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One Church Multiple Communities |
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REFLECTING ON 2023 AND WELCOMING IN THE NEW YEAR!
A note from Community Care….
As we traverse 2023, and begin our lives in 2024, let us pause to reflect. Maybe that is lighting a candle in our homes, and praying for all the souls that left us for heaven this year. We are grateful to our Lord Jesus Christ for giving us the gift of their lives, their love, and His promise that we will be together again in eternity.
"Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians. 4:17).
In Loving Memory:
Phyllis Bernstein
Katy Starenko
George Stine
Rose Marie Myers
William Cedfeldt
Don Brown
Dolly Scott
James Geist
Ellen Wolfe
Carol Waters
Dick Kozitka
Mary Semsel
Gordon Duwe
Victoria Carrillo
Avis Holmes
Ann “Gussie” Wasmer
Wishing everyone at Emmanuel, quiet moments to breathe in all the experiences of 2023 with GRATEFUL HEARTS! We are grateful to Jesus for our loved ones and all the blessings of this life; We thank our Lord Jesus Christ for all of our relationships, both long and short, our suffering, our strength and triumphs, the lessons and the joys. Jesus will always persevere to be with us and will never let us go!
“For He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:15
WHAT DOES COMMUNITY CARE MEAN?
Emmanuel Lutheran Church is one church many communities! How will we make our mark, and share our spiritual gifts this year of time and talent? Are we on the lookout for those that may need help? How will we love Jesus, our neighbor, and the strangers we encounter each day in our lives? How will we find new ways to pray?
Here are some ideas:
All are welcome to join our Prayer Group at Noon on Thursdays in the media center. Bringing a friend to church is a way to spread The Good News of Jesus Christ and encourage new friends and fellowship. Remember “BRING A FRIEND SUNDAY” is February 11th at all services! Singing is a beautiful form of prayer. Volunteering at the Park for Meals of Hope on Wednesdays, or learning the art of listening by becoming a Stephen Minister. We are all unique in our gifts and legacies. Jesus made sure of that. He knew us before we were born!
I recall with gratitude this year, walking a friend through a difficult period in his life with music and dancing, karaoke, dinners and encouraging prayer. I honor the friendship God gave me with Gussie for a brief time - I will never forget her personal griefs, each conversation and the mischief - we were purposely put into our lives by God to have fun and be emotional together! I pray for my brother Paul’s friend Terry who went to God in November — Terry was the meaning of unconditional loyalty in friendship. Paul taught Terry how to be an easy loser in golf! All they did was laugh and have fun.
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WELLNESS INCLUDES REMEMBERING HOW TO HAVE FUN! Wishing everyone TIME in 2024 for fun and to be an active part of our growth as a church family with new fellowship opportunities! I found time recently in the sunshine, to write on the sidewalk and blow some bubbles with the children in my neighborhood (see below - they even drew a pink “AMEN”!) Lastly, another nod of honor to all of our brave and kind Stephen Ministers!
You are all amazing. Happy 2024!
Julie
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"Challenges of Grief"
in the Chapel
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This group invites any friends and family going through grief through the loss of a loved one, to come and share and see that we are not alone in this grief.
Healing modalities include learning through videos, Holy Scripture and an optional GriefShare lessons workbook to take home.
The class is also listed on www.griefshare.org website, under zip code 34102.
If you would like to come or know of someone that would like more information please contact me at julie@naplesemmanuel.org
Mark your calendar for future meetings at 1:00 pm in the chapel:
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Tuesday, February 13 at 1:00 pm
Wednesday, February 28 at 1:00 pm
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What Makes a Good Stephen Minister?
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A Stephen Minister is a trained volunteer who provides one-to-one Christian care to individuals experiencing a difficult time. According to the official website of Stephen Ministries, to become a Stephen Minister, you need to be a caring believer in Jesus Christ who is willing to learn, grow, and serve. You must also be willing and able to maintain confidentiality.
Stephen Ministers are skilled caregivers who receive 20 sessions of training before they are commissioned and assigned to care receivers. They learn skills such as listening, identifying and expressing feelings, setting boundaries, and being assertive. They also learn about specific challenges such as hospitalization, divorce, grief, and depression. Stephen Ministers feel well prepared to walk alongside people in crisis, whether it is with an assigned care receiver or in their own relationships with family, friends, and coworkers. Stephen Ministers often say that their training was life transforming—helping them to grow in faith and learn relationship principles and skills that deepened and enhanced all the relationships in their life.
Stephen Ministers are assertive caregivers who are trained to “speak the truth in love.” Christian assertiveness is a positive and constructive way of relating that respects others and ourselves.
Stephen Ministers are caregivers, not cure givers. They are not therapists or problem solvers; they are caregivers. Only God can bring about healing, forgiveness, and hope. Stephen Ministers are trained to listen and pray, to be reliable and nonjudgmental, and to help care receivers express their feelings. Focusing on caring and not on curing means Stephen Ministers never pressure a care receiver to “get better.” Stephen Ministers are there for as long as the process takes and trust that God works in His own time to provide wholeness.
Sharing our gifts of compassion and the love of Jesus Christ are wonderful ways to share our joy of caregiving with those around us. It is being present with another, as a Christian friend to have a cup of tea with — at times when someone feels alone and needs a listening ear and a prayer. You may enjoy being a Stephen Minister. Please contact Julie at julie@naplesemmanuel.org or call the church office for information on the next class!
WE NEED YOU! THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS ESSENTIAL MINISTRY!
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2023-2024 Stephen Ministers:
Bob Goodin, Ginny LaPlaine, Duncan Cameron, Pat Goodyear, Dwight Ericsson, Edie Cole, Sandy Kottke, Howard Isaacson, Jane Haugsland, Bruce Bergman, Roger Beckerman, Jim Cooper, Christine Haines, Barbara Miller, Jane Borchers, Julie Kerr, Jim Ulsh, Patrick Steffy, Shar Hagen, Vivian Shea, Linda Hall, Clayton Blomseth, Glen Gronlund, Frank Lester, Myron Marlett, Ann Ericsson, Joyce O’Neil, Theresa Shaw, Julie Basile.
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Contact Julie Basile....
our Community Care Coordinator
with any of your questions or concerns at
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My goal is to bring JOY to others in their daily life. |
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Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 777 Mooring Line Drive, Naples, FL 34102
elc@naplesemmanuel.org
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