The Weekly Epistle

PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS:

Rev. Floyd Bost, Carole Chilson, Mary Lee

Earnhardt, Terry Eller, Louise Harkey, Peyton

Holland, Jeff Leonard, Oleba Sebastian,

and Barbara Upright

The CHANCEL FLOWERS are given to the

glory of God in loving memory of Jeri Basinger

by her family.

TODAY’S ACTIVITIES, SEPTEMBER 6:

RALLY DAY!

MEN’S CHOIR AT 4:00 P.M.

CHILDREN’S CHOIR AT 5:00 P.M.

HIGH SCHOOL FROM 5:00 P.M.-6:30 P.M.

#SWAG/YOUTH CHOIR AT 6:00 P.M.

NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE AT 6:00 P.M.

Advance Tickets are available for Annual Fish Fry in September following Worship (see page 8).

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITIES:

CHURCH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY IN OBSERVANCE OF LABOR DAY.

Meals on Wheels deliveries this week.

Jill Earnhardt, RN, Parish Nurse is in the office Tuesday and Thursday this week.

Staff meeting (Counting Room)………………………………………………....Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.

CALLED CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING ON TUESDAY AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM.

BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENT DEADLINE Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

Women’s Choir (Music Room) ……………………………………………..Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY EVENING WORSHIP SERVICE begins this Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

Senior Choir (Music Room) ………………………………………………...Wednesday at 7:15 p.m.

Confirmation/Parents (Sanctuary)…..………………………….…………..Wednesday at 7:15 p.m.

Women of Faith (Counting Room)………...…………………………..……..Thursday at 11:00 a.m.

Lutheran Men’s Annual Fish Fry (Picnic Shelter)………...…………………Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Grade School Youth will be cleaning up for Homecoming on Saturday from 10:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.

in the Picnic Shelter.

The 20/40’s Group will have a breather from their children as the group meets at 5:30 p.m. at Go

Burrito’s (115 W. Fisher Street, Salisbury) on Saturday. Please RSVP Katie Curlee

curleeksplc@gmail.com by Tuesday, September 8, if you will be attending so that the restaurant

can prepare for the group.

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RECOGNITION OF SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS AND OFFICERS

Dear Christian friends: Baptized into the priesthood of Christ, we all are called to offer

ourselves to the Lord of the Church in thanksgiving for what he has done and continues

to do for us. It is our privilege to recognize and support those who are engaged in the

work of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, especially those in the ministry of Sunday School as

Teachers and Officers.

Representative: The following brothers and sisters in the faith have been asked to serve

in a special capacity for the good of the entire faith community as Sunday School

Teachers and Officers. I ask them to please stand as their names are read.

Leaders stand as their names are read.

Having offered yourselves in the Sunday School ministry of St. Paul's Lutheran Church,

will you follow our Lord's example of humble service?

Response: Yes, with God's help.

Let us pray.

Almighty God, source of wisdom and knowledge: Help us to study your Word

diligently and to grow in your love and in all that is good. Support all who teach and all

who learn, that together we may know and do your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

NEXT SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, ACTIVITIES:

HOMECOMING SUNDAY - GUEST SPEAKER, REV. FLOYD BOST

CHURCH COUNCIL AT 8:00 A.M.

CHILDREN’S CHOIR AT 5:00 P.M.

KATHY KETCHIE GROUP AT 5:00 P.M.

MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH AT 5:00 P.M.

#SWAG/YOUTH CHOIR AT 6:00 P.M.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE AT 6:30 P.M.

HANDBELL CHOIR AT 7:00 P.M.

Next Sunday is the deadline to turn in your TIME & TALENT FORMS.

Extra forms are located in the Narthex.

STEWARDSHIP STATISTICS

Sunday School Attendance (8/30)………………109

Sunday Worship Attendance (8/30)………….....242

General Fund Offering Received (8/30)…...$6,619

Other Offering Received (8/30)……………..$1,525

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Nominating Committee, consisting of: Josh

Canup, Terry Eller, Brenda Julian, Donna

Lyerly, Stan McConnell, and Alison Moore will

meet today at 6:00 p.m. in the Conference

Room with Pastor DJ Lura. At the meeting

the committee will be preparing a list of

nominees for the congregation council to be

voted on at the upcoming annual meeting.

THE CHURCH OFFICE WILL BE

CLOSED MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7,

FOR LABOR DAY.

Church Council will meet Tuesday,

September 8, at 6:30 p.m. for a called

meeting and on Sunday, September 13, at

8:00 a.m. in the Conference Room.

2016 TIME & TALENT FORMS were

available from the Narthex to pick up on

Sunday, August 23. Those that were not

picked have been mailed out. Please

prayerfully look at where God is calling you to

get involved in the ministry opportunities at St.

Paul’s. We really appreciate your filling this

out ASAP as it helps prepare for 2016.

Deadline to turn in your Time & Talent

Form is September 13 (Homecoming).

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CONFIRMATION CLASSES for rising

7th-8th graders will begin Wednesday,

September 9, at 7:15 p.m. with a parents

and confirmands meeting in the Sanctuary

with Pastor DJ Lura and Katie Curlee,

Director of Youth Ministries. Each

Wednesday the confirmands will meet at

7:15 p.m. in the Sanctuary and Sanctuary

with few exceptions.

PLAN NOW FOR

HOMECOMING 2015!

Homecoming 2015 at St. Paul's will be next

Sunday, September 13, at 10:30 a.m. Rev.

Floyd Bost, former pastor of St. Paul’s, will

be proclaiming God's Word to us.

We are also happy to have Mack Williams,

son of St. Paul's, sharing his musical talent

with us again this Homecoming.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church will be

celebrating its 185th anniversary.

Homecoming dinner will follow in the

picnic shelter. Invite family, friends and

former members now to be with us for this

special occasion on Sunday, September 13.

This is a wonderful time to renew old

relations, update what is going on in the lives

of others that have been special to us, and to

make new relationships. Plan now to be a

part of our Homecoming!

WEDNESDAY EVENING SERVICES beginning Wednesday, September 9

6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Each Wednesday, starting on September 9,

St. Paul’s will offer a mid-week chance to

refresh your spirit.

The Worship Service will begin at 6:30

p.m. in the Sanctuary, lasting between 30 and

45 minutes.

We welcome everyone to come and

worship with us!

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Social Ministry Committee will meet

Sunday, September 20, at 4:00 p.m. in the

Conference Room.

The Family Life Committee will meet

Tuesday, September 29, at 6:30 p.m. in the

Counting Room.

A L L S T A N D I N G C O M M I T T E E

CHAIRPERSONS (Christian Education,

Evangelism, Family Life, Finance, Property,

Social Ministry, Stewardship, and Worship &

Music) WILL MEET ON Sunday, September 20,

at 6:00 p.m. IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM. IF

YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND PLEASE HAVE A

MEMBER OF YOUR COMMITTEE COME IN YOUR

PLACE.

All Standing Committees (Christian

Education, Evangelism, Family Life,

Finance, Property, Social Ministry,

Stewardship, and Worship & Music) of the

congregation will meet on Sunday,

September 27, at 6:00 p.m. in the

Fellowship Hall to look at our ministry

needs and goals for the coming year and to

come up with a new mission budget for the

year 2016. The Finance Committee will

meet at 5:30 p.m., half hour before this

meeting. The Church Council will meet

following the 6:00 p.m. meeting to finish

preparing the 2016 Budget.

FRIENDSHIP CLUB NEWS…

DOUBLE FUN!!!!! The Friendship Club has planned two fun filled day trips for the fall

season. For the first trip come and join us on TUESDAY, September 15, to All-A-Flutter

Butterfly Farm in Highpoint, NC. Admission to the farm is $6.00 per person. We will stop at a

restaurant on our way home. Lunch is on your own. Time to leave the church will be determined

soon.

On Thursday, October 15, join us for a motor coach trip to The Orchard at Altapass, NC. This

is an historic working apple orchard in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The cost of the trip includes

motor coach, driver's gratuity, catered lunch, hayride with story telling history of the orchard and

surrounding area, live mountain music with clogging and other dancing if you so desire. You may

pick your own apples or purchase them, along with jams, jellies, cider and other goodies from the

orchard store. The cost of this trip is $40.00 per person.

The view of the valley below is beautiful from the orchard deck. The leaf coloration should be

good at this time.

Hope to see you for these trips!!! 6

WOMEN OF FAITH

Women of Faith is a Bible Study group that

meets the second Thursday of the month at

11:00 a.m. We use Popular Women of Faith

Bible Study Series that feature popular

authors such as Patsy Claremont and

Margaret Meberg.

Our next meeting will be Thursday,

September 10, at 11:00 a.m. in the Counting

Room. I invite you to join with us. We have a

wonderful time of fellowship and learning

what God’s Word says about our lives.

After the Bible Study we will eat lunch at

Wendy’s on Jake Alexander.

Jill Earnhardt, RN, Parish Nurse

GIRL SCOUT NEWS…

The St. Paul’s Girl Scouts will resume

meeting each Tuesday evening at 6:45 p.m.

(with few exceptions) beginning Tuesday,

September 15. On the 15th the Girl Scouts will

open with a ceremony in the Fellowship Hall.

ROWAN HELPING MINISTRIES

St. Paul's donated to the ROWAN

HELPING MINISTRIES 20 pounds of Paper

Goods for the month of July. Thank you all for

your continued support and ministry!

RHM item for September is Diapers though

any item donated is accepted. The shelves are

bare and they could use our assistance in

filling them.

Rowan Helping Ministries (RHM)

Thank you to the many contributions of plastic bags for RHM. At this time RHM has

requested that we refrain from bringing plastic bags due to their major contributions of bags.

Watch your weekly Epistle for future needs!

The Hama Lingle Group will meet the 2nd

Monday in September (14th) at 7:00 p.m. with

Bonnie Bernhardt and Sandy Canup as

hostesses and Betty Monroe as leader.

The Bonnie Bost Group will meet Saturday,

September 19, at 6:00 p.m. at Tim and Karen

Deal’s for a covered dish dinner. Paper

products will be provided.

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Summer is over, and school is back in session. Some are crying, others are laughing; but no

matter a new school year has started. The St. Paul’s Lutheran Women wanted students to have

what they needed, and for teachers not to have to spend money out of their own pockets. So, our

school supplies drive has been going on and will continue until the end of August. On Thursday,

August 20th, Alice Davis and I took what we already had collected to Elizabeth Koontz

Elementary. Tally of supplies so far: 824 pencils, 45 boxes of crayons, 61 glue sticks, 18 boxes

of pencil top erasers, 32 big pink erasers, 55 packs of notebook paper, 98 composition books, 8

packs crayon markers, 10 packs colored pencils, 22 bottles of glue, 9 pairs of scissors, 4 dry erase

markers, 7 rulers, 4 boxes of Kleenex, 16 folders, 4 packs of construction paper, 5 pencil pockets,

3 packs Bic pens (30), 1 notebook, 11college rule composition books, 1 book bag, 1 timer, 1

calculator, 2 stay put pens.

We did really well with this project, and we will maybe get more before this drive closes out.

Thank you all for your help with this project. Children will have needed materials that they

otherwise would not have.

We do not have a project for September, we will try to get one of our July projects switched to

September for next year. But September is busy anyway with Thursday, Sept. 10th, being the

Lutheran Men's Fish Fry, Homecoming on Sept. 13th.

October is very busy at St. Paul's starting with the Old Timey Stew in Oct. 3, and then Women's

Sunday on October 4th. We will be busy cooking for these events and conducting church service

on Women's Sunday. Genevieve Baker will deliver the sermon on this Sunday, and the Women

will take over all other duties for October 4th.

Thank you to all the members of St. Paul's for the help and support that you so freely give to

help us with throughout the year.

God be with us all,

Jane Webb

St. Paul’s Lutheran Women President

ALL WOMEN INTERESTED IN SINGING THE

ANTHEM FOR WOMEN'S SUNDAY ON OCTOBER

4 ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE WOMEN'S CHOIR

WHO WILL BEGIN REHEARSAL ON

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, AT 6:00 P.M. IN

THE MUSIC ROOM.

The Kathy Ketchie Group will meet on

Sunday, September 13, at 5:00 p.m. with

Nicole Amos as hostess/leader at St. Paul’s.

LUTHERAN WOMEN’S NEWS…

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ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN MEN’S ANNUAL FISH FRY

Thursday, September 10th, at 6:30 p.m. in the Picnic Shelter

Advance Tickets Required

St. Paul’s Lutheran Men’s Fish Fry is another of our congregation’s favorite events. Once again Ben

Bernhardt, Phil Redding, Glen Amos and their team will prepare the best fish, hush puppies and

fries to be found anywhere!

This year the annual Fish Fry will serve as a fundraiser for Jeff Leonard who is awaiting a life

changing kidney transplant. As such, a minimum donation of $8 for adults, $4 for those under 12 is

requested. Additional donations will be accepted at the Fish Fry. Thrivent Financial is providing

$500 in supplemental funds to the first $1,000 raised.

Due to the large crowd expected, more fish will be prepared this year, however to know how many

to prepare and to insure we don’t run short, only a limited number of tickets will be sold at the

event. Thank you for your understanding! Tickets will be available from St. Paul’s Lutheran

Men beginning Sunday, August 23rd, continuing through Sunday, September 6th. To make sure you

aren’t disappointed, buy your tickets by September 6th.

DaVita Dialysis will present a program about treatments and support services for patients living

with chronic kidney failure.

We look forward to another great Fish Fry – great food, great fellowship, and best of all – showing

God’s love as we continue to lift Jeff in prayer and support toward a successful kidney transplant.

Lutheran Men assist with BINGO at

the NC Veteran's Retirement Home

The veterans at the NC

Veteran's Retirement Home have

showed much appreciation and

enthusiasm for the BINGO hour

St. Paul's Men have provided for them. This

month, the Lutheran Men will be providing

the Bingo on Tuesday, September 15, at 6:30

p.m.

ADVANCE TICKETS FOR FISH FRY

Please note that only a very limited number

of advance tickets will be sold “at the door” at

this year’s Men’s Fish Fry. This is to insure

enough fish is prepared, and everyone is

served. Please buy your tickets in advance to

make sure you aren’t disappointed. Thank you

for your understanding.

Tickets are available through Sunday,

September 6th, from Alan Beaver, Jimmy

Earnhardt, Eric Barringer, Kenneth Whisnant,

Travis Alligood, Dana Bost, Bill Behrendt and

Tim Deal, and at a table on the lawn following

worship August 30 and next Sunday.

Tickets are also available through the church

office.

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UPCOMING YOUTH EVENTS FOR SEPTEMBER:

September starts back our regular meetings for the Fall. All youth are invited to come join us in fun

and fellowship through Christ as we live, serve, and learn more about a stronger prayer life, Bible

studies, and each other.

High School meetings for the month: Sept. 6th and 20th from 5:00-6:30 p.m.

Middle School meet for the month: Sept. 13th 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Grade School meet for the month: Sept. 12th from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Grade School clean up for

Homecoming in the Picnic Shelter.

Sept. 20th 3:00 p.m. we will be fishing at Tim and Karen Deal’s pond. We will meet at their house.

Pizza will be provided.

There are no meetings on Sept. 27th due to All Standing Committees Meeting that evening at 6:00

p.m. So many of our advisors are part of these committees including myself, I feel we would not be

able to have an effective adult presences on this date.

The youth will be participating in “Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat” through Rowan Helping

Ministries (RHM). More information after Sept. 22nd meeting provided by RHM in the Robertson-

Stanback building.

The Middle/High School will be meeting to discuss helping with Operation Christmas Child in

Davidson County at one of their drop off sites. More info coming soon.

“GARDEN CLUB” UPDATE

Thank you! to the following who have

already adopted flower beds to keep the church

grounds looking beautiful:

Craig, Marnita, and Jacob Parks

(Statue in front of the Sanctuary)

Jeanne & Tony Shaver

(In front of the Fellowship Hall)

Karen & Tim Deal

(Old water fountain

in front of the picnic shelter)

Consider adopting an area as a part of St.

Paul’s informal “Garden Club”. Whether you

just want to keep the weeds out or add

plantings for color, you can make a difference

that will be noticed by the congregation,

visitors and all who drive by.

If you would like to adopt an area, contact the

church office or see Wilbur Canup or Tim Deal.

Pastor DJ Lura, Alice Davis, and Louise

Eller will be attending the 15TH ANNUAL

GATHERING of Lutheran Congregations

in Mission for Christ. The Annual Gathering

will be held from October 4-7, in Dallas,

Texas.

A Theological Conference will be

sponsored by LCMC through the Institute for

Lutheran Theology before the Gathering

which Pastor DJ will be attending.

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Through our budget, St. Paul's supports as an international mission outreach Resurrection

Teaching Ministries, a local organization led by Dr. Paul Baker. RTM ministers to orphanages in

Cambodia through an annual mission trip and educational assistance throughout the year to equip

the children for a better life after they leave the orphanage.

The annual mission trip was a success! The final updates are included in today’s weekly Epistle to

help us see how our support is being used to benefit the children and carry the message of Christ

throughout the world.

See pages 11-13 for the latest updates from Dr. Baker.

The Worst Best

Christmas Pageant Ever!

Back in December 1984, members of St.

Paul's Lutheran Church presented Barbara

Robinson's timeless classic The Best Christmas

Pageant Ever! At long last, St. Paul's will be

resurrecting this adaptation of this Christmas

favorite, directed by Jared Gordon and Katie

Curlee.

A time honored tradition of the Christmas

story will never be the same once the Herdmans

- known as the worst kids in town - join the cast

of the church's annual Christmas pageant! This

treasured family tale will have you laughing

with joy while capturing the essence of the

holiday season and the true meaning of

Christmas.

An interest meeting will take place on

Monday, September 14, at 7 pm in the

Fellowship Hall. At this meeting, interested

parties will be able to explore which characters

they are most interested in playing, discuss the

rehearsal schedule, and determine how members

of St. Paul's can be involved to truly make this

the BEST Christmas pageant ever! The casting

call will take place on Thursday, September

17, at 7 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Members

of St. Paul's are welcome to read segments of

the script to best determine which role they will

play. There is a part for EVERYONE - so come

one, come all!

ARREST THESE

MERRY GENTLEMEN

With great excitement, the Children's Choir

would like to announce the presentation of

Arrest These Merry Gentlemen on Sunday,

December 6th, during our 10:30 am worship

service.

Sergeant Joe Sabbath is charged with

keeping the peace in the sleepy little town of

Bethlehem, and he likes things QUIET! When

word reaches him that a band of rowdy

shepherds is inbound from the fields outside of

town, boisterously celebrating with wild tales

of angels and such, he is determined to get to

the bottom of this case! Of course, what he

discovers is no simple "disturbing the peace"

beef. It seems he's stumbled upon the caper

that changed the world! An ultra-cool

production that is fun and funny, but rock-solid

with sound Biblical truth!

Rehearsals for this musical will begin on

Sunday, October 4th, at 4pm. Practice CDs

will be available. Character roles will also be

determined at this rehearsal. All children ages

kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to

participate!

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CAN YOU HELP US?

In an effort to be available for the needs of the

congregation, Pastor and I need your help.

When there are stressors in your life especially

health related concerns, we will make every

effort to support you in your time of need.

Please remember to let us know when a need

arises. You can call the church office and leave

a message with Genevieve and she will in turn

call us. If your need is private in nature, you may call Pastor or me at the church office, on our

phones, or email.

We realize that emergencies arise and not all of them happen during the daytime hours. Please

know that you have a Pastoral Staff and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Church office: (704) 633-0922

Pastor DJ Lura (704) 640-0446 or email at splc.pastordj@gmail.com

Jill Earnhardt (704) 633-3439 or email at jearnhardtrn@gmail.com

Thanks again for your help!

Pastor DJ and Jill

HOPE

Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you did not know what you were going to do

next? Have you suffered through the loss of a loved one and you felt like everyone around you kept

going on with their lives when you are deep in your grief journey. Have you lost your job and you

were unsure what you were going to do? Have you suffered through a divorce? Have you just felt

like you have lost hope in your life? Are you suffering through a health concern? Are you a

caregiver for aging parents and frankly you feel overwhelmed?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions the newly formed Support Group, HOPE is for

you.

HOPE is a loving support group where you can come for an uplifting message and loving

support. We all go through trials in our lives. Many of us have suffered alone and feel that we have

been forgotten. Being a part of a Support group does not mean that something is wrong with you

or that your faith is weak. It means that you are willing of accept all of the support that God has to

offer to you through the love and support of others.

HOPE will be offered the first Tuesday of each month. Our first meeting will be Tuesday,

October 6th

, at 1:00 pm in the Counting Room. Please join me as we start this exciting new

ministry. Please RSVP to me in one of three ways. You may call the church office at 704-633-0922,

at my home at 704-633-3439 or by email at jearnhardtrn@gmail.com.

This group is open to anyone. If you have someone that you know that would like to attend,

please feel free to refer them to me or bring them with you.

I am so excited about this ministry and hope that you are to.

Blessings, Jill Earnhardt, RN, Parish Nurse

CONTACT INFORMATION UPDATE

PHONETREE SYSTEM TO BE INSTALLED SOON!

In order to improve communication, St. Paul’s will soon start using the PhoneTree system

as an additional method to communicate reminders, schedule changes, event information,

and other items of interest concerning the life of our congregation, and it’s various groups.

So that you receive the forms of communication you prefer, please fill out the following and

drop in the offering plate, or return to the church office.

You may choose to receive messages by any one, two, or all three methods:

Name: ___________________________________________________________________

I wish to receive voice messages by phone:

Phone number: ________________________________

Do you want this number listed in the church directory? Yes_____ No _____

I wish to receive messages by text:

Cell Phone number: _____________________________

Cell Phone provider: _____________________________ (AT&T, Verizon, etc.)

Do you want this number listed in the church directory? Yes_____ No _____

I wish to receive messages by e-mail:

E-mail address: _________________________________

Do you want this email address listed in the church directory? Yes_____ No _____

Check here _____ if you prefer to NOT be included in the PhoneTree system

If your mailing address has changed from what is currently in the church directory,

Please provide it here:_______________________________________________________

Thank you!

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