worship god walk with jesus welcome all to paradise · a couple of days ago, the five-day...

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September 2019

MESSAGES FROM PARADISE

10255 Paradise Blvd.

Treasure Island, FL 33706

Email: [email protected]

Website: paradiselutheran.com

MISSION STATEMENT

Worship God

Walk with Jesus

Welcome all to Paradise

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PASTOR’S REPORT

A couple of days ago, the five-day projection for hurricane Dorian’s path had it making landfall in Florida, somewhere between Jacksonville and Miami. Fortunately, for us, as I am writing this newsletter article, Dorian has turned North. Unfortunately, Dorian has already devastated the Bahamas, and others may still be in its path. The people affected by hurricane Dorian are going to need help.

I invite you to join me in helping, by keeping the people in the wake and path of Dorian in your prayers, and by donating to the relief efforts. We will include information for Lutheran Disaster Response in our bulletin this Sunday.

God Bless,

Pastor Tom

Hurricane Dorian Situation Report

for the Florida-Bahamas Synod

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THANK YOU NOTES FROM FAMILY PROMISE

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NOTE FROM OUR CONFIRMATION CAMPER

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sending me to my very first trip to “Jesus camp.” I was a bit nervous at first, as I had never been that far from home without my family, but the welcome was kinder than I ever could have imagined. While I was there, I was encouraged to leave my comfort zone and meet new people and do new things . It was an incredi-ble time and I’ll never forget it.”

Christina Young

Church Women United

Participants in Church Women United in Tampa, St. Pete, and Central Pinellas will hold their Area 3 Annual Meeting at PLC on Saturday, September 14 beginning at 10:30 a.m. and concluding with lunch starting at 1:00 p.m. “Sister Stories” will be shared; an ingathering of baby items for the Next Stepp Center, St. Petersburg, will be collected; participants will be encouraged to decorate a journal for their sister stories; and models from Audrey Pat Designs, a local design shop for women’s fashions, will present a fashion show. $8 for lunch. Reservations are needed by Friday, September 6 to Sharon Koelsch, 727-393-2130. This may be the only chance we’ll have to host this event, so volunteers and attendees are encouraged!

Do you have a sister story? Attendees at Church Women United’s Area 3 Annual Meeting will be sharing theirs right here beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 14. A highlight of the event will be a women’s fashion show by local designer, Pat McGhee. Her specialty is bold, exciting fashions for women sizes 12-24. You won’t want to miss these amazing clothes! We’ll be collecting baby items for newborns to age 3 months to give to the Next Stepp Center, St. Petersburg. Crafters will be able to decorate a journal to use for their sister stories. Our Fellowship Committee has a delicious lunch planned. Reservations are required to Sharon Koelsch 727-393-2130 no later than Friday, September 6. $8 payable at the door.

Sharon Koelsch

Member

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WE HAVE A PARISH NURSE!

Robin Hurst, church administrator, and Sharon Koelsch spent much of summer sorting through filing cabinets and ridding the church of unneeded paperwork. One interesting file turned up. Did you know that Betty Keith and our former pastor, Pastor John Thompson, signed an agreement appointing Ms. Keith as our parish nurse? Ms. Keith will occasionally bring news of upcoming health-related events of interest to the congregation. Thanks to Betty Keith for taking on this important volunteer job!

NOKUMBAYA

Thank you Paradise Lutheran for your continued support of our Nokumbaya Medical Mission to Belize, Central America. As many of you know, Paradise Lutheran has been a supporter of Nokumbaya for the past several years, and many members on PLC have been volunteers on our medical mission trips: Rolf Pagel, Herb Karkheck, Joan Smith, Marilyn Wambald, Nancy Farrington, Renee Diebler, Gail Clark, Debbie Reiter, Ellen Fine, and Danell DeBerg.

Our Nokumbaya mission statement is to provide medical care to the poor and needy of third world countries and to do so in a manner that serves and praises God. Our service is our worship, and we seek to see Jesus in the face of each person we serve. We also hope and pray that the love and unity among the members of our team reflect His love for all people.

We serve three villages in Belize and two villages in Haiti. We return to the same places yearly in Haiti and twice a year in Belize, so that we can become part of the community we serve, recognize the needs and progress, and come to know the people. Our team is made up of volunteers from all over the U.S. and Canada, local Belizeans and Haitians, an occasional German, Russian, or Brit, and the village health workers who carry on after we leave.

You do not have to have a medical background in order to serve. We have lots of opportunity for lay volunteers in our school clinics. Please let me know if you are interested in participating. If you feel called, there is a place for you.

In 2019 and 2020, we will have teams going to Belize in October, 2019, and back to Belize for a two week clinic in March and April 2020. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact me. Also, Robin has mission applications and more information about the trip available in the church office.

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NOKUMBAYA (continued)

We will be packing for our October mission trip on Saturday, September 7th from 9-noon in the fellowship hall. This will be our PLC “God’s work – our hands” service event, so please wear your yellow T-shirts. Breakfast will be served. Our mission team will be commissioned at the 10 am service on Sunday, September 8th. Please join us for fel-lowship after the service.

Danell DeBerg, Mission Coordinator

727-644-7678

OUTREACH/FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE

September 7th: Nokumbaya Pill Packing starts at 9:00 A.M. please come and enjoy the morning, we will be serving a breakfast. Following pill packing the Outreach Committee will have a short meeting.

September 8th: Fellowship will resume after service. Nokumbaya team will be serving. PLC kitchen is open to all, please sign up for a Sunday or two (all is welcome).

September 14th: PLC will be hosting Church Women United Area 3 An-nual Meeting. Sign up sheet is on the glass table and all details are in last Sunday's announcements, except wear your pretty Easter Hat. Sounds like we will be having a wonderful event.

Please help our sister churches, Hope and Trinity. Heartfelt thanks to all that have been so very generous and thoughtful.

Sister in Christ,

Joan Smith

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PARADISE LUTHERAN MEN’S BREAKFAST

The men’s breakfast will continue on Wednesdays at 7:45 a.m. The location will be at Foxy’s, 160 107th Ave, Treasure Island. Come and enjoy a good breakfast and good company as well.

PARADISE LUTHERAN HELPING TRINTY LUTHERAN HELP THE HOMELESS

The homeless program at Trinity Lutheran Church needs summer hats, shoes, socks, men’s new underwear and all men’s clothing. We also need summer hats for women and children. Please put your donations in the bin located in the fellowship hall to the left after you enter. Thank you for your donations. They are very much appreciated by the people that this program serves. Also, if you would like to volunteer and spend some time with grateful people there are openings available. Please check the bulletin board in the fellowship hall.

HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH FOOD PANTRY

Please donate food so that we can help Hope Lutheran Church stock their food pantry. Any and all items are appreciated.

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WORSHIP AND MUSIC COMMITTEE REPORT

We’ve been holding our own during the summer. Here’s how August looked.

August 4 34

August 11 52

August 18 50

August 25 52

Thanks to the following for providing special music: Kathy Rabey (solo); Marsha and Herb Karkheck (duet with Gail Clark singing harmony); Jaci Mitchell (cantor, solo); Jaci Mitchell (guitar), Ken Upleger (saxophone), and Gail Clark (piano). Pastor Sharon Dorr served as supply pastor on August 4 while Pastor Mitchell was away and Karen Benjey filled in for Gail Clark on August 25th. As always, thanks to the readers, greeters, and ushers who step up during the summer when their ranks are diminished by vacations and visitors.

Pastor Mitchell held a very informal New Member Class on August 18th and on August 25th we added Cheryl Pevitt to the congregation. She is Jaci Mitchell’s aunt and frequently sits with other family members. Be sure to welcome her. Have you noticed how anxious Jo Mitchell is to go up front for the children’s homily? She even recognizes the music we sing after the gospel reading and starts heading toward the altar before we’ve even stopped singing.

The committee will be meet at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11th in the library. Come join us as we plan the fall services!

Sharon Koelsch

Member

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COUNCIL REPORT

The Congregation Council met in the church library at 6:00 p.m. on August 12. Minutes of the July meeting were approved and are posted on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall.

The Council, minus Pastor Mitchell, spent the first 20 minutes working on Pastor’s annual evaluation. He passed the two year mark with us on August 1!

Mitchell Shenkman, a friend of Steve Yost’s, gave a short presentation about the Guardian ad litem program in Pinellas/Pasco County. Anyone interested in serving as an advocate for the thousands of children who have been removed from their home, serving as a foster parent, or becoming an adoptive parent should see Pastor or Sharon Koelsch for more information.

Sharon Koelsch, Bob Rogers, and Joan Smith are current signers on the church’s checking account. There has been a delay in getting Mark Leonard and Justin Leslie signed on.

The Council concurred that interest earned on specific bequests or gifts would not be added to the principal of the bequest or gift.

The Mutual Ministry Committee will meet on Thursday, September 12 at 10:30 a.m. in the library. This committee works with Pastor Mitchell in resolving conflicts in the church. Anyone who wishes to refer a matter to the committee should contact Steve Yost prior to that date.

Brinks Home Security installed a new wireless system and control box at no cost to the church! Those members who have keys to the front door have been trained and the system seems to be working much better than the old one. Old paperwork from all three churches has been sorted and discarded and files are being re-organized. A lawn maintenance company is being sought to do work that the volunteers cannot do: trim the tallest palms and edge the parking lot, driveways, and gutter. Ms. Koelsch continues to work with the fire inspector to resolve some issues he identi-fied.

The Family Promise Summer Match was a huge success with $2,910 forwarded to Family Promise toward their goal of $50,000. Thanks to everyone who contributed! The Council is looking into using the Bank of America for on-line donations. This change, if approved, will appear on the church’s website.

Our next meeting is scheduled on Monday, September 9 at 6:00 p.m. in the church library. All are welcome!

Sharon Koelsch, President

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August 2019 Jan - Aug 2019

Income $ 7,113.03 $ 108,078.55

Expense $ 8,646.33 $ 144,055.09

Net Income $ (1,533.30) $ (35,976.54)

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BIRTHDAYS

SEPTEMBER

Dawn Leonard 9/9

Justin Leslie 9/10

George Rabey 9/17

Danell DeBerg 9/20

Kathy Rabey 9/30

ANNIVERSARIES

SEPTEMBER

John & Leslie Thompson 9/29

Congratulations to all our September celebrants

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SEPT EMBER 2019

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNES-DAY

THURS-DAY

FRIDAY SATURDAY

1

10:00 AM Worship

2 3 4

7:45 AM Men’s Breakfast

5

6

7:30 PM Steppers Meeting

7

9:00 AM Pill Pack-ing-Breakfast

Served

Outreach/Fellowship Com-

mittee

8

10:00 AM Worship

11:00 AM Fellowship

Nokumbaya Com-missioning

9

6:00 PM Council Meeting

10

10:30 AM Mutual Ministry Meeting

11


2:00 PM Wor-ship/Music Committee

12

5:30 PM Christian Education Committee

6:30 PM Choir

Practice

13


14

10:00 AM Chris-tian ?Women

United Annual Area 3 Meeting

15

8:30 AM Sunday Morning Bible Study

10:00 AM Worship

11:00 AM Fellowship

16

6:00 PM Council Meeting

17 18


1:00 PM Fall Bible Study


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6:30 PM Choir

Practice

20

10:00 AM Church Women United


21

22


10:00 AM Worship

11:00 AM Fellowship

23 24 25




26

6:30 PM Choir

Practice

27


28

10:00 AM Crafters Group

29


10:00 AM Worship

11:00 AM Fellowship

6:00 PM Movie Night—”Bruce Al-

mighty

30

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READINGS FOR SEPTEMBER

Sunday, September 1

Proverbs 25:6-7

Psalm: Psalm 112

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-14

Sunday, September 8

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Psalm: Psalm 1

Philemon 1-21

Gospel: Luke 14:25-33

Sunday, September 15

Exodus 32:7-14

Psalm: Psalm 51:1-10

1 Timothy 1:12-17



Amos 8:4-7

Psalm : Psalm 113

1 Timothy 2:1-7



Amos 6:1a, 4-7

Psalm 146

1 Timothy 6:6-19


worship god walk with jesus welcome all to paradise · a couple of days ago, the five-day...

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