February 2016 - Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church

Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church
DeLand, Florida
“People will come from east and west, from north and south, and will
eat in the kingdom of God. ”
(Luke 13:29 )
The above verse comes just before the Gospel text for the second Sunday in Lent. We
are winding up the short (this year) Epiphany season, which introduces the ministry of Jesus.
It is filled with shocking signs and words from God’s Son. Verse 30 continues: “some are last
who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” In the Gospel text from Epiphany Four,
Jesus reminds the synagogue worshippers in his hometown of Nazareth that a Syrian leper
and a Sidonite widow were singled out by the prophets Elisha and Elijah, respectively. Their
favorable amazement and aplomb turned to homicidal rage in the blink of an eye. Such is the
audacious nature of the kingdom of God. The ones we expect will find favor are left to watch
as the outcasts are healed and fed.
Epiphany sets up Lent, and both seasons shake us up and stir our hearts to receive our
Lord as the “other-thans”, or Gentiles. Those who think they are “in like Flynn” may be in
for some rude awakenings! The “Gentiles” in our midst are those substitute guests at the banquet table; you know, the ones that the king got from off the street when the invitees couldn’t
be bothered.
We cannot attain the kingdom of God based on our own merits. We know this. We
are fully reliant and dependent on His grace. God is repulsed when we presume to have entitlement to the good gifts, while holding at arms’ length those who are “different” from us.
Tough words from Jesus are seldom embraced. They are quickly discarded as being meant for
the “wicked.” Guess what, y’all – thems be us! (We are in the South, dontcha know). As we
plunge into Lent (sooner than expected or are ready for), we confront the wicked face in the
mirror. Then we wash that face, remembering that God claimed us in our baptism. We are
cleansed and forgiven, which of course is the only way we can claim a seat at the table. But
don’t be deceived! Don’t recline on the comfy couch of free grace! We are called in that same
baptism to go and do likewise; extend unconditional hospitality to the “Gentiles”; serve the
least among us.
I hope that many of you will participate in the opportunities we have for service, learning and fellowship. We need each other, regardless of what baggage or issues you may
IN THIS ISSUE:
think no one cares about. We are a family of
Faith that rejoices, worships, cries, celebrates, Notes from the Pastor
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and mourns together.
February News & Announcements
Calendar, Birthdays & more news
Money Matters, Prayer Chain
Council, Staff and Business Directory
I’ll see you in church!
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Located in the basement of the
First United Methodist Church
of DeLand
Thanks to all who served in January!
Great teamwork – thanks be to God!
On Tuesday, January 12h, we served 91 meals and 24 carryouts to the hungry. Big thanks go to the following for preparing and serving: Paul Dascher, Nancy Dascher, Joe Ann
Nieb, Ed Rosenberg, Mary Rosenberg, Mike Swanto, Pam
Swanto, Debbie Wuertz, Veronica “Teddy” Holmes and Tanika Smith other helpers). Big thank you to all the Women of
Faith for your loving gifts of “gently used” purses, hygiene,
and cosmetic items. The women who came to eat were doubly blessed! Also, Mike and Pam Swanto for bringing in
“gently used” sweaters!
We serve on the second Tuesday of each month. This is a
great opportunity for a group, club, or family to serve the
community. There is no financial commitment necessary;
simply a gift of time and service. The entrees for these meals
are provided, but salads, side dishes, and desserts are always appreciated.
Our next turn is
Tuesday, February 16th at 5:00pm.
If you would like to serve, please call
Debbie Wuertz at 453-9420.
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS
1. We have a boy scout troop meeting in our Fellowship Hall every Monday now. They are going to have a Spaghetti Dinner with a
Sweetheart Dance to follow on February 13th. Dinner will be
served from 4 to 7. Tickets are only $5. Let's support our troop!
2. February 9th is Shrove Tuesday, We will be having a Pancake
and Sausage Dinner from 5:30 to 6:30PM and a Mardi Gras Party
with fun and games to follow.
3. Ash Wednesday is February 10th. There will be two services
that day. At 10AM, Pastor Art will have a service at Good Samaritan Lutheran Retirement Center. At 7PM, there will be a service at
Faith Church. This begins the period of Lent. There will be no Pot
Luck this evening.
4. February 7th, we will be celebrating Souper Bowl Sunday. There
will be three soup pots set out. One will be labeled Broncos. One
will be labeled Panthers. One will be labeled "I Really Don't Care".
Put money into the pot that you support. The money will be
counted and the winner announced, then it will all be donated to
the Neighborhood Center in Deland to help the poor. This will be
a great outreach for our church. Everyone may wear their team
colors, T-shirts, etc., to church. It does not have to be your favorite
football team. It can be any sport.
5. There will be a 65th Anniversary Party for our church on
April17th. Following the church service, there will be a luncheon
and party. More information will be available in next month's
Footprints.
6. On May 1st, the Bishop will visit our church. We will have cake
and punch to follow that service. It will be a continuation of the
Anniversary Celebration.
7. The Youth," New Generation", now have their own room in the
office building. They want to paint and decorate it themselves.
They have already started working on it.
Next meeting will be February 8th, 2016
Dear Family of Faith,
Do you have visions and dreams for this congregation?
Here are some questions to ask yourself that might
help you:
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What three words describe Faith?
What are some of our strengths, things you appreciate about this congregation? .
What would you like to see happen here in the
next one to five years?
What are the primary changes or challenges in
our larger community that you feel God is
leading us to respond to or address?
If you could dream big, what could we accomplish in our ministry together in seeking to serve
our larger community?
What are the assets or resources that are available within this congregation for making this
dream a reality?
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SUNDAY
MONDAY
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TUESDAY
2
Finance 5:30pm Rebekah Circle @
Worship & Music
GS 10am
& 7:00pm
Interfaith
Caregiver Mtg
7:00pm
Winter Park
LWR Delivery
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Blended
Service 9:30 am
Souper Bowl Sunday
Hymn Singing
7 Habits
14
Blended
Service 9:30 am
Second Sunday
Sharing Bring
peanut butter!
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Blended
Service 9:30 am
Mission Sunday
Annual Congregational Meeting
Part 2
7 Habits
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Service 9:30 am
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15
Council Mtg
7:00pm
Presidents Day
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Shrove Tuesday
Mardi Gras
Pancake Dinner
5:30pm
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5:00
22
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WEDNESDAY
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Godly Play 3:15
Choir 5:00 pm
Potluck 6:00pm
KiT Meeting
6:30pm
THURSDAY
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FRIDAY
SATURDAY
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FELC Day at
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11
12
13
17
18
19
20
24
25
26
27
Ash Wednesday
Services 10am
@ GSRC
7:00pm @ FELC
Godly Play 3:15pm
Choir 5:00 pm
Potluck 6:00pm
Godly Play 3:15
Choir 5:00 pm
Potluck 6:00pm
Lenten Service
7:00pm
Godly Play 3:15
Choir 5:00 pm
Potluck 6:00pm
Lenten Service
7:00pm
Fellowship Breakfast
8:30am
Video Class
9:15
Boy Scouts Spaghetti
supper & Valentine
Dance 4-7pm
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Easter Lily Orders Due!
The Second Sunday of every month is
Feb 4th
Feb 5th
Feb 12th
Feb 14th
Feb 14th
Feb 17th
Betty Sperling
Dee Dee Williams
Amber Sholtis
Michelle Hermann
Thomas Wheeler IV
Rebekah Groover
Feb 20th
Feb 21st
Feb 22nd
Feb 26th
Feb 29th
Bob Bebee
Cornelia Policke
Jennifer Campbell
Heide Cirullo -Coe
Courtney Folsom
Faith Lutheran is on Facebook! Find us at:
Faith’s Outreach Ministry will be
continuing our partnership with
St Barnabas to help their
Faith at Work
Food Pantry!
On the second Sunday of each
month, everyone is asked to
bring a specific non-perishable
food item the pantry needs.
On the third Sunday of each month
there will be a second collection for
various needs of the church. The collection on February 21st will go
toward Congregational Life.
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On February 14th
Please Bring:
Peanut
Butter
On February 13th there will be a class
on running the video for our Sunday
services. The class will be at the fellowship breakfast around 9:00am or
9:15pm.
If you belong to or know of any group that needs a
meeting space, why not suggest our facilities? It’s
a WIN/WIN! It can lead to new relationships forming, as well as helping our church out a little financially. Please call the office at 386-734-2791 for
more information! Thank you!
LENT 2016 – “BUT!” beginning WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH, 7:00
This provocative title for our Wednesdays in Lent
grabs our attention and promises the unexpected.
The messages in the sermons will challenge us to
hear the Gospel in new ways. Hear the surprises
God has in store for us as we explore the depths of
our faith in this season of contemplation. It concludes, of course, with Easter – the biggest “but” of
all!
God reverses the seemingly irreversible – death –
and grants us a new joy and hope in the promise of
eternal life.
Join us on Wednesdays to be challenged. In addition to Pastor Art, you will also get to hear Susan
Jackson from All Saints, Port Orange; Pastor Mark
Winkler from Emmaus, Orange City; and Pastor
Dennis Schmidt, Hope, Daytona Beach.
Don’t forget to come at 6:00 to share a simple meal
of soup and bread!
Check the pew pocket for details!
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Attendance & offerings for the month of
Average
Attendance
General
Tithes
Received
76
$10,783.00
General
Tithes
Needed
Designated
Giving
December
Total
$2,054.96
$15,899.96
$12,508.00
General Tithes Budgeted
$12,508.00
General Tithes Received
$10,783.00
Difference
-$1,725.00
Thanks for Giving! We need your regular tithe in order to
maintain day-to-day operations.
Average:
N/A
Total Monthly Offerings
$15,899.96
By Comparison: On this month in 2015
Weekly Average Attendance: 94
Total Monthly Offerings: $17,614.90
Month of December
All of 2015
$48.00
$14,220.41
Thank you to these and all member who allotted their Thrivent Choice Dollars to faith Lutheran Church FELC in November: Deborah Boyer &
Dolores Schmid.
Thank you for all your support! Please remember that Capital Fund donations should
be in addition to your regular tithe. We still
need your regular tithe in order to maintain day-to-day operations.
General & Ministry Offerings includes Regular and Loose Tithe offerings, Stewardship, and Sunday School offerings.
Capital Fund Offerings are included with Memorial and other Pass-Thru Offerings
Bank Account Deduction:
 Use the convenient Electronic Funds
Transfer option and have your
offering automatically deducted
from your checking account.
 Never forget your check or offering
envelope again!
 You choose how often and how much
you give.
 Add fund splits for Building, Capital,
Lutheridge, etc.
On The Website
 Visit www.FaithLutheranDeLand.org.
 Click the Make A Donation link at the
left side of the page.
 All major credit cards accepted.
 Fund splits for Building, Capital,
Lutheridge, etc.
 Give a one-time gift, or set up
recurring donations.
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With Your Smartphone
Upload the free QR code scanner app at
the Google Play Store.
 Scan the QR code found on donation
cards, bulletins, and newsletters.
 All major credit cards accepted.
Intercessory prayer is one of the Christian’s most powerful tools. By lifting up those in need, we bring them to the
Lord for His healing hand, strength and comfort.
We pray for those who are chronically ill, that God would be their daily companion and strength:
Laura Coe, Richard Hoel, Nina Eriksen, Linda Feiler, Lloyd Zeller, Kerry Sholtis, Lance Borows, Faith Eriksen
For those who are fighting cancer, that they will know they are not alone in the battle:
Austin Carey, Ray Bebee, Janet Persell, Peter Vrionides, Curt Doroban, Bob Jordan, Alfred Mueller, Isabelle Lee Pritchett, Emily Snyder, Suzie Farris, Judy, Cathy, Mark Creel
We rejoice with those who are recovering form injury, illness, or surgery:
Nina Eriksen, Scott Ridolph, Christopher Menza
For those who are shut in, that they will feel the Lord’s constant presence:
Lucille Eaton (FLHC), Jerry Kimmel, Millie Glover
We pray for those whose needs are known only to the Lord:
Brett Cleveland, Karin Goranson, Cathy Buchner, Marilyn Snow, Heather Kinney, Preston Kinney, Carolyn Stevens,
Jackie Hays, Dorothy Caldwell, Scarlet Valdez
We pray for the special concerns of our neighbors, our community, our nation and our world:
Our men and women in the military, Habitat for Humanity, All people in war-torn nations, Storm victims, Rain for
areas that need it, For our local, state and national leaders, for those in the grip of addiction to drugs and alcohol and
for their families.
Email you prayer request to [email protected] or contact Faith Eriksen at 736-1799
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OUR MISSION STATEMENT:
Sharing Christ’s love, our mission is to extend hospitality, serve our community,
and spread the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
CONGREGATION COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Pastor: Rev. Arthur Wuertz
President: Don Boyer
Vice President: Bob Bebee
Council Secretary: Helen Martin
Treasurer: Dora Mallett
Financial Secretary: Debby Boyer
Carol Sutton
Bob Bebee
Sue Thurmond
Julia Beckwith
Adam Stoddard
Dorothy Caldwell
Janice Cornwell Christine Medrano
Debbie Morris
CHURCH OFFICE:
509 E. Pennsylvania Ave. DeLand,
FL 32724
Hours: Mon. Wed. 9:00am - 5:00pm;
Fri 9:00am - 1:00pm
Phone: (386) 734-2791
Fax: (386) 943-8758
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
faithlutherandeland.org
facebook.com/faithlutherandeland
Children’s House Montessori School:
Administrator: Sherri Holzman
CHURCH STAFF:
Pastor:
The Rev. Arthur Wuertz
Office Manager:
Amy Cornwell
Music Director:
Deborah DeGaetano
Church Sexton:
Bob DeGaetano
Organist:
Tiffany Demps
Nursery Attendant:
Ruth Erickson
Let your friends at Faith know about your business! See
it listed here, and in the printed directory! Submit your
business online, or get a submission form in the Communication Center in the back of the Sanctuary. Call the
office for details!
Custom Assembly & Installation
Carpentry / Cabinets / Floors
24/7 Emergency Roadside
Jennifer Graesart
Bee Powell (386)956-9498
David Hickman
(386)804-9182
Business & Home
Computer Repair
Commercial / Residential
Pressure Washing
& Painting by Mike Swanto
Danielle Baker
518-331-9676
www.mysilpada.com/Danielle.stokely
Silver Stones Pearls Gems Jewelry
No job to small!
Open Fridays 8:00am-1:00pm
Located inside the Orange City Flea Market
Bob DeGaetano
(386) 848-3630
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Guitar
Bass
Saxophone
Ukulele
Music Theory
Private instruction for all skill levels
MOBILE DETAILING
(407)914-5280
Amy Wuertz
386-589-4579
[email protected]
Weddings, family and “get-to-gether” Pictures