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Dear St. Paul Family,

Have you seen the bulletin board in the hallway behind the sanctuary lately? It is creatively done with a collection of various pictures and other items to emphasize the different ministries we have the privilege of participating in this month. As our Jr./Sr. High Youth have now completed their Home Mission Trip in the Catawba County area we now focus our attention on our camping ministry and our partnership with Startown Elementary School.

Sunday July 7th – Saturday July 13th, Karina Coulter will again be attending the Outdoor Adventure Program at Camp Lutherock. The next week we will host our annual Agape Day Camp at the Mission Property. Again this year, we have a full slate of campers who will be led

by an experienced team of counselors. You are invited to come out to the Meet and Greet on Sunday July 14th at 6:00PM to support the kick-off of this ministry as counselors, parents and campers come together to meet and have caring conversation with each other. You are also invited to attend the cookout on Thursday July 18th at 6:00PM to have some burgers and hotdogs while we observe the campers perform songs and skits they have learned during the week. If you can volunteer some of your time to help supervise during the day from 9:00AM – 3:00PM please speak to either me or Barbara Sloop.

JULY 2019 VOLUME 32 • NUMBER 12

VISIT US ONLINE StPaulStartown.org

Summer Fun - The ELCA Way

St. Paul Partners

JULY 2019 volume 32 • number 12

A PUBLICATION OF ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH

INSIDE this issue

Pastor’s Article .................................1

Member News ..................................2

Birthdays & Anniversaries ................2

Christmas in July ..............................3

Youth News ......................................3

Wedding Bells ..................................4

July Worship Assistants ...................4

News ................................................5

Summer Steward Ship .....................5

June Calendar ..................................6

Synod Assembly...............................7

Agape Day Camp .............................8

To the Glory of God by Richard & Gail Blackburn in honor of the handbell & adult choirs

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We will also gather again the last weekend of this month over at Kure Beach on the Atlantic Ocean for a time of fellowship, dining on fresh seafood, caring conversations, breathing in the salt air from the Atlantic Ocean and taking time to just be – remembering we are called human beings, not human doings. This is also the month we observe Christmas in July with a tree in the sanctuary filled with tags for needed school supplies for students at Startown Elementary.

More detailed information is found elsewhere in this newsletter about specific donations needed for Agape Day Camp and our Christmas in July ministry. I look forward to being with you this month, as we take time for ministry, supporting our camps and partnerships while also observing Sabbath rest. May God richly bless you as we put our mission into practice to Witness, Welcome, Worship and Work in the name of our Lord.

Yours in Christ,

July 8 Ann Hass

July 11 Eric Scronce

July 16 Ann Walker

July 17 Aidyn Herman

July 19 Deborah Guthrie

July 25 Conner McNeil

July 28 Libby Wells

Pastor Ralph

July 31 Jerry & Myrtle Urcinola

Did We Miss Your Birthday or Anniversary?

If so, please accept our apologies! Let us know so we can make it right by calling (828) 464-3853 or email

morgan@stpaulstartown.org

To St. Paul Church Family, What wonderful friends! Your kindness means the world to me. Thank you for all the prayers, calls, visits, cards and gifts. I Love You All, Ann Walker Our Christian sympathy and hope in the resurrection is extended to the family of Mrs. Lucille Reynolds who passed away under hospice care on June 10th. She had been a long time member of St. Paul but unable to attend in recent years due to health reasons. Her funeral service was held at St. Paul on Saturday June 15th officiated by Pastor Ralph. Our Christian sympathy and hope in the resurrection is extended to Keith and Kathy Frye and family upon the death of Keith’s father, Mr. Harry Frye in Statesville last month. The service was at Broad St. Church of Christ on Wednesday June 12th. Our Christian sympathy and hope in the resurrection is extended to Hugh and Betsy Lindler and family upon the death of Hugh’s father, Mr. Charlton Lindler, Sr. in Statesville last month. The service was at St. John Lutheran Church on Wednesday June 19th.

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SPY – St. Paul Youth

Check out the newly decorated “SPY” bulletin board in the fellowship hall dedicated to our youth. This is the place for checking out the latest news and pictures of our youth in action.

CAMP/MISSION OPPORTUNITIES SUMMER 2019

Camp Lutherock – Sunday July 7th – Saturday July 13th

Agape Day Camp – Monday July 15th – Friday July 19th at our Mission Property

Kure Beach Trip – Thursday July 25th – Sunday July 28th

Christmas In July It doesn’t seem possible. The kids have been out of school for only a couple of weeks but here we are, talking about the new academic year, beginning in late August. As our community continues to grow, so does the need for school supplies for our area elementary school students. Once again, St. Paul Lutheran Church-Startown has the opportunity to help these students (and teachers) begin the year fully equipped to be successful. Our Christmas in July effort will begin on July 7, 2019, with our special “Christmas” tree erected in the Sanctuary, adorned with suggestions for school tools. Pencils,

pens, crayons, rulers, notebooks, pencil boxes and many other learning tools are needed. And these days, even “earbuds” for computer learning are needed. Let’s not forget the teachers’ needs either. Tissues, hand sanitizer (and lots of prayers!) are always put to use by these dedicated instructors. Our collection is divided equally between Blackburn, Maiden and Startown Elementary Schools. We will collect your donations through July 31st. Note: One member who works for William-Sonoma has obtained 15 new back packs and one member has created 29 drawstring book bags so these items are not as urgently needed but additional ones are certainly welcomed. Please prayerfully consider how you can support this community outreach effort and put your donations under the tree.

Still Time to Sign Up! There is still time to sign up to spend some time at the North Carolina Beach at an incredibly low cost. For only $160.00 for 3 nights and 4 days at Kure Beach at the end of July. Got some unused vacation time left? Need some "away" time to refresh and renew? What better way than to spend it with some of your church family? Yes, there will be some devotional time but much of the time is your own: beach combing for

shells, poking around in local shops for that perfect T-shirt or just rocking in a chair on the porch with a good book. Don't miss this once-a-year event - sign up now!

Safe Travel Later this month please keep all our members, their families and friends in your prayers as they travel to and from the Kure Beach Retreat on the NC coast. We wish them fair weather and a time of spiritual and physical renewal. And lots of fresh seafood!!

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JULY WORSHIP ASSISTANTS Liturgy…The Work of the People Offered Unto God

MONTHLY DUTIES

USHERS Dewey Jones Jerry Urcinola

ALTAR GUILD Barbara Reed Barbara Sloop

MONEY COUNTER (TELLER) Glenn Hoke Judy Hoke

SUNDAY SCHOOL TELLER Richard Blackburn

COMMUNION (1ST, 3RD, 5TH) Richard Helton Wanda Helton

COMMUNION (2ND, 4TH) Gail Bowman Michelle Davis

WEEKLY DUTIES July 7 July 14 July 21 July 28

LAY READER Anna Schneider Libby Wells Ann Walker Richard Helton

PRAYER LEADER Kathy Frye Libby Wells Wanda Helton Richard Helton

ACOLYTE Karina Coulter Donna Miller Kathy Frye Dylan Lail

CRUCIFER Lilly Arrowood Michelle Davis Betsy Lindler Natalie Hoke

SENDER Myrtle Urcinola Richard Blackburn Roger Frye Sharon Frye

GOOD NEWS MOMENT Richard Helton Wanda Helton Kathy Frye Pastor Ralph

Dear Pastor Ralph, Mary, and St. Paul Congregation, I want to tahank each and every person that has been as sweet as you are. Everyone there has made a difference in my life since I came here. I haven’t been up to par lately but you all see that I reel better as soon as I talk to you. Thanks a million! Faye McGee

Congratulations! Daniel Robinson and Chrissy Adkins were united in the

bond of Holy Matrimony at St. Paul on Saturday, June 22nd. Pastor Ralph Kraft and Pastor Chris Christopher co-officiated.

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Welcome, Agape Counselors! On July 14th, we welcome the Agape Day Camp counselors who will spend the week as our guests at the Church and leaders at the Day Camp being held at our Pavilion Campus. A reception and meet-n-greet event will be held at the Pavilion on Sunday, July 14th, at 6:00 PM. Please come out and give a warm St. Paul greeting to these Spirit-led young adults who will be sharing both faith and fun with Catawba County Lutheran youth. And let us keep all those involved in our prayers for a memorable, Spirit-filled experience.

Bag Lunch One of the service projects the older youth attending Agape Day Camp perform is creating and filling weekend bag lunches for the guests of the Corner Table. The various Lutheran churches in Catawba County who have youngsters attending Camp are tasked with supplying food such as juice drinks and carbohydrate items. St. Paul’s assignment is to contribute a protein source such as Vienna Sausages or Beanie Weenie and fruit cups. We need to collect 150

cans of protein and fruit cups by July 22nd. A “Pot ‘o Protein” container is in the Narthex, ready to accept your protein donations and a “Fruit” basket is also ready to accept your donations of individual fruit cups, such as applesauce, peaches or mixed fruit. Will you support this opportunity to help these young people experience the joy of serving others? (Hint: the grocery store next to the Hickory Habitat for Humanity Store, across from Home Depot, typically has the best price on these items.) What an easy way to help this mission!!

Don’t Give Up On Giving! Summer is a great time for vacations at the beach, the mountains or visiting families or friends in Texas or Oregon or Vermont. Hopefully, while on your time away, you find a place for Sunday worship. Or, perhaps you have family and friends coming to visit you – bring them with you to Church! Please enjoy your vacation but please don’t take a vacation from your tithing. St. Paul Lutheran Church doesn’t close up for the summer and there are still utility and insurance bills to be paid, as well as salaries and supplies to be purchased. One can mail in ones’ check or use the online giving opportunity. It isn’t necessary to put your thankful offering in a golden plate only on the Sundays you worship in Startown. After all, God loves you every day, not just on the seventh day of the week when you enter His house.

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SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 3 4 5 6

Handbells and Choir will not meet in July

8:00pm A.A.

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

8:30am Java with Jesus

9:00am Sunday School

10:00am Worship No Worship & Music Team Meeting

No WELCA this month.

8:00pm A.A.

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

8:30am Java with Jesus

9:00am Sunday School

10:00am Worship

6:00pm Agape Meet and Greet at Mission Poperty No Church Council

6:00pm Cookout at Mission Property

8:00pm A.A.

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

8:30am Java with Jesus

9:00am Sunday School

10:00am Worship

8:00pm A.A.

28 29 30 31

Congregation Retreat at Kure Beach 8:30am Java with Jesus

9:00am Sunday School

10:00am Worship

Office Closed

Camp Lutherrock

Agape Day Camp (Mission Property) 9am-3pm

Congregation Retreat - Kure Beach

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Congregational Vitality is assembly focus

Those entering the 2019 NC Synod Assembly today were confronted with a question: “What is Congregational Vitality?” It was on display throughout the room, on the front screens and on every tabletop. Fortunately, the answer read in bold just below the question: “Communities of Jesus that nurture life-changing relationships with God, each other, and the world.” Thus began our focus on congregational vitality.

In the Opening of Assembly, Bishop Tim Smith addressed the 466 attendees gathered letting us know that this is our assembly. “Synod means walking together. We are here to walk together,” he said. As we walk together here, he explained that we would be not be

focusing on numbers and metrics alone to learn about what God is doing in our synod. While those things do matter, it’s important to remember why they matter—because they are connected to people. By taking our focus away from numbers and metrics, we are able to focus on life-giving relationships.

Diving deeper into the definition of vital congregations, we see, first of all, that the Gospel of Jesus is the central focus. We are “Communities of Jesus.” Note that it doesn’t read “Congregations of Jesus.” That’s because the work of Christ is not done in church congregations alone. As Bishop Smith points out, we have all sorts of communities within the NC Synod that are doing Christ’s work. In addition to our churches, the Spirit is working in and through agencies, service organizations, institutions, camps, and more. At this year’s assembly, we will recognize and celebrate what’s being done in each of those vital communities.

In our vital communities, we “nurture life-changing relationships.” That’s what it’s all about—relationships. “You already knew that,” says Bishop Smith. So why would we focus on something we already know? Bishop Smith shares his theory. Isn’t it true that the things we need the most are the things we long to hear? Even though a spouse knows they are loved, shouldn’t their partner tell them “I love you” from time to time, as a reminder? Yes, it’s meaningful to hear things we already know. That’s what we do in our communities and at Synod Assembly. We gather over and over to hear the things that we know already to be true because we need to be reminded of those things often.

So, as we gather at synod assembly, Bishop Smith promises that we will hear stories of vital communities. We will also be inspired to strive for justice and peace as a baptismal promise, not a political ideology. We are the church, drawn together by the gracious love of Jesus to join in the reconciling work of Christ in the world. The whole reason we’re together is because we’re stronger for it. To God be the glory. Amen.

Congratulations to Conner McNeil who was awarded the St. Paul Scholarship

for the 2019-2020 school year. Conner will attend Lenoir-Rhyne University this fall.

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STAMP

HERE

St. Paul Lutheran Church 3761 Startown Rd Newton, NC 28658 Phone: (828) 464-3853 www.StPaulStartown.org

<<Address Here>>

We the people of St. Paul are called and empowered by God- To Witness through Christ;

To Welcome everyone through the Holy Spirit; To Worship with joy; and To Work with God to meet

the needs of our community.

AGAPE DAY CAMP July 15 - July 19

9:00am - 3:00pm

See details in Sunday Servant or call the Office for more information.