NOTE: At the bottom of this email, if you see words like, "View entire message", you will need to click the link to view the rest of the content.
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“Gathered faithfully to love and serve God and all others.
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Faith's Friday Update
September 23, 2022
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Sunday, September 25, 2022
16th Sunday after Pentecost
Worship Services at 8AM & 10:15AM
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Readings and Psalm:
Amos 6:1a,4-7
Warnings to those who are comfortable or wealthy.
The Lord gives justice to those who are oppressed.
1 Timothy 6:6-19
Eager to be rich or eager to pursue richness of God’s justice?
Story of poor Lazarus and the wealthy man
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Minutes from the September 15, 2022 Congregation Council meeting are now available.
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A snapshot of our
Finance Committee Meeting
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Please click the green button to find the snapshot of the Finance Committee meeting. |
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Please click the purple button to find the update from the Faith Learning Community Committee meeting. |
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You are invited to join us on Wednesday, October 12, 2022 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for our Voices of Faith kickoff Rehearsal and Reception in the Choir Room on the second floor of the Activity Center. All are welcome!
Regular Rehearsals will take place on one Wednesday evening per month during season. We will also gather on Sunday Mornings at 9:15 a.m. in the Choir Room beginning Sunday, October 23, 2022. The Choir will return to Worship leadership on Reformation Sunday, October 30, 2022.
Whether you are seasonal or full time; experienced singer or novice; soloist or shower-singer; church member or visitor you are welcome to join the Voices of Faith Choir. We have a place for you!
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This Sunday, September 25th, we welcome Pastor Bruce Potteiger from Food for the Poor as our guest preacher. There is a Faith in Action insert in the bulletin. We encourage you to consider becoming a supporter of this vital ministry.
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Readers Club - Starting in October |
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Readers Club will start in late October! Flyers will be available on the table in the Narthex beginning in October. This is a good way to grow and learn as we share and listen to each other's insights. Please join! |
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Pastor's Discretionary Funds |
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Our pastor is in the unique position of being able to speak to members of the congregation or the community about specific needs and aid they might require. This fund provides him the means to help financially when necessary. Please note that this fund is nearly depleted. Please consider a donation so vulnerable members of our community can continue to receive emergency assistance.
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What would you like to see on our social media accounts? Brief videos (by pastor and/or volunteers), photos, upcoming events, birthdays, anniversaries, announcements, prayer lists, etc.
Which apps would you like us to use? Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc.
Let us know! Send an email to the Office Admin.
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Please help us celebrate a life well lived. Our beloved sister, Karla Howell went to be with God at the end of August. Karla loved Faith and all its members. She regularly volunteered in the office, was chair of the new members committee, served on the council, taught Sunday School and was a member of Mary Circle. Karla was a gentle soul who always went the extra mile to help others and seek out visitors as they came to church.
So, let’s have a celebration! Come and join us on Sunday, October 2 after the 10:15 service for a luncheon in Karla’s memory. People will be invited to share their memories of Karla with those present. Mary Circle is organizing this event. If you would like to contribute some deviled eggs or desserts, please email Janet Petersen at luvstitches55@gmail.com.
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G.I.F.T.S.
(Growing in Faith Through Scripture)
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Ladies of Faith please join the G.I.F.T.S. (Growing In Faith Through Scripture) Bible study which will resume on Tuesday, October 4th at 9:30 a.m. in the conference room. All are welcome. Our study will be "Be Still and Know" by Deb Burma. We will unpack the promises found in Psalm 46 and fulfilled in Christ. We will examine stormy situations and see how Jesus met various women in the midst of their turmoil. Books will be provided, just bring your Bible and a joy in your heart to be in God's Word.
If you have any questions, please call Gwen Schell 402-613-1285 and she will joyfully answer your concerns.
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Please help to collect
school supplies
for Lutheran World Relief.
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Mary Circle is still collecting supplies to complete school kits for Lutheran World Relief. We especially need: 70-page spiral notebooks, blue or black pens ( not gel), rulers, crayons, 2 1/2 inch erasers, and blunt edge scissors. If you would prefer us to do the shopping just donate cash or check in the offering plate earmarked for LWR. A special thanks to Thrivent who provided us with an action grant of $250.00 to purchase the bags to hold all the supplies!
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Calling All Men of Faith! |
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Please join us on Tuesday 9/27 for another session exciting study of the shortest books of the bible!
Don’t let their size fool you, these short books pack a serious spiritual punch! Join us at 10 am in the Chapel. No prior bible study experience necessary! Consider inviting a friend or two as well!
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Adult Bible Study with Pastor Larry |
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ADULT BIBLE STUDY
TO RESUME ITS FALL SESSION
“LIGHT OF THE WORLD”
A Beginners Guide to Advent
Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School and College of Arts and Sciences will once again provide us with a Participant’s Study Book* and four DVD mini lectures. Our first four sessions will delve into Matthew and Luke’s accounts of the beginning of Christian experience the story of the birth of Jesus. The last two sessions will include a study of hymnody, with special references to favorite hymns of the season, and the stories behind them.
Do the differing birth stories from Matthew and Luke contradict each other? What does one make of Herod’s slaughtering of innocent children? How is Advent-Christmastide more than just a children’s holiday? Are Matthew and Luke totally interested in historical accuracy? Or are they interested in telling us about the connection of the good news of Jesus both to the story of Israel and to the gentile world?
Pastor Larry will lead this Six-Week study beginning Wednesday, October 12th and concluding the 16th of November. Each session is from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
IMPORTANT: In order to know how many books to order, please call the church office (941-924-4664) and inform Cate of your intention to join the study. In order for books to be available by Sunday, Oct. 9th, our cut-off date will be Oct. 4th.
We will meet in a second-floor classroom in the Community Center. Donuts and breakfast beverages will be available. ALL ARE WELCOME!!!!! (* Our Mission Endowment Fund makes these materials available free of cost. Blessed are we who receive.)
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One of the joys we experience at Faith Lutheran church is the beautiful fellowship and caring that we share together. We need YOUR HELP to enjoy that time together. Please sign up to share goodies on Sunday! They can be homemade, or store bought, and do not need to entail a lot of work.
We want to include sugar-free and gluten-free options for those who cannot indulge in those ingredients. Some suggestions are: yogurt cups, fresh fruit, breakfast casseroles, sausage rolls, pinwheels, gelatin cups & ready to enjoy packaged boiled eggs. Cleanup is easy too! We can all pick up our own leftovers to take home or save in the refrigerator or dispose of any that won’t keep in the garbage bins. There is a NEW sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex.
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Looking for a time to pray with members of our Faith family? Join on Wednesday at 11:00 am in the chapel for a time apart. 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 our time with Holy Communion. Come and bring your concerns and your desire to connect with our loving heavenly father!
If you cannot attend in person, we invite you cordially to join us via Zoom Meeting. Please click the green button below.
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We are excited to announce that there was a historic meeting with All Faiths Food Bank. We are currently taking next steps in completing our application and will start observing food pantry operations at other sites to understand the process more thoroughly.
We have filled out all the necessary applications and Pastor took his Florida Food Handler’s Course and passed! We need to paint the room and acquire new shelves and then we are good to go!
Our preliminary goal is to open a pantry that would distribute food one day a week. At this time, we believe that our distribution may be on Thursdays from 5-6:30 pm. We would need volunteers to receive food in the morning and sort it and other volunteers to bag food items for distribution and volunteers to greet clients, check them in and register them in the system if needed. This is a wonderful way for Faith to serve and love our neighbor!
In the meantime, we are still collecting food for All Faiths. Bring in any nonperishables, that can be gifted to others who may need them. There is a large barrel, in the narthex, just waiting for your items.
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Faith’s Bereavement Group will meet every Wednesday,
at 1 p.m. (unless notified) in the prayer chapel. All are welcome. 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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Would you consider serving as an Usher, a Lector, or as a Communion assistant? It is a wonderful way to serve and to feed your faith! No experience necessary! If you are interested in serving please call Joan Searles, Worship Committee Chairperson at (941)921-9896 or call the church office. Thank you for your prayerful consideration!
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ALTAR FLOWERS are a beautiful and meaningful way to honor/remember someone or a special occasion, while decorating our altar for worship. The 2022 Altar Flowers signup poster is available in Fellowship Hall.
The next available sponsorship date is September 25.
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, or $30 for 1 vase. Please make checks payable to Faith Lutheran Church and indicate ‘altar flowers’ in the memo.
Thank you for making Faith Lutheran’s altar beautiful!
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The Property Committee has identified needs that are not currently in the regular budget but are needed to maintain and improve our church.
Current needs:
1. Upgrade Narthex Restrooms to ADA (cost TBD)
2. Electronic Sign Upgrade on Beneva (cost TBD)
3. Touch-Up/Repaint the Gym (cost TBD)
4. Reseal the Parking Lot
Please consider supporting the church building by making a special offering. Any amount, small or large, is appreciated! To contribute by check, please indicate “Improvement Fund” in the memo. To contribute electronically, please visit our website at www.faithlutheransrq.com/online-giving or using via the Vanco Mobile app (be sure to select “Improvement Fund”).
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EMPTY INK CARTRIDGES COLLECTION |
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Please consider donating your empty ink cartridges to help the church and environment! When we bring the cartridges to Staples, we receive store credit from Staples to help offset office supply costs.
The ink collection bin is on the counter in Fellowship Hall.
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25 Pray that congregations engaged in mission planning and renewal will be guided and inspired by the Spirit, listening to God through Scripture and prayer, to the voices within our faith communities and to those outside the doors of our congregations.
26 Pray that we might grasp the tenacity of God’s concern for those suffering from poverty and hunger, here and around the world. Embrace God’s call to care for our neighbors in need and to end poverty and hunger through our shared compassion, resources, wisdom and resolve.
27 “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life” (1 Timothy 6:18-19). Pray that we will be kind, generous and attentive to God’s work in the world, trusting God’s favor and the promise of eternal life over wealth, status or accomplishments.
28 Ask God to bless our 65 synod bishops, presiding bishop and secretary as they gather for the Conference of Bishops to support one another, worship, study, conduct church business and help identify, invite, equip and support new leaders in the church.
29 Michael and All Angels Praise God for the unfathomable mysteries of creation and all beings that reveal God’s presence, power and will.
30 Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters This day of observance originated in Canada to raise awareness of the tragic legacy of government-funded Indian boarding schools, many of which were run by Christian churches. These schools forced children to assimilate to white culture by separating them from their parents and stripping them of their Indigenous cultures, languages and spiritual beliefs. The United States and the ELCA share this legacy. Ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness for the pain and suffering inflicted on Indigenous peoples throughout the history of our nation. Pray that we will view our national history with humility and work to correct the lasting impacts of injustice, for the well-being and wholeness of all people.
1 Give thanks for our older neighbors and siblings in Christ! Ask God to help us value, engage and nurture the skills, wisdom, faith and spiritual gifts of older adults and to respond to their diverse needs, circumstances and stages of life.
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09/07 Ragan, Kirsten & Jeffery
09/25 Cook, Dave & Cheryl
09/27 Innes, Mary & Bruce
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09/02 Hradek, Christine
09/02 Schell, Michael
09/02 Ruiz, Christian
09/04 Ashby, Susan
09/06 Clancy, Jerry
09/06 Olesen, Linda
09/08 Erne, Karen
09/12 Anderson, Beverly 09/12 Winemiller, Rebecca 09/13 Hradek, Alexis
09/13 Walsh, Betty
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09/15 Marer, Peter
09/16 Ragan, Peggy
09/17 Wilkinson, Keith
09/18 Campbell, Carol
09/19 Smirnow, Dieter
09/20 Verwey, Luke
09/21 Gaddis, Gail
09/22 Rosselot, Makayla 09/22 Schmeling, Thomas 09/25 Ragan, Steven
09/27 Innes, Mary
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Pastor: Rev. Eric Olaf Olsen
Church Office Administrator: Cate Teague
Weekly office hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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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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