Our Mission

Pastor's Corner

The day after Christmas, a light went out in the world. That light originated in Africa. South Africa, to be more specific. In the 1980s that light went to the US and other parts of the West to be a light to all. After ninety years on earth, this light which was honored by a Nobel Peace Prize, went back to the originator of that Light that we celebrated at Christmas. Turns out that the light that went out was actually a reflection of The “true light”, Jesus Christ.

Christ called us to be light to the world (Matthew 5:14). Our light ought not to be hid but held up high, even up to the echelons of power, so that God’s righteousness can be seen and darkness exposed.  Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu let his light so shine before all people that they may see the good works and glorify God (Matt 5:16). That light went out in the world the day after Christmas.

The first is when we were a group of 25 young church activists, meeting after 8 months of training to get ready to be commissioned. It was 1985 and Archbishop Tutu was in between all his international trips to garner support to end apartheid, yet he spent a day or so with us in an out-of-town retreat center. He said a lot to us in his typical Tutu-inspirational manner, but the moment that stands out for me was his standing with his finger pointing, as if to pierce our faces: “Now listen, before you go out and be activists (change agents) in the world, remember to start the day with prayer and bible reading. Don’t you dare go out without doing that!” We then engaged him about his own practices, and he said that he was up every morning at 5 o’clock to pray and be alone with God before he did anything else.

The second instance was about 10 years later, when I invited the Arch to address a Briefing of around 100 ecumenical church people, including judicatories, clergy and lay leaders. He was not able to travel to us for good reason. So I wrote him a thank-you letter and very soon after, I received a letter from the Arch saying, “Rev. Terrance, I write to thank you for your thank-you letter… in which you kindly thanked even my staff by name…” Taking the time to write a thank-you letter to a thank-you letter to someone who was barely known in his circles! That showed the humility of the man as he shone the light of Christ.

Council President's Report

The UELC council met on Tuesday December 14, 2021 via Zoom.

On Sunday December 19^th after worship service, part one of the UELC annual congregational meeting was held in order to elect members to service roles for 2022 and to pass the proposed 2022 UELC operating budget. Many thanks to the nominating committee of Ronald Gordon and Jackie Klein for providing a slate of candidates for the audit committee and the 2022 church council. Thank you to all of those who were willing to serve including Gene Ryerson and Rick Dienhart for the audit committee and Dan Norford for council. Please note that there is still one vacant position on the church council and if anyone is interested in serving the church in this capacity, please speak to Pastor or any member of council. We will continue to hold monthly council meetings via Zoom for the foreseeable future which may allow some to serve who might have difficulty with in-person meetings. Another huge thank you to Ron Bauldree for his tireless work on behalf of the church, including the drafting of the 2022 proposed budget which was passed by the congregation.

There is no doubt that 2020 and 2021 have been challenging years for our congregation alongside the rest of the world as we navigate our way through this global pandemic. I pray that 2022 will allow our congregation to continue to move forward and look towards a brighter future for the church, our community, and the world.

Best regards,

Becky Borgert

Church Announcements

UELC People

Hello Church Family,

As Secretary of Council, I need to report to you that there are needs of our institution, property and wellbeing that require all our attention, time and treasure. Council recognizes that it has been tough in this time of distance worship and Pandemic regulation to appeal for and offer willing help.

As you may know, Martin has had to resign as Property Committee Chair this early summer and has had no luck in securing a successor. He has formulated a list of tasks that he has been responsible for over the past many years to help prepare a future Committee for all eventualities.

Council is seeking help. It has come to our attention that the responsibilities may be too much for a single chair or even co-chairs. And to that end it seems that the task might be divided into 3 categories:

1.     Ground Maintenance

2.     Sanctuary and Kaiser Apartment Maintenance including student apartment rental

3.     1902 House and Yard Maintenance and rentals

Rick Ezzell has been diligent in his regular lawn maintenance, but our outside property is in need of more. One of our football parker customers saw the need to bring his own equipment in order to address some of the neglect. While we are very grateful for that assistance it is not a recurrent gift we may rely on.

Council has considered paid management, but our finances are very tight and much of the workload may be accomplished by church members on a rotating basis if no one person is able or willing to step up.

1.     Ground Maintenance means we need someone to organize church wide workdays to trim bushes, pull weeds, remove trash, etc. all around our church property. We are hoping that our CYAM group will be able to help with this task. This task requires someone willing to get on the phone!

2.     Sanctuary and Kaiser Center maintenance, we need someone willing to answer the call when problems arise and repairs are needed. You do not necessarily be equipped with the skill to fix a problem, but you do need to be willing to contact the appropriate repair service to get the problem fixed; to be supervising the work or ask for help from someone willing to be on premises and sign off on the charge; to order and purchase whatever is required if a service is not indicated.

3.     1902 House maintenance involve not just the above regular types of repairs, but also and more time intensive function as rental and contact agents for future tenants.

At the moment our social media and communications are managed - faithful Andy Noss is editing the Lampstand, Pastor is managing our FaceBook presence, and yours truly is updating the website periodically; the latter needs greater skill, and I am ready to pass the baton.

A document of Detailed Proposed Property Committee Tasks and Repair Resources will be available upon request in the Church Office.

Please if you are willing to help with any of these areas contact Council. Our very survival as a functioning Church Family depends on all of us contributing to take care of the physical health our temple of God.

Please contact Council President Becky Borgert or any Council member.

Cheering us on,

Vibeke Vala, Council Secretary

Offering Direct Deposits

Fair Trade

A bulk order for fair trade products will be placed in late January. Do you need a case of coffee, tea, or chocolate? Also, we can order a case of six bottles of olive oil from Palestine if we have enough people who would like a bottle or two (for about $11 each). Contact Joan Anderson for orders or questions. Thanks to all who support the work of small-farmers around the world!

LIFT

Due to the Covid pandemic LIFT (Lutherans In Fellowship Together) has not met for its monthly potluck luncheons for the past two years. We plan on restarting the luncheons by the summer of this new year. Of course, that depends on a lessening of the impact that Covid-19 and it many variants have on our lives. Let us all be responsible and stay safe. 

Many thanks to Janet Janke for the beautiful, uplifting LIFT articles that has kept the spirit of the program alive. She is taking a break from gathering and providing the articles. Again, much thanks Janet.

LIFT coordinator 

The Bee

A BUNDLE OF BOOKS FROM THE BEE FOR KEIRA

Keira, newly arrived from El Salvador is now happily enrolled in the fifth grade at Parker Elementary School. A special gift of books was given to her by the Bee at University Lutheran through the school counselor. She will likely learn English very quickly!

Other family members include a toddler and an infant, along with their mother, Estefani. They are safely settled in Gainesville and pray for the arrival of their father/husband who is stranded somewhere at the Mexican border. The family could be here six to twelve months or longer if the husband is able to join them. Of course it all depends if their application for asylum is approved, but they may like to make Gainesville their home and begin to work when they can and share themselves with new friends in the community.

Several area churches and student groups have been eagerly providing for all their needs in the first month or so. Fortunately there are many in the community who are fluent in Spanish who are accompanying them and offering hospitality. They have been able to attend worship at St. Augustine Catholic Church on several Sundays, and at Emmanuel Mennonite Church.

Thanks to the Bee for reaching out and to congregation members who have inquired about their needs. It may be that they will need appreciate support from and interaction with our congregation once they are more settled and initial donations of time and funds diminish. I will communicate what needs and opportunities arise. Ongoing welcome is so important for successful stability and well-being in a new place.

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]).

Adult Forum

Adult Forum is not meeting for now.

Contact Dan Norford for more information: [email protected]

Village of Hope

Our Pastor and Staff