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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Called Congregational Meeting, April 10 – Immediately following Palm Sunday Service
There is a Journey unfolding at Reformation. Our worship journey will begin Holy Week. As Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, we will have a triumphal entry into the sanctuary with a Palm Sunday Service of Re-entry on April 10th. We will enter with palms swaying and voices lifted. For this service, we will remain masked and at safe distances. Hymnals will be back in place, and the hymn numbers will be in the bulletin. We will still commune in the pews for this service. As we continue our Holy Week journey, we will resume Maundy Thursday Service on April 14th with an opportunity for foot washing. Those who are not comfortable with foot washing are encouraged to remain in the pews. Our Good Friday Service, April 15th, will return as well. Both services will be at 7:00 pm. Then our Journey continues with Easter Sunday! We will begin at 7:00 am with an Almost Sunrise Service on Reformation’s side lawn. A 7:45 am Easter Sunday breakfast will be held in the Fellowship Hall, and an Easter Egg hunt for the children. At 10:00 am, we will begin our Easter Service. This year our theme will be A Resurrected Service! We will remain every other pew, but with no masks required. Those who still wish to wear a mask will be encouraged to continue. For those who still want to be away from those unmasked, the balcony will be open for you. For the first time in over two years, we will celebrate communion at the altar! The rail will be marked, so there will be safe spacing during communion. Our pre-sealed communion kits will still be available for those who are still not comfortable going to the altar. Yes! This Easter, we are on an incredible Journey at Reformation! But that Journey doesn’t stop with resuming in-person worship.
The Journey also continues with the possibility of shared ministries with Christ Mission Lutheran church. As Reformation and Christ Mission converse with the SC Synod, we have a road map shaping for that Journey that we will share with everyone at our April 10th Congregational Informational Meeting following our Palm Sunday service. We will explain the opportunities and options unfolding before us and the Synod’s hopes for this joint Journey. There have been many moving parts, and how this was going to be defined has changed as we gathered info and shared conversations with the Synod and Christ Mission’s leadership. We are excited that the Spirit is at work in the church, both at Reformation, and Christ Mission, even in the unfortunate situation concerning their building.
As with any Journey, whether for food, lodging, gas, or any other essentials to sustain the Journey, there is a need for financial support. Like all other churches, Reformation had a Journey through Covid, which created a tremendous financial strain like so many. As we journey to this Resurrected Service, we ask you all to consider resurrecting your financial commitment to the ministries of Reformation. You’ll find enclosed a commitment sheet in by mailed correspondence. We hope you will pray about the ministries at Reformation; mail in or bring your commitment sheet to the April 10th meeting.
With Full Sincerity,
Jim Prater, Church Council President
Tim Bupp, Pastor
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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.
Christian Sympathy: To Lynn Scott at the death of her sister, Rhonda Karen Smith Fuqua. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
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Council Meeting
Due to Easter Sunday activities, the April Council meeting will be held immediately after the Called Congregational Meeting on Sunday, April 10.
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Easter Lily Donations
The Worship and Music Committee will adorn the Sanctuary with lilies for Easter Sunday. Please consider helping us defray the cost of the flowers by making a $12.00 donation. You may remember or honor a loved one by sponsoring a lily.
To order a plant in honor or in memory of someone for Easter Sunday worship, fill out the form below. Forms are also available in narthex or at the church office . Place the form in the offering plate or leave it at the church office. Make check payable to RLC “Easter Lily”. You may also drop off or mail a check to Reformation Lutheran Church, 1118 Union St. Columbia, SC 29201 indicating Easter lily in the memo. Or you may give online at Reformationcae.com/giving. Names will be listed in Easter Sunday bulletin. You may pick up your lilies after the Easter worship service or designate it to be given to a homebound individual.
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Church office
In observance of Easter, the church office will be closed on Easter Monday, April 18. The office will reopen on Tuesday, April 19.
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April Usher/Greeter & Lector Schedule
April 3
Gary Parish & Jim Prater, Usher/Greeter
Colleen Clark, Lector
April 10
Eddie Ritchie & TBA, Usher/Greeter
Harold Jeffries, Lector
April 17
Jim Prater & Dee Conti, Usher/Greeter
Leroy Jenkins, Lector
April 24
Raymond Cook & Sam Ruff, Usher/Greeter
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 won't be able to make it to church on the Sunday you are scheduled, please coordinate a swap/coverage with someone else from the greeter/usher team.
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April Celebrations
Birthdays
Esther Richey, April 3
Matthew Klopfenstein, April 4
Rev. Bill Eiwen, April 7
Kelly Reed-Huff, April 8
Amanda Heinsman Klopfsenstein, April 10
Casesy Williams, April 13
Jeff Harrell, April 13
Sarah Trani, April 16
Michael Watson, April 17
Josue Rodriguez-Laureano, April 17
Alexandria Leon, April 19
Fred Mansperger, April 21
Kathy Bupp, April 28
Richard Hernandez, April 30
Anniversaries
Anthony Miles and Patrick P. Miles, April 17
Jim Prater and Julia Prater April 24
Lee Amick and Robert Ruesga April 25
Casey & Jennifer Williams, April 30
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Special thanks
Thank you to Fred Mansperger for pressure washing the concrete sidewalk on Union Street, the church steps and the breezeways.
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In-Person / Gathering Update (ending Palm Sunday)
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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SC SYNOD NEWS
We Would Love To Tell You A Story...
A story of the life changing work going on in our
synod.
A story of some of the amazing work being done through our synodical institutions and synodical partners.
A story of leaders from congregations across South Carolina who have said yes and are willing to serve and allow their gifts benefit various ministries across the state.
A story of new rostered leaders who have joined us in ministry here in South Carolina over the past year.
A story of leaders who have faithfully served this church for 50+ years.
A story of how the ministry in YOUR congregation is vital to the lives of all who call that place their church home.
A story of how your life, your experiences, your passions and gifts are all part of a much greater story.
A story, my friends, of Jesus and his love!
JOIN US JUNE 12-14 IN CHARLESTON FOR OUR ANNUAL SOUTH CAROLINA SYNOD ASSEMBLY. JOIN US FOR STORY TIME. JOIN US!
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Quote of the month
"The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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ELCA NEWS
Lutheran Disaster Response is accompanying companion churches and partners in their efforts to provide support, supplies and care to people affected by the war in Ukraine. So far, LDR’s Eastern Europe crisis response has raised more than $3 million.
“Covenant of the smaller Lutheran churches in central and Eastern Europe, ecumenical and other partners has long been a regional priority for the ELCA,” said Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton in a message. “In this time of crisis, we accompany our partners with concrete support for their humanitarian efforts through Lutheran Disaster Response.”
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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 and in person at 9:00 am. We are discussing and reviewing select books of the Bible entailing vital statistics such as, "Who wrote this particular book," "WHY did they write this book," and "What historical events were ongoing during the period of this writing?" If you're interested in joining, I've attached the steps to join us this Sunday below!
1. Go to Zoom.us
2. Click "Join a meeting" at top right of screen
3. Copy and paste or type meeting ID: 829 4130 3734
4. Click "Join"
Contact Steve Asbill, Adult Education Committee Chair
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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