December

St. Matthew’s ews
The ewsletter of
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
WWW.Sml-Lex.org
DECEMBER 2015
Join us as we celebrate the
Birth of Jesus Christ
Thursday, December 24, 2015
5 P.M.
I have a friend who lives in Ohio and every time this time of the
year comes around he is like a kid in a candy store. The first frost
for him is a promise that snow is on the way. He loves winter. I do
too, but from a South Carolina perspective. Maybe just a little snow
every other year.
Of course the other thing that is happening is in retail America, it
seems like we have lost Thanksgiving all together, Halloween
costumes make way for Christmas decorations and Black Friday is a
bigger day than the special Thursday that precedes it.
Church activities pick up as well in December. Don’t miss our Adult
Appreciation Dinner on December 6th. Then on the 13th we will
have both the Children’s Christmas program (Bring your favorite
Christmas cookies) and our Cantata.
Our Christmas Caroling this year is on December 20th, and anyone
can join with the youth as we go and spread Christmas cheer around
our neighborhood. The bus will depart from the church at 5:45 pm
or you can meet us at Howard and Ann McCartha’s house at six.
As the days get shorter and shorter, we remember that Jesus Christ is
the light of the world and that is why during the season of Advent
our liturgy is built around Bernadette Farrell’s song “Christ, Be Our
light”.
May your December be filled with the light of Christ.
See you in Church
Pastor Bob
Needed each month for expenses
September receipts (Current)
September over/under variance (Current)
YTD over/under variance (Current)
•
=
=
=
=
$14,500
$ 12,504
$ -1,996
$-12,171
This figure is based on actual YTD expenses and actual YTD
donations unspecified and in current category.
December 6- Adult Appreciation Dinner
December 20- Caroling & Party
As a reminder, we have flavoring for sale for $3,
and we have reduced our cookbooks to $5. To
purchase either see a WELCA member or drop by
the church office.
SERVIG I DECEMBER
LAY ASSISTAT
6- Ronald Norris
13- Jason Roof
20- Stefni Smith-King
27- Lynn Helton
ACOLYTE FOR MOTH
Meghan Whittle
URSERY
6- Jessica Cason/Jayna Lowman
13- Delores & McKayla Lowman
20- Lois Roof & Allison Taylor
27- Terry Gates
CRUCIFER
6- McKayla Lowman
ALTAR FLOWERS
6- Jerry & Sheila Smith
13- Marvin & Tammy Smith
20- Joey & Terry Gates
27-
GREETERS
6- Debra McCartha
13- Delores Lowman
20- Kaye Steele
27- Beth Whittle
USHERS
Barry Steele, Head Usher
Cole Riddlehoover
Charles Norris
Joey Keisler
ALTAR GUILD/
WASH COMMUIO WARE
Debra McCartha
Ann Smith
OFFERIG COUTERS
6- Larry & Helen Smith
13- Brian & Tammy Kyzer
20- Doug & Beth Whittle
27- Michael & Amanda Hicks
If you are available to fill-in any of the blanks listed above, please sign
up or call the church office. Thank You!!
Seth Ewing, Myrtie Heywood, Cooper Hardy, Ann Trivison,
Norma & Harold Williams, Larry and Carolyn McCartha, Harry
Keisler, James Jumper, Cromer Jumper, Jeff Hall, Nina Watts,
Minnie Monts, Laverne Grainger, Nettie Bell Alewine, Gavin &
Kinsleigh Shealy, Harlow Piszcz, Jeff & Amy Liptak, Bill Rivers,
Alvilda Steele, Freddie Williams, Margaret Miller, Barbara Norris,
Betty Bradley, Barbara Fisher, Allen and Lennon Cureton, Carl
Enlow Sr., Gene Backman, Dorothy Craps, Annette Stafford, Martin
Watts, Elizabeth Harvey, Connie Carter, Cecil Lowman, Roy
Whittle, Rosetta Leaphart, David Rhimer, Adelynn Hall, Harvey
Keisler, Jim Huggins, Ava Dibenedetto, Laura Beck, Wayne
Keisler, Diane Caughman, Jenny Owens, Al Stevenson, Susan
Wingard Lattimer, Parker Cowherd, and Don McCartha.
We pray for all who serve in our armed forces,
especially Patrick Mason, Clynt Campbell, Amy Shelby Storrs,
D.J Hoover, Joe Mason, Gus Monaco, Chris Basquil, Trevor
Dean, Dustin Dean, Jeff Shuler, Jeff Hoover, Eric L. Baker,
Mason Frier, Madison Leitner, Travis Mann, Jacob Robertson,
Mason Cox and Dallas Moses.
Special Offering in December
Our special offering in December is for Habitat
for Humanity, Sistercare, Current Fund or your
Choice. Please mark your gift in the “other”
section of your offering envelope, with proper
designation. Thank you for your generous
response.
The following are celebrating birthdays in DECEMBER:
2- Frances Smith
17- Dorothy Lindler
2- Norma Williams
17- Laurie Kaminer
2- Garrett Roof
17- Leslie Kaminer
2- Shayne Beatty
19- Sandra Page
3- Lisa Buzhardt
19- Phillip McCarthy
3- Elliot Lee King
19- Jerry Smith
5- Ricky Whittle
20- Lois Powell
6- Austin Hayes
20- Adrian Taylor
7- Dana Taylor
20- Jill Hanna
7- Savannah Jones
21- Cecil Lowman
7- Jacob Smith
22- Edith Leaphart
8- Melissa Pollard
23- Emmanuel Richardson
11- Everette Keefer
24- Jennifer Piszcz
14- John Sease, III
26- Shirley Smith
14- Jeffery Lowman
26- Harold Pollard, III
15- Wanda Lindler
27- Russell Smith
15- Bruce Smith
27- Shirley Doyle
16- Jason McCarthy
27- John Keisler
17- Laurie Beatty
31- David G. Keisler
If your birthday has been omitted from the above list or if there
are any corrections, please notify the church office. Thanks!
The 2016 Altar Flower Chart has been posted in the Narthex.
Please sign up for the Sunday(s) you would like to place flowers on
the altar for worship. Thank you.
We continue to take food for the LICS Food Pantry every
Sunday. Below is a list of foods for this month:
December 6 – boxed macaroni & cheese
December 13 – ravioli/spaghetti o’s
December 20- can meat
December 27- canned/dry soup
Congratulations to the following who were elected to serve
on the Church Council beginning January 1, 2016.
Jeffery Lowman
Barry Steele
Allison Taylor
Doug Whittle
Youth Representatives: McKayla Lowman
Meghan Whittle
Our heartfelt sympathy is extended to the family and friends of
Ms. Lois Smith. Our prayers are with you during this difficult
time.
Please pick up stockings, stocking covers and
suggestion list and fill your stockings with items
for any age group you choose. Be sure to write
the age (Infant – Age 2) and also the gender (Girl
or Boy) on the stocking cover. The filled
stockings should be returned to the church by
Sunday, December 6th. Please contact Linda
Singley at 359-2366 if you have any questions.
The Youth of the Church are once again offering to help you
distribute your Christmas Cards to other church members. Place
your cards in the narthex and they will be hand delivered with
Christmas love!!
All women of the church are invited to attend our WELCA
Christmas gathering. The gathering will be held on December 21st
at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Ann McCartha. Bring your favorite
Christmas dish.
We invite everyone to go Christmas Caroling on December
20th. Plan to meet at the home of Ann and Howard McCartha.
We will leave at 6:00 p.m. to go caroling. Remember to bring a
finger food.
Attention Committee Members and Treasurers
Please begin working on the list of members for your committee, as
well as responsibilities for 2016 and the report of activities for 2015.
All information for the church’s yearbook needs to be submitted to
the church office as soon as possible. All treasurers need to submit
their reports as soon as possible after receiving the final bank
statement. Thanks for your assistance.
2016
Sharing our Time and Talents
Please find our Time and Talent form for next year on the
back of your calendar or in the Narthex. Please return these
in December.
The 2016 Offering Envelopes are in the Narthex. Please pick up
your box and any of your family members. If there is not a box
with your name on it, please notify the church office and a box will
be provided for you.
We are in need of people to help decorate the church on
Saturday, December 5th at 9:00 AM. Please join us!!
The youth of the church will be hosting our Senior Citizens
Luncheon following the worship service on Sunday, December
6th. All senior citizens are invited to join us on this special day.
2016 Church Directory
Please review your present church directory and note any changes
that have occurred in your family during the year. Please notify the
church office of changes (address, telephone numbers, etc.) as soon
as possible to be included in the new directory.
For hundreds of years, the land of Judah had heard
the prophets tell about the one who was to come
and be their Messiah, the Savior of the world.
“The Virgin will be with child and will give birth
to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” ______
which means, “God with us.”
Matthew 1: 23
Let us rejoice in this wonderful news of the birth of
our Savior, as the choirs and participants retell the
story through music, scripture, and drama on
Sunday, December 13, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. in the
sanctuary. Sing Alleluia!!
“ALL IS WELL”
Rehearsal for Christmas Program “ALL IS WELL”
Sunday, December 6, 5:00 p.m.
Congratulations to the following members who are celebrating an
anniversary during DECEMBER:
613182228-
Larry and Carolyn McCartha
Jason and Ashley Roof
Harold and Lindell Lowman
Joey and Terry Gates
LaVern and Debbie Steele
All seniors of the church are invited to join us for our Christmas
gathering!! Join us at noon on Thursday, December 10th for a time
of food, fun and fellowship. We will be playing Chinese Christmas
so please bring a wrapped gift not over $5. Don’t forget to bring a
covered dish and invite someone to join you!!
Call Ann McCartha with any questions at 359-4040.
Our Children will present “The Greatest Story” on Sunday,
December 13th during the Sunday School hour. We invite the
congregation to bring finger foods to share following the
program.
Congratulations to Jason and Stefni King on the arrival of Bennet
James Randolph King born on October 29, 2015. Bennett was 7
pounds, 7 ounces and was 20.5 inches long!!