February 2013 - Redeemer Lutheran

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Think of the people in your life who have no one to pray for
them; people you know that you run into every day who may
need help. Many have no church to turn to. Evangelism isn’t
handing a pamphlet to a stranger. It’s seeing who needs to be
prayed for. It’s waiting for an opening in a conversation with a
friend to talk about how your faith and being part of a church
family has made a difference in your life.
The Lutheran Church
of the Redeemer
1915 S. New Hope Road
Gastonia, NC 28054
704-865-6152
February 2013
Jim DuMond, Pastor
704-215-5169
Early Worship 8:15 am
Sunday School 9:30 am
Worship Service 10:30 am
e-mail:
redeemerchurch@bellsouth.net
website:
www.redeemergastonia.org
Our mission is to welcome people in,
to help all grow in faith and in
God’s gracious gifts and abilities,
so that we may be sent out to care for others
in our families, our congregation,
our neighborhoods, and in the world,
sharing the Good News in Christ’s name.
Events this Month
Sat 9th
Sat 9th
Sun 10th
Tue 12th
Wed 13th
Sat 16th
Fri 22nd
Valentine Craft Day
Baby Boomers
Unbinding Your Heart
Shrove Tues. Pancake Supper
Ash Wednesday Service
Deriter Club Trip
Family Movie Nite @ L.Chapel
We all need to get in touch with why our faith is important to us
– why Christ is important to us, and why being a member of his
church is important to us for our sake and for the sake of those
we come into contact with each day.
The message of God’s love for all people is a message that
everyone needs to hear and be reminded about, that’s why Jesus
sends each of us out to share the good news in the world.
Another very important message in the gospel that Jesus taught
us is that as his followers, we are to strive to grow in love for
God and for our neighbor. We grow in our relationship with God
and with our neighbors when we practice the spiritual disciplines
of prayer, study, worship and service.
During the forty days of Lent, our congregation will be
participating together in a study entitled, “Unbinding Your
Heart.” This study is a combination of individual study and
prayer, small group faith sharing and worship services that are
focused on the themes of Unbinding Your Heart. On page 120 of
Unbinding Your Heart is the first of 40 daily meditations,
scripture readings and prayers. As we begin our study on
Sunday, February 10, the members of Redeemer Church will
literally be “on the same page” as together we seek to be the
disciples Christ has called us to be.
Please be intentional about making room in your life for God.
Set aside a place and time to pray and meditate each day. Be sure
to read the introduction and first chapter of Unbinding Your
Heart before February 10, and then come and join in the
celebration as we gather for worship on Sunday and celebrate the
amazing ways God is at work in our lives and in the life of our
congregation. It is going to be an amazing Lenten journey!
We all need to learn to talk about our faith. I hope all of you will
join a small group and also attend our Sunday evening meals
and Lenten services beginning on February 10, where you will
hear some of the members of Redeemer speak about their faith
journeys. ~ed. note – The schedule of meals and menus will be
included in upcoming bulletins.
In Christ’s service,
Pastor Jim
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
WELCA will hold their monthly meeting
on Monday, February 11, at 6:30 p.m.
All women of the church are invited to
attend.
___________________________________________
The Lutheran Men in Mission
will hold their monthly
breakfast meeting on Sunday,
February 17, at 7:15 a.m. All
men are invited to attend.
___________________________________________
The Deriter Club is planning a trip to Spindale, NC,
on February 16 for a concert by Elvis impersonator
Travis Powell and The Bridges Sister. We will leave
the church at 5 p.m. Cost is $29 for tickets and gas
– the tickets need to be ordered soon, so please
contact the Whitneys if you plan to go.
~Dennis & Sharon Whitney
___________________________________________
February’s Confirmation class
will be held at Resurrection
Church in Kings Mountain on
Saturday, February 9. We will
leave the church at 8:30 a.m.
___________________________________________
The deadline for the March edition of the
church newsletter is Monday, February 18.
Also, we are still missing several reports
that need to included in the annual report
to the congregation. If you are the leader
or chairperson of a group or committee in
the church and have not yet submitted
your report, please do so as soon as
possible. Thank you!
The Baby Boomers will meet at the home of
Mark and Anita Painter on Saturday, February
9, at 6:30 p.m. for fun and fellowship. RSVP to
Debbie Drum 704-836-7757 or Anita 704-8251954.
___________________________________________
Winnie Lineberger
2050 Shannon Dr.
Gastonia, NC 28054
704-867-7087
Kathryn Cook
1550 Westbrook Ct.
AVL 6402
Richmond, VA 23227
804-200-1227
Mary Harmon
2020 Helen Drive
Gastonia, NC 28054
704-867-9665
Rev. Ray Kaylor
2153 Pinefield Court
Gastonia, NC 28056
704-866-9670
Louise Van Praagh
1785 Lexington Commons Dr.
Apt. 207
Rock Hill, SC 29732
803-207-8042
___________________________________________
We express our sympathy and love to Christine
Wagner and family on the death of Christine’s
mother, Anita Adams, who died January 1.
_____________________________________________
Pancake Supper
February 12 ~ 5 to 7 p.m.
Please watch for signups on the
blue cards in your bulletins,
or call the church office.
___________________________________________
A Parenting Conference with John Rosemond will be
held on Friday, February 22, at 7 p.m. and Saturday,
February 23, at 9 a.m. at Parkwood Baptist Church
in Gastonia. Cost is $10 per person and childcare is
available by reservation. Register online at
www.parkwoodonline.org/discipleship/parenting.
___________________________________________
Ash Wednesday Service
February 13 ~ 7 p.m.
___________________________________________
__________________________________________
Meet our new Director of
Music Ministries
Dawn Broom
I am a church musician by calling and training. For 35+ years, I
have enjoyed being either Organist/Pianist and/or Music
Associate at churches of various denominations, i.e. Southern
Baptist, United Methodist, Presbyterian Church USA, Associate
Reformed Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic in North Carolina,
South Carolina, and Missouri. Although I lived in Kansas City
and Jefferson City, Missouri for 14+ years, I am a native of the
Charlotte area, having grown up next door in Union County,
North Carolina. Currently my professional time is spent as
Administrative Assistant at Central Steele Creek Presbyterian
Church in southwest Charlotte, Principal Accompanist of a local
civic group in Charlotte, Director/Accompanist of New Spirit (an
ensemble who leads a mass that is contemporary Christian in
nature) at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Charlotte, and now as
Director of Music at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Gastonia. My
leisure time is spent enjoying “whatever” with the love of my life,
Mark, 7 purebreed female canines, and 4 exotic birds. Engage
me in conversation, and you’ll inevitably hear about “my girls.” I
look forward to serving with you at Redeemer Lutheran. See you
in worship.
editor’s note – Dawn’s first Sunday with us will be on
February 3. Please be sure to give her a warm Redeemer
welcome!
___________________________________________
“Souper” Bowl of Caring – Our service project for the
month of February – We will collect a special offering
on Super Bowl Sunday (February 3) for As One
Ministries! We will also have a special bible study for
all students during Sunday School on hunger and
serving. This will help us learn more about how we are
called to serve!
cont. →
Second Sunday Service and Middle School/High School
Meet and Eat will be on February 10. We will choose
our lunch location closer to the date. Noisy Offering
will be collected for ELCA World Hunger Wells
Project. Last month we collected a total of $70.
On February 22 at Lutheran Chapel we will have a
Veggie Tales movie premier party from 6 to 7 p.m.
followed by a family movie night showing “Hotel
Transylvania,” so bring a sleeping bag or blanket to
hang out on and a snack to share. Older kids are
welcome for the premier party if they wish to attend,
or they can come just in time for the family movie.
The family movie will begin at 7:30 p.m. Please join us
in the Lutheran Chapel gym for this awesome night of
fellowship!
February 23 – Family Night at the Charlotte Bobcats –
reserve through B.J. no later than February 3. Tickets
are $18.
Upcoming Events:
March 2 – Family Fun Day at Hickory Dickory Dock.
We will be taking the bus; cost for Laser Tag and game
ticket is $10. We will leave the church at 9 a.m. and
return by 1 p.m. There are food items available at
Hickory Dickory Dock for lunch (a menus and price list
is available on their website). This is open to preschool
and up! Hope you can come. Please reserve your seat
on the bus today!
March 9 – Our mission trip friends at Lutheran Chapel
will be hosting a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the
Orlando Mission Trip, and we are helping them out.
Plan to come enjoy a yummy Italian dinner and some
bidding excitement at the silent auction. Tickets will
be $10 per adult and $5 per child. Your ticket includes
the meal and the auction! Meal begins at 6:30 p.m.
Hope to see you there! Our Middle and High School
Youth will be there to wait on you hand and foot! All
proceeds benefit the Orlando Mission Trip.
Easter Egg Hunt/Fun & Games – March date to be
announced.
We are accepting donations of individually wrapped
candy, stickers, tattoos, jewelry, erasers, or some
other small toys for prizes for the Easter Egg Hunt.
Please label and leave donations in the youth office.
~B.J. Waelz
_________________________________________
Thank you for all the cards and prayers
for us following my mother’s death.
Thank you also to the women who
provided the refreshments following the
memorial service. We are very grateful.
Christine Wagner
Dear Pastor Jim, B.J., the Youth, and the entire church,
The help that you have given me to reach my goal has been
outstanding and more than I could have ever asked for. I hope
that this thank you will be a small token of appreciation that lets
all of you know how grateful I am to know you and have you in
my life. I simply could not have asked for more outpouring of
support.
Thank you,
Michael McCray
Dear Pastor Jim, Liz, other Church Staff, and Members,
My family and I thank you for the many kindnesses you have
shown us during this difficult time. We are grateful for all you
have done on behalf of our sister and aunt, Millie.
Church ladies, the delicious home-cooked meal you prepared
gave us a wonderful opportunity to spend time with our family
before Millie’s memorial service.
Liz, we appreciate your graciousness in handling the flowers
and other details for the service, as well as keeping in touch with
us regularly about the memorial gifts. We can’t thank you
enough.
Pastor Jim, the beautiful service you led was such a meaningful
tribute to Millie’s life. You have been there for Millie so many
times over the past two years through her illness and the
challenges she faced. Thank you for keeping in touch with
Stamey and I through it all. It has been a comfort knowing that
you and the church were in Gastonia and able to check on her
when we couldn’t.
We thank you all for your kind words, cards, prayers, and
opening your church and your hearts to us in our loss!
Sincerely,
Nancy Carter Cooke & Family
To the Redeemer Family,
Thank you so very much for all your prayers and cards in my
hospital stay and later at home. I’m so much better
now, only because of your kindness.
Thanks again,
Gay & Bill Carpenter
On behalf of our foster care department, we would like to say
“thank you” for the wonderful Christmas gifts donated. The
children were delighted, and your kindness and generosity is
greatly appreciated!! May God continue to bless you all.
Bessemer City Foster Care
Finance Report
(as of December 31, 2012)
2012 Year to Date Actual vs. Budget
$236,961
actual general fund contributions
$228,995
actual general fund expenses
$ 7,966
amount actual contributions are
MORE than expenses
Please keep up with your offerings. The
expenses of the church continue regardless of
whether or not you are present at worship.
Year-to-date Contributions to Capital Campaign
$28,819
Year-to-date Contributions to Debt Reduction
$12,230
Debt owed to Citizens South Bank
on new building (as of January 25, 2013):
$275,674
___________________________________________
We recently received a letter from The Rev. Dr.
Leonard H. Bolick, Bishop of the North Carolina
Synod. In the letter, Bishop Bolick stated that at
December’s end, mission support from congregations
was behind for the year by $186,581 (7 percent).
This has negatively impacted some of the outreach
and mission activities of the Synod.
If you would like to make an extra contribution to
support the synodical ministries, you may make a
check payable to Redeemer marked “Synod” and we
will forward it along with our regular monthly
benevolence to the North Carolina Synod.
___________________________________________
Thank you to everyone who donated blood during our
January blood drive (with a special thanks to Darlene
Harper for providing her famous honey bun cake!) 14
units of blood were collected. We are grateful to Ron
and Arlene Lamparter for coordinating our blood
drives.
___________________________________________
REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH
Unbinding Your Heart
February 10 through March 17
Sign up for our Lenten study via the blue cards in the church bulletins,
or contact the church office 704-865-6152.
Meals each Sunday during Lent at 6 p.m. followed by service at 6:45 p.m.
40 Days of Prayer and Faith Sharing – Unbinding Your Heart is a six week, 40 day, all church study of prayer and faith
sharing. Unbinding Your Heart is designed to enrich church community life; to help you grow your face-to-face encounters
with God and teach you how to talk about your faith. In addition, a 24-hour prayer vigil will be held February 9 prior to the
start of the Lenten study – you may sign up in the sanctuary of the church to be a part of this prayer vigil, or call the church
office. Lent is a time to prepare for the fruitful celebration of Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection during Holy Week.
Get ready to hear and heed what God is saying to you during this time by being a part of Unbinding Your Heart.
I. Purpose
a. to discover the role of prayer in developing a closer relationship with God;
b. to teach us how to share our faith while increasing our comfort to share;
c. to provide opportunities to practice prayer and faith sharing as a means of spiritual growth and development.
II. Overview
a. 40-day retreat: February 10 through March 17
b. 8 groups available, meeting on Sunday mornings & afternoons, weekday mornings, and weekday afternoon and
evenings (see below for complete schedule)
c. Celebration Sunday luncheon upon completion (March 24)
d. A book is available to go with the study – please read the introduction and chapter 1 prior to your first meeting.
III. Activities
a. daily reading, prayer and journaling activities, with weekly meetings; and
b. worship services with sharing of faith stories and music
Below is a schedule of small group meetings:
Sundays
Brad Alexander & Jan Henson, leaders
John Kaiser, leader
Pastor Jim, leader (for Senior High students)
B.J. Waelz & Carole Johnson, leaders
Betty Cloninger & Lynn Glover, leaders
Tuesdays
Steve and Becky Mack & Joanna Pressley, leaders
Wednesdays
Mark & Anita Painter, leaders
Time
Start Date
Location
9:30 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
5:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
February 10
February 10
February 10
February 10
February 10
church
church
church
church
church
5:00 p.m.
February 12
Macks’ home
*6:30 p.m.
February 13
church
*(will meet at 6:15 p.m. on Feb. 13 due to Ash Wednesday service; 6:30 on other dates)
Thursdays
Pastor Jim, leader
10:00 a.m.
February 14
church
In order to ensure that we have enough books on hand, please sign up as soon as possible. We are asking for a donation of $12 to
cover the cost of the books, understanding there will be some who cannot afford this expense and some who can cover the expense of
books for themselves and others. Parents, childcare which includes planned activities will be available for the 5 p.m. Sunday group.
Please let B.J. know if you will need childcare.
10:30 SERVICE
BIRTHDAYS
2 Effie Rogers
3 Tika Miller
6 Dot Ramsey
7 Logan Meek
8 Jacob Ledwak
12 Martha Clark
15 Becky Mack
17 Deacon Cheney
20 Sam Craig
23 Maggie-Grace Lanier,
Rudi Waelz
24 Ray Kaylor,
Mark Lanier
28 Sharon Field,
John Kaiser
ANNIVERSARIES
2 Grant & Donnie Griggs,
Truman & Marge Hudson
16 George & Effie Rogers
25 Brent & Sabrina Messer
28 David & Sylvia Moore
Altar Flowers
3 George & Effie Rogers
Please sign the flower chart at church to place
flowers, or contact the church office.
8:15 SERVICE
ACOLYTE
Month of February – Brock Smith
COMMUNIONWARE
Joanna Pressley
AUDIO/VISUAL
Ed Twist
USHERS
Ed Twist, Brian Johnson
LECTORS
3 Jan Henson
17 Brad Alexander
10 Brock Smith
24 Bob Morris
ASSISTING MINISTERS
3 Joanna Pressley
17 Brock Smith
10 Brian Johnson
24 Jan Henson
Fellowship Breakfasts
3 Sawdy
17 Alexander
10 Johnson
24 need volunteer
Children’s Message/Children’s Church
Please sign up on the bulletin board at the church to
provide the children’s message or take the children
out for children’s church.
ACOLYTE & CRUCIFER
3 A-Robin Lightsey
C-Sue Keller
10 A-Abigail Cross
C-Sergei Waelz
13 A-Brad Alexander
C-Sue Keller (Ash Wed)
17 A-Jan Henson
C-Brad Alexander
24 A-Amber Lightsey
C-Brent Messer
NURSERY
3 Waelz
17 Kaiser
10 Ledwak
24 Moore
AUDIO/VISUAL
Rudi Waelz
ALTAR GUILD
Joanna Pressley, Barbara Chapman
USHERS
Brock Smith (Head Usher)
Ron Lamparter, Grant Griggs, Donnie Griggs
LECTORS
3 Chuck Lifford
17 Rochelle Leneave
10 B.J. Waelz
24 Brent Messer
13 Tom McCray (Ash Wednesday)
ASSISTING MINISTERS
3 Lynn Glover
17 Mark Painter
10 Abigail Cross
24 Julie Tommarello
13 Brad Alexander (Ash Wednesday)
GREETERS
George & Effie Rogers
Leaders Mtg. 12pm
Meal 6pm
Service 6:45pm
25
24 Small Group
7pm
newsletter
deadline
Shrove Tuesday
Pancake Supper
5-7pm
Unbinding the Heart
5pm@Macks
Handbells 6pm
Chancel Choir 7pm
Service 12pm
Unbinding the Heart
6:30pm@church
9am
27 Prayer
Handbells 6pm
Chancel Choir 7pm
Unbinding the Heart
6:30pm@church
Service 12pm
20 Prayer
Ash Wednesday
Service 7pm
Unbinding the Heart
6:15pm@church
Unbinding the Heart
5pm@Macks
26 Dirty Hands
Via de Cristo 7pm
Unbinding the Heart
5pm@Macks
9am
18 Church Council 19 Dirty Hands
17 LMM 7:15am
Small Group
Leaders Mtg. 12pm
Meal 6pm
Service 6:45pm
by Worship Restrung)
Meal 6pm
Service 6:45pm (led
“Unbinding the
Heart” begins
service)
6:30pm
Small Group Leaders
Mtg. 12pm
9am
13 (no noon
12 Dirty Hands
11 WELCA
6 Prayer Service
Wed
10 Sr. Hi lunch/mtg
5 Dirty Hands 9am
Tues
Small Group
Leaders Mtg. 12pm
4
Mon
12pm
Handbells 6pm
Chancel Choir
7pm
Collection
3 “Souper” Bowl
Sun
Heart 10am
@church
28 Unbinding the
Heart 10am
@church
21 Unbinding the
Heart 10am
@church
14 Unbinding the
7
Thurs
Movie Nite at
Lutheran Chapel
6pm & 7:30pm
Munchkins 9:45am
22 Musical
Munchkins
9:45am
15 Musical
Munchkins
9:45am
8 Musical
Munchkins
9:45am
1 Musical
Fri
REDEEMER’S CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY
10am
Family Night at
Charlotte
Bobcats
23 Seamers
Rosemary &
Thyme 10am
trip 5pm
16 Deriter Club
Seamers 10am
Boomers at
Painters 6:30pm
24-hr prayer vigil
Val Craft Day 10am
8:30am
9 Confirmation
2 NCLMM State
Gathering @ St.
Mark’s,Mooresville
Sat
See inside for more information on our Lenten program,
“Unbinding Your Heart,” which begins this month.
Plan to be a part of this program of prayer, small group
sharing, and worship.