Faith Lutheran Church of Blakeslee, PA

www.faithlutheranblakeslee.org

Join us as Max Lucado, the best-selling inspirational author and pastor, will lead us through a 5-week study of these verses. In these past ten weeks, we have all experienced our share of anxiety as we face the uncertainty associated with this virus.  But God assures us that although anxiety is a part of life, it does not need to dominate your life.

I hope you will join us for this much-needed dose of peace in our lives! 

There will be a video each week, so it is not necessary to purchase the book… however I am sure you will be blessed by Max Lucado’s writing and inspiration. It should be available at your favorite on-line bookseller.  One of the most reasonable sites I found is www.christianbook.com. 

Join the Zoom meeting via computer link: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85646544934?pwd=OHY5Mm44blJVNEw0YnRxbW5XdzVNZz09

or go to Zoom.us and enter:  Meeting ID: 856 4654 4934                                                                                      Password: 322815

To connect by phone, call:  +1 646 558 8656 and enter the same Meeting ID and password.

If you are unable to attend live, each week’s study will be recorded, and we hope to be able to post it on our website. 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89525949957?pwd=OG8vOHRiR0pST1VPdDdaOEQ5VG9qdz09

or go to Zoom.us and enter:  Meeting ID: 895 2594 9957

                                          Password: 410747

To connect by phone, call:  +1 646 558 8656 and enter the same Meeting ID and password.

For an appointment, please visit redcrossblood.org Or call 1-800-RED CROSS 

(1-800-733-2767) Pre-registration is advised.

Money Matters of the Church

Over the past several years, church finances have become worrisome.  Donations have not kept pace with expenses and the slow loss of members has had an impact. 

The attached graph shows donations versus expenses over the last two years.  The tan lines are expenses, and the blue lines are donations.  You can see that expenses have outweighed donations for most months since 2018.  The church has been pulling money out of its reserve accounts, but those accounts will run out shortly.

The church is at a crossroads; within the next six months the church must reduce expenses so they are in line with donations.

The church leadership has worked hard on managing the finances.  All the easy steps have been taken: the next steps will be hard. 

All the best to all those we haven’t seen in weeks.  We can’t wait to when we can see each other on Sunday morning!

Finance Committee

Thoughts from your Council President

May 14, 2020 

The last time I wrote, our biggest concern was if spring would ever arrive. Then, in the blink of an eye, our world changed. A worldwide pandemic called COVID19 arrived instead. Everything stopped. Everything closed. Everyone was told to stay home. Whoever thought that going to the grocery store could kill you. The effects of this pandemic have been and will continue to be far-reaching. Many of us have lost our sources of income either because of job losses, store closures, or steep losses to our retirement accounts. Social distancing has made venturing out a nearly impossible challenge.

Now we have to start looking at what the future holds for us. There will be a lot of our favorite businesses that will not survive. Unemployment will affect us in ways we have not seen in decades. Food lines serving people who never thought it could happen to them. Prices for everything are rising at incredible rates.

And then we have the human cost. The tragedy of lives lost. Until a vaccine can be found, more will be lost. If ever there was a need for the church, it is now. Pray for those who are gone. Pray for those reaching the end of their rope. Pray for the survival of our church because we too are included in this financial quagmire.  

We will get through this. We will come out stronger than before. Lessons are being learned every day about what we have done right and what we have done wrong. A new normal is arriving and it is not going to be easy. My best advice to you now is simply to use your common sense. If it seems dangerous, it probably is. Stay safe, stay healthy and we will see each other soon.

Ever Faithful,

Your Council President,

Michael Gillis   

Weekly U.S. postal mailings to our eleven children promote the online program and provide coloring and activity pages and crafts that coordinate with the lessons.  Our grateful thanks to our Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA for providing these programs free of charge.  Doubting Thomas, The Road to Emmaus, God’s House, The Promise of the Holy Spirit, The Ascension, and Pentecost – The Holy Spirit has been the featured Bible studies.   The Christian songs and music they present are inspiring and fun to sing along with. 

It’s been super corresponding with Emerson Davenport (age 8), her Mom Jen Kalata, and Dad, Mark Davenport now living in Eugene, OR.  They are doing well and loving Oregon.  Emerson loves all sports and keeps her parents busy!

Grateful thanks to Phyllis Nutt for sending each of the children craft packages to complete for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Memorial Day.  The children have especially enjoyed doing crafts.

Since our Vacation Bible Camp, usually planned for July, will not take place this year, we are considering rescheduling it for late August.  God’s Creation continues to be our theme, but working through “social distancing” remains our challenge.  Stay tuned (!) and please contact Judie Tim (judietim@ptd.net) if you have any ideas or suggestions.

Pastor North will receive your message. In honor of your privacy, only your first name last name initial will be added to the list in the Prayer Request Page. Others will join to pray for those on the list. Check out the link to the Prayer Request Page.

https://www.faithlutheranblakeslee.org/prayer-requests