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HAPPENINGS at the PALMS
LUTHERAN CHURCH of the PALMS
2250 Nebraska Avenue, Palm Harbor, Florida 34683 (727) 784-4119
www.lutheranchurchofthepalms.org
Email: [email protected]
December 2014
Issue 12
PASTOR’S PONDERINGS
Advent and Christmas Greetings LCOP family and friends,
When I saw Santa “Ho Ho Hoing” commercial Christmas in the little Santa village in the mall way
early in November, I was so disappointed. Actually I was saddened. Don’t get me wrong I love
Santa and North Pole Christmas, it’s a wonderful and just plain fun part of the holiday. But early
November – give me a break. And long before that, the big box stores were sporting Christmas
sections where I could buy my tree trimmings in October. Alright so that’s how American
consumerism likes it. But I don’t.
Thankfully, we in the church are waiting for Advent so we can be in anticipation of the real event
of Christmas. In Advent we purposefully watch and wait for the coming Christ. Sure we already
know God in the flesh was born in Bethlehem in the First Century A.D., but still we anticipate
meeting him again. And at the same time we also wait and watch for the Christ who said he would
come again in glory. We wait for heaven and earth to coexist in amazing glory and splendor. As
people of Christ we watch and wait. That’s Advent, and that’s what Christmas is all about for us.
So, you are invited:
Advent Dinner is on Wednesdays at 6:00PM
Advent Worship is on Wednesdays at 6:30PM
Church Choir Cantata is on December 14 at 10:00AM
Sunday School Program is on December 21 at 10:00AM
Christmas Eve Worship is on December 24 at 4:00PM and 7:00PM
Be sure to bring a friend or two.
See you there. May your anticipation be blessed with the amazing Grace of the Christ.
Blessed Advent and Merry Christmas.
Pastor Greg
COMMUNITY PRAYER BOX
Thanks to all of you who join us via the internet, whether members or not, welcome!
We are so glad to share our news with you and welcome your comments at any time.
A service we are happy to offer you, is a sharing of your concerns, whether for your
family, friends or yourselves, sometimes it’s great to have someone pray along with
you. In order to make this as convenient as possible, and as anonymous, if that is a
concern, we have a box at the front entrance of the church. It is labeled “Community
Prayer Box” and is there at all times for your use. Simply drop your request in the
box and it will go directly to our Prayer Ministry. This is a large group of people
dedicated to helping others through intermediary prayers to our Lord on behalf of
others. There is no charge for this, of course, and you need not be a member to
participate. We have found wonderful results again and again, through united prayer.
In addition, on the first Sunday of every month, immediately following 10 o’clock service,
in the small chapel inside the church, a group meets with anyone desiring personal prayer.
Again, you need not be a member, all are welcomed with joy!
_____________________________________________________________________________________
FIRST TIME AUDIT
The Lutheran Church of the Palms has completed its first ever audit. A committee consisting of
Gwen Bartles, Evelyn Keenan, and Jake Reisinger examined financial records, personnel files and
financial procedures and processes.
Using a format from the synod, the committee spent many hours auditing records and writing a
report, made all the more difficult because it was the first and no previous base line existed. The
committee made several recommendations for the church which were discussed during council
meeting and are currently being addressed.
DECEMBER CALENDAR
Click on the link below to see the current calendar of scheduled events.
http://lutheranchurchofthepalms.org/Calendar.html
_______________________________________________________________________
Newsletter articles and announcements for the
JANUARY NEWSLETTER are due on Monday, December 15th.
Please email your articles and announcements to the church email
address at [email protected].
__________________________________________________________
WANTED WANTED WANTED!!
The Youth Group of LCOP is now collecting your garage sale items for our 2015 annual sale!
We need LOTS of stuff so we are starting early!
Please, no BIG furniture or fat back TVs!
Call Gayle Austad at 727-741-0262
COUNTERS NEEDED
As a result of the church audit, there is a recommendation of having additional counters for
collection after each Sunday service. There should be at least two counters present. Counting
usually lasts about an hour and assignments will be shared each month.
If you are interested and would like to give an extra hour to the church, please contact
Jim Kauffman.
NEW MONDAY LUNCHEON MEETING PLACE
There will be a new meeting place for our second Monday of the month lunch group. We
will be meeting on Monday, December 8th at Perkins Restaurant on Curlew Road and US 19.
(It is on the south west corner near Home Depot.) Our speaker will be Cyndee Hayden, a realtor
with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty. She will talk about our local real estate, tips for
downsizing and suggestions for great local areas for many different needs. We hope to see you
at noon on the 8th.
Woman’s Breakfast 2015
After all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it will be time to treat yourself to an hour and a half
of good coffee or tea, good friends, good food, and good conversation at the 6th Annual Woman’s
Breakfast, Saturday January 3rd from 9:00 – 10:30.
How does the New Year speak to you? Do you feel rejuvenated; is it a new beginning for you?
Do you look forward to not having so many demands on your time? Are you looking for new
ways to see God in your life? Come and join other women of Lutheran Church of the Palms and
let’s share our joys, wishes and comforts.
See you on the 3rd!!!!
SOCIAL CONCERNS
November was a busy month! We have been collecting shoes for women in third world countries
to sell (and paying we also received 40 cents per pound)! We collected money to buy piglets
through the Lutheran church international outreach. We began our visitation ministry for shut-ins.
We are still in need of other “visitors”. The time commitment is less than an hour, 2 times per
month. Please call Karen Skiratko at 727-224-2638 if you would like to volunteer. We need
YOU!
December’s outreach will be centered on Healthy Families of Pasco and Hernando. The families
have filled out their Christmas wish lists and they will be hanging from the tree in the Narthex.
The LCOP congregation has generously and enthusiastically embraced this mission. It provides a
happy Christmas for those who would go without.
This has been a great year! It is such an honor to serve on the board and be able to witness the
truly sincere caring and generosity of our congregation. Thank you for supporting our missions
and being so wonderfully concerned about God’s people both near and far.
Merry Christmas!
Karen Skiratko
Book Club News
Next Meeting is DECEMBER 8th AT 6:00 PM
BOOK LIST FOR 2014 – 2015
December The Counselor’s Stories by Barbara Brunk Shipley
January
Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kerns Goodwin
February The End of Always by Randi Davenport
March
Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker by Jennifer Chivinhni
April
Americanah by Chimanda Ngozi Adichie
May
I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
HEALTHY FAMILIES PASCO-HERNANDO
CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE 2014
Lutheran Church of the Palms will be sponsoring 25 Healthy Families Pasco-Hernando
participants and their families by providing Christmas gifts. Lutheran Church of the Palms has
provided this assistance for 13 years in a row benefiting families and children and remains one of
HFPH most long standing community partners.
On the first Sunday of Advent, November 30th, there will be a tree in the Narthex decorated with
25 envelopes. The envelopes will have printed on them the family number and also how many
people are in the family. A list will be found near the tree with a space to write your name and
phone number NEXT TO THE NUMBER OF THE FAMILY YOU SELECTED.
Inside the envelope will be a list where the family has noted gift suggestions. They are suggestions
only to guide you in your shopping.
Please have all gifts wrapped and returned to the church by Sunday, December 21 st. Healthy
Families staff will be picking them up for delivery on Monday, December 22nd for delivery to the
families. All families will receive the gifts before December 24th. It’s helpful to put all of the
family’s gifts together in a box or bag. Attach the envelope to the box or bag to assist in sorting
them.
Church members can partner up in selecting a family or if you don’t wish to shop contact Mary
Sandvik and she will see that it all gets done on time. She can be reached on her cell phone at
727-243-6748 or at her office at 727-861-3436. She is also available to answer any questions you
might have.
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
12/03 William Moser
12/14 Donna Kangas
12/04 Arlene Zimmermann
12/16 Gary Griffith
12/04 Ronnie Pilch
12/16 Karen Skiratko
12/05 Jim Gorman
12/16 Michael Jones
12/07 Dolores DeCoster
12/22 Gabriel Dollmont
12/07 Tammy Abremski
12/23 Susan Dollmont
12/11 Dave Felix
12/27 Elva Malott
12/11 Faith Rupkalvis
12/27 Nicole Gorman
DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
12/29
Ron & Sue Richardson
If your birthday or anniversary is incorrect or accidently left off the list, please notify Pam Bauch
THE HAVEN OF RCS
VA DONATION WISH LIST
WISH LIST
The Haven has a container in the Narthex for
any items that are donated. Their needs are
numerous so anything that you can give
would be greatly appreciated. If you need
additional information or have any questions,
please contact Joan Tack at (727) 938-5221.
· Emergency Safe House Needs: Twin-size
bed linens, towels & wash clothes (all
sizes), plastic dinnerware/tumblers,
cooking/baking pans, toilet paper, paper
towels, facial tissue, laundry & dish
detergent, shampoo & hair products,
deodorant, razors, feminine hygiene,
toothbrushes and toothpaste.
If anyone is able to donate any of these items,
please put them in the blue plastic container
located in the Narthex. If you have any
questions, contact Len Fruehwald.
· Disposable razors
· Body wash
· Toothpaste/toothbrush
· XL white stretchy socks (in sealed bags only)
· Hair brush
· Bed throws (3½’ x 5½’)
· Caps with ear flaps
· Wheelchair gloves (no fringe)
Alarm clocks, sleep shirts.
Strollers, car seats, diapers, baby formula.
· Small zippered wallets
· Cell phones
Coffee, peanut butter & jelly.
· Telephone calling cards
Outreach Needs: Grocery gift certificates,
gas cards, gift certificates for shoes.
· Small folder to keep appointments
· RCS Thrift Store Needs: Gently used
clothing and household items in good
clean condition. Pick-up for furniture is
available. Call the RCS Thrift Store
Manager (727) 531-6266.
· Used Cell Phones: Even without service,
cellular phones may be used to make
911 calls. These are given to our
participants so they can get help when
they need it.
· Small notebooks/pad (various sizes)
· Pocket calendars
· Pens
· Magnifying glasses
· Greeting cards
· Large print magazines
· Sports recreational magazines
· Books (soft & hard cover)
· Crossword puzzles (large print)
· Picture frames (11”x14” or 12”x18”)
· CD player
· CD’s from the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s
· Tickets to any local community events
(baseball, shows, concerts)
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE PALMS
December 2014
Sunday
Monday
1
Tuesday
2
Wednesday
3
Thursday
4
Friday
Saturday
5
6
12
13
19
20
9am Morning Prayer
9:30am Sewing Group
7
8
9am Adult Bible Study
10am Children Sunday School
10 am Worship
11am Prayers for Healing
11am Fellowship
12pm Luncheon-Perkins
5pm Confirmation Class
6pm FCT
6pm Book Club
14
15
9
10
5:45pm Youth Choir
6:30pm Bells Choir
7:15pm Adult Choir
11
9am Morning Prayer
9am Adult Bible Study
10am Children Sunday School
10 am CANTATA
11am Fellowship
5pm Confirmation Class
6pm FCT
6pm Men in Action
21
22
6pm Advent Dinner
6:30p Advent Worship
16
17
5:45pm Youth Choir
6:30pm Bells Choir
7:15pm Adult Choir
18
9am Morning Prayer
9:30am Sewing Group
23
6pm Advent Dinner
6:30p Advent Worship
Time TBD for Council
Meeting
24
4pm Christmas Eve
Worship
9am Adult Bible Study
10 am Worship - Children
Sunday School Program
11am Fellowship
28
6pm Advent Dinner
6:30p Advent Worship
7pm Christmas Eve
Worship
29
9am Adult Bible Study
10am Children Sunday School
10 am Worship
11am Fellowship
6PM AL-Anon (Every Sunday)
30
31
5:45pm Youth Choir
6:30pm Bells Choir
7:15pm Adult Choir
25
11am Barlow Christmas
Program in Sanctuary
26
27