University Evangelical Lutheran Church
and Campus Ministry

The Lampstand - August 2022
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

Greetings to you all!

Although I have been with you a few times, it makes sense to introduce myself more fully, now that we will be spending significant time doing ministry together. So, here are a few things I would share with you.

Above all, I am a child of God, guided by Jesus and trying to follow in his significant footsteps.

Before I “ran away to seminary” in 1997, I worked in retail and commercial sales, of shoes, clothes, and office supplies. Ordained in 2002, I have served 3 congregations in Michigan and Florida before retiring in 2016, and 4 congregations as interim pastor since then. I am also an active member at Our Saviour in Marion Oaks, when I can be there.
Although I was baptized as an infant and confirmed as a teen, my family didn’t go to church much. I say that I grew up in the church as an adult, especially as a participant in Women of the ELCA, where I learned leadership skills in congregational and synodical roles, including serving as Synodical President for 4 years.

I am a Franciscan, a friar in the Order of Lutheran Franciscans, which means I have made vows of living simply, as Sts. Francis and Clare of Assisi would. And it means I participate in the community when possible.

My husband Mike is a retired Presbyterian pastor and a Benedictine Oblate at St Leo’s Abbey. Together we have 5 children, 12 grandchildren, and 2 cats. Or should I say we are the proud servants of our two cats, Miss Kitty Russell and Marshall Matt Dillon (Miss Kitty and Matty).

I look forward to getting to know you all better, visiting with those who are not able to be in church, and helping to guide ULC to calling its next pastor.

I ask that you please wear your name badges so I can connect names and faces, but please be patient with me. The older I get, the longer it seems to take!

Want to know more about me? Ask me a question. I can talk for 30 seconds, or 30 minutes, your preference.

Pax
Pastor Lynn
President's Notes

Dear UELC family,

The church council met on Tuesday, July 26th. We were joined by Pastor Lynn Fonfara, who we are excited to have join us officially in August as our interim pastor. We also welcomed two new members to council, many thanks to Ruth Fugmann and Joan Anderson for agreeing to fill the vacancies we had on council. At the meeting, the council reviewed many items of business and is looking forward to the work that lies ahead over the next several months as we undergo the process of transition with Pastor Jacob’s departure. One exercise we will be undertaking is a sustainability evaluation as recommended by the Synod. On behalf of council, Rachel Cook has already sent out requests for many to provide input. If you received a request, please provide your responses to Rachel in a timely manner. Many thanks to all in the congregation who are working hard to build the next chapter of our life together at UELC!
 
Becky Borgert
Council President
August Servants

Sunday, August 7
Preacher: Lynn Fonfara
Assisting Minister: Sam Borgert
Altar Guild: Pat Dasler
Lector: Joan Anderson
Ushers: Ron Fourman, John MontMarquette
Sound Assistant: Melissa Singer
Video Assistant: Wilson Matungwa

Sunday, August 14
Preacher: Lunn Fonfara
Assisting Minister: Ron Bauldree
Altar Guild: Jackie Klein
Lector: Sandy Bauldree
Ushers: Jeanne Chamberlin, Ron Gordon
Sound Assistant: Melissa Singer
Video Assistant: Wilson Matungwa

Sunday, August 21
Preacher: Lynn Fonfara
Assisting Minister: Pat Dasler
Altar Guild: Elaine Manion
Lector: Rick Dienhart
Ushers: Gene Brandner, Ron Fourman
Sound Assistant: Melissa Singer
Video Assistant: Wilson Matungwa

Sunday, August 28
Preacher: Lynn Fonfara
Assisting Minister: Ron Bauldree
Altar Guild: Joan Anderson
Lector: Sam Brill
Ushers: Roger Springfels, Andy Noss
Sound Assistant: Melissa Singer
Video Assistant: Wilson Matungwa
UELC People






Blessings to Krissi, Dan and Evie
Did you know?

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
Music Ministry Updates for Transition
Transition is best handled when there is communication, therefore, I provide some updates that will ensure a smooth handover and continuation of the Music Ministry program, which is central to our Worship at UELC.

Music Ministry Team:
Since Krissi Norford and I are no longer able to serve on this team, we agreed, with Pastor’s input that Amy Schirmer lead the music team as ‘music ministry coordinator’ until the church council appoints a Minister of Music. Melissa Singer and Joan Anderson are the other members of the team.

Music Ministry Coordinator: Amy Schirmer
  • Selects hymns for the Sunday worship service with the Pastors input for special services and Liturgical additions or changes.
  • Works with the Church Secretary on the Music part of the liturgy of the bulletin. Checks the music section of the bulletin. Makes changes and corrections  to the bulletin before it is printed.
  • Sends the monthly music selection schedule to the sound assistant and the pastor when the schedule is finalized by the Pastor, church secretary and coordinator.

Audio Media Coordinator - Melissa Singer
  • Manages the hymn/ song bank which has all the music recorded and used since 2020. (Amy Schirmer and Melissa Singer have a copy of this song bank. There is a copy on the music ministry lap top and a copy on a flash drive in the church safe).
  • Uses the Monthly Hymn Schedule to set up Sunday worship hymn folders with the recorded hymns for each Sunday.
  • Sends this folder to the person serving as sound assistant for Sunday worship.

Joan Anderson has volunteered to play the piano for Sunday worship and she will liaise with Amy Schirmer on this matter. The vacant church pianist position to be advertised again in the new school year.

Visual Media Coordinator remains Joel Beaudry assisted by Wilson Matungwa (CYAM Peer Minsters).

Thank you to UELC for giving me the opportunity to serve as minister of music and for allowing me to express my praise and love for our Lord Jesus Christ thorough music and with the art projects in the Narthex. It was an absolute pleasure and blessing to worship and serve with you. Thank you my church family for the farewell gift. I am going to miss all of you so much!

Crystal Jacob (Minister of Music)
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. 
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. 

Ron Bauldree
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

We are called to host three families at church this coming week, Aug. 7-14. I am ever grateful for and impressed by the offers of support by our congregation. We also have several volunteers from our support congregation, Holy Faith. We could still use another couple evening hosts or two (5:00 - 7:30) in order to ensure families safely arrive, get into their rooms, and are fed. Also, grocery and gas gift cards are requested for families in other temporary shelter provided by Family Promise. Those can be delivered directly to the Family Promise office or I can do that for you. Finally, our next hosting will be around the corner (these two host weeks are closely spaced due to certain schedule restrictions) on Sept. 18th.

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

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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 2nd 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

At the beginning of June a check in the amount of $6,395.00 was sent to Village of Hope. This represents a total of 15 children that are currently being sponsored. Some sponsors paid for the entire year and others are making monthly payments.
 
The bulletin board in the Kaiser Center will be updated soon with a list of the current children being sponsored.
 
If you haven’t renewed as yet there is still time to do it for 2022. Remember to put VOH on the memo line of your check and put it in the offering plate. The cost is still $480 per year or $40 a month. 
 
Janet Janke, Lazarus Project [VOH] coordinator at UELC
Our Pastor and Staff

Pastor Lynn Fonfara
Pastor, Congregation and Campus Ministry

Amy Schirmer
Music Ministry Coordinator

Evelyn Simmons
Administrative Assistant