March Family Newsletter

You are receiving this email because you have a child at home. This newsletter contains activities and events that are happening for both families and students, as well as articles for parents on various topics. Included each month is a list of upcoming events. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Stephanie Karolus

352-376-2062

dce@flcgainesville.org

It is Well

At the end of February I attend a worship service at my brothers church. One of the songs that we sang "It is Well (Through it All)" by Bethel Music. This song is a beautiful reminder that no matter what is going on we can keep our eyes on God and trust in Him. Take a moment to listen to this song and reflect on the lyrics.

It is Well (Through it All)

Bethel Music

Grander earth has quaked before

Moved by the sound of His voice

Seas that are shaken and stirred

Can be calmed and broken for my regard

Through it all, through it all

My eyes are on You

Through it all, through it all

It is well

Through it all, through it all

My eyes are on You

It is well with me

Far be it for me to not believe

Even when my eyes can't see

And this mountain that's in front of me

Will be thrown into the midst of the sea

Through it all, through it all

My eyes are on You

Through it all, through it all

It is well

Through it all, through it all

My eyes are on You

It is well, it is well

So let go my soul and trust in Him

The waves and wind still know His name

So let go my soul and trust in Him

The waves and wind still know His name

So let go my soul and trust in Him

The waves and wind still know His name

It is well with my soul

It is well, it is well, with my soul

It is well with my soul

It is well, it is well, with my soul

Through it all, through it all

My eyes are on You

Through it all, through it all

It is well

Through it all, through it all

My eyes are on You

And it is well with me

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9 (ESV)

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:34 (ESV)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 14:27 (ESV)

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Psalm 56:3 (ESV)

Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to other parents you feel would benefit from the information.

God's Peace,

Stephanie Karolus

Director of Christian Education

First Lutheran Church

Articles for Parents

March Everyday Faith Calendar

How to Help Kids with Nightmares

Talking to Your Kids about Sex: Solutions for Single Parents

You. Are. Forgiven.

6 Ways to Create a Culture of Responsibility with our Kids

The Next Teen Epidemic

Upcoming Events

March 2022

March 2 - Ash Wednesday - 12pm & 7pm

March 6 - Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am

March 6 - Adult Bible Study - 8:45am

March 6 - VPK-5th Grade SS - 9am

March 6 - Sunday Worship - 10am

March 6 -Youth Group - 4pm

March 9 - Midweek Worship - 7pm

March 13 - Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am

March 13 - Adult Bible Study - 8:45am

March 13 - Sunday Worship - 10am

March 13 - Youth Group - 4pm

March 16 - Midweek Worship - 7pm

March 20- Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am

March 20 - Adult Bible Study - 8:45am

March 20 - VPK-5th Grade SS - 9am

March 20 - Sunday Worship - 10am

March 23 - Midweek Worship 7pm

March 25 - Baseball Event - 6:30pm

March 26 - Softball Event - 12:30pm

March 27 - Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am

March 27 - Adult Bible Study - 8:45am

March 27 - Sunday Worship - 10am

March 30 - Midweek Worship - 7pm

April 2022

April 3 - Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am

April 3 - Adult Bible Study - 8:45am

April 3 - VPK-5th Grade SS - 9am

April 3 - Youth Group - 4pm

April 6 - Midweek Worship - 7pm

April 10 - Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am

April 10 - Adult Bible Study - 8:45am

April 10 - Sunday Worship - 10am

April 14 - Maundy Thursday - 12pm & 7pm

April 15 - Good Friday - 12pm & 7pm

April 16 - Easter Egg Delivery

April 17 - Easter Sunday Worship - 8:30am

April 17 - Easter Breakfast - 9:00am

April 17 - Easter egg hunt - 10:30am

April 17 - Easter Sunday Worship - 11am

April 24 - Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am

April 24 - Adult Bible Study - 8:45am

April 24 - Sunday Worship - 10am

April 24 - Youth Group - 4pm

Family Devotions

Join DCE Stephanie Karolus for weekly devotions on our Facebook Page! Join us this November as we begin a new book for Family Devotions! Devotions will be posted on Wednesdays mornings at 10am. Check out our Facebook page to view all the Family Devotions. This month we will be taking our devotions from "The Cross & Me: Daily Devotions for Lent".

Education Hour!

Lent Information

Devotion, Bible, and Religious Book Recommendations

Each month I recommend different devotion, Bible, and religious book f families and different age groups. This month we have a variety of resources for you to check out! Click the blue title to be taken to the Amazon page or other purchase location for each book. If you wish to see each book in person, we have a copy in the family library in the Cry Room.

Family Devotions

The Cross and Me: Daily Devotions For Lent-

Teach children the real meaning of “Take up your cross and follow me” with the true-to-life situational stories and scriptural reflections in The Cross and Me.

Daily Lenten lessons from Jesus’ parables and sermons are given modern day treatment through scenarios that children encounter each day. As followers of Christ, our actions and reactions to life events should be reflections of the fact that we are followers of Christ, throughout Lent and always. Author Ruth Geisler leads children on a Lenten journey that will get them thinking and keep them turning the pages.

Copies of this devotion are available for families in the Church Narthex & at Open Arms.

Books for Kids

I Will Not Be Afraid -

Written in a lively rhyme, I Will Not Be Afraid addresses children's fears - such as the dark, storms, and current events - and explains that God is in full control as He promises to work good through all circumstances in the lives of His children.

I Will Not Be Afraid does not describe a God who whisks away all difficult, frightening, or bad things. Rather it portrays our all-powerful, loving God who is faithful to us because of Jesus' sacrifice and forgiveness. Children learn that while bad things happen in our sinful world, God will always guide them and give them comfort in His Word. They are encouraged to remember Scripture verses and to pray when they are afraid.

Bright and colorful artwork pairs with comforting words to assure children that God is strong and trustworthy. Ideal for home, school, church, and homeschool.

A copy of this resource is in the cry room.

The People of God: God's Plan for His Church

This children's book is designed to introduce children to God's plan for His church. The book has beautiful and engaging illustrations to teach children about the joy of being a part of the people of God. We pray this book will start many conversations and discussion on why we go to church.

We have a copy of this in the Cry Room if you wish to check it out!

Youth

The See-Son of Lent: Daily Devotions for Teens & Young Adults

Lent is more than a season; it’s a SEE-Son! It’s time to open our eyes to the loving sacrifice made by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It’s time to open our hearts to his forgiveness and grace. It’s time to open our mouths, ears and arms to those around us in Christ’s name. This eye-opening booklet of daily devotions brings the meaning of Lent to light. With eyes fixed on Jesus’ cross, we look up and out to the world around us.

Copies of this devotion are available for teens in the Church Narthex. See DCE Stephanie if you would like one.

Vacation Bible School will be for students entering VPK through 5th Grade. Registration information will be released Spring 2022.

We will be looking for Youth (Students in 6th-12th Grade) and Adult Volunteers. If you or your student is interested in volunteering, please contact Stephanie Karolus.

The Focus on the Family Minute shares a brief tip each day taken from the Focus on the Family Broadcast to help strengthen marriages, raise kids on the right path and build a thriving family – in one meaningful minute.

Click HERE to Listen

The Center for Parent and Youth Understanding (CPYU) have made available a one minute tip shared by Walt Mueller, the founder and president of CPYU.

Click HERE to Listen

Family TableTalks are here for you! Access over 80 TableTalks that you can use with your family at home! Each TableTalk includes a scripture reading, a reflection, application questions, and a prayer. This is a great resource for faith discussions at home! This resources is provided by the Center for Parent and Youth Understanding. New Family TableTalks are released weekly.

Click HERE to View

Participate in a kindness challenge this month to spread kindness in your home, classroom or in the community. Watch the benefits that come from kindness.

Kindness

By now, I’m sure you have seen the exciting news, RightNowMedia launched with First Lutheran this week! This means you now have access to thousands of videos for personal Bible Study & Devotion! You also have access to thousands of videos for kids to watch! If you haven’t registered yet, please click the following link to get access to all these amazing resources to help your family in their walk with Christ! https://app.rightnowmedia.org/join/flcgainesville

If you have any questions, please reach out to Stephanie Karolus

First Lutheran Youth

Youth Night Meals

We are asking again that parents help with meal preparations for youth night. Parents can either purchase meal supplies and we'll take care of making the meal, or if you would like to use the kitchen at Abiding Savior, you can make the meal there. If you would like to be reimbursed, please contact the First Lutheran Office for a reimbursement form. You can sign-up for a meal below:

Meal Sign-Up

Youth Night this March!

This March, FLC & Abiding Savior Youth are meeting together for fellowship & Bible Study. All students who are in 5th-12th grade are invited to join us Sunday Evenings at Abiding Savior Lutheran Church (9700 W Newberry Rd, Gainesville, FL 32606), in their Family Life Center, from 4-6pm for a meal, games, and Bible Study.

Please note there will not be Youth Group on March 20 & 27.

Join us for our current Youth Bible Study series on the book of Colossians!

What we think about Jesus matters. Our perception of Him shapes us—what we say, how we treat others, even what we think. If we paint Jesus as any less than who He is as supreme over all creation and savior of the world, not only does our theology slip, but the working out of our faith also suffers.

In this 8-session series, Louie Giglio will take us through the book of Colossians to help us form a complete picture of Jesus. What we believe about Him influences everything from our corporate worship to our relationships to our attitude toward sin. Now alive in Christ, we can live a life worthy of God instead of falling back into the ways of the world.

Check out the Trailer!

March Events

UF Softball & Baseball

First Lutheran & Abiding Savior Youth March Event

What: UF Softball & Baseball Games

When:

UF Baseball - March 25, 2022 - 6:30pm

UF Softball - March 26, 2022 - 12:30pm

Where: Alfred A. McKethan Field & Katie Seashole Pressy Stadium

Cost: Cost for youth (5th-12th Grade) to attend is $5 for each game.

Details:

Youth will meet at Alfred A. McKethan Field on March 25, 2022 at 6:30pm

Youth will meet at Katie Seashole Pressy Stadium on March 26, 2022 at 12:30pm

Youth are welcome to attend one or both games. Friends are invited to attend too!

If any family members wish to join us for this event, they are welcome!

Cost for individuals not in 5th-12th Grade:

$15 for Baseball Game

$5 for Softball Game

Students should bring money for concessions.

Please return permission form & payment to DCE Stephanie by

March 20, 2022.

Permission Form

FLC Parent Remind

Youth parents, if you have not yet, please sign-up for our FLC Parent Remind Text Group. Information about youth activities & reminders about youth group will be sent out via remind. Please text @flc1801 to 81010 to get signed up. If you have any questions, please let me know.

FLC Youth Remind

We also have a Youth Remind Group, which reminds students who are 6th-12th grade about youth activities & youth group. Have your child text @fly1801 to 81010 to get signed up. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Football Parking-2022 Dates

Calling all Youth Families! Students in 6th-12th Grade and their parents are encouraged and invited to help out with Football Parking during Fall of 2022!

For those of you who are new to Football Parking, here is a little background: Every year FLC sells parking passes to Gator Fans to park in our parking lot. They have a set parking spot that they use for every single game, so we will see lots of familiar faces this Fall. We also have spaces available that we sell on Game Day (the grassy area along 5th Ave). Football Parking is an activity that we ask both youth and their parents to be involved in throughout Fall. Helping out with Football Parking is one way that FLC Youth and their families serve FLC, for this reason I ask that you and your family help out with as many Football parking weekends as your family schedule allows.

Please put the dates on the righthand side in your calendar for next year.

If you have questions about Football Parking please talk with DCE Stephanie.

Football Parking 2022 Dates

September 3

September 10

September 17

October 1

October 8

October 15

November 12

LCMS Youth Gathering - July 2022

Abiding Savior & First Lutheran Youth will be teaming up to attend the 2022 LCMS Youth Gathering together! Below are some updates that all participants need to know and forms that need to be filled out.

Meetings: We will be meeting Sunday Evenings at Abiding Savior.

Our next Youth Gathering Meeting will be in April.

Date still TBD.

Remind: Please sign-up for our group remind for the gathering.

Text @2022nat to 81010

Group Building: Starting in January - FLC & Abiding Savior Youth will have youth group together on Sunday afternoons. We will meet at Abiding Savior from 4:00pm-6:00pm, dinner will be provided each evening.

Gathering Theme: In All Things

Gathering Verse: Colossians 1:15-20

Dates: July 8 – 14

Location: Houston, TX

Transportation: Flying

LCMS Gathering Website: www.lcmsgathering.com

2022 Gathering Covenant and Medical Release