Loving Generously: Giving Ourselves One to Another

Transcription

1 St. Mark s Evangelical Lutheran Church 3216 W. Main Street P.O. BOX 550 Claremont, NC (828) St. Mark s Newsletter The Reminder September 28, 2016 Loving Generously: Giving Ourselves One to Another Worship Schedule 8:15 am Contemporary 9:20 am Sunday Brew 9:30 am Sunday School 10:30 am Traditional October 2 Twentieth Sunday October 9 Twenty-first Sunday October 16 Twenty-second Sunday Generosity Sunday Breakfast between services in the Family Life Center October 23 Twenty-third Sunday October 30 Twenty-fourth Sunday The Loving Generously Stewardship series is founded on a firm belief that storytelling is uniquely powerful and universally human. Stories possess a power to reach deeply into our souls, to implant truths that may be difficult to receive in any other way, and to provide patterns of life for us to emulate. What does it mean to love fully and generously? There is a good deal of focus on the poor in this Loving Generously series. We can be generous relationally, through forgiveness, reconciliation and authentic community, because Christ was generous to us. We can love the unlovable because He showed us how. We can invite the least to our dinners and banquets because He invited us to His table. Join us this Sunday for week three of this five week series. Week One: Banquet: Tearing up the Place Cards that Separate Us Scripture: Proverbs 14:31; 19:17; 22:9; James 2:1-9; Luke 14:1,7-14 Jesus tore down the barriers that separated people. Who are you inviting into your life? Week Two: For Sale: Blessing vs. Burden Scripture: Proverbs 15:16; 16:8; 3:27; 11:24-25; 1 Timothy 6:7-10; Matthew 19:16-22 As we give ourselves to God, we give ourselves to one another. What do you own and what owns you? Week Three: Kind: Loving Those Who are Different from Me Scripture: Deuteronomy 15:7-12; Galatians 6:7-10; Matthew 25:31-46 We are called to a love that crosses barriers: social, economic, cultural, and ethnic. Week Four: Called: Sharing Christ s Suffering and the Suffering of Others Scripture: Deuteronomy 15:7-11; Philippians 3:8-10; John 15:12-19 Loving like Jesus can lead to persecution. Week Five: One to Another: Being United with Christ to show His Love Scripture: Deuteronomy 10:12-22; Romans 12:1-3, 9-17; Matthew 7:1-5; 7, Giving yourself to loving everyone God puts in your path. Generosity Sunday Brunch is October 16 between Worship Services Everyone is invited for brunch between worship services on Sunday, October 16, in the Family Life Center. We hope you will be able to join us! 1

2 Youth Trip to Scarowinds, October 30 Plans are underway for a youth trip to Scarowinds the evening of October 30. Kerri and Kelly Nash will chaperone. Support Our Church at Claremont Daze Visit St. Mark s Booth at Claremont Daze on Saturday. Volunteers are still needed. Please contact Cathy Sigmon ( ) to sign up. The Praise Team performs on St. Mark s stage from 9-10 am on Saturday. Come out and sing along! Installation of Rev. Josh Tucker October 2 at 4 pm in Waxhaw, NC All are invited to the installation of the Rev. Josh Tucker as Pastor of Amazing Grace, Waxhaw, NC and Crosslands, Indian Land, SC. The installation will take place at 4 pm on Sunday, October 2 at Amazing Grace Lutheran, 416 W North Main Street, Waxhaw, NC. A reception will follow at Crossroads Lutheran, 8511 Shelley Mullis Road, Indian Land, SC. The deans from each conference (one NC and one SC) will install Pastor Tucker to both congregations during the same service. Clergy and other rostered leaders are invited to vest and the color of the day is green. School is out the following day so everyone can sleep in after the adventure. Please contact the church office to register. Youth tickets are $34.99 ($21 savings over gate price). Trunk or Treat, October 31 at 6 pm Each year on October 31, we celebrate All Hallows Eve or Halloween at St. Mark s by holding our annual Trunk or Treat in the back parking lot beginning at 6 pm. Plans are underway again for this year s Trunk or Treat. Please consider decorating your trunk this year and/or donating individuallywrapped bags of candy to be given out by the treaters after depleting their own supplies. The Jack-O-Lantern pumpkin receptacles have been placed at each entrance. Thank you for your willingness to support St. Mark s annual Trunk or Treat! One derful Wednesdays begin at 5:15 pm One derful Wednesdays will begin with a meal in the Family Life Center served from 5:15 5:55 pm. The suggested donation is $5 adults and youth (12 & up) and $3 for children. October Menus: 10/05 Pork Loin, baked apples, parmesan noodles, salad, dessert 10/12 Taco salad, dessert 10/19 Grilled chicken, roasted red potatoes, green beans, rolls, dessert 10/26 Chili, salad, and cornbread, dessert Following dinner, from 6-7 pm, there will be recreation, music and Bible lessons youth and children. Adults will meet in the lounge for Graced Pathways For Spiritual Growth III. This study examines and explores the graced pathways or disciplines that will help us grow in our Christian life. All are welcome to attend! 2

3 Fall ThankOffering will be Received on Sunday, October 2 The Congregation Council has designated this offering for building maintenance and repairs at St. Mark s. Pictorial Directories have arrived! The directories are initially reserved for members who had their photos made. Please check the table near Sunday Brew for your copy. The books are in alphabetical order with the names in the lower right corner of the front page. Thanks to all of the volunteers who made this possible! Women of the ELCA Board Meeting will be October 4 at 7 pm in Sunday School classroom. Contact Tamarah Hefner ( ) with questions. Women s Bible Study is October 18 at 11 am in the lounge. Tina Simmons will lead. All are invited for lunch following the meeting with the Younger than Springtime group. For more information about Women of the ELCA: Photos for Veterans Presentation Plans are being made for slide presentation honoring our veterans during worship on Sunday, November 13. Please submit photos, new and old, to the church office of our veterans, both living and deceased, especially in uniform. Be sure to include a note with photos explaining who, where, and when. Feel free to include stories as well. If you wish to submit a photo but don t want leave it, the church office staff can scan it and return it to you while you wait. (churchoffice@stmarksclaremont.org) NC Women of the ELCA: Women of the ELCA: Altar Flowers Dates Please reserve your dates for this year s altar flowers. To reserve a Sunday, please contact Maebelle Sigmon at (828) Then contact the office (churchoffice@stmarksclaremont.org or ) to provide the dedication for the bulletin. The cost of flowers is $54. You can take them home after the worship services. UPCOMING DATES 10/02 Charles Pope 10/09 Open 10/16 Open 10/23 Open Volunteer of the Year Award for Eric Sigmon The Historical Association of Catawba County recognized its 2016 volunteers during the annual meeting on August 28. Among those honored were Eric Sigmon for his volunteer work with the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge. 3

4 Stewards of God s Love Spotlight on Learning Team: Education, Youth, & Family Ministry DOWN Purpose: To serve the mission of the congregation to proclaim the gospel and to make disciples by engaging youth and families in the congregation through parish education and youth activities OUT IN DOWN, IN, AND OUT: LOVING GOD AND LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR When we practice stewardship in this way we are making the sign of the cross. God makes the first vertical line DOWN; we follow by moving IN to the center and then OUT to our neighbors on either side both near and far. We form a cross with our lives and through our faith, we are marked with the cross of Christ forever. excerpted from ELCA resource Stewards of God s Love, A Year-round Guide to Stewardship in your Congregation. OUT Team Functions: Sunday School (2-18): To plan and oversee all educational activities for children and youth, primarily on Sunday mornings. Sunday School (Adult): To plan and oversee all educational activities for adults, primarily on Sunday mornings. Seasonal Events: To plan and lead a Vacation Bible School, a Children s Christmas Program, and Rally Sunday. Confirmation Ministry: To work with the Pastor and Youth and Family Minister to provide for, plan, teach, and review the educational ministry for our youth preparing for confirmation. Youth Gathering: To plan and to work with Senior High Youth to attend the ELCA Triennial National Youth Gathering. Youth Events: To plan, support, and participate with the Youth and Family Minister in leading/chaperoning youth events for all ages. Intergenerational Events: To plan and support the Youth and Family Minister in providing at least two intergeneration events for the congregation each year. Learning Chair: Judy Carpenter Liaison: Kerri Nash, Scott Ramsey Members: Christina Carpenter, Judy Smyre, Tanya Stephenson, Janet Sigmon, Aaron Carpenter, Melanie Sigmon, Maria Wright Sponsored by the St. Mark s Support Team: Over the course of the year, you will hear from one of the Ministry Teams in the second edition of each month in the newsletter, and then briefly as we gather for worship on the fourth Sunday of the month. The assignments for 2016 into 2017 are: October: Finance & Support Teams; November: W-ELCA & Quilting Mission; December: Congregation Care; January 2017 : Global Missions Team; February: Witness Team; March: Property Team 4

5 CONFIRMATION MINISTRY: FAITH ALIVE THE LORD S PRAYER AT LUTHERIDGE Korbin Nash, Ethan Campbell, Joseph Carpenter, Kody Nash, Lindsey Elrod, and Julia Sigmon attended Faith Alive The Lord s Prayer at Lutheridge last weekend. Special thanks to Christine Carpenter for chaperoning the trip and for taking photos. Thanks to our confirmands for participating! 5

6 FINANCIAL UPDATE Memorial & Honoraria Gifts to St. Mark s In Memory Of: In Honor Of: None Received None Received Memorial & Honoraria Gifts to St. Mark s Preschool In Memory Of: In Honor Of: None Received None Received Memorial & Honoraria Gifts to Alec Sigmon Memorial Camp Scholarship Fund In Memory Of: Jimmy M. Sigmon by Melissa & Bill Fields Honoring Our First Responders: Police, EMT, and Firemen Please take a moment to sign the card in the Eastern Alcove (next to the Sunday brew table) on Sunday mornings. The Witness & Social Ministry team will serve lunch for local fire, police, and emergency workers at some point during the month of October in honor of God s Work Our Hands. The card will be presented to the Emergency Responders at that time. Details to follow. In Honor Of: Carolyn S. Sigmon by Melissa & Bill Fields Worship Attendance: 9/ / Ministry Financial Update as of August 31, 2016 Reported as of August 31 Year to Date General Fund Receipts $30, $229, Expenses (includes payable) $30, $243, Thanks for the Food Donations Thank you for your donation of 88 lbs. of food to the ECCCM. Your donation is truly making an impact in our community. In 2015, food accounted for 87.8% of all services provided. With the recent expansion of our Student Hunger Prevention Program (SHPP) to all Newton-Conover City Schools and Catawba County Schools, the need for our food is at an all time high. The SHPPP is a yearlong program which provides families with schoolaged children nutritious food for an entire year, ensuring young minds receive the nutrition they need to be successful. The morning of the expansion, we received 40 applications, demonstrating the great need in Catawba County. Through your generosity, we can meet this need. Thank you for partnering with us as we work to ensure no child in Catawba County goes hungry! Rev. Robert Silber, Executive Director Opportunity to Serve Catawba County Backpack Mission: To provide weekend nourishment to students in Catawba County who are hungry on the weekends. The Program provides each child with dinners, lunches, breakfasts, and snacks each weekend throughout the school year. St. Mark s team will fill backpacks on Thursdays during November. It takes 45 minutes to pack 82 bags. If you would like to help, please contact Rocky Miller (lanemiller@charter.net or ). St. Mark s provides the funds to purchase November s food, plus two other months, during the school year. The cost is approximately $1400 for a month. Cargo Transporters donated $750. Donations are still needed. If you would like to contribute, please use the Backpack envelopes and place donations in the offering plate. 6

7 Run with Team Rita in the P.J. Stanley 5K Run The P.J. Stanley Memorial Scholarship fund provides tuition assistance to graduating high school and community college students pursuing careers in Law Enforcement, EMS, Rescue, and Fire fields at either Catawba Valley Community College or Mitchell Community College. For added interest to St. Mark s members, a team is being put together to help raise money for the P.J. Stanley Memorial Scholarship Fund while also supporting one of our own Rita Busbee, as she continues her fight with lung cancer. Team Rita will show their support for Rita by participating in the 5K or 1 mile fun walk. Being an educator herself, Rita was excited about the use of the funds in her honor to be used in memory of P.J. Each team member will wear a special Team Rita shirt during the event while also contributing to the P.J. fund. The registration of $25 entry fee (all money goes to the scholarship fund) can be submitted online at cityofclaremont.org or in person at City Hall. MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE FALL EVENTS Stewardship Loving Generously (Through 10/16) One derful Wednesdays (Through 11/16) Claremont Daze (9/30-10/1) NC W-ELCA Retreat in Blowing Rock (9/30-10/2) Fall ThankOffering (10/2) W-ELCA Board Meeting (10/4) Generosity Sunday Breakfast between Services (10/16) Women s Bible Study (10/18) Younger than Springtime (10/18) Youth Trip to Scarowinds (10/30) Trunk or Treat (10/31) All Saints Sunday (11/6) Congregational Meeting - One Service (11/13) Honoring our Veterans (11/13) Women of the ELCA Thankoffering (11/20) Community Thanksgiving Service at Baptist Church (11/20) The P.J. Stanley Memorial 5K and Fun Run will be held on Saturday, October 15, at 8:30 am at the Claremont Park. All the funds go into the scholarship fund. Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded each semester to students going into emergency services careers. To be part of Team Rita and get your race day T- shirt, contact Sandy Sherrill ( or sandybs310@yahoo.com) by October 8. In Sympathy To Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones Janet Matheny (9/6), niece of Carolyn Pendergrass Milton H. Cline (9/9), brother of Marie Deal Rena Marlow (9/9), sister of Cathy Sigmon Member Directory Addition Donna Deal Sigmon ( ) 505 2nd St Pl NE, Unit B-4, Conover, NC

8 St. Mark s Lutheran Church P.O. Box West Main Street Claremont, NC RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED NON-PROFIT ORG. Permit #2 U.S. Postage P A I D Claremont, NC St. Mark s Newsletter The Reminder CHURCH STAFF Pastor Haddock Senior Pastor gsh.elca@gmail.com ( ) Pastor Christ Associate for Pastoral Care paulernestchrist@yahoo.com ( ) Lisa Underwood Church Secretary churchoffice@stmarksclaremont.org ( ) Karen Hunt Financial Secretary finsec@stmarksclaremont.org ( ) Randyl Abernathy Preschool Director stmarkspreschool@charter. net ( ) Jordan Moretz Praise Team Leader jordanbmoretz@yahoo.com ( ) Myra Long Chancel Choir Director/Organist longmyra@ymail.com ( ) 8 Newsletter Mailings/Congregation Council Meeting The next mailing of the St. Mark s Reminder will be on October 12. Please have information that needs to be in the newsletter to the church secretary by Thursday, October 6. The Congregation Council Meeting will be on Monday, October 17, at 6pm in the Lounge. Leaders, please have your team reports to the church office by Thursday, October 13. OFFICE HOURS Monday - Thursday, 8:30am - 4:00pm Friday 8:30am - 12:30pm Vol. 6 No