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“Gathered faithfully to love and serve God and all others.”
Faith's Friday Update
September 10, 2021
Sunday, September 12, 2021
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
This Week's Readings:

Isaiah 50:4-9a
The servant is vindicated by God

Psalm 116:1-9
I will walk in the presence of the Lord. (Ps. 116:9)

James 3:1-12
Dangers of the unbridled tongue

Mark 8:27-38
Peter’s confession of faith
UPDATED 08/26/2021 - Temporary Worship Modifications:
  • For contact tracing purposes, we ask those who attend in-person worship to kindly sign-in with name and phone or email address. There will be a table outside of the narthex.
  • With love and concern for those who attend in-person worship, please note until further notice masks are required during worship services.
  • The return of Communion in the Pews.
  • The suspension of the Coffee and Fellowship Hour.
GOD'S WORK. OUR HANDS.
THIS SUNDAY AT FAITH LUTHERAN!
Thank you to everyone who donated toiletries, hygiene products, and other necessities for the ‘Blessing Bags’.
 
Everyone is invited to gather in Fellowship Hall after the service on Sunday to help pack the bags!
 
The Blessing Bags will be donated to SPARCC (Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center), an organization that provide free resources and support to survivors of abuse, many of whom are single mothers and abused teens/children. Services include a shelter operating 365 days a year, a 24-hour crisis helpline, counseling, hospital and courthouse accompaniment, legal services, support groups, and more. It’s exciting to give back to them for everything they do!
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING NOTICE AND Q&A SESSIONS
A congregational meeting notice has been sent to all voting members of Faith Lutheran Church. Those with an email address on file should have received an email notice on September 9, 2021. Letters were mailed to those without an email address and should reach recipients soon. The meeting will be held on September 20, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.

The criteria of a voting member is listed in our Constitution, excerpt below. If you have not received the meeting notice (or don't receive it soon if it was mailed), and you believe you are a voting member, please contact the church office.

We will have a Q&A session on Sunday, September 19 after the 9:00 a.m. service (in person) and another one that evening at 5:00 p.m. via Zoom. Blank question sheets will be available on Sunday in the narthex for anyone who would like to privately submit a question ahead of time. Or feel free to email your question/s by replying to this email.

*Excerpt from the Faith Lutheran Church Constitution:
Chapter 8.
MEMBERSHIP
*C8.01. Members of this congregation shall be those baptized persons on the roll of this congregation at the time that this constitution is adopted and those who are admitted thereafter and who have declared and maintain their membership in accordance with the provisions of this constitution and its bylaws.
*C8.02. Members shall be classified as follows:
a. Baptized members are those persons who have been received by the Sacrament of Holy Baptism in this congregation, or, having been previously baptized in the name of the Triune God, have been received by certificate of transfer from other Lutheran congregations or by affirmation of faith.
b. Confirmed members are baptized persons who have been confirmed in this congregation, those who have been received by adult baptism or by transfer as confirmed members from other Lutheran congregations, or baptized persons received by affirmation of faith.
c. Voting members are confirmed members. Such confirmed members, during the current or preceding calendar year, shall have communed in this congregation and shall have made a contribution of record to this congregation. Members of this congregation who have satisfied these basic standards shall have the privilege of voice and vote at every regular and special meeting of this congregation as well as the other rights and privileges ascribed to voting members by the provisions of this constitution and its bylaws. They shall not have voted as a seasonal member of another congregation of this church in the previous two calendar months.
 
To view the complete Constitution of Faith Lutheran Church, visit www.faithlutheransrq.com/archived-news-docs.
9/11 20TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION SERVICE
THE FLORIDA-BAHAMAS SYNOD INVITES YOU TO THE:
9/11 20th Anniversary Commemoration Service
Join members of the Florida-Bahamas Synod in remembrance of the 20th anniversary of September 11th.

This service will serve as a time of worship and reflection on the events that occurred on September 11, 2001 and changed lives forever.
 
When: September 11, 2021
at 2pm via Zoom.
Registration is required.
IMPORTANT MOBILE GIVING CHANGE
Only 20 days left to make the switch from the GivePlus+ app to the new Vanco Mobile app (available for iPhone and Android).

Download it now!
  • Find our church by searching "Faith Lutheran Church, Sarasota" and verify the location (7750 Beneva).
  • If you use the GivePlus+ app or Vanco online, your login, payment methods, and current giving have been migrated to the new app. Otherwise, please create a new account.
  • Donations made via the app will appear on your giving statements in the same way as other payment methods.

If you are new to mobile giving, we encourage you to try it out! The app offers the ability to select your desired fund and donation frequency.
It's easy to use!

If you have questions or need help, contact Tami in the church office.

(The app icon is pictured.)
ALTAR FLOWERS
ALTAR FLOWERS are a beautiful and meaningful way to honor/remember someone or a special occasion, while decorating our altar for worship. Next available date, September 19! 

When you purchase altar flowers, your name and dedication will be published in the bulletin on your selected Sunday and the flowers are yours to keep after the service!

To make a dedication: At church, complete an 'Altar Flowers' envelope with your payment, and place it in the offering plate; By mail, send payment with a note indicating your desired date and dedication; or CLICK HERE to order online. The cost is $60, which is for 2 vases. Please make checks payable to Faith Lutheran Church and indicate ‘altar flowers’ in the memo.
 
Thank you for making Faith Lutheran’s altar beautiful!
DAILY PRAYER
VENTURES
The ELCA offers daily Prayer Ventures, which may be found on their website, https://www.elca.org/en/Resources/Prayer-Ventures. The prayers for this weekend are below. Visit the website if you would like to follow the daily prayers!

10 Pray that we will not act with prejudice, indifference or injustice, or shy away from the complexities of service and ministry, with our neighbors who suffer poverty, hunger or homelessness. Ask God to help us concentrate on our neighbors in need, acting with boldness, generosity, humility and concern for the dignity of those we serve.

11 Give thanks for the ministry and service of volunteers as they wind up their construction season with ELCA Mission Builders and look forward to future projects that will strengthen ministries and grow the church.

12 “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday In our baptismal journey we serve our neighbors daily, but on this day we celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor ― in partnership with local congregations and ministries, social service organizations and community residents.
HELPFUL LINKS
Click on the desired icon to view/visit the item.
Interim Pastors: Rev. Dr. Robert Mursch and Rev. Larry Wright
Operations Manager: Tami Page
Office Tel: 941-924-4664
Weekly office hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Faith Lutheran Values – Mutual Respect, Honesty, Kindness, Service, Forgiveness, Commitment,
Perseverance, Faithfulness, Compassion, Flexibility
CLICK HERE to view the current Constitution of Faith Lutheran Church.