Volume 44 , Issue 7

St. Andrew’s Anchor St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church

629 Eighth Street, Hickory, NC 28601 Phone: 828-322-2981

Email: standrewshickory@gmail.com www.standrewshickory.com

September,2013

Pastor – W. Richard Fritz, Jr.

Pastor Emeritus – William F. Milholland

Director of Music- Ada M. Smith

Secretary- Barbara Kennedy

Fill the Well How many times this week have you walked to a faucet or spigot and turned on

a cool clear stream of water? In return, we are expected to pay a water bill each

month. Perhaps yours is about $30 for the month? Might you consider making

an equivalent donation to the campaign to make water easily accessible to oth-

ers around the world that are currently living without the wonderful resource

that we enjoy so easily each day .Our campaign to pay for a well to serve an entire village’s need for good water is overflowing with promise. We’re very close to our goal!! The last ‘noisy offering will be September 8th. We’ve gathered in over a hundred dollars in noisy money! Our campaign will end on September 29th, with

a full report in October. Stay tuned! And keep thinking of the needs of others!

WE HAVE BIG PLANS FOR OUR YOUTH

Youth and Parents—have we got some plans for YOU! This is going to be an exciting Fall of

Youth Activities. Go ahead and put these dates on your calendars—

you won’t want to miss any events.

Sunday, Sept. 1st—2:00-5:00pm Fall Kickoff with a Pool Party—bring snacks to share

Sunday, Sept. 8th—4:30-7:30pm Start of Pastor’s class, and Acolyte/Crucifer

Training and Refresher Course.

Sunday, Sept. 15th—4:30-7:30pm Pastor’s Class for all youth—we’re going to be having

Fun with the Parables of Jesus

Saturday, Sept.21st—3:00-9:30ish Attend L-R Youth Day and the L-R/Wingate

Football Game

Sunday, Sept. 22nd—4:30-6:30pm Shorter time—with some fellowship activities

Sunday, Sept. 29th—4:30-7:30pm Regular programming with Parable Class, Music,

Supper, Sports, Learning Activities

LOOKING AHEAD:

October 20th 5:30pm—Churchwide

Fellowship Dinner and Talent Show ta

support the Youth Group

November 1-3 YOUTH RETREAT !

at Lutheridge—fun, and learning

all about the New Testament

In Our Thoughts and Prayers : : John Aldrich, Bob Barnette, Frankie Bolick, Richard & Jean Bostain, Lucille Bowman, Colin Briggs,

Ann Byers, Glenda Cansler, Mary Ann Chou, Vernal Duncan, Mary Earnhardt, Cecilia Fritz, Elaine

Fritz, Tyler Fritz, Ruby Guest, Mary Frances Hawn, Johnny Hollar, Caroline LaTorre, Leonard

Martin, Robert Mauser, Renee Monahan, Letha Parlier, Harold Haas, Nancy Skinner, Jane Stiver,

Carla Van Zandt, Matt Wilcox, Robert Yount, Ruth Miller Yount.

In the Military: Cadet Sgt. Saylor Christian Barnette and Seth Allen Barnette (grandsons of Mary Sue & Bob Barnette

and Doris & Allen Houston), Nathan Bridges, Airman Dylan Allen Houston (grandson of Doris & Allen Houston),

Darren Lael (at Ft. Meade, MD), Shawn Lucas (cousin of Brian Monahan), David Max, 1st Lt. Heather Garver (Ruby

Wyly’s granddaughter), Cadet Sgt

Our Shut-ins: Ruby Guest, Delma Herman, Mary Kiser, Martha Powell, Ruth Sigmon, Frankie Bolick, Jean Bostain

Friends and Relatives: John Bruner (Judy Lindsay’s brother-in-law), Annette Hussey (Gene Yount’s friend), Lee Kanipe,

Kellie Light, Anne Moss, Mary Beth Young (Paulette Lael), Charles Hollar (Kathy Wallace-Bailey’s brother), Eddie

Kimminau & family (Terry Smith’s great nephew), Mary Alice Maher (Terry Smith’s cousin), Geoffrey Reed, Sarah &

David Masica & Charlie (Helen Reed’s daughter, son-in-law, son & grandson), Allene Phelps, Mrs. C. Miller (Juanita)

Sigmon (Jack Blevins’ aunt), Merita Hildebran (Janie Young’s sister-in-law), Marybeth Treadwell Powell (June

Treadwell’s daughter), Carol Noble (Trudy & Clyde Penley’s friend), Ray Lucas (Woody Lucas’ brother), Anabell Max

(George & Marilyn Max’s niece), Dottie Wilcox, Harold Caldwell (Allen Caldwell’s brother), Jack Killian and Rick

Mims (Allen Caldwell’s sons-in-law), Kristen Khamphengphet (Alice Wise’s granddaughter), Carole DeLucas (Marilee

Mauser’s mother), Linda Allison (Mary Johnson’s sister), Jacque Nielsen (Mary Johnson’s sister-in-law), Michael Byers (Wayne & Ann Byers’ grandson), Bradley Schronce (Bill Sigmon’s son-in-law), Bryce Bigness (Wayne & Ann Byers’

great-grandson), Bill Hopkins (Betsy Preslar’s father), Luke Townsend (Johnny Hollar’s nephew), Joan Ekard (friend of

Doris Houston & sister of Mary Sue Isenhour), Leslie Rose Simmons (friend of Erin Lucas Palmer), Carol Hoke

Harkrader (Nell Hoke’s daughter), Debra Walker Robinson, (Barbara Kennedy), Tad Texer (friend of Jean Hefner),

Millie Hancock Schumpert (niece of Mary Earnhardt). Blenda Clegg (friend of Amy Krohn), Dixon Suther, Jr. (Ann

Litaker’s brother), Ann Glotfelty (David Smith’s mother-in-law).

PAGE 2 ST. ANDREW’S ANCHOR VOLUME 44 , I SSUE 7

With sure and certain hope in the promise of the resurrection, we offer our condolences to all those who may have had a death in their family or friends.

Our sincere sympathy to

Dale & Phyllis Erickson and Mark & Kim Erickson

on the death of

Margaret Erickson

August 17th

:

PAGE 3 ST. ANDREW’S ANCHOR VOLUME 44 , I SSUE 7

These petitions are offered as guides to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the church. Thank you for your

continued prayers for the life and mission of this church. 1 Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost God of all people, guide and protect all who work in embassies and consulates throughout the world. We especially remember those whose duties take them to Egypt, Jordan and Madagascar. 2 On this Labor Day pray for all those who labor, especially people working for low wages and — despite long, tiring hours — see no release from a life of poverty. 3 Lift up in your prayers the Rev. Rodger C. Prois, the new bishop of the ELCA Western Iowa Synod. Also remember these re-elected ELCA synod bishops: the Rev. H. Julian Gordy, Southeastern Synod; the Rev. Ralph E. Jones, North-western Pennsylvania Synod; the Rev. Kurt F. Kusserow, Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod; the Rev. Lawrence R. Wohlrabe, Northwestern Minnesota Synod; the Rev. David B. Zellmer, South Dakota Synod; the Rev. Robert L. Drie-sen, Upper Susquehanna Synod; and the Rev. Richard H. Graham, Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod. 4 Pray for the continuing domestic work of Lutheran Disaster Response, including its recovery efforts for the victims of this year’s wild fires in Colorado, New Mexico and California and those affected by tornadoes in Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa and Texas. 5 Pray for the 64 new 2013 ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission volunteers, who are in the first weeks of their year of service and learning to walk in accompaniment with new neighbors in a new culture. 6 Remember in your prayers the theological education ministry of the Rev. Jeffrey Truscott, an ELCA missionary in Sin-gapore. 7 Include in your prayers ELCA missionary Patrick Meers and his work in Japan as a teacher of English as a second language. 8 “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday We praise you, God, for this day of service. Be with us are we go forth in our communities, homes, and congregations today and always, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. 9 Give thanks and pray for God’s guidance for the legions of Sunday school teachers throughout the ELCA as they give of their time to share their faith with our young people. 10 Remember in your prayers the 66,000 refugees in Uganda who have fled the violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and are receiving aid from Lutheran Disaster Response. 11 On the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorists attacks, pray that one day killing and violence will cease and that through mutual communication and listening all people will live in peace. 12 Pray for the chaplains at the 26 ELCA-affiliated colleges and universities as they begin a new school year of helping students grow spiritually. 13 Lift up in your prayers the Rev. Miriam Schmidt and Jeremy Blyth, ELCA missionaries in Slovakia. Miriam is the pas-tor of Bratislava International Church and is the ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission regional coordinator for Central Europe. 14 Holy Cross Day Pray for those who work for the dignity and rights of vulnerable people and people living with poverty in this country and abroad. 15 Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost Gracious God, we pray that the churches of Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary may be your instruments of reconciliation, both locally and in the wider world. 16 Remember today in your prayers the many people throughout the world who are forced by poverty to live and work away from their families for long periods, sometimes in unsafe conditions, to earn a meager living. 17 Pray for the new and returning students at the ELCA’s seminaries as they study and prepare for a life answering God’s call. 18 Give thanks today for that special person who has been a mentor in your personal life, including aiding your relation-ship to God. 19 Pray for Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, Calif., and California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, Calif., as the ELCA schools go forward together after a recently approved merger. 20 Remember in your prayers the Rev. Tessa Moon Leiseth and Jon Leiseth, ELCA missionaries in South Africa, who are the ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission regional coordinators. 21 Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist On this annual World Day of Prayer for Peace, pray that all nations will place negotiation above armed conflict and that God’s love for all will be a guiding force in world politics.

PRAYER VENTURES

September 2013

PAGE 4 ST. ANDREW’S ANCHOR VOLUME 44 , I SSUE 7

22 Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost God of the ages, we give you thanks for the church in Russia and the Ukraine. Continue to guide the companion rela-tionships among the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and the ELCA Central States and Northwest Washington Synods. 23 Give thanks today for the many food pantries that ELCA congregations support and the lifelines those pantries pro-vide for those in need. 24 Remember in your prayers Patrick and Jacqueline Bencke, ELCA missionaries teaching English in Kumamoto, Ja-pan. 25 Pray for the continued success of the ELCA Malaria Campaign and give thanks for the efforts of the ELCA congre-gations that are helping to curb the deadly disease in Africa. 26 Give thanks for the ELCA Domestic Hunger Grant program and its support of local efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty in the United States and the Caribbean. 27 Remember in your prayers the ministries of Women of the ELCA and Lutheran Men in Mission as their members make a difference in the world because God has make a difference in their lives. 28 As all people are one in Christ, pray that we will strive to eliminate racism from our daily lives. 29 Michael and All Angels Holy God, in your mercy grant that, as your angels serve and worship you in heaven, so by your choosing they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 30 Lift up the many volunteers throughout the ELCA who tirelessly give of their time and talents, enabling local minis-

Did you Hear the NEWS???

The ELCA Assembly for 2013 surprised everyone last month

by electing a woman to the post of Presiding Bishop. The

Reverend Elizabeth Eaton was Bishop of the Northeast Ohio

Synod when she was elected on the fifth ballot. Her election

makes the ELCA a leader in the advancing of women into

leadership, since only the Episcopal Church in America has chosen a wom-

an as its chief servant-officer before now. Welcome, Bishop Eaton!

Extra prayer concerns:

Jeremy Fisher, who gave us a terrific talk about missions in Malaysia for our Global Mis-

sions Ice Cream Social, was injured in an automobile wreck the next day. He’s going to be

dealing with a badly broken leg.

Nancy Skinner broke her arm this week, and will be in a cast for weeks.

Harold Haas is a resident of the Lutheran Home East under hospice care.

Jean Bostain has become a resident of Hickory Manor on Sandy Ridge Road.

PAGE 5 ST. ANDREW’S ANCHOR VOLUME 44 , I SSUE 7

Our Stewardship Gathering on Sunday, August 25th drew

an enthusiastic and sizable crowd to think together out loud about the stew-

ardship of ‘Generous Hearts’.

We watched a slide show of decorations, improvements and challenges to

meet, brought to us through the inspiring and helping gifts of the many

‘generous hearts’ among us.

It was fun to sum up the wonderful improvement and delightful decorating of the nursery, and the

many creative displays enlivening our church as signs of the stewardship of talent and energy around

us in the past year. We congratulated Council and Stewardship chairman Dave Anderson for getting

the main goal affirmed by last year’s Gathering—the improvement of the parking lot—and rejoiced in

what a nice job we got done. And we talked about the ongoing need for significant repairs to the win-

dow frames outside, the floor in the downstairs hallway and—of course—the organ console. Newly pri-

oritized are concerns about the electrical supply in Newton Hall, the lighting of the choir lofts and the

need to replace sanctuary light bulbs with ones that will last much, much longer.

The biggest item on the discussion list was the challenge of restoring our office to full functionality.

We’ve been blessed with an extremely devoted and faithful servant in Barbara Kennedy, who is retir-

ing this month; but her position was an emergency stop-gap from back in 2002 when we last had a

fulltime secretary and a finance officer as well. Council has decided to hire a ‘business secretary’ to

handle both the jobs of the contributions recorder (the official ‘financial secretary in church talk) and

the bookkeeping functions of the organization. The job will be part time, up to 8 hours a week. We

expect to interview right away, and to hire as soon as feasible. The secretary position will be filled on

an interim basis by Ada Smith until the new budget year. By then we will have completed a study of

what needs must be provided for. Watch for more information as the Budget process unfolds this Fall!!

Income To Date Budget % received

Excellent Learning Opportunity for Church Finance!

A Workshop For Church Treasurers and OTHERS with a need and/or will to know what needs to

be known about the intricacies and very important norms of all kinds of elements of church

business, taxes and record-keeping will be offered by Pastor Dick Goodlin at Holy Trinity

Lutheran Church on Saturday, September 23rd. It will last from nine in the morning ‘til

just noon, it is open to any and all of us, and the cost is preposterously slim: $20 per

church. PLEASE plan to come if you can be of any help to our church in planning, managing

and watching over our finance operations. Just call Pastor Fritz by September 15th so he

can alert Holy Trinity to expect us all. Council members have indicated their plan to at-

tend. Come along if you will.

Giving

Report

Through

July, 2013

$ 113,858.34 $ 121,664.47 94% Receipts for Current

7,332.00 7,582.50 97% Receipts for Benevolence

5,083.00 4,665.00 109% Receipts for Property

$ 133,732.68 $ 140,990.82 95% Total for Budget (includes other income)

PAGE 6 ST. ANDREW’S ANCHOR VOLUME 44 , I SSUE 7

September Circle Meetings:

Deborah Group will meet on Thursday,

September 12, 7:00 pm in room 104 at the

church. June McKay will be the leader.

Hannah Group will meet on Wednesday,

September 4, 10:00 am at the church.

Lydia Group will meet Sunday, September

8, 4:30 pm in room 104 at the church. Cecilia

Fritz will be the leader.

Mary/Martha Group will meet Tuesday,

September 3, 2:00 pm at the home of Peggy

Byers. Bonnie Anderson will be the leader.

From the President's Desk:

The WELCA Circles will be using the Bible

Study, “In Good Company: Stories of Bibli-

cal Women”, by Kay Ward this year

in their monthly meetings. If you

don't belong to a circle, you are most

welcome to join any one of the four

groups.

There is still time to register for the Theologi-

cal Seminar for Women, “Women Ourselves:

Reading Galatians”. Mary Streufert, a theolo-

gian, workshop leader, lecturer and Director

for Justice for Women, ELCA, will be the

leader; and it will be held September 27-28 at

the NC Synod Office in Salisbury, NC.

Registration forms with information on the

seminar are available from Bonnie Anderson.

The St. Andrew's Women of the ELCA will

hold its General Meeting on Sunday, October

13, at 3:00 in the afternoon. The guest speak-

er will be Gail Wartner, owner and operator

of the Rising Hope Farms in Claremont, NC.

Rising Hope Farms provides therapeutic

horseback riding to individuals suffering from

various conditions and challenges. The Debo-

rah Circle will host the event.

All women of the congregation

are cordially invited to attend

whether or not they are members

of a circle.

Registration will begin this month for the

Ninth Triennial Gathering in Charlotte the

weekend of July 24-27, 2014. Don't miss out

on the enriching workshops, stirring worship

and engaging Bible studies that will mark the

weekend. Mark your calendar and make

plans to attend now!

PAGE 7 ST. ANDREW’S ANCHOR VOLUME 44 , I SSUE 7

Church Workday

Volunteers checked and replaced numerous air conditioning and heating return vent filters throughout the church building. A record is being kept to maintain first quality maintenance of these units, and a report of the

work was submitted to the office.

Workdays are permanently scheduled for the first Saturday of each month,

beginning at 7:00am and finishing by 11:00am. Contact William Litaker.

Tables of Eight

Supper Club

Will meet in homes

on Saturday,

September 28

Questions? Call Dave and Bonnie Ander-

son for more information. 327-4178

NEW CHOIR MEMBERS—WE HAVE

A PLACE FOR YOU!

Our Fall Choir Season will be starting soon and we have a place for YOU. The Senior Choir meets on Wednesday nights from 7:30 to 8:45pm in the Choir Room on the Third Floor.

Our Handbell Choir meets on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:15pm in the Sanctu-ary. ‘Handbells’ will begin rehearsals on Sept 4th. Our Youth Choir meets on Sunday evenings as part of the Youth Programming which will begin on Septem-ber 8th. We have a place for you in these choirs. Please call Ada Smith if you would like more information: 828.781.5458.

The PRIMETIMERS invite you to their next meet-

ing on THURSDAY, SEPT. 24th at NOON.

The Program will be presented by Sarah Parham

and Barbara Andrews of CONNECTIONS in Newton.

This organization helps people with exceptionalities

and disabilities who live in group homes.

They have a Thrift Store which takes our donations

to help their clients.

Please join us for this informative program.

PAGE 8 ST. ANDREW’S ANCHOR VOLUME 44 , I SSUE 7

Women in Religion The Women in Religion discussion group will meet Sunday, September 1st at 4 pm in Fel-lowship Hall. The group will begin a discussion of the historic The Woman's Bible, edited by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Stanton's role in American women's history is noteworthy and her engagement of women scholars of her day in writing The Woman's Bible in 1895 is a landmark date in women's history. The 1870 revision of the Authorized English Version of

the Bible by an all male committee of the Church of England stirred Stanton's ambition to gather women scholars of her day to gather passages from the Bible involving women and to write commentary on those passages.

At the September meeting, information will be given about materials to be used in the group's study of The Woman's Bible. Notices will be sent in late August to current members of the discussion group, but all women of all faith groups are invited to attend the discussion group which meets at 4 pm on the first Sunday of each month, September through June, with no meeting in December.

For more information contact Mary Thuesen at 327-9551 or tmthuesen@embarqmail.com.

Sunday 8:00 am September 15th

Men in Mission will meet for breakfast on their regular third Sunday morning September 15th at 8:00am.

Last month’s meeting was a good discussion of upcoming events and the possibility of sponsoring one or more ser-vice projects, including developing the glen to provide some more recreational and seat-ing facilities. ALL the men of the church are welcome to take part in the work of this award-winning Lutheran men’s group.

Lenoir-Rhyne Community Learning Event You are invited to attend the annual course sponsored by Lenoir-Rhyne’s Insti-

tute for Faith and Learning, which is held in Newton Hall each Monday night

from 7:00 to 9:00pm.

This Fall the course, entitled “Themes in Biblical Narrative” will be

taught by Dr. Jonathan Schwiebert, of Lenoir-Rhyne’s School of Theology.

Participants will take a close look at several key stories in the Bible, including

Abraham’s quest for a child, Joseph’s rise in Egypt, the life of David, and the story of Jesus in the gos-

pels. These narratives will be explored both in their original historical contexts and for their impact

on our own society.

The course began Aug. 26th but there is still time to join in. This full-quality college offering is free

and open to the public, as well as to students enrolled for credit!

to the following members of our St. Andrew’s family:

Sept. 2: Amy Krohn; Sept. 3: Sheila Lail; Sept. 4: Bill Batterman, Dona Chapman, Dylan Warren; Sept. 5: Tracy Litaker; Sept. 6: David Guest; Sept. 7: Larry Smith; Sept. 8: Jeff Norris, Mark Taylor, Sr.; Sept. 13: Gibbs Meres, Matthew Payne; Sept. 14: Judith Burbank; Sept. 15: Caroline Sigmon; Sept. 16: Stephen Deal, Missionary; Sept. 17: Bud Warren; Sept. 18: Don Miller; Sept. 22: Anne Whiteside; Sept. 23: Johnny Hollar; Sept. 26: Harold Haas, William David Max; Sept. 28: Tommy Parlier.

PAGE 9 ST. ANDREW’S ANCHOR VOLUME 44 , I SSUE 7

Please submit all articles and announcements for the October newsletter by Sep-

tember 20th, preferably via email, to Chris Connor at chris331@charter.net.

Cooperative Christian Ministry

Foods for September: dry cereals Deliverers: Adele and Merlin Batt

Worship Leaders for September,2013 September

Ushers

Allen Caldwell, Gary Freund, Cecelia Mull, Kenneth Mull

September

Tellers

June McKay, Mary Moretz, Rufus Moretz

Sundays Acolytes &

Crucifers

Communion

Assistants Greeters Nursery Reader

September 1 A: Kylie Litaker C: Steven Sigmon

Dennis Isenhour Gaye Isenhour

Nancy Meres Catherine Norris Johnny Perry

Jean Hefner Marie Mauney

Paulette Lael

September 8 A: Sarah Vaccarella C: Marie Smith

Mary Johnson Rachel Kuehl

Dennis Isenhour Gaye Isenhour Mary Johnson

Allison Setzer Barbie Setzer

Dick Lael

September 15 A: Jayda Mauser C: Benjamin Litaker

George Max Marilyn Max

Paula Litaker Cecelia Mull Kenneth Mull

Mary Moretz Rufus Moretz

Marilyn Max

September 22 A: Kylie Litaker C: Steven Sigmon

June McKay Barbara Pitts

Marie Mauney Betsy Preslar Ron Preslar

Meredith Mackie Linda Wiedey

June McKay

September 29 A: Sarah Vaccarella C: Marie Smith

Mary Moretz Rufus Moretz

Ruth Pollard Bill Sigmon Terry Smith

Mary Moretz

PAGE 10 ST. ANDREW’S ANCHOR VOLUME 44 , I SSUE 7