December 2017 OUR MISSION – To welcome and lead all to Christ REFLECTIONS Lutheran Church of the Resurrection 525 Minutemen Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931 Phone: (321) 783 - 0852 email: [email protected]Website: www.lcorcb.org Follow us on Facebook Christmas Eve 7:00 p.m. Family Worship Service Lighting of the Christmas tree, and Holy Communion 8:00 p.m. Christmas Reception 10:00 p.m. Candlelight Service With Holy Communion our handbell choir, adult choir, instrumental mu- sic, and candlelighting Bring A Friend
Transcript
December 2017 OUR MISSION – To welcome and lead all to Christ
REFLECTIONS Lutheran Church of the Resurrection 525 Minutemen Causeway, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931 Phone: (321) 783-0852 email: [email protected] Website: www.lcorcb.org Follow us on Facebook
Christmas Eve
7:00 p.m.
Family Worship Service
Lighting of the Christmas tree, and Holy Communion
8:00 p.m.
Christmas Reception
10:00 p.m. Candlelight Service
With Holy Communion our handbell choir, adult choir, instrumental mu-
sic, and candlelighting
Bring A Friend
Dear Friends, We don’t often think of December as the beginning of a new year, but it is in the church. On the first weekend of this month we begin anew. We go back to the beginning of the story and prepare to tell it all over again.
It’s all about hope. God promises that he will rescue his oppressed and depressed people. We look expectantly for Emmanuel (God with us). And with the birth of Jesus, we believe that the creator reached out to us in the most direct way possible. He didn’t send an email or a certified letter – he sent his Son. Someone to teach us, forgive us, and walk with us through this dark and uncertain world.
Now it’s our turn to be his presence and light for the oppressed and de-pressed, to “show up” in his name. Advent is a time of preparation and re-membrance of his coming into this world, but it is also a time to examine our own walk of faith. Is our light shining? Is our witness showing?
Peace and light be with you (and emanating from you) this Advent and Christmas Season.
Merry Christmas! Pastor Jay
Council Members Dr. Michael Miller, President Bill Bond, Stewardship Jim Stark, Vice-President Marilyn Sorenson, Social Ministry Ann Fosburr, Secretary Libby VanZino, Evangelism Jenn Billingham, Fellowship Christian Education Property, Mitch Wilson (Buildings) Debbie Rescott, Treasurer (Advisor) Ben Troemel (Grounds) Michelle Davis, Financial Sec. (Advisor) Alfred Domschke (Administration) Angelika Domschke, Worship
The Church Council meeting was held on November 14th and here are some highlights of dis-cussions and decisions.
The meeting began with a prayer offered by Pastor Jay. - Our special guest for the evening was Diane Stees. She was asked by the Property Commit-tee to present a proposal for the beautification of the area near the church’s covered drop off. She showed the council a rendering of the site plan and informed us that she would be seeking a grant from Keep Brevard Beautiful. The grant application deadline is December 15. After listening to her proposal, asking questions, and making suggestions; the council voted to allow her to proceed with the application. It was clarified that the work would include the east, west, and south plots in the area. The council decided to withhold a decision on the proposed instal-lation of a sidewalk extension to the west until the work in that area is done. - The evening’s agenda and the minutes of the last meeting were reviewed. - The Financial Secretary’s report was given by the chair of Budget and Finance. We have fall-en behind our giving from last year, but that is not unusual as many of our winter friends have not yet returned. Attendance for October was down from last year from a weekly average of 156 to 144 this year. - The Treasurer’s report was given. A copy is available upon request and is posted in the fel-lowship hall. - Evangelism – We are now participating in a local publication called the, “Cocoa Beach Ex-plorer.” This publication has wide circulation and we are the first church to advertise in it. There is also a Community Corner area where we can publicize church events at no cost. We will also be advertising the Christmas schedule in the Florida Today. Libby got us a 1/4th page ad for the price of a 1/8th! - Worship – The many details of planning Christmas were made. Council was read a list of things that need to be done and the timing involved. The children of Children’s Church will present an Advent play in worship on December 17th during the children’s time. A dramatic reading about Mary, the mother of our Lord, will be presented at the 11:00 service that day. -Fellowship – Over 90 people participated in the All Saints/Homecoming luncheon. Many Sundays are available to sponsor in December. Old Business – - Update on parish hall flooring. One more week will be needed before we can use the area. - Nominees are needed for the Audit Committee Continued on next page.
December Birthdays
12/1 Chickie Arendas 12/2 Carol Auer Mary Bond Marge Green 12/3 Nancy Salvaggio 12/4 Libby VanZino 12/5 Gail Bell 12/6 Martha Hinkley 12/9 Finn Redd 12/12 Hannah Prince Marcia Wilson 12/14 Bill Bond Kristin O’Connor 12/15 Don Nelson 12/17 Fred Stotz 12/18 Jeffrey Kennedy Kevin Pollard Carol Ann Zigan 12/19 Karen Correa 12/21 Norma Gaines 12/25 Lois Rescott 12/26 Jean Davis 12/27 Thomas Wilson 12/29 Greg Galzerano 12/30 Heather Prince Barbara Sappie 12/31 Pat Issel Heidi Sommers Bonnie Trieglaff
December Anniversaries
12/23 Kevin & Cheryl Kemppanion 12/26 Jere & Claire Brew Dave & Kathy Martz 12/28 Jim & Elaine Stark 12/30 Stan & Gina Jones
Continued from previous page.
New Business – - With Joyce being away soon, another co-treasurer is needed to help Debbie. A name was put for-ward of a possible volunteer. - Pastor was asked to announce that two additional counters are needed. - Gina, our music director, requested that a monitor and camera be installed in the choir loft so that musicians can see what is happening in the front of the church. A proposal will be presented at the next council meeting. - Our church constitution needs to be updated. Notice will be given to the congregation and the
changes will be proposed at the next congregational meeting.
The Saturday morning work crew keeps our property safe and beautiful. The time of service runs from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. If you would like to help out, just show up at the maintenance shed on the west side of our property. The morning concludes with donuts and coffee. You may also do tasks on your own schedule – just call the office for details. Thanks!
Open Invitation to Join Our Prayer Chain: The Prayer Chain is an excel-
lent way for you to serve those in need, by praying for them. The duty of a Prayer Chain member is simply to converse with God on behalf of the person the prayer is requested for, and pass on the request to the next person on your Prayer Chain List. If interested please call Marge Hinds through the church office.
Healing prayers with the laying on of hands and anointing is held immediately fol-
lowing 8:30 worship on the third Sunday of the month for December. Book Club will be not be held in December. Will resume on January 8, 2018 with
“Return to Sender” by Fern Michaels. Please bring a sandwich and drink for yourself. Eat, Pray, Love! Women’s Fellowship Group will be meeting in Decem-
ber on the 14th, and the 21st.(Thursday’s). We meet at 9:00 am in the Minis-try Center Breakroom. We will be continuing a short feel good novel for the Christmas Season called, “The Wreath of Snow” by Liz Curtis Higgs. It is available on Amazon. All women are invited to join us. I’ll have the cof-fee brewing and look forward to seeing you! I can be reached via email at
[email protected] or through the church office Ladies Fellowship. Please join us on Thursday, December 7th at 9:00am for a
time of fellowship, breakfast, and to connect with women of our church of all ages. We will be meeting at Southern Charm Café located at 8501 Astronaut Blvd., Cape Canaveral, FL 32920. Our reservation will be under Sa-
Memorial Garden. LCR is looking for volunteers to serve on the Memorial Garden Committee. This committee oversees the applications for and maintenance of the memorial garden. If you have questions about this committee please contact the church office or Pastor Jay.
LCR musicians will be performing at the Cocoa Beach Library on December 16th at
2:00 to 3:00 p.m. The performers, Joe and Lynn Gray, Sarah Davis, and Rick Stees, will be holding a sing-a-long of Christmas music. Should be a lot of fun.
One of our new members, Suzanne Bellair, works as a caregiver to children and
seniors. If you are in need of such services, call the church office for more infor-mation.
Compassionate Friends Location: Ministry Center Tuesday, December 5th (Ministry Center)-6:00 p.m. Contact: Church Office Sunday, December 10th (Fellowship Hall)-3:00-8:00 p.m.
A Special Occasion Music-Music Lessons Location: Ministry Center Afternoons-By Appointment Contact: Joe & Lynn Gray-321.544.4062
Greeting Card Ministry Location: Ministry Center Will resume in January Contact: Molly Andrews or Church Office 10:00 pm
Women’s Bible Study Location: Ministry Center Monday, December 4th, 11th, & 18th Contact: Church Office 10:00 am
Book Club Location: Ministry Center Resume in January Contact: Julie Palm 12:00 noon
J-Walkers Youth Group Location: Ministry Center Sunday, December 10th (5:30 to 7:30 pm) Caroling & Christmas Party Saturday, December 16th (9:00 to 10:00 am) Children’s Christmas Play Dress Rehearsal Saturday, December 16th (10:00 am to 12:30 pm) Youth Service Day Sunday, December 17th (8:15 to 9:30 am) Children’s Christmas Play
EFSC Lab School Location: Ministry Center Tuesday, December 12th Conference Center Wednesday, December 20th 6:00 pm Thursday, December 14th
Eat, Pray, Love Women’s Fellowship Group Location: Ministry Center Thursday, December 14th, and 21st Contact: Libby VanZino 9:00 am
Tiger & Wolf Scouts Location: Ministry Center-Rm #3 Will resume in January Contact: Church Office 6:00 pm
Food Pantry: The featured items for the Food Pantry are listed below: (Please bring them to the shopping cart in the Sanctuary or basket in the Fellowship Hall)
Thank you for your gifts and would love to boost this month’s donation. We are in need of razors, deodorant, and toothpaste. Please give from the heart.
PANTRY HOURS: The first 4 Saturdays of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
BIKE MINISTRY: 2nd and 3rd Saturday of every month. 10:00-12:00 noon. LCR does not accept clothing donations: If you have clothing donations we
suggest Cocoa Beach Community Church Thrift Shop.
Have an overflowing piggy bank at home?? Share your coins with the Laundry Ministry at LCR. Each month we give the gift of clean clothes to our homeless friends and pantry clients at a local laundromat. Your coins bring smiles to many faces! We never real-ized that the homeless see their clothing as disposable, but it makes sense. Imagine wearing the same clothes in this heat for weeks at a time! Such clothes get to the point where they are unwearable. Now, the homeless and those in economic distress have a chance to wash and renew that clothing. One less shirt in a landfill, and good stewardship of God’s gifts! The giving of loose change to the laun-dry buckets in the church narthex and fellowship hall has fallen off over the summer – time to raid the piggy bank!
LCR is doing GREAT things! Thank you for your financial support now, but have you thought about leaving a legacy after you leave this world? Contact your financial consultant or church office for ideas. Thank you!
Upcoming Events Sat, Dec 2nd – Ocean Reef Beach Festival, 10 am-5 pm, at Peli-can Beach Park (1525 A1A, Satellite Beach). Join Keep Brevard Beauti-ful at the 6th Annual Ocean Reef Beach Festival. There ’s fishing, surf-ing, music, art, conservation education and a chowder cook-off. Sun, Dec 3rd – Build A Bat House, 1 pm–4 pm, at Sams House/Pine Island Conservation Area (6195 N. Tropical Trail in north Merritt Is-land). Bring the family and work together to build your very own bat house. Learn how to properly install your new house in your yard, and discover why bats are so beneficial to Central Florida (Hint: They eat mosquitoes!). The cost for this workshop is $40 for materials. Registration is required. Please bring a battery powered drill. Call (321) 449-4720 to reserve your spot. Sun, Dec 10th – Cruickshank Hike, 10 am-12 pm. Join Florida Master Naturalist Mark Prynoski for
a guided hike through the Helen and Allen Cruickshank Sanctuary lo-cated at 326 Barnes Blvd., Rockledge. Bring water, closed toed shoes, sunscreen and bug repellent. This is a wonderful place to see Florida Scrub Jays up close. Call (321) 449-4720 for more information.
Open House Public Meeting For Proposed Space Coast Trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore
Date: Thur, Dec 7th Time: Anytime between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm Location: City of Titusville City Hall, 555 S. Washington Ave, Titusville Stop by anytime between 5 and 7 pm to learn more about the proposed Space Coast Trail and to submit comments on the proposal. Staff from the US Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service, NASA, and the Florida Dept of Transportation will be available during the meeting to discuss the project. Go to http://spacecoasttpo.com/implement/space-coast-loop-trail/ for more information. The Space Coast Loop Trail includes the Kennedy Space Center Loop Trail and the Florida East Central Regional Rail Trail. The Space Coast Loop is part of the St. John’s River to Sea Loop, which spans 300 miles across five counties and the Coast to Coast Trail that stretches across Florida from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.
Volunteers Needed For Groundwater Study This Winter
How polluted is our groundwater? This question is being addressed by the Marine Resource Council’s (MRC’s) next citizen science project. The Groundwater Study uses legislative funding managed by the Brevard County Natural Resources Management Department to sample ground-water in three types of residential areas: 1) those with septic tanks; 2) those with sewage ser-vice; and 3) those receiving sewage service and reclaimed water. By investigating the extent that wastewater is polluting the watershed, the study will help prioritize areas requiring wastewater improvements. .Are you a closet scientist? Need some scientific experience? MRC will be training citizen scientists to help collect groundwater samples this winter. Go to https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/ap?ap=221710515 to register as a volunteer for the Ground-water-Wastewater study.
For Field Trip 9 details, community events and other items of interest to Living Green, email [email protected] to be added to the Living Green distribution list.
Greetings from the Evangelism Committee Where has 2017 gone? As we end the year, we still have much to look forward to in December. It is the “Happiest Time of The Year”, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Isn’t it fitting that the end of the year starts with a birth? A birth that gives us great joy and hope for the future. There are still many people who don’t know what joy and hope they too can have, because they don’t have a rela- tionship with Jesus. How can we bring The Good News to them? Well, it starts with a simple question, “Would you
and your family like to join me for Christmas Eve service at my church?” You can then go on to tell them about the 2 wonderful evening services we have. The first at 7:00 PM, which is our family service where we light our beautiful tree or perhaps the 10:00 PM service with the lighting of the candles. We mustn’t forget that Christmas Eve is on a Sunday this year and there will be a morning service at 10:00 AM. What a wonderful way to start our Christmas Eve, worship in the morning and then you can go on with your day, family dinner, last minute shopping, visiting neighbors. We all need to come out of our comfort zone, that is what Evangelism is. Reaching out to those who you may not normally reach out to. Letting others know about the love God has for all of us. Inviting your neighbor, the guy down the street, the new family in town, the person you sat next to at the DMV, to join us. To be one family, to be a part of God’s Family.
I encourage you all to sign up to greet at one of the services. It is a wonderful way to get to know people here at church and you might be the reason a visitor decides that our family here at LCR is the place they want to worship with. A friendly face, a “hello” to a new face and a “welcome to service” goes a long way. It is the reason the VanZino family worships with you. You see, Diane Stees and Lisa Bergstresser both did that back in September of 2013. We knew immediately after that first service that LCR was our church family. Over the past 4 years my family has become involved with LCR and we are all the richer for it and it all started because somebody said hello.
FLOORING IN FELLOWSHIP HALL IN
COMPLETED!
The pastor, council, and fellow parishioners
would like to thank those who contributed
to the replacement of the flooring in the
Fellowship Hall. What a difference! Come
by fellowship on Sunday and take a look.
NEWS FROM SOCIAL MINISTRIES The Food Pantry. with the help of First Chris- tian Church of Cocoa Beach is trying to fill 12 Christmas bags for families in need. Each bag includes food for a family of 4 and a $20.00 Publix gift card given by members of LCR. We will need 12 of the Publix gift cards
for Christmas. We have containers ready for your do-nations for these Christmas bags. Thank you for your help.
Each year we celebrate with our Pantry and homeless friends with a dinner and gifts. We will also need donations for 25 each being $20.00 for gifts for our homeless friends. We will pur-chase the gifts which will be the same as last year. These will be distributed at our Christmas party and dinner.
LCR will be presenting a choir and hand-
bell Christmas concert on Sunday,
December 17th at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanc-
tuary. Please plan on attending to enjoy
the talents of our singers and ringers.
Crosswinds
As has been the tradition for years, the congregation has donated
items to the Crosswinds Youth Services. Because the representa-
tive shops with the teens at Crosswinds, Social Minis-
tries have decided to offer gift cards to them to pur-
chase what they truly need. Please donate a Target or
Walmart gift card before or at the Annual Christmas
Dinner on December 4th. Thank you for your support.
LCR’S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY
DATE: DECEMBER 4th
TIME: 6:00 P.M.
PROVIDED:
MEAT, ROLLS & BEVERAGES
CHRISTMAS CAROLS WILL BE
SUNG!
EVERYONE IS INVITED!
If you would like to participate in table decorating please contact Jen Billingham or Betty McCombs through the
Church office.
See sign-up sheet for vegetables, salads, and desserts
Christmas Caroling
We invite you to join us as we go out to bring Christmas cheer to those who are homebound for the holidays. The night begins with a quick practice of our songs in the Ministry Center, and then we convoy together to four or five loca-tions to sing carols. When we are finished, we return to the church for a Christmas party featuring Pastor Jay’s famous (or is that infamous) butterdogs. This event will be held on Sunday, December 10th, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Ministry Center. Each year, we are accompanied by the music students of A Special Occasion Music and their teachers, Joe and Lynn Gray. If you would like to go out with us (families with small children are welcome) please sign up in the narthex or fellowship hall – we need to know how many will be joining us for supper. So, dig out that Santa hat and the sleigh bells in your Christmas storage box, and join us as we bring smiles and Christmas cheer!
Kids ask the Darnedest Things!
During 8:30 worship on December 17th, the kids of our Chil-dren’s Church will help us prepare for Christmas by presenting a short, holiday skit entitled, “Christmas Letters.” Through a series of questions, our children will seek insights from the main characters of the Nativity. During 11:00 worship on the same Sunday, Pastor Jay and author, Kathy Martz, will present the dramatic reading she wrote entitled, “The Rest of the Story: Mary, a Very Special Mother.”
Important Worship Schedule News!
Because Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve fall on a Sundays this year, the Worship Committee has decid-ed to hold only one morning worship service on those days at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Our Christmas Eve services will be held at their regular times of 7:00 and 10:00 p.m. that Sunday evening, December 24th.
Good Gifts Tree
Our Ministry Center Christmas tree is up a bit early. That’s because this year it’s more than a pretty holiday decoration. This time around, it is an ELCA Good Gifts tree! It is covered with special ornaments. Each ornament offers a helping hand overseas! Here’s how it works – find the ornament for the project you want to support and take it from the tree. (You are welcome to take it home to hang on your tree or to give as a gift). Greeting Cards to give with your ornament are on the table by the tree. Make a donation in that amount to ELCA Good Gifts, using the pre-addressed envelope and order form which are also on the table. Mail your check directly to the ELCA Good Gifts, and make your check out to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Please do not put the envelope in the church offering plate. You may also order and pay online at www.elca.org/goodgifts
Here are some of your choices: - Chicks $10 / - Pig $30 / - Honey Bees $20 / - Microloan for a woman $125 / - Feed a refugee family $25 / -School supplies for a child $10 / - Bibles for a global church $12 / - Rooster $15 / -School fees and uniform for a girl $40. Start a new family tradition!
Want to learn the Bible one interesting character at a time? The Thursday evening Connections Bible Study is for you! Each Thursday (except the first week of the month – more on that later) we will be meeting a new char-acter from the Bible and, learning together, the lessons from that person’s faith journey that we can apply to our own. Along with digging into the Word, our Connections Band will be on hand to lead us in Christian praise music. We will be meeting at the church for these sessions on December 14, 21, and 28 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Sometime during the first week of each month we will head out to a local venue in the community. In November, we had a great time at Juice and Java. On Wednesday, December 6, we will be at Nolan’s Irish Pub in Co-coa Beach. Christian music in a pub?! Jesus didn’t just sit in the syna-gogue of Capernaum, waiting to people to come to him. He went out where the people were – and so will we. The band performance that night
will be from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and feature a mix of sacred and secular tunes. The evening will also in-clude a trivia game and Pastor Jay sharing some-thing about our faith. Make plans to attend. You’ll be in-spired and enlightened.
Poinsettia Plants for the
Christmas Celebration
Given by:
In memory of: In honor of:
Plants are florist quality in six-inch pots. Price is $8.00.
(Orders must be received in the church office by December 19th)
