University Evangelical Lutheran Church
and Campus Ministry

The Lampstand - January 2023
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

Storytelling

Each year in the season following the Epiphany -- the visit of the Magi to Jesus -- we contemplate two ways in which the light shines. Jesus calls disciples, inviting them to follow him. And we listen as he shares his vision of God’s reign with them in the already/not yet world of the Beatitudes.

And counterpoint to the first words and actions of Jesus the rabbi, we consider how the disciples and others struggle to figure out what it meant that Jesus has lived among them, died, and been raised by God. It’s challenging for us to read that even in the earliest days and years after Jesus, there was dissension. What was important? What was true? What was legend? And what was patently false? 

It's just as true for us today that we need to figure out for ourselves who Jesus is and what he means to us. Sometimes, it’s a weekly, or daily, or hourly challenge to answer that question for ourselves.

It’s also true for congregations in a world still suffering with plagues (covid, flu, RSV), with political dissent and violence, and a growing resistance to organized religion. What is the Church, the congregation, the individual believer to do? We take our lessons from the first believers and disciples. We tell the stories of Jesus and his impact on our own lives. What is true for you? What has belief in Jesus meant for you?

I know, I know. Lutherans are not known for telling our own stories, so it’s hard to recognize that we have them. It seems like boasting, which Paul tells us we shouldn’t do. But we do have stories, faith-filled stories of God’s interaction in our lives. And Paul does say we should boast in the Lord.

I hope we can work this year on telling our own faith stories, at least to ourselves if not to others. Here is a place to start: your baptism. What do you know about your baptism? Do you remember your baptism, or do you need to rely on others for the stories? Do you know the date? The place? Who was there? What did you wear? Who were your Godparents or sponsors? Are they/ were they active in your life? How so? Do you remember and celebrate your baptismal birthday?

I have a hunch you can tell the answer to most if not all of these questions. See, you do know a very important part of your faith story!
 
Happy New Year!
Pastor Lynn
President's Notes

Dear UELC family,

The council met on December 20, 2022 via Zoom. The December meeting of council consisted of a joint gathering of both the outgoing council for 2022 and the new members of the incoming council for 2023. The new council members participated as non-voting members until the adjournment of the meeting and then a second meeting was held with the new council for 2023 to establish officers, council liaisons and the meeting schedule for 2023. Many thanks to our outgoing council members Vibeke Vala, Donna Day and Janet Janke for all their diligent service on behalf of the congregation.

The council also commended the work of the Hospitality Action Committee (HAT) for all their work and service over the past month having been sadly called upon to host receptions for three separate celebration of life services during November and December. In addition, HAT provided the “finals survival” dinner to the campus ministry students and sent them home with a survival bag full of snacks. Lastly, we gathered for our first Advent celebration in many years and HAT once again helped to coordinate a marvelous brunch for all to enjoy.

Looking forward to 2023, we will hold the annual congregational meeting on Sunday, February 5th immediately following the worship service. In addition, we will soon commence planning our ministry focusing retreat. This will likely be the final step prior to the formation of a call committee as the council has completed the checklist and sustainability assessment and the history retreat was previously held. Stay tuned for more detailed information regarding the visioning retreat which will likely be held sometime in March.

If you have any questions for the council, please do not hesitate to contact me either in person or via email ([email protected])

Warm regards,
Becky Borgert
January Servants

Sunday, January 1
Preacher: Pr. Lynn Fonfara
Assisting Minister: Sam Borgert
Altar Guild: Jackie Klein
Lector: Sandy Bauldree
Ushers: Ron Fourman, Andy Noss
Sound Assistant: Melissa Singer
Video Assistant: Pat Dasler

Sunday, January 8
Preacher: Pr. Lynn Fonfara
Assisting Minister: Pat Dasler
Altar Guild: Elaine Manion
Lector: Sam Brill
Ushers: Jeanne Chamberlin, John MontMarquette
Sound Assistant: Melissa Singer
Video Assistant: Pat Dasler

Sunday, January 15
Preacher: Pr. Lynn Fonfara
Assisting Minister: Ron Bauldree
Altar Guild: Joan Anderson
Lector: Rick Dienhart
Ushers: Ron Gordon, Ron Fourman
Sound Assistant: Melissa Singer
Video Assistant: Pat Dasler

Sunday, January 22
Preacher: Pr. Lynn Fonfara
Assisting Minister: Sam Borgert
Altar Guild: Jackie Klein
Lector: Sandy Bauldree
Ushers: Roger Springfels, Andy Noss
Sound Assistant: Melissa Singer
Video Assistant: Wilson Matungwa

Sunday, January 29
Preacher: Pr. Lynn Fonfara
Assisting Minister: Ron Bauldree
Altar Guild: Elaine Manion
Lector: Sam Brill
Ushers: Jeanne Chamberlin, Ron Fourman
Sound Assistant: Melissa Singer
Video Assistant: Wilson Matungwa
UELC People






Norford Family Update

Hello UELC! I'm sorry for the delay in keeping you all updated on our move and how things are going. It was a whirlwind move and a whirlwind semester! 
 
 First, I would like to give a very belated thank you for the wonderful send off you gave us! It was a warm farewell and one that we will remember always! 
 
Second, we are doing well in Broken Arrow, OK. I am teaching primary music at a local school district and loving it! I had my first Christmas program, which I managed to pull off with only a few hitches, but the kids did well and the parents enjoyed it. I am continuing my seminary studies, but at a slower pace. Dan is continuing to teach Composition at a local community college and university. 
Finally, Evie is growing like a bad weed and continues to be as feisty as ever!
 
We all miss you dearly and if you ever find yourself in Northeastern Oklahoma, drop us a line! 
 
In Christ's love, 
Krissi, Dan, and Evie Norford
Help Wanted

Help Wanted: Demographics Data Gatherers

Are there one or two or more folks who are willing and able to work on assessing the congregational and Gainesville demographics? The next step in the transition process is a congregational retreat that begins with an awareness of the community. 
 
There are demographic tools available to us as members in the FB Synod and Pastor Lynn can work with whoever is interested in accessing and interpreting the data. 
Also included in this process is a map which shows where members live in relation to the church building. The map could be paper and map pins or electronic with digital pins. (I don't know how to do the digital version, but someone might.)

Please contact Pr Lynn if you are interested in this task.
Offering Direct Deposits

It is Sunday morning and you are on your way to church. Part way there you remember you have not written a check for the offering plate.
 
It is another Sunday morning and you are sitting in the sanctuary you write a check and slowly you attempt to remove your check from your check book as quietly as possible.
 
It is another Sunday at church and you realize that your offering check and envelope remain at home on your dresser.
 
These are some of the ways that the use of direct deposit helps UELC to receive consistent income to pay its bills.
 
If you wish to learn more about the use of direct deposit, contact Jim Yale to get set up. 
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. 

Ron Bauldree
LIFT coordinator 
Young Adult and Campus Ministry

December was a busy month for CYAM. December 1st, students continued their annual tradition of decorating the sanctuary for Christmas. On Dec 4, the students conducted the service with Abby Knapmann preaching, Joel Beaudry as worship Assistant, Branden Broderman as lector, Rachel Jin altar guild, Wilson Matungwa usher and video assistant and Pastor Fonfara celebrating communion. On Dec 7th, HAT team provided the end of term “Survival dinner and goodie bag”. We said good bye to Abby Knappman, who is headed to seminary and Annika Fleming who will continue her UF studies on-line from Seattle. The group in Spring will consist of Joel, Wilson, Rachel, Branden, Anna Mattos, the return of Colin from his internship and part time UF faculty William.  

The students will come back to class January 9th. We await their return and have missed their energy and assistance to the church. This means the Christmas decorations in the church will be with us one more Sunday. The streaming and recording of services will be back on as Pat has struggled to solve some issues that Wilson and Joel so ably handle.

The CYAM has a Spring Retreat planned for the weekend of Feb 10 to 12. We will be going to Crystal River for a swim with the manatees and good fellowship. Any student or young adult (18-30) is welcome and if interested in going should contact Pat Dasler, Joel Beaudry or Wilson Matungwa.

On a broader scale the CYAM Board will continue to plan and enact activities to provide ministry to the campus at large.
Village of Hope

Student sponsorships to Village of Hope in Haiti are for a calendar year. During 2022 a total of sixteen students were sponsored.
 
January /February is the time to either renew your sponsorship or begin a new one. The goal for 2023 is to sponsor 20 students.
 
Please continue to pray for peace and safety in Haiti and Village of Hope. Your prayers strengthen us and give us hope for a brighter future.
Family Promise

We will host families again on February 26 - March 4, 2023. Please put on your calendar or let Amy know if you know how you’d like to participate.  Blessings in this new year! .

Amy_Schirmer @yahoo.com
Baker Interfaith Friends

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM BAKER INTERFAITH FRIENDS

Support needed for JANUARY 20, 2023 event in Jacksonville

If you are free on Friday, January 20, please consider joining in a special event in Jacksonville at 11 a.m.

We are asking for supporters to be present for a public press conference at the Federal Courthouse in Jacksonville. Speakers will outline abuses occurring at the Baker County Detention Center that houses people incarcerated by order of the Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) Agency. Documented grievances include severely limited access to legal and medical resources as well as punitive conditions inappropriate for civil offense. 

Organizers from across the state of Florida will be calling for the immediate closure of the facility and termination of the ICE contract. This effort mirrors other recent closures of similar facilities around the country, including Glades.

You are invited to be visibly present to stand for justice for people awaiting immigration/deportation hearings for months on end, separated from their families, jobs, and communities in deplorable conditions. Your presence matters.

Organizing partners from across the state of Florida include representatives from the Southern Poverty Law Center, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Immigrant Action Alliance. Local partners include members of the Gainesville Interfaith Alliance for Immigrant Justice and the Florida Immigrant Coalition.

Many volunteers are making plans to come from as far away as Miami to participate and we need to have a strong presence from supporters in North Florida. We will plan to carpool from Gainesville. Please speak with Joan Anderson for more information and to sign on.  
Our Pastor and Staff

Pastor Lynn Fonfara
Pastor, Congregation and Campus Ministry

Amy Schirmer
Music Ministry Coordinator

Ana Mattos-Lebron
Pianist

Evelyn Simmons
Secretary