1

This Issue

Pastor’s

Message

1

Christian

Education

2

Grace

Events

3

Serving

Schedule

4

Birthdays

& Anniv.

4

School

News

5

Stained

Glass

6 & 7

12200 McCormick Rd Jacksonville, FL 32225 (904) 928-9136 FAX: (904) 928-0181 www.GraceLCMS.com

2019

The deadline for

the

September

Newsletter is:

9:00am

August 24th

This has been the summer of change. As soon as Vacation Bible School ended the

“clean up, fix up, throw it out, replace it, improve it” train left the station. During

the course of this summer we have painted the: 1st Grade classroom, 2nd Grade

classroom, 4th Grade classroom, 5th Grade classroom, 6th Grade classroom, Music

room, Math classroom, Senior Saints room, the“New” Conference Room, the school

office, and back hallway of the family life center. New marker boards have been

installed in the 6th grade classroom, the 2nd Grade Classroom, the 5th grade class-

room, and the math room.

Thanks to Duane and Josh Anderton (along with Grace School Alum Matthew

Wood) for pressure washing the entire campus. A big thank you to David Ledbetter

and his company for donating “new” used office furniture to the church which in-

cluded desks and filing cabinets for: Pastor Skopak’s office, Pastor Popp’s office,

the school office, the pre-k4 classroom, and a new conference table and chairs for

the church office. And if you haven’t noticed, there is new LED lighting in the gym

and along the front walk between the Sanctuary and the Family Life Center. And

a big thank you to John Cullaton for volunteering to manage the pile by the dump-

ster - breaking it all down and loading the dumpster all up with the “stuff” we no

longer need or no longer works.

IF you aren’t exhausted considering the sheer volume of activity that has hap-

pened around the church…wait, there is still more! On SUNDAY, AUGUST 11 im-

mediately following the late service we have our last and final work of the summer:

Planting flowers and spreading mulch all around the campus. We have parking lot

islands that need attention, flower beds and landscaping areas that need refresh-

ment, and rubber mulch that needs to be spread out on the playground. IF every-

one gives just a little time on the 11th we can be done in no time. Lunch will be

provided in the Family Life Center right after worship that day. If you would like

to drop off a wheelbarrow the day before you may leave it by the loading dock on

the east end of the Family Life Center the day before. Bring your work gloves,

wear your work clothes to church, and lets finish off the summer of change with a

congregational bang!

We have been blessed with a ministry of excellence - so let’s work together to

make our facilities reflect the love and excellence that is demonstrated in our class-

rooms, sanctuary, and community space!

Peace,

Pastor Jeffrey Skopak

View our calendar at website at www.gracelcms.com

2

Christian Education ~ Sundays

Join us Sunday mornings in the Family Life Center for coffee and fellowship time immediately

following early service. Bible Studies and Sunday School classes begin at 9:40am.

We have classes for all ages! (Nursery provided)

The 2019-2020 Sunday School year will kick off on September 8th!

Contact Sunday School Superintendent Christine Bischoff if you have any questions.

Infant Care/Nursery Leader is Kellie McArthur.

Christian Education ~ Midweek

Join us Wednesday evenings in the Family Life Center for Fellowship Supper at 6:00pm,

Education Hour at 6:30pm, and Closing Devotions at 7:30pm in the Sanctuary.

Nursery provided. Meals: $3/person (Max $10 immediate family)

Bible Studies/Sunday School (Educational Hour) begins at 9:40am.

Fall Wednesday night activities will resume on September 4th. There will also be a Confirmation

Parent’s meeting. Watch announcements for location and time.

Volunteers Needed to Teach

Grace Lutheran Church is well and truly blessed by God. In a time when the Missouri Synod has an

overwhelmingly aging membership, our congregation is blessed with many babies and preschoolers! As

these children get older they need support and guidance in Sunday School. In the last couple of years we

have had only a few members serve as teachers. It is difficult to dedicate every week to leading Sunday

School classes. One way to show appreciation to our current teachers is to help lighten their load.

The sermon on Martha and Mary spoke specifically to the problem we have in this part of our ministry.

There is certainly work to be done and plenty of children to lavish with God’s love. However, this service

removes the volunteers from Bible study and from the opportunity to listen and delve deeper in God’s

word. What we need is more members to volunteer so that everyone has the chance to be like Mary.

Lightening the load for our current Sunday School volunteers will allow them time to enjoy other parts

of Sunday’s worship. This time of rest will help alleviate frustration like Martha felt and ultimately give

the children a better experience.

Do you love children but don’t think you can teach a classroom of kids? No problem! There are step by

step booklets to guide you through the classes or you can assist a teacher and support them. You don’t

have time to prepare? We have you covered! All supplies are provided for you. Just show up on Sunday

and all will be supplied and waiting for you. Do you want to serve but you want to be in bible study?

This is exactly why we need more teachers! Please prayerfully consider how you can volunteer and help.

For more information or to discuss further, please contact me about taking the first step in helping to

mold a child’s relationship with God.

In Christ,

Christine Bischoff

Grace Lutheran Sunday Superintendent

3

Grace Happenings

Senior Saints Activities

The Senior Saints (55 and over) meet on the

1st Monday of each month at 10am in the Senior

Saints’ room for various activities including

crafts, field trips, and lunches.

The Seniors also meet at 10:00am on the 2nd

Wednesday of each month to play cards. Remem-

ber to bring a sandwich or snack. Questions?

Contact Cheryl Anderton 465-2439.

Thank you to Grace members who are donat-

ing to our Veterans' Box (located outside the

Senior Saints’ Room). We sent over 60 dental

health items to the patients at the Veteran’s

Hospital in Lake City, Florida.

For August and September we are collecting

regular size toiletries such as lotions, shampoo

and shaving cream.

Handbell Practice

Handbell practice will resume Monday nights

at 5:30pm under the leadership of Josephyne

Wagner. Watch the Sunday announcements for

the start date.

If you are interested in joining or have ques-

tions, please contact the church office.

Wednesday Night Suppers

Do you like to cook? Volunteer to cook for

Wednesday night fellowship! Do you enjoy a

night off from cooking? Volunteer to cook and

give the other volunteers a night off! Please

prayerfully consider taking a turn to cook and/or

clean-up for Wednesday night suppers this Fall.

If everyone who enjoys this fellowship takes a

turn, we will have more than enough help! If you

have any questions, please contact Patty Kenski

(pkenski@comcast.net). A sign-up sheet will be in

the church narthex.

Calling all Young Adults of Grace!

Our Fall activities and Bible Study will re-

sume at the end of August/beginning of Septem-

ber! We look forward to having you!

If you are interested in more information or

have questions, please contact Lauren Murdy at:

lslavens2016@gmail.com.

Congregational Meeting

Treasurer Jeremy Sutherland will present the

end of the year Treasurer’s Report to the congre-

gation on Sunday, August 25th during the Bible

study hour (9:40am).

Junior and Senior Game and Pizza Night

Grace Youth (6th –12th grade) are invited to a Game Night on August 28th from 6:00—8:00pm in the

Family Life Center. Come enjoy some games and pizza. Friends welcome!

Rally Day ~ Quarterly Potluck ~ New Member Welcome ~ NYG Wrap Up

Sunday, August 18th @ 9:40am

Mark your Calendar for Sunday, August 18th. Following early service there will be a Potluck Brunch

as we kick off another year of Christian Education here at Grace, celebrate and welcome our new

members, and hear from our Youth about their trip to the National Youth Gathering in Minneapolis.

All are invited! Please bring the following: last name begins with (A-I) milk, juices etc., (J-Q) casse-

role, main dish etc., (R-Z) muffins, doughnuts, etc. Questions? Please contact Pastor Michael Popp.

4

Serving In God’s House for August

Service

Time

August 4th

8th Sunday

after Pentecost

Communion

August 11th

9th Sunday

after Pentecost

August 18th

10th Sunday

After Pentecost

Communion

August 25th

11th Sunday

After Pentecost

Acolytes 8:00am

10:45am

Truog, Courson

Jaegers

Wuggazer, Mehesz

Wagners

Truog, Courson

Jaegers

Mehesz, Wuggazer

Wagners

Preacher Pastor Popp Pastor Skopak Pastor Skopak Pastor Popp

Reader 8:00am

10:45am

Elder

Elder

Lynda Miller

Stephanie Edgar

Elder

Elder

Lynda Miller

Stephanie Edgar

Readings Eccl 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-26,

Col. 3:1-11,

Luke 12:13-21

Gen. 15:1-6,

Heb. 11:1-16,

Luke 12:22-34

Jer. 23:16-29,

Heb. 11:17-31; 12:1-3,

Luke 12:49-53

Is. 66:18-23,

Heb. 12:4-24,

Luke 13:22-30

Ushers

For

August

8:00am

10:45am

Ledbetter, Klosowski,

Slavens, Achey

MacDonald, Haubein, Openlander, Boesdorfer

1 Dave & Ann Leimer (22)

7 Joseph & Mary Slaikeu (37)

9 Dave & Dallas Arthur (6)

11 Ryan & Joy Bailey (7)

19 Tony & Stephanie Miller (13)

22 Joe & Teri Johnson (4)

1 John Cullaton

Stephanie Edgar

Noah Hinds 2 Craig Boesdorfer

Beth Mark

John Oram

4 Adaline Bailey

Don Liesch

Jason Skyles

5 Elaine Bolick

Gary Klosowski

Kenny Lovelady

Member Tidbits…

Congratulations to Ande and

Alganesh Tesfazion on the

birth of their grandchild,

Isaiah John on June 20th.

Congratulations to Lauren

Slavens and Markus Murdy

on their marriage on June

29th.

Our deepest sympathy to

Chris Swan and family on

the death of his Father.

17 Josh Anderton

Jeff Olsen

Greg Stoner

Rebecca Strong

18 Mark Hall

20 Wayne Fox

Jeff Frank

25 Julie Jennejahn

26 Bettiemae Kitchens

Carol Sebolt

27 Donald Grigg

Norm Tanner

28 Elijah Openlander

6 Lauren Fox

Emily Houck

7 David Strong

8 Becky Menke

Levi Strong

Carolyn Smith

13 Ann Leimer

Diane Radloff

14 Erich Schmunk

15 Elaine Anwander

Andrew Olbrich

16 Ryan Hall

Kallie Kreuter

23 Dave & Mary Ahlberg (50)

25 Rich & Jeannie Hill (29)

27 Rick & Sandy Engel (52)

Joe & Anita Rodgers (36)

28 Bill & Nadine Schirmer (54)

29 Johnny & Melody Osbourne (38)

30 Rich and Blair Korman (23)

5

From the Principal’s Desk

School will be back in session on Monday, August

12th. We have exceeded our enrollment goal of 215

students, and are ready to start the year strong!

This year we are moving FORWARD IN FAITH as

we continue to stay connected to Christ. We have a

new logo and new energy as we begin the 2019-

2020 school year. We rejoice in the forward mo-

mentum we are gaining, and we are excited to see

what’s coming next. The theme will be introduced

at our first chapel service at 9:00 on Tuesday the

14th. You are invited to join us for weekly worship

in the sanctuary as the whole school comes togeth-

er to connect in worship and praise.

Our campus has gone through a major summer

cleaning, and it looks like a new place! Furniture

has been donated, volunteers have been every-

where, teachers have been decorating, and a lot of

love has been given during this much needed face

lift. The list is too long to even attempt to name

everyone involved, so I’ll simply say “thank you”

from all of the students at Grace for making this a

beautiful place to be.

Have you been able to keep up with the exciting

changes to our staff this year? There are seven

people in new positions for the upcoming year.

Many are familiar faces now in new places, but

some are new to our staff.

Mrs. Kristen Jones is joining us as our new VPK

assistant. Mrs. Jones moved to Jacksonville last

year when her husband, who is a chaplain in the

Navy, was stationed to Mayport. Her background

is in early childhood education, and she was on our

campus frequently last year as a substitute. Now

we’re pleased we get to see her everyday as part of

our staff.

Mrs. Danielle Pooler will also be joining our staff

as our middle school math teacher. Mrs. Pooler is

new to our staff but not to our school. Her son Con-

ner, a 5th grader this year, has attended Grace

since kindergarten. With a Master’s in Education,

Mrs. Pooler is an experienced teacher ready to

tackle Algebra I and Geometry.

Mrs. Becky Skyles returns to the classroom as

our 1st grade teacher after a hiatus from her early

teaching career. She is energized and ready to take

on the challenges that come with transitioning stu-

dents from early childhood to elementary. Her

classroom is bright and beautiful, and so is her

smile when she talks about her plans for the up-

coming year.

We are so blessed at Grace Lutheran School to

have the love and support of our church family. We

want to stay CONNECTED with you throughout

the year, so here’s your first invitation for 2019-

2020. You are all invited to our annual Welcome

Back Pep Rally and Ice Cream Social on Friday,

August 16th from 3:15-4:30. It’s a great time of fel-

lowship as we connect with one another and enjoy a

treat from Bruster’s at no cost to you.

Installation and Commissioning Of Grace Lutheran School Staff

Join us at the 8:00am worship service on Sunday, August 11th for the commissioning of the Grace Lu-

theran School 2019-2020 teachers and staff. The teachers and staff will be introduced at the beginning

of the 10:45 a.m. worship service.

6

Grace Lutheran Church Stained Glass

Upon entering the nave of Grace Lutheran Church, one’s attention is immediately drawn to the large

stained-glass cross on the sanctuary wall. One observes that the bottom section of the cross is of a dark-

er hue, becoming lighter in the cross-pieces and lighter yet in the upper part. The artist, Grace member

Ted Hergesell, thus depicts symbolically the darkness and chaos prior to God’s creative activity. The

creation of the sun and moon drove back the darkness and introduced light. In a spiritual sense, the

darker colors of the cross depict the spiritual darkness brought on by the sin of the first man and wom-

an. But, God promised a Savior—the “Son of Righteousness with healing in his wings” (Malachi 4:2).

The “Cross within a cross” points to the means by which God provided light and salvation to the world.

The amber color reminds us that the life God provides through faith in the crucified and risen Christ is

eternal.

In the center of the cross is the Coat of Arms of Dr. Martin Luther —known also as “The Luther Rose”.

Dr. Luther describes the meaning of this symbol in his own words:

“First there is a black cross set in a heart of natural color to remind me that faith in the Crucified One

saves us...This heart is mounted in the center of a white rose to show that faith brings joy, comfort and

peace … the rose is set in a sky-colored field to show that such joy of the spirit and faith is the beginning

of the heavenly joy to come, present already in our joy now and embraced by hope, but not yet made mani-

fest.”

Stained-Glass Windows on the Left

Anchor Cross - Used by the early Christians in the Catacombs; ancient Egyptian in hits origin, a sym-

bol of the hope we have in Christ.

Chi Rho - A monogram of the first two letters, Chi (X) and Rho (P) of the Greek word for Christ.

Butterfly - Symbol of the resurrection and eternal life. As the butterfly leaves the pupa and soars up-

ward with a new body, so through Jesus Christ are his followers born to a new life.

Poinsettias - A joyful symbol of the birth of Christ and the annual celebration of Christmas.

Crown of Thorns and Nails - A symbol of Christ’s Passion (suffering).

Keys of the Kingdom - A symbol of the grace of God.

Cross Over Heart - A symbol of the grace of God.

Hand of God (above) and Hands of Prayer - Symbol of the Father who supplies all our needs and

prayers of the people directed to God, the Blesser.

7

Stained-Glass Windows on the Right

The Crown and Cross - These symbolize the reward of the faithful in the life after death to those who

believe on the crucified Savior. “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee the Crown of Life.”

(Rev. 2:10)

Lily - Symbol of Easter and immortality. The bulb decays in the ground, yet from it new life is released.

Dove - Symbol of the Holy Spirit.

Triangle and Interlocking Circles - Symbols of the Trinity. The three distinct angels of the triangle

combine to make one complete figure. The three circles symbolize the equality, unity and co-eternal na-

ture of the three persons of the Trinity.

Shell and Drops of Water - Symbol of the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.

Chalice and Grapes - Symbols of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.

Open Bible, Shield and Palm Branches - A symbol of the spiritual protection and victory through

Christ that God reveals to us in His Holy Word.

Ark and Rainbow - A symbol of the Holy Christian Church. Even as Noah and his family were saved

from the deluge by the ark, so the Holy Christian Church is the “vessel” in which God provides rescue

from the “flood” of sin, death and the devil. By means of the rainbow, God promised Noah He would nev-

er again destroy the earth through a flood.

A Note on the Blue Edged Stained Glass …

This blue originally came from the chapel

that was in the old Navy Training Center base.

When the facilities budgets were cut and the

buildings torn down, somehow the stained

glass was put on the open market for sale. Ted

Hergesell was able to purchase it.

Florence Snow said “This glass getting on

the market is not how it is suppose to happen

by military regulation. Another piece that just

fell into place for Grace Lutheran Church.”

Ted Hergesell said “The blue represents

Pastor Snow’s Naval career.”

Information provided by Florence Snow, Elaine Anwander, Carol Sebolt and the late Ted Hergesell.