LEAVES FROM THE FOREST

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1 October 2017 Sunday Worship 9:30 am Communion 2nd & 4th Sunday of each month Sunday School 10:45 am Bible Class 11:00 am Sunday Worship and Bible Class Closed Captioned for the Hearing Impaired Pastor: Rev. Glenn E. Fischer Visitation Pastor: Rev. Milton Lehr Church Office Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm (352) forestoakslutheran.com Food Pantry - Tuesday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Not To Be Missed: Oct. Servant Schedule 2 Annual Voters Meeting 2 Financial Reports 3 Women s Guild/LWML 4 Quilting for Charity 5 Church Life Ministry 6 Traveling Martin 7 Sunday School News 8 Memorial & Honor Gifts 9 New Member 11 Birthdays/Anniversaries 11 Calendar 12 LEAVES FROM THE FOREST The Reformation was not about anything new, but about returning to the unchanged and unchanging truth. So it is still today. The celebration of the 500 th anniversary of the Reformation is not a time for novelty. It is a time to return: to the truth, to the basics, to the foundation. Do you remember the Small Catechism? Many of us were made to memorize the catechism (or at least part of it) during our Confirmation classes. Some of us might have even suffered through a public examination over its contents. How much do you remember? Say it with me: I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him Can you finish? Do you remember where that is found? (It s in Luther s explanation of the Third Article of the Apostles Creed.) It s time to return. Luther wrote the Small Catechism for the instruction of laypeople. Luther intended the Small Catechism to be used at church and in the home to instruct children in the faith and to reinforce the faith in the hearts and minds of adults. There is no better time than in this From the Editor: year of the 500 th anniversary of the Reformation to review the catechism. Read it for yourself. Refresh the theology in your mind. Pray the catechism daily. Memorize it. But even more, teach it. If you are a parent, teach it to your children. As you have opportunity, share it with your friends and peers. The catechism teaches the fundamentals of the Christian faith: the Ten Commandments, the Lord s Prayer, the Apostles Creed, the Sacrament of Baptism, the Sacrament of the Altar and the Office of the Keys and Confession. This small book is well worth your time and study. May this celebration of the 500 th anniversary of the Reformation be a time when we return to the Word and Sacraments, when we turn to Christ and His love. It s still all about Jesus. This month there are many activities in which you can become involved. I hope that you participate in as many as you are able. Participation enables you to get to know your church family better and you help our church in our mission of Drawing People to Christ. Please prayerfully consider how you can use your time and talents to best serve your FOLC church family and our community. Your articles and photos make this newsletter, so them to folc25news@outlookcom. For those unable to , you may place it in the newsletter box behind the church office. The deadline for the November newsletter is October 22..

2 Page 2 LEAVES FROM THE FOREST SERVANT SCHEDULE FOR OCTOBER Serving on the Altar Guild: Mary Hoskin Roy & Alma Martin Bonnie Wright Serving as Ushers: Mary Angrisani Louise Hirsch Wilma Keck Thelda Parks Serving as Greeters: Dani Villarrubia Robert Villarrubia Serving as Lay Readers: Oct. 1: Norma Karpiscak Oct. 12: Lil Heier Oct. 19: Craig Harmon Oct. 22: Norma Miller Oct. 29: Larry Schmitz Serving as Counters: Larry Schmitz Bonnie Wright Ed Wright As you fulfill your commitment to serve, you are fulfilling God s words in 1 Peter 4:10: Each one should use the gift he received to serve others, faithfully administering God s grace in its various forms. Thank you. May God continue to bless you as you serve. LAY READERS NEEDED! Time to sign up again! Each week someone reads the Old Testament reading and the Epistle reading during our worship service. Is that someone YOU? If you would like to take part in the service by being a lay reader, please sign up at the Welcome Center. Readers are needed for November, December, and January. When you sign up, you will be signing up for a particular Sunday. Once you claim that Sunday as yours, if you find that you will not able to be at church on that day, it will be up to you to find a replacement and notify Lyla in the office of the change. Readings can be given to you in advance so you can practice. This is a wonderful way to participate in our worship service and use your talent to the glory of God. The annual Voters Meeting is currently scheduled for November 12 th following the worship service. We expect to have the packets for the Voters Assembly meeting available by October 29 th. They will be ed to those who have provided us with an address and also available at the Welcome Center. Please make sure you review it prior to the meeting. COME JOIN US AND SING! We are excited that our new season of praising the Lord with song has begun! Our Forest Oaks Choir invites anyone who loves to sing to join us for rehearsals every Thursday at 7:00pm in the choir loft. YOU are needed and welcomed as we lift our voices in praise to our Risen Lord! Bells of Joy BELL RINGERS INVITED: Our Bells of Joy hand bell choir rehearses on Thursday at 5:30pm. No experience necessary!! Anyone interested in playing, please contact Skip Guthrie at Won t you prayerfully consider using your talent to add to our worship service? Don t forget to pick up your copy of the October-December 2017 Portals of Prayer at the Welcome Center. Please place your much-appreciated donation in the box provided.

3 LEAVES FROM THE FOREST Page 3 Forest Oaks Lutheran Church August 2017 Financial Reports General Fund Operations Income $15,829 Disbursements $20,636 Year-to-Date Accounting Income $176,662 Disbursements $165,039 Budget $167,769 Our Worship Services Attendance Were you among these? July 2016 and 2017 Sunday Sunday August 2016 and 2017 Sunday Sunday Debt Reduction Loan Principal $3,039 Additional Principal $580 Year-to-Date Loan Activity Principal $24,011 Additional Principal $4,330 Loan Balance (Oct. 1) $337,580 Accounting Fund Balances General $37,780 Needy Family $202 Memorial Garden $3,381 Endowment $10,979 Major Rep. Income $800 Major Rep. Balance $20,069 Financial Report - August If there was any doubt about the summer doldrums, the income for August would show it to be true. Income for the General Fund and Future Repair were well below budget. Our expenses were over budget due to the yearly contract with the pest control company. Any questions, contact Jess Ward ( ). Listed below are the number of Communicants who worshipped at God s Altar in 2017 to receive Christ s Body and Blood. July July August August Pastor s 2017 Bible Class July Picnic Aug Children s Sunday School July August Body and Soul Bible Study- Thursday 9 AM Please prayerfully consider becoming a member of the finance committee or accepting one of these positions: Assistant Treasurer or Finance Committee Chairperson. The assistant Treasurer position requires approximately 3-4 hours a week of your time when the Treasurer is away. The Finance Committee Chairperson works with the property and finance committees including chairing the monthly meeting of the committee. If you are interested, please contact Jess or Judy Ward at

4 Page 4 LEAVES FROM THE FOREST The September meeting was a great start to our new season with 32 ladies enjoying breakfast served by the Men s group. Thank you Ed Wright, Stan Benmore, Larry Schmitz, and Roy Martin for wonderful cooking and serving. We reviewed our 2017/2018 calendar and discussed having a fundraiser in November for Redeeming Life Maternity Home. This is a Lutheran Run Home located in Sanford, FL which serves single pregnant and post-partum women in crisis with safe housing and care. More information later. Our next meeting is Wednesday, October 4 th, at 10:00am. There will be a business meeting, LWML report from Darleen on the FL/GA District Convention, and an LWML skit by Jodell. We will discuss the October 21 st Fall Festival and a pot luck lunch will follow our meeting. October 8 th is LWML Sunday at 9:30am with the theme Be Ready in Season and Out of Season. Ladies, please wear purple. October 31 st is Trunk or Treat - think about how you want to decorate your car and start looking for candy sales. We had 500 plus children enjoy our event last year. Fun for all with hot dogs, juice, games with prizes, and candy galore. See you at our next meeting. Your President, Bonnie Wright LWML Sunday - Celebrate Lutheran Women in Mission A special worship service is planned for Sunday October 8, 2017, to celebrate all that God has done through the LWML. The author of this service, Dr. Lawrence Rast writes Building on God s promises, we know that this is our time to be distinctly Lutheran. Since 1942, the LWML has affirmed each woman s identity as a child of God and her relationship with Jesus Christ, encouraging and equipping Christian women to live out their lives in active mission ministries, and to support missions around the world through their sacrificial gifts of mites, tithes, offerings, and tireless service. Now is our time to Be Ready to Confess! faithfully and boldly of Christ s redemptive work for us and for all the world. You are invited to wear purple on LWML Sunday. Jodell Burgdorf, LWML Chairperson The LWML Suncoast Zone Fall Rally scheduled for Saturday, October 14, at Faith Lutheran Church in New Port Richey has been cancelled.

5 LEAVES FROM THE FOREST Page 5 Quilting for charity I don t know how to start my report this month or what to say. The past week has been amazing and exhausting. A week ago we were watching and preparing for what might be a category 5 hurricane. We saw its track move from the east to the west and, oh, dear Lord, it looked like it was coming right at us. Each of us handles this sort of thing differently. Some of us flee and some hunker down. I kept myself busy. First, I was baking and then I was trying to get everything secure and out of harm s way. I know we were praying without ceasing. Our prayers were answered! Why God allows events to work out as they do, we may never know but, just now, we praise the Lord! We were so blessed! God spared most of us from death and major destruction. We continue to pray for those who were not as fortunate as we were. May God guide us in helping others in some way, as is His will. Our quilters will now attempt to get back to our routines. Quilt raffle ticket sales begin Sunday, Sept. 17 th and will continue through the month of October. Again this year we will have 2 drawings for quilts. One quilt will be given away on October 21 st at the Fall Festival and the other on October 29 th at Oktoberfest. The winners may choose from any available quilt. We offer the colorful quilt designed by Kathy Ridder as an enticement. The Christmas quilt by Lil Heier is another option for the winner. (The photos don t do them justice. See them in person.) Kathy s Quilt Lil s Quilt Our quilt raffle is a fundraiser for our annual efforts to provide Christmas toys and gifts for the children who will be spending the holiday in homeless shelters. In the past we have contributed toys to the Hernando Dawn Center for Abused Women, Holy Ground Shelter in Pasco County and Jericho Road Ministries in Brooksville. In the past Thrivent Financial has been kind enough to add funds to those we earn. We will again be seeking their help. With the storm and flooding of this recent period, we know there may be an even greater need. Thank you in advance for any and all support you have given us, or choose to give to us toward our efforts. You will see our quilts for sale at the Fall Festival. We have made other items as well this year. You will find tablerunners, placemats and bibs on our table as well. Stop by and say hello. If you would like to help us in our final preparations or in the toy project, come; join us at the Fellowship Hall on Monday afternoons from 1:00 4:00. We would love to share our work and fellowship with you. There is always something to do. Even Martin Luther comes to quilt, why don t you come, too? Karen

6 Page 6 LEAVES FROM THE FOREST October 21 October 31 Hope we see you at these events. Come and enjoy fellowship with your family of faith and our outreach to the community. Food Pantry: We have been selected as one of the food pantries in Hernando county to participate in a USDA program to benefit the seniors with limited incomes. We distribute a box of nonperishables which consist of cereals, juice, milk, canned chicken, vegetables, grains, and a block of cheese. I am told the boxes will vary to give them a variety of foods. These foods are over and above our clients regular visit We welcome the opportunity to assist those in need. This program is funded by the government and is no expense for us other than the added work that it involves. We are finishing up interviewing the clients for their qualifications. The reception has been grateful, October 29 delighted and welcomed. I thank the volunteers who have embraced our new program. Blood Drive: Last chance to donate blood this year, November the 5 th. If you have any questions about whether you qualify, the staff will be glad to assist. Thank you for your support. Octoberfest: I hope you have all reviewed your favorite German recipe for our celebration of 500 years of the Reformation. Yes, this will be on the 29 th of October following our service. Please sign up at the Welcome Center for your dish of choice and your attendance. It is important we have a head count. Everyone is welcome as in most pot lucks we always have too much food. Those of us who choose not to cook can help defray the cost of the band. Thank you for all your support and prayers. Lonnie Benmore BODY AND SOUL FOOD MINISTRY NEEDS: cereal (lots of it) saltine crackers bars of soap peanut butter jelly toilet paper canned chili and canned beef stew canned yams plastic bags canned sloppy-joe mix pancake mix Volunteers canned fruit and canned vegetables canned potatoes In August, there were five Tuesdays and we served 392 families with a total of 1062 people, including 292 children and 220 seniors. There were 349 repeat families and 43 new families. The families that we served in August came from the following zip codes: Homeless 3 Please remember our food ministry and the people we serve when you shop and in your prayers.

7 Traveling Martin: Just a few of many photos LEAVES FROM THE FOREST Page 7 See lots more on the bulletin board!

8 Page 8 LEAVES FROM THE FOREST The Sunday School children give a big THANK YOU to Mrs. Diane Trumbauer for purchasing shoes for them. She used her personal funds and Thrivent funds to purchase the shoes. The kids were overjoyed not only with the new shoes but also to see Ms. Diane again. Hurricane Irma delayed Rally Day for a week, so it was held on September 17 th. The children were presented with Sunday School attendance pins. Sunday School teacher Caryl Kellerman and her helpers, Lonnie Benmore, Lauren Brandimarto, Jodell Burgdorf, Skip Guthrie, Sue Guthrie, and Marlene Kuhn were commissioned by Pastor Fischer. We thank all of these faithful servants. WHO STANDS FAST? Only the man whose final standard is not his reason, his principles, his conscience, his freedom, or his virtue, but who is ready to sacrifice all this when he is called to obedient and responsible action in faith and in exclusive allegiance to God the responsible man, who tries to make his whole life an answer to the question and call of God. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Carry out a random act of kindness with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you. Princess Diana We re wondering where you are Come join us After fellowship

9 LEAVES FROM THE FOREST Page 9 Memorial and Honor Gifts - through September 17, 2017 Praise God for blessing us through those He has placed in our lives! With Gifts in Memory and Gifts in Honor, you demonstrate your love and appreciation for someone, while contributing to Drawing people to Christ by expanding the reach of the Gospel through various ministries at Forest Oaks. GIFTS IN MEMORY: A memorial gift is a meaningful way for you to celebrate the life of a dear one who has passed on, or express to their family how much they meant to you. We extend our deepest sympathy to families who have recently lost loved ones. Hoping all things that made your loved one a special gift from God will forever bless your life in beautiful memories. God is our refuge and strength...psalm 46:1. In Memory of: Contribution for: Given By: Donald Bearden Future Maintenance Ms. Jackie Bearden Gene Blackburn Future Maintenance Ms. Joyce Neuber Donald H. Brown Choir Mr. & Mrs. Wil Heier Food Pantry Ms. Peggy Macor, Ms. Barbara Mikkelsen John Karpiscak Future Maintenance Mr. & Mrs. Wil Heier, Mr. & Mrs. Roy Martin, Mr. & Mrs. Lynn Postel, General Fund Mr. & Mrs. Mike Braun GIFTS IN HONOR: An honor gift marks a special occasion or acknowledges someone who has had a significant impact in your life or to praise God for His blessings. It s a great idea for birthdays or anniversaries, or just as a way to say thanks. In Honor of: Contribution for: Given By: John Karpiscak (My Love) Future Maintenance Mrs. Norma Karpiscak As Hurricane Irma approached Florida and it was decided to cancel the Sunday, September 10 th service, the church sent out an informing our members of the cancellation. Because not everyone has , Pastor Fischer and others attempted to call members and inform them of the cancellation, but discovered that many of the phone numbers that we have are now disconnected. Please update your information. the church office, write your information down and leave it in Lyla s box, or fill out a Membership Information form at the Welcome Center. MITE BOXES are collected the Second Sunday of each month. THE SUNDAY BULLETIN AND SLIDES DEADLINE for announcements is on Wednesdays at 1:00 pm. You may place them in Lyla s box in the hallway or them to folcoffice2@tampabay.rr.com. NEWSLETTER DEADLINES vary each month. By getting all articles and items for the monthly newsletter turned in as close to the deadline as possible either via folc25news@outlook.com or by placing them in the newsletter box in the hallway helps us get the newsletter to you in a timely manner. OUR CHURCH S WEBSITE is ForestOaksLutheran.com. Check us out on Facebook and YouTube. If you would like to view a sermon or share it with a friend, go to our Forest Oaks Lutheran website and click the link or go to YouTube.com and search for Forest Oaks Lutheran Channel and subscribe. MONTHLY CALENDAR may be seen on the church s website and is included in the monthly newsletter. Please check your bulletin for updates.

10 Page 10 LEAVES FROM THE FOREST If you know of a FOLC member, a family member or friend who is ill or in the hospital, please let the church office ( ) and Marilyn Nibert ( ) know right away. The names will be placed on the Prayer List for one month and will be removed if the office or Marilyn is not updated. Our Church Office Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm (Monday is Pastor s Day off) *Hours may vary occasionally. PLEASE NOTE: The church office is closed Saturday and Sunday. If you call on these days, you will get our answering machine. No one will answer the phone, so please leave a message and your call will be returned on Monday....be aware of the groups meeting in the Fellowship Hall and Conference Room. It is very important to check with the Secretary in the church office before you schedule a meeting or event. Our members always take precedence over the outside groups/ organizations that meet here. We just have to be sure and alert them to any changes that have to be made. Another reason for checking first before scheduling is that you may not be aware of another church meeting or activity that is already on the calendar. Thank you for your kind consideration and cooperation in the scheduling process! ATTENTION! All articles for the weekly Bulletin and slides MUST be in by 1:00PM on Wednesday if you want it included for that week. Please send or give your item to Lyla in writing. Thank you. October 22 Lyla, our church secretary, is a Notary Public and can notarize your documents. There is no charge for this service, but PLEASE CALL first, if you want her to notarize something for you, to make sure she will be in the office and have her notary seal with her. Please let us know if your address, address or phone number has changed. If you have an address, please send an to our office: folcoffice2@tampabay.rr.com and your name will be added to our contact list. That way we can let you know of sick members and cancellations of church activities. You can also get our newsletter and send in any prayer requests or information to the church. Please Notify the Church Office When You or a member of your family is hospitalized You have a change of address Your phone number has changed Your address has changed You want to use the conference room for a meeting Your board or committee changes a meeting date or time Members of your family are students attending school away from home or are living at a different address Your help with all of the above is very much appreciated! We are still collecting the following items: 1. UPCs from Campbell s soup labels. The Sunday School gets free stuff for all we send in. 2. Used ink cartridges 3. Used eyeglasses 4. Coupons for Food Pantry 5. Labels for Education 6. Aluminum cans for F.O.C.U.S. 7. Box Tops for Education* 8. Aluminum Tabs from soda cans* Containers are next to the double doors or in the hallway that leads to the Fellowship Hall. *Donation boxes are at the Welcome Center.

11 October Birthday* Blessings to: 01 Anna Terry 02 Trudy Ray 06 Larry Stech 07 Don Spencer 08 Rita Carrow 11 Becky Ward 19 Elaine Maywalt 21 Laura Plona 23 Joan Rullman 25 Cindy Braun Roy Martin 30 Gussie Garbinski LEAVES FROM THE FOREST Page 11 October Anniversary* Blessings to: 03 Frank & Rita Carrow George & Lavonne Weinkoetz 10 Will & Lil Heier 20 Larry & Vivian Schmitz 25 Claude & Florence Glimpse 29 Stan & Lonnie Benmore Praying God will bless you with a very special day, and through all of your tomorrows, bring many more your way. God Bless your day! * If you don t see your birthday or anniversary listed or you prefer not to have the date included please contact the church office. Call, , or write it down and leave it in Lyla s box in the hallway. Thank you. A little faith tip: Two things you cannot go over board on are Bible Study and Prayer. Time spent with the Lord will show you how best to serve Him and be a good steward of your time with your family and your church. We extend our best wishes and God s blessings to the family of Rosalie Guarante, born on September 19, 2017 and weighing 7 pounds 5 ounces. God s blessings to Hans and Anita Mutschler on their 60th Anniversary. Thank you for sharing cake and other goodies during our after church fellowship. Stained glass of Martin Luther Luther s Coat of Arms: A cross on a heart, resting on the center of the Messianic Rose and surrounded by a circle to symbolize eternity, was adopted by Luther as his own Coat of Arms and as an expression of trust in God. The Christian s heart is resting on the roses E en while beneath the cross it reposes. The colors are usually gold for the circle; the outlines of the petals, red; the background for the rose, a heavenly blue; the heart, red, and the cross black.

12 8 LWML Sunday 29 Reformation Sunday 9 Columbus Day 31 Reformation S U N D A Y M O N D A Y T U E S D A Y W E D N E S D A Y T H U R S D A Y F R I D A Y S A T U R D A Y 1 Worship-9:30 am Fellowship after service Sunday School-10:45am Bible Class-11:00am Mites Sunday Worship-9:30 am ** Fellowship after service Sunday School-10:45am Bible Class-11:00am 15 Nametag Sunday Worship-9:30 am Fellowship after service Sunday School-10:45am Bible Class-11:00am 22 Worship-9:30 am ** Fellowship after service Sunday School-10:45am Bible Class-11:00am Newsletter Deadline Worship-9:30 am** Oktoberfest after service 2 Quilters-1:00pm Quilters-1:00pm 16 Quilters-1:00pm 23 Quilters-1:00pm 30 Quilters-1:00pm 3 TOPS-8:00am Food Ministry-9:00am 10 TOPS-8:00am Food Ministry-9:00am Finance Comm.-9:00am AARP 12:00-3:00pm 17 TOPS-8:00am Food Ministry-9:00am 24 TOPS-8:00am Food Ministry-9:00am SH Garden Club-1:00pm Halloween TOPS-8:00am Food Ministry-9:00am Trunk or Treat-5:30pm 4 Women s Guild-10:00am W.I.S.E-6:30pm 11 Forest Oaks Lutheran Church W.I.S.E-6:30pm 18 Lunch Bunch-12:30am W.I.S.E-6:30pm 25 Care Ministry-1:00pm W.I.S.E-6:30pm - 7:00pm 5 Body & Soul Bible Study 9:00am Crafts-9:00am Hand bell Choir-5:30pm Choir-7:00pm 12 Bible Study-9:00am Crafts-9:00am AARP 12:00-3:00pm Accordion Club-1:00pm Hand bell Choir-5:30pm Choir-7:00pm 19 Body & Soul Bible Study 9:00am Crafts-9:00am Hand bell Choir-5:30pm Choir-7:00pm 26 Bible Study 9:00am Crafts-9:00am Accordion Club-1:00pm Hand bell Choir-5:30pm Choir-7:00pm 6 H.C.I.G. Mtg-6:30 pm 13 Illinois Club-12:30pm 20 **Holy Communion will be celebrated at this service. Set-up for Fall Festival-9:00am 7 LWML Rehearsal-10am :00am-2:00pm