University Evangelical Lutheran Church
and Campus Ministry

The Lampstand - June 2022
Our Mission

UELC's Mission:
To Embrace and Share the Love of God in Jesus Christ, as the Holy Spirit Empowers us.

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

Pentecost: a Season of Transition
 
The Season of Pentecost is a time of transition for us. In the Church Year we go from the Easter Season to Pentecost. After celebrating the Risen Christ and fully grasping the import of being a Resurrection Church, we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Pentecost reminds us of the power of the Spirit that propels the Church into Christ-like action in the world. This represents the transition from inward-looking/parochial thinking to becoming missional. Also the Church of Pentecost is always evolving, following God’s lead even as the world changes. We follow paths that we may have not trod, always trusting that God knows where God leads.
 
Nature also teaches us a lot about transition. The seasons are an ongoing cycle. Spring follows Winter, Winter follows Fall/Autumn, Fall follows Summer, Summer follows Spring… Each season has unique characteristics. Each has a timeline, some longer and some shorter, depending on the latitude and other natural factors. Some years are atypical, but one thing’s for certain - nature is constantly changing. 
 
So we too as a church, as a synod or denomination need to expect change and accept it as inevitable.
 
In any church’s history, there is always evidence of change. Some of it is influenced by demographic movement outside of a local church’s control. In urban environments especially, there is always movement of population. Rural churches are sometimes affected by the rise and fall of farming and other rural industries. Sometimes businesses move with the population, other times it is vice versa. Besides that, other social and cultural factors come into play as churches change. The challenge is always this: How do we adapt to the change process precipitated by factors totally outside our control?
 
Everybody sees changes in their own person through time. I know I see that, and that’s not confined to the changes I see in the mirror - but that too. A big part of living healthy and happy lives is to accept natural change. The transition from birth to death is not always happy or smooth. Some births are difficult and protracted, just as some end-of-life processes are difficult and protracted. Let’s not forget the many other transitions in our life cycles - all with their own complexities.
 
Whether there is joy at the end of a change process or not, transition is not without pain, stress or discomfort, at the very least. Through the tumult of change, we must hear God say through the prophet Malachi (3:6):

“I am the Lord (your God) and I do not change…”

God’s promise to be with us - no matter what, does not change. Transition comes with pain but if we follow God’s will the end will always be peace.
 
Peace and Blessings, Pastor Terrance
President's Notes

It has been a time of discernment for UELC. Council was notified at its May meeting that Pastor Terrance Jacob has accepted a call to serve a congregation in Durham, North Carolina, as the climate there will be much more hospitable to his health. His last day of service will be the 26th of June, after which he will use his well-deserved vacation time in July. UELC will miss him dearly. 
During this time of discernment, we should depend as always on the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God our Father as embodied in Christ Jesus. I am sure this is a scary and uncertain time for everyone (myself included), but there is no doubt that this is a part of His plan, so we should attend to the signs of His wishes for us. In the meantime, please send any questions or concerns you have my way. I am happy to share with you what I can about the next steps for our church.
Council will have a meeting with Deacon Connie Schmucker on Tuesday, June 7 to discuss how to go forward and to say goodbye to Pastor Terrance. Good luck and God bless to him and to all of us!
Blessings,
Dan Norford,
Council President

June Servants

Sunday, June 5
Assisting Minister: Ron Bauldree
Lector: Sam Brill
Ushers: John MontMarquette, Ron Fourman
Sound Assistant: Crystal Jacob
Video Assistant: Wilson Matungwa

Sunday, June 12
Assisting Minister: Melissa Singer
Altar Guild: Jackie Klein
Ushers: Ron Gordon, Andy Noss
Sound Assistant: Sharai Jacob
Video Assistant: Dan Norford

Sunday, June 19
Assisting Minister: Sam Borgert
Altar Guild: Joan Anderson
Ushers: Jeanne Chamberlin, Ron Fourman
Sound Assistant: Melissa Singer
Preacher: Wilson Matungwa

Sunday, June 26
Assisting Minister: Pat Dasler
Altar Guild: Elaine Manion
Ushers: Gene Brandner, Roger Springfels
Sound Assistant: Sharai Jacob
Video Assistant: Dan Norford
UELC People






Continued Prayer Concerns

Prayers for healing: Cecilia Noss, Babs Dalsheimer, and Kim Gauthier.
Did you know?

Anyone in the congregation who is experiencing financial difficulties due to the ongoing pandemic, please reach out to Pastor. We have a "discretionary fund" that might be able to be utilized to assist those who find themselves in this situation.

UELC Council
Music and Worship
Greetings All,
 
I am happy to announce that Melissa Singer has agreed to join the Music Ministry Committee.
 
We are presently working on updating the song bank that Moses Choi has so kindly created for us and also on the Celebration of life service for Dutch Schimer.

We continue with our search for a church pianist. If anyone knows of a pianist, interested in this position please ask them to call or Email the church office.

Thank you to all for your support and prayers.
 
Blessings 
Crystal Jacob
Offering Direct Deposits

It is Sunday morning and you are on your way to church. Part way there you remember you have not written a check for the offering plate.
 
It is another Sunday morning and you are sitting in the sanctuary you write a check and slowly you attempt to remove your check from your check book as quietly as possible.
 
It is another Sunday at church and you realize that your offering check and envelope remain at home on your dresser.
 
These are some of the ways that the use of direct deposit helps UELC to receive consistent income to pay its bills.
 
If you wish to learn more about the use of direct deposit, contact Jim Yale to get set up. 
LIFT

Due to the Covid pandemic LIFT (Lutherans In Fellowship Together) has not met for its monthly potluck luncheons for the past two years. We plan on restarting the luncheons by the summer of this new year. Of course, that depends on a lessening of the impact that Covid-19 and it many variants have on our lives. Let us all be responsible and stay safe. 

Ron Bauldree
LIFT coordinator 
Young Adult Ministry

Campus/Young Adult Ministry weekly meetings are suspended for the summer.

For inquiries contact Krissi and Dan Norford (keb.dan@gmail.com).
Adult Forum

Adult Forum is not meeting for now.

Contact Dan Norford for more information: keb.dan@gmail.com
Family Promise

We took care of one mother and son in our facilities for the week of May 8, with the gracious support of many of our congregants and a few from our support congregation, Holy Faith Catholic Church.  Mom was especially touched by the Mother's Day treats awaiting her on arrival.  Supporting only one family made for a smooth transition back to the face-to-face sheltering at church. 

Our next hosting is planned for August. In the meantime, and particularly as food supplies in pantries are thinner and prices are high, UELC will continue to provide some financial assistance and gift cards for the families in the Family Promise program who are housed in apartments. 

Thank you all for your volunteer hours, monetary or meal donations, and prayers for this mission to return families to self-sufficient homeFULness. 

Amy
Village of Hope

The staff of VOH is focused on the theme for this year, On Our Way to Excellence! The morale at the school has been great despite the daily challenges faced by everyone in Haiti.
 
A check from UELC will be sent to VOH with the donations that have been contributed thus far. Please consider renewing your sponsorship if you haven’t yet or begin a new sponsorship. One time donations can also be made.
 
Just put VOH on the memo line of your check and put it in the offering plate. The cost is still $480 per year or $40 a month.
 
Janet Janke, Lazarus Project [VOH] coordinator at UELC
Our Pastor and Staff

Pastor Terrance Jacob
Pastor, Congregation and Campus Ministry
pastor@ulcgainesville.com

Crystal Jacob
Minister of Music (Direct Choir and music-related ministries)

Evelyn Simmons
Administrative Assistant
info@ulcgainesville.com