August 2024 Witness/Newsletter

Dear Wittenberg Community,

August is a time of preparation for many of us. Even for those of us who are far away from the practicalities of an academic year, August and September still feel like a new beginning in many ways. Maybe I’m in “back to school” mode as well because I thought this fall might be a good time to talk about some parts of our worship service.

One way that we prepare for our worship services both seasonally and each week is with the Prayers of Intercession. These prayers are an important part of our worship service and one of the oldest parts of our worship tradition.

The Apostle Paul specified to Timothy that intercession prayers should be made for all people.

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 1 Timothy 2:1–2

Jesus called on us to pray for those who mistreat us (Luke 6:28) and so our prayers are a way that we can take part in God’s redemptive love for all of creation.

The Prayers of Intercession are the way we can hold in prayer all aspects of God’s creation and people. Our prayers each week include a prayer for the Church, the earth and natural world, nations and leaders, the sick and oppressed, those who have departed and other concerns in our community. In the Prayers of Intercession we have an opportunity to pray as a congregation for healing and wholeness in our own church and in the world.

Each week the prayers are written based on a format found in our ELCA worship resources. You can see the outline here. While many prayers are pre-written from Sundays and Seasons, we customize the prayers each week based on the Wittenberg community and current events and concerns.

The Prayers of Intercession offer a practical outline for our most complex prayers. When we feel like throwing our hands up with the number and difficulty of the prayers in our hearts, this part of our worship service gives us a place to hold in prayer all the weight that we carry.

What part of our worship service are you curious about?

Peace to you all,

Pastor Heather

Hey Congregation, don’t forget our Back to School Bash!

You can help out by donating the items found on the flyer and/or volunteer to help before and on the August 3rd distribution day. Sign up on the clip board found on the display at church or call Linda Trier at 757-899-0503. Thank you!

All our classes are FULL for 2024-2025. Classes begin on Wednesday, August 14th.

We are super excited. Since we moved into the basement area for our Pre-K4 class, we are able to add a few more children!

We are in need of a few items for our classroom.

Below is our Amazon Wish List Link. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2SAYUQU5U89SD?ref_=wl_share

Thank you for supporting our Preschool!

A BIG thank you to Tracie Rowell for planning and volunteering with our Elementary Art Camp! And Kim Shuping for helping as well!

Click Here to Order Your RADA Cutlery Preschool on going Fundraiser

Meals on Wheels -August 2024 Witness Article

August is PAWSitively PURRfect Birthday Bash fund-raising month for Meals on Wheels. This event will be held on August 22nd 5:00-8:00 pm at Barnhardt Jewelers, 112 E Innes Street in Salisbury. Mark your calendars and watch for a flier for details in the coming weeks.

While moving to the new Meals on Wheels forever home, at 720 Grove Street, an article from their archives surfaced and was sent to me. Please enjoy this treasure that was published in 2005.

Thanks to Carolyn and Gordy Peeler for delivering meals in July.

Our Meal Runners for August 19-23 are:

Brenda Marcum and Sandra Phillips

~Joy Fisher, Wittenberg Meals on Wheels Coordinator

Save the Date! September 8, 2024

In Memory or Honor of:

To the Cathy Kirchin Property in memory of Cathy Kirchin, who's birthday was July 2nd, by Pastor John and Marsha Woodard.

To the Improvement Fund in honor of John Fisher by anonymous.

To Give Online: Go to www.wittenberglc.org, click GIVE tab, then click Give with tithe.ly

Or click the button below!

Give Online

General Fund Income including Sales Tax totaled $20,619.94
Cash Flow for the month was a positive $3,871.38
General Fund offering was down $26,642.06 for the fiscal year
Budgeted Expenses exceed income $18,828.41 for the Fiscal Year

See the Full Church Calendar HERE!

June 2024 - Approved Church Council Minutes

Pastor's Report

We hold in prayer...

Our Members: Susan Loflin, Elsie Poff, Richard Basener, Billy Swadley, Phyllis Fisher, Renee Wiles, Kim Fraley, Faye Harper, John Fisher, Mildred Peeler

Grieving Families of: William Ulrich, Jean Little, Jimmy Bost, Rose Holshouser, Susan Abernathy, Daniel Sell, Jacob Steele, Aldon Baucom, Waylon Edwards

Friends and Family: Alice Parks, Bobby Barringer, Harrison Judd family, Delores Bell, Gina Pender, Steve Miller, Ruth Small, Mark Swadley, Sr., Chelsea McVay, Gary Russell, Dixie Williams

Active Duty: Dominic Minor, Noah Wiles, J. Michael Shuping, Adam McCombs, Daniel S. McDonald, Toler Alexander, Bitt Bryant, Jake Earnhardt

Deployed Military: Dorian Pine, Dakota Mace, Isaac Jones, Anthony Burton, Brandon Smith

We hold always in prayer the victims of gun violence, chronic and acute illness, mental health struggles, our partner agencies in mercy and assistance to our neighbors and all those who we lift to God’s care in our hearts or aloud.

August Birthdays!

03 Jane Faggart

04 Linda Phillips

04 Brandon Harrison

07 Naomi Brown

10 Gary Drye

14 Allie Jones

15 Susan Beatty

16 Joy Fisher

17 Nena Jones

24 Tracie Rowell

30 Joyce Yates