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The Spectrum

January 2012

 
 
 
  From our Interim Pastor. . .

Happy January!

‘Tis the season for New Year’s resolutions, planning, breathing deep, and looking ahead into this brand new year. There’s something about finishing up Christmas and New Year’s that leads us into the season of personal improvement. Maybe it’s the fact that we ate too many cookies and we’re ready to start walking them off. Maybe we know we spent too much in December and it’s time to start paying off those bills. Or maybe there are some cardboard boxes that are motivating you to finally organize that room in your house that you think might be starting to look like an episode of “Hoarders.”

Every time I think about making changes in my life, I find myself trying simply to rely on my own willpower. Maybe you’ve tried some of the following in your own life:

  • If I can just work on this project for 15 minutes a day....I’ll have it done in just a few weeks!
  • If I can just stop eating desserts....forever....I could be back to my college weight in six months!
  • If I only buy bologna and cereal for groceries, I could retire by the time I’m 50!

Clearly, part of my problem is in the outrageous goal-setting....and let me be clear....I’m only using these as outrageous examples. I wasn’t actually planning on buying only bologna and cereal. My point is that when we try to make changes with only willpower and a list of previous failures on our side, we’re doomed from the beginning.

My challenge to you dear reader, as you begin a fresh new year, is to invite God into your resolutions. St. Paul writes to the church at Philippi, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6) (I highly recommend the entire book of Philippians to you. There’s lots of good stuff in there...in case your resolution was to read more of the Bible in 2012.)

Now there are lots of ways to enhance your success rate with your resolutions....specific goal-setting, accountability partners, etc, but asking God to help you is the best first step. It’s also the step on which all of the others depend. So whatever your resolution is this year, ask God to weave your plan for self-improvement into your spirit. Ask for wisdom. Ask for guidance. But most of all, invite God in to the every-day-ness of 2012. Invite God into more than just the improvements, but the imperfections as well. Let God show you the completion of the good work that’s been begun in you. Let God teach you how His glory will be revealed through you.

Peace be with you in 2012!
--Pastor Sarah

 

 

ST. LUKE NEWS

NEW YEAR’S DAY SERVICE
Our morning worship service for New Year’s Day will be held at 10:30 a.m.—note one service only. We will be using our “Service of Lessons and Carols”. Holy Communion will be offered.

CARE PACKAGES
The Ministry for Outreach will gather CARE package goodies for our college students or members of our military (St. Luke members) during the whole month of January. Mailing will be the first week in February. A collection box will be place inside the west entrance. Parents. . . Please make sure the office has updated address for any of our youth involved in this mailing. Thank you.

SNOW CANCELLATIONS
In case of the pastor not being able to make it in, our organist agreed to have a hymn sing—if he is able to make it in. If it is the case that neither can make it, and a service is cancelled, a message will be put on the answering machine and people can call the office number to check.

WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB meets January 9 to discuss the book “Only One Child” by Brian Bohun Barlow. February 13’s book is “Love and Summer” by William Trevor. Meet at noon at Julie’s Coffee Shop. (Descriptions of the books can be found on the women’s bulletin board by Bell Hall entrance.)

THE ST. LUKE WOMEN gather on Saturday, January 14 at 2 p.m. in the carpet area of Bell Hall for Bible study. Refreshments and wonderful fellowship—bring a friend!

THE KNITTERS/PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY gather on Tuesday, January 24 at 11 a.m. in the parlor to knit and crochet shawls for those in need of comfort. Bring a lunch and stay between knitting and quilting.

THE SEW-FINE QUILTERS meet on January 24 at 1 p.m. in Bell Hall to work on quilts that will be donated to Lutheran World Relief and local charities. Join us even if you have no prior quilting experience but wish to learn. Your donations of cotton fabric, thread, gently used sheets, and embroidery floss are gratefully accepted and may be dropped off at the church office at any time.

WE HAVE FLOWER SUBSCRIPTION OPENINGS for June 3, July 22, September 9. If you would like to place flowers in the chancel one of these Sundays, please contact the office.

THE SECOND SESSION OF THE CONGREGATIONAL MEETING (date TBD) will bring a Council recommendation to entertain motions to:

  • To accept recommendation to amend the ByLaws:
    Section C4.04.10, first paragraph, after “The Director, Associate Director and members shall serve for one year, with the option of continuing for successive years as the criteria above may allow.” ADD: “A Ministry or Committee member shall have a least one year of service, within the previous three (3) years, on said Ministry/Committee before being appointed as Director.”
  • To accept recommendation to amend the Constitution:
    Section C11.03a, after “The President of the Congregation Council shall be elected from its members and shall have voting privileges. ADD: “A Council member shall be eligible for nomination for Council President after one year of service, within the previous three (3) years.”
  • To accept recommendation to add to the Constitution, Chapter 13:
    A Personnel Committee of six voting members (in the absence of a personnel committee, the duties shall be fulfilled by the mutual ministry committee or the executive committee) shall be appointed jointly by the president [vice president ] and the pastor. Term of office shall be two years, with three members to be appointed each successive year.
  • To accept recommendation to amend the Constitution, Chapter 13:
    A Mutual Ministry Committee (in the absence of a mutual ministry committee, the duties shall be fulfilled by the executive committee) shall be appointed jointly by the president [vice president ] and the pastor. Term of office shall be two years, with three members to be appointed each successive year.
    ADD: A Mutual Ministry Committee “of six voting members”.

THOSE HOLDING MEETINGS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
Please clear those dates and times with the office as to avoid conflicts, and for security reasons! Thank you.

TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY
If you are in need of transportation to church events, doctor appointments, etc., please contact Barbara Coates from the Ministry for Service, who has agreed to connect volunteer drivers with those who need their service. (If you could be a driver, please let Barbara know as well.)

SERVICE MINISTRY NOTES
WHO: Navajo Lutheran Mission School in Rock Point, AZ
WHAT: 1. Labels (bar codes only) from Campbells, Prego, and Swanson products.
2. Box Top for Education on General Mills, Nature Valley, Pepperidge Farm, Bisquick, and Kleenex
products.
WHERE: Collection boxes are above the coat racks at west entrance. Labels and box tops have been used to purchase vans, computers and cameras, and other school equipment.

THE TASK FORCE GREEN Committee asks your help in saving the cancelled stamps from your mail. It must be attached to a ¾ inch piece of paper for rehabilitation purposes at a rehab program for veterans. We will have a box placed on top of the coat rack in the west hallway. Please place your cancelled stamps in the box. Placing them in a little baggie is a good way to collect them at home. Thank you.

MISTAKEN JACKET
At the 10:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Service someone accidentally returned home with the wrong black leather “motorcycle” jacket. If the jacket you have is not yours please notify the office, or the owner of the jacket, Howard Cowles. Thank you.

YOUTH NEWS

COAT COLLECTION
Senior Youth and Ministry for Service are teaming up to collect coats and children’s clothing for Daniel’s Closet. This is a charity at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Williamsport. They collect coats of all sizes and distribute them for free, to needy area residents. Please bring in your gently used coats and children’s clothing and place them in the box in the parlor area. We will collect coats between now and January 31. Thank you!

SUNDAY SCHOOL
classes are offered for Pre-Schoolers through Adults, beginning at 9:15 a.m. Join us! NOTE: No Sunday School New Year’s Day.

CHILDREN’S PRAISE TIME welcomes children age 3 through grade 3 for a time of Bible stories that corresponds with the church seasons. (The children are excused to the parlor during the gospel at the 10:30 service and return after the sermon.)

PRE-SCHOOL NEWS

FROM THE PRE-SCHOOL AT ST. LUKE
Luckily, the weather in December wasn't "frightful" enough to keep our pre-schoolers indoors. They had a great trip to the Milton model train museum on a school bus. The teachers said that the bus ride was almost as much of an adventure for the kids as the display itself.

The annual Christmas program was well-attended and enthusiastically received. An added surprise this year was provided by 4 former students and current student Jacob Edmunds, who accompanied the other students on “Twinkle, Twinkle Christmas Star” with their violins. Such talent! Of course, Santa made an early visit to the pre-school. Although no one saw him, there were gifts left for all of the students.

January brings a return to the normal activities, as well as a dose of winter fun. North Central Sight Services will also visit in mid-January to talk to the students about their eyes and to check each child's.

Best wishes to all for a very Happy New Year from the Pre-School at St. Luke and the staff!
 

LEARNING & GROWING IN CHRIST

THE LAY MINISTRY INSTITUTE is ON THE ROAD in 2012 visiting Conferences throughout the Upper Susquehanna Synod. They will be in our conference (West Branch) Sundays, January 15, 29 and February 12, from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at St. Michael’s in Quiggleville. The topic will be “The First 1000 Years of the Church”. Topics covered will include heroes and heretics; the development of the creeds and liturgy; how civilization was saved by a solar eclipse; strange and unusual historical events. This will be a highly interactive class.

The cost of each class session is $5. Please register by contacting The Rev. Melody Sell at prmsell@verizon.net or 437-2652.

ST. LUKE SCOUTING PROGRAM
If any boy would like to join our growing Boy Scout Troop 12 (90+ years of being an active troop at St. Luke) or Cub Scouts, or any adults who would like to donate their time and talent to the Boy Scout or Cub Pack, please contact William Piotrowski, Scoutmaster of B.S.A. Troop 12, at 321-6600; or Steve Schlesing, Cubmaster of Cub Pack 12, at 322-0749. The Boy Scouts meet in the parish house behind the church on Mondays from 7-8:30 p.m. The Cubs Scouts times and days TBA.

LIVINGLUTHERAN.COM
is a new electronic resource for ELCA members to communicate with each other. A variety of ideas and topics are covered by the bloggers and other contributors to the site. See what Living Lutheran is all about by clicking: www.livinglutheran.com.

BECOME A FAN OF THE USS ON FACEBOOK!
The Upper Susquehanna Synod now has a "fan site" on Facebook. If you are part of the Facebook community, you can join at www.facebook.com/usselca. Become a fan of the USS and keep updated on the latest news and information from our synod.

DIAL-A-DEVOTION at 322-5762, available 24 hours a day. These devotions are three minutes or less, changed weekdays and once on the weekend, and are designed to lift your spirits and help you to have “A Closer Walk with God”.

DAILY DISCIPLESHIP is a ELCA online Lectionary Bible Study for group or individual discussion, preparation and prayer. Go to www.elca.org/evangelism/dailydiscipleship.

 
 

MONTHLY REMINDERS

KEEP IN MIND
Hospital Stays – Please notify the church office
Prayer Chain – Shirley Collins or Leah Lewis
Sarah’s Pantry – Ann Lamade

ARTICLE DEADLINESS
Spectrum Newsletter – 20th of the month
Weekly Bulletins – Thursday, 9 a.m.
Council Packets – Friday before Council, 9 a.m.

OFFICE HOURS
Monday & Tuesday: 9 a.m.-noon; 1-3 p.m.
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: 9 a.m.-noon

THE OFFICE IS LOOKING FOR EMAILS
If you have an e-mail address, please let the office know. The office’s e-mail is stlukeluth@verizon.net

WORSHIP RECORDINGS are available in the office foyer if you missed a week and would like to hear the service.

FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS are welcomed on the last Sunday of each month. Your collections of non-perishable items can be dropped off in the food crate by the west entranceway.

RECYCLE YOUR compact florescence bulbs here. Place them in the green collection box located under a chair in the office foyer, and we will recycle them for you.

ST. LUKE IS NOW ON FACEBOOK
If you already have a Facebook account, simply log on and then enter the words “St Luke Williamsport” in the search bar at the top of the page or click on the badge, at left. We will use the page to share information about upcoming events and to offer reflections on faith and what it means to live faithfully in the world. If you don’t yet have a Facebook account, it’s a great way to stay connected with others and to share information quickly.

IN THE HOSPITAL? OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS?
PLEASE let us know! If a member is brought in through the ER, they do not get listed on St. Luke’s member list in the chaplain’s office and we do not get a call that they have been admitted. And we don’t always get a call when they go through admissions too. We’d rather get a dozen calls about someone in the hospital, than not know at all.

TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY
If you are in need of transportation to church events, doctor appointments, etc., please contact Barbara Coates from the Ministry for Service, who has agreed to connect volunteer drivers with those who need their service. (If you could be a driver, please let Barbara know as well.)

CONFUSION OVER APPLAUSE
There has been confusion over the appropriateness of applauding our soloists after anthems. Our musicians offer their musical gifts to the glory of God as part of our worship. They do not expect applause; on the contrary, they are embarrassed by it. Instead of applauding during worship, speak to the soloist following worship to express your appreciation in a more meaningful way.

ON THE MOVE? If you are moving, or will be away for a time, PLEASE notify the office of your new address, your “winter” address, or your request to hold your newsletter. Newsletters are not forwarded, and every time a newsletter is undeliverable, it is sent back to us with a service fee of .64 cents. Thank you.

SIMPLY GIVING is an easier, simpler way to make your regular contributions to our congregation through automated giving. By participating in the program you can use electronic funds transfer to give your weekly, semi-monthly or monthly offering. Pick up a sheet on the shelf in the back of the church (opposite the literature rack), fill out, and return to the church office for processing.

 


St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church • 1400 Market Street • Williamsport, PA • (570) 323-7309