Thank you to all who participated in our Live Nativity as well as those who joined us Friday night to kick off the Advent season! | |
Join us in welcoming some of our newest members to the SAKLC family! | |
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Gary and Charleen Gosselin
Gary and Charleen Gosselin are residents of Longboat Key, 8 months a year. They moved there from Rhode Island 3 years ago. They met in Providence RI and have lived there for their entire 38-year marriage.
Charleen loves home organizing and interior decorating. Gary is semi-retired and enjoys boating and fishing. They love traveling, hosting friends and family, cooking, and watching football. They have no children but enjoy a 6 lb Biewer Terrier. Both are looking forward to making new friends with our fellow church congregants.
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We are Kathy and Rod Johnson. We moved to Sarasota last winter from Estero. We are seasonal members, spending seven months in Florida and five months in Davenport Iowa where we still have family and friends. We both enjoy golf and dining. After one visit we were convinced we wanted to belong to SAKLC. The pastor’s wit and messages, along with excellent music, kept us coming back. Thank you for being here. | |
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Poinsettia Orders
If you would like to purchase Poinsettias to decorate the Altar area on Christmas, please pick up a green form located on the Welcome Desk. Once filled out, please bring the form to church and place it in the green box on the Welcome Desk along with your payment. Cost is $10 per plant. Poinsettias may be taken home after worship on December 31st. Orders are due by December 17th.
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Mark 1:1-8 (Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13, 2 Peter 3:8-15a) - St. Armands Key Lutheran Church | So sings Simon & Garfunkel, and so begins Mark's Gospel. Mark has no nativity account, no infancy narrative, no shepherds abiding in the fields, no Wise Men, no manger. Likewise, Mark has no poetic allusion to the Creation to compare with John's prolog. | | | |
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Change in Service Times
Last Saturday Evening worship is December 30th, 2023. First Sunday Evening worship starts January 7th, 2024.
**Saturday Evening Worship on 12/9 will be held in Sanctuary**
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"Angel Tree” Christmas Gifts
Benefiting Lutheran Services Florida Guardianship Program
Thank you to everyone who chose an angel from the Angel Tree to provide gifts for individuals served by the Guardianship Program under Lutheran Services Florida. I am delighted to say that every angel has
found a home. It is so heartwarming to see the generosity of SAKLC! The gifts will be delivered to LSF soon. Please return your gift-wrapped items (with the angel attached) and place them in or near the bin across from the SAKLC Office no later than Wednesday, December 6. Christmas blessings to everyone.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Lutheran World Relief – Personal Care Kits – CSM volunteers spent several hours unboxing and organizing materials for the upcoming event to make Personal Care Kits. It’s never to early to save the date – Saturday, February 3, 2024 stating at 9 a.m. We look forward to all hands on deck for a good time making the kits. Thank you, Michael Bodnyk, for ordering the supplies for us.
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Salvation Army Bell Ringing
November is here, so our seventh year of Salvation Army Kettle ringing will be here before you know it. Pastor Ken mentioned in a recent sermon that we should not just sit in the pew on Sunday but get up and volunteer for a worthy cause to help others. Here's an opportunity! Please sign up for a two-hour shift of "ringing the bell" for the Salvation Army's Christmas Kettle. The sign-up sheet will be in church on Sunday November 5th. Please volunteer for a shift or, even better, for multiple shifts. Could you be a five-star ringer? We actually have a few ringers that surpass that goal. This year, we will be filling four weeks of ringing; I’m counting on you to meet the challenge. Listen for the bells in the narthex. Scan the QR code to sign up! Thank you, Jane Wittlinger
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SAKLC Foundation News
On Monday, December 4th your Church Foundation met and voted to award four grants to the following recipients who presented grant requests to the Foundation.
Samaritan Counseling Services: $9000.00 to fund a Speaker Series in 2024 to offer wellness strategies for church staff who deal with members needing help.
Lutheran Bible Translators: $10,000 to fund translating two Bible testaments.
SAKLC Community Service Ministry: $30,000 to fund this ministry’s outreach into our community for the 2024 year.
SAKLC AV Tech: $13,000 to provide a down payment to begin the installation of sound and technical implementation in Fellowship Hall.
These monies are provided from the Community Impact Fund earnings. The Foundation has two funds that you can support for the continued, long term, betterment of our Community and our Church: The Community Impact Fund and the Church Support Fund. Please consider giving a tax-free gift to SAKLC Foundation.
Merry Christmas to You and Yours,
Your Foundation Trustees
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Name Tags Have Arrived!
If you’ve ordered a name tag, they are hanging on the name tag wall outside of the sanctuary. Don’t forget to wear your name tag on Sundays in order to get to know your neighbor! If you still need a name tag, please contact Nina at nina@saklc.com or at 941-388-1234.
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Refugee ministry is looking for people who would like to help in picking up donations with our team and also loading trucks or trailers with furniture to be delivered to the Refugees. We can put you on a list that we can text you about time and date and you can volunteer as much or as little as you wish. We have a great time doing Gods work. Text Nona at (772) 233-2945 or email her at Nona.g.arnholt@gmail.com
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Be sure to sign up for our online directory! Instant Church Directory gives you easy access to our directory of SAKLC members. An Instant Church Directory app is available as well so you can take your directory with you on the go! Click the button below to create your account.
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In Need of Medical Equipment?
Are you in need of medical equipment? We often get requests from members and friends who are looking for something to borrow for a short period during recovery. Contact the Church Office if you have any medical equipments needs.
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Parking Permits for Members
Church members are invited to contact Michael Bodnyk, the Director of Operations, to receive a SAKLC parking permit. Email michael@saklc.com or call the church office.
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Pastor Ken's Weekly Bible Study | |
Each week, throughout the year, Pr. Ken leads a Bible study on Wednesday mornings, from 11:00am-noon via zoom. If you wish to join in-person, please let Pastor know in advance. The class discusses the Scripture texts assigned for the forthcoming Sunday worship services. Pr. Ken shares a calendar month of handouts in advance, so that participants can look ahead, and read the comments of Lutheran scholars prior to each session. Please reach out to him at pastor@saklc.com so he can share the materials with you beforehand. Each week there is a good mix of lay people, and retired pastors, with each group bringing their unique perspectives on life and Scripture – it’s a fun group! Click the button below to join the Bible study via zoom.
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Interested in sponsoring Altar Flowers? The following date for December is in need of a sponsor:
December 17th- one vase
Please call the church office (941-388-1234), email maggie@saklc.com, or click the button below to sponsor flowers on one or more of these days in November.
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Pr. Ken enjoys making visits during the week to check in on our homebound members, make hospital visits, distribute communion, or even to just chat! If you would like a visit from Pr. Ken, or if you know someone who would, please reach out to him at any time! His email is pastor@saklc.com, or call the church office at 941.388.1234 and we can connect you.
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Christ in Our Home Devotionals | |
The October, November, December edition of Christ in Our Home is available. They will be at the Welcome Desk in the Narthex and in the church office to be picked up. Weekly devotions will also be available to read in the weekend edition of Connections. | |
Monthly Event Calendars Available | |
SAKLC Event Calendars are prepared each month. The December 2023 calendar is available. To access the calendar electronically, click here. A hard copy is available in the Narthex - speak to a Welcome Team member. | |
Do You Have Something for Connections?
If you would like something put in SAKLC's weekly Connections, please ensure a "ready to go" copy is sent to maggie@saklc.com by 12 pm Tuesday so it will be put in our Midweek Connections sent out every Wednesday. Please keep any submissions under 125 words. Any questions, you can email maggie@saklc.com or call the office at 941-388-1234.
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In-Person Worship Schedule | |
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Sundays
9:00am & 11am
We offer Holy Communion
Saturdays
5:00 pm
Worship will be streamed live online
for both services on Facebook and our website
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However you join us, we look forward to welcoming you!
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Stream Our Worship Online | |
We are streaming both our 9:00am and 11:00am services live on our church website: www.saklc.com/live
We will also continue to stream our worship service on our church Facebook page. Remember, the videos are archived on Facebook & on our website and can be watched at any time.
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PROBLEMS WATCHING ONLINE? Reach out to the church office (office@saklc.com).
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Do you have any comments or feedback on our live streaming of worship services or Connections communications? Please send us a note at connections@saklc.com. Your opinion is valuable!
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Your financial support is vital to our ministries and programs here at SAKLC! Offerings can be given in person on Sunday mornings in the baskets at the back of the sanctuary, mailed to the church (40 North Adams Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236), or you can give online - click here. We are sincerely grateful for your support!
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Office Hours - Church office hours are 9am to 3pm, Monday-Thursday; Fridays 9am to 1pm | | | | | | |
