ST PHILIP
Monthly SPIRIT Newsletter
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Holy Week 2018
Passion/Palm Sunday, March 25 9:30am Worship
Monday, March 26 12:00 noon Midday Prayer
Tuesday, March 27 12:00 noon Midday Prayer
Wednesday, March 28 12:00 noon Midday Prayer
Thursday, March 29 7:00pm Worship/Foot Washing/Communion
Friday, March 30 7:00pm Worship
Saturday, March 31 7:00pm Easter Vigil
Sunday, April 1 8:30am & 10:30am Worship
9:45am-10:15am Breakfast/Egg Hunt
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Renewal and Sabbatical Time is Upon Us! Here Find In-fo on Pastor and People 7 Session Learning Opportunity
Coming our Way! Friends,
As you know, we are in to our 2018 Renewal/Sabbatical year! One of the key components is the learning and fellowship meals and programs for the congregation!
Let me take a minute here to describe the one key learning piece: the 7 session study/class on how pastor and congregation do ministry together, using the book Pastor and People: Mutual Ministry. As an introduction/background to this learning component, I share below a section of the actual written application I wrote and St. Philip made to the Lilly Endowment Grant Renewal Program:
Why This Renewal Program Time Now?
“First, in 2018 I will have served 5 years as St. Philip’s Pastor and together we have striven to de-velop a missional church that really does focus on making disciples and engaging those who are not a part of the church in order to invite them to join the mission of God of blessing and healing the world. This is not an easy time to be church, in a world of hurt and a culture that less and less em-braces a traditionally organized religion, but it is a most amazing and invigorating time to be church. It’s our hope that bringing some reflections on conversation, reading and journaling back to the congregation around Bonhoeffer’s concept of “religion-less Christianity” we might learn more together as St. Philip congregation to be and do church today.
Secondly, a key area of this missional development we have worked in the past 5 years is empower-ing, training and deploying members to do ministry not only for the church in organizational life but as the church in family, workplace and community. It’s our hope that in the sabbatical experience we can build on this biblical teaching of what ministry is by giving particular attention to how the congregation functions to do ministry in addition to what the Pastor does in ordained ministry”
The 7 Session Class will start June 3 and run each Sunday through July 15, 11:15am – 12:15pm in the Family Life Center. The Pastor and People book for the class is provided for you, while supplies last, at no cost to par-ticipants (the Renewal Grant covers cost). Books were made available last December for those attending the original Renewal/Sabbatical Ori-entation Session and now again starting April 8 at one of the Information Tables in the Family Life Center. Again, no cost, simply sign that you have taken a copy (yours to use and keep). Facilitator for each class will be the Renewal Pastor for that week (more info on our Renewal Pastors and Schedule coming soon! Reminder: I am gone on Sabbatical June 1 – August 31). Please join in this learning time together! It promises to be invigorating and helpful for our mutual ministry! Grace and best, Pastor Johan
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Council Presidents Report April 2018
Our remodeled ADA compatible Sanctuary bathroom is now operational. Still
needs painting (see me if you would like to help). The Sacristy remodel will be
worked on during April. Many thanks to Mike Sonner who, along with help from his
brother and Otto and Kaye Blossey worked on this project.
Our Next Season of Life Senior Center is moving forward. A Steering Team has been estab-
lished and has great plans for the future. The center is now open EVERY Wednesday, from 9am to
3pm. Fun, games, companionship and LUNCH. The Center is open to EVERYONE. Members, friends
and neighbors, all are welcome. Stop by and see for yourself and then tell others about it. Pat Habach
has flyers and other information you can pass on to others.
The Sanctuary video projector has been installed and will be operational in the near future.
Most of the wiring for the security system as been installed and should be operational soon.
The March Council meeting was cancelled due the weather issues. I will work with the team to cover
and pending issues.
Plans to insure we are prepared during Pastors Sabbatical are well under way. Pastor has outstanding
job of preparing for worship, music and pastoral care during his absence. The Sabbatical Team along
with Council, Elders and Janice are ready to cover all of the expected and unexpected issues.
These are exciting times at St. Philip. Just don’t come along for the ride, be part of the driving team.
YICS
Richard Guckenberger
Council President
St Philip, In The Community for GOOD
First two families that tell me they read this win a prize. No winners last month
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ON THE CALENDAR
CHURCH NEWS / INFO /
and HAPPENINGS
Renewal/Sabbatical Learning Opportunity: Pick Up your Copy of Pastor and People Today!
Participant books for the Pastor and People: Mutual Ministry class are available now, no
cost, at the Information Table in the Family Life Center. Please simply sign out a copy (yours
to use and keep).The 7 Session Class will start June 3 and run each Sunday through July 15,
11:15am – 12:15pm in the Family Life Center. Facilitator for each class will be the Renewal
Pastor for that week (more info on our Renewal Pastors and Schedule coming soon! Remind-
er: Pastor Johan is gone on Sabbatical June 1 – August 31). Please attend even if you can
make only some of the class schedule!
RESULTS ARE IN!
ST. PHILIP MEMBERS AND CONGREGATIONAL MINISTRIES AND FRIENDS
GIVE $13,192 IN JANUARY DRIVE FOR THE NOVUS WAY
“MISSION POSSIBLE” CAMPAIGN!!
Way to Go St. Philip! Way to Go Holy Spirit!
St. Philip held a 3 week campaign focus in January to Support the Novus Way “Mission Possible” Capital
Campaign and $6,596 were donated that was matched by a Richter Family matching gift of $6,596 for a to-
tal of $13,192!!
Thank you to all!
A grant from the St. Philip Endowment Fund for $1,500 was part of the $6,596 from St. Philip congregation
and the rest of that amount was from individuals. Thank you again to the Richter family for the matching
fund challenge and now the matching fund gift!
For more information about Novus Way Ministries (Luthersprings, Lutherock, Lutheridge, Lutheranch Out-
door Ministries) and the “Mission Possible” Capital Campaign please see www.MissionPossibleVideo.com!
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ON THE CALENDAR
CHURCH NEWS / INFO /
and HAPPENINGS
Continued….
Announcing Higher Education Scholarship Grant Applications Available Now! St. Philip Endowment Fund Grants offer scholarships. Application deadline is May 31st.
See Info Table in Family Life Center.
Have a Heart or Idea for a Project or Organization that Could be Funded by a St. Philip Endowment Fund Grant?
Endowment Fund Grant application deadline is April 1st. Pick up and application today and more information on the Info Table in the Family Life Center today! Need more in-fo? Call Church Office.
Help Us Decide on Next “Life Workshop Series” topic led by Mr. Dave Laughlin,
MA, RMHCI (Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern), Lutheran Counseling
Services – Mt. Dora. Write down your topic ideas on today’s “Welcome Card”
in the “comments” section.
Idea starters: Adults Caring for Parents, Grandparents Raising Grandkids, Parents and
Tragic Loss, Grief and Loss, Divorce Recovery, Health and Nutrition, Aging Issues,
End-of-Life Planning, “Death Cleaning.” Next Workshop, 2 sessions, likely May, TBA.
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The Green Team
An eco-tip from Green in ‘18 According to www.energy.gov an average household spends 5% of its energy budget on lighting. With traditional incandescent bulbs, 90% of the energy spent is given off as heat, not light! Replacing the 5 most-used bulbs in your home to Energy Star rated bulbs will save energy and save money--about $75 each year. For more info, go to www.energy.gov or visit the Green in ‘18 table space in the Family Life
Stewardship Nuggets
April: Four Principles of Biblical Stewardship by Hugh Whelchel In a recent blog on stewardship the question was asked, “What does stewardship look like in our lives today?” As Christians in the 21st century, we need to embrace this larger biblical view of stewardship, which goes beyond church
budgets or building projects, though important; it connects everything we do with what God is doing in the world.
1. The principle of ownership. “This is the fundamental principle of biblical stewardship: God owns everything, we are simply managers or ad-ministrators acting on his behalf.” Stewardship expresses our obedience regarding the administration of every-thing God has placed under our control, which is all encompassing. Stewardship is the commitment of one’s self and possessions to God’s service, recognizing that we do not have the right of control over our property or our-selves. 2. The principle of responsibility. Although God gives us “all things richly to enjoy,” nothing is ours. Nothing really belongs to us. God owns every-thing; we’re responsible for how we treat it and what we do with it. While we complain about our rights here on earth, the Bible constantly asks, What about your responsibilities? Owners have rights; stewards have responsi-bilities. 3. The principle of accountability. This is the maxim taught by the Parable of the Talents. Like the servants in the Parable of the Talents, we will be called to give an account of how we have administered everything we have been given, including our time, mon-ey, abilities, information, wisdom, relationships, and authority. We will all give account to the rightful owner as to how well we managed the things he has entrusted to us. 4. The principle of reward. Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness! (Matt.25:21) We need to be faith-ful stewards of all God has given us within the opportunities presented through his providence to glorify him,
serve the common good and further his Kingdom.
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The Mission Basket offering in March was $ 344.00
These gifts support the following ministries:
Lutheran Counseling Services SPLC Triangle Kids Lake Cares Food Bank Gamboa Union Ministries- Debbie Ward, Missionary Agape Ministries
Offerings will be received again April 8 2018.
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Please give to support and further the mission of God through
St. Philip Lutheran Church! Important Note Weekly income needed to meet 2018 Mission Budget Plan and our financial goals to support our vital ministry is $4,025. For the month of February our average weekly income was $4,137.
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“HELPING HANDS” ACTIVITIES
Projects:
Personal hygiene kits for Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC)
Quilts and afghans for local fire departments, CAC, animal shelter, and Gamboa Union Ministries
(GUM)
Pillowcase dresses for CAC, Sozo Kids of Ocala Nat’l Forest, and GUM
Bags for Lake Cares Food Pantry
Placemats for use in the Family Life Center
Caps for patients receiving cancer treatment
Lap robes and Prayer shawls
Angel Tree and Christmas ornaments
And many others - - - Donations needed to support our projects:
Personal hygiene items
Cards
Yarn, material, and miscellaneous sewing notions
Pillowcases Collecting:
Cancelled stamps, Campbell Soup Labels, Box Tops for Education, pop tops for Ronald McDon-
ald House, egg cartons for Lake Cares
ATTENTION:
Tired of the same old, same old? Why not join the Helping Hands group on Tuesday mornings
and do some volunteer work to help others! We meet at 9:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall and break for
lunch at 11:30 a.m. We bring our own lunch and each week someone brings a dessert to share.
Questions - Pat Habbach (352-729-2708)
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Douglass & Maia Dorrell 4/20
Rose Samulovitch 4/1
Colleen Felske 4/2
Glenn Taylor 4/4
Richard Sachtjen 4/5
Jason Thompson 4/10
Andrea Hede 4/11
Carl Snyder 4/12
Paul Lesle 4/15
Cheryl Tiefert 4/15
Gunter Wittig 4/15
Lorraine Brown 4/21
John Conn 4/21
Sandra Frisell 4/21
Karen Beyer 4/22
Randy Lindgren 4/24
Robert Brigham 4/25
James Lester 4/25
James Brown 4/26
APRIL
BIRTHADAYS
AND ANNIVERSARIES
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Saint Philip Lutheran Church 1050 Boyd Drive
Mount Dora, FL 32757
(352) 383-5402
E-mail: [email protected] * Website: http://www.stphiliplc.com
A congregation of the Florida Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church In America (ELCA)
Pastor: Rev. Dr. Johan A.A. Bergh Office Manager: Janice Storey Property Manager: Nick Vaccarello Custodian: Don Sansone
2018 Congregation Council President: Richard Guckenberger President Elect: Joann Maynard Secretary: Janet Fisher Treasurer: Sandra Guckenberger Congregational Council: Sherry Mohr, Marcia Funk, Ada Arthur, Lois Hanson, Sharon Lesner, Don Martin, Charles (Skip) Thorson
2018 Spiritual Life Ministry Team: (Elders) Dave Skipp, Marilyn Kreitzinger
Event Planning Coordinator: Sherry Mohr
Visitation Ministry Coordinators: Marsha Wood—Hospital, Glenn Krekling—Long Term Care
For Current Visitation Ministers Roster: contact the Church Office Lutheran Counseling Services—Mount Dora 407-644-4692
Remember . . .
