University Evangelical Lutheran Church
and Campus Ministry

The Lampstand - December 2021
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

Council President's Report

Dear fellow UELC members,

The UELC council met on Tuesday November 23rd via Zoom.

As the end of the calendar year approaches, the UELC council is preparing for the congregational meeting planned for December 14th where we will elect representatives for the 2022 nominating and audit committees as well as filling the open positions for the 2022 council. Many thanks to Jackie Klein and Ronald Gordon for serving in the role of nominating committee to present a slate of candidates for these various service positions.

Family Promise has informed us of their tentative plan to re-institute the use of the UELC facility to host families beginning in the spring of 2022. Council reviewed the proposed Covid protocols for institution by Family Promise and voted unanimously to approve the request of Family Promise to return to UELC facility use beginning in the Spring.

Now that football season has ended, we owe a debt of gratitude to Pat Dasler for her leadership in this area and for all the faithful volunteers who came out to assist on game days! Thank you to all!

Best regards,
Becky Borgert
Church Announcements
UELC People






Dear UELC family, 

We welcomed Sloane Guiry into the world on Monday, Nov. 15 at 7 pounds 9 ounces and 20.75 inches long. She is a happy little one with lots of dark hair, her mother's turned-up nose, and her father's watchful eyes. We've enjoyed reading to her from the many books gifted to her by UELC members and snuggling with our new family member. She is the greatest blessing of our lives and we're endlessly grateful for all the people who have lifted us up in prayer and action as she joined our family. Thank you for your support, prayers, and blessings for Sloane and for us. We look forward to introducing her to everyone when she's bigger. For now, we tell her about her church family and will share Sunday worship with her from our living room. 

Thank you again for your love and generosity. 
Peace,
Rachel Cook, Philip Guiry, and Sloane
Continued Prayer Concerns

Prayers for healing: Lois Wilkowske, Schirmer family, Ron and Beverly Gronwall, Les O'Brien, Cecilia Noss
Property Notice

Hello Church Family,

As Secretary of Council, I need to report to you that there are needs of our institution, property and wellbeing that require all our attention, time and treasure. Council recognizes that it has been tough in this time of distance worship and Pandemic regulation to appeal for and offer willing help.
As you may know, Martin has had to resign as Property Committee Chair this early summer and has had no luck in securing a successor. He has formulated a list of tasks that he has been responsible for over the past many years to help prepare a future Committee for all eventualities.
Council is seeking help. It has come to our attention that the responsibilities may be too much for a single chair or even co-chairs. And to that end it seems that the task might be divided into 3 categories:
1.     Ground Maintenance
2.     Sanctuary and Kaiser Apartment Maintenance including student apartment rental
3.     1902 House and Yard Maintenance and rentals
Rick Ezzell has been diligent in his regular lawn maintenance, but our outside property is in need of more. One of our football parker customers saw the need to bring his own equipment in order to address some of the neglect. While we are very grateful for that assistance it is not a recurrent gift we may rely on.
Council has considered paid management, but our finances are very tight and much of the workload may be accomplished by church members on a rotating basis if no one person is able or willing to step up.
1.     Ground Maintenance means we need someone to organize church wide workdays to trim bushes, pull weeds, remove trash, etc. all around our church property. We are hoping that our CYAM group will be able to help with this task. This task requires someone willing to get on the phone!
2.     Sanctuary and Kaiser Center maintenance, we need someone willing to answer the call when problems arise and repairs are needed. You do not necessarily be equipped with the skill to fix a problem, but you do need to be willing to contact the appropriate repair service to get the problem fixed; to be supervising the work or ask for help from someone willing to be on premises and sign off on the charge; to order and purchase whatever is required if a service is not indicated.
3.     1902 House maintenance involve not just the above regular types of repairs, but also and more time intensive function as rental and contact agents for future tenants.
At the moment our social media and communications are managed - faithful Andy Noss is editing the Lampstand, Pastor is managing our FaceBook presence, and yours truly is updating the website periodically; the latter needs greater skill, and I am ready to pass the baton.
A document of Detailed Proposed Property Committee Tasks and Repair Resources will be available upon request in the Church Office.
Please if you are willing to help with any of these areas contact Council. Our very survival as a functioning Church Family depends on all of us contributing to take care of the physical health our temple of God.
Please contact Council President Becky Borgert or any Council member.

Cheering us on,
Vibeke Vala, Council Secretary
Music and Worship Committee

I am happy to report that all members of the choir are still so committed to serving in this ministry. We have introduced some new hymns from All Creation Sings (ACS), a supplement to the Red Hymnal (ELW). We are going to add more Advent and Christmas hymns to our song bank in the coming weeks. 
 
We are in the process of looking for a church pianist.  
 
Blessings
Crystal

Minister of Music, for Worship Committee.
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. 
LIFTvT

LIFTvT continues until the end of December and then will be “retired” after the first of the year.  
The Bee

In December The Bee will again give 24 Book and Blanket Bags to Parker Elementary School. The Guidance Counselor identifies children who may be experiencing difficult times. When they take the bag home they are able to curl up with a new fleece throw and a book to read that they have picked out!
 
Young Adult Ministry

Campus/Young Adult Ministry weekly meetings on Thursdays, 5:30-7:00.

Young Adult and Student Ministry continues to meet by Zoom and are studying the Bible.

For inquiries contact Krissi and Dan Norford (keb.dan@gmail.com).
Adult Forum

Adult Forum is not meeting for now.

Contact Dan Norford for more information: keb.dan@gmail.com
Village of Hope

The VOH school and the Health Center hope to be able to reopen in January. They are thankful for all the prayers and support during these difficult times.
 
Watch for information about sponsorship renewal in the January Lampstand.
 
Janet Janke, Lazarus Project Coordinator at University Lutheran Church.
Our Pastor and Staff

Pastor Terrance Jacob
Pastor, Congregation and Campus Ministry
pastor@ulcgainesville.com

Crystal Jacob
Minister of Music (Direct Choir and music-related ministries)

Moses Choi
Pianist

Evelyn Simmons
Administrative Assistant
info@ulcgainesville.com