Parish News


Congratulations to Brian & Jessica Hackathorne, whose son David Robert will be baptized today.
He will receive the following gifts as a reminder of this special day: a medallion from Thrivent Financial, a banner from the Women of the ELCA, a candle & a napkin

Altar Flowers for November 23, 2008
One arrangement in honor of the 33rd wedding anniversary of Peggy & Buddy Fitch. One altar vase in memory of Adela and Adolph Geils, given by Mandy and George Geils. Arrangement in memory of loved ones given by Margaret Fitch. Arrangement in memory of Mr. & Mrs. James B. Larisey, Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. John H. Disher, Sr. given by Sam & Carol, John, Ann and Harold. Arrangement in memory of Betty and Charles Mullen given by Bruce Mullen.

If you desire prayer for any reason, our Prayer Partners will receive you in the chapel after you have communed. The Prayer Partners for today are: (8:30AM) Paul Bendt & Rudy Matzner (11AM)Cheryl Steadman.

St. Matthew's worship services can now be heard on the new website kirkenmin.com. Listen whenever you wish. Services will usually be available within 24 hours from the time at which they occurred. This is Mark and Nancy Romness's new website.

Mark your calendars!   Sunday, December 7th, the Outreach Center will be home to a silent auction from 8am-1 pm. The center has received in kind donations for the festival which remain as we were unable to hold the auction.   Help the Outreach Center recover from the "rainy festival" and benefit from many nice items at the same time.   It will be a festive, holiday event with refreshments and Christmas items.   Give us a call if you or your business has an item to donate to this benefit. 579-0420  

XYZ Christmas Celebration: Check the XYZ board in the Education Building to sign up! The luncheon will be held on Saturday, December 6 at 1:00 PM. Registration & payment are due in advance by Wednesday, November 25. See the November Messenger for further information.

The Community Ministry Board is sponsoring a food and coat drive during worship services today and 11/27. The donated items will be given to the St. Matthews Outreach Center, East Cooper Community Outreach, and Tricounty Family Ministries so that they may be distributed to those in need.

Help the Outreach Learning Center by SHOPPING the Weekend after Thanksgiving!! Barnes and Noble book fair Friday Nov. 28 through Sunday Nov. 30th any purchases made, a percent will be donated back to the OLC! If you are interested, we have vouchers at the OLC or email christyEstephenson@gmail.com.

SHOP ON-LINE, GIVE TO THE OUTREACH CENTER at St. Matthew's. More than 700 of your favorite on-line retailers and travel sites including Amazon, eBay, Target and more have partnered with GoodShop.com - donating a percentage of your purchases to the Outreach Learning Center, at NO additional cost to you! It takes just a few seconds to go to GoodShop.com, select St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Charleston, SC as your chosen charity, and click through to your favorite retailer and shop as usual. Also, Yahoo! has teamed-up with GoodShop's sister site, GoodSearch.com to donate a penny to the Outreach Learning Center at St. Matthew's every time you search the web. Visit GoodSearch and GoodShop, and start "searching & shopping" for St. Matthew's today!

There is a private room for nursing mothers to use anytime.
Room 201 in the Education Building located at the top of the steps by the Vanderhorst Street door is now available with rocking chairs and a changing table.

Preparation for Baptism – Pastor Blalock would like to meet with anyone who is interested in being baptized or has a child to be baptized. Please contact LaVondilyn Watson, Parish Secretary, at 723-1611 ext. 16 to schedule an appointment.

November Nursery Schedule for childcare
:
Sundays 8:00AM – 12:30 PM & Wednesdays 6:30-9:00PM

Child Protection
Anyone who wishes to help with children and youth ministries needs to complete Stewards of Children training from Darkness to Light and complete paperwork. The training is available online! Once you begin the online program, you have two weeks to complete it. To sign up for the Stewards of Children online training, please contact LaVondilyn Watson, Parish Secretary, 723-1611 ext.16 to get St. Matthew’s Log in ID and password.

Shepherd Ministry
The purpose of the St. Matthew’s Shepherd Ministry is to create, maintain and sustain loving and caring relationships within the life of our church family. If anyone in the congregation has not been contacted by their Shepherd, has a change of address or would like more information about this ministry, please contact: Janelle Othersen. jnbothersen@bellsouth.net

CHILDREN AND YOUTH GROWING IN DISCIPLESHIP
Classes meet today at 9:45AM in the Education Building
Children Age 1 – Grade 1 “Learn the Bible to Live the Good News”
Toddler Class for ages 1-2 Room 102
Preschool Class for ages 3 -5 Room 101
Kindergarten - Grade 1 Room 104
Grades 2 – 5 and parents - Bible Song in the Auditorium
Confirmation Ministry for Grades 6-8 and parents – Head to the Heart (H2H) Room 209
Senior High - DevoZine Third Floor Youth Room

ADULT DISCIPLESHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Adult classes meet today at 9:45AM in the Outreach Center
Faith Lessons First Floor
Contact: Charles Schantz
Young Adult Class Room 301
Contact: – Laura & Chris Altman
lauratlion@aol.com

Next Sunday: All Sunday School classes will meet in the Auditorium for an Advent Event. We’ll have activities, arts & crafts and refreshments for all ages.

The Daily Bible
(NIV) is available for $8 in the Education Hallway. It would be a wonderful gift for a friend or family member.

Daily Bible Reading study with Pastor Blalock – Sunday, December 21, 9:45AM, January 21 at 6:30PM,
March 1and April 19 at 9:45AM.


We Care for Our Troops Prayer Wall is located by the elevator on the lower level of the first floor in the Education Building. Please add names, addresses and pictures of anyone you know who is serving in the military. Contact cindygreenwood@smlccharleston.org (723-1611 ext 26).

Sunday School Christmas Program – December 14, 9:45AM
Preschool – High School are invited to participate in the program. Rehearsal for Preschool – Grade 5 on December 7, 9:45AM, Rehearsal for all grades – Saturday, December 13, 9:30AM. Information about the program has been available at Sunday School classes and is also available in the Education Hallway. Children and youth are helping create the program by interviewing family members or members of the congregation. Please return completed interviews by December 3 to Cindy Greenwood.

XYZ Card & Game Night tomorrow evening at 7:00 PM in the auditorium. All adults 55 & over are invited to attend.


Collections for our annual Bags to the Elderly in our community continue.  Boxes for your donations are in the education building and the Outreach Center.  All items are due in by November 25th. Thanks.

Respite Care Ministries: November is National Alzheimer's Awareness and National Family Caregiver Month...and to honor all those who care for a loved one with Alzheimer's Disease or a related disorder, A Day of Thanksgiving will be presented on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 from 10:00am until 3:00pm at St. Francis Hospital.  This day of gratitude to honor caregivers is full of events to pamper and care for caregivers of people with memory loss and is sponsored by Roper St. Francis Healthcare, Respite Care Ministries, the Alzheimer's Association, Area Agency on Aging and Lutheran Hospice.  For questions and to register for this event, please call the Alzheimer's Association at 843-571-2641.

TODAY: Muenda Fair Trade will be joining us again this year in the Fellowship Room before and after both worship services to offer Fair Trade gifts to purchase. Susie and Paul are still located at the City Market and are excited to offer an online store featuring African and ‘Green’ recycled products. The website address is www.muenda.com .
For all at St. Matthew’s there are promotions available:
Susie is willing to donate 15% of purchases back to St. Matthew’s with any order. This is available on a permanent basis. In the coupon code box in the checkout process type in
smlc.
The 15% from the purchases will be sent to the Clinic in Magoye, Tanzania.
With any orders over $100 there is Free Shipping. There is a free drop off service at St. Matthew’s each Sunday available up to Christmas on all telephone orders.
Supporting Fair Trade and a more sustainable society is important now more than ever. Buy environmentally friendly, fair trade gifts that give back to others!

The Week at a Glance

Sunday, November 23—Christ the King
8:30AM Holy Communion (S)
9:45AM Sunday School for All Ages
11AM Holy Communion & New Members

Monday, November 24
10AM Respite Care (A)
3PM AS Kids (OLC)
5:45PM St. Matthew’s Ringers (CHR)
6:30PM ESL
7PM Congregation Council
XYZ Game Night

Tuesday, November 25
8AM Men’s Work Crew
9:30AM ESL (OLC)
12:30PM GED Tutoring (OLC)
2PM Staff Meeting
3PM AS Kids (OLC)
Messenger Mailing


Wednesday, November 26

3PM Office Closed

Thursday, November 27

Happy Thanksgiving!
10:30AM Thanksgiving Worship Service


Friday, November 28

Office Closed


Saturday, November 29
9AM Altar Guild—Thanksgiving Clean-up
11AM Women’s AA