St. Luke's Lutheran Church

The Lamplighter

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

September                                                                           2019   

   FROM THE PASTOR

Greetings to you all.  There is much to celebrate.  If you recall our goal setting process began with the Congregational Council meeting and selecting some key values and key behaviors to serve as a guide for our planning process.  The Council then asked our standing committees to name preliminary goals that tied in with those values and behaviors.  At our April 2019 congregational meeting, we met, discussed, and tweaked goals. We then unanimously adopted the 2019-2020 goals. There was energy and excitement! 

Well, by my count, of the twenty-six goals we named and set in April, eighteen can already be marked as either completed or as ongoing work, (like worship and property maintenance).   Four of the remaining eight goals are now being planned or are being implemented this Fall (learn and use new ELW worship setting; try the Narrative Lectionary; monthly movie and activities; Fall Festival).  That leaves four others and two of them will get marked off by the end of the year.

If you can’t find your copy or otherwise don’t have one, you can find copies of the key values and behaviors, and the goals in the narthex on the table.  I’ve put the key values and behaviors below to help remind us as we move from Summer into the activities of the Fall.  Again, these are not the only values or behaviors, just four that surfaced through prayers and council conversation to help shape our planning and movement for the upcoming months. 

New goals and new opportunities will and are arising.  It is clear to me that there are gifted people here, people open to continuing to do the work God is calling St. Luke’s Lutheran to do.  It is clear to me that there is much to celebrate.  And work to do in the name of our Risen Lord, Jesus.

Church, celebrate, we are continuing good work and ministry.  St. Paul in the letter to the Philippians wrote: ^“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.   Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.” 

May you know the nearness of God as we celebrate, move forward, live by grace.

Peace,

Pastor Russell Makant

CALENDAR

Sept. 1                  Last Sunday of Summer Schedule

Sept. 8                *Rally Day celebration (9 AM)

                             New Sunday School year begins (9:30 AM)

                             Worship Service (10:30 AM)      

                           *Fall Festival Planning meeting (11:30 AM)

Sept. 11              *Seniors Group Trip (8:30 AM)

                           *Potluck and Bible Study (6:30 PM)          

Sept. 18                Quilting/Craft class (6 PM)

Sept. 20                October Newsletter info DEADLINE

Sept 22               *Free movie (5 PM)

Sept. 23                Church Council meeting (6:30 PM)

*See Notes for More Information

PARISH NOTES

Rally Day

This year’s Rally Day is scheduled for Sunday, September 8 beginning at 9AM. We will begin with a light breakfast, continue with a group activity, adjourn to our classes, then worship will begin at 10:30 AM. Please make plans to attend.

This is also the Sunday we begin the Narrative Lectionary. The lectionary is the set of Bible readings we will use from Sept 8, 2019 to May 31, 2020. We will also begin using Holy Communion, Setting 2 in the Evangelical Lutheran Worship Hymnal. Thanks to Sandi and the choir for helping us learn it piece by piece over the past month.

Fall Festival Planning

There will be a short meeting following worship on September 8 to check on plans for the Fall Festival.

Seniors Group News

On Wednesday, September 11, the Seniors Group will visit Crossnore School near Newland. Please be at the church by 8:30 AM so we can leave by 8:45 AM. The trip will take about an hour and a half. After lunch we will visit the Linn Cove Viaduct and some other sights along the Parkway. Please RSVP by Sunday September 8.

Educational Opportunities

There will be a potluck meal and Bible study beginning at 6:30 PM September 11 and the second Wednesday of each month for the remainder of the year. Following the meal we will watch a short video from the “Noomba” series and discuss it and the Bible connections drawn from it. This is an informal discussion around Bible and faith.  Elementary and younger aged children will watch a Veggie Tales episode, read and discuss the related Bible verses, and do a craft or activity.

Free Movie

Movie Nights are scheduled for September 22 and October 27 at 5 PM.  These are potluck meals.  We gather, get food, and watch the movie as we eat.  After the movie we have a brief discussion to connect it with our faith life and with scripture.  These are free.

Fall Festival

Our Fall Festival is Saturday, October 12. Food, games, a variety of booths for community agencies, classes, speakers, a blood drive, and other things are being planned. How can you help? Contact Janie Dellinger or Joyce Baker and come to the check-in meeting after worship on Sept. 8. We will have the following collections to help with our outreach up until the time of the festival: Sept. 1 -- Undie Sunday -- Collect NEW underwear for children (K - 5th grade ages); Sept. 8 -- Sole Sunday -- Collect NEW shoes for children; Sept. 15 -- Diaper Drive -- Collect diapers of various sizes

Homecoming Sunday

Homecoming Sunday is October 13. Worship is at 10:30 AM. Our guest preacher will be Rev. Rick Carter.

Youth Event

Youth Quake, an event for you in grades 3-5, is scheduled for October 19 at Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church in Hickory. If anyone is interested, please contact Joyce Hefner or Mindy Makant for more information.

Thanksgiving Service

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, November 26 at 7:00 PM. Numerous ELCA Lutheran congregations and others are coming together for a community Thanksgiving Service at Grace Chapel on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University. More details to come.

Bucket Money

The money taken up in the buckets during this quarter (July-September) will be for Meals on Wheels

MEMBERS BIRTHDAYS THIS MONTH

9/2 - Matt Hale                                    9/4 - Melvin Hollar   

9/5 - Janet Hawn                                 9/7 - Allen Hefner

9/7 - J.J Taylor                                     9/9 - Rachel Reep 

9/10 - Don Johnson                             9/15 - Ben Hefner 

9/19 - Charles Bolick                          9/15 - Edna Miller 

9/24 - David Keller                             9/26 - Callie Huffman

MEMBERS Anniversaries THIS MONTH

9/4 - Don & Jackie Johnson              9/29 - John & Kay Bumgarner

Serving This Month (September)

Ushers – John Bumgarner, Gary Deal

Reader– Bert Cline

Communion Assistant – Hilary Swink

Prayer Assistant – Bert Cline

Greeter – Tim Killian

Offering Counters – Joyce Baker, Janie Dellinger

Flowers – 9/1 – Judy Hefner; 9/8 – Eva Bass; 9/15 – Amy Sigmon/grandchildren; 9/22 – Mr.  & Mrs. Nick Huffman; 9/29 – Mr. & Mrs. John Bumgarner

**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.