REFLECTIONS. December 2017 OUR MISSION To welcome and lead all to Christ. Christmas Eve. 7:00 p.m. Family Worship Service

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1 REFLECTIONS Lutheran Church of the Resurrection 525 Minutemen Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL Phone: (321) Website: Follow us on Facebook December 2017 OUR MISSION To welcome and lead all to Christ Christmas Eve 7:00 p.m. Family Worship Service Lighting of the Christmas tree, and Holy Communion 8:00 p.m. Christmas Reception 10:00 p.m. Candlelight Service With Holy Communion our handbell choir, adult choir, instrumental music, and candlelighting Bring A Friend

2 Dear Friends, We don t often think of December as the beginning of a new year, but it is in the church. On the first weekend of this month we begin anew. We go back to the beginning of the story and prepare to tell it all over again. It s all about hope. God promises that he will rescue his oppressed and depressed people. We look expectantly for Emmanuel (God with us). And with the birth of Jesus, we believe that the creator reached out to us in the most direct way possible. He didn t send an or a certified letter he sent his Son. Someone to teach us, forgive us, and walk with us through this dark and uncertain world. Now it s our turn to be his presence and light for the oppressed and depressed, to show up in his name. Advent is a time of preparation and remembrance of his coming into this world, but it is also a time to examine our own walk of faith. Is our light shining? Is our witness showing? Peace and light be with you (and emanating from you) this Advent and Christmas Season. Merry Christmas! Pastor Jay

3 Council Members Dr. Michael Miller, President Jim Stark, Vice-President Ann Fosburr, Secretary Jenn Billingham, Fellowship Property, Mitch Wilson (Buildings) Ben Troemel (Grounds) Alfred Domschke (Administration) Bill Bond, Stewardship Marilyn Sorenson, Social Ministry Libby VanZino, Evangelism Christian Education Debbie Rescott, Treasurer (Advisor) Michelle Davis, Financial Sec. (Advisor) Angelika Domschke, Worship The Church Council meeting was held on November 14th and here are some highlights of discussions and decisions. The meeting began with a prayer offered by Pastor Jay. - Our special guest for the evening was Diane Stees. She was asked by the Property Committee to present a proposal for the beautification of the area near the church s covered drop off. She showed the council a rendering of the site plan and informed us that she would be seeking a grant from Keep Brevard Beautiful. The grant application deadline is December 15. After listening to her proposal, asking questions, and making suggestions; the council voted to allow her to proceed with the application. It was clarified that the work would include the east, west, and south plots in the area. The council decided to withhold a decision on the proposed installation of a sidewalk extension to the west until the work in that area is done. - The evening s agenda and the minutes of the last meeting were reviewed. - The Financial Secretary s report was given by the chair of Budget and Finance. We have fallen behind our giving from last year, but that is not unusual as many of our winter friends have not yet returned. Attendance for October was down from last year from a weekly average of 156 to 144 this year. - The Treasurer s report was given. A copy is available upon request and is posted in the fellowship hall. - Evangelism We are now participating in a local publication called the, Cocoa Beach Explorer. This publication has wide circulation and we are the first church to advertise in it. There is also a Community Corner area where we can publicize church events at no cost. We will also be advertising the Christmas schedule in the Florida Today. Libby got us a 1/4 th page ad for the price of a 1/8 th! - Worship The many details of planning Christmas were made. Council was read a list of things that need to be done and the timing involved. The children of Children s Church will present an Advent play in worship on December 17 th during the children s time. A dramatic reading about Mary, the mother of our Lord, will be presented at the 11:00 service that day. -Fellowship Over 90 people participated in the All Saints/Homecoming luncheon. Many Sundays are available to sponsor in December. Old Business - Update on parish hall flooring. One more week will be needed before we can use the area. - Nominees are needed for the Audit Committee Continued on next page.

4 Continued from previous page. New Business - With Joyce being away soon, another co-treasurer is needed to help Debbie. A name was put forward of a possible volunteer. - Pastor was asked to announce that two additional counters are needed. - Gina, our music director, requested that a monitor and camera be installed in the choir loft so that musicians can see what is happening in the front of the church. A proposal will be presented at the next council meeting. - Our church constitution needs to be updated. Notice will be given to the congregation and the changes will be proposed at the next congregational meeting. December Birthdays 12/1 Chickie Arendas 12/2 Carol Auer Mary Bond Marge Green 12/3 Nancy Salvaggio 12/4 Libby VanZino 12/5 Gail Bell 12/6 Martha Hinkley 12/9 Finn Redd 12/12 Hannah Prince Marcia Wilson 12/14 Bill Bond Kristin O Connor 12/15 Don Nelson 12/17 Fred Stotz 12/18 Jeffrey Kennedy Kevin Pollard Carol Ann Zigan 12/19 Karen Correa 12/21 Norma Gaines 12/25 Lois Rescott 12/26 Jean Davis 12/27 Thomas Wilson 12/29 Greg Galzerano 12/30 Heather Prince Barbara Sappie 12/31 Pat Issel Heidi Sommers Bonnie Trieglaff December Anniversaries 12/23 Kevin & Cheryl Kemppanion 12/26 Jere & Claire Brew Dave & Kathy Martz 12/28 Jim & Elaine Stark 12/30 Stan & Gina Jones

5 The Saturday morning work crew keeps our property safe and beautiful. The time of service runs from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. If you would like to help out, just show up at the maintenance shed on the west side of our property. The morning concludes with donuts and coffee. You may also do tasks on your own schedule just call the office for details. Thanks! Open Invitation to Join Our Prayer Chain: The Prayer Chain is an excellent way for you to serve those in need, by praying for them. The duty of a Prayer Chain member is simply to converse with God on behalf of the person the prayer is requested for, and pass on the request to the next person on your Prayer Chain List. If interested please call Marge Hinds through the church office. Healing prayers with the laying on of hands and anointing is held immediately following 8:30 worship on the third Sunday of the month for December. Book Club will be not be held in December. Will resume on January 8, 2018 with Return to Sender by Fern Michaels. Please bring a sandwich and drink for yourself. Eat, Pray, Love! Women s Fellowship Group will be meeting in December on the 14 th, and the 21 st. (Thursday s). We meet at 9:00 am in the Ministry Center Breakroom. We will be continuing a short feel good novel for the Christmas Season called, The Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs. It is available on Amazon. All women are invited to join us. I ll have the coffee brewing and look forward to seeing you! I can be reached via at 3eatpryalove@gmail.com or through the church office Ladies Fellowship. Please join us on Thursday, December 7th at 9:00am for a time of fellowship, breakfast, and to connect with women of our church of all ages. We will be meeting at Southern Charm Café located at 8501 Astronaut Blvd., Cape Canaveral, FL Our reservation will be under Sarah.ladiesbreakfastfellowship@gmail.com. Memorial Garden. LCR is looking for volunteers to serve on the Memorial Garden Committee. This committee oversees the applications for and maintenance of the memorial garden. If you have questions about this committee please contact the church office or Pastor Jay. LCR musicians will be performing at the Cocoa Beach Library on December 16th at 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. The performers, Joe and Lynn Gray, Sarah Davis, and Rick Stees, will be holding a sing-a-long of Christmas music. Should be a lot of fun. One of our new members, Suzanne Bellair, works as a caregiver to children and seniors. If you are in need of such services, call the church office for more information.

6 DECEMBER MINISTRY CENTER EVENTS Compassionate Friends Tuesday, December 5th (Ministry Center)-6:00 p.m. Sunday, December 10th (Fellowship Hall)-3:00-8:00 p.m. A Special Occasion Music-Music Lessons Afternoons-By Appointment Greeting Card Ministry Will resume in January Women s Bible Study Monday, December 4th, 11th, & 18th Book Club Resume in January Contact: Church Office Contact: Joe & Lynn Gray Contact: Molly Andrews or Church Office 10:00 pm Contact: Church Office 10:00 am Contact: Julie Palm 12:00 noon J-Walkers Youth Group Sunday, December 10th (5:30 to 7:30 pm) Caroling & Christmas Party Saturday, December 16th (9:00 to 10:00 am) Children s Christmas Play Dress Rehearsal Saturday, December 16th (10:00 am to 12:30 pm) Youth Service Day Sunday, December 17th (8:15 to 9:30 am) Children s Christmas Play EFSC Lab School Tuesday, December 12th Wednesday, December 20th Thursday, December 14th Eat, Pray, Love Women s Fellowship Group Thursday, December 14th, and 21st Conference Center 6:00 pm Contact: Libby VanZino 9:00 am Tiger & Wolf Scouts -Rm #3 Will resume in January Contact: Church Office 6:00 pm RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH

7 SOCIAL MINISTRIES AT LCR Food Pantry: The featured items for the Food Pantry are listed below: (Please bring them to the shopping cart in the Sanctuary or basket in the Fellowship Hall) 12/3 - Chunky Soup 12/10 - Canned Tuna 12/17 - Canned Chicken 12/24 - Canned Veggies 12/31 - Canned Fruit Thank you for your gifts and would love to boost this month s donation. We are in need of razors, deodorant, and toothpaste. Please give from the heart. PANTRY HOURS: The first 4 Saturdays of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. BIKE MINISTRY: 2nd and 3rd Saturday of every month. 10:00-12:00 noon. LCR does not accept clothing donations: If you have clothing donations we suggest Cocoa Beach Community Church Thrift Shop. Have an overflowing piggy bank at home?? Share your coins with the Laundry Ministry at LCR. Each month we give the gift of clean clothes to our homeless friends and pantry clients at a local laundromat. Your coins bring smiles to many faces! We never realized that the homeless see their clothing as disposable, but it makes sense. Imagine wearing the same clothes in this heat for weeks at a time! Such clothes get to the point where they are unwearable. Now, the homeless and those in economic distress have a chance to wash and renew that clothing. One less shirt in a landfill, and good stewardship of God s gifts! The giving of loose change to the laundry buckets in the church narthex and fellowship hall has fallen off over the summer time to raid the piggy bank! LCR is doing GREAT things! Thank you for your financial support now, but have you thought about leaving a legacy after you leave this world? Contact your financial consultant or church office for ideas. Thank you!

8 Upcoming Events Sat, Dec 2 nd Ocean Reef Beach Festival, 10 am-5 pm, at Pelican Beach Park (1525 A1A, Satellite Beach). Join Keep Brevard Beautiful at the 6 th Annual Ocean Reef Beach Festival. There s fishing, surfing, music, art, conservation education and a chowder cook-off. Sun, Dec 3 rd Build A Bat House, 1 pm 4 pm, at Sams House/ Pine Island Conservation Area (6195 N. Tropical Trail in north Merritt Island). Bring the family and work together to build your very own bat house. Learn how to properly install your new house in your yard, and discover why bats are so beneficial to Central Florida (Hint: They eat mosquitoes!). The cost for this workshop is $40 for materials. Registration is required. Please bring a battery powered drill. Call (321) to reserve your spot. Sun, Dec 10 th Cruickshank Hike, 10 am-12 pm. Join Florida Master Naturalist Mark Prynoski for a guided hike through the Helen and Allen Cruickshank Sanctuary located at 326 Barnes Blvd., Rockledge. Bring water, closed toed shoes, sunscreen and bug repellent. This is a wonderful place to see Florida Scrub Jays up close. Call (321) for more information. Open House Public Meeting For Proposed Space Coast Trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore Date: Thur, Dec 7th Time: Anytime between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm Location: City of Titusville City Hall, 555 S. Washington Ave, Titusville Stop by anytime between 5 and 7 pm to learn more about the proposed Space Coast Trail and to submit comments on the proposal. Staff from the US Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service, NASA, and the Florida Dept of Transportation will be available during the meeting to discuss the project. Go to for more information. The Space Coast Loop Trail includes the Kennedy Space Center Loop Trail and the Florida East Central Regional Rail Trail. The Space Coast Loop is part of the St. John s River to Sea Loop, which spans 300 miles across five counties and the Coast to Coast Trail that stretches across Florida from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. Volunteers Needed For Groundwater Study This Winter How polluted is our groundwater? This question is being addressed by the Marine Resource Council s (MRC s) next citizen science project. The Groundwater Study uses legislative funding managed by the Brevard County Natural Resources Management Department to sample groundwater in three types of residential areas: 1) those with septic tanks; 2) those with sewage service; and 3) those receiving sewage service and reclaimed water. By investigating the extent that wastewater is polluting the watershed, the study will help prioritize areas requiring wastewater improvements..are you a closet scientist? Need some scientific experience? MRC will be training citizen scientists to help collect groundwater samples this winter. Go to to register as a volunteer for the Groundwater-Wastewater study. For Field Trip 9 details, community events and other items of interest to Living Green, DianeStees@cfl.rr.com to be added to the Living Green distribution list.

9 Greetings from the Evangelism Committee Where has 2017 gone? As we end the year, we still have much to look forward to in December. It is the Happiest Time of The Year, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Isn t it fitting that the end of the year starts with a birth? A birth that gives us great joy and hope for the future. There are still many people who don t know what joy and hope they too can have, because they don t have a relationship with Jesus. How can we bring The Good News to them? Well, it starts with a simple question, Would you and your family like to join me for Christmas Eve service at my church? You can then go on to tell them about the 2 wonderful evening services we have. The first at 7:00 PM, which is our family service where we light our beautiful tree or perhaps the 10:00 PM service with the lighting of the candles. We mustn t forget that Christmas Eve is on a Sunday this year and there will be a morning service at 10:00 AM. What a wonderful way to start our Christmas Eve, worship in the morning and then you can go on with your day, family dinner, last minute shopping, visiting neighbors. We all need to come out of our comfort zone, that is what Evangelism is. Reaching out to those who you may not normally reach out to. Letting others know about the love God has for all of us. Inviting your neighbor, the guy down the street, the new family in town, the person you sat next to at the DMV, to join us. To be one family, to be a part of God s Family. I encourage you all to sign up to greet at one of the services. It is a wonderful way to get to know people here at church and you might be the reason a visitor decides that our family here at LCR is the place they want to worship with. A friendly face, a hello to a new face and a welcome to service goes a long way. It is the reason the VanZino family worships with you. You see, Diane Stees and Lisa Bergstresser both did that back in September of We knew immediately after that first service that LCR was our church family. Over the past 4 years my family has become involved with LCR and we are all the richer for it and it all started because somebody said hello. FLOORING IN FELLOWSHIP HALL IN COMPLETED! The pastor, council, and fellow parishioners would like to thank those who contributed to the replacement of the flooring in the Fellowship Hall. What a difference! Come by fellowship on Sunday and take a look.

10 NEWS FROM SOCIAL MINISTRIES The Food Pantry. with the help of First Christian Church of Cocoa Beach is trying to fill 12 Christmas bags for families in need. Each bag includes food for a family of 4 and a $20.00 Publix gift card given by members of LCR. We will need 12 of the Publix gift cards for Christmas. We have containers ready for your donations for these Christmas bags. Thank you for your help. Each year we celebrate with our Pantry and homeless friends with a dinner and gifts. We will also need donations for 25 each being $20.00 for gifts for our homeless friends. We will purchase the gifts which will be the same as last year. These will be distributed at our Christmas party and dinner. LCR will be presenting a choir and handbell Christmas concert on Sunday, December 17th at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Please plan on attending to enjoy the talents of our singers and ringers. Crosswinds As has been the tradition for years, the congregation has donated items to the Crosswinds Youth Services. Because the representative shops with the teens at Crosswinds, Social Ministries have decided to offer gift cards to them to purchase what they truly need. Please donate a Target or Walmart gift card before or at the Annual Christmas Dinner on December 4th. Thank you for your support.

11 LCR S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY DATE: DECEMBER 4th TIME: 6:00 P.M. PROVIDED: MEAT, ROLLS & BEVERAGES CHRISTMAS CAROLS WILL BE SUNG! EVERYONE IS INVITED! If you would like to participate in table decorating please contact Jen Billingham or Betty McCombs through the Church office. See sign-up sheet for vegetables, salads, and desserts Christmas Caroling We invite you to join us as we go out to bring Christmas cheer to those who are homebound for the holidays. The night begins with a quick practice of our songs in the Ministry Center, and then we convoy together to four or five locations to sing carols. When we are finished, we return to the church for a Christmas party featuring Pastor Jay s famous (or is that infamous) butterdogs. This event will be held on Sunday, December 10 th, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Ministry Center. Each year, we are accompanied by the music students of A Special Occasion Music and their teachers, Joe and Lynn Gray. If you would like to go out with us (families with small children are welcome) please sign up in the narthex or fellowship hall we need to know how many will be joining us for supper. So, dig out that Santa hat and the sleigh bells in your Christmas storage box, and join us as we bring smiles and Christmas cheer!

12 Kids ask the Darnedest Things! During 8:30 worship on December 17 th, the kids of our Children s Church will help us prepare for Christmas by presenting a short, holiday skit entitled, Christmas Letters. Through a series of questions, our children will seek insights from the main characters of the Nativity. During 11:00 worship on the same Sunday, Pastor Jay and author, Kathy Martz, will present the dramatic reading she wrote entitled, The Rest of the Story: Mary, a Very Special Mother. Important Worship Schedule News! Because Christmas Eve and New Year s Eve fall on a Sundays this year, the Worship Committee has decided to hold only one morning worship service on those days at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Our Christmas Eve services will be held at their regular times of 7:00 and 10:00 p.m. that Sunday evening, December 24 th. Good Gifts Tree Our Ministry Center Christmas tree is up a bit early. That s because this year it s more than a pretty holiday decoration. This time around, it is an ELCA Good Gifts tree! It is covered with special ornaments. Each ornament offers a helping hand overseas! Here s how it works find the ornament for the project you want to support and take it from the tree. (You are welcome to take it home to hang on your tree or to give as a gift). Greeting Cards to give with your ornament are on the table by the tree. Make a donation in that amount to ELCA Good Gifts, using the pre-addressed envelope and order form which are also on the table. Mail your check directly to the ELCA Good Gifts, and make your check out to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Please do not put the envelope in the church offering plate. You may also order and pay online at Here are some of your choices: - Chicks $10 / - Pig $30 / - Honey Bees $20 / - Microloan for a woman $125 / - Feed a refugee family $25 / -School supplies for a child $10 / - Bibles for a global church $12 / - Rooster $15 / -School fees and uniform for a girl $40. Start a new family tradition!

13 Poinsettia Plants for the Christmas Celebration Given by: In memory of: In honor of: Plants are florist quality in six-inch pots. Price is $8.00. (Orders must be received in the church office by December 19th) Connections Bible Study Want to learn the Bible one interesting character at a time? The Thursday evening Connections Bible Study is for you! Each Thursday (except the first week of the month more on that later) we will be meeting a new character from the Bible and, learning together, the lessons from that person s faith journey that we can apply to our own. Along with digging into the Word, our Connections Band will be on hand to lead us in Christian praise music. We will be meeting at the church for these sessions on December 14, 21, and 28 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sometime during the first week of each month we will head out to a local venue in the community. In November, we had a great time at Juice and Java. On Wednesday, December 6, we will be at Nolan s Irish Pub in Cocoa Beach. Christian music in a pub?! Jesus didn t just sit in the synagogue of Capernaum, waiting to people to come to him. He went out where the people were and so will we. The band performance that night will be from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and feature a mix of sacred and secular tunes. The evening will also include a trivia game and Pastor Jay sharing something about our faith. Make plans to attend. You ll be inspired and enlightened.

14 DECEMBER J-WALKER S NEWS! Sunday, December 10th (5:30 to 8:00 p.m.) Caroling & Christmas Party All ages are encouraged to join us for a night of caroling and fun which will begin with a practice at our church, then we will carol to local shutins (contact Pastor if you have a family to add!), then we will carol at a local nursing home. Finally, we will end back at our church with Christmas games, gift bags, and Pastor Jay s famous butter dogs! Saturday, December 16th (9:00 to 10:00 a.m.) Children s Christmas Play Dress Rehearsal Please meet inside of our church to have our Children s Christmas Play Dress rehearsal! Saturday, December 16th (10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) Youth Service Saturday Come out to prepare lunch for our friends! We meet in the ministry center and will be grilling and serving hamburgers outside, under the trees. Please wear your LCR green shirts (or something comfortable) and invite your friends. Let Sarah know if you will be bringing individual bags of chips, individual cokes, or dessert to contribute. This can count towards service hours too! Sunday, December 17th (8:15 to 9:30 a.m.) Children s Christmas Play Please meet in the Sunday School classroom inside of the ministry center as usual. We will then walk over to our church to perform Christmas Letters! Wishing everyone a Safe and Merry Christmas Season! For your information: J-Walkers Instagram: