November Witness 2023
Dear Wittenberg, It’s that time of the year when our bodies begin yearning for warmth and comfort, cozy clothes and hot meals. It’s also getting to be that time of the year that we get busier and busier. We may find it hard to slow down and appreciate the goodness all around us. So many of us have been taught that the celebrations of Thanksgiving and Christmas demand unrealistic perfection, a certain meal, a special outfit, a perfect home. I remember my own mother, run ragged from preparations at home and church, never sitting down to enjoy the results of her own labor. I also remember holidays with my own children when I found myself frustrated with the dual demands of home and work, never feeling like I was doing what was needed in either place. I’m sure many of you have experienced these types of holidays. So let’s quit it. Let’s give ourselves permission to experience an imperfect season. Let’s give ourselves permission to focus on the point of the holidays rather than the picture-perfect meal or home or church. Let’s allow for mistakes and surprises. Let’s try to remember that we are all just people trying to get through the winter, to stay warm and safe, to battle loneliness and grief, to get through a hard time in the midst of so much bright light and brittle joy. This month the Council started a new practice of noticing and gratitude. We are paying attention to the acts of kindness and service we see at Wittenberg and we are trying to remember to say, “thank-you.” We are being intentional about expressing gratitude. Our hope is that we will be reminded of the many gifts we have, rather than the things we wish were true. We wrote notes to express our gratitude. They are imperfect notes. Some of us have wobbly hand-writing, some are poor spellers, and some have incomplete punctuation. These small acts are not perfect but they do require us to take the time to notice, to be mindful of how the Holy Spirit is at work at Wittenberg Lutheran Church. Allowing for imperfection, we might spend less time griping and more time enjoying. We might spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying the chaos. We might just find that our presence is more valuable than our work. I know it’s a lot to ask. To be imperfect is to be vulnerable. To express gratitude is vulnerable. But as we prepare for the great gift of Advent we can be sure that imperfect surprises are headed our way. Let’s receive those surprises wholly and with delight. My imperfect prayers and wobbly blessings, Pastor Heather |
Order forms are available in the Sanctuary on the pew by the side door or you may order online by using the link below. Payments can be made with our online giving, just select Poinsettia/Easter Flowers for the account name. Click the link above to purchase your Wittenberg gear! We receive a percentage of each sale and are excited to provide these at no cost to us. https://shop.printyourcause.com/campaigns/WittenbergLutheranChurch
Meals on Wheels-November ’23 Witness Article Many thanks in advance to Kim and Jody Shuping who began delivering meals the end of October and continued through the first week of November. Finishing out 2023 deliveries is Susan and Ronnie Loflin: December 11-15. As soon as I receive our dates for 2024, I will be contacting our dedicated teams. I appreciate ALL who volunteer to support this wonderful community outreach ministry. Joy Fisher
We hold in prayer... Members: Gordy Peeler, Margie Miller, Phyllis Fisher, Renee Wiles, Bill and Kim Fraley, Faye Harper, John Fisher, Mildred Peeler Grieving Families of: Barry Rodgers, Geraldine Hollar, Dwayne Earnhardt, Terry Hahn, Hugh William Bost, Jackie Elliot, Gene Miller, Wesley Lyerly, Barbara Rimer Lewis, Gary A. Goodman, Active Duty: J-Hylton Tucker, Dominic Minor, Noah Wiles, J. Michael Shuping, Adam McCombs, Daniel S. McDonald, Toler Alexander, Bitt Bryant, Jake Earnhardt, Bobby Wheeler 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. November Birthdays and Celebrations! 10 Robert Trexler 11 Angie Carman 14 Abigail Honeycutt 17 Eli Fisher 21 Adam Faust 25 Barbara Beck 26 Cole Taylor |
Wittenberg Lutheran Church 114 West Bank St. GQ P.O. Box 345 Granite Quarry, NC 28072 704-279-4505 www.wittenberglc.org |
Wittenberg Lutheran Church
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This month at Wittenberg is all about the Book of James. This short New Testament book is a public epistle, meaning that it is addressed to a general audience, like us! This book offers wisdom for living a life as a Jesus-follower. While Luther called this book the “straw epistle,” it is an excellent example of how the Law and Gospel work together to guide and inspire us. September’s sermons will focus on the Book of James all through September and we will begin a study of James on September...
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...
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! Our prayers and "good goodbye" are with Jane Faggart as she continues her journey of faith at Cross of Christ Lutheran in Concord. All our classes are FULL for 2024-2025. We are super excited. Since we...