Jeremiah 29:11 TheThe ChristogramChristogram Monthly Newsletter August 2015 “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Volume 52, Issue 8 Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to December, 2020 give you hope and a future.” Volume 58, Issue 12
Mid Week Advent Services @ 6:30 pm December 2—The Lord Requires Justice December 9— The Lord Requires Steadfast Love December 16—The Lord Requires a Humble Walk
Christmas Eve Service @ 6:30 pm
Christmas Day Service @ 10 AM
Paper Pumpkin Club—December 3 @ 6:30 pm Elders Meeting—December 6 after service Mary Martha Purse Sale—December 6 after service Mary Martha Meeting & Luncheon—December 9 @ 10 am Youth Centerpiece Prep & Christmas Party—December 12 Youth Centerpiece Auction—December 13 after service Council Meeting—December 14 @ 6:30 pm Outreach Meeting—December 15 @ 5:30 pm
Christ Lutheran Church 2715 Lakeland Hills Blvd www.clclakeland.com Lakeland, FL 33805 863-682-7802 www.clclakeland.com Page 2 The Christogram—December, 2020
CHRIST LUTHERAN STAFF
Interim Pastor SERVING IN DECEMBER
Rev. Robert Steinke December 6 Office Secretary Terry Krum Acolyte...... Elder ...... Lector ...... Kim Kaniecki Council Officers Ushers ...... President ...... John Freer Greeters ...... Vice-President ...... Secretary ...... Pam West Treasurer ...... Jon Lindstrom December 13 Finance Secretary ...... Diane Bickart Acolyte...... Christian Ed ...... Robin Fox Elder ...... Outreach & Missions .. Rev. Jerry Munz Stewardship ...... Janet Pearson Lector ...... Trustees ...... Jon Pearson Ushers ...... Youth Group ...... Kris Welch Greeters ......
December 20 Board of Elders Acolyte...... Carlos Orellana (Head) Elder ...... Steve Rosane Lector ...... P.J. Nunez Fred Sterns Ushers ...... Tyler Vogt Greeters ...... Steve West December 27 Committee Chairpersons Acolyte...... Elder ...... Fellowship Coordinators Lector ...... Vi Zabel & Belinda Freer Ushers ...... Greeters ...... Altar Guild Barbara and Alfred Miller
Choir Director Connie Timmons ALTAR GUILD SERVERS
Endowment Fund Linda Poole and Gerie Slaten
Helen Borgwardt
Mary-Martha Guild SATURDAY EVENING WORSHIP Belinda Freer On Hiatus E-Mail Addresses To be determined at a later date. Pastor [email protected]
Office [email protected]
Christ Lutheran Mission Statement To proclaim Christ’s saving love, share the Gospel, and serve God’s people.
Christ Lutheran Church 2715 Lakeland Hills Blvd Phone: 863-682-7802
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 4 5 1 2 3
Quilters @ 10a Bible Study @ Noon (Zoom)
Private Com 1:30-2:30p
*Advent Ser.@ 6:30p
6 7 8 9 Mary Martha 11 12 9a Bible Study 10 Quilters @ 10a Mtg & Luncheon 10a Worship @ 10a Youth Center- piece Assembly Bible Study @ 10a-1p Elder Meeting @11:15A Noon (Zoom)
Private Com. Purse Sale 1:30-2:30p Youth Christmas *Advent Ser.@ Party @ 6p 6:30p 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 9a Bible Study Quilters @ 10a Bible Study @ 10a Worship Council Mtg Noon (Zoom)
Youth Center- @ 6:30p piece Auction Private Com.
Outreach @ 1:30-2:30p
5:30p 9 AM Deadline for Advent Ser.@ Newsletter items * 6:30p 20 26 22 23 9a Bible Study 21 24 25 Quilters @ 10a Christmas Day 10a Worship Bible Study @ Ser. @ 10a Noon (Zoom)
Private Com. Christmas Eve 1:30-2:30p Ser. @ 6:30
27 29 30 31 9a Bible Study 28
10a Worship Bible Study @
Noon (Zoom)
Private Com.
1:30-2:30p
Bulletin announcements are due each Tuesday by 9:00 a.m. Page 4 The Christogram—December, 2020
The Infirmed Rosie Fyffe...... 12/2 and Linda Johnson ...... 12/2 The Homebound Linnea Vogt ...... 12/3
Remember to keep these Tori Stranger-Thorsen ...... 12/4 people in your daily Kris Welch ...... 12/5 prayers.
Neal Whitehurst ...... 12/5
Vi Bertsch Sally Henning ...... 12/7 Betty Blevins Diane Hill ...... 12/9 Sen & Dale Campbell Rick Joost ...... 12/9 Ken & Joanne Ditton Fran Murphy ...... 12/10 Donita Duncan Carol Stuckert ...... 12/10 Marilyn Gillette Emily Ravenscraft ...... 12/11 Hazel Gust Al Herman ...... 12/13 J.B. Hahn Erica Bell ...... 12/16 Katherine Hamann Carol Petraszewski ...... 12/21 Sally Henning Ted Nelson ...... 12/22 Al Herman Richard Caughey ...... 12/26 Fran Klug Oiva Moilanen ...... 12/26 Dorothy Lovelace Norma Tipton ...... 12/26 Don & Nancy Matter Nell Morgan Alfred Miller ...... 12/27 Fran Murphy Judy Kargel ...... 12/30 Carol Petraszewski Debra Louchart ...... 12/31 Harry Porch Patricia Swope ...... 12/31 George Reichart Dawn Scardella Lois Smith Ed and Wanda Werner ...... 12/6 (35 yrs.) Norma Tipton Linnea and David Vogt ...... 12/15 (31 yrs.) Amy Wilson George and Norma Miller ...... 12/19 (56 yrs.) Lori and Jonathan Williams ...... 12/28 (10 yrs.) Lynn and Lynette Newman ...... 12/29 (41 yrs.)
The Altar Guild has posted a chart in the Narthex for you to sign up for flowers on the Altar for Sunday Worship. Please post your name and the occasion you are celebrating, (Birthday, Wedding Anniversary, in memory of someone or anything else you are celebrating) next to your name. If you want real flowers please let me know. We can order them or you can order them from a Florist of your choice. Barbara Miller 863-858-5790
2021 SIGN-UPS— We now have the new sign-up sheets for Bulletin sponsors, Greeters and Lectors on the Bulletin Board in the narthex of the church. Look underneath this year’s sheet to sign up for the New Year. We also have a new Altar Flower sponsor poster on the same bulletin board. Please stop by to put your name on the dates you wish to sponsor or to serve.
If you are a member or an associate member, and your information is missing or incorrect, please notify the church office. The Christogram— December, 2020 Page 5
Baptismal Birthday Blessing DON’T FORGET BAGS FOR (Leader reads:) TALBOT HOUSE —
Loving God, You created all the people of the world, and you know each December always brings of us by name. We thank you for (Name) who celebrates the anniversary of his/her baptism. Bless him/her with your thoughts of giving. Certainly, love, that he/she may grow in wisdom, knowledge, and this congregation has an open heart for mis- grace. May he/she love his/her family always, and be ever faithful to God. Grant this through Christ our Lord. (All:) sions! We ask that you keep those hearts Amen open to continue your donations of gently (Place your hands on the person’s head or shoulders.) May God, in whose presence our ancestors walked, bless used clothing or household linens. We ask you (All:) Amen that these be free from stains and have
May God, who has been your shepherd from birth until working zippers and buttons. Talbot House now, keep you. (All :) Amen continues to feed at least 400 meals/ May God, who saves you from all harm, give you peace. (All:) Amen and Amen day. They always need donations of
canned goods-meat, vegetables, fruit, soup; Yvonne Case ...... 12/1 personal hygiene items-bars of soap, sham- Violet Zabel ...... 12/3 Fred Foster ...... 12/5 poo, creme rinse, disposable Shirley Lindstrom ...... 12/8 razors, shaving gel, toothpaste, Kenneth Ditton ...... 12/9 toothbrushes; cleaning supplies- Judith Verbeke ...... 12/10 Voigt Albright ...... 12/18 dish washing soap, paper towels, Neal Whitehurst ...... 12/19 toilet paper, all purpose cleaners. At this Lynn Newman ...... 12/26 Diana Moilanen ...... 12/31 time of year, they really need flour, sugar, Linnea Vogt ...... 12/31 baking supplies, and spices. Our collection day is the second Tuesday of every month. Please place any unused medica- tions in the box on the table in the mail room at the back of the church. Other donations should be placed in the two boxes marked for Talbot House. Thank you for your continued support!
Thank you to Alfred and Barbara Miller for serving on the Altar Guild for the month of November. Linda Poole and Gerie Slaten will be serving for the month of December. Thank you for your service to the Lord and Christ Lutheran Church. Page 6 The Christogram—December, 2020 From the (temporary) Pastor…
We are …Advent People. The month of December is usually the time that people in America are getting ready for Christmas. In my neighborhood, a number of homes are already decorated with the lights and the Santas and the wreaths. Perhaps 2020 has been such a bad year that folks can’t wait for a time of celebration, an opportunity to bring a little light into a dark world. That is the struggle though, the waiting part. And there is more waiting going on this year than usual. As I write this, in mid-November, we are waiting for an official pronouncement of the next President of the United States; we are waiting for the new vaccines to be available for public use; we are waiting for an end to the restrictions and the fears that accompany the pandemic to go away. We are waiting to discover what the new normal is going to be when we have moved on. At Christ Lutheran Church, we are waiting for word from Pastor Hazzard that he has discerned the will of God for him, whether to stay in Nebraska or move to Florida. And then we will be waiting to see what the Lord has in store for the church in 2021. All that waiting is why I think that Advent is such an important time for the people of God in the church to appreciate the gift of waiting, which is a large part of what Advent is about. While we wait, we become aware of our limitations. We don’t know everything about what is to come, but we can anticipate and dream of possibilities. Sometimes, especially in Florida, the waiting is dread full, such as waiting for the arrival of a hurricane or of guests that bring with them some uncomfortable habits. We can dread the results of a medical test. We can anticipate the arrival of a grandchild or grandchildren into the family. We can anticipate their arrival for a visit, and after a spell, can anticipate the peace and quiet that remains when they leave. Advent is a time to await the return of the Lord in glory, but the Bible reminds us that this return is some- thing to be dreaded if we are not under the protection of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament prophets and Jesus Himself, in His talks about the end, tell us that the Day of the Lord will not be like Christmas, but a time of destruction and woe to those who are outside the ark of the Church. We know that the country will come to terms with the COVID. We know that a President will be inaugurated on January 20. We know that Christ Lutheran will continue for a while. We also know that all these things that we know might not happen if Jesus returns. But then we also know that we will be with the Lord, which is the end that we eagerly await. Blessed Advent.
The Christogram— December, 2020 Page 7
Mary Martha
We met in the Fellowship Hall on November 11 from 9-11 A.M. Refreshments were served for the first half hour. The quilters continue to be busy! They have been asked to supply more quilts for the children being removed from their homes by the Sheriff's Department. Cheryl Langanke reported that sales of the Entertainment Books has begun. The books cost $30/each. Our Purse Sale is scheduled for December 6th in the Fellowship Hall. The quilters will also have quilts, lap robes, and table runners for sale. Coffee and cookies will be available. This will happen after church. Masks will need to be worn except when seated to have refreshments. There will also be a table of totes for sale. Proceeds from the purse and quilts will go to Top Buttons, and tote sales will go to St. Paul's mobile food pantry. Plans for the Christmas luncheon have changed . Please read the separate article! Decorating the church for Christmas will take place on November 23rd at 9:00. We have been asked to help with possibly serving cookies and coffee on Christmas Eve. This was agreed upon. Memorial gifts will be sent to the Christ Lutheran Church in memory of Barbara LeVac and Loretta Fuller. We discussed plans for the coming year. Sandy Spanier is checking into the script money program. We agreed to serve a May luncheon for ALOA on May 6th. We also decided to ask Council's permission to have "Undy Sundays" again both for the months of March and September . This would be for Talbot House and the Honduras mission. Our next meeting will be on December 9th at 10:00 A.M. Please note the time difference! We hope everyone will join us!
LWML Mary-Martha Guild Joyce Munz reported at the Mary-Martha meeting in November that the National LWML is approxi- mately $400,000 away from its goal of 2.1 million. So, keep adding your change to those little purple and white boxes! Always say a thank you prayer as you drop in that money and ask God to bless it for His use. These offerings are to be over and above your obligation to this congregation.
The National convention is still on for June 2021 in Lexington, KY. We continue to pray that it will be able to be held. Please continue to watch for updates!
The spring rally for the Winter Haven Zone is still being planned for February 6th here at Christ. Our mission speaker will be from "One More Child" and we will be making comfort kits. Please be collecting any of the following items BUT keep them at home until January when there will be room for collection boxes. Items needed: hand towels, face cloths, toothpaste, toothbrush, bar of soap, shampoo, creme rinse, comb, deodorant,hand lotion, mouthwash. Sample sizes are ok, but we would prefer a full size bar of soap-which should be wrapped.
Joyce Munz has been appointed to serve on the District Mission Grants committee. This committee encourages churches to apply for grants, and then presents the proposed grants at the District convention. More information about grant applications will be coming.
Page 8 The Christogram — December, 2020
December Youth Newsletter
Greetings from the CLC Youth Board! We wanted to let you know what has been going on with the youth group. First, the youth group would like to thank the congregation for all the support with the Chef Boyardee/kidsPack fundraiser in November. This has been a tough year, so the support Christ Lutheran has given to kidsPack is greatly appreciated. Mark your calendars, because December 13th is the annual Christmas Centerpiece Auction! Following worship, we will have the auction in the courtyard, weather permitting, complete with Auctioneer Kyle back to lead the action. You won’t want to miss it! The Youth Board is interested in adding new members. If you are interested in helping plan the direction of the youth group, please contact me. You will help plan fun events (laser tag, beach trips), fund raisers (carwashes, rummage sales), devotions and lessons, and help set the foundation for the next National Youth Gathering in Houston, TX in 2022. Feel free to call or email me for more information. December Calendar 12/12/20 – Christmas Centerpiece assembly - 10am – 1pm (Fellowship Hall) 12/12/20 – Youth Group Christmas Party – 6pm- ? (Details to follow soon) 12/13/20 – Christmas Centerpiece Auction – Following service (Courtyard)
Kris Welch 863-398-5937 [email protected]
Mary Martha Purse Sale Sunday, December 6 Some are new, some slightly used, and some are name brands. There will also be totes for sell. The quilters will have their wares on display for sale too!
Looking for Christ Lutheran in social media? Check us out at our website: www.clclakeland.com. Feel free to leave comments! We are also on Facebook at: Christ Lutheran Church Lakeland-LCMS. Please like, follow, and share on your Facebook page. You may also leave comments on our Facebook page. The Christogram— December, 2020 Page 9
STEWARD TESTIMONY THANKS The Board of Stewardship would like to thank Pam West, Anne Smith, Dawn Kahre and PJ Nunez for giving their personal stewardship stories during worship on the Sundays in November. It was inspiring and encouraging to all of us who heard their testimonies to be the Christian steward that God wants each of us to be even in tough circumstances.
Christmas Eve Photo Opportunity On Christmas Eve, families will once again have an opportunity to take a photo at church. We will have a new backdrop set up in the courtyard (weather permitting) for families to stop and take a picture with their cell phone or camera. If you have family or friends joining you at our Christmas Eve service, why not plan to take a photo before or after church.
Adoring Him with Our Gifts Throughout Scripture, everyone who has come into the presence of the Lord has been in awe of Him and has adored Him. Think of Moses and the burning bush. When God spoke to Moses telling him to remove his shoes, Moses realized who was speaking, and “Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God” (Exodus 3:6). But he listened and spent 40 years showing adoration to God by obediently leading God’s people according to God’s direction.
Isaiah writes about the vision through which God called him to be His prophet: “I saw the Lord…high and lifted up… *and the angels+ called to one another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;’” His reaction was to respond in adoration by saying, “Here am I! Send me” (Isaiah 6:1-8).
This is the Christmas season, and we cannot help but think of the Wise Men, too, who came in search of the newborn King that they might worship Him. Matthew 2:11 records, “And going into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him.” And they offered to the Christ Child the gifts they had brought for Him, “gold and frankincense and myrrh.”
The shepherds adored Him, too. They heard about Jesus from the angels as they sat watching their sheep and ran to Bethlehem to see the Christ Child. They didn’t have tangible gifts to bring as the Magi did, but they, too, responded in adoration. Luke writes, “And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this Child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.” (Luke 2:17-18).
God gives gifts to each of us and uses us to tell the Good News of the birth of His Son who came to bring us forgiveness of sins and life eternal. Some of us, like the Wise Men, are blessed with monetary gifts to be used to support mission and ministry. Others of us are more like the shepherds, able to spread the word con- cerning what we have been told about this Child. By God’s grace, all of us can respond in faithful obedience to God’s Word. In these ways, we adore our Savior.
Submitted by Janet Pearson Board of Stewardship
Page 10 The Christogram — December, 2020
Mission Emphasis Sunday The first Sunday of 2021 is January 3rd. Christ Lutheran Church is looking forward to an exciting New Year. Here at Christ, we will be looking toward 2021 with joy and enthusiasm. January 3rd will be Mission Emphasis Sunday. Taking a cue from Jesus when He said, “Go and tell the Good News.” Matthew 28:16-20. Our worship service will include The Celebra- tion of the Holy Eucharist and the Homily by our Pastor. During the Sunday morning worship hour, The Board of Christian Outreach and Missions, with permission from the Board of Elders and the Church Council, will invite various local Mission groups to come and share their ministry with the congregation. Each representative will speak for no more than three minutes. That person will encourage people to consider supporting / volunteer- ing at that organization. After worship – weather providing - we will have tables in the courtyard where the various Local Mission groups will be available for you to meet and greet. This will give you the opportunity to meet the speakers and to ask the questions you have wanted to ask. In addition, even perhaps, become involved. For us at Christ, 2021 will open to a positive and exciting journey with an Emphasis on Missions. January 3rd Mission Emphasis Sunday. Jerry Munz, Board for Christian Outreach and Missions
Outreach For December the theme for the Outreach Bulletin Board is WE CAN LIGHT THE WORLD WITH KINDNESS. Please take a light bulb off the table in front of the bulletin board and write down an act of kindness. This can be an act of kindness given to you OR an act of kindness you have given someone else. You may also write down an act of kindness that you believe would make the World a better place. God bless everyone for your support in the many outreach projects we participate in.
Mary-Martha Guild Christmas Luncheon All women of the congregation are invited to join us for our annual Christmas lunch- eon. This year, as a precaution, we will have food brought in from the Huntington Hills Country Club. There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board across from the water foun- tain. Please choose your lunch and then give cash or a check made out to the Mary-Martha Guild for $15. The money may be given to Belinda Freer or Helen Borgwardt. We will have our regular meeting at 10:00 in the Fellowship Hall and then have lunch and play a couple of games. We will be wearing masks except when eating or drinking and maintaining social distancing. Drinks and desserts will be provided. Ladies, we welcome all of you to come and join us! The Christogram— December, 2020 Page 11
Notice the improvement to the entrance to the church from the Parking Lot. The ad-hoc decorating committee has been at it again. The redesign of the plants and groundcover on the walk way inspired further improvements. The Cactus Garden was weeded and replaced as shown.
The highlight is the bowl spilling forth a plethora of stones, perhaps a reminder of God’s grace that is available on the inside of the church.
The workers modestly declined to pose. They included Kim Kaneicki, Scott Seiferth, Jon Freer, Jon and Janet Pearson, Al Miller, Cheryl Erwin, Robert and Cheryl Langanke and Pat Hurd. The Mary Martha Guild donated the money that was needed for this effort.
The November Outreach Bulletin Board in the Narthex theme for November was "GIVE THANKS". Let our lives be full of both Thanks & Giving. Here are some things that were shared by some members of the congregation.
* Blessings of family and friends * Retirement * God's Faithfulness * God's and People's Love' * My Church Family * Healthy Family * Thankful that GOD Answers Prayers * Jesus * Health * My husband Jon * Family * My Health * Thanks for the many blessings the Lord has blessed me with * God's goodness and grace in my life * No damage from Hurricane ETA for us locally * Thankful for salvation through Jesus Christ * Visit with our daughter * Love of Friends * Good Neighbors * Thanks for better health
Page 12 The Christogram— December, 2020
Have you listened to Lutheran Public Radio?
Lutheran Public Radio is a product of KFUO. A Lutheran Church Missouri Synod radio station. You can listen to LPR on your computer. On your iPhone. On your android. LPR has a variety of programs. Sacred Music. Presentations. Lectures. Chapel / Worship services. Bible stud- ies. Religion News. To find out more about Lutheran Public Radio – LPR – go to www.lutheanpublicradio.org. LPR is not a subscription $$$ service. LPR is free. However, LPR does depend on donations. Try it. You might enjoy it. http://www.lutheranpublicradio.org Carlos Orellana and Jerry Munz
Enjoyment Books Enjoyment Books will be available for sale now through February. Full of money saving coupons and still $30 each. Contact Cheryl Langanke at 863-965-4669 for additional information.
Private Communion Pastor Steinke will be in the church to offer private communion on Wednesdays. He will be in the chancel from 1:30 until 2:30. No appointment is necessary. Safety protocols will be followed. The doors to the church will be open. Christian Education
Our book study will hopefully begin in January depending on the Covid virus. This is open for men and women alike. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. My number is (863) 513-4774. Leave a message if I don’t answer. Have a blessed holiday season. Robin Fox The Christogram— December, 2020 Page 13
Angel Tree Once again the Outreach Committee is inviting the congregation to help us make Christmas a little brighter for the children in residence at Lighthouse Ministries. They have ten (10) children this year-and several are preschool or younger. There are two "angel" tags on the tree for each child. Outreach also gives a Bible or Bible story book appropriate for the age of the child that is noted as being from Christ Church. So, please find a tag, then sign the sheet on the bulletin board by the water fountain at the back of the church, shop, return the UNWRAPPED present with the angel tag on it, and place in the specially wrapped box. Then place a check on the sheet, so we know that we have that present. You may also donate wrapping paper, tape, and name tags. The moms at Lighthouse wrap the presents for their children-except for the Bibles. Please return the items by December 13th, so that we have time to sort them before delivery. We put each child's gifts in dark trash bags with a label on the outside before we go to Lighthouse. That way, if any little people are around, they don't know or see what is in the bag. If you don't want to go shopping, but would like to choose an item, please contact Pastor Jerry or Joyce Munz @ 863-937-6756. We will also be accepting cash/check donations. Use the special envelopes in the pew and write Angel Tree on the envelope. Thank you for helping to make 2020 happier for these children!
Talbot House Lakeland, Florida is a city of more than 100,000 people. Lakeland is blessed to have three groups that focus on people who need help. They serve various people with various needs. The three organizations do not compete with the other. The three groups support and complement each other. They do help the homeless. But they do much much more. They serve people who need help. Here is a partial list of FREE services from Talbot House. If you know someone who needs help, share this list from Talbot House with them. Talbot House Ministries offers several free services to families in need. Contact number: (863) 226-4261 Location: 814 N. Kentucky Ave. Lakeland 33801 Food Pantry: Tuesdays and Fridays 9:30 – 11 a.m. Free Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner available every day. Bus Passes: Call (863) 687-8475 ext. 140 for more information Affordable Housing: Call the Homeless Coalition of Polk County for a referral: (863) 687-8386 Free Medical Clinic: Call (863) 226-4261 for wide range of medical and dental services from experienced professionals.
Talbot House is served by two Boards. The Board of Directors and The General Board. Christ Lutheran Church is honored to have two people serving on The General Board. Rev. Jerold Munz and Mrs. Sandy Spanier. The General Board meets once a month at 12 noon on the Third Tuesday of each
month. If anyone has comments or questions about Talbot House, please contact either Rev. Munz or Mrs. Spanier. Page 14 The Christogram— December, 2020
Christ Lutheran Church Council in a Nutshell By Pam West In an effort to keep every member informed as to what the various committees have been and will be doing, I offer the following brief information items: President: John Freer: Call Committee: Officially over. (we all know how busy John has been!)
Church Treasurer: John Lindstrom: We continue to hold our expenses below our income so we are always in the black. We are below budget on both items. The proposed budget was voted on and passed at the November 19th Voter’s meeting.
Church Financial Secretary: Diane Bickart: Total income from the Member Envelopes and Visitors is $214,931 through October 31,2020. This is a 12% decrease from last year. Taking into consideration Pastor’s Block retirement and the Covid-19, members have been very faithful in their giving.
Christian Education: Robin Fox: Hopefully, God willing and the Creek don’t rise, we will start our book study for men and women in January. The book is: Bad Girls of the Bible. If you have any questions, please let me know at (863) 513-4774.
Elders: Steve West, Head Elder: We continue to call our members who have not been to church during this pandemic. Some of them are starting to come on Wednesday for Communion.
The Christogram— December, 2020 Page 15
Stewardship: Janet Pearson: See full article.
Outreach: Pastor Jerry Munz: The Angel Tree is up in the Narthex. Every year we support the homeless children who reside in the Lighthouse Shelter. Please consider helping a homeless child have a wonderful Christmas. For more details, please call Jerry or Joyce Munz (863) 937-6756. On January 3rd, our worship service will be “New Beginning” to celebrate the Epiphany and the New Year. The “New Beginning” worship service will lead us to gain a new focus in the New Year.
Trustee: Jon Pearson: Finishing all Projects.
Youth Group: Kris Welch: See full article.
God Bless You and keep you in his care. Pam West, Council Secretary
Page 16 The Christogram— December, 2020
Central America Missons December 2020
As part of our Outreach Program, we are working in Guatemala and Honduras. In Guatemala, we work in the area of Lake Atitlan. This area is heavily populated by Mayan Indians. I joined a Catholic mission there. The Board of this mission is based in Wisconsin, but the surgical group that I work with is based in Washington State. We usually do our week of surgeries during March in Guatemala. In Honduras, we work with a mission of Franciscan Friars in Comayagua, Honduras. The Friars have outreach programs to the community and surrounding villages. Their programs go from Evangelization, education, and health. I am heavily involved in the health program. I work with several surgical groups based all over USA. Christ Lutheran also helps a group of Orphanages in Comayagua. The orphanages together may hold over 300 kids with all kinds of imaginable needs. The biggest orphanage was dropped by their sponsor this year. A new Board stepped up to deal with the situation, it also includes the Friars. Under normal circumstances these people require a little help. Now, facing the challenges of a pandemic, tropical storms, hurricanes and floods to make things worse. Fortunately, the structures and the area where the hospital and the orphanages are located have not been effected. At this point, I still don’t know when we will be able to continue our surgical missions, but we can still send medical sup- plies and items for the Orphanage. The main sea port in Honduras was effected by the floods, but our last shipment made it. By the power of God, Christ Lutheran has been able to support this mission. Please keep these people in your prayers, and may God help us to share our blessings with them. Carlos Orellana