Saint Luke United Methodist Church

1501 Turnpike Road

Laurinburg, NC 28352

Remembering in Prayer

Urgent Needs: Ryan Buddin, Julie Fogleman, Casey Zammit, Hollyn Gregory (Julie Zammit), John P. Bailey, Billy

Lassiter (Violet Hughes brother), Rita Sutton, Kristy Rogers Lyle Barnett, Clark Hanmer, Arnold Strickland (Dawn’s father),

Rev. Randall Snead, Linda Lovett (Debbie Ray’s aunt), Bessie Collins, Karen Dunn, Jake and Barbara Broad (Danielle

Walker), John D. Seales, Jr. (Dannie McInnis’ brother), Tim Smith (brother of Leatha and David), Nicole Fowler (Dixie Cox’s

nephew), Ed Guest, III.

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, Pam Peck, Ancel Caulk, Buddy Clark , Bertie Hash, Elizabeth Williams, Bob Varner (James’ father),

Pattie West, David Ray, Carolyn Hook, Gwyn Harris, Pearl Thomas, Mae McNair, Tracy Bethea, Helen Bethea, Tracy

Covington, Paula Covington, Chuck Killian (Elaine’s father), Michael Locklear and family, Julie King, J.C. Smith, Ann Collie,

Steven Monroe (Gloria’s brother), Carmen Torres

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), Bill Olsen (Hillsborough),

Linda English (Prestwick Village), Dorothy Bolger (Prestwick Village)

Those in Ministry/Mission Field: Church Community Services, Food Bank of North Carolina, Lindsey Garrison,

Jessica & Grayson Stallings (China)

Military: Rick Ward (Dennis’ brother), Eliot Tremblay (Ruth’s grandson)

THE SAINT LUKE SCROLL

JANUARY 2017 NEWSLETTER Volume 1, Edition 49

MINISTRY STAFF

Billy A. Olsen, Pastor

Priscilla Weir, 8:30 Service Music Director &

Coordinator of Youth Ministries

Tracy Thomas, 11am Music Coordinator

Leah Hixson, Coordinator of Children’s Ministry

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

to host a traditional summer VBS with the “Godspeed” youth choir from Saint Mark UMC of Birmingham,

AL. We said good-bye to Music Directors Beth and Jon Maisonpierre, and welcomed Tracy Thomas as

Beth and Jon’s gracious and imminently qualified successor. Our fourth annual Children’s Fall Festival

remains the single biggest children’s ministry event in Scotland County. Saint Luke received 15 new

members during 2016 and we have reason to be encouraged by the health of our youth and children’s

ministries. Saint Luke can also celebrate how three of our active members, Rob Macy, Ken Griswold and

Bob Ray have responded to the calling of God on their lives to serve as licensed pastors of other United

Methodist Churches in our District.

Saint Luke has a marvelous history. This time last year, January marked Saint Luke UMC’s 50th

anniversary with a special time of worship and all the things that come with an old-fashioned Sandhill’s

homecoming. Looking ahead to the whole of 2017 I’m glad for us to be facing life, with its uncertainties,

hardships, challenges and opportunities together.

We cannot look into the future and number its highlights – but we can consider how God would have us

live each day. As a whole, Saint Luke will begin our 51st year much as our church began its first year –

with faith and hope for the days ahead. We will meet. We will eat . We will worship, and serve, and give

and do the things that the people of God have been doing for 2,000+ years. We will, perhaps, measure

2017 against year’s past but the thing that matters most to God will be more than what we do as a con-

gregation. What matters most about 2017 will be the choices we make as individuals. What will shape

and make Saint Luke UMC’s 51st year together will be how we choose to respond ourselves. If we decide

today, to let someone else answer the call – maybe they will. It’s certainly true that “we can’t do every-

thing” but it is also true that God has a plan for all of us.

My prayer for the start of this New Year is to have fewer excuses to make for my missed opportunities in

2017 than I have for 2016. I think I have good reason to have my hopes set high for tomorrow, because

I’m going there with you!

Love always, Pastor Billy

More than a newsletter, I hope you will receive this first 2017

issue of the Scroll as a “Thank You” letter. Thank you, Saint

Luke family and friends, for being part of the mission and

ministry of our church during 2016. As your pastor, I find myself

filled with pride (in a positive way) over your responses to many

and various opportunities to give, to serve, and to support Saint

Luke. Our new roof project replaced a failing flat roof with an

architecturally sound and eye-pleasing A-frame roof began in the

spring and was finished before the summer. During the summer,

Saint Luke partnered with Jerusalem UMC and Caledonia UMC

Thank you to everyone who participated in Christmas Cheer. Because of your generosity Saint Luke members were able to help eight families have a Merrier Christmas.

It is time to start thinking about the summer ASP Mission Trip. We will be serving needy families somewhere in NC from June 18-24, 2017.

If you are 14 years or older and are interested in this mission trip, please contact Bo Smith at 910-276-6149 for additional information.

Our 41st Annual Love Feast was well attended on December 11. A great big thank you goes out to everyone who had a part in the program. A lot of hard work and practice went into preparing for this program.

held their Annual Christmas Dinner

December 5. Everyone in attendance had a great time. Nathan and Tracy Thomas

presented a beautiful program of Christmas music.

UMW Circles will resume on Wednesday January 4. Morning Circle at

10:00 AM and evening at 6:30 PM. Please come join one of the circles. We would

love to have new members join us for the New Year.

May God bless each and everyone this New Year.

THANK YOU: A huge thank you to Saint

Luke for your overwhelming generosity to the Paws Tree!!! The shelter was so GRRateful and so

very appreciative. Your response will touch many furry hearts and furry needs. These

contributions were PURRfect gifts, sure to give our four-legged friends a Merry

Christmas!

WELCOME...

We welcome Emily Kosak who joined

the church on Sunday, December 18 at

the 8:30am service by letter of transfer

from Sneads Grove UMC. Emily lives

at 16420 Laurel Hill Church Road,

Laurinburg and is a retired teacher.

Emily’s sister, Lucinda Campbell is an

active Saint Luke member.

JANUARY 2017

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

B = Birthday

A = Anniversaries

1

NEW YEAR’S DAY

8:30 and 11am

Worship Services

No Youth or

Children’s activities

2

3

7pm Handbells

8pm Alcohol

Anonymous

4

B - Tommy Ford

B - Violet Hughes

10am Susan Lockey

Circle

6:15pm Mary Harvin

Circle

7:15pm Adult Choir

5 6

B - Bill Smith

B - Daniel Smith

7

8

B - Madison

O’Donnell

4pm Trustees

4:30pm Youth

(grades 6-12)

4:30pm Junior

Fellowship (age3-5th

grade)

9 10

B - June Ellis

B - Mira Ward

7pm Handbells

8pm Alcohol

Anonymous

11

5:30pm Wednesday

night meal

6:15pm Youth

7:15pm Adult Choir

12

B - JoAnn Lea

13

12 noon Food Bank

preparation

14

8am Food Bank

15

7:30am United

Methodist Men

4:30pm Junior

Fellowship (age3-5th

grade)

No Youth Activities -

Chrysalis

16

B - Mary Lopez

A - Larry &

Almenia Stevens

17

7pm Handbells

8pm Alcohol

Anonymous

18

5:30pm Wednesday

night meal

6:15pm Youth

7:15pm Adult Choir

19

B - Beth

Maisonpierre

B - Ronnie Averitt

20

B - Martha Bailey

21

22

B - Brian Krout

4:30pm Youth

(grades 6-12)

4:30pm Junior

Fellowship (age3-5th

grade)

23

B - Nick Collie

24

B - Hillary Lanier

7pm Handbells

8pm Alcohol

Anonymous

25

5:30pm Wednesday

night meal

6:15pm Youth

7:15pm Adult Choir

26 27 28

B - Shawnda

Barfield

29

B - David

Vandenberg

4:30pm Youth

(grades 6-12)

4:30pm Junior

Fellowship (age3-5th

grade)

30 31

7pm Handbells

8pm Alcohol

Anonymous

In our recent Advent Bible Study we talked about Christ being born

to be God With Us, Human like us, Our Servant, Light and our

Savior. All of our decorating, celebrating, and gifts remind us of the

greatest gift of all—the gift of Jesus - have you made room for Him in

your heart and life this year?

COMING UP: Sunday night youth resumes 1/8

Wed night Youth Bible study resumes 1/11

Chrysalis Weekend 1/14—16

No Youth on 1/15

Superbowl Party 2/5

Teen Valley Ranch deposit due 2/12

United Methodist Men’s (UMM) Update

UMM December 18, 2016 meeting notes:

For devotion, Charlie Barrow’s message was that God doesn’t call the qualified, but qualifies the people he calls.

Lee Peterson reported a balance as of $981.42 with annual contributions of approximately $7,000 for the year.

Recent/Future Activities

The Kairos Ministry that Saint Luke UMM supports is working to establish a working relation with the federal prison in Marlboro County.

The nominating committee will present a slate of officers to be presented for vote at the January meet-ing.

Saint Luke UMM will soon start compiling a budget for 2017. If you have a Christ centered activity the UMM can help with, please see any UMM member.

Next meeting is Sunday January 15, 2017 at 7:30 AM. We invite all men of the church (including youth!) to attend and enjoy a great breakfast and fellowship.

FLOWER CALENDAR

The 2017 flower calendar is posted outside

the church office. Please sign up to place

flowers in the Sanctuary.

Our Wednesday Night Meals will resume on January 11. The

Susan Lockey Seekers Circle will be preparing the meal.

Everyone is welcome. Cost is $7.00 per person or maximum of $21.00

per family. Everyone is welcome.

You are Invited to the

Gateway District Leadership Training Event!

Hosted at Prospect UMC, 3929 Missouri Rd, Maxton, NC 28364

January 8, 2017 3:00-5:30pm

All Lay Persons and Clergy are encouraged to attend and choose one of these workshops:

1. S/PRC Committee-- Led by Rev. Dr. Kenneth Locklear and Rev. Kelly Barr. Training for members of

Pastor/Parish and Staff/Parish Committees (Laity Only)

2. Financial Training for Your Local Congregation- Led by Christine Dodson

3. Congregations for Children (C4C)- Led by Rev. Scott Foster. Learn local approaches for every church to be

involved with children and schools.

4. Am I a Lay Servant or a Lay Speaker? Led by Sara Cameron and Effie McGill. Explore the new roles of

lay servant and lay speaker and compare the educational expectations for each role.

5. Spiritual Enrichment- Led by Gary Locklear Identified the need for Spiritual Enrichment and Spiritual

Discipline in Local Congregations

6. Soup Kitchen Ministries- Led by Ruth Woods: Learn how one local congregation established a soup

ministry to engage their neighborhood with their church

7. Video Worship- Led by Joel Perry Scared to use technology in your worship service? Learn simple ways to

improve your services with simple available technology.

8. Leadership Coordinators: Led by Dr. Terry Hunt: Learn what the responsibilities are for your Local Church

Lay Leader.

9. Sunday School Revitalization: Led by Pam Baker: Helping to Rebuild Sunday School Classes

10. Clergy Pow-Wow: Led by Jaye White, Dr. Michelle Taylor Skipper, Rev. Matthew Seals: Soul Care/

Sabbath Chaplin/Health

11. NCCUMC Foundation: Led by Dr. Reggie Ponder: Generosity and About the UMC Foundation

12. SHIFT: Led by Steve Taylor: Helping Congregations Back into the Game of Effective Ministry” and

“Membership to Discipleship – Growing Mature Disciples who Make Disciples.”

13. Missional Communities: Led by Chad Pullins: Missional Gatherings are united through Christian

community around a common service and witness to a particular neighborhood or network of relationships

14. Evangelism: Led by Rev. Bruce Skipper: The Commission on Evangelism exists to help local

congregations fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus: “Make Disciples.”

FOOD BANK

Our next Food Bank is Saturday, January 14. Please consider

joining us on Friday, January 13 at 12 noon to pack the bags and

on Saturday at 8am to give out the bags. Thank you for

supporting our Food Bank ministry.

Saint Luke Children’s Ministries

&

Saint Luke United Methodist Church, Laurinburg

Children’s Ministry

JUNIOR FELLOWSHIP

Starting back on January 8th

Sunday Nights

4:30-6:30

Ages: 3-5th Grade

Thank You!! Special Thanks to Maria and Barbara for all your help with the Christmas

Program this year. Also, thanks to all the parents who helped with the program

and costumes. We could not have done it without all of your support!