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
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• 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.
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• 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
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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
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• 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.
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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