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