November 3

All Saints Sunday

“Dessert First on the First”

November 4

Music & Worship Committee Meeting

November 5

Finance Committee Meeting

November 10

Annual Congregational Meeting

and Honoring Veterans

November 12

Finance Committee

November 18

Property Committee Meeting

November 24

Christmas Program Practice

November 25

Council Meeting

LUTHERAN CHURCH Rev. Cassie McIntosh Overcash,

Pastor

OFFICE HOURS:

Monday —Thursday

9:00 AM — 1:00 PM GRACE

Dear people of God at Grace Lutheran Church , It’s an exciting time of the year at Grace as we prepare for our annual meeting, yes you read that right, annual meetings are exciting, and we need you to stay after worship for about half an hour on November 10th. And you’re probably asking yourself, why does it matter that I am there for this annual meeting?

And it matters because your voice matters, this is your church, and God is speaking through you and the ways you are engaged in ministry here.

You know how after we elect a president and people are always saying, “don’t complain if you didn’t vote.”… Well as followers of Jesus and committed members of this church who have said that we will follow the example of Christ, grow together, and connect in our community showing up for half an hour to make decisions as a community is a step toward our mission and toward renewing our congregation.

This year at our annual meeting we will:

- vote on the 2020 Budget

- elect 4 council members

- vote on a new gift and endowment policy

- celebrate the work of our congregation in our annual report.

While that may seem like boring stuff, that is God’s work happening in this place to give us a space to worship,

scouts a place to gather, food for hungry bellies, and good Christian leaders being formed. And for that to happen all we need you to do is show up, read your materials, ask questions, raise your hand, and vote the way the Holy Spirit is moving you to in these holy ministry areas in our congregation.

If you have questions Council Members and Pastor Cassie will be available after worship during dessert first on November 3 because we know asking questions in front of the whole congregation can be intimidating and we want to give everyone space to be informed about the amazing things happening in our congregation.

In Hebrews Chapter 10 it says, “4 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” By meeting together as a church once a year to vote on how our lives as a congregation will be shaped, we are encouraging our community and welcoming all to participate fully. This meeting makes the ministry we do here possible and we hope that you will find that attending is well worth your time.

I hope to see many of you at our annual meeting in November!

God’s peace!

Pastor Cassie

ON THE CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER

WWW.GRACETHOMASVILLE.COM 115 UNITY STREET, THOMASVILLE, NC 27360 tvillegrace@gmail.com Issue No. 43 NOVEBER 2019

13 Michael and Sherry Edinger 23 Danny and Nell Comer

23 Jeanette Putnam 26 Lynn Fitzgerald and Butch Evans

24 Bill and Charlotte Yandell 28 Robert Hughes

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1

2

3

9:00 AM

Sunday School

10:00 AM Worship

All Saints Sunday

“Dessert First on the First”

4

5:45 PM

Music & Worship

Committee

7:00 PM

Boy Scouts

5

6:00 PM

Finance

Committee

Meeting

6:30 PM

Girl Scouts

6

6:45 PM

Choir Rehearsal

7

8

9

10

9:00 AM

Sunday School

10:00 AM Worship

Annual Congregational

Meeting & Honoring

Veterans

11

(No Scouts)

12

6:30 PM

Girl Scouts

13

6:45 PM

Choir Rehearsal

14

15

16

17

9:00 AM

Sunday School

10:00 AM Worship

Community Thanksgiving

Service at St. Luke’s,

Tyro

18

6:30 PM

Property

Committee

Meeting

7:00 PM

Boy Scouts

19

6:30 PM

Girl Scouts

20

6:45 PM

Choir Rehearsal

21 22

23

24 9:00 AM

Sunday School

10:00 AM Worship

25

6:30 PM

Council Meeting

7:00 PM

Boy Scouts

26

6:30 PM

Girl Scouts

27

6:45 PM

Choir Rehearsal

28

29 30

Pastor Cassie on

vacation. She returns

on December 3.

2 Edward Augustus (Gus)

Pritchett

3 Kenton Musselman

4 Calvin Conrad

Terry Moore

7 Winston Browne

9 Keith Berry

13 Bonnie Yoder

Forest Aderhold

14 Fred Souffront

16 Taylor Gainey

19 Victor Lambeth

21 David Armfield

Kim Moore

22 Danny Comer

23 Marina Moore

25 Virginia Brown

26 Bailey Lance

Cindy Myers

29 Bill Yandell

WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS

November 3 November 10 November 17 November 24

Assistant

Lector

Acolyte

Presenter

Nursery

Altar Flowers

Bulletins

Counters

Jonathan Beaver

Deborah Moore

Larry Sink

Pat Wood

Heather Beaver &

Marianne Yandell

(Available)

(Available)

David & Sandra

Armfield

Doug Edgerton

Cindy Hunnicutt

Joey Bump

Charlotte Yandell

Heather Beaver & the

Bumps

Doug & Linda Edgerton

(Available)

Mike & Jane Hill

Eugene Berry

Kenton Musselman

Lauren Seamon

Larry Sink

Heather Beaver &

Loretta Wise

Bob & Rachel Herman

Steve & Cathy Beck

David & Michelle

Seamon

Margie Venable

Billy Yandell

Nico Beaver

Pat Wood

Heather Beaver &

Marianne Yandell

Jeanette Putnam

(Available)

Eugene & Jeanne

Berry

Ushers serving in NOVEMBER: Bill Armentrout, L..W. Conrad, Jeff Martz, Bill Venable

Altar Guild serving in NOVEMBER: Barbara Hasselback, Charlotte Yandell

WHERE DOES MY OFFERING GO?

When you give an offering to the general fund at Grace Lutheran Church, most of it goes to fund day to day

operations, programming, and partnerships in the Thomasville community but you may have noticed that 10% of

that fund goes to something called mission support. Mission support helps fund ministry happening in the ELCA

and especially the NC Synod that’s living out it’s mission to: Cultivate & Celebrate Vital Congregations, Identify,

Equip and Nurture Whole & Healthy Leaders, Embrace & Engage in Collaboration, and Proclaim the Promise of

the Resurrection with a Prophetic Voice all for the sake of the world. If you would like to learn more about the

ministry of the NC synod of the ELCA ask Pastor Cassie or visit https://nclutheran.org.

ELCA members in more than 9,300 congregations in the United States and Caribbean give approximately $1.75

billion in regular offering to support ELCA ministries in their local communities and worldwide. When members

give through their congregations, a percentage of that money is then shared with the local synod and the

national churchwide organization. This unrestricted giving, called Mission Support, gives us both the foundation

and the fuel to do God’s work in the world and a portion of the gifts circle back to support ministries in synods and

local congregations. Of these unrestricted gifts, the churchwide organization receives around 2.6 percent. This

represents the largest portion of the ELCA churchwide organization’s operating budget.

Here are some of the ways these funds are used:

• Grow the ELCA in the United States

Plant and support 357 new congregations.

Enable congregations to renew their ministries and reach out to their

surrounding communities.

Work together with our African Descent, American Indian and Alaska

Native, Arab and Middle Eastern, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Latino/

Latina members to develop networks and resources for ministry.

Develop and share resources for faith, discipleship, prayer and worship.

• Grow the Lutheran church around the world

As a member of The Lutheran World Federation, we’re in communion with 145 member churches and

directly connected to 85 companion churches in other countries.

Accompany new Lutheran churches, expand ministries, and train leaders and evangelists.

Send 230 missionaries in more than 48 countries, and more than 84 Young Adults in Global Mission in 11

country programs.

• Provide coordination and support for churchwide ministries

Preserve and maintain archives and historic records of the ELCA and its predecessor bodies.

Provide office space, equipment and human resources for staff and operations.

Process 150,000 gifts to ELCA ministries.

Equip congregations and synods with resources to assist in risk management and legal matters.

Maintain constituent database, including 1.1 million records of rostered and lay leaders, members, donors

and congregations.

• Support and develop current and future leaders in the ELCA

Support the work of seven ELCA seminaries and 26 colleges and universities.

Identify, connect and provide ministry resources and opportunities for networking for lay leaders.

Offer events and leadership opportunities for youth and young adults.

• Provide governance and leadership

Organize lay and clergy leaders from across the church to serve on the governance boards and committees

that provide guidance and oversight for ELCA ministries.

• And more…

Over the past few years we have benefitted greatly in our partnership with the ELCA we have learned

about vitality as a congregation with Pastor Danielle DeNise, we have learned about Gifts and Giving with

Deacon Mitzie Shafer and our participation in the Stewardship for All Seasons Program, Pastor Cassie has

been able to attend numerous free workshops to strengthen our ministry at Grace, and Jonathan Beaver is

able to participate in the lay preaching program all because of mission support.

WHAT DO COUNCIL MEMBERS DO?

This year at our annual meeting we will be electing 4 members of our council, this is such a gift to our congregation and is a great opportunity for people to learn all that goes into making church happen each week.

Election to a Congregation Council carries with it the respect and trust of the constituency of your congregation. The value of your willingness to make a contribution to the life of your congregation is significant and appreciated. Your contribution involves your time, expertise, enthusiasm and energy. Saying yes to this responsibility brings some basic duties.

Congregation Council member

• Be a member in good standing of the congregation, regularly attending worship services and involved in congregational life

• Attend all meetings of the council.

• Attempt to discover, through prayer and discernment, what is best for the congregation.

• Consider the well-being of the council when dealing with specific issues and ministries.

• Treat all matters relating to council deliberations as confidential, until such time as the information is determined a matter of public record.

• Assist the pastor in nurturing the spiritual life of the congregation.

• Care for the congregation’s membership.

• Ensure that the decisions of the congregation are carried out.

• Be a part of a united body by supporting all decisions of the council, even if you don’t agree with the decision.

• Treat members of the council and staff as brothers and sisters in Christ.

• Be familiar with the governing documents of the congregation.

• Be a leadership presence in the congregation.

Interested on serving on council? Let Pastor Cassie or one of our current council members know.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Matthew 6:21

The Holy Spirit has been busy indeed. God heard your prayers and sent His Holy Spirit among you to open hearts and answer the call of our stewardship appeal. We set a goal that would not be too easily attained and we let God do the rest. You have responded resoundingly to His call and have shown where your treasure is.

Our treasure is here at Grace, among God’s people, among the many outreach ministries we are blessed to be a part of, among the marginalized who live in our community, among the many families who come together at Grace for special events, among the groups who regularly meet in our facilities and need a safe and pleasant environment, among our growing and changing programs that enrich and restore us in faith and community.

During this year’s appeal you listened to fellow members who offered their thoughts in numerous temple talks that highlighted how additional donations would be utilized. You heard personal testimonies about the many outreach ministries our faith community is involved in. Many of you are a part of these ministries and know firsthand the impact they have in our community. Many thanks to everyone who helped tell your story this year. Your words and actions were an inspiration to all who listened. It is in community where we find our strength.

None of us would be here or have the means to share our treasure if it were not that God gave to us first. Your giving in this appeal is evidence that you believe it all comes for God and we are meant to share it. Thank you for hearing and acting accordingly.

Your generosity will surely affect many in this community in 2020 as well as allow us to meet budget expenses, offer salary increases as appropriate and have something set aside for whatever God has in store for us. Below are the numbers that prove where your treasure is:

2018 giving: $138297 2019 pledges (for 2020): $173,396 Increase: $35,099 (Goal $30,000) New givers: 5 Givers that increased giving: 26 Total Pledges: 53 (Goal 40)

In Ecclesiastes 3 it states the following…

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to grieve and a time to dance.”

We should be dancing at our harvest this year and giving God the credit. God’s peace to all of you and thank you again for your resounding generosity.

If you have any feedback about this appeal process, please talk with anyone on the Stewardship Committee or send me an email at Linledge@aol.com. We are certainly open to improving this process.

Stewardship Committee Members include: Pastor Cassie, Linda Edgerton, Larry Sink, Loretta Wise and Pat Wood.

Peace,

Linda Edgerton, Stewardship Committee Chair

SENIOR SAINT SPOTLIGHT

Spotlight on Evelyn Conrad...

Evelyn was born at home in Spencer, NC on March 1923 – the second of

four children. Her younger sister, Goldie, is still living. Evelyn graduated

from Spencer High School and went on to attend and graduate from

Salisbury Business College. Her first job, after graduating from business

school was at Spencer High School. Later her brother-in law got her a job

working in the lab at Duke Power. Later she worked in the office at Duke Power. Through a friend at

business school she met Grover Seamon. They married in 1945 while he was still in the Army.

Evelyn was Baptist and Grover was Lutheran. Since the Baptist church would not accept Grover’s baptism,

they attended the Lutheran Church in Spencer. Grover’s job brought him to Thomasville and they started

coming to Grace Lutheran Church in the late 1946 0r 1947. Evelyn and Grover has three children: Patricia,

Jerry and Larry (twins). Grover died in 1972. In 1976 she married Paul Conrad; who died in 1996.

The years between the two marriages Evelyn, worked several jobs doing office work and retailing. She

also, volunteered as church secretary (office assistant) several times when we were between secretaries.

She says the most exciting thing about her church life is meeting and becoming friends with so many

wonderful people over the years.

About her faith, she says that is a hard question to answer. “I am so thankful for my family, and

when I come to church and sit with two rows of family – that warms my heart and brings me

joy.”

TEC RETREAT Teens Encounter Christ is a welcoming, youth-led, community that creates a safe place for

personal growth in Christ. Our focus is on youth involvement and youth leadership, growing faith-

based relationships, and offering a transformational environment where participants can be their

entire selves.

We call both youth and adult leaders to serve, share, and inspire youth to lead through their gifts

and growing edges. Weekends are grounded in a spirit of worship, prayer, and self reflection with

a background in Lutheran theology.

Who Attends an STW TEC Weekend?

Those attending for the first time must be at least 15 or have

completed at least a semester of 9th grade. Adults that wish to

support youth attending this ministry may also attend the retreat

weekend hosted at Camp Agape` in Fuquay-Varina, NC.

What Happens on a STW TEC Weekend?

You hear talks (kind of like exciting speeches) by youth, pastors, and adults sharing ways to

live out your faith and keep a close relationship with Christ.

You build Christian community in small discussion groups, daily worship, and fun activities

with the whole group.

You learn how to more actively share your faith with others.

You get to sing lots of great songs!

Make new friends from other youth groups at churches across the state!

Pastor Cassie is serving as Pastor for the 2020 Martin Luther King TEC

weekend January 17-20th and would love for some youth and adults from

Grace to participate. For more information see Pastor Cassie or visit

https://stwtec.org/home/retreat-weekend/

ALL SAINTS SUNDAY

NOVEMBER 3RD

On all saints day we remember the people we love who are no longer with us, this year in worship we are going to

try something new. We would like to invite everyone in the congregation to bring

photos or small mementos that remind them of their loved ones that they are

grieving during the prelude there will be two tables on either side of the sanctuary

for you to come forward and place your photos and things at the front of the church,

if you do not wish to bring a photo or memento we will have candles for you to light

to remember your loved one.

VETERANS TO BE HONORED ON NOVEMBER 10TH

Join us for worship as we honor the men and

women who sacrificially serve, protect, and

defend our country. This day was declared a

National Holiday in 1938 and in 1954 the name

was changed to Veteran’s Day to honor all

American Veterans.

A prayer for our veterans...

Lord, Today we honor our veterans, worthy men and women who gave their best when they were called upon to serve and protect their country. We pray that you will bless them, Lord, for their unselfish service; bless them abundantly for the hardships they faced, for the sacrifices they made.

We respect them, we thank them, we honor them, we are proud of them, and we pray that you will watch over these special people and bless them with peace and happiness. In Jesus’ name we pray for Peace in this beautiful world. Amen.

The Lutheran Builders of Western NC certainly got a lot

of work done a few weeks ago in Fayetteville. It’s hard

to believe but some folks have been out of their homes

for two years or more. So, we Builders worked on five or

six houses, including doing roofing, framing, mudding,

sanding, painting, putting in a bathroom, and, given the

weather, lots of sweating! Thanks to the workers: Al

Mullen, Al King, Wade Poust, Tom Miller, John Leonard, David Apple,

Allen Mabry, Bruce Yount, Kathy and Max Varnadore, Carole Demmy,

Jeff Hovis, Joel Heavner, Mark Rutter, and Kale Sloop. And, the

Methodist crew from West Virginia, some of whom became Lutheran

at breakfast. (They had oatmeal; we had bacon, sausage, and eggs!)

If you’d like to do a bit of work at Kure Beach after the first of the

year, contact Al King.

https://www.facebook.com/lutheranbuilders

Story shared by Carole Demmy.

Every year, the Sandwich Ministry shares the Christmas spirit

with our recipients by providing necessary items and small gifts.

For every week of Advent, we provide a different weekly gift

bag; these bags include toiletries, blankets, snacks, warm cloth-

ing, and some Christmas goodies as well. Now that we are serving three sites, we will

definitely need some kind hearts and helping hands to make this a success! There will

be a sign-up sheet and event information on the bulletin board in the foyer for those

interested in volunteering. We would like to ask the congregation to help us collect

individually wrapped bars of Ivory soap, toothpaste/toothbrushes, and washcloths.

WWW.GRACETVILLE.ORG • THOMASVILLE, N.C. • (336) 476-4114 • TVILLEGRACE@GMAIL.COM ISSUE NO. 43• NOVEMBER 2019

115 Unity Street

Thomasville, NC 27360

Lutheran

Church GRACE

December Newsletter

Submissions

If anyone has submissions or

announcements for the December newsletter,

please get them to Sandy in the office

by November 11th. You can call the office or

email them to tvillegrace@gmail.com

Thank you!

December: 1st and 8th Program Practice

December 15th Christmas Program and Party

January 7-10, 2020 MLK TEC Weekend