Faith E-news    December 9, 2016  

Quick Notes and Reminders    

Please check the calendar for more information.


Faith Feast and Faith Night:
There will not be Faith Feast or Faith Night until Wednesday, January 4.

F
ood Pantry Items The items for December is Diapers, baby wipes, formula and baby food.

This Week's Blog
Evergreen  
   
Green Christmas
 
This narrow month of winter when most we huddle close, let trees stand in our center, boughs broaden our house.
Let forests arise from floors, stems commingle with men: walls shall go out of doors as verdant woods come in.
How rims of ceiling unfurl reaching a range unused. Branches largen the hall. Dimensions are disenclosed.
Proper the dwellings wherever are sheltered the far-fetched plants, the tracts brought in under cover: green be this residence

Nina Farber in A Birth In The Family Nativity Poems
 
  
Manger Memento

Here's a silken straw, one of a hundredfold that once in winter lay under a dreaming child and let him rest softer than usual hay allows the farmer's beast roughly to lie.
He slept unruffled, he woke in light. Here's a reminder. Remember it.

Nina Farber in A Birth In The Family Nativity Poems.    
 
 
Evergreen    
How fine the sweetness from the bough, Evergreen, ever living, like the prayer offered now for a whole world's forgiving; while the Christ Child is sleeping, world of woe in his keeping, world of joy in his dream. Lord, redeem us! That when thou art waking, the hearts we uplift shall be thy Christmas gift and be well worth thy taking.

How bright the radiance of the tree, Evergreen, everlasting, like the feast day to be after long years of fasting. Bright in hope Christmas morning to the Christ Child returning, once again we believe. Lord, receive us! When we come before thee, the heart's joy we bring Noel! Shall sing and forever adore thee.
Robert Hillyer
 
 
Well, here we are again another Advent and Christmas season. It seems to come faster and faster each year. Here we are again, breathless, never enough time to decorate, never enough time to get all the shopping done never enough time to prepare, rush rush and more rushing! For a moment let us consider the magnificent Evergreen tree, mighty, majestic, strong, protective, ever moving and ever refreshing. It seems to me that we might learn something from this beauty of nature. Could we think of our community of Faith as an Evergreen? Could we think about the church being strong and steady as the roots of the Evergreen? Could we think about the church being a protective and warm place as the boughs of the Evergreen protect the floor of the earth? Could we think about the church as a community of individual nettles nourishing each of us and giving life for what's to come? Could we think about our community as being able to withstand the wind as the Evergreen does through its deep and strong root system? Could we think that our community, like the Evergreen is "ever living and everlasting"? We are so blest here at Faith. We have wonderful and intentional ministries. We experience meaningful worship experiences; all of these ministries give us opportunities to be together. I would suggest that we don't need to rush friends. Let us take our cue from the beautiful Evergreen - ever growing slow and steady. Trees grow toward the light and Christ came in light! Let us journey towards the light together.

Dave Johnson 
 

Parents' Night Out - Cancelled  
 
Due to the low number of kids signed up for Parents' Night Out on Friday, December 9, the event has been cancelled.
 

Faith Lutheran Church Lessons & Carols Celebration
 
Please join us on Sunday, December 11, at 8:15 and 10:30 a.m. for our annual Lessons & Carols. You don't want to miss this event! Music will be provided by the Children's Choirs, Agape Ringers, Jubilate Ringers, Brass Consort, Winds of the Spirit Flute Choir, Chor Spiritus, and the Chancel Choir. Also providing music from our magnificent Dobson Organ will be Senior Organist Bev Duffy.
 

Adult Sunday School 
 
This week's discussion topic for Faith Journeys, our Adult Sunday School class will be: The First Christmas: Two Gospels, Two Stories and the Two-Source Theory . Faith Journeys meets from 9:30-10:15 am in Messiah Hall, rooms 203 and 204, and is facilitated by Dee Paddock. Please join us.
   

We Responded to God's Grace 
 
Thank you for celebrating God's wonderful grace by offering your regular giving commitment of financial support for 2017. Our response was generous and enables Faith to embrace what God has in store for 2017! If you have not yet made a commitment, we invite you to contact the office or go to Faith's webpage  Thank you!
 

Luther Park Christmas Gifts
 
It is time to start thinking about Christmas gifts for Luther Park residents. There are suggestions sheets available on the bulletin board along with a collection box in the entry way. Please take one with you as a reminder when you are out shopping. A lot of the items are things you can easily pick up as you do your own shopping. Thank you for your past and present support.  Vi Munsch, Representative from Faith
  

Cancer Support Group  

Cancer Support Group will meet at the church Sunday, December 11, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. Jan Stegeman, R.N. and Barbara Cavallin, Ph.D. are the facilitators. Anyone who is dealing with cancer, has a friend or relative who is, or is dealing with the loss of a loved one from cancer, is encouraged to come for this inspirational, compassionate, uplifting time of devotion, information, sharing, caring and prayer. If you have any materials that you would like to share with the group, please bring them. Please email Barbara to let her know if you plan to attend at cavallinassoc@aol.com.
 

Thank You!  
 


Thank you everyone that helped decorate the sanctuary by putting up the Christmas tree, Advent wreath, candles and greenery. Your gift was greatly appreciated.
The Sanctuary Enhancement Committee
 
 
 

Items for Sale   
   
Our youth are excited for the Summer 2017 Mission Trip to Las Vegas/Phoenix/Tucson! Please prayerfully consider supporting their mission by purchasing an item this Christmas season! These Faith items would make a great gift for a church friend, Godparent, 9th grade confirmand, mentor or as an outreach item (buy a blanket and donate it to a worthy cause). They will be selling items in the Commons on Wednesday, December 7, Sunday December 11 and 18. The items are:
  •  Gold Canyon candles $20
  •  Faith ornament $10
  •  Faith fleece blanket $10
  •  Faith insulated cup $10
Thanks so much for your support!
 

Faith Stitchers and LSI Refugees 
   
LSI refugees have been busy connecting the more than 500 8-inch squares that Faith Stitchers provided since March. In addition, several of them are crocheting edges on completed blankets and crocheting or knitting other items. As a group, the refugees decided to donate the finished afghans to newer refugee families. The first blankets will be presented to the recipients on December 1. The LSI group hopes to sell hats and other small projects to raise money for more yarn and supplies. In the meantime, we would like help making more knit or crochet squares and/or donating yarn for this group. The preference is acrylic or acrylic blend, medium weight (#4) yarn for the blankets, but they will find a use for other yarns. See the bulletin board in the entryway for more information about the 8-inch square project.
 
 

Mosaic Gift Tree 
   
Children and Family Ministry is sponsoring a gift "tree" for Mosaic residents. Mosaic is a local organization which provides housing and care for adults with intellectual disabilities. If you take a gift tag, please return wrapped gifts to Faith by Friday, December 16. 

Salvation Army Casseroles 
   
Since November 2010, Faith Stitchers have made 8 breakfast casseroles each month and delivered a total of 584 to Salvation Army for their mobile canteen that serves homeless people twice a week. They need 150 per week according to their website. It would be greatly appreciated if individuals or other groups could consider donating additional casseroles to help fill the need.
 

Children and Family Ministry     

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Youth and Family Ministry     

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Ski Trip Registration

Ski Trip Registration is open for the 9-12 Grade Ski Trip to Welch Village on January 15-16! Trip details-including schedule, cost, and how to register-are available online at http://bit.ly/skitrip17. Contact Jake Bouma at jakebouma@faithlc.org if you have any questions.


Youth and Family Ministry Party

On Wednesday, December 21, 7:30-9:30 p.m., the mission trip reunion and SHYG white elephant/Christmas party for 10th-12th graders and the Leach Lake Mission Trip group will gather at the Waage's to view the video and share some Christmas spirit. Look for more information in the near future.


Youth Mission Trip Registration

Registration is now open for the 2017 mission trip to Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Tucson. Any Faith student currently in grades 9-12 is eligible to participate in the trip, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 10 - Sunday, June 18, 2017. The journey, a joint effort of the ELCA's Southeastern Iowa Synod and its partner synod the Grand Canyon Synod, will open our eyes to the opportunities that Christ sets before us as we serve and learn about the joys and challenges of the culture and the church's role in responding to issues like human trafficking, homelessness, and immigration/border issues. To register, go to http://faithlc.org/youth-mission-trip.