1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church
DeLand, Florida
““There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”
(I John 4:18a)
The verse above is from the epistle for the first Sunday of this month, the Fifth
Sunday of Easter. In First John we get a beautiful picture of the very nature of Christ.
Whether it was the apostle John or someone recorded historically as John the Elder,
it is still written in the style of the gospel bearing its name. We see how that particular Johannine faith community believed in, and experienced, the resurrected Jesus.
CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!! ALLELUIA!!!
Remember: it’s still Easter for a few more weeks!
The earliest witnesses-turned-disciples testified to the truth which has been
since the beginning of time. Jesus is at the same time sacrificial lamb and the Good
Shepherd of the sheep. Jesus was also certainly mortal AND divine.
For us, it is not enough to just give lip service to our faith. Our faith is living
and active, not just writing a check and warming a pew. It is necessary and natural
“that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise” to our almighty
and merciful God. Our sinful condition drives us to confession and forgiveness. Believing in the promise of redemption, we respond with joy in the new life our Savior
offers. The written and lived-out Word has the power to breathe spiritual power into
those who hear and seek.
This month, we celebrate graduates and mothers. Graduations and Mother’s
Day have their associated rituals and customs. They are both opportunities to give
and receive love. It is a particularly special month for mothers who get to celebrate
both occasions, within days of each other! Of course, mothers cannot “love away” the
problems and challenges of their children transitioning from high school to college,
or from college to the “real world.”
However, we surely trust in a God who
casts out our fears with His perfect love
IN THIS ISSUE:
for us. May all of us love without fear, Notes from the Pastor
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and serve with passion the God who
guides us, leads us, and loves us.
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Council Highlights & Events
I’ll see you in church!
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May Calendar
May News and Announcements
Money Matters & Disciple Groups
Prayer Chain
Council Members, Staff & Business Directory
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Located in the basement of the
First United Methodist Church
of DeLand
Thanks to all who served in April!
Great teamwork – thanks be to God!
On Tuesday, April 14th, we served 81 meals and 22
carry-outs to the hungry. Big thanks go to the following for
preparing and serving: Jim McLane (non-member), Ed Rosenberg, Mary Rosenberg, Don Gooden, Wayne Struble,
MaryLou Struble, Pam Swanto, Mike Swanto and Debbie
Wuertz.
We serve on the second Tuesday of each month. This is a
great opportunity for a group, club, or family to serve the
community. There is no financial commitment necessary;
simply a gift of time and service. The entrees for these meals
are provided, but salads, side dishes, and desserts are always appreciated.
We need a new Coordinator for this ministry. It isn’t
hard. It just takes organization and contacting helpers
and servers. Please lift this need up in prayer. Thank
you!
Our next turn is
Tuesday, May 12th at 5:30pm.
If you would like to serve, please call
Debbie Wuertz at 453-9420.
The 7 Habits
of Jesus now!
disciple groups
are forming
Please select a date/time that works for
you then sign up in the fellowship hall or
speak with one of the leaders. (books will be
provided)
Mary Magdalene: Leaders Dorothy Caldwell
and Carol Sutton Meeting 1st & 3rd Sundays
@11:00am during church service or following
9:30am service when only one service
Learner (Thaddeus): Leaders Dan and Faith
Eriksen & Richard Harris Meeting 2nd & 4th
Thursdays @ 7:00pm at the Eriksen home in
DeLand
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING NUMBER ONE
1. The purpose of this meeting is to ask for a Capital Campaign of
$26,000. Debby Boyer made a motion to approve a Capital Campaign of $26,000. The floor was open to discussion. Dorothy Caldwell made a motion to have a $10,000 capital campaign just for the
two air conditioning units. The motion was seconded and passed
unanimously. We have a Capital Campaign starting now for
$10,000. Put your contributions in an envelope with Capital Campaign written on it.
2. Pam Swanto and Craig Parrillo got four different bids and they
were presented to the Church Council. The council decided to
have ASAP insert the unit on the east side, which they did, and
they also put a new thermostat in for the west side unit. Money
was borrowed from one of our accounts, which we have to pay
back. We need $10,000 for two a/c units.
3. Bids have been gotten on what it would cost to bring the church
kitchen up to code with the fire suppressant system and electrical
work so that we can use the stove again. Sherri Holzman got a bid
of $16,000. We would need at least one half of the money for the
kitchen collected before we could start it, then we could apply for
grants or help from Thrivent, plus, CHMS said they will help.
4. We have two youth and Pastor Art who would like to go to the
Youth Gathering in Detroit this summer. The boys are having
money making projects to help pay their way, plus we have money
in the Youth Fund that will help.
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING NUMBER 2
1. Pastor Arthur Wuertz opened the Congregational Meeting
Number 2 at 11:30 am. The topic was whether or not he can do
blessings of same-gender unions in Faith Lutheran Church. The
floor was opened to questions, comments and discussions. Many
people spoke. Paper ballots were distributed and turned back in.
The tally was: Yes 25; No 35; Invalid 1; Abstained 2.
2. Pam Swanto mentioned that there were still a couple of books
available for the "7 Habits of Jesus".
3. Interfaith Kitchen could use #10 cans of beans, desserts and
salads.
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS
1. Pastor Art will be taking a few days off June 3-6.
2. June 7th is the church picnic, which will be held at the church
this year.
3. May 7th is the Mother's Day Banquet. Council members have
tickets to sell. Bring sons, daughters, friends for an evening of good
food and entertainment.
4. June 18th is the Father's Day Banquet. Dads, bring your sons
and daughters for a night of good food and entertainment. Tickets
will go on sale in a few weeks, Adults $7, children 5-10 will be $5,
children under 5 are free.
5. Vacation Bible School will be held in the Fellowship Hall of
Faith Lutheran Church from June 15-19.
Next meeting will be May 11th 2015
Commemorate an anniversary, birthday, graduation, or
any special date by giving the weekly Worship Folders
or the monthly Sanctuary Candle.
Call the church office at (386)734-2791 to find out how.
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SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
1
SATURDAY
2
FELC Day at
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10
17
24
Contemporary
Service 9 am
Traditional
Service 11 am
Contemporary
Service 9 am
Traditional
Service 11 am
Contemporary
Service 9 am
Traditional
Service 11 am
Contemporary
Service 9 am
Traditional
Service 11 am
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Finance Meeting
5:30 pm
Worship & Music
7 pm
5
11
12
18
19
20
25
26
27
Rebekah
Circle
10am @ Good
Samaritan
6
13
Potluck
6:00pm
Potluck
6:00pm
7
8
9
14
15
16
21
22
23
28
29
30
Mother’s Day
Banquet
6:00pm
5:30
Potluck
6:00pm
Potluck
6:00pm
1 Service
9:30 am
The Second Sunday of every month is
May 1st
May 4th
May 6th
May 7th
May 8th
Ingrid DeSellems May 15th
Peggy Sherman May 21st
Walter Peterson May 24th
Isaac Tonjes
May 27th
Pamela Swanto May 28th
Daniel Wolbert
May 9th Amber Wheeler May30th
May 11th Joshua Erickson
May 13th Edward Rosenberg
Carl Kaiser
Dorothy Pomeroy
Debbie Wuertz
John Boatman
Rebecca Hodges
Alfred Policke
Donald Lundquist
Faith’s Outreach Ministry will be
continuing our partnership with
St Barnabas to help their
Faith at Work
Food Pantry!
On the second Sunday of each
month, everyone is asked to
bring a specific non-perishable
food item the pantry needs.
On the third Sunday of each month
there will be a second collection for
various needs of the church. The collection on May 17th will go toward
Office Supplies.
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On May 10th
Please Bring:
Tasty
ONE WORSHIP SERVICE
CONGRATULATIONS,
GRADUATES!!
In case you were wondering… beginning Sunday, May 31st, we will have one Worship Service on Sundays at 9:30.
Please pass the word!
ALISON BEBEE
PAUL BEBEE
L.J. SMILEY
We are proud of you all!
Sign up to be a worship assistant! Call the church
office for details, or look for the sign-up sheet in the
Fellowship Hall. Be part of the worship service as a
lector, Communion assistant, acolyte, or usher!
The Music Ministry would like to express
heartfelt gratitude to the congregation for their
generosity! Thanks to you and your gift of $500,
we are more than ever able to give the gift of music to those that are so eager to receive it.
We invite you to join us in worship and fellowship so we can all share the blessing of music.
You all have made that possible. Thank You!
The Altar Guild prepares the sanctuary for worship services. Members
are responsible for the care and cleaning of
the altar paraments, and are very knowledgeable
in the aspects of the liturgy and Church seasons. There is no
experience necessary, and training will be provided. If you
would like to help serve the congregation by filling this vital
role, please call the church office at (386)734-2791, or see Ruth
Erickson
On February 3rd, we sent 102 quilts, 10 personal care kits and 18 school kits to Redeemer
Lutheran Church in Winter Park. Don and Debby Boyer and Gary and Janice Cornwell
loaded and transported the 33 boxes of quilts and kits. We were so happy the they volunteered to do that big job. From Winter park the boxes were trucked to the Lutheran World
Relief warehouse in Maryland. To see where the quilts and kits were sent in 2014, look on
the quilt rack in the back of the sanctuary behind the pews.
Lutheran World Relief was founded in 1945 and since then groups have been meeting in Lutheran churches to tie quilts and pack school kits, personal care kits and layettes for babies.
Our church has been blessed all year with gifts of fabric and items for the kits. Thrivent dollars have purchased our quilt filling. Thanks you to everyone who helped with this project!
If you belong to or know of any group that needs a meeting space, why not suggest our facilities? It’s a WIN/WIN! It
can lead to new relationships forming, as well as helping our church out a little financially. Please call the office at 386734-2791 for more information! Thank you!
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Attendance & offerings for the month of
DATE
ATTENDANCE
TITHES
DESIGNATED GIVING
BUILDING
FUND
WEEKLY
TOTALS
MAR 1
89
$7471.00
$1014.00
$0
$8485.00
MAR 8
90
$2244.05
$3890.44
$0
$6134.49
MAR 15
84
$2384.00
$674.25
$0
$3058.25
MAR 22
101
$670.82
$1664..57
$0
$2335.39
MAR 29
96
$670.82
$1664..57
$261.00
$2596.39
Average:
92
Total Monthly Offerings:
By Comparison: On this month in 2014
Weekly Average Attendance: 93
$22,609.52
Total Monthly Offerings: $19,702.91
Month of Mar
All of 2015
$5963.00
$6384.96
Thank you for all your support! Please remember that Capital Fund donations should
be in addition to your regular tithe. We still need your regular
Thank you to these and all member who allotted their Thrivent Choice Dollars to faith Lutheran Church!
Ruth Neiderstrasser, Wayne & Mary Struble, Helen Martin, Art & Debbie Wuertz,
Robert Beebe, John Toenjes, Khristine Sholtis,
Gerald Kimmel, Robert Smith.
General & Ministry Offerings includes Regular and Loose Tithe offerings, Stewardship, and Sunday School offerings.
Capital Fund Offerings are included with Memorial and other Pass-Thru Offerings
Bank Account Deduction:
 Use the convenient Electronic Funds
Transfer option and have your
offering automatically deducted
from your checking account.
 Never forget your check or offering
envelope again!
 You choose how often and how much
you give.
 Add fund splits for Building, Capital,
Lutheridge, etc.
On The Website
 Visit www.FaithLutheranDeLand.org.
 Click the Make A Donation link at the
left side of the page.
 All major credit cards accepted.
 Fund splits for Building, Capital,
Lutheridge, etc.
 Give a one-time gift, or set up
recurring donations.
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With Your Smartphone
Upload the free QR code scanner app at
the Google Play Store.
 Scan the QR code found on donation
cards, bulletins, and newsletters.
 All major credit cards accepted.
SUNDAY, JUNE 7TH
After our ONE WORSHIP SERVICE AT 9:30, we invite everyone outside to
enjoy food, fun and fellowship! This is an excellent opportunity to invite
someone!
If you have a creative idea for how to divide who brings what
(vegetables/sides, drinks, desserts) rather than alphabetically by last name –
that’s getting dull! – let the church office, a Council member, or Pastor Art
know.
We will also need strong helpers to set up tables and chairs.
Come one, come all to our annual church picnic!
Intercessory prayer is one of the Christian’s most powerful tools. By lifting up those in need, we bring them to the
Lord for His healing hand, strength and comfort.
We pray for those who are chronically ill, that God would be their daily companion and strength:
Laura Coe, Nina Eriksen, Linda Feiler, Lloyd Zeller, Kerry Sholtis, Lance Borows, Faith Eriksen
For those who are fighting cancer, that they will know they are not alone in the battle:
Ray Bebee, Kitty Jones, Janet Persell, Peter Vrionides, Gary Cherwin, Curt Doroban, Bob Jordan, Alfred Mueller, Isabelle Lee Pritchett, Emily Snyder, Suzie Farris, Judy, Cathy, Mark Creel
We rejoice with those who are recovering form injury, illness, or surgery:
Nina Eriksen, Gary DiFiore Ridolph, Christopher Menza
For those who are shut in, that they will feel the Lord’s constant presence:
Lucille Eaton (FLHC), Jerry Kimmel, Irma Milward (FLHC), Doris Paskewitz (Cloisters), Dick Woodring (FLHC),
Helen Long (FLHC), Millie Glover
For those in mourning, that God Will comfort them:
The family of Irma Swann
We pray for those whose needs are known only to the Lord:
Karin Goranson, Cathy Buchner, Marilyn Snow, Heather Kinney, Preston Kinney, Carolyn Stevens, Dick Woodring,
Dorothy Caldwell, Scarlet Valdez
We pray for the special concerns of our neighbors, our community, our nation and our world:
Our men and women in the military, Habitat for Humanity, All people in war-torn nations, Storm victims, Rain for
areas that need it, For our local, state and national leaders, for those in the grip of addiction to drugs and alcohol and
for their families.
Email you prayer request to [email protected] or contact Faith Eriksen at 736-1799
If you have moved or changed any of your
contact information, including home phone,
cell phone, or email address within the last few
years, we may not have your current information.
Please call or email the church office, or fill out a yellow
Contact Information form and give it to Pastor Art or an
usher so we can update our records!
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OUR MISSION STATEMENT:
Sharing Christ’s love, our mission is to extend hospitality, serve our community,
and spread the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
CONGREGATION COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Pastor: Rev. Arthur Wuertz
President: Pam Swanto
Vice President: Don Boyer
Council Secretary: Helen Martin
Treasurer: Dora Mallett
Financial Secretary: Debby Boyer
Bob Bebee
Julia Beckwith
Dorothy Caldwell
Janice Cornwell
Debbie Morris
Carol Sutton
Sue Thurmond
CHURCH OFFICE:
509 E. Pennsylvania Ave. DeLand,
FL 32724
Hours: Mon. Wed. 9:00am - 5:00pm;
Fri 9:00am - 1:00pm
Phone: (386) 734-2791
Fax: (386) 943-8758
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
faithlutherandeland.org
facebook.com/faithlutherandeland
Children’s House Montessori School:
Administrator: Sherri Holzman
CHURCH STAFF:
Pastor:
The Rev. Arthur Wuertz
Office Manager:
Amy Cornwell
Music Director:
Deborah DeGaetano
Church Sexton:
Bob DeGaetano
Organist:
Tiffany Demps
Nursery Attendant:
Ruth Erickson
Let your friends at Faith know about your business! See
it listed here, and in the printed directory! Submit your
business online, or get a submission form in the Communication Center in the back of the Sanctuary. Call the
office for details!
Custom Assembly & Installation
Carpentry / Cabinets / Floors
Bee Powell (386)956-9498
Commercial / Residential
24/7 Emergency Roadside
Jennifer Graesart
David Hickman
Business & Home
Computer Repair
Pressure Washing
& Painting
No job to small!
Open Fridays 8:00am-1:00pm
Located inside the Orange City Flea Market
Bob DeGaetano
Guitar
Bass
Saxophone
Ukulele
Music Theory
Private instruction for all skill levels
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MOBILE DETAILING
(407)914-5280