Chimes 2009-10-01 - St. John`s Evangelical Lutheran Church

THE CHIMES
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
301 West Main Street
Walhalla, South Carolina
We are called and empowered by God to spread the Gospel and
to share the love of Jesus Christ in service to all.
The Rev. David W. Coffman, Pastor
Office Hours Mon.- Fri. 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Phone: (864) 638-6363 Fax: (864) 638-8238
Email: stjohnsluther@bellsouth.net Website: www.stjohnswalhalla.org
Biggerstaff: 882-3337 398 Biggerstaff Road; Seneca SC 29672
Pre-School Phone: (864) 638-8099 Pre-School Email: stjohnspreschool@bellsouth.net
OCTOBER 2009
Time Again for Oktoberfest!
This year’s event is scheduled for October 16, 17 and 18th. St. John’s will once again host the always popular
“Baked Sale Booth”. This is a primary fundraiser for Men in Mission and WELCA. Proceeds for sale of baked
goods will benefit Oconee A.I.D. and United Way/Family Friends Diaper Fund. Thrivent Financial will donate
up to $700 (depending on the proceeds). We depend on our congregation to donate both baked goods and
their time. Sign-up sheets are out for both workers and food donations.
Begin your baking now- there is plenty of room in St. John’s freezer to store items. We need LOTS OF HOME
-BAKED ITEMS. Following is the updated price list. Remember to package, price and label all items. If an
item is sugar free, low fat or contains nuts, label accordingly. Remember- there is no refrigeration at the
booth. All baked items should be brought to the church before 2:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon, before 10:00
a.m. on Saturday and before 12 noon on Sunday. Items can be dropped
off at the booth at any time.
Price your items according to the following guide:
SUGGESTED PRICING (feel free to raise prices accordingly)
2 ½ inch cookies
6 per bag- $2.00
Cupcakes
$.50 each
Layer Cakes
$12.00-$19.00 each Cake Slices
$1.00
Pound Cakes
$12.00-$15.00
Pies
$7.00
Muffins
$ .50
2 X 2 inch brownies $.50
Large Bread
$ 4.00
Small Bread
$3.00
Fudge
4 per bag $1.00
Hot Chocolate
$.50
Coffee or Tea
$.50
Workers are also needed. Most shifts are 2 hours in length with 4 workers
scheduled for each shift. This is a great opportunity to be a part of the festivities and enjoy good fellowship at the same time. Be sure to sign-up as
soon as possible. Work slots fill up fast!
Monetary donations are always welcome. Make a check payable to Lutheran Men in Mission and give it to Al Pittman or Joan Lewis.
Contact Joan Lewis or Libby McLean with questions.
St. John’s Lutheran Church Newsletter
St. John’s
NEW MEMBERS
CONGREGATION
POT-LUCK LUNCH
SUNDAY, October 11th
11:30 a.m.
~One Worship Service at
10:00 a.m.~
The Fox’s Trot
The question this month is, “Who is able to partake in the Lord’s Supper/Holy Communion/Eucharist?” The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America practices “Eucharistic Hospitality”. This means that all baptized persons are welcomed to Communion. It is up to the individual, either a visitor or a member, on whether they wish to partake in the meal. People are not
demanded to come to communion they are invited.
It is Lutheran tradition, since the late 1500’s when Lutheranism became organized with
the publication of the Book of Concord, that we partake in Holy Communion every Sunday and
at festivals. The tradition still holds true today. Holy Communion stopped happening every
Sunday in America because there were not enough ordained clergy to have it every week. The
clergy were circuit riders and so when they would come to town (once a month or quarter) the
congregation would have communion. Today, we have ordained clergy in most every church;
therefore, we have gone back to the tradition set by Lutheran Patriarchs in the 1500’s. The
sacrament is needed by the church and so we celebrate it frequently. It is needed because
this is where God’s people are fed and nourished and it is a time of forgiveness.
I look forward to your questions for next month. Submit all questions via email or on my
desk.
MINISTRY
OPPORTUNITIES
The Evangelism Committee is seeking workers to
help with the meditation
garden. Look for a sign-up
sheet to donate plants for
the garden at the Spiritual
Opportunities Table. October 10th is planting day!
BECOME PART OF A
COMMUNITY EFFORT TO
REACH OUT WITH
“LUNCH FOR LIFE ~
FOOD FOR THE SOUL”
Join St. John’s for our second Saturday lunch feeding
to take place on October
10th. A menu and sign-up
for food/monetary donations is located at the Spiritual Opportunities Table,
along with a sign-up sheet
for volunteers.
This is a continuation of our
INASMUCH ministry to help
those in need in our community.
LONG-RANGE PLANNING UPDATE
The Church Council approved, at its September meeting, a basic Master Plan
for St Johns which includes a new Fellowship Hall and a renovation of the
Sacristy and old Fellowship Hall. The drawings presented offered phases for
the work to be completed including space for a new preschool. The Council
felt that there was ample need for a new Fellowship Hall (FH) AND Preschool
(PS) and suggested it not be done in phases but the entire project at the
same time. The plan approved for FH and PS space was sent back to the
Long Range Planning Committee which is now awaiting additional drawings
to be approved and sent back to the Council. Once these drawings are complete, we will present them to the Congregation for approval. Once the Congregation approves, we will begin to raise the necessary funds. Some of the
features of the Master Plan include:
♦
A 14,500-15,000 sq ft, 2 story structure which would house a new Preschool capable of accommodating up to 120 students and a new Fellowship Hall complete with a commercial kitchen, restrooms and storage.
♦
Renovation of the current Fellowship Hall and Sacristy which would include restrooms, offices, work areas, Altar Guild Room and Choir Room.
The current Sacristy would be enlarged and the roof raised behind the
Good Shepard Window. A total of 2 rooms would be added to the current
Fellowship Hall, which would still leave a large section of the room as
open space.
The committee and Council believe that this Master Plan is the most comprehensive way to utilize and improve the space we currently have. It also allows
St. John’s the capabilities of expanding our ministries both outside the Church
within the community.
St. John’s Lutheran Church Newsletter
2
DATE
TIME
USHERS/GREETERS
ASSISTING
MINISTERS
ACOLYTES
9:00
Usher/Greeter: Bob & Dolly Johnson
Greeters: Kyle & Monica Addis
Dottie Brandt
Lector
Mary Sprouse
Ward Sprouse
11:00
Usher/Greeter: Bill & Ann Brackett
Greeters: Dave & Joan Lewis
Doug Wilson
Micah Mann
Bill Hill
October 11
10:00
Usher/Greeter: Betty Mantell and Betty
Sosebee
Greeters: Ken & Sandra Pruitt
Patty Shepard
Lector
Gary Cabbage
Riley Shepard
Sherwood
Drexel
October 18
9:00
Usher/Greeter: Chris Lawrence and
Chris Lee
Greeter: Sally Flodin
Jan Long
Lector
David Holt
Catherine Lee
11:00
Usher/Greeter: Gene & Barbara
Dahlquist
Greeter: Ken Johns
Calvin Schoulties
Madison
Underwood
9:00
Usher/Greeter: Norman & Ann Henry
Greeter: Doug & Ginny Deane
Julia Ballenger
Lector
Bill Hughes
Blakely Addis
11:00
Usher/Greeter: Charles & Hannelore
McChesney
Greeters: Lawrence & Laurie Gimas
Barbara Wilson
October 4
October 25
Altar Guild: ** Sandra Yuda, Karen Lawrence and
Dottie Brandt
Offering Counters: David Lewis, Gary Cabbage,
Amy Klaren and Patty Shepard
Life Transitions in our
congregation during the
month of September
Baptized – Madison Underwood, daughter of
Jeff and the late Debbie Underwood on September 20
Tina Barrett
Vicar David
Catherine Lee
Rachael Norton
WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY
SUPPER
~menus for October~
October 7th
October 14th
October 21st
October 28th
Died – Marion Busch, September 14
Moved – Al & Jean Pittman 882-1725
537 Benton Street; Seneca, SC 29672
AUXILIARIES
Oconee A.I.D.: The Men in Mission are asking for
donations to Oconee A.I.D. for October. Items needed
are: warm clothing, socks, hair brushes, and combs.
These items or cash donations would be very much
appreciated.
The Snake Man is coming to MEN IN
MISSION on Monday, October 5. Come
and join us at 6:00 p.m. to here about
our local snakes. Wives are invited. Dinner will be POT LUCK with cost for men
at $5. Wives eat free.
St. John’s Lutheran Church Newsletter
CANTOR
Pizza & Salad
Hot Dogs & Beans
Lasagna & Salad
Subway Sandwiches
Come join us for good food and fellowship
$3 per person/$10 maximum
Sign-up at the Spiritual Opportunities Table
WELCA words from Libby. . . . .
Fall is here with so many opportunities for our women.
Hopefully everyone has already begun their Oktoberfest baking. Check out the article with pricing suggestions to help you, and sign-up to work a shift in our
food booth at Sertoma Field if you are able. Our profits this year will benefit United Way's Family Friends
Diaper Fund.
Our next quarterly meeting will be Sunday, October
25th, at 12:15 following the 11:00 service. The Morning Circle will host. Those attending are asked to
bring a salad, sandwiches, or dessert cont. next pg.
3
For our lunch prior to the meeting. All women are invited to attend and encouraged to bring a friend.
Barbara Wilson has posted the minutes from the
last meeting on the WELCA Bulletin Board for your
convenience.
SC Winter and Spring Retreat registration forms are
available on the bulletin board. Find a friend to room
with and sign-up for a spiritual weekend at Camp Kinard in February or Coastal Retreat Center in April.
You might even want to attend both! Our ladies who
went last spring found it well planned, inspirational,
relaxing, and enjoyable.
Five of our women attended the Foothills Fall Conference at Atonement in Laurens. We learned how
Water Missions International, based in Charleston is
changing lives through sustainable water systems in
sixty countries. The ladies of Atonement were wonderful hosts in their small but beautiful church.
On Saturday, March 27th (note date change), we
will be hosting the Spring Foothills Conference at Biggerstaff. How wonderful it will be if we can have most
of our women (all ages) in attendance that morning.
I'm working on committees, so please be willing to
help.
New Guides to Women's Ministries will be printed
for distribution in January. Anyone with changes in
phone numbers or email address need to let me or
Joan Lewis have the correct information by the end of
November.
If you're new to St. John's or have been here a
while, but are not yet involved in a circle, we invite
you to visit and hopefully join. Both circles meet on
the third Tuesday of each month. The Morning Circle
meets at the church at 9:30 a.m. unless otherwise
noted. The Gloria Shealy Circle meets at 6:00 p.m. at
the church unless otherwise noted. If your name is
listed as a circle member, but you've been unable to
attend in a while, let this be the time to reunite and
become actively involved again. You have
FALL COLOR
been missed.
ON THE
Remember to check
BLUE RIDGE
often at the Spiritual
PARKWAY!
October 19 & 20
If you like cruising the parkway and taking short hikes
to see the spectacular views
and are 50 or older come
join us for two day trip to the
Waynesville, NC area. See
sign-up sheet on the Spiritual Opportunities Table. For
additional details. Doug and
Ginny Deane 718-9265.
St. John’s Lutheran Church Newsletter
Opportunities Table to see what opportunities are
available for us as Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. God's work. Our Hands.
MORNING CIRCLE: The next meeting
will be held on Tuesday, October 20, at
9:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.
Sally Flodin and Dottie Brandt will be cohosting. If you haven't joined a circle, we
hope you will give us a "try". Please come to the
meeting and invite a friend to join us for fellowship
and fun.
GLORIA SHEALY CIRCLE gathers to bake for Oktoberfest on October 12th, 6:00 p.m. This is an evening
of fun and fellowship. Bring the ingredients for your
favorite baked item and bake with us! There is lots of
packaging and pricing to do as well. Please join us
and bring a friend.
PRIME TIMERS October meeting will be held at Biggerstaff Retreat Center on Tuesday, October 13th, at
5:30 p.m. Our hosts for the evening are Harvey &
Fredi Hallman, and the program for the evening will
be John Hawbecker and the Cloggers. Come and
bring a favorite dish to share, your own plates and
silverware. Please sign-up at the Opportunities Table.
St. John’s Knitters/Crocheters: From
our boutique, during the Tour of Tables
on August 15, we donated $126 to the
Kitchen Fund. We have recently donated dishcloths to Our Daily Bread
and washcloths to Our Daily Rest. Plans are being
made for another trip to Elmore-Pisgah yarn plant in
Old Fort, NC on October 5. If you cannot go on the
trip but need/want yarn, contact Barbara at 638-8818
or hickoryhollowbw@bellsouth.net. Use the same
contact information if you need a household or baby
gift? Also, if you would like to learn/renew knitting/crocheting during an evening (in January or February) because you work during days, please contact
Barbara.
INTERESTED IN GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER
BETTER?
INTERESTED IN MEETING NEW PEOPLE?
INTERESTED IN GOOD FOOD, FUN AND
FELLOWSHIP?
BECOME PART OF ST. JOHN’S SUPPER CLUB
Groups of 8 meet monthly at alternating homes for supper
4
Sunday School News
The Reverend Neil MacQueen, a Presbyterian Minister with 23 years experience in Christian Education, recently wrote
this article on the importance of church involvement for our children.
Too good to be true?
(but it is)
--The life benefits of regular church attendance-What if I told you there was a well-researched and statistically proven program that can:
increase the average life expectancy of your children by 8 years
significantly reduce their use and risk from Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs
dramatically lower their risk of suicide
help them rebound from depression 70% faster
dramatically reduce their risk for committing a crime
improve their attitude at school and increase their school participation
improve their performance in college and lessen problems with college-age substance
abuse
• reduce their risk for rebelliousness
• reduce the likelihood that they would binge drink in college
• improve their odds for a "very happy" life
• provide them with a life-long moral compass
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Is there such a program?
Yes, there is.
And it is supported by research from Duke University, Indiana University, The University of Michigan, The
Center for Disease Control, Barna Research Group, numerous independent studies, and the National Institute
for Healthcare Research.
How much would a program like this be worth to you?
What if I told you it was free, and only took about 2 hours a week?
Take a look at the list again. It's not a dream.
The program is called "active church participation” of which regular Sunday School
attendance is an important part.
**********************************************************
At St. John’s we are committed to teaching our faith to our children, to helping them grow spiritually, to
increasing their knowledge of the Bible, and to offering opportunities for service to others. This Fall our young
children are learning about the Biblical family from Abraham to Jesus and about our membership in the family
of Christ. In the Winter, we will learn about the church calendar and Christian festivals.
You are a vital part of this important ministry. Please consider teaching for one month or caring for
the little ones in the nursery.
Contact Elaine Griesheimer edwg@nctv.com or 973-9152 or 412-260-4228 (cell)
The Room for One More Sunday School Class has just begun the Augsburg Adult Bible Study.
This study offers timely topics based on selected books of the Bible and studies the complete Bible
over a six year period. It's not too late to join us. You can join at any time. We look forward to digging a
little deeper into the scriptures and seeing what God has in store for us. Questions?
Ask Elaine Wilson, 723-4875 or ewilson3@marykay.com.
St. John’s Lutheran Church Newsletter
5
Thank you….so much.
Jack Campbell
Kenny Johns Jr.
Lucy Klaren
Rebecca Chmelar
Allison Sims
Carolyn Brandt
Alexander Brandt
Glen Nichols
Donna Moss
Juanita Johns
Laura Sloan
Bill Watt
Dwight Baldus
Campbell Parris
Marjorie Conaway
Jeanne Welch
Kyle Addis
Will Lee Jr.
Zachary Sims
Matthew Cobb
Dale Hampton
Lindsay Johns
Robert Schmeelcke
Meredith Lyle
Benjamin Fulbright
Elizabeth McCall
Jimmy Beebe
Delores Krueger
Lee Trad
Michelle Leggett
Mike Miller
Jane Harris
10/04
10/04
10/04
10/05
10/05
10/09
10/11
10/12
10/13
10/14
10/15
10/15
10/17
10/17
10/19
10/19
10/21
10/23
10/24
10/25
10/26
10/26
10/26
10/27
10/28
10/28
10/29
10/29
10/29
10/30
10/30
10/31
To our friends at St. Johns:
Thank you so much for the use of the beautiful Challis for our Communion
Service. We are so thankful and overwhelmed by the outpouring of love we
have received from all of you. Please continue to remember us as we begin to
rebuild.
Sincerely, St. Luke United Methodist Church
Dear St. John’s Friends,
Horace and I appreciate, so much, all the cards, calls, prayers, and visits
while I am home recovering from my knee replacement surgery.
Everyone has been so supportive and thoughtful. I, especially, want to thank
the Chef I Team for the meal they brought and also my circle, the Gloria
Shealy Circle, for the beautiful flowers and thoughtful meal.
St. John’s is truly a very caring church, and I am glad to be a part of such a
wonderful group.
In Christian Love,
Tina Barrett
Dear Ladies of the Church,
Thank you so much for giving us such a nice baby shower. The decorations
were beautiful, and the food was delicious. The gifts were all so thoughtful!
Thank you all for sharing our excitement with us.
Sincerely Ryan, Mary and Caleb
SOUND BITES
Vision and hearing are primary ways that we receive information about our surroundings. They determine our interactions
with other people. Loss of either one of these senses reduces
our ability and inclination to interact with others.
Except for the formal services, church gatherings are noisy events. Those of
us with hearing loss have a hard time distinguishing the speech we want to
hear from the background noise of all the other speakers.
If you have hearing loss, enlist the help of the speaker by asking him or her
to face you. Also asking the speaker to move to a less noisy area will help
you. Successful communicating requires both people to make an effort.
Don’t shy away from human interaction because of hearing difficulty.
In His service, David S. Holt
Brandon & Angie Shepard 10/02
Cory & Erin Drennon
10/08
David & Judy Burington 10/17
Terry & Tina Stephens
10/19
William & Frances Carter 10/30
The Hospitality Committee invites the "Senior Saints" of St John's to a reception in their honor on Sunday, November 1st.
It will be held in the Fellowship Hall, after the first service. Our "Senior
Saints" include all members who are 80 years young and above.
Combine your work-related errands into one trip. Vehicles don’t reach their maximum
operating efficiency until they have been driven for at least 2 miles –so more trips mean
more emissions created by the poor performance of catalytic converters during the early part
of each trip. When you first start a car after it has been sitting for more than an hour, it pollutes up to five times more than when the engine’s warm!
St. John’s Lutheran Church Newsletter
6
HONOREE/MEMORIAL DONATIONS
JULY-SEPTEMBER 2009—THIRD QUARTER
Memorial
BY
DONATION TO
Rev. George Shealy
Eloise Fidell
Rev. George Shealy
Rev. George Shealy
Bobbie Duncan
Book Fund
Neal/Faye Workman Book Fund
Rev. George Shealy
Pete Boos
Shirley Hayes
Mark/Libby McLean Kitchen Fund
Mr. & Mrs. RC Baldwin
Mr. & Mrs. WC Hale
Ann B. Westerlund
David Westerlund
Biggerstaff
Valeria Wigington
Kent Wigington
Altar Guild
June Edwards
Marie Dilworth
Paul/Barbara Wilson Altar Guild
Phillip Sloan
Ann Sloan
Henry Biemann
Neal/Faye Workman Undesignated
Matthew Theiling
Neal/Faye Workman Biggerstaff In/Out
Honorarium
Chefs I & II
BY
Gloria Shealy
Book Fund
Book Fund
Altar Guild
DONATION TO
Kitchen Fund
Coats for Christ
During the month of October, St. John’s Lutheran
Church and Ascension Episcopal Church, in Seneca, will
be collecting coats for the
winter for needy persons in
our community. Then on November 8, at 7:00 at Ascension we will have a
dedication service for all the coats and money
collected in the month of October. Luke 3:11
says, John the Baptist said, “Whoever has two
coats must share with anyone who has none;
and whoever has food must do likewise.”
How many coats do you use during the winter
as opposed to the number of coats in your
closet? I have one or two that I use and many
more in my closet. How many people freeze to
death in the US? Just last year in New Orleans,
the newspaper columnist, Colley Charpentier
wrote, “An Algiers resident took a blanket to a
woman who'd been sleeping on benches along
a bicycle path under the Crescent City Connection and found her dead, one of two hypothermia deaths of homeless people during Thursday morning's freeze, the Orleans Parish coroner's office said Friday.”
A Note from the Spiritual Gifts Coordinator…
Teaching: the gift that enables a believer to communicate a personal
understanding of the Bible and faith in such a way that it becomes clear
and understood by others.
This is a Spiritual Gift that is one of the most important of our gifts- especially when it comes to teaching our children about Jesus. St. John’s
is in need of teachers for our Sunday School Program. Sometimes it
seems like the same people do all the work. We must keep in mind that
we are a small church with a small group of children and an even
smaller base of parents to call on. The church does not have paidprofessional teachers; it depends on parents to volunteer as teachers.
Elaine Griesheimer has restructured the program to fit the needs of our
parent/teachers. A teacher and a assistant will be scheduled for one
month per year. They will work for approximately 40 minutes with a
group of 12 students. All that is needed is 9 volunteers to teach and 9
volunteers to assist and a Sunday School year is covered. There could
be no greater gift that you could share with our young people- your children. It would be tragic to see the Sunday School Program at St. John’s
disappear because of lack of volunteers- tragic for our church and tragic
for your children. “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he
is old he will not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6. This is your gift- it is your
responsibility to open and use it. Please prayerfully consider teaching
our children- your children. Please contact Elaine Griesheimer or myself
(Joan Lewis) for further details. God’s Work- Our Hands!
St. John’s Lutheran Church Newsletter
We are constantly reminding ourselves that we are called to serve
those in need. Along the way we
collect too many things for ourselves and need to let go of a few
things. Have you ever thought of
the coats or extra clothes in your
closet as sinful. It is if you are keeping them away from someone in
need. Maybe God is waiting to use
your gifts, your “old, tattered, gently
used” clothing, coats etc. for someone in need.
This year we were challenged and
blessed by Project InAsMuch. Matthew 25 reminds us, “In as much as
you did it to one of the least of
these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Jesus is cold
and needs your extra coats. Jesus,
the people in our community are
cold and need our extra coats.
Won’t you share out of your
bounty?
7
Grief Care Corner
By Edwina K. Wicker
Ephesians 4:26—Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. (Revised Standard Version)
Anger is a natural human emotion that is highly charged with energy. In their book On Grief and Grieving,
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler encourage readers to feel the full spectrum of anger then find ways
to release the anger without hurting themselves or others. Sometimes we have to get creative with releasing
anger and know that if something works one time, it may or may not work another time.
Here are some ideas for working through anger without sinning. Write out the anger then drop the writing
into a shredder, or burn the writing and blow the ashes into the wind. Find a safe solitary place to scream or
cry. Throw rocks into a pond and let each ripple dissipate the emotions. Exercise or work outside. Ask
someone who owns a junk yard if you can beat a wrecked vehicle with a baseball bat. Talk to God and your
loved one and tell them how angry you are. Take a deep breath and blow it out. Let the anger go, and know
that God’s love for each of us is more powerful than our grief.
Dear God,
Anger can be frightening and makes us feel uncomfortable. Be with us as we manage anger in any life
situations. Help us find ways to release our anger without sinning. Amen.
NEW MEMBERS ON OCTOBER 11:
Tommy & Jeannie Barnwell
944-0306
523 Sleepy Hollow Court; Tamassee, 29686
Scott & Lisa Biggers 710-2109 (Zachary/Hannah)
206 Playground Road; Walhalla, 29691
Nancy Carter 419-2020
PO Box 226/ 121 S. Dogwood Dr., Walhalla 29691
Allen Harden 882-4509
2004 Ironside Circle, Seneca 29672
Nick Harden 882-4509
2004 Ironside Circle, Seneca 29672
Showing the shoes collected Sunday.
Your extra pair may be their only pair
Terry Holcombe 638-8320
175 Creekside Drive, Walhalla, 29691
Ilia Schumacher 638-5252 (Laken Lanier)
Thank you to St. John's! We had 788 Red Hill Farm Road; Walhalla, 29691
a tremendous response to "Soles
4 Souls." Think of how many peo- John & Miki Shealy 638-0311
ple will have shoes to wear be- 440 Pine Hollow Lane; West Union, 29696
cause we cleaned our closets! Without all of you, our
shoe drive for Soles4Souls
Coats for Christ – Service of Dedication on
would not have been such a success. We were
Sunday, November 8
able to collect hundreds of shoes from our closets. God truly has blessed us by giving us
at Ascension Episcopal Church
shoes to begin with; and now he is blessing us
7:00 p.m.
by allowing us to share our blessings to those in
need of shoes. This is a great example of us
Collecting Coats at St. John’s on Sundays
being stewards of the earth. I pray that the
beginning on October 18.
Gospel is spread even further after these shoes
are received.
St. John’s Lutheran Church Newsletter
8
Project Status Reports as of August 31, 2009
Biggerstaff/SCLRC Project – In August 2006 our
congregation approved, in principle, partnering with
the SC Lutheran Retreat Centers, the ultimate goal to
‘make Biggerstaff a year-round destination for the
faithful throughout the Synod and the nation’.
Thus, Biggerstaff would become the up-state site to
complement Camp Kinard in the mid-lands and
Coastal retreat on Isle of Palms.
Synod approved a five year, 7.5 million dollar Capital
Campaign for raising funds for the three sites, the
‘Building, Renewing, Believing Campaign’.
Of the total, Biggerstaff was allocated 3.7m, Kinard &
Coastal 1.9 million each. First priority being Coastal
followed by Kinard, with us last.
The pending ‘Agreement to Lease’ will allow St John’s
to retain all monies generated until such time as the
actual ‘Ground Lease’ is executed, which, in turn, will
not occur until the SCLRC is in position to begin construction within six months and have expectations that
the project will be completed within two years.
Capital Campaign
$34,884.72
Kitchen Remodel Project: This project is now completed.
Long-Range Building Plan: The congregation approved borrowing $7,608.69 from the Cemetery Fund
to pay for costs associated with a proposed LongRange Building Plan. This money must be repaid to
the Cemetery Fund. Although it will be included in the
2010 budget, contributions can currently be
made. Please mark your envelope accordingly.
Lois Sharpe, Congregational Treasurer
Comments: August contributions were sufficient to
cover most of the expenses, but we are still behind for
the year.
TREASURER'S REPORT, ABBREVIATED
MONTH ENDING 8/31/09
General Fund:
Balance at Beginning of Month……………….….8,935.25
Received, Budget Support Offerings…….....….26,976.26
Received, Rents etc………………………….……1,025.00
Disbursed, Expenses……………………………29,499.07
Balance at End of Month………..………………..7,437.44
Required giving for 2009 $301,595/yr. $5799/mth
Required giving for 35 Sundays………………202,965.00
Amount Actually Received…………………….189,066.33
Rents Received…………………………….……...5,525.00
Dollar Surplus or (Deficit)……………….……..(13,898.67)
Percentage Surplus or (Deficit)………………….…..-6.8%
Projected Annual Giving………………………….…….N/A
Restricted Funds & Accounts:
Altar Guild Funds……………………………….….(153.70)
Bell Choir Accumulative Fund………………….…..248.30
Bell Clock Fund………………………………….…..235.00
Biggerstaff, In/Out………………………………....1,985.85
Biggerstaff Shoreline Project Fund…………….34,884.72
Capital Contingency Fund………………………..7,397.66
Cemetery Accumulative Fund…………………..44,645.66
Choir Accumulative Fund…………………….……..659.54
Christian Ed Building Fund…………………………100.00
Debt. Retirement Trailer…………….…………..(2,092.19)
Evangelism, Restricted……………………….……..978.97
Interest Earned……………………………….……...170.97
Food Pantry…………………………………………..125.00
Kitchen Remodel Fund………………………….……..5.11
Long Range Planning Loan…………………….(7,608.69)
LCY Accumulation Fund……………………….....1,705.06
Memorials, Undesignated…………………….…….125.00
Miscellaneous In/Out Accounts…………….……...975.95
Mission Endowment, In/Out…………….……….….475.00
Outreach Fund………………………………….….1,747.48
Preschool Restricted Fund…………………….….(283.12)
Shealy Book Fund…………………………….…..3,062.00
Vicar Fund………………………………….………2,450.00
Worship Fund……………………………………...4,239.00
Total Restricted Funds & Accts
LABELING
OFFERING
ENVELOPES
The offering envelopes in
the pews are designated
for our visitors. If you are
a member of St. John’s
and you want to use a
pew envelope, please take the time to write your
name on the outside of the envelope. Without
writing your name on the envelope, our Financial
Secretary will not know for whom to give credit.
St. John’s Lutheran Church Newsletter
96,078.57
Stewardship Note –
We are called to be disciples in all aspects of our lives and that includes our
checkbook. It is said, “Show me your checkbook, and I
will show you your gods.” Stewardship takes a serious
look at our own lifestyle. Are we living outside our
means? Are we living too lavishly for our level of income? Are we serious about following Jesus? Or are
we not worried about our level of debt? Take a moment
and look at your expenses. What is in it for God? Are
we responding to the grace we have been given? Giving is a part of our faith. It is our thanksgiving for what
God has done in our lives. Are you thankful? How are
you going to show it?
9
All proceeds go to the Kitchen Remodel
Fund
$10 each
at
St. John’ s Staff
FOR A HOLIDAY GIFT
David W. Coffman, Pastor
David Fox, Vicar
Debbie York, Parish Secretary
Lisa Arrowood, Pre-School Director
Ray Burroughs, Biggerstaff Christian Retreat Center
John Perry Reed, Director of Music
Joan Lewis, Gifts Coordinator
Starla Bargmann, Youth Director
Gerald Billington, Sexton
Brandon Shepard, Cemetery Grounds Keeper
Lois Sharpe, Treasurer
Julia Ballenger, Financial Secretary
Bill Brackett, Congregational President
Connie Addis & Monica Addis, Altar Guild Co-Chairs
Frances Devoe, Handbell Director
Elaine Wilson, Praise Choir
Christy Addis, Cecelia Lee, Children’s Choir
The Rev. George B. Shealy, Pastor Emeritus 1989-2009
PURCHASING A
Spiritual Opportunities Table
or
Church Office
Non Profit Organization
U. S. Postage Paid
Walhalla, SC
Permit No. 26
St. John’s Lutheran Church Newsletter
St. John’s Lutheran Church
301 West Main Street
Walhalla, SC 29691
The Fox’s Trot………………………..…….2
Ministry Opportunities…………..…...…2
Long-Range Planning Update…………2
October Assistant Schedule………..….3
Life Transitions…………………………....3
Wonderful Wednesday Menu………...3
Auxiliaries….…………………….......3 & 4
Fall Color……………………………………..4
St. John’s Supper Club…………………..4
Sunday School News…………………….5
October Calendar…………….…..…6 & 7
October B-days & Anniversaries……..8
Thank You…………………………………..8
Sound Bites………………………………....8
Senior Saint Invitation…….…………....8
Green Tip…………………………………....8
Honor/Memorial Donations…………….9
Note from the Gifts Coordinator……..9
Grief Corner……………….………………10
Soles 4 Souls………………………………10
Travel Mugs for Sale…………………...10
Coats for Christ Dedication Service.10
Treasurer’s Reports…………………….11
Offering Envelopes………………...…..11
Labeling Offering Envelops…………..11
Stewardship Note……………………….11
TIME DATED MATERIAL
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Opportunities
@ St. John’s
10