Parish News



REFORMATION SUNDAY—OCTOBER 26, 2008
Caroline Ainsworth, Caroline Linkous and Grayson Sires celebrate their First Communion today at 11:00 Worship. They will process with the banners which they made with their families.

Altar Flowers for October 26, 2008: One altar vase in memory of my parents given by Ann Weatherford Flathery and children. And one altar vase in memory of Alma J. Smith and William A. Smith, Sr., given by Billy and Kay Smith.

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) Kitty Brown (11AM) Donna Weatherholtz & Wayne Weart.

Sign up today in the courtyard for the annual Crop Walk which raises funds to support world hunger relief.  It will be held on November 2 at 2:00 PM in Hampton Park.

XYZ Game Night tomorrow evening at 7:00 pm in the auditorium. Hostesses for October: Joan Drews, Jeanette Goodyear, Linda Renken & Patsy Saunders. 

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, 723-1611 ext.16 to 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

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 serving in Afghanistan. We’ll assemble the kits on November 12 at 6:30PM as a part of Wednesdays Together.
Daily Bible Reading study with Pastor Blalock - Wednesday, November 19 at 6:30PM and Sunday, December 21, 9:45AM.

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

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

All Saints Sunday - November 2: One of the very special liturgies of the entire Church Year will be observed at both services on next Sunday. The setting of the liturgy will be the very beautiful Requiem by Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924). Composed in 1887, the work was first performed in 1888 when Fauré was the choirmaster at the Church of the Madeleine in Paris. In addition to the organ, the service music and hymns will be enhanced by the addition of 1 string bass, 2 cellos, 2 violas, 2 French horns, and 1 violin. Dr. Robert Gant will serve as guest organist. Soloists are Pastor Jim Blalock, Pastor Raymond Hollifield, and Sally Suhrstedt. In this very beautiful liturgy, St. Matthew's each year celebrates the lives of all the saints of our community of faith who have died in the Lord since last All Saints Sunday. At the time of the prayers, each name will be spoken and a bell tolled.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 ext. 16 to schedule an appointment.

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. 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.

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.

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.
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 serving in Afghanistan. We’ll assemble the kits on November 12 at 6:30PM as a part of Wednesdays Together.
Daily Bible Reading study with Pastor Blalock - Wednesday, November 19 at 6:30PM and Sunday, December 21, 9:45AM.
October Nursery Schedule for Childcare:
Sundays 8:00AM – 12:30 PM & Wednesdays 6:30-9:00PM

The Week at a Glance


Sunday, October 26—Reformation

*Lenoir Rhyne Choir *
8:30AM Holy Communion (S)
9:45AM Sunday School for All Ages
11AM Holy Communion—1st Communion
12:30PM Youth & Parent Meeting
(National Gathering)
6PM—Joint Reformation Service at
The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer


Monday, October 27

10AM Respite Care (A)
3PM AS Kids
5:45PM St. Matthew’s Ringers (CHR)
6:30PM ESL
7PM Congregational Council
7PM XYZ Game Night


Tuesday, October 28

*Messenger Assembly*
8AM Men’s Work Crew
9:30AM ESL (OLC)
10AM Bible Study
12N CALMA
2PM Staff Meeting
3PM AS Kids
6PM Campus Ministry (OLC)


Wednesday, October 29

9:30AM ESL (OLC)
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 30

9:30AM ESL (OLC)
10AM Respite Care (A)
3PM AS Kids

Friday, October 31

10AM Respite Care (A)


Saturday, November 1

11AM Women’s AA