16

No

n P

rofit O

rga

niza

tion

U

.S. P

osta

ge P

aid

P

rosp

erity, S

.C. 2

912

7

Per

mit N

o. 4

Th

e La

mp

ligh

ter

No

n P

rofit O

rga

niza

tion

U

.S. P

osta

ge P

aid

P

rosp

erity, S

.C. 2

912

7

Per

mit N

o. 4

The Lamplighter of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church

September 2019

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconcilia-tion. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. -2 Corinthians 5:17-20

If I had my way, I would center the understanding of how Christians relate to each other and to the world on the above scripture passage. Within the first few chapters of the Bible, we hear how, through sin, we fell from grace and began the long process of wandering away from God. From that point, we hear the story of how God reconciles us to him. Through Jesus, we, who were once far off, have been drawn near.

Living among God’s faithful people in a broken world is often messy. It is easy to see how the actions of our brothers and sisters can cause us pain. Even in the early days of the church, the Apostle Paul is quick to talk about the pain and disappointment that came from proclaiming the gospel. A gift that we have is that God is at work in these relationships as well.

I feel like a word of hope that we can offer to the world is the gentle encouragement to love one another because God loves us, and God is even now in the process of drawing us back to him. I pray that the one who makes all things whole will continue to work in our lives and our world.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Jason Schafer

2

Contact us: Editor: Donna Eustace Church Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Office closed on Fridays Phone: 803-364-4093 Fax: 803-364-5151

Sunday Services: Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:30

Visit us online at: www.stlukesprosperity.com

Table of Contents

Calendar of Events 8-9 Announcements 10-13 Thank you notes 14 Financial Report 15

Volunteers’ schedule p.2 - 3 Prayers needed 4 Celebrating Our Members 5 Day Camp follow-up 6 Adopt a Highway 7

September 1

Acolytes Kayley Minick & Zachary Hunter

Crucifer Payton Gardner

Church Closing Henry Kunkle, Jr.

Greeters Randy & Paulette Gobel

Nursery Molly Stevens & Julia Eargle

Lectors Andy Hawkins

Altar Flowers Cynthia Hamm, Julie Coats & Alanna Borden

Altar Guild

Aug. 26-Sept. 1 Joe & Linda Kunkle

Ushers Tim Connelly Charles Fulmer Harold McGaha Chesley Minick

SEPTEMBER SERVICE VOLUNTEERS

Fellowship hall reserved: September 8 (WELCA) September 29 (Council plan-ning session) Bus reserved: September 17 (New Horizon) September 28 (LCY)

Attention Beach Lovers: Put September 12-15 on your calendar. St. Luke’s has eight rooms reserved at Coastal Retreat Center on Isle of Palms. We’d love to fill all rooms. Cost is $90.00 per night or $270.00 for a long week-end. There will be an appropri-ate program and meals we eat, prepare and share the cost at the center. We’ll eat out at least one meal and visit places of interest in and around Charleston. Contact Catherine ( 364-2870) if you’d like more information, or sign up to join the St. Luke’s group.

Pentecost is the Season of the Church. During this season,

invite your friends to join in the work of God at Saint Luke’s.

On Sept. 8th, we will celebrate with ice cream on the

lawn after worship service.

15

General Funds: July 2019

Income Needed to Cover Budget Year to Date: $157,853.96 (** assuming 1/12 of budget spent each month**) Budget Received to Date General Fund $136,435.81 Operating Expense Only Fund $ 15,049.00 Total Budget Received to Date: $151,484.81 Disbursed to Date General Fund $121,656.94 Operating Expense Only $ 16,628.04 Total Budget Disbursed to Date: $138,284.98 Balance General Fund 12/31/2018 $ 73,943.20 Balance General Fund 07/31/2019 $ 88,722.07

Worship Trends

Attendance General Fund Operating Operating Expense Only

July 21 190 $3,899.00 $525.00

July 28 153 $3,912.00 $590.00

Aug. 4 173 $4,043.00 $565.00

Aug. 11 180 $5,868.35 $580.00

Aug. 18 TBA TBA

Aug. 25 TBA TBA

August 1st Sunday offering for capital projects: $ 672.00

Offering needed weekly to meet 2019 budget: $5,203.98

For simplicity, please do not combine donations to multiple funds (I.e. General and Fellowship Hall) on the same check. Write a separate check for each fund and remember to include your offering number on each check as they get separated in processing. We are grateful for your ongoing support!

14

To my Christian Family at St. Luke’s,

I want to thank each and everyone for all the wonderful deeds of kindness shown to

me during my surgery and recovery. All the calls, cards, food, prayers, texts, and

visits were very appreciated. St. Luke’s is a very caring congregation.

Thank you all once again and may God Bless you all.

Sandra Lominack

Thank you to all who contributed Manna House items. We collected 30

red bags containing 146 items. Pick up a red bag and return it filled with

nonperishable items. The next delivery to Manna House is Sept. 10.

Thank you for your continued support!

St. Luke’s gathered over 100 items for DSS school drive on Friday, Aug. 16. Thank

you to all who contributed school supplies. A special thanks to Faye Shealy for her

leadership and for delivering the items to DSS. We will continue gather school

supplies for the need is year-round.

Attitude of Gratitude retreat at Camp Kinard: Jan 24-26, 2020

“In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it

is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Mark your calendar and plan to join us at Camp Kinard on January 24-26, 2020, for an Atti-tude of Gratitude retreat, led by Rev. Christi Pursey, Camp Kinard's Spiritual Director & Chaplain. All are welcome to attend this event. Watch your inbox for more details!

3

SEPTEMBER SERVICE VOLUNTEERS

September 8 (Grandparent’s Day) September 15

Acolytes Carson Cockrell & Micah Schafer Will Hawkins & Jackson Long

Crucifer Michael Fulmer Marc Hunter

Church Closing Byron Carr Evan Pitts

Greeters Maureen Bates & Joe Boozer Austin Gardner & Catherine Boozer

Nursery Kendra Pugh & Ruthie Boozer Laurie Connelly & Nola Craven

Lectors Gracen Green Paul Hunter

Altar Flowers Kesler family Jennifer Long

Altar Guild

Sept. 2-8 Faye Shealy & Deann McManus

Sept. 9-15 Neal Lester, Laura & Adam

Ushers Michael Fulmer Mickey Fulmer Ben Hawkins Russell Hendrix

Joe Boozer Russell Kunkle Steven Lake Lee Livingston

September 22 (LMM Sunday) September 29

Acolytes Julia Eargle & Eliza McManus Gage Hunter & Braedon Cockrell

Crucifer Baylee Kinard Jerran Long

Church Closing Mickey Fulmer Bruce Shealy

Greeters Ruthie Boozer & Linda Sheppard Dottie Fulmer & Abigail Holland

Nursery Lisa Lever & Savannah Lever Daphne DuBose & Avery DuBose

Lectors Harold McGaha Wanda Crotwell

Altar Flowers Darren & Becky Mills Nancy Singley, Helen Beebe, Heather Clevenger & Carla Livingston

Altar Guild Sept. 16-22 Randy & Judy Nobles

Sept. 23-29 Mitchel & Harriett Connelly & Wanda Crotwell

Ushers Reggie Beckham Andrew Green Jody Green Joey Long

Austin Gardner Scott Hunter Kevin Longshore Carter Mays

SERVING GOD THROUGH SERVING OTHERS

4

Sandra Lominack Shirley McRacken Marcos Millan* Calvin Morris Daisy Morris Larry Morris Jane Pitts Linda Pitts Adam Roberts* Shelvie Shealy

David Boland* Hayne Boozer* Margaret Boozer Jacob Bundrick Mike Cromer* Risa Cromer* Sherry Dominick Russell Hendrix Fred Kesler Peggy Killian

Brandon Shives* Jeff Singley Alma Staub Robert Stewart* *Family/Friends

Prayer requests will be listed for 4 weeks. Please resubmit your request after this time if the individual remains in need of our prayers. Thank you.

Nursing Home

Ruth Boozer (Generations of Batesburg) Carol Brandt (Saluda Nursing Center)

Pastor Henry Brandt (Clinton Presbyterian Community) Jacob Bundrick (Lowman Home)

Myra Sue Chapman (Louisa Health & Rehab, VA) Susan Connelly (White Oak Manor)

Alberta Dominick (White Oak Manor) Faye Long (Springfield Place)

Barry Sebaugh (Springfield Place) Billie Shealy (Springfield Place)

All care givers and others who have experienced pain, disappointment, anger, and grief in this congre-gation and elsewhere, our prayers are with you all.

Labors of Love Thomas Merton, an American monk, writer and social activist, said, “It is in the ordinary duties and labors of life that the Christian can and should develop his spiritual union with God.” As the United States observes Labor Day, may we find meaning not simply in marking summer’s end but in celebrating the ways nearly all “duties and labors of life” can empower ministry and faith. Whether as a dentist, parent, artist, teacher, mechanic, gardener, city councilor, farmer, day laborer, attorney or anything else, a Christian can begin each workday or shift by praying for opportunities to serve whoever they’ll encounter. We also can pray for and seek ways to grow in “spiritual union with God”: cultivating spiritual fruits; actively loving God and neighbor; seeing Jesus in the vulnerable; practicing humility, gratitude and praise. In Labor Day, may we find inspiration to make all our labors loving and faithful!

Congregational sympathy is expressed to the family of Harold E. Guyon, Jr., (1949-2019). He died Monday, August 5, 2019. Visitation was held 5:00-8:00 pm at Thompson Funeral Home Greenlawn Memorial Park, 845 Leesburg Rd., Columbia, SC 29209. Memorial services were held at 11:00 am Saturday, August 10 at First Christian Church, 2062 South Beltline Blvd. Co-lumbia, SC.

13

October 10, 2019

18th

12

The many and the One

When I studied in Spain, it was pro-found to hear a scripture in Spanish during worship, knowing my friends and family heard the same passage in English that day back home: two lan-guages, various Christian denomina-tions, multiple places — one God.

Many Christian congregations and ju-dicatories hold worldwide partnerships

through a “companion church” pro-gram. The Evangelical Lutheran

Church in America, for instance, re-lates to a total of 120 church bodies

globally. Companion synods and con-gregations pray for one another, visit each other, share ministries and learn

from far-flung siblings in Christ. Hori-zons expand, enabling people to see God’s family more broadly: multiple languages, worship styles, cultures —

one God.

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts ... so it is with Christ,” writes

Paul. “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body. ... Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many” (1 Corinthians 12:12-14,

NIV). Numerous members, diverse functions, unique gifts — one God.

—Heidi Mann

5

1 Dallas & Maggie Williams

6 Travis and Jennifer Slice

George & Nicole Simmons

19 Clint & Jenni Shealy

21 Ronnie & Vicki Boozer

25 Mason, Sr. & Michelle Pugh

26 Brenda & Howard Smith

Happy Anniversary!

4 Brian Koon Michelle Long

5 Banks Milligan

6 Ralph Bedenbaugh

9 Carol Brandt

10 Brooke Stoudemire

12 Scott Hunter Lee Livingston

14 Kelly Hawkins Brianna Kinard Kaley Minick Carolyn Shealy

15 Eleandor Minick

17 Enoch Boozer

18 Gracen Green

19 Christopher Connelly Sims Peel Silas Boyd Pitts

20 Anna Cohen Dallas Williams

21 Tracy Fulmer Wayne Nichols Jeffrey Turner

22 Emily Cousins Ashley Glymph

23 Wanda Taylor

24 Kailey Gunwall

25 Tyler Kitchen

26 Ray Hawkins

27 Alex Brandt Clint Shealy Timothy Justin Weaver

28 Virginia Cannon

30 Baylee Ann Kinard

Happy Birthday All!

Happy Birthday to –and for-you! Birthdays are unique because they celebrate who someone is, not what they’ve done. Henri Nouwen wrote, “It is more important to celebrate a birthday than a successful exam, a promotion or a victory. Because to celebrate a birthday means to say to someone, ‘Thank you for being you.’ ... On a birthday we do not say, ‘Thanks for what you did, or said, or accomplished.’ No, we say, ‘Thank you for being born and be-ing among us.’” To rejoice over someone purely for who they are is an echo of God’s joy over us. Some families cele-brate “baptism birth-days” (anniversaries) by lighting candles, sharing scripture and pray-er, perhaps looking at photos and recounting stories of that milestone event that marked the beginning of their faith life. On a birthday, said Nouwen, “we lift someone up and let everyone say, ‘We love you.’” In baptism, God lifts us to his very heart and declares, “You are my precious child. I love you.”

“The simplest toy, one which even the youngest child can operate, is called a grandparent.” —Sam Levenson

6

Day Camp was a huge success this year! We were able to complete a community

service project with the children. Also during this time, the students were able to

participate in making crafts and water games. Through all of these activities, our

children were able to learn more about our Lord. However, this week would not have

been possible without the help of several individuals that gave their time to support

the cause. First, thank you to the parents that allowed their children to be a part of

such a great experience. Next, thank you to everyone that helped me pull it together

and check in to see how they could help: Gina Mays, Susan Chariker, Penny Ballan-

tyne, Deann McManus, Sarah Eargle, Dana Green, Linda Sheppard, Ella Schaffer,

Savannah Lever, Pastor Jason, and Faye Shealy. The children had a great time!

Thanks for all the help!

Carla Livingston

The camp was open to student who completed grades K-5 in the spring of 2019. Much fun and learning is evident in the photos below. Special thanks to Carla Livingston for leading and organizing the program with camp counselors.

11

St. Luke’s WELCA Joint Committee will meet Sept. 15, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Thomas Suber Circle will host. New Horizon will visit the Charleston Tea Plantation on Tuesday, Sept. 17. We will have lunch there and take a trolley tour of the plantation. Cost is $29.00 ($15 for lunch & $14 for the tour). Everyone is invited! Please let Paulette Gobel or Catherine Boozer know if you will be going by Sept. 8. We have to call ahead with a number and make a deposit. We will meet at the church at 9:00 a.m. to board the bus for our trip. We thank Mike Hawkins for volunteering to be our driver! Congregational council members will meet Sunday, September 29 for a long-range planning session. We will meet in the fellowship hall following worship service. We plan is to have lunch together as a Council and work for several hours. St. Luke’s is to work at Manna House Sept. 30-Oct. 4. We need two people per day from 1:00-2:00 p.m. If you are willing to give one hour, one day that week to serve the needy, contact Catherine. On Tuesday, Oct. 1, our church will host a birthday party at J. F. Hawkins Nursing Home. Please join us and “Alan and Friends” at 3:00 p.m. for this celebration. Parents of students who are in college or tech school, etc., please give his/her address to Lisa Lever or Catherine Boozer as soon as possible. If the address has changed since last year, we also need the new address.

Math teacher: A person from LA drove toward New York at 250 miles per hour as a person from New York drove toward LA at 150 miles per hour. Where did they meet? Student: In jail!

Back-to-school humor What kind of school do you go to if you’re … … an ice cream man? Sundae school … a giant? High school … a surfer? Boarding school … King Arthur? Knight school Teacher: What’s the chemical formula for water? Student: H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O Teacher: What are you talking about? Student: Yesterday you said it was H to O.

10

After a summer break, the morning LMM group will meet Sunday, Sept. 1st at 8:00 a.m. All

men are welcome for breakfast and Bible study.

The finance committee is working on budget preparations for 2020 fiscal year. If your group has plans for 2020 that will require funds or a change to the amount currently budgeted, please let Dana Green know so those changes can be considered. Communion helpers will meet Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 9:30 a.m. The Essie Hawkins Circle will meet Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 10:00 am. Helen Beebe will have the program, and Pat Arehart and Nancy Rumchak will bring refreshments.

Stoney Hill Center will meet Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m. Another “Invite a Friend Sunday” is scheduled for Sept. 8. We challenge you to search your family, neighbors or friends and invite them to worship with St. Luke’s on this special day. There will be an ice cream social in the fellowship hall following the service and a special St. Luke’s coffee cup for every host/hostess and visitor. Let’s see if we can’t have more visitors that on the first “Invite a Friend Sunday”. WELCA Executive meeting is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 8 following the WELCA

Heartland Fall Conference at 3:00 pm.

Council members will meet Sunday, Sept. 8 at 6:00 p.m. The G.A.L.S. group are heading to Big Boys Country Cooking in Clinton on Sept. 9. We will meet at the church at 10:00 a.m. for our devotion and leave from the church to the restaurant. All widows are welcomed. Please join us! Thomas Suber Circle will meet Monday, Sept.9 at 7:30 p.m. LMM will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9. Manna House items will be collected.

7

A

ug

ust

10

, 20

19

Th

an

ks

to t

he

Vo

lun

teer

s!

Fro

nt R

ow

: Jo

e K

unkle

, D

avid

Mill

sa

ps,

En

och

Bo

oze

r, R

ussell

Ku

nkle

and

Ran

dy G

obe

l B

ack R

ow

: G

eorg

e H

aw

kin

s, S

co

tt H

unte

r a

nd

Ro

na

ld B

ooze

r N

ot

pic

ture

d: F

aye

Sh

ea

ly,

Em

ily L

ake

, L

arr

y L

ake

, R

alp

h B

ede

nb

aug

h,

Ro

sem

ary

Be

de

nb

aug

h,

C

laud

ia H

olto

n,

Ra

nd

y H

olto

n,

Pam

Da

y,

Ke

itt

Kun

kle

an

d A

nth

on

y M

att

hew

s

8

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 LMM 8:00 am Sunday School 9:30 am

Worship Service 10:30 am

2

Office Closed

3 Communion helpers 9:30 am Essie Hawkins Circle 10:00 am Choir practice 7:00 pm Stoney Hill Center 7:30 pm

4

5

6

7

8 fellowship hall reserved Sunday School 9:30 am Worship Service 10:30 am Invite a Friend Sunday WELCA Heartland Fall Conf. St. Luke’s 3:00 pm WELCA Exec. Board Mtg 5:00 pm Council meeting 6:00 pm

9 G.A.L.S. 10:00 am leave from church (trip to Big Boys, Clinton) LMM 7:30 pm Thomas Suber Circle 7:30 pm Manna House pick up

10 11

12

St. Luke’s Coastal Retreat

Check in 4:00 p.m.

13

St. Luke’s Coastal Retreat

14

St. Luke’s Coastal Retreat

15 St. Luke’s Coastal Retreat Sunday School 9:30 am Worship Service 10:30 am WELCA Joint mtg. 3:00 pm

16

17 Bus reserved (Mike Hawkins) New Horizon visit Tea Plantation in Charleston leave from church at 9:00 am

18

19

20

21

22 Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 10:30 am

23

24 Evangelism Committee 6:30 pm

25 26 27

28

Bus reserved LCY Zip lining

29 Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 10:30 am Council long-range planning session after service

30 This week

St. Luke’s volunteers @ Manna House

1:00-2:00 pm

Bulletin information for the upcoming worship service is due each Wednesday by 10:00 a.m. Office is closed on Fridays

9

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 LMM 8:00 am Sunday School 9:30 am

Worship Service 10:30 am

2

Office Closed

3 Communion helpers 9:30 am Essie Hawkins Circle 10:00 am Choir practice 7:00 pm Stoney Hill Center 7:30 pm

4

5

6

7

8 fellowship hall reserved Sunday School 9:30 am Worship Service 10:30 am Invite a Friend Sunday WELCA Heartland Fall Conf. St. Luke’s 3:00 pm WELCA Exec. Board Mtg 5:00 pm Council meeting 6:00 pm

9 G.A.L.S. 10:00 am leave from church (trip to Big Boys, Clinton) LMM 7:30 pm Thomas Suber Circle 7:30 pm Manna House pick up

10 11

12

St. Luke’s Coastal Retreat

Check in 4:00 p.m.

13

St. Luke’s Coastal Retreat

14

St. Luke’s Coastal Retreat

15 St. Luke’s Coastal Retreat Sunday School 9:30 am Worship Service 10:30 am WELCA Joint mtg. 3:00 pm

16

17 Bus reserved (Mike Hawkins) New Horizon visit Tea Plantation in Charleston leave from church at 9:00 am

18

19

20

21

22 Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 10:30 am

23

24 Evangelism Committee 6:30 pm

25 26 27

28

Bus reserved LCY Zip lining

29 Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 10:30 am Council long-range planning session after service

30 This week

St. Luke’s volunteers @ Manna House

1:00-2:00 pm

Bulletin information for the upcoming worship service is due each Wednesday by 10:00 a.m. Office is closed on Fridays

The pearl is a symbol of the surpassing value of the kingdom of God, based on Jesus’ parable in Matthew 13:45-46 (ESV): “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”