April 2019 Newsletter

The Lamplighter

The Newsletter of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church Conover NC

April                                                                                 2019

FROM THE PASTOR

There is excitement in the air. Spring is here. Easter celebrations are coming. There is hope and joy and opportunities are all around us. Your council met in February and has established a FRAMEWORK to help the committees as they set goals. The four key values and four vital behaviors (in the boxes) that are shaping our goal setting have been named and in the bulletins for the past month; hopefully they look familiar now. Committees have been meeting and are setting goals. I want to ask you all to get involved – the idea is to gather for a meal on April 14 (after the Palm Sunday service). This is a covered dish (pot luck) dinner. AND this will be a congregational meeting for us to hear the goals and to discuss them as a community. We can then vote to receive the goals and work to implement them. St. Luke’s is a congregation blessed with many gifts, talents, and opportunities. As we move forward, it is clear “now” is a different time for the whole church, but it is still a very good time to be the church. Please plan to join us for the meal and meeting on April 14.

 

 

4 Key Values for 2019-2020

  • Discipleship / evangelism
  • Diversity
  • Community
  • Raising leaders

4 Vital Behaviors for 2019-2020

  • Build excitement about the future of the congregation
  • Equip members to share their faith with others
  • Seek out and use the gifts of people of all ages
  • Deepen people’s relationship with God

 

 

I've met with Worship and Music Committee and they are excited about learning new music and a new setting of the Sunday liturgy. met with Stewardship Committee and they are excited about ways of paying down debt. met with Social Ministry Committee and they are excited about seeing joy and gratitude on the faces of the people helped by St. Luke’s generosity. Education Committee is looking forward to learning opportunities this summer and through the year. Evangelism wants to explore ways to tell the story and deepen relationships with God. And the Property Committee has a good list of “chores” that help maintain the beautiful building and space we share. As we move forward please pray about how you can be involved.

Two special Holy Week services are being offered. Maundy Thursday (April 18) we will gather with St. Stephens (Springs Rd, Hickory) and worship and commune. Good Friday, (April 19) will be here at St. Luke’s with St. Stephens joining us. EASTER morning, we will have one full festival service at 7:30 AM. A breakfast will follow the service at approximately 9:00.

 

As your Lenten journey continues, I hope and pray you are finding times to reflect on the gifts you have received and the gifts you can share as part of God’s people of faith.

 

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Russell Makant

CALENDAR

Apr. 8     Church Council meeting (6:30 PM)

Apr. 10 *Senior’s Group Trip (8:45 AM)

Apr. 14 *Palm/Passion Sunday (10:30 AM)

              *Covered Dish Dinner/congregational meeting

                       (Following worship)

Apr. 18 *Maundy Thursday worship (7 PM)

Apr. 19 *Good Friday Worship (7 PM)

Apr. 20 April Newsletter info DEADLINE

Apr. 21 * Easter Sunday

                 Festival Worship (7:30 AM)

                 Breakfast (9 AM)

*See Notes for More Information

 

PARISH NOTES

Lenten Season

Our final evening service for the season of Lent will be April 7 at 7:00 PM. A light soup and sandwich meal will be offered at 6:15 that evening.

 

Seniors Group News

The Seniors Group will take their first trip of the year Wednesday, April 10 at 9 AM when they visit The Billy Graham Library and Carolinas’ Aviation Museum in Charlotte. Please be at the church by 8:45 AM. All members of the congregation 60 years of age and older, and their guests, are invited to attend. Please RSVP by Sunday, April 7.

 

Congregational Meeting

There will be a covered dish dinner and congregational meeting following worship April 14. We will discuss the vision and goals of the congregation for 2019 and 2020.

 

Holy Week & Easter

Holy Week begins with Palm/Passion Sunday on April 14. This service includes the reading of the Passion story and special music from our choir.

Maundy Thursday worship will be held at 7 PM on April 18 at St. Stephens ELCA. A Good Friday service will be here at 7 PM on April 19. Our Easter festivities will begin at 7:30 AM on April 21 with Festival Worship. Please bring fresh-cut flowers to decorate the cross in the Narthex. Breakfast will follow at 9 AM in the Fellowship Center. Watch the bulletin for more information and make plans to join us.

 

Social Ministry News

For the month of April, the Social Ministry Group will collect items to be donated to Trinity Ridge. This will include mini cans of soda, snack cakes and crackers, toiletries, and fleece throws. A complete list can be found in the Narthex.

 

Easter Egg Hunt

The Christian Education group will host an Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 20 beginning at 11 AM here at the church. This will include a pizza lunch around Noon. All young and young at heart get your baskets ready and join us.

 

Family Movies Return

Family movies will return following Easter. They will be shown following worship roughly once a month.

 

VBS Meetings

Planning meetings for our upcoming Vacation Bible School are now being held monthly at St. Stephens ELCA. Be sure to watch the bulletin for dates and times. For more information, contact Joyce Hefner.

 

 


 

MEMBERS BIRTHDAYS THIS MONTH

4/5 - Heather Huffman 4/7 - Dot Hawn

4/8 - Ethan Hefner 4/10 - Debbie Austin

4/13 - Deborah Lowman 4/17 - Anthony Bumgarner

4/17 - Frances Lafone 4/19 - Sandi Elrod

4/19 - Jason Taylor 4/21 - Gloria Aaron

4/22 - Ben Austin 4/24 – Russell Makant

 

MEMBERS Anniversaries THIS MONTH

4/2 - Ty & Sandi Elrod 4/27 - Lynn & Joyce Baker

4/30 - John & Nancy Rocket

 

Serving This Month (April)

Ushers – Nick Huffman, Nicki Huffman

Reader– Edna Miller

Communion Assistant – Edna Miller

Prayer Assistant – Edna Miller

Greeter – Dean Knight

Offering Counters – John Bumgarner, Ralph Huffman

Flowers – 5/7 – LENT-No Flowers, 5/14 – Diane Propst;

5/21 – Easter Lilies; 5/28 – Mindy Makant.

 

Bucket Money

The money taken up in the buckets during this quarter (April -June) will be donated to Women’s Resource Center of Hickory.

 

**DON’T FORGET TO BRING CANNED GOODS

AND MEDICINE BOTTLES FOR CCM **

Remember in Your Prayers

Those among us who are:

Serving in the military

Are homebound or are in nursing facilities

Sick or chronically ill

Nearing death or have recently passed away

Bereaved

Dealing with drug or alcohol addiction and their families

Victims of violence or hate

Disaster victims

The Church Council and all groups in the congregation

Prayer Partners: The Children’s Advocacy Center, St. Stephens Volunteer Fire Department, Sipe’s Orchard Home, St. Francis of Assisi Service Dog Organization

 

We will pray for individuals in our weekly worship and our personal prayer life.