Come to worship at 9:30 a.m.

or

Thursday worship at 6:30 p.m. at Deland Park

 Thursday, July 6

The Worship Café begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Deland Center on the lakefront.

Sunday, July 9

On this Fifth Sunday after Pentecost we celebrate Holy Communion at 9:30 a.m., with Holy Baptism, using the liturgy from Lutheran Book of Worship Setting 2.

Thursday, July 13

The Worship Café begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Deland Center on the lakefront.

Sunday, July 16

Pastor Nelson’s Notes

The S ymphony is concluding...

The time is getting near when the final measures of our symphony together will end. It’s been a long wonderful time of partnership and team work. I like the analogy of the symphony because it refers to our working together, our harmonies, the various movements and variations we’d had and the occasional missed downbeat or wrong note. One player cannot make an orchestra and one player cannot play a symphony. What I have appreciated most in our time together over these past 26 years is all the wonderful music we have made together through our multi-faceted ministry of worship, education, outreach, service and support for each other. Always the highlight is worship. We’ve worshiped using many difference forms and variations and you’ve been open, receptive and found new ways to worship the God whom we serve.

The symphony is almost over and the timbre of the ensemble, the rhythm, the volume, the intensity and interplay between the instruments is almost complete. This music will end. But, a new piece of music will begin. Another symphony with different harmonies, different emphases, different tempos will begin for you the members of the congregation (orchestra!). I look forward to watching and listening as you move to a new vision, a new emphasis, a new balance will evolve. I pray that God will bless you, strengthen you and guide you by the Holy Spirit as you appreciate the old but grasp a new work together.

For Kathy and me, it is like the finishing of a book. I don’t like to come to the end of a book, and there always seems to be more that could be included, but finally, even with some of the story still dangling, the end comes. And so we come to the end of our book serving First United. It’s been a great adventure, but it’s over. After July 31 I won’t be, as I’ve said often before, doing baptisms, funerals, weddings or pastoral care at First United. It’s going to be a tough time closing the book, but it’s got to be done if you are going to begin another “symphony” together as a congregation. And, wonderfully and excitingly, for Kathy and I there is another new book to open and I can’t wait to see how it goes.

Thanks for your partnership, for our “symphony” together, the book we made together, and the growth that has come to First United through our time together. May God get the glory for his ever present blessings to us through the Holy Spirit.

Time to open the cover on the new book and see what’s inside. Pastor Karl

We offer our Christian love to the family of Paul Stenklyft at the death of his mother.

Christmas in July

Santa’s not ready to pull out his sleigh just yet, so we need to ask for your assistance instead! You will find a decorated Christmas tree displayed in the Gathering area during this entire month of July. Each of the ornaments on the tree has a school supply item printed on it. Please help us celebrate Christmas in July by taking a few of the ornaments from the tree, purchasing the items listed, and placing them under the tree. All of the school supplies will be sorted, put in backpacks, and given to needy children in the Sheboygan area, and to our partner congregations: Cross and All Peoples’ Lutheran churches in Milwaukee.

Thank you for helping us make a difference in a child’s life!

- the Social Ministry Committee

Vacation Bible School needs decorations, please

If you have any items that might fit in with our “FIESTA” theme for VBS such as: Mexican sombreros, maracas, and/or blankets, please contact Mary Gorges at 452-2401.

The Last Shall Be First...

On Sunday, July 16, Pastor Karl will preach his last sermon as our Senior Pastor here at First United. To mark this historic day, LEFSE will be served during fellowship time. (Pastor Karl wrote an article for the Good News back in 1988 entitled: “Lefse Is An Artwork” in which he states that he is “addicted to the Norwegian delicacy.”) If you enjoy baking, and would care to share your lefse with your fellow Lutherans AND Pastor Karl, please see the sign-up sheet on the kiosk. Please plan to come to worship July 16 as we say goodbye to Pastor Karl.

Pine Lake Women’s Retreat

You are invited to attend a Women’s Retreat at Pine Lake Camp this summer, August 18-20. The theme for the weekend will be: “Boundless Love.”

The pastor for the weekend will be Pastor JoAnne Fabie, from Trinity Lutheran Church, Madison. Activities will include fun and games, Bible study, a Saturday program, worship with Holy Communion, a sunset sing with meditation, a book exchange, a candlelight Taize service, and fellowship with other women.

The weekend starts with a light supper on Friday, and ends with lunch on Sunday. The cost for the entire weekend is only $80 ($85 after July 29). Invite your friends, and enjoy a weekend away with a caring community of Christian women! Registration forms are available on the kiosk.

Fiesta! VBS Meetings

A planning meeting for the leaders of VBS Fiesta! will be held Monday, July 17, at 6:30 p.m. Lead teachers for each area of VBS are invited for salsa and chips as we finalize the plans for VBS. On Monday, July 24, a youth and crew leader training session with the Lead teachers is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Volunteers are still needed for certain areas! Please see the volunteer sign-up sheet located in the Gathering Area. On Thursday, July 27, from 9:00 a.m. till 12 noon, and Friday, July 28, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. we will be setting up for VBS. If you are unable to attend either of these meetings, or have questions, please contact Mary Gorges. We are asking for volunteers to help set up and decorate the sanctuary and classrooms, and we are looking for donations of decorations that would tie in with our theme of Fiesta. If you have Mexican sombreros, maracas, blankets, or any other items, please contact Mary Gorges at 452-2401.

College Graduates!

Jenny Keller graduated from Marquette University in May with a degree in Spanish and Education. In August she’ll be working on her Master’s Degree in Spanish at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where she’ll be a part-time teaching assistant at the university.

Altar Flowers

Each Sunday flowers adorn our altar to the glory of God, given by members in memory of loved ones, in honor of birthdays and anniversaries, or in gratitude for a significant event in their lives. There is a flower chart hanging on the east wall of the gathering area where you can sign up for the year of 2006. We are so grateful to all who place flowers for a given Sunday.

The calendar is quite full at this time, but the entire month of September is empty. If you wish to place flowers in memory of a loved one, or in honor of a birthday or anniversary, please consider doing so in September. The cost is $35, and the flowers can be taken home following the late worship service, or picked up on Monday. Those flowers not collected will be given to the hospitalized or institutionalized during the week.

Please sign up now, and the church office will contact you the week prior to remind you and ask what colors you may wish to request, and whether you would prefer one bouquet or two smaller ones.

Thank you, to our bakers!

Thank you to all the congregation members for their generous gifts of baked goods! The four hundred work camp volunteers were appreciative of your goodies and your thoughtfulness.

Worship Café

Thursday evening worship continues each week at the Deland Center, near the marina on the lakefront, at 6:30 p.m. First Unite, in conjunction with other area ELCA churches, share in hosting this service. It’s a very casual atmosphere where shorts and sandals are welcome, and you can help yourself to lemonade or coffee during the service.

First United will once again host on August 3. We are in need of set-up helpers ( 5:30 p.m.), ushers, bakers and refreshment servers. Please call Lee Anne at 452-2401 if you can help, or sign up on the kiosk.

Fireside Christmas Show

There are still openings for the VIL trip on Wednesday, December 6! EVERYONE is welcome, so please invite your family and friends! The cost is $69 per person, which includes the luncheon, show and transportation. We need several more reservations to be able to offer this event at this price. Call the church office to sign up today!

Fall Activities

The staff is busy organizing the fall youth programs. Please consider sharing your time and gifts with some wonderful young people. Teachers are needed for the Four Star and the traditional Sunday School programs as well as Wednesday evening Confirmation guides and mentors. If you’d like to volunteer or would like more information please call the church office at 452-2401.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

The San Antonio Youth would like to thank the congregation for your generosity the first two weeks in June. Due to your kindness and support, we WILL be coming home!! Continue to pray for us as we prepare for this faith-renewing event! God bless you all!