DMARC Food Pantry Item for May
Canned fruit

This Week's Ministry Blog
Don't Take This Personal


There are some who say they have a "personal" relationship with Jesus.
There are some who call Jesus their "personal" Lord and Savior.
There are some who talk about their faith as a "personal" matter.
 
To them I say: Don't take this personal.
 
Because it's not.
That is-this love for Jesus-it's not personal.
It never was.
 
It is communal.
Always.
And all ways.
 
At the table of his last supper in the 14th chapter of John, Jesus instructs the disciples, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
 
And there are a few things taking place just moments before to help us know what this love is:
Jesus washes the disciples' feet.
Judas leaves to betray Jesus, and Jesus knows exactly where he's going.
Jesus gives a new commandment, "that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also should love one another."
Jesus foretells Peter's denial.
 
Jesus tells-no, commands-the ones who love him to love others. And more specifically, to love in the way in which he loves them.
 
Love taking hold of filthy feet.
Love right smack dab in the middle of betrayal and denial.
Love in the face of suffering and death.
 
This love is not a warm fuzzy, sentimental kind of love. It is an effort, a commitment. It is a love fit for the tough times.
 
There is nothing private, personal about this love. It is a love asked not just of you (singular), but of y'all (plural). This includes the ones we know are at the table, as well as those hanging out in the shadows, but also the ones now silently clearing away the dishes.
 
The disciples and their love don't get to stay here, sheltered in this place. For that reason, Jesus tells the disciples that he's also getting the Father involved. And soon, a helper, an advocate, the spirit of truth will be on the way. Because from the very beginning, loving Jesus, keeping his commandments of love out in the world, was meant to be a group effort.
 
So please, for the love of Jesus, don't take this personal.

Pastor Sarah


 Adult Sunday School   
 
 
This Sunday, May 21, Jay Willsher, CEO of Luther Care Services (Luther Park) will present on issues in today's health care systems. We encourage you to come with your questions and concerns.
 

Seeds of Faith End-of-Year Celebration     
  Seeds of Faith Logo
On Sunday, May 21, we celebrate another wonderful preschool year! Seeds of Faith is sponsoring a breakfast of egg casseroles, donut holes, fruit, juice, and coffee between church services. A free-will offering, benefiting the preschool, will be taken. Current and past preschoolers are invited to wear their preschool t-shirts and sing at the 10:30 worship service. We hope the congregation will come help celebrate an amazing year!
 
Vacation Bible School
   
V is for Victory! V is for VBS! Only 3 weeks left before we kick off the Ultimate Pep Rally. If you haven't signed up yet, now's the time. Vacation Bible School will be held June 11-15 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. each evening. It is free and open to all children in our community age 4 (entering PreKindergarten) through entering fifth grade. Click on the link to register: http://bit.ly/FLC_VBS2017. Children are encouraged to wear t-shirts from past years, but if you need to purchase a new one, the deadline is June 1st. Please join us for this free, fun-filled event!
 

VBS Mission: LSI Global Greens        

This year, for the mission component of Vacation Bible School, the children will be learning about refugees, and refugees in Iowa. We will have guests from Lutheran Services in Iowa to teach the kids and showcase the LSI Global Greens project. We even plan to setup a mini LSI farmers market one of the evenings. Each night the VBS campers will collect a noisy offering to be donated towards the mission. The kids get very excited as the week goes on and are motivated to increase their donations each night! To build on that excitement, this year we are asking for members of the congregation to match their total collection. If you are interested in being part of a team of members who can match these funds, please contact Andrea or Erika at cfm@faithlc.org. Thank you for your support.
 

Family Promise Host Week: June 11-17    

Faith will be hosting homeless families in the Gathering House the week of June 11th through June 17th. Please consider helping by providing meals, serving as hosts for an evening dinner or overnight stay. Can you help? Are you a first-time volunteer? Awesome! We'll give you full instructions on this easy-to-do service.

Signup for volunteers begins this weekend May 20 and 21. Look for the table in the Commons. For those adults serving as evening or overnight hosts: if you have not previously completed a consent form for a background check, forms can be found on the signup table. Fill out and return to Julie Crane in the church office. If you have any questions about FP or the volunteer roles, please feel free to contact Bob at bnbshaw@q.com, or Lynnette at lm.sorensen@icloud.com . Thank you!
 
Do you have questions or comments regarding this publication?  Please contact Miranda at mirandakurtt@faithlc.org or 225-8334.  We welcome your feedback. 
Did you miss last week's Faith E-news? You can find archived E-news on Faith's website under  Archived E-news button on the homepage.