St. Johannes Lutheran Church

Transcription

1 St. Johannes Lutheran Church Charleston, SC Newsletter - August 2017 WELCOMING ST. JOHANNES NEW PASTOR St. Johannes Lutheran Church is celebrating the answer to multiple prayers. Pastor Alvin G. Shrum was unanimously approved at a July 9 congregational meeting as the new permanent pastor, the first in four years. St. Johannes has been well served in those intervening years by two interim pastors. Indeed our congregation is showing its admiration and affection for our outgoing interim pastor, the Rev. James Blalock, and his wife, Ida, at a reception on July 30. Pastor Alvin joins us with impressive credentials and a history of growing church congregations, including attracting younger members. Most recently the pastor of the Cedar Grove Lutheran Church in Leesville, that congregation grew from 156 to over 230 members during his five-year tenure. Fortunately for St. Johannes, Pastor Shrum and his wife Cathy had previously found the Lowcountry so attractive they were in the process of finishing a second home near Summerville when our Call process began. It wasn t long before those involved in all levels of the Call Process felt that Pastor Alvin and St. Johannes were the perfect fit. Installation set Pastor Alvin s first day on the job will be Aug. 9 and he will be installed by Assistant to the Bishop, Eric Wolf, during his first Sunday Service on August 13. A celebratory brunch will follow the service in Gatch Hall. It will be a memorable day for our church. And as summer winds down, our pace will pick up. On Oct. 1 the congregation will consider amendments to our Constitution and by laws with the aim of reducing the size of church council and the length of council members terms in office. If given final approval at the fall congregational meeting in November, the size of Council would go from nine to seven lay members. Council members currently may serve two consecutive three-year terms. That would be reduced to two consecutive two-year terms. We are also planning a meet and greet this fall in the Parsonage garden to further introduce Pastor Shrum and Cathy to our members and our Ansonborough neighborhood. Theses are exciting times for our church. Barbara Williams, Church Council President 48 Hasell Street - Charleston, SC office@stjohannes.org Website: Look for us Johannes Evangelical Lutheran Church

2 From Pastor Blalock: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, As you know, I have ended my term as your interim pastor. You have been gracious and wonderful to Ida and me. You have opened your hearts and homes and lives to us and have given us the wonderful gift of Christian love. You have placed your trust in me, and I have held that trust as a sacred blessing. This wonderful relationship we have shared has been a treasure to me. Now we begin another season of change. Life is full of endings and beginnings. Sometimes they are voluntary; other times they are imposed. Occasionally they are a mixture of both change and necessity. Regardless of the source or cause, every change brings something to an end so something new can begin. And through this process, with God s guidance and help, we find a new normal. The previous thing we knew as normal goes away, and we find a new normal that we grow to know and to love as much as we loved what went away. In the same way there is no growth in life without change, and no change without risk. There is no Promised Land without the pilgrimage through the desert. Through the Exodus experience the Israelites learned what we all must learn. This is that God at times leads us into mysterious and unknown places. God never lets us become too comfortable in one place. Therefore, in this life we Christians are travelers never meant to stay where we are or as we are. Yes, life presents us with gifts of change and transition; gifts leading us from old ways of thinking and doing into brand new, exciting, Spirit-led ways of doing and being of which we would never have dreamed. This, my friends, is the miracle of being led by the Holy Spirit. For you, the days to come will be a time of getting acquainted with Pastor Shrum. I pray you will show him the same love, support, and patience you have shown me. The peace and love of God be with you always, Pastor Blalock As Pastor Blalock leaves us, we give thanks to God for the time he has spent with us and the ministry that we have shared. We pray that God will continue to bless Pastor and Ida with good health, happiness, and the peace that comes only from God, as we have been so richly blessed by their presence with us at St. Johannes. Plan to be with us on July 30th as we wish them Godspeed. Then be sure to join us for worship at 10 a.m. on August 13th as we welcome Pastor Alvin and his wife, Cathy, to St. Johannes. Everyone is invited to stay for brunch in Gatch Hall following the worship service.

3 August 2017 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT & Installation of Pastor Alvin Shrum 6:15 Church Council 7:00 Concert: Some Enchanted Evening :00 Christmas in August meeting Church Bulletin Bloopers The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday. This evening at 7 pm there will be a hymn sing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

4 A New Road 35 offers a weekend of support for women and men who have been widowed within the last five years. This event, which gets excellent reviews, will be held at Camp Kinard the weekend of October 6-8, Registration will begin at 4:30 on October 6, with dinner at 6:00. The seminar will conclude on Sunday, October 8 with lunch at 12:30. Come and join others who are walking A New Road. For more information, go to Christmas in August As of August 1st, there are only 147 days left until Christmas!!.. And only 125 days until the First Sunday of Advent! It s time to start planning NOW! The Worship & Music Committee encourages anyone and everyone who might be interested in helping to plan for Advent and Christmas (decorating, events, worship services, etc.) to meet after the worship service on Sunday, August 27th in Gatch Hall. Tricounty Family Ministries (TFM) began in 1983 as a humble soup kitchen providing bagged lunches to the hungry. Today they provide an array of services including food, clothing, medical care, counseling, job training & placement, shelter, financial assistance and other vital services to the less fortunate in the tricounty area. Earlier this year, TFM opened the doors to a new facility on the first floor of Cherokee Place United Methodist Church at the corner of Cosgrove Avenue and Rivers Avenue. The needs at TFM are HUGE, and one of the biggest and most basic needs are personal care items. During the month of August, we will again be collecting new items - shampoo/conditioner (or 2 in 1 combination), soap, toothbrushes (individually wrapped), toothpaste, deodorant, shaving cream, and combs. We haven t done this in awhile, and the need is great! Please help out by donating these items anytime during the month of August. (We will plan to assemble personal care kits in early September.) Items may be placed in the Outreach Closet in Gatch Hall or on the stage next to the Outreach Closet. (The Dollar stores are great places to shop!) Also, please consider volunteering a small portion of your time at TFM. Contact either Kay Winnett or Mary Lou Waitschies for more information; or, visit

5 Financial Data for Church - June 2017 $15,000 $10,000 $5,000 $- SJC June 2017Financial Summary $13,861 $13,679 $181 Income Expense Net Profit Year -to-date Budgeted Income $79,000 Year-to-Date Actual Income $85,187 Year -to-date Budgeted Expenses $89,137 Year-to-Date Actual Expenses $85,911 Net Profit/Loss (per Budget) ($9,637) Net Profit/Loss (Actual) ( $754) Financial Data for Parsonage - June 2017 $14,000 $12,000 $10,000 $8,000 $6,000 $4,000 $2,000 $- Parsonage June 2017 Financial Summary $11,753 $7,633 $4,121 Income Expense Net Profit Year -to-date Budgeted Income $50,750 Year-to-Date Actual Income $50,335 Year -to-date Budgeted Expenses $39,181 Year-to-Date Actual Expenses $30,191 Net Profit/Loss (per Budget) $11,569 Net Profit/Loss (Actual) $20,144 If, for some reason, you have not received church envelopes... Or, you had envelopes and have run out, please contact Kay Winnett. CONGRATULATIONS to Brett and Darcy Steinbrecher on the birth of a son, Levi Hampton Steinbrecher, born on July 19th. May God continue to bless this family abundantly! Members of St. Johannes: Bootsie Witt; Harry Kluttz; Bonnie Richardson; Leslie Carpenter; Betty Ann Heinsohn; and Ernie Heinsohn Friends and Family Members: Smith Pruitt; Gregg Clanton; Jan Farmer; Billy Baker; Carolyn Wheeler; Lyn Johnson; and the family of Gerry Pastelak (mother of Beth Geiss)

6 St. Johannes Lutheran Church PO Box Charleston, SC ELECTRONIC SERVICE REQUESTED Non-profit Organization US POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 17 Charleston, SC You are cordially invited to attend Some Enchanted Evening Showtunes and Opera Favorites Ashley Fabian, soprano Robert Stanley, tenor George Hiatt, piano St. Johannes Lutheran Church August 18, p.m. A reception will be held in Gatch Hall following this event which is free and open to the public.