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“Love. Grow. Serve.”
March 2015
Walking Together!
This and subsequent Good Newscasters will be a little different than those that have come before
since now they will include regular news reporting from the activity calendars of both Risen Savior
Lutheran Church and Hope Lutheran Church. After our meeting last Saturday the leadership from the
three congregations decided it would be a good thing to share our activity schedule so that our
ministries might benefit from shared participation between the members of all three congregations.
When you come across the information from the other congregations we would like you to consider
participating when you are able. We hope to build relationships between the congregation members.
So, in the year to come, it will not be unusual to see people from Risen Savior or Hope Lutheran
showing up at our events and vice-versa. Ultimately, we
may combine efforts to do some new things as we
progress together.
Initially, we are looking at a
combined Ascension Day service and perhaps a
combined Reformation Day service.
The larger goal is always to extend God’s kingdom.
Ultimately then, the bigger picture involves beginning
new mission starts in Brevard county. Something we
can do better together than we can do alone. There is
much more to be said about this, perhaps at a later
date. Currently the three pastors continue to meet
together and will be meeting soon with Doug Kallesen
from the Florida/Georgia District office of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. He is the executive
director of Missions in our district. He has already showed great interest in our initial discussions
and would like to get more involved as we move ahead with our plans.
I am sure you may be wondering why we might be looking to start new missions when our own
congregation is struggling to grow. Good question! Most congregations experience renewal and
growth when they start a new mission. The joy and excitement of giving birth has a tendency to be
contagious and it effects the whole of ministry of the more established congregation.
We just completed our second NCD (Natural Church Development) survey. The results were shared
at our last congregation meeting. Our lowest quality factor was Holistic Small Groups at 50! That is a
very healthy lowest quality factor – but we can do better! This year we will be focusing on forming
small group Bible studies throughout the congregation. These small groups will be centered on Bible
study, fellowship and prayer. There will be extensive training for the small group facilitators before
we launch the whole small group initiative. I think that could happen in the fall of this year. These
small groups may be a good training ground for “experiencing” what our new mission starts might
look like!!!
So, for now, look further ahead and see if there is anything at Hope or Risen Savior in which you
might participate. Meet some new people. Make some new friends!
Pastor Craig
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
12 East Avenue A — Melbourne, Florida 32901
E-Mails: [email protected] — [email protected]
Phone/Fax: (321) 723-4152
Website: www.lcrmelbourne.org
Martha’s Musings
Friends,
Consecrated Stewards
Ministry Snapshot
Sunday Worship, Feb. 1
Sunday Bible Class
Life Tree Café Attendance
Tuesday Bible Class
CROSSWAYS
Thursday Breakfast Bible Class
Envelope Offering Collected
TOTAL OFFERING
88 Attended
21 Attended
10 Attended
6 Attended
10 Attended
5 Attended
$4147.00
$4396.99
Sunday Worship, Feb. 8
Sunday Bible Class
Life Tree Café Attendance
Tuesday Bible Class
CROSSWAYS
Thursday Breakfast Bible Class
Envelope Offering Collected
TOTAL OFFERING
72 Attended
22 Attended
11 Attended
6 Attended
12 Attended
6 Attended
$2368.00
$4244.00
Sunday Worship, Feb. 15
Life Tree Café Attendance
Tuesday Bible Class
CROSSWAYS
Thursday Breakfast Bible Study
Envelope Offering Collected
TOTAL OFFERING
20 Attended
12 Attended
6 Attended
12 Attended
7 Attended
$2378.00
$2503.00
Sunday Worship, Feb. 22
Sunday Bible Class
Life Tree Café Attendance
Tuesday Bible Class
CROSSWAYS
Thursday Breakfast Bible Study
Envelope Offering Collected
TOTAL OFFERING
84 Attended
22 Attended
12 Attended
Cancelled
Cancelled
4 Attended
$3926.00
$4231.
Every Step Can Change A Life!
The 25th Annual Pregnancy Resources Walk
Help us change lives by joining the Pregnancy
Resources Walk. It’s easy to sign-up at
prwalk.com, gather sponsors, and spread the
word that you’re walking for a cause! Walk on
your own or join us for a family-friendly, twomile stroll through Gleason Park on Saturday,
March 14th at 8:30 AM. For more info, email
[email protected] or call 321-7525540. Pick up a pledge form at Church or visit
prwalk.com to create a page.
Last month I asked you to consider yourself as an oak tree
with roots firmly planted in God and His word. Let me ask you
now to compare yourself to a willow tree in that you can bend
with the wind and change for the good but you will not break.
You can be flexible but still firmly rooted.
In the first part of Isaiah 44 where God’s blessing on Israel is
given, verse five reads, “They (i.e., the people) shall spring
up...like willows by flowing streams.” Psalm one, verse three
reads that righteous persons “...are like trees planted by streams
of water.” We can strive to be like those bendable willows
planted by flowing streams. We are anchored with firm roots and
we bend but we do not break.
We can strive to become a Gumby!
Do you remember Gumby, the little
green cartoon character? Whatever
his faults, he was flexible. He was like
a willow tree; he could bend and not
break. We can be firm but we can be
flexible. We can listen, this is a key
word, LISTEN to other points of view
and we can learn. We may not always agree with those who
speak but we can broaden our perspectives.
My challenge this month is to remain firmly rooted and to
become flexible—willing to listen, to learn, and to change if for
the better.
Thank you, Martha Sinclair
“Journey of Discovery
Your Stewardship Committee has selected
LCMS’s “Journey of Discovery” as our
stewardship program for 2015. Included will
be 5 Bible studies that focus our Christian
journey to become God’s stewards. Our
journey will begin on Palm Sunday, March
29th and end on Sunday, April 26th with a
congregational luncheon featuring Food
From Around the World.
A sign up sheet will be posted for you to let us know what
international food dish or dishes you will bring to the luncheon.
Look for bulletin inserts and posters with more information on the
Bible studies inviting you to join us on our Journey of Discover.
We are asking for items from your world travels — souvenirs
or posters that would be used to decorate the Fellowship Hall.
You may give them to any committee member and be assured
they will be returned.
Thanks to Beverly Bowsher, Diana Claas, Pat Fryling,
Jerry Mueller, Elisa Sheppard, Martha Sinclair and Rose Thron
for working with me on this adventure.
Linda Miller
Second Annual
Bread of Life
Food Pantry
Golf Tournament
Saturday, May 16th
Our second annual
golf tournament
will be held at
“Mallards Landing”
located on the
corner of
Wickham Road &
Lake Washington
Road.
Cost is:
$60 per person
(covers green fees, cart & lunch)
$240 for a four-some
Forms:
Sign-up forms are in the office or
you can sign up on-line on our website.
Life Tree Café
Sundays at 5 PM
Mar. 1
Coming Together: Finding Common
Ground When it Seems Impossible
Mar. 8 Practical Help for Getting a Better
Nights Sleep
Mar. 15 Only One Way to God
Mar. 22 Be Happy
Mar. 29 How to be True to Your Faith
Celebrating 60 Years
Sunday, May 17th, Lutheran Church of the
Redeemer will have a luncheon to celebrate 60
years of service to God. Plans for this great
milestone are in the works with the able help of
Aggie Benzing, Scott cooper, Irene Edstrom, Kerry
Hanse, Jerry Mueller, Hazel Morrison, Elisa
Sheppard, Martha Sinclair and Shirley Storey.
To fund this luncheon we are asking for donations.
You might consider giving “60 cents” or more per
family member for each year you have been part of
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.
If you have any photos of our church, its members
or events, we would love to use them at the
luncheon. Be on the look out in future Sunday
bulletins for details as they develop.
Linda
There will be lots of prizes and free giveaways.
Don’t’ miss the opportunity to play a round of
golf and support the Bread of Life Food Pantry
of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.
This Golf Tournament will be part of
the activities celebrating
the 60th Anniversary of
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer’s
Ministry to the Melbourne Community.
Please join us for our next meeting on March 21st at
4 PM.
Watch your bulletins for information
regarding where we will plan to have dinner.
Also, those who are interested in the Zone Rally,
please take a look at the insert in this newscaster
for all the important information.
Hope to see you at the next meeting!
Temple Talk for March 2015 – S. Brev. Sharing Center
The Social Ministries Committee has selected the South Brevard Sharing Center as the March recipient of
the Thank Offering. The South Brevard Sharing Center Inc. (SBSC) is non-denominational and was founded in 1971
as a non-profit, community based agency whose mission is to support, strengthen, and empower families to achieve
self-sufficiency in South Brevard County. This assistance includes food, clothing, household and hygiene items,
furniture and financial vouchers for prescriptions, utilities and rent.
The Sharing Center also provides Christmas gifts and turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as
back packs with supplies for children to start the new school year. The Sharing Center is run with only an 8%
administrative cost! That means a large portion of your donations go directly to the people that desperately need
your help.
In 2012, the latest year that statistics are available, the South Brevard Sharing Center provided assistance to
more than 63,900 clients. At present there are more than 1,000 homeless children in Brevard County. More than a
third of the homeless are families with children, 40% are veterans, and approximately 67% each year are new to the
homeless population. To be able to assist all of these clients, an enormous amount of money and/or material items
must always be available. Please consider donating to this worthy cause.
In addition to the March Thank Offering going to the South Brevard Sharing Center, we will have the Easter
Egg Food Drive. Sunday March 29th will be the last day to collect non-perishable foods that can be brought in.
Items will be delivered on Friday April 3rd at 9:00am. Let's open our hearts and wallets to assist the South Brevard
Sharing Center as they continue to assist the needy in our area. I thank you.
Financial Data
Total income for January was $12,754.34. Our expenses were
$18,997.65, which means we were in the red by $6,243.31.
We received $230 for His Place Ministries for the January thank
offering.
We added $170 to the Capital Improvement Fund.
We have $544.81 in our Savings Account.
Endowment Fund: $68,284.14
Your Finance Committee:
Candy Koshinski
321-723-4152
Linda Miller
321-223-1473
Bunnie Koelsch
321-733-4384
All those white envelopes on
the glass door in the Narthex
are part of our Envelope
Fundraiser. This fundraiser is
designed to augment our
budget we passed by helping
fund those items which are not
included in the budget. Feel free to take one or
several envelopes! They are not arranged in any
special order but they do include a little surprise
inside! Just pick out your envelopes, place the
designated amount of money in them as indicated
by the amount on the envelope
and return the envelope to the
offering plate.
All money
collected will be deposited into
a special account. The envelopes will be on the wall until all
are taken!
Do you know who your Elder is??? If not, they are listed below!
Carl Koelsch
Bob Johnston
Tom Brown
George Hennessy
Lou Seiler
Artie Ulmer
Nick Nichols
Aggie Benzing – Mary Coyle
Diane Davis – Jean Godwin
Andi Hand – Gloria Kuhn
Jean Mason – Irene Oelschlager
Ken Revallo – Shirley Storey
Swede Swansen – Steve Weiss
Winter Associates
Your Elder is the one next to the group of names that your name falls between.
If you want to know what your Elder looks like, there is a photo of each one on the narthex bulletin board.
Newscaster Deadline For April will be March 15th!
Shared Ministry Opportunities at Hope Lutheran Church
4541 N. Wickham Road Melbourne FL 32935
Phone 321-242-1610
Website: hopebrevard.org
E-mail: [email protected]
Thursday Nights
Pastor Moreno leads a study on the nature of prayer. Explore the Ten Commandments and the
Apostles’ Creed in a new way and find practical applications to your prayer life!
Youth Events
We have youth nights on Sunday nights! This is for ALL confirmation students at well as high
school students. We’ll meet this month and we’ll have food, games, devotions as well as
fellowship!
March 1
March 8
March 15
March 22
March 29
Youth Nite @ Hope 6 PM
Youth Nite @ Faith 6 PM
Youth Nite @ Faith 6 PM
Youth Nite @ Hope 6 PM
Movie Nite @ Hope 6 PM
Video Game Tournament
Christ on Campus Gaming Tournament is
coming in March! We are going to need folks
to volunteer for this fun event at Hope. We’ll
have several Wiis (and maybe other
platforms?) and we’ll cycle the kiddos through!
We also need McDonald’s type toys of video
game characters and little pieces of wood.
We’ll spray paint them gold, silver and bronze
and make sure every kid gets a fun trophy!
We’ll have pizza and drinks and it is a FREE
event open to all! Just register in advance on
our website.