TELL THE GOOD NEWS. ...They never stopped teaching and proclaiming the Good News. Jesus calls us to...

Transcription

1 FEBRUARY 2014 Vol. 39 No. 2 Jesus calls us to......they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the Good News Acts 5:42 TELL THE GOOD NEWS TELL is another way of describing what the apostles did when the enemies of Christ commanded them not to speak. They did not stop teaching and proclaiming the message of the resurrected Savior. THE GOOD NEWS this is what we tell! Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and offers to everyone free forgiveness and eternal life. Telling the Good News marks a person as a disciple of Jesus Christ. We care for one another when: +... we talk about Jesus with our family we invite our freinds and neighbors to Bible Study and/or Church we speak to strangers about what Jesus did for us and for them we give someone a Bible or tract we encourage young people to enter the Lord s service as we support our colleges and seminaries we support home mission work as well as missionaries, our representatives in countries around the world. Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church & Preschool, 2606 Chimney Rock Rd., Hendersonville, NC

2 Mission of the Month for February: Interfaith Assistance Ministry (IAM) Caruso Marino stocks the food pantry while Vickie and Gary Amato deliver groceries to IAM. Interfaith Assistance Ministry (IAM) is a faithbased non-profit organization providing assistance cross-section of Henderson County: 73% white; 13% In 2012, IAM served 8,594 clients, representing a to Henderson County residents for 30 years. IAM black; 9% Hispanic, and 5% other races. They are also: protects our community by providing: Poor: 85% report incomes below the Federal HOPE Poverty Level. when there is nowhere to turn, Barely surviving: 27% are employed in low FOOD paying jobs (13% fulltime, 14% part-time), when people are hungry, 45% are unemployed, 23% are disabled. WARMTH Hungry: 74% receive groceries. for families in the cold, Uninsured: 47% do not have medical insurance. MEDICATION Small families: Many single mothers with 2-3 children. when health is compromised, Young: 73% are under 50 years of age. SUPPORT Educated: 61% have a high school diploma, GED so families can help themselves. or education beyond high school. Crisis Assistance including food, clothing, heat, utilities, rent, medication and other basic needs. Coordination Of Assistance through other local human service agencies to prevent duplication of services and ensure clients receive help they need. A Hand Up: Clients are encouraged to participate in the creation of an ACTION PLAN with steps they can follow in financial and other areas to improve or develop self-sufficiency. These plans include referrals to other agencies and individual action steps required of the client such as attending Souper Sunday, February 2: Remember to a budget workshop. bring your cans of soup and other canned foods to Representative Payee Services assist persistently church on Sunday, February 2. Be sure to wrap a mentally challenged individuals with their disability $1 bill around each can with a rubber band. Our benefits and financial needs. Individuals must have an donations stock the shelves at Interfaith Assistance active, involved case manager. Ministry to feed the hungry right here in Hendersonville.

3 Service Opportunities And Jesus called them to him and said to them, You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:42-45 ESV Mount Pisgah volunteers serve the homeless at the Hendersonville Rescue Mission. Mount Pisgah Lutheran Church has been invited to serve lunch and help manage the clothing closet for the homeless and the needy at the Hendersonville Rescue Mission. Our day to serve is the fourth Thursday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. If you would like to join this team of volunteers (regular or backup), please tell Pastor Rabon. For more information, talk to Glenn Leavitt, who has been serving the homeless there for several months. Provide compassion and relief for human needs in our congregation, community, and worldwide The Prayer Shawl Ministry and the Quilt Group share the love of Christ with orphans, war refugees, earthquake and storm victims, widows, newborns, veterans, and the homeless throughout the U.S.A. and the world. Groups they serve include the VA Hospital, Pardee Hospital, the Orphan Grain Train, Lutheran World Relief, and our own congregation. Both groups welcome others to fellowship, learn, and serve together. The Quilt Group meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information, contact Jan Tharp, Marilyn Bertram or Mikki Reinicker. The Prayer Shawl Ministry Group meets the 1st Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. For more information contact Nancy Helman, Madeline Biddle, Donna Marino, or Jean Siebold. Mothers in Kyrgyzstan search through boxes of clothing and quilts from the Orphan Grain Train to keep their families warm in this poor mountainous area.

4 Our Missionaries: James Family Sri Lanka Roger James and his family arrived in Chennai, India on January 11. India is a temporary location where they will learn the Tamil language while waiting for their visas to Sri Lanka. Please pray for the James family: Thanksgiving for a safe arrival. For wisdom to serve graciously in a foreign land. For the mental capacity to learn Tamil. For visas to move to Sri Lanka. For on-going funding. Thanks from the Quilting Group Because the holiday pecan sale was such a great success, the Quilting Group will be able to purchase more supplies. All of the quilts and clothing that they so diligently craft are sent to missions like the VA Hospital, the Orphan Grain Train, Lutheran World Relief, and the needy in our own congregation. Thanks for helping to keep this compassionate outreach moving ahead. Silent Prayer Vigil If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. II Chronicles 7:14 ESV Monday, March 1: 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 2: 10:00 a.m. 5:30 p.m. Weekly Bible Studies 9:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study: The Book of Acts led by Paul Mincer 10:00 a.m. Women s Bible Study: The Book of 2 nd Samuel led by Pastor Rabon in the church library On the Mount Pisgah web site at mtpisgahlutheran.com/, you will find audio files of the Sunday sermons (may take a few minutes to load), the View newsletter (in color), and the church calendar. 8:00 a.m. Men s Bible Study: Readings from the Lectionary Series A led by Pastor Rabon at Denny s Restaurant (with breakfast). 7:00 p.m. Adult Bible Study: Concerning Spiritual Gifts at Steve & Kathy Kirchoefer s home. Call for directions.

5 Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church & Preschool Current Financial Picture For the year 2013 the Church had an operational loss of $41,240. Operating at a loss is a problem that has existed for several years. The Church has been fortunate to have had a few people remember Mt. Pisgah in their wills. Within the last 5 years this has amounted to in excess of $300,000. These remembrances have helped maintain the Church these last several years. Without these bequests we would not have remained solvent. On the positive side, this past year $53,045 has been given toward dedicated income, meaning that this money has been designated to specific purposes and cannot be used for operational expenses. Our Preschool generated income sufficient to cover all expenses in We were able to pay all operating expenses, which included a proportional amount of shared expenses, such as electricity, gas, water, etc. Expenses have been kept to a minimum. The total expenses for the Church exclusive of Preschool in 2011 were $243,565 and for 2013 they were $236,157, a decrease of $7,408. In contrast utilities in 2011 w ere $59,839 and for 2013 they were $69,969, an increase of $10,130. The Church cannot continue losing money at this rate. Even though expenses have been kept to a minimum, offerings have to be increased if the Church is to continue to remain fiscally viable. General Offerings need to increase by $4,000 a month in order for the Church to fulfill our financial commitments and responsibilities. We are asking each member to consider increasing their contribution and/or reallocating some of your dedicated contributions to general contributions. Board of Steering/Finance

6 Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church & Preschool SUN MON TUES WED THUR FRI SAT 1 2 Communion 8am Bible Classes 9:15am Communion 10:45am Choir rehearsal 3 Cards 6pm 4 Women s Bible Study 10am 5 Prayer Shawl Ministry 1pm 6 Quilters Ministry 9am Preschool Chapel 10am 7 Men s Bible Study 8 am Clear Creak HOA 6pm Evening Bible Study 7:00 pm 8 9 Worship 8am Bible Classes 9:15am Worship 10:45am Choir rehearsal 10 Ladies Guild 1pm 11 Women s Bible Study 10am Elders 6:30PM 12 Library Comm. 9:30 AM 13 Preschool Chapel 10am ECMB 6pm 14 Men s Bible Study 8 am Evening Bible Study 7:00 pm Valentine s Day Communion 8am Bible Classes 9:15am Communion 10:45am Choir rehearsal 17 President s Day 18 Women s Bible Study 10am Quilters Ministry 9am Preschool Chapel 10am Church Council 6 :30 pm 21 Men s Bible Study 8 am Evening Bible Study 7:00 pm Worship 8am Bible Classes 9:15am Worship 10:45am Choir rehearsal Women s Bible Study 10am Preschool Chapel 10am 28 Men s Bible Study 8 am Evening Bible Study 7:00 pm MOM: Souper Bowl + Interfaith Assistance Ministry (IAM)

7 FEBRUARY 1 John Frost 3 Hank Clancy 4 Bill Kruse 5 Debbie Leger 7 Colby Rabon 8 Vickie Amato 9 Peyton Alford 9 Dorthea Ver Bryck 10 Dianne Luecke 17 Brendan Keeney 17 Suzanne Reid 19 Muriel Bosker 20 Madeline Biddle 20 Mary Matthews 20 Don Ryel MARCH 3 Lyn Heiple 5 Donna Marino 8 Bob Pittman 9 Robert Biddle 13 Carole Steverson 18 Fred Kruer 18 Anita Sandrock 19 Lindsay Middleton 20 Harold Zell 22 Virginia Oversby 24 Mariana Luecke 26 Dorothy Blacker 28 Lois Schweinler 29 James Volk 20 Zachary White 21 Ivalee Rymer 24 Wally Rose Mincer 25 Russell Hurliman 25 Kay Leyrer 28 Mel Talenski

8 Mount Pisgah s got talent! Come share your talent with the Mt. Pisgah family on Shrove Tuesday, March 2. Whether your talent is singing, dancing, storytelling, acrobatics, acting, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, computer graphics, magic, photography, sewing, knitting, crocheting, quilting, crafts, gardening, or other activities, show us your skills. Tell Pastor Rabon, Paul Mincer, or Marilyn Martin how you would like to participate. If your specialty is cooking, GREAT! Bring your favorite dish to the pot-luck dinner, which starts at 6:00 p.m. The talent program begins at 7:00 p.m. Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church & Preschool 2606 Chimney Rock Road Hendersonville, NC PH FAX