Active in Faith May 2012 Monthly publication for members and friends of Faith Lutheran Church 4005 Palm Drive, Punta Gorda, FL 33950 941-639-6309 faithadmin88@embarqmail.com Pastor: Rev. Dana Alan Narring Mission and Vision Statement: Empowering all people to know Jesus Christ. With God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26 Come and Worship Saturday 5:30 Praise Service (Communion on 1st and 3rd Saturdays) Sunday 9:30: Traditional (Communion on 1st and 3rd Sundays) Pentecost celebration on Saturday, May 26 and Sunday May 27 (You are encouraged to wear red to celebrate Pentecost.) May 13 In honor of our mothers the Board of Elders is serving breakfast after church. May 28 Remember and honor our veterans Weekly Bible Studies/Devotions Sunday 8:15 to 9:00 AM A Longer Look at the Lessons Monday 7:30 to 7:55 AM Morning Devotions Start your week with God, and join Pastor Narring in the sanctuary as he leads us with a hymn, meditation, readings, and prayers. Thursday 10:30 to 11:30 AM Pastor Clyde s Bible class. 1
Shepherd s Message Greetings in the Name of our Risen Savior, Jesus Christ! You ve heard this before... April showers bring May flowers. The traditional rainy month of April gives way to May... when flowers will bloom because of the water and nutrients provided for them by the April showers. In many parts of our country this idiom still rings true. Proper amounts of rain and sunshine combine to produce beautiful flowers. It is a kind of an action/reaction type of thing. There is also an associated application for our lives as God s stewards and managers of all of life and life s resources for His purposes. Martin Luther s explanation to the First Article of the Apostles Creed states it well God richly provides us with all that we need to support this body and life. He credits God as our Maker and Provider. In addition, all, is used nine times in Luther s explanation. Our Almighty Father in heaven has made us and all creatures, gives us all we need, and defends us against all danger and guards and protects us from all evil. The clincher, so-to-speak for us as God s stewards, comes in the closing paragraph of Luther s explanation of the First Article as he writes, All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. The truth of the matter is that our Heavenly Father provides everything that we need in this life. Of course, His greatest gift is His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who came willingly to this sinful world to offer up His holy life for the sins of the world yours and mine included. That takes care of our spiritual welfare. However, God goes further... and, lavishes all kinds of physical gifts upon us as His people. God richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment (1 Timothy 6:17b), and,... He also wants us to use all these blessings in unselfish ways to bring glory to His Holy name and blessings to those people around us. So it is, just like April showers bring May flowers... our faithful management and use of God s gifts makes life more beautiful and fragrant for us and others! How we use our time, abilities, and financial resources makes a big difference for us and for others. How we manage: our relationships; God s creation; our own bodies, and the privilege of sharing the Good News of Jesus... also makes a big difference for us and others. We give thanks to God for calling us to be His maturing stewards who are privileged to manage all of life and life's resources for His purposes! May God s Holy Spirit work richly in, with, and among us... so that we may live each day as God s redeemed children growing in His love and joyful giving! God s richest blessings to you as together we go forward... Empowering All People To Know Jesus Christ! Pastor 2
President s Corner May the Lord bless you and keep you, I truly hope everyone had a very blessed Easter; it is such a very special time of the year. The Sounds of Lent sermons that Pastor Narring gave each Wednesday evening were so inspiring, and it brought us all to our Savior dying on the cross for all our sins and claiming victory over death and the devil on Easter morning. Yes, He is risen; He is risen indeed. With spring we have mixed feelings of joy and sadness. The weather is so wonderful, but many of our winter residents will be heading back to their summer dwellings and their churches up north. Here in Punta Gorda, life will go on for each of us and for our beloved Faith Lutheran Church. We on the B.O.D. already have two major projects and fund raisers going on. You have all seen the beautiful mural being painted on the Trinity Tower by Michael Vires. We were only able to take on this magnificent project because of the very generous gift from Amanda Parks which will take care of the total cost of the mural itself. However, we need to raise an additional $2000.00 to power wash and paint the inside of the tower. On faith alone we have proceeded with the project, pledging not to use any of our general funds, so we are relying on you to help us complete this project, not only to beautify our church, but to bring attention to our community that this is the place to come to worship our Lord and Savior. This is consistent with our mission to, Empower All People to Know Jesus Christ. We also would like to send Tish Panozzo, our organist and choir director, to the Organist Workshop at the Fort Wayne Seminary in Indiana. In order to do this we have to raise $1500.00 for airfare, lodging, and workshop registration for the weeklong seminar. We feel that this will be very important for us to do to enable Tish to be able to continue making our music program at Faith the innovative and wonderful program that she is building. A huge thank you goes out to the family of LaVerne Anderer for their donation of two AED Units for our church and fellowship hall. With the general age of our congregation, these two units will enable us to save lives here at Faith in the unfortunate circumstance of one of our parishioners needing this type of medical help while at Faith, and before EMS arrives. With our current projects, and with the limited funds we have coming in during the summer months to operate the church, we desperately need all your prayers and consideration. Thank you, and God bless each and every one of you, as He has blessed you. Larry L. Berkel President 3
SPOT LIGHT ON Charles/Charlie/Chuck Holt Who is that guy you always see around Faith: on Sunday mornings, at the dinners, at the flea market and just about any other event held at Faith? It is Charles Holt our resident custodian and all around volunteer. It was on a week day in the spring of 2009 the first time Naomi and I stopped by Faith Lutheran Church to check it out and see if was a place we would like to worship. We ran into Charlie. He immediately stopped what he was doing and with a smile showed us around the church and Zalman Hall and answered our questions. You could tell that he loved his church. Needless to say, we came back on a Sunday to worship. Charlie was born and raised in Redding, Pennsylvania. He was the second oldest of a family with 13 children. After graduating from high school in 1951, during the Korean War, Charlie joined the U.S. Army. The Army assigned him to work in the medical field. He worked in central supply which makes sure all the medical equipment is sterilized. He also worked as an operating room technician. Charlie spent a good deal of time in the U.S. but did serve a tour in Germany during the cold war where he met his wife Darleyne. Darleyne was a WAC who helped monitor training in Germany. He related an incident when he had to drive through Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin and started to follow another car through when the East Germans lowered the gate onto the hood of his car. He had to wait until an officer who could speak English arrived to hear his explanation and allow him to proceed. Charlie also served one year in Vietnam during the war as a combat medic. He and three other army medics served with the Vietnamese forces in the Mekong Delta. For his service he received the Bronze Star and the Combat Medical Badge. Charlie served his country for over 20 years and retired in 1976 with the rank of Master Sergeant. After leaving the service a friend told Charlie that there were openings at Fawcett Hospital in Port Charlotte. He applied for a job and moved his family here. He worked for Fawcett for 20 years doing much the same as he did in the Army. He was an operating room technician, worked in central supply and the general store which supplies the various wards. After coming to the Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda area Charlie joined Faith Lutheran Church which was a fairly new church then. It was a small church with the building sitting where Zalman Hall now stands. (Hurricane Charlie demolished that building.) Within a couple of years Charlie was chosen as an elder and served in that position for 10 years. He also became active in the choir and glee club and is still active in those activities today. About 20 years ago Charlie began volunteering to do custodial work at the church and it was quite a while before that became a paid position. He is now listed as our Sexton which he thinks is a fancy word for custodian. He is also a member of the Altar Guild and helps them with the paraments, the communion wine, and other activities. In addition, he is very active in the Moose International where he calls bingo to help them raise funds for Mooseheart and Moosehaven. He also is active in the American Legion. He is called Chuck there because when people asked him his name right after the devastating hurricane he was reluctant to say Charlie. Charlie and Darleyene have 5 children and as he says, a bunch of grandchildren. Some of his families live in Port Charlotte and the rest are spread around. Faith is blessed to have Charlie as part of our family of faith. Terry Weslock 4
Wandering Editors Note Yes, we are on the road again. By the time you receive this newsletter, we will be in Rock Hill, SC visiting Terry s father and the rest of the SC Weslocks. We will miss the summer activities and watching the painting progress on the Trinity Tower at Faith. Michael Vires, the artist, will provide me with pictures and journal of progress on the mural. I have shared some pictures this month and will continue to do so until the Trinity Tower is completed. God s peace be with you til we meet again. Terry and Naomi Weslock Board of Missions Does this look familiar? We hope so. Some people have been faithfully donating items for our veterans and military soldiers who are actively serving now. Two boxes of items went to Afghanistan and one box to Kuwait in the month of March. We also continue to collect cell phones that are sold for scrap and the money used toward phone cards for our service men and women. Do not forget food for Salvation Army. A box is located in the narthex for collecting the items needed. We have now begun our visits to the homebound and the members that are doing this have given me very positive feedback. We have many names of people that would like to have a visit but not enough people to visit them, so please pray about this and if the Lord moves you to join us, call me to get more information. Another CPR class with 6 in attendance was held and we are looking into having at least one more class, possibly in the fall. if you would like to attend a CPR Class in the fall, please put your name and phone number on the sheet of paper in the narthex. If there is enough interest for another class, I will contact you and we will try to come up with a date and time that is convenient for all. Please call Carol if you are interested to taking a class in the fall. In memory of La-Verne Anderer, the George Anderer family has donated two AED defibrillators, one for the narthex and another for the fellowship hall. We thank George and his family for their generous donation. Carol Leasure Chairperson 941-916-0050 5
Board of Evangelism Michael Vires, a local artist, who has painted a mural in Punta Gorda, presented his rendition of the Trinity Tower mural for three walls (south, east, and north) of the bell tower located at the front of the church. Paintings on the three walls would flow together as one mural representing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and the design would express Faith Lutheran s mission of Empowering All People to Know Jesus Christ. The mural will take approximately two months to complete. Monies for this project have been donated by Amanda Parks in memory of her late husband, Jim Parks. John Washburn Chairperson Michael Vires, the artist Cattle Drive on Marion Avenue by Michael Vires. The scale model of the Trinity Tower South wall: The Father East wall: The Son North wall: The Holy Spirit 6
The beginning: On April 2 Michael began washing the inside of the tower and then painted it yellow. April 24: Pastor took this picture of Michael Vires holding his Master s hand. Michael wrote: the mural painting on the east side is done and sealed. April 26: The scaffolding is removed. April 13 The grid system is probably the oldest technique for transferring a scaled down drawing to a larger surface. In the case of my color sketch which is 25 inches tall being transferred to a wall over 30 feet tall, it does not have to be exact. Just close enough. Michael Vires First step is to draw the grid on the scale down drawing. Then draw the grid on the wall of the tower. 7 Now he can fill in the squares.
April 21 Everything is as it is supposed to be. All things happen exactly when they re supposed to not one minute sooner or not one minute later. We may not always want it that way but I believe in a much bigger design than anything I could come up with so that s my philosophy.it eliminates a lot of expectation and disappointment in my life. What I m getting at is I got rained out today and couldn t finish the East wall according to my schedule. So, I ll finish it Monday. Michael Vires 8
Faith Ladies Guild Come and join the Ladies Guild for our next meeting on May 9 at 9:30 at Zalman Hall. Following the meeting there will be a lunch at Danny s at the corner of Marion and Brown at 11:00. If you have not signed up yet, please call Margaret Andrews at 941 637 0630. The Sarasota Zone Spring Rally of the Lutheran Women s Missionary League was held at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Sarasota on April 14, 2012. After the opening service, Pastor Narring, LWML Zone Counselor, led us in Bible study. A presentation by a Shelter Box representative explained the mission project which provides shelter and supplies needed by survivors of disasters such as floods, hurricanes, etc. Pastor Narring, LWML Zone Counselor, and the ten LWML Faith ladies who attended the Spring Rally. On April 18 the Faith Ladies Guild met at the home of Beverlee Winslow. After a short business meeting Amanda Parks presented her apron program and those who brought aprons told a story about their special apron. The delicious luncheon was prepared by Beverlee Winslow and Sherrie Marks. Margaret Andrews was selected as the Ladies Guild woman of the year. We thank her for her faithful service to the guild as president for four years and also years as vice-president. Under her leadership many activities raised fund for missions and Faith. Ladies without aprons wore these attractive aprons. Ladies proudly wore their aprons and told their stories. 9
Board of Fellowship Sign up NOW for the Potluck Picnic The potluck picnic will be May 20th at 1p.m. at Riverwood Beach Complex located on Englewood Beach. There is a sign up sheet in the Narthex with directions. Please indicate how many hamburgers and hot dogs you want and also what potluck dish you will bring. Supply your own tableware and drinks. This event is limited to only 50 people. The price is $7.00 person.. Easter Breakfast We served a total of 90 people, an assortment of 16 homemade quiche, fruit salad and lemon/raspberry muffins, orange juice, coffee and iced tea. Thank You Thanks for the large attendance at the Easter Breakfast. The quiche was so delicious; so many compliments were received. Thanks to our great cooks!! Also thanks to my committee that set up the tables, etc. and Shirley Cyr for her special wrapped napkins. The cleanup group with the big help of Jan Wells did a super job. I really enjoy being with this group of helpers. God bless each and every one of you. Again, my thanks is not enough. Betty Pio Betty Pio and Shirley Cyr Co-chairpersons 10
Welcome to the family of faith Please update your directory. Marge Baker 27060 Villarrica Drive Punta Gorda, FL 33983 941 876 6312 Mike and Shirley Dernbach 1712 Palace Court Port Charlotte, FL 33980 941 743 2210 Tom and Mary Saxton 19365 Water Oak Drive #106 Port Charlotte, FL 33948 941 255 6947 George and Anna Spielhaupter 8320 Riverside Drive #4114-97 Punta Gorda, FL 33982 941 639 8765 George and Sharon Whalen 4192 Bardot Road Punta Gorda, FL 920 373 1074 (Sharon s cell) 920 846 9925 (George s cell) Updates on Jack and Carlos, missionaries serving in Guinea, Africa Thanksgiving for new beginnings: to develop the 'Growing in Grace Lutheran Church' land near Siguiri and to renovate an old veterinary clinic here in town and make into a people clinic Jack and Cathy with John, Ami, baby Allama and three of their other children Thanksgiving for a new baby girl, born to John & Ami, two church members. They named her Allama (after me). We have known her since the pregnancy test we gave Ami came up positive. She was baptized into the family of Christ this past Sunday. However, she is sick with a fever and is not eating well. Her parents are very concerned as they have lost two children before. Many babies die within the first year of life here. Please pray for complete healing for her. A few days later this was sent: Baby Allama passed away during the night. She was 8 days old. We know she was received into the arms of her Savior. We grieve with her family. For healing for Jack: we believe he is suffering from kidney stones and he has been struggling to go about his daily work because of the pain. 11
God s blessings on your marriage Alfred Roberts March 25, 2012 George and Sharon Whalen March 26, 2012 Happy anniversary Rondal and Sharon Stocker 5/2 Francis and Peggy Whipple 5/21 Dale and Blanche Bensch 5/22 Ken and Evelyn Gniot 5/24 Edwin and Jacqueline Saeger 5/28 Francis and Christa Livingston 5/29 Birthday blessings William Winslow 5/1 Kenneth Fladd 5/3 Martin Hudock 5/3 Tom Saxton 5/3 Amanda Killian 5/4 Marguerita Price 5/8 Robert Schwalm 5/8 Phil Miller 5/9 Rondal Stocker 5/12 Virginia Kadansky 5/14 David Cope 5/15 Barbara Drew 5/15 Robert Waterman 5/16 Heinz Bens 5/19 Margaret Cope 5/20 Seth Norsell 5/21 Shirley Cyr 5/23 Jacqueline Saeger 5/23 Evelyn Gniot 5/24 Ken Gniot 5/24 Elsie Freese 5/25 Harold Jandola 5/25 Robert Manley 5/27 George Anderer 5/29 Kathryn Oetting 5/30 Walter Schlicht 5/30 Flo Norsell 5/31 12
THRIVENT SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS So far during 2012 Thrivent has provided supplemental funds for THREE FUNDRAISERS at Faith Lutheran. The spaghetti supper sponsored by our Mission Board received $400 for the Carlos family. This money was combined with the $1000 raised by Faith for a total of $1400. In February the Ladies Guild had a Flea Market. They sent $400 of the money raised to LWR to sponsor our orphan, Kevin, who lives in Kenya. Thrivent supplemented this money with an additional $200 which was also sent to LWR-1001 Orphans Program. In March our Ladies Guild had a Fashion Show. They gave the Yah Yah Girls a check for $250 to use for the Back Packs for Kidz program. This was supplemented by Thrivent with a second check for $125 for a total of $375. MORE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE to any group raising funds for either: our congregation, a 501C3 non-profit organization or a needy individual. If anyone is planning a fund-raising project, please contact me at least 6 weeks before the event so that I can submit the necessary paperwork to our local Charlotte County Thrivent Board. Marilyn Bredvik 941-639-2772 Faith members enjoyed fellowship and fun at the Stone Crab game on April 12. To make a long story short Ralph and Doris Hinze arranged a free picnic supper, game and Stone Crab caps for us all. (It was a make-up for a messed up day.) So, thank you, Ralph and Doris. View weekly announcements and calendar at: www.faithlutheranpg.com The church s office email address is: faithadmin88@embarqmail.com Church office hours are 9am-1pm Monday-Friday Deadline for June newsletter is May 22. Please e-mail all announcements, articles and photos to wanderingweslocks@netzero.com Editor will reserve the right to proofread and edit all articles for the monthly newsletter. 13