8401 W. Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa FL 33615 Www.lcostampa.org 813-884-1232 Www.facebook.com/lcostampa Email - LCOS Tampa
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
8401 W. Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa FL 33615
Www.lcostampa.org~813-884-1232
Www.facebook.com/lcostampa
Email~lcoschurchoffice@gmail.com
Our Vision
Through LCOS all come to know the unconditional love of God ,grow in their
faith, and share their love and faith with others.
Our Mission
That all may experience the love of Jesus Christ, we reach up, through
worship celebration. We reach out by sharing our faith; and we reach in
through prayer and study.
THIS IS LCOS Church Staff
Sunday Worship Celebrations Rev. Jose-Luis La Torre-Cuadros, Pastor
Bible Study: 8:30 am
Worship Service: 9:30 am Steve Smeach, Deacon
Children Sunday School during service Naoko Okada, Minister of Music
Fellowship after service 10:30 am
Nancy DeVries, Bookkeeper/Secretary
Mission Team Leaders
Acolytes & Crucifiers Pastor Jose Luis
Adult Education Don Richardson
Church Council Steve Smeach
Kim Jordan Altar Guild
Cub Scouts Troy Rozell
President
Clothes Closet John/Karen Hangartner
Counters Michael Bush
Barbara Beauregard
Vice President Liturgists & Communion Asst Heidi Richters
Facilities & Grounds Barbara Beauregard
Leslie Silvey Fellowship Don Richardson
Secretary Food Bank Rita Blyden
Hospitality Peggy Kienzle/Lorella Swain
Kristi Saligame LAFFS Lynne O’Reilly
Finance/Treasurer
Lay Pastoral Care Team Steve Smeach
Eduardo Forte New LCOS Disciples Julian Julius
Gail Smeach Newsletter/Bulletin Nancy DeVries
Mike Watson Note Folks Diane Tolzman
Danielle Kearney Portico Ministry John/Karen Hangartner
Don Richardson Sunday School Luz Miranda
Mike Bush Ushers Martin Stewart
Charlie McCoy Website Pastor Jose Luis
Nancy deVries
Dear disciples of Jesus:
1Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
Isaiah 60:1-6
Happy Epiphany Season!
The feast of Epiphany (“manifestation”) on January 6th concludes the Christmas season with a celebration of
God’s glory revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. In the books of Isaiah and Ephesians, that glory is pro-
claimed for all nations and people. Like the light of the star that guided the magi to Jesus, the light of Christ
reveals who we are: children of God, who are claimed and washed in the waters of baptism. We are sent out
to be beacons of the light of Christ, sharing the good news of God’s love to all people.
How do we manifest today the presence of the Son of God to the world?
We are the body of Christ, and for that reason we are the manifested presence of the Son of God today. Our
words, deeds and thoughts should be the form that the presence of God is revealed to the people that do not
know Jesus or are living far from the community of faith.
The great responsibility that we have as a church today is to make Christ visible to our neighbors, friends and
relatives and to bring the good news to them not only with our worship but also with our lifestyle, our com-
mitment to serve our community with generosity.
I invite you for this reason to be a light that reveals the presence of Christ all the time inspiring others to shine
with the same passion and love for the Lord that you can experience in your own life of faith.
Let us pray:
Almighty and ever-living God, you revealed the incarnation of your Son by the brilliant shining of
a star. Shine the light of your justice always in our hearts and over all lands, and accept our lives
as the treasure we offer in your praise and for your service, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Happy and Blessed 2021!
Your pastor, the Rev. José Luis La Torre Cuadros.
Querida Congregación:
¡Bienvenidos al 2021!
Si, es un año nuevo y son nuevos también los desafíos que nos esperan, pero han de ser
nuevas también y renovadas nuestras ilusiones, nuestros sueños, nuestros planes y nuestro
deseo de ser más y mejores discípulos de Cristo en este año nuevo.
El año pasado fue un año lleno de desafíos que aún no han concluido, quizás buena parte de este año estará
dedicado a tratar de arreglar todos los daños que la pandemia nos ha ocasionado a nivel individual, familiar y
comunitario, ni que hablar de todo lo que el país y el mundo tendrán que trabajar para recurar no solo el
tiempo perdido sino sanar además las heridas por las vidas perdidas y las familias separadas.
Pero es un año nuevo y renovado habrá de ser nuestro compromiso de anunciar la palabra de Dios de manera
denodada y renovada. Es tiempo de Epifanía, la fiesta que nos recuerda la manifestación del Hijo de Dios al
mundo. Seamos una luz que brille y ayude a disipar la oscuridad para que seamos el signo visible de que
Dios está presente en medio nuestro y nos está llamando constantemente a vivir en su presencia con amor y
el gozo de su salvación.
La Epifanía es eso, es manifestar, hacer visible al Hijo de Dios, y Cristo hoy se hace visible en nosotros que
somos su iglesia, su cuerpo, su pueblo y la comunidad donde se vive la novedad del evangelio.
Tengamos la confianza de que este año Dios no sólo está presente, sino que además quiere seguir revelándo-
se por medio de nosotros, su cuerpo vivo ya que él está vivo y vive en nosotros.
Levántate, resplandece! ¡Tu luz ha llegado! ¡Ya la gloria del Señor brilla sobre ti! La tierra está cubierta de
tinieblas, y una densa oscuridad envuelve a las naciones; pero sobre ti brilla el Señor, como la aurora; so-
bre ti se puede contemplar su gloria. Tu luz guiará los pasos de las naciones; los reyes se guiarán por el res-
plandor de tu aurora.
Isaías 60, 1–3
Señor Jesús: que a imitación de los Magos de Oriente
vayamos también nosotros frecuentemente
a adorarte en tu casa que es el templo
y no vayamos jamás con las manos vacías.
Que te llevemos el tesoro de nuestras ofrendas,
el incienso de nuestra oración fervorosa,
y la mirra de los sacrificios que hacemos para permanecer fieles a Ti. Amen.
Su Pastor,
Rev. José Luis La Torre Cuadros.
President’s page……
IT’S NEW YEAR, 2021!
Dear Congregation,
One year ago I would never have thought we would have such a year as we did in 2020!
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States I thought, “OK, we can get through
this! Only a few months of isolating ourselves and wearing protective masks and this “flu”
will be gone. Everything will be back to normal in 6 months or so.” Well, now I am again
praying for the same 6 months timeline for getting back to normal. And what will that normal be like? Many
of us have remained safe from this disease, but not all. People have lost or almost lost loved ones, family,
friends, and neighbors. Prayers have been continuous for so many. Now the wonderful news is there are vac-
cines becoming available. What a miraculous thing those vaccines! Think of all the scientists and chemists
and lab technicians spending thousands of hours in labs all over the world working to stop this terrible virus.
Thank you, Lord, for the knowledge and the brilliant minds that can work on this problem and discover life-
saving solutions! Amen!
Proverbs 17:22 - “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
As the saying goes, “Time marches on!” Let's look at this NEW YEAR, 2021, with a thankful and hopeful
enthusiasm! Take time to reflect on the missions and ministries of LCOS. How much might we get accom-
plished in 2021 if we really put our time, talents and treasures to work? Let’s move forward making plans
and setting goals for LCOS and our community with a renewed and positive spirit! I am excited to think of
having services and fellowship gatherings that everyone can attend. I miss having special events, don’t you?
I've had enough of staying home and not seeing people and not doing things I enjoy doing. Let's get busy!
Let’s get creative! I am ready to do some planning, and I'm praying that we all can move toward a “better
than normal” in the near future.
Matthew 5: 14 - 16 and Jesus said to His disciples, “You are the light of the world. A town on a hill cannot
be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it
gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see
your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven."
Let your light shine!
Kim Jordan, Council President
A Note of Thanks: Last month, the 2021 Spending Plan was approved at the congregational meeting on
Dec. 6th. It includes some necessary maintenance to our property and buildings, as well as some plans for
hopeful improvements. I want to thank Kristi Saligame for all the thoughtful work she put into this challeng-
ing plan. Her loving spirit and her many years of experience are a wonderful blessing for us.
Thank you, Kristi!
LCOS Treasurer’s Report – December 2020
Month in Review – November 2020
Church income in November was $21,737.
• Member giving was $16,196 for November, in-line with our budget of $16,146 and above last
year’s giving of $14,913.
• We used $3,500 in designated funds during the month, including $2,500 from our Mortgage Re-
duction Fund and $1,000 from Bold Statement (new TV in the sanctuary).
• We had rental income of $2,041, vs. $1,242 in November 2019.
Church expense was $20,396 in November, well below our expense of $24,162 in November 2019 and our
budgeted expense of $28,479. We continue to economize, wherever we can.
LCOS had a net income of $1,342 for the month of November. For the first 11 months of 2020, we have cu-
mulative income of $278.
Year-to-Date:
Treasurer’s Notes:
We have met 2020’s challenges so far, with a lot of adaptations and resourcefulness. All of us have had to
grow, change, or sacrifice in some way. Perhaps we did not accomplish everything we had hoped to at the start
of 2020, but I believe LCOS has been a blessing this year for our church members, and for many of our com-
munity members who were in need. God’s work, and new challenges, await in 2021!
Please continue to keep the church and its missions in your thoughts and prayers as we celebrate Christmas and
start the new year. If you’d like to set up automated giving (or update your Simply Giving amounts) for 2021,
please contact Roger Swain at 813.760.7254 or roger.swain@tampabay.rr.com . He will be happy to help.
Thank you!
Wishing all a safe and blessed Christmas and New Year,
Kristi Saligame, LCOS Treasurer
Facility and Grounds………
Goodbye 2020
Hello 2021!!!
New year! New projects! New calendar!
For LCOS there is always a new project list! Roofs to clean off, things to be trimmed, weeds to
pull, things to be fixed or replaced!
In time, our security pin-pads will be updated, but for now we must deal with what we have. Our doors and
door locks are our security and therefore very important! There have been concerns in the past and yes, that
concern must be addressed once again!
The two emergency exit doors on each side at the front corner of the the sanctuary are just that:
Emergency exit doors, required by code in case of a fire. They operate by a push-bar and are always ready
for a hasty exit in time of need, and when that door closes it is locked, no re-entry! The only way you can
enter via those doors from outside is with a Master Key. However, if it is after-hours, that would not be a
wise choice because the alarm is set and it is doubtful you can get to the pin-pad in the Narthex before the
alarm would go off. In the unlikely event you use your Master Key to enter, when that exit door closes it is
NOT locked!! You must use your Master Key in the lock from the outside, turn the key until the thumb-
latch is locked in place and can not be pushed down. Therefore, if you unlock the door, you are responsible
to lock the door! In December the door on the West side was found to be unlocked!! We have no idea how
long it was unlocked, nor who would have had reason to enter from that side of the church.
What comes to mind is Incarnation: from the time the intruder starts using rocks to break the glass,
gains entry, spreads some flammable liquid on the front pews, sets the pews on fire then exits the opposite
side of the church was a total of 3 minutes!!! Whenever you are on the campus, please check any door you
walk by, we can’t be to careful. Another ‘door’ issue has been fixed, the Enrichment Center. The old lock
remains in place, but no longer works. Above it is a dead-bolt lock, opens with the same key you have, can
be locked from the inside, if you are working alone, with one turn of the bolt from inside.
Looking forward to a happy, healthy and prosperous 2021 !!
Barbara Beauregard, Property Manager
Date Nut Energy Balls Ingredients: 1 cup raw walnuts 1 cup raw almonds 2 cups raisins 6 Medjool dates, pitted 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut 1/4 teaspoon vanilla Mix all ingredients in a food processor for 2 minutes. Roll into 1 inch balls. Chill before serving. Store covered in the refrigerator. Merry Christmas. Michelle Michelle Odiorne Graduate, Plant-Based Professional Certificate of Completion (www.Rouxbe.com) Graduate, Plant Based Nutrition Certificate Program (www.nutritionstudies.org) Facilitator, Whole Food Plant-Based Potlucks www.facebook.com/MichellesJourney2WFPBNutrition/ Christmas Cookies Action Team
Caring for God's Beautiful Earth by Danielle Kearney In the November 29, 2020 church bulletin, part of the prayer of intercession, reads: "We pray for this planet in need of restoration: for devastated habitats, polluted waters, thawing ice, blazing fires, swelling floods, and long lasting droughts. Renew the face of the earth and our relationship to it." Here are a few simple things to do to help our environment. * Use reusable bags when shopping. * Try to avoid items with excess packaging. * Drive less. Do an energy audit of your home. Please go to: http://www.energy.gov/energysaver/about-us to find all types of help on weatherization, water heating, windows, and many other sources for possible loss of energy. . Meantime, please switch lights off when not in room and unplug electronic devices when not in use. Should you need new appliances, please look for Energy Star Products. Let's make this a greener world together! Do-It-Yourself Fundraiser Ideas! Since we were not able to host our annual golf tournament we like to suggest an alternative easy fundraiser. Many of us are spending lots of time at home, cleaning out closets, and giving away items we no longer want or need. A fun way to dispose of the items is to post them on ebay, or any other selling site, and do- nate all monies made from the sale of items to our church. A win-win situation for everyone! If you wish to set up an ebay account but have questions on the process, please contact Lorella Swain. She will be happy to assist you.
Season of Advent
Lighting of the Christmas Tree
Pastoral Care
Schedule TBD
Liturgist and Communion Assistants
TBD
Please sign up in the Narthex for any openings.
Please remember to turn in your Village Inn receipts on
Hillsborough Avenue and Racetrack Road. LCOS gets money back
from them for the Kaye Prox Food Bank.You can also read
