Faith Lutheran Church of Blakeslee, PA

www.faithlutheranblakeslee.org

containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, not we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

Protocols and Survey on Reopening Church

Some of you may be wondering when we will begin holding indoor services or other gatherings in the church building.  The Church Council and I have been discussing this for a while as we anticipated entering the ‘green’ phase for operations.  We formed a team to review a number of recent guidelines for church reopening published by the CDC, the ELCA, Church Mutual Insurance, the Ecumenical Consultation Group, and several others. 

Together we have prepared “Faith Lutheran Church Protocols for Reopening Church.”  A copy is included in this newsletter and is posted on our website.

Our first draft suggested that we might resume in-church worship in July.  However, given recent surges in parts of the country, and smaller spikes reported in Pennsylvania in the past week, those plans have been postponed.  We have resumed normal office hours and operations, and are allowing for small groups to meet in the church if requested.  Sunday services will be held in the parking lot every Sunday in July, provided it does not rain since the equipment required cannot be used in wet conditions.  (More info on this is provided elsewhere in the newsletter and posted on the website.)

To help us in our deliberations going forward, we are seeking input from our Faith Family on your comfort level and desire to gather.  Please take a look at these survey questions, and either go to the website to complete the survey online or write your answers and mail or email them to the church.

Faith Lutheran Church, PO Box 228, Blakeslee, PA 18610

Email: faithlut@epix.net

Website:  www.faithlutheranblakeslee.org  

Online Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PMZW75Q

Join the American Red Cross and WONDER WOMAN 1984 as we work together to encourage people across the country to make a lifesaving blood donation. To celebrate your extraordinary bravery and superhuman generosity, when you come to give blood at the blood drive, you will automatically be entered for a chance to win a movie prop replica prize set, featuring The Golden Lasso and a pair of Gauntlets, identical to the ones worn by WONDER WOMAN.*

Right now, blood donors are urgently needed. As some people start to return to work and their new routines, blood donations are starting to drop. Your blood drive can help maintain the blood supply and keep hospitals ready for anything! Let's donate to fight for those who can't by giving blood!

To pre-register your appointment, please visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). There are donation eligibility requirements by donation type.  Please click on the link below for Eligibility Requirements.

Letter from Finance Committee 

Greetings Faith Family,

I would like to thank you for your continued support of Faith Lutheran Church and our Ministry. I also trust this newsletter finds you and your family healthy and well. Faith continues to be supported very well by its members and friends since the current situation was thrust upon all of us. THANK YOU!

I would also like to take this opportunity to mention some procedural changes you should be aware of. Our annual congregational meeting (traditionally held in February) will be held in some fashion this year in September. The congregation approved this calendar change last year. recognizing that many of you are available in September that are not in the Poconos in February. However, this year we may need to be creative to ensure a quorum. This will be important as we will be electing new council members and filling other important positions. We will also be voting on our 2021 budget.

This timeline means that the Finance committee has been busy getting the 2021 budget recommendation ready for council for the July meeting. This will allow time for council to discuss/modify etc. and still meet the deadline to have the proposed budget to all of you for the September meeting.

The finance committee along with pastor has spent many hours the last few months working out a budget that can sustain us through this crisis and beyond. Our church has experienced a large drop in donations over the past 4 years. This is not primarily due to people giving less but in having less givers. This year’s budget is indeed a reflection of the current reality when it comes to operating funds.

There are two large expenses that the committee cannot resolve over the short term without the congregation’s additional financial support. We are asking you to consider special gifts to offset the purchase of a new riding lawn mower and a new furnace for our sanctuary. The lawn mowing situation has been covered this summer with a lot of manpower and strong backs. Many people have labored to keep our facility looking good.

Some of you will remember being chilled during services last spring. The only solution is a new furnace before fall. Our current estimate for a replacement unit is over $4000.00. We cannot wait for the 2021 budget to be executed to install the unit and our 2020 budget has been hit from too many angles to provide the necessary funding. Please consider a special gift to help keep our facility maintained and comfortable as we make every effort to return to regular services.

Stay tuned this summer for announcements that detail how we will conduct Faith’s business as our country and planet continue to struggle with the new reality we find ourselves living in.

Thank You,

Paul Frantz

Finance Committee Chair 

Thoughts from your Council President

I wanted to start this out with some thoughts about the upcoming election.  No, not the one in November.  This is the annual Congregational Meeting in which you will be electing new members to the Council as well as a few key Committees.  This is happening under anything but normal.  Everyone is still trying to figure out exactly what this new normal will be.  For sure, you can count on some sort of electronic voting.  In fact, a change is being made as an addition to the constitution and by-laws to address this.  Patience and understanding at this meeting will be tested I am sure.

As our congregation continues to get smaller, we need you all to consider some of the other committees that are always in need of volunteers.  Any church runs better when its members step up to help. Ours is no different.  New people with fresh ideas will help us to grow and meet the needs of a changing community.  And believe it, this community, this country and the world is changing, and we must adapt with it.

COVID19 is still on everyone’s mind.  Everyone but the invincible generation (under 30).  Just when we thought we could see light at the end of the tunnel, businesses were allowed to start reopening with common-sense guidelines.  But anyone watching the news can see what a disaster that turned out to be.  Social distancing and masks became optional in bars, at the beach or at many protests.  So, we start over.  Holding Sunday service in the parking lot outside is working well.  If you have not tried it, you should.  This is your faith family and it is always nice to actually see real faces for a change.

Faithfully serving you all,

Your Council President,

Michael Gillis   

Vacation Bible Camp – August 22nd, 10 – 3 Outdoors

Our Sunday School families have responded with favorable feedback that their children are available and interested in coming to Vacation Bible Camp at Faith on Saturday, August 22nd, from 10 – 3. Janice Neagle and Judie Tim met to initially plan for the day. 

Our campers and leaders will follow CDC guidelines (masks, maintaining social distancing, individualized packets of snacks, food, crafts, washing hands, and utilizing hand sanitizers every 2 hrs.)  We are hoping for an outdoor – weather permitting – day!

Our theme this year is “God is in Everywhere in Every One, and Every thing”, and our focus is Diversity. Our scripture passage is from Corinthians 12:4-6, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, bur the same Lord, and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.”  We hope to highlight stories from several of our Faith members. 

Because of COV19 restrictions, Registration will be limited to our Faith families and those children who have attended in previous years. Vacation Bible Camp notifications and Registration forms will be sent to each family. 

Respectfully Submitted,

Judie Tim

"These are dedications from people who signed up for flowers and bulletins this month. If you have an upcoming dedication you would like included next month, please email Maritza at maritza_faithlut@frontier.com." We are accepting donations for flowers and bulletin as you wish to give. When church reopens, flowers are still $30 and bulletins are $20 donation. We will continue to post your requests on the church webpage and newsletters. The following are available dates.

Flower Dates: August 2, 9 and 30

Bulletin Dates: July 12, 19, 26 and August 2, 9, 23, 30