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You are receiving this email because you have a child or youth 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
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Summer is here! That means more time with family, at the beach, and quite possibly traveling! So many adventures are happening this summer! This summer families with students entering VPK-8th Grade received a "Families Celebrate Summer" deck of cards. My hope is that you as a family can use these to grow closer together as a family and to grow closer to Jesus, God's Son, as you are having fun in the sun! Students who are entering 9th-12th grade received a 30 day devotion book to use this summer. Parents, my hope is that you encourage your child to use this devotion & ask them what they have learned and how they can use it in their life.
Before the busyness of the upcoming school year, take time to have a Jesus time reset. Take time as a family to grow in God's Love this summer, have fun, relax, and get ready for the upcoming adventures of life!
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But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:2 (ESV)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16 (ESV)
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 40:8 (ESV)
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6 (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
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June 2022
June 5 - Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am
June 5 - Adult Bible Study - 8:45am
June 5 - Sunday Worship - 10am
June 12 - Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am
June 12 - Adult Bible Study - 8:45am
June 12 - Sunday Worship - 10am
June 19 - Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am
June 19 - Adult Bible Study - 8:45am
June 19 - Sunday Worship - 10am
June 24 - Vacation Bible School - 6pm
June 25 - Vacation Bible School - 9:30am
June 26 - Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am
June 26 - Adult Bible Study - 8:45am
June 26 - Sunday Worship - 10am
June 26 - VBS Celebration - 11am
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July 2022
July 3 - LCMS Youth Gathering Sending - 8am
July 3 - Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am
July 3 - Adult Bible Study - 8:45am
July 3 - Sunday Worship - 10am
July 3 - LCMS Youth Gathering Sending - 10am
July 3 - LCMS Youth Gathering Meeting - 11am
July 8 - 14 - LCMS Youth Gathering
July 10 - Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am
July 10 - Adult Bible Study - 8:45am
July 10 - Sunday Worship - 10am
July 17 - DCE Stephanie's Final Sunday
July 17 - Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am
July 17 - Adult Bible Study - 8:45am
July 17 - Sunday Worship - 10am
July 24 - Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am
July 24 - Adult Bible Study - 8:45am
July 24 - Sunday Worship - 10am
July 31 - Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am
July 31 - Adult Bible Study - 8:45am
July 31 - Sunday Worship - 10:00am
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Recommended Resources
Each month I recommend different devotion, Bible, and religious book for 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
Indescribable: 100 Devotions about God and Science
Discover the Wonders of the Universe with the Creator. Based on Louie Giglio's popular messages "Indescribable" and "How Great Is Our God," Indescribable: 100 Devotions About God & Science will help kids discover the incredible creation of our indescribable God.
Indescribable displays the majesty of creation with scientific findings, photography, and original illustrations. These 100 devotions encourage awe at God's creativity with an in-depth look at:
- Space, galaxies, planets, and stars
- Earth, geology, oceans, and weather
- Animals: from hummingbirds to dinosaurs
- Our minds, bodies, and imaginations
Indescribable: 100 Devotions About God & Science has sold over 100,000 copies! This book is perfect for children, ages 6-10 years old, and each devotional features a:
- "Be Amazed" section with fascinating scientific facts
- Easy-to-follow, hands-on STEM activity
- Closing prayer
Psalm 19:1 says, "The heavens tell the glory of God. And the skies announce what his hands have made." It's impossible to out-imagine God. He orchestrates time, creates light, and speaks things into existence--from the largest stars to the smallest starfish. God is the powerful, purposeful, personal, unparalleled Creator.
A copy of this devotion are available for families in the First Lutheran Cry Room for you to check out.
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Books for Kids
Indescribable for Little Ones
Discover the wonders of God's creation! Bestselling author and pastor Louie Giglio brings Indescribable for Little Ones, an interactive board book that will introduce the littlest readers to God's amazing world. Young children will be awestruck as they pull tabs and turn a wheel to reveal that everything, from the ants on the ground to the stars in the sky, was made by God.
Louie's popular kids' devotional, Indescribable: 100 Devotions About God and Science, has touched hundreds of thousands of families by sharing incredible scientific facts alongside the wonder of God's majesty. Now this same message is made easy for little ones, focusing on four areas of creation:
- Space
- Earth
- Animals
- People
This STEM-themed board book:
- Is perfect for little hands and motor skills development with interactive pull tabs and wheels
- Would be a brilliant gift for baby showers, birthdays, Easter baskets, and holiday gifting
- Includes fun facts and Bible truths
A copy of this resource is in the FLC cry room.
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Youth
The One Year: Choose Your Own Ending Devotions
The One Year Choose Your Own Ending Devotions is an interactive and engaging devotional for elementary-age kids and their families. It’s the perfect devotion for dinner time or family time discussions. A short fictional story is given without a complete ending; after reading the scripture passage, readers are encouraged to make up an ending to the story that would follow the Biblical message/theme/lesson. A summarizing point ends the devotion. (Suggested endings are posted in the back of the book for kids and families to compare their endings).
A copy of this resource is in the FLC cry room.
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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 "Indescribable: 100 More Devotions about God and Science". | | |
Podcast Recommendation: Kids Bible Stories
Enjoy these engaging and short Bible stories that help teach young children about Jesus. My hope is that the application section helps connect the dots of how the Bible applies to their lives. The Bible says "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Romans 10:17. May your children hear the word through this podcast. Simply click play and enjoy listening during car rides, quiet times, school etc.
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RightNowMedia Recommendation: Households of Faith
Making our households more hospitable toward outsiders is a challenge. In LHM's Households of Faith video study, viewers learn that by applying spiritual disciplines, extending hospitality, and engaging in spiritual conversations they can transform their households into more open and engaging places. With Scriptures verses, family testimonies, and research to reinforce these key objectives, this user-friendly resource can help make any household a place where God's love is shared, and people are encouraged to learn more about Jesus.
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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. | |
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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.
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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
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Children & Family Activities | |
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VBS is for children entering VPK – 5th Grade. This year children will be learning about how we Grow in Friendship with Jesus.
VBS will be held:
June 24 – 6:00pm - 8:00pm
June 25 – 9:30am – 12:00pm
This year dinner will not be provided on Friday night, we will be providing snack on Saturday morning.
On Sunday, June 26 we will be having a special VBS celebration, with a meal and special treat after church.
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Want to teach kids more about Jesus and His love for them?
Volunteer for VBS! We have volunteers opportunities for everyone! Those who like technology, like to make snacks, and much more! VBS will be held on June 24 & 25, with a special celebration on June 26.
VBS times:
June 24 – 6:00pm – 8:00pm
June 25 – 9:30am – 12:00pm
Click the link below to see all the opportunities for VBS this summer! If you have questions, please reach out to DCE Stephanie.
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FLC Youth will not be meeting this June. Stay tuned to texts and emails for updates on a possible June Event. | |
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.
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Football Parking 2022 Dates
September 3
September 10
September 17
October 1
October 8
October 15
November 12
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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.
Last Youth Gathering meeting will be July 3 following the sending service at First Lutheran
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
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