JANUARY. Where Diversity is Celebrated!

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1 A Publication of LHCC 1255 E. E. Williamson Road Longwood, Florida Where Diversity is Celebrated! Mission Statement We exist to welcome all people into a relationship with Jesus Christ, equip people with a faith that works in real life; and sends us in service into the world in Jesus name. JANUARY 2018 LHCC LEADERSHIP James Mory Pastor Lori Anderson President Tom Swartz Vice President Nancy Parlasca Treasurer Jim Wagoner Secretary MINISTRY LEADERS Aaron Holland Bldgs. & Grounds Deb Perry Community Outreach Shelly Rose Faith Formation Sharon Desany Evangelism Allan Campbell Stewardship Gail Bartell Worship STAFF Scott Kinkead Music Director Judy Mory Volunteer Adm. Assistant 2018 Posted Office Hours Tuesday Thursday 9:00 am 1:30 pm

2 PASTOR S DESK 2017 has been quite a year! As I mentioned several times in recent months I have experienced in myself and others a weariness and a loss of excitement about life. It seems to me that it is a result of a year where we have been bombarded by political conflicts, investigations and an inability of our elected officials to work together for the good of the nation and not just the promotion of a particular view or idea. In the past few years we have experienced the numbing effect of mass shootings and an unwillingness to work together to find solutions to end this threat. The natural disasters that have effected so many communities and states in fires and hurricanes. Add to that living in a society overwhelmed by recent stories of sexual harassment and violence. It is enough to have to see our way through these storms but our lives are challenged even more by the storms we experience in our personal lives, loss of a loved one, loss of a job and income, divorce, depression, etc. Is it really any wonder why we have such an opioid addiction crisis in our society? People try to escape the pain in any manner possible, drugs, gambling, alcohol, or fantasies? I have said for some time now that the first sermon series in 2018 would be on Surviving the Storms of Life. I feel that the Christmas season we just experienced has been a great help in directing us in a way out of the doldrums of the recent storms. Yet I think it is important to reflect on ways to keep our balance as we go through the storms of life we will be challenged with in One thing is for sure, the storms will come for us as a community of people and in our individual lives. So, the first three weeks of January will be devoted to examining our faith to find the resources that help us face and survive the storms in life. I invite you to join us and encourage friends and neighbors on this journey of faith as well. I pray that the New Year brings the blessings of peace, hope, love and joy to your home and family and to our community! Peace, Pastor Jim

3 Pastor Jim s Messages JANUARY, 2018 Worship Services Surviving the Storms of Life Sunday, January 7: Is Jesus in Your Boat? Mark 4:35-41 Sunday, January 14: Life Includes Waves Matthew 14:22-33 Sunday, January 21: It is Well Romans 8:31-39 Sunday, January 28: Guest Speaker Come to hear how you can survive the storms of life taught by Jesus

4 Daily Bible Readings for: To have the passage read to you go to: biblegateway.com type in the passage, when the passage is displayed click on the speaker icon and listen as you read along. January 1 Genesis 1-2; Luke 1 2 Genesis 3-5; Luke 2 3 Genesis 6-8; Luke 3 4 Genesis 9-11; Luke 4 5 Genesis 12-14; Luke 5 6 Genesis 15-17; Luke 6 7 Genesis 18-19; Psalm 3; Luke 7 8 Genesis 20-22; Luke 8 9 Genesis 23-24; Luke 9 10 Genesis 25-26; Psalm 6; Luke Genesis 27-28; Psalm 4; Luke Genesis 29-30; Luke Genesis 31-33; Luke Genesis 34-36; Luke Genesis 37-38; Psalm 7; Luke Genesis 39-41; Luke Genesis 42-43; Psalm 5; Luke Genesis 44-46; Luke Genesis 47-48; Psalm 10; Luke Genesis 49-50; Psalm 8; Luke Exodus 1-2; Psalm 88; Luke Exodus 3-5; Luke Exodus 6-8; Luke Exodus 9-11; Luke Exodus 12-13; Psalm 21; Acts 1 26 Exodus 14-16; Acts 2 27 Exodus 17-20; Acts 3 28 Exodus 21-22; Psalm 12; Acts 4 29 Exodus 23-24; Psalm 14; Acts 5 30 Exodus 25-27; Acts 6 31 Exodus 28-29; Acts 7 To have the passage read to you go to: biblegateway.com type in the passage, when the passage is displayed click on the speaker icon and listen as you read along.

5 Procedure for Altar Flowers We would like to give you the opportunity to do altar flowers for a family member, graduation, anniversary, a special celebration or just saying Thanks Be to God! Notice an ALTAR FLOWERS sign up sheet in Narthex. HOW IT WORKS: 1. SIGN YOUR NAME ON YOUR CHOSEN DATE LINE 2. ADVISE THE OFFICE WHO THE FLOWERS ARE FOR AND IF IT IS MEMORY OR HONOR 3. ADVISING THE OFFICE ENSURES THAT IT IS IN THE BULLETIN 4. WE WOULD PREFER NO MORE THAN TWO ALTAR FLOWERS ON ANY GIVEN DATE 5. YOU BRING YOUR ARRANGEMENT ON THE DATE SCHEDULED THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION! As you see we have a procedure in ordering flower but there is something if you want in ordering flowers. Lake Mary Florist 101 N Country Club Rd, Ste 108 Lake Mary, FL phone has agreed that you can call them, order flowers and pay for them by phone. Sallie Harris has agreed to pick them up and bring them to the church on the specific Sunday and place on the altar for you. HOWEVER, you must still sign the flower chart to let the office know the specifics for it to be entered into the bulletin. ALSO a call to Sallie Harris and/or an to her at shlakemary@aol.com

6 Welcome to AmazonSmile! Thank you for supporting Longwood Hills Congregational Church. Remember, always start at smile.amazon.com and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. Do you shop online or would you like to make your shopping easier? Try this new program as we are signed up now to receive the above benefits. You must start with smile.amazon.com then pick your favorite charity or church, like Longwood Hills Congregational Church and a percentage is provide to us. This will be a great way shopping for holidays or special events where you need a gift. Go to smile.amazon.com/ch/ and Amazon donates to Longwood Hills Congregational Church.

7 Rummage/Yard Saturday, February 10, 2018 The time is 8am to 2pm to hold the Rummage/Yard Sale to help purchase much needed Sound and Visual Systems for the Church. If you have items to donate please bring on Sunday morning or arrange to bring when the office is open. Posted office hours are Tuesday thru Thursday 9am-1pm or call Large items can be arranged for pick up by calling Gail or Linda. We appreciate your donations as we work together to provide for the mission and ministry of Longwood Hills Congregational Church! Coordinators Gail Bartell Rosa Linda Bartell

8 LHCC Supper Club 2018 Our LHCC Supper Club is preparing to get our next groups together. We simply gather at someone s home for a meal and some fellowship. The host person or couple (singles are very welcome) prepares the main part of the meal with everyone else providing the rest (appetizers, salad dessert or whatever is decided). Each group will have a coordinator to get it started. Then the host couple should reach out to those in their group to plan their meal. The host couple may want to provide coffee, tea and or water. If anyone has a different beverage of choice, you may feel free to bring that for yourself. There is no set night of the week or time you can just work it out within your group. This is a great way to get to know your church family so we hope you ll consider getting involved. It s only one evening per month (or it could be brunch or whatever you like). To join, please contact Pearl Swartz at pearlswartz@cfl.rr.com or call (407) We re getting groups organized to start again in the new year so please let Pearl know by February 1 if you d like to participate. If you have any food allergies, please let her know that too so it can be noted in food preparation. Do consider joining in. You won t be sorry.

9 Meal On Wheel's M-F 8:30a - 1p This program focuses not only on hot meals but also develops and sustains friendships with each other especially the elderly. Many have no family members in the area. HALOS Healing After a Loved One s Suicide Mary Campbell is the facilitator of the group which meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month between 6:30p-8p. SYA Seminole Youth Alliance Michael Slaymaker, MHR is coordinating the youth of Seminole county in providing a safe space for LGBTQ with meeting on Thursday 6p-8p. Writer s Group An independent group of individuals to meet the last Monday of the month to review their writing and publications. Supporting one another in their endeavors.

10 Boy Scouts Troop 234 Thursday evenings during the school year Roger Evans as leader provides guidance, direction and challenges to our young people to develop skill sets to use for their life. Girl Scouts Troop 1475 The first and third Tuesday evenings each month a new Girl Scout Troop will be meeting here at the church. The leader is Angie Delagrange, an attendee of our church. Good luck in a new endeavor! FOOD PANTRY The pantry angels along with you and your donations both product and financial assists in our mission to help our neighbors in need with food. Used or NEW MAGAZINES collecting for Central Florida Hospital patients Depository in the Narthex. This helps patients to have reading material while recovering.

11 MATTHEW 25: Ministries, Inc. Collects empty pill bottles. Please remove any personal information and bring your bottles to the church and place in the depository. Also to help defray the cost in shipping please consider leaving a donation in one of the bottles. THANKS! The Angel Tree Gifts have benefited once again the Orange Seminole Foster Children s Association and their clients. This nonprofit organization offers support, resources and tools for foster and adoptive parents to ensure all children have the resources and opportunities to grow up to become productive members of society regardless of their past. The foster families that care for our community's most vulnerable children often experience great stress instead of the abundant joy that Christmas offers. Children in foster care who have experienced abuse and neglect tend to struggle to maintain their behavioral and mental health during the holiday season as they are constantly reminded that they have been separated from their families of origin due to no fault of their own. The foster parents and the children say THANK YOU for caring.

12 Become a member of a larger group of Christians who welcome all people into a relationship with Jesus Christ, equip people with a faith that works in real life; and sends us in service into the world in Jesus name. NEW MEMBERS CLASS April 22 class with lunch April 29 reception August 19 class with lunch August 26 reception October 21 class with lunch October 28 reception Watch for Sign Ups in Narthex as time gets closer

13 JANUARY Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :30p Music OFFICE CLOSED 7 COMMUNION :30a Choir 10a WORSHIP OFFICE CLOSED 2-4p Food Pantry 7-8:30p P.T. Vocals OFFICE CLOSED 14 8:30a Choir 10a WORSHIP 15 OFFICE CLOSED 16 3:30p Music 6:30p Steering Com Mtg p Food Pantry 7-8:30p P.T. Vocals OFFICE CLOSED 20 8a-Noon Planning Mtg :30a Choir 10a WORSHIP 11:15a ANNUAL MEETING 2-4p Food Pantry 7-8:30p P.T. Vocals OFFICE CLOSED OFFICE CLOSED :30a Choir 10a WORSHIP 2-4p Food Pantry 7-8:30p P.T. Vocals OFFICE CLOSED