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Spirit of Grace Lutheran Church, ELCA 9525 Hudson Ave Hudson, FL 34667

“Like” us on Facebook Spirit of Grace - ELCA - West Pasco “Follow” us on Twitter @SoGLutheran

Check out our website to stay informed!www.soglutheran.org “Follow” us on Instagram SoGLutheran

Spirit of Grace Purpose Statement: “The Grace Place to connect, grow, and serve” Guiding Principles: Jesus Christ is Lord & Savior Be a Grace Place w/open hearts. Share the Good News in meaningful ways Fully engaged ministry for all ages Celebrate LIFE: Living In Faith Everyday

About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.5 million members in more than 9,100 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

Shop Christmas Gifts that make a Global Difference @ elca.org, Good Gifts Catalog!

Newsletter for disciples and friends of Spirit of Grace Volume 12 December 2019—Mid-January 2020 Issue 8

ADVENT Devotions are posted on Facebook: Spirit of Grace-ELCA-West Pasco & the Spirit of Grace website: www.soglutheran.org

Advent marks the beginning of a new church

year plus the beginning of new

ministry opportunities

& spiritual experiences

Angel Tree for Esther’s School Students Choose a gift tag for a student (North Campus) & bring back wrapped gifts asap. Questions? Call Janet Cox: 727-819-1002

Graceful Seniors: Christmas Luncheon & Party Dec 21, 11:00a North Holiday Ham provided by Senior

Planning Team. Bring a potluck dish to share. No charge for meal! Fun ‘gift’ game after meal. Be Sure to Sign Up on sign up sheets at each worship service.

Jane Riggs & Ann Beilharz will play their dulcimers!

Christmas Poinsettias Help beautify our worship areas for Christmas worship with the purchase of Poinsettia(s). Order forms will be available in the Narthex at BOTH Campuses. Fill out the form and

return it along with your payment ($10.00 per plant) in offering plates at any service or mail in. Please make checks payable to “Spirit of Grace Lutheran Church” and write “Poinsettia” on the memo line.

All orders must be received in the church office by Tuesday, Dec17.

* Save the Dates * Save the Dates * Save the Dates * Dec 1: 2pm-5pm Christmas Preparations North Campus @ : Trim Tree, Assemble Float, Practice Children’s Program! Dec 8: 2p,m-5pm: Finish the Float @ North Campus Dec 14: New Port Richey Night Christmas Parade, SoG will have a float entered! Stay tuned to float location in the parade & time There WILL BE A SATURDAY 5pm SERVICE @ North Campus Dec 15: 2pm @ North Campus to disassemble float Dec 21: Graceful Seniors Christmas Luncheon & Games: 11:00am North Campus Dec 22: Youth going Christmas Caroling,—details to be announced Dec 24: Christmas Eve Worship North & Plato Academy: Times TBA Dec 28/29: Lessons & Carols Service at regular worship times Jan 26: Congregational Meeting: 4pm @ North Campus, Fellowship meal to follow

Thanksgiving Eve Worship, 5:00pm, North Campus, Wednesday, November 27th Gathering the Harvest: As we gather together this Thanksgiving season, also practice “Gathering the Harvest” by bringing a bottle of Mogen David Concord Red Wine to God’s altar for communion at BOTH Campuses. You can find this wine at ABC Liquors, Winn Dixie or Publix. Thanks be to God! Make your gratitude connection to God by bringing your 2020 Commitment

of Giving Card to the altar when you come up for communion! “ Gearing Up for Generosity”

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About Spirit of Grace

A caring & welcoming congregation whose purpose is being: “The Grace Place to connect, grow and serve.”

ONE congregation with TWO worshiping campuses

NORTH Campus: 9525 Hudson Ave Hudson, FL 34667 Worship Saturday 5:00 pm (Contemporary) Sunday 8:30 am (Contemporary) 11:00 am (Traditional) Sunday School Sunday 9:40 am

SOUTH Campus: Still Under Construction!! 8810 Old County Rd 54 Trinity, FL 34653 Now worshipping in Plato Academy Cafeteria Sunday Contemporary Worship 10:15 am Traditional Worship: 11:30am

Mailing Address :9525 Hudson Ave Hudson, FL 34667

Email: churchoffice@soglutheran.org

Website: www.soglutheran.org

Pastoral Staff The Rev. Dr. Rita Gardner Tweed, Lead Pastor Ph: 813-230-4907 Email: lpr@soglutheran.org

The Rev. Dave Kruger, ret. Sr. Ministry, Spiritual Care & Funeral Ministry Ph: 727-247-2982 Email: pastordave@soglutheran.org Pastor Dave works Tue, Thurs, & Sun Afternoon

Reach the Church Office: Mon, Thurs: Sharon Burke 727-494-574 Tues, Wed, Fri: Elaine Waldrup 727-457-3128 Temp Location: 9851 State Rd 54, NPR, FL 34655 Youth and Outreach Dir: Marina Tweed Text only: 813-291-4122 Email: outreach@soglutheran.org Contemporary Worship Leader: James Rogers 813-465-2848 j.r.ent@hotmail.com Sharon Burke, Volunteer Project Coordinators 727-494-4574 vpc@soglutheran.org

Who To Contact

Church Council Leadership

Let Us Know

Please let the church office know if someone is ill, hospitalized or in need of spiritual care. Hospitals do not call churches. At times we do not find out someone is hospitalized until they are home. Telephone Sharon Burke: 727-494-4574

The deadline for the Mid-January issue of The Grace Place is January 13, 2020

Home Communion Spirit of Grace has a team of trained Home Communion Visitors. If you or a family member are not currently being visited and would like to receive a visit, please contact Sharon Burke: 727-494-4574

The next church council meeting will be on Tuesday, December 12, 7:00 pm at Roe Insurance Office

Paul Boivin, Vice Pres 727-389-5724 Ken Key 813-416-8208 Charlene Lee 727-844-0412 Erik Reisner, Sec 727-534-7825 Elaine Waldrup, Treas 727-457-3128 Terry Neal 321-543-6183

Are you new to Spirit of Grace? Text “Welcome” to 727-317-6166 to connect

and share more about you while you learn more about Spirit of Grace!

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Don’t see your birthday or anniversary listed, then we need it. Please send in your disciple information

sheet or call one of the office volunteers.

Birthdays December

Sharing Reminder: When you, a loved one, or friend at Spirit of Grace is in the hospital or in need of care and support, please remember to contact the church office volunteer or email: churchoffice@soglutheran.org or pastordave@sogluthern.org or lpr@soglutheran.org. Posting prayer & care needs on your personal facebook is just that -- a personal post to your family and friends. If you want to initiate a visit or prayers from your church family, please notifying the church of-fice, which leads to pastoral/lay visitation follow up &/or prayer chain. Your personal facebook post isn’t the way to contact your church!

Database Updates Do you have a new email? Are you getting emails from Spirit of Grace? Do you have a new Cell Phone? Have you moved? Please be sure to send any new contact information to churchoffice@soglutheran.org ASAP! Sending as much communication out as possible by email keeps postage costs lower. Let’s keep in touch & stay connect-ed. Thank you!

CALLING all Thrivent Memebers: Have you directed your Thrivent Choice 2019 Dollars yet? Please consider doing so today & please di-rect them to Spirit of Grace. Our Thrivent Rep, Sev Galati, can provide you an up-date on Choice Dollars you have to direct! If you need assistance call Sev @ (727) 810-5154 or Sharon Burke (727) 494-4574

Spirit of Grace has awesome office volunteers who are taking on new roles creating an Administrative Team. Many thanks to: Sharon Burke, Lori Miller, Helen Roark, Elaine Waldrup, & Dcn. Darlene Weikel

Shopping Online? Check out Amazon Smile: REMEMBER to Designate Spirit of Grace

In the Amazon Smile Program for ALL of your Amazon Online Shopping!

Simply go to www.smile.amazon.com and designate Spirit of Grace, Hudson, FL and YOU can help SoG receive

money by simply shopping!

Giving Through Your Smart Phone is as Easy as 1-2-3! You can now make a contribution to your church through a mobile app! To get started, download GivePlus Church for free from the App Store or Google Play. Simply search for

“GivePlus Church” to quickly find and download the app today. Then, you can easily make donations direct-ly from your smartphone using your debit/credit card or checking/savings account. You can also choose to donate as a guest or set up an account that allows you to securely and conveniently schedule recurring do-nations; manage and review your giving history. We hope you enjoy this new way to contribute to Spirit of

Grace, and thank you for your faith-filled support.

*Spirit of Grace uses an external bookkeeping firm*

12/2 William Conaway 12/3 Rosemary Bove 12/7 Joshua Soto

Dona Watson 12/8 Robin Soto

Mary Ann Weikel 12/14 Howard Horst

Anniversaries December Bob & Barb Paju 12/28/1963 Paul & Carolyn Dove 12/28/1984 Bill & Sarah Conaway 12/30/1988

12/18 Don Granger 12/21 Jacky Roach 12/24 Elsie Morris

Gene Kor er 12/28 Mary Elm 12/29 Jon Jordan

Anniversaries January Milt & Marilyn Moll 1/1/1989 Les & Charlene Lee 1/27/1994

1/1 Johnny Wolfe 1/2Sherri Hubach 1/5Andrew French 1/8Tommy Beaudry Lorri Vuozzo 1/11Elaine Waldrup 1/15Carol Brennan 1/17Marcia Bartel Darlene Weikel Michael Pilnacek 1/20Karin Sheldon 1/22Johnathon Boivin 1/23Merrick Conaway 1/30Della Whitten 1/31Salvatore Salvato

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Stephen Ministers - to listen & pray with you!

Pictured below are our Stephen Ministers. Thanks be to God for them and the caring & compassionate ministry they provide. Please talk to them at any worship service. They are here to pray with you!

Ilona O’Connor Attends Sunday 8:30am

SoG North

Karin Beeten, Stephen Leader

Attends Sunday 10:15am Plato Academy

Sharon Burke Attends Sunday

11:30am Plato Academy

Kathy McGarrigle Attends Saturday 5pm or

Sunday 8:30 am SoG North

Sharon McTeer Attends Sunday

11:00am SoG North

Carole Coleman Attends Sunday

10:15am Plato Academy

BIBLE STUDY & PRAYER This Bible study Tuesdays,

6:00 pm @ SoG North. We are making our way through

“ The Lost Books of the Bible” Questions, call Gene Kortier

727-819-2008

Rev. Dave Kruger, Ret. works with our Stephen’s Ministers, as well as Spiritual Care, Senior Ministry & Funeral Ministry at Spirit of Grace. He is part-time; available on Tuesday, Thurs-day, & Sunday after-noons.

Nancy Colson Attends Saturday

5pm North Campus

Stephen Ministers are Christian Caregivers They go through training to learn about Christian Caregiving. They are there for people who are dealing with grieving a death, divorce, medical problems, terminal illness, and transitions in their life and need someone to talk to about their feelings about what they are going through. Listening is what Ste-phen Ministers do. There is confidentially between the Caregivers and the Care receivers, so what is said is just between them. They meet and provide comfort and support and prayer for as long as it is needed. The Stephen Ministers of Spirit of Grace also make hospital visits and give home communion. They join in the prayer ministry for and with you. If you are is interested in becoming a Stephen Minister, contact Karen Beeten at 727-457-8310.

Can you see your picture here? Do you have gifts in compassionately walking with folks during tough times? Are you sensitive to the needs of others, a good listener, and able to pray with and for others? Read the article below.

Women’s Bible Study—Every 1st Sat of the month, 10:00am @ North Cam-pus all women are invited to come to-gether for a bible study. Bring your bible, lesson will be provided from the Gather Magazine for Women of the ELCA. Ques ons? Call Mae Haines: 727-863-4329

Gratitude Dinner Cake below—yummy!

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Temporary Office Location & Contacts

Spirit of Grace office is in a temporary location in the Roe Insurance building, 9851 State Road 54, NPR, FL 34655. The office occupies two office bays, and has shared board room, kitchen and restroom facilities. You can schedule a church meeting here — call the posted numbers to get on the office shared calendar.

Church Buildings: If you are still considering a special memorial gift, see article on pg 4. It remains as important as ever to finish strong the Leap of Faith Capital Appeal giving commitments.

South Campus New Building: Email updates are being received every 10 days to two weeks from project manager, Russ Rogers. The old church building was demolished September 25. Cur-rently, there is further engineering work being done to resolve window casings as well as the back side of the archway above the door to prevent rain from the back side. Inside work has been done on the fire suppres-sion system framing, electrical and plumbing. As you drive by on Old County Road 54 be sure to notice the new signage—design thanks to Marina Tweed. Thanks to Paul Boivin for the start of the new sign frame and to Paul & Jim Clifford for installing it.

Office Hours: Mon-Wed 9:00—1:00pm Who to call: Mon, Thurs: Sharon Burke 727-494-4574 Tues, Wed, Fri: Elaine Waldrup 727-457-3128

Need to order ministry supplies — call the office volunteer listed above on Monday or

Tuesday. Ordering is on Tuesdays! Tuesdays Weekly Announcements are printed

Dear

Spirit of Grace, This year’s 2nd Annual Gratitude Dinner was fantastic! Thanks to the 117 folks of all ages who came to Spartan Manor (over 40% attendance increase from last

year!). Everyone enjoyed making together the most amazing and creative gear centerpieces (2 tables used all pieces in their set!) We celebrated Connecting to God, Connecting to Community and Connecting to-gether as a congregation. Thanks to each person who shared either a writ-ten story about connecting or spoke on the video. Two of our children were heard to say, “Now we’re fa-mous” after seeing themselves on the video! You are famous to God, to us and to your families and that’s what connecting is all about! Special thanks to Carole Coleman who shared about how important her church family is to her & how that deepened when the church walked closely with her after the death of her husband.

Special thanks also to Jenna Butler who created an outstanding video from eve-ryone’s sharings! There is much to be grateful to God about each & every day. One of the ways we show our openness to connect with God and what God is up to in our lives and in our world is how we prioritize and use our time, share of our special talents & abilities and prioritize our gratitude giving. This weekend we bring our 2020 Gratitude Com-mittment Cards of Giving up to the altar with us as we come for communion. Thanks also to the Gratitude Team for their planning & inspiration: Jenna & Domonique Butler, Terry Neal, Sandy Weber, Sharon Burke, Elaine Waldrup & me. We turn now to Advent: God’s ultimate con-necting also called ’the incarnation’ or inbreaking of grace through Jesus into the world God loves and cre-ated. More to come about “Advent Connecting.”

See you in Worship with grateful hearts, Pr. Rita Gardner Tweed, Lead Pastor, Spirit of Grace

“Gearing Up for Generosity”

CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED: Wednesday, Dec 25 thru Friday, January 3, 2020 for Christmas & New Years. In case of an emergency, please call Pastor Dave Kruger @ (727) 247-2982

Thank you Carole Coleman, also a Stephen Minister at the grace place, for sharing how deeply you are committed to your Lord and to your church family! Among the many meaningful things Carole shared was this conversation: “I’ve been asked, ‘how do you have so much patience to wait for the new church?’ Carole replied, I think you are waiting for the new building, I’m not waiting, I already have my church!”

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Memorial Matters Spirit of Grace has a unique opportunity when a new sanctuary is built or renovated. We get the unique opportunity of giving thanks to God through providing special donations or memorials, above and beyond our foundation-al tithes and offerings, that are given to the glory of God, or to honor special loved ones and give thanks to God for their lives and faith. These gifts help appoint the new sanctu-aries with all they need to be worshipful. Prayerfully consider the memorial gifts listed and let Pr. Rita know promptly of your desired memorial gift. Your Memorial Matters!

Memorial Gifts New Advent Stand (North) & Candles (both campuses) Refinishing of Altar Pieces (South) Stained Glass Framing & Mounting (South) Communion Ware (both campuses) New Narthex Furnishings (both campuses) New Prayground Furnishings (both campuses) (indoor area for parents/children) New Nursery Furnishings (both campuses) Baby Grand Piano (South) You can make a memorial gift that is also open to be used as most needed, too

Two Stained Glass Altar Candle globes for each campus altar have now been provided by special memorial gifts from 6 households. Thanks be to God! These beautiful stained glass pieces will come to adorn the altars very soon. They are hand crafted by the same designer as the processional cross. Each one takes approx. 40 hours to make and is made of four separate panels, 5’’ x 14’’ that are lead-ed together with corners that are designed the same as the cross.

Grief Support Group: A few years ago, Pastor Dave Kruger led several grief support groups that partici-pants found helpful as they were grieving the loss of a loved one. With sufficient interest, he will lead a new group beginning in January 12, 2020 @ North Campus. Please let him know of your interest by text to 727-247-2982, or email: pastordave@soglutheran.org.

Connecting at the PHSC Job Fair! Welcome Jen Sarka to Spirit of Grace as the Admin-istrative Assistant! We met Jen at the PHSC Job Fair in October and she began at the very end of the same month. She brings great corporate administrative skills & and a positive nature. In this chapter of her life she is

raising her family and the office schedule of the church is a great fit. With gratitude to God for this connection at this time! Thanks Jen for taking pics @ the Gratitude Dinner!

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Praise Team REHEARSAL TIMES

James Rogers, Contemporary Music Leader, rehearses with South Praise Team Saturdays @ 2:00pm; North Praise Team Saturdays @ 3:00pm both @ North Campus

Chancel Choir - on break for now

Congregational Assistance Program (CAP)

BayCare Behavioral Health understands the im-portance of compassionate care. Our network

providers are sensitive to the values and beliefs of those they serve. Spirit of Grace disciples are offered 3 FREE counseling sessions a year and FREE Hotline calls. Confiden-tial Hotline: (800) 878-5470

Your generosity provides for monthly support of CAP: Congre-gational Assistance Program! In 2018, 10-12 Spirit of Grace families or individuals have connected to the counseling ser-vices that have improved their daily lives. Thanks be to God & to your faithful generous support!

Prayers & Squares: Resumed in October meeting every 2nd & 4th Mondays at North Campus @ 6:30pm. All are wel-come. Contact Mae Haines for more info 727.863.4329

The purpose of Prayers and Squares: to promote prayer through the use of quilts. Our motto is: "It's not about the quilt, it's all about the prayers". Absolutely no sewing experience needed. There is always a way to participate! How to Give a Gift of Prayer in the Form of Quilt? Please first ask the person you are considering giving this gift of prayer to if they would accept it. To request a quilt please fill out a form that is located in the narthex of each campus.

Sew & Sews: quilting ministry resumed in October This quilting group makes quilts that are distributed all over the world through Lutheran

World Relief. For more infor-mation see www.lwr.org or call Mae Haines: 727.863.4329

Help can be provided for issues including: Stress, Anxiety, Grief & Loss Depression Family Discord; Divorce Bullying Adjusting to Blended Families Substance Abuse Issues Parenting Challenges Individual & Family Counseling

Weekly Sunday School meets: North: 9:45 for Sunday School: Contact Kim Clifford: 727-815-2486 Email: kimclifford8315@yahoo.com South: 11:30 for Sunday School: Contact Elaine Waldrup: 727-457-3128 Email: ebwaldrup@aol.com Confirmation Class meets 1st & 3rd Sundays, 4:00pm @ North Campus Contact Pr. Rita at lpr@soglutheran.org Middle/Senior High Youth Group meets 1st & 3rd Sundays, 5:00pm @ North Campus Contact Marina Tweed, text only: 813-291-4122 Email: outreach@soglutheran.org