TThheee MMe eessssseenngggeeerrr::: AAAuugguuusssttt ... · which the Old and New Testament...
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In this Month’s Issue: From the Pastor, President’s Points, Page 1-2 Birthdays, Prayer Requests Page 2 Ministries, Announcements Page 3-5 Calendar Page 6 School News Page 7 ST. JAMES LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSION STATEMENT Called by God, centered in the Word and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we rejoice in the Lord, proclaim His gift of Grace through liturgical worship and service and share Christ’s love and forgiveness in all we do. The Reverend Keith Getz, Pastor [email protected] Sunday School: 9:00 AM Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM Wednesday: 10:30 AM: Bible Study (Library) & Noon: Holy Communion Service (Sanctuary) St. James Lutheran Church 1137 Alice Drive Sumter, SC 29150 Office: 773-2260 Website: www.stjamessumter.org E-mail: [email protected] Church Office Hours: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Monday – Friday St. James Lutheran School 934-8727 775-8724 T Th he e M Me es ss se en ng ge er r: : A Au ug gu us st t 2 20 01 16 6 Words from Your Pastor Greetings, brothers and sisters in Christ, We continue our discussion on the liturgy. Last time, we talked about the Entrance Rite. Now we come to the Word of God proclaimed during the liturgy by God’s people. Public readings of Holy Scripture were an ordinary part of worship in the synagogue during Jesus’ time (Luke 4:16-21), and in the early church. By around the fourth century, specific Biblical readings were appointed for the various days of the church calendar. From the fifth century onwards, three lessons plus a psalm were appointed for a given day: a reading from the Old Testament (sometimes a reading from Acts may replace an Old Testament reading), an epistle, and a Gospel reading. In our church, we hear readings from Holy Scriptures based off of the Revised Common Lectionary in which the Old and New Testament readings remain thematically linked for most of the year, except during the summer months when the Old Testament readings tell of some of the great sagas of the Old Testament that reveal God’s promise of salvation to his people. Hearing the Word of God through the lectionary allows us to hear more of the bible, including challenging passages that may seem difficult to understand and may be tempting to skip. Hearing the proclamation of God’s Word is a means of grace. In this proclamation, the Spirit enters through our ears and travels to the core of our very being, sowing the seed of God’s promise of salvation in Jesus Christ deep into our hearts and souls. Through proclamation, the Holy Spirit calls people to faith: “Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). Martin Luther reminds us that “The Bible is the cradle wherein Christ is laid.” The Word of God, in which all things were created, comes to us in the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ; he continues to come to us in the Word of God proclaimed. An important part of proclamation is preaching. In preaching, the narrative of the Bible is bridged with our own life narrative, and we are able to see that our story is part of God’s continuing story of grace, salvation, and new life for his people. In preaching the word of God, the Holy Spirit illuminates, forms, and empowers people to do God’s mission in a broken world. At a time with so much hate and violence, we need to hear the Word proclaimed more than ever. It is this Word that has the power to change peoples’ lives, our lives. It has the power to tear down prejudice, and hate, and injustice in this world. And, we carry that Word in us. We carry the Light, the Word, the Christ. We carry Him and his light, his love, his new life, into the darkness of physical and spiritual death. The kingdom is near; it continues to break into people’s lives. Christ, the head of the Church, comes through His body, the Church, to expose the devil’s lie, to show others the true reality of things. Death has been conquered; it was destroyed on the cross. The war is over. A new day is dawning. Light has overcome the darkness. And, we carry that light, that power. We carry and proclaim God’s amazing Word of extravagant, abundant, divine love. We join others at the intersections where peoples’ deepest needs meet with our deepest love for God and others. At soup kitchens and kitchen tables, we come together as a community to extend to each other respect and hospitality. We show the world that death is not the answer. It does not have the last word. Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection was God’s last word to sin and death. It was his divine “No!”, and his divine “Yes!” to love, and light, and life for the world. So, we hear the Word of God proclaimed in our liturgy and receive the Spirit, who transforms and sanctifies us and empowers us to journey with Him into the world to bring God’s life-changing Word to others. Christ’s Peace, Pastor Keith
Transcript of TThheee MMe eessssseenngggeeerrr::: AAAuugguuusssttt ... · which the Old and New Testament...
In this Month’s Issue: From the Pastor, President’s Points, Page 1-2 Birthdays, Prayer Requests Page 2 Ministries, Announcements Page 3-5 Calendar Page 6 School News Page 7
ST. JAMES LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSION
STATEMENT Called by God, centered
in the Word and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we rejoice in the
Lord, proclaim His gift of Grace through liturgical worship and service and share Christ’s love and
forgiveness in all we do.
The Reverend Keith Getz,
Pastor [email protected]
Sunday School: 9:00 AM
Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM Wednesday: 10:30 AM: Bible Study (Library) &
Noon: Holy Communion Service (Sanctuary)
St. James Lutheran Church
1137 Alice Drive Sumter, SC 29150 Office: 773-2260
Website:
www.stjamessumter.org
E-mail: [email protected]
Church Office Hours: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Monday – Friday
St. James Lutheran School
934-8727 775-8724
TTThhheee MMMeeesssssseeennngggeeerrr::: AAAuuuggguuusssttt 222000111666
Words from Your Pastor Greetings, brothers and sisters in Christ, We continue our discussion on the liturgy. Last time, we talked about the Entrance Rite. Now we come to the Word of God proclaimed during the liturgy by God’s people. Public readings of Holy Scripture were an ordinary part of worship in the synagogue during Jesus’ time (Luke 4:16-21), and in the early church. By around the fourth century, specific Biblical readings were appointed for the various days of the church calendar. From the fifth century onwards, three lessons plus a psalm were appointed for a given day: a reading from the Old Testament (sometimes a reading from Acts may replace an Old Testament reading), an epistle, and a Gospel reading. In our church, we hear readings from Holy Scriptures based off of the Revised Common Lectionary in which the Old and New Testament readings remain thematically linked for most of the year, except during the summer months when the Old Testament readings tell of some of the great sagas of the Old Testament that reveal God’s promise of salvation to his people. Hearing the Word of God through the lectionary allows us to hear more of the bible, including challenging passages that may seem difficult to understand and may be tempting to skip. Hearing the proclamation of God’s Word is a means of grace. In this proclamation, the Spirit enters through our ears and travels to the core of our very being, sowing the seed of God’s promise of salvation in Jesus Christ deep into our hearts and souls. Through proclamation, the Holy Spirit calls people to faith: “Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). Martin Luther reminds us that “The Bible is the cradle wherein Christ is laid.” The Word of God, in which all things were created, comes to us in the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ; he continues to come to us in the Word of God proclaimed. An important part of proclamation is preaching. In preaching, the narrative of the Bible is bridged with our own life narrative, and we are able to see that our story is part of God’s continuing story of grace, salvation, and new life for his people. In preaching the word of God, the Holy Spirit illuminates, forms, and empowers people to do God’s mission in a broken world. At a time with so much hate and violence, we need to hear the Word proclaimed more than ever. It is this Word that has the power to change peoples’ lives, our lives. It has the power to tear down prejudice, and hate, and injustice in this world. And, we carry that Word in us. We carry the Light, the Word, the Christ. We carry Him and his light, his love, his new life, into the darkness of physical and spiritual death. The kingdom is near; it continues to break into people’s lives. Christ, the head of the Church, comes through His body, the Church, to expose the devil’s lie, to show others the true reality of things. Death has been conquered; it was destroyed on the cross. The war is over. A new day is dawning. Light has overcome the darkness. And, we carry that light, that power. We carry and proclaim God’s amazing Word of extravagant, abundant, divine love. We join others at the intersections where peoples’ deepest needs meet with our deepest love for God and others. At soup kitchens and kitchen tables, we come together as a community to extend to each other respect and hospitality. We show the world that death is not the answer. It does not have the last word. Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection was God’s last word to sin and death. It was his divine “No!”, and his divine “Yes!” to love, and light, and life for the world. So, we hear the Word of God proclaimed in our liturgy and receive the Spirit, who transforms and sanctifies us and empowers us to journey with Him into the world to bring God’s life-changing Word to others. Christ’s Peace,
Pastor Keith
President’s Points
Pastor was unable to attend our past Council meeting because he was participating in Vacation Bible School. He left me a devotion to read and a reflection to go with it and I have been thinking about it since I read it several days ago.
The reading came from Faith Alone: A Daily Devotional by Martin Luther entitled “Immeasurably More Than We Ask.” It is based on Genesis 25:22 which reads “The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ So she went to inquire of the Lord.”
The devotional tells about Rebekah praying for her life and the lives of her babies. Her prayers resulted in the birth of two great leaders and all of their descendants. She asked God for only a penny but obtained a mountain of gold. She was modest and reasonable in her prayers and would have been satisfied with small favors. It states that like Rebekah, we often don’t consider the majesty of God when we pray. The devotion states “God gives us the best gifts available in heaven and on earth. When we receive what we ask for in the Lord’s Prayer, we are, in effect, receiving heaven and earth and everything they contain. God isn’t content to provide us with a small amount even if we only ask for a little. He prefers to give us ‘immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine’ (Ephesians 3:20).”
This devotion has been the focus of my prayers since our Council meeting. We at St. James have reached a pleasant abundance in giving this year. For the first time in quite some time, our resources are expected to exceed our budgeted expenses. Please don’t read that and think we have more money than we need and can decrease our giving!
I ask that you consider our projected surplus and join me in praying that God will help us discern and follow his will by sharing his love through the use of this blessing. Perhaps this money can be used for a new or existing ministry. Perhaps we need to use it to repair and repaint our facility. Perhaps God has a completely different plan. We don’t have to be as modest in our prayers as Rebekah was. Let’s ask for what God wants, not what we want. When we ask, God gives us immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us.
Lisa Bratton
4th Bill Scobee
5th Kay Rasmussen
6th Kathy China
11th Savannah Stewart
14th David Lee, Janet Turner
16th Gary Blakeman, Scott Copeland
23rd Crystal Reed
25th Bonnie Moses
31st Perry Moses, III
For healing:
Paula Allen (Emery & Nancy McElveen’s daughter)
Jeanne Bessel
Helen Bultman
Nit Cohen (Kim Strange’s sister)
Rob Easley
Dean Heal
Margaret Lutz
Florence Piver
Ann Reynolds
Erica Shearing (JoAnne Bruce’s daughter)
Judith Terry
Jerry Young (Charlotte Easley’s mother) If you have a prayer need and would like it in the next Newsletter, please e-mail me at [email protected].
TALENTS SCHEDULE
CRUCIFER AND COMMUNION HELPER SCHEDULE: August 7: Crucifer: Andrew Bratton Communion Help: Susan Chandler Attendant: Lisa Bratton August 14: Crucifer: Ashley Crawshaw Communion Help: Madison Crawshaw Attendant: Karen Hesselbart August 21: Crucifer: Caroline Getz Communion Help: Natalie Palmo Attendant: Karen Hesselbart August 28: Crucifer: Owen Getz Communion Help: Carolinda Getz Attendant: Carolinda Getz
LITURGIST & CA SCHEDULE: August 7: Liturgist: Dick Rassmusen CAs: Karen Bailey & Ford Kamin August 14: Liturgist: Ford Kamin CAs: Cheryl Schmeling & Bob Summers August 21: Liturgist: Karen Hesselbart CAs: Karen Bailey & Harold Chandler August 28: Liturgist: Dick Rassmussen CAs: Bob Bessel & Gary Harbath LAYREADER SCHEDULE: August 7: Elton Hallman August 14: Lisa Bratton August 21: Judy Lessard August 28: Lois Heal CHILDREN’S SERMON SCHEDULE: August 7: Elton Hallman August 14: Pastor Keith August 21: Lisa Bratton August 28: Elton Hallman ALTAR CARE: August: Judy Pollock & Cheryl Schmeling USHER SCHEDULE Aug. 7: Gary Harbath & Harold Chandler Aug. 14 & 21: Ford Kamin & Elton Hallman Aug. 28 & Sept. 4: Keith Hamm & Steve Hamm
COUNTER SCHEDULE: August 7: Susan Caulkins August 14: Steve Hamm August 21: Steve Hamm August 28: Eric Hutchison
EVANGELISM GREETER SCHEDULE: August 7: Scott & Sheri Palmo August 14: Sam & Arletta Price August 21: John & Helen Kinser August 28: JoAnn Bruce & Betty Caulkins
FLOWERS: August 7: Sam & Arletta Price August 14: Susan Caulkins August 21: Florence Piver
August 28: Judy Pollock
If you will be unable to make it on a Sunday when you are serving, please call the office: 773-2260 and let Valerie know so that we can find a replacement and make the necessary changes to the bulletin.
Church Officers President: Lisa Bratton Vice President: Susan Caulkins Secretary: Tony Myers Treasurer: Glenn Hesselbart
Ministry Team Leaders Christian Education: Elton Hallman Fellowship: Lisa Bratton Finance: Susan Caulkins Outreach: Joann Bruce Property: Ray Ziecker SJL School: Dick Rasmussen Spiritual Growth: Pastor Getz Stewardship: Ford Kamin Worship: Tony Myers Youth: Elton Hallman & Art Nerheim
Pastor Keith will be on vacation July 25th thru August 7th. During this time, there will be NO Wednesday Bible Study or Noon Service. They will resume on Wednesday, August 10th at which time our Bible Study Group will begin studying the book of Exodus. We would love to have you join us.
GREETER NEWS
There will be an Evangelism Meeting on Tuesday, August 9th at 6:30 p.m. Please meet in the Pastor's office. NOTE: additional newsletters will be on the table in the Narthex to give to visitors when they sign in or identify themselves as visitors. Also, the SJLC website address is posted in the newsletter as a reminder we have a way of reaching both members and guests with up to date events happening at St. James.
THANK YOU
Thank you for the prayers for my daughter Erica Shearing. She continues to improve and praises God for His gift of healing and for the many fellow believers who have been there for her in spirit throughout the many months of recovering from her April surgery. Holy Hugs, JoAnn Bruce
LULA JUNE CIRCLE The Lula June Circle will be having a luncheon at Simply Southern Bistro August 2, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. If you can attend, please let Judith Terry – 775-4206 or Arletta Price – 905-1116 know so that they can make reservations for you.
LUTHERAN MEN’S MEETING
Monday, August 8th @ 7:00 p.m. at the home of Ray
Ziecker (875 Ravenwood Drive).
OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY
St. James will be providing a meal for the Crosswell Children's Home Sunday, August 14th. Volunteers are needed to help prepare spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, and dessert. We will need 4 large servings of each item for each of the 4 cottages (We'll have a head count closer to the date). All items will need to be in nonreturnable containers and delivered to the St. James kitchen by 2 on Aug. 14th. Pastor Keith and family will be delivering the meal to the children's home at 5:00 p.m. If you are able to help, please contact Laura Getz at 803-607-9056. Thank you for your willingness to reach out and show God's love to others in our community.
CHRISTIAN CHARITIES Reminder: Non-perishable food and paper products are
needed year round for local families. Your continued
donations are very much appreciated.
SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR KIDS UPDATE Sunday School for children ages 3 up to High School
will resume on Sunday, September 11th
at 9:00 a.m.
Please plan to
attend
PRAISE
and
FELLOWSHIP
on Tuesday,
August 2nd
from 6:30–8:00
p.m. Please bring a
snack to share.
DONATIONS NEEDED The Evangelism Committee is collecting Back to School Supplies for the Crosswell Home for Children. Please select items from the list below, and place your donations in the box in the narthex by August 8th. Book bags (Preschool - High School) Binders - hard cover (1”, 1 ½”, 2”, 3”) Folders with prongs & pockets Three-hole zipper pencil pouches Pencil sharpeners Mechanical pencils Cap erasers and pink erasers Pens (red/blue/black) Washable markers & colored pencils Highlighters Loose leaf paper Graph paper Composition notebooks Poster board Glue sticks Protractors & compasses Scientific calculators Memory sticks & flash drives Tissues Disinfectant wipes Plastic zip-lock bags (quart & gallon size) Walmart or Staples gift cards Uniforms: polo-style shirts in white, light blue, or navy (sizes for kindergarten through middle school ages). Uniforms: khaki or navy shorts, pants, skorts (for kindergarten through middle school ages). Ongoing needs: Duffel bags/suitcases (so no child leaves the home with his/her belongings in a plastic bag) New underwear & panties (size 3T and up) Diapers, pull-ups, and baby wipes Dress & ankle socks (boys, girls & adult sizes) Personal hygiene supplies (hair brushes & combs, deodorant, body wash, body lotion, lip balm, petroleum jelly) Cleaning supplies - disinfecting wipes, clothing detergent, liquid dish soap, bathroom cleaners, window cleaner, multipurpose cleaners, etc.
Epiphany Conference
When: Saturday, October 1, 2016
Registration: 10:30 a.m.
Meeting: 11:00 a.m.
Where: St. Phillip Lutheran Church
6200 North Kings Hwy
Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
Program: Becoming Partners in Our Schools
RSVP by Sept. 1 Dana Lee: [email protected]
Linda Albert: [email protected]
(803) 920-5328
UPDATE I wanted to thank everyone that participated in our Cave Quest Vacation Bible School in July. I am truly grateful for those of you that donated your time whether you helped to decorate, cook supper, or if you were a Team Leader or Station Leader. Thank you to those of you who donated supplies and to those who contributed with a monetary donation. I am also appreciative of those that brought fruit and desserts to accompany our meal every night. All of those things allowed for us to have a successful VBS. It takes a large team of dedicated volunteers to make VBS happen and we were truly blessed to have so many wonderful volunteers. We touched the lives of 37 children and shared our faith. They definitely had a lot of fun with all of the activities that we had planned. They also learned that Jesus loves them so much! I would also like to personally thank my husband, Brian, and both of my daughters, Ashley & Madison. They stood by my side from start to finish in pulling this program together and I couldn’t have done it without them. Thank you to each of you that had a part in this wonderful program and to everyone that lifted us up in prayers. God Bless! Shelley Crawshaw – VBS Director
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 PASTOR ON VACATION
2 PASTOR ON VACATION 8:00 AM Feed My Starving Children 1:00 PM Lula June Circle @ Simply Southern Bistro 6:30 PM Praise & Fellowship (FSH)
3 PASTOR ON VACATION 8:00 AM Feed My Starving Children 7:00 PM Jewelry Making Group (Library)
4 PASTOR ON VACATION 7:00 PM Boy Scout Troop 305 (FSH)
5 PASTOR ON VACATION
6
PASTOR ON VACATION 9:00 AM Prayer Fellowship (Sanct.)
7 PASTOR ON VACATION 9:00 AM Sunday School for Adults 10:00 AM Traditional Communion Service with Pastor Carroll Robinson
8
7:00 PM Lutheran Men’s Meeting at Ray Ziecker’s Home
9 5:00 PM Individual Confession 5:30 PM Girl Scout Troop #1315 (Library) 6:30 PM Evangelism Meeting (Pastor's Office) 7:00 PM Venture Crew 300 (Library)
10 10:30 AM Bible Study (Library) 12:00 PM Holy Communion Service (Sanctuary) 6:00 PM SJLS K3-K5 Orientation (FSH) 7:00 PM Jewelry Making Group (Library)
11 6:00 PM SJLS 1st – 5th
Grades Orientation (FSH) 6:30 PM School Board Ministry Tm. Meeting (Library) 7:00 PM Boy Scout Troop 305 (FSH)
12 13
9:00 AM Prayer Fellowship (Sanct.)
14 9:00 AM Sunday School for Adults 10:00 AM Traditional Communion Service 5:00 PM Crosswell Children's Home Spaghetti Dinner
15
8:00 AM SJLS FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 7:00 PM Council Meeting (Library)
16 17 10:30 AM Bible Study (Library) 12:00 PM Holy Communion Service (Sanctuary) 7:00 PM Jewelry Making Group (Library)
18 7:00 PM Boy Scout Troop 305 (FSH)
19 20
8:00 AM Kairos 42 Team Meeting (FSH) 9:00 AM Prayer Fellowship (Sanct.)
21 9:00 AM Sunday School for Adults 10:00 AM Traditional Communion Service
22 23 8:00 AM Lutheran Men's Breakfast (Guignard Diner) 9:15 AM Individual Confession 7:00 PM Venture Crew 300 (Library)
24 10:30 AM Bible Study (Library) 12:00 PM Holy Communion Service (Sanctuary) 7:00 PM Jewelry Making Group (Library)
25 7:00 PM Boy Scout Troop 305 (FSH)
26 27
9:00 AM Prayer Fellowship (Sanct.)
28 9:00 AM Sunday School for Adults 10:00 AM Traditional Communion Service
29 30 31 10:30 AM Bible Study (Library) 12:00 PM Holy Communion Service (Sanctuary) 7:00 PM Jewelry Making Group (Library)
August 2016
We still have the following employment positions open (contact the school):
1. Extended Care Teacher / Substitute
St. James Lutheran School
Where Jesus is Lord and His children grow in grace, truth, and knowledge.
Enroll Now For The 2016 - 2017 School Year !
1137A Alice Drive Sumter, SC 29150
Phone: 803-934-8727 email: [email protected]
DO YOU HAVE USED, BROKEN CRAYONS
THAT ARE HEADED FOR THE TRASH?
WE CAN DO SOMETHING GREAT WITH THEM!
Introducing The Crayon Initiative: A non-profit organization dedicated to providing children with
the resources to express their creativity and individuality through the arts.
Donate your unwanted crayons and we’ll recycle them into new ones. Then we’ll donate them
back to schools, children’s hospitals, art programs and other organizations invested in children.
How can you be a part of the initiative?
Give us your crayons and give back!
Learn more at www.thecrayoninitiative.org or email us at [email protected].
SERVICES: Wednesday 10:30 AM - Bible Study
Wednesday Noon - Holy Communion Service
Sunday School for Adults: 9:00 AM Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM
ST JAMES LUTHERAN CHURCH 1137 Alice Drive Sumter, SC 29150
Return Service Requested
Office: 773-2260
E-mail: [email protected] Church office hours: 8:00am-12:00pm Monday through Friday
The Reverend Keith Getz, Pastor [email protected]
St. James Lutheran School 934-8727 or 775-8724 E-mail: [email protected]
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit 105
Sumter, SC 29150
