Week of September 26 - Birthdays and Anniversaries

Birthdays
September 26th
Brian Baumgartner
Ian Faires
Emma Lauf
William Roberts
Abigail Sharpe

September 28th
Drew Halvorson
Brandyn Zielke 

September 29th
Landon Baker
Carole King

September 30th
Paul Closius
Tammy Vanerstrom

Anniversaries 

September 26th 

Jim & Julie Voit 

September 27th 

William & Valorie Slate 

Tom & Wendy Wilson 

September 30th 

Scott & Barbara McIntyre

September 26 -Weekly Announcements

Announcements  

103^rd Birthday Party for Georgia Jones

Sat, Oct 16; 4:30-6:30pm.  Come celebrate Georgia Jones’ 103rd birthday!  Everyone is welcome! Potluck dinner!

Middle School & High School Girls Small Groups

Sun Oct 3; 12:45  informational meeting for all girls and their parents to learn more about these Bible studies.  Lunch will be provided, RSVP by Oct 2. 

Contact Katareena Done: 704.989.3990; kdone2010@windstream.net

Young Adults Potluck & Game Night

Sat, Oct 2, 6pm

At Pastor Ed & Mary Louise’s house. Bring your favorite dish and a game. Everyone 18 to 30’s invited. Questions? Kristen Sigmon 704.821.8494  kristen.sigmon@gmail.com

Sandra’s Second Wind

Thurs, Nov 4, 6:30-9:30pm;  $20 per ticket. Silent Auction & Outback Dinner in honor of Sandra Cook. Come have fun & shop from a wide selection of fun & unique items, from dinner gift certificates to all-inclusive vacations! (Babysitting will not be available, no children please.) For tickets, or for one of the great Sandra's Second Wind tye-dye T-shirts, contact Angela Carlson  704.957.6259m or carlson5@windstream.net

Christmas Cantata

Practice Thursdays @ 7pm

Praise Band

Thursdays, 6pm in the sanctuary.

Coat Drive

In the month of October, as the colder weather approaches, Missions will again be collecting coats, sweaters, & sweatshirts for those less fortunate.

Wanted: New Soup Kitchen Coordinator

SOJ is responsible for third Sunday of the month.  Coordinator only needs to make sure there is someone signed up and give a reminder call to volunteers. (If someone forgets you provide the meal) Questions?

LeAnn Rice 704-218-3251 or Vickie Cecil 704-254-4726

SOJ Handbells

Begins TONIGHT in the music room.  Can you read music? Have you rung handbells before? Do you want to make a joyful noise unto the Lord?  Are you free Sunday evenings?  If you answered "yes" to 1 or more questions, please consider joining us!  More info: Jessica Bustamante jbustamanteripper@gmail.com 

Culinary School

Sat, Oct 30 at the Community Culinary School of Charlotte. We need at least 6 Thrivent members, for Thrivent to pay half of our supplies, meaning we can donate more!  We plan to build steps, reseal a floor, build picnic tables, do yard cleanup, landscape – that is, a variety of skills needed! Ann Lashley 704.846.8150.

Small Groups

Small Groups have kicked off for the fall! If you're not yet in a group, grab a green handout in the narthex & check out what we have going on! See Kristen Sigmon for questions/details or contact @ 704.821.8494 or kristen.sigmon@gmail.com

Poverty Simulation

Sun, Oct 3; 5-7pm; FLC; Spirit of Joy Mission Committee is inviting you to walk a mile in the shoes of those facing poverty by participating in Crisis Assistance Ministry’s Poverty Simulation.  Services include a Bank, Food Pantry, General Employer, etc. Please sign up in the Narthex at church by Sept 27. Questions? Contact Mary or John Hejka (704) 846-4426 or Bill Roberts 704-821-1894.

Flu Shots

Sun, Oct 10; 9:30-11:30am; Union County Health Department will be administering free flu shots!

G.U.Y.S. Lutheridge Fall 2010 Project

Volunteer workers needed @ Lutheridge Nov 5 &/or Nov 6 for Maintenance Facility lighting & shelving upgrade projects.  Please see sign-up sheet on G.U.Y.S. bulletin board for arrival & departure options; food & lodging provided.  Donations for materials will be accepted – please make checks out to SOJ with “GUYS Lutheridge” as memo. Contact Dan Owens (704) 843-1280 or Dave Hiza (704) 882-3480. 

Address Update: College-Age Young Adults

Submit new addresses to receive newsletters & a care package. spiritofjoy@webkorner.com, 704-821-8494.

Pray for Our Country

Mon Nights 6:30pm-7:30pm; Gather @ Jan & Bob Smith’s: 4301 Wesley Chapel Rd. Questions?  Jan Smith 651-7812; 9/27  The Increasing Unemployment in our land - Philippians 4:19

Poverty Simulation

Could you survive a month in poverty?

Over 34 million Americans, 12 million of whom are children under the age of 18, live in poverty every day. Many more have incomes above the poverty line, but their incomes are still low enough to qualify for programs like Food Stamps and Medicaid. The recent economic downturn has seen unemployment rates rise and the use of emergency food pantries increase. It is difficult for those of us who have enough to truly understand the situations that families living in poverty experience every day – the decisions they have to make, and the fears and frustrations they feel.

Spirit of Joy's Mission Committee is inviting you to walk a mile in the shoes of those facing poverty by participating in Crisis Assistance Ministry’s Poverty Simulation. During the simulation participants assume the roles of up to 26 different families facing poverty. The task of each of family is to provide for basic necessities and shelter during the course of four 15 minute weeks with the help of community services. Services include a Bank, Food Pantry, General Employer, Pawnbroker, Grocery, Welfare Office, Police Station and Utilities and Rent Payment Centers. Scenarios are created based on real time poverty statistics, cost of living, average rent, etc. The activity includes an introduction and briefing, poverty simulation exercise, and a debriefing period in which participants and volunteer staffers share their feelings and experiences. As one participant commented,

"This simulation dramatically demonstrates how much time and energy many families have to give just to survive from day to day. It quickly dispels the myth that people would do fine if they would only go out and get a job!"

Please join us for this incredible experience.

· When: 5 PM to 7 PM on Sunday, October 3, 2010

· Where: Spirit of Joy Fellowship Hall

Please RSVP by signing up at a table in the Narthex at church by September 27.

We look forward to your participation!

If you have any questions, please contact

Mary or John Hejka (704) 846-4426

or

Bill Roberts 704-821-1894.

Announcements Week of September 5, 2010

General Fund Financials

Avg Weekly Need: $9,222

Last Week’s Giving: $4,571

Avg Giving This Year: $8,531

AWANA – Teaching our children to Know, Love & Serve the Lord Jesus Christ!

Open to all kids ages PreK-5th grade. Club begins meeting on Wed, Sept 8^th ; 6pm-7:30pm. Please contact Janie Owens 704-843-1280.

Adult Rally Dinner
Sat, Sept 11, 6-8 pm; Family Life Center. Free Dinner, Free Child Care and Great Fellowship Opportunities to step up for service. A Thrivent Sponsored evening with a guest speaker! Reservations needed. *

Youth Praise Band

Starts Wed, Sept 8, 5:30‑7:00pm; Every Wednesday in the Sanctuary.

School Supply Drive

This Missions Committee is once again sponsoring a school supply drive in August. Please consider buying a little extra for those less fortunate.

Needed: T.V.'s (19-25"), DVD players, & VCR's

All for our many kids', youth, & adult activities, Sunday School & small groups. Don't have to be new but working. Contact the office if you’d like to donate.

Address Update: College-Age Young Adults

Submit new addresses to receive newsletters & a care package. spiritofjoy@webkorner.com, 704-821-8494.

Pray for Our Country

Mon Nights 6:30pm-7:30pm; We will gather @ Jan & Bob Smith’s: 4301 Wesley Chapel Rd. Questions? Call Jan Smith 704-651-7812; 9/6 Labor Day, No Meeting