June 2017 Newsletter

Grace, mercy, and peace are yours in our Risen and Ascended Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen

Dear Family of God at Grace,We finished up the 2016/2017 season with a wonderful Memorial and American Friendship Service on the last Saturday of May.  Thank you to all who made that service a real blessing! Now the "quiet summertime" is upon us. 

The first Sunday in June is Pentecost.  Pentecost is the gift of the Holy Spirit to the church.  It is a wonderful time to remember your baptism and to remember the work of the Spirit through water and the Word.  The gift of the Spirit is not just for us bit the Spirit wants to bring all hearts to know and believe in Jesus.  Since the Spirit works through the Word and faith comes by hearing it is important to be a witness to what God has done through His Son our Savior. 

Summertime brings some great opportunities for telling people about Jesus.  While you travel on vacation you can tell others about Jesus by your actions.  When you all go out to eat in a restaurant say a prayer before the meal and ask your waiter/waitress if they have anything prayer requests. 

Make sure while you travel that you do not neglect Sunday worship.  You can

find a church to for worship while you are away by checking the website, LCMS.org and then "find a church" drop-down.  It's always fun to visit and worship with brothers and sisters in LCMS congregations around the USA.  Make that part of your vacation!

The Sunday after Pentecost is Trinity Sunday and yes we will proclaim the Athanasian Creed.  That's the long one!  Following Trinity Sunday are the Sundays after Pentecost.  These are the Sundays of the church.  During these Sundays, we hear readings that encourage and strengthen the church as she is the body of Christ in this sinful world. 

The seasons of Advent through Easter are all about Jesus.  The season of Pentecost is all about Jesus working, in and through the church.  Let me say it this way: Advent through Easter is about the life of Jesus.  While Pentecost and the Sundays after is about the life of Jesus lived out in you.  Yes, the message is still about Jesus.  And yes, the message of salvation is all about what Jesus did for you and not your works.  Having said that, you have salvation in Christ and that changes you.  You live, love, and serve others because you live, love and are served by Jesus.  You do these things not because you have too, which is not the way you should be looking at it anyway.  You live, love and serve because you have too because of who you are in Christ. 

Christians don't say, I'll live, love and serve because I have too, we just live, love, and serve because its who we are.  We don't think about doing things out of compulsion, or at least we shouldn't.  If we do, then are we doing things out of love?  

So, the Sundays after Pentecost are coming, the season of the church, the body of Christ being encouraged and strengthened to live, love, and serve our neighbor in this sin-sick, dying world.  May God bless His church and family at Grace to hear His Word and live it. 

Let me close with a congrats to all our graduates.  Graduation is an end and a new beginning.  For you high school grads you are moving on to college, trade-school, or the working world in the military or a full-time job, God bless you and be with you.  Have fun and enjoy the blessings and struggles that come your way as they shape and mold you. 

For all you college grads, welcome to the cold, hard reality of a carrier, when you find one.  I pray you find something that makes you happy, most of the time.  No Job is filled with 100% joy.  Even as your pastor, I have my moments of unpleasant things I must do.  Hang tough and know you are not alone. 

To both high school and college grads, know that we love you and you have a home at Grace always!  As you start a new chapter in your live don't close the book on church.  If you are going away to college come visit me or Kami before you go and we will help you find a church to worship while you are away.  If you are moving to start a new carrier come see me or Kami and we will help you find a church home where you are moving.  If you are staying in Naples, COME TO CHURCH!

Congratulations graduates!   

To all, have a blessed summer!

In His Service,Pastor Lingsch

UPCOMING

EVENTS

Celebrating GraduationsSunday, June 11th

Sunday at the BeachSundays, July 2nd & August 6th4:00 pm Lowdermilk Park

Grace Music CampJune 26th - June 30thCall office for more information

Summer Bible Study - All AgesJuly 31st - August 2nd5:00 pm-7:00 pm - Fellowship Hall

WEEKLY EVENTS

Altar Flowers Consider dedicating flowers to someone during the month of July (or later in the year).  We have several dates open on the flower chart in the Narthex.  Bouquets are $45 a piece and you may dedicate one bouquet or both for a Sunday.  Choose to take them home or  donate them to a shut-in.  Either way they are a lovely addition to our service.  

Women's Bible StudyResumes this Fall

Practice English Come Help!

The Pelican Community Center5800 Golden Gate PkwyWednesday's 6:30 pm - 8:00 pmThursday's 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Planning Council Summary - June NewsletterPlanning Council Highlights

   The May 16th meeting of the Planning Council was dedicated to the task of setting the year's calendars for the events involving the congregation as well as those for the Preschool.  In addition to the regular members who attend, we availed ourselves of the the advice and input from Preschool Director Julie Crews and from our Minister of Music Jonathan Birner.   The following Saturday, May 20th, your Planning Council met with Rusty Huseman, the Florida/Georgia attorney.  During the meeting,we reviewed the various church documents, from our Giving Policy to our Facilities Use and Statements of Faith.  We will also be bringing up to date our Constitution and ByLaws documents to more accurately reflect our current church practices.   Due to President Steve Beights' departure for the summer months, the

Planning Council will be under the capable guiding hand of our new Vice-President, Brian Heidel. Brian is currently enjoying his own vacation but will return to chair the Planning Council meeting on June 20th.   May the Lord God Almighty hold you all in the palm of His hand.  You'll be in my prayers always. INJ,Steve

  

Church Custodian/Handyman - Grace Lutheran church is seeking a part-time custodian/handyman.  Interested applicants may summarize their qualifications and send their qualifications to office@graceofnaples.com

June Events - From DCE Kami Jo Mogelvang

 

June 4th Baptismal BirthdaysJune 11th Youth Night, pool party at the Perri HouseJune 11th Graduation SundayJune 14th Summer youth day from 10-12 pm

June 16th Tour of the local Pregnancy Crisis Center, high school girls and moms are invited to get a tour of this local ministry with DCE Kami Jo. June 21st Summer youth day from 10-12 pmJune 25th Middle school servant event, serve at Grace Place from 12:30-4 pm and then have dinner and spend the night at Grace Lutheran Church. The event will end June 26th where we will make fleece blankets for our preschool children and go to the beach to swim. Register with DCE Kami Jo. June 28th Summer youth day from 10-12 pm

  

Registration is open for 2017 Grace Lutheran ChurchSummer Bible study!

This is a twist on the traditional VBS and is open to the entire congregation, it does not matter if you have children or what age you are. We will meet for three nights of dinner, a large group devotion and then split into age groups (elementary, youth, adults) for Bible study. The event is July 31st-August 2nd from 5-7pm. Registration forms are available in the narthex and on our website. Contact DCE Kami Jo with any questions

 

I would like to thank Sandy Birner; Tina Burns; Marge Klemm; Gary Laveen, Lori Lingsch and Bob Powers for volunteering to be offering counters.  Grace is blessed to have individuals who are dedicated to serving the Lord.  These individuals will allow us to have sufficient coverage during the summer months and alternates in case one of our other counters need to fill their spot for vacations or other situations.  Let me also thank the individuals who currently are serving - your commitment to this task is most definitely appreciated.  

With Blessing to all of you Deb Laveen

REV MARK RABE AND FAMILYETHIOPIA, AFRICA

 The Lord orchestrated the move that finds Rev Mark Rabe, wife Stefanie, and children, Noah, Gabriella, Julianana , and Mathias  in their second year near Addis Ababa,  Ethiopia. It is joyful news that Christianity is spreading faster in Africa than on any other continent on earth and Rev. Mark Rabe felt led to answer the call to teach at Makane Yesus Seminary in Mekanisa.  It will be opening more classrooms for the School of Theology for teaching pastors, teachers and leaders in the church. There is also a new campus for the Leadership College for the EECMY.   A new Lutheran Hymnal in Amharic (the language of the locale) is expected to be published soon and since the family has learned the new language, they are also well on their way of adapting to the

new culture even though the children are home-schooled.  A highlight for the family was a break from classes which allowed them to go to East Africa to worship with other missionary families on Palm Sunday and be back to Addis Ababa with the Evangelical church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) for Good Friday and Easter. 

The Rabe ask us to pray for the proclamation of the true Word of God through Mekane Yesus Church, the seminary, the new collage, staff, and students. 

The Rabes' address---- Rev. Mark Rabe c/o Mekane Yesus Seminary; SSH5; P. O. Box 1247; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 1000.

"I will make you a light for the nations that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."   Isaiah 49:6.

Pastor Eisold -  June 2017 

With June comes the start of Hurricane Season.  While there are no storms on our horizon, the winds of change are blowing at The Pelican Lutheran Church.  For every new mission, change is necessary.  Such change results from asking good, tough questions such as:  How can we better reach our community?  How else may we show God's care & relevance in order that we may have the privilege to share His word?  What is working well?  What is not?  Who is growing in their faithfulness to Christ?  Who is ready to serve/to lead?   How can we realign people, time, energy, and funds in order to more effectively glorify God?  How can we get more folks from our strong Lutheran community involved as mentors, volunteers, assistants? Over the past month we have realigned some people according to their God-given gifts.  Maximo Maldonado, Pastor Eisold's Ministerial Assistant, is now in charge of ALL language classes & curricula.  Pastor Mark is heading-up the volunteers and volunteer training.  Elizabeth is focusing on a new website with online registration for both students & volunteers, online sign-in; Facebook; a

new, back-lit sign; and the final touches on preparing a good structure for our Community Center events & activities.  Her contract ends on July 15, and we are very, very thankful for the great work that she has accomplished over these past six months with us.  Sally Wildner came to our aid in May as well to help us organize our office.  She accomplished a lot of good for us before she had to return north for the summer.  Holly Peterson-Ramos is our new volunteer Office Manager, and is already accomplishing some important tasks for us on that front.  Holly has been working on grant applications for us since January, and will continue to seek opportunities for this and other outside funding as well.  Worship is going well every Sunday to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Our average attendance continues at 25 worshipers/week with five new people from different three households since the beginning of May.  The Lord brought these new folks just as another household moved to Bonita Springs and then found a church closer to their new home.  In our world, change is constant.  Praise be to God that our Savior Jesus "is the same yesterday, today, and forever"! The Lord blessed us through the Schoen Foundation with professional sized soccer goals (porterias de fútbol) for the front yard of the church.  Jorge Mora will be in charge of the up & coming soccer program emphasizing  men's groups.  For a variety of reasons our attempt at Friday Night English Conversation (for higher level English Speakers) did not succeed in early May.  With the Latino Dance Night scheduled immediately afterwards, this was also canceled.  We want to establish a culture that encourages individual involvement, investment and leadership..  While Pastor Mark is on vacation later this month, Arturo a seminary certified Lutheran pastoral candidate from Venezuela will lead worship and deliver the sermon.  In August we will begin an English worship service at 9:30 a.m.We are prayerfully considering renting parts of our facility to three different groups. 

 Requests for Prayers & Volunteer Service:Pray for our work to host the Lutheran Haitian Church with Pastor Saint Luc & Pastor Andre on Sunday afternoons.Pray for our work to host a Latino church on Saturday mornings, and an Anglo church on Sunday mornings in the Community Center. Pray for our application with the United Way to provide funds for equipment so that we may better serve the community with computer classes - as well as online job searches & housing searches. Pray that the Lord would bless us with greater organization & efficiency in our office & daily operations. Pray that Elizabeth would complete her work with our new website, new Facebook page, and new abilities to     register both students & volunteers online, and send group texts through our website as well. Pray for the Lord to provide the funding needed to continue this mission for the next three years. Pray for the Lord to raise-up volunteers from our community to help folks practice their English on Wednesday evenings (& Friday evenings in July). Pray for the Lord to provide Ruth Pollex with a job.

 

The Annual Report for 2016 is finished and available.  You may download it now or contact the office for a paper copy. 

 2016 Annual Report

Memorial and American Friendship ServiceMay 27, 2017

Preschool Graduation 

Our latest preschool alumni graduated on May 31st.     

Preschool Guest Readers

Summer Camp Begins

       

First Day of Grace's Super Summer Camp

Grace Lutheran Church, 860 Banyan Blvd, Naples, FL 34102