| |
|
|
DMARC Food Pantry Item for April
100% Fruit Juice in non-glass containers
|
This Week's Ministry Blog
Off the Map
This week the disciples encounter the risen Christ in a village called Emmaus. In truth, Jesus showed up on the way there---but it is not until they have arrived that the disciples recognize him.
The location of Emmaus is unknown. There are a few possible locations, but no one knows for sure where this place actually was.
Maybe that's on purpose.
The disciples could not recognize Jesus walking right along side of them because their hope had failed, and therefore, their imaginations had as well. The only place they expected to encounter Jesus was the tomb. And when they did not find him there, in their disappointment, they had trouble seeing him anywhere else.
Perhaps the true location of Emmaus is intentionally obscured by the author of Luke. We are left searching, wondering, exploring the possibilities. We can't pinpoint on a map those places we'll encounter the new life of the resurrection. We can't plan for or predict those moments.
Jesus could show up anywhere, any time.
Even when our expectations have been disappointed.
Even when all hope seems lost.
Even when our vision has failed us.
Suddenly, unexpectedly, right there in our midst is new life!
Pastor Sarah
|
Guest Speaker for Worship Adult Sunday School
Sthela Gun Holly Hanitrinirina from the beautiful Island of Madagascar will be preaching and leading Adult Sunday School this Sunday. She was baptized and confirmed in the Malagasy Lutheran Church and believes that God works in every single one of us, and each one of us has a story. Sthela is currently continuing her studies at Luther College, in Decorah, double majoring in Social Work and Women and Gender Studies. She is part of the International Women Leaders initiative, a scholarship supported by the ELCA. She dreams of becoming a community organizer in Madagascar and an activist advocate for the most vulnerable in her country. She enjoys learning new languages, traveling, and is excited to share the table of God with us and hear our stories. Please take a moment to welcome Sthela to Faith.
|
Annual Congregational Meeting and Lunch
Our congregational annual meeting will be held on Sunday, April 30, at 11:30 a.m., in the St. Michael's Hall. Join us for a BBQ pork lunch as you hear from the church council. We will take time for the election of new council members, endowment committee, synod assembly voting members, nominating committee, and audit committee. Make sure to pick up an annual report at the Welcome Center in the Commons.
|
Soli Deo Musica Series Presents The Ames Chamber Artists
On Sunday, April 30, at 4:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary we present The Ames Chamber Artists. The Ames Chamber Artists is an auditioned choral ensemble now in their 29th season. They have been privileged to be invited to sing for the Iowa Choral Directors Association and the American Choral Directors Convention in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Chamber Artists have collaborated with ensembles from Iowa State University, Central Iowa Symphony, and the Chamber Orchestra Kremlin. The Ames Chamber Artists have commissioned 16 pieces by 15 different composers. The Ames Chamber Artists are conducted by our own Dr. David Johnson, Director of Music at Faith Lutheran Church
|
It's not too late to register your child for summer camp at Lutheran Lakeside Camp in Okoboji, Iowa. So far, we have 21 campers from Faith registered for camp the week of July 16th! Camp is open to any child (completed 3rd grade through junior high), feel free to have your child invite friends from school to join them at camp. It was will an awesome week, Andrea and Erika will also be on-site to help with any homesickness and join in the fun. Please contact Andrea or Erika or visit www.lutheranlakeside.com for more information.
|
Faith Book Club
 Faith Book Club will meet at the Clive Library at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16, for a discussion of
Small Great Things
by Jodi Picoult, followed by a "book tasting" led by Teri Nelson from the Clive library. Teri will share some great books to add to your summer reading list. All are welcome! Faith Book Club meets in the evenings on the third Tuesday of every month. Our June selection is
Left Neglected
by Lisa Genova. For more information or to be added to the e-mail distribution list, please contact Sara Broadrick at [email protected] or 515-528-6881.
|
Women at the Well Reentry Team
Want to make a difference in someone's life? Want to do something that really matters? A facilitator from Women at the Well prison congregation at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville will be leading a training for Reentry Teams on Sunday, April 30, from 1:00-4:30 p.m., here at Faith. A Reentry Team provides desperately needed support for a woman recently released from prison. Usually consisting of 6 people, the team will walk with the woman during her first months on the outside. Come to the training to learn more. Please contact Pastor Sarah if you are interested.
|
Religious Communities of Des Moines
 This spring Drake University in conjunction with DMARC published a book on the religious communities of Des Moines
A Spectrum of Faith: Religions of the World in America's Heartland.
It features beautiful color photos and gives a glimpse into 15 houses of worship. Copies can be purchased through the website at: https://www.dmarcunited.org/book/. In the coming months, each of the places profiled in the book will be hosting open houses--and we're going!
- The first open house will be held Saturday, May 6, at Masjid An-Noor mosque. Our group will depart Faith at 10:45 a.m, returning at about noon.
- The next open house will be on Saturday, June 3, at Ezan Educational & Islamic Center. It will be held in the evening in coordination with breaking the Ramadan fast.
Please contact Peter Bissinger at [email protected] or 515-783-5920 for more information.
|
Vacation Bible School Needs Volunteers
VBS at Faith will be June 11-15. VBS is a huge event at Faith and we will need many, many volunteers to pull it off! The youth will be on their synod mission trip at this time so we will be calling on even more members of the congregation to help us with this event. Please contact Michelle Zimmerman at [email protected] to volunteer or online at http://bit.ly/VBS17_volunteer. We have many needs ranging from pre-vbs craft prep, t-shirts, registration, decorations, kitchen/dinner help, classroom shepherd, crew leaders, teacher, games and more!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
