Our Mission

Beginning November 30, Advent mid-week worship will be held in the sanctuary at 1pm. We will sing Holden Evening Prayer and reflect together on a scripture reading using Lectio Divina (holy reading) and Visio Divina (holy seeing). We will meet all four weeks of Advent: Nov 30, Dec 7, Dec 14, Dec 21

The council met on November 22^nd via Zoom. 

Council welcomed Kathleen Kauffman, Historic Preservation Officer from the City of Gainesville. Ms. Kauffman attended the meeting to share her thoughts concerning the University Evangelical Lutheran Church Future Pathway Initiative. This initiative has been brought forth through both the Financial Action Team and the council to begin examining how we might consider a complementary and ongoing income stream based on utilization of our current property, with the aim to ensure and sustain University Lutheran and its ministries. After considerable deliberation around this initiative, council has decided they would recommend moving forward but only after the congregation as a whole has had the opportunity to be informed and reflect on the concept. Part of this reflection will be a natural outgrowth of the visioning exercise we will undergo as a congregation in the spring as part of the ongoing pastoral transition process.

As a reminder, we will have a short congregational meeting after worship on December 11^th to elect new council members, audit committee members and nominating committee members who will serve in 2023. Immediately following the congregational meeting, we will be having an Advent Brunch to be held in the Kaiser Center. The congregation will be hosting a Finals dinner for our campus ministry students on December 8^th.

The council has discussed the issue of photography both within the sanctuary and the Kaiser Center. All members are in agreement that photographs of individual faces will require permission from the individual being photographed and any subsequent publication (for example to the church website), will also require individual permissions prior to publication/posting to ensure the privacy and safety of all.

As a final reminder, in an effort to communicate in a more timely manner, council will be posting a few bullet point items from each meeting agenda in the following Sunday bulletin. Council generally meets the 4^th Tuesday of each month but will be meeting on December 20^th this month due to travel schedules over the holidays.

 

Best regards,

Becky Borgert

December Servants

Preacher: Pr. Lynn Fonfara

Preacher: Pr. Lynn Fonfara

Preacher: Pr. Lynn Fonfara

Preacher: Pr. Lynn Fonfara

UELC People

Ron Gronwall Memorial Service

Offering Direct Deposits

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. 

LIFT coordinator 

Young Adult and Campus Ministry

This fall has been very busy for Campus Ministry. Our peer ministers Joel Beaudry and Wilson Matungwa have faithfully led Thursday night Bible study with dinners prepared by Jeanne Chamberlain with some days off provided by Pat Dasler and Bev and Gene Ryerson. Wilson has organized volunteers to park cars each game day with between 2 and 3 volunteers. Joel has provided after game clean up.

 

The students had their fall service retreat at Luther Springs, where they worked to spruce up the Prayer Circle which needed clean up and some additional maintenance. They also enjoyed fellowship around a campfire and moonlight over the lake. Sat after the work was finished, they went to a local zipline.

 

December will be busy with the “greening of the church” on Dec. 1. The students are also working on the service for Dec 4. The finals “survival dinner” will be Wed Dec 7^th. 

 

Congratulations to Abby Knappman who graduates this December. Abby has been in the discernment process for ministry with the Florida Bahama Synod and is applying to seminary. Abby also has served as a camp counselor at Luther Springs in the summer. It reminds us that most seminary students come from either Lutheran Outdoor Ministry or Campus Ministry. Best Wishes Abby, we will miss your voice in Bible study, your energy and positive outlook.

 

We will also be saying good-bye to Annika Fleming, who will be moving to the Pacific Northwest while completing her UF studies on-line. We wish we had more time with Annika, who was such a nice addition to our group.

 

As many know Jeanne Chamberlain, Pat Dasler and Pastor Lynn Fonfara attended a workshop on Campus Ministry on Sept 13^th.  At this meeting we were challenged to think of how we might provide a ministry to unmet needs of students at the various campuses in Gainesville. The ELCA would like to see Campus Ministry expanded to reach out not just “circle the wagons” to our Lutheran students and faculty. Statistics show this type of ministry has resulted in attracting a younger and more diverse group to our church as well. Ministry programs to students are offered without expectation of church involvement, however, the Spirit seems to be at work here just the same. To this end we have organized a group to do some work on exploring the needs and visioning how we might meet them. The first meeting will be held on Nov 30^th. Watch for a report and further developments.  

Village of Hope

Although our next Family Promise hosting is not until the end of February in 2023, we fill the time gap with support in giving children of struggling families a safe, warm and joyful childhood: 

Peace and joy to your families as well this Christmas!

Amy_Schirmer @yahoo.com

Our Pastor and Staff