Active in Faith. Faith Lutheran Church 4005 Palm Drive, Punta Gorda, FL

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Active in Faith June 2017 Monthly publication

Statement: Empowering All People to Know Jesus

June 4 June 11 June 14 Our churches teach that

in order that we imitate their faith and good

June 18 Augsburg Confession 21. Nativity of St.

Services Saturday 5:30 Praise and Worship

Bible Study Thursday 10:30-11:30: Pastor Clyde

be the last Bible Class to be led by him this

Lord-willing, he will begin his 10th year

the Book of Genesis on Thursday, October 5, 2017.

1 Active in Faith June 2017 Monthly publication for members and friends of Faith Lutheran Church 4005 Palm Drive, Punta Gorda, FL Pastor: Rev. Dana Alan Narring, MDiv Mission and Vision Statement: Empowering All People to Know Jesus Christ! June 4 June 11 June 14 Our churches teach that the remembrance of the saints is to be commended in order that we imitate their faith and good works according to our calling. June 18 Augsburg Confession 21. Nativity of St. John the Baptist June 24 St. Barnabas, Apostle June 11 Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles June 29 Worship Services Saturday 5:30 Praise and Worship Service Sunday 9:30 Worship Service Thursday Bible Study Thursday 10:30-11:30: Pastor Clyde is sorry to announce that Thursday, June 1 will be the last Bible Class to be led by him this spring. Lord-willing, he will begin his 10th year leading Class at Faith by resuming the study of the Book of Genesis on Thursday, October 5, The doctors do not want to do surgery on his broken hip but have "ordered" him to rest. (So has Virderie!) Thanks to all the Class Members who set records this year with class attendance in the 30's. You're all invited to join us in the Fall. In Christian Love, Pastor Clyde 1

2 Greetings in Christ! A few years ago, an article appeared in the Lutheran Witness from Reverend Richard C. Eyer, an LCMS pastor and retired teacher from Concordia College Wisconsin. I d like to share some of his biblically-based views on causes, results, dangers, and appropriate responses to an issue we all face complaints. And the people complained.... (Num. 11:1) As we read the Book of Numbers in the Old Testament, it is striking to notice how often the people of God complained about congregational life as God had given it. They complained about not having the foods they preferred over what God had given. They complained about all they had left behind in Egypt when Moses led them out into the wilderness. Even Moses brother and sister, Miriam and Aaron, complained about Moses, Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also? (Num. 12:2) It seems that complaint is simply the way of congregational life even between brothers and sisters who share the same faith. But the congregation of Israel paid a price for it. Most of them never got to the Promised Land and God struck them down for their unfaithfulness. As punishment, Miriam acquired leprosy from God as Aaron begged, Oh, my Lord, do not punish us because we have done foolishly and have sinned. (Num. 12:11) The Book of Numbers is surely the story of congregational life at its best and worst. It s best was the mercy extended to sinners by God and the worst was that the people repaid God s mercy with more complaints. I have to look at myself as I read Numbers and ask, Am I also a complainer? The answer is an unqualified yes. Ever since I first entered the pastoral ministry, there have been times when I complained about my disappointments with congregational life. Parishioners may not realize that pastors have their own complaints as well as the complaints of the congregation they have to deal with. So we all know what it is like to be frustrated, disappointed and angry that things don t go the way we would like them to go in a congregation. It is second nature to complain, to grumble as did the people of Israel in the wilderness. But as C. S. Lewis warned tongue-in-cheek, It begins with a grumbling mood, and yourself still distinct from it. You can repent and come out of it again. But there may come a day when you can do that no longer. Then there will be no you left... just the grumble itself going on forever. [1] That s the danger of complaint. We make ourselves God, and it feels so good and righteous at the time, but it never ends well. Some people, even in this life, turn into a Grumble! Others limp off into the bushes, whimpering about all they have been made to endure in the congregation. The danger of complaining about a few things is that it is hard to stop once you ve started. It can easily become a way of life so that we complain about everything and our unhappiness feeds on finding more to complain about. Like Miriam and Aaron, we eventually turn against those closest to us. Complaint spreads with the hope that the more complainers we can get to join us, the better the chances of things going our way. But they never do. The one who grumbles most loses and leaves nothing but unhappiness in his path (2 Tim. 22:14).

3 One of the characteristics of a grumbler is that s/he collects injustices suffered in the course of congregational life. This collection of injustices is made up of the few or many times we didn t get our way, or someone else got theirs, or someone did or said something that angered us. It becomes more and more difficult to pray, Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And because we do not let go of perceived past injustices, we load up the next complaint with all the past anger we have carried around for years. I m not sure congregational life today is any different than it was in Moses day. We are a people in much need of God s grace, forgiveness and transformation of life under the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But if we must grumble and complain let us be like Job. Job grumbled as he wrestled with God, but was then transformed by God and found peace. Because we are forgiven sinners we too need to make our concerns, even complaints, known in a civil manner directly to those with whom we disagree. Let us not attack the person, but debate the issue. Let us not be dishonest and manipulative in getting others to speak for us so we can hide behind them. Let us not add to the anger inside us by storing it away for another day. Let us not try to rid ourselves of the person with whom we have disagreement, but learn to love them as Christ loves us even though we are often in disagreement with him. Paul speaks of bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other. (Col. 3:13) Congregations are contentious by nature, sinful human nature. The accumulated effect over the years is to injure the very congregation we sometimes think we speak for. Efforts to force your way on the rest of the congregation only increase divisions and discourage those who come for better things in Christ s name. There will never be a time when we can all agree, but we can learn to forgive and let go of things we can t change. And letting go does not have to mean leaving the congregation. Where will we ever find a congregation where there isn t something to find fault with? Rather, let us find what God has brought us together to receive: God s grace and mercy in Jesus Christ as found in the communion of saints who confess their sins, find forgiveness in the body and blood of Christ given us in the Lord s Supper and live in peace as brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us love one another and pray that God will lead us into the Promised Land He has prepared for us. Luther even states, The sin underneath all our sins is to trust the lie of the serpent that we cannot trust the love and grace of Christ and must take matters into our own hands. Together in Christ, may we seek to trust in the love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy that has been generously given to us and continually seek to follow God s will as we Live in His Love and Share His Joy! I pray you found the above article to be helpful as we all deal with the danger of complaints. In Christ, Pastor [1] C. S. Lewis. The Great Divorce. Macmillan 1977, Ch. IX p.72 3

What does the future hold for you? God is changeless and is there for you each moment of the day.

4 Wandering Editor s Note In Facebook there were many congratulations posted for eighth grade, high school and college graduations. Many were children of students we had taught at Trinity. I am reminded how the lives of all will change because graduation is a step into the future. What does the future hold for you? God is changeless and is there for you each moment of the day. Naomi Weslock Editor Board of Fellowship Come for fun and great food at the Picnic in the Park on June 11 (12:00-3:00) at Ponce De Leon. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided. Bring a dish to share and your own beverages. The bird sanctuary will be open for visitors and there is also the beach you can use. Sign up in the narthex. 4

Lutheran Women s Missionary League Serve the Lord with gladness. Psalm 100:2 Sam Fink has been called to vicarage at St.

Please continue to keep Sam and his family in your prayers as he completes his studies for this semester and moves to New

Maternity Home. Hold on to your hat...$5,260.44! Thanks be to God for His goodness and for blessing us.

Sheryl DeWitt The ink cartridges we have been collecting for the LWML convention in June are no longer needed.

Dates to remember: June 22-25: National LWML Convention Albuquerque, NM and celebrating the 75th anniversary of LWML Sept.

5 Lutheran Women s Missionary League Serve the Lord with gladness. Psalm 100:2 Sam Fink has been called to vicarage at St. John's Lutheran Church in Orchard Park, NY. Please continue to keep Sam and his family in your prayers as he completes his studies for this semester and moves to New York. I am so excited to write to you and announce what the saints at Faith Lutheran raised in support of the Redeeming Life Maternity Home. Hold on to your hat...$5,260.44! Thanks be to God for His goodness and for blessing us. Please share this amazing news with your congregation along with our heartfelt thanks and gratitude. Sheryl DeWitt The ink cartridges we have been collecting for the LWML convention in June are no longer needed. However, we will continue to collect the ink cartridges to support the Peace River Wildlife Sanctuary at Ponce De Leon. Dates to remember: June 22-25: National LWML Convention Albuquerque, NM and celebrating the 75th anniversary of LWML Sept. 29-Oct. 1: FL/GA Villas by the Sea on Jekyll Island, GA October 25: Fellowship and meeting at Faith November 4: LWML Zone Fall Rally at Hope, Bradenton with Good Shepherd, Sarasota. November 22: Fellowship/meeting at Faith December 2: Cookie Walk (Set up on Dec 1) 5

Mendedo is a native of Ethiopia where he served in multiple capacities with the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, including evangelist, youth leader, church elder, Bible school teacher,

6 GOD'S WORD FOR EVERY LANGUAGE We were honored to have Rev. Dr. Tilahun Mendedo of Lutheran Bible Translators (LBT) join us for worship on Saturday, April 22. Dr. Mendedo is a native of Ethiopia where he served in multiple capacities with the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, including evangelist, youth leader, church elder, Bible school teacher, project director and curriculum advisor for the theological centers in Ethiopia. He earned his bachelor's degree in counseling, a master's in systematic theology, and a PhD in missiology from Concordia Theological Seminary, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.. He was most recently President of Concordia College in Selma, Alabama & has joined Lutheran Bible Translators as their Executive Development Officer. Dr. Mendedo educated us on the dire need for the Bible to be translated for people around the world. For example, Ethiopia has over 80 different languages but only has portions of the Bible translated in 3 of them. With over one hundred million people living in Ethiopia, it is important to provide them with the Bible in a language they can understand. In spite of being surrounded by mostly Islamic countries, Ethiopia has one of the fastest growing Christian populations in the world. By providing Bibles in the "heart language" of native peoples, it is one small way we can help support the growth of the Christian church worldwide. For more information or to make a donation, you may contact Dr. Mendedo directly at Tilahun.Mendedo@lbt.org or go online to Susan Narring Chairperson 6

Martin Leo Hudock May 3, 1931 - May 12, 2017 Barbara Wilts 6/2 Kathy Page 6/4 Jerry Metz 6/7 Kathy Meyers 6/7 Will Puska 6/7 Frederic Vogelpohl 6/10 Fred Fuhrmann 6/11 Bill Holbrook 6/15 Erwin

James and Virginia Bowden 6/5 47 yrs. Bryant and Krys Erikson 6/5 13 yrs. Ken and Joanne Fladd 6/6 18 yrs. Larry and Marcia Berkel 6/9 54 yrs. Arthur and Gayle Groen 6/10 39 yrs.

7 Martin Leo Hudock May 3, May 12, 2017 Barbara Wilts 6/2 Kathy Page 6/4 Jerry Metz 6/7 Kathy Meyers 6/7 Will Puska 6/7 Frederic Vogelpohl 6/10 Fred Fuhrmann 6/11 Bill Holbrook 6/15 Erwin Vosberg 6/15 Gladys Manley 6/17 Michael Wirth 6/17 George Buono 6/19 Richard Nicholas 6/25 Carol Renier 6/26 Janie Arnold 6/27 Bud Wolff 6/28 Marcia Berkel 6/30 George and Carol Boehm 6/1 60 yrs. James and Virginia Bowden 6/5 47 yrs. Bryant and Krys Erikson 6/5 13 yrs. Ken and Joanne Fladd 6/6 18 yrs. Larry and Marcia Berkel 6/9 54 yrs. Arthur and Gayle Groen 6/10 39 yrs. Hal and Joyce Jandola 6/10 39 yrs. Tom and Madeline Schminke 6/16 55 yrs. 7 Bill and Bev Winslow John and Elfrieda Wuerz Stephen and Cheryl Karba Lorne and Lois Niemann Robert and Wauline Falce Don and Ruth Cavallini Michael and Cheryl Wirth 6/18 62yrs. 6/21 59 yrs. 6/25 34 yrs. 6/25 57 yrs. 6/27 30 yrs. 6/29 48 yrs. 6/30 10 yrs.

Our prayer list is on the glass table in the Narthex. If you, or someone you know, would like prayers, (names remain on for 4 wks.), call Doris Hinze at 627-3790 or the office.

8 Our prayer list is on the glass table in the Narthex. If you, or someone you know, would like prayers, (names remain on for 4 wks.), call Doris Hinze at or the office. IMMEASURABLY MORE as of May 2017 Mortgage balance: $415, New monthly payment: $4, Received in May for IM (Just 1%): $3, Total received for IM Program: $239, Total extra paid to principal: $236, Pledges Received to Date: $350, May Ushers, Readers and Head Elder Schedule Date Ushers Reader Head Elder June 4 Naomi and Terry Weslock Dave Cope Dave Cope June 11 Gerry Misener, Bev Shutter Naomi Weslock Gary Raley June 18 Gloria Koehler, Gary Raley Kay Oetting Ken Johnson June 25 Roberta Misener, Bev Shutter Naomi Weslock Hal Jandola SATURDAY EVENING ELDER: Dick Lehman View weekly announcements and calendar at: The church s office address is: faithadmin88@embarqmail.com Church office summer hours are 9:00-12:00 Monday-Friday Deadline for July newsletter is June 22. Please all announcements, articles and photos to wanderingweslocks@netzero.com Editor will reserve the right to proofread and edit all articles for the monthly newsletter. 8

Active in Faith June 2018

Active in Faith June 2018 Monthly publication for members and friends of Faith Lutheran Church 4005 Palm Drive, Punta Gorda, FL 33950 Church office hours are 9:00am - 1:00pm Monday - Friday (941)639-6309