Affirmation of Welcome
Reformation, a congregation of Christ's Church, welcomes everyone to join with us in a journey of faith. We are committed to providing worship, programs, ministries and pastoral care to all, regardless of religious background, age, color, ability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic status, or national origin. Everyone is welcome in this place, where the love of God is the foundation of all that we say and do!
|
|
Mid - August 2021 Newsletter |
|
The Reporter
Reformation Lutheran Church
ALL Are Welcome & Affirmed Here!
|
|
Worship Service Update
We have resumed the in-person worship service on Sundays at 10:00 AM. Please see the information below for further information on making a reservation to attend the worship service. In addition to this, and in order to ensure the health and safety of our congregation, we will continue to broadcast the service online via Facebook Live. Please join us for worship online HERE.
|
|
|
The Mustard Seed Project
With all that has been happening in our nation and around the world, and I feel so overwhelmed, I’m reminded of what Jesus said to those following and weeping for him as he was approaching his crucifixion.
A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” [Luke 23:27-28]
Jesus reminded them they should not weep for him, but for themselves and their children. Why? Because the inequity that we participate in today does not usually unfold fully on us but on our children and grandchildren. That fact is, whether we’re a politician, citizen, scientist, or clergy, we reveal the truth about our hearts as we respond with decisions that will affect our children and grandchildren more than us. Sadly, as we watch our recent regional, state, national, and international decisions unfold, we expose our hearts.
Jesus is recalling the words of the Lord in Exodus story. When we worship business, politics, military, or religion, and forsake the stewardship of our society, and environment, well, the Lord laid it out for us, “You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting iniquities of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.” [Exodus 34:5-6] This is not a curse, but an ancient sociological and environmental observation.
In late spring and early summer, there was a surge of early Covid vaccinations, there were declining numbers of cases, the restart of in-person gatherings and worship, and hopeful plans for the 4th of July, but then reality hit. There were and are those willing to promote misinformation, hyperbolic-fear statements, non-factual data for some sense of political gain by undermining the vaccine. Now, I know there are people who are truly waiting for the various vaccines to be approved by the FDA, and even though I chose to receive the vaccine before its approval, I understand and respect their position. But, I do not believe those individuals are the crux of the surge we are facing.
I’m concerned about those who hold a public office and yet go completely against the science of medicine for their own gain. Governors who refuse various communities within their own states to use mask mandates to keep the public, especially children, safe as we begin a school year in which they are requiring in-person schooling. The simplest mitigating and proven practice is being refused. That… I do not understand! From all that I hear from the medical field, we have yet to see the full ramifications that will cause even more weeping as pediatric hospitals fill with our children and grandchildren.
Internationally; I have just witnessed a withdrawal from a battlefield that, for me, was reminiscent of our withdrawal from a Southeast Asian war we were involved in some 40 years ago. Neither one of those wars was rightly pursued, but neither one deserved the withdrawals that took place. In each of the cases, we used people in those countries who were willing to side with us. They were interpreters, ears on the ground, and just supportive allies. In our haste to withdraw we just abandoned them. I’m not a policymaker nor do I pretend to be one, but even if these people we abandoned survive the incoming regime, they will never trust us again, and quite possibly become supporters of the terrorists who will fester in this country we abandoned so quickly. I fear these iniquities may be visited upon us, but far more likely on our children and grandchildren. Does this not touch our hearts?
Environmentally; as fires blaze across the North American continent as well as Europe and Asia, we continue to deny climate change. As oceans warm, and glaciers melt, we deny climate change. As ecosystems collapse and extinctions increase, we deny climate change. We can’t even think about what this will mean for our children and their children’s children?
Again, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” Yes, we should be weeping, but not only weeping, we should be part of the healing that will leave our children and grandchildren the HOPE of a world that is whole. If we cannot be moved, either within our families, on the local, state, national, or international level for the sake of our children and grandchildren, then we are a species to be most pitied… BUT! I believe there is a universally Genesis-goodness within us. We just have to have the courage to open our hearts to it and let that goodness lead us to do what’s right. Lord in Your mercy.
In Christ,
Pastor Tim
|
|
Council President's
Report
Here We Go Again . . . Sadly . . . Adapting our Practices and Praying for Health and Safety
On August 9, 248 new COVID cases were identified in Richland County, down from 349 new cases on August 5. Lexington hospitals are 93.8% occupied, Richland County hospitals 69.2% occupied. You can see how case counts in the Midlands have picked up dramatically since July 1st on DHEC’s 7-Day Moving Average graph. COVID case counts now are as high as they were in January before we resumed in person activities.
In light of this dramatic increase in case counts, our Worship and Music Team adjusted the Worship Service and suspended choir rehearsals. The Education Team moved all Adult Education activities back to Zoom only. Our Transition Team was polled on how we should move forward with in person activities. The Team feedback included:
— Four votes to halt all in person activities
— One vote to adapt Safe Space Dinner format to minimize unmasked, indoor contacts and suspend other non-worship in person activities
— Three votes to continue to follow guidelines and monitor, being prepared to take further action if case counts continue to rise.
— Three members of the team did not provide feedback.
This information was presented to Council at a called Zoom meeting on August 8, and after discussion, Council made the following (difficult) decisions based on what it believes provides the most good:
— To proceed with the August 12 first Safe Space Dinner as planned. At that Dinner, attendees will be polled as to how we can best serve them if case counts do not drop over the next month(s). This passed with two dissenting votes.
— To cancel the September Beach Retreat as an official church function. Members who have registered will be contacted by Kathy Bupp to determine how their registration fees will be handled. This passed with three dissenting votes. There is an option for members to still use the Retreat Center following the Center’s Guidelines, but no Reformation program will be offered.
— To continue in person worship with accompanying live stream, altering Usher Guidelines to include gloved distribution of Bulletins and Communion packets. This passed unanimously.
— To return to conducting all in person meetings and Bible Study via Zoom. This also passed unanimously.
Council is grateful to the Transition Team for their input. Pastor Tim will be meeting with the Team to discuss these decisions and our continued need for their expertise.
Council Changes
Julie Young, who has been a member of Council since January 2020, tendered her resignation on July 17, which was accepted at the July 18 Council meeting. Council thanks Julie for her faithful service!
Michelle Couri has graciously accepted Council’s nomination to fill Julie’s seat for the remainder of her term - until December 31, 2022.
Please thank both Julie and Michelle for their willingness to help lead Reformation through this most ‘interesting’ time to be the church.
Also, due to schedule conflicts, at its July 18 meeting, Council agreed to skip August Executive Committee and Council meetings unless conditions required Council attention, in which case a meeting would be called. As noted elsewhere, a Called Council meeting was held on August 8 to respond to increasing COVID case counts. Council’s Executive Committee meeting scheduled for September 12 was to be cancelled because it was on the last day of the Beach Retreat. Council’s next planned meeting will be on Sunday, September 19, 2021.
Justice, Anchored in Justification — Are We in a New Reformation Moment?
Join other interested adults in a discussion of the book I Can Do No Other: The Church's New Here We Stand Moment, by Anna M. Madsen, starting Sunday, September 19 from 8:30 to 9:30 AM.
Author Anna M. Madsen's book is a fresh and challenging look at the legacy of Martin Luther and the new reformation that is calling people of faith to action today.
This book is born out of the conviction that at least two gods are currently competing for our collective trust: nationalism (and its many sub-manifestations) and quietism. Both make a case for and a claim on our allegiance, each by way of different motivations of self and institutional protection.
Madsen looks at today's modern context and asks: Where will the church stand in a day that is marked by globalization, polarization, racism, bigotry, and debates about justice for humanity and for the earth itself. While the Reformation church was built on the foundation of justification by grace, Madsen calls people of faith to a new reformation that will focus on standing for justice in the world.
Madsen delves into who Jesus was, and how our claim that he died and was raised establishes our faith and impacts the way we live it out. She pays attention to Luther's theology and juxtaposes it with our present context. She explores recent examples of Nazi resistance, liberation theology, black and womanist theology, and feminist theology, each of which come at social justice in their unique ways, with a common conviction that justice work is central to the Christian life.
She speaks of how our faith grounding and our faith history weave together and entwine themselves into our present moment, offering both warnings and encouragement.
And last, a case is made that justice, anchored in justification, is our new Reformation moment, one not inconsistent with Luther's theology, but weighted differently to address the different weighty concerns of our day.
The paperback is $11.39 right now from Augsburg, on sale from $18.99. Shipping costs will be added to that when the order is placed. If you are interested, and would like to save on shipping costs, please call Ginny Eiwen at 803.331.5465 to include a copy for you in a bulk order to be placed by the church on August 23.
Ginny Eiwen
|
|
August Council Report
Welcome to the dog days of summer in South Carolina. We hope you are all finding ways to stay cool and have some fun with family and friends. Please remember, safety first! We realize everyone is sick of talking about it, as well as dealing with it, but this new Covid-19 Delta variant is a game changer. As a community, and a country, we were making such great strides in the fight against this pandemic. We must, now, begin a new battle. Please mask-up, keep your distance in public, and, for the sake of all humanity, get vaccinated if you are eligible.
With that said, your council has voted to make a few changes until we, as a congregation and a community, can get this virus under control. We will continue to participate in Sunday worship in-person, with current safety measures in place. You may also notice the ushers, who tend to hand you items as you arrive, will now wear gloves as an added precaution. Safe Space Dinners, which kicked off on August 12 (more on that very soon), will continue to serve with necessary precautions in place. All other church related activities and meetings will switch back to virtual via the church Zoom. Aside from the church Sunday service and Safe Space Dinners, there will be no other in-person activities until further notice. Please do everything you can to stay safe and keep others safe so we can avoid returning to a full shutdown. We will keep you updated.
On a positive note, at this last council meeting we did a great deal of visioning. We explored who we want to be as a church and a member of our community. We have been doing a good deal of brainstorming about fellowship and ministry. We discussed many suggestions submitted by you, our fellow Reformation Lutheran Church members. We are also venturing beyond our walls to do a community needs assessment. We hope to have exciting news about how we can be God’s hands to our neighbors very soon. But, once again, let us all take on our responsibility to fight this pandemic so we can share God’s grace most effectively.
Blessings to you all from your council secretary,
Michael Watson
|
|
Christian Education - Movie discussion
The Christian Education Committee has researched the options for viewing the documentary Meltdown in Dixie and recommends the following path to access the movie:
- From your Smart TV or Roku or other streaming device search, the movie title.
-
You will find it available on topic by subscription at $4.99 a month. It is offered as a 7-day free trial.
- Register for the service, providing your credit card information.
- Watch the movie. It will grab and hold your attention for about an hour.
- Contemplate, pray, and join the discussion on Zoom on August 25th!
- If you cancel your subscription within the 7-day period you will not be charged.
Also, please remember this movie is also available on PBS.org if you are a subscriber to their web and TV services.
|
|
September Lectors
September 5
Chris Clark
September 12
Keating Clark
September 19
Jacob Reese
September 26
Ben Bullock
Lector volunteers are needed for the worship service. Can you volunteer and lend your voice? If you cannot volunteer on the scheduled day, please inform Gloria Preslar, so that a substitute can receive the worship materials in advance of the worship service. Contact Gloria Preslar for more details on how you can serve.
|
|
Safe Space Dinners Update
I'd like to give big, enthusiastic thanks to everyone involved in our inaugural Safe Space Dinner on Thursday, August 12. Our group of volunteers arrived well prepared to serve those in need. Brandy Layne, her wife Lynne Lane, and her sister Savanna Danner prepared an elaborate taco dinner, with all of the fixings and sides, assembled to be served with Covid-19 safety in mind. The meal was an amazing treat and I can't possibly express enough gratitude for their efforts.
Thanks are also due to Ginny Eiwen for getting the fellowship hall beautifully set up with red tablecloths, table settings, and proper pandemic precautions regarding social distancing. In fact, all of the volunteers on-site for the evening, Tim Bupp, Jesse Inman, and Steven Asbill as well as the Safe Space Dinners committee as a whole deserve a round of applause for their time, efforts, and preparedness. I'd also like to gratefully acknowledge Audrey Thomas and the crew of CAN Community Health for bringing their mobile unit out to address a wide range of needs and provide health related information and supplies.
Most of all, I and the Safe Space Committee would like to thank every one of you. It's the members of this church, along with the involvement of our community organizations and businesses, that make this ministry possible. From donations of time, goods, and funds to sharing social media and spreading the word with our publicity materials, it's you who will create success. This is YOUR ministry and your participation is our most valuable asset.
As our turnout, or lack of, Thursday evening would suggest we still have a way to go to reach these homeless youths and gain their trust. We knew, going into this effort, getting this thing off the ground would be difficult. We have every reason to believe, based on conversations with community organizations, once trust is gained and attendance begins we will then experience exponential growth. Our committee will continue to work toward this initial goal, making any necessary tweaks along the way. I thank you all for your prayers for this ministry and, in advance, for your continued support and involvement.
Michael Watson
|
|
Annual Beach Retreat Update
As you are all probably aware, Covid numbers are way up in SC.
It has been decided by the church council that this year’s retreat be considered as a non church function. Which means if you still want to attend, you are more than welcome to do so as a guest of the coastal retreat. Some people have expressed a want to do so. The retreat center’s safety protocol and waivers would still need to be enforced.
As a non-church related function, there will be no sunrise beach service, Bible studies, or organized activities, as Pastor Tim and I will not be attending because it is no longer considered part of his pastoral duties and it would require the usage of his last week of his vacation days, which he was hoping to use to visit our grandchild.
If you decide to still attend, please let me know and we will go ahead and forward your payment to the retreat center. The money you paid for food will be refunded since there will be no prepared meals. If you decide not to attend and have already paid we will refund your payment in full.
We apologize for any inconvenience, but hopefully next year will be back to normal.
Thank you,
Kathy Bupp
|
|
Monthly Zoom Meeting Schedule |
|
From the ELCA
When was the first time you heard a woman preach? For some pastors, the first female voice they heard in the pulpit was their own. "Proclaiming, Reforming, Celebrating: Stories of 50|40|10" shares stories from over 100 women who have served as pastors over the past 50 years.
Each story illuminates how God has called and carried these women. https://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Proclaiming_Reforming_Celebrating_Stories.pdf?_ga=2.238659398.752674207.1627995247-2070414619.1590960867&fbclid=IwAR24oJwJony7R5gNIvu8Fd1Jwa2t-iSKwv73l20tKPqWwMqzTmSzJ6vczvo
|
|
1118 Union St. Columbia, SC 29201
803-252-1507
Tim Bupp, Pastor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
