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!
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The Reporter
Reformation Lutheran Church
ALL Are Welcome & Affirmed Here!
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Worship Service Update
We have resumed the in-person worship service on Sundays at 10:00 AM. 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.
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The Pastor's Perspective
How have you treated Jesus today? It’s interesting, and some would say a whimsical question. But it is a question that has a solid biblical answer. We find that answer in Matthew 25:40, in Jesus’ parable of the goats and the sheep, as he explained the parabolic separation of the two. “And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'” It has become the mistakenly lazy belief that Jesus just loved the poor. No! It’s much more than that! With this parable, Jesus is not just expressing affection for the poor, he is identifying himself with the poor, and in doing so, he is identifying the church, his bodily representative with the poor. Jesus is identifying the incarcerated, the poor, the hungry, the naked, and thirsty as his friends, family, followers, disciples, his very self.
If we see this parable as anything less we diminish Jesus’ ministry to nothing more than minimal selective charity, and the reason for Jesus’ second parabolic answer in Matt. 25:45 “… ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'” And actually, this minimal selective charitable view reveals the reason for the perpetual inequality found throughout world history. But! If we see how the Roman political system and 1st-century religious leaders saw Jesus as expendable to keep the status quo — as Father Richard Rohr concludes, “…much the same way the United States considers poor and low-income people, nearly half of the population, to be expendable, we see that being a follower of Jesus means something deeper than charity.” Saying that we are Christian is saying we are Christlike, which takes beyond mere charity and should call us to join a movement, led by the “least of these” to lift the load of the poor and dispossessed.
There was a phrase written on the canvas side of the mule train used for the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign that read, “Don’t laugh, folks: Jesus was a poor man.” If we take that biblically back canvassed statement seriously, how would that change our attitude towards who we are as the church and our focus on its mission? Our immediate community around us, Columbia, the nation, heck, the world waits for our answer.
Shalom,
Pastor Tim
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Prayers of the Church
Sick and Homebound: Tracy Hamiter; Barbara Prosser; Connie Pool; Bobbie Black and Beth Mayer.
Health: Emmy Reeves; Bobbie Prosser; Sarah Trani and Lynn Black’s brother, Bill Black.
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Safe Space Dinners
Community support for Safe Space Dinners comes from all over!
Many thanks to Elena Devour, Patti O'Furniture, Dorae Saunders, Shelita Bonet Toyle, and Houston Hangover for raising $200 for our Safe Space Dinners ministry. This event, a Drag Brunch, was held at The Woody in Columbia's Vista. These funds raised will be used to buy food gift cards and bus passes for the teens we serve.
We are grateful for those who give in deed, talent, and treasure - and for those who spread the word so we can reach more of the ones we seek to serve.
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Quote of the month
“Science investigates; religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge, which is power; religion gives man wisdom, which is control. Science deals mainly with facts; religion deals mainly with values. The two are not rivals.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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In-Person / Gathering Update
In light of vaccination availability and current COVID conditions in Richland, Lexington, and Kershaw counties, and in conversation with congregation members, we will resume with the following practices.
WORSHIP
In Worship we will wear masks, covering both the mouth and nose. Registration for Worship will not be required. We will add more musical liturgy back into the Service, making the Service more closely resemble pre-COVID structure and content. And we can sing! The congregation may choose to sing hymns and liturgy — softly (not projecting) behind their masks. We will continue to use pre-packaged communion elements, including wine and grape juice options, and to practice social distancing in the Sanctuary — 16 feet distance from singer(s) to the congregation and 6 feet distance between household groups.
MEETINGS
In groups of 15 persons or less, non-vaccinated persons are required to wear a mask at all times, but if all agree, vaccinated persons may remove their masks. If possible, doors should be opened to increase air circulation in the room. We are not yet ready to have indoor shared food events.
CHILDREN’S PARTICIPATION
We will not encourage children to gather in groups (like Children’s Chatter, Nursery, or in-person Education) until children can be vaccinated and we have better guidance from the CDC. Children who are able to are encouraged to wear masks. Children will be invited to participate in worship as acolytes, cross-bearers, or lectors as they are interested and able.
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February Lector and Usher/Greeter Schedule
February 6
Gary Parish & Lynn Black, Greeter/Usher
Jim Potts, Lector
February 13
Daniel Stackhouse & Eddie Ritchie, Greeter/Usher
Gary Parish, Lector
February 20
Jim Prater & Shirl Lamontagne, Greeter/Usher
Jim Prater, Lector
February 27
Raymond Cook & Sam Ruff, Greeter/Usher
Carlotta Stackhouse, Lector
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 Julia Prater, so that a substitute can receive the worship materials in advance of the worship service. Contact Julia Prater - 803.360.7583 for more details on how you can serve.
If you have any questions about the volunteer duties of a greeter or an usher. Please contact Shirley Lamontagne for more information.
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February Celebrations
Birthdays
Carlotta Stackhouse, February 3
Ronald Huffman, February 4
Jennifer Williams, February 11
Michelle Ritchie, February 17
Jennifer Martinez, February 17
Jill R. Allawos, February 18
Edward Ritchie, February 20
Rachel Stinnett, February 22
Kelzy Michelle Evans, February 25
Sue ZurSchmiede, February 26
Anna Stackhouse, February 29
Anniversaries
Raymond Cook & Sam Ruff, February 15
Sean & RaéVen Kelly Dinwoodie, February 29
Kenneth Custer and Sabra Custer February 28
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From the ELCA -
“Now is the Time” is a new study guide that helps congregations wrestle with the meaning of “Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent” and its accompanying explanation. The study guide and accompanying participant guide stresses realism, self-examination and accountability as the church “apologiz[es] to people of African descent for [its] complicity in slavery and its enduring legacy of racism in the United States and globally.”
Study guide link:
Participant resource:
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The 2022 schedule and listing of Zoom meetings and ID numbers are on the RLC website and updated as necessary. |
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Announcements and Reminders
Calendar Updates
Check the calendar on the church's web page (www.reformationcae.org) for the latest updates, changes, cancellations, and postponements in church activities and meetings.
Adult Forum - formerly known as Adult Sunday School
Adult Forum will continue to meet virtually at 8:30 am and are discussing content related to Faith, Sexism, and Justice: A Call to Action, which is a set of study guides published by the ELCA. This material can be found at https://elca.org/FSJstudyguide. Our first discussion will follow the first study guide. All you need to join us is a computer with internet access! There is no pressure to read beforehand, speak up (unless you’d like to share your thoughts!), or carry out any specific tasks. The goal of Adult Forum is to provide spiritual growth and restoration, and our forum will be stronger with your presence and/or perspective! You can attend forums as little or as often as you’d like; there is no pressure or obligation involved.
If you’re interested in joining us, we’ll be online at 8:30 am every Sunday and would love to count you among us! I’ll be sending out a Google group reminder which will contain the Zoom link information. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me via phone or e-mail for any questions, suggestions, or clarifications.
Steve Asbill
Adult Education Committee Chair (2022)
Cell: 803-528-7859
Keep in Touch with Your Church Family
Do you need a Reformation Lutheran Church Membership Directory? To request a copy, please contact Mikita at the Church Office at (803.252.1507) or via e-mail at officeofreform@gmail.com.
Updating Our Records
Please be sure to keep your contact information up to date with the church office. Our records include your birthdate and anniversary date (if applicable), mailing address, email address(s), phone(s), and family members. If there is any change, be sure the church office knows. If you want to check to be sure the records are up to date,
Reformation Lutheran Church Newsletter
The Reporter is published monthly at Reformation Lutheran Church and is sent electronically or mailed to members and friends who wish to have a copy. A link to The Reporter newsletter is also posted on the church website: www.ReformationCAE.org and on Reformation's Facebook page. A mid-month newsletter is also published and sent electronically with timely information and updates.
The deadline to submit articles or items to be updated, announced, or published is the eighteenth of the month. If you have news to share, please send it to the church office. Please email to officeofreform@gmail.com.
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1118 Union St. Columbia, SC 29201
803-252-1507
Tim Bupp, Pastor
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