 From Pastor John
It's a rare juxtaposition for Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day to happen on the same day. They seem to be two holidays accidentally falling on the same day with contrasting themes. Valentine's Day is red roses and romantic love, while Lent seems to be a unromantic gloom. What are the chances that readers of this email will say to their sweeties, "My love, for Valentine's date night, let's go to Ash Wednesday services to be reminded of our sin and mortality. What a better and more romantic way to say, 'I love you,' then to have the Pastor place the ashes on you and say, 'Remember you are dust, and to dust you will return.'" (I'm guessing that if anyone has date plans on February 14, they are not going to cancel them for Ash Wednesday services!)
The church celebrates St. Valentine on February 14. We do not know much about him other that he died around 270 AD. Later tradition has suggested that he was both a doctor and pastor. Like Jesus, he healed the ailments of the body and brought peace to the soul with His words of Gospel promises.
According to William Weedon, in his book
Celebrating the Saints
, the very day that Valentine was to face his martyrdom, he brought consolation to the daughter of his jailer by writing to her a small note of encouragement. "The young girl had reportedly come to love this godly man and was grieved at the thought of his death. But Valentine knew that death was a defeated enemy because of Christ's death and resurrection. So he comforted the young lady. Hence, the custom of St. Valentine's day notes arose, which has spread far and wide."
Valentine's life of sacrifice and love for others, mirrored Jesus' ultimate life of sacrifice and love. Maybe then, Ash Wednesday and the true meaning of St. Valentine's day are not so truly juxtaposed after all. Lent calls to remember all that Jesus did to show his love for us, by dying and rising again. Lent calls us to be Jesus' people. Valentine is a wonderful example of the embodied and serving love of Jesus.
We pray this Lenten season, that like Valentine, we have have faith like his, and the power of love, that we may embody Jesus; love in our lives. Join us in worship, read the Gospels with us during this time, and utilize the devotions in your Lenten journey.
Pastor John
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Prayer Thoughts
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy
He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow,
Will return with songs of joy,
Carrying sheaves with him.
Psalm 126:5-6
"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For
His mercy endures forever." Psalm 106:1 The LORD wants us to "
give attention to My words; incline your ear to My sayings. Do not
let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are
life to those who find them, And health to all your flesh." Proverbs 4:20-22 "To you who fear (reverential trust) My Name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves." Malachi 4:2 (Strong's #4832 marpe' is the Hebrew word for healing. Salvation is God's rescue of the entire person, and physical healing is His complete repair of the person) "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to My instructions, I will put none of the diseases on you which you knew in Egypt ....
For I am the LORD (Yahweh-Rapha means the LORD who heals you) who heals you." Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 7:9
"I will be strong and very courageous. I will be careful to obey and meditate on the Book of Instruction (scriptures), neither turning to the right or the left, that I might be successful in whatever I do. I will not let this Book of Instruction depart from my mouth; studying and meditating on it day and night, so that I will be prosperous (healthy) and successful in everything." Joshua 1:7-8 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength (healer) and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14
"I will serve (worship) the LORD my God, and He will bless my bread and my water. And He will take sickness away from the midst of me... He, my God, will fulfill the number of my days" Exodus 23:25-26 "I will make the LORD my refuge, His faithfulness will be my shield against pestilence (illness) that stalks in the darkness and the plague (diseases) that destroy. I will make the Most High my dwelling - even the LORD, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall me nor disaster will befall me. The LORD will bless me with long life and will show me His salvation." Psalm 9:4,6,9,10,l6 NIV
"Now this the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." I John 5:14-15 "For the thief does not come except to steal, to kill, to destroy (sickness/diseases are stealing, killing and destroying). I (Jesus) have come that you may have life and that you will have it more abundantly." John 10:10 "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great award. Let us draw near to God the Father in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and out bodies washed with pure water (healing). Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for
He who promised is
faithful.
" Hebrews 10:35,22,23
The LORD wants us to remember to: "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who
forgives all my iniquities, Who heals all my diseases" Psalm 103:1-3 "Who by His stripes (wounds) we are healed." Isaiah 53:5d; I Peter 2:24
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MIRIAM CIRCLE
Miriam Circle's next meeting will be on Tuesday morning, February 13th from 10:00 until noon. Work on the church parking lot will be going on during our February and March meetings, but we have decided to meet as usual. You will be able to park on the street in front of the church, please make sure to sign out a parking decal from Kim Green in the office. Then place it on your vehicle and return it before you leave. Our study in February will be from the Winter 2017 Lutheran Woman's Quarterly. The study, entitled "Living a God-sized Dream" is on page 18, and background information about it is on pages 4 - 7. It's an interesting study about a Lutheran woman who loved the Lord and did some amazing things as she served Him, founding churches and schools in rural Alabama. We begin our meetings with a cup of coffee and a little fellowship before we delve into the study, usually from the Lutheran Woman's Quarterly. We take an offering, which is divided among our mission projects in December and May. Come and join us.
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First Lutheran Renovation Update
Parking Lot: The renovation of First Lutheran's parking lot is underway. The old pavement has been removed as well as old sidewalks. As construction proceeds we will see a storm water retention area established along the south side of the church. There will still be space to park cars on the grass at that location. A driveway will be built along the south covered walkway so that people can be dropped off or picked up at the covered walkway. In addition to the new paving, new lighting and landscaping (trees and shrubs) will complete the project. The anticipated completion of the project is around April 1. Scherer Construction, the general contractor for the project, has assured us that we will be able to park in the lot for Sunday worship services and in the evenings for choir practice and other meetings. Please note that some areas may be restricted due to the construction. Wear "sensible shoes" while the lot is under construction.
Altar Refurbishment: Last year we installed the new altar and new brushed stainless steel supports for the altar rail. Over the next two months we will be refinishing the pulpit, lectern, and baptismal font to match the stain on the new altar. We will replace the white laminate on the pulpit, lectern, baptismal font and flower shelves with wood stained to match these refinished items. Brushed stainless steel trim will be added. Be aware that for a few weeks this project will be" a work in progress."
Speaking of Altar refurbishment - The Greek letters that were on the center panel of the old altar have been framed and hung on the north wall of the Narthex. Thanks to Tom Wendling, member at First Lutheran, for his beautiful work in preserving this decorative symbol from the old altar.
Norm Nesheim, Trustee
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Parent Bible Study
All parents are invited to join Stephanie Karolus for a Parent Bible Study on Wednesday, February 7, at 6:45pm. We are currently going through the Bible Study "Parenting: Loving our Children with God's Love". If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Karolus.
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Open Arms Volunteers
Volunteers are needed at Open Arms!! If you can read out loud or say "Good Morning!", then you can help us out!! Volunteers are needed to read to Open Arms students, you can volunteer once a week, once a month, or whatever fits into your schedule. You can read from the book selection in the Open Arms Library or borrow some books that Stephanie Karolus has tucked away in her office. Volunteers are also needed to greet parents and students in the morning as they come in. All you need to be able to do is smile, wave, and say "Good Morning!" By volunteering at Open Arms in these two ways, you are sure to bring a smile to both parents and children! If you are interested in reading or greeting please contact Stephanie Karolus
(352-376-2062) or Angie Burr (352-373-5856).
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Florida/Georgia High School Youth Gathering
All students who will have completed their Freshman through Senior Year of High School the summer of 2019 are eligible to attend the 2019 LCMS National Youth Gathering. We will be having an interest meeting on February 11 following worship in the Youth Room. If you have a student who is interested in attending the National Youth Gathering in 2019, but is unable to attend the meeting in February, please contact Stephanie Karolus -
[email protected]
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2019 LCMS National Youth Gathering Interest Meeting
All students who will have completed their Freshman through Senior Year of High School the summer of 2019 are eligible to attend the 2019 LCMS National Youth Gathering. We will be having an interest meeting on February 11 following worship in the Youth Room. If you have a student who is interested in attending the National Youth Gathering in 2019, but is unable to attend the meeting in February, please contact Stephanie Karolus - [email protected]
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February Women's Book Club
Do you like to read? Do you like to eat? Come join the FLC Women's Book Club at Sweetberries on February 18 following Sunday Worship. This month we are reading books by Chaim Potok. Grab a book from your local library and join us for a wonderful discussion! If you have any questions please call Shirley Bagnall (378-1202).
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Walk with Jesus
Join us for a Church-wide Easter Event as we walk with Jesus through Holy Week! This event for all ages will be on March 16th, from 5:30-7:30pm. If you have any questions, please talk with Stephanie Karolus (352-376-2062).
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Gainesville Community Ministries
A decision has been made to adjust our commitment to Gainesville Community Ministries while our parking lot is being modernized. During the next few weeks it will be hard to move filled boxes of food from cars to temporary places at church, and then move them again to GCM. We are going to delay the usual food gathering from February to March in the hope that by then we'll have a clearer workable plan for this project. Besides the parking lot problem, John and I will not be in Gainesville for two weeks in February.
We will have empty boxes for you to fill and the usual instruction sheets on February 4 and 11 if you would like to start early in collecting the needed items. Please do not bring filled boxes back to church before March 4.
Thank you all for your willing herts to participate in this project, and your generosity to the people who benefit by your kindness. We are proud to be a part of this ongoing project.
Judy Helling
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Tuesday Tasters
This month we are going to meet at a new place that has been recommended by several ladies. Sounds like a good choice, and a nice way to stretch our wings!
Date:Tuesday February 20
Time: 11:30am
The Place: Mexico Lindo
Address: 7070 SW Archer Rd. It will be on the north side of Archer Road. If you get to SW 75th street you have gone too far!
I will not be joining you as John and I will be away. Judi Steffen has agreed to take your response of whether you will be joining the group or not. Please call Judi Steffen at 378-0929. Please get your reservation in by Friday, February 16 as they are not open on Monday's and would like to know how many are coming before Tuesday the 20th.
Have a good together, Judy Helling
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