The Lutheran Church of The Redeemer. Redeemer Reader. January Amen for Lutheran Men!

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1 The Lutheran Church of The Redeemer Redeemer Reader January Boundary Street Newberry, SC Phone: (803) www. lutheranredeemer.org Office Hours: Mon. Thurs: 9:00-4:30pm Fridays: Closed Redeemer Lutheran Men in Mission Redeemer LMM will meet on Tuesday, January 9, at 6:30 pm at James and Janet Long s house for a fish fry. In lieu of a program, we will discuss plans for the upcoming yard sale. Their address is 8937 St Lukes Church Rd, Newberry. Amen for Lutheran Men! WELCA News for January WELCA will meet on the second Sunday in January, January 14th at 3:45 in the church library. The book study will follow at 4:00. Our book is entitled Really Bad Girls of the Bible. All women of the congregation are invited to attend.

2 From Pastor Matt Grace and peace y all! I cannot believe that it is the beginning of a new year already. This past year has been a doozy in so many ways. There was a lot to be uncomfortable with, saddened, and angry about this past year. So, much terrible rhetoric spewed from so many different places. So, many people being upset with others simply because of who they are or whose side they represent. I am not innocent in this as well, I really liked the new Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi! Though the movie did have its own controversies regarding its reception by the public, it did provide one line that I think was absolutely brilliant. A character in a climactic scene states: That s how we win: not by fighting what we hate, but saving what we love. There was much talk this past year politically and culturally about fighting what we hate. No matter which political ideology you identify with, fighting what we hate became an unspoken guide and rule for almost all people. It seeped into every aspect of our life. People argued about sports, movies, games, the news, books, and more. Most argument centered around what we despise about the other person/idea. It s exhausting. It was a rough year in that regard for everyone. As a pastor it was an especially trying year to preach the gospel in the midst of those storms and moments of chaos. When, I watched The Last Jedi and heard that line, I was floored. Of all the connections that the film has with Christmas and Advent; that line was what spoke to me the most deeply. That is what I want to live by. That is what I want my life of faith to live through. Our life of faith isn t about fighting what we hate (though there are many faithful people who live by that silent mantra), but about saving what we love. The difficulty with it and it is difficult is that it easy to point out the things we don t like, that we don t agree with, or that we hate. It is much more difficult to state what we love and what we cherish. My hope and prayer for me, for us, for our world is that we live into that part of our faith, living out our faith for others in such a way that we are saving what we love, and not fighting what we hate. Continued Merry Christmas and blessed new year to each and every one of y all. I love y all. I mean it. 2

3 Attendance Sunday School 8:30 am 11:00 am Total Worship Attendance December December December One service December 24 10:00 am 101 4:00 pm 104 9:00 pm Average SUPPER CLUB - will meet at 6:30 pm on January 18 at Alodia s in Irmo. Please join us for fellowship and fun. If you wish to attend, please notify the church office by January 15. SPECIAL MUSIC FOR JANUARY 1/7 Washed Anew Senior Choir 1/14 He comes to Us as One Unknown Senior Choir 1/21 God Has Called Us Senior Choir 1/28 Rise, Shine, You People Senior Choir The Flower Chart is now posted in the narthex. Please begin signing up to provide flowers for If you have any questions, please call the church office at Congregational sympathy is extended to the family of Betty Cummings, upon the death of her grandson, James Parsons IV on December 11,

4 Treasurer s report for November 2017 Treasurer's report for Nov. 2017: To meet the monthly Ministry Spending Plan we need: $25, For Nov. - Income: $ 22, For Nov. - General expenses: $ 22, For Nov. - Debt retirement for GIG Fund: $ 2, For Nov. - Income is less than expenses by: $ (2,183.18) YTD Income: $ 256, YTD General Expenses: $ 232, YTD Debt retirement GIG Fund: $ 23, YTD Income is more than expenses by: $ 1, Altar Flowers January 7 - January 14 - Polly Davis January 21 - B. L. Brown January 28 - Wedding Anniversaries January 24 - Rey & June Lominack January 28 - Travis & Marianna Ray **These dates are according to our church records. If you see a correction, please notify the church office. Angel Tree We thank everyone who has supported the Angel Tree Ministry this year! So many of these foster children will have had a wonderful Christmas morning because of your love for them as children of God. A note from the office: The end of the year is fast approaching and it will soon be January, I will begin working on the 2018 Church Directory and 2017 Committee Reports Booklet in January. Please submit Committee and Annual Reports as soon as possible. Also, we will be updating information on all of our members so that the 2018 directory is correct. Please check the address/phone number list AND the list in the narthex to ensure everything is correct. Please call or me with any changes that you wish to make. Thanks so much for your assistance with this, Donna Price, Administrative Assistant, Office phone: , lutheranredeemer@bellsouth.net Please pick up your 2018 Giving Envelopes: The new envelopes are now available in the narthex of the church. Please pick them up at your convenience sometime before the first of the year. If you do not find an envelope with your name on it, please let Donna know. Parish Update Signup We are updating our Parish subscription list. If you would like to receive these notifications, please use the signup form for Parish Updates List on the homepage of the church s website. 4

5 Prayer Concerns Redeemer Members: Miriam Willingham, Austin Longshore and his Unit, Cindy Draeger, Cindy Mills, Roy Mills, Nell Gant, Darr Wise, Bobby Metts, Georgette Livingston. Extended Parish Family: Camille-Griffin Women s Prison Ministry; Vernon Koon, cousin of Debra Metts; Kent and Mary Beth Richardson, cousins of Debra Metts; Cecil McRacken, father-in-law of Lloan McRacken; Mahalia Schumpert, friend of Deedee Westwood; Robert Johnson, brother-in-law of Ernest Shealy; Elaine Smith Story, sister of Frances S. Abrams and niece of Mathilde Smith; Jody Lukac and family, friends of Jeremy and Stacy Tyson; James Conley, brother of June Seymour; Patricia Stiles and Reese Burdette, daughter and great granddaughter of Willene Shealy; Arnold Perry, father of Lloan McRacken; George Benckert; Stuart Harmon, husband of Adele Saylor Harmon; Danny Burden, friend of Jessica Draeger; Todd Sanders, friend of congregation; Donnie Brown, friend of congregation; M. C. Yarborough, friend of Lloyd Layman; Chris and Marianne Haltiwanger, children of Curtis Haltiwanger; Korrina Duprey, niece of June Seymour; Dylan Walker, friend of Ann Stone, Tom Phair, friend of June and Ron Seymour.. If you have updates to the prayer list, please notify the church office. Please keep Bryan Derrick in your prayers. He has travelled to Puerto Rico to assist in rebuilding/ repairing the damage caused by Hurricane Maria. Happy Birthday! 1/02-Ledare Livingston 1/06-Marty Cousins 1/06-Virginia Summer 1/07-June Seymour 1/07-Barry Richardson 1/07-Mike Longshore 1/07-Lisa Minick 1/12-Mahala Melton 1/13-Matthew Cole 1/14-Cherrie Longshore 1/15-Slade Richardson 1/17-Nikki Chapman 1/23-Rob Livingston IV 1/23-Ben Chapman 1/24-Matthew Titus 1/26-Darr Wise 1/27-Leslie Sligh 1/27-Dawn Stone 1/29-Benjie Chapman 1/30-Drew Senn 1/31-Marie Whatley **These dates are according to our church records. If you see any errors or omissions, please notify the church office. 5

6 Worship Assistant Schedule Duties January 7 January 14 January 21 January 28 8:45 am Communion Prep 11:00 am Communion Prep 8:45 am Lector and Communion Assistant 11:00 am Lector and Communion Assistant 11:00 am Greeters Janet Long Janet Long Janet Long Janet Long Kathy Lindsay Shannon Lindsay Anne Caughman Elaine Cornwell/ Denise Reid Ernie Shealy Kathy Riggin Kelly Bannister B L Brown Bob Montgomery Angela Reid Clint Harshaw Anne Caughman Available Available Available Available Acolyte Mafra Kemper Griffin Long Julianna Smith Zoe Reid Crucifer Ben Lindsay Madeleine Long Steven Senn Morgan Harshaw Refreshments Community Compassion Community Compassion Community Compassion Community Compassion Unlock Church Claire Grosshuesch Claire Grosshuesch Claire Grosshuesch Claire Grosshuesch Lock Church Usher 8:30 am Tommy Fellers Walter Jacobs Ben Bowers Matt Bowers Kathy Riggin Kathy Riggin Kathy Riggin Kathy Riggin Usher 11:00 am Joey Nicosia Tommy Fellers John Green Walter Jacobs Joey Nicosia Tommy Fellers John Green Walter Jacobs Joey Nicosia Tommy Fellers John Green Walter Jacobs Joey Nicosia Tommy Fellers John Green Walter Jacobs Worship Assistant Schedules for the entire year can be found in the Annual Directory. 6

7 . LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER CONGREGATION COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS Church Library December 18, 2017 Note that after officially approved, the full minutes of the Congregation Council meetings will be available for review in the church office. Beginning at 6:45 pm, a short devotional was given by Pastor Matt from the Newberry College Devotionals based on Luke 2: Meeting called to order by Council President at 7:00pm. Old business included discussing coordinators for Inspiring Worship and Community Compassion. Andy Sidden has volunteered for Community Compassion Coordinator. Council will continue to work on coordinator for Inspiring Worship There are a few leaders of different areas that are willing to help for things like Altar Guild, Communion Bread making, etc. There was no new business. Council went into and exited Executive Session during the meeting. Council received the following reports from the committees: A. Pastor s Report- written report received from Pastor Matt B. President s Report- Cathy had no additional items to discuss C. Congregational Care Report- written report received from Anne Caughman D. Community Compassion Report- report from Derryll Satterwhite -Cards mailed E. Finance Committee Report-Finance/Treasurer s Report Details- written report received from Beth Singletary F. Property Committee Report- written report received from Property Committee G. Inspiring Worship Report- written report received H. Faith Formation Report- written report received via Council Meeting minutes from November and Treasurer s report from November 2017 were approved. Next meeting January 15, Motion carried to adjourn meeting and Council closed the meeting with the Lord s Prayer. Respectfully submitted by Kelly Bannister 7

8 The Lutheran Church of The Redeemer 1515 Boundary Street Newberry, South Carolina Return Service Requested NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 114 NEWBERRY, SC The Redeemer Directory The Rev. Matthew Titus, Pastor Donna Price Administrative Assistant Woody Cornwell, Bookkeeper Gayle D. Lindley, Handbell Director, Children s Choir Director and Senior Choir Director redeemermusic@bellsouth.net Huger P. Caughman, Jr., Organist and Junior Choir Director All Members: Ministers in Worship and Daily Life Jeffrey Truscott, Missionary Japan The next Redeemer Reader deadline is Thursday, January 18, Please send submissions to lutheranredeemer@bellsouth.net 8