Fellowship and Congregational Care Ministry Updates

Older Wiser Lutheran Seniors ~ OWLS

Trip to King George Restaurant and Bristol Theatre

Saturday, Oct. 6, 10:45 am at SMLC to carpool for an 11am departure.

 

Mission Partners:

 

Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30pm, in Fellowship Hall, FOOD, FRIENDS and FUN for all.

October, we provide soup & you Bring-Your-Own-Sandwich Month, along with Trivia Teams
.

10/3 = Chicken Noodle Soup;

10/10 = Chili;

10/17 = Vegetable Soup

NOTE: October 17 is our last WHOW of the season. We plan to resume after Easter, Wednesday, April 24, 2019.

 

Meatless Monday Potluck

Monday, October 22, 6:30pm Sponsored by the Green Team and Fellowship & Congregation Care. Read more about this event. Please sign up on bulletin board.

 

Funeral Guild

Our newest ministry has three teams to help with funeral receptions. If you are interested in serving, please contact leader Pat Brodie, ronaldbrodie@comcast.net.

 

Quilters

The guild is completing their final quilts for Lutheran World Relief. Thanks for the many years of dedicated leadership of Virginia Sheppard and members for their skillful labor to produce hundreds of quilts to comfort those in crisis.

 

St. Matthew Book Group

Thurs., Nov. 8 at 2pm “Everything Happens for a Reason and Other Lies I’ve Loved” by Kate Bowler.

NOTE: Even though the book is a very personal story, I feel compelled to offer a teaching moment: Many Christians use variations on the quote “everything happens for a reason,” which bothers all of my Christian pastor friends – and possibly me the most! Fate and destiny (even if attributed to God) really are not part of the Christian faith rooted in scripture, but rather, come from mythologies and philosophy. Check out Wikipedia’s description of “destiny”. On the other hand, Christians can trust that whatever happens – and some of what happens in our world is NOT what God wants as it is due to evil and sin – whatever is happening – God will be with us. Even more, God can wring good out of whatever happens. Okay, teaching moment over.

 

Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministers, The After People

People often ask, “What exactly is a Stephen Minister?” One way to put is that Stephen Ministers are the After People.

Stephen Ministers are there:

  • …after the phone call you hoped you’d never get.
  • …after the baby arrives, demanding more of you than you dreamed possible.
  • …after the relationship falls apart and the bottom falls out of your life.
  • …after the doctor says, “I’m sorry, but there is nothing more we can do.”
  • …after the funeral, when everyone has left and the emotions you’ve held at bay come crashing in on you.
  • …after the last child honks the horn, waves and drives away— and the house suddenly seems empty.
  • …after you find a pink slip with your final paycheck.
  • …after your family and friends have heard your story one too many times, but you still need to talk it out.

Stephen Ministers are the After People. They are ready to come alongside you—or your friends, neighbors, coworkers, or relatives— and provide comfort and support for as long after as needed.

Thanks to Stephen Ministry and Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Lewes, DE, for this article.