Active in Faith April 2017 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, MDiv Mission and Vision Statement: Empowering All People to Know Jesus Christ! Lenten service: April 5: 6:00pm April 9:, April 13: 7:30 April 26 April 14: noon, 7:30 April 16:, Worship Service time changes: Through the end of April, services will be as follows: 5:00pm Contemporary Worship Service - Communion 1st & 3rd Saturdays am Traditional Worship Service - Communion 1st & 3rd Sundays (Saturday Praise Service will follow above communion schedule) 9:10am Bible study in the Church Sanctuary am Traditional Worship Service - Communion 2nd & 4th Sundays Weekly Bible Studies Sunday 9:10am Bible study in the Church Sanctuary with Pastor Narring Monday -11:30: Bible study on women in the Bible by Dr. Mary Hilgendorf. April 3 will be the last for this season and will resume November 6. Thursday -11:30: Pastor Clyde s Thursday Bible study. Class will not meet on Maundy Thursday, but will continue studying in Genesis through May. Will resume in the Fall. 1
Greetings in Christ! As our Lenten journey of reflection and introspection nears its conclusion, I feel that it is important for each of us to focus on God s precious and holy word as it pertains to Careless Talk. I recently shared this with our Board of Directors and have previously led a Bible class (last fall) on this topic as well. Our friends at Ambassadors of Reconciliation (www.his AoR.org) have shared these passages that guide our hearts, minds, actions, and words. From Ephesians... Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear... And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. From Proverbs... Ephesians 4:29, 5:2 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is over thrown. Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. Proverbs 11:11-13 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. Proverbs 26:20 From 1 st Corinthians... Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a God s Promise Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Proverbs 28:13 Instead of focusing on our own desires or dwelling on what others may do, led by Jesus, we seek to please and honor God by depending on His wisdom, power, and love; by faithfully obeying His commands; and by seeking to maintain a loving, merciful, and forgiving attitude. God bless you throughout Lent... and in the year to come! Pastor 2
Wandering Editor s Note Spring is here, but in Florida it is almost like spring even in the winter. For some it means change in where we live as some will be heading north. Here at Faith it means less activities. End of April will bring to close two of the Bible classes. But we do have the Sarasota Zone Rally and the collection of the Baby Bottles still ongoing. For those traveling we pray for God s traveling mercies go with you. Naomi Weslock Editor There will be a congregational voters meeting on April 2 after the church service. Please plan to attend. Come for fellowship and breakfast on Easter Sunday at 9:00 in Zalman Hall. Menu will include scrabble eggs, bacon, home fries and desserts. Board of Evangelism: CALLING ALL NAMETAGS! Dear Nametag, we haven t seen you in a while, but we d sure like to! If you ve lost your nametag, now is a great time to replace it. Many of you already know everyone in the congregation, but our newer members and guests do not. Wearing your nametag every week may seem like a chore, but it is really an act of kindness and fellowship, a small way to be more welcoming. If you tend to leave your nametag in your other purse or in your spouse s car, get a second one to have on hand. There is a sign-up sheet for a new name tag on the glass table in the narthex or call Betty Pio at 941-276-3621. Susan Narring 3
Peace River Quilters meet at Faith s Zalman Hall all year round. On February 17-19 they sponsored the 14th Bi-annual Follow the Sun Quilt Show 2017. Peace River group sponsors one every two years. This year three members of Faith participated. These were submitted by Margaret Andrews. These were submitted by Leonora Suglio. These were submitted by Arlene Wells. On March 28 The Sound (formerly the Rob Mills Family) presented an awesome concert at Faith. The full time music ministry is to bring people to the touch of Jesus Christ. The audience was thoroughly entertained and moved. 4
Lutheran Women s Missionary League Serve the Lord with gladness. Psalm 100:2 The Sarasota Zone Spring Rally is on Saturday, April 29, 2017. Schedule for the day is 9:00-9:25 am: Registration and refreshments 9:30 am: Worship and Communion Service Offering for LWML-local and FL/GA District Bible study led by our Zone Counselor, Rev. Todd Kuehn Short Break Guest speaker from Agape Flights Luncheon Business meeting Gifts from the Heart will be an offering for Agape Flights to further their mission of supplying the needs of missionaries. The registration fee is $8.00 and deadline is April 9. See Carol Meyer, Arlene Wells (or call 269-816-1115), Susan Narring or Naomi Weslock. There are information sheets on the LWML counter in the narthex. Dates to remember: April 26: Lunch out (Place to be determined.) April 29: Sarasota Zone Spring Rally at 2017 Fall Rally at Hope, Bradenton with Good Shepherd, Sarasota Sept. 29-Oct. 1:FL/GA Retreat @The Villas by the Sea on Jekyll Island, GA Beautiful Savoir, Sarasota June 22-25: National LWML Convention Albuquerque, NM and celebrating the 75th anniversary of LWML Please keep Sam Fink, our adopted seminarian, in your prayers as he studies for the ministry at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. 5
Did you pick up your bottle on March 25 or 26? You still can! They are in the narthex. If you are up north already and want to participate, you can write a check to Redeeming Life and mail to Naomi Weslock @2111 Royal Tern Circe, Punta Gorda, FL 33983. I will put it a bottle for you. If you are leaving before our collection date on April 22/23 please drop off your bottle in the narthex before you take off. There is a basket for the collection of the bottles in the church narthex. The LWML is privileged to partner with Redeeming Life to provide a caring, loving, Christ-centered home for singled expectant women in crisis. Rev. Edward DeWitt is the pastor at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Sanford, FL. Sheryl DeWitt is the Executive Director of Redeeming Life Maternity Home. 6
On Saturday, March 25 the Shell Creek RV Park Quilters Guild presented at the Saturday worship serve some the quilt tops they made. The quilt tops are then completed by the Faith Quilters. Up to 75 quilt tops will be presented to Faith this spring. They will be sent to Lutheran World Relief along with Faith s quilts. Faith member Edna Smith coordinates the Shell Creek group. We thank them for all the quilts and their comment. IMMEASURABLY MORE as of March 2017: Mortgage balance: $428,034.37 New monthly payment: $4,118.39 Received in Mar for IM (Just 1%): $10,260.00 Total received for IM Program: $229,322.77 Total extra paid to principal: $216,475.30 Robert Fite 4/1 Esther Evitts 4/3 Carol Meyer 4/4 Beverlee Winslow 4/5 Kenneth Smallen 4/8 Barbara Steele 4/8 Jan Wells 4/10 Warren Seeke 4/11 Tom Schminke 4/13 Rev. Fred Koehler 4/14 Leonard Mielke 4/14 Gerry Misener 4/16 Mel Volz 4/16 Audrea Trumpey 4/17 Ruth Ann Mayer 4/18 Carolie Brockmiller 4/20 Lois Purdy 4/23 Roberta Pollock 4/24 Merle Wilts 4/26 James Bowden 4/27 Donald and Dianna Sours 4/1 29 yrs. Bob and Gladys Manley 4/9 12 yrs. Andrew and Leonora Suglio 4/13 32 yrs. 7
April Ushers, Readers and Head Elder Schedule Date Ushers Reader Head Elder Sun. Apr. 2 Sun. Apr. 2 Wed. Apr. 5 6:00 Sun. Apr. 9 Sun. Apr. 9 Thurs. Apr. 13 7:30 Fri. Apr. 14 Noon Gary Raley, Carol Meyer Ellen Jodway Roger Thalacker Cheryl Kampa, Barb Johnson, Jan Hubbell, Joyce Jandola Fred Vogelpohl Hal Jandola Gladys and Bob Manley Pastor Narring Gerry Misener Ellen Jodway, Sam Jackson Ellen Jodway Gary Raley Jackie Saeger, Gloria Koehler, Ralph and Kathy Winkler Pastor Koehler Ken Johnson Terry and Naomi Weslock Pastor Narring Steve Meyer Gary Raley, Leonora Suglio Pastor Narring Gary Raley Fri. Apr. 14 7:30 Sun. Apr. 16 Sun. Apr. 16 Sun. Apr. 23 Gerry and Roberta Misener Pastor Narring Gerry Misener Sam Jackson, Carol Meyer, Jan Hubbell, 1 needed Dave and Shelly Cope, Cheryl Kampa, Barb Johnson Pastor Koehler Dave Cope Steve Meyer Dave Cope Leonora Suglio, Sam Jackson Pastor Narring Roger Thalacker Sun. Apr. 23 Terry and Naomi Weslock, Jackie Saeger, Joyce Jandola Terry Weslock Gerry Misener Sun. Apr. 30 Sam Jackson, Jan Hubbell, Terry and Naomi Weslock Naomi Weslock Gary Raley Sun. Apr. 30 Dave and Shelly Cope, Leonora Suglio, Bev Shutter Dave Cope Roger Thalacker SATURDAY EVENING ELDER: 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 9:00-2:00 Monday-Friday Deadline for May newsletter is April 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. 8