Lake Deaton Happenings

A Message from Pastor Kristyne
This week has been kind of a bummer of a week for me. It has been a bummer of a week because I flipped over the page on the Summer Study planning chart and saw what I had planned back in March. In March, I had planned that on July 31 we would talk about Psalm 91. If you remember we started out the Pandemic saying we were going to say Psalm 91 for 91 days and post a video of someone saying it. Well, we did a really good job of that for about 45 day and then we quit. I will own that one. I couldn't get people to send in videos, so I just stopped posting Psalm 91 on Facebook. But my failure with the Psalm 91 project is not the reason I am bummed out. Even though this last week we did hit the 91st day of Pandemic. The reason I am bummed out is because of what I wrote we were going to talk about on Friday July 31. In my planning notes I wrote "Activity: What did Psalm 91 mean to you during the Pandemic? Write about this in your journal." Did you catch it? I used the past tense. In March, when I was doing all the planning I was just so sure that by the end of July all of this COVID stuff was going to be over. "What did Psalm 91 mean to you during the time of Pandemic?" Ugh! What a bummer. I was sure we would be back to normal by now, but we are not. I was sure we would be having Men's Prayer Breakfast, in person by now, but we are not. I was sure we would be having Bible Studies in our wonderful classrooms by now, but we are not. I was sure we would be having so many things by now, but we are just not. And by the looks of things it looks like it is going to be a lot longer than 90 more days until we are back to having things again. Sigh.

But, this is just a season, and we can get through a season. Sometimes winters are short and sometimes winters are long. This winter is just going to be an especially long one, but I keep reminding myself that it will be okay. We will gather together again. We will be able to hold classes together again. Men's Prayer Breakfast will gather together again, in-person, and eat together again. We will shake hands again. We will hug again. And as for now, well in the words of Psalm 91, "those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

We will just continue to be in the winter, but we will be in the winter in the shadow of the Almighty. This should be a time when the world rests, a time when we rest, a time when we curl up with a good book and draw closer to our God. A time when we gather in our living rooms and our our lanais, with small intimate groups of friends to watch worship services, instead of venturing out. This should be a time of learning how to grow and connect in new ways, through Zoom classes, in Google Classroom, email studies or just by us picking up our Bible to read on our own. This should be a time when we reach out to those who we physically cannot see, by writing letters, or making phone calls or sending emails. This should be a time to discover new or rediscover old ways to connect with each other. And above all, this should be a time that we continue to remember to serve those in the community who are in need, by picking up extra groceries, by tipping a little extra, or by being extra kind to those who are working to serve you.

So yes, this is just a season, and we can get through it, let's do all the things we should do, so when we look back at it, when things are back to "normal" we will be able to say we lived this season well.

Blessings,
Prayer and Care Ministry 
We believe that meeting the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of our church and neighbors is what showing the love of Christ is all about. We have volunteers devoted to the care of persons, including ministries of prayer, meals, and member connection. If you are facing a challenge, have a prayer request, or want to serve as a volunteer, please let us know. In case of a death of a loved one or a hospitalization, let us know so a Care Minister can support you through this time.

For Prayer and Care Ministries needs, please email   Denise Herzberg   by clicking   here .
 
Prayer Concerns:

Bryan Richards, Doris Ruiter’s pastor’s family back in Wisconsin-especially Silvia Von Hayden, Dennis and Linda Warner and Linda’s parents (Marsha and Warren), Lu Steele
We invite you to stop by the church lobby this week and tie a knot or say a prayer at home and virtually tie a knot. We have many people who are physically tying the extra "virtual" knots in the quilts.

This Prayer Quilt is for:
Tom and Mary Jo Lewellen
Prayer for comfort, peace and healing during this season in their lives.

You can make a request for a prayer quilt on our website by clicking  here  .
Beyond the Broken Heart  Grief Support Group Coming Soon
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.  Ps.34:18   

If you've recently lost a loved one, you don't have to go through this journey alone. We will be starting an 8-week small group series using the  Beyond the Broken Heart  curriculum. If you would like information about this group, which will be led by Pastor Kris Schonewolf, please email Pastor Kris .
Prayer Service

Take 15 minutes of your time to pray. This is a 15 minute video for self-guided prayer. Click to this link and learn with Rev. Kris Schonewolf how to connect with God in prayer.
Couch Talk
Each week the pastors and sometimes staff members record a segment called couch talk. Couch talk is full of useful announcements for the coming weeks. We hope you take a moment each week to watch. 

Our couch talk is always linked on our   Facebook   page & our   YouTube   page.
Discipleship & Connecting
Name Tags - Click here to order!
Continue to Help us Update the Database

If you did not get a chance to fill out a Data Transfer Form before July 1, that is okay. However, we still need to populate our database with your information. Please help us to be able to care for you and stay connected with you by filling out our Congregant Information Card. Again, if you already filled out a Data Transfer Form you do not need to fill out this card. But if you did not fill out the Transfer Form please take a few minutes to fill out the card and send it to us or drop it off at the church office.
We Miss Seeing You!

Starting next Wednesday, July 22 , we are going to be visiting different Villages for a Golf Cart parade (or cars when we venture over to the other side of 44). On July 22 we will be visiting the Village of Lake Deaton . If you live in that village plan to be outside starting at 4:00pm , you never know when we are going to cruse on by. If you don't live in that village and want to be part of the parade plan on joining us at the church at 3:45 to line up. Decorated signs saying "We Miss You" or "Lake Deaton UMC Loves You" are greatly appreciated! And just to make it extra fun each month will have a bonus theme for those of you who want to decorate your golf carts and dress up! The month of July we will have the theme of: Christmas in July ! Coming in August: Fun in the Sun!

Each week we will announce a new village that we will be visiting and hopefully we will have others who will join in the parade. Please call the church office if you have any questions.
Outreach
Bargains and Blessings Donations Drop-Off - It's this Monday!!!

Have you been cleaning out your closets during this time of COVID? If you have guess what! The Bargains & Blessings truck will be here on Monday, July 20th from 9am to 12pm to take away all your stuff! All you need to do is swing by the church parking lot and we will safely take your stuff. If you are donating clothes please make sure they are in a clear bag.
Christmas in July

Empowering children and families to experience the transforming love of Christ through wholistic care.

Lake Deaton is committed to supporting the mission of the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home located near Enterprise, Florida.  This ministry was established in 1908 to provide a home for orphans and those rescued from abusive family situations.  Lake Deaton and New Covenant U.M. Churches are joining together to focus on helping stock the store at the Home which offers items the children can ‘purchase’ through the points they have accumulated in reward for their good and benevolent behavior.  This has proven to be a great behavior modification program.

            Because of the pandemic, this year we are using a REGISTRY for you to purchase specific items and/or gift cards which will be sent directly to Florida Children’s Home so we can practice safe distancing while also helping these children in need. 

How can you participate? 
  • Click on this link to view the registry.
  • Registry name is Lynn Bellomy's Registry. Lynn is employed by the Florida Children’s Home and working with us on this project.
  • Choose the specific items you want purchase.  There are two pages so make sure you visit the 2nd page of the registry. You do NOT need to have an account to make the purchase. Just follow the directions at checkout.
  • When you check out your order, use CONTINUE WITHOUT ACCOUNT. That defaults to the address for the Florida Children’s Home where the items will be sent. If you already have an account and log into it, it will send it to your home address. If you prefer to use your own account, change the mailing address to:

Lynn Bellomy
51 Children’s Way
Enterprise, Florida 32725

  •  Pray for the residents and staff at the Florida Children’s Home. This pandemic has been extra difficult for them because of living conditions and the cessation of many activities. 

Thank you for your extravagant generosity and for being the “hands and feet of Jesus”.  
Worship

In-Person Worship Update

This weekend we will continue offering hybrid worship. We encourage you to worship in the way that best meets your own personal needs. For most people this means that you will worship at home. You can tune into our LIVE services on Facebook, YouTube or on our website. Click  here   to discover where to watch our LIVE services on our website .

If your preference is to attend in-person worship, please make sure you read our phase one document. After reading and agreeing to the entire document you should register for weekend services. Registration opens each week on Monday and remains open until the service is full. To register please click the website button below.
Worship Attendance

Each week we calculate our online attendance from three sources: YouTube, Facebook and our Website. We also make a physical count at our in-person services.

Sat, July 11, 5pm - Online 71, In-person 36
Sun, July 12, 9am - Online 196, In-Person 34
Sun, July 12, 10:30am - Online 68, In-Person 27

We also appreciate your cooperation in "signing" the online "connection pad" at www.lakedeationumc.com/here. "Signing" the "connection pad" on the weekend is helpful because it helps us to better connect and care for you. It is also helping us to update our database. In the coming weeks we are going to debut "check-in" via our app. If you have not downloaded and signed onto our app yet, now is the time to do it. If you download the app, but are not able to sign in that might mean you are not in our database yet. If you did not fill out a Data Transfer Form in June or a Congregant Information Card please visit our website and download a form or swing by the church office to fill one out so we can get you in the database and able to check in on our app. You can also view our church directory, personal giving history, past services, couch talks and other important messages.

To download the app you can visit our website and click either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store OR you can just search in the app store for Church by MinistryOne. The app is a white cross on a purple field. After downloading search in the MinistryOne App for Lake Deaton UMC. If you have issues call the church office for assistance.
Volunteers Needed

Ushers and Greeters
Remember how you were greeted and welcomed when you first came to Lake Deaton? Now, we need YOUR help!  Ushers a nd Greeters ar e needed at our Saturday 5pm service and our Sunday 10:30 service. Some of the  ushers and greeters primary duties include welcoming people as they enter the worship space and directing people to seats. Volunteers usually arrive 30 minutes prior to their assigned service. If you are interested in volunteering or want to know more contact  Stan Hoover.
Connect with Us

Mailing Address: 
6500 Wesleyan Way, Wildwood, FL 34785

Lake Deaton Office Hours:
Monday to Thursday 9:00am to 4:30pm
Friday 9:00am to 1:00pm 

Office: Call 352-571-4665

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