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
[email protected] 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 [email protected]
Jill Earnhardt (704) 633-3439 or email at [email protected]
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 [email protected].
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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