HAPPENINGS at the PALMS February 2015 Issue 2 LUTHERAN CHURCH of the PALMS 2250 Nebraska Avenue, Palm Harbor, Florida 34683 (727) 784-4119 Website: www.lutheranchurchofthepalms.org Email: [email protected] PASTOR’S PONDERINGS Greetings LCOP community and guests, Lent begins on February 18. Lent is the season of the church year where we focus deeply on the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, who by walking out of the tomb gives us victory over sin, death and the power of evil. In Lent we are called to examine our soul. We are encouraged through the scripture texts to dig deeply and to rediscover God’s amazing grace which is dwelling soundly and powerfully within our soul. God’s grace is a truly amazing gift, but as we hurry and scurry through our daily lives we forget how precious we are to God. We in turn forget that our lives are a visible and active response to God’s grace. Lent reminds us of the beautiful gift given to us through the life, death and resurrection of Christ. Ash Wednesday February 18 7:00PM Service of Ashes and Holy Communion Mid-Week Worship Wednesdays 6:30PM “Sacred Change” February 25 March 4 March 11 March 18 March 25 Maundy Thursday Good Friday April 2 April 3 Change of Season Change of Habit Change of Circumstances Change of Heart Change of Plans 7:00PM 7:00PM Worship with Holy Communion Passion Story and Prayer Mark your calendar and prepare your heart and soul for the journey. See you in Church, Pastor Greg Sewing Group The sewing group will start the month by packing and sending out our quilts for 2014. We made 96 quilts and 9 baby quilts. We will be sending the majority to Lutheran World Relief. The rest will go the Rez House is Dade City, and some local shelters. We have over 40 Baby Care Kits ready to send to LWR as well. Now we are ready to start another year and see what we can accomplish. Starting this month, February, we will meet every Tuesday. We know that not everyone can come every week, but we will try making it available to all who want to come each Tuesday. We always are happy to have you join us even if you say you can’t sew. If you knit or crochet, you can come and make baby hats or little sweaters. Just come and join the fun. The first Tuesday of each month we bring a sandwich and have lunch together. So we will see you Feb. 3rd. Contact Genie Anderson at [email protected] if you have any questions. ______________________________________________________________________________ MEN IN ACTION The Men in Action group will meet Monday Feb. 16, 2015 at the church in the Conference Room on the second floor of the Fellowship Hall. All men are welcome. Please use the back rear stairway to access the second floor. In addition to food-pizza-and fellowship, Pr. Greg proposed and the group agreed at the last meeting that we will spend a little time when we gather tending to whatever chores need to be done around the church. We all realize it is important to keep up God’s House. In the past, this burden has been assumed by Mike Nilsson who has done an outstanding job. It is time now to “spread the wealth” and have more hands pitching in. ______________________________________________________________________________ A great big THANK YOU from the Hospitality Team for your generous shower gifts for the kitchen shower. We look forward to sharing everything with all of you during coffee hours and different celebrations throughout the year But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth. Acts 1:8 Laying Bricks by Ryan Duncan, Crosswalk.com Culture Editor Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10: 43 – 45 Sometimes, I get restless. I went to college at Taylor University, a small Christian school in the middle of Cornfield, Indiana. Though Taylor wasn’t very big, it strove to serve Christ, and encouraged its students to impact the world for God. During the January term, when you could sleep all day and goofoff all night, Taylor offered something called Lighthouse Missions. Instead of wasting their brief vacation, students became a part of service-learning projects that allowed them to share Christ with a world in need. When Spring Break came around, and the beaches of Florida were calling, it sent students everywhere from Russia to the neighboring town of Grant County, where they engaged in housing projects, orphan care, and outreach. It was tough giving up those precious vacation days, but it felt good to know you were serving Christ. Unfortunately, after graduation opportunities like these are harder to come by. With a forty to fifty-hour work week, not to mention budgeted money and vacation time, jetting off to some foreign location isn’t something you can just do. I can remember sitting in church, boiling with frustration because I couldn't just go do something like I had in college. God clearly has a sense of irony, because at that moment the pastor stood up and asked for volunteers to help pack up after the service. My problem? I had become the “wealthy giver.” Not sure what I mean? Read this story in Mark 12: Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on." – Mark 12: 41-44 It’s amazing how serving Christ can easily become something selfish. I was only interested in serving if it was on my terms, and because of that I let a lot of opportunities pass me by. The truth is that volunteering for a church nursery could be just as important in God’s eyes as building houses in another country. An old professor once told my class that the kingdom of God is built on willing hearts. When we choose to follow God, we are laying the bricks of his kingdom, and creating a sturdy foundation for others to stand on. So get involved, and if you feel God leading you toward a big opportunity, take it. But don’t be too proud to serve in the small places. Sometimes it’s the little things that make all the difference. FEBRUARY 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 MARCH NEWSLETTER are due on Monday, February 16th. Please email your articles and announcements to the church email address at [email protected]. “Getting To Know You” Gathering Please join us on Saturday, February 21 at 5:00 pm at Richard and Robyn Leschinski’s house. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to share food, fun and fellowship! Please bring your favorite appetizer to share. Everyone is invited – singles, couples, ‘snowbirds’, new folks, old friends, and those in between. Looking forward to seeing you all there! Please sign up on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall or in the narthex. The Leschinski’s live at 4083 Carlyle Lakes Blvd., Palm Harbor 34685. Printed directions from the church are attached to the sign-up sheets. Take a copy when you sign up or call Robyn at 934-9847 and I’ll give you directions from your house to mine. Book Club News The book Club will be meeting on Monday Feb. 9th at 6pm. This month's book is The End of Always by Randi Davenport. It is a story of one young woman's struggle to rise above a vicious family legacy and take charge of her own life. BOOK LIST FOR 2014 – 2015 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 ___________________________________________________________________ BAKE SALE Can it possibly be 5+ years that we have been using the round tables in the fellowship hall? Thank goodness for the for the fitted plastic table covers that have been on them because the table tops are still in VERY good shape and will continue to be so. But unfortunately the table covers are in very sad shape. The Hospitality Team is going to have a BAKE SALE Sunday, March 1st after the worship service to raise money for new table covers. So this is a win - win situation. You can enjoy some yummy goodies, and the tables will get new covers. If you have a favorite thing you like to bake bring it to sale. The more the variety, the better it will be! Maybe you would like to include a recipe with it. Just bring it to church with you on Sunday March 1st. If you want to bake something and will not be there on Sunday, you can bring it on Saturday, Feb. 28th and put it in the kitchen. Just be sure it is labeled for the bake sale. Bring your baked goods packaged to sale and if you have a price you feel it right, put that on it too. So mark your calendars for the Bake Sale on March 1st after worship and be ready to take home some baked treasures! Social Concerns Here are some updates on the holiday season. We sent 14 turkeys to FEAST accompanied by lots of side servings of rice, dressing, mashed potatoes, etc. At Christmas, all of the families from the Pasco Hernando Healthy Families tree were given Christmas presents for the entire family. Our mission outreach was amazing! Thank you for your generosity and care for our community. Our mission for February will be raising funds for breast cancer research and cures. Sue Langeloh will be walking to raise funds for the cause. This will be her 7th year walking in the Avon Walk 39 for Breast Cancer to help “stomp out” this dreadful disease affecting so many people. She has seen strides over those years for research and treatments. Her team will be in Washington D.C. for a two day walk of 39 miles (27 + 12) with the finish line at the Washington Monument. Sue’s goal is $7,500. If you would like to donate, please go to Google – Avon Walk Susan Langeloh and see DONATE and give online. You can also personally give her checks or write a check to the church noting it is for the Avon Walk 39. Our February luncheon at Perkins will be on the 9th at noon. We will have a speaker from Kiddy Up Ranch that specializes in therapies using riding horses that are aimed at children and adults anywhere on the autism spectrum, from classic autism to PDD to Aspergers, as well as people with associated neuropsychiatric conditions such as ADD, AHDD, and Dyslexia. We hope you can attend! ______________________________________________________________________________ Coffee Hour Getting together with friends after church and sharing coffee, and a few laughs is always wonderful. There is a sheet in the fellowship hall for you to sign up to host a coffee hour. Hosting coffee hour doesn’t mean putting on a lunch. Some folks just want to have more food; that is wonderful and greatly appreciated. Others may want to just have cookies or other finger foods to accompany a cup of coffee. What you serve is totally up to you. If you have not done this before but would like to host some Sunday, there are several ways to do it.    You could do it alone or as a couple. You could find a friend or two to link up with and share the fun. If you want to take part but don’t know anyone to do it with, please contact one of the Hospitality Team members and we will find someone to do it with you. This is a great way to enjoy being with your church family. Hospitality Team members, Heidi Hager, Kathy Sandrock, Cathy Gustafson, Patti Dalsasso, Joan Tack, and Genie Anderson FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS 02-02 Don DeHaven 02-15 Joan Tack 02-04 Scott Sims 02-15 Darlene Tuggle 02-04 Tony Tambone 02-22 Greg Hager 02-04 Jeff Austad 02-22 Nicole Steuernagle 02-04 Enid Rey 02-23 Karen Graham 02-10 Alli Focht 02-25 Scott Bauch 02-11 Barbara LaPoma 02-26 Tim Proper 02-12 Carol Finch 02-27 Dorothy Stanek 02-14 Mike Nilsson FEBRUARY ANNIVERSARIES Judy & Kevin Egan 02-09 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 February 2015 Sunday 1 Monday 2 Tuesday 3 Wednesday 4 Thursday 5 Friday Saturday 6 7 13 14 20 21 9am Morning Prayer 9am Adult Bible Study 10am Children Sunday School 10 am Worship Service 11am Fellowship 5pm Confirmation Class 9:30am Sewing Group 6pm Adult Bible Study 6pm FCT 8 9 10 12 Noon Luncheon @ 9am Adult Bible Study Perkins 9:30am Sewing Group 10am Children Sunday School 5pm Confirmation Class 10 am Worship Service 6pm FCT 11am Fellowship 6pm Book Club 11 15 18 9am Adult Bible Study 10am Children Sunday School 10 am Worship Service 11am Fellowship 22 16 17 5:45pm Youth Choir 6:30pm Bells Choir 7:15pm Adult Choir 12 9am Morning Prayer 6pm Adult Bible Study 5:45pm Youth Choir 6:30pm Bells Choir 7:15pm Adult Choir 19 9am Morning Prayer 23 6pm Council Meeting 24 7pm Ash Wednesday Worship 25 5:45pm Youth Choir 6:30pm Bells Choir 7:15pm Adult Choir 26 27 9am Morning Prayer 9am Adult Bible Study 10am Children Sunday School 10 am Worship 11am Fellowship 5pm “Getting to Know You” Gathering 9:30am Sewing Group 6pm Men in Action @ LCOP Conference Rm 5pm Confirmation Class 6pm FCT 6PM Al-Anon (Every Sunday) 9:30am Sewing Group 6pm Lent Soup Supper 6:30pm Worship 5:45pm Youth Choir 6:30pm Bells Choir 7:15pm Adult Choir 28