St. Matthew Ev. Lutheran Church Good News St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 5566 Chambersburg Road, Huber Heights, Ohio 45424 Telephone: (937) 233-4632 Email: ST_MATTHEW_EV_JESU@att.net Website: www.stmatthewlutheranhuberheights.com July 2017 From the Pastor s Desk Pastor Kelly W. Reagan This summer brings us closer to the 500th Reformation commemoration of the Reformation in October 1517. Many churches will have been making this anniversary observance part of their worship for the past year just as we have been through our Bible Studies and our hymnody. We are reminded throughout the summer that our growing season is in full swing. I recall as a child driving through the corn fields of Iowa, and my mother telling us that as long as the corn was knee high by the 4th of July it would be a good harvest in the coming Autumn. The Gospel of Matthew which is primarily used during this period in the lectionary reminds us that we are to be growing in our faith by sharing the Good News with others in our communities. This is what we are called to do as His disciples. We are all very excited about VBS this year, a first since 1999 and many hands labor to share the Gospel message of God s love, mercy and grace in Christ. The curriculum is focused on the 500th Reformation as well and a great reminder of where we have been as a church and where we are going in the future. July 9th the start of VBS is fast approaching and we pray God s blessings on our hard work. We could not do all that we do at St Matthew without all your dedication, hard work and love. We are so blessed to have so many workers and those that love the Lord and show their love by giving of themselves selflessly for the Kingdom of God thank you! May God continue to bless our parish as we work in his Kingdom that has no end! In Christ, Pastor Kelly
From the Prez John Armstrong A couple items of note: The annual planning meeting is scheduled for Sunday, July 9 beginning at 11 am. During this meeting we will plan out the church calendar for 2017-2018. This meeting is open to everyone in the congregation. Please plan on attending this meeting. Vacation Bible School begins July 9. We have not had VBS at St. Matthew since 1999. This is a major outreach effort for us in the Huber Heights community. Please actively promote our VBS program to your neighbors and friends. If you can help out in any way, contact Alicia Driver. Finally, the stained glass window we sent off to Franklin Glass has been returned. Franklin Glass was unable to repair the crack in the window, but they were able to stabilize the crack so it will not get any larger (spider web). Per our request, they also made glass inserts for both stained glass windows to protect them from further damage. Pastor Reagan Contact Information Pastor Reagan-614-564-7317 (cell) Work 614-645-6254 Email k_w_reagan@yahoo.com If you require pastoral assistance in any way and/or are scheduled to go into the hospital or end up there unexpectedly, please contact me so that I/we can include you in our prayers (unless instructed to maintain privacy) and I can visit you. Your health and well-being is important to all of us! From Around the Congregation 2017-2018 Church Directory The church directory will be updated during July and distributed in August. If you have any changes to your directory information, please contact the church secretary, Linda Brock, with your changes.
School Supplies Again we are gathering school supplies for the Huber Heights School District. A table is in the narthex and when lists are available from the schools they will be on the table. We will be collecting until July 30. Thanks for your help. Any questions see Susan Armstrong Church Website The church has a new website (stmatthewlutheranhuberheights.com). Please visit the website and pass any recommendations on to Kary Ellen Berger. Zumba Zumba classes are moving to Wednesday nights beginning in July. The class meets at 6:30 p.m. $5 drop-in fee. Contact Annette Sand for more information. President Cripe to Visit June 26 On Monday, June 26, Reverend Terry Cripe, President of the Ohio District, will be visiting St. Matthew. The purpose of his visit is to meet with members of the congregation and provide an update on current issues in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and the Ohio District. He will also answer any questions you may have on these topics. His presentation, which will begin at 6 p.m., will last about two hours. All members of the congregation are encouraged to attend this meeting. Prayer List In our prayers this month, we pray for: Bob Cronian; Jon Larsen; Liz Grimsley; Sheldon Smith; Margaret Thomas; Richard Grabowski; Ruth Nixon; Mike Nixon; Rachel; Don & Verni Kramer; Alisa Cahill; Carol Meadowcraft; Dorothy Tate; Mason Kincaid; Betty & Gary Farrington; Colten Pointer; Robert & Linda French; Cindy French; Jeff Watts; Jen Juergensen; Dana Bradley; Richard Shumaker; Rich; Karl Dean, Chris McGarigle, Paula Perkins & Max Garrison. We ask that you be with those who are away serving our country, especially Sarah Petrock, Devin Cahill & Connor Hammond; all absent members, and those suffering from manmade and natural disasters. We continue to pray for the deliverance of your people oppressed around the world. Thanks to God as Pastor Kelly & Rebecca Reagan celebrate their 36 th anniversary.
St. Matthew Shut-Ins Some of our members are unable to attend church on a regular basis. These members appreciate cards, calls and visits. Here is the current list of shut-ins. Sheldon Smith 7040 Union Schoolhouse Rd. Dayton, OH 45424 237-7881 (Nurses Station - Echoing Woods) Margaret Thomas Bethany Lutheran Village 6445 Far Hills Ave. Room 108 Centerville, OH 45459 233-4760 Liz Grimsley Bethany Lutheran Village 6445 Far Hills Ave Room 509 Centerville, OH 45459 436-7744 Directory Addition: Elizabeth Jean Karns 4765 Belmont Pl Dayton, OH 45424 233-4760 Those Celebrating Birthdays in July: Catherine Driver (July 1) Gene Poast (July 5) Sue Redington (July 6) John Blair (July 6) Nancy Jamerson (July 11) Chris Brock (July 12) Neil Lutz (July 14) Darlene McGarigle (July 14) Ted Scheidt (July 22) Tom Lingg (July 23) Chelsea Kirkwood (July 27) Those Celebrating Anniversaries in July Lee & Pat Siler (July 3) Michael & Chrissy Iadarola (July 17) May Jesus Bless You All! If your name has not appeared in either the birthdays or anniversaries listings; please let us know. We would like to include your name here as well.
Stewardship I will bless you, so that you will be a blessing (Gen. 12:2). The Lord blessed Abraham so that he would be a blessing. How did He bless Abraham? He promised that from His seed would come the savior of the nations. And Abraham believed that promise, trusted that the Lord would provide it just as He had promised. Thus, everything Abraham did was colored by that promise. He willingly gave of himself and his household in service to the Lord in view of that promise. Our Father in heaven has richly blessed us. Not only has He given us everything that we need to support this body and life, but He has also provided, that promised seed in His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. He is the savior of the nations. He is the redeemer of the world. He is the one who has conquered sin, death, and the power of the devil by His death, resurrection, and ascension. Just as we are richly blessed, we are also thereby freed to be a blessing. Since God has endowed us with His gifts, we are set to endow others. Thus, we give of the blessings we have received so that others may be blessed. We do this in our homes, our communities, and our churches. We press the blessings God has lavished upon us in service to those around us. We use our time, our talents, and our treasures to be a blessing even as they have been a blessing to us. The Lord blesses us. And He enlists us to be a blessing to others. So, whenever you put that envelope in the collection plate, when you set out to serve at the local food pantry, when you sit down to help your kids with homework, think of this: The Lord has blessed you, so that you will be a blessing. ST. MATTHEW ACTIVITY CALENDAR Date July 8 Activity Annual Vestry Planning Meeting, 11 a.m. The Water s Fine? While a tourist vacationed on the Florida coast, his boat capsized. Although he could swim, his fear of alligators kept him clinging to the overturned craft and praying aloud. Spotting an old beachcomber on shore, the tourist shouted, Are there any gators around here? No, the man hollered. They haven t been around for years! Relieved, the tourist began swimming leisurely toward the shore. About halfway there he asked, How d you get rid of the gators? We didn t do anything, the beachcomber replied. The sharks got em.
July 2017 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 Community Blood Drive, 9 am-noon 9 Holy Communion Annual Planning Meeting, 11 AM VBS, 6:30-8:30 PM 23 Holy Communion 30 Holy Communion 2 3 4 4 th of July VBS, 6:30-8:30 PM 10 11 VBS, 6:30-8:30 PM Zumba, 6:30 pm 5 12 VBS, 6:30-8:30 PM 16 17 18 19 Zumba, 6:30 pm 24 25 26 Zumba, 6:30 pm 31 6 Al Anon, 10:30 a.m. 13 Al Anon, 10:30 a.m. VBS, 6:30-8:30 PM 20 Al Anon, 10:30 a.m. 27 Al Anon, 10:30 a.m. 7 A.A./Al Anon, 8:00 p.m. 14 A.A./Al Anon, 8:00 p.m. 21 A.A./Al Anon, 8:00 p.m. 28 A.A./Al Anon, 8:00 p.m. 8 15 22 29 St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church Phone: (937) 233-4632 5566 Chambersburg Road E-Mail: ST_MATTHEW_EV_JESU@att.net Huber Heights, OH 45424 Web page: www.stmatthewlutheran45424.com