SAINT JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH The agle E VOLUME LVIII OCTOBER 2018 ISSUE N o 9 Available online @ www.stjohnnorfolk.org Holy Gusts and Daily Freds Spiritual role models are everywhere. We just need to keep our eyes open. I read the obituaries this morning, which I usually never do. One simply stated, Fred was an unsung hero, a steady worker who did things quietly. Lending a hand to others was nothing new for Fred. He loved people because he knew God loved him. That was about all it said, but that says a lot. Just as we make it a routine to thank God for our daily bread, we need to thank him for our Daily Fred - that person who moves quietly through our lives, inspiring us with goodness, if we only take a moment to let him or her. After all, unlike sports heroes or Hollywood icons, spiritual role models don t get a lot of fanfare these days. There isn t a 24-hour cable channel dedicated to covering good deeds. But that doesn t mean that those stories aren t there for us to find. We just need to keep our eyes open. I recently saw a T-shirt that read: Until further notice, celebrate everything! It struck me as more than just something to smile about; it was something to meditate upon. One of the best ways to fulfill this shirt s wise message, I mused, is to seek out and celebrate those around us who are sharing the joy-filled message of Christ in little ways each and every day. Take, for instance, Mr. Gust, one of my first everyday spiritual role models. Each week when I was growing up, he would always greet my family and share the joy of the Lord at the church where we worshipped. Mr. Gust, to me, was Jesus with skin on. He no doubt volunteered his time for others and helped lots of older people but the important thing to me was that he took the time to make me feel important. Mr. Gust was Holy Gust to me. I sensed the Spirit working through him, even when I was a child. I only wish I would have told him about the impact he made on my life before I read his name in the obituaries. Our friends in faith can be the easiest role models to overlook. But if we listen to their stories and take note of their attitudes toward life, we can be the better for it. The Lord provides people around us - everyday spiritual role models - to love and forgive and affirm us. We all have Holy Gusts working in our lives. They may not be shouting their messages to us from billboards, but they re surrounding us with ample opportunities to get a faith rejuvenation each and every day, if we re only willing to look for them. Thanks, Lord, for those Holy Gusts! Thanks for the Daily Freds who quietly inspire us. What a friend we have in Jesus - and what a Jesus we have in friends. SUNDAY SCHEDULE 10:30 am Worship Service OUR MISSION We are a family of Christ, committed to serving, teaching, welcoming and loving all God s people. Reprinted with permission from Thrivent Magazine/Winter 2006 by Richard Bimler
THE EAGLE PAGE 2 OCTOBER 2018 Council Minutes August 13, 2018 ROLL CALL PRESENT: Roxiee Dollar, Jim Dollar, Stephanie Chivers, Regina Starling, Maria Hoyt, Susan Bove, Jessie McRae, Deborah McLaughlin, Gail Davidson, Pastor Griffith, excused Ellen Wilson. Guest Ellen Greene. OLD BUSINESS A. Motion was made by Stephanie Chivers and 2 nd by Gail Davidson to proceed with a new water heater for the kitchen. Will begin with a 40 gallon and if neces sary at a later date purchase an additional one to accommodate the dish washer. B. Potluck scheduled for July 29 th, fifth Sunday event. C. Discussion for the upcoming 65 th anniversary of the church. D. Review ideas as to increasing our congregation. NEW BUSINESS A. Decision was made to use the Pastor s funds for continue payment to the supply Pastor. Motioned: Gail Davidson, 2 nd Regina Starling. B. Nominating committee decided upon for December elections: Gail Davidson, Sheila Sanchez and Stephanie Chivers. C. The following individuals are to be replaced on council, Jessie McRae, Susan Bove, and Regina Starling. Roxiee Dollar and Ellen Wilson are up for re-election. D. Selling of the parsonage, tabled until December. E. Jim Dollar is in process of evaluating the new contract for a new copier for the church office. F. Discussion was made to pay Pastor Don mileage for visitation purposes. G. Jim Dollar presented the best estimate for the lighting of the church. A motion was made by Sheila Sanchez, 2 nd Jessie McRae to proceed with this project. This includes new lightening inside and out. H. Discussion regarding confirmation classes: approximately 5-6 individuals are eligible for this class. Pastor Don has offered to teach with mentors from the church in attendance. I. The issue of social media was also addressed. Pastor Griffith made some suggestions. As did some of the members. We will be pursuing these for the growth of the church. RECOMMENDATIONS A. Recommend use of Saint Matthias Hall on September 30 th for a potluck picnic (in case of inclement weather) to celebrate 65 years of our presence in Ocean View. Weather permitting we will meet in the side yard. Worship and Music will supply the hot dogs and hamburgers. POC Gail Davidson. Approved: 1 st Stephanie Chivers, 2 nd Sheila Sanchez B. Recommend the use of Saint Matthias Hall on November 18 th from 1p to 4p for the Honor Flight Ice Cream Social. This time includes setup and cleanup. POC Stephanie Chivers. Approved: 1 st Gail Davidson, 2 nd Deborah McLaughlin C. Recommend use of multipurpose room on August 25 th at 11am for meeting of the Presi dents of WELCA for preparation of the fall gathering. POC Sheila Sanchez. Approved: 1 st Regina Starling, 2 nd Stephanie Chivers D. Recommendation: Soccer Shots, use of side yard or Saint Matthias Hall (if inclement weather), September 17 th through November 19 th, Mondays from 12:30p-1:30p, Satur days 9:30-11:00a. POC Roxiee Dollar. Approved: 1 st Stephanie Chivers, 2 nd Deborah McLaughlin STEWARDSHIP - Just a reminder: $65.00 for our 65 th year! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAINT JOHN! OCTOBER will be Stewardship Month. Watch the Bulletin and Mail for our upcoming events.
THE EAGLE PAGE 3 OCTOBER 2018 65 years of Lutheran Ministry in Ocean View! Hopefully you were part of that celebration last month. As Fall begins, we enter a busy time for your Worship Team. This month we celebrate Pastor Appreciation Day on the 14th, Reformation on the 28th. Saint John will host the Hampton Roads Churches for a meeting with the Bishop on the 21st. Details to follow in your Sunday bulletin. We are blessed to have Pastor Don with us as the Call Committee is in the search process. Please keep the Call Committee in prayer. Our ministries continue in service to our Saint John family. We appreciate and welcome new members to this committee and any of our ministries. Your sister in Christ, Gail Davidson, Chair The Diakonia Meetings for August and September were canceled due to vacation schedules and small attendance. Diakonia is a ministry of the Church and once had approximately 16 people. We would welcome anyone who would like to join to please attend our next meeting on October 30th. We are planning to do Trick or Treat for the School in October. In the past the children have worn their costumes to School and had a parade around the School and we passed out candy. Anyone who would like to join us on this day would be welcomed. We will be discussing with our School Director,Tennille Cyphers, the possibility of having the School children participate in the Advent Open House on December 2nd. The children would be a wonderful addition to this celebration. More information will follow soon. Blessings, Deborah McLaughlin and Regina Starling Let s Keep the Beat! If anyone has any rhythm instruments lying around waiting to keep the beat, would you consider donating them to the school so that the children can make this happen. Any drums, tambourines, maracas, rhythm sticks, etc. would be greatly appreciated and welcomed. Thank you very much!!! Service The regular meeting of Women of the ELCA will meet following the Church Service on October 21st. This will be a busy day as the Church will host the Virginia Synod Bishop and a Lutheran group at 3:00 pm in the afternoon. WELCA meetings seem to regularly collide with other meetings and this has been very telling in on our attendance. All women of the congregation are welcome to be an active part of this Unit. There are plans for a service event and a Christmas luncheon to finish off the rest of the year. Mark your calendar for November 3rd, when the WELCA Fall Gathering will be held at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Virginia Beach. This is an annual event when all of the Tidewater Units get together for worship, workshops, lunch, etc. Saint John s Unit will provide the opening coffee, fruit, pastries, etc.
THE EAGLE PAGE 4 OCTOBER 2018 OUTREACH Thank you for all that you bought and shared for Emma s Backpack. We collected over 300 items! Saint Timothy really appreciates our support and love for the children at Fairlawn Elementary School. Thank you again! For the month of October we will be collecting items for kittens at the VBSPCA. We will have the Blessing of the Animals on October 4th at noon. That would be a great time to bring an offering for the Animals, and you can place them in the Red Box outside the School Office. November and December we will be collecting canned food for the Episcopal Church of the Advent s Food Bank for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thank you again for your generosity, and items can be put in the Red Box outside the School Office. YOU ARE INVITED TO THE BLESSING OF PETS ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4TH AT NOON IN THE BIG PLAYGROUND AREA OUTSIDE OF SAINT MATHIAS HALL. PLEASE JOIN PASTOR WILSON AND THE CHILDREN OF SAINT JOHN SCHOOL, AS THEY BLESS THEIR FAMILIES PETS OR THE VERY SPECIAL STUFFED ANIMALS. Luther Manor Auxiliary Annual Oktoberfest Bazaar Saturday, October 13, 2018 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm 350 Malibu Drive, Virginia Beach, VA Crafts, Raffles, Door Prizes, Flea Market Silent Auction, Games for Kids Hot Dogs with Chili, German Lunch at Noon Worship Attendance for August 2018 Date Congregation Choir/Assistants Nursery Total August 5, 2018 20 9 3 32 August 12, 2018 37 12 1 50 August 19, 2018 39 10-49 August 26, 2018 42 13 6 61
THE EAGLE PAGE 5 OCTOBER 2018 October Birthdays 01 ~ Elizabeth Ball 10 ~ Courtney Thrift 03 ~ Judy Frye 12 ~ Stacia Frazier 04 ~ Donald Meyer 16 ~ Norma McNellis 04 ~ Carolyn Moran 18 ~ Roxiee Dollar 04 ~ Lexianna Duke 19 ~ Anna Hagenberger 06 ~ Shirley Becker 20 ~ Rick Morris 10 ~ Jeffrey Gulley 26 ~ Andrew Salonga Cookie Pack Luncheon The group that takes part in the Annual Christmas Cookie Pack for the Virginia Beach Correctional Center has completed the cards and ties to be used this December 10th. Now is the time to celebrate all of the work we have done. Therefore, the Lutheran Women of Tidewater will have a luncheon on October 15th at 11:30 am at Gus and George s Restaurant on Virginia Beach Blvd., in Thalia. All who are interested in this project are invited to the luncheon - enjoy the food and fellowship. Our Saviour Lutheran Church is kind enough to host the packing event to be held in December. Our Guest Speaker will be: Gail Davidson She is a CPS Senior Program Consultant for the Department of Social Services for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Our next meeting will be Wednesday, October 17th 11:15 am Saint Matthias Hall Join us for Potluck and Fellowship! You can contact Deborah McLaughlin at dmclaughlin510@aol.com
SAINT JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH 1953 & 2018 SCHOOL Celebrating 65 years of Ministry! 8918 Tidewater Drive Norfolk VA 23503 757/ 588-7381 Church 757/ 588-8227 School Email: churchoffice@stjohnnorfolk.org Website: www.stjohnnorfolk.org CHURCH LEADERSHIP President: Roxiee Dollar Vice President: Gail Davidson Secretary: Sheila Sanchez Treasurer: Ellen Wilson Financial Secretary: Stephanie Chivers Director of Music: W. Lee Hendricks School Director: Tennille Cyphers Parish Bookkeeper: Nancy Fuller Parish Secretary: Anne Combes Did you know??? To help save paper and postage, you can view The Eagle newsletter online. If you would like to read the newsletter online and not receive a paper copy, please notify the Church Office. Thank you! Reformation Sunday October 28, 2018 Join us for this important day in the life of our Church. Worship Service 10:30 am Pot-luck Luncheon following the Worship Service The liturgical color for the day is Red, commemorating the Saints and Martyrs of the Church. Most notably on this day, Martin Luther.