January news
3rd Mite Box Sunday
3rd Open House at the Parsonage. Pastor and Sandy invite you to the parsonage after each service
for an open house!
5th Women of Grace will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 5th at 11:00am in Fellowship Hall. Coffee and tea
will be provided but please bring your own lunch. There will be no program. All women are
encouraged to come, meet one another and join is fellowship!
6th Join us for an Epiphany service 6:30pm in our Sanctuary (following the pot luck supper at
5:15pm in Fellowship Hall).
8th Come help us take put away the Church Christmas decorations. 6:00pm, bring a dish to share
and your favorite beverage and stay for some trivia!
10th: Youth night from 5-7pm in Fellowship Hall
11th Fruits of the Spirit Women’s Bible Study with Lori Lingsch at 6:00pm in Fellowship Hall
11th Grief Share Begins
12th Elders meeting at 7:00pm in Fellowship Hall
15th
Middle School Lock-In @ St. Paul Lutheran in Boca Raton, FL. Cost is $10 per person and
includes food and fun for the night. The event starts in Boca at 9pm and will end at 7am the next
morning. Registration due to Kami Jo by January 1st, RSVP via email to dce@graceofnaples.com
16th
Outdoor movie night at Grace! Bring a chair or blanket and meet on the parsonage lawn for
an outdoor movie with church friends. The event will start at 6pm, admission is free but there will be a
freewill donation box and popcorn and drinks for purchase. The featured movie will be Disney’s
Monsters University, this event is sponsored by our National Youth Gathering youth group.
19th
Planning Council meeting at 6:30pm in Fellowship Hall
31st Dave Waller Concert 4:00 pm?
2015 Naples Christmas Parade
“Coming Home to the Glow-ry of Christ’s Birth”
Grace Lutheran Church was represented for the sixth year running on a night with weather meant
for a parade. Large crowds lined Third Street and Fifth Avenue. Young and old alike shared a festive
mood and many folks registered wonderful things to say about our presentation as our float cruised
past them.
As the “trail boss”, I had the task of mining the many and varied talents of our congregation’s
members to bring our best to the fore. We have many people to thank but, as always, if I have left
you out of this letter of appreciation, please accept my apology and trust that I’ll buy your next
doughnut during coffee hour on a Sunday. Just stick up your hand and say “Yoo Hoo”, my good
wife’s favorite expression these days.
Without a trailer, we have no float. Loren Garner provided both the eighteen foot trailer and a
splendid pick-up truck to pull it. Dwayne Zeedyk’s expertise was called on again to wire the electric
needs. Everything worked! Don Thomas and Ed Follmer dodged rain drops to string lights and tape
the banners.
The banners, one port and one starboard, were lovingly brushed by two members of our youth.
Jewel Hovland’s gift for artistry was apparent and her artistic advisor was present in the person of
Autumn Mogelvang. They too dodged a few rain drops to get the job done on time.
We were honored to have military veterans aboard. Frank Chapoton, Gene Klebingot and Dan
Madish represented the Grace congregation. These three received the cheers and responded with
waving that would rival beauty queens’ best. In addition to Pastor and Lori Lingsch, several Grace
women and a few of the youth shared with the crowd the signature candy of the season, peppermint
candy canes, stapled to a card listing the times and dates of the Christmas Season’s worship
schedule here at Grace. Don Nelson arranged for the printing of these cards. The Church banner
led the Grace entry and was carried by Rachel Lingsch and Erika Daugs. Dave Elliott recruited them
as well as nine flag carriers. What a sight our sign and a mass of fluttering flags made to announce
our arrival to the crowd!
At the last minute, Tina and Darren Boole arrived at the staging location in time to be of emormous
help. We’ll never forget Tina’s quote of the night, “What needs doing?” and Darren stepping in as the
substitute driver, affording the float riders with a smooth journey throughout the parade route.
A strength of our church was on display at one end of the parade - our love of singing. The skill of
Jonathan Birner to write an arrangement of one of the pieces the afternoon of the parade will be part
of the lore of Grace’s parade history. Ben Borchelt, Pastor Jim Dishop. Jonathan and myself, sang
acappella for the entire parade route with a nice blend of Christmas carols and a secular selection.
All were well received by the parade watchers. Blaine Daugs assisted Jonathan in the installation of
the sound system and microphones for the singers Six years ago, Don Thomas built the fireplace
seen at one end of the float and it had another reprise this year, being warmly lit with special red
lamps. Kami Jo brought us husband Chris’ hand made cradle for Baby Jesus’ bed, and a lovely doll
from our preschool was donated by Julie Crews.
No word yet on the parade’s award winners but all the participants were warmed by the fun of
working together, representing to the crowds the real message of Christmas and reminding folks of
the long tradition that Grace Lutheran Church represents in the Naples scene, during festivals and the
year ‘round. Thank you to those who pitched in to help and to those who cheered us on along the
parade route. To God be the Glory!
Steve Beights
President of the Congregation
Ladies (and men) of the congregation: Would you like to join the Altar Guild? Would you like to place the
Communion Vessels on the Altar before the service and then afterwards place them in storage? It is a
responsibility you would have every six weeks.
My hands, dear Lord, of thee I pray,
Take them and guide them everyday,
Ashamed of them I'll never be,
They're dedicated, Lord, to Thee.
Talk with Ruth Dishop (239-262-7137) to serve the Lord with gladness.
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FLOWER DELIVERY--Wanted Three people or three couples to deliver the Altar bouquets on Sunday
afternoon or Monday morning to a hospital patient, shut-in or an injured member of our congregation.:
We would like one person to pick one Sunday a month and deliver the flowers on that Sunday every
month. (for instance--you pick the third Sunday every month.)
You don't have to visit--just deliver and walk away. We will tell you to whom the flowers should be delivered.
The church shut-ins love to receive these flowers. It brings joy to their life. Flowers are God's creation in color.
Call the church office (239-261-7421) or Ruth Dishop (239-262-7137) to help with this ministry.
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FLOWERS--What beauty the FLOWER BOUQUETS add to our chancel every Sunday! And what beauty
these flowers add to our church services as they are a reminder of God's nature in color.
FLORAL DESIGN BY HEIDI makes up these large beautiful arrangements; and she uses fresh flowers that
last at least two weeks.
Could you pick out a Sunday and sign your name on the chart? Maybe just to say THANK YOU TO GOD for
His many blessings in your life? Maybe in celebration of someone's birthday or wedding anniversary? Maybe
to commemorate one of our nation's holidays? Maybe just for your church to adorn the chancel with beauty?
The flower chart is located on the east bulletin board in the narthex. One bouquet is $35; two bouquets are
$70. Drop a check in the offering plate, but be sure the check indicates the Sunday date you are paying for
your flowers. You can take home a bouquet following the second service or we can deliver them to an ill
person in the church.
THANKS from the Flower Chairman.