University Evangelical Lutheran Church
and Campus Ministry

The Lampstand - April 2021
Our Mission

UELC's Mission:
To Embrace and Share the Love of God in Jesus Christ, as the Holy Spirit Empowers us.

UELC's Guiding Principles:
Jesus is our Lord and Saviour; therefore, we are to:
  • Worship God in inspiring, diverse, and creative ways
  • Be a community engaged in spiritual practices that attune us to the Holy Spirit's guidance for our living
  • Welcome all people in their diversity to worship, learn, and serve with us
  • Be a safe place to learn, explore, and debate
  • Be generous stewards of the gifts God has given each of us to bless others and care for the natural world
  • Continue outreach to, and further develop connections with, the academic communities of Alachua County
  • Affirm human rights and work for social justice
Pastor's Corner
Council President's Report

Dear UELC Congregational Family,

Happy Easter!

In addition to the regular council meeting in March, the council also participated in a joint meeting with the UELC Covid task force advisory committee to continue making plans for a safe return to in-person worship. There are many issues to be considered and we need to balance the workload issues of the current online worship services and how that will be impacted upon return to in person worship. We fully intend to follow the medical and scientific guidelines that are put forth while acknowledging that these guidelines are not prescriptive for every given situation and we need to determine how to apply those guidelines in the context of in person worship. I would ask for your prayers for discernment and also encourage anyone with thoughts/ideas/questions to reach out to me or any member of council, we would welcome your input! 

Best regards,
Becky Borgert 
COVID-19 Vaccination Registration - Alachua County Residents 18+

This provides a link to register for COVID-19 vaccination if you are 18 years or older:

Church Announcements

Wednesday Noon Prayer and Connection by Zoom
UELC People






APRIL Birthdays 

4/15     Kathy Brill
4/15     Richard Dienhart
4/19     Sam Brill
4/21     Jim Yale
4/21     Evan Griswold
4/22     Stephan Jahn
4/23     Vibeke Vala
4/27     Seth Borgert
4/30     Ronald Gordon





We isolate now
So when we gather again
   No one is missing








Continued Prayer Concerns

Prayers for healing: Lois Wilkowske, Schirmer family, Ron and Beverly Gronwall, Les O'Brien, Cecilia Noss
Worship Committee



Crystal Jacob, Minister of Music for UELC Worship Committee
Finances Update

Members that wish to submit their offerings may do so in a
couple of ways. You may send your check to either UELC office or mail them to me at 8520 SW 99th Place, 32608. Either way I will get them to the bank. Since there is no cash to be counted, it is appropriate that we don't need two counters, as we normally have. In addition to the deposit book entries, each check is photocopied for our records and accountability.
Jim Yale.
Family Promise Update


Amy Schirmer - [email protected]
LIFT

LIFTvT will resume after Easter on April 8, 2021.
Young Adult Ministry

Campus/Young Adult Ministry weekly meetings on Thursdays, 5:30-7:00.

Young Adult and Student Ministry continues to meet by Zoom and are studying the Bible.

For inquiries contact Krissi and Dan Norford ([email protected]).
The Bee has Been Busy!

• Loretta Fauerbach and her friend Lucy Terrell made over 90 masks that were delivered to the Guidance Office at Parker Elementary School in March. The children are excited when they are given one of these masks made with child friendly prints to wear at school.
 
• Twenty-four Book & Blanket Bags were also given in March to Parker Elementary School to be given to children selected by the Guidance Counselor. It gives these children the message someone cares!
 
• The Bee continues to send out Birthday Cards each month to UELC members.
 
• The Bee continues to send out The Stories Beehind the Hymns each Tuesday via email. We thank Andy Noss for making this possible.

Blessings,
The Bee
Adult Forum

Adult Forum is not meeting for now.

Contact Dan Norford for more information: [email protected]
Village of Hope

Lazarus Project Sponsorships
 
The 2021 sponsorship renewal time is here for the students at Village of Hope School in Haiti.
 
The cost to sponsor one child is still $480 a year. This can be paid annually, quarterly, or monthly at $40 a month. Another option is for two or three people to share a sponsorship of a child.
 
Checks should be made out to University Lutheran Church and put in your offering envelope with the notation “Lazarus Project” on the special gift line and also on the memo line of your check.  Checks should be mailed to either the church or to Jim Yale. Your contribution will be reflected on your UELC statement of giving.
 
Sponsorships enable the Village of Hope to provide each child with a Christian education, uniforms, two meals each school day, and dental and medical care. 
 
For additional information contact Janet Janke,
Lazarus Project Coordinator at University Lutheran Church, at [email protected] or 372-8610.


STEM Program at Village of Hope
 
This article is from their March newsletter.
 
A Professional Development program for VOH science and math teachers will be presented virtually on March 30th. Developed at the request of Principal Clovis Elias, the program will show VOH teachers how to use hands on experiments to reinforce theories taught in the nationally mandated Earth and Life Sciences curriculum, which is the academic course of study for VOH secondary school students
 
Parents of VOH students have been asking Principal Clovis to develop education programs that will prepare students for productive careers but will also encourage them to remain in the Ganthier area. Most VOH students and their families live in the valley below the school where the soil is fertile and potentially very productive. Therefore, the science experiments demonstrated will use subjects related to agriculture.
 
Clovis’ goal is to excite VOH students about careers in agriculture, by demonstrating how science, technology, engineering, and math can be applied to rebuild the agriculture industry in the Ganthier valley.
 
First, however, teachers themselves must be comfortable with hands-on experimentation as an instructional method. The program is being planned by faculty from Purdue University College of Agriculture and will be taught by high school agriculture teachers from Indiana, sharing the same techniques and demonstrations they use with their own high school students. Soil and water testing, and cell division are the first topics to be covered.
 
Principal Clovis intends to expand these experimentation methods to other grades and topics in the future. The VOH science lab already has microscopes and most other equipment to support the instruction. A Purdue delegation first visited the VOH campus in 2018 to being planning such a program, but political unrest – and now Covid restrictions – have prevented in-person presentation. Thanks to the computer center and strong internet connection now available on campus, a virtual program is possible and will be used until we can return to in-person visits to campus.
Our Pastor and Staff

Pastor Terrance Jacob
Pastor, Congregation and Campus Ministry

Crystal Jacob
Minister of Music (Direct Choir and music-related ministries)

Moses Choi
Pianist

Evelyn Simmons
Administrative Assistant