Parish News- October 19, 2008


Altar Flowers for October 19, 2008
One altar vase in memory of Lina Barr Kinard, given by the family. And one altar vase in memory of Hank Mehrtens, given by the Wilcox family.

If you desire prayer for any reason, our Prayer Partners will receive you in the chapel after you have communed. The Prayer Partners for today are: (8:30AM) Paul Bendt (11AM) Kerry & Carol Koon.

The Art-Music-Justice Tour comes to Gaillard Auditorium today. The concert features Sara Groves, Derek Webb, and others, and all proceeds go to the International Justice Mission, Food for the Hungry, and Habitat for Humanity build project. Meet and pick up at church for youth, 6:30 pm -- 10:00 pm. Cost is $12. Parents and families welcome!

Organ Spectacular!, Charleston’s part in launching The International Year of the Organ, takes place tonight at 5PM at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church. Hear music by J.S. Bach; the French masters Eugène Gigout, Louis Vierne & Charles-Marie Widor; Americans Horatio Parker, Gordon Young and Billy Nalle; and the premiere performance of a work by St. Matthew’s own, Clayton Moser. The Organ Spectacular is FREE.

Boys and girls in grades K5 - 5th grade are invited to serve in the St. Matthew's Alleluia Choir which meets each Wednesday from 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. They sing once a month in addition to the Candlelight Service at Christmas. Please speak to Mr.
Doug Ludlum or Ms. Danelle Welzig after either service if your child might like to be a part of this ministry to children.

We Care for Our Troops Prayer Wall is located by the elevator on the lower level of the first floor in the Education Building. Please add names, addresses and pictures of anyone you know who is serving in the military. For updates contact Sondra Pfaehler pfaehlers@bellsouth.net.

CARE KITS FOR OUR TROOPS We’re collecting donations for Christmas Care Kits for our troops. A list of needed items is available at the Prayer Wall. There is also a letter from Debra Yost about items Pastor Carl Yost needs while in Afghanistan. We’ll assemble the kits on November 12 at 6:30PM as a part of Wednesdays Together.

XYZ Rolling Bowlers Monday, October 13 at 1:30 at Ashley Bowling Lanes on Sam Rittenberg Blvd. Caller for October: Charlie Gilliam.  All adults 55 & over are welcomes and invited to join. Call Irene Bennett at the church office for further details.
The XYZ Group leaves tomorrow Monday, October 20 to spend a week at the 2008 Autumn Adults at Lutheridge and will return on Friday, October 24th.

Reminder: Reformation Sunday is next week, October 26th. Please be sure to wear red, the liturgical color of this special day. Red represents the Holy Spirit, who descended on the followers of Christ in tongues of fire on Pentecost.  The Holy Spirit moved Martin Luther to post his Ninety-five Theses, which began the Reformation of the Christian church.

Charleston County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans – Chapter elections will occur on November 6 at 6:00 pm. Thank you to The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer for hosting this election dinner. Look for a fall newsletter with invitation information to arrive in this next week’s mail. With term limits arriving this year, we must replace some of our leaders for 2009. If you are curious as to how you can help continue the outstanding success our chapter has had in assisting the Charleston community, please call the chapter president, Rev. Timothy Sandeno.

** Needs for Outreach Center ** Collared shirts with buttons, props for a play (hats, funny shirts, items and clothes you think kids would enjoy dressing up in!) and tin cans.

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Our Quality Time Respite Care Program urgently needs volunteer workers, drivers and riders. Workers assist clients by helping them to converse, move, sing, exercise and enjoy arts and crafts. Any hours workers can contribute on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays between 10AM and 2PM are welcomed. Van drivers and riders participate one or more days each month for approximately one and one-half hours before and/or after the Monday and Thursday sessions. At present, this program is limited by the number of volunteers we are able to recruit. Please call Rudy Matzner or Larry Amick.
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The Coastal Conference has invited our new Bishop Yoos to Charleston for informal meetings, a meal and worship on Thursday, November 13th at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in West Ashley. The installation of the Reverend Michael T. Shackelford, who has accepted the call to specialized ministry as the Lutheran Hospice Chaplain for the lowcountry, will be a part of the 7PM worship service.

Reformation worship to feature Lenoir Rhyne University
Choir, October 26. This year St. Matthew's is privileged to host this fine choir at both 8:30 & 11AM services on this special day. Housing is needed for 41 students for Saturday evening, October 25. If you’d like to host two or more students, please contact Sarah Bates at. We will also host an organ recital on Saturday at 7PM. by Thomas Dalh, organist of St. Peter's Church in Hamburg, Germany. He will also accompany the choir at both services.

Little Red Wagon Sunday is November 2, 2008; items needed include rice, pasta, dried beans, cereals, canned fruit and vegetables.

Preparation for Baptism – Pastor Blalock would like to meet with anyone who is interested in being baptized or has a child to be baptized. Please contact LaVondilyn Watson, Parish Secretary, and 723-1611 to schedule an appointment.

Child Protection Anyone who wishes to help with children and youth ministries needs to complete Stewards of Children training from Darkness to Light and complete paperwork. The training is available online! Once you begin the online program, you have two weeks to complete it. To sign up for the Stewards of Children online training, please contact LaVondilyn Watson, Parish Secretary, 723-1611to get St. Matthew’s Log in ID and password.

Shepherd Ministry The purpose of the St. Matthew’s Shepherd Ministry is to create, maintain and sustain loving and caring relationships within the life of our church family. If anyone in the congregation has not been contacted by their Shepherd, has a change of address or would like more information about this ministry, please contact: Janelle Othersen jnbothersen@bellsouth.net

St. Matthew's worship services can now be heard on the new website kirkenmin.com. Listen whenever you wish. Services will usually be available within 24 hours from the time at which they occurred. This is Mark and Nancy Romness's new website.

Lutheran Men in Mission will host its monthly men’s breakfast on October 21 at 7:30 AM . This month’s speaker will be, Fred Renken, President of the Congregational Council. Join us!

The Franke Home Auxiliary is having its White Elephant Sale and bake sale Wednesday, November 12th from 11AM—2PM. If you have anything you would like to donate, please call Addie Smith.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH GROWING IN DISCIPLESHIP
Classes meet Sundays at 9:45AM in the Education Building
Children Age 1 – Grade 1 “Learn the Bible to Live the Good News”
Toddler Class for ages 1-2 Room 102
Preschool Class for ages 3 -5 Room 101
Kindergarten - Grade 1 Room 104
Grades 2 – 5 and parents - Bible Song in the Auditorium
Confirmation Ministry for Grades 6-8 and parents – Head to the Heart (H2H) Room 209
Senior High - DevoZine Third Floor Youth Room

ADULT DISCIPLESHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Adult classes meet Sundays at 9:45AM in the Outreach Center
Faith Lessons First Floor
Contact: Charles Schantz
Discover St. Matthew’s Room 201
Contact: Bev and Ed Blanton Becky & Pastor Dick Campbell
Young Adult Class Room 301
Contact: – Laura & Chris Altman lauratlion@aol.com

WEDNESDAYS TOGETHER!
Please join us for a time for sharing a meal, fellowship, choir rehearsals, activities and learning.
Please make dinner reservations on the Record of Attendance. 5:30 – 6:30 Dinner served
$5/person, maximum $17/family, no charge/college students
Dinner is available to anyone at no charge if there is a need. Please talk to Pastor Blalock.
Daily Bible Reading study with Pastor Blalock this Wednesday, 6:30PM in the Auditorium
The other dates for this semester are Wednesday, November 19 at 6:30PM and Sunday, December 21, 9:45AM.
The Four Acts of Prayer - Come experience this video-based study featuring Walter Wangerin, Jr.
Wednesdays, 6:30PM in Room 209 - October 29 and November 5. Walter uses stories to explore the vital elements of the complete circle of praying: We Speak, God Listens, God Speaks, We Listen.
First Communion Celebration with banner procession is next Sunday at 11:00 Worship. Please pray for Caroline Ainsworth, Caroline Linkous and Grayson Sires as they prepare for this special time.

Everyone is invited to the Coastal Conference Reformation Worship – October 26, 6:00PM at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 714 Riverdale Drive, West Ashley.

Sign up today in the courtyard for the annual Crop Walk which raises funds to support world hunger relief.  It will be held
October Nursery Schedule for Childcare:
Sundays 8:00AM – 12:30 PM
Wednesdays 6:30-9:00PM

The Week at a Glance

Sunday, October 19
8:30AM Holy Communion (S)
9:45AM Sunday School for All Ages
11AM Holy Communion
7PM Youth—Art/Music Concert at Gaillard Aud.

Monday, October 20
10AM Respite Care (A)
12:30PM GED Tutoring
1:30PM XYZ Bowling
3PM AS Kids
5:45PM St. Matthew’s Ringers (CHR)
6PM Executive Committee
6:30PM ESL
XYZ Trip to Lutheridge
Tuesday, October 21
7:30AM LMM Breakfast
8AM Men’s Work Crew
9:30AM ESL (OLC)
10AM Bible Study
12:30 GED Tutoring (OLC)
2PM Staff Meeting
3PM AS Kids
6PM Campus Ministry (OLC)
7PM Circle 11

Wednesday, October 22
9:30AM ESL (OLC)
12:30PM GED Tutoring
3PM AS Kids
4:45PM Alleluia Choir (CHR)
5:30PM Youth Choir (CHR)
5:30PM Wednesday’s Together—Dinner
6:30PM ESL (OLC)
6:30PM Bible Study & Childcare
6:30PM Genesis Youth
7:30PM Gallery Choir (CHR)

Thursday, October 23
9:30AM ESL (OLC)
10AM Respite Care (A)
12:30PM GED Tutoring (OLC)
3PM AS Kids

Friday, October 24
10AM Respite Care (A)

Saturday, October 25

8:30AM Youth Multi-church Paintball Trip
11AM Women’s AA