Serving God. Loving All. Changing Lives.
St. Martin's Lutheran Church Newsletter

Cornelis, de Wael (1592-1667). To Visit the Imprisoned, from Art in the Christian Tradition , a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.
In This Issue
Pastor's corner
Beth El Shalom
Pet food collection
Youth Night @ New Hope
Family Promise Week
Cullinan Park picnic
Annual giving
Easter Egg Hunt
RIC Congregation
New cleaning company
Mother Daughter Retreat
Youth Sunday School
Adult Sunday School
Poker for Peace
Bunko Babes
Quilting group
Camp dates
Bible Study opportunities
Pastor community hours
Book group
Women's Bible study
Support Family Promise
Shop at Kroger, support St. Martin's
Shop at Randalls, support St. Martin's
Amazon smile
Listen to past sermons
Thrivent corner
Stewardship thought
Prayer list
Birthdays & anniversaries
Calendar
Quick Links

Email Us
Pastor Will
Email: pastor
@stmartinslc.org

Office Manager
Parker Grimsby
Email: officemanager
@stmartinslc.org

Council President
Glenda Wilder
Email: council
@stmartinslc.org

Church Musician
Jenny Salyers
Email: churchmusician
@stmartinslc.org

Staff Tech
Amber Nichols
Email: stafftech
@stmartinslc.org
January 23, 2019
Pastor's Corner
What are some of the things we need for survival? The basics are always easy to think of: food, water, oxygen, shelter, clothing. Perhaps there are other things it seems like we can't live without, even though they aren't essential; things like our smartphones, a strong wireless connection, or stronger coffee. But
how often do we think about our spiritual needs? Every person, regardless of their religious affiliation, has spiritual needs that are every bit as vital to our health as food and water and shelter. These needs include a sense of identity, a sense of community, a sense of purpose, something that grounds us, an experience of transcendence, an abiding hope for the future, and an experience of love. Some people look to satisfy these needs in nature, in partners, in causes, or even in substances; I believe they can all be met through a faith in Christ and participation in his body, the Church.

During the season of Epiphany, as we see Jesus revealed through his baptism, his signs, and his
teachings, we also see how he can meet our own needs. In his baptism, Jesus affirms our identity. In changing water into wine, Jesus commends us to community. In his teaching he gives us purpose, hope, and love. By his life, he both grounds us and shows us something so much greater than ourselves. This season is about revealing Christ as our Savior, but it doesn't do us much good to have a savior if we don't know that we need saving.

How are your spiritual needs being met, Beloved? Have you taken time recently to check in on them? What are you doing to feed the hunger in your spirit, to satisfy that which your soul thirsts for? As we walk together this Epiphany season, I invite you to be aware of your needs. With eyes open, see the ways that Christ has provided for them in this place, with water and word, with bread and wine, and with a community made one through faith in him. Consider how you can attend to the needs of your neighbor, and perhaps ask another for help with the needs you have yourself. We're all in this together. And even as he gave us himself, Christ has also given us each other.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Will

Hosting Beth El Shalom at SMLC
Hosting new congregation

We welcome Rabbi Michael Vowell and Beth El Shalom Messianic Jewish Synagogue. They started worshiping in a home but are now in need of a bigger space. They will be worshiping  from 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. on Saturday mornings in our Sanctuary beginning Jan. 26. Messianic Jews acknowledge Christ as the Messiah but have carried forth traditional Jewish worship practices, rather than identifying as Christians. We look forward to learning more about our own heritage through this partnership with Beth El Shalom and will host Rabbi Vowell for temple talks and/or other learning opportunities in the near future. 

Pet food collection
Help for furry friends

We are collecting donations of dog and cat food for Meals on Wheels' pet program from
Jan. 20 - Feb. 14. Please bring bags of dry puppy, kitten, adult dog, and adult cat food in bags of 20 lbs. or less, or any size of wet canned food, to the service area of the Narthex. For info or questions please contact Denise Cope at: 713.771.4841 or gaycope@yahoo.com. 

Youth Night at New Hope Lutheran
On the night of Wednesday, Feb. 6 , New Hope Lutheran in Missouri City (1424 FM 1092 77459) is hosting a Youth Night event for middle school and high school students. Please contact Scheffie Lindquist if you are interested in having your child participate: slsnews2001@yahoo.com . 

Family Promise Week
Help families

Our next week of Family Promise is scheduled for Feb. 10 - Feb. 17. Each quarter St. Martin's turns its Sunday School classrooms into bedrooms for local homeless families. We partner with Fort Bend Family Promise to provide food and shelter to these families that have hit hard times. Volunteers are needed to cook meals, welcome the families, unlock the church, set up the rooms and do laundry. Sign up in the Narthex on Sunday if you would like to help out!

Cullinan Park picnic & hike


The Youth & Family Team invites everyone out to a picnic and hike at Cullinan Park (12414 Highway 6 S, Sugar Land, TX 77498) after church on Feb. 17. There will be a picnic followed by service work to clean up the park and pick up litter. There will also be a hike for those interested. Wearing your St. Martin's shirt is encouraged. Hope to see you there!

Annual giving statements
The 2018 annual Statement of Contribution forms will be available in the Narthex on Sunday, Jan. 27. Please review them and if you have any questions please contact the Office Manager at officemanager@stmartinslc.org. 

Easter Egg Hunt
Youth events on Easter

On Easter Sunday,
April 21, after the breakfast the Youth & Family Team is planning an Easter Egg Hunt for the children, along with other family activities. There will be in need of volunteers, so if you are interested please contact Daniela Hammons at: daniela.hammons@centerpointenergy.com. 

Becoming a RIC Congregation
St. Martin's is looking into how to become a Reconciling in Christ Congregation. Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Congregations are Lutheran congregations who openly welcome and include those from the LGBT+ community, as certified by ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation. This requires going through a training session, called Building an Inclusive Church, and unfortunately there are not any scheduled near St. Martin's in the year of 2019. We are sending a St. Martin's member to attend a training in Santa Clara, CA, in February with the intent of bringing back info to St. Martin's on how we can host our own training for the community here, hopefully in May. We will let you know when we have more information. For now, you can read more about this organization and the training here: www.reconcilingworks.org

New cleaning company
St. Martin's has hired a new janitorial company to keep our building clean. If you have any questions or suggestions related to this please contact Monika Miura at mmiura1@comcast.net.

Lutherhill Mother Daughter Retreat
Consider signing up to attend the mother-daughter retreat at Lutherhill La Grange. The retreat is scheduled for  Jan. 25 - Jan. 27 . These retreats are always packed full of fun and offer a myriad of ways to connect with your daughter. The cost per person is $80 (ages 13 and up) and $55 (ages 12 and under). All housing, food and activities are provide at the camp.  Click  here  for more information and to sign up.

Youth Sunday School 
Education for all ages

All Sunday School classes are after worship at  10:45 a.m. A Christian education gives a child a firm faith foundation for the rest of their lives. Consider allowing your child to stay after the worship service to engage more deeply in their faith with our seasoned Sunday School teachers. Listed below are the focuses of the upcoming classes.

PreK-Grade 5: Lessons from Jesus
Middle School/Confirmation:  Lutheran history & Catechism 
High School: Echo the Story Bible Study

Adult Sunday School 
glasses_on_book.jpg
Always learning

The Adult Sunday Forum is continuing with our study of Paul with a few special events mixed in for a change of pace. Come join the class every Sunday after service at 10:45 a.m.

Poker for Peace
Cards for fellowship

All men of the church are invited to join "Poker for Peace." This group normally meets at the house of one of their members the last Friday of the month for fellowship and cards. Their next meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Jan. 25 at the home of Chuck Staskus.  For more information please contact Leon Miura at:  lgmiura@comcast.net  

Bunko Babes
Brunch & Bunko

All ladies of the church are welcome to join "Bunko Babes." This group usually meets at the house of one of their members the last Saturday of each month to share brunch and have a little fun. Their next meeting will be at 11 a.m. on Jan. 26 at the home of Jean Short. For more information and to RSVP please contact Monika Miura at:  mmiura1@comcast.net

Quilting group 
The  St.  Martin's Lutheran World Relief quilting group is a great opportunity to support a great cause. The group produces quilts and blankets that are shipped around the world to help those in need through the Lutheran World Relief project. Novices are welcome! Quilting groups meet the first and third full weeks of the month on Monday mornings and Wednesday evenings to work on the quilts. If you have any questions please contact Jean Short at: jean12short@comcast.net . 

Next meeting times:
Feb. 4 - 9:30 a.m.
Feb. 6 - 7 p.m.

Lutherhill Day Camp dates
kids_blank_postcard.jpg
Week of fun

St. Martin's will again be hosting Lutherhill Day Camp this summer. Camp counselors and campers will be at the church  June 16 - June 21.  The camp is open to the community and all children ages kindergarten through eighth grade. It costs $85 for a single child and $80 for siblings. High school age students will be needed to volunteer at the camp. So mark your calendar and tell your friends! For more info contact Glenda Moya at: stmartinsdaycamps@gmail.com.

Bible Study opportunities
Come and learn

Pastor Will facilitates a few Bible Studies throughout the week.  Wednesdays at 1 p.m. come for an hour of text study as we examine the readings for the coming Sunday. 

Pastor community hours
Meet outside of church

Every Friday Pastor Will holds office hours out in the community. Follow St. Martin's Facebook page to see where he'll be each Friday: here. Come out to talk or pray with Pastor Will and let God hold your worries for a while. 


Read a book
magic_stars_book.jpg
St. Martin's book discussion group is a great group for book lovers. They meet once a month in the St. Martin's library to discuss that month's book pick. Their next meeting is Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. 



Book picks by the month:
Feb. - "The Man in the High Castle" by Philip K. Dick
 

Thursday Women's Bible Study
The Thursday morning Ladies' Bible Study Group  is a great group of ladies who enjoy studying the Bible, good refreshments, and the company of one another. They welcome visitors and new members. They meet every Thursday from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. For more info call Jill Keller at: 713.557.0893.

Upcoming lessons:
Jan. 24 - Joshua: Choosing to Love & Serve God
Jan. 31 - Psalm 103: Love and Worshiping God

Support Family Promise
Donate for Family Promise

Do you enjoy a hot cup of coffee before starting your day? For as little as $3.50 a week, the price of hot beverage in the morning, you can join the Fort Bend Family Promise Coffee Club and be part of the caring community of people who are helping get homeless children and their families back to self-sufficiency.  You can join the club and support Family Promise at this link:  https://bit.ly/2JCo5sf

Shop at Kroger & support St. Martin's
If you shop at Kroger, you could help support St.Martin's financially. St. Martin's has enrolled in Kroger's Community Rewards Program and will receive a portion of all of your Kroger transaction if you sign up through their website.

1) First, you get a Kroger card. They are free and can be obtained at any Kroger location.  Sign up for a digital account on www. kroger.com.
2) Go to your account summary on the website and scroll down to "Community Rewards" and select "Enroll Now" (or the "Edit" option if you've already enrolled with another organization).
3) Fill out the information, then you will be prompted to search for an organization. Search for "St. Martin's" and it should appear. Click "Enroll". From now on when you shop with your member card at Kroger you will be supporting St. Martin's.

Thank you for your support! 
 
Shop at Randalls 
& support St. Martin's
If you shop at Randalls, you could help support St. Martin's financially. St. Martin's is enrolled in Randalls' Good Neighbor program and will receive a portion of all of your Randalls' transactions if you sign up. 

1) First, you need a Randalls card. You can sign up for these in any Randalls store.
2) Pick up a Randalls Good Neighbor form on the info table in the Narthex.
3) We have already filled out St. Martin's charity account number on the form, so you just have to fill in your personal information. Then, hand it in at any Randalls store and you will be part of the program.

Thank you for your support! 
 
Support St. Martin's when you shop
If you purchase goods through Amazon.com, there's an easy way to donate to St. Martin's at the same time. Simply go to smile.amazon.com and choose St. Martin's Lutheran Church, Sugar Land, as your charity of choice. Amazon will donate a percentage of your purchase directly to St. Martin's. It's so easy! 

 
Listen to past sermons
Did you  k now you can listen t o Pastor Will's previous sermons online? If you ever miss a Sunday or want to re-listen to a particular message you can find the last few week's worth of sermons on our SoundCloud account here . The account is typically updated every Thursday with the previous Sunday's message.

 
Thrivent corner
Self-reflection. 
A habit that leads to practicing wise financial habits.

Our mission is to guide Christians to be wise with money so they can live more content, confident, and generous lives. Learn more about the Wise With Money Journey and how we can guide you to practice wise financial habits here. 
 
Stewardship Thought of the Week

 
"... God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."

 - 1 Timothy 6:17c
 
People Need Your Prayers
prayingb.jpg Ephesians 6:18 
"Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
 
Please keep the 
following people in prayer: 

David Speer
Pat Strom
Al Warner
Herman Harms
Martha Gaskin
John Kokesh
Eva Lindstrom
Eric Moeller
Sylvia Whitt
Bonnie David
Sharon Pendley
Barbara Jacobs
Molly Jibrin
Victims & families of violence in our nation and the terrorist activity throughout the world.
Our sister synods in Peru and 
the Central African Republic
 
For prayers contact: officemanager@stmartinslc.org .  For privacy's sake we do not list specific concerns.  
 
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Let's celebrate!
 
Birthdays
Jacqueline C.               Jan. 24
Rene G.                       Jan. 27
Chuck S.                     Jan. 27
Grant G.                      Jan. 28
Ann L.                         Jan. 28
Scheffie L.                   Jan. 29
Dean M.                        Feb. 1
Leslie H.                        Feb. 2
Hildy W.                        Feb. 5
Alexis G.                       Feb. 7
Taylor H.                      Feb. 11

St. Martin's Calendar
What's happening at SMELC?
 
Want to know what's happening at St. Martin's? View the church calendar on our website. Click the Google calendar link and find out the who, what, when and where of any St. Martin's event.
  

Jan. 24 - Thursday Women's Bible Study, 9:30 a.m.
Jan. 24 - Houston Area Parkinson's Tai Chi, 10 a.m.
Jan. 24 - Handbell Choir practice, 7 p.m.
Jan. 25 - Poker for Peace, off-site, 7 p.m.
Jan. 25 - Saint Paul retreat, 7 p.m.
Jan. 26 - Saint Paul retreat, 8 a.m.
Jan. 26 - Beth El Shalom worship, 8 a.m.
Jan. 26 - Bunko Babes, off-site, 11 a.m.
Jan. 27 - Choir practice, 8 a.m.
Jan. 27 - Sunday Morning Worship, 9:30 a.m.
Jan. 27 - Saint Paul Sunday Worship, 11:15 a.m.
Jan. 29 - Classical Conversations, 9 a.m.
Jan. 29 - Boy Scouts 148, 6 p.m.
Jan. 30 - Classical Conversations, 9 a.m.
Jan. 30 - Pastor Will's Bible Study, 1 p.m.
Jan. 31 - Thursday Women's Bible Study, 9:30 a.m.
Jan. 31 - Houston Area Parkinson Tai Chi, 10 a.m.
Jan. 31 - Handbell Choir practice, 7 p.m.
Feb. 2 - Beth El Shalom worship, 8 a.m.
Feb. 3 - Choir practice, 8 a.m.
Feb. 3 - Sunday Morning Worship, 9:30 a.m.
Feb. 3 - Saint Paul Sunday Worship, 11:15 a.m.
Feb. 4 - LWR Quilting Group, 9:30 a.m.
Feb. 4 - Boy Scout 148 Board, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 5 - Boy Scouts 148, 6 p.m.
Feb. 6 - Pastor Will's Bible Study, 1 p.m.
Feb. 6 - Cub Scouts, 6 p.m.
Feb. 6 - Outreach Team meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 6 - LWR Quilting Group, 7 p.m.
Feb. 7 - Thursday Women's Bible Study, 9:30 a.m.
Feb. 7 - Houston Area Parkinson Tai Chi, 10 a.m.
Feb. 7 - Boy Scouts Arrowhead, 7 p.m.
Feb. 7 - Handbell Choir practice, 7 p.m.
Feb. 9 - Beth El Shalom worship, 8 a.m.
Feb. 10 - Feb. 17 - Family Promise Week
Feb. 10 - Choir practice, 8 a.m.
Feb. 10 - Sunday Morning Worship, 9:30 a.m.
Feb. 10 - Saint Paul Sunday Worship, 11:15 a.m.
Feb. 12 - Classical Conversations, 9 a.m.
Feb. 12 - Boy Scouts 148, 6 p.m.
Feb. 12 - Church Council, 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 13 - Classical Conversations, 9 a.m.
Feb. 13 - Pastor Will's Bible Study, 1 p.m.
Feb. 14 - Thursday Women's Bible Study, 9:30 a.m.
Feb. 14 - Houston Area Parkinson Tai Chi, 10 a.m.
Feb. 14 - Boy Scouts Arrowhead, 7 p.m.
Feb. 14 - Handbell Choir practice, 7 p.m.
Feb. 16 - Beth El Shalom worship, 8 a.m.
Feb. 17 - Choir practice, 8 a.m.
Feb. 17 - Sunday Morning Worship, 9:30 a.m.
Feb. 17 - Saint Paul Sunday Worship, 11:15 a.m.
Feb. 17 - Cullinan Park Picnic & Hike, 11:45 a.m.