Open Arms - PERFECT SCORE
Each year all preschools offering VPK classes are graded by the Florida Department of Education for the academic performance of their recent graduates in the various local elementary schools.
Open Arms has received a perfect School Readiness Rate of 100% for 2015-16!!! Congratulations to the kids and many thanks to the teachers who have done such a great job getting them ready for kindergarten!!!
|
February Prayer
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another, love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing (I Peter 3:8-9)
Love is being advised this month in commercials, signs in the stores and especially in cards with hearts saying 'I love you' or "will you be my valentine?" We as believers in Jesus, GOD the Father, and the Holy Spirit have the perfect love to share. We are the LORD's examples of His love "because the Love of GOD has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) GOD's love is pure and holy without malice (desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to another) (I John 4:7-18)
We show GOD's love through our actions and the words we speak. Words that we speak can be either a blessing or a curse. (Gen 12:3, Prov 4:20-22,) In our society today, people become easily offended by a look, a word that is spoken, behavior, or different mannerisms. For example: many of us are offended at how people drive their cars: either too slow, too fast, or cut in front of us, etc. The LORD asks us not to do the same by returning the same actions, but to bless the offending person as the LORD sees them. (Ps 37:8, Eph 4:31-32)
|
Thank You!
Thank you for your generosity to our homeless neighbors through the holiday season. Your kindness meant and means a lot to them. Every little item, whether it be soap, razors, hair brushes, shampoo, toothpaste or toothbrushes mean so much when you have so little. Please continue to remember our neighbors in need.
A BIG THANK YOU to the FLC craft group. We made 120 cone shaped angels that were distributed to FLC 's shut ins, the residents at Harbor Chase Senior Living Facility and the VA skilled nursing facility. Everyone liked them and sang a chorus of praise for the craft group. Our next project will be crayon colored crosses for Easter. Interested? Please see Marge Polkowski
|
BASIC Mission Dinner - April 9
The Mission Auction Dinner is coming up April 9th. At this event we raise money to support B.A.S.I.C. Nicaragua, which works in Santa Patricia. We do eye glass clinics, provide eye surgery for those in need, sponsor children
for school, build homes, do a small medical clinic for people with chronic illness with the help of a local doctor, food packs, and provide what we
are able to people who need things to provide a living for there family.
This event also provides money for college mission trips.You can help with this project by donating items for the live auction, new or gently used items for the buy it now room, baking for the dessert
auction always a favorite, helping in the kitchen or with clean up. It is always a fun filled evening.
This is a profile of one of the families in Santa Patricia who needs our help.
Read more here.
Please contact Barb or Dick Hughes if you would like to help in any way
with this event. 373-4037 or [email protected]. Thank you
|
Food Drive
Do you join in during our church service and say, "Jesus, what are you up to today? How would you have me join you?" and you don't know what to do?
Here's an excellent idea and it's easy! Take and fill a box with food for the Gainesville Community Ministries. Your donation will go to needy families in Gainesville. This is a project that FLC does four times a year. Our next drive starts with picking up a box, filling it with the items provided by GCM, and returning the filled box to church on February 21.
Bring what you are able to provide-every donation is appreciated. Here is the suggested list of items:
2 cans of meat
2 cans of vegetables
2 cans of fruit
2 cans of soup
2 boxes of macaroni & cheese OR rice
1 lb of dry beans OR 1 can of baked beans
1 box of hot cereal
1 package of powdered milk
1 can of evaporated milk
1 box of dried soup mix
1 jar of peanut butter
Thanks for your consideration!
|
N
ew Year Resolutions
Is your family legacy plan on your 2016 resolution list, either to create one or update one? Yes, taking care of your heirs is first priority and the Lutheran Church Extension fund can help through its partnership with the LCMS Foundation. You may obtain a Legacy Guide by calling 1-800-843-5233.
Yes, we all have heirs of some kind regardless of the dollar value of our estates. Do you want the state to be your heir? It won't hurt to investigate your options and it will certainly please your heirs.
|
Miriam Circle
Miriam Circle will meet on Tuesday, February 9th, at 10 am in the church library. Our study will be "The Time Is Now " on page 24 of the Fall Lutheran Women's Quarterly. Come and have a cup of coffee and study God's Word with us. If you don't have a copy of the Quarterly, we'll have one for you. Just bring your Bible.
|
Women's Book Club
The Women's Book Club will meet
Saturday, February 13
, beginning at 10:45am, at Perkin's Restaurant. We will be reading any
The Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Body in the Library, and Partners in Crime, by Agatha Christie.
Please RSVP to Shirley Bagnall.
|
|
|
|
