St. Paul Partners SPONSORED BY WILLIE HUFFMAN TO THE GLORY OF GOD

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1 MAY 2018 volume 31 number 10 St. Paul Partners A PUBLICATION OF ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH Planting Hope, Part II SPONSORED BY WILLIE HUFFMAN TO THE GLORY OF GOD Dear St. Paul Family, As the season of Easter continues and we acknowledge what it means to live as an Easter kind of people, I am pleased to report updated developments on our Planting Hope initiative. Remember that this initiative is first and foremost a spiritual process. It is God s work among us. The Planting Hope Covenant approved by Church Council for our end of the partnership asks that we the people of God of St. Paul be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit and be open to any change God is calling our congregation to explore and undertake for the sake of the gospel. Our St. Paul Planting Hope Team will be asked to fully participate in training sessions, meeting at least once a month between training sessions, faithfully work with our coach, provide regular updates to Council leadership, and provide regular updates of process and learnings with the congregation. As a partner in the process, the NC Synod s Planting Hope Team will provide tools and training, provide a trained Vitality Coach, provide funding and pray for each congregation by name. Here at St. Paul, those who have agreed to be our Planting Hope Team are: Jonathan Jarrett, Barbara Sloop, Michelle Potter, Robin Fincannon and Pastor Ralph. Karina Coulter is willing to be on stand-by to provide some perspective from a youth. I hope to commission this team during a INSIDE this issue Pastor s Article... 1 Food Drive Final Tally... 2 Donation Appreciation... 2 Birthdays & Anniversaries... 2 Thank You Notes & News... 3 WELCA & Youth Notes... 4 Council Highlights... 4 May Worship Assistants... 5 May Calendar... 6 Easter Season Message... 7 Pentecost: Wear Red!... 8 VISIT US ONLINE StPaulStartown.org MAY 2018 VOLUME 31 NUMBER 10 1

2 worship service this month and our first official training will be on Saturday May 19 th. Please be in prayer for all of this as we seek the Spirit s guidance to move forward as a congregation and a synod under this year s ELCA theme, We Are Church Together. I look forward to being with you as we plant hope all while fulfilling our mission to Witness, Welcome, Worship and Work in the name of our Lord. Yours in Christ, Pastor Ralph Our Christian sympathy and hope in the resurrection promises is extended to Kathy Frye and family upon the death of her brother-in-law, Mr. John Ferguson in Michigan last month. Our Christian sympathy and hope in the resurrection promises is extended to Gail Blackburn and family upon the death of her brother-in-law, Mr. George Herman last month. May 3 May 4 May 8 May 12 May 16 May 22 May 24 May 25 May 3 May 20 May 22 May 29 Morgan Lane Betsy Lindler Evelyn Sharkey Natalie Lail Paul Pero Wade Lail Adam Fincannon Katherine Thompson Pastor Ralph & Mary Kraft Danny & Sundee Southers Richard & Gail Blackburn David & Donna Miller Final Tally Although the actual pounds of food donated during our Lenten Food Drive was only 250 pounds, the St. Paul congregation donated $1, in cash. That cash was given to ECCCM who has the ability to purchase food and other household needs at drastically reduced prices. Our cash donations will result in approximately another 9730 pounds of food to help our neighbors right here in Catawba County. Let us all continue to love our neighbors as ourselves. Please Note: If we have missed your birthday or anniversary, please let the church office know so we can update our records. office@stpaulstartown.org or (828) ext. 301 Donation Appreciation The women of St. Paul WELCA and our 6 college students extend sincere appreciation for all the Student Care Package donations. The instant oatmeal, tissues, raisins and dozens of other items you dropped into the collection tubs helped pack six cartons to very top. Unless you have received such a special box, you won t know just how much these gifts from home mean to our young people. And this year we added a Study Buddy to each box. The Study Buddy is a small stuffed animal with a special message tied around its neck, praying for the students success. Again, thank you! 2

3 Dearest Family at St. Paul, Thank You! Your congregational gifts for Mission Support are critical for helping our church to proclaim the Gospel. We are church together and the synodical and churchwide expression of the church rely on this support. I m excited about the work we are doing. In the last year, we have streamlined the amount of time the average congregation is vacant, we have approved ten new candidates for ministry, we have seven congregations under development and we are helping congregations experience significant revitalization in stewardship through Stewardship for All Seasons. We can t do any of this without Mission Support. As we look forward, we have more planned, including investing more in our agencies and institutions and continuing to become a more diverse church. We are the church together. You partnership is valued and appreciated! Joyfully, Laurie Wegner NC Synod Council Member Editor s Note: A certificate of appreciation acknowledging our full benevolence payment of $12, in 2017 is posted on the bulletin board outside the office. Community Day Status The 7 th Annual Community Day is almost here. On May 5, from 11 AM to 2 PM, we will have the pleasure of hosting our Startown friends and neighbors at the Mission Property to celebrate our unique community. The hot dogs, buns, chili, slaw, condiments will be available to everyone. Local businesses are donating water, popcorn, chips and drinks. Cookies are being provided by the awesome bakers of St. Paul. Games, prizes and 4 inflatables will provide lots of fun. And live music will again be heard in the Pavilion. We still need some more volunteers to help with inflatables monitors, game table helpers, food, and clean-up. We will do some preliminary set -up on Friday, May 4 th at 3:00 PM and then plan to be at the Property on Saturday by 9:00 AM. Help us make this annual event another smile-filled and faith-focused time for everyone! Single, double or triple? Nope, we aren t dreaming about scoops of ice cream! But we are talking about crocheting! The Crochetin Cronies are continuing to gather twice a month here at St. Paul. Our next meeting is May 7 th, from 9-11 AM. All supplies and instructions (and smiles) are provided. And if you prefer knitting or some other needlecraft, then please come join us. We are all beginners and love encouraging one another in this ministry. So bring your imagination and create your own one-of-akind prayer shawl to bring comfort to someone in need. 3

4 Witnessing Through WELCA Women of St. Paul, our WELCA group is thriving and sincerely invites you to see WELCA at work, both within our Church as well as our community, state and the world. Our meetings include a devotional time, a review of the past month s activities and forward-looking planning. But, we need you! We would really like you to come and see what we accomplish in just 60 minutes. Our next meeting is May 14, 2018, from 6-7 PM. Hope to see you there! Mark Your Calendars as the Summer of 2018 is Already Shaping Up National Youth Gathering in Houston, TX Wednesday June 27 Sunday July 1, Camp Lutherock Sunday July 8 Saturday July 14, 2018 Agape Day Camp Monday July 16 Friday July 20, 2018 Kure Beach Retreat Thursday July 26 Sunday July 29, 2018 Get ready for Summer! Lutherroad Day Camp Trinity Village, Hickory, NC Ages 5-12 Brochures available in Narthex and Office Hallway The St. Paul Lutheran Church Congregation Council met on April 8, 2018 beginning at 11:20am. Devotions were led by Tom Lail; Mission Moment was led by Pastor Ralph. Motions Approved: Attendance Report March 2018 Congregation Council Meeting Minutes Treasures Report to be filed for audit Pastors Report Ministry Team Reports Items of Interest: The Planting Hope team was approved. The five team members are: Pastor Ralph Kraft, Robin Fincannon, Michelle Potter, Barbara Sloop, Jonathan Jarrett. Next meeting is scheduled for May 13at 11:30am. Meeting adjourned 12:30pm with the Lord s Prayer. Agape Day Camp - Registration Deadline, June 14th!! St. Paul Mission Campus Rising 1st-8th Grade Contact church office for Registration forms BBQ Fundraiser for Boy Scout Troop 398 Saturday, June 2nd St. Paul Lutheran Fellowship Hall $10 per plate 4

5 MONTHLY DUTIES MAY WORSHIP ASSISTANTS Liturgy The Work of the People Offered Unto God USHERS David Miller Melvin Coulter ALTAR GUILD Judy Hoke Gail Blackburn MONEY COUNTER (TELLER) Richard Blackburn Gail Blackburn SUNDAY SCHOOL TELLER Glenn Hoke COMMUNION (1ST, 3RD, 5TH) Betsy Lindler Glenda Townsend COMMUNION (2ND, 4TH) Richard Helton Wanda Helton WEEKLY DUTIES May 6 May 13 May 20 May 27 SENDER Gail Blackburn Richard Blackburn Roger Frye Ann Walker LAY READER Betsy Lindler Libby Wells Ann Walker Wanda Helton PRAYER LEADER Wanda Helton Keith Frye Gail Bowman Richard Helton ACOLYTE Cierra Lail Kathy Frye Keith Frye Savannah Lail CRUCIFER Dylan Lail Keith Frye Kathy Frye Natalie Lail CHILDREN S MESSAGE Kathy Frye Gail Bowman Wanda Helton Mary Kraft 5

6 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY pm - Girl Scout 6pm - Handbells 12pm - Pastor at 8pm - A.A. 11am-2pm Leader s Meeting 7pm - Choir LIGHT s meeting Community Day :30a - Java with Jesus 9am - Sunday School; Confirmation 10a - Worship 9am - Prayer Shawl 6pm - Cub Scouts 7pm - Boy Scouts Council Reports Deadline 5pm - Hymn Planning Team 6pm - Handbells 7pm - Choir 8pm - A.A Mother s Day 6pm - WELCA 6pm - Catawba 6pm - Handbells 8pm - A.A. 9am-3pm 8:30a - Java with Jesus Conference 6pm - Cub Scouts 7pm - Choir Planting Spring Gathering St. Stephen s 9am - Sunday School; 7pm - Boy Bethany ELCA Confirmation Lutheran, Hickory 10a - Worship 11:30a - Church Council Office Closed :30a - Breakfast 9am - Prayer Newsletter 6pm - Handbells 8pm - A.A. honoring Confirmands Shawl Deadline 10a - Worship with Rite of Confirmation 6pm - Cub Scouts 7pm - Boy Scouts 7pm - Choir :30a - Java with Jesus Memorial Day 6pm - Handbells Synod Assembly 9am - Sunday School Office Closed Begins in Raleigh, 7pm - Choir 10a - Worship 6pm - Cub Scouts NC 7pm - Boy Scouts 6

7 Jesus Prayed for You An Easter Season Reflection In the Gospel text for the seventh Sunday of Easter (John 17:6-19), Jesus prays for the disciples as his earthly journey nears its end. What was Jesus feeling as he prayed? The passionate words of his prayer demonstrate pastoral love, concern for the disciples future challenges and confidence in their preparation. Jesus knew the trouble his disciples faced, yet he didn t pray for them to ascend to heaven with him. Why not? Wouldn t that have saved his loyal followers from pain? They would have avoided persecution, but they would not have fulfilled their purpose. Instead, Jesus prays for their protection as they get ready to spread the gospel. While this reading ends with verse 19, a look forward in Scripture reveals that Jesus prayer extends beyond the disciples who walked with him. He prays for future disciples who come to believe in him through the words of his first followers. This prayer extends to us today. What does it mean for Jesus to pray for us? What does it mean for Jesus to love us enough to seek our protection, to care about our challenges of sharing and living the gospel? When I think of Jesus praying for me, it strengthens my resolve to continue the journey. On days when it feels like no one sees the challenges I face, Jesus sees me. When so much in this world feels careless, Jesus cares for me. When I think of Jesus praying for me, it strengthens my resolve to continue the journey. Because I know Jesus is praying for me, I feel confident sharing the gospel. I m not certain of my abilities, but I am confident in the Spirit s power to change lives. I feel Jesus walking with me as I live out my calling. The song Somebody Prayed for Me (This Far by Faith, 246) declares: Somebody prayed for me, had me on their mind, they took some time to pray for me. The lyrics continue with my mother prayed for me, my father prayed for me and the people prayed for me. If I could add one more verse, it would be: Jesus prayed for me, had me on his mind, took some time to pray, I m so glad Jesus prayed, I m so glad Jesus prayed, I m so glad Jesus prayed for me. While I m grateful for a whole village of people who pray for me, the epitome of it all is that Jesus loves me enough and cares enough about my life to take the time to pray for me. 7

8 St. Paul Lutheran Church 3761 Startown Rd Newton, NC Phone: (828) STAMP HERE <<Address Here>> Pentecost Worship - Sunday, May 20th, 10am Our May 20 th Worship Service will be very special and we hope you will plan to join us. In addition to celebrating the gift of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the Pentecostal Season, we will witness the confirmation of three of our young people. We have had the joy of watching them mature and grow in their faith. We will celebrate with them at a special Java with Jesus time beginning at 8:30 AM. Share with them this important day on their life s journey. And, don t forget: WEAR RED! 8