Harbor’s Beacon

March 2020

Anchored in the Word

Growing through Worship and Prayer

Sharing the Joy of God’s Love for All

Harbor of Joy Lutheran Church

1204 L Ave.

Milford, Iowa

Pastor’s Notes!

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” Matthew 5:9.

Jesus Christ is our Peacemaker! Not everyone wants Jesus Christ or His peace. We live in a time, (if

you watch and listen to the major networks?), that our Country is unraveling and falling apart. The

fear of a pandemic. Prejudice against skin color, abolish or defund police departments, topple

historical statues, rewrite our history and vilify the Judeo-Christian religion, not to mention the

political side of things. There are a lot of unhappy campers out there! The “summer of love” in

Seattle, WA.is proving not to be to loving and peaceful either. The ones who are angry, bitter,

defacing property, protesting, looting, shooting, and crying, “Peace, love and justice!” Need Jesus

Christ.

The answer to all of this is the heart. When our heart isn’t right with God there is no peace. Our old

nature takes over and that’s never a good thing. True peace comes when we enter into personal

relationship with Jesus Christ. Hate is turned into love. A new perspective is given to us and we see

things through God’s eyes rather than our own. The transforming grace of God changes us from the

inside out. Only God through His Son can change our hearts. Let’s keep a close watch on our hearts.

Blessings,

Pastor Tim

July 2020

Church Council Communications

Harbor of Joy Lutheran church council

June 9, 2020

The Council Meeting of harbor of Joy Lutheran Church was held on June 9, 2020. it was a council meeting with the

added convenience where members could choose to attend at Fireside Room or stay in their homes and connect with

Zoom due to Corona Virus. Eight members chose to meet in Fireside and three chose to use Zoom and stay at home.

President Denny Struck called the meeting to order at 7 pm. The following members were present: President Denny

Struck, Vice president Dean Ramsey, Secretary Linda Johnson, Treasurer Karen Sunde, Financial Secretary Kristi Peck

and council members; Angie Lickhart, Scott Berry, Dale Gehrels, Steve Moore, Barb Rohlf, and Pastor Tim Voth.

Devotions and prayer by Steve Moore.

The Secretary’s minutes of the previous meeting approved.

Treasurer’s report and Financial report were approved as read.

Pastor’s Report

Thanks to Pastor and all who helped with landscaping.

Pastor Tim and Sharon asked to have a small vacation fishing trip to Minnesota for 3-4 days. They would leave after

church Sunday and be home in 3-4 days. Pastor also asked for some vacation time the end of July for a family

vacation to North Dakota starting July 26th. Kristi made the motion that council accept these vacation times. Angie

seconded the motion and motion carried.

Worship schedule showed that 47 attended in person last Sunday and 16 connected on line with virtual viewing.

Discussion was held on better social distancing needed before and after services.

Property Committee

Shingling is finished. Ramirez was awarded the contract. Bill was $32,669 due to need to replace the plywood sheeting

along with shingling.

Janitorial bid was discussed from Janitor’s Closet from Spencer at $590 per month, Kristi moved that we accept this bid

and start immediately with Janitors Closet. Karen seconded motion and motion carried.

Memorial Team

Staff Support

Discussion on staff wages and how much they appreciate raises or insurance increases being paid.

Mission/Benevolence Team

Denny discussed Covid Kindness Campaign and “Helping Hands” team ideas.

Promotion/Media: (Barb)

Barb is looking into ways to get cards such as wit a card shower to care facilities.

Barb is looking into welcome kit bags that people can take home from HOJ.

Barb wants to contact Jack Johnson for hayride with JoyKids in fall. Everything is on hold at this time due to

Coronavirus.

Live services on Zoom, and also recorded on You Tube and Facebook.

Parish Education for Youth

Everything on hold at this time.

Adult Discipleship/small groups

Please call Charly if people are interested in a Zoom Bible Study.

Prayer Team

Pray for HOJ and the entire Lakes area and our country during these uncertain times.

Community Outreach and Fellowship Team

Old Business

Annual meeting has been postponed until October due to virus. Kristi made this motion and Dean seconded

it. Motion carried.

Pioneer days have been canceled due to virus.

New Business

Discussion on allowing AA to continue with meeting in Fireside room. Dean mentioned that he would like to

see aa have the opportunity to meet again at our church. He would also like to have the cleaning done on a

Thurs or Friday so the church would be clean for services. He also mentioned that maybe AA would

disinfect and wipe down tables after meetings. Kristi made the motion that we accept these guidelines and

for AA to start meeting again. Dean seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Kristi also mentioned that a small 4H group would be meeting at the church again as in the past.

Next meeting will be July 13, 2020 with devotions by Linda.

Linda Johnson, Secretary

Harbor of Joy Library

It looks like people are keeping busy during this time of isolation by cleaning out closets and book shelves

because we received many donations this month. Thanks to all of you who have brought used and new books into

the library. They are greatly appreciated!! Here is a list of the books we received in June.

Fiction

Paul– A Novel by Walter Wangerin Jr.

Safely Home by Randy Alcorn

The Tender Years by Janette Oke

A Time to Embrace by Karen Kingsbury

A Moment of Weakness by Karen Kingsbury

Chasing Sunsets by Karen Kingsbury

Before We Were &Yours by Lisa Wingate

The prayer Box by Lisa Wingate

Losing Brave by Bailee Madison

Then Sings My Soul by Amy Sorrells

The Color of Lies by C J Lyons

Non-Fiction/Christian Living

Thing As Can’t by Lisa and Tyler Sexton

In the presence of God by Creflo Dollar

True North by Gary Inrig

First Hand by Ryan and Josh Shook

Giving Wisely by Jonathon Martin

Seeing God by David Roper

Growing Slowly Wise by David Roper

Non-Fiction. Biography

Hey, by George by George Denn

Rebel With a Cause by Franklin Graham

Non-Fiction/Prayer

Handle With Care by Charles Stanley

Kneeling with Giants by Gary Neal Hansen

Non-Fiction/finances

Using Your Money Wisely by Larry Burkett

The Complete Guide to Managing Your Money Wisely by Larry Burkett

Non-Fiction/Current Events

Dark Agenda-The War to Destroy Christian America by David Horowitz

Non-Fiction/Favorite Authors

The Unchanged word of God by David Jeremiah

Teens-Upstairs

The Young man in the Mirror by Patrick Morley

The books of the Kings by Jerry Jenkins and Chris Fabray (Fiction)

Prayers Requests:

Roger Gealow, Terry Dirks dad.

Our Country and state.

President Trump to do the Lord’s will.

Idella Hesby, returns to Rochester mid-July for cat-scan.

Sympathies to Peg Ebel’s family, death of brother-in-law.

Through Out the Week

Sunday—Worship service at 9:30 am. On ZOOM

Monday—Pastor Tim’s day off.

Tuesday—9:30 AM two weeks to finish the Women’s Bible Study on Hebrews.

11:00 AM Prayer warriors meet.

Charly is in the office daily

Please Notify church office of any shut-ins or anyone ill who would appreciate a visit or call.

1st Saturday of the month is men’s breakfast at Perkins at 7:30 am. (pick up your food and

stay in your cars for your Bible study or chat.)

All communications for August newsletter are due on July 24th .

Annual Congregational Meeting will be rescheduled for October 2020. Have your reports to the

office as soon as you can so I can get things started on the booklet.

Landscaping has happened on the north & front sides of the church. The Flowers are starting to bloom

and give an idea of what to expect in the years to come. Thanks to all who played a part in the

beautification of our church grounds. Pictures below.. Start to finish, for this year.

The Faith to Endure

Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) led an unsuccessful expedition to cross Antarctica in 1914. When his ship, aptly

named Endurance, became trapped in heavy ice in the Weddell Sea, it became an endurance race just to survive.

With no means of communicating with the rest of the world, Shackleton and his crew used lifeboats to make the

journey to the nearest shore—Elephant Island. While most of the crew stayed behind on the island, Shackleton

and five crewmen spent two weeks traveling 800 miles across the ocean to South Georgia to get help for those

left behind. The “failed” expedition became a victorious entry in the history books when all of Shackleton’s men

survived, thanks to their courage and endurance.

The apostle Paul knew what it meant to endure. During a stormy sea voyage to Rome to face trial for his belief in

Jesus, Paul learned from an angel of God that the ship would sink. But the apostle kept the men aboard

encouraged, thanks to God’s promise that all would survive, despite the loss of the ship (Acts 27:23-24).

When disaster strikes, we tend to want God to immediately make everything better. But God gives us the faith to

endure and grow. As Paul wrote to the romans, “suffering produces endurance” (Romans 5:3). Knowing that,

we can encourage each other to keep trusting God in hard times.

Heavenly Father, I need Your help to keep going, even when it’s tough.

~Linda Washington~ written for Our daily Bread