LEAVES FROM THE FOREST

Transcription

1 January 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 Founding 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: Jan. Servant Schedule 2 Bible Reading Calendar 2 Time to take them down 2 Finance & Attendance 3 Pledge Card Sunday 3 Quilting for Charity 4 Women s Guild 4 Church Life 5 Memorial & Honor Gifts 6 Rummage Sale Soon 6 Birthdays/Anniversaries 7 Sunday School News 7 Calendar 8 LEAVES FROM THE FOREST Well, here we are at the beginning of another new year. One of the best ways to start off the New Year is by spending time in prayer. Look back on God s many blessings during the completed year and ask for his guidance in the one to come. We can also pray for people around the world on New Year s Day. Here s something to help you get started: A PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR Eternal God, thank you for bringing us once again to the threshold of a new year. Help us dedicate each day of 2018 to following your will for our lives. Guide us, Lord, in all our decisions and actions, day by day and hour by hour. Help us accomplish all that you desire for us to do, until our mission on earth is finished. In Jesus name we pray. Amen Although we do not know what the coming year will bring, we do know that God is always with us and He knows the plans He has for us. Nothing that happens in our lives is outside our faith journey. God has promised to be present with us to give us steadfast, never-failing love always; wherever we are. He has given each of us gifts to use and He has led you to Forest Oaks because He has need of your gifts here. Look around and see where you can use those gifts. See when and where people need you most and be anxious to be there to help. You are blessed to be a blessing to others. We, who are so richly cared for through Word and Sacrament, should be overflowing in carrying out the Father s desire to see all people saved. You are part of God s ministry to reach out to others and gather them to His Kingdom! What an exciting and awesome responsibility of service given to you! And so, we look forward, not with fear and trepidation, but with joy and anticipation of the exciting things that we will be doing in the mission the God has given us here at Forest Oaks Lutheran Church, our mission of Drawing People to Christ. Blessings to each of you in the New Year as you bless others with your gifts. From the Editor: Happy New Year! As all new beginnings, we anticipate many exciting challenges and possibilities this year. Please prayerfully consider your part in the mission of Drawing People to Christ. 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 February newsletter is January 21.

2 Page 2 LEAVES FROM THE FOREST SERVANT SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY Serving on the Altar Guild: Trudy Ray Cindy Braun Dee Beard Serving as Ushers: Hank Hanson Wil Heier Darleen Keck Bob Turffs Serving as Lay Readers: Jan. 7: Norma Karpiscak Jan. 14: Ron Stamer Jan. 21: Norma Miller Jan. 28: Lillian Heier Serving as Counters: Darleen Keck Serving as Greeters: Jackie Ryder Ted Ryder 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. NOW AVAILABLE! Pick up your copy of the January-March 2018 Portals of Prayer at the Welcome Center. A contribution to defray the cost is appreciated. Time to Take Them Down Also available is a free copy of the Daily Bible Reading Calendar for By following the daily readings, at year s end you will have read through the Old Testament once, the New Testament twice, Psalms twice and Proverbs 12 times. Thank you to all who helped decorate the church for Advent and Christmas. The Christmas season ends with Epiphany on January 6 th and we have enjoyed our beautiful decorations, but we must take them down. Please join us as we remove and pack them on January 6 th at 9:00 am. 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. In order for the church to keep in touch with you, 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.

3 Forest Oaks Lutheran Church November 2017 Financial Reports General Fund Operations Income $18,127 Disbursements $21,269 Year-to-Date Accounting Income $229,049 Disbursements $229,286 Budget $230,682 Debt Reduction Loan Principal $3,071 Additional Principal $560 Year-to-Date Loan Activity Principal $33,192 Additional Principal $5,865 Loan Balance (Jan. 1) $326,863 LEAVES FROM THE FOREST Page 3 Our Worship Services Attendance Were you among these? October Sunday Services November Sunday Services Thanksgiving Listed below are the number of Communicants who worshipped at God s Altar in 2017 to receive Christ s Body and Blood: October October October November November Thanksgiving 43 Accounting Fund Balances General $25,920 Needy Family $202 Memorial Garden $3,382 Endowment $23,981 Major Rep. Income $775 Major Rep. Balance $24,709 Financial Report - November Income for November was down a bit from budgeted. At the same time expenses were up mainly due to the payment for the repair of the outside ceiling on the Food Pantry wing. Major Repair and Replacement funding was very low and really needs to be enhanced so we can do the planned updates next year. Any questions, contact Jess Ward ( ). You should have your 2018 envelopes. Please do not use your new envelopes until January 1, 2018 so that we can properly record your 2017 contributions. Contributions statements will be prepared and distributed later this month. Pastor s 2017 Bible Class Oct Reformation Annual Nov 27 Meeting Children s Sunday School Oct Reformation Nov Body and Soul Bible Study- Thursday 9 AM Dedication (Promise Card) Sunday will be held on January 21 st. If you filled out a Promise Card last year, you should have picked it up in the Narthex with your 2018 envelopes. New Promise Cards will be distributed in early January and available at the Welcome Center. Please prayerfully considered your promises for the new year. This is a promise between you and the Lord. No one at church looks at them.

4 Page 4 LEAVES FROM THE FOREST QUILTING FOR CHARITY May God richly bless you in the coming year. May you find happiness and peace in all that the New Year brings your way. May you be confident in knowing that your Lord walks with you and you are never alone. Due to the abbreviated January newsletter, I will be brief. Look for items next month concerning our activities: 1. Xmas party, 2. Gifts for sheltered children, 3. Gifts for Redeeming Life, 4. New quilts, to mention a few. Thank you for all your love and support in Amen! Karen Thank you for your generosity in supporting our Christmas dinner and caroling and giving toys for our food pantry children and our Sunday School children. Please come to our next meeting on Wednesday, January 10 th at 9:00am. We will have a business meeting, present the 2017 budget, Christmas Party and Caroling and plan for the Rummage Sale. Norma Karpiscak will hold a Bible Study, Lydia Bring your favorite dish to share at the pot-luck lunch. We will also have a short business meeting on January 31 st at 9:00am and begin setting up for the Rummage Sale at 10:30am. May you have a blessed New Year. Your President, Bonnie Wright

5 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. LEAVES FROM THE FOREST Page 5 JANUARY 21 Advent Services: We have enjoyed Pastor Harmon leading the Advent services this year. I would like to thank all who helped with our lunches. The variety has been wonderful. Those who did not get a chance to cook will have an opportunity during the Lenten season. Christmas at the Food Pantry: Thanks to the congregation for all they do to support the food pantry over the Christmas season. The Women s Guild Christmas party and caroling furnished us with many gifts for our children. We had a great time with the Twelve Days of Christmas. The generosity has not stopped at our church doors: Home Depot furnished us with excess turkeys from their employee give away, which we gave to families in our food pantry. Once again we were the recipients of the Explorer K-8 food drive and how we enjoy their visit each year! The Silverthorn Ladies Golf Association also provided food from their community food drive and we received a generous donation from TOPS, who meet in our Fellowship Hall on Tuesdays. These children are awesome! We thank them, their teachers, parents and school for their generosity and help. 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 vegetables canned potatoes In November, we served 363 families with a total of 991 people, including 273 children and 245 seniors. There were 329 repeat families and 34 new families. The families that we served in November came from the following zip codes: Homeless Please remember our food ministry and the people we serve when you shop and in your prayers.

6 Page 6 LEAVES FROM THE FOREST Memorial and Honor Gifts - through December 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: Chip Farchione (Son) Unspecified Mr. & Mrs. Phil McKenna Gene Garbinski (Dad, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather) Visitation Pastor Ms. Nancy Stentz Anthony & David Gorman Food Pantry Ms. Mary Angrisani Dennis Hoyt Unspecified Ms. Margot Hoyt John Karpiscak Future Maintenance Mr. Milan John Brkal, Mr. & Mrs. Roman Parks Walter Kowerduck Future Maintenance Mr. & Mrs. William Hoskin, Ms. Norma Karpiscak Unspecified Mr. & Mrs. Wil Heier Edward Krueger Unspecified Ms. Jackie Krueger John P. McPhillips, Jr. Food Pantry Unknown Claudia Wilson Food Pantry Ms. Anne Porter 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: Orville Carrow Future Maintenance Ms. Joyce Neuber Pastor & Mrs. Glenn Fischer Future Maintenance Ms. Norma Karpiscak Thank you to everyone who provided gifts in memory or for blessings received for the poinsettia display to beautify our church at Christmas. 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. February 2 & 3

7 January Birthday* Blessings to: 01 Pegge Macor 03 Burt Onder 04 Susan Mutschler 05 Lillian Heier Marcy Stortzum 06 David Kaminske 11 Danelia Vellarubia 12 Judith Almstedt 13 Ruth Bedale 15 Angela Kenney 17 Jesse Ward 20 Ed Wright 22 Chris DiCono Deborah Holbrook 27 Caroline Hilpertshauser 29 Alma Martin 30 Sharon McKenna LEAVES FROM THE FOREST Page 7 January Anniversary* Blessings to: 02 Anthony & Catherine Davidson 10 Will & Linda Staller 20 Lynn & Karen Postel 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. We are pleased to welcome Ariana Conrad and Lily Oliver who have been joining us in Sunday School! I want to thank everyone that had helped with the Sunday School Christmas Program and all the people who had helped with or purchased gifts for the Sunday School children. I am continually amazed at the heartfelt generosity and true Christian love that I see from everyone here at FOLC. It is a blessing and an honor to be a part of this church. From all of the Sunday School children... a huge THANK YOU! Caryl Kellerman

8 7 Baptism of Jesus 14 Mites Sunday 21 Nametag Sunday 28 Dedication Sunday 1 New Year s Day 15 MLK Jr 6 Epiphany 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 Worship-9:30am Fellowship after service Sunday School-10:45am Bible Class-11:00am Installation of officers Worship-9:30am ** Fellowship after service Sunday School-10:45am Bible Class-11:00am Worship-9:30am Fellowship after service Sunday School-10:45am Bible Class-11:00am Newsletter Deadline Worship-9:30 am ** Fellowship after service Sunday School-10:45am 8 Office Closed Quilters-1:00pm Quilters-1:00pm 22 Quilters-1:00pm 29 Quilters-1:00pm 2 TOPS-8:00am Food Ministry-9:00am 9 TOPS-8:00 am Food Ministry 9:00 am Finance Comm.-9:00am AARP 12:00-3:00 pm 16 TOPS-8:00am Food Ministry-9:00am 23 TOPS-8:00am Food Ministry-9:00am SH Garden Club-1:00pm 30 TOPS-8:00am Food Ministry-9:00am Forest Oaks Lutheran Church 3 10 Women s Guild-9:00am 17 Lunch Bunch-12:30pm 24 Care Ministry-1:00pm 31 Women s Guild-9:00am 4 Body & Soul Bible Study 9:00am Crafts Group-9:00am Handbell Choir-5:30pm Choir-7:00pm 11 Body & Soul Bible Study 9:00am Crafts Group-9:00am AARP-12:00-3:00pm Handbell Choir-5:30pm Choir-7:00pm 18 Body & Soul Bible Study 9:00am Crafts Group-9:00am Produce Drop-9:30am Handbell Choir-5:30pm Choir-7:00pm 25 Body & Soul Bible Study 9:00am Crafts Group-9:00am Handbell Choir-5:30pm Choir-7:00pm They offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11 5 H.C.I.G. Mtg.-6:30pm 12 Illinois Club-12:30pm Remove Decorations 9:00am **Holy Communion will be celebrated at this service. 10:00am