|
|
University Lutheran
Church
|
ULC E-Newsletter
|
From Pastor Jay Last week I wrote to you all about counting your fingers, counting your sins, and then counting all that you had to give thanks for. I had a little bit of time this Thanksgiving holiday to sit and quietly think. I pushed away my lap top, plans for Advent sermons, bulletins, calendars, and just thought about what I had to thank God for. Here is a little bit of that list: I thank God for University Lutheran. I thank Him for every person who walks through those glass doors, wondering what is inside. I thank Him for every person who walks through the back door, wondering what He has in store for them. I thank God for the people of University Lutheran who have so richly blessed my life these past 6 months. I thank God for shared meals and shared conversations. I thank God for smiles and for compliments He has afforded me to hear. I thank God for the NOOMA folks, the Sunday morning Bible study crowd, the Formation group, the choir, and everyone that comes to worship. I thank God for seeing His face in the way that people here at University Lutheran serve others in Love by sitting next to new people in worship services, and sharing Thanksgiving meals with people from this community. I thank God for letting me see His power as He serves everyone grace and forgiveness of sins. I thank God for adversity and for frustration. I thank God for every student on my list of 340 "self designated Lutherans" who haven't shown up because I know He gave me those names to keep me adamant about finding them with His love. I thank God for typos that make me laugh at myself. I thank God for last minute calls to cancel appointments, because they give time I hadn't expected to have that day. I thank God for budgets and for people who are willing to suffer through my thoughts on them. I thank God for giving me challenges and opportunities for creativity and growth. I thank God for musicians. They lift my soul and make me praise God all the more because they have gifts that I don't have. I thank God for Peer Ministers, because they're patient and kind with me and reign me in when I need it. I thank God for the joy that our German service has given so many. I thank God for Board Members who put their heart and soul into this congregation and how it operates. Most of all, I thank God for Jesus. Without Him sending His Son, I would never be in a place like this. I would never be in a church filled to the brim with His blessings. I would never get to know any of the people here at University Lutheran. I would never get to tell them about how much God Loves them. I wouldn't be able to spend eternity with them. Jesus is what Thanksgiving is all about. In Christ, Pastor Jay Clear Your Calendars! New and Important
Calendar Items! Due to many people being out of town, the Case for Faith Bible study will be postponed until next week, December 6th. December 1st - Angels and Guitar Concert by Voces Angelorum Stop by Good Shepherd Catholic Church on Thomasville Rd. at 8pm to see Voces Angelorum perform. December 1st - Remedy Drive Concert See Remedy Drive, a Lutheran band, play at First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, FL starting at 8pm. December 2nd - First Sunday of Advent Join us at University Lutheran as we worship Christ, our coming Lord! Come early at 10am to join us in Bible Study about the Wisdom Book of Proverbs. December 2nd - Contemporary Worship Discussion Group Join us after worship to talk about worship. Please come ready to answer the following questions: What would a contemporary worship service at ULC look/sound/feel like? What would be the logistical elements needed? How would community be intentionally strengthened between two services? Who would the intended audience of such a service be? Tell Your Friends About The German Service! Please consider downloading the German Service Poster and hanging it up in your cubicle or asking your favorite business to display it. Advent Stuff
Christmas Party!!! When?: December 16th, Sunday, 4-6pm How do I get there?: Contact the church office (850) 224 6059 / pastor@universitylutheranchurch.org for directions Become an Associate Member of Thrivent For every $2 donated through the Giving Plus program through Thrivent, University Lutheran will receive $1 extra dollar. This means that a gift of $200 can suddenly become a gift of $300. Please consider signing up to be an Associate Member of Thrivent and watch for an upcoming campaign for Giving Plus Donations.
Children's Bulletin Missed a sermon? Send a Card
Good Stuff A woman was preparing for Christmas by going to to buy some stamps for Christmas. She got to the post office, waited in line, and finally got up to the counter and said, "I want some stamps." The postman behind the counter said, "Ok, what denomination?" The woman looked flustered and said, "Oh my, I didn't even check...I guess give me about 20 Lutheran, 15 Methodist, and about 10 Presbyterian." |
University Lutheran Church and
Student Center,
a Jesus Centered Community of Scripture, Faith, and Grace.
To be removed from our
email list or change your email address:
Send an email to the Newsletter
Editor and include the email address you
want removed or changed.