THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION

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1 Serving the community since 1875 Established 1876 Martin Luther The Great Reformer TRUMPET OCTOBER 2017 Newsletter St. Matthew s Lutheran Church 201 N. Piedmont Avenue, Kings Mountain, NC Church: Fax: smlc@carolina.rr.com Website: _ THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum (The Word of the Lord Endures Forever) is the motto of the Lutheran Reformation, a confident expression of the enduring power and authority of God s Word. Freed and Renewed in Christ is the theme being used by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America s observance of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation that began when Martin Luther, an Augustine monk, posted the Ninety-five theses in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31, These Theses encouraged people to question the teachings and dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, which in turn led to the movement now known as the Protestant Reformation. The resulting debate about Christian teaching and practice led to changes that have shaped the course of Western Christianity for almost 500 years. The Reformation offers to Christians everywhere a liberating way of listening to and sharing the word of God. At the heart of these wide-reaching changes was a deep conviction that God s mercy or grace in Jesus is given freely to all. It teaches that Christ's life flows through faith into a life of service to the neighbor and offers the promise of God's love that makes possible a life of "living, daring confidence in God's grace. ELCA congregations, members, synods and affiliated institutions are observing the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in a variety of events and activities. The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA, along with other prominent Lutherans, will host a commemoration of the 500 th anniversary October 31 at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation in Washington, D.C. The theme is "Looking Back and Called Forward," and will be available online via livestream for all to watch. St. Matthews we will be celebrating with the following events/worship opportunities. Please take advantage of these occasions to commemorate the 500 th Anniversary of the Reformation! A free movie about Martin Luther will be shown at the Kings Mountain Little Theatre on Sunday, October 22, at 2:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend and watch Luther and The Reformation. The 500th anniversary of the Reformation is not only a time for reflection on the rich history of this church, but also a chance to look forward to what lies ahead for all of us. It s an exciting time to be Lutheran! Rick Steves Luther and the Reformation is a wonderful resource for all of us to better understand our Lutheran roots and help us in our continued journey of understanding the Gospel. Join us for this free movie special. Bring someone with you!

2 You are invited to a community Reformation hymn-sing to be held jointly by Resurrection, St. Matthew s, and Central UMC on Saturday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Matthew s Lutheran Church. Be sure to invite your neighbors, friends and family to attend with you! Join us for our annual Joint Reformation Service and Meal on Reformation Sunday October 29-11:00 a.m. at Resurrection Lutheran Church Join in the celebration with singing of hymns, scripture reading, and special music by the joint choirs of Resurrection and St. Matthew s churches. (no Sunday school) Afterwards we will gather together for a covered dish meal. Please bring your favorite vegetables, casseroles, salads and desserts. The meat and beverages will be furnished. If you have someone to add to the prayer list please contact the church office. Names will be left on this prayer list for three weeks, then removed unless we are made aware of an ongoing need. Concerns: Doris McGinnis (recuperating from hip replacement surgery) Those affected by hurricanes, earthquakes, and fires All celebrations of the 500 th Protestant Reformation Homebound: Kathleen Bridges, Meta Kopruch, and Jackie Queen. Thelma Houser (mother of Charles Houser) Those in assisted living/nursing homes: Joyce Howell, Cindy Campbell (mother of Beth Suber) Dear St. Matthew s, Kings Mountain Crisis Ministry wants to say thank you for the many times you have helped to fill the food pantry with your donations. As the shelves begin to look low, the Lord sends you in, with a love offering of just what is needed. His timing is always perfect. Thank you for your faithful giving. Items collected for HOSPICE on God s Work. Our Hands. Sunday were delivered by Karen and Vinny Hollenberger. Thank you to everyone who donated items for this ministry. Faith is not about everything turning out OK; Faith is about being OK no matter how things turn out.

3 Your gifts are needed to help those affected by recent hurricanes in the United States. Your support through Lutheran Disaster Response will bring hope and healing to those who have been displaced. Make checks out to St. Matthew s and put hurricane on the memo line. Place on the offering plate on Sunday or mail to the church at 201 N. Piedmont Avenue, Kings Mountain NC Highlights of September 10, 2017 Church Council Meeting were not available as of the printing of this newsletter. The next Church Council meeting is Sunday, October 8, at 8am in the conference room. Contact Robert Wilson by Monday, October 2, if you wish to have an item added to the council agenda. His phone number is or him at carolinateacher@me.com Pastor Ed requests that if you need him you call his cell phone at or text him at that number, instead of leaving a message on the church phone, which he may not receive immediately. Children and youth of all ages are invited to join us for our next EPIC Sunday, which will be announced. For more information, contact Beth Suber at or her at bsecsmom@gmail.com. Bring your journal! Confirmation Class will meet on October 22 at 1:00pm. St. Matthew s Church Council and Property Committee would like to thank everyone for their patience as we await the repairs to the sub-floor in the fellowship hall, and the installation of our new carpet. Sisters in Christ meet on the second Thursday of the month for lunch and fellowship. They will meet on October 12 at noon at the Italian Garden restaurant. All ladies of the church family are invited to come. Call Susan Buchanan at or sbuchanan@carolina.rr.com if you plan to attend so that she can make a reservation. St. Matthew s is on Facebook! If you are a Facebook user, search for and like our church page St. Matthew s Lutheran Church. YOUTH AND YOUTH LEADERS HONORED Margaret McGinnis dedicated the altar flowers on Sunday, September 17, to our youth and EPIC class members and their adult leaders (pictured below with Pastor Ed). A vase of flowers was given to Lindsay and Beth Suber and a vase was given to Tim and Chrystal (not pictured) Buchanan. We love our youth and appreciate our dedicated adults who serve as teachers and leaders!

4 A reception was held following the worship service on September 10, 2017 honoring our newest member, Martha Marty Dixon. We look forward to worshiping with her and working in God s ministry together as brothers and sisters in Christ. St. Matthew s work-day was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who attended our work-day event on Saturday, September 9. Young and old and all in-between helped to make repairs, paint, and tidy up our St. Matthew s property. Several people who were not able to come on Saturday came during the previous week and did their part to help. In total, we had thirty-three people pitch in to do their part in sprucing up the church and grounds by cleaning out the huge storage room and Sunday school rooms downstairs; cleaning the upstairs and downstairs kitchens; polishing all the woodwork in the nave including the pews and altar area; refilling pew pockets with envelopes and pencils; and sanding and painting the outside railings.. The Church Council and Property Committee express their thanks to everyone who helped in any way.

5 B = Birthday If yours is incorrect or not listed please contact the church office at or us at smlc@carolina.rr.com OCTOBER 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 17th Sunday after Pentecost 2 3 Items due for council agenda 4 B-Jane Herndon 5 Secretary will be out of the office 6 B-Howard Lutz B-Barbara Rankin th Sunday after Pentecost 8:00am Church Council meeting B-Nancy Beutel B-London Taylor 12 Noon Sisters in Christ luncheon at Italian Garden 6-8pm Girl Scouts 13 B-Lee McIntyre th Sunday after Pentecost 16 B-Chris Nichols B-Eli-za Reamer B-Heidi Jones :30 11:30am Joint Choir rehearsal in nave 22 20th Sunday after Pentecost 1:00pm Confirmation Class B-Emma McGinnis Items due for November newsletter B-Heather Reamer pm Girl Scouts 7:00pm LFS monthly meeting 27 Fellowship hall, family room & kitchens reserved through 3pm on Saturday 28 5:30pm Joint choirs meet in nave 7:00pm - Reformation Anniversary hymn-sing 29 REFORMATION SUNDAY :00am Joint Reformation Celebration of Worship at Resurrection followed by covered dish luncheon (no school) The Crisis Ministry is in need of jars of jelly, jars of peanut butter, bottles of cooking oil, mac n cheese, spaghetti sauce, spaghetti noodles, or any non-perishable food items. Donations may be placed in Mumsie s Little Red Wagon located in the narthex. Please help our St. Matthew s Pre-School by donating rolls of paper towels during the month of September. You may place your items in the designated plastic bin that is in the narthex. Our Back Pack Food Ministry, that feeds local school children on weekends, is in need of any of the following food items: individual cups of cereal, packs of oatmeal or grits, individually packaged breakfast, lunch, or dinner items, cans of soup, and individually packaged snack foods. PLEASE be sure to check expiration dates on packages! Leave items in the downstairs kitchen area, or on the back counter in the fellowship hall. Please consider volunteering to pack bags or financially supporting this important ministry. Contact Juanita Lutz at for more information.

6 St. Matthew s Lutheran Church 201 N. Piedmont Avenue Kings Mountain, NC A Community of God s Redeemed People Church Staff Interim Pastor, Rev. Ed Crotty Secretary, Faye Dellinger Music Director/Organist, Carolyn Rhyne Pre-School Director, Ina Blanton Sexton, Jewel Watson (call Property or the church office) Council Officers (until :) President, Robert Wilson Vice-President, Nancy Smith Secretary, Nancy Abasiekong Treasurer, Jeff Mauney Committee Chairpersons: Altar Guild, Emily Suber Benevolent Foundation, Fred Kiser Christian Education, Beth Suber & Tim Buchanan Evangelism/Social Ministry, Susan Buchanan & Juanita Lutz Property, Vinny Hollenberger & Jimmy Mauney Stewardship/Finance, Myra McGinnis Worship & Music, Judy Wilson "The fewer the words, the better the prayer." Martin Luther Servers for October, 2017 Communion Assistant: Robert Wilson Usher Captain: Vinny Hollenberger Usher: Aniedi Abasiekong Date: Capacity: Server: October 1 Flowers: Myra McGinnis Margaret Boheler Nancy Abasiekong October 8 Flowers Mike & Chris Nichols Tim Buchanan Geeper Howard October 15 Flowers Marguerite Plonk Jeff Mauney Acolyte Mallory Buchanan Crucifer Calen Buchanan Chris Nichols October 22 Flowers Nancy Smith Jerry Stawls Chrystal Buchanan October 29 REFORMATION SUNDAY (joint service to be held at Resurrection Lutheran Church)