Active in Faith March 2015 Monthly publication for members and friends of Faith Lutheran Church 4005 Palm Drive, Punta Gorda, FL 33950 941-639-6309 faithmin88@embarqmail.com Pastor: Rev. Dana Alan Narring, MDiv Mission and Vision Statement: Empowering All People to Know Jesus Christ! March 29 March 8 Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! (Matthew 21:9b ESV) March 17 6:00 services will follow 5:00 Lenten suppers. March 4, March 11, March 18 and March 25. Worship Services Saturday Sunday 5:30 Praise and Worship Service 9:30 Worship Service Weekly Bible Studies Monday 10:30 AM: Women s Bible study, Encouraged in Heart by Dr. Mary Hilgendorf. Wednesday 6:30 PM: World Religion Runs through March 18. Led by Pastor Narring and Dick Ollek. Thursday 10:30 to 11:30 AM Pastor Clyde s Thursday Bible class 1
Pastor s message Greetings in Christ! Maybe you ve seen the Coexist bumper sticker that s become popular in the past few years The letters in the word coexist are made up of symbols for various world religions and ideologies. The T is a cross, but the X is a Star of David, signifying Judaism. The C is a crescent moon and star for Islam, and so on. It seems to suggest that all world religions have equal validity and are of equal value and that all religions are merely different roads that lead to a generic god. It s a plea for tolerance and peace in our generation, but how can one turn a blind eye to philosophies and ideologies that are eternally destructive? The answer is We simply cannot! St. Paul, in his former life in Judaism, was not interested in coexisting with Christians which he saw as a heretical movement away from the truth of his Jewish religion. Then, after his conversion on the Damascus road, he remained as zealous as ever. However, he had seen the error of his former ways in Judaism. St. Paul determined that he would do whatever he could to influence both Jew and Gentile by: Proclaiming the Gospel, Making himself a servant to everyone, and becoming all things to all people That he might gain some for Christ! 19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people that by all means, I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 English Standard Version (ESV) Becoming all things to all men did not mean that Paul was willing to coexist with the false religions of those who believed differently than he, for he was zealous for the truth. It did mean, however, that he would willingly go wherever and to whomever the Lord sent him to the lost sheep of Israel and to the lost of the nations always bringing the one and only saving message, the Gospel of Christ Jesus, dead and raised! May we always preach Christ and continue to be zealous to share God s word that through us, God s Holy Spirit might work saving faith in the heart of someone who doesn t know Jesus! In Christ, Pastor 2
Wandering Editors Note Our calendar is full! There are Bible studies, small group Bible study, Lenten meals to prepare or just enjoy, Lenten services, story teller presentation, Flea Market, a musical to attend and Senior VBS. There are friends visiting and to be visited. It is easy to forget to take the time to watch and pray with our Lord Jesus Christ during this Lenten season. Let us take the journey to the cross by taking the time to worship on Sundays and Wednesdays. Terry and Naomi Weslock Editors Board of Fellowship Mar. 25 Host: Elders Wednesday 5:00 Apr. 5: Easter Breakfast by Fellowship Mar. 4: Mar. 11 Mar. 18 Host: LWML Soups Host: Altar Guild, Evangelism and Education: Soups Host: Stewardship and Missions Betty Pio and Carolie Brockmiller Co-chairs Board of Missions Thank you! Each month 25-30 bags of food are donated to the food bank. The care packages containing personal products and treats are like treasures from home. Items needed are playing cards, games and movies are always welcome as are most hygiene supplies (soaps, deodorant and individually wrapped baby wipes are high on the list). If you know of a soldier stationed overseas, give us his/her address, and we can mail a box to them. We are continuing to collect cell phones that are no longer being used. After deleting information on the cell phone, please put it the box in the narthex. The proceeds from the recycled phones will be used to purchase phone cards for our military personnel. This is one way to support our troops. 3 Margaret Andrews Chairperson
Board of Fellowship We had an outstanding spaghetti dinner on Valentine's Day, February 14. Tish Pannozzo whipped up gallons of her wonderful meat sauce accompanied by angel hair pasta, garlic bread, salad, and dessert. Over 120 guests were served. It could not have been done without the many helpers that took part in preparation, serving and clean-up. Thank you all!! Tish dishing up her spaghetti sauce while 120 guests were waiting for their dinner. On February 22, 24 members and friends of Faith attended the musical "Church Basement Ladies at the Cultural Center. Following the musical supper was at Hurricane Charley s. It was an enjoyable day for all. To quote a line from the play: This is most certainly true. Faith s church basement ladies: Carolie and Betty. 4
Board of Stewardship The time is coming when our snow birds will be leaving us and heading north. If you have not signed up for direct deposit, please pick up a few envelopes in a box in the Narthex and send your donation as you feel you can as our expenses continue on during the summer. We realize that you have churches up north also that need your donations but we would appreciate any help that you can give us. Please pray that God would guide you in the way that He would have you go! The program is called Summer Appeal and the envelope is stamped with that on it. Thank you from the Board of Stewardship Please be sure to pick up your 2015 envelopes and also your 2014 year end statements. There is an explanation of why there are two sheets to the year end statements which is next to the box that has those statements in the narthex. LWML Flea Market was a success! We raised $2,600+ to be disbursed to Tidewell Hospice, adopt-a-seminarian, quilting materials, CARE, funds for altar guild, and other items as requested. Carol Meyer Chairperson Thank you a thousand times thousands for bringing in many items, sorting and pricing for five days, baking goodies for the bake sale, preparing food for the café, working on the day of sale, and the list is endless! Thank you especially to the men who hauled items out of the parsonage and moved tables and chairs. Frequently heard was, Oh, Mike, can you.? Pictured are just a fraction of the volunteers. Ben Wells, son of Jan and Arlene Wells, provided entertainment at the Café, 5
Lutheran Women s Missionary League Serve the Lord with gladness. Psalm 100:2 An update from our adopted seminarian, Sam Sessa. He wrote: I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. It is because of you that my family and I are able to be here....i am in the thick of things between learning Hebrew and having my Greek readings class....i have been very busy with jail ministry this quarter. Chaplain Vincent Stanley runs the Lutheran jail ministry at the St. Louis County Jail. Part of my ministry is to shadow Chaplain Stanley as he leads an in-jail Bible study and also as he does one-on-one counseling. I even led an in-jail Bible study myself and I found it to be incredible.my time in jail has helped me humanize the large number of people who have broken the law and grow my desire to share the gospel with them....things are going very well at my resident field education church, the Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens. They have me very involved with helping out during the service and I have even led the liturgy at two different services. My wife, Leah, works there and it has been a blessing for our family to have her income. I have been working part time as a waiter and it has been going well. Thank you and may the Lord bless you, Sam and Leah and Ben and Charli Ready, Set. Recycle! The 2019 LWML Convention will be in Birmingham, Alabama. To help off-set expenses LWML is promoting a Fundraiser Promotional Program. The LWML is collecting printer cartridges for recycling. Please save your used cartridges and bring them to Faith. There is a bag on the LWML table in the narthex for collecting the printer cartridges. Dates to remember: Mar. 14: Mar. 18: April 15: Spring Zone Rally at Lakeside Lutheran Church, Venice Meeting at Faith Meeting at Faith June 25-28: LWML Convention: Bountiful! Sow-Nourish-Reap, Des Moines, Iowa Sept. 26-28: Fall Retreat, St. Petersburg, FL Looking ahead: November 12, 2016: Zone Rally: Faith Punta Gorda 6 Naomi Weslock President
Board of Education Forty members and friends of Faith Lutheran church welcomed professional storyteller Tim Mangan on Thursday, February 19 for an hour and a quarter of storytelling from the heart. Tim entertained us with stories from his childhood in northern Wisconsin, as well as stories from America s railroad history and tales of historical characters. Woven into his stories were some harmonica playing, mountain dulcimer playing and singing. After Tim s entertaining presentation the members of the audience was treated to a pizza lunch provided by the Education Ministry. SENIOR VBS is Saturday, March 7 Contact Terry Weslock at 630-222-8837 if you have any questions. Terry Weslock Chairperson Crew 3 is a Boy Scout program for older boys and girls sponsored by Faith. Recently three of the Scouts earned Bronze medals. Lauren: Religious Life and Outdoor, Daniel: Outdoor, and Robert: Religious Life. Daniel also was award the Silver Palm. Beginning in March they will be working on the new Venturing Adventure series. Also pictured above are Justine Gonzalez, Advisor, and Van Henry, Assoc. Advisor. 7
Jack Wilson September 22, 1940 - February 16, 2015 George Spielhaupter 3/2 Judy Niemeyer 3/3 Richard Fasnacht 3/4 George Whalen 3/6 Diane Gonzalez 3/7 George Boehm 3/12 Patricia Davis 3/14 Pat Fasnacht 3/15 Victor Gonzalez 3/15 Elaine Hahn 3/15 Marilyn Moore 3/15 Dick Koll 3/16 M. Veraline Matzke 3/16 Sharon Hall 3/17 Walli Mitter 3/18 Lois Niemann 3/22 Mike Oetting 3/22 Andy Suglio 3/22 Joyce Jandola 3/23 Bill and Cheryl Kampa 3/5 (6 yrs.) George and Sharon Whalen 3/26 (3 yrs.) Adrian and Jeana Kukuk 3/19 (21 yrs.) Will and Charlotte Puska 3/28 (56 yrs.) Charlie and Darleyne Holt 3/26 (60 yrs.) 8
March Ushers and Readers Schedule Date Ushers Reader Sun., March 1 Sam Jackson, Carolie Brockmiller, Stan Smith, Betty Pio Pastor Koehler Wed., March 4 6PM Bob and Kathy Page Sun., March 8 Dick and Lou Young Bill and Beverlee Winslow Kay Oetting Wed., March 11 6PM Sun., March 15 Joyce and Hal Jandola Richard Fasnacht, Barbara Johnson, Ralph and Kathy Winkler Jackie Saeger Wed., March 18 6PM Cheryl Kampa & Doris Hinze Sun., March 22 Wed., March 25 6PM Terry and Naomi Weslock Bev Shutter and Joanna Waterman Bob & Sharon Hall Joanna Waterman Sun., March 29 Dave and Shelly Cope John and Lois Arens John Arens Unless indicated the Saturday ushers are Dick and Sandy Lehman and the reader is Dick Lehman. View weekly announcements and calendar at: www.faithlutheranpg.com The church s office email address is: faithadmin88@embarqmail.com Church office hours are 9am-2pm Monday-Friday Deadline for April newsletter is March 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. 9