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.
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 person for September is: Sondra Nelson, our wonderful organist
