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Sunday, April 28, 2024

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Worship Services at 8 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.

Acts 8:26-40

Philip teaches and baptizes an Ethiopian.

Psalm 22:25-31

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord (Ps.22:27).

1 John 4:17-21

God's love perfected in love for one another.

John 15:1-8

Christ the vine.

The Rev. Khader El-Yateem, executive director of Service and Justice for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, shared the following resources related to Israeli/Palestinian justice initiatives during the special adult forum on Good Shepherd Sunday, April 21. Pastor Eric encourages you to make yourself familiar with these resources.

Look for invitations to follow-up discussions about this important topic during the season of Pentecost.

• Sumud: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
• Welcome to Sumud: For Justice in Palestine and Israel.
• Sumud: April 2024 News.
• Churches for Middle East Peace.
• Jewish Voice for Peace.

April Stewardship Message

The most important aspect of serving the Lord

is simply making ourselves available. 

“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful”

(1 Corinthians 4:2).

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you!

Thanks to all Thrivent membership clients who have directed Thrivent Choice Dollars® to Faith Lutheran. The grant funds received from Thrivent help support our Faith journey and mission: “Gathered faithfully to love and serve God and all others.”

Through April 8 of this year, Faith has received a total of $686 in Thrivent grants:

• January: $280 thanks to Gail Lidinsky and Peggy Ragan.
• February: $224 thanks to William Herb, Janet Petersen, Peggy Ragan, Steve Ragan and John White.
• March: $182 thanks to Alf Kirkeeng and William Little.

Here's information about how Thrivent Choice Dollars® are transferred to and received by Faith Lutheran Church:

• Thrivent Choice Dollars® are electronically transferred directly into the church’s operating account at Synovus bank, generally on the 7th or 8th of the month.
• Thrivent provides Faith with the names and addresses of those who designate Choice Dollars® to the church along with the total deposit of funds. Thrivent does not, however, include the amount of Choice Dollars® directed individually by a person. That's because all funds distributed under the Thrivent Choice® program are exclusively Thrivent's funds and are never owned by clients. This also means that Faith can't provide tax receipts to people who direct Choice Dollars® to Faith, nor can a record of those Choice Dollars® appear on any giving statement from Faith.
• Faith does, however, sincerely thank each and every person who directs Thrivent Choice funds to support Faith's work and mission.

If you have questions about Thrivent Choice Dollars® -- or if you have updated bank, email or contact information -- call Thrivent, 1-800-847-4836. When prompted, say "Thrivent Choice.” You may also contact Patty McKee, financialsecretary@faithlutheransrq.com or 941-921-3709.

If you are a Thrivent member or would like to learn more, click here.

The Faith Memorial Garden, located behind the church building along Eugene Ave., is the site of special worship services, the final resting place for the ashes of Faith members and friends who have joined the church triumphant, and a place of quiet respite. Volunteers work diligently to maintain the garden and continually enhance its beauty.

The cost of garden maintenance is covered by the Faith Memorial Garden Fund. You can contribute to that fund here, or by designating a donation made by cash or check. Please visit the garden – you are welcome there. And thank you for your generosity. 

Adult Forum meets between worship services in the conference room. This Sunday, April 28, the group will study Lesson 2, "Making Space for God," in Volume 10, “With All Your Heart – Being God’s Presence to Our World,” in the “That the World May Know” video series. 

Men of Faith meet for breakfast and prayer at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 30, at Skillets, 8635 S. Tamiami Trail.

G.I.F.T.S. (Growing in Faith Through Scripture) Women’s Bible Study meets at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays in the library to focus on “Be Still and Know — A Study of Rest and Refuge.” 

The spring session of Adult Bible Study is focusing on chapters from a favorite resource: “Reading Biblical Literature,” with Dr. Craig R. Koester, professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary. Remaining one-hour sessions begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays, May 1-15, in the second-floor classroom. Pastor Larry leads the study, which continues with Psalms: The Bible's Songbook; Luke on the World Upside Down; and John on the Word Made Flesh. Light refreshments provided! Great discussion! Fun fellowship!

The Prayer Group meets at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays in the chapel to pray for all in need, our community, our nation, our world, and to share Holy Communion. Can't attend in person? Join via Zoom: Meeting ID 871 4720 3661. Passcode 041291.

The Bereavement Group meets at 1 p.m. Wednesdays in the chapel. If you or a friend is struggling with grief, this group is for you. There is strength and hope in community. 

The Readers Club meets at 2 p.m., Monday, April 29, in the library to discuss The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok.

Please join!

From 3 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, be part of the crew that will cook and serve for about 70 food-insecure and homeless siblings in Christ at St. Paul’s Lutheran in downtown Sarasota. To volunteer, sign up on the sheet in the narthex or contact the church office.

All ladies are Faith are invited to the next meeting of Mary Circle at noon, Tuesday, May 14, in fellowship hall. The agenda includes planning for next year, and completing and boxing personal care kits for Lutheran World Relief. Bring your own lunch; dessert will be provided. See you then!

Following the Children’s Sermon during the 10:15 a.m. service, Director of Family and Child Ministry Deborah Dornemann and volunteers help young people learn about the gospel through age-appropriate lessons and fun activities.

Are you interested in how Faith Lutheran can better serve families? Contact Deborah, familyandchild@faithlutheransrq.com or 941-914-7553, to find out how you can help. 

The Faith Mission Endowment Fund Committee -- Ann Greenwood, chairperson; Patty McKee, vice chairperson; Denise Kirkeeng, secretary; Terry Copper, treasurer; Rev. John Spittal, finance assistant; Marlene Radesk, marketing; and Karen Kolschowsky, grant coordinator -- is committed and passionate about helping to fund new ministries that are not within the current church budget. If you have a need, idea or question, please see any committee member. They are here for you and want to hear from you!

Mark your calendars, invite friends and register now for Vacation Bible School Day Camp, July 22-26 at Faith. It will run 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Thursday of that week, and will conclude at noon Friday with a special program for families and friends. There is no cost to attend, and lunch and snacks are included!

Taught by trained teachers from Camp Luther Springs, the five days of fun will include Bible study, worship, games, arts and crafts, nature studies and more.

Click the corresponding button below to get additional info, or to view/print a registration form and a health form. Questions? Contact Director of Family and Child Ministry Deborah Dornemann, 941-914-7553 or familyandchild@faithlutheransrq.com.

Please consider donating altar flowers in honor of a special occasion, in memory of a loved one or to glorify God.

The cost is $30 for one vase or $60 for two vases. For each week, we can have either one donor for both vases, or two donors for one vase each. Make checks payable to Faith Lutheran Church, and indicate "altar flowers" in the memo line.

Check the altar flowers donation board in fellowship hall to see if your desired date is available. If not, please choose an alternate date. The next open date is Sunday, June 2.

When you purchase altar flowers, your name and dedication will be published in the bulletin on your selected Sunday. To make a dedication:

• At church, complete an Altar Flowers envelope with your payment, and place it in the offering plate. Indicate your wish to keep or donate the flowers on the donation board in fellowship hall. You also can include a note in the envelope with your donation or call the church office.
• By mail, send payment with a note indicating your desired date and dedication, and if you want to keep the flowers or donate them.
• By email or phone, contact the church office with your desired date and dedication, and whether you want to keep or donate the flowers. Pay through the altar flowers option on the Faith website.



If you have specific requests about who or what facility should receive donated flowers, contact Judi Melander, judimelander629@gmail.com or 941-927-2502.

Coffee hour is an important fellowship ministry at Faith that needs additional volunteers. All you have to do is put out snacks and clean up afterward.

Please sign up on the sheet beside the coffee pot in fellowship hall. Questions? Contact Karen Naulty, knaulty@yahoo.com or 406-334-1063; or Denise Kirkeeng, kirkeengd@verizon.net or 941-468-6668.

Pastor Eric often speaks with people about aid they require. The Pastor's Discretionary Fund allows him to assist financially, when appropriate. If you can, please consider a donation to the fund so those in need can receive assistance.

The Faith Food Pantry now consistently provides food for almost 200 people each week! Please place donations of food and paper products in the white food pantry barrel. They will provide for many families in need.

Faith will pay for Uber or Lyft to bring you or others to worship or other events. Contact Pastor Eric to make arrangements, 716-352-0055.

Today, Friday, April 26

8:30 a.m., Jazzercize - gym

Saturday, April 27

8:30 a.m., Jazzercize - gym

9 a.m., Diakonia - conference room

Sunday, April 28

8 a.m., In-Person and Live-Stream Worship - sanctuary

9:10 a.m., Adult Forum - conference room

9:30 a.m., Voices of Faith Choir Rehearsal - choir room

10:15 a.m., In-Person and Live-Stream Worship - sanctuary

10:25 a.m., Sunday School - classroom

Monday, April 29

10 a.m., Lasko Funeral Service - sanctuary

11 a.m., Lasko Funeral Reception - fellowship hall

2 p.m., Reader's Club - library

Tuesday, April 30

8:30 a.m., Men of Faith Prayer Breakfast - Skillets, 8635 S. Tamiami Trail

9:30 a.m., Women's Bible Study - library

10 a.m., Jazzercise - gym

13 p.m., Feed the Hungry, St. Paul's Lutheran, 2256 Bahia Vista

6 p.m., Diversity Voices of Sarasota - sanctuary

Wednesday, May 1

9:30 a.m., Adult Bible Study - upstairs classroom

10:30 a.m., Prayer Group - chapel

1 p.m., Bereavement Group - chapel

Thursday, May 2

9 a.m., Receive Food Delivery and Prep for Distribution - food pantry

10 a.m., Jazzercize - gym

1 p.m., Stitch 'n' Chatter - room 212

4:30 p.m., Food Pantry Prep - food pantry

5 p.m., Food Pantry Open

6:30 p.m., Confirmation - conference room

Find daily Prayer Ventures on the ELCA website. Here are prayers for today and the days ahead.

4/26 Pray for the leaders, voting members and others gathering for the assembly of the Alaska Synod, that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and inspire them as they reflect on the mission of the church, choose leaders, and encourage one another to proclaim the gospel and serve our neighbors in need.

4/27 Pray for the leaders, voting members and others gathering for the assemblies of the Northeastern Minnesota and Virginia synods, that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and inspire them as they reflect on the mission of the church, choose leaders, and encourage one another to proclaim the gospel and serve our neighbors in need.

4/28 “Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen” (1 John 4:20). Give thanks that God loved us first, so that we might know unconditional love and mercy, and pass them along to all our neighbors.

4/29 “To the servant of God … every place is the right place, and every time is the right time” (Catherine of Siena, theologian, 1347-1380). Pray for the wisdom to see every moment of every day as an opportunity to honor God through loving, serving and honoring our neighbors in need.

4/30 Thank God for the gift of baptism, which affirms our faith, washes us clean with God’s love and forgiveness, welcomes us to the vast community of siblings in Christ, and grants us a new life of service and sharing the gospel wherever we go.

5/1 Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Give thanks for our Asian and Pacific Islander neighbors and siblings in Christ, and for their cultures, languages and contributions to our nation and church. Pray for the wellbeing of Asian and Pacific Islander congregations and ministries of the ELCA, as well as the work of ELCA Asian and Pacific Islander Ministries and the Association of Asians and Pacific Islanders.

5/2 National Day of Prayer: Join with our siblings in Christ in praying for the wellbeing of the church, our neighbors in need, and the leaders of our communities and nation. Ask God to help us resolve the problems and issues that keep us from thriving in unity.

5/3 Pray for the leaders, voting members and others gathering for the assemblies of the Minneapolis Area, Southeastern Pennsylvania, Arkansas-Oklahoma and Southwestern Texas synods, that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and inspire them as they reflect on the mission of the church, choose leaders, and encourage one another to proclaim the gospel and serve our neighbors in need.

Please remember in your prayers this week:

Marsha Anderson, sister of Gail Murphy

Rev. Steve Anderson, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Tim Anderson, son-in-law of Dick & Jetty Zarfos

Family & Friends of Tina Arnold

Kara Ashby, granddaughter of Pete and Carole Inkrott

George and James Ball, brothers of Alix Giannini

Anna Bancroft, 6-year-old friend of Alyene Weaver

Chuck Banta

Chloe Bennethum, friend of Gail Murphy

Allan Boardman, friend of Kevin & Linda Fewell

Sean and Rebekah Brett, son & daughter-in-law of Alyene Weaver

Charles Budreau

Jason Byrne, friend of Anita Wooton

Elise Carmona

Evelyn Conlon

John Conlon, son of Evelyn Conlon

Jordan Demers, cousin of Hannah Boyd

Eloise Dettmer

Philomena Dimichelle, friend of Conrad Zabor

Ken Dixon

Ryan and Valerie Donahue

Elizabeth Farmer

Judy & Robert Ferguson

Carolyn & Marty Friedman, friends of Marlene Radesk

John Gallo, friend of April Shettler

Andrea Gamboa

Amanda Gerber, daughter of Sandy Gerber

Laurie Good, friend of Ann Greenwood

Paula Haas, friend of Eloise Dettmer

Jon Hale

Alyssa Hansen, cousin of Lisa Olsen

Jeff Hansen, nephew of Joan Searles

Patricia Head, mother of Wayne Head

Michael Helpin, friend of Marlene Radesk

Christiana Holmes

Kevin Hooks, son-in-law of Anita and Jon Wooton

Tesa Inkrott, granddaughter of Pete & Carole Inkrott

Jesus & Rita Jimenez

Alf Kirkeeng

Lillian Lapenckas

Family & Friends of Kathy Lasko

Jacqueline Laurent, friend of Margaret Borrows

Diane Lewis, sister-in-law of Karla Lewis & Michael Leonhardt

Lois Light

Shirley Manning, friend of Margaret Borrows

Paul & Debby Maresch

Vincenzo Mariani, friend of Conrad Zabor

Annabelle Martone

Kathleen McBride

Judi Melander

Jeremy & Yvonne Mullins

Beverly Novak, cousin of Patty McKee

Olaf Olsen, father of Pastor Eric Olsen

Judy Osborn, sister of Peggy Ragan

James & Virginia Pease

Fran Perkins

Wally Pina

Kristen Pizan

Marlene Radesk

Fritz Rappold

Gabriel Rockwell

Ted and Carol Rodi

Floyd Ryder

Mike Schell

Phillip Schlueter

Family of Jenniffer Shaffer

Family & Friends of Fire Lieutenant James Joel Slack

Family & Friends of Donna Souders, mother of Lois Weaverling's dearest friend

Rev. John Spittal

Ron and Leigh Tarrantino

Werner Thomsen, brother of John Thomsen

Colette Thornbloom

David Turnbull

Alyene Weaver

Jon Wooton

4/25 Dave & Nancy Windish

4/30 Larry & Pat Liedel

5/2 Richard & Christine Sullivan

5/7 Lee & Helen Kohlhafer

5/16 Jason & Cecilia Thornbloom

5/20 Greg & Joey Larson

5/27 Kevin & Linda Fewell

5/27 John & Tricia Thomsen

4/26 Cecilia Thornbloom

4/30 John Thomsen

5/2 Chloe Millard

5/3 Shirley Dabringhaus

5/5 Kelly Ashlock

5/7 Doris Anne Prieur-Lucia

5/11 Mark Greenwood

5/11 Darrel Huggins

5/11 Jesus Jimenez

5/12 Todd Brown

5/12 Mark Nelson

5/13 Lynn Clancy

5/13 Lyna Jimenez-Ruiz

5/14 Lilian Moore

5/17 Ashley Garlitz

5/18 Christopher Degroote

5/19 Lee Kohlhafer

5/19 Dave Windish

5/23 Judy Carlsen

5/25 Pat Faubel

5/25 Susan Swank

5/25 Linda Urgo

5/26 Karen Knatz

5/27 Ron Walter

5/30 Christine Sullivan

If a birthday or anniversary is missing or listed incorrectly, kindly notify communications@faithlutheransrq.com.

Pastor: Rev. Eric Olaf Olsen

pastor@faithlutheransrq.com

Assistant to the Pastor: Rev. Larry Wright

larannw@comcast.net

Retired Pastors in Residence: Rev. John Hilficker, Rev. Marianne Powrie, Rev. John Spittal, Rev. David Wagner

Director of Family and Child Ministry: Deborah Dornemann

familyandchild@faithlutheransrq.com

Director of Music/Organist: David V. Patrick

musicdirector@faithlutheransrq.com

Lead Cantor/Music Librarian: Tom Tryon

thomas.e.tryon@gmail.com

Operations Administrator: Jenniffer Shaffer

officeadmin@faithlutheransrq.com

Communications Administrator: Linda Fewell

communications@faithlutheransrq.com

Congregation Council: Scott Rice, president; Lauren Wardach, vice president; Mark Nelson, secretary; Anita Wooton, treasurer; Jane Sanks, assistant treasurer; Jerry Cooper; Quyen Dang; Ann Greenwood; Peggy Ragan; Joan Searles

941-924-4664 | www.faithlutheransrq.com

Office hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday

Mission – Gathered faithfully to love and serve God and all others

Values – Mutual Respect, Honesty, Kindness, Service, Forgiveness, Commitment, Perseverance, Faithfulness, Compassion, Flexibility

CLICK HERE to view the current Constitution of Faith Lutheran Church.