Grace Lutheran Church E-Notes
August 2015
Dear family of God,
Grace and peace to you in Jesus!
I hope and pray that you all had a great July! I am back and
rested from my family vacation to the Dominican Republic. WOW,
what a trip. We have never been out of the country as a family so
this was an adventure and fun was had by all.
Let me get right to it. We need your help. There are still three
positions open on the Planning Council. We need a Fellowship
Chair, Stewardship Chair, and a Financial Secretary. The
responsibilities of the board chairs for these three positions are as
follows:
*Fellowship - "The basic objectives of this board are to
strengthen the fellowship between congregation members both
spiritually and socially, to integrate new members into the life of the
congregation and to promote the general up building of mutual
cooperation, trust and enjoyment among the members of the
congregation" (Article 6.4.7 Bylaws of Grace).
*Stewardship - "The basic objectives of this board are to
initiate programs for the development of good stewardship attitudes
in the members of the congregation in regard to time, talents and
treasures: to provide for training and utilization of members of the
congregation for the work of Christ's Kingdom; to ensure the
financial stability of the congregation and its work through a
developed program of dedicated, proportionate, first-fruits giving."
Also, "Request the proposed budget input from each Administrative
Board and compile such information for presentation to the Voters
for review/action at the fourth quarter meeting of the Voters
Assembly" (Article 6.4.5 Bylaws of Grace).
* Financial Secretary - "...shall be responsible for the
accurate accounting, recording and depositing of all monetary
receipts for the congregation in local financial institutions and
acknowledging receipt through reports, quarterly statements and/or
special recognition in coordination with the Director of the Board of
Stewardship" (Article 6.1.5 Bylaws of Grace).
Thank you to Carole Wood, John Blatner, and Betty Yock for
chairing these boards. Your service is greatly appreciated!
Dear family of God at Grace, please prayerfully consider
taking on the challenge of one of these important positions.
With August comes the end of the summer and the
beginning of a new season. I pray that God will strengthen us
through Word and Sacrament as we continue our journey together
serving the Lord by serving our neighbors.
In His Service,
Pastor Lingsch
DISCOVER THE ENERGY, TIME AND DISCIPLINE TO FULFILL
YOUR PURPOSE!
The Winning My Race 28-Day Challenge is a Makeover experience
unlike any other. On Wednesday, August 5th at 6pm your local
Maximized Living Doctor will come to Grace Lutheran Church to
transform the way you view health through an interactive workshop
and 28-day challenge that will help you achieve the health you've
always dreamed of.
*
Learn the healthy way to drop 10 pounds fast...and the
secrets to keeping them off!
*
Embrace God's "Big Why" for your life and learn to fulfill it.
*
Discover principles that deliver real health, as well as how
to apply them.
EVENT INFOWednesday, August 5 - 6:00pm - Fellowship Hall
Please register in the Narthex
or ONLINE www.maximizedlivingnaples.com
19th Annual UNDY SUNDAY!
August is back-to-school month and school staff and nurses
continue to remind us of the surprising number of young students
who lack decent, or sometimes any, underwear and socks. We will
once again be collecting new and unused underwear and socks
sizes 2 -12 (preferably smaller sizes) in the Narthex on August 9th &
16th with Catholic Charities of Collier County. This essential clothing
will help give low income children a decent start in their new school
year. If you prefer to give a check to be used to purchase additional
underwear, please make it out to Catholic Charities of Collier
County, marked 'Undy Sunday' and mail to 2210 Santa Barbara
Blvd. Naples, FL 34116.
Men's Coffee Hour ~ August 28th 10:00 AM ~ Fellowship Hall
Starting in August we would like to gather the men of Grace for an
hour of Coffee and Fellowship. This social hour is sponsored by the
Board of Human Care. Sometimes we only recognize each other as
members of our Church body. We only meet in passing due to
attending different services and just politely say hi and go about our
busy lives. This planned event is an opportunity to get to know other
men in the congregation on a personal level. No Church business
No controversial topics, just friendly conversation getting to know
each other. If you are interested please sign up in the Narthex or let
Betsy know if you plan on attending. If there is enough interest we
will be having this gathering on a monthly basis. ~ Joyce Blatner,
Board of Human Care
Our Kick-off to the fall Sunday school season will happen on August
30th during Sunday school hour from 9:30am-10:15am. Meet in the
courtyard for fun and games!
Do you know all the members of our church family? Do you know
the members who attend our services at a different time?
Have you ever thought that it would be nice to have a fellowship
meeting after the 10:30 AM service? Concerned members of our
church want to meet you whether you attend the 8:00AM or the
10:30 AM Sunday service.
So, on the last Sunday of the month, August 30th, there will be an
opportunity to meet and greet all members, guests and visitors.
We are going to have an ice cream social at which everyone will be
given ice cream(to break the ice)! Come join us for this summer
treat after the 2nd Service and hopefully members who normally
attend the 1st service will find a way to attend this social gathering.
The gathering will be in the courtyard and no reservations are
necessary! Just come and meet your church family and friends
Fall programs will resume on September 9th.
Night of Joy September 12th & 13th
We will leave Naples at 11am and return September 13th around
3pm. Cost: you pay for your ticket ($60 per person) and food, Grace
will cover the hotel and transportation. Sign up by August 23rd to be
registered, adults needed to drive and chaperone with DCE Kami
Jo!
Judy Sadowski and Betty Yock have done it again!!!! They have realphabetized our mailboxes! Look for your mailbox in a new
location! Nice job ladies!
FLOWER DELIVERIES
We need four people/couples to deliver the Altar bouquets
on Sunday afternoons or Monday mornings to a hospital patient,
shut in or to someone who is laid up, ONCE A MONTH. The
recipients love to receive them and it brightens their day.
We would like you to pick ONE Sunday (like the first
Sunday) a month and deliver them. You don't have to stay and
visit... just deliver them and walk away. We will tell you who to
deliver them to and their address.
Please help if you can... just once a month! It would be a
shame to have these beautiful flowers not bring joy to others.
Call the church office (239-261-7421) or Ruth Dishop (239262-7137) and let us know you will help bring joy to others!
Deaconess, Pat Nuffer Yambio, South Sudan
Deaconess Pat Nuffer lives in two time zones and two
cultures. She is the wife of Professor Nuffer of the Ft. Wayne
seminary but 10 years ago, she was a tag along with a group of
Lutherans visiting the people of South Sudan. The Lord touched her
heart with the very primitive conditions she experienced but
especially the plight of the people there with disabilities. From then
on, it had been a faith journey through 17 pilgrimage trips there to
help people rise above the squalor and diseases that plagued the
people and slowly, ever so slowly. She (with the help of many
LWML's and Christians everywhere) have formed "Hands of Mercy"
to help those who cannot help themselves and teaching them the
Word of God. Each building that was built and each small business
that was formed to produce a little income has been a story in itself.
Then cancer struck Pat this past year! Although another deaconess
lives in Yambio full time, would the "Hands of Mercy" be able to
function? Thankful to the Lord, despite surgery and radiation, Pat
was able to make her month long 18th pilgrimage with 550 pounds
of needed supplies trip to South Sedan this past April, returning May
8. The goal of starting a little manicure business and building 1
nursery school building and 3 primary classrooms for the local
church was accomplished.
Whether it's quilts the LWML 's have made, simple dresses , or a
myriad of other supplies, Pat gives thanks to the Lord for those who
have provided them and the logistics it takes to get them to South
Sudan. Please pray for her health and the directions the Lord would
have her take to accomplish His mission in this little part of Africa.
And if even the tiniest bird does not fall to the ground without
God's knowledge and care, how much more does He care for His
children? Matthew 12:7
July Pictures
Super Camp!
Youth Day at the beach
Rachel Lingsch & Erika Mogelvang at Camp
Luthersprings
Youth Day at BOUNCE!