www.sselca.com - sselca@yahoo.com

The Friendly Visitor ST. STEPHEN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH ELCA NEWSLETTER

MAR 2019

ISSUE 3

VOL 47

Get ready – it will soon be time to

spring forward.

Daylight saving time starts March 10, 2019, moving clocks ahead one hour. The official start time for the change is 2 a.m. Sunday morning, so most people conduct the annual “spring forward” ritual before they go to bed

Saturday night.

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Phone: 828-322-3211 E-mail: sselca@yahoo.com Website: www.sselca.com 8:00 a.m.—Worship Service 9:15 a.m.—Sunday School 10:30 a.m.—Worship Service

Pastor: The Rev. Greg Brown Administrative Assistant: Barbara Gilbert Choir Director: Brent Talley Organist: Marc Longlois Sexton: Bobby Elmore Council President: Gene Frye Council Vice President: Linda Baker Council Secretary: Kim Frankel Treasurer: Brenda Duncan

Where to find it and Who to talk to….

In this issue… Parish Leadership

3 Pastor’s Page

4 Council Minutes

6 Servants

7 Birthdays/Anniversaries

8 Calendar

9 Prayers

10 Announcements

Pastor’s Page

Dear Friends in Christ,

We’ve had an awful lot going on at church lately. In this part of the liturgical

calendar, the seasons change rapidly, and in the life of the congregation, there’s a

lot of business to attend to in the first part of a calendar year. All of the busy

parts of our lives are added to that, and quickly church can become an

afterthought.

But with the next liturgical season cresting the horizon in a few short days, now is

a good time to remember our priorities as God’s people. We’re getting ready to

begin our annual pilgrimage with Christ through the season of Lent, tracing Jesus’

footsteps from the Mount of Transfiguration to the Cross on Calvary. This

intentional journey takes time. It takes commitment. Missing parts of it leave the

story and our experience of it incomplete.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 6th

, with worship at 7pm. We continue the

journey each Sunday morning, hearing the gospel lessons from the lectionary,

tracing Jesus’ own journey to the cross. On Wednesday evenings beginning March

13th

, we’ll enjoy worship with Holden Evening Prayer and a brief reflection on the

Old Testament lessons from Sunday. We spend very little time in worship,

generally speaking, focusing on the lessons that we hear from the Hebrew

Scriptures, yet they point us directly to the One that we follow. Having a change of

pace and listening to the voices of our spiritual ancestors can help deepen our

own sense of connection to the God of Israel (and indeed, the entire cosmos).

Taking time to dig into these powerful lessons can help serve as a link to our

Sunday gospel lessons and the entire experience of worship, creating a more

cohesive structure for our worship life together throughout the whole of this new

season.

I invite you to prayerfully consider committing yourself to the discipline of Lent,

where we are called to especially pay attention to our life of prayer, fasting, and

alms-giving. We’re incredibly blessed to be able to worship together and to

journey together with Christ to his cross, where we find love, grace, and mercy

freely flowing down for each of us.

May peace be the journey,

Pastor Greg+

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St. Stephens ELCA Council

Minutes of Monthly Meeting February 10, 2019

The meeting was called to order by President Gene Frye and opened with prayer by Carol Talley. Twelve members were present.

Approval of Minutes

A motion was made by Lora Huhn and seconded by Linda Baker to accept the January 2019 council minutes. Voted and

approved.

Treasurer’s Report : Copy on file

Ministry Team Reports:

Christian Education

VBS will be at SSLC ELCA July 7-11, 2019.

Congregational Life No Meeting

Evangelism

Community Fest will be held In the spring of 2020

Planning a new member breakfast on March 10, 2019

Finance No Meeting

Property

Received bid from Pringle & Son for AC for Centro Latino for $25,524. A motion was made by Corky Miller and seconded by Chuck Witherspoon to approve this project, using $25,000 in grant money that we have received for this purpose and also to approve $1000 from capital improvement to cover the remainder of the cost plus any incidental costs. Voted and approved.

The compressor in the Heating/AC unit in the narthex is out. The cost of a new unit is comparable to repair of the old unit. A motion was made by Corky Miller and seconded by Phil Barton to purchase a new unit at the cost of $1371 from Shell

Heating& Air. Funds for this would come from Capital Improvement. Voted and approved.

Social Ministry Report on File.

Worship and Music

The committee recommended that we present a project for a new sound system to the congregation during the semi-annual meeting on February 24, 2019. The committee would like to recommend that we use Larry’s Music and Sound to replace our sound system at the cost of $21,299.36. A memorial gift of $10,000 from the George Barger family would go toward this project and the congregation would need to enter into a fundraising effort to complete the cost. This will be voted on

at the congregational meeting.

Youth Report on File.

Old Business

The semi-annual meeting will be held on Sunday February 24, 2019 at 9:15AM in the Fellowship Hall. Gene Frye has contacted the City of Hickory engineer concerning improvements to the parking lot apron. The engineer is

contacting the NC DOT. The Columbaria will be dedicated on February 24, 2019. The Kitchen committee will meet with representatives from the Men’s Breakfast group to disperse of items remaining in the

hall closet. Duke Energy did an Energy Efficiency Proposal for our facility. The changes they recommended would cost $3621.54 and

should reap savings of $4967.94 per year. A motion was made by Chuck Witherspoon and seconded by Dustin Rushing to approve this project. Funds for this would come from the General Fund under the line item property/Facilities. Voted

and approved.

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New Business

Meals on Wheels has requested that we be a distribution site. Meals would be dropped off Monday through Thursday by their caterer and then picked up to be delivered to clients. Motion was made by Pastor Greg to participate and seconded by Gene Frye. Voted and approved.

The disbanded Men’s Group wishes to distribute their funds to the following: $500 seed money for a possible future Men’s group $1000 to CCM $500 to Salvation Army $500 to Hickory Soup Kitchen $500 to Centro Latino food pantry $ Remainder ($1140.97) to kitchen fund A motion was made by Pastor Greg and seconded by Linda Baker to distribute these funds as designated. Voted and

approved.

*Meeting Extended*

There was discussion about the need for an updated and more user friendly software system for our administrative, financial and social media needs. A motion was made by Pastor Greg and seconded by Corky Miller to purchase the Church 360 cloud based program. The cost is $1725 per year plus a one time start up fee of $597. The current system costs $1421 per year. Voted and approved.

We need better lighting for the picnic shelter/back parking lot. The property committee will investigate options. A motion was made by Chuck Witherspoon and seconded by Kim Long to approve the use of the Fellowship Hall for the

Red Cross Blood drive on the following dates: 2/11, 4/15, 6/10 plus one TBA. Voted and approved.

*Meeting Extended*

Lenten services with meals will be on the following dates: 3/13 open,3/20 Women’s Ministry,3/27 open,4/3 Church council and 4/10 Youth

Approved the use of the chapel and fellowship hall for a Via De Cristo gathering on May 4, 2019.

A motion was made by Linda Baker and seconded by Kim Frankel to adjourn the meeting. Voted and approved.

The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Respectfully submitted,

Gene Frye, President

Kim Frankel, Secretary

Reminders: Council retreat and business meeting March 10, 2019 after the 10:30 service.

Copies of the Treasurer’s report and Ministry team reports are available upon request from the church council secretary.

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GREETER—8:00 LAY READER—8:00 NURSERY– 8:00

3 Tiffani Bolick Elaine Frye Cathy Ollis 10 Ann Kraft Marge Chandler Sharon Miller 17 Regina Reece Gene Frye Regina Reece 24 Cathy Fox Brent Talley Cathy Ollis 31 ONE SERVICE

WORSHIP ASSISTANT— 10:30 ACOLYTE—10:30 NURSERY - 10:30

3 Cathy Baker Alyssa Corpening Lora Huhn 6 Brenda Duncan Katie Ramsey 10 Vickie Eckard Kara Ramsey Elisabeth Mauck 17 Robert Ollis Henley Huhn Barbara Gilbert 24 Tiffani Bolick Mia Sexton Carolyn Haas/Kara R. 31 Brenda Duncan Katie Ramsey Pat Patton

LAY READER—10:30 COMMUNION ASSISTANT- 10:30

3 Cathy Baker Judy Fincannon & Carol Talley 6 Brenda Duncan 10 Phil Barton 17 Loyd Hoke

24 Carol Talley 31 Brenda Duncan

SOUND CONTROL - 10:30 ALTAR GUILD

3 Chuck Witherspoon Helen Miller & Billie McMahan 6 10 Chad Putnam 17 Bruce Godfrey 24 Steve Baker 31 Greg Deitz USHERS

*Kim Long, Kim Frankel, Cathy Ollis, Betty Ann Crump, Carla Tucker, Gloria Huffman, Peggy Hoke

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Servants of the Lord

Celebrations!

Lifting up those who celebrate

this month…

Birthdays Anniversaries

1 Jacky Baker, Harry Reep 8 Wayne & Kim Long

4 Philip White 24 Leland & Melissa

7 Colton Sexton Witherspoon

8 Jackson & Reagan Brown 27 Corky & Sharon Miller

9 Taytum Godfrey

10 June Yount

13 Sherrill Cooper-Hollar

15 Peggy Hoke

18 Tammy Falcone

20 Bruce Bolch, Jenny Eckard

21 Jacob Scott

24 Luther Hathcock, Chuck Witherspoon,

Paul Yount

25 Leland Witherspoon

27 Sukie Rushing

31 Marc Longlois, Elisabeth Mauck

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Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday 1

Saturday

2

3 8 Worship -Chapel 9:15 Childrens Music 9:15 SS & B Care 9:30 Children’s SS 10:30 Worship - Sanctuary

4 7 Sarah Circle-CR

5 10 Mary Circle-CR 4-6 ESL-FH 7 Men’s BBall

6 6-7 ESL-Classroom 7 ASH WEDNESDAY Service

7 7 Men’s BBall

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9 8 CHURCH WORKDAY

10 8 Worship -Chapel 9 New Member Bkfst - CR 9:15 Childrens Music 9:15 SS & B Care 9:30 Children’s SS 10:30 Worship - Sanctuary 12 Council - Lunch & Retreat

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12 4-6 ESL-FH 7 Men’s BBall 7 Creative Christians

13 5-6 Lenten Supper 6 Lenten Service 6:30 Centro Latino - FH 6:30 Handbells 6:45 Chancel Choir

14 7 Men’s BBall

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16

1-5 Krystal Sharpe - FH

17 8 Worship -Chapel 9:15 Childrens Music 9:15 SS & B Care 9:30 Children’s SS 10:30 Worship - Sanctuary

18 2 Good Cheer- Trinity Village

19 4-6 ESL-FH 6 VBS - CR 7 Men’s BBall

20 5-6 - Lenten Supper Women’s Ministry 5:30 Christian Ed - CR 6-7 ESL-Classroom 6:30 Handbells 6:45 Chancel Choir

21 7 Men’s BBall

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23

24 8 Worship -Chapel 9:15 Childrens Music 9:15 SS & BC 9:30 Children’s SS 10:30 Worship - Sanctuary 2 Worship & Music 4:30 Property

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26 4-6 ESL-FH 7 Men’s BBall 7 Creative Christians

27 5-6 - Lenten Supper Congregational Life 6:30 Handbells 6:45 Chancel Choir

28 6 Evangelism CR 7 Men’s BBall

29

30

31 9:15 Children’s Music 9:15 SS & BC 9:30 Children’s SS 10:30 ONE SERVICE Covered Dish after service

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Remember in Prayer

In Nursing Homes:

Trinity Village (Lutheran Home, Springs Road) -

Earlene Newton - #902 (Dogwood), Juanita Deitz - #607, Edith Icard - #608,

Ralph Baker - #406

Trinity Ridge (Mountain View) Tammy Falcone - #708

At Home: Catherine Morgan, Jay Lee Eckard

Family and Friends: Janet Stinson, Leon Baker, Julie Kanipe, Ruth Dietz, Linda

Richards, Nancy Jo Brooks, Elbert Pope, Susan Hoke Lee, Anne Williams, Jackston

Brown, Vickie Morgan, Nancy & Dee Dee Pope, Viola Gross, Beverly Edwards,

Larry Cook, Mindy Herman, Frank & Pat Hedrick, Susan Shelor, Anita Isenhour,

Margie Isenhour, Mary Ann Wrenn, Joyce Travis, Frances Landaas, Mary Alice

Punch, Joyce Odell, Larry Krueger, Kim Ramsey, Deborah Sullivan, Shari Dezern

*Kendall Phillips, Bob Hall, Denis London, Bryant Waugh, Steve London, Robin

Wright, C.J. Scott, Donald Bumgarner, Mark Mitchum, Gladys Sipe, Kathy Powell,

Allan Powell, Wayne Pack, Lynn & Danny DeLancey, Ben Godfrey, Nell Davis,

David Lydel, Peggy Hedrick

Others: All those affected by the violence in our country and abroad, All who

are hungry, All who are homeless

Bereavement: The Family of Grace Vaught, The Family of Ruby Stephens, The

Family of Glen Shoaf, The Family of Frances Rockett, The Family of Bonnie Deitz,

The Family of Charles Whitener, The Family of David Huffman, The Family of

Hazel Drum, The Family of Gail Evans,

Global Missions: Stephen Bryant, Sean Bryant, Will Duncan

Armed Forces:

U.S. Navy: PO3 Logan Miller, Little Creek, VA; IS2 Chris Powell, Jacksonville FL;

CPO Matt Creech, Bahrain; UNSN Madison Patton, CA

U.S. Marines: Cpl. Andy Hance, Hawaii; Captain Nathan Carpenter; Cpt. John

Teague, Kuwait; Staff Sgt. Justin Curl, Cherry Point, NC

U.S. Air Force Nathan Bridges, (Ret.- Hungary)

Please contact the church office to make changes to this list

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The Mary Circle will meet on Tuesday, March 5th at 10 am in the

Conference Room.

***

The Sarah Circle will meet Monday, March 4th at 7 pm in the Conference

Room.

***

Friends in Faith will meet Saturday, March 16th to see Tom Sawyer at the

Green Room. Details and dinner plans to follow.

Sandy & Phil Barton are hosting.

***

The Fellowship Club will be going to Catawba for the Annual Ham Supper

on March 9th. Each person will be going at their own time.

***

I want to thank everyone for your expressed concern and the prayers

during my recent surgery and (hopefully) one and only chemo treatment.

I do thank God so much for you, my church family, here at St. Stephen’s.

Love and Peace to you! Donald

***

The Good Cheer ladies will not meet on Tuesday, March 12th, but they will

meet on Monday, March 18th at 2:00 pm at Trinity Village. We will host the

March birthday party for the residents on Dogwood Hall. Thank you, ladies!

***

At the Congregational Meeting on February 24th, the annual report was

approved. Also, it was approved to start a fundraiser for the Sanctuary

Sound System. The George Barger Family, in his memory, have generously

donated $10,000 to start the fund. We will need to raise $12,000 more.

Please consider this if you have extra that you feel led to give.

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There will be a work day on March 9th beginning at 8 am.

Some of the projects to work on are:

Coffee Corner counter top, put together kitchen table, cleaning kitchen,

cemetery markers, pressure wash and seal cement, clean/sanitize nursery,

clean out Rec Room, clean out rooms.

Need some people with a truck/ trailer to haul off items.

If you have some time and can help it would be appreciated!!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The Meals on Wheels program has asked our

church to be a pick up location for those

volunteers that deliver to nearby routes.

This will be starting on Monday, March 4th.

It will only involve hot bags and coolers for the

routes to be dropped off here and then the

delivery volunteers will come by to pick up their

meals.

They are always looking for volunteers to deliver

meals.

If you would be interested in volunteering please call Vickie Redden at 828-695-

5610

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