MARH 2020 - Saint Lucas Lutheran Church -- Toledo, OH MAR 2020 .pdf · grieving, whole ministries are affected and the whole community. Awareness is key, ... ing in a well-lit bus

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MARCH 2020 The Symbol of St. Luke

VERNON WILLIAMS The St. Lucas

faith community grieves the loss of

our beloved custodian, Vernon Wil-

liams, who passed away on Feb. 17

following a brief battle with pancre-

atic cancer. We offer our sympathy

and prayers for Vernon’s family. A

memorial service for Vernon was

set for February 28 at 11a.m. at St.

Lucas in the sanctuary he so many

times cleaned. Pastor was able to deliver a card

from St. Lucas to Vernon the day before he died

and read him the greetings and signatures on the

card as he was sedated the week before he died.

The American Guild of Organists (AGO)

local chapter will be holding their

annual student recital at St. Lucas on

Sunday, March 22, 2020 at 3pm.

The concert features students of all ages and

skill levels. This concert is open to the public

and a free will offering will be taken to sup-

port the AGO student scholarship program.

SPRING RUMMAGE SALE THURSDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY March 5, 6, 7 We are also in need of volunteers to help set up on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday March 2, 3, 4 and help all three days of the sale. On Sunday, March 1 we would like to ask help from some strong men (and women) to help after 10:30 worship with set up in the gym. Please speak to Joyce Mason and let her know y that you can help: 419-382-4551. I’d like to thank all of you who have signed on the work sheet. I really appreciate your help. This is going to be a good one!!! Joyce Mayson

SPRING AHEAD!

Daylight Savings Time

Set you clock ahead on Satur-

day, March 7 before you go to bed.

MIDWEEK WEDNESDAY LENTEN SERIES

Noon (lower church) & 7pm (main sanctuary)

“NO MATTER HOW YOU ADD IT UP”

Fun With Biblical Numbers and You

Mar. 4 4,000 + 5,000 does not equal 9,000

Mar. 11 40 Years and Days and Nights=Progress

Mar. 18 12 and Its Multiples Add Up To You, Me, God

Mar. 25 6 Is a Work in Progress; 7 Is Complete

Apr. 1 3 + 1 Does Not Equal 4

Come to either the noon service in the lower church or at

7pm for Holden Evening Prayer service in the main sanctuary. The evening services will be preceded by a

Lenten soup/salad supper at 6pm. No soup/salad before Ash Wednesday evening service, though. Stay for

lunch at Cindy’s Corner after the noon service!

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Pastoral Acts Pastor Martin E. Billmeier

Dear Friends in Christ,

Since the Monday before Thanksgiving St. Lucas as been in grief. Five significant deaths have profoundly

affected our faith community. Lon Good, son of Mary Good and brother of Deb Reis, died on the Monday before

Thanksgiving. Mary and Deb are important members of our healing ministry. Mary attends 4pm Saturday wor-

ship; Deb attends the 9am service, mostly, but 4pm sometimes, too. On Thanksgiving Day the Lord called Karen

Biscay home. Karen and her husband Mike have sung in our choir for many years. Karen and Mike were regulars

at the 10:30 service. Just before Christmas Tim Steele passed away. Tim had been our dartball captain and regu-

lar attender of the 9am Sunday service, and was the ex-husband of our office secretary, Georgia Steele. In mid-

January Kathryn Maddox passed suddenly. Kathryn had been involved in Sunday School and work with mental

illness awareness at St. Lucas before illness prevented her attendance. In February our custodian Vernon Wil-

liams died after a brief illness. Vernon had been on staff at St. Lucas since 2005. Vernon was seen and known by

anyone who volunteered in the Sunday School building during the week. So, important ministries of healing and

music have been affected, a fellowship ministry of dartball, and the daily routines and interactions of our weekly

staff. In addition, attenders at all three weekend worship services have been touched by these griefs. If indeed

we are an emotional system, all connected an d affected by the emotional state of each—as I have been teaching

you for many years now—that means that in some way the entire community has been impacted by these many

deaths in an emotional way, whether we can identify that effect or not.

One thing about grief is that there is no way through it, except through it. Individuals in our community are

grieving, whole ministries are affected and the whole community. Awareness is key, because grief can sometimes

come out sideways in emotional reactivity around a seemingly unrelated event or action in the community or at

home. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Awareness that grief is not a one

time event, but a process is part of the way God brings us comfort in our grief. We should expect that denial, an-

ger, bargaining, depression and acceptance will come and go when we are in grief, but that ultimately God will

bring us to comfort as we remember that this is not all there is, but rather that we are all on a journey to heaven.

As we are now in the season of Lent, we do well to remember that the end point of this season is Holy Week

with its remembrance that the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus

connect us to a God ‘s eternal realities. As Paul says in Second Corinthians,

“For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of

glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at

what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be

seen is eternal.” I have one colleague who believes that the rending of the

temple curtain reported at Jesus’ death in the gospels is a sign of God’s grief

over the Son of God, the rending of garments being typical cultural sign of

grief among the Jewish people at the time. God enters into the grief of the

world in Jesus and redeems it. In Jesus God reminds us that this life is not

forever, but a place where we are given birth, rebirth in baptism and invited

into a journey where we discover that the point of this life is not to store up

treasures here, but treasures in heaven.

In this journey of Lent I invite you to commit to both Sunday worship the added Wednesday Lenten services

and to bring your grief each week to God with a prayer for healing, wholeness and awareness in God, who bears

our griefs and carries our sorrows upon the cross of Jesus.

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Acts of Education by Sharon Schaefer, Sunday School Correspondent

Love, Learn, and Serve God

March, what does it mean to you?

In the bulb there is a flower In the seed an apple tree

In cocoons, a hidden promise, butterflies will soon be free In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be

Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. —From a Sunday School Songbook at St Lucas

Green shoots appearing in flower beds outside kitchen windows

A majestic peregrine falcon sitting on the side of the road

Sunshine glittering on the swiftly running water of the Maumee

Snow crocus and the beginnings of bright yellow forsythia

Muddy shoes, boots, tire tracks

First Day of SPRING

Holden Evening Prayer during Lent My favorite month

Here is the story of how I came to Toledo, a move that eventually brought me to St. Lucas:

Grateful for Every Single Day

Back in the ‘70s (a time when there was a lot of violence in Detroit) I was rid-

ing in a well-lit bus in the city of Detroit heading to my apartment after a long

day at a job I loved. Like a rectangular beacon floating down the street to

people outside the bus, along with its whiny diesel accompaniment, the bus

inside was warm and brightly lit. There weren’t a lot of people on the bus but it

did not feel empty. It did feel quiet, like buses do with a collection of

strangers. All of us on the bus suddenly found ourselves in the crossfire of

competing shooters on either side of the street and heard the bus driver shout “hit the deck.” We watched the

driver duck down behind the steering wheel and were aware of his quick acceleration to get her out of harm’s

way. By God’s grace no one was physically hurt. Later that year I traded my Detroit job for a different but also

wonderful job in Toledo. My life eventually brought me to St. Lucas where God has called me to ministry with the

Sunday School. Such scary events remind us of the gift of life God has given us and to be

Grateful for Every Single Day. —-Sharon Schaefer

Everyone is welcome at St Lucas Sunday School.

There are classes for ages 3 through High School. Everything starts with meeting in the Gym at 10, going to-

gether to the Sanctuary for Worship until after the Children/Youth Homily, back to the Gym for a hot breakfast fol-

lowed by a Bible Lesson, music and crafts. Questions? Call the Church office at 419-243-8189.

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FEBRUARY DARTBALL SCHEDULE

March 16 @ Trinity

March 12 @ 1st St. John

March 31 @ St. John SS

FEBRUARY THRIFT SHOP SCHEDULE

March 2, 3, 4. Volunteer Rummage

Sale set up

March 5, 6, 7. Rummage Sale.

March 11, 12, 3 Thrift Shop Closed

March 18 Wed. Sandy & Hildy

March 19 Thurs Jan & Bea

March 20 Friday Janice & Deb

March 25 Wed. Sue & Sally

March 26 Thurs. Sharon & Diane

Joyce Mason

WELCA Meeting

9:30 a.m.

March 31, Tue

Community Room

March WORSHIP SERVANTS

4:00 Elder Harold Petoskey

9:00 Elder Yvonne Reed

Lector Rick Charchol

Elders Patrick Codden

Annette Mason

Faith Wolfram

Sharon Schaefer

Head Ushers Alan Langevin

Ron Bacon

Offering Ushers Russ Wells

Randy Hyter

Acolyte Jill Hojnacki

Flower pick up Ron Bacon

SUNDAY SCHOOL WINDOW FUND

Loan Amount $56,000.00

Donations to date 48,390.82

Remaining Goal 7,610.18

$ 2,111.08

28,018.00

(23,255.16)

6,873.92

(6,983.75)

GENERAL FUND REPORT

Jan. 1 Balance

Receipts

Disbursements

jan 31 Balance

Bal. last year

A WORD ABOUT OUR TWO

ANNUAL APPEALS

In 2019 St. Lucas received a total of

$50,475 in response to the Summer and

Christmas Appeals. Of that, $40,375 was

given by “friends of St. Lucas” and $10,370

was given by St. Lucas members. See the

importance of both our friends and mem-

bers in supporting the appeals to help sus-

tain the mission of St. Lucas! We give

thanks to God who for all who supported

the appeals in 2019! God works through

you to sustain this congregation!

SCRIP PROGRAM KROGER REPORT

From November 1, 2019 to January

31, 2020 St. Lucas had 53 people use

their Kroger Plus with Community Re-

wards designated to St. Lucas. In that

time proceeds from their card use

amounted to $185.85 to the St. Lucas

Scrip program and into the Sunday

School Window Fund. If you have not

designated Kroger Community Rewards to

St. Lucas, please consider doing so.

Kroger cards are now available in $50

increments only .

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Barb Beaverson

CINDY’S CORNER & MINISTRY

MARCH 2020 NEWSLETTER

Spring is just around the corner! But even more important, the celebration of Easter as we remember Jesus’ sacrifice and His rising from the dead approaches. We need to open our hearts to His great gift to us. We celebrated Ash Wednesday this past month as the be-ginning of Lent.

As a child, my parents raised us in the Christian faith. One thing my young mind did not understand, is why did Jesus say to His Father, “My God, my God, why have you for-saken me?” My dad explained to me that when Jesus gave His life for us, He had all our sins on Him. God cannot look at sin, so God had to turn away from Jesus. WOW! That re-ally struck me as to our Father’s love! I don’t know if that is true, but it does make sense to me. I asked Pastor Billmeier regarding this and he stated that that he does not preach this theory, although he did agree that it was an interesting one.

As reported last month, our good friend and long-time janitor, Vernon Williams has gone home to Jesus, Monday 2/17/2020. All his loved ones were able to say, “Goodbye for now, dear Vernon”. We all loved Vernon and will miss him. But he is celebrating in Heaven with Jesus! We do want to keep Vernon’s family in our prayers.

Tis the season for the flu bug. At least on of us has been out due to the flu. Let us re-member all the people who have been affected by the Coronavirus and prayer for a cure.

Cindy is home after her surgery and hopes to be back to Cindy’s Corner soon. We do miss her! Cindy did say that she will have to cut back the days she works at Cindy’s Cor-ner. She will be in on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Last month we reported that we may lose Gloria and Bill. It looks like we may keep them!!!! In February we welcomed a new WEP employee. Christy has been an asset to Cindy’s Corner.

IT IS TIME AGAIN!!!! Our Rummage Sale will be March 5,6, and 7th!!! Come one and all and see what wonderful bargain you can find! Cindy’s Corner workers help with set up.

This month’s volunteer of the month is Anna Ponce. Anna has been with Cindy’s Corner since 2015. She is our 2nd floor supervisor. Anna does a such a wonderful job at Cindy’s Corner. When Cindy is not here, Anna is 2nd in command. She does spend most of her time upstairs in our offices. She interviews possible volunteers, directs calls and helps down in the gym. She also does all the timesheets and scheduling for Pathstone and WEP workers. Once again, we would be lost without her. This seems to be a trend for all our volunteers. We would be lost without them! Remember, all our volunteers are not paid. They help out of love for their fellowman.

If anyone would like to volunteer at Cindy’s Corner, please let Cindy, Anna or Joy know. We do have a lot of fun

here. Come and join us!

In Luke 9:58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

Anna Ponce

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CLC ADVANCED DIRECTIVES CLINIC Our thanks to the Chris-

tian Legal Collaboarative, which helped a total of nine St. Lucas

members complete advanced directives at the workshop last

Wednesday and aftward. Pictured is CLC director and St. Lucas

member Katina Werner, who led the workshop assisted by volun-

teers. She is holding the CLC mis-

sion statement.

EASTER FLOWERS If you would like to help dec-

orate the altar for Easter an order form to place

Easter flowers is on the reverse side of this page.

Call the office if you receive this newsletter elec-

tronically 419-243-8189. The deadline for orders

is March 18. Order will go in on Friday March 20.

Katina Werner and Pastor Billmeier—dare we say—starred (?) as suspects

in a murder mystery dinner at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church downtown in Feb-

ruary. She played Claire Voyant and he Bo Jalais in this drama set in a res-

taurant related to a vineyard. Turns out Bo was the murderer!

GARDEN NEWS ??? - in the snow??? Is the man crazy???? (We are reserving judgment.—Ed.)

Actually… St Lucas Garden News

The lovely snow is on the ground, and on the trees and all around.

The frost is on the windowpane, but now and then it turns to rain.

The calendar says it’s Winter, still; the springtime’s birds have yet to trill,

And Lent has come – “Alleluia” can’t ring – but gardener’s hearts are singing “SPRING!”

Several inches of Ash Wednesday snow have smothered last weeks mirage of 50° weather and the weather-

man is predicting frigid blasts from our friends in Canada, but gardeners are eternal optimists. That’s why the 16th

Annual Seed Swap is this Saturday, February 29th, from Noon until 3:00 at Scott High School. Attendees get 5

free packets of seeds just for showing up, and if you bring seeds from last year to swap, you can trade them for

more seeds (no packets older than 2018, please) or purchase additional packets for 50¢. If you have extra seed or

plant catalogs or garden magazines or books, you can donate those and browse the tables for issues you haven’t

read yet. There are displays from gardening organizations, demonstrations and lectures on techniques, sustaina-

bility, organic growing – everything the conscientious gardener needs to know. At 1:00 PM Cindy Bench, co -owner

of Bench Farms will share tips and tricks for a successful veggie garden. I’ll be picking up seeds and tips for the

2020 St. Lucas Garden and helping out at the Urban Agriculture Alliance table – see you there?

And so it begins again. —Mike Biscay

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ST. LUCAS PRAYER LIST

Please remember these people in

your prayers: Jody Steuer , Ruth

Fox, B i l l Granger , Car l H ischka,

Chery l Jones, Diane Porter ’s grand-

son Jordan Freder icks, Pat Beaty,

Theresa Johnson’s grandson Rease

McCoy, Ken Sikorsk i , Georg ia

Stee le ’s nepher Joshua Barnes,

C indy Kirk, Ann Hunter , Barb Bea-

verson, Kat ina Werner ’s aunt and

cous in Brenda Oakley & C l int Davis

March

Kristina Salazar & Ron Lindsay 17

Scott & Amy Gallagher 17

Robert and Lee Jagodzinski 19

St. Lucas (134 years) 21

MEMORIAL SERVICE

FOR KATHRYN MAD-

DOX A memor ia l ser-

v ice wi l l be he ld in the

main sanctuary at 5pm

on Kathryn’s b ir thday

March 5. Our prayers

for her s ign i f icant oth-

er , Joe Carr ie l , and for Kathryn’s

fami ly.

WEDDING

The wedding of

Kyle Roberts

and Mckenzie

Rhodes will

take place in

the St. Lucas sanctuary on Saturday,

Feb. 29 at 2pm. Kyle is Cindy Kirk’s

grandson.

RETIREMENT

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Alan

Langevin who will retire at

the end of March. We’re

glad Alan will be available

to help Ron around the

house more (and maybe to

volunteer at St. Lucas

more?) Congrats Alan!

Ron Bacon &

Alan Langevin

SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR CARL HISCHKA

We request special prayers for Carl

Hischka and his family as Carl has now

been placed under hospice care.

Happy March Birthday

Mary Flemmings 1

Becki Kincaid 3

Lorraine Willoughby 5

Kathleen Jones 5

Kathryn Maddox 5

Kristina Salazar 5

Sandy Harden 9

Pat Beaty 14

Jeannie Dennler 17

Jamie Dauel 21

Alan Langevin 24

Deby Teague 30

March 19

Page 9

Applying Bible Principles

Many people — including Christians — sometimes end up in serious

financial difficulty because they ignore this basic principle from God’s

Word: God wants us to know the state of our finances. Proverbs

27:23-24 instructs us, “Know well the condition of your flocks, and

give attention to your herds; for riches do not last forever, nor a

crown for all generations.” In Old Testament times, livestock were

one of the primary measures of a person’s wealth. Today, we might be

admonished, “Be diligent to know the state of your bank accounts, in-

vestments and your possessions.” Or as Proverbs 24:3-4 says in a

contemporary version, “Any enterprise is built by wise planning, be-

comes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by

keeping abreast of the facts.”

Why is this so important? As managers, we are responsible for

what God has entrusted to us. Part of that responsibility includes

monitoring the status of our possessions and making wise invest-

ments. One of the best investments we can make is to send deposits

to the “Bank of Heaven” by giving to the Lord’s work here at St. Lu-

cas. When we do that, we are not only exercising good stewardship,

but we are also find God’s approval. There’s no better return on an

investment than that!

As you think about your life today, do you have a good picture of

where you are financially? Are you keeping the commitments concern-

ing giving which you have made to God? Think about it: A dollar

spent for lunch lasts about five hours. A dollar spent for a necktie

lasts until it goes out of style. A dollar spent for an automobile lasts

about only so many years. A dollar spent in the service of God lasts

for eternity.

Page 10

St. Lucas Evangelical Lutheran Church

745 Walbridge Avenue

Toledo, Ohio 43609

419-243-8189

Address Service Requested

Time Sensitive Material

Please Handle Promptly

March 2020

The Acts of St. Lucas Newsletter

AFFIRMATION OF WELCOME - adopted 1999

In accord with the gospel of Jesus Christ St. Lucas welcomes all. By this we mean we extend the radical

welcome of Jesus Christ to people of every age, race, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, eco-

nomic level, mental health diagnosis, recovery status, education level, or previous religious experience

to participate in the sacramental life and work of our congregation.

Worship & Sunday School Times

Saturdays: 4:00 p.m. Sundays: 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday School: 10:00 a.m. Sept. to May Wednesdays: 11:45 a.m.—Wednesday Chapel

The Sacrament of Holy Communion and healing rite are offered at all services.

Mission and Vision

ST. LUCAS PURPOSE STATEMENT:

The people of St. Lucas Lutheran Church invite and welcome everyone to enter and feel God’s presence.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES:

1. We believe that Jesus is Lord and Savior. 2. We embrace diversity and welcome all unconditionally. 3. We commit to live God’s Word and share the Good News. 4. We strive for closer relationship with God and each other. 5. We demonstrate compassion and forgiveness through open hearts and open minds.

**Handicap Accessible Building** Elevator Next to Handicap Parking on Walbridge Ave.

Please come dressed as you are…ALL ARE WELCOME

Parish Staff Martin E. Billmeier, Pastor Georgia Steele, Office Manager Jamie Dauel, Organist Ron Lang, Choirmaster Vernon Williams, Custodian

Church Council Brian Hoch, President; Jill Hojnacki, Vice-pres., Jason Slough, Treasur-er; Sharon Stofan, Secretary; Mike Biscay, Fritz Bloedow, Randy Hy-ter, David Jerman, John Kern, Cindy Kirk, Sally Ortiz, Diane Porter, LaVonda Rodgers, Steve Seaton, Lorraine Willoughby, Pastor Bill-meier

Parish Office Information Tuesday-Friday—9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Phone: 419-243-8189 Fax: 419-243-8180 Secretary Email: [email protected] Pastor Email: [email protected] Cindy’s Corner: [email protected] Website: www.stlucastoledo.org

Northwest Ohio Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church In America 621 Bright Road, Findlay, Ohio 45840 1-419-423-3664 Bishop: Rev. Daniel Beaudoin Website: www.nwos-elca.org