St. John Journey october 2012 A message from The pastor I am writing this article the day after, September 30. What a day of celebration St. John had yesterday. It was wonderful having a daughter of the congregation back in our midst to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. It was wonderful having a Sanctuary full of people and then a Fellowship Hall full as we sat down to break bread together. Listening to the memories of those Charter Members who were with us on Sunday, I can t help thinking back 50 years and seeing the first gathering of people from Mock s and Luther Chapel come together to form St. John Lutheran. We fast forward 50 years and see a congregation still meeting, still serving, still gathering to hear the Gospel, still reaching out into the community and the world. We can only thank God for the many blessings God has bestowed on St. John Lutheran Church. October marks a milestone for the Lutheran Church, Reformation Sunday, October 28 th. This year at St. John Reformation Sunday will mark the last of the 50 th Anniversary Worship Services. We welcome back the Rev. Eric Moehring as our guest preacher. We will confirm Katie Klutz, William Gifford, and Frank Morris. We will again gather around the table for a meal of celebration. I am not sure that Martin Luther in 1517 had the vision to see the Lutheran Church of today. The ELCA is celebrating its 25 th year of existence. St. John is celebrating its 50 th. We now turn to Christ. It is around Christ s holy table that we have gathered throughout the centuries. We gather around Holy Communion and are nourished with Jesus. We come to the Communion Rail gathering with all the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us to pave the way. We gather as a forgiven people, forgiven, living in the promise of eternal life. We gather giving thanks for the many blessings that God has and continues to bestow on us. Pastor Scott
P a ge 2 ST. JOHN PRESCHOOL NEWS The preschool is short on students this year. We have done additional advertising to hopefully increase our numbers. At our current level, the preschool is not self-supporting, as it has been in the past. If anyone knows any families with children between the ages of 3-5, please recommend our preschool! One of our main fundraisers is the grocery gift card program. We have a few members who regularly buy the Food City card or reload the Kroger cards, but we know many more of you buy groceries! For every $100.00 you spend, $5.00 goes to the preschool! If you have questions or suggestions, please see Jill Morris, Tammie Kroll or Sharon Meacham. We will begin a grocery card raffle, similar to one we had in the past. For every $100.00 Food City card purchase, or a receipt showing you have reloaded your Kroger card for $100.00, you will receive one entry. This will begin Oct.1st until Nov.18th. One winner will be drawn for a $100.00 grocery gift card. Please pray for the preschool to have a successful year! Annual Crop Walk Sunday October 7th Please consider donating to support St. John Youth, who will be participating in the Annual Crop Walk in Abingdon on Sunday afternoon October 7th. See any youth member to donate. Money goes to benefit area food banks. Dear Members of St. John, EFiA Board Representative Needed We need a representative on the Ecumenical Faith in Action (EFiA) Board. Charles Sansing has served in that capacity for six years (two terms) and must now leave the Board. The Board meets the third Monday of each month at, except for December, when there is no meeting. Meetings are held in the Fellowship Hall at St. John. St. John has had a strong partnership with EFiA since its inception. Please prayerfully consider taking on this role. Let Charles Sansing or Joel Rosen know if you area willing to serve in this position. EFiA appoints new Board members in November to start in January 2013. Thank you. Charles Sansing 2
P a ge 3 The St. John Quilters are meeting every Tuesday morning at 9:30AM for quilting and fellowship no sewing experience necessary. Also, they have a quilt up for Auction this month minimum bid $50 it will go to the highest bidder on October 28th. Monday Evening and Tuesday Afternoon Bible Study Monday Evening Bible/Book Study will now be meeting every Monday evening at 7PM to continue their study and discussion of the book The Shack. Tuesday afternoon Bible Study will now meet every Tuesday, at 1PM, preceded by bringyour-own-lunch and time of fellowship during the noon hour. We will begin a study of the book of Acts on October 2nd. St. John Choirs St. John s 8:30 Musicians will continue to rehearse at 6:30PM and the Vocal Choir at on Wednesdays. The 11:00 Choir will continuel rehearsals at on Tuesdays this month. All interested singers are welcome no experience (or ability to read music) is required just come and make a joyful noise unto the Lord!! Food Pantry Volunteers St. John will be serving at the Food Pantry the week of October 21 through 26th. Please see signup sheet on the bulletin board to help with this important outreach ministry. 3
$ P a ge 4 St. John s Financial Summary St. John is still on track for a small surplus for the year. However, we are planning to hire Music Leader(s) for the 8:30 and 11:00 services soon and there are rumors of possible boiler (heater) repairs, which will increase our expenses for the remainder of the year. Please continue to give generously! 250,000 St. John's Financial Summary August 2012 Income to Date Projected Income Expenses to Date Projected Expenses 225,000 200,000 175,000 150,000 125,000 100,000 75,000 50,000 25,000 0 Budgeted Income = $207,000 Budgeted Expenses = $227,600 Carry-over from 2011 = $16,300 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Month Garden News I need help with the boxwoods. I have tried to keep them watered, fertilized twice a year, and not disturb their root area, but they are still having problems. Does anyone have ideas or expertise on how to improve their health? We have three varieties as far as I can tell regular, dwarf, and columnar. Thanks to those who are helping. I really can t get it all done. I am still looking for suggestions on what to do with the non-woody debris from the gardens. I don t like putting it in the garbage but I want to keep the property looking neat and tidy. Edie Hiltebeitel (home phone 628-5533, cell phone 608-8060) 4
P a ge 5 Thank You from Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Southern Pines, NC Dear Pastor Scott and the congregation of St. John, Thank you, thank you for your wonderful hospitality!! We had a fabulous time in Abingdon the play was great and you outdid yourselves to make us feel welcome. We are still raving about your hospitality. Comments and chatter on the bus on the way back home were so glowing. Comments such as Wow! This was wonderful! and I wish it weren t over! And I did not want to leave! tells you outdid yourselves. Thank you for a wonderful weekend. God Bless you all and thank you. In Christ s Love, Our Saviour ABC* Group Pastor Scott, St. John Ladies, and Congregation, Thank you so much for treating us like royalty. That is how you made us feel like royalty. You were wonderful to us. Thank you for making us feel at home! Also thanks for the wonderful food. Everything was just delicious. I felt we knew you forever! Thanks again! God Bless You! Carol Bruno Dear Friends in Christ, It was a joy and a blessing to meet all of you. Thank you for the awesome meals and for making us feel very welcome! *ABC=Adventure Bound Christians Your Sister in Christ, Pauline Van Duheyden 5
Page 6 Assistant Minister October Stewardship 8:30AM service Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28 Charles Sansing Ray Whitner Charles Sansing no Lector Debbie Kluttz Charlie Garnett Dave Morris 8:30 Usher Bob Wolfe Cheryl Carrico Christine Fields worship Altar Guild Assistant Minister Louise Sansing Kelly Read Carole Ann Rosen 11:00AM service Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 today Oct. 28 10:00AM Joan Shaver Ed Davis Beth Hiltebeitel Ken Croghan Lector David Bonham Joan Shaver Edie Hiltebeitel Helen French Acolyte William Gifford Henry Davis Chris Dixon Julie Kroll Reception The Spencers Joan Shaver Edie Hiltebeitel 50th Anniv. Counters Gary Halverson Helen French Dianne Fiebrink Jim Kroll Mark Fiebrink David Bonham Dianne Fiebrink Mark Fiebrink Ushers The Meachams The Spencers The Keens The Honakers Altar Guild Carole Halverson Edie Hiltebeitel Betsy Bonham Helen Findley Lectionary Readings for the Month Oct. 7 Genesis 2:18-24 If you cannot serve on your scheduled day, please make arrangements with another person and call the office to let the secretary know. Oct. 14 Amos 5:6-7,10-15 Oct. 21 Isaiah 53:4-12 Oct. 28 Jeremiah 31:31-34 Hebrews 1:1-4,2:5-12 Hebrews 4:12-16 Hebrews 5:1-10 Romans 3:19-28 Mark 10:2-16 Mark 10:17-31 Mark 10:35-45 John 8:31-36 6
Page 7 Food City School Bucks For several years now, Food City has contributed money to our schools. The current program has a specific dollar allocation and will be distributed to enrolled schools based on the points accumulated by each school through purchases of specific private labels at Food City stores over the next several months. In order for your purchases to be credited to a school, you can obtain a bar code for your FC ValuCard or go to the Food City web site and designate the school of your choice to get credit. Check out www.foodcity.com for specific details. I encourage you to participate so that our local schools get their share of the money. Edie Hiltebeitel. Retirement Party for Kathi Lowe, EFiA Sunday October 21st, from 3:00 to 5:00PM (drop-in), there will be a Retirement Party for Kathi Lowe at First Christian Church, 185 Old Jonesboro Road, Abingdon, VA. Please join us to wish Kathi Best Wishes on her Retirement! St. John Ladies Book Group The 2012 "Kick off" meeting of the St. John Ladies Book Group was a huge success!!! Thanks to all for the delicious food and great discussion! Author of "Angel," Mary Kingsley shared her insights of inspiration and journey in writing her first novel! The discussion was thought provoking and inspiring to anyone who may have writing a novel on their "bucket list!" All agreed we would recommend this book to anyone looking for a novel with humor, intrigue, great characterizations, and a twist! We would love to read another book and schedule our next gathering in early November! If anyone has a recommendation or would like to host our next meeting please contact Kelly Read or Joan Shaffer! We would love to keep our group active and welcome not only members of St. John but friends who have a love of reading as well!!! Future plans will be announced in the bulletin and newsletter so mark your calendars and plan to join us when we meet again!! New Church Council Members On Sunday September 23rd, a Congregational Meeting was held to elect Church Council Members for three year terms beginning in January 2013. Those elected to serve are: Helen French Jim Lovett Debbie Kluttz Charlie Garnett (elected to finish Lisa Roberts term). The congregation thanks you for your willingness to serve in this capacity. 7
Page 8 October2012 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 9:30AM Quilters 3 4 5 6 7 8:30 AM Worship 9:45AM SS 11:00AM Worship 1:00PM Crop Walk 4:00PM Confirmation 5:00PM Jr./Sr. Youth 8 Evangelism Evening Book Study 9 9:30AM Quilters 1:00 Bible Study 11:00 Choir 10 6:30PM Musicians 8:30 choir 11 12 13 14 8:30AM Worship 9:45AM SS 11:00AM Worship 15 16 9:30AM Quilters No choir 17 No choir 18 Council 19 20 218:30AM Worship 9:45AM SS 11:00AM Worship 4:00PM Confirmation 5:00PM Jr./Sr. Youth 6:00PM Food Pantry 229:30-1 Food Pantry Book Study 23 9:30AM Quilters 1:00 Bible S 4:30 FoodP 11:00 Choir 24 6:30PM Musicians 8:30 choir 25 5:30PM Preschool Open House Lasagna Dinner 26 9:30-1:00 Food Pantry 27 28 Reformation Sunday 50th Anniversary 10:00AM Worship 29 Evening Book Study 30 11:00 Choir 31 6:30PM Musicians 8:30 choir 8
Staff St. John Lutheran Church 807 E. Main St. Abingdon, VA 24210 Phone: 276-628-6215 E-mail: stjohnlutheran@embarqmail.com http://www.stjohnabingdon.org We are a community of believers, gathered by the Spirit, washed in Baptism, marked with the cross of Christ, nourished by Word and Sacrament, called to respond to God's gifts of grace, and set apart as disciples of Jesus Christ for a life of learning, witness, and service. G. Scott Homesley pastorscottsj@embarqmail.com Phone: 276-525-5801 Joan Shaver, Parish Secretary stjohnlutheran@embarqmail.com Office hours 9-12 Tuesday-Friday Council Bill Spencer Dave Morris Marshall Hatfield Christine Fields Carol Halverson Kelly Read Joel Rosen Tammie Kroll Charlie Garnett Linda Brumleve, Financial Secretary Steve Kluttz, Treasurer St. John Lutheran is a congregation of the Virginia Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Rev. Mark S. Hansen, Presiding Bishop, ELCA The Rev. James Mauney, Bishop, Virginia Synod St. John Lutheran Church 807 E. Main St. Abingdon, VA 24210 Address Service Requested October 2012 9