1301 Colley Ave., Norfolk, VA 23517 Parish Office: 757 625 1953 www.flcnorfolk.com

VOL. XXXII DECEMBER 2018 NO. 12

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A new church year begins with the rituals and symbols of the season of Advent. It is supposed to be a season of anticipation, of waiting expectantly to celebrate the

birth of our savior, but if you are like me it probably feels more like a season of rushing from one thing to the next and barely catching my breath in-between. It wasn’t always this way for me. I remember being a young boy and seemingly counting every single waking minute from the first appearance of our Advent calendar until I finally drifted off to sleep on Christmas Eve. Now my only counting is of remaining tasks...raking leaves, putting up lights, helping to decorate the church, shopping...all the familiar things that drive so many of us during this time of year. I do not want to sound like a complainer, since I make a choice to include those things on my to-do list, and all of them bring joy to me or others in my life when they are completed. I worry, however, that in the midst of so much activity I will miss the moments that most matter, the ones when I should be focused on people and not tasks, when I should be pointing to Christ and showing how his birth, life, death, and resurrection changed everything for me, and for the entire world.

During this season we Christians are mindful of those in need, those whose Advent journey is filled with want, worry or sadness. Here at First Lutheran we have a wonderful opportunity to share our gifts with our neighbors who are homeless. From December 5th-12th we will open our doors and become a Norfolk Emergency Shelter Team (NEST) location. If you have never before participated in caring for our guests during that week, I hope you will consider putting aside your Advent task list and participating in this wonderful opportunity to share our blessings with those in need. What I know you will find, however, is that you will receive much more than you give.

We live in a culture that emphasizes self-reliance. We adhere to the myth of the “self-made individual,” even though we all know that none of us can achieve anything, or even get through this life, without the help of God and those with whom God surrounds

us. Too often when we see the people living on our streets, we wonder what chain of personal failures occurred that ended with them being homeless, what bad decisions they made that led to living on the margins of society. All of us, however, make bad decisions, and we all suffer through failures, and we all have low points when we feel ourselves slipping toward the margins. We are where we are because we are the ones who were lifted and held up in our time of need, and they are the ones who found no arms there to lift them. When our daughter Sarah died, I was at the absolute lowest point in my life. I could not do anything for myself or my family. In those depths God was still there beside me, and he sent his people. The love and help that surrounded me held me and kept me from slipping into the margins.

Months later I was talking with a dear friend who had done so much for us during the worst of the worst times, and I had a moment when I felt the need to thank her. My voice choking, I told her how much we all owed her—how much I owed her—for helping us live through those darkest days. I told her what a gift she was to us. What she said in response turned me on my head and made me think about being in need in a completely different light. “Eric,” she told me, “you were the gift. Your needing me let me give of myself in a way that doesn’t just happen every day. It brought such purpose and meaning to my own life, and that was a gift you gave to me.” What if sometimes your gift is being the one in need? How does that way of thinking change the way you look at those in our society who need our help? How does that change the way we will see the people who come through our doors in December in need of food, warmth, and a smile? They come bringing the most amazing gift, the one that if we choose to accept it, will be the best gift we receive this Christmas.

May God bless your month.

Eric Peterson

A Mindful Advent

2 THE CONTACT • DECEMBER 2018

In September, the Faraja Primary School for Chil-dren with Physical Disabilities in Tanzania held its 6th graduation ceremony. All 16 Class 7 graduating

students passed the national examination and their scores were among the top students in their district. Well done!

Many changes have been made at Faraja in the past cou-ple of years, including a new computer lab and computer training, enhanced physical and occupational therapy, improvements to the campus, and a future career camp is in the works. The generous contributions from members of First Lutheran Church, along with many others, has helped make this possible. Your donations allow Faraja School to provide education, housing, nutritious meals, medical care, and physical therapy for 100 students who would not have this opportunity otherwise.

A new class of 16 students will be entering Faraja School in January 2019 and there are opportunities to help. During this season of giving, please consider supporting a new student with a sponsorship at $1200/year, including medical care, either by yourself or shared with one or two

others. Or, providing a general donation to the school will help to continue the important mission begun 17 years ago by former FLC members Don & Joann Tolmie. To learn more about Faraja Primary School and how you can help support, visit www.farajaschool.org. Donations can be made either online at the above web site, writing a check to First Lutheran Church marked Faraja in the memo section and put in one of the Offering envelopes found in the pews and marking it for Faraja, or by send-ing a check made out to the Faraja Fund Foundation and mailed to Faraja Fund Foundation, 8919 Park Road, Suite 249, Charlotte, NC 28210.

If you have any questions, please contact Mike or Denise Haag.

Thank you or “Asante Sana” in Swahili

Faraja School Update

First Lutheran Children’s Sunday School will present our pageant on December 16th in the sanctuary during the Sunday

School hour from 9:45-10:45 AM. There will be a dress rehearsal for all participants on Saturday December 15th from 9-11 AM beginning with costuming on the 3rd floor. There is also an important one-hour rehearsal for grades 1-6 during Sunday School on December 9th while younger students

attend their regular classes. In addition, we are looking for children who would like to play a musical solo as part of the prelude to our pageant. Please contact Amy Hood to confirm your child’s participation, any interest in playing an instrumental solo, and if you have questions at rhood7@cox.net.

Please note that there will be no classes for children on December 23rd or 30th.

Come seeThe Best Old-Fashioned Christmas Pageant Ever!

THE CONTACT • DECEMBER 2018 3

Our Conf irmands

Adult Ministry Victory Rover Outing

Confirmands (left to right) Leilani Sildorf, Mackenzie Griffin, Cho-Cho Williams

Halloween Fun with the Lunch Ministry Crew Lauren Silsdorf

helped deliver 15 Thanksgiving bags and gift cards to Ghent Area Ministry on November 8th.

Confirmands (left to right) Julianna Hood, Meghan Velotas, Jackie Velotas, Nolan Flannigan

GAM Thanksgiving Bag Delivery

4 THE CONTACT • DECEMBER 2018

Connect with Others

Advent Coffee HoursSundays, December 9th and 16th, we will have Advent coffee hours following each service! Bring a dish to share, and enjoy an expanded coffee hour as we celebrate the Christmas season! No signup necessary, just come and enjoy! For more information contact Jacob Weber or Shelagh Humphreys.

Epiphany SingersOn Epiphany Sunday, January 6th, our Epiphany singers will eat lunch together after the late service and then go out to visit some of our home-bound members. This singing ministry is open to anyone who enjoys sharing God’s love through music. All are welcome!

Questions? Ask Ginny Fox (757-481-0242) or Merrie Jo Milner (757-560-0781)

Advent Prayer Around the Cross

In the midst of all of the lights that dance for our attention, join us on Wednesday, December 12, at 6:45 PM for a time of gentle quiet to anticipate the light of God who is coming into the world. This liturgy of light and hope in the dark-ness of our days will include the lighting of candles from the Nighttime of our Souls liturgy and provide a time for fellowship and refreshments following the worship service. Join us in a season of darkness as we give thanks that Jesus, the light of the world, comes to us.

FLC Book Discussion GroupThe Book Discussion Group will celebrate the joy of Christmas by reading the Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama XIV, and Desmond Tutu. Two great spiritual masters share their own hard-won wisdom about living with joy even in the face of adversity. The occasion was a big birthday. And it inspired two close friends to get together in Dharamsala for a talk about something very important to them. The friends were His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The subject was joy. Both winners of the Nobel Prize, both great spiritual masters and moral leaders of our time, they are also known for being among the most infectiously happy people on the planet.

Join us January 6th at 6:30 PM at church.

Can’t make the January but want to join us for faith dialogue and fellowship in 2019? Pick up the reading list on the bulletin board in the Welcome Center and join us. Everyone is welcome to one or all our gatherings!

Martha CircleMartha Circle will meet on December 4th at 6:30 PM at the home of Kaye McGinnis, 5396 Hargrove Blvd, Virginia Beach. All are welcome! Please join us for our Christmas party to include cookie swap, crazy Christmas ornament exchange and gift wrapping for the HER Shelter. Questions? Contact Paula Cook at pbcook513@icloud.com or 793-0551.

Save the Date!Lessons and Carols at Harbor’s Edge on December 16th at 6 PM. Watch for more information in the Green Sheet.

Lydia Circle andAdult MinistryOver 80s

Lunch Special ProgramTuesday, Dec. 4 , 2018

11 30 AMat First Lutheran

:

Skip Barry 1 DecMorgan Brown 1 DecWilliam Herman 2 DecLouisa Rowan 3 DecJason Bishop 5 DecWhitney Faircloth 5 DecEliza Stinson 5 DecBecky Roode 6 DecMalcolm Van de Water 6 DecKathryn Cummings 7 DecAbby Weisenbeck 7 DecSophia Bourcier 9 DecMarian Sever 9 DecShirley Skees 9 DecJeffrey Charron 10 DecChris Coffing 10 DecVictoria Gonzalez 10 DecStephen Herman 10 DecJennie Wright 10 DecCJ Fenley 11 Dec

Justin Porter 11 DecLevi Sutera 11 DecAudrey Willis 11 DecMegan Willis 11 DecJudy Shore 12 DecBrendan Kelly 13 DecChris O'Neill 13 DecBill Robinson 13 DecBrittany Acors 14 DecLeanne Currie-McGhee 14 DecDana Humphreys 17 DecJenna Humphreys 17 DecCaleb Warren 17 DecKirstin New 18 DecJames Hood 19 DecBrian McElligott 19 DecShea O'Donnel 19 DecMary Vaughan 19 DecPhilippe Biboum 20 DecJoseph Milner 20 Dec

Gail Stenberg 20 DecSeth Utecht 20 DecLucian Clare 21 DecNicolle Stopa 21 DecEvans Poston 22 DecKyle Diduk-Gamache 23 DecChristine Gammon 24 DecBarbara Cordrey 26 DecRichard Goeres 26 DecJohn Lewis 26 DecPatty Graham 27 DecBethany Johnson 28 DecDiane Laine 28 DecRoger Seese 29 DecGwendolyn Carr 31 DecEd Joella 31 DecJohn Philips 31 DecNathaniel Schaus 31 Dec

THE CONTACT • DECEMBER 2018 5

December Birthdays

Congregation Council SummaryAt our November meeting, the Congregation Council• Opened with a devotion on 2 Cor. 9:6-15 about the various

tables from which we leave full and blessed by God• Approved a wonderful list of new members: Mary

Broadman, Chris and Kathy Haugen, Julia Silsdorf, Howard and Heera Simon, and Michael Westerveld

• Agreed to shift the 7:30 PM Christmas Eve worship service to 8 PM so that our worship services that evening are at 5, 8 and 11 PM

• Approved the 2019 Spending Plan for Ministry and 2019 Rental Real Estate budget for action at our Annual Congregational Meeting on November 18

• Heard plans for a number of events in 2019 to celebrate our 125th Anniversary

• Received an update on ideas to refurbish our Welcome Center and Reception Room

• Agreed to serve the meal for NEST on December 5th • Approved replacement of folding metal chairs over the

next few years.• Thanked outgoing Council Members for their faithful

service: Chuck Baynard, Mike Haag and David Kuehl• Shared blessings and prayer concerns

The Council normally meets at 7 PM on the first Monday of each month. The meeting is open to the congregation.

2018 Annual Meeting Summary

At our Annual Meeting, the Congregation

• Approved minutes of the 2017 Annual Meeting

• Heard the report of the Congregation President, Eric Peterson

• Approved the 2019 Spending Plan for Ministry

• Approved the 2019 Real Estate Rentals Budget

• Elected Kat Kussart Foster, Eric Peterson, Bill Robinson, Karen Siegel and John Wittmann to three-year terms on Council

• Heard the State of the Church report from Pastor Goeres

• Presented the 2018 Nesting Dove to Wil Thompson

Following the Annual Meeting, the Congregation Council, with its newly elected members, elected Officers for 2018/19: President- Eric Peterson, Vice President- Elizabeth Janik, Secretary- Karen Siegel, Treasurer-Simon Scott, Financial Secretary- Tammy DiBiaso, Executive Committee members at-large Bill Robinson and Jason Shea.

6 THE CONTACT • DECEMBER 2018

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THE CONTACT • DECEMBER 2018 7

Connect with Word and BodyReadingsfor December

December 2ndJeremiah 33:14-16

Psalm 25:1-10

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Luke 21:25-36

December 9thMalachi 3:1-4

Luke 1:68-79

Philippians 1:3-11

Luke 3:1-6

December 16thZephaniah 3:14-20

Isaiah 12:2-6

Philippians 4:4-7

Luke 3:7-18

December 23rdMicah 5:2-5a

Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7

Hebrews 10:5-10

Luke 1:39-45 [46-55]

December 30th1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26

Psalm 148

Colossians 3:12-17

Luke 2:41-52

Prayer Concerns for DecemberRooted in the abundant life and love of Christ Jesus, we pray for the life of the church, the lives of people in need, and the life of all creation.

Give joyful thanksgiving...for the birth of Julianne Elizabeth Whittecar (granddaughter of Rich and Cathy Whittecar)....for the baptism of Cole Gregory Westerveld....for Judy Biboum’s new job....for the marriage of Jeff and Stephanie St. John....that God is “all in” for us....that by grace through faith God forms us to preach, teach and live God’s Word....that we are so rooted in the Gospel that our lives overflow in worship, witness, service, learning and support.

Help us...seek the light, follow the light and chase the light of Christ....look at ourselves through the stories of the widows in I Kings 17 and Mark 12 as we evaluate our own stewardship, worship and service to God.

Pray for...people fleeing dire humanitarian situations for a better life....the Ilardi Family upon the death of Ardie’s sister....safe travels for Brittany and Elizabeth Acors as they travel during Thanksgiving break....all those impacted by the fires in California....all those impacted by the latest mass shooting in California....God’s children at The Tree of Life Synagogue and all those who are victims of hate crimes....Lauren and Family....our country and the great division that currently exists among our citizens....world leaders....persons who do not have adequate health insurance....persons who are homeless....the unemployed and underemployed....those struggling with addiction and mental health issues. ...those mourning the death of loved ones.

Margaret Fleet, Roger Fuller, Susan Griffin, John Hackney, Ray Hinton, Al Miller, Kelley Minschke, Lorna Moss, Betty Phillips, Suzanne Sackel, Howard Simon, Carl Spangler, Deb Thompson, Howard Warren, Bill Wattai, Angela, Bob B., Jonathan Balk, Becky and Richard, Stephen Beech and Elaine Lipworth, Eric Dolch (nephew of Ginger Van de Water), Stan Fox, Gale, Hannah, John, Katie, Paul McCandlers, Debbie Meara, Theresa Smith Milne, Mother of Ivana Dinini, Cathy Moye, Nellie, Holly Nitke, Mark Opgrand, Patty, Rachel, Frances Sizemore, Bobbie Smith, Annie Stewart, Mike and Michael Storm, Jim Webb, Yvette Wyatt

Those dealing with cancerMark Basco, Ann Fentress, Jo, Greg Reep, Ann Wilson Rose, Andie Seagraves

Military and their families:Austin Davidson, Mason Fox, Dan Kelly, Ted Peterson, Beth Silsdorf, Brian Becker, Jonathan Goeres, Amy Hardbower, Nicolette Huntley, Tim Kelly, Kelly Mackenzie, John Marfield, Nikki Parkman.Pray for all our service men and women throughout the world.

Enfold all things in your compassion, O God, and bring us into your life through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

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