Sexton Witherspoon
8 Jackson & Reagan Brown 27 Corky & Sharon Miller
9 Taytum Godfrey
10 June Yount
13 Sherrill Cooper-Hollar
15 Peggy Hoke
18 Tammy Falcone
20 Bruce Bolch, Jenny Eckard
21 Jacob Scott
24 Luther Hathcock, Chuck Witherspoon,
Paul Yount
25 Leland Witherspoon
27 Sukie Rushing
31 Marc Longlois, Elisabeth Mauck
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Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday 1
Saturday
2
3 8 Worship -Chapel 9:15 Childrens Music 9:15 SS & B Care 9:30 Children’s SS 10:30 Worship - Sanctuary
4 7 Sarah Circle-CR
5 10 Mary Circle-CR 4-6 ESL-FH 7 Men’s BBall
6 6-7 ESL-Classroom 7 ASH WEDNESDAY Service
7 7 Men’s BBall
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9 8 CHURCH WORKDAY
10 8 Worship -Chapel 9 New Member Bkfst - CR 9:15 Childrens Music 9:15 SS & B Care 9:30 Children’s SS 10:30 Worship - Sanctuary 12 Council - Lunch & Retreat
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12 4-6 ESL-FH 7 Men’s BBall 7 Creative Christians
13 5-6 Lenten Supper 6 Lenten Service 6:30 Centro Latino - FH 6:30 Handbells 6:45 Chancel Choir
14 7 Men’s BBall
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1-5 Krystal Sharpe - FH
17 8 Worship -Chapel 9:15 Childrens Music 9:15 SS & B Care 9:30 Children’s SS 10:30 Worship - Sanctuary
18 2 Good Cheer- Trinity Village
19 4-6 ESL-FH 6 VBS - CR 7 Men’s BBall
20 5-6 - Lenten Supper Women’s Ministry 5:30 Christian Ed - CR 6-7 ESL-Classroom 6:30 Handbells 6:45 Chancel Choir
21 7 Men’s BBall
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24 8 Worship -Chapel 9:15 Childrens Music 9:15 SS & BC 9:30 Children’s SS 10:30 Worship - Sanctuary 2 Worship & Music 4:30 Property
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26 4-6 ESL-FH 7 Men’s BBall 7 Creative Christians
27 5-6 - Lenten Supper Congregational Life 6:30 Handbells 6:45 Chancel Choir
28 6 Evangelism CR 7 Men’s BBall
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31 9:15 Children’s Music 9:15 SS & BC 9:30 Children’s SS 10:30 ONE SERVICE Covered Dish after service
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Remember in Prayer
In Nursing Homes:
Trinity Village (Lutheran Home, Springs Road) -
Earlene Newton - #902 (Dogwood), Juanita Deitz - #607, Edith Icard - #608,
Ralph Baker - #406
Trinity Ridge (Mountain View) Tammy Falcone - #708
At Home: Catherine Morgan, Jay Lee Eckard
Family and Friends: Janet Stinson, Leon Baker, Julie Kanipe, Ruth Dietz, Linda
Richards, Nancy Jo Brooks, Elbert Pope, Susan Hoke Lee, Anne Williams, Jackston
Brown, Vickie Morgan, Nancy & Dee Dee Pope, Viola Gross, Beverly Edwards,
Larry Cook, Mindy Herman, Frank & Pat Hedrick, Susan Shelor, Anita Isenhour,
Margie Isenhour, Mary Ann Wrenn, Joyce Travis, Frances Landaas, Mary Alice
Punch, Joyce Odell, Larry Krueger, Kim Ramsey, Deborah Sullivan, Shari Dezern
*Kendall Phillips, Bob Hall, Denis London, Bryant Waugh, Steve London, Robin
Wright, C.J. Scott, Donald Bumgarner, Mark Mitchum, Gladys Sipe, Kathy Powell,
Allan Powell, Wayne Pack, Lynn & Danny DeLancey, Ben Godfrey, Nell Davis,
David Lydel, Peggy Hedrick
Others: All those affected by the violence in our country and abroad, All who
are hungry, All who are homeless
Bereavement: The Family of Grace Vaught, The Family of Ruby Stephens, The
Family of Glen Shoaf, The Family of Frances Rockett, The Family of Bonnie Deitz,
The Family of Charles Whitener, The Family of David Huffman, The Family of
Hazel Drum, The Family of Gail Evans,
Global Missions: Stephen Bryant, Sean Bryant, Will Duncan
Armed Forces:
U.S. Navy: PO3 Logan Miller, Little Creek, VA; IS2 Chris Powell, Jacksonville FL;
CPO Matt Creech, Bahrain; UNSN Madison Patton, CA
U.S. Marines: Cpl. Andy Hance, Hawaii; Captain Nathan Carpenter; Cpt. John
Teague, Kuwait; Staff Sgt. Justin Curl, Cherry Point, NC
U.S. Air Force Nathan Bridges, (Ret.- Hungary)
Please contact the church office to make changes to this list
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The Mary Circle will meet on Tuesday, March 5th at 10 am in the
Conference Room.
***
The Sarah Circle will meet Monday, March 4th at 7 pm in the Conference
Room.
***
Friends in Faith will meet Saturday, March 16th to see Tom Sawyer at the
Green Room. Details and dinner plans to follow.
Sandy & Phil Barton are hosting.
***
The Fellowship Club will be going to Catawba for the Annual Ham Supper
on March 9th. Each person will be going at their own time.
***
I want to thank everyone for your expressed concern and the prayers
during my recent surgery and (hopefully) one and only chemo treatment.
I do thank God so much for you, my church family, here at St. Stephen’s.
Love and Peace to you! Donald
***
The Good Cheer ladies will not meet on Tuesday, March 12th, but they will
meet on Monday, March 18th at 2:00 pm at Trinity Village. We will host the
March birthday party for the residents on Dogwood Hall. Thank you, ladies!
***
At the Congregational Meeting on February 24th, the annual report was
approved. Also, it was approved to start a fundraiser for the Sanctuary
Sound System. The George Barger Family, in his memory, have generously
donated $10,000 to start the fund. We will need to raise $12,000 more.
Please consider this if you have extra that you feel led to give.
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There will be a work day on March 9th beginning at 8 am.
Some of the projects to work on are:
Coffee Corner counter top, put together kitchen table, cleaning kitchen,
cemetery markers, pressure wash and seal cement, clean/sanitize nursery,
clean out Rec Room, clean out rooms.
Need some people with a truck/ trailer to haul off items.
If you have some time and can help it would be appreciated!!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The Meals on Wheels program has asked our
church to be a pick up location for those
volunteers that deliver to nearby routes.
This will be starting on Monday, March 4th.
It will only involve hot bags and coolers for the
routes to be dropped off here and then the
delivery volunteers will come by to pick up their
meals.
They are always looking for volunteers to deliver
meals.
If you would be interested in volunteering please call Vickie Redden at 828-695-
5610
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