Active in Faith September 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! 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. Augsburg Confession 21. Labor Day: September 4 Church Office Closed Grandparents Day: St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist September 21 September 10 Holy Cross Day September 14 Patriot Day: September 11 St. Michael and All Angels September 29 Worship Services Saturday 5:00 Praise and Worship Service Sunday 9:30 Traditional Worship Service Bible Classes Monday: 10:30-11:30 Women in the Bible led by Dr. Mary Hilgendorf resumes November 6th. Thursday: 10:30-11:30 The study of Genesis led by Pastor Clyde Kaminska resumes October 5th. 1
Sent on behalf of LCMS Florida/Georgia District President Greg Walton: Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus! This communication contains information received regarding Hurricane Harvey relief in Texas. Firstly, the water is still rising in many places, so it will be some time before all assessments are completed. We realize that this is frustrating both to those who wish to respond now and to those who need the help. There are many organizations on the ground now providing help and relief, the LCMS being but one. For the most part, these organizations will be gone inside of three months. The LCMS has pledged to be engaged in the Houston area for years to come. Synod is approaching this disaster in the same general fashion as Katrina. Using Camp Restore in New Orleans as the example, in cooperation with the Texas District, Synod plans to establish a facility (like Camp Restore) in Texas, from which we can house and launch volunteers to help the local communities in the coming years. This method works and is within the capabilities of the LCMS. We know this because through our efforts at Camp Restore, we have built over 6,000 homes in New Orleans. In fact, the Mayor of New Orleans commented recently that East New Orleans would not exist today without the Lutherans. The amount of effort it will take to mount this multi-year relief plan will take a little time to organize. We ask for your patience. Synod has set up a web page specifically for Hurricane Harvey relief. You can donate there and sign up to be a volunteer. Volunteers will be coordinated through this site. The web page can be found at https://www.lcms.org/harvey The Texas District is also providing updates on their website. Alternatively, you can give directly to the Texas District who has pledged that 100% of every dollar donated will go to relief efforts. You can donate online here: https://txlcms.org/donate/ or send a check to: Texas District Relief c/o Mrs. Linda Hagge 7900 Highway 290 East Austin, TX 78724 The first effort will be to restore local congregations and their members that have been affected by the flood so that these congregations can in turn serve their community by becoming local hubs of mercy from which the rest of us will operate. Our goal is to not only help people but to raise up the local congregations to be seen as places of mercy in their communities. Relief efforts will be a marathon, not a sprint. Opportunities to help Houston neighborhoods to rebuild will go on for years and for some of you, could become an annual mission trip for years to come. So if you don t have a LERT team in your congregation and you d like to start one, you have time to train, organize, and fund raise. Please contact John Elliott in the Florida-Georgia District office (407-258-5054 or jelliott@flgadistrict.org) to discuss and arrange for this training. The training is basic but it opens doors that allow us to bring both acts of mercy and the Gospel to those who need it most. Please continue to monitor our Facebook and District web page for further updates and information. In His Peace and Joy, Kathy Keene Administrative Assistant to Pres. Greg Walton 877-457-5556 ext 8 FLGA District, LCMS Citadel I 5850 T.G. Lee Blvd, Suite 500 Orlando, FL 32822-4410 2
Wandering Editor s Note On Facebook there are many postings about excited children returning to school. Terry and I are looking forward to returning to Punta Gorda. It is with anticipation we await what God has planned for us. How will we serve the Lord at Faith and in our community? Perhaps you are ready to return to Punta Gorda soon. What will your role be at your community? At Faith? Will there be new challenges you are willing to undertake? Blessings on your travel. Naomi Weslock Editor Immeasurably More as of August 2017 Mortgage balance: $394,378.17 New monthly payment: $3,722.14 Received in August for IM (Just 1% More): $2,895.00 Total received for IM Program: $241,049.77 Total extra paid to principal: $235,086.30 Pledges Received to Date: $350,993.00 Carol Meyer, Stewardship Chair Food Collection 4th Sunday Food Pantries are very low this time of year and need our help to resupply. Place food donations for the Salvation Army in the Narthex baskets any Sunday during the month. Thank you! Armed Forces and Cell Phone Donations The Board of Missions collects personal items (see info on table) for our Armed Forces and also welcomes donations of used cell phones. Please place them in the boxes in the Narthex. Name Tags We encourage everyone to wear their nametags to help us to know each other better! If you would like a Faith name tag, please sign up on the sheet in the narthex. 3
Board of Missions The chaplains to whom we send boxes of items for the GI's has requested some changes in what we send them. Please do not donate the small hotel samples of hair care and soap, phone cards, toilet paper, energy drinks or chocolate bars. Instead they would like: protein or granola bars individually wrapped hard candy or Tootsie roll suckers individually wrapped Rice Krispies treats small cans of Pringles small cracker packs (peanut butter, cheese) small packages of all kinds of nuts, chewing gum especially breath mint variety) personal hygiene items (tooth brush. tooth paste. razors, bar soap etc.) Thank you for your donations. The mission committee sends a box to the chaplains in three different areas of the world. There is a box on the left side of the church narthex (as you walk in) for your donations. Joanna Waterman Board of Missions Chair Faith Quilters We invite you to join us in the fall when we resume. Packets for Quilt Tops are available on the LWML counter in the Narthex. Faith Quilt Group meets on Tuesdays at 9:00 am. Our numbers are small, and we need your help to do the work of the Lord. If you can tie a knot, you can help us. Thank you, Arlene Wells Help beautify the chancel to the glory of God by ordering flowers for special occasions or in memory of loved ones. There are still a few openings in the fall. You may sign up on one line for one vase, or indicate on both lines that you would like to sponsor both vases for the weekend. One vase is $26, two are $52. Please notate that your payment is for flowers. 4
Our first meeting in the 2017-18 season will be on October 25 at 9:00am refreshment and meeting following. Old business discussion will include the Cookie Walk which is scheduled for December 2. New business topics are a mission trip to Kisumu, Kenya January 18-29, 2018 and the possible start of an evening LWML Circle for ladies who are not able to attend our morning meetings. If you are interested in providing refreshment, please call Naomi Weslock (630-947-4309). Mission Trip...Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, Here am I. Send me! Isaiah 6:8 What a better way to answer that call than by going on a mission trip to Kisumu, Kenya on January 18-29, 2018? Leaders will be Pastor Dennis and Deaconess Lorna Meeker. (4kenyaskids.org) You will doing some construction, building a mud hut, sprucing up a Ladies Community Center, and working on the water system. Plus plenty time to play with the kids and teach them about Jesus. Cost is $950/person which covers hotel, food, transportation and projects in Kenya. Spouses are welcome. Airfare depends on the airport you are flying out of. If you interested, you can stay for the safari afterwards for an additional $650 and you would stay until February 1. Space is limited to 16. There will be a doctor on the trip, as well as other medical professionals. Please keep Sam Fink, our adopted seminarian, in your prayers during his vicarage year at St. John s Lutheran Church in Orchard Park, NY. LWML Dates to remember: October 25: 9:00 Fellowship and meeting November 4: LWML Zone Fall Rally at Hope, Bradenton with Good Shepherd, Sarasota. November 22: 9:00 Fellowship/meeting December 2: Cookie Walk (Set-up on Dec 1) January 17: 9:00 Fellowship/meeting Speaker: Jean Roehrs February 21: 9:00 Fellowship/meeting March 2-3 Flea Market. Set-up starts Feb 26 March 28: 9:00 Fellowship/meeting April 25: 9;00 Fellowship/meeting 5
George Marks November 11, 1934- August 31, 2017 Update to last month s Newsletter announcement: We received word from Zola Cheever s family that her memorial service will take place shortly after the first of the year. We ll share additional updates as they become available. Dennis Larson 9/3 Connie Fath 9/4 Jill Keim 9/4 Connie Sasse Smith 9/4 Barbara Boehm 9/5 Elaine Hope 9/5 Merci Sias 9/5 Roger Thalacker 9/5 Arlene Wells 9/5 Larry Berkel 9/6 Doreen Andrews 9/8 George Frantz III 9/9 Roger Remer 9/9 Joann Schultz 9/9 Dani Luce 9/10 Edwin Saeger 9/11 Bill Boehm 9/12 Cheryl Karba 9/14 Steven Meyer 9/14 Carole Miller 9/16 Ken Johnson 9/17 Janet Smallen 9/22 Ronald Baird 9/23 Mark Bienz 9/24 Krys Erikson 9/24 Ro Miller 9/24 Lisa Neff 9/25 Trey Cope III 9/26 Naomi Weslock 9/26 Gayle Groen 9/28 Elaine Martin 9/28 Joanne Fladd 9/29 Tom and Carole Miller 9/5 (58 yrs.) Bill and Deanna Suckow 9/17 (56 yrs.) Dennis and Barbara Garling 9/16 (45 yrs.) Dave and Sharon Kolenda 9/22 (27 yrs.) 6
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.), please call the office. September Ushers, Readers and Elder Schedule Date Ushers Reader Elders September 3 Cheryl Kampa, Gloria Koehler Fred Vogelpohl Hal Jandola C: Ken Johnson September 10 Carol Meyer, Gary Raley Kay Oetting Steve Meyer September 17 Bev Shutter, Sam Jackson Kay Oetting Hal Jandola C: Ken Johnson September 24 Gary Raley, Gloria Koehler Pastor Koehler Ken Johnson Saturday Evening Elder: Dick Lehman (c) = communion support We have a full Board of Directors except for a president. If you would like to know more about serving the Lord in this way, please call Pastor Narring. View weekly announcements and calendar at: www.faithlutheranpg.com The church s office email address is: faithadmin88@embarqmail.com Church office summer hours are 9:00-1:00 Monday - Friday Deadline for October newsletter is September 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. 7