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Gathered faithfully to love and serve God and all others. |
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Faith's Friday Update
December 30, 2022
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Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023
First Sunday of Christmas
Worship Service at 10:15 a.m.
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Readings and Psalm
Isaiah 63:7-9
Israel saved by God’s own presence
Psalm 148
The splendor of the Lord is over earth and heaven. (Ps. 148:13)
Hebrews 2:10-18
Christ shares flesh and blood to free humankind
Matthew 2:13-23
The slaughter of innocent children
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Congregational Council
meeting minutes can be viewed at the link.
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Faith's financial news can be viewed at the link below. |
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Next week we will begin our three-week stewardship program called Fulfilling God’s Purpose! Christian stewardship is the free and joyous activity of managing our lives and blessings according to God’s will. Stewardship refers to all the activities of our lives. We are stewards in our homes, workplaces, schools, and in our neighborhoods. Stewardship is a daily, ongoing lifestyle that determines how we use all the gifts our Creator has given us. Next week, our focus will be on “Building Relationships.” Please join us in both worship and Bible study. |
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Christmas Poinsettias
Donations & Dedications
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Eloise Dettmer
Darrell & Mary Lou Higgins - our parents
Denise and Alf Kirkeeng
Karen and Gerald Kolschowsky - for blessings received
Donna Pappalardo - in memory of my husband Dennis
Joan Searles - Parents: Christian and Clara Fick &
Siblings: Dorothy Miller and Chris Fick
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Delve Deeper Into Word and Service By Becoming a Church Deacon |
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Please contact Pastor Eric if you are interested in delving deeper into your faith formation and becoming a church deacon.
We already have three members who will join in study through Diakonia Florida-Bahamas Synod's School of Lay Ministry. Participants most likely will meet Saturday mornings at Faith beginning in January.
For more information, visit diakoniafl.org or contact Deborah Dornemann, 941-914-7553.
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Adult Forum will not meet on Sunday, January 1st. Happy New Year!
We will meet again on Sunday, January 8th.
We’re going on a journey with Ray Vander Laan, a Biblical scholar. A quest to uncover Scripture and its meaning across history. Filmed on location in Israel and throughout the Middle East, the Faith Lessons Digital series is an adventure in biblical learning. You will discover why Jesus turned the world upside down with his compelling call to follow Him. The insights you gain will transform your reading of the Gospels and inspire a deeper faith commitment.
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School Committee Continues Research |
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As the School Committee takes time off from formal meetings until January, its various ad hoc committees continue researching marketing, budget, curriculum, general philosophy and all other areas needed to open a successful religious-based preschool. |
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Choir Rehearsals: All Are Welcome |
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The Voices of Faith Choir has scheduled the following Wednesday evening rehearsals:
Wednesday, January 4, 2023
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Wednesday, March 1, 2033
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
All rehearsals are held in the Choir Room from 6:30P to 8:00P. We also rehearse on Sunday mornings at 9:15A.
We have room for you!
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Help Continue God's Work through Faith's Congregational Council |
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It is time to prepare a slate of people who will serve on the Congregational Council of Faith for the next three years.
We need to fill four seats at a time when there is excitement in the progress that the past year has brought to the renewal of our church. Under Pastor Eric's leadership, Faith is again looking for new ways to serve God. The third stanza of the hymn, "God, When Human Bonds are Broken," encourages us to consider serving the church: "Send us, God of new beginnings, humbly hopeful into life. Use us as a means of blessing; make us stronger, give us faith."
Please give prayerful consideration to help Faith continue God's work through the Congregational Council. It can be a blessing to many people, including you. If you feel called to serve, please inform one of the nomination committee members listed below. And if you are asked to serve, please say a little prayer before responding.
The members of the nomination committee have served on Council for different lengths of time, have completed their terms and now have responded to Pastor Eric's request to lead the nomination process. They look forward to presenting a slate of candidates to be voted on during the Annual Meeting in February.
Please feel free to contact any one of them:
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Altar Flowers are a Beautiful Remembrance |
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Altar flowers are a beautiful and meaningful way to honor or remember a special someone or a special occasion while decorating Faith's altar for worship. The 2023 Altar Flowers signup poster is available in the fellowship hall.
The next available sponsorship date is January 8.
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 or share after the 10:15 a.m. 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.
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Or CLICK HERE to order online.
The cost is $60 for two vases or $30 for one vase. Please make checks payable to Faith Lutheran Church and indicate ‘altar flowers’ in the memo line.
Thank you for adding beauty to Faith Lutheran’s altar!
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Donations to Pastor's Discretionary Fund Enable Emergency Assistance |
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Pastor Eric often engages in conversation with members of the congregation or community about specific needs and aid they might require. The Pastor's Discretionary Fund provides him the means to help financially, when necessary.
If you are able, please consider a donation so vulnerable members of our community can continue to receive emergency assistance. Following Hurricane Ian, requests for assistance have grown substantially.
Thank you for the strong congregational response thus far!
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G.I.F.T.S.
(Growing In Faith Through Scripture)
On Hiatus Until Jan. 17
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With the holidays fast approaching, the G.I.F.T.S. (Growing In Faith Through Scripture) Women's Bible Study will not meet until Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. The group will resume studying "Be Still and Know" by Deb Burma at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, in the conference room.
All women are welcome. We look forward to continuing our exploration of Psalm 46. May Christmas joy fill your hearts!
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Men of Faith
Breakfast at Skillets
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Join us for a hearty breakfast, prayer, and fellowship at Skillets, 8635 S. Tamiami Trail on Tuesday, January 3rd at 8:30 a.m. All are welcome! Please RSVP by emailing Pastor Eric at pastor@faithlutheransrq.com or call the church office!
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Readers Club meets on the last Monday of the month at 2 p.m. in the church library.
The readers will skip December due to Christmas. Jan. 30, the group will discuss Haven Point by Virginia Hume.
For more information, contact Kathy Schilio, schilmo@yahoo.com. Please join! All are welcome!
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Bereavement Group Meets Wednesdays to Share Strength and Hope |
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Faith’s Bereavement Group meets at 1 p.m. every Wednesday
(unless notified) in the prayer chapel.
If you or a friend can use some help bearing the burden of grief, this group is for you. There is strength in the community.
Help spread the word of hope!
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Confirmation class is 4:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays.
Our next class is January 3rd.
This comprehensive confirmation program is more than just a class. It seeks to provide experiences and opportunities in which the individual can grow in faith as a Christian (i.e., worship, relationships with peers and mentors, small group experiences, and ministry opportunities).
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Looking for a time to pray with members of our Faith family? Join us at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays in the chapel. We will pray for ourselves, our loved ones, those in need, our church community, the larger community that we serve, our nation and the world. We will conclude with Holy Communion.
Bring your concerns and your desire to connect with our loving heavenly Father! Can’t attend in person? Please join us via Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting: Meeting ID: 871 4720 3661, Passcode: 041291
NOTE: If you need the sacrament brought to your house, please let us know or take consecrated elements home with you on Sunday if you are in town.
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Faith's Food Pantry Soon to Come, Donations of Ready-to-Eat Items
Are Most Needed
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We continue to work in partnership with All Faiths Food Bank to begin food pantry operations at Faith.
In the meantime, we still are collecting food for All Faiths. Please consider donating ready-to-eat canned foods such as tuna and canned fruit. However, you are welcome to bring in any nonperishables that can be given to others who may need them. There is a large barrel in the narthex for your donations.
Following Hurricane Ian, many in our community are in need of food donations. Thank you!
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Consider Sharing Soup for Joan's Soup Freezer, and Take Soup When Needs Arise |
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As the weather begins to cool, who doesn’t appreciate a great bowl of hot soup? Joan’s Soup Freezer in the kitchen needs to be restocked.
Please consider making a little extra soup to share, put it in a freezer-safe container marked with the type of soup and the date it was prepared, then place it in the kitchen freezer that is labeled “Joan’s Soup.”
All are welcome to take soup from that freezer for yourself, friends or anyone who is struggling or not feeling well.
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Adult Bible Study
to Resume Its Winter Session
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“Signs and Wonders”
A study of Jesus’ Miracles
Ever wonder about the stories of Jesus’ miracles? Believers are very familiar with Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000, and the stilling of the storm. What do we make of these accounts? Actual happenings? Metaphorical stories? Let’s explore these questions together. Perhaps the big question is not “did this happen?” but “what does it mean?” Both questions deserve our faithful deliberation and interpretation!
Our theologian in residence, Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, will by DVD lecture and student book provide grist for our mill, featuring 6 selected miracle stories. Our Faith Endowment Fund will provide a student book for each who registers for the class.
Please call the Church Office [941-924-4664] and have Cate sign you up for the course. The deadline for registration is January 3rd.
Pastor Larry will lead this Six-Week study beginning Wednesday, January 11th, and continuing each Wednesday through February 15th. Each one-hour session begins at 9:30 a.m. and meets in the second-floor classroom in the Community Center across from the elevator.
Welcome All. Refreshments! Great discussion! Fellowship!
W H A T ‘ S N O T T O L O V E ?
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Collecting Empty Ink Cartridges Offsets Church Office Expenses |
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Please consider donating your empty ink cartridges to help the church and the environment! When we bring the cartridges to Staples, we receive store credit to help offset office supply costs.
The ink cartridge collection bin is on the counter in fellowship hall.
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30 The birth of Christ, manifesting God’s love for humanity, changed everything, forever. We celebrate the joy and significance of Christmas and pledge our lives in constant witness to God, who embraces and loves us with all our flaws, complexities and questions.
31 New Year’s Eve What do you hope for in the coming year? What are your aspirations? Give thanks for the assurance we receive through our baptism, that we might live in God’s mercy and grace through the ups and downs of life, and pray that we will be supported during our journey by a vast and caring community of siblings in Christ.
1 New Year’s Day Praise God for the grace and eternal life we receive through faith in Jesus Christ — gifts that free us from the dread of death so that we can fearlessly bear the gospel of love and hope into the world.
2 Pray for an end to the war in Ukraine and for peace wherever there is conflict and violence in the world. Pray that the Spirit will sustain the faith, resilience and endurance of people impacted by war and conflict, and that we will persistently advocate for peace and provide relief and support to those suffering.
3 Pray for young adults called to serve in the 2023-2024 ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program with our companion churches and organizations in nine countries. Give thanks for the yearlong opportunities YAGM provides them for service, learning and sharing the good news around the world.
4 “O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:1). Thank and acknowledge God, creator of all that exists and source of the grace, forgiveness, hope and new life we experience in Jesus Christ.
5 Pray for those planning the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering, the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE), the new Young Adult Gathering, and the event for youth living with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities.
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12/26 Kempson, Jerry & Kaye
12/29 Radey, Abigail & Richard
12/31 Greenwood, Mark & Ann
Let us know if your anniversary is in January!
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12/26 Sue Riccio
12/28 John Rogan
12/29 Kris Ordman
12/29 Janis Conlon
12/30 Ronald Falconer III
12/31 Jan Phillips
01/02 Nancy Arntsen 01/02 Amelia Hubschman 01/02 Tony Moreland 01/02 Carol Wambold 01/03 Mary Foxwell
01/04 John Spittal
01/05 Brandon Ragan
01/08 Kay Deming
01/08 Carol Hanson
01/08 Conrad Zabor
01/09 Barbara Little
01/09 Jay Millard Jr.
01/09 Doug Weaver
01/10 Ryan Verwey
01/12 Ileana Capilla
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01/13 Alida Martin
01/13 Steve Rice
01/15 Michael Deming 01/15 Zach Rans
01/16 Paula Harris
01/17 Sally Ann Keller 01/17 Valerie Meister 01/17 Wayne Smith
01/19 Grethe Oiulfstad 01/19 Annabel Ryan
01/20 Donald Wilborn Jr. 01/23 Mark A. Nelson
01/24 Jeff Arntsen
01/24 DeLaine Roessner
01/24 Karen Vogel
01/25 Kaitlyn Clark
01/26 Dick Bruning
01/29 Destiny Duke
01/29 Marianne Powrie
01/30 Tyler Moreland
01/30 Nell Rude
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Pastor: Rev. Eric Olaf Olsen
Assistant Pastor: Rev. Larry Wright
Director of Music/Organist: David V. Patrick
Lead Cantor/Music Librarian: Tom Tryon
Artist in Residence: Dr. Joseph Holt
Church Office Administrator: Cate Teague
Weekly office hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday
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Mission – Gathered faithfully to love and serve God and all others.
Values – Mutual Respect, Honesty, Kindness, Service, Forgiveness, Commitment, Perseverance, Faithfulness, Compassion, Flexibility
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CLICK HERE to view the current Constitution of Faith Lutheran Church.
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