Announcements
for the week beginning Sunday, February 5, 2012
With gratitude for God’s Holy Spirit at work through the people of our
SC Lutheran Synod, we seek together to live into this calling . . .
Joining Neighbors • Serving Boldly • Loving All • Through Christ
PLEASE LIFT IN PRAYER OUR SERVANT LEADERS whom you have elected to Congregation Council as they prepare for their annual planning retreat at Lutheridge the weekend of February 10 through 12. May God’s Holy Spirit enable them to lead our congregation to enthusiastically accomplish the mission God has already planned for us throughout the year 2012!
YOUR 2012 MINISTRY COMMITMENTS HAVE BEEN COMPILED and were emailed to Council leaders this past week. Please help us by discarding any copies of previous lists you may have. Please help us by completing a ministry commitment form as soon as possible. We will update again in a week or so to include those who have not yet given us their commitments. Thank you for your partnership in doing this in a new way, your prayerful participation, and for encouraging one another in your ministries!
PLEASE GIVE US THE YEAR OF YOUR BIRTH! If you fill in only the month and date of your birthday and not the year, our database system thinks you are 0 years old. So, if we try to create a CRAWL group, asking for individuals aged 0 – 3, everyone who didn’t include a birth year will be on that list. Please help us by giving us your birth year – we promise not to share it or sell it!
OUR CONGREGATIONAL RETREAT AT THE ISLE OF PALMS will be July 22—29, 2012. A sign-up sheet is on the kiosk in the Gathering Area – first come, first reserved! Please sign up as soon as possible. We have been able to reserve the entire Coastal Retreat Center for the entire week!
TERRACYCLE CHIP BAG BLITZ!!! Today as you gather with family and friends to watch the Super Bowl and tear open those bags of yummy potato chips and other salty snacks, PLEASE SAVE THE BAGS FOR TERRACYCLE! If we collect the most bags in the Terracycle network, we will receive extra funds to support Learning Ministries! This is, of course, in addition to the ministry of careful stewardship of the earth! Also PLEASE continue to collect and bring in ALL the other Terracycle items, including ALL diaper & wipe packaging!
“THROUGH THE VALLEY” is the Bereavement Support Group run by Lutheran Hospice. The first meeting of this 10-week group will be Tuesday, February 14th, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The target audience is adults who have suffered an adult loss, including a spouse, a parent, or a grown son or daughter. The group will meet at the Lutheran Hospice office (429 North Main Street, Suite 3, Greenville). Contact Cindy Abrams at 848-1777 for information and to sign up.
TAX TIME! Why pay fees when you can file your tax return for free with United Way's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program? If you have a household income of less than $50,000, trained VITA tax preparers will help you maximize your tax return. Dial 211 to schedule an appointment at the site nearest you. For more information, visit VITA at www.unitedwaygc.org/vita.
SUNDAY LUNCH TODAY IS HOSTED BY the Pennington, Jones, Varney and Simpson families. Menu: Crunchy Baked Chicken, Macaroni & Cheese, Green Beans, Corn, Rolls, Ice Cream & a Surprise Dessert. Plan now to stay for this celebration of the gift God gives us in each individual among us, and for this holy time of building up Christ’s Church in this place. We still have open dates on the Sunday lunch calendar—one in February, and many in March, and some Lenten supper slots. If no one chooses to cook and serve on a given Sunday, we will not serve lunch here that Sunday.
PANCAKES! PANCAKES! PANCAKES! And a variety of other breakfast foods are on the menu Shrove Tuesday, February 21, prepared by our Lutheran Church Youth and their leaders. The meal will be served between 6 and 6:45 pm in the Fellowship Hall. The burning of palm branches will follow as we prepare for Lent.
ASH WEDNESDAY HOLY COMMUNION WILL BE OFFERED at 12:15 pm, and again at 7:00 pm. The noon service will be spoken. The evening service will be a sung liturgy including hymns and an anthem. Each service will include the opportunity to receive the imposition of ashes to begin the Lenten journey.
HOLDEN EVENING PRAYER WILL FOCUS OUR WEDNESDAY EVENING LENTEN WORSHIP this year. This lyrical setting of vespers is much beloved by many among you! We trust it will come to be cherished by all. Come be enfolded in the healing light of Christ. Congregational members will share where they see God’s healing at work. Supper will be served from 6:00 until 6:45 pm.
LEARNING MINISTRIES
OUR WEDNESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY GROUP is now studying Paul’s short and profound Letter to the Philippians. We sincerely welcome all to join us at 10:30 am in the “Green Room” on the lower level of the original building for fellowship and faith-nurturing conversation as we seek to soak in God’s Word and grow in God’s grace! We are just inside the door with the awning.
Hey Y’ALL! -Young Adults Living Life!”
Are you transparent?
Is your relationship with Jesus a day trip or a lifetime journey?
How courageous are you in your conversations with people?
Join the Y’ALL Group as we engage these questions
** Wednesday nights! 6-8pm **
The group will meet this Wednesday, February 8
Join us as we continue our discussion.
We celebrate that the Green Room is full of
Young Adults each week and we are praying for those yet to come.
*Dinner and Childcare provided weekly*
THE FOOD OFFERING WHICH IS PRESENTED once a month during the Offertory reminds us that God has called us to feed the hungry. We collect and deliver non-perishable food items to United Ministries weekly. They use these items in their Emergency Relief programs to pass on God's love in the form of nourishment for the body and support for the soul of those in need. The food goes quickly and the needs are great. Would you please consider bringing some food and putting it in the storage bin in the hallway which is labeled "United Ministries"? Protein items are always greatly appreciated and go first. Some suggestions for donations are cereal, soups and stews, canned vegetables and fruits, pastas, shelf safe milk, peanut butter, rice, along with tuna and canned meat. Baby food is also needed. Pop tops are especially convenient for the homeless who come into the day shelter. Thank you for helping.
SAVOR TUSCANY WILL BE OUR THEME on February 22nd when Saints Alive treats us to lunch at St. Michael. Italian food featuring pasta dishes, pizza and salad will be provided for your enjoyment. Please bring a healthy appetite and we’ll delight in the flavors and aromas of Tuscany while we fellowship and enjoy some nostalgic, fun memories from our past. Join us and bring a friend!
OPERATION IN-AS-MUCH 2012 WILL BE SATURDAY AUGUST 4TH!!! Mark your calendars now for this day-long servant partnership with our neighbor congregations along Augusta Road. Prayerfully discern projects for which you may have passion or commitment. We will need leaders and participants, as well as project ideas. Please communicate with your Social Ministry Team. Thanks!
ANNUAL LUTHERAN MEN VALENTINE DINNER --Bring your sweetheart and join us for good food and fellowship—Saturday, February 11, 7:00pm--Brick Street Café, 315 Augusta Street--Call Howard Leonard for reservations at 270-5960 or 288-5312.
YOUTH MINISTRY
CRAWL: Even the littlest Lutherans among us (birth-3) have a Youth Group!
9:45am EVERY Sunday morning.
We meet in the nursery.
Young Youth: (K4- 5th Grade)
Join us TONIGHT for a “SUPER Scavenger Hunt!”
5-6pm in the Temple Room
ALL YOUTH DINNER: 6pm in the Fellowship Hall:
Thank you to the Gillespie Family for a warm & wonderful meal!
LCY “Lutheran Church Youth”: (6th- 12th Grade)
Join us TONIGHT for a “SUPER Scavenger Hunt”
6:30-7:30pm in the Youth Room
We celebrate the nearly 70 youth and adults who joined us last Sunday for “INFLATAMANIA!” with Trinity & Our Savior Lutheran Churches. It was SO much fun!
CELEBRATING ANOTHER GREAT SEASON ON THE HARDWOOD!
Join us Sunday, February 19 for our annual Basketball Banquet
6pm in the Fellowship Hall
Dinner will be served and Trophies awarded
ELCA YOUTH GATHERING NEWS!!
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON CURRENT AND UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS!
NURTURING THE BAPTISMAL JOURNEY is one of our core missions here at St. Michael’s. There are 3 QUALITIES of a disciple: AUTHENTIC, AVAILABLE, and AFFIRMING. There are 4 KEYS for daily living: Caring Conversations; Devotional Practice; Rituals & Traditions; and Loving Service. There are 5 PRINCIPLES for passing on faith: 1) Faith is formed by the power of the Holy Spirit through personal, trusted relationships—often in our own homes; 2) The Church is a living partnership between the ministry of the congregation and the ministry of the home; 3) Where Christ is present in faith, the home is Church, too;) 4) Faith is caught more than it is taught; 5) If we want Christian children and youth, we need Christian adults and parents.
How can we help you nurture the Baptismal journey in your family?
How can you help us nurture the Baptismal journey in our St. Michael’s family?
Financial Report, thru January 29, 2012
YTD Giving Budget YTD Giving ReceivedDifference
Attendance:
January 29, 2012: 8:30 am – 5811:00 am - 97
