A column by Joel Zander, Director of Education and Youth.

Our weekly list of those in need of urgent and ongoing prayer.

Weekly charitable contribution updates and stewardship information.

Weekly readings list and other resources to read through the Bible in 2 years.

A new fact about Faith or its history is featured weekly.

Labels can be helpful. It’s good to know whether those little white granules are sugar or salt. 

Labels can be destructive. It’s not good when we label someone with a negative term that harms reputation, hurts feelings and destroys connections to others. It’s not good when we choose labels for ourselves that immediately place unnecessary walls between us and others.

We in the church are not free from the dangerous power of labels. It’s good to consider our tendency to label ourselves and those around us. I really appreciated the September 10th article by our new President of the Michigan District of the Lutheran-Church Missouri Synod, Rev. David Davis . . .

Click here to see the rest of Pastor Biermann's article!

Realm Online Member Directory Settings Change: Have you heard about our new online directory site, Realm? Realm is our new church communication website where you can look up information on a member, find a group, find a schedule for a group you're in and much more! It's easy to use and there is even an app so you can access the church directory right from your phone from anywhere! If you have any questions about accessing this new site and/or app please contact the office at churchoffice@faithgb.org or call 810-694-9351. In order to make the website and app more useful to our congregation, we will need to change a couple privacy settings on each profile. By changing these settings, your Faith family members will be able to see your phone number and address on the website and the app. This website and app are specific only to Faith members so not just anyone can access your information outside of Faith. If you would NOT like your information to be shared with your Faith family, please contact the office immediately. We will be changing the privacy settings on Friday, September 30th, and you will receive an email that this was done.

Do you own a business or perform a service that you would like to share with your Faith family? The board of Social Ministry is looking to create a directory of our Faith family members who would like to promote their business. Many times, when a Faith family member is looking to have work done, they look to Faith for recommendations or to see if there is a member of our congregation that they can hire. If you would like to submit your business information to share with your Faith family, please fill out the submission form HERE. A quarterly directory will be available at the Welcome Center starting October 1st.

You can view a list of Faith's educational opportunities, including 2022-2023 Faith Legacy classes, HERE.

A full school year calendar of Youth events can be viewed HERE.

Widow's Group: The next get together for the Widows Group will be Saturday, October 1st, at 4:00 p.m. at Little Joe’s, 11518 S. Saginaw St., Grand Blanc. We will meet for dinner then go to Susan Kelly’s house for dessert. Please text or e-mail Carol Koke if you plan to join us so we can make a reservation and so Susan knows how many to plan for. Carol can be contacted at 810-569-0017 or carol_9128@hotmail.com. Hope to see you there!

Mailing Assembly Volunteers: Volunteers would be welcomed to help assemble a large mailing Monday, September 26th, starting at 1:00 p.m. Contact Krissa Zander at kzander@faithgb.org with any questions.

Flu Shot Clinic: It's that time of year again! We are heading into "Cold and Flu Season." We've got you covered. Sunday, October 9th, between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. we will be providing Flu and Covid Vaccines in the gym. Please bring your ID, Insurance Card, and vaccination card. Please contact Deaconess/Parish Nurse Christie Hansard with any questions at 810-516-1693.

Offering Envelopes: If you are giving online and no longer need offering envelopes for 2023, or if you are newer to Faith and have yet to receive offering envelopes, please contact the church office.

Portals of Prayer! The newest edition, October through December, in 3 different sizes is now available throughout the building.

Pre-Communion Classes: All adults and children 4th grade and older who wish to prepare to receive the Lord's Supper for the first time are invited to join us for our 2-session Pre-Communion Classes Sundays, October 9th and 16th, at 9:30 a.m. in basement room B3. For more information, see Pastor Biermann or Pastor Scott. 

One Time Choir: Would you like to sing in a Faith Family choir but your season of life doesn't allow for a Thursday night weekly commitment? Check out our one time choir opportunities! The choir will meet in the sanctuary following 10:45 service for 30-45 min. The musical offering would be sung the next Sunday at both services. This singing opportunity will happen three times this year - September 25/October 2, January 29/February 5, April 16/April 23. Please contact Emily Craw at ecraw@faithgb.org with any questions.

Youth in Worship: Faith Family Youth, we would love to offer you opportunities to help serve in our worship services. Please click HERE to see what might interest you. If you are in confirmation, these are great opportunities to get sermon note points. Once you have signed up, you will be notified of everything you need to know. Please contact Emily Craw at ecraw@faithgb.org with any questions.

Faith Legacy: The Bible and Kids class will be held THIS Sunday, September 25th, at 9:30 a.m. in the basement Room B3. It’s never too early to read the Bible with your children! This class encourages parents of 2 and 8-year-olds to set time aside each day to read the Bible. Bibles for either a 2 or 8-year-old are provided (suggested donation of $15). A blessing will be held in the 10:45 a.m. service following the class. Let us know you're coming HERE.

Adult Handbell Choir (Faithful Ringers): We are in need of more ringers for the adult group. If you can read notes and rhythms and enjoy music, consider joining the group! We will teach you the bell-ringing techniques. We meet Monday evenings beginning September 26th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the sanctuary, and we play in church about once a month. Please call Sue Hooper at 810-603-0744 for more information.

What's Faith? Class: On Tuesday, October 18th, from 7 to 9 p.m., Faith staff members will begin a six-week class called What’s FAITH? This class is a great way to learn about our Christian faith in general and to learn about how that faith is received and lived at Faith Lutheran Church of Grand Blanc. Participation will be especially beneficial to anyone considering officially joining Faith, but would certainly also be edifying for anyone who simply wants to grow in faith at Faith. To register or ask questions, please contact the office.

You can view a running list of our regular service opportunities HERE.

K-5 Youth Hay Ride & Corn Maze: Youth K through 5th grade and parents are invited to enjoy a hay ride and corn maze Sunday, October 16th, at Cook Farm in Ortonville. We will caravan from Faith. Meet at 1:45 and leave at 2:00 p.m. Please bring $7 per person which will include the hay ride, corn maze, and a pumpkin. Let us know you're coming HERE.

Faith Tailgate Party: Mark Friday, October 7th, on your calendars for a Faith Tailgate Party! Join us 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the tents in front of the Church. Let's greet those attending the Homecoming Parade! We will be serving Koegels hot dogs, chips, snacks and candy along with having kids games, prizes, face decals, and corn hole challenge. Invite your friends and enjoy a beautiful fall afternoon with friends from Faith and the community. Wear your Faith Happening or favorite team shirt! Contact Deb Lund at dalund07@gmail.com or Pastor Scott at rscott@faithgb.org with any questions.

Faith Guatemala Mission Trip 2022 - During August we shared our team “in-country” daily blogs. Over the next several weeks we will share our post-trip reflections here in the Faith Happenings newsletter. We will soon begin planning our next mission trip for 2023 or 2024. Please contact Becky Survant, Gayle Pickett or Earl Lankheet for further information. Our third post trip reflection comes from Rebeca de Franco, originally posted by Becky on Facebook on June 7, 2022, You can read that post HERE.

LWML Crossroads Zone Fall Rally: Ladies, save the date – October 8, 2022 – for the LWML Crossroads Zone Fall Rally. It will be held from 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at St. Mark Lutheran Church Flint. The featured speaker is Elaine Bickel. Contact Judy Sadler, St. Mark Ladies Guild President, at jsadler411@gmail.com with any questions. See more on their informational flier HERE.

Worship Anew for this Sunday. Lutheran Ministries Media, Inc. produces a weekly, 30-minute Lutheran broadcast worship service called Worship Anew. Each service includes music, scripture readings, prayers, and a Pastor delivering a message that is designed to feel one-on-one to the viewer. Broadcasts can be viewed on Worship Anew's homepage at https://worshipanew.org or on TV on TCT, AFN, and several more stations (click here for local stations and times). The sermon for this Sunday, September 25th, is "Focus on Christ" based on Luke 16:19-31.

MI District Sr. High Youth Gathering! Save the date - June 25th-28th, 2023 - for the 2023 Senior High Youth Gathering at Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island! Youth in 8th grade and older are encouraged to attend this amazing once-every-three-year event. Registration is coming soon! See more details below!

Office Hours: 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Monday-Friday

SUNDAY - September 25th

8:15 a.m. - Worship/Communion

9:30 a.m. - Faith Bible Reading Journey - Click here for the livestream.

9:30 a.m. - Faith Legacy: The Bible and Kids Class (basement B3)

9:30 a.m. - Sunday School/Confirmation

• Grades K-5 Basement Classrooms
• Grade 6 Library
• Confirmation (Grades 7-8) Music Room
• Grades 9-12 Youth Room

10:45 a.m. - Worship/Communion - Click here for the livestream.

12:00 p.m. - One Time Choir Practice (Sanctuary)

MONDAY - September 26th

6:30 p.m. - Adult Handbell Choir Resumes (Sanctuary)

TUESDAY - September 27th

10:00 a.m. - H.O.T. Ladies Bible Study (Music Room)

6:30 p.m. - K.O.O.L. Ministry (KOOL Room)

WEDNESDAY - September 28th

6:30 a.m. - Men's Virtual Bible Study (Google Meet) - Click here to join.

9:30 a.m. - Tiny Tots (basement classrooms)

5:30 p.m. - Faith Alive (Heins Hall)

7:00 p.m. - Worship/Communion - Click here for the livestream.

THURSDAY - September 29th

5:30 p.m. - Women's Choir Practice (Sanctuary)

6:15 p.m. - Chancel Choir Practice (Sanctuary)

7:15 p.m. - Male Chorus Practice (Sanctuary)

FRIDAY - September 30th

SATURDAY - October 1st

SUNDAY - October 2nd

8:15 a.m. - Worship/Communion

9:30 a.m. - Faith Bible Reading Journey

9:30 a.m. - Sunday School + Confirmation

10:45 a.m. - Worship/Communion

Readings: Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4; Psalm 62; 2 Timothy 1:1-14; Luke 17:1-10

Our Sunday morning 10:45 a.m. service and 9:30 a.m. adult Bible study livestream can be viewed HERE.

NOTE: To keep in compliance with copyright laws, our services can legally be livestreamed, but we are not able to keep recordings of several parts of our services. Our Sunday service is streamed at 10:45 a.m. and Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m. After this, the full service will not be available; however, the pastor's sermons will be archived on our YouTube channel after the service.

The complete order of service for Sunday, September 25th, can be found HERE.

We also have Sunday morning children's bulletins for the children in our Faith family. You can print them from the following links:

• 3-6 year old HERE
• 7-12 year old HERE

Our Covid-19 response plan can be found HERE.