Pastor's Comments: Remembering the Suffering of our Savior
Ash Wednesday is the first day of the church season of Lent. Lent is the annual commemoration of the forty days of fasting and temptation our Lord Jesus Christ endured for our sakes. It isn’t a celebratory season. This is a time for sober reflection on the suffering of Jesus for us. Our very lives depend on Jesus’ wilderness endurance and His steadfast love of the heavenly Father, and us. That is a sobering and glorious thought. So, during the season of Lent, the church wears purple, a color that connotes not only royalty, but mourning. We mourn for our sins and for the suffering Jesus endured for us. During worship service the “alleluias” are not sung. You’ll notice this right away at the beginning of the service. We will pray for mercy (Kyrie), which reflects the ten lepers and the blind beggar recorded by Luke (ch. 17 & 18). But we won’t sing the typical “Gloria” or “This is the Feast.” You will also notice that we will sing the “Return to the Lord Your God” instead of the usual “Alleluia, Lord to whom shall we go…” before the reading of the Gospel. After Holy Communion, we will sing the Song of Simeon as the Post Communion Canticle.We do all of this so that you can take it home with you. We do all of this as a teaching device, as a way of developing you as a disciple of Jesus. Most of our lives are spent seeking ways to make ourselves happy, comfortable, free of any irritation whatsoever. But Lent is a time to stop thinking about ourselves so much. It is a time to resist being so self-interested. Lent gives us the annual opportunity to think about the suffering Jesus went through during His forty day fast and His constant temptation by Satan in person, face- to-face. It is the season when we take some time out of each day of those forty days and remember that what Jesus did in the wilderness, He did out of a perfect love for God and a perfect love for His neighbors – each person in the human race.
The apostle Paul explains in Romans, chapter 5, that Jesus is the New Adam, the New Head of the human race. Like the first Adam, He was tempted. But Jesus didn’t have a full belly, like the first Adam. He was hungry. Jesus didn’t live in a garden, filled with water and every good thing, like the first Adam; He was in the wilderness. Jesus came into the world made a wilderness by the first Adam to overcome the devil and make creation a Garden for us all again. Jesus came into our wilderness to be God-with-us.
So during this Lenten season, take the lessons of the liturgy home with you. Take time each day to remember the days our Lord Jesus spent in the wilderness winning the battle over Satan for us. It will be time well spent.
Christ’s Peace be with you, Pastor White
Announcements from your Pastor:
Pastoral Time for Prayer: Please note that at precisely 8:50 a.m. on Sunday mornings, I enter into a time of private prayer in the back office that I use as a vestry, in order to ask the Lord's help. Thanks so much for allowing me to take this time.
Scripture/Bible Studies: Bible studies will be suspended during Lent, February 13 – March 23rd. We will have weekly worship services of Prayer and Preaching (see Lutheran Service Book, pages 260-267 for the Order of Service). We will have Bible Study on Tuesday, February 5th.
Service Schedule for Lenten Services:
Ash Wednesday, February 13 St. James 7:00 PM (with Holy Communion) Service of Prayer & Preaching, Feb. 20 St. Paul 7:00 PM Service of Prayer & Preaching, Feb. 27 St. Paul 7:00 PM Service of Prayer & Preaching, March 6 St. Paul 7:00 PM Service of Prayer & Preaching, March 13 St. Paul 7:00 PM Service of Prayer & Preaching, March 20 St. Paul 7:00 PM
Holy Week Services will be announced in March, 2013 Newsletter.
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 flowrs, 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 February: Monday, February 11th, is our next potluck. The theme will be a “Valentines” one, so bring a dish to pass that you love and wear something red. Our social starts at 6:30 PM. Hope to see you there!
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. Elizabeth, please keep us informed of the details.
Organ Concert: This wonderful concert was recorded by Leo Magiera, but it is too large a file to e-mail to those who would like copies. However, should anyone desire a copy, please provide Leo with a flash drive (2.0 GB or larger), and he will make a copy for you which can then be played on any MP3 player or copied onto a CD. Thank you, Sondra, for “bringing our New/Used organ to life.”
Notes from the desk of your Church Council President : From the Back Porch of President John Denninger, LCMS-SED.
Do you know what the word “Ecclesiology” means? Well, it means “How do we do church.” Most of us really don't think about it. Those of us who have grown up attending church on Sundays really don't see this as an issue. We don't know how hard it is for new people to come into our church. We call ourselves disciples of Jesus, but do our actions express this to others? Are we Christ-like to strangers and new people who come and worship with us? We should and must form a relationship with our visitors. Discipleship is not a program to follow, but a natural flow of Christian life between one another. Our job is to witness and then allow the Holy Spirit to “close the deal.” Becoming a disciple is not a decision that we make ourselves. It is our decision to quit resisting the call of the Holy Spirit to become a disciple of Jesus Christ. Through the discipleship of many in our congregation, our church will develop the reputation in the community that we love and care for others. Let us all work together . John Denninger, President of our S.E. District
Here's a story that should be passed on:
I have a new coat. It was designed by God and given to me by Jesus Christ. I find it fits me perfectly, unless I allow myself to become puffed up with foolish pride. Then it's too tight. If I walk with my head high, trying to be above those about me, it then is too short. But, if I walk humbly, as I should before God, it fits me just right.How is the coat made? The shoulders are wide and roomy so that I can help my fellow man carry his burdens. The collar is made of God's mercy, yes, and the mercy of God's promises...first, that I may be a child of God and second, that I will one day dwell with God in that home prepared for God's children. The cuffs are narrow, so that there is no room to tuck away grievances and hard feelings toward my neighbors. The pockets are oversized: one is for the love of God, the other is to hold my love for my neighbors and all humanity. There are three buttons on my coat, which stand for faith, hope and charity. I check on them often so that none become loose or lost. The lining is made of God's forgiveness, which I need so often that I want it next to me at all times. The belt is made of God's love that encircles me every day. The material is thick enough to protect me when the storms of life come my way, but not too thick that I will not be able to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit who guides me. There are many threads in my new coat, but not one thread of doubt that God's promises are true.
I will need my coat all through life. When I travel through the valley of death and when I view the future, I will always wear my new coat. - Author unknown. I hope your coat fits you just right! George Venet
Special Request:
For those of you that are not members of our “Prayer Group” and aren't aware, please pray for Priscilla Loomis. She entered the hospital on January 30th and was given an IV for dehydration. She is not able to swallow anything at all, so she was given a feeding tube on January 31st. Joe and Priscilla need your prayers at this very critical time. Her son, Steve, relates that she is in good spirits...making the nurses and doctors laugh a lot. May our Lord grant them improvement in this serious situation.Prayers Requests: If you have a prayer request, put it in the Pastor's mailbox at church or email it to him or call him on his phone. Help your pastor care for you. Nothing is as powerful as prayer. Please pray for Patricia McCarthy of St. James and Barbara Nelson and Frank Nelson of St. James (Sondra's sister and brother) for their continued health improvement. Also please pray for Lloydene Meilbrecht, St. James. Prayers are requested for Marie Hagemeister, Rich Mancuso's aunt. Prayers of healing are requested for Kimi McDivett who is troubled with re-occuring skin cancer, and Jeanne Lloyd, friends of George and Pam Venet, who was recently found unconscious on the floor and is now undergoing tests.
Mystery BIO:
Our special mystery couple met when he was in the Navy stationed in Oklahoma City. He wore his sailor uniform on their first date and he was so struck by her beauty, both in and out, that he proposed on that first date. In conversations that first night, they were shocked to find out that they were both Lutheran and took their faith very seriously. They are happy to say they have been blessed in all their travels and relocations to have had 17 “wonderful and precious” Pastors. They have been lucky enough to have travelled through 48 States and much of Canada. Their faith means so much to them, and they are proud to say that, on various occasions, their children have commented that their regular “Family Devotions” were the most important part of their younger lives. They state that God has always provided them with what they needed and often provided things they had just “hoped for.”They have eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
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 February: 2/12 Roger Fromm 2/18 Jim Manninen
Anniversaries in February: None reported to Karen (please see note immediately below)
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.
St. James – LWML Meetings: Their kickoff meeting was held Saturday, November 17th at 12 noon at St. James in Southern Pines. 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: SOUPER BOWL OF CARING
On Sunday, February 3rd, Louise Jensen and John Wake collected monetary donations and canned goods for local food banks through the “Souper Bowl of Caring Program.” This program utilizes Super Bowl weekend in America to mobilize people to fight hunger and poverty in their local communities. 100% of the money and food collected is given directly to a local charity! This project is supported by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. The totals for monetary donations and canned goods will be reported in the March newsletter.
Thank you for your support, Louise Jensen and John Wake
Our Giving of Time and Money: January, 2013
Average Sunday Attendance: 45 (Last January average attendance was 40)(Thanks to all the members that are practicing the phrase “and next week, bring a friend”)
January: Offerings toward budget: $ 5,663
Budgeted disbursements : 6,770
Monthly budget: 6,327
Income vs. budget: - 664
Big Thanks ! Section: Again, we must thank the Wakes for coordinating the refreshments served after the wonderful organ recital. And also, John, thank you for preparing the “programs” for this event.
Mystery Bio Program: We are now 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 or wolfandwife@embarqmail.com.
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
