Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
www.foclutheranchurch.org 1 [email protected]
The Illuminate A publication of Family of Christ Lutheran Church-1st Edition during Covid-19 pandemic
May & June 2020
Pastor’s Reflection
Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old.
I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:18-19
Oddly enough, this is the very verse I chose for my reflection for the May/June 2019 Illuminate. I could never have
anticipated how appropriate it would be for this present time. Think about it, the prophet Isaiah brings God’s word of
comfort and encourages the people long held in exile, even as he urges those who remained in Israel to be open to the
new possibilities the returning exiles would bring. As the grandkids of those driven into Babylon, these returning folk
knew nothing of the old life in Israel. The residents of Jerusalem, and all of Israel, were struggling to survive. How
could they make provision for returning exiles! These were tense times, but somehow God was going to do
something new.
People of God, the times we live in feel very much like what the ancients struggled with. The coronavirus and the
disease it causes, Covid-19, have effectively turned normal upside down, and ground much of our routines to a halt.
Many have suffered great financial loss, business disruption, and let’s not forget our children and youth who have had
their school year disrupted. It’s hard, to say the least. As a congregation, we face uncertainty as to when we can come
out of our exile and gather again in worship. We are waiting for the “all clear.” We are waiting for relief. We are
living in faith and hope. People of God, that is the key. We are living in faith and hope, confident that God is doing
a new thing and we will—no we do—get to be a part of it!
Even as these times are challenging, they are also times of great opportunity. We have the opportunity to refocus our
vision. We can reevaluate our priorities. We can find more intentional ways in which to connect with loved ones and
to engage the neighbor, or welcome the stranger. If we cling to an old lens, or worst yet, look through the lens of fear,
then closed minds, hearts, and a hardened society is what we get. BUT, if we look through the lens of God’s
unrelenting love, that pours itself into creation day by day, that calls us together to be a single humanity, all children
of God, then we see a brother or sister, we see new beginnings, even that new creation beginning to burst forth.
Alleluia!
People of God, approaching the problems of life and this world through the lens of faith in a God that will not give up
on us, unlocks the creativity that will lead to opportunities and a bright future. The old normal may be gone, but oh
what God is up to now!
The questions and challenges we have and face are hard core for sure. I believe that God does have a vision for us.
The scriptures tell of it. It will be hard work, and require much of us. It will take time—maybe forever. Yet, I am
convinced it is the very kind of work that God calls us all to.
The world changes, life changes, the Church changes; however, one thing never does. The life-giving love and grace
of God activated and lived out through God’s people changes everything! I just had to say that again!
Blessings, Pastor Kit
www.foclutheranchurch.org 2 [email protected]
Coming up…..Building Relationships….Moving Purposefully...In Some VERY New Ways
It’s not quite business as usual around FOC these days, but we are working hard to be an active
engaging ministry for you all. Here are some ways to stay connected.
Join us Sunday mornings starting at 9:30 am as we live Stream a worship service
via Facebook. We’ve heard your feedback and tightened it up, worked on our
sound issues, and shortened the service a bit. Tune in Sunday!
Find all our Sunday Services and Reflections from Pastor Kit, & Ian Caton’s
Youth Class videos on our You Tube channel.
Type in you web browser: Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Vancouver
WA—You Tube
Participate in our Zoom Video Conferencing Studies Described on page 3.
We are aware that some folks don’t have access to such technology and ask you to please check in with fellow congregants who could be feeling especially cut-off at this time. Sending a simple letter or making a phone call can go a long way to help others stay connected and cared for. Our Life Touch Church Directory link is sent out weekly so you can always find a members address or phone number, try saving the link in your bookmarks. The office will be providing updated printed directories in the coming weeks.
Our Yoga instructor is even holding Friday Zoom Yoga Classes! Contact Mary Stewart if you’re interested in being in checking it out! Email Mary at: warmheartfamilyyoga@ gmail.com
PRAYER CHAIN MINISTRY – Renewed and Revised
Typically our prayer requests come in via a written request during worship, email or phone call. We would
then send those on to a small list of folks that are on an Email prayer chain, managed by Jeanne Downing,
and print them in the Sunday bulletins. Since we are doing virtual church now, we’ll continue to have
Jeanne's prayer chain, which you are welcome to join, but we also will begin sending prayer requests to
the broader FOC community via our weekly Enews. Of course you're always welcome to send a prayer
request to Pastor Kit or the office as confidential too, just let us know.
The Illuminate 3
Adult Christian Education Offerings and Small Groups
During the stay-at-home orders we have switched our study groups to
Zoom Teleconferencing. You can download Zoom for free onto your
computer or tablet to join us. There is also an app you can download onto
your cell phone.
We will email the link weekly with instructions on how to join our Zoom
meetings. You can join by video or participate with our without video by
calling via your phone. The number & instructions will be included in the
email invites.
Call the church office if you have any questions.
Join us via Zoom for:
Wednesday starting at 10 am Bible Study. This 1 1/2 hour Pastor led
study dives deep into the text for the upcoming Sunday. (This study will
return to Tuesday after the stay-at-home order is lifted.)
2nd & 4th Thursday Evening 6-7:30 pm Study. This Pastor led Bible
Study is the perfect class for folks with challenging schedules. There’s no
ongoing commitment, you can drop in anytime. We continue to wind our
way through the letter to the Hebrews. Soon we’ll start Part II of Romans.
It’s been an exciting journey and there’s lots more to come. Join us!
NEW! Daytime WELCA Study via Zoom Every 1st Thursday,
Beginning May 7th.
We’ll be sending out invites to join a monthly women’s Bible Study using
the studies provided from the WELCA Magazine “Gather.”
Resuming When We Can Gather Safely…….(Let Pastor know if you
want to Zoom Conference!)
1st & 3rd Friday Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study from 8-9 am. Join
Pastor Kit and the guys for a hot breakfast and great study & table
fellowship in the Family Room at FOC.
Adult Sunday School 10 am with Pastor Kit. Letters—-James, Timothy
1 & 2, Titus will give us a glimpse into the life, struggles and vision of the
early church as it was being born into the world. Can their experience
bring wisdom to the church today? Can their issues of culture and changing
times inform our own? We’ll see what we can find!
Pandemic = New Rituals?
“Rituals are routines that force us
to live faithfully even when we no
longer feel like being faithful. Until
our heart has the time to arouse
itself and finds its way back to those
we love, rituals make us show up for
duty.” You take the wafer and juice.
Eventually you learn that you are
forgiven, and you can forgive. You
pour water over children.
Eventually, you learn that
community grows one person at a
time. You go into buildings with
people who share your faith, and
eventually you learn that you are not
alone in the world. And when the
old rituals don’t work, you create
new rituals that embody the lessons
and values you want to impart.
And when the old
rituals don’t work,
you create new
rituals that embody
the lessons and
values you want to
impart.
Our Ministry has to adapt and change
during this unprecedented time in
history.
Do you have any creative ideas on
how to create ‘new rituals that
embody the lessons and values’ of
FOC? We’d love to hear from you!
Excerpt from Bipolar Faith by Monica A. Coleman.
Sentence in parenthesis is a quote form her college
Professor Weems quoted in the book.
Connecting the Scriptures….
www.foclutheranchurch.org 4 [email protected]
Confirmation Sunday is coming as soon as we can gather in worship together, in the meantime, let’s all
celebrate and encourage our confirmands!
Emma Hoffman, Christien Eisenbarth, and Josh Wuethrich.
For the past two years they have explored the scriptures, the Small Catechism connecting the teachings of the Christian faith with their life experience. They have worked hard and we are so proud of them. Come support them as they take this important step in their faith journey.
Celebrate our High School Graduates!
Congratulations to:
Erin Marble is off to Penn State in the fall to study epidemiology and biology.
Ashley Jones is heading to Central Washington University to study sociology and library science.
Breanna Jones heads to Pacific Lutheran University in September—go Lutes!
Where are our recent College students, graduates, and those serving military service?
They are on the move! Some of our college students are studying from home due to the quarantine; here’s an update on our young ones.
Morgan Alexander is studying at Arizona State University this fall.
Quinton Beems is hard at work finishing an Information Technology certification.
Julia Born is studying social science at Washing State University.
Alison Collette is a Junior at Carleton College studying Phycology and Neurology, with a graduation goal of 2021.
Abbie Collette graduated from nursing school and is working as a pediatric oncology nurse at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Dexter Collette is well down the road to becoming an amazing physician, finishing his public health unit and then will head back to his 3rd year of medical school in Kentucky, with a graduation date of 2022.
Breanna Eisenbarth is finishing up her prerequisites for nursing school at Clark College.
Nathan Hastings has completed his AA degree and is working on his BA degree to become a counselor while working at a semiconductor company.
Carissa Johnson Elifrits has completed her enlistment in the Marines, and will be starting college in California, but more exciting than all that, she is getting married in September!
Sean Marble is at University of Alaska Fairbanks, studying Geological Engineering. When he is not in school, Sean works with the UAF wild land fire crews.
Malinda Staub graduates from Valparaiso and is headed to medical school to become a cardiac surgeon.
Angel Whittington is married and has two beautiful children.
Moving Purposefully into God’s Future…..
www.foclutheranchurch.org 5 [email protected]
Building Relationships...Moving Purposefully...Transforming Our World
From the Preschool… Our doors may be closed but we are still busy working and staying in touch with our families. Since our closure on Friday March 13, the Preschool staff have been working from home in a variety of ways working on Professional Development, new curriculum development, to staying connected with our classes and each other. Each teaching team has an assigned Zoom gathering time with each of their classes. They have been doing things like sharing favorite stuffed animals, introducing favorite super heros, going on Scavenger hunts of various kinds as well as singing and dancing to a few of our favorite songs. We are also doing Staff Zoom meeting to check in with one another. All of the staff here at Family of Christ Christian Preschool are very grateful to be receiving their wages during this turbulent time. They have all said how blessed they are to be working for such a supportive program. A BIG THANK YOU to Dale Perry and his generosity and support of FOCCP with his wonderful lettuce box garden fundraiser, and to the congregation members who purchased them. We received $ 863 from this sale. We are looking ahead to the Re-opening of our school this fall with the start of a new school year in September. Stay Safe and Stay Healthy ~ FOCCP
To keep in communication with our Sunday School/Youth Ministry youth and
families, Karen and Jim put together simple Sunday School packets and mailed
them out for the Preschool-Kindergarten students. Cheri put together a packet for
the elementary age class for Palm Sunday, Holy Week to Easter. Ian put together
several funYou Tube video lessons for the High School Class. Pastor Kit and Pam
hold confirmation classes via Zoom. We thank our teachers for their creativity
during these changing times as we continue to figure out new ways to minister to
our youth during stay-at-home orders.
Before Covid-19 hit, Cheri & Karen had been working to get our summer's
VBS program together, which was originally set for June 22-26th. The theme
is “Rocky Railway-Jesus’ Power Pulls Us Through”, we surely need that right
now!
However, given the current stay-at-home order, and the recent event of our
VBS leader Karen Rossiter breaking her wrist, we will now postpone the
program to next year. Please pray for Karen!
All in not lost! We will use all the materials when we are able to bring our
kiddos safely together next year.
www.foclutheranchurch.org 6 [email protected]
….Moving Purposefully….When it’s safe to do so!
FOC Social Concerns Looks Ahead
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and love
kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micha 6:8).
“The measure of a country’s greatness is its ability to retain compassion in times of crisis.”
~Thurgood Marshall
Thank you to all who attended “Our Plastics Predicament” on March 2nd and continue to make efforts in
your daily life to reduce plastic use. Under recent Covid-19 Stay-At-Home orders, some of us may have a bit
of extra time to really scrutinize our shopping and household habits and make positive changes to help
preserve/improve the health of God’s Creation for generations to come.
Vancouver Pride 2020: As I write this, I am also reading that the decision to cancel Vancouver Pride in the
Park 2020, has recently been made, again due to the risks presented by Covid-19. FOC has participated in
this July event for several years, in support and love for our LGBTQ citizens. Virtual events may yet be
announced for 2020 and we will plan for participation in 2021. Here at FOC we can hold the same spirit and
continue to share the love of Christ to any who walks through our doors and into our lives.
Vancouver Peace and Justice Fair: FOC had a table at this wonderful event for the first time in September
2019, and will be making plans by June for the upcoming 2020 fair on September 12th. Last year we
handed out apples and showcased our various efforts at FOC toward peace and justice issues. The Mission
of the Fair is as follows: “The Vancouver Peace and Justice Fair builds community among the grassroots
peace and justice groups in SW Washington. We highlight our common goals of peace and justice at home,
our community, and the world. The fair helps each of us find further ways of dedicating our lives to peace
and justice.” Check the fair’s Facebook page for inspiring social justice posts.
May Day Rummage Sale cancelled for 2020. This event typically affords us the opportunity to clear out our
unneeded household items and generate needed revenue for multiple local and international charities at
the same time (for example: Babies in Need and Heifer International.) Whether we are donating items,
working the sale, or shopping the sale for great deals, I know we look forward to it each year. Please find
another way to help others by donating items to another cause this year, or hold onto them for an extra big
Rummage Sale here at FOC in 2021!
Social Concerns invites you to get involved! Please contact Laura Harris or Judy Enders if you have ideas and
would like to work with us on social justice issues.
www.foclutheranchurch.org 7 [email protected]
A Note from the Property Team While the church has been closed during the current virus pandemic,
maintenance of Family of Christ has continued. Although Spring Cleanup Day
was cancelled, the Property Team has continued trimming and grooming the
shrubbery in front and back and that is nearing completion. Minor repairs
continue inside the building. Other individual members have been tending
flowers as well as the groundcover near the entrance and weeding and
otherwise maintaining the large slope in front of church. We thank them. We hope to get some new bark
mulch on the large slope sometime this spring or summer at which time we will likely schedule a work day
when distancing restrictions are somewhat relaxed. In the meantime, if you see anything that needs attention,
if you can—please take care of it, or let the church office know. If you take care of something, let us know so
we can say Thank you! Thanks for your support.
Front Line Heroes—Let’s be praying for them!
At Family of Christ we are blessed by the volunteer and professional
services on the frontlines during this Coronavirus quarantine. Judy
and Dave are out there feeding the homeless and manning porta
potty shifts at the car camp at Vancouver Mall. Cyndie Gilson is
hard at work at Fred Meyer. Kim Everett, Deb Broers, Laura Harris,
Abbie Corlett, Tonya Odarich, Melissa Sandeen and Alina Staub all
work in medical settings. Jim Collell transports vulnerable folks for
C-Van. Ann Colette, Pam Ausman, and Stephanie Edwards are
dealing with teaching online and Natalie Hastings is serving lunches
to school children. Matt Hastings is serving the financial needs of
customers at Advertise Credit Union. I know that there are more of
you showing up for work every day either at home or in your places
of employment. We thank you, and we are praying for your
wellbeing.
Do You Enjoy Gardening?
Want to get out and get some fresh air?
At FOC we are blessed with a beautiful facility and grounds. It takes lots of
hands sharing the work to keep our grounds beautiful and inviting. If you have
a few hours a week or month to pull weeds, clean out a plant bed, or just pick
up the debris that “floats in on the wind,” your help will be greatly appreciated!
Please remember to practice social distancing.
Serving and Caring for Our Neighbors and Communities
www.foclutheranchurch.org 8 [email protected]
Dave and I want to thank Pastor Kit for applying for and receiving the Hunger Appeal grant for
our truck dinners and for all of you who donated to the fund raiser for that same appeal. The
total raised was $1,775!
We continue to serve a hot meal every Sunday evening at 3 locations and although our numbers are
down from healthy times, the people we serve appreciate the hot food very much. They can get sack
lunches at Share twice a day, but no hot meal. We serve a hot meal Wednesday morning at the
Waterworks park and Dave treats the "street pets". He vaccinates and provides flea and worm
treatment as well as provides pet food in sacks they can carry for their pets.
We are adding a sack lunch meal to our Wednesday morning at the car park at Van Mall. There are 60
people including several children. If any of you would like to make sandwiches or provide fruit or
cookies for these lunches, we would appreciate it.
Portable toilets have been brought in to the parking lot of the River Rock church on 4th Plain for
homeless use. Waterworks Park does not have an open bathroom nor running water so this luxury will
be a big hit with the homeless folks we serve at the park on Wednesday. We will take a turn
monitoring the toilets on Wednesday afternoon. We are being very careful with social distancing,
gloves, masks, and lots of soap and hand sanitizer. We hand out masks and hand sanitizer and a bar
of soap every time we meet someone. If anyone wants to sew masks, we can use them. Several of
you have provided us with masks and we really appreciate them.
Well, that's it in a very large nutshell with what's happening with the big red truck. Thank you all for
everything you do to help us.
Judy and Dave
www.foclutheranchurch.org 9 [email protected]
May Birthday’s
Bethany Winz 5/2 (Trudy’s GD)
Kris Sease 5/4
Bonnie Blakemore 5/5
Greg Shaw 5/5
Miguel Sosa 5/5
Kerry Goerl 5/9
Jamie Leatherwood 5/10
Charlotte Doyle 5/11
Morgan Beems 5/15
Linda Czech 5/15
Betty Perry 5/15
Sonja Sims 5/15
Tanner Wuethrich 5/15
Laura Bloom 5/16
Al Jaffe 5/20
Neal Adolf 5/21
Alan Sease 5/22
Trudy Swan 5/22
Mike Bena 5/28
Andrew Harris 5/27
Ken Goerl 5/28
Deb Broers 5/30
Building Relationships Between People From All Ages and All Walks of Life
Million Meals
Please Support Local Food Banks, they
need it now more than ever. You can
mail in a check or donate online from
our website to our Million Meals
program.
Our Million Meals Totals Collected so
far January to April is $2006.
100% of your offerings go out each
month to the Clark County Food Bank
to be given to local agencies as grants
to buy food for only 8 cents per
pound. food! Thank you for your
generosity. Now, we are charging on
to our 3rd million!
Please Pray For:
Karen Rossiter fell and broke her left
wrist. She is left-handed and will
require surgery.
Randy Osborn has shoulder surgery
right before the shut down. He is still
in a sling & he will begin physical
therapy soon.
Susie Koeser’s cousin Gayle has a
tumor on her skull that will need
surgery. Prayers that is has not gone
into her brain.
On-going family health/healing/
other concerns: Harold Broers. Jerre
& Sharon Crisp. Edie Dietzen.
Charlotte Doyle. Phyllis Endresen.
Sandra Farrell. Al Jaffe. Gene
Johnson. Alice Huff. Arlene Larson.
CheChe Luckini. Cliff & Bonne Scogin.
Kris Sease. Jim Staub. Bill & Bev
Wagner.
May Anniversaries
Gary & Sue Endresen 5/1
Dale & Betty Perry 5/5
Alix & Tina Calderon 5/18
Travis & Teresa Marble 5/22
Bill & Bev Wagner 5/28
Happy June Anniversaries' to:
Cliff & Bonne Scogin 6/06
George & Carol Hoffman 6/10
Dan & Marilyn Howe 6/12
Fred & Terry Pollock 6/18
Brian & Laura Harris 6/20
Ken Rausch & Pam Ausman 6/25
Eric & Stephanie Evans 6/27
Ty & Jamie Leatherwood 6/28
Jeff & Rebecca Wuethrich 6/29
Cliff & Debra Jones 6/30
June Birthdays
Spencer Alexander 6/01
Adam Adolf 6/02
MayMay Adolf 6/05
Emma Hoffman 6/05
Cliff Scogin 6/06
Pastor Kit 6/07
Sharon Hoffman 6/09
Laura Harris 6/13
Mary Ann Beck 6/15
Dorothy Bauer 6/17
Brian Harris 6/17
Dezy Calderon 6/18
Lexi Calderon 6/18
Zoey Calderon 6/18
Peg Steinmeyer 6/19
Bill Wagner 6/19
Andrew Kabacy 6/22
Barbara Martin 6/23
Ethan Ness 6/26
Melinda Stevens 6/27
Sandra Farrell 6/28
Sandie Beems 6/30
Cliff Jones 6/30
www.foclutheranchurch.org 10 [email protected]
Building Relationships...Moving Purposefully...Serving and Caring
Pictures from the Peace and
Justice Fair in 2019
Left to right:
Laura Harris
Jim Collell
Judy Enders
Carol Collell
Left to Right
Laura Harris, Dale & Betty Perry,
Dave Slocum with Judy Enders and
Pastor Kit.
Laura, Judy & Betty
