November This is Christ s Church + There is a place for you here! Inside The Contact: Annual Meeting...3. Youth Events...7. New Members...

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1 November 2017 Inside The Contact: Annual Meeting...3 Youth Events...7 New Members...8 Pastor Jane s Backpage...11 Stewardship 2018 Underway! This is Christ s Church + There is a place for you here!

2 inspire + Live Up Calendar of Inreach Quotannal Events for Incarnation Lutheran Church in the Quincentenary Year of the Reformation, November 9, 2017 Devine Night Out - Incarnation celebrates the season by opening its doors to again to the neighborhood and city. November 16, 2017 Incarnation Prime Rib Night - Purchase of advance tickets only will guarantee you a lovely and delicious evening to remember with your friends at Incarnation! November 26, 2017 Incarnation s Annual Hanging of the Greens - Join us in celebratory preparation of our sanctuary and campus for the Advent season. A warm chili lunch will be provided to fuel our decorative efforts. Wear or bring comfortable clothing. December 3, 10, 17 and 24, Advent Season Sundays 2017 STEWARDSHIP 2018 We are called by scripture to share our time, talent and treasure to support God s work in the world. Our stewardship efforts are now in full swing. Please find a way to support our work here at Incarnation and in the community. We have so many opportunities for you to share your gifts. Our stewardship theme this year is 10 Stewardship Principles. These principles are daily reminders of how we are to give of ourselves and share our gifts. We have shared these with you as bulletin inserts over the past few weeks. In addition to this, we have also included a Guide to Proportionate Giving, to assist you in determing your financial support of Incarnation in the coming year. As your Council embarks on the new budget year, please contemplate your financial gifts to God s mission in this place. We are asking all members to complete a pledge card to assist as we plan for Your pledge is crucial for our success, thank you in advance for your participation! If you have not already done so, please complete a pledge card on Stewardship Sunday, November 12th! STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY NOVEMBER 12TH Bring a dish to pass and your stewardship pledge card for 2018 if you haven t yet completed one, as we celebrate fellowship and our 10 Stewardship Principles on Sunday, November 12th following Sunday School at 12:30pm. This is also a great opportunity to sign up for a ministry team or event committee for the coming year! Help is needed on the communications/marketing team, altar guild, community outreach, and many other teams. Talk to a council member, team chair or Pastor Jane to get placed on a team that matches your interest(s). Many hands can make the work go quickly!

3 Annual Congregational Meeting Our Autumn congregational meeting will follow worship on December 3, 2017 at 11:30am. I ask you to please be present and willing to participate as we discuss several important matters. The agenda will include the discussion and adoption of the 2018 spending plan, approval of an ILC Foundation nominee(s) and nominations and approval of Congregation Council member(s). The spending plan has been sent via electronic and regular mail. A copy is available in the hallway outside the office or by request if you did not receive it. This year your Council will ask you to also discuss and approve two changes to our ILC Constitution. The first change would be to reduce the size of congregation council from 12 members to 9 members. The second change would reduce congregation council terms from 3 years to 2 years. You may be asking why the reduction for both the size and term of service for future councils? Council has consistently struggled for many years to find volunteers willing to serve. People are busy, they already have commitments, are unable to handle one more thing on their plate, not comfortable making group decisions, etcetera. Many current and former council members have voiced that 3 years is a lengthy commitment and believe a 2-year term more realistic. Lastly, our current Council size of 12 persons has not changed in decades. Incarnation is a much smaller congregation and proportionately it makes sense to reduce the number who serve. This year 4 council members are rotating off and with the congregation s approval, we will elect one replacement. --Teresa Boykin, Council President Slate of Council Candidates for 2018 Elections We will elect one to ILC Council and one to Foundation Board Shawn DeJames: Shawn and her husband Jeff have been members of Incarnation since They have four children (20, 18, 16, and 14). Shawn is a lawyer who currently works with the SC Department of Administration as the Assistant Director for the Division of Facilities Management and Property Services. Over the years Shawn has participated in a variety of committees at the Church including the Bylaws Subcommittee and the Child Development Center. Shawn has worked in the Nursery and helped with the children s choir when her children were young. Shawn has helped the Youth raise money for the National Youth Gathering by working on the Christmas Tree Fundraiser, Bread Fundraiser, Garage Sale Fundraiser and others. She attended the Youth Gathering in New Orleans in 2012 and in Detroit in Shawn enjoys baking, travel and going to the gym. She also likes to play tennis when she can find the time. John Nester: John and his wife Gloria have been members of Incarnation for several years. They have one daughter, Gabi, who is a member of the current Confirmation Class. John has served on the Oktoberfest committee and as a volunteer, and he looks forward to putting his talents to work as an active member of the church. John is a contractor and owns his own business, Loch Ness Remodeling. Foundation Nominee: TBA

4 Celebrate With Us Advent and Christmas Eve Incarnation Lutheran Church 3005 Devine Street (803) Sunday 10:00am Dec. 3 Advent One: Stir Up Your Power and Come! Dec. 10 Advent Two: The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness Dec. 17 Advent Three: Rejoice Always Dec. 24 Advent Four: Advent Lessons and Carols 12:10P December 6, 13, 20 Brief Worship with Holy Communion 6PM December 13 Advent Evening Prayer December 20 Holden Evening Prayer Christmas Eve Festival with Holy Communion December 5:00pm Prelude Music Begins 4:30pm

5 empower + Live Out Members of our Tuesday quilting group were instrumental in providing sleeping mats to dozens of our homeless veterans recently. These mats are made from recycled plastic grocery bags and can be rolled up and carried. The following tag was affixed to all of Marcie s mats: Thank You for Your Service Made with LOVE for you by Marcie With help Bags donated by following: Bethel United Methodist Church Incarnation Lutheran Church Jubilee Academy Shepherd Center Thursday Art Class Thank you to all who donated to this project!

6 inspire + Live Up Spooky Walk 2017 For those who missed our pictures on social media, here are some shots of the cuteness that strolled around Incarnation for the CDC Spooky Walk. A pizza party with games, face painting and more fun was enjoyed with the parents and CDC staff before nap time! Thanks to all of our neighboring businesses who let us stop by and say trick or treat for healthy snacks, too!

7 inspire + Live Up Youth Ministry Happenings! We have so many options for youth discipleship this year and it s been very exciting! In addition to youth music and Sunday school, we have times of faith and fellowship on Sundays at 12:45 and Wednesdays at 6 pm. We ve baked cookies and delivered them to firefighters. We ve used games like Monopoly and Oregon Trail to discuss our faith. We did a Bible scavenger hunt to learn more about what s in the Bible and how to use it. We even watched Shrek and used it to foster faith discussion. Club 345 on December 2d! LCY Club 345 invites all third through fifth graders to join other Lutheran children from across South Carolina for a time of faith and fellowship! This is one of the first multi-church events for children of this age to learn to be a part of the bigger church. The event takes place from 10 am until 3 pm at Redeemer Lutheran Church on St. Andrews Road in Irmo. Plan to drop off and pick up at Redeemer. The cost of the event is $15 and includes a t-shirt and lunch. Please RSVP to Ethan or the office by November 12th if your child is going. Pictures of the Confirmation Class from the November Faith Alive at Lutheridge!

8 renew + Live In Welcome New Members! Cheryl Carroll, Debbie Poston, Chris Ricken, and William Gieser recently joined the Incarnation family, and we are so glad to have them and their extended families with us! Many of you know RN Cheryl Carroll who has been attending for almost a year. She is bouncing back from some orthopedic surgery and now has her parents living with her and husband John! Cheryl Carroll Debbie Poston (pictured right) and Chris Ricken (lower right) come to us from Lexington and have been attending St. James in Batesburg. Debbie is an assistant professor at Newberry College who enjoys music (she sings and plays!) and is looking forward to fellowship opportunities at ILC. Chris is the Practice Manager for a family medicine practice in Winnsboro and has been active in choir and handbells she is looking forward to fellowship, new friends and maybe some ministry team work. Both Debbie and Chris learned about ILC through Mary Crosby thanks Mary! William Gieser also lives in Lexington and is a geotechnical engineer. He originally hails from Spartanburg and we are thankful to have him here! Welcome to all!

9 renew + Live In November Worship Assistants If you are unable to serve as scheduled, please find a substitute, then inform the office of the change. Thanks! Ushers Team 1 Crucifer Acolytes Lector Communion Nov 5 Amy Kehl Rose Duncan Porter Boepple Maggie Murdoch Assistants Mary Kehl Amy Kehl Eucharist Minister Mary Kehl Torch Bearers Grace Sawicki Katie Sawicki Bible Bearer Pierson DeJames Nov 12 Aidan DeJames Gabbi Nester Ansley Charlton Aidan DeJames Walter Lindler Shirley Lindler Laura Jackson Nov 19 Ethan Johnson Olivia Jackson Emma Charlton Leslie Skinner Teresa Boykin Beth Rogers Walter Lindler Nov 26 Amy Kehl Steven Cook McNally Sowell Grace Sawicki Welda McCullough Janet Hoffmann TBA Pictures of San Pablo Lutheran Church Damage We will be kicking off a campaign to help the congregation with repairs to their church and CDC buildings in Old San Juan, Puerto Pico following damage from Hurrican Maria. Please sign the banner on Stewardship Sunday and watch for more information!

10 November 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Exec. Team 12:30p Lutheridge ALL SAINTS Scouts 7p Sewing 10a Cub Scouts 6p Transitions Meal 5:30p Yoga 10a CDC Chapels: 10a, 11;30a Devine Night Out 9 Yoga 10a CDC Chapels: 10a, 11;30a Mary Martha (ILC) 7p Confirmation at Lutheridge Lutheridge STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY Newsletter Deadline Council 12:30p Potluck 12:30p Scouts 7p Sewing 10a Cub Scouts 6p CDC Chapels: 10a, 11;30a Men In Mission Dinner 6:30p Bishop Yoos Preaching Thanksgiving Scouts 7p Sewing 10a Cub Scouts 6p No After School/Youth Activities CDC/Office Closed CDC/Office Closed Hanging of the Greens! Chili lunch! #GivingTuesday Scouts 7p Sewing 10a Cub Scouts 6p EVENTS Every Sunday Instruments 9a; Chancel Choir 9:10 am Worship 10 am Sunday School, Faith Formation 11:30 am Lunch 12:30p; 12:45p Youth Group/Children s Music Every Wednesday Wonderful Wednesday Begins 4p; Dinner 5:15p Faith Formation 6p Handbells 6:15p Chancel Choir 7:15p Every Weekday Meals on Wheels 10:45a

11 Pastor Jane s Back Page From Pastor Jane-- I have a dear, dear friend who lives in Bayamon, Puerto Rico and is a member of San Pablo Lutheran Church in Old San Juan. I have worshipped there with her, and the son of David Mattos, one of our musicians, was baptized there 36 years ago. As Hurricane Maria approached that island, Jossie and I stayed in touch as best we could. I can t even imagine the horrors she and all on that island endured. When they were able to get to their church facility, they found all kinds of damage including a panel of a beautiful stained glass window blown away. They have a child development center but as of this writing they have not even been able to get the doors open to access damage there. As you know, at its October meeting, the council unanimously and enthusiastically adopted San Pablo Lutheran Church and committed Incarnation to walk with them, pray with them, and give to them as we are able as they recover. Stay tuned as plans unfold. You may be asking, but why this congregation when there are so many others? I suppose the simple answer is because of the personal connections. But. more so, in the midst of overwhelming disasters Harvey, Irma, Maria, Las Vegas, California fires, earthquakes in Mexico and on and on we, too, can become overwhelmed. Where to start? What to do? As Susan McArver, our disaster response coordinator said, so many disasters, so little time to process. But I think God calls us who are so blessed to be a blessing to others every day, but especially when their need is so great and we have so much. We just can t make a difference for all of them and so we must start somewhere. I am thankful for the council s support in helping my friend and her congregation in their time of need. You may remember the story of a man walking on the beach one early morning. In the distance he sees a little girl twirling around and flinging her arms out to the sea. He thinks she s dancing. But when he gets close, he realizes that she is standing at an uncovered bed of hundreds of sand dollars and she is reaching down and throwing them back into the sea one by one. Whatever are you doing, little girl? he asked. I m saving them from dying in the heat of the sun which is on its way, she replied. But, he said, looking at the hundreds of sand dollars in that bed of sand, you can t possibly make a difference! And with that, she defiantly reached down, picked up a sand dollar, flung it out into the ocean and bravely and boldly proclaimed, made a difference for that one. made a difference for that one. And that s what we re doing making a difference for that one that one congregation in Old San Juan. How blessed we are to walk with them!

12 Incarnation Lutheran Church 3005 Devine Street Columbia, SC (803) Like us on Facebook! Save the Date! Nov. 12 Nov. 19 Nov Nov. 26 Dec. 3 Stewardship Sunday & Potluck Dinner Bishop Yoos Preaching Office/CDC Closed for Thanksgiving Holidays Hanging of the Greens and Chili Lunch Annual Congregational Meeting and Potluck Dinner Sunday Holy Communion Worship at 10 am Sunday School at 11:30 am Jane P. Mitcham Interim Pastor Nickie Riley Music Director Ethan Overcash Youth Minister Kris Esgar Parish Administrator Amy Kehl Bookkeeper Teresa Boykin Director of Child Development Centers Debby Muller Director of Byron Road Child Development Center