Our Mission

It’s fall. This means the temperatures are more in the high 80s instead of mid-90s in Florida. It also means hurricanes and other wild weather are more likely. University and college students are returning, and our children and grandchildren are back in school as well.

Farther north, the trees begin to turn colors, farmers get ready for harvest, snowbirds begin to make plans for their return to Florida.

In the church year, we are about half-way through the green season of Sundays after Pentecost. The readings on September Sundays will challenge us about discipleship. What does it mean to take up our cross and follow Jesus? Who is lost; who is found? Why is the tricky manager praised? Can we feel sympathy for the rich man across the chasm? Where do we fit in these stories? Where is God in these stories? Who is Jesus?

Let’s keep our hearts and minds open as we explore what it means to be a disciple of Jesus today, in Gainesville, Florida.

And see below two articles, one on forming a worship planning committee and another on a virtual gathering of folks for the evening.

Finally, Wednesday Zoom prayer time will begin at 10:30 starting in September.

Pax

Pastor Lynn

The council meeting for August was held on August 23^rd via Zoom with Pastor Lynn Fonfara in attendance.

I find that one of the joys of living in Gainesville is looking forward to the students returning to campus every fall and all the excitement that accompanies that return (maybe not the increased traffic but pretty much everything else!) We are excited to have Joel and Wilson serve as our peer ministers for this semester! Additionally, the Florida Bahamas Synod is hosting a Campus Ministry event on September 13^th in Longwood, FL. Pat Dasler and Jeanne Chamberlain have agreed to attend on behalf of UELC and if any others are interested, there is a Zoom link available so please reach out if you are interested in attending the meeting virtually.

Becky Borgert

September Servants

Preacher: Lynn Fonfara

UELC People

Anyone in the congregation who is experiencing financial difficulties due to the ongoing pandemic, please reach out to Pastor. We have a "discretionary fund" that might be able to be utilized to assist those who find themselves in this situation.

UELC Council

A church, a congregation, is a group of people who share their gifts for the purpose of ministry. So, in this letter, I am seeking people willing to share their gifts in particular ways.

“Who is on the Worship Committee?” is one of my latest questions. Amy and Melissa have stepped into the roles of selecting music and making it play on Sunday morning. And this is excellent and so appreciated!

But I have more questions. Do we always use the current pattern of worship? Or does it change? What do we do for special days? While I am capable of making these decisions, I’d prefer to have others more familiar with the congregation assist in making them.

So, I am looking for folks with the gift of, or at least interest in, planning. Note, I am not seeking people who do music, in particular. I am looking for folks who care about how we worship. We can meet in person or by Zoom or both (I think).

The committee will decide what we will do for Thanksgiving, if anything. Especially, the committee will shape the time and content of Christmas Eve worship. The committee will consider whether to have Advent midweek services, on Zoom or in person, and what the content of those services will be.

If you are interested in shaping worship at ULC, please contact Pastor Lynn, 352.249.8533. [email protected]

I have enjoyed the Wednesday Noon Prayer and Fellowship time, and will lead the devotional part in starting in September. But I am aware there are folks who work or are otherwise occupied during the day. Is there any interest in an evening Bible study or book group, or one just for conversation? Maybe Virtual Vespers worship? Let’s talk about options! Please contact Pastor Lynn, 352.249.8533. [email protected]

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 Ministry

Campus/Young Adult Ministry weekly meetings are suspended for the summer.

Adult Forum

Adult Forum is not meeting for now.

Family Promise

Our next and final hosting of the year is coming up again this month, Sept. 18-22. Thus far, there will be one mother and her two young daughters in shelter. If you'd like to participate by providing a meal, hosting and eating dinner with the families or staying overnight, please contact Amy or sign up here. The family we hosted in August will be moving into their housing early this month! We continue to pray for the mothers -- G, Q and J -- and their children's well being as they transition into independence. As you know, Family Promise supports several other families in temporary apartments and our financial support of cash and gift cards enables these related expenses.

Also coming up this month is the annual "Every Child Deserves A Home" Luncheon and you are all invited! The fundraiser is September 22 from noon to 1pm at First Presbyterian Church. You can register for tickets here or talk to Pat Dasler.

Thank you for your support! Amy: amy_schirmer @yahoo.com

----------------------------------------------

EVERY CHILD DESERVES A HOME

Fall Luncheon in support of Family Promise Fall of Gainesville

September 22,2022 from noon to 1:00 PM

Gordon Hall at First Presbyterian Church, 300 SW 2^nd Ave.

This year we will be joined by special guests from the web-series #IMomSoHard. The comedy duo has millions of followers, sold out tours and a belief that the only way to survive motherhood is through laughter and friendship.

I will be a table captain at this year’s luncheon fundraiser. We are asking each guest to contribute $100. If you would be interested in joining me at my table please send an email to me at [email protected] or call or text me at 352-262-4219. Pat Dasler

Village of Hope

The sixteenth Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA met August 8-12, 2022, worshiping together in services of Eucharist and lament, experiencing a liturgy rooted in Indigenous traditions, and hearing a public apology in a non-legislative session to Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina for harm experienced from actions taken by the Sierra Pacific Synod and this church. The following key actions were taken by the assembly:

• Elected Mr. Imran Siddiqui of the Southeastern Synod as vice president of the ELCA.

• Directed the Church Council to establish a Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church to reconsider the statements of purpose for each expression of this church, the principles of organizational structure, and our shared commitment to dismantle racism, with findings to be reported to the 2025 Churchwide Assembly in preparation for a possible reconstituting convention; and directed an external audit of the governing documents of this church to consider diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, with findings resulting in recommended changes to the governing documents.

• Authorized revisions to the social statement, Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust, and approved exploration of reconsideration of the four stated positions of “bound conscience.”

• Encouraged members, congregations, and synods of this church to educate themselves about Indigenous peoples, calling on the churchwide organization to work with synods and Indigenous partners to identify sources of funding for ministries for Indigenous peoples, and encouraging restorative justice that could include return of land to the appropriate Native nations.

• Referred a proposed study of pay gaps for rostered ministers to the Church Council.

• Mandated a review process of the roster manual and policies related to specialized ministries, On Leave from Call status, and protocols for removal from the rosters, and encouraged bishops and synod councils to use sparingly the process of removal from the roster for non-disciplinary reasons.

• Approved the budget proposal for the triennium, including a spending authorization of $68,814,000 for 2023 for the current fund, along with a spending authorization of $22,930,000 for ELCA World Hunger.

• Affirmed limits on the use of non-disclosure agreements by the churchwide organization and urged synods, congregations, and other ministries to apply the same limits.

• Reaffirmed the commitment of this church to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, directing the churchwide organization to set a goal of reducing net greenhouse gas pollution 50% by 2030, with a long-range goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

• Called for a review of the nomination and elections processes used by synods and the churchwide organization.

• Responded to memorials, including among others those on diversity; nuclear weapons; voting rights and Washington, D.C., statehood; strategies for fortifying urban ministries; a Black migrant strategy; the right to boycott; gun violence; LGBTQIA+ welcome; substance abuse; Roe v. Wade; remembrance of Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocide; parental and medical family leave; a process for pre-identification of nominees for the office of presiding bishop; revisions to the mission development process; consideration of communion practices related to remote worship; affirmation of the task force created by the Church Council to review the discipline process; and a social message on child abuse and protection.

• Approved or ratified amendments to the Constitutions, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the ELCA, most of which were related to general clarifications and updates; inclusive language; synod-authorized ministry; designation of advisory members by the Church Council; boards of the separately incorporated ministries; and election procedures for officers and the Churchwide Assembly.

• Elected members of the Church Council, Committee on Appeals, Committee on Discipline, Nominating Committee, and boards of the Separately Incorporated Ministries [see “First Common Ballot Results”].

Our Pastor and Staff