February 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
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Reconciliation. It is such an important part of our life because of what Christ has done for us. The dictionary defines reconciliation as "the restoration of friendly relations." When God first created the world and placed humans in it, our relationship with God was perfect. Then after Adam and Eve disobeyed God, that relationship with God was broken. No longer were we on friendly terms with God, there is now a great chasm that separated us from God. There IS good news!! God did not want this relationship to be broken, He wants to be in a "friendly" relationship with us. God sent Jesus to fix that broken relationship. Jesus lived that perfect life that we could not. Jesus died on the cross taking our punishment as His own. Because of what Jesus we have been reconciled to God, our broken relationship is fixed & the chasm is filled. But the Good News doesn't stop there. Not only has Jesus' sacrifice fixed our relationship with God, but it has also helped us fix our relationship with others! Sin has caused us to have broken relationships with friends, family members, coworkers, classmates, and others. But because of Jesus, thes relationships can be restored! | |
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All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (ESV)
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Romans 5:10 (ESV)
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Colossians 1:19-23 (ESV)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
John 3:16-17
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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Upcoming Events for
January & February
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February 2022
February 6 - Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am
February 6 - Adult Bible Study - 8:45am
February 6 - VPK-5th Grade SS - 9am
February 6 - Sunday Worship - 10am
February 6 - Youth Group - 4pm
February 13- Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am
February 13 - Adult Bible Study - 8:45am
February 13 - Sunday Worship - 10am
February 13 -Youth Gathering Meeting - 3pm
February 13 - Youth Group - 4pm - 5pm
February 20 - Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am
February 20 - Adult Bible Study - 8:45am
February 20 - VPK-5th Grade SS - 9am
February 20 - Sunday Worship - 10am
February 20 - Youth Group - 4pm
February 27- Donuts & Fellowship - 8:30am
February 27- Countdown through Lent - 9am
February 27 - Sunday Worship - 10am
February 27 - Youth Group at Splitz - 4pm
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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 - 6pm
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
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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 "NightLight: A Year of 3-Minute Bedtime Devotions".
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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
NightLight: A Year of 3-minute Bedtime Devotions for Kids-
Got 3 Minutes before Bedtime? . . .
Just for your kids, ages 5 and up, these 365 just-right-sized, perfect-for-bedtime devotional readings and prayers will encourage and inspire their young hearts in only 3 minutes.
Minute 1: scripture to meditate on
Minute 2: a short devotional reading
Minute 3: a prayer to jump-start a conversation with God
Each day’s reading meets boys and girls right where they are and is a fantastic way for you to bond with your kids over the truths of God's unchanging Word.
A copy of this resource is in the cry room.
Featured Prayer Book
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep -
A collection of traditional and contemporary graces, both spoken and sung, some of them accompanied by appropriate gestures.
A copy of this resource is in the cry room.
Elementary
Heaven is a Wonderful Place
Children often have questions about life and death. This helpful book provides answers in terms children can comfortably understand as it explains Gods role and His promise of eternal life as revealed in the Bible. An excellent resource when children deal with death for the first time. Formerly entitled If I Should Die, If I Should Live, this hardback version includes the same wonderful text with refreshed artwork. Ages 4-9.
We have a copy of this in the Cry Room if you wish to check it out!
Youth
Not-So-Nice Bible Stories: Master Criminals -
Think of the most devious, most dastardly real-life crimes - murder, robbery, deception, kidnapping. These are stories we see on television, but may not ones we expect to read about in the Bible.
But God's Word is full of stories about crimes against God's Law because God's people are born sinful. Each of the 18 stories in Master Criminals focuses on an original master criminal, and includes trivia, factoids, and other things to think about, like:
- Why the story is in the Bible
- How it can guide our lives
- What it shows us about Jesus
These true crime stories show how God's justice smashes the sinful, the sinister, and the sneaky. They teach about the most masterful criminal of all, Satan. And they explan that Jesus conquered all crime forever by His death and gives us a permanent get-out-of-hell free pass.
We have a copy of this in the Cry Room if you wish to check it out!
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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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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. | |
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Did you know that generosity impacts us at the biological level in addition to socially? Read on to see how it impacts our genes, nervous systems and brains!
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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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Bowling
What: Bowling
When: February 27, 2022
4:00-6:00pm
Where: Splitz
1301 NW 76th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32606
Cost: $10.
Details: Youth will meet at Splitz Bowling for an evening of fun and fellowship!
If any family members wish to join us for this event, they are welcome to! Please indicate so below, cost will be the same for each additional family member. Anyone under 5th grade must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Food will be provided for this event.
If you would like a fillable permission form emailed to you, please let DCE Stephanie know.
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Youth Night this February!
This February, 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.
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.
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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:
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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.
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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.
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March Events
UF Softball & Baseball
First Lutheran & Abiding Savior Youth March Event
What: UF Softball & Baseball Games
When:
UF Baseball - March 25, 2022 - 6:00pm
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 6:00pm
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.
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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
NEXT MEETING: February 13, 2022 - 3:00pm
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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 National Youth Gathering meeting will be on February 13, 2022 at 3:00pm.
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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