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15600 North Tamiami Trail Naples, Florida 34110-6245

(239) 597-1043

Rev. Thomas J. Slater, Pastor

A Newsletter of the People of

CHRISTUS VICTOR LUTHERAN CHURCH

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Sick or Hospitalized? Please tell us if you or someone you know in the congregation will be hospitalized or in need of a visit as we are not routinely notified by local hospitals when members are admitted. The office number is 597-1043. Prayer for one another is understanding love.

Thanks Be To God, who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ"

(I Cor. 15:57)

Don't just live...live victoriously!

Pastor Tom’s Page

It’s hard to believe how quickly the years seem to fly by. The year 2016 will be a year of anniversaries. Christus Victor Lutheran Church will celebrate 40 years of ministry with a special gathering being held on Sunday, January 17th. We will have time to listen to stories of how God has worked through the people of our church throughout these 40 years. We will fellowship with one another and look forward

to what God will continue to do here in this church using “Our hands.” Then on Sunday, March 20th I will have the opportunity to give thanks for the blessing of 20 years of ministry here at Christus Victor. God has blessed me and my family with a warm and caring congregation that has been willing to listen to the voice of God leading us through changes and challenges along the way. May God continue to bless us as we seek to do God’s will in this place. I hope that this is just the beginning of our ministry efforts here in Lee and Collier counties and that God would continue to use each and every one of us to spread the Gospel in our area and around the world.

Happy 40th Anniversary!!

Pastor Tom

New Member Sunday We will be receiving new members on Sunday, February 21st at all three services. We will also hold a New Member Orientation on Wednesday, February 17 at 5:30 p.m. If you are interested in joining Christus Victor at this time, please fill out an application form which is found on the Welcome Desk in the lobby of the church. If you have any questions, please speak with Pastor Tom or Intern Justin after worship or call the church office during the week. 239-597-1043.

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President’s Page By Phyllis Nichols

Volunteers Needed In previous months the need for volunteers with the Welcome Packet Ministry and on the Concert Series Team was discussed. We have had several people offer to help in both areas, but there is always room for

more. Sign up sheets are in the narthex. As part of the annual stewardship emphasis in January, each person will receive a commitment brochure. This is a great time to mark the areas where you would like to serve. Even if you have filled out the form in previous years, please complete and return it so we know you are still interested. You may find a new area of interest you would like to try as you review the brochure.

Congregation Meeting We had a great turn out for our Congregational Meeting held on December 6. We had 57 persons attend. The congregation approved the 2016 Program and Spending Plan. The most significant increases were in facility maintenance, learning and parish life. The Spending Plan represents a 8.69% increase from 2015, and includes both an increased Capital Replacement contribution and an unchanged Operating Reserve contribution for 2016. Jim Dupré and I were re-elected to serve another 2 year term on Council. Endowment Fund Board members were elected as follows: Cy Pick 1 year term Richard Arnett 2 year term Karl Geng 3 years term

2016 Slogan and Goals The Slogan: "Offering opportunities to build relationships with Christ and Community" Goals:

Small Group Focus Neighborhood/Community Outreach Expand Lay Ministry

Property Committee This group of volunteers have been particularly busy. While the inside work may not be as visible, please take time to notice the exterior cleaning and the addition of new mulch. Communication to members If you want to add your email to our notifications list, please let us know by providing your information on the signup sheet in the narthex.

Thanks to all who assist in carrying out the mission at CVLC.

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Intern’s Article ‘Tis the season to be… well, many different things! As we begin a new calendar year, we continue to move with the joy in our hearts at the coming of the Christ child into the world. At the same time, we look ahead, like the wise men gazing at the star, and hope for our own epiphany as we move

into a time of great activity around here! After all, January brings with it not just a new season of the church year, but it brings SEASON! I am so excited to see what the coming weeks of growth and immense activity have in store for us! One of the things that I am very excited about for the coming year is continuing our weekly Bible studies together. By popular demand, we have decided to continue with our format of watching TED (Technology, Education, Design) talks alongside our readings of the Bible to help inform our Christian vocations. If you haven’t gotten a chance to check the study out with us yet, know that you are most certainly invited. Don’t know what a TED talk is? No problem! There’s no prior experience necessary! Still unsure of what to expect? Feel free to catch me or any of the other participants during the week or after services to get a better idea! We really do hope that you will join us; the more voices we have at the table, the better we all are for it! In the meantime, I look forward to seeing both new (to me) and returning faces in

the coming week! Thank you for making this Christmas season a warm one for both Kelsey

and me as we spent our first holiday season together as a married couple! I give thanks to

God for a wonderful 2015 and the spectacular role you all played in it! I look forward to

what is in store for us in 2016!

Peace, ~ Justin

Annual Meeting Notice The Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, February 7th, 2016. We will meet in the sanctuary immediately following the 11:00 am worship service. At this meeting we will review the 2015 Annual Reports from our various ministries. After the meeting we will be serving PIZZA in the Narthex with coffee, tea and cold drinks along with treats in the Café! Enjoy the meeting with all the news. Meeting and visiting with each other is another huge plus! Sign up sheet is in the narthex! May we each start the New Year at OUR Church by LIVING VICTORIOUSLY! Parish Life

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Music Notes by Joyce Reitz, Director of Music

Happy New Year! What a joyous Christmas celebration we had. Now we are into Epiphany and then the Baptism of our Lord. Most of our choir members are now back for Season and we will be working hard on new anthems to enhance our worship time. Now that we are back to three services on Sunday, the full choir will be singing at the 9:30 service. Practice will remain at 5:30 on Wednesday evenings. We will meet again prior to the service on Sunday mornings to run over that Sunday’s anthem. The Impromptu choir for the 8:00 service will meet at 7:30 to practice a hymn or other special song to sing at that service. The Impromptu choir for the 11:00 service will meet just after the 9:30 service to practice. Anyone who would like to join us is more than wel-come. Even if you are only here a Sunday or all season, please just come and join in. All you need is the love of singing. A dear friend sent me the following and I had to share it with you! "Singing in a choir is like the kingdom of God. Voices join together to create a sound bigger and grander than any one voice can make alone. Our differences don't divide us, but combine to create beautiful harmony. Singing together is a preview of what it will be like to be a part of the heavenly choir one day." You can reach me at 239-415-4969 or on my cell at 239-691-4841.Email: Musicbyjoyleen@aol.com

Until next time, keep a song in your hearts, God Bless, Joyce

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Christmas Giving Tree Thank you to everyone who donated gifts under the Christmas Giving Tree!! Once again it was a tremendous success! As you can see from this picture the gentleman from the Immokalee Friendship House

filled his car not once but twice!!!!

CVLC Property Work Day Thanks to the great group who helped us to spruce up the areas around Christus Victor on Monday November 30. Carl Aspenburg, Vince Tomlinson, Dick Foster, and Charlie Paul manned the power washers and cleaned the sidewalks, steps, railings, and walls. Joan Karvinen and Peggy Dunfee provided power washers. Bethany Brand, Steve Johansen, Bill Prakap, Greg Olson, Jim Helle, and Gerry Benjamin spread mulch (nearly 150 bags) around shrubs and the buildings. Pastor Tom and Intern Justin hauled mulch. By us all pulling together, we made a substantial improvement in the appearance of our facilities. Also thanks to Joan Karvinen, Carol Phillips, Kim Olson, and others for providing lunch. Beginning in January, CVLC Property Committee will be posting opportunities for those in our CVLC family who might want to contribute their talents and skills painting, cleaning, and doing minor repairs, among other opportunities. Again, thanks to all of those who have contributed to maintaining our facilities and grounds. Richard Dougherty, CVLC Council – Property and Admin.

Pastor Tom & Sherry thank everyone for their wonderful expressions of love during this Christmas season. Thank you to Christus Victor for being such an amazing place to serve and worship the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ!

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CVLC 40th Anniversary Open House

Sunday, January 17th, 2016 12:00 p.m.

SAVE THE DATE! Sign up sheet is in the narthex.

SAVE THE DATE! Sign up sheet is in

the narthex.

FOOD, FUN &

FELLOWSHIP

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January's "P"= Power Session:

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP… Tuesday, January 26, 2016 Sign - up Sheet is in the narthex.

The Discussion Group will be held at both 10 AM and 6:00 PM if there’s enough interest.

Let's start the New Year off right by reading a book that's not new, but certainly well worth reading again, or for the first time, and discussing its merits…

HOW TO STOP WORRYING AND START LIVING by Dale Carnegie Join us as we discuss this wonderful collection of successful and time-tested recipes to rid our lives of worry. You may not find anything new in it, but you will find much that is not generally applied. We'll explore such topics as… -The FUNDAMENTAL FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT WORRY: BASIC Techniques in Analyzing Worry. How to Break “the Worry Habit” BEFORE it breaks you. Cultivating a mental attitude that will bring you peace and happiness. Read the Book and join us for some stimulating conversation! Sherry Slater will be the facilitator for this discussion, and is offering this in both a morning and an evening format. Sign up for the time that works best for you!

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Saturday, January 2, 2016 and at the same time we will

clean our section of Old 41. We meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Banyan tree across from the Band Shell on old US 41. It is a great

experience… bring the kids!

Single Friends ATTENTION, GENTLEMEN – “. . . to bravely go where no man has gone before . . .”

Let’s plan some non-gender-specific SINGLE FRIENDS events for 2016. Join us in the Café,

Wednesday, January 13th, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for snacks and brainstorming. We

need your input! Please e-mail or call Marilyn Hopps for more information amhopps@embarqmail.com. Phone: 239-437-2270

Tuesday, February 16th, 9:00 a.m. Take the AARP Driver Safety Classroom Course! Learn proven safety strategies to maintain your confidence behind the wheel. Upon completion you may be eligible to receive

an auto insurance discount. Consult your agent for details. To register please call Ulla at 239-269-6050.

Undecorate the Church

On Monday, January 18th we will gather at 9:00 am to undecorate our church from the Christmas and Advent Seasons. The more hands we have, the better it will be! Thank you!

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Devotions for the Pet Lover’s Soul January 2, 2016 5:00 p.m. The first Saturday of every month, November to May 5:00 p.m. in Victory Park. Come∞Sit∞Stay∞Shake for readings from scripture and meditation in a beautiful park. Take a companionable walk around the lake in fellowship with dog and God

lovers. All Are Welcome!

Pray & Stretch with me. . .

Take a break from daily life and find some calm in the midst of all of it. In a chair -or- on the floor, we can flex our bodies and calm our minds. I’ll lead you through a brief devotion and use those centering thoughts to focus and relax as we calm and rejuvenate our bodies with gentle movement and stretching.

If I have enough interest, I can schedule a time and day we can meet weekly for 45 minutes. Even if you’re here seasonally, let me know you’re interested. Class day and time to be determined. Contact Bridget Engdahl at 239-560-0651 or cbengdahl@comcast.net. Peace Be With You All.

Christus Victor Peloton January 9, February 13, March 12 and April 9

Please sign up with your name and phone number/email if you are interested in joining a Christus Victor Peloton. We will bike

one Saturday a month. We are looking at the dates of January 9th, February 13th, March 12th and April 9th. We will bike approximately 15 miles and will set a leisurely pace. Each ride will be in a different area. Helmets required. Children must be accompanied by a par-ent or responsible adult. We'll plan to start each ride at 10 am and will have lunch at the end of the ride, for those interested. Questions can be directed to Betty Wilson 239-298-2724 or Christy and Susan O'Brien 239-776-5352.

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ADULT EDUCATION

By group consensus, we have decided to continue our format of TED

talks paired with biblical narratives for 2016! As such, we will have

our first study of the New Year on Thursday, January 7th at 10:00am

in the church office building. Now, you may still be wondering, “Who

is this TED guy and why does he talk so much?” Well, TED is an acro-

nym for Technology, Education, and Design and is the title for a conference of many speak-

ers that regularly takes place around the world. Each week in our study, we watch a

presentation by one of these speakers (each of whom is recognized and nominated by

their peers for being outstanding in their respective fields of study) and put in conversa-

tion with a biblical story or passage to help us better understand our Christian vocation in

a 21st century context. Feel free to check out any of the myriad of presentations at

www.ted.com! Moreover, if you find one that you think would work really well for our

study, please let Intern Justin know and we can see how we can use it! We hope you will

join us!

Adult Sunday School, Sundays, 9:30 am: Join us weekly in lively conversation

as the group explores various faith topics in-

cluding Spiritual Gifts, the Roundtable Pulpit, etc.

Mary Martha Tuesday, January 12, 9:30 a.m.

All women are invited to attend this delightful, monthly gathering of women of faith! La-

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Welcome to our new Director of Education and Youth! Christus Victor is very pleased to announce that Susan O’Brien will join the staff as Director of Education and Youth. Susan will begin her journey with us on Sunday, January 3rd. Below is a short bio from Susan.

Happy New Year! I grew up moving all over the world while my dad served in the Army, graduating from high school in Japan. I married a military man and continued to travel for many years while we raised our 4 children (3 boys and 1 girl). The boys are all

grown and attending college, while Christy is a freshman at Barron Collier HS. Most recently, I have been working in the Lee County school system, teaching preschool with Head Start. I am so excited to be joining the staff at Christus Victor and I look forward to working with our children, youth, and adults. Many blessings to you all in 2016 and beyond!

YOUTH GROUP! Every Wednesday 6:15 -7:30 p.m. The CVLC youth group will be exploring new paths to deepen their relationship with God. Please join us as we dig into the Bible and enjoy fellowship with one another! Pizza dinner provided.

Children’s Education and Youth

SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:30-10:30 a.m.

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Live Free January is Stewardship Commitment Month at Chistus Victor Lutheran Church. January 10, 2016 will be the beginning of a four week stewardship emphasis for our con-gregation called “Live Free”. We will learn how to become more faithful stewards as we explore what it means to be:

Free from the Money Trap

Free to be Rich

Free from the Uncertainty of Riches

Free to take hold of the Life that really is Life

A Bible Study each Sunday, during this period at 9:30 AM, in the Fellowship Hall will

explore these concepts.

It’s hard for people to grow as generous givers to God’s work. We cannot do everything.

God's reign is not only beyond our efforts, it is beyond our seeing and knowing. We plant

seeds, knowing that they hold hope for the future. We lay foundations that will need

further development. There is a sense of liberation, however, in realizing that we can do

something, and we can do it very well. We can take that first step knowing that we may

never see the end of the road, the results of actions, and the recipients of our giving. We

receive and offer the gift of hope. The harvest will come.

We will explore how to let go of the uncertainty of living based on our financial lacks or

means and commit ourselves to God, who gives us the grace to Live Free.

On Celebration Sunday, January 31, 2016, we will join together during our worship

services to present our commitments of giving in support of the ministry and mission to

which we are called as the Christus Victor Lutheran Church congregation.

God calls us to give. He calls us to give joyfully, knowing that the value of our gifts to His

church and His ministries will last beyond our lives.

Stewardship By George Turczyn

Or visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCGS9TN9p5QWOIMlE0mGCCdw

Click the YouTube icon to listen to last week’s sermon.

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Parish Life Thank you For all the energy and time given by so many putting on all our events from 2015! Looking forward to The New Year with excitement and high expectations for future happenings coming soon! May HIS light continue to keep us motivated and encouraged! THANK YOU -THANK YOU! Parish Life Meeting: MONDAY, January 4 at 1:00 pm! So many things on our Agenda. We would like to encourage you to come and participate! All kinds of helpers needed! Hope to see you there! Carol Phillips 239-560-4728 and Armand Linzmeyer 239-676-9567

Save these dates for some singing, pizza and fun!

January 6th, 20th & February 3rd Fletcher Music has some fun planned for us.

Pizza & Presentation January 27th, 6pm

Ragnhilde Sunde from CVLC will be sharing a special presentation.

Contact Rebecca Stearns with any questions: rebeccas26h@gmail.com or 701-388-0471

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Meals of Mercy

Matthew 25:35-40: “‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed

clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you visited me.’”

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and

invite you in or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ “

Know of anyone in our Church Family who is in need or who would enjoy a “Home Cooked” meal? Anybody from the Church Family recuperating from surgery, illness, or grief at home? Who lives alone and would enjoy a meal prepared lovingly for you on occasion? Well, our Church Family has a program entitled Meals of Mercy that will HELP! Not only will a meal be prepared with love by one of the volunteers, but will also be delivered to the home of the person in need. This program is designed to feed and nourish all mem-bers not only by providing physical food, but by providing Spiritual food as well. Just im-agine that while recovering, grieving, or living alone someone caring for you and visiting you with a “Home Cooked” meal. If you know of anyone or if you are a person in need, please contact Pastor Tom at the church by phone (239-597-1043) or by e-mail (PastorSlater@ChristusVictorFL.org.) Or contact Kim Olson by phone (239-776-1655) or by e-mail (kimaolson@centurylink.net.) Please let us know if a special diet is necessary. If anyone is interested in making a “Home Cooked” meal for those in need in our Church Family, please sign up in the Narthex. Thank you!

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Missionary Moments

Being the natural leader and organizer that Pr. Kevin is he has been busy working with the outlying areas and the other four Lutheran churches in Suriname to create a lay program. Since 2008 there are now five pastors, three more in training, and many more lay leaders in the ELKS. Pr. Kevin helped find the training opportunities for these new leaders along with securing funding and scholarships. In the city of Leydorp, thirty minutes from Paramaribo, the church

now has services every Sunday, and a campaign for a new building is underway. The church in the city of Nickerie, a long three and a half hours from Paramaribo, a confirmation program is taught by a team of Lutheran and Dutch Reformed pastors. The churches are coming alive again through Pr. Kevin’s guidance and encouragement.

ELCA Missionary Kevin Jacobson Coming to Christus Victor

Pastor Kevin Jacobson will be visiting Christus Victor on Sunday, February 28th, to share with us his ministry as a missionary in the Republic of Suriname. Kevin has served as a pastor in Suriname for eight years, preaching weekly in Dutch at the Lutherse Kerk in downtown Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname. In existence for over three hundred years, the Lutherse Kerk is the oldest Lutheran congregation in the Western Hemisphere. Kevin is also actively involved in other ministries and congregations of the Suriname Lutheran Church. The Suriname Lutheran Church is one of the companion synods of the Florida-Bahamas Synod. Suriname is a highly multi-cultural, multi-ethnic country on the north coast of South America. We are planning a pitch-in lunch on February 28 to give everyone an opportunity to greet and get to know Pastor Kevin. --submitted by Jerry and Martha Wunsch

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A very Happy Birthday to each and every one of you! May the year ahead be filled with wonderful memories to cherish, and opportuni-ties to serve God wherever He places them.

If your birthday is incorrect or miss-ing, please contact the church office (597-1043) so we can change or up-date our records. Thank you.

1 Ty Gregory 2 Barbara Miller 3 Heather DiSarro William Halling Sarah Slater 6 Presley Hanson Rebecca Knitt Robert Roach 9 Abigale Ferguson 10 Helen Breidegam Audrie King Art Sehlin

11 Charles Paul 12 Tyler Ruhl 17 Ulla Hierta 19 Karen Gauch 22 Patricia DeVito 23 William Gregory 24 Karen Preston 25 Michelle Brinser Audrey Morton 26 Bobby Nelson Bethani Shilladay 28 Marilyn Hopps 29 Kay Beverung 30 Linda Dupré 31 Sherry Slater

THE FOOD COLLECTION for the month of January is macaroni and cheese. Please leave your donations in the grocery carts in the Outreach Center and thank you for your continued support.

January

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for February

is January 20th, 2016

CHURCH COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES

Phyllis Nichols

pnichols1948@yahoo.com

President

David Peluchette

dpeluchett@comcast.net

Vice President

Jim Dupre

jfdupre@comcast.net

Treasurer

Bridget Engdahl

cbengdahl@comcast.net

Secretary

Rebecca Stearns rebeccas26h@gmail.com

Spiritual Ministries Liaison

Richard Dougherty rhdougherty@outlook.com

Administrative Committees

Liaison

Pastor Thomas J. Slater pastorslater@cvlcfl.org

John Groth jgroth@zoomtown.com

Associate Member

Representative

Financial report

November 2015

Overall General Operating Donation Income vs. Expenditures

Donations from Select General Operating Funds for the Month

Select Funds Collected YTD Comparison

In Christ, Jim Dupré, Treasurer

512,611.63$ 388,119.75$ 124,491.88$

462,386.28$ 329,050.27$ 133,336.01$

Year-to-Date

Previous YTD

Nov. 2015 Nov. 2014 $ Change % Change

58,900.50$ 52,999.63$ 5,900.87$ 11.13%

2,130.00$ 1,790.00$ 340.00$ 18.99%

62,968.10$ 55,939.63$ 7,028.47$ 12.56%

Current Envelope

Loose Offering

Total General Category

Jan - Nov '15 Jan - Nov '14 $ Change % Change

450,713.91$ 414,252.01$ 36,461.90$ 8.80%

30,912.45$ 20,876.50$ 10,035.95$ 48.07%

512,611.63$ 462,464.64$ 50,146.99$ 10.84%

Associate Pastor 10,825.50$ -$ 10,825.50$ 100.00%

9,194.50$ 7,560.50$ 1,634.00$ 21.61%

64,639.37$ 78,740.42$ (14,101.05)$ -17.91%

ELCA Hunger

Receipts

Current- Envelope

Loose Offering

Total General Category

Total Dedicated Income

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SHARING CHRIST THAT ALL MIGHT LIVE VICTORIOUSLY!!

Sunday Worship Services – January through April 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. May through December 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Church Office Hours – Monday thru Friday 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Phone (239)597-1043 Fax (239) 597-6028 Web page: www.christusvictorfl.org E-mail: ChristusVictor@cvlcfl.org

THE REV. THOMAS J. SLATER, PASTOR cell - 239-450-0699

Intern Justin Lingenfelter (h) 239-947-0273

Dawn King Joyce Reitz

Office Administrator Director of Music