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Tracking the Storms

Hurricane/tornado season has officially begun. Last week we prayed in the Litany:
 
            As we enter upon this season of vigilance, we ask that you watch over us. Keep us alert and watchful in our days.
           Protect us from all harm. Keep us from devastation.
           Deepen our faith, that our fears disappear in our trust in you.
 
Physical storms are not all that we face. We also face other storms: challenges that are thrown at us as fast as a tornado can whip up debris and sling it our way. How do we deal with the storms or challenges that we face? What are the storms in our lives?
 
One storm is the storm of change. We have had so many coming at us lately that we may be developing “storm” fatigue. And yet, here we find ourselves at yet another moment in the life of the church, where things are different, and change is needed.
 
This week, I had the privilege of having lunch with Law Enforcement Agencies and other faith leaders of Jacksonville, talking about another kind of storm, the storm of violence, that seems to be rocking our nation. All the mass shootings, the hatred, the increase in crime in our communities, have community leaders reeling, looking for real answers which are long overdue.
 
Retired Sheriff of Jacksonville, Nat Glover, said at the luncheon, “We have been here before. We have had [many and big challenges], but we got through them. Each time we got through them, we got better. We will get through this challenge, and we will be better!”
 
Change, in and of itself, creates an atmosphere of fear. We lose control of how we do things, we become uncertain in the new way, not knowing what to expect or even what to do. This could easily lead to increased stress levels, and as we have seen in our country, that leads to violence, or perhaps I should say, violent outbreaks.
 
We, the Church, the Body of Christ, can and will get through this time of uncertainty and we will be better at the other end. As we put our trust in God, as we allow love to fill our hearts, minds, and lives, we put away fear and find the path forward that God has intended for us walk.
 
On June 12, your leadership will be entering into a time of discernment and planning for our future. We ask that you keep us in your prayers that we may remain vigilant to the voice of the Holy Spirit, that our faith will be certain, and that we will be bold enough to step out on the path that God sets before us.
 
I pray this for the council, for myself, and also for each of you as we move out of the isolation brought on by the pandemic and find our way back to fullness of life.
 
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Anna
June 10, 2021
| Grow, News

COVID-19 Updates and Guidelines

Dear Mandarin Disciples,
Your church council met on May 16 and discussed the implications of the new CDC COVID guidelines on our church life. You may view the updated CDC guidelines here.
We made the following decisions:
  • We will continue to have two services every Sunday. Those not vaccinated should continue to wear masks and socially distance. Two services will allow people to continue social distancing. We are going to stop the sign up for Sunday services, as this proved to be unnecessary over the last several weeks. We will remove the crepe paper blocking off pews, but ask that everyone continue to respect social distancing.
  •  We will no longer require masks inside the church for those that have been vaccinated. We do not intend to check vaccination status, but trust that people will respect the safety of others that have not been vaccinated by continuing to wear a mask indoors if not vaccinated.
  • We are making plans to resume fellowship opportunities. This will begin with an outdoor barbeque following a sweet corn gleaning event on Friday, June 4th. You don’t have to glean to enjoy fresh sweet corn, hot dogs and hamburgers with your friends. We also look forward to a 4th of July celebration at the Whitford Ranch! Many more activities to follow.
  • As always, everyone should avoid coming to church if they are ill (fever, sore throat cough, body aches, headache, etc). Those with a known exposure to COVID in the last 14 days should not attend church if you have not been vaccinated.
  • I strongly encourage everyone to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccinations are available at Publix, local pharmacies, county sites and the federal FEMA site at 5200 Norwood Ave. Jacksonville, FL 32208. The federal site is open 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., 7 days a week and has no waiting. A friend of mine is helping staff the sight and told me they are capable of caring for 3,000 people a day but are only getting a few hundred.
May 20, 2021
| News

Ascension of Our Lord

15I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
-Ephesians 1:15-23
Ascension Day is not one that we celebrate often or even really think about much.  The Scriptures for the day are some of the most comforting words we read in the Bible, though.  Jesus leaves the disciples, yes, but with words of commission, a blessing, and a promise.
The Ephesians reading is a profound word of hope for anyone who is suffering hard times or feeling overwhelmed by their circumstances.
We know that we are adopted as God’s children, as the author of Ephesians tells us in the start of his letter. In the passage quoted above, he tells us that the very power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in us, empowering us in our daily lives.  We lay our hope in this amazing power of God, even when we feel separated from God or abandoned.
Prayer: Christ, in you alone our hope is found. Help us, every day, to sense your presence in such a way that we will never doubt that you are with us.  You surround us with your love always.  May we pass that hope and love on to all around us.  Amen.
God Bless You,
Pastor Anna
May 13, 2021
| News, Written Articles

Gleaning with the Society of St. Andrews (SoSA)

Last week, Chris and Missy Paul went to Hastings for a gleaning opportunity with the Society of Saint Andrews (SoSA).They bagged tons of potatoes to be delivered to multiple agencies in Ocala and Orlando.
 
The field was owned by the University of Florida and their agriculture department. They are unable to sell this produce and welcome the opportunity to make sure that it does not go to waste.
 
Missy says, “It was a great experience and I think we’ll do it again soon!”
 
Spring harvesting is still happening in our area! Through SoSA, volunteer gleaners are utilized to pick leftover produce from harvested fields and/or to bag the crops for donation. Mandarin Lutheran church has been part of the gleaning system for several years. It is a rewarding “hands on” way to serve God in our community!
 
To become a gleaner:
  1. Register to be a gleaning volunteer at the Society of St. Andrews (SoSA) website https://endhunger.org/serve/
  2. After registering, go to the SoSA calendar to view and sign up for gleanings
  3. Contact Sue Brown outreach@mandarinlutheran.org to arrange an MLC carpool.
May 6, 2021
| Activities, News

In-Person Services Have Resumed

We are excited to announce that after careful consideration, Mandarin Lutheran Church has moved back to in-person worship services.

While we are meeting in-person once again, strict social distancing and other COVID precautionary measures will be in place to insure the safety of all.

Join us for a 9 a.m. informal service, or a more traditional service at 11 a.m.

We are asking that individuals who wish to attend in-person worship sign up here.

For those not yet ready to worship in-person, you can view weekly recorded services here.

April 20, 2021
| Blog, News

Outreach Opportunities

FOOD BANK – We will be collecting food donations to benefit the Mandarin Food Bank during Lent.

POP TOPS – Please save and donate pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House.  Collected pop tabs are recycled, generating much-needed funds to support the House and the nearly 5,000 families served each year.

BOX TOPS – Please clip and donate Box Tops for Education to benefit local schools.

February 2, 2021
| Blog, News