March 2016 OUR MISSION To welcome and lead all to Christ

Transcription

1 REFLECTIONS Lutheran Church of the Resurrection 525 Minutemen Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL Phone: (321) Website: Follow us on Facebook March 2016 OUR MISSION To welcome and lead all to Christ

2 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I love that greeting! Thanks to the victory of Christ at Easter, that s exactly what we are family. Our nationality and gender are not what is most important anymore. The one, defining, characteristic is that we are His. As St. Paul writes in Galatians 3:26-28, For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. We are one. That realization opens up so many possibilities. It offers us a sense of self-worth that is not dependent on how our society judges us. It frees us from those confining and unfair expectations. It allows us to be the unique individual God created us to be and to find a place of comfort and challenge within a community of faith. We are also set free from the internal pressure to be perfect. Yes, Jesus does say Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect, (Matthew 5:48) but perfect there means mature or of one mind. A far cry from the way we so often embody destructive perfectionism! On the contrary, knowing that we are loved, we can live a focused and thoughtful life; finding peace in God s love and promises. We can gather as one family under the care of our loving Father truly, brothers and sisters! Easter Blessings, Pastor Jay

3 Council Members Alfred Domschke, President Libby VanZino, Vice-President Michael Miller, Secretary Jenn Billingham, Fellowship Property-Mitch Wilson (Buildings); Ben Troemel (Grounds); Libby VanZino (Administration) Jim Stark, Stewardship Marilyn Sorenson, Social Ministry Marcia Wilson, Evangelism Carole Glynn, Christian Education Debbie Rescott, Treasurer (Advisor) Michelle Davis, Financial Sec. (Advisor) Angelika Domschke, Worship The Church Council meeting was held on February 9th and here are some highlights of discussions and decisions. Pastor Jay began the meeting with a devotion and prayer. - Financial Secretary s report will be posted in the fellowship hall. - Treasurer s report will also be made available in the fellowship hall. - Evangelism report Valentine s pencils will be distributed after each worship service on the 13 th and 14 th. A paper heart with a Bible verse will remind all who receive of God s love. They are encouraged to share the pencils with those outside the congregation. - Worship committee The sanctuary was prepared by the committee for the Augsburg Orchestra performance in January. Preparations are being made for Lent, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter. Lily donations envelopes will be out soon and the congregation will be asked for their answers to the three questions every congregation must answer when it comes to reaching the unchurched. -Fellowship Committee Prepared a taco dinner for the Augsburg Orchestra and prepared a funeral reception. The Lenten soup suppers are being planned and the Easter Breakfast, prepared by the men of the church, is in the works. Cleanup help is needed. - Social ministry report Each of the various ministries under the evangelism banner participated in the recent Ministry Fair. At the food pantry, 80 people were fed in January with 567 food items donated by the congregation. St David s by the Sea donated pantry items along with an additional check for $500. There was a sharp increase in the number of loads done on Laundry Day in January. On average 4 bikes are given away and 4 are repaired each bike ministry day. Gifts for our homeless Christmas party will be handled in a different way this year. -Christian Ed report Children s Church has an average of 6 children in attendance. The J- Walkers youth have 2 events planned each month. It has been difficult to obtain volunteers to lead Children s Church. A confirmation retreat will be held on February 26 and 27. Old Business- - Pastor Jay reported on his search for presenters for the Conference Center. Some programs will be free while, for others, a fee will be involved. Council decided that for the events we pay for, all attendees will be charged a nominal fee to cover the costs. Continued on next page

4 Continued from previous page New Business - The congregational meeting agenda was discussed. - Approval was obtained for the annual Trash Bash (Thousand Islands Cleanup) to be held using the church s dock. It was further approved as an annual event in the Continuing Resolutions. - Our Treasurer brought up the issue of how to use Thrivent Dollars. She will return to council at a later date with more information. Item tabled. - A kayak gear container was proposed. Item was placed on the Action Register for March, awaiting specs and cost, and funding. - Sarah Stotz and Lisa Stotz requested approval for fundraising for their Relay for Life Team. Permission granted for Sunday, March 6 th. March Birthdays 3/1 Charlotte Busse 3/2 Max Kellogg 3/5 Carolyn Engstrand 3/6 Alice Schneck Bonnie Whiting 3/7 Elaine Jensen 3/8 Hunter Ewasuik 3/10 Lois Martin Rick Stees 3/13 Jim Gray Laurie Gray 3/16 Galen Leintz 3/17 Betty Gray 3/18 Diane Stees 3/19 Linda Jones 3/20 Richard Crowell Ron Vaughn 3/22 Ruth Bleakley Sherri Salisbury 3/23 Debbie Bensen 2/24 Sally Ann Woock 3/26 Michael Kennedy 3/27 Donna Nelson 3/28 Jennifer Billingham 3/30 Alexander Stankie 3/31 Jake Galzerano March Anniversaries 3/7 Keith & Chris Garnett Jim & Laurie Gray 3/16 Tom & Margaret Corey 3/21 Gary & Carole LeBrecht 3/26 Peter & Julie Palm 3/29 Ken & Elaine Phares 3/31 Charles & Jean Freeman

5 Come join the Saturday lawn crew. We go from 8:00-10:00 a.m. and provide the donuts and coffee. Hope to see you Saturday mornings. Please sign up to give two hours a month to the lawn crew. Signup when you come to worship. Go green and recycle. Drop off recyclable aluminum cans by the maintenance building west of the Fellowship Hall this helps pay for gas and mower repairs. 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 Traditional worship on the third Sunday of each month. GREAT NEWS! Prices have dropped for our October 17, 2017 Holy Lands Cruise, starting at $3999 per person based on double occupancy! Invite your friends and neighbors to a presentation hosted by Azamara Club Cruises at 9:30 AM in the LCR Fellowship Hall on March 20, 2016! RSVP to Gary Johnson at (321) no later than March 13 th! Book Club will be held on Monday, March 14th at 12:00 noon. March s book will be Lawyer for the Dog by Lee Robinson. Please bring a sandwich and drink yourself. Eat, Pray, Love! Women s Fellowship Group will be meeting on Thursday, March 3rd at 9:00 am at The Cocoa Beach Country Club located on Minuteman Cswy. in Cocoa Beach. We will have our Fellowship Breakfast. We will be meeting on March 10th, 17th, and 31st in the Ministry Center of LCR at 9:00 am. We will be continuing our book study, Relying on the Power of The Spirit by Elizabeth George. If you would like to attend or have any questions please contact the church office or Libby VanZino at 3eatpraylove@gmail.com. Pantry Garden: Looking for an opportunity to give back to your community? Want a chance to enrich not only your life but your neighbor s? Are you a student needing to fulfill your community hours? The LCR Pantry Garden is growing a fresh new crop of vegetables for our friends! It's rewarding to know a little of your time can help provide fresh produce to families who do not have access to an adequate food supply. Contact the church office or come on out Saturday mornings before 9am. To Donate a Personalized Bible for one of our Sunday School students, please contact the Church office. They are $25.00 each and each bible will be inscribed with the child s name. New members will be received on March 19 th and 20 th at all services. If you would like to join our church family, please speak with the Pastor. First Holy Communion class is for all children age 5 and up who have not yet received the Lord s Supper. If you would like for your child to participate in the classes, please let the pastor know. The course consists of three short sessions directly after 8:30 worship on March 6th and 13th with First Communion received on Easter Sunday, March 27. Please call the church office for more details.

6 MARCH MINISTRY CENTER EVENTS Compassionate Friends Tuesday, March 1st A Special Occasion Music-Music Lessons Afternoons-By Appointment Contact: Church Office 6:00 p.m. Contact: Joe & Lynn Gray Greeting Card Ministry -Rm. #3 Monday, March 21st Contact: Molly Andrews or Church Office 1:00-3:00 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry -Rm #3 Monday, March 14th Contact: Lynn Gray or Church Office 2:30-4:30 p.m. Women s Bible Study Monday, March 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th Book Club Monday, March 14th Contact: Church Office 9:30 a.m. Contact: Julie Palm 12:00 noon J-Walkers Youth Group Saturday, March 5th (8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) Yard Sale for a Cure Contact: Sarah Davis Sunday, March 6th (8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.) Fellowship to Benefit Relay for Life Sunday, March 27th (10:15 a.m.) Easter Egg Hunt ELCA Lab School Tuesday, March 8th, 16th, 29th Conference Center & Rm. #4 6:00 p.m. Tiger & Wolf Scouts Locations: Ministry Center-Rm #3 Wednesday, March 9th & 23rd (5:00 to 6:00 p.m.) Contact: Church Office Thursday, March 10th & 24th (6:00 to 7:00 p.m.) Eat, Pray, Love Women s Fellowship Group Thursday, March 3rd Cocoa Beach Country Club) Thursday, March 10th, 17th, LCR Ministry Center) Contact: Libby VanZino 9:00 a.m. Relay for Life #4 Tuesday, March 1st Contact: Church Office 6:00 p.m. RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH lcorcb.org

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) 3/6 - Beef Stew 3/13 - Tuna 3/20 - Soup 3/27 - Canned Chicken We also request that if you have the brown packing bags from the grocery store please donated them to the pantry. We will also need toothbrushes, deodorant and toothpaste. Thank you for your gifts and would love to boost this month s donation. Please give from the heart. PANTRY HOURS: Just a reminder of the hours that the pantry and bike ministry area opened. Pantry: 1st and last Tuesday of every month. 10:00-12:00 noon 2nd and 3rd Saturday of every month. 10:00-12:00 noon Bike Ministry: 2nd and 3rd Saturday of ever 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. We are collecting spare change for Laundry Day. Empty your piggy bank into our laundry detergent bottles and help give someone in need the gift of clean clothes. The box for your coin donations on the narthex table. NEEDED: The Bike Ministry are in need of new and used bikes in any condition. We can pick up your donated bike or you may drop it off. We repair them and give them to those in need in the community. 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!

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9 First Communion If you would like for your child to participate in the classes, please let the pastor know. The course consists of three short sessions directly after 8:30 worship on March 6th and 13th with First Communion received on Easter Sunday, March 27. If your child missed out on the first class, held February 28th, there is time to catch up. Please speak with the pastor. LCR will be receiving New Members at services on Saturday, March 19th and both services on Sunday, March 20th. Please welcome them as part of our family. HOLY WEEK (Note: There is no Wednesday worship in Holy Week) 3/24 Maundy Thursday - 7:00 p.m. - Confession & Holy Communion 3/25 Good Friday -- 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Silent Prayer Vigil 7:00 p.m. Choir Cantata 3/26 No Café Worship Service (join us Easter morning!) 3/27 Easter Sunday - 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. - Easter Breakfast and Egg Hunt for the children between services. No Connection Service held on Easter. If you would like to help decorate the Easter Flower Cross please bring cut flowers. (Don t forget to order an Easter lily for Easter worship. Lilies may be donated in honor or in memory of a loved one. Please use special envelopes and box in Narthex for your donation.

10 Welcome to the Evangelism Committee! Pray, Care & Share What are you thinking about this Lenten season? What time have you had to just stop and reflect on simple ordinary blessings that have been given or taken away from you. There is real hurt, dark ness, and hopelessness in us and in the world without the light of Christ. He came to bring us His light of peace, hope and love. He is a lamp to our feet and light to our path. As we live out the gift of His light and radiance in our heats, what are we to do? You know the answer, we are to make ourselves Jesus light to others. Let s assume that you are a lighted candle, now you can t hide it under a bushel. What good would that light be? We are to be His glorious reflection to others. We can be ready and waiting by keeping our faith growing in His grace and stronger because of knowing His Word and acting on it. If you were a light would you be a single candle or one in a candelabrum? What kind of candle would you be? Big, short, tea light, a candle burnt at both ends, an oil lamp? Would you give off a fragrance? Would you only be lit on holidays? Would you be illuminated at all? Pastor has asked us to prepare by reading the Gospels. What an excellent way to make our walk through Lent together. This little light of mine, I m going to let it shine. Let it shine. Let us shine. May His Word shine through you today because God uses all kinds of lights! Hi, my name is Ruth Greer. I started attending Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in February of 2015, and it didn t take long for me to realize what a special church this is. I had my church membership transferred from Resurrection Lutheran Church in Madison, Indiana, to Lutheran Church of the Resurrection and became a member here on Palm Sunday last year. A few months after I started attending LCR, someone told me about a man who had come to the church and had asked, Is this the church that helps people? He was promptly assured that he had come to the right place. What a wonderful reputation to have in the community to be known as the church that helps people. You can find me working in the food pantry on the first and last Tuesdays of the month; I also serve as a greeter and fold the newsletter each month. I grew up in Kissimmee, so returning to Central Florida after I retired seemed to be a natural choice. In 1989 I bought a condo in Cocoa Beach because I also wanted to live at the beach when I retired. I have lived in several different states throughout my lifetime, but the last 27 years before my retirement were spent in Madison, Indiana, where I was the math and science program chair at Ivy Tech Community College. I have two sons. Dan is an actuary who lives in Overland Park, Kansas, with his wife and three children. Alan is a Looking for ladies who enjoy golfing to come together with the Women s Club of Cocoa Beach to golf. Last month the group collected food items for LCR s Pantry in October for the Golfing against Hunger. Please contact the church office or Marcia Wilson if interested. CPA and lives in Libertyville, Illinois; he is married and has two children. They all love to visit Cocoa Beach.

11 MARCH J-WALKER S NEWS! Saturday, March 5th (8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) Yard Sale for a Cure Location: 703 N. Atlantic Ave. Cocoa Beach We will have our own J-Walkers booth here. Proceeds will benefit Relay for Life. Please bring items to donate prior to the event start time! Please plan to help out for a least a couple of hours. We will need you for morning and afternoon shifts. Please wear your J-Walkers shirts. Sunday, March 6th (8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.) J-Walkers host fellowship to benefit Relay for Life Please bring a food or drink item and help to set up and generate donations for our Relay for Life J-Walkers team. Sunday, March 27th (10:15 a.m.) Easter Egg Hunt We need adult volunteers and youth volunteers to help make this event a success! Please arrive by 10:00 a.m. to the ministry center for a quick overview of instructions prior to the start of this event! Please remind your friends and family of this event.