St.Paul Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Pinehurst North Carolina

Mission Statement: Our church in Pinehurst is a gathering place of the people of God who strive to live and act in harmony with a biblical foundation. The Good News of the Gospel is expressed in our love for all people and in our worship, witness, service and teachings. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit in baptism to grow in faith, actively supporting and nurturing all God's children through evangelism, stewardship, fellowship and service.

Monday, December 17, 2012

St. Paul Lutheran Monthly Newsletter - December 2012

St. Paul Lutheran Church

Monthly Member Newsletter for December, 2012

PastComments: Let Christmas Make You “Wonder”
Some things make us wonder, like why gas prices change in minutes, or why there are so many calories in a small glass of eggnog, or what will the economy be like next year. Other things are a wonder, like images from photos from deep space, or a married couple that still holds hands after 60 years of being together, or a three month old baby that instantly knows the difference between mom’s arms and those of anyone else. Sometimes “wonder” is a verb. Sometimes it is a noun. This Christmas let us wonder and be caught up in this wonder.

First, let’s look at “wonder” as a verb. During Christmas season, wonder how you can make some positive changes in the year to come. Think about ways you can better yourself. Many people depend on you. Although you are shy to admit it, you are very important in the lives of others. We need to take care of ourselves physically, mentally and emotionally so others can count on us. Our lives affect everyone around us. Wonder about ways you can be a positive part of the lives of others. The Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to free us to be a source of good to others. Wonder how you can live an outwardly focused life, living for the sake of making other’s lives more tolerable, more comfortable and more positive.

Second, let’s look at “wonder” as a noun. Be astounded, be surprised, be amazed. This Christmas season, allow yourself the blessedness of being astonished – wonder. Wonder about God. Don’t try and fit Him into your life, into you logic, into your feelings. He’s too big. Besides, trying to control God only robs us of wonder. Instead, wonder that God has brought you into His plan, His design – His life. God the Son came into our life through the womb of the Virgin Mary. He came into our death through the terrible cross. God the Father’s love willed it so. In all of Christ’s work on our behalf, God the Holy Spirit was with the Son and proceeded in the words of the Son to bring faith to the disciples, to blind Bartimaeus, to the unnamed woman at the well, to Mary Magdalene and so many others – and finally, to us. The Holy Trinity is involved in the story of Christmas and all that it means. The Holy Trinity loves us – personally. Take time this Christmas to be astonished…to wonder.

Christ’s Peace be with you, Pastor White

Christmas Eve Services: The service at St. James will essentially be a Christmas play/skit put on by the children of St. James, along with a hymn/carole sing. This starts at 6:00 PM. St. Paul's candlelight service will begin at 8:30 PM this year (unlike last year at 9:30 PM).

Sermon Recordings: Sunday sermons are being digitally recorded in audio format. They are available to members or anyone interested. Requests should be made by specifying the Sunday sermon date you want. Please send your requests to: Leo Magiera at Lmagiera@earthlink.net.

Volunteer Reminder for Sunday SNACKS: We do enjoy having snacks available after the services. Please remember to sign up to bring some goodies from time to time to enjoy with coffee.

Reminder for Other Signup Sheets: There are signup sheets for Sunday flowers, opening and preparing the sanctuary, reading liturgy, setting up communion/altar, communion assistant, and “greeters”. Please check over some of these sheets to see if you can help out. The signups for some items have been limited.

Time to Order Poinsettias for 2012: If you wish to contribute towards the beautification of our sanctuary for Christmas, please sign up on the Poinsettia sheet on the desk in back of church. Also, please place your check or cash in the envelope with it when you sign up. Sunday, December 9th is the last Sunday to sign up and pay, as these plants will be picked up on Friday, December 14th and brought to church. Thanks !

Potluck for December: Monday, December 10th, is our 4th potluck of the 2012 season. We will use this potluck date to trim our Christmas tree and decorate the sanctuary. The social begins at 6:30 PM. We ask that everyone bring an appetizer/snack or Christmas cookies/desserts to nibble on while we decorate. Hope to see you !

Weekly Bible Study Schedule: We will have Tuesday night Bible study until December 18th and will resume studies on January 10th, 2013.

Mystery BIO: This month's couple grew up in Lutheran families on small Wisconsin farms thirteen miles apart, but they did not meet each other until an ice cream social held at her church...Mt. Morris Lutheran – almost 50 years ago. Six years later they were married in this church and, six years after that, had their baby girl baptized in the same church.

He says that attending St. Paul-Pinehurst is a homecoming of sorts for him, as his home church, Immanual Lutheran in Wisconsin, was about the same size as our St. Paul, and is where his mother was the organist and he and his father took care of all aspects of caring for the church building and grounds...including shoveling the snow!

They both attended the University of Wisconsin system, where she graduated with a major in Elementary Education and he with a Civil Engineering degree. They worked in their home state for twelve years before moving to Dover, Delaware, where he was an executive at a multi-faceted utility. Active in church affairs at St. Johns, he was the inaugural St. John's School Board President (daycare through 8th grade) and also served on the Finance Committee. She was active with the circles and served as Superintendent of the Youth Midweek School.

They moved to Fayetteville, NC, in 1991, attending St. James Lutheran where she was the head of the Altar Guild and served on the Church Council. They were there until 2000, after his company was purchased by Progress Energy (CP&L at the time) and the officers were relocated to the Raleigh area. They then settled in Cary, NC, and attended Resurrection Lutheran Church. They retired in 2005 and moved to Pinehurst in 2011, where she is active in gardening and is an avid reader. He enjoys golf, fishing and hunting. They

both enjoy travel and visiting their friends and family members, including two adorable grandchildren...a five year old girl and a one year old boy who are located in Indiana. These little ones are the “apples of their eyes.” (This scenario sounds oh so familiar for Pastor White and Jean, I believe – with an older granddaughter and baby grandson.) This is our bio couple's final statement for the bio: We both enjoy and feel blessed to be here at St. Paul, with its wonderful members and our terrific pastor. Well, bio couple...we are certainly blessed that you have come to be with us at St. Paul.

Chase Sammon's Eagle Scout Project: One of our members, Chase Sammons, worked on a leadership service project which benefits the community. His Eagle Scout project was to organize and complete a “prayer garden” for use by church members and other folks from the surrounding community. Chase and several friends and church members showed up on Saturday, April 28th, to help with his project. Please feel free to sit in this garden, if you have a chance, and reflect on the beauty of our Lord's creation, while

expressing your private prayers. In mid-August, the Review Board checked over his project and granted him the Eagle Scout Merit Badge confirmation. In February, 2013, the Eagle Court of Honor will be presenting him with the actual Merit Badge and Elizabeth says many family members will be coming in from out of town to be here for this presentation. She will keep our congregation apprised of the details for this ceremony.

Notes from the desk of your Church Council President – George Venet:

The 2013 Church Council

Here are the council members who will be leading St. Paul in 2013: Kay Beran, Dick Bock, John Schneider, John Wake, Henry Fuhrmann, Rich Mancuso, and George Venet. Leaving Church Council this year are Ruth Fromm and Roger Jensen. We thank them for their service to the church. At our next meeting, December 12, 2012, we will be electing the officers of the Board for the 2013 year. There is a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we have an excellent group of council members to lead us in the Lord's work.

This past year we have made several giant steps forward. We are now worshipping with the proper hymnal as required by the Missouri Synod. Thank you to all who have made this project a success. We now have a new organ, thanks to all who have taken the challenge by one of members to raise $5000 before the end of 2012. Most of all, thank you to the members who made the challenge for the $5000 and then matched it with their own $5000. It is wonderful how God moves us. Because of these giant steps we were able to take, I know the future for St Paul Lutheran is going to be bright.

Vision for St. Paul Lutheran

Our future is bright. But how will it shine? We need input from you, the congregation, about what you see as the future for St. Paul Church. Where should we spend our limited resources of time and money to grow our church and make it a shinning light in this community? We need to develop a plan for the future and get started in that direction, whatever that direction might be. Please help point us in that direction. After prayerful consideration, drop me a note with your thoughts.

Advent - The Beginning

The beginning of the church year is here. We begin by looking forward to the coming of our Lord. We will find Him as an infant in a small stable, but what He will do will change the world. Our church is an infant, and we can change our community. Jesus was not always readily accepted, and we also may not be readily accepted, but we must not give up. As one of our members said "Our area is populated with a significant number of Baptists and Catholics", but this should not discourage us. We also are populated by many unchurched people who have not heard or have forgotten the words of our Lord. These are the people we must reach out to. Let us each begin this new church year and make it our pledge to Bring a Friend. We all have friends who are not church members. This is the Christmas season, and let all of us see that Christ is the reason for this season, in our lives now and throughout the year.

Prayer Requests: If you have a prayer request, put it in the pastor's mailbox or send it via email or call on his phone. Help your pastor care for you. Nothing is as powerful as prayer. Please pray for Patricia McCarthy of St. James. Also, add Barbara Nelson to your prayers. She recently had gall bladder surgery and is on the mend. Pray for Lloydene Meilbrecht, a member of St. James, who broke her ankle several weeks ago. Prayers are also requested for Marie Hagemeister, Rich Mancuso's aunt who is facing the loss of sight in her right eye from macular degeneration. Please also pray for Sylvester Dixon of St. James who recently lost his mother. If you have anyone you want to add to our prayer list, please advise George Venet or Pastor White.

Pastoral Office Hours: Please call or email Pastor (pastorwhitelcms2.10@gmail.com) for an appointment Monday through Friday if in need of pastoral assistance/guidance. You may request to be met at St. Paul Church or at your home.

Ladies Bible Study / “Eve Circle”: Our group has begun to meet on Thursdays, at 5:45 PM at the church. We invite any ladies that are interested to please join us. We have Bible study from 5:45 PM until 6:45 PM. Then we go out to dinner somewhere. Our Bible study is on the first Thursday of each month and a “good will” project is done on the third Thursday of each month. Our upcoming project is yet to be determined. We would welcome any newcomers and ideas ! (Shirley Wake/Louise Jensen)

“Friends of St. Paul Name and Address List”: There is a copy of our present members and friends list on the desk in the back of church. Please review this list and mark any changes or corrections on it. From time to time, John Wake will make the changes/corrections and put new copies on the desk in church. (John Wake)

Birthdays in December:

12/12 Suzanne Hansen

12/28 Joe Loomis

12/31 Carol Schneider (a New Year's Eve baby!)

Anniversaries in December:

12/27/74 Chris and Karen Dickens

Please Note: If we have missed anyone's birthday or anniversary during the last year, please let Karen Dickens know. These dates were initially obtained from the “Membership Profile Sheets” pastor asked all the church members to fill out in July of 2011. If you came to us after that date and need to get a profile form, please let Karen know so we can add your information and birthday/anniversary dates to our spreadsheets. Thank you.

Quilt News: After service Sunday, November 25th, the drawing was made for the beautiful quilt our church quilting team completed. The ticket pulled was for Cyndi Mieczekowski, who is a neighbor of Karen Dickens. Karen delivered the quilt after church and took a photo of the recipient. Please see below:

St. James – LWML Meetings: Their kickoff meeting was held Saturday, November 17th at 12 noon at St. James in Southern Pines. Their next meeting is Saturday, December 8th at 12 noon. In 2013, they will meet on the 3rd Saturday of each month. That puts the January meeting on the 19th. Some of the ladies bring lunch, because they have the prayer meeting before the LWML get-together. They have had 10-12 women at their previous meetings and would definitely welcome more. Any questions, call Phyllis Marion at 673-2215. She still has a few mite boxes available if you are interested.
St. James Weekday Bible Study: St. James Church, Wednesdays from 6 to 7 pm.

Prayer Ministry: St. James invites you to gather for prayer on Saturdays, 10:00 am.
Choral Recruits: In line with providing beautiful music to our Lord's glory, our little “choir” is looking for new recruits. If you feel that you can hold a tune and would like to try us out, please join us Sundays at 8:30 a.m. when we begin rehearsing before service. We really need new voices in all areas. (Contact Sondra Nelson or Karen Dickens)

Food for Coalition: St. Paul donates cans of stew, vegetables and fruits to the Coalition in Southern Pines. Please place these items in the basket in the back of the church. This is a very important donation, as there are those right in our immediate area that are homeless and hungry.

Thrivent Financial News: Thrivent members should note that the Annual Pines Chapter Luncheon is scheduled for Sunday, December 2, 2012, at OSLC Fellowship Hall at 12:45 PM. More information will be sent to you via email/mail for making reservations. If anyone has any questions about Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, please feel free to see me or Louise Jensen or John Wake.

We have come to the end of our Thrivent year, and I want to thank all who gave of their time, talents and resources to help others in need. Our Pines Chapter supplemented fund raising efforts with an additional $6,500 this year. I know that this has made a difference in our communities and in the lives of those we helped.

I will be leaving the Pines Chapter Board this year, after having served for 13 years as a board member. We have many others who have served and continue to serve, but I want each Thrivent member to give consideration, if asked to help, by being a board member. It is a very rewarding experience, and I leave feeling really good about what help we have provided.

To all members of St. Paul, I hope that you continue to support the activities of our Thrivent Chapter in 2013. There is still much to do in our community and church. Thank you for all your help.

Henry Fuhrmann, President of Pines Chapter, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Our Giving of Time and Money: November, 2012

Average Sunday Attendance: 43.5 …. YTD average attendance: 40.9

Offerings for November totalled: $ 6,065, plus $ 271 for the Organ Fund and $ 273 of Thrivent Choice dollars.

YTD gifts total $67,766, plus $ 2,070 for new hymnals, $11,014 from contributions and raffle ticket sales for the Organ Fund and $ 1,622 in Thrivent Choice dollars. We are so very thankful for your generous financial support of the mission of St. Paul over this past year. God bless you all.

Thanks to so many of you who have already returned your 2013 pledges. If you haven't completed your pledge/ “estimate of giving” card yet, please do so soon and place it in the offering plate on or before December 30th. Pledges will be dedicated in January.

We are biblically challenged to tithe or give a tenth of, and from the first part of, what we receive. Think of all we individually receive through the grace of God. Each of us is a steward, caretaker, of it. If your

financial support is not yet a tithe or from the first fruits, perhaps bubbling it up in priority will enable you to increase what you do give. If you're not yet tithing, perhaps increasing your financial support by 10% over 2012's giving amount is within reach. Again, take time, trust in the Lord and prayerfully consider what you plan to give. We all need to be grateful every day, not just when we attend a worship service.

Thank you, Roger Jensen, Stewardship Rep.

Big Thanks ! Section:

Thank you so much, Henry Fuhrmann, for all the work you have done over these years on the Board and in your leadership of the Pines Chapter of Thrivent. Thank you, too, to John Wake and Louise Jensen for all you have done in the past to make us aware of Thrivent events.

Organ Recital: Mark your calendars for Sunday, January 27th. At 4:00 P.M., our church will host an organ recital. This will not be a normal recital. Everyone attending this recital will be involved by singing some great hymns. You won't just sit there and listen to Johann Sebastian Bach or Ludwig van Beethoven. Sondra has selected several wonderful musical scores that will demonstrate the wide range of notes/tones/and special sounds that our new (used) organ is capable of making. If you have a favorite composition or hymn you would like included in this recital, please contact me. John Wake

Mystery Bio Program: We are presently out of bio information sheets from congregational members. If you haven't already filled out a bio form, don't forget to pick up your “Mystery BIO” form on the desk in the back of the church. Then you can either slip it in my mailbox at church, or email me the information or call me at home (910) 295-6063, and I will include your BIO in one of the next monthly newsletters. Thanks, Karen Dickens. Email is: wolfandwife@embarqmail.com (that's a Q not a G in my email address).

Newsletter Items: If you have any news/articles you want included in next month's newsletter, please advise me ASAP, or right after the last Sunday of the month. Karen Dickens (910) 295-6063

CONTACTS

Pastor Denton White: Home: (919) 577-9989 Cell: (919) 609-8687 Email: pastorwhitelcms2.10@gmail.com

Mailing address: 808 Barneswyck Drive, Fuquay Varina, NC 27526

Music Director: Ms. Sondra Nelson (910) 692-6979

Website: www.stpaullutheranpinehurst.com

Our mystery bio couple for November: Jean and Terry Davis

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pinehurst Newsletter for November, 2012

St. Paul Lutheran Church

Monthly Member Newsletter for November, 2012

Pastor's Comments: Hope is Important in Times of Trial

Hurricane Sandy has approached the most populated section of our Nation and the epicenter of our Nation’s commerce. Some 50 million individuals are expected to have experienced the effects of this storm. At the moment, those educated and experienced in the science and art of meteorology have predicted that Storm Sandy was the most powerful storm to make land-fall on this section of our Nation in history. By the time you are reading this, all that was only prediction will have been settled. But there was no one “predicting” if the storm would harm people…they declared with absolute certainty that it would. Unprecedented evacuations were underway, even as I write. Our prayers go up to our Father for all who must undergo this tremendous adversity.

No doubt, mean-spirited people will say in the days ahead that “God is punishing” this or that sin in such and such people. Others will counter by saying that in a solar system like ours, and on a plant like ours, storms are the natural outcome of the laws of the universe. As Christians, we seek understanding from the witness of God, the Holy Spirit, through the Scriptures He inspired, Scriptures which link everything to the Victory of Jesus on our behalf. When Adam sinned, God cursed the ground because of that sin: “…cursed is the ground because of you,” Genesis, Chapter 3. The earth is often a violent and deadly place, and Apostle Paul metaphorically personifies creation as man groaning for relief from a curse, Romans 8.20-21. There is much we just don’t know, but we do know that even the violent weather in creation is tied to the sin of the first man, Adam. Sin always has its consequences. But so does righteousness.

St. Paul goes on in Romans 8 to explain that, because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ, by God’s grace, the new head of the human race, the One through whom God judges us, a day of perfect peace is just beyond the horizon. In that Day, creation itself will be renewed in glory and perfection. In that Day, there will be no more storms that rampage over the surface of sea and land and bring human suffering and death. Through one man's sin, suffering and death came into the world – the created order. Likewise, in the grace and mercy of God, through One Man, Righteousness, Salvation and Life are being restored. Because of the righteousness of Jesus, even creation will be different than anything we have ever known. Let us pray for God’s mercy for those having to endure the consequences of the first Adam’s sin. Let us praise God Almighty that because of the righteousness of the Second Adam, Jesus Christ the Lord, we do not suffer without hope, but live with a real and certain future of peace.

Christ’s Peace be with You, Pastor White

Sermon Recordings: Sunday sermons are being digitally recorded in audio format. They are available to members or anyone interested. Requests should be made by specifying the Sunday sermon date you want. Please send your requests to: Leo Magiera at Lmagiera@earthlink.net.

Chase Sammon's Eagle Scout Project: One of our members, Chase Sammons, worked on a leadership service project which benefits the community. His Eagle Scout project was to organize and complete a “prayer garden” for use by church members and other folks from the surrounding community. Chase and several friends and church members showed up on Saturday, April 28th, to help with his project. Please feel free to sit in this garden, if you have a chance, and reflect on the beauty of our Lord's creation, while

expressing your private prayers. In mid-August, the Review Board checked over his project and granted him the Eagle Scout Merit Badge confirmation. In February, 2013, the Eagle Court of Honor will be presenting him with the actual Merit Badge and Elizabeth says many family members will be coming in from out of town to be here for this presentation. She will keep our congregation apprised of the details for this ceremony.

Volunteer Reminder for Sunday SNACKS: We do enjoy having snacks available after the services. Please remember to sign up to bring some goodies from time to time to enjoy with coffee.

Reminder for Other Signup Sheets: There are signup sheets for Sunday flowers, opening and preparing the sanctuary, reading liturgy, setting up communion/altar, communion assistant, and “greeters”. Please check over some of these sheets to see if you can help out. The signups for some items have been limited.

Potluck for November: Monday, November 12th, will be our 3rd potluck of the 2012 season. Please bring a dish to pass for others to enjoy. The social begins at 6:30 PM. Hope to see you !

Weekly Bible Study Schedule Announcement: Our Fall Bible Study began the end of September . These studies continue on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM at St. Paul Church. We will continue to study the Book of 1st Corinthians. Please make plans to attend and invite your friends.

Mystery BIO: This mystery couple met through a mutual friend in Hinsdale, IL. They were married in Elmhurst, IL in December of 1974, and resided there for 25 years. Mutual friends who had purchased property in Pinehurst and invited them down when their house was complete, was one reason they first came here to visit and fell in love with the beauty of the area and low taxes compared to the Midwest. Another great thing was they were able to play golf on January 1 of the new year. Their previous church affiliation was with Immanuel Lutheran (LCMS) of Elmhurst, IL. They are both retired, but there is still lots of work to do around the house. They both worked for Electro-Motive Division of GM when they retired in 2001, with a cummulative number of years with GM amounting to 68. You won't ever see them driving anything but GM !

She enjoys playing Scrabble on the computer and doing crafts and singing and he enjoys dabbling in mechanics, golf and crossword puzzles. No pets yet, but time will tell. Three children: son in Dallas, one son in Chicago, and daughter in Florida. Favorite places to visit are Chicago (because of lots of family still there), Disneyworld and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Notes from the desk of your Church Council President:

Important Coming Events: November 4, 2012 Special service for “All Saints” Sunday

November 11, 2012` Stewardship Sunday

November 18, 2012 Annual Congregation meeting following service

Where should we be in ten years: The church council is asking members to give prayerful thought to

where St. Paul Lutheran Church should be in the next ten years. Consider that it is Christ's command

that we spread His Word to all that we come in contact with. How should St. Paul congregation proceed?

What resources will we need in the future? Should we target a specific group, age, race and/or other

personal qualifications? If we don't have a direction and begin moving and planning for the future, we

may not have a future. It is up to you. The Pinehurst area is growing, and there is no reason why we

should not be growing along with the community.

We would like you to give the church council your ideas. You may want to give us your ideas in a note to

one of the council members, or you are welcome to come to one of our council meetings, which are always

announced in church, to discuss your ideas. Either way, we are looking for your help to grow.

Your council president, George Venet

Prayer Requests: If you have a prayer request, put it in the pastor's mailbox or send it via email or call on his phone. Help your pastor care for you. Nothing is as powerful as prayer. Please keep Jim Roberts in your prayers and George Venet's brother, Bill, who suffered a stroke but is doing better. Also please pray for the family of Larry Leslie of St. James (he was called by the Lord on March 19), and also Patricia McCarthy. We have received word from Cliff Huner that the father of Steve Molen (who is the Managing Partner for Thrivent in NC/SC) is dying of cancer and not expected to make it much longer. Please pray for the family of Steve Molen. Also, add Barbara Nelson to your prayers. She recently had gall bladder surgery and is on the mend. Pray for Lloydene Meilbrecht, a member of St. James, who broke her ankle two weeks ago. Prayers are also requested for Marie Hagemeister, Rich Mancuso's aunt who is facing the loss of sight in her right eye from macular degeneration. Please also pray for Sylvester Dixon of St. James who recently lost his mother. If you have anyone you want to add to our prayer list, please advise George Venet or Pastor White.

Pastoral Office Hours: Please call or email Pastor (pastorwhitelcms2.10@gmail.com) for an appointment Monday through Friday if in need of pastoral assistance/guidance. You may request to be met at St. Paul Church or at your home.

Ladies Bible Study / “Eve Circle”: Our group has begun to meet on Thursdays, at 5:45 PM at the church. We invite any ladies that are interested to please join us. We have Bible study from 5:45 PM until 6:45 PM. Then we go out to dinner somewhere. Our Bible study is on the first Thursday of each month and a “good will” project is done on the third Thursday of each month. Our upcoming project is yet to be determined. We would welcome any newcomers and ideas ! (Shirley Wake/Louise Jensen)

“Friends of St. Paul Name and Address List”: There is a copy of our present members and friends list on the desk in the back of church. Please review this list and mark any changes or corrections on it. From time to time, John Wake will make the changes/corrections and put new copies on the desk in church. (John Wake)

Birthdays in November: 11/1 Jean White 11/24 Priscilla Loomis

11/7 Christine Mancuso

Anniversaries in November: 11/21/53 Pat and Dick Bock (59 years !)

11/30/68 Louise and Roger Jensen (44 years !)

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Please Note: If we have missed anyone's birthday or anniversary during the last year, please let Karen Dickens know. These dates were initially obtained from the “Membership Profile Sheets” pastor asked all the church members to fill out in July of 2011. If you came to us after that date and need to get a profile form, please let Karen know so we can add your information and birthday/anniversary dates to our spreadsheets. Thank you.

==============================================================================

Quilt News: I want to thank everyone who has been helping sell our raffle tickets for the quilt. Please

turn in any money and tickets you may still have out by Sunday, November 18th, to me (Shirley Wake). The quilt drawing will be on Sunday, November 25th, following the worship service. Again, thanks for all the help

and support !

Shirley Wake

Weekday Bible Study: St. James Church, Wednesdays from 6 to 7 pm.
Prayer Ministry: St. James invites you to gather for prayer on Saturdays, 10:00 am.

Choral Recruits: In line with providing beautiful music to our Lord's glory, our little “choir” is looking for new recruits. If you feel that you can hold a tune and would like to try us out, please join us Sundays at 8:30 a.m. when we begin rehearsing before service. We really need new voices in all areas. (Contact Sondra Nelson or Karen Dickens)

Food for Coalition: St. Paul donates cans of stew, vegetables and fruits to the Coalition in Southern Pines. Please place these items in the basket in the back of the church.
Thrivent Financial News: A special THANK YOU to those who participated in the Habitat Repair drive in Robbins on Saturday, November 3rd. There will be additional work days in the future, so if you couldn't participate this time, maybe you can for the next one. I will keep everyone posted.
Thrivent members will be able to vote for the new Pines Chapter Board of Directors for 2013 on Sunday, November 11th. You can bring the ballot that was emailed/mailed to you or we will supply you with a ballot. Please see Louise Jensen or Henry Fuhrmann in the conference room right after church.

Thrivent members should note that the Annual Pines Chapter Luncheon is scheduled for Sunday, December 2, 2012, at OSLC Fellowship Hall at 12:45 PM. More information will be sent to you via email/mail for making reservations.
If anyone has any questions about Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, please feel free to see me or Louise Jensen or John Wake.

Henry Fuhrmann, President of Pines Chapter, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Background of our replacement Organ/Organ Fundraising: Our wonderful replacement organ was originally purchased in December, 1987, by a doctor in Raleigh, NC, from the Hopper Piano & Organ Company at a cost of $33,000. The doctor gave this organ to Our Savior Lutheran Church, Raleigh, several years ago. The organ has been well maintained through annual maintenance contracts.

The money contributed by us to our “Organ Fund” has been used to pay the costs associated with the
movement and installation of the organ at St. Paul, plus funding an escrow account to pay premiums for the annual maintenance contract. The seven speakers have been relocated to a new shelf on the back wall, that is above the hallway into church, between the two cold air returns. The labor to accomplish this speaker shelf was done by several members of our church. The speaker re-hookup was contracted out.
Your church council will be meeting soon to discuss a date for an Organ Recital. The recital will allow
the organist to demonstrate the range of music that this fine instrument can provide. If you have a
favorite composition or hymn you would like included in this recital, please let me know.

John Wake

Our Giving of Time and Money: October, 2012

Average Sunday Attendance: 40 YTD average attendance: 41

Offerings for October totalled: $ 5,534, plus the anonymous $ 5,000 matching gift toward our Organ Fund. Gifts through the first ten months of the year total $77,184. We pray you each will be able to worship with us as we approach the season of Advent.

Big Thanks ! Section: To the team of carpenters and installers...... A “special” thank you to John Wake, Rich Mancuso, Ron Behrens, Roger Fromm and Dick Bock for all the help in erecting the shelf, designed and built by Dick Bock, to hold the 7 speakers for the new organ. Each speaker weighed about 70 pounds, and it took over 6 hours to complete the installation on October 16th. Thank you to Dick Bock, too, for all the prep work at home in building and painting the shelving and obtaining the speaker covers.

It is just astonishing to me that they could do the installation in one day !!! (Karen Dickens)

Mystery Bio Program: We are presently out of bio information sheets from congregational members. If you haven't already filled out a bio form, don't forget to pick up your “Mystery BIO” form on the desk in the back of the church. Then you can either slip it in my mailbox at church, or email me the information or call me at home (910) 295-6063, and I will include your BIO in one of the next monthly newsletters. Thanks, Karen Dickens. Email is: wolfandwife@embarqmail.com (that's a Q not a G in my email address).

Newsletter Items: If you have any news/articles you want included in next month's newsletter, please advise me ASAP, or right after the last Sunday of the month. Karen Dickens (910) 295-6063.

CONTACTS

Pastor Denton White: Home: (919) 577-9989 Cell: (919) 609-8687 Email: pastorwhitelcms2.10@gmail.com

Mailing address: 808 Barneswyck Drive, Fuquay Varina, NC 27526

Music Director: Ms. Sondra Nelson (910) 692-6979
Our mystery bio couple for November: Chris and Karen Dickens

Sunday, October 7, 2012

St. Paul Lutheran Church Monthly Member Newsletter for October, 2012

St. Paul Lutheran Church

Monthly Member Newsletter for October, 2012
• Pastor's Comments: What you should know about Jesus : ….News Flash for Mass Market Media....Jesus DOES have a Bride ! Harvard University (Boston, MA) historian Karen King announced recently that a tiny fragment of papyrus, about the size of a driver's license, contained a quote from Jesus about His wife. She speculated that it might possibly date to the fourth century, and might belong to a collection of writings by Christians that held a very different perspective than the Christianity of the first century and that which is common today. Some in the mass market media have stated things more strongly than Ms. King did. Some now, less than two weeks since the announcement, are even wondering if the scrap of papyrus is simply a forgery (see msnbc.msn.com/id/49225880). What kind of problems does this pose for our faith in Christ? Well, NONE !

The hype is just that and only that – hype. First of all, there certainly were numerous groups in the third and fourth centuries that claimed to be the true religion taught by Jesus Christ, complete with their own “bible.” Many modern scholars have written (speculatively) that the “established Church” didn't want these rabble-rousers disturbing their status quo and did all they could to snuff out these “Christians” with a different perspective. Truth is, these alternative “Christianities” did not want to be “in” the established Church, but wanted to replace it altogether! Their so-called Bible was written centuries after the long established documents that comprise the New Testament we use today. These writings that speak in strange ways of the authority Jesus gave to Mary Magdalene, or Jesus' marriage, weren't even around when the very first Christians continued to gather to read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the epistles of Paul and John – even risking their lives to do so.

Does Jesus have a wife? Indeed He does ! The Church is His bride that He purchased with His innocent suffering and death, His holy precious blood. Jesus paid for all our sins so that we could be His people that receive all that is His as the Son of God – life everlasting. The Scriptures use the analogy of bride and husband to paint an encouraging picture for us to remember. The Church is the bride of Christ. He is our Husband, paying the bride-price that we may be His own forever.

Hey - CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, FOX News ! We have documents that speak of Jesus' love for His bride. It is called the New Testament, and we've had it for 2,000 years.

• Sermon Recordings: Sunday sermons are being digitally recorded in audio format. They are available to members or anyone interested. Requests should be made by specifying the Sunday sermon date you want. Please send your requests to: Leo Magiera at Lmagiera@earthlink.net.

• Chase Sammon's Eagle Scout Project: One of our members, Chase Sammons, worked on a leadership service project which benefits the community. His Eagle Scout project was to organize and complete a “prayer garden” for use by church members and other folks from the surrounding community. Chase and several friends and church members showed up on Saturday, April 28th, to help with his project. Please feel free to sit in this garden, if you have a chance, and reflect on the beauty of our Lord's creation, while expressing your private prayers. In mid-August, the Review Board checked over his project and granted him the Eagle Scout Merit Badge confirmation. In February, 2013, the Eagle Court of Honor will be presenting him with the actual Merit Badge and Elizabeth says many family members will be coming in from out of town to be here for this presentation. She will keep our congregation apprised of the details for this ceremony.

• Volunteer Reminder for Sunday SNACKS: We do enjoy having snacks available after the services. Please remember to sign up to bring some goodies from time to time to enjoy with coffee.

• Reminder for Other Signup Sheets: There are signup sheets for Sunday flowers, opening and preparing the sanctuary, reading liturgy, setting up communion/altar, communion assistant, and “greeters”. Please check over some of these sheets to see if you can help out. The signups for some items have been limited.

• Potluck for October: Monday, October 8th, will be our 2nd potluck of the 2012 season. Please bring a dish to pass for others to enjoy. Since it is October and some generally think of Octoberfests, if you have a German Octoberfest specialty, please bring it. The social begins at 6:30 PM. Hope to see you !
• Weekly Bible Study Schedule Announcement: Our Fall Bible Study began the end of September . These studies are on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM at St. Paul Church. We will continue to study the Book of 1st Corinthians. Please make plans to attend and invite your friends.

• Mystery BIO: Our mystery couple for October previously resided in a small town in Michigan, but after four years of traveling to thirty locations across the Sunbelt, they were drawn to the Pinehurst area by its beauty, its lakes and the state of the art hospital. They previously attended the Chapel of the Lakes (LCMS) in Canadian Lakes, MI. When working, their jobs included being a University Archivist/Reference Librarian at State University in Pennsylvania and all around volunteering.

Hobbies include reading, competing in NC Senior Games, track and swimming, canoeing, hiking and following American politics. Their pet is a lovable, but not trouble-free rescue Boykin Spaniel named Rascal. They have children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Michigan, Pennsylvania and southern California. They really enjoy going to the lake communities in Michigan and New York State's Adirondacks.

• Notes from the desk of your Church Council President:

1. New Organ: Our new organ has arrived and was installed in a Service of Installation on Sunday, September, 23, 2012. A letter of gratitude signed by congregation members in attendance was sent to Our Savior Lutheran Church, Raleigh, NC, after the service Sunday, September 30th.

2. Prayer Retreat: Our prayer retreat was very well attended. We had 27 members from St. Paul and St. James attending. Topics that were presented were “A Place for Prayer,” “Ancient Prayer Forms,” “Prayer Disciplines,” and “Prayer for Inner Healing.” Pastor Umbach added several personal events where prayer was extremely important for him. This is the first step our church has taken toward spiritual renewal.

3. Revitalizing the Church: This is the number one priority mission of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. From the Lutheran Witness, I quote “Mission moves from the heart of the congregation gathered around Sermon and Sacrament into the community and ultimately to the ends of the earth. Renewal in mission does not begin with programs or techniques, but with the forgiveness of sins distributed in the means of grace.” God serves us in Word and Sacrament, and we serve our neighbors in our worldly lives. Let us all proclaim God as our Father and Christ as our Savior.

4. Important Dates:

October 6, 2012 St. Paul Lutheran Church will have a booth at the Southern Pines Fall

Festival. We will be selling raffle tickets for the wonderful quilt made

by some members of our church. We will also be handing out fliers and

inviting people to worship with us on Sundays.

October 28, 2012 Reformation Sunday! Wear red if you can.

November 4, 2012 All Saints Sunday. Please provide a list of your loved ones, who have gone

to the resurrected life, to Pastor White so that they may be named in the prayers of our departed saints.

November 18, 2012 Annual Congregation Meeting /Voters' Assembly Meeting (after service). Mark your calendars. Voting members will be asked to vote for two new

council members (an amendment to the bylaws and the 2012 Financial

Budget). To help expedite the meeting, written material associated with each agenda item will be mailed or put in the individual mail slots at church approx. two weeks prior to the meeting. To say that this meeting is important to the future of our church is an understatement. (J. Wake)

• Prayer Requests: If you have a prayer request, put it in the pastor's mailbox or send it via email or call on his phone. Help your pastor care for you. Nothing is as powerful as prayer. Please keep Jim Roberts in your prayers and George Venet's brother, Bill, who suffered a stroke but is doing better. Also please pray for the family of Larry Leslie of St. James (he was called by the Lord on March 19), and also Patricia McCarthy. We have received word from Cliff Huner that the father of Steve Molen (who is the Managing Partner for Thrivent in NC/SC) is dying of cancer and not expected to make it much longer. Please pray for the family of Steve Molen. Also, add Barbara Nelson to your prayers. She recently had gall bladder surgery and is on the mend. Pray for Lloydene Meilbrecht, a member of St. James, who broke her ankle two weeks ago. Prayers are also requested for Marie Hagemeister, Rich Mancuso's aunt who is facing the loss of sight in her right eye from macular degeneration. If you have anyone you want to add to our prayer list, please advise George Venet or Pastor White.
• Pastoral Office Hours: Please call or email Pastor (pastorwhitelcms2.10@gmail.com) for an appointment Monday through Friday if in need of pastoral assistance/guidance. You may request to be met at St. Paul Church or at your home.

• Ladies Bible Study / “Eve Circle”: Our group will begin again on Thursday, September 6th at 5:45 PM at the church. We invite any ladies that are interested to please join us. We have Bible study from 5:45 PM until 6:45 PM. Then we go out to dinner somewhere. Our Bible study is on the first Thursday of each month and a “good will” project is done on the third Thursday of each month. Our upcoming project is yet to be determined. We would welcome any newcomers and ideas ! (Shirley Wake/Louise Jensen)

• “Friends of St. Paul Name and Address List”: There is a copy of our present members and friends list on the desk in the back of church. Please review this list and mark any changes or corrections on it. From time to time, John Wake will make the changes/corrections and put new copies on the desk in church. (John Wake)

• Birthdays in October: 10/1 John Button 10/26 Terry Davis

10/9 Rich Mancuso 10/26 Richard Rindfleisch

10/11 Jean Davis

• Anniversaries in October: 10/10/96 Ruth and Roger Fromm
==============================================================================

Please Note: If we have missed anyone's birthday or anniversary during the last year, please let Karen Dickens know. These dates were initially obtained from the “Membership Profile Sheets” pastor asked all the church members to fill out in July of 2011. If you came to us after that date and need to get a profile form, please let Karen know so we can add your information and birthday/anniversary dates to our spreadsheets. Thank you.
==============================================================================
• Weekday Bible Study: St. James Church, Wednesdays from 6 to 7 pm.

• Prayer Ministry: St. James invites you to gather for prayer on Saturdays, 10:00 am.

• Choral Recruits: In line with providing beautiful music to our Lord's glory, our little “choir” is looking for new recruits. If you feel that you can hold a tune and would like to try us out, please join us Sundays at 8:30 a.m. when we begin rehearsing before service. We really need new voices in all areas. (Contact Sondra Nelson or Karen Dickens)

• Food for Coalition: St. Paul donates cans of stew, vegetables and fruits to the Coalition in Southern Pines. Please place these items in the basket in the back of the church.
• Thrivent Financial News: Thrivent Financial members, please mark your calendars for the Pines Chapter's annual brunch on December 2nd at Our Savior Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. More information will follow.
As I mentioned Sunday before services, the Pines Chapter did not have a Habitat House this year, nor will we have one next year. BUT, there is a new program where Habitat selects houses that need repair which we can become involved in. Under this program, we do not need to do any fund raising. We only need to provide manpower. We also will only be able to work on the EXTERIOR of the house, not the inside, and it will only take 1 or 2 days. There will be a major effort in November for this program in the Robbins area. If you would like to help, please contact me at 910-695-0509. We can work up a team from St. Paul for this effort. Our Savior and Trinity are also creating teams to help. Maybe St. Paul and St. James can combine into a team(s). This is open to anyone who wants to help.

A Social Security Seminar will be held on Thursday, October 11th at 10:00 AM and again at 6:30 PM at OSLC. This is open to anyone who wants to hear about or has questions regarding Social Security. It is presented by the Thrivent Financial Region and is free. Please contact Joyce Grau at 910-246-2365 or jgrau@nc.rr.com. Mr. Jim Caulder will conduct the sessions. He worked for the Social Security Administration for 33 years.

Henry Fuhrmann, President of Pines Chapter, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

• Background of our replacement Organ/Organ Fundraising: Our wonderful replacement organ was originally purchased in December, 1987, by a doctor in Raleigh, NC, from the Hopper Piano & Organ Company at a cost of $33,000. The doctor gave this organ to Our Savior Lutheran Church, Raleigh, several years ago. The organ has been well maintained through annual maintenance contracts.

The money contributed by us to our “Organ Fund” will be used to pay the costs associated with the

movement and installation of the organ at St. Paul, plus funding an escrow account to pay premiums for the

annual maintenance contract. The seven speakers, now situated on the floor in the back of church, will be

relocated to a new shelf on the back wall, that will be above the hallway into church, between the two cold

air returns. The labor to accomplish this speaker shelf will be handled by members of our church. The speaker hookup will be contracted out.

Your church council will be meeting soon to discuss a date for an Organ Recital. The recital will allow

the organist to demonstrate the range of music that this fine instrument can provide. If you have a

favorite composition or hymn you would like included in this recital, please let me know.
John Wake

• Our Giving of Time and Money: September, 2012

Average Sunday Attendance: 44 YTD average attendance: 41

Offerings for September totalled: $ 8,133, plus $310 in Thrivent Choice Dollars.

Total offerings YTD: $ 65,981, plus $1,349 in Thrivent Choice Dollars.

During September, we were blessed to receive $ 410 in offerings dedicated toward our Organ Fund Challenge. Your generous gifts enabled us to achieve the minimum $5,000 goal three months before its deadline. Please continue to consider additional gifts to the Organ Fund.

• Big Thanks ! Section: First of all, we send out a BIG thank you to Shirley and John Wake for handling all the preparation and work in setting up the “Prayer Workshop.” They really went out of their way in preparing name badges and doing registration, getting the sanctuary prepared and working behind the scenes to prepare for the breakfast/lunch supplies for the group of 28 folks. Sincere thanks !
Second of all, we cannot thank Dick Bock enough for all he has done for our church with his carpentry talents. For those of you that weren't around in the earlier years of our church, Dick re-designed our altar to make it open in the middle, he redesigned our pulpit, made our table for the flowers/offering basket, built a new baptismal fount, made us our nice candle holders and recently built a large cabinet to house our new paraments that were donated by the Magieras. Wow ! We love that he loves doing what he does.

• Mystery Bio Program: We are presently out of bio information sheets from congregational members. If you haven't already filled out a bio form, don't forget to pick up your “Mystery BIO” form on the desk in the back of the church. Then you can either slip it in my mailbox at church, or email me the information or call me at home (910) 295-6063, and I will include your BIO in one of the next monthly newsletters. Thanks, Karen Dickens. Email is: wolfandwife@embarqmail.com (that's a Q not a G in my email address).

• Newsletter Items: If you have any news/articles you want included in next month's newsletter, please advise me ASAP, or right after the last Sunday of the month. Karen Dickens (910) 295-6063.

===========================================================================================

CONTACTS

Pastor Denton White: Home: (919) 577-9989 Cell: (919) 609-8687 Email: pastorwhitelcms2.10@gmail.com

Mailing address: 808 Barneswyck Drive, Fuquay Varina, NC 27526

Music Director: Ms. Sondra Nelson (910) 692-6979
===========================================================================================

• Our mystery bio couple for October: Ruth and Roger Fromm

St. Paul Lutheran has a NEW organ

We have long wanted a new organ for our humble church and through the generousity of a sister church, Our Savior Lutheran in Cary, we have a wonderful addition to our worship service.

Please visit St. Paul Lutheran in Pinehurst for worship services to hear our lovely "new" organ. Organist, Sondra Nelson, is providing beautiful music to "our ears"!

Monday, September 3, 2012

St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pinehurst - September Newletter

St. Paul Lutheran Church

Monthly Member Newsletter for September, 2012

Pastor's Comments: Getting Ready to Vote: Here it is September, and the time for our nation to make vitally important decisions about leaders of our country is upon us. Even now, I’m sure that you are all weighing the options and researching the data to make the best possible selection. Of course, at the end of the day, we can only know so much about a particular candidate. There are things that we simply can’t know. In all of this, we don’t know what circumstances and situations will arise that might derail even the toughest and best people we can put in office through our votes. After all, no matter who we elect, they are still only people and subject to the same weaknesses as everyone else. So, we cast our ballots and hope for the best. But, we are not fatalistic... far from it. Our positive perspective about life is based on something far more substantial.

Our true joy, comfort and sense of well-being is not ultimately dependent on our votes, but on our faith. By faith, we trust that our heavenly Father, for the sake of His Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit, has a design for each of our lives. His will is good for us in the highest sense. How do we know this? Because God the Father gave God the Son over to death and raised Him up again so that we can have this unfailing relationship with the Holy Trinity that lasts forever. We trust God with all our heart and mind no matter what the circumstances, no matter what malady befalls us, no matter what blessings grace our lives. In it all and through it all, we trust the Lord. Our lives are far more important than the latest trauma we’ve experienced, have far more depth and worth than the dependability of our finances and availability of worldly procurements. We matter to the Lord in an eternal sense. This is the reason for our determination to live positive and meaningful lives.

Get ready to vote. Prepare yourselves. Study, research, get the facts. Vote your conscience. But never entrust your comfort, joy, security and meaning to a candidate for political office. We matter to political candidates only in the most temporal way. They need your vote to get elected. That is a good reminder for how powerful they really are. But, the Lord is the One who has chosen you. He has chosen you and sealed you to be His own for eternity. There is where we find a joy that cannot diminish.

Your Pastor, Denton White

• Sermon Recordings: Sunday sermons are being digitally recorded in audio format. They are available to members or anyone interested. Requests should be made by specifying the Sunday sermon date you want. Please send your requests to: Leo Magiera at Lmagiera@earthlink.net.

• Chase Sammon's Eagle Scout Project: One of our members, Chase Sammons, worked on a leadership service project which benefits the community. His Eagle Scout project was to organize and complete a “prayer garden” for use by church members and other folks from the surrounding community. Chase and several friends and church members showed up on Saturday, April 28th, to help with his project. Please feel free to sit in this garden, if you have a chance, and reflect on the beauty of our Lord's creation, while expressing your private prayers. In mid-August, the Review Board checked over his project and granted him the Eagle Scout Merit Badge confirmation. In February, 2013, the Eagle Court of Honor will be presenting him with the actual Merit Badge and Elizabeth says many family members will be coming in from out of town to be here for this presentation. She will keep our congregation apprised of the details for this ceremony.

• Volunteer Reminder for Sunday SNACKS: We do enjoy having snacks available after the services. Please remember to sign up to bring some goodies from time to time to enjoy with coffee.

• Reminder for Other Signup Sheets: There are signup sheets for Sunday flowers, opening and preparing the sanctuary, reading liturgy, setting up communion/altar, communion assistant, and “greeters”. Please check over some of these sheets to see if you can help out. The signups for some items have been very few. Thank you for your help! The Altar Guild is especially happy to have Jean and Terry Davis volunteer so much.

• Potlucks Will Begin Again in September: On Monday, September 10th, our potlucks will begin for the Fall and Winter seasons. There will be no special theme, just bring whatever dish you would like. We are blessed with the fact that there is always a great variety of delicious foods. The social begins at 6:30 PM, but if you can come about 6:00 PM to help set up the tables and chairs, that would be great. Hope to see you !

• Weekly Bible Study Schedule Announcement: Our Fall Bible Study will begin Tuesday, September 18th at 7:00 PM. We will study the Book of 1 Corinthians. Please make plans to attend and invite your friends.

Mystery BIO's:

Our special mystery person previously lived in Fort Washington, Maryland. Her church affiliation at that time was Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church in Washington, DC. Now retired, but previously worked as a Project Manager-Director/Division Director for state-based organizations, including the National Governors' Association and the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors.

Hobbies include singing in community choruses and doing volunteer work. Pets include 4 dogs, which are very much loved and cared for. History includes graduating from Valparaiso University and doing graduate work at UNC-Chapel Hill. Field of training is “geography.”

Favorite places to visit/vacation include Italy and also taking cruises.
Notes from the desk of your Church Council President:

PRAYER RETREAT: Pastor Umbach, our Southeastern District Director of Spiritual Life, will be leading a workshop on prayer at our church on Saturday, September 15th. He will explore with you the various ancient prayer forms and spiritual disciplines, such as the Lectio Divina, The Examen, Spiritual Direction, Journaling, Fasting, Healing Prayer and others. Please pray for the success of this retreat. Let those coming to instruct us reach each and every one of our hearts.

If you are planning to attend this prayer workshop on September 15th, 2012, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, you must have your registration form and check for $15 per person in to the church no later than September 7th. John Wake is coordinating the registration and collecting the fee. Thank you, John.

AUTUMN FEST: St. Paul Lutheran Church will have a booth at Southern Pines Autumn Fest. The Fest will be held in downtown Southern Pines on Saturday, October 6th. This will be an excellent way to bring attention to our church, as we will be selling chances to win the wonderful quilt some of the women from St. Paul church created. All money collected will go toward the organ fund. We will need several volunteers to help “man the booth.” If you would like to help with this project, contact Kay Beran, John or Shirley Wake or George Venet.

VISITORS FROM ST. LOUIS: Several times a year, you may see two gentlemen visitors who worship with us. They attended our August 26th service. One of these gentlemen is Pastor James Voelz, who is a Professor of Greek language at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. He also teaches Greek at the Catholic Seminary in St. Louis. He has a passion for golf and owns a condo at Pinehurst Resort. Another passion that he has is fine wines. The Mancusos and Venets were fortunate enough to share a couple of bottles of excellent wines Pastor Voelz brought from St. Louis.

NEW HYMNALS: The new hymn books have been blessed and are now distributed to the chairs in church. Thanks to everyone who purchased copies for the church.

ORGAN FUND: Just a reminder...we have only four more months to reach our challenge of $5,000 for this fund. One of our members has laid down the gauntlet: if we can collect $5,000 before the end of the year, they will match that amount. (The good news !! We had a very generous (anonymous) donation during August which brings our total since April 1st to $4,598, so we are 90%+ to our goal. But, please continue to add a little more in your weekly/monthly giving envelopes between now and the end of the year. Make sure you note on your envelope if your are giving a special amount toward the Organ Fund).

ALTAR PARAMENTS: St. Paul Lutheran Church wishes to express our sincere gratitude to Leo and Char Magiera for the gift of the altar paraments for our church. When we come to worship each Sunday, we will now be reminded of the church season by the color of the altar and lectern paraments. The St. Paul family truly thanks the Magiera family.

George Venet, your Church Council President
• Prayer Requests: If you have a prayer request, put it in the pastor's mailbox or send it via email or call on his phone. Help your pastor care for you. Nothing is as powerful as prayer. Please keep Jim Roberts in your prayers and George Venet's brother, Bill, who recently suffered a stroke. Also please pray for the family of Larry Leslie of St. James (he was called by the Lord on March 19), Matt Sobel, a nephew of the Jensens, and also Patricia McCarthy. If you have anyone you want to add to our prayer list, please advise George Venet.

• Pastoral Office Hours: Please call or email Pastor (pastorwhitelcms2.10@gmail.com) for an appointment Monday through Friday if in need of pastoral assistance/guidance. You may request to be met at St. Paul Church or at your home.

• Ladies Bible Study / “Eve Circle”: Our group will begin again on Thursday, September 6th at 5:45 PM at the church. We invite any ladies that are interested to please join us. We have Bible study from 5:45 PM until 6:45 PM. Then we go out to dinner somewhere. Our Bible study is on the first Thursday of each month and a “good will” project is done on the third Thursday of each month. Our upcoming project is yet to be determined. We would welcome any newcomers and ideas !

Shirley Wake/Louise Jensen

• “Friends of St. Paul Name and Address List”: There is a copy of our present members and friends list on the desk in the back of church. Please review this list and mark any changes or corrections on it. From time to time, John Wake will make the changes/corrections and put new copies on the desk in church. (John Wake)

• Birthdays in September: 9/5 Charlie Faas 9/14 Leo Magiera

9/11 Elsie Jasinski 9/15 Patricia Bock

• Anniversaries in September: 9/21/86 Christine and Richard Mancuso

Please Note: If we have missed anyone's birthday or anniversary during the last year, please let Karen Dickens know. These dates were initially obtained from the “Membership Profile Sheets” pastor asked all the church members to fill out in July of 2011. If you came to us after that date and need to get a profile form, please let Karen know so we can add your information and birthday/anniversary dates to our spreadsheets. Thank you.

• Weekday Bible Study: St. James Church, Wednesdays from 6 to 7 pm.

• Prayer Ministry: St. James invites you to gather for prayer on Saturdays, 10:00 am.

• Choral Recruits: In line with providing beautiful music to our Lord's glory, our little “choir” is looking for new recruits. If you feel that you can hold a tune and would like to try us out, please join us Sundays at 8:30 a.m. when we begin rehearsing before service. We really need new voices in all areas. (Contact Sondra Nelson or Karen Dickens)

• Food for Coalition: St. Paul donates cans of stew, vegetables and fruits to the Coalition in Southern Pines. Please place these items in the basket in the back of the church.

• Thrivent Financial News: Thrivent Financial members, please mark your calendars for the Pines Chapter's annual brunch on December 2nd at Our Savior Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. More information will follow.

The Pines Chapter will be holding elections for the chapter's Board of Directors in the near future. We will need several new members for the BOD for next year. If you are a Thrivent Financial member, please consider being a board member and help direct our work in the community. If you are interested, please contact Henry Fuhrmann at 695-0509 or henryf@nc.rr.com. Thanks for your consideration.

Henry Fuhrmann, President of Pines Chapter, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

• Our Giving of Time and Money: August, 2012

Average Sunday Attendance: 41

Offerings for August totalled: $ 7,054

Total offerings YTD: $ 57, 876

Special Organ Fund Announcement: We are now at 90% plus. That's right! Thanks to a very generous gift, the contributions to the Organ Fund in August totaled $2,408. Now, with $4,598 given since April 1st, we are more than 90% toward reaching the $5,000 matching gift challenge issued by one of our member families. But, just because we are “soooo” close to meeting the $5,000 challenge doesn't mean we should stop there. Please continue to remember including gifts to the Organ Fund in your weekly/monthly giving. We are blessed and soon our sanctuary will be blessed with a replacement organ and more beautiful music. Sincere thanks and blessings to all !

• Mystery Bio Program: We are presently out of bio information sheets from congregational members. If you haven't already filled out a bio form, don't forget to pick up your “Mystery BIO” form on the desk in the back of the church. Then you can either slip it in my mailbox at church, or email me the information or call me at home (910) 295-6063, and I will include your BIO in one of the next monthly newsletters. Thanks, Karen Dickens. Email is: wolfandwife@embarqmail.com (that's a Q not a G in my email address).

• Newsletter Items: If you have any news/articles you want included in next month's newsletter, please advise me ASAP, or right after the last Sunday of the month. Karen Dickens (910) 295-6063.

St. Paul Lutheran - August 2012 Newsletter

St. Paul Lutheran Church

Monthly Member Newsletter for August, 2012

• Pastor's Comments: Life in Two Kingdoms

We are citizens of the Kingdom of God. Jesus Christ is our King. On the other hand, we are also citizens of the United States of America. We are citizens of two kingdoms at the same time. We have our responsibilities and obligations to both of these kingdoms simultaneously. It is our heavenly Father’s will that we respect and conform to the government that we live under (Romans 13.1-7; 1 Peter 2.13-17). It is altogether right to be a patriot of the nation in which God has placed us to live. That is easy to do when the nation we live in is the United States. You and I have an obligation and a privilege to do our part to shape our society and culture through the freedoms (including political freedoms) that we enjoy. Let us do our part to promote God’s values in our land. Our form of government gives us freedom to do so.
Nevertheless, let us beware of the mistake that too closely equates the United States with God's Kingdom,

almost making our nation the 21st century version of ancient Israel. I’m sure you’ve heard well-meaning believers apply 2nd Chronicles 7:14 to our nation: “If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” The Lord said this to Solomon concerning Israel (Israel under Mosaic Law – not modern secular Israel). This text is not applicable to the United States. However, the Gospel is. Here is a text that we can immediately apply to our nation: “Go make disciples…baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to keep all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28.19). One of the greatest things we can do for our nation as a Christian is to do our part (whatever it is) to lead others to faith in Jesus Christ.

Be a patriot! Support our beloved nation. Pray for her, and fly her flag proudly. And give her citizens Jesus Christ our Lord for their Savior. (But, do try to elect a good president to office, as well).

Your Pastor, Denton White
_________________________________________________

• Sermon Recordings: Sunday sermons are being digitally recorded in audio format. They are available to members or anyone interested. Requests should be made by specifying the Sunday sermon date you want. Please send your requests to: Leo Magiera at Lmagiera@earthlink.net.

• Eagle Scout Project: One of our members, Chase Sammons, worked on a leadership service project which benefits the community. His Eagle Scout project was to organize and complete a “prayer garden” for use by church members and other folks from the surrounding community. Chase and several friends and church members showed up on Saturday, April 28th, to help with his project. Please feel free to sit in this garden, if you have a chance, and reflect on the beauty of our Lord's creation, while expressing your private prayers. Chase is still waiting for the “Review Board” to look over his project.

• Volunteer Reminder: We do enjoy having snacks available after the services. Please remember to sign up to bring some goodies to enjoy with coffee.

• Potlucks on Hold: We will not have Monday potlucks for the summer months. They will resume in September. An alternate suggestion for a Monday social event for July and August would be to attend the Sandhills Community College 2012 Summer Jazz Concert Series. The music is really great ! These remaining date is: Monday, August 13. Concerts are held on the campus lawn and admittance is free. They do offer a picnic BBQ plate beginning at 5 PM at a cost of $7/plate. The concerts begin at 6:30 PM. You need to bring chairs or a blanket to sit on. If it rains, the concert is moved to Owens Auditorium on campus.

• Weekly Bible Study Schedule Announcement: Since many in our congregation travel during the summer months and the pastor is still undecided concerning when he will take his vacation, we will set our sights on beginning Bible Study classes in the Fall, after the Prayer Retreat in September. St. James' Weekly Bible Study is ongoing and open to everyone. It meets at St. James at 6:00 PM on Wednesdays. They welcome everyone.

• Mystery BIO's:

Our mystery BIO couple met at a local power company's computer center in Houston, TX. They previously resided on the “Third” coast, or Gulf coast.
What brought them to the Pinehurst area was that he was transferred to Ft. Bragg to work on RCIED's (Remote Control Improvised Explosive Devices) for the Navy Joint Special Ops Section.
Their previous church affiliation before St. Paul was Trinity Lutheran Church, Spring, Texas. Lyle Lovett was also a member there.
He is currently working on Civil Affairs in various Middle Eastern countries...getting closer to retirement.
They enjoy sailing the Chesapeake Bay in their 40 foot Ketch. They have one Chihuahua named Smokey.
Family history includes two grown boys, who reside “deep in the heart of Texas” with our three grandchildren.
Their favorite place to visit/vacation is “Petra” which is just outside of Amman, Jordan.
____________________________________________

• Notes from the desk of your Church Council President:

NEW HYMNALS: First I want to thank you for your response to our call for supporting the purchase of new Lutheran Hymnals. They have arrived and will be put into service very soon. We are currently preparing the personal labels to be added to each hymnal to acknowledge the person who purchased that hymnal for the church. We will then have a special service of consecration to install the hymnals into our regular service use. Please listen for the announcement of this special service.

ORGAN FUND: We have less than six months to go before this year will end. We are in need of your support to meet the challenge that one of our members has made regarding financial support for a new organ for our church. At last count, we are still needing about $3000.00 to make the $5000.00 which our mystery member will match. As a suggestion, consider adding a few extra dollars each week in your weekly offering designated for the organ fund. This will certainly help us meet the challenge.

OUR WORLD OF DISCONTENT: I am inviting you to join hands, hearts and voices to bring down the walls and barriers that divide our country, so that we continue practicing discipleship, justice and peacemaking. To practice discipleship means to walk alongside others with Christ as we love and serve our neighbor. We should make this a part of our daily lives. Speak up for Christ and don't allow a few to change the principles this country was founded upon. Let us all work to bring God back into our lives and nation.

PRAYER RETREAT: Just a reminder that we are having a prayer retreat at our church on Sept 15. Please let us begin to pray for the success of this retreat. Let those coming to instruct us reach each and every one of our hearts. Please consider attending. We will soon have the registration forms for your commitment to come.

George Venet, your Church Council President
___________________________________________

OTHER NEWS -

• Prayer Requests: If you have a prayer request, put it in the pastor's mailbox or send it via email or call on his phone. Help your pastor care for you. Nothing is as powerful as prayer. Please keep Jim Roberts in your prayers and George Venet's brother, Bill, who recently suffered a stroke. Also please pray for the family of Larry Leslie of St. James (he was called by the Lord on March 19), Matt Sobel, a nephew of the Jensens, and also Patricia McCarthy.

• Pastoral Office Hours: Please call or email Pastor (pastorwhitelcms2.10@gmail.com) for an appointment Monday through Friday if in need of pastoral assistance/guidance. You may request to be met at St. Paul Church or at your home.

• Ladies Bible Study / “Eve Circle”: The Eve Circle get-togethers are postponed for the summer months. They will resume again in September.

(Shirley Wake/Louise Jensen)

• “Friends of St. Paul Name and Address List”: There is a copy of our present members and friends list on the desk in the back of church. Please review this list and mark any changes or corrections on it. From time to time, John Wake will make the changes/corrections and put new copies on the desk in church. (John Wake)

• Birthdays in August: John Wake August 5th

Louise Jensen August 23rd

• Anniversaries in August: Suzanne and Bruce Hansen August 19, 1983

Carole and Charlie Faas August 31, 1958

• Weekday Bible Study: St. James Church, Wednesdays from 6 to 7 pm.

• Prayer Ministry: St. James invites you to gather for prayer on Saturdays, 10:00 am.

• Choral Recruits: In line with providing beautiful music to our Lord's glory, our little “choir” is looking for new recruits. If you feel that you can hold a tune and would like to try us out, please join us Sundays at 8:30 a.m. when we begin rehearsing before service. We really need new voices in all areas. (Contact Sondra Nelson or Karen Dickens)

• Food for Coalition: St. Paul donates cans of stew, vegetables and fruits to the Coalition in Southern Pines. Please place these items in the basket in the back of the church.

• Thrivent Financial News: Nothing new to report for August.

Thanks, Henry Fuhrmann, President, Pines Chapter and John Wake, Congregational Advocate.

• Socks for Souls Event: The Pines Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is sponsoring a “socks for souls” charity collection event. During the months of July and August, we will be asking you to purchase socks of any size and for any gender. With August being the back to school month, there should be several clothing sales and a 'no sales tax weekend' for you to take advantage of. On Wednesday, August 29th, at 6:00 PM, we will all get together at Our Saviour Lutheran Church for a pizza and packing party. The socks will then be distributed to local charities in Lee, Moore, Richmond and Scotland counties. Please support this activity and plan to join us on August 29th.

Thanks, John Wake
_________________________________________

• Our Giving of Time and Money: July, 2012

Average Sunday Attendance: 37

Offerings for July totalled: $ 6,908, which included $628 toward the Organ Fund (Challenge) and

$130 to purchase new Lutheran Service Books.

Total offerings YTD: $ 48,152

Over the past 18 weeks, our gifts toward the $5,000 Organ Fund Challenge have reached $2,190. We still have 22 weeks till the end of 2012 to raise the remaining $2,810. “Inch by inch – it's a cinch!”
As you can see above, you have been generous and faithful in your giving to the general budget, as well as

our special offering requests. Please remember St. Paul over these coming months should you be on vacation or away from Sunday worship. We send out a “big thanks” to all our contributors.
____________________________________________

FINAL NOTES -

• Mystery Bio Program: We are presently out of bio information sheets from congregational members. If you haven't already filled out a bio form, don't forget to pick up your “Mystery BIO” form on the desk in the back of the church. Then you can either slip it in my mailbox at church, or email me the information or call me at home (910) 295-6063, and I will include your BIO in one of the next monthly newsletters. Thanks, Karen Dickens. Email is: wolfandwife@embarqmail.com (that's a Q not a G in my email address).
• Newsletter Items: If you have any news/articles you want included in next month's newsletter, please advise me ASAP, or right after the last Sunday of the month. Karen Dickens (910) 295-6063.

• Information about our past members, the John Meier family: I recently emailed the Meiers to find out how they were doing in Dunkirk, Maryland. The last we had heard was that John, an Air Force pilot, was flying White House dignitaries around, including Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

The answer I just received was that they have just been transferred back to Germany...he did not say what city though. He said they are getting to be old pros at moving, since this is their 8th move since he joined. Katrina, their oldest, is excited to be back in the land where she was born. John said the kids supervised the unloading movers, as he was on a mission to Lithuania and Latvia. They are attending the same Lutheran church that they worshipped at when there 11 years ago. The church has a neat history. It was founded and built by German refugees after WWII. Germany lost its eastern sections when the borders were redrawn after the war. The refugees came to the American occupied sector and built the church. They let American Lutherans use their church as a way of showing appreciation for their help in resettling as refugees. The pastor is actually an American. He did his vicarage in Germany, met a girl and ended up accepting a call to a German Lutheran church and has been there for 18 years. In the past, the American congregation had its own pastor, but as a result of a vacancy, Pastor Morrison is now serving both the German and American congregations. The Meiers really enjoy all the history and heritage in this church.
• Information on the Meier family – Cont'd.: John says he is still flying all over the world, but mainly through Europe and the Middle East. Michelle will probably start teaching fitness classes in Germany also, but right now she is focused on getting everything settled in the house and getting the children lined up with school, piano lessons, etc. They have been exploring the local grocery stores and bakeries. The kids love all the different sausages, pretzels and new types of Germany candies.

John wants to say hello to all the friends he and Michelle knew at St. Paul. They think back fondly of their time in NC. I have posted a photo of Michelle and the kids on the bulletin board in back.

Karen Dickens

Friday, June 1, 2012

St. Paul Lutheran Church Monthly Newsletter for June 2012

St. Paul Lutheran Church

Monthly Member Newsletter for June, 2012

• Pastor's Comments: The gardenias are in full bloom. Our small garden lining the south side of the walk leading to our front door is home to several beautiful gardenia bushes. In the morning, when hardly a breeze stirs, the scent of the gardenias greets everyone coming to our home. There is just something about their aroma. No ostentation, no pretense or hypocrisy can be found in the slight, yet unmistakable, fragrance of the blooming gardenias. We love these particular flowers and are so thankful that those who come to visit with us when they bloom always have the kindest comments about them.

We have found that, to keep them healthy, takes a bit of work. Jean and I love our little garden, but we are not gardeners. We don’t enjoy pulling weeds, spraying for insects, pruning, and all the other chores that go into having healthy plants like our gardenias. But enjoy it or not, we have to work at keeping our plants healthy and strong by doing the hard work and the monotonous labor that keeps them healthy enough to bloom and give us and others the joy of their glory.

Let’s think of our congregation as a beautiful garden. Imagine for a moment that each one of us is a treasured plant the Lord has placed here. He has placed us here to cultivate us and develop us. It is His joy to take care of us and to have our lives bloom for the good it brings into our little part of the world. His way of pruning is through the preaching of His Holy Law. It gives us repentant hearts that cast off the sins that we know are bad for us and others. In His beautiful Gospel, He waters us and nourishes us so that our character will bloom in good works borne of faith. The aroma of our lives, lived in faith, makes this world a better place for others. The Lord has planted His garden here at St. Paul. Each of us is His work. As His hand cultivates our lives, we, too, will live the unpretentious and genuine lives that greet others and bring a little happiness to them in life’s journey.
Your Pastor, Denton White

• Sermon Recordings: Sunday sermons are being digitally recorded in audio format. They are available to members or anyone interested. Requests should be made by specifying the Sunday sermon date you want. Please send your requests to: Leo Magiera at Lmagiera@earthlink.net.

• Eagle Scout Project: One of our members, Chase Sammons, worked on a leadership service project which benefits the community. His Eagle Scout project was to organize and complete a “prayer garden” for use by church members and other folks from the surrounding community. Chase and several friends and church members showed up on Saturday, April 28th, to help with his project. Please feel free to sit in this garden, if you have a chance, and reflect on the beauty of our Lord's creation, while expressing your private prayers. Chase is now waiting to hear from the panel of Scout Board Members to learn if he has successfully passed his Eagle Scout position.

• Volunteer Reminder: We do enjoy having snacks available after the services. Please remember to sign up to bring some goodies to enjoy with coffee.

• Potlucks on Hold: We will not have Monday potlucks for the summer months. They will resume in September. An alternate suggestion for a Monday social event for June, July and August would be to attend the Sandhills Community College 2012 Summer Jazz Concert Series. The music is really great ! These dates are: Monday, June 11, Monday, July 9 and Monday, August 13. Concerts are held on the campus lawn and admittance is free. They do offer a picnic BBQ plate beginning at 5 PM at a cost of $7/plate. The concerts begin at 6:30 PM. You need to bring chairs or a blanket to sit on. If it rains, the concert is moved to Owens Auditorium on campus.

• Weekly Bible Study Schedule Announcement: Since many in our congregation travel during the summer months and the pastor is still undecided concerning when he will take his vacation, we will set our sights on beginning Bible Study classes in the Fall, after the Prayer Retreat in September. St. James' Weekly Bible Study is ongoing and open to everyone. It meets at St. James at 6:00 PM on Wednesdays. They welcome everyone.

• Mystery BIO's: Our first mystery couple met while attending college. They previously resided in Cincinnati, Ohio. Retirement, golf and beautiful weather brought them to Pinehurst. They were members of Resurrection Lutheran Church in Cincinnati before moving to NC. She served in the Education field and he was in Business. They enjoy reading, doing some painting (easel type) and mostly playing golf. They also enjoy spending time with their grandchildren when they can. They don't have any pets at present. They have a daughter, Kristen, who is a veterinarian, and a granddaughter Mia (4 yrs. old) and a grandson Simon (2 yrs. old), and Kristin and family reside in Duluth, Georgia, where their son-in-law owns a business. They enjoy golfing in Arizona, California, Florida and Hilton Head, SC.

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Our second mystery couple met at New York Telephone Company in Manhattan. Before moving to Southern Pines, they resided in several areas: Poughkeepsie NY, Cary NC, and Vass NC. He actually was transferred to Cary by his employer in NY and then retired to our area. Their previous church affiliation was Our Savior Lutheran Church in Southern Pines. His work before retiring was with IBM. Their joint interests/hobbies are golf, reading and doing puzzles. They have two daughters: Judith Holt of Oxford, NC, and Joanne Ross of Creedmore, NC. Their grandchildren are Jessica Holt of Cary, NC, and Michael and Zeb Page, grandsons who live in Creedmore. Their favorite places to visit are Disney World and Myrtle Beach.

• Notes from your Church Council President:

1. I would like to thank all of you who have placed your orders for the new hymnals. Our council treasurer reports we now have orders for 50 hymnals, but we do need 80 to handle our needs at this time. If you have not already placed your order, there are still order forms on the table in the back of the church.

2. We have now purchased a new copier, truly needed. Our old copier could not be repaired because parts were no longer available. Monies received from Thrivent were very helpful with this purchase. Also, the copier supplier was very kind in giving us a good price.

3. Just a reminder about the organ fund. We are nearing the half year point, and we have not reached the halfway point on our $5,000 challenge. Please think about adding a few extra dollars each week to your offering and designate it for the “Organ Fund”.

4. At the time you are reading this newsletter, Pastor White and I will have attended the LCMS Southeastern District Convention in Virginia Beach, VA. The theme of the convention was “Till All Have Heard – Connecting People With Christ.” We will have elected a new Synod President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

George Venet, your Church Council President

• Prayer Requests: If you have a prayer request, put it in the pastor's mailbox or send it via email or call on his phone. Help your pastor care for you. Nothing is as powerful as prayer. Please keep Jim Roberts in your prayers and George Venet's brother, Bill, who recently suffered a stroke. Also please pray for the family of Larry Leslie of St. James (he was called by the Lord on March 19), Matt Sobel, a nephew of the Jensens, and also Patricia McCarthy.

• Pastoral Office Hours: Please call or email Pastor (dentonwhite61@nc.rr.com) for an appointment Monday through Friday if in need of pastoral assistance/guidance. You may request to be met at St. Paul Church or at your home.

• Ladies Bible Study / “Eve Circle”: The Thursday women's Bible study group is called “Eve Circle.” We meet on the first and third Thursday of each month, beginning at 5:45 pm. We will do a Bible study on the first Thursday and a Service Project on the third Thursday. “Coffee with our Savior” will be used as our Bible Study plan, and then we'll go out for dinner afterwards. Our Service Projects (done on the third Thursday of the month) will vary, and we will bring our own dinner so we can continue to work on these projects the entire evening. Anyone is welcome to join us for one of both of these monthly get-togethers. (Shirley Wake/Louise Jensen)

• “Friends of St. Paul Name and Address List”: There is a copy of our present members and friends list on the desk in the back of church. Please review this list and mark any changes or corrections on it. From time to time, John Wake will make the changes/corrections and put new copies on the desk in church. (John Wake)

• Birthdays in June: 6/1 Char Magiera 6/17 Nora Sinclair

6/2 Sondra Nelson 6/24 Arleene Perry

6/10 Kay Beran

• Anniversaries in June:

6/5/65 Glenn & Ethel Ahrendt 6/14/47 Priscilla & Joe Loomis

6/7/58 Sandy & Jim Manninen 6/21/68 Chris & Alan Mimms

6/11/55 Marge & John Buttons 6/21/69 Jean & Terry Davis

6/11/60 Anne & Henry Fuhrmann

Congratulations to all, but a special Happy 65th Anniversary on 6/14 to Priscilla and Joe !!! ☺

• Weekday Bible Study: St. James Church, Wednesdays from 6 to 7 pm.

• Prayer Ministry: St. James invites you to gather for prayer on Saturdays, 10:00 am.

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• Organ Fund: Please keep in mind that we do have a fund in place to collect money for the replacement of our aging organ. Consider giving to this important fund to keep the beautiful music continuing to our Lord's glory. Folks have been generous in giving, but there's still lots more funding needed to upgrade our organ. And, keep in mind, we are challenged by one of our members to collect a total of $5,000 by the end of the year, and then they will match the $5,000. Such a deal !

• Choral Recruits: In line with providing beautiful music to our Lord's glory, our little “choir” is looking for new recruits. If you feel that you can hold a tune and would like to try us out, please join us Sundays at 8:30 am when we begin rehearsing before service. We really need new voices in all areas. (Contact Sondra Nelson or Karen Dickens)

• Food for Coalition: St. Paul donates cans of stew, vegetables and fruits to the Coalition in Southern Pines. Please place these items in the basket in the back of the church.

• Thrivent Financial News: It gives me great pleasure to announce that John Wake has agreed to be a Congregational Advocate for St. Paul. He will be backing up Louise Jensen who is the Lead Advocate. They will interface with the Pines Chapter Board of Directors for any Thrivent Financial activities. I am also happy to announce that the Pines Chapter Board of Directors has approved a donation of $50 for two new hymnals for St. Paul.

The five churches that make up the Pines Chapter of Thrivent for Lutherans will again sponsor a “Socks for Souls” event. Each church will collect new socks of any size and gender during the months of July and August. On Wednesday, August 29th, we will all get together at Out Savior Lutheran Church for a pizza and packing party. The socks will be distributed to a local charity that services our community. Please support this activity and join us on August 29th.

Thanks, Henry Fuhrmann, President, Pines Chapter and John Wake, Congregational Advocate

• A message from the Hoeppners (Karen Dickens' cousins): Beth and Dave have been at home in LaPorte, IN, for a few years, enjoying working in their yard and being with family and volunteering in the community. They had been doing a type of missionary work in India for the LCMS in 2009 and 2010. They took numerous religious posters to many schools there to help teach students Bible stories before the actual school classes began. They gave several presentations at St. Paul during their trips back and forth, and St. Paul members were very generous in their donations to help them get materials. They are so thankful for this. But, now they have had a few years to be at home and the “missionary bug” has bitten them again. On August 24th, they will leave for the Philippines to spend time at the three Lutheran schools there and talk to the teachers and administrators, viewing materials they are using at present and accessing their resources to make lists of what they want and need to communicate more effectively the story of God's love.

When they return home in September, they will advise us about their trip and let us know if there are any resources we could help them purchase through the Concordia Publishing House. CPH hopes to have a gift

registry that could be used for online donations for some of these resources. They don't need to fund-raise this time for their salaries (as the assignment in India did not include salaries), but they still need your prayers as they travel. While praying for them, please include the teachers in the Philippines and in India.

• Our Giving of Time and Money: May, 2012

Average Sunday Attendance: 38

Offerings for May totalled: $ 6,321, plus $ 264 from members and friends of Thrivent Choice dedications.

Total offerings YTD: $ 35,458, plus $ 1,007 in Thrivent Choice Dollars.

We continue to progress toward the goal of achieving $5,000 in contributions to our Organ Fund between April 1st and year end 2012. When we accomplish this, one of our member families will contribute an additional $5,000 to the fund. During May, we received $665 for the Organ Fund, so now we have $1,235 toward the challenge. We have seven months, (31 weeks), to gather the remaining $3,165 to meet this matching fund challenge.

Eighteen member families and friends of St. Paul have underwritten the cost of 50 new LCMS Service Books, and another two have been pledged by the Pines Chapter of Thrivent. Our goal to be able to cover our present needs would still be 80. So, please keep this goal in mind when filling your envelopes.

As you can see above, you have been generous and faithful in your giving to the general budget, as well as our special offering requests. Please remember St. Paul over these coming months should you be on vacation or away from Sunday worship.

• Mystery Bio Program: We are presently doing something called “Mystery BIO” at St. Paul. This is to offer some background information about yourself/selves so that other church members can become more acquainted with you and your life before St. Paul. If you haven't already, don't forget to pick up your “Mystery BIO” form on the desk in the back of the church. Then you can either slip it in my mailbox at church in a sealed envelope, or email me the information or call me at home (910) 295-6063, and I will include your BIO in one of the next monthly newsletters. Thanks, Karen Dickens. Email is: wolfandwife@embarqmail.com (that's a Q not a G in my email address).

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• Newsletter Items: If you have any news/articles you want included in next month's newsletter, please advise me ASAP, or right after the last Sunday of the month. Karen Dickens (910) 295-6063.

• A Few Interesting Tidbits: One of our parishioners, who admits to being a person “born into the Lutheran faith”, offers some possibly familiar notions of Lutherans from the Midwest, and how they feel about singing and other things. The first example is: If you ask an audience from New York City to sing along on the chorus of “Michael Row the Boat Ashore,” they will look at you with daggers as if you asked them to strip to their underwear. But, if you ask a group of Lutherans, they'll smile and row that boat ashore...up on the beach...and down the road !

Lutherans are bred from childhood to sing in four-part harmony. It's a talent that comes from them sitting on their parent's lap during choir rehearsal and hearing the alto or tenor version in their little ears. It's natural for Lutherans to sing in harmony. They are too modest to sing solo, but when singing with a large choral group with many, many voices, they feel it is an emotionally fulfilling moment. These same Lutherans are the sort of folks you could call upon when in deep distress. If you were dying, they would comfort you, if you were lonely, they would talk to you, and if you are hungry, they would bring you a tuna noodle casserole.

Church secretaries have been known to mis-type some notices in the church bulletins. Example: This evening at 7 pm there will be a “hymn sing gathering” in the park across from the church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin . Another typo would be: The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday. One more: Our potluck supper is Sunday at 5 pm – Prayer and medication will follow.

More fun “Lutheran” tidbits and some church newsletter typos will be offered in a future newsletter.

=========================================================================================
CONTACTS

Pastor Denton White: Home: (919) 577-9989 Cell: (919) 609-8687 Email: dentonwhite61@nc.rr.com

Mailing address: 808 Barneswyck Drive, Fuquay Varina, NC 27526

Music Director: Ms. Sondra Nelson (910) 692-6979

===========================================================================================

• Our mystery folks for June are: Bio #1: George and Pam Venet

Bio#2: Anne and Henry Fuhrmann

What is the history of St. Paul Lutheran in Pinehurst?

History of St. Paul
St. Paul Lutheran Church is a mission of the Southeastern District of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. In March of 2000, the District called Rev. Richard Schliepsiek to be the part-time mission developer of this new congregation. The church is meeting in the former sanctuary of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and is located just north of the Carloina Hotel.
St. Paul congregation commits itself to being a Lutheran community of faith, based on:
the Word of God and its primary teaching of Law and Gospel
the great commission of our Resurrected Lord to evangelize the world and build up the body of Christ.