What is Advent? Advent is a season of four weeks, including four Sundays. 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
purple.
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
Saint Luke UMC
Saints=Ordinary people following Jesus MINISTRY STAFF
Billy A. Olsen, Pastor
Susan Johnson, 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
THE SAINT LUKE SCROLL
DECEMBER 2018 NEWSLETTER Volume 1, Edition 73
OUTREACH
Thanks to everyone who provided Thanksgiving bags for needy families. Bags were delivered to Church and Community Services on Monday, November 19. Because of people like you needy families were able to have a Happy Thanksgiving. A big shout out to the Methodist Men who so graciously provide hams each year.
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
Susan Lockey Seekers Circle will meet at the
church on Wednesday, December 5th at
10:30am for a brief meeting and then go to
General McArthur’s at 11am for lunch.
UNITED METHODIST MEN
The U.M.M. purchased the hams for the
Thanks-for-Giving bags and sponsored the
pre-game meal for the Scotland High football
team. Rev. Olsen presented a devotion after
the meal. Paul Lemmond was recognized for
his leadership with the local Fellowship of
Christian Athletes. Our next meeting will be
December 16 at 7:30am. All men are invited.
THANK YOU
Thank you for all your prayers, support, and gift
of love. Colton has been deeply touched by
everyone’s care and concern. Thank you.
Colton, Tanya, Allen and Alex Williams
Saturday, December 8th: Volunteers Needed:
We need help on Friday, December 7th at 12 noon to
pack the bags that are given to the families and to set up tables and chairs for Saturday. Help is also needed to give out the
food, serve breakfast, and clean up on Saturday mornings from 8am until about 10am.
Monday, December 24 at 6:30pm
Everyone is welcome and invited.
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.
CHRISTMAS CHEER / ANGEL TREE “Tis the Season “ is all around Laurinburg. Here at Saint Luke we have our own “Tis the Season “ each and every year. Our Angel Tree is filled with items for five needy families. Please take an ornament, wrap it and return to the church no later than December 19th.
Our Paws Tree is full as well for our needy four legged friends (no need to wrap for the Paws Tree). Please take an ornament and return no later than December 19th. Thank you for your never ending support. “The purpose of human life is to
serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.” Albert Schweitzer
The 2019 FLOWER CALENDAR is
posted outside the
church office. Sign up
early to place flowers in
the Sanctuary.
Congratulations to Ned and Jean Barringer who
celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on
November 14, 2018. Jean is originally from San
Diego, CA she and Ned met while Ned was in the
US Navy and stationed in CA. They are thankful
for their 65 years together, their children,
grandchildren and great grandchildren. Charter
members of Saint Luke UMC, Ned and Jean
wanted to be included in the December issue of
the Scroll so that everyone would know about
their love for each other and their church! This
picture was taken in 1992 at their daughter’s
wedding.
Dear Saints and Seniors, Mullins, South Carolina and Webster Manor once again beckoned us to the annual pre-Thanksgiving / Christmas celebration of friendship, fun and food. What a special time of remembering. We’ve lost some Saints and Seniors over the years, celebrating their joyful lives among us. Traditions bring us to a realization of how blessed we all are like rivers, lives flow together, new joining the old. The thankfulness continues as we praise god in so many ways. A special blessing was ours this trip because Pastor Billy Olsen was our awesome driver. Dema Clark joined us along with Ann Steinbrink, Gloria Monroe, Bo Smith, Ora Tarleton, Myrta Cox and Mac Ingram, our super cook.
We were happy that Pastor Billy was driving, otherwise we would have lost him in the antique mall making friends with a moose head, a large rhinoceros and horse and buggy. Really, our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone this Christmas season with special prayers for the entire Olsen family for such spiritual leadership and our whole wonderful Saint Luke family who continue to spread the message of love given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. Prayers and Candles, Carol Whitehead
Our Wednesday Night Meal at 5:30pm on December
5 is being prepared by the BSA Venture Crew #4447
and our CHARGE CONFERENCE and worship
service will follow at 6:30pm. The menu is soups,
breads and desserts. Cost is $7.00 per person or
maximum $21.00 per family. Everyone is invited and
welcome. Sign-up on the insert in your bulletin or call
the office no later than Tuesday.
Children’s Ministry Children’s Program
Coming Soon! !
“Twas the Night
Before Christmas”
Presented by the
Children of Saint Luke’s
Junior Fellowship Program
Sunday
December 16 at 5pm
JUNIOR FELLOWSHIP
Important Dates:
PLAY practice– Sunday December 2 and
9 from 4:30 until 6:00pm
Dress Rehearsal– Saturday December 15
from 10:00am until 11:00am
No Junior Fellowship December 23 or 30
January 6 Resume regular programming
with a study of “The Diary of a Godly
Kid”
Children’s Church Volunteers Needed
December is full...see Susan for your
favorite January or February dates
Parent’s Night Out/
Children’s Night In
YOUTH FUNDRAISER-
DONATIONS
Christmas Symbol Arts and
Craft activities and Games
will be the program
Saturday December 8
Drop In and pick up
between 5pm and
10pm
Dinner Provided (at
6:15)
YOUTH NEWS
PILGRIMAGE 2018 Our youth's trip to Pilgrimage was another big highlight of our 2018 Youth Ministry. Many thanks to Susan and Scott Johnson, and Kim McGugan for all the planning; Tanya Currin and Elaine Olsen for joining the team's chaperones and of course, our amazing youth!
Saint Luke has so much to be proud of; thanks to every one of the Saint Luke UMC members and friends. Your giving continues to support this generation of young believers. As a parent and as your pastor, all the Saint Luke youth send thanks! ~ pastor Billy
DECEMBER 2018
Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
B - Birthday
A - Anniversary
1
2
B - Melisa
Ciarrocca
4:30pm Junior
Fellowship
4:30pm Youth
3
A - Nick & Ann
Collie
4
11:30am United
Methodist Women’s
Christmas Lunch -
The Main Table
6:30pm Solo
Ensemble
7pm Handbells
8pm AA meeting
5
10:30am Susan
Lockey Seekers
Circle - lunch at
General McArthur’s
5:30pm WN Meal
6:30pm Charge
Conference and
worship service
6
B - James
Whitehead
A - Richard &
Dannie McInnis
7
B - Ann Long
B - Betty Price
12 noon Food
Bank prep
5:30pm Chrysalis
RUSH
8
8am Food Bank
9am Chrysalis
Team Training
5pm - Parents
Night Out
9
4:30pm Junior
Fellowship
4:30pm Youth
10 11
B - Pam Vandenberg
A - Tom & Beth
Nicholson
6:30pm Solo
Ensemble
7pm Handbells
8pm AA meeting
12 13 14
B - Jan Cooke
B - Jim Ellis
B - Lee Peterson
15
B - Kelsey
Hunter
10am Children’s
Dress Rehearsal
16
7:30am United
Methodist Men
5pm Children’s
Christmas
Program
17 18
A - Dave & Leslie
Knauss
6:30pm Solo
Ensemble
7pm Handbells
8pm AA meeting
19
B - Ralph Bolger
20
A - Donnie &
Winnie Robinson
21 22
23 24
B - Scoofer Jordan
6:30pm Christmas
Eve Service
25
CHRISTMAS
Church office closed
26
B - Ned Barringer
Church office closed
27 28 29
30 31
B - Bobbie McClure
A - Russ & Becky
Chiles
New Year’s Eve
Saint Luke United Methodist Church
1501 Turnpike Road
Laurinburg, NC 28352
Remembering in Prayer
Urgent Needs: Billy Lassiter (Violet Hughes brother), Rev. Randall Snead, Bessie Collins, Dr. Joe Dean, Sandra Burns’
sister Elaine, Wayne Bryant, Ashlyn Phelan, Colton Williams
Ongoing Needs: Nick Collie, Sara Smiley, Braydon Luke Dilling (Bettie Barrow), Colin McArthur, Ned Barringer, Donald
Krout, Sarah Barrett (mother of Peggy Alexander), Rev. Jim Lee, Jean Barringer, Reg Poteat, Buddy Clark , Bertie Hash,
Elizabeth Williams, Bob Varner (James’ father), Carolyn Hook, Chuck Killian (Elaine’s father), Julie King, Ann Collie,
Beverly Mills, Yates Clifton, Julie Fogleman, Madison Fedak, Karen Dunn, Charlie Barrow, Jadon Olsen, Ralph Kersey
Scotia Village: Emma Dunn, Billie Shelley, Ellen Stanley
Prestwick Village: Shirlee Jacobs, Dorothy Bolger
Scottish Pines: Kelly Muse, Sandra Nichols, Linda English
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)