THE SAINT LUKE SCROLL
NOVEMBER 2017 NEWSLETTER Volume 1, Edition 60
MINISTRY STAFF
Billy A. Olsen, Pastor
Priscilla Weir, 8:30 Service Music Director &
Coordinator of Youth Ministries
Leah Hixson, Coordinator of Children’s Ministry
Patricia Butson, 11am Music Coordinator
Bobbie McClure, Handbell Director
Julia McCall, Administrative Assistant
1501 Turnpike Road
Laurinburg, North Carolina 28352
Church Phone #: 276-6821; Fax 276-2932
Find us on facebook:
Saint Luke United Methodist, Laurinburg
Saint Luke UMC
Saints=Ordinary people following Jesus
What is Advent? Advent is a season of four weeks, including four Sun-days. The word, Advent, is a Latin word which means “coming.” The season of Advent proclaims the coming of Christ – His birth, the way He comes each day in Word and Spirit, and His return in final victory.
The Colors of Advent Purple has traditionally been the primary color of Advent, symbolizing repentance or “turning away from” our sins. Purple is also the color of royalty, demonstrating the anticipation and excitement of receiving the coming King at Christmas. Today, many churches have begun using the color blue during Advent instead of purple – as a means of distinguishing Advent from the season of Lent. Saint Luke UMC continues to use the traditional pur-ple. Pink is also one of the colors of Advent used during the third Sunday of Advent. Pink represents joy and rejoicing, and reveals a shift in the season away from repentance and towards celebration. The 3rd candle on many Advent wreaths are pink. White is the color of the center candle in the Advent wreath, representing purity. The white candle, called the Christ Candle, reminds us Christ is the sinless, spotless and pure Savior. Also, we are reminded of how those who give their hearts and lives to Christ are forgiven of their sins and have their hearts washed whiter than snow. The Advent Wreath is typically made of various evergreens. Church tradition has assigned different specific meanings to the varieties of evergreens used to make up an Advent wreath but the main point of emphasis (whether the evergreens are real or artificial) is to symbolize eternal life in Christ. Advent is not just a countdown to Christmas Day it is a time for all the world to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ! You may be ready for Christmas; are you ready for Jesus? Love always, ~ Pastor Billy
FOOD BANK - Saturday, December 9th: Volunteers Needed:
We need help on Friday, December 8th at 12 noon to pack the bags
that are given to the families and to set up tables and chairs for Satur-
day. Help is also needed to give out the food, serve breakfast, and
clean up on Saturday mornings from 8am until about 10am.
OUTREACH
Outreach would like to thank all who participated in the Thanks-for-Giving bags. We were
able to provide 32 families with a meal for Thanksgiving. A special thanks to the United
Methodist Men for donating the money for the hams.
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
Please plan to attend the annual Lovefeast on December 17th at 6:30pm. To those of you who
have agreed to be Dieners, please plan to attend a short meeting on Sunday, December 10th im-
mediately following the 11am Worship Service.
UMW will meet at 215 On Main, Tuesday, December 5th at 11:30am for lunch. All
women of the church are invited and bring a friend.
Susan Lockey Seekers Circle will meet on Wednesday, December 6th at 10am for a short
meeting to draw names for a new Prayer Partner, and then go to General McArthur’s for our
Christmas lunch and Prayer Partner gift exchange.
PAWS TREE
Saint Luke for many years has offered several beautiful
Christmas traditions which have always been lovingly
supported. Last year I began which I hope will become
another Saint Luke tradition. That is the “Paws Tree”.
The needs are the same as last year for our four legged
friends. Please take an ornament and give an animal a
Merry Christmas. Thank
You.
JoAnn Lea
Robert Louis Stevenson
said “You think those dogs
will not be in heaven! I tell
you they will be there long before any of us.”
The Angel Tree is up and full of ornaments for five needy fami-lies. Please take one , wrap it and
return it under the tree by December 20th. Thank you for your past and, I know, present support of this wonder-ful tradition at Saint Luke. "A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal." Steve Maraboli
The staff would like to wish everyone a very
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Church office will be closed on December 25
and December 26 for the Christmas holidays
and January 1 for New Year’s.
Moravian Lovefeast
Sunday, December 17, 2017
Saint Luke United Methodist Church 1501 Turnpike Rd
Laurinburg, NC
6:30-7:00pm Prelude featuring Sean Moore, Pianist and Chair of the Music Department at St. Andrews University 7:00pm Service Moravian Rolls and Coffee Candlelight Service and Congregational Singing Music by the Saint Luke choir Director: Bobbie McClure Accompanist: Barbara Morrison Narrator: Jim Ellis Pastor: Rev. Billy Olsen
The community is cordially invited to attend this 42nd annual Lovefeast service and share in the fellow-ship, worship, and Lovefeast meal as we celebrate the coming of Christ. A love offering will be received
for Hurricane victims in Texas and Puerto Rico. A staffed nursery will be provided.
Saint Luke held its first Lovefeast Service on Dec. 19, 1976 and a
wonderful tradition began. This year we will celebrate our 42nd
Lovefeast on Dec. 17. Many traditions have evolved over the
years including our beeswax candles, authentic Moravian rolls,
and homemade coffee. Our dieners wear special aprons and the
coffee is served in mugs that were purchased in 1977. The beau-
tiful wooden trays that hold the heavy coffee mugs were crafted
in 1977 by the skillful hands of charter member Richard Cox.
Richard and his brother, Charles, donated the trays. Later on
Richard also built the wooden bread baskets to replace the
cheese hoops that had carried the rolls. The Lovefeast continues
to be a labor of love by
many dedicated people
who wash cups, make a
vat of hot coffee and
pour it into cups, drive
to Winston-Salem for
the rolls and candles,
light candles, sing car-
ols, play the organ and
piano, decorate, read
scripture – all to celebrate the birth of Christ.
History Corner… TRUSTEES The Board of Trustees has reviewed a policy for contacting repair services. Bids are being sought to clean the floors in the fellowship hall and kitchen as well as the carpets at the parsonage.
Candlelight Service
Sunday, December 24
6:30pm
Everyone is welcome and invited.
ZOE Holiday Gift Catalog
https://www.wearezoe.org/gift-catalog/
Unwrap the gift of dreams for a vulnerable child with the holiday gift catalog. Filled with meaningful gifts for your friends and fami-ly, the gift catalog lets vulnerable children around the world know that someone believes in their ability to make their dreams come true.
Rabbits - $10 - A gift of $10 helps provide a pair of rabbits to an orphan. Rabbits can be cared for by young children, and reproduce quickly for steady income.
School Supplies - $25 - For a gift of $25, you can provide an or-phan with a uniform, fees, pencils, books, and other materials needed to return to school.
Hairdresser Supplies - $50 - A gift of $50 provides aspiring styl-ists with sinks, hair dryers, combs, and other necessities for their businesses to thrive.
A Basket of Shoes - $100 - A gift of $100 can be used to pur-chase wholesale products such as shoes — which can be sold at a profit in their communities.
UNITED METHODIST MEN
The Methodist Men have had a quiet month. The nominating committee will be selecting officers for 2018. The United Methodist Men will meet on Sunday, December 17 at 7:30am for breakfast, fellowship and program. All men, including youth are invited.
SAINTS AND SENIORS
The Saints and Seniors headed to Mullins, SC once again
for our November visit and delicious lunch at Webster
Manor. Driver Kevin Russell got us there and back safely
even though our leader, Carol had no idea how to get
there without Bo’s GPS! Shopping at the large antique
warehouse is always an awesome adventure. Danny
found a treasured yard size pink flamingo; a great addition
to her menagerie. But what made this trip so special was
the celebration of Charlie and Bettie’s anniversary. Charlie
bought Bettie a lovely combination wedding / engagement
ring designed for easy use since it did not go all the way
around her finger. And the addition of two new guests, Pat Gentry and Brenda Johnson. We were also de-
lighted to have Arnita Russell too. We realized the blessings we all enjoy remembering the reason for the sea-
son of the year. Peace and
wise decisions as we ask for
guidance in Jesus Name in
the new year.
Prayers and Candles,
Carol Whitehead
Saint Luke Children’s Ministries
&
Saint Luke United Methodist Church, Laurinburg
Children’s Ministry
JUNIOR FELLOWSHIP
Junior Fellowship will not meet this month due to play
practice and the Holiday. Junior Fellowship will
resume January 7th.
HANGING OF THE GREENS!
Christmas Program
We have two more practices for the Christmas program (December 3rd and 10th from 4:30-
6:30). The performance will be Wednesday December 13th at 6pm. We hope to see you all
there!!
A place at the table
24 youth and adults traveled once again to Fayetteville to
Experience Pilgrimage 2017. We loved the speakers, youth Testi-
monies, music, and helping out with the Rise Against Hunger. We
bonded together as a group, and each took away a call to draw near
to Christ, and remember we ALL have a Place at God’s Table.
COMING UP:
Wed night Youth Bible Studies: 6:15pm
Sunday night Youth: 4:30pm
Youth Christmas Party: December 10 4:30pm
Love Feast: December 17
Chrysalis: January 13—15
Super Bowl Party: February 4
DECEMBER 2017
Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
B - Birthday
A - Anniversary
1 2
B - Melisa Ciarrocca
3
A - Nick & Ann
Collie
4:30pm Children’s
Christmas play
practice
4 5
11:30am UMW
Christmas Lunch
7pm Handbells
8pm AA meeting
6
B - James Whitehead
A - Richard & Dannie
McInnis
7:15pm Adult Choir
7
B - Ann Long
B - Betty Price
8
12 noon Food
Bank preparation
9
8am Food Bank
10
4:30pm Children’s
Christmas play
practice
4:30pm Youth
Christmas Party
11
B - Pam
Vandenberg
A - Tom & Beth
Nicholson
12
7pm Handbells
8pm AA meeting
13
6pm Children’s
Christmas Play
7:15pm Adult Choir
14
B - Jan Cooke
B - Jim Ellis
B - Lee Peterson
15
B - Kelsey Hunter
B - Steve Smith
16
17
7:30am United
Methodist Men
6:30pm Lovefeast
18
A - Dave & Leslie
Knauss
19
B - Ralph Bolger
7pm Handbells
8pm AA meeting
20
A - Donnie & Winnie
Robinson
7:15pm Adult Choir
21 22 23
24
B - Scoofer Jordan
6:30pm Christmas
Eve Service
25
26
B - Ned Barringer
Church office
closed
27
No Wednesday Night
Activities
28 29 30
31
B - Bobbie McClure
A - Russ & Becky
Chiles
Saint Luke United Methodist Church
1501 Turnpike Road
Laurinburg, NC 28352
Remembering in Prayer
Urgent Needs: Julie Fogleman, John P. Bailey, Billy Lassiter (Violet Hughes brother), Lyle Barnett, Arnold Strickland
(Dawn’s father), Rev. Randall Snead, Bessie Collins, Karen Dunn, Dr. Joe Dean, Sandra Burns’ sister Elaine, Pete
Vandenberg, Wayne Bryant, Kenny and Julius Fore
Ongoing Needs: Nick Collie, Sara Smiley, Braydon Luke Dilling (Bettie Barrow), Colin McArthur, Ned Barringer, Jan
Callahan (Mary Lopez), Donald Krout, Sarah Barrett (mother of Peggy Alexander), Rev. Jim Lee, Jean Barringer, Reg
Poteat, , Hattie Wilson, Buddy Clark , Bertie Hash, Elizabeth Williams, Bob Varner (James’ father), Carolyn Hook, Gwyn
Harris, Chuck Killian (Elaine’s father), Julie King, Ann Collie, Beverly Mills, Yates Clifton
Assisted Living or Skilled Care: Emma Dunn (Scotia Village), Shirlee Jacobs (Prestwick Village), Frank Knight (Scottish
Pines), Kelly Muse (Scottish Pines), Sandra Nichols (Scottish Pines), Billie Shelley (Scotia Village), Linda English (Scottish
Pines), Dorothy Bolger (Prestwick Village), Tillie Hagan (Scotia Village)
Those in Ministry/Mission Field: Church Community Services, Food Bank of North Carolina, Lindsey Garrison, Jessica &
Grayson Stallings (China)
Military: Eliot Tremblay (Ruth’s grandson)