from Christ Lutheran Church Jesus prays for Unity of the Disciples and of the Church

Transcription

1 A Love Letter from Christ Lutheran Church Jesus prays for Unity of the Disciples and of the Church October 2012 I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. John 17:20-21 a Pictured left is the growth and change in the church since the beginning. The Lutheran Church is divided and worships under these expressions: This month we observe the Reformation. If there is any unity in the Churches today, it lies in the common knowledge and faith of Christ: that he lived among us, died for our sins, was raised from the dead and lives today to raise us up and redeem us all at the end. American Association of Lutheran Churches Apostolic Lutheran Church of America Association of Free Lutheran Congregations Association of Independent Evangelical Lutheran Churches Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America Church of the Lutheran Confession Conservative Lutheran Association Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Evangelical Lutheran Synod Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Protestant Conference Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

2 You are invited: We are Christ Lutheran Church. Along with 12 other ELCA Lutheran churches we belong to the Mid-Gulf Conference. There are 13 Conferences in the Florida Bahamas Synod, and 9 Synods in the ELCA. Each year, the conferences gather to select a Dean (who is the leader of the conference) from the pastors of the Conference churches; and discuss items and issues of importance. Next spring, we will elect a new Bishop (Bishop Benoway has served the maximum two terms) and our Synod Assembly Representative will be among those able to vote. At the conference meeting this fall, there will be discussion about the process and other issues and events that affect the Conference Churches. Anyone who wishes to come is invited. The meeting is Saturday, October 20 th at 9am. Lunch will be provided. Watching the Skies While in Minnesota last month, I observed hundreds of redbreasted robins feasting on the fat worms of late summer and early fall. It reminded me of seeing them in late October on campus of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary as they stopped to feed on their way to sunny (and warm) Florida. They left SC just a day or two after they were first observed. We have our own snow-birds - folks arriving from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Massacheusetts, and Maine - in fact, all points north of here (which is pretty much everywhere). The earliest arriving in October and others following soon after. Please be on the watch to welcome them back. Pick your Favorite Hymns during October, Sing them in November! During the month of October, you will find, bright pink forms/slips in the bulletin that will allow you to pick your favorite hymns. Insert your favorite hymn numbers and we will choose the most popular ones to sing during worship for the whole month of November. Giving to the Giver of Life There s a story about a farmer who claimed that he was the one who planned, planted, harvested, and hauled to market; and that his earnings were the result of his labor. He was reminded that it is God who contributed the land and who gives life to the seed. Indeed life is like a partnership. God first gives opportunity and life; then we put in the labor. God gets 10% and we get 90%. Is it not the same for all of us? Talents, and time are our gifts from God. What we do with them empowers us to use them to earn money, which we use to live, spend, invest, and provide for the future. During this stewardship time of year, we are called upon to consider what God has provided, and how it will be used in the coming year. Traditionally, Christians take from the top - because God that s how gives to us. This month we have a budget to prepare, a church to preserve and ministry to do in this community. Thank you to all (including snow-birds) who have faithfully remembered Christ Lutheran in this church year. Yet we are not meeting our budget and are in debt to ourselves. Christ thought of us and prayed for us (John 17:9). Let us plan, plant, and harvest for His church s future.

3 Christ Lutheran Plans for the Future Having received substantial gifts in these last months, our Council has been concerned that it be used to revitalize the church and its mission. It is agreed that these funds are not meant to take the place of giving, or to fulfill budget shortfalls. To date the following distributions have been or are being made: 30, gift from Vera Koehl s Estate 150, gift from Howard York $ 180, gifts received $ 4, % tithe of the $30,484 sent to Florida Bahamas Synod 15, % of $150,000 sent to Florida Bahamas Synod 7, % of $150,000 distributed to local charities $ 27, Total Tithed $ 40, has been loaned to ourselves to cover budget short falls $ 1, has been spent to remove trees (a safety issue) $ 2, has been spent to replace the condenser on one of the Sanctuary Air Conditioners (hit by lightning) Historically, Endowment Funds are meant to be perpetual investments; are identified with a purpose; and a spending policy is defined.. The purpose of the Christ Congregation Endowment Fund to provide for security and continuity of Christ Lutheran Church. Interest earned will be rolled back into the Fund. In February of each year, the Council may elect to withdraw up to 5% of the fund balance to partially finance capital projects; but may not draw the fund balance to less than the original $50, The purpose of the Christ Mission Endowment Fund is to provide gifts for local charity. Interest earned on the balance will be drawn quarterly and accrued to the end of the calendar year. Beginning January of 2014, and every year thereafter, the interest accumulated through 2013, will be distributed to meet local community needs. A Committee will be formed to direct the distribution. These investments are part of the ELCA Endowment Fund Pooled Trust - Fund A. At present they are yielding 4 1 /4 %. These Funds are not closed. Some may wish to remember the Church through a bequest, or gift to celebrate God s blessings or the memory of a loved one directed to these funds. As the funds grow, so will our earnings. Reminder: Pet Blessing Saturday October 4, :30 AM

4 Tithing to Mission in the Community Pictured Left: A check for $1,200 was received by Ginny Anderson, President of Englewood Helping Hand, Inc. Pictured Right: A check for $900 was received by Bonnie Littrell, President of F.I.S.H., Inc. WORSHIP LEADERS - OCTOBER Altar Guild Peg Elshoff Peg Elshoff Dorothy Congleton Dorothy Congleton Sylvia Flood Sylvia Flood Peg Totman Peg Totman Head Usher John Fazekas John Fazekas John Fazekas John Fazekas Ushers Clarence & Janet Clarence & Janet Clarence & Janet Clarence & Janet Harrison Harrison Harrison Harrison Music Director Gail Pedersen Gail Pedersen Gail Pedersen Gail Pedersen Lectors Lois Greene Gordon Deutscher Gordon Deutscher Gordon Deutscher Assisting Ministers Mary Wiegand Barb Sturrock Jack Sturrock Mary Wiegand Lay Communion John Fazekas John Fazekas Dick Cotton Dick Cotton Assistans Marqueta Landis Marqueta Landis Carol Mack Carol Mack Eucharistic Minister Charlene Seltz Mary Wiegand Charlene Seltz Mary Wiegand Annie-May Labitzke Baptized September 29, 2012

5 New Treasurer It should be no surprise that for a very long time, Jack Sturrock has been trying to relinquish the responsibilities of Treasurer for Christ Lutheran - and no one has volunteered. However, it was not until Pastor Rita Gardner Tweed suggested that we seek a Treasurer from among the population of a larger church in our area, that we started looking to other ELCA Lutheran churches. It came as a surprise to Pastor Bob Schafer at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Venice - our nearest ELCA Lutheran neighbor - when I met with him and suggested that he might have a volunteer in his congregation with the needed skills to take on our Treasurer position. I did not hear from him for many weeks - but we kept praying for someone to surface. Then God called Jack Mersereau, a member of Emmanuel, to step forward. In several meetings with Jack Sturrock, June Hearn, and myself the decisions that were needed were developed toward the transition. After countless hours of coordination and planning, and months of parallel statements, we are ready for the change. Effective September 30 th, Jack Sturrock was finally granted his wish to retire as Christ Lutheran s Treasurer. He has survived a time when church-people believed that once you volunteer, you are stuck for life. He has survived long periods of declining funds. He has faithfully executed all of the tasks that He has asked us to not give him a plaque (apparently we have already done so, several years ago). However an event is definitely in the planning stages. Those wishing to participate in the planning should contact the pastor. Jack Mersereau, has met with the Council, and will be at our Worship on October 7 th to introduce himself to the congregation and to be installed.

6 No more Sap-dripping, Pine Needle dropping, Pine cone Cluttering, Roots-Lifting -the Asphalt Northern Pines The office Parking Lot is safer now Not to mention the Church Roof As easy as One... Three... Two...

7 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Worship & Council 10A 9:30A Pet Weight Watchers Quilters 9A Music 10A VOTI Blessing Country Liners ROMEOS 7:30A Worship 9:30 Council 10A Weight Watchers Country Liners Winks Choir 9A Orchid Society October Adopt Highway Soc Ministry Worship 9:30 Quilters 9A Country Liners 8A 11:30 A Revelation Study 10A Weight Watchers Worship 9:30 Weight Watchers Country Liners Worship 9:30 Helping Hand Helping Hand Helping Hand Items in red are Church related functions 9:30A-2:30P 9:30A-2:30P 9:30A-2:30P Weight Watchers Items in black denote guests using the Fellowship Hall