University Evangelical Lutheran Church

and Campus Ministry

The Lampstand - July 2023

Our Mission

UELC's Mission:

To be a diverse and inviting congregation and campus ministry sharing God’s love with all in the community.

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

Early in July, we celebrate our independence from Britain. We wear our national colors proudly, and talk a lot about freedom. Some freedoms are specifically listed in the constitution. I’ll focus on just one here, the freedom to practice the religion of our choice, which could mean no religion at all.

Some folks call the US a Christian nation, claiming our founders intended for us to have Christian values, especially conservative Protestant values. But that is the opposite of the founders' intent. In the British system of government, the king or queen is the head of the church. While currently people of other faiths are welcome to practice their religion, in the 1600s there was only one way to be faithful in England: through the Church of England. By the 1700s, this was still the law of the land, though it was not enforced as strongly as before.

This was why the Quakers and the Puritans and the Roman Catholics found their way to America, and developed their own communities. The people who came to our shores from Africa to be enslaved had their own faiths, often Muslim or the religion of their local people.

Our founders wanted to be sure everyone in the US was able to practice their own faith and not be persecuted or prosecuted for it. This is the “no establishment clause”. In reality, however, there are people who insist that everyone has to have the same beliefs as they have, on everything from abortion to education to immigration to taxation.  This insistence on uniformity despite us having different opinions limits our freedom!

“Freedom isn’t free”, many have said. Depending on who is doing the counting, hundreds of thousands or well over a million people have died to maintain our independence. We must work hard to prevent it from being taken from us. In addition to serving in the military, voting, letter-writing, and demonstrating are ways to present our own beliefs. Prayer is essential, as well. We need to be persistent in working to preserve our freedoms, however we choose and are able to act.

Pax et bonum (peace and all good)

Pr Lynn

President's Notes

Dear UELC family,

The council met on June 27th via Zoom to conduct the monthly meeting.

The council (as well as the Financial Action Team [FAT]) continues to work through the Florida-Bahamas Synod (FBS) Transition Process Checklist. The checklist is defined by the FBS as a discernment tool for helping the congregation to determine its readiness for the call process. It’s a way of “getting our house in order” prior to the call of a new pastor. Many items on the checklist include a review of certain policies and basic information to ensure the church leadership is informed and educated.

One of the items on the checklist is a “Disaster Response plan for the facility” as well as a “Disaster Response Plan for the congregation”. Council is seeking someone to spearhead this disaster response planning piece of the checklist. There are resources available from both the FBS and the ELCA to assist. Ideally, one person could work within a small group of 2 to 3 others to accomplish this important recommendation from the Synod. Please speak with myself or anyone on council if you feel this is an area you could contribute to the transition process.

Inspired by the Father’s Day cookout arranged by the Hospitality Action Team (HAT) in June, there are plans underway to offer a similar meal as part of the God’s Work, Our Hands Day of Service observation in September. Campus Ministry will be spearheading this offering of a free meal out in front of our church with tables set up outside as well as in the Kaiser Center. The free meal will be advertised through the University’s Field and Fork Food pantry focused on helping individuals dealing with food scarcity.

Warm regards,

Becky Borgert

July Servants

Sunday, July 2

Preacher: Pr. Lynn Fonfara

Assisting Minister: Ron Bauldree

Altar Guild: Elaine Manion

Lector: Sam Brill

Ushers: John MontMarquetteRon Fourman

Sound Assistant: Melissa Singer

Video Assistant: Wilson Matungwa

Sunday, July 9

Preacher: Pr. Lynn Fonfara

Assisting Minister: Pat Dasler

Altar Guild: Joan Anderson

Lector: Sandy Bauldree

Ushers: Ron Fourman, Ron Gordon

Sound Assistant: Melissa Singer

Video Assistant: Wilson Matungwa

Sunday, July 16

Preacher: Pr. Lynn Fonfara

Assisting Minister: Sam Borgert

Altar Guild: Jackie Klein

Lector: Rick Dienhart

Ushers: Ron Fourman

Sound Assistant: Amy Schirmer

Video Assistant: Wilson Matungwa

Sunday, July 23

Preacher: Pr. Lynn Fonfara

Assisting Minister: Ron Bauldree

Altar Guild: Pat Dasler

Lector: Sam Brill

Ushers: Jeanne Chamberlin, John MontMarquette

Sound Assistant: Amy Schirmer

Video Assistant: Wilson Matungwa

Sunday, July 30

Preacher: Pr. Lynn Fonfara

Assisting Minister: Sam Borgert

Altar Guild: Elaine Manion

Lector: Sandy Bauldree

Ushers: Roger Springfels, Ron Fourman

Sound Assistant: Amy Schirmer

Video Assistant: Wilson Matungwa

Thank you Declan for the music!

Adult Education Returns

Council decided it was time to offer Sunday morning Adult Education again. It will begin on July 9^th. During July the topic will be the Devotions created by the Just Love team of the Florida Bahamas Synod, based on the book, The 1619 Project. Janet Janke has agreed to lead the discussions during the month of July. Adult Education begins at 9:30 and ends at 10:15 in time for worship.  

The Bee

The Bee will not meet on Tuesday, July 4^th.  The rest of the Tuesdays this summer will find The Bee meeting at UELC from 11:30 – 1:00. Most bring something to have for lunch while we meet. Each week, after the devotion, time is spent exploring and discussing books that are of interest to the group. Check out the new basket of books in the UELC library. The basket contains books written by Jack Saarela and other books on current topics. They can be borrowed using the “honor system”. 

Village of Hope

Thank you to all who have renewed their sponsorship for 2023. A check representing 16 sponsorships will be sent to VOH in July.

Some have gotten a mailing about the special appeal where they hope to raise $75,000. Meeting this goal will allow them to keep the Health Center open again 5 days a week, compensate for unprecedented inflation, and cover the cost of tuition shortfall.

There are copies of this mailing on the VOH board in the Kaiser Center. Instead of making out a check to UELC like we do for sponsorships, it is requested that you send a check directly to VOH if you want to support this appeal. Make the check out to Village of Hope, Inc. Indicate it is for the special $75,000 appeal. The address is:

VOH 300 East Yamato Rd. Boca Raton, FL 33431 

You can say that you are a member of UELC in Gainesville so they will know that we are supporting this cause.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” Galatians 6:2.

Our Pastor and Staff

Pastor Lynn Fonfara

Pastor, Congregation and Campus Ministry

pastoruelc@gmail.com

Amy Schirmer

Music Ministry Coordinator

Declan Tse

Pianist

Evelyn Simmons

Secretary

ulcgainesville@gmail.com