1. shopping
2. gifts

The comings and goings of the Family of God located at:
St. Martin’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
16592 St. Martin Road, Albemarle, NC
December 2014 + Volume 2, Number 1
Sunday, December 14, 10:30 a.m.
Celebrate Advent
Children and Youth Present Christmas Play
Worship
Opportunities
in December
On Sunday, December 14, the
children and youth of St. Martin’s
will present It All Happened in the
Country, at 10:30 a.m. (There will
be no 8:05 service or breakfast
that day.)
Come to hear how Daniel and
Chelsea, two city slickers, get
stranded in the country and find
out there is more to Christmas
than the hustle and bustle of
presents and decorations. With
the help of Cora May, cousin
Luther, Uncle Yule and Granny,
they learn the story of Christ's
birth and how It All Happened In
the Country… the countryside of
Bethlehem. Leah McIlwaine is
directing the play which includes Christmas songs for all to enjoy.
Also that morning the proceeds from Hot Off the Grill will be
presented to the community agencies who will benefit. It will be a
great day, to be followed by the annual Chili Cook-Off. Bring a pot of
your best chili to enter into the competition, or bring a dessert or
other side items to share. Find out who will have braggin’ rights for
the next year for the best pot of chili!
By the time the calendar
says “December” we are in full
swing with Advent. Advent
includes the four Sundays
before Christmas, and we mark
the time by lighting the candles
of the Advent wreath– one each
Sunday. Among special times
this month are:
● December 7, Holy
Communion at 8:05 and
10:30 a.m.
● December 14, 10:30 a.m.,
Christmas Play (no early
service)
● December 21, Holy
Communion at 8:05, Service
of Prayer and Healing at
10:30 a.m.
● December 24, Christmas
Eve, 12 p.m., Abbreviated
service of Holy Comm.
Followed by soup in FH.
11 p.m. Candlelight Comm.
Inside:
2 Council Highlights
The Angel Tree is in the narthex, bearing the names and ages of
3 Parish Notes
children in the Oakboro area who are in need of presents this year at
5 Special giving opportunity
Christmas. If you would like to adopt a child for Christmas, take a
6 From the Pastor
name off the tree. Please bring the wrapped gifts to the church by
7 Calendar
December 14.
8 Holiday Card from Staff
Angel Tree Offers Opportunity to
Reach Out at Christmas
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Page 2
Highlights of Congregation Council meeting, November 9, 2014 at 11:30.
The meeting was called to order, devotions were led by Leah McIlwaine. The minutes were approved.
Treasurer’s Report: Linda O’Hara reported that we now have 2 signed up for Electronic giving! A full
accounting of Hot of the Grill will be available next month. The report was received. The Finance Committee suggested that profits from Hot off the Grill be shared with Pregnancy Resource Center of
Stanly Co. (PRC). The proposed distribution would be: $2,000 for Stanly Community Christian Ministries (SCCM), $2,000 for Stanly Community Care (Medical Ministry), $1,000 for PRC, $500 St. Martin’s
Shepherd Fund. Joe Whitley seconded. Motion carried.
Pastor’s Report: (No pastor’s report. Pr. Don is on vacation)
Worship and Music: The children’s Christmas Program, It All Happened in the Country, will December
14 at 10:30, followed by the Chili cook-off. This will be during the 10:30 service. (No 805 Service that
day.) Britt Efird reported that the 2015 Flower Calendar is now ready and available for sign-up. Also
the sign-up sheet for acolytes, altar guild, readers, and communion assistants.
Christian Ed: Joe Whitley reported Leah McIlwaine would like to take over Christian Ed next year and
she will be teaching the High School class. Leah said the Erica Lee has agreed to teach the middle
school class.
Witness & Outreach: Shearon Efird reported the annual November birthday party is on for November
18�� at Trinity Place. There are 3 birthdays and it will begin at 2:00. The Angel Tree will be up Sunday,
Nov. 16. Names are coming from Oakboro School.
Old Business:
● Approved finding a new home for the old organ. (It was given to another church, removed 11/19)
● Sponsoring Oakboro Boy Scout Troop: We need a member from the congregation for the board.
Wally Crawford is to get exactly what is needed from the Boy Scout Council and report back to
council.
New Business:
● Forward Together Leadership Team to meet Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.
● December meeting will be a planning Sunday to organize for
2015. That meeting will be Tuesday, December 9, at 6:30 p.m.
● Committees are encouraged to meet before the council meetings and bring their plans all set-up with dates as a presentation
to council.
● Leah McIlwaine reported on ministries with youth. Among the
plans are a movie night, distributing fruit bags for Christmas,
offering luminaries for Christmas Eve that can be dedicated in
memory or honor of a loved one to raise money for the youth
group. They are going to buy Christmas presents for 1 or 2 of the
names on the Angel Tree. They will elect officers and would like
the President of the group to be welcome at Council meetings.
They would like to establish a youth room with couches, chairs,
a TV, tables, etc. Leah McIlwaine made the motion to get
$100.00 from the treasurer for some of the renovation. Motion
passed.
● Deadline for annual reports is January 15, 2015.
St. Martin’s Lutheran Church
Directory of Staff and Leadership:
Don Phillips, Pastor
Elizabeth Efird, Admin. Assistant
Fran Hinson, Organist
Leah McIlwaine, Sexton
Don Underwood, President
Shearon Efird, Vice President
Anita Crawford, Secretary
Mark Whitley, Treasurer
Linda O’Hara, Financial Secretary
St. Martin’s Lutheran Church
16592 St. Martin Road
Albemarle NC
Mailing address:
PO Box 429, Oakboro, NC 28129
On the World Wide Web:
www.stmartinslutheranchurch.
org
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In sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life, we commend to
Almighty God our sister,
Margaret Anne Grigg,
who died Tuesday, November 18 at her home.
Rest eternal grant her, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon her.
Congratulations to Lauren Morris
(far left on back row holding home
run ball) and Katie Guyette (far right
on front row) who are members of the
Carolina Stealerz Fast Pitch Softball Team. The
Stealerz won the Top Gun Winter Nationals in
Concord, NC November 15-16. (Lauren had two
home runs in the winning effort.)
Thanks to those who contributed to the
Thanksgiving appeal for food to go to Stanly
Community Christian Ministries. This is part of the
124 pounds of food that were taken to SCCM the
week before Thanksgiving. SCCM has an item for
each month that they solicit. The item for
December is beans– dried or canned.
Leah McIlwaine leads the cast of It all Happened in
the Country through a rehearsal. The production
will be at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 14.
There will be no 8:05 service or breakfast that day;
but the 10:30 service and play will be followed by
the annual Chili Cook-off. Invite family, friends,
neighbors to be a part of this great day. Also
during the morning service we will make
distribution of the proceeds from Hot Off the Grill
as $5000 will be given to local ministries.
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Page 4
Wish you had been there!
Sint Maarten on St. Martin’s Day
On his second voyage to the new world, Christopher Columbus
spotted an island on November 11, 1483. It was St. Martin’s Day, so
he named the island “St. Martin”, and so it is called to this day.
French and Dutch colonies were established on the island, and when
neither could banish the other, they partitioned the island between
them and so today there is a French side and a Dutch side.
Pastor Don and Pat took a cruise in November that went ashore on St. Maarten on St. Martin’s Day.
Also from St. Martin’s church were Rick and Debbie McLester. St. Martin’s Day is a holiday there, and
much of the town was closed, but these pictures will help you see the beauty of “our” island in the
Caribbean.
Forward Together Leadership Team to Meet Again January 19
What are the Unmet Needs in Our Community?
When the Forward Together Team met with our companion in November the agenda had to do with
identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and identifying core values for the
congregation. The next step has to do with identifying unmet needs in our community. The members
will be interviewing people in the community who have insight into the needs that we have.
Whom should we interview?
● A leader in a school (principal, counselor)?
● Someone who works with the poor in our area (SCCM, Salvation Army)?
● A local politician or community leader?
● A leader of some other community ministry or civil group?
Share your suggestions with the pastor or with a member of the Forward Together Leadership Team. A
full report will be shared with the congregation when goals have been identified.
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Page 5
Friends,
You can double your gift to Lutheran World Relief this Christmas. Until December 31, 2014,
your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar until $322,115 is received!
That’s right. A group of generous donors is giving you a chance to supercharge your gift.
As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth, we can take comfort in knowing that we have hope,
thanks to the gift of God’s Son. So I ask you to join me in sharing that love in ways that will
bear fruit for generations to come.
In places like Burkina Faso and Honduras — where drought and crop shortages threaten to
drive families into hunger — you can help communities build resilience by distributing
drought-tolerant seeds and providing training on water conservation techniques.
And as we approach the 10-year anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, which crushed
lives in Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and several more countries, you can see the impact of
what your gifts can do. Your generosity provided immediate relief, and also launched ongoing
resilience plans, like implementing early warning systems to protect highly vulnerable communities from future threats. You also provided skills training and necessary items in order to
help families rebuild their lives and become self-sufficient once again.
These are just a few examples of what your matched gift today can do. Give a gift that doubles in impact this Christmas and watch how far it can go!
» DOUBLE MY GIFT!
With Christmas Blessings,
Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard (rt.)
President and CEO
Lutheran World Relief
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Page 6
From the Pastor:
About the Protests in Ferguson, MO, and the Civil Unrest There
For the last four months the events in Ferguson, MO have dominated the news. On Saturday, August 9,
Michael Brown was shot dead by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, sparking protests and riots in
Ferguson, greater St. Louis, and in cities across the nation. The grand jury that began deliberations in
September did not deliver a bill of indictment against Officer Wilson on November 24. No state charges
will be filed, although there may be federal charges filed at a later time.
Michael Brown has often been described in the press as an unarmed teenager. The protests over his
death have often featured the chant “hands up, don’t shoot!”, based on what a witness claimed Brown
did before being killed. The grand jury sorted out the facts, and concluded that Brown robbed a
convenience store, fought with Officer Wilson for his handgun, and was killed while charging Wilson in a
threatening manner. Still many refuse to accept the verdict of the grand jury. Officer Wilson has resigned
from the police force, but protests and confrontations go on.
The reasons for the continuing unrest are several:
● Incidents of shootings of black suspects are not uncommon. Last year a Charlotte police office shot
and killed Jonathan Ferrell when his attempt to get help after a car accident was misinterpreted as
an attack. He was shot ten times. The Charlotte officer was not indicted. In 2012 community watch
volunteer George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin in Miami. Zimmerman was found not guilty at
trial. There are many other cases just as troubling that involve white officers and black suspects.
● As President Obama said recently, “Ferguson laid bare a simmering distrust that exists between too
many police departments and too many communities of color.”
● Race continues to be an issue in our society. Crime affects black communities in a disproportionate
way. Census data shows that 80% of the US population is white, and 12.5% black; but black citizens
account for 28% of the arrests, and 37% of the prison population.
● Racial profiling does take place. (In the 1990’s Davidson Co. Sheriff Gerald Hege told his deputies to
“stop everyone who was darker than snow”.)
In a democracy law enforcement officers are public servants. Some are elected officials (like sheriffs) and
others are hired and held accountable by those who are elected. Officers enforce the law with the
consent of the citizens, and when there is distrust in that consensual relationship, we get the
dysfunction and distress that we are now seeing.
St. Paul (Romans 13) writes that authorities are not a terror to good behavior, but to bad. So if you
would not want to fear the authorities, do what is right. (Ironically Paul was killed by the very authority
he defended.) Martin Luther saw government as a servant of God, maintaining order and justice in the
world using the law as God intended. This is part of his teaching of the “two kingdoms”, where the
Church and Civil Authorities both serve God and do God’s will. (Ironically, Luther was excommunicated
by the Pope and declared an outlaw by the Emperor.)
Christians can work in our community and throughout the world to bring justice and peace. We make a
difference when we love one another, and when we refuse to pass on the prejudices, fears, and
attitudes that we inherited from the past. Pray for all those who enforce the law, for they are God’s
servants and public servants; and let us all work to build trust throughout our society.
(For ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton’s message, go to http://elca.org/News-and-Events/7709.)
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Sun
Page 7
Mon
Tue
2
8
3
7 p.m. Bible
Study with
Pr. Don FH
7 p.m. 805
Singers
Rehearse
Thu
Fri
Sat
4
5
10:30 a.m. Pr.
Don plays
dulcimer
music at
Trinity Pl.
6
8:30 a.m. Confirmation at
St. James,
Concord (for
students and
parents).
9
10
6:30 p.m. Con- 7 p.m. Bible
gregation
Study with
Council
Pr. Don FH
11
12
13
14 Advent 3 15
(No 805 Serv.)
9:30 a.m.
Sunday Sch.
10:30 am It All
Happened in
the Country
11:45 Chili! FH
21 Advent 4 22
10:30 a.m.
Service of
Prayer and
Healing
16
17
7 p.m. Bible
Study with
Pr. Don FH
7 p.m. 805
Singers
Rehearse
18
19
20
23
28 Christmas 1 29
30
24
25 Merry
26
27
12 p.m.
Christmas
Abbreviated
Holy Comm.
12:45 Soup FH
11 p.m./ Candlelight
Comm.
31
Sunday Schedule each Month:
New Year’s
8:05 am Live@805
Eve!
Holy Communion each Sunday
Have a safe,
9:00 am Breakfast Fellowship Hall
happy and
9:30 am Sunday School
blessed New 10:30 am Traditional Worship
Holy Comm. on 1st Sunday & festivals
Year!
Prayer and Healing on 3�� Sundays
7 Advent 2
1
Wed
The Monthly Newsletter of
St. Martin’s Lutheran Church
(16592 St. Martin Road, Albemarle)
PO Box 429
Oakboro, North Carolina 28129
No other season has so many stories about
Angels!
God’s angels, God’s messengers, appear to
●Zechariah,
●Mary,
●Joseph, and the
●Shepherds
Bringing good news of great joy– news of a
bright and challenging future in which God
was ready to make all things new.
As we are in the season of Advent, and enter
Christmas, and look forward to the New Year,
May the angels of God speak good news to you and to yours, and may you be richly blessed.
Your church staff,
Pastor Don, Fran, Leah, Elizabeth