St. Luke's Lutheran Church

         The Lamplighter

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

November                                                            2018

FROM THE PASTOR

Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

I invite you to ponder this list of verbs: live, hear, proclaim, serve, strive. These action words come from the Rite of Affirmation of Baptism (ELW page 236). Do you hear them in the fashion of a job description? Do you hear them with a heaviness and weight, or a sense of “gotta” – one more thing I gotta do; one more thing I gotta try to figure out how to pack into the week, schedule on the planner, set an alarm reminder for on my smartphone? Ding!

Or, do we hear them as gifts, gifts of God, gifts from God, gifts within the unfolding grace of God. Good News—for you, for the world—God wins! Yes, indeed there is much work to do as we enact those action verbs: live, hear, proclaim, serve, strive. But all five of those words take us into the broken, chaotic places; yes, often heartrending, hard, and sometimes seemingly hopeless places; but, places where the gift of faith can see salvation at work, places wherein the hands of mercy, the voice of justice, the kiss of peace can show the promise of God’s salvation IS at work and the power of resurrection IS unleased in the world God loves.

God’s ultimate victory certainly doesn’t mean we quit “running the race.” Our gift of faith, our baptism into Christ the Lord, and God’s promise of resurrection life doesn’t grant us a vacation until his return. It is an invite into the mission of God, a call to participate, in the work God is doing here and now. Thus, we get to look around and live, hear, proclaim, serve, strive – freely, in love, in faith.

I invite us all to ponder those words, to pray, and embrace the opportunities to be engaged as part of God’s church in this time and place.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Russell Makant

PARISH NOTES

Daylight Savings Time Ends

Remember that Daylight Savings time ends Sunday, November 4 at 2 AM. Be sure to set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed Saturday.

Thanksgiving Service

There will be a Thanksgiving Service on Tuesday, November 20 at 7 PM here at St. Luke’s. Watch your bulletins for more information.

Seniors Group News

The Seniors Group will be having a Thanksgiving luncheon in the fellowship center Wednesday, November 14 at 11:45 AM. They will also discuss plans for activities and trips for the coming year. A free-will offering will be taken to cover the expenses of the meal. All members of the congregation 60 years of age and older, and their guests, are invited to attend. Please RSVP by Sunday, November 10.

Social Ministry News

The Social Ministry team will be receiving Christmas stockings from the Salvation Army soon as a project for November and early December. Please be sure to pick one up to fill and return. Watch the bulletin and next month’s newsletter for the deadline for returning the stockings.

Now Online

The Lamplighter can now be found on our website www.stlukesconover.org. If you have friends that you would like to share our news with, you can either direct them there, or you can send an email to Bert Cline with their email address and he will put them on our mailing list.

Children’s Christmas Program Rehearsal

Rehearsals for this year’s Children’s Christmas program will be each Sunday from 3-5 PM here at St. Luke’s. We are hosting the play this year.

FREE Movie Nights

The final two movie nights for the year will be Saturday, November 10 and Saturday, December 8. There will be a potluck at 5:30 PM each night with the movie beginning once everyone has been served. After the movie will be a 15 minute discussion period. These films are free and family friendly. We invite you all to attend and invite your friends.

Congregational meeeting

Our annual Congregational Meeting will be held following worship on Sunday, December 2 for the election of new members of the Church Council and on Sunday, December 9 for the ratification of the 2019 Spending Plan. All confirmed members, please make plans to attend.

It’s More Than Money

From the Worship and Music Committee: The worship and music committee assists in planning all regular and special worship services at St. Luke’s. The committee works with the pastor to choose hymns, liturgy, and any music used during worship services. In addition, the committee oversees, recruits, and provides training for readers, ushers, acolytes, and the altar guild.

This year’s Cantata will be “Were You There On That Christmas Night” to be presented on Sunday, December 16 during the morning worship service. At 5 PM that day at St. Luke’s will be the children’s Christmas play “Miracle on Main Street.” There will be a reception following the play. Please bring finger foods to share. [It’s More Than Money is a monthly series of articles highlighting a committee or group in the church to help you understand what they do]

The Church Council is in the process of finding members who will agree to be nominated to run for upcoming vacancies. Please prayerfully and seriously consider accepting if you are asked or volunteer (see a current member of council) to run.

As the newsletter was in the process of being prepared, we were notified that two of our former ministers had recently joined the Church Triumphant. Rev. Garold Carter (PC), who had served as pastor from 1983-1991, died on October 16. The following day, Rev. Fred Archer, who was with us from 1963-1969, passed away. Our condolences go out to the Carter and Archer families.

MEMBERS BIRTHDAYS THIS MONTH

11/3 - Donald Keller 11/5 - Pam Killian

11/8 - Nancy Rockett 11/15 - Tim Aaron

11/17 - Bill Henson 11/18 - Chloe Taylor

11/20 - Alea Sigmon 11/29 - Carolyn Deal

11/29 - Pearl Young

MEMBERS anniversaries THIS MONTH

11/6 - Tommy & Jennifer Burch 11/15 – Jeff & Janie Dellinger

Serving This Month (November)

Ushers – Ronald Craig, Gary Hefner, Jayden Hefner, Nick Huffman

Reader & Communion Assistant– Brenda Sluder

Offering Counters – Janie Dellinger, Nick Huffman

Flowers – 11/4- Dot Hawn; 11/11-OPEN; 11/18-Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Dellinger, 11/25- Carolyn Deal.

Bucket Money

The money taken up in the buckets during this quarter (October-December) will be donated to The Humane Society of Catawba County.

**DON’T FORGET TO BRING CANNED GOODS

AND MEDICINE BOTTLES FOR CCM **