|
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
|
Living Water or Water for Living?
(from my Pentecost Sermon, by request)
Last week, a killer who happens to be a cop held his knee on the neck of a black man in Minneapolis. This was after the man, George Floyd was beaten by the police. Floyd was pleading for his life, gasping, "I can't breathe." The killer cop, surrounded by other colleagues, killed Floyd and every major news outlet in the country showed that video this week. In another incident in a New York park, a woman called the police on a black man who was simply asking her to leash her huge dog in the public park. She said to him, "I'm going to call the cops and tell them that I'm being threatened by an African American man." The video shows her feigning an attack and becoming hysterical. In fact, she was threatening him, knowing what often happens to black men when accused of the slightest perceived threat to anyone, more so a white woman. A sad week for America.
In the midst of this and the uncertainties causes by the virus, I mean the coronavirus also, I read the text for last week from John 7, which by the way, was also written in a time of uncertainty and sadness. What is Pentecost and what does it mean for us today?
Jesus was attending the Festival of the Tabernacles, which was commemorated in the Temple to remember freedom from slavery in Egypt, Africa. Imagine that, non-Africans being slaves in Africa, and today the tables are turned for those of African descent, by systemic racism. When we talk of ANYTHING systemic we don't talk of laws, treaties or monuments. We talk of living. How people live? How we live? The Pentecost text is all about how we are empowered to live, regardless of monuments and forms - regardless of whether church (the monument) is open or the liturgy (the form) is altered. Pentecost has special meaning for you and me today.
During the Festivals the priests poured water on the altar as part of their rituals. Tradition has it that, the pouring of water symbolized that life came from the altar in the temple. Jesus is once again raising the fact that God is with us and not in temples and places. The law is not written on stone and parchment or books and treaties, but in our hearts. God by His Spirit lives in us, those who believe (v.39).
Bishop Eaton, our Presiding bishop said in an interview with CNN this week, "The church has never been closed. Church is open in all we continue to do. Church is in our homes. Church is in all the work we continue to do for justice and care of the poor. Worship is still taking place, online and in other ways in our homes. Church has never been closed." Well said, Bishop! I think she was talking about us in Gainesville.
You see, God is not confined to the temple of brick and mortar. God is not confined to the altar. God is not confined or determined by a particular space. Jesus was saying, "God, through the Spirit resides in us who believe."
To take the water ritual of the temple festivals further, Jesus explains, "Out of the believer's heart, shall flow rivers of living water." True life in Christ is not in ritual confined to religious places and forms. True life in Christ is about what resides IN us and what comes out of us.
When I looked at "living water", for the longest time I've seen "living" as describing the water. As I'm discern it today, it is not a descriptor of the water! Living stands on its own. Water for living. Out of our hearts, out of our bellies, says another translation, out of our innermost being, shall flow water to enable us to live. It's not the water that is living, but it is the believer that is living! How am I living? How are you living? Without the luxury of Christian fellowship and regular ritual, how are we living?
Jesus is saying to us, as Paul put it, your bodies, you, your being... is the temple of the Holy Spirit. How is your temple? Those of us that are prone to talk to ourselves - I'm doing that more as I grow older - let's ask ourselves, "Temple, how are you doing?" Hmm. Perhaps it needs cleaning. Now I'm not talking about detoxing and burning fat and all that - although that is good during these times - I'm talking about tending to the soul in prayer, in reading of scripture, and then reaching out to others to tend our souls and the souls of others.
Put differently, how is your river - that river of living water? Is it empty or running dry? According to research by federal agencies, during this coronavirus over one third of people in America show unprecedented levels of anxiety and depression. People are running on empty, and spiritual emptiness is a major part of that. If we are honest with ourselves, we know that we are affected too.
Yet there remains a source of water. The well whose source is Jesus, not the temple or the altar. And, you know what? Because of Pentecost, the entry of God the Spirit into the believer's life, we have a pump to draw that water. By the Spirit, we can live overcoming lives. Our temples can be living, our rivers can be flowing and our temples can be made new. Then, we can live as witnesses in the midst of all kinds of systemic evil and anxiety. I trust that today, right now, you are drawing that water for living. Worship in Spirt and in Truth draws that water. That is why we do worship. Now let that water flow so we will not just do church but be church. Amen!
Peace and Blessings
Pr. Terrance
|
|
Bishop Suarez
|
Coming Back Together for Worship Resources
(Joint effort of Synod Bishops, adapted for the Florida-Bahamas Synod, by Bp. Pedro M. Suarez)
There will be great excitement when we are able to come together for worship again. However, because we are months away from an effective regimen of treatment, and a year away from a vaccine, we will still need to practice excessive hygiene and social distancing. As you're planning ahead, here are some recommendations:
First of all, as your Bishop, I will be updating you weekly on any new information we receive. As for now, I implore you not to return to regular worship in your church buildings for the next couple of weeks.
- Decide as a Congregation Council when you begin worship again. Just because you can does not mean you should. Consider the age and demographic of your congregation to decide when it is right for you to begin in-person worship again. Pay close attention to the advice of our local health authorities.
- Check with your insurance carrier; some will not cover you if you begin too soon.
- Publish your service times and let people know what new practices of physical distancing and hygiene to expect when they return.
- Insist that people stay at home if they're immunocompromised. Many of our seniors are lonely, bored, and yearning for community in this crisis. They will probably not listen to you unless you insist.
- Disinfect the public spaces before people arrive, and between each service and gathering.
- Invite everyone to use face masks even during singing, as Covid19 is airborne.
- Train ushers/greeters to not shake hands or pass out bulletins. If you have screens in your sanctuary, don't use bulletins at all. If bulletins are necessary, place them spaced out in every-other-pew by Tuesday or Wednesday, as viruses don't live on the paper for more than 4-5 days. Some viruses live only minutes on paper, but we aren't sure about COVID-19 yet.
- Offering plates should be placed on a table as people enter and exit. Greeters can stand behind the table warmly welcoming worshipers from a distance.
- Prop open inside and outside doors (and if possible, bathroom doors), so no one touches a doorknob or handle.
- Pass the peace with a simple bow to those on your right and left.
- During announcements thank people for coming, and politely remind them not to shake hands or hug yet.
- Holy Communion instructions will be given later in this report.
- Offering at the doors as people enter and exit as mentioned above. Use the offering time to talk about the church's and synod's vital ongoing ministries. Let people write checks. Let them know: What's still happening? Why does it matter? How are lives being impacted? How is your church serving people during this crisis physically and spiritually?
- Offering counters should use the same protocols as bank tellers, sanitizing frequently and sitting at a distance.
- Greeters stand at the tables as people leave to thank them for coming and answer questions. Encourage greeters to check in with people and listen for needs.
- Continue to adopt and encourage electronic giving.
Preparing for Communion
As we still are not sure about this virus, not having Holy Communion is the healthiest. However, we know that many are eager to receive our Lord in His Holy Supper. If you decide to take the risk and celebrate the Eucharist, here are some suggestions:
- Altar Guild and Communion Assistants must think of their work in terms of food service preparation, like going through a drive-through restaurant. Does anyone in your congregation work in the restaurant industry? Have any had food handing training? They could be a helpful resource.
- We do not recommend parking lot communion until your community has had 14 days of declining cases, and at that point, worship could carefully resume.
- Communion preparers must wash hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds prior to preparing Communion. Washing is twice as effective as hand sanitizer.
- Gloves may be used to prepare, but can be deceiving. If a glove touches a contaminated space and then then a plate or tray, it still passes the contamination on. It is best to wash hands thoroughly and frequently.
- Common cup is usually the most sanitary means of communion since most germs are on the hands. This virus, however, is passed on by airborne droplets, and so we recommend not using either common cup or intinction until Phase 3.
- Although not recommended yet, plastic and glass individual cups could both be equally clean. Glass and reusable plastic cups should be soaked for a minute in soapy water after the service. Consider using a diluted chlorine soak after washing.
- Those preparing communion must wash their hands, then place glasses in trays sufficiently spaced so that communicants can take their cup without touching the others. After filling the cups with wine, the trays are placed on the altar. There is still the risk of airborne particles.
- Plastic-wrapped wafers are being considered (not recommended) and could be emptied onto patens without touching them. There should be separate patens for each communion assistant distributing bread.
- The wafer is safer: We do not recommend using bread for a while, whether homemade or from the store. Bread requires more handling than wafers.
- Pastor and communion assistants should wash hands during the offering. Washing is significantly more effective than hand sanitizer. (You've touched stuff during the service.)
- The pastor should consecrate the elements without touching them. The fraction and elevation are optional and should be omitted for the time being.
- Those distributing wafers should try to avoid touching communicants' hands as much as possible.
- Those distributing wine should only touch the trays, holding them out for communicants to take a cup.
- It is best, for a number of reasons, for communion assistants to commune last. This keeps them attentive to hygiene during distribution, and also makes the congregation aware that communion assistants are confident.
- Communing in one kind (only wafer) is acceptable, recommended, and appropriate. The crucified and risen Christ is fully present for them in, with, and under one element. (UMG 44D)
+ Bp. Pedro
The Rev. Pedro M. Suarez, Bishop
Florida-Bahamas Synod, ELCA
|
|
Council President's Report
|
I want to thank everyone who took the time to attend the virtual congregational meeting on May 24
th. It was wonderful to "see" so many of you and have a discussion around the Synod proposal regarding the sharing of Pastor Terrance's time with Gethsemane Lutheran Church.
At our council meeting on May 25
th, Janet Janke shared the following and I wanted to share it with all of you (some may have already seen it):
When faithful are scattered in every age
due to persecution, disaster or plague
we persist in worship and service
in sacrament and sacrifice
feeding the hungry
clothing the naked
welcoming the stranger
bringing good news for the poor
working to free the captive & oppressed.
Our highest calling is to BE THE CHURCH
not go to church.
While it may be some time before we can worship together in person again, it is imperative that we continue the work of the church, and therefore still need to prayerfully consider our offering to the church. Please refer to the letter sent out in April listing a variety of ways you may continue to provide your offering to the church. If you prefer to use the mail system, you may send your offering to either the church or Jim Yale (8520 SW 99
th
Place, Gainesville 32608). If you find that electronic funds transfer is more convenient for you, the GivePlus app or other electronic means may be set up including Venmo. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me (
rjborgert@gmail.com
) if you have any questions or wish to have anything communicated to the council.
Sincerely,
Becky Borgert, UELC Council President
|
|
Wednesday Noon Prayer by Zoom
|
Wednesday Noon Prayers by Zoom continues with a 10-minute devotional using "Christ in our home". Then prayer requests are listed and prayed over each week. The session is then left open for another 20 minutes for optional fellowship. You can also join by phone (see e-mail for calling numbers).
Join by clicking below:
Contact Pastor Jacob at 612-202-8667, if you have problems connecting.
|
June Birthdays
6/13 Peter Fauerbach
6/21 Donna Day
6/22 Anna MontMarquette
6/22 Victoria Stutzman
6/24 Sharon Grant
6/25 Lois Wilkowske
6/27 Kjell Ryerson
Continued Prayer Concerns
- Prayers for healing: Agnes Martinson, Lois Wilkowske, Dutch Schirmer, Ron and B
everly Gronwall, Les O'Brien
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
Peace, gratitude and health!
Amy Schirmer
|
|
|
Lutherans In Fellowship Together [LIFT] has gone virtual during this time when we cannot have the usual monthly meetings in the Kaiser Center at UELC!
Check your in-box each Thursday for LIFTvT [LIFTviaTechnology] programs.
The program during the month of June will be ELCA Colleges/Universities/Seminaries.
Ron Bauldree
|
|
|
Cam
pus/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. Right now they are going through the Gospel of John.
For inquiries contact Krissi and Dan Norford (keb.dan@gmail.com).
|
|
|
Choir is not meeting. Crystal and Moses continue to work on the music selection and virtual "practice" on a song by song basis in order to adapt to virtual worship. This is changing each week as we become more equipped. Crystal will be in touch with choir members directly as and if this changes.
|
The Bee - What's Happening?
|
The Bee is not meeting for now.
Blessings,
The Bee
|
|
|
Adult Forum is not meeting for now.
Contact Dan Norford for more information: keb.dan@gmail.com
|
|
|
The lastest Ministry Update from Village of Hope - Haiti
May 13, 2020
I want to start this update with a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the current situation in Haiti, as the country battles the Covid-19 pandemic. We asked for prayers of protection and mercy for Haiti, and as of today, the current situation is better than anyone could have expected. On May 12, 2020, the Haitian government reported 18 deaths related to Covid-19. There are 219 confirmed cases but testing is very limited. The threat is not over, and the situation is most likely to get worse. But, we praise the Lord that Haiti has not experienced the catastrophe that most predicted.
Social distancing and the wearing of masks are both still mandatory, but not everyone is obeying the requirement. Open markets are still open 3 days a week. We have been searching for personal protection equipment for weeks, and just this week, we were able to find the appropriate equipment we need for the health center. We would like to reopen the health center by June 1st if we can locate and purchase all of the necessary equipment to keep our staff and patients safe.
The teachers, parents, and students are all waiting anxiously for news from the Ministry of Education regarding the plan to reopen schools. There has been very little information shared with the public, and we know that the top priority is to keep everyone safe and healthy. We are hoping for an update in the next few weeks.
Thank you for praying for a miracle in Haiti. Please continue to pray for our students, teachers, and health center staff. May you and your family stay safe and healthy!
In Christ, Dan Zieschang, Executive Director of VOH Haiti
|
Our Pastor and Staff
Crystal Jacob
Minister of Music (Direct Choir and music-related ministries)
Moses Choi
Pianist
|
|
|
Please send any articles for the June newsletter by June 28th to Andy Noss
andrew.noss@yahoo.com
|
|
June 7
June 14
June 21
June 28
Altar Guild
June 7
June 14
June 21
June 28
Lector
June 7
June 14
June 21
June 28
Ushers
June 7
June 14
June 21
June 28
Greeters
June 7
June 14
June 21
June 28
Sound Assistant
June 7
June 14
June 21
June 28
Counters
June 7
June 14
June 21
June 28
|
Still Collecting Diapers!
We are still collecting infant/toddler diapers for Gainesville Community Ministry. You can put them in the lime green container in the Kaiser Center.
Gainesville Community Ministry says they often get plenty of newborn and small infant diapers, but not a lot of the larger size (fitting 20 pounds and up).
So, if you could, donate some of the larger sizes.
If you have questions, you can contact Krissi Norford.
|
|
 |
|
