Faith Lutheran Church
Bellingham, Washington
A "Reconciling in Christ" Congregation of the ELCA.
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September Newsletter 2011
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Go in Peace, Remember the Poor, Serve the Living God!
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Community Coffee Hour
& Open House
@ Faith Lutheran Church
Tues, Sept 6, 2011 10:30am-Noon
Please join us for this opportunity for local individuals and representatives of faith and justice ministries to network, connect, fellowship, and collaborate.
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Interested in a Men's Group?
Men's Group Interest Meeting: BBQ/Potluck
Thurs, Sept 1, 2011
6:00pm @ Don Early's Home
If you are a man of Faith and are interested in being a part of Men of Faith, contact Don Early at don.early@gmail.com or (360) 389-3394.
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Church Work Party
Sat, Sept 10, 2011
9:00am-1:00pm
Bring a pair of gloves, some energy, and a sense of humor...we would love your help! Let's get the place spruced up as we head into Fall!
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Blessing of the Bikes
(And other human-powered wheels!)
Celebration Sunday, Sept 11, 2011
Service Starts @ 10:00am
Bring your bike, skateboard, rollerskates, scooters, wheelchairs, and wagons to church! All are welcome. |
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Church Picnic/Potluck
@ Cornwall Park
Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011
Join us after the Celebration Sunday service & the Blessing of the Bikes (group ride to the picnic)!!
What to bring:
A food item to share, serving 8-12 people.
Table settings (plates, cups, utensils) for your family.
All are welcome!! |
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BLOCK PARTY
for the Faith Community Garden!
Sunday, October 2, 2011 4:00pm
@ Faith Lutheran Church
We're inviting the neighbors, the community, the gardeners, and volunteers to help us celebrate our first season in the Community Garden!
This will also be a fundraiser for the garden, with a grand pie sale, and other creative ways to contribute!
LIVE MUSIC, HOT DOGS, KID ACTIVITIES, & FUN FOR ALL!
Come, celebrate, and help us welcome the community!!
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Save the Date!
Faith Fall Fair
November 12, 2011
Faith Lutheran Church
Handmade Gifts Preserves Lefse Raffle Chapel Cafe Local Vendors
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Upcoming Dates to Note:
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Worship & Eucharist
Every Sunday, 10:00am
Every Wed, 12:15pm
Tuesday Daytime Bible Study
Each Tues, 12:30-1:30pm
Wednesday Supper & Holden Evening Prayer
Each Wed, 6:00-7:00pm
Men's Group Interest Meeting: BBQ/Potluck
Thurs, Sept 1, 2011
6:00pm
@ the home of Don Early
Community Coffee Hour + Open House
Tues, Sept 6, 2011
10:30am-Noon
Parish Life Committee Meeting
Tues, Sept 6, 2011
6:30pm
Fall Youth Night Kick-Off
Wed, Sept 7, 2011
7:15-8:45pm
Middle + High School
Church Work Party
Sat, Sept 10, 2011
9:00am-1:00pm
Celebration Sunday--Fall Program Begins, Blessing of the Bikes, and more!
Sun, Sept 11, 2011
Church Potluck/Picnic @ Cornwall Park
Sun, Sept 11, 2011
Following the service.
Parish Council Meeting
Mon, Sept 12, 2011
6:30pm
Habitat for Humanity: Painting Day
Sat, Sept 17, 2011
8:30am-3:30pm
Contact Carol Wendt.
Food Drive Sunday
Sun, Sept 18, 2011
Worship Committee Meeting
Tues, Sept 20, 2011
5:30pm
Greening Congregations Stewardship Workshop
Sat, Sept 24, 2011
Monthly High School Convo Begins
Sun, Sept 25, 2011
11:30-1:00pm
Parish Life Interest Meeting
Tues, Sept 27, 2011
6:30pm
Community Garden Block Party
Sun, Oct 2, 2011
4:00pm
Faith Fall Fair
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Note of Thanks
The Opportunity Council has purchased a new stove for Faith's kitchen!! Thank you for this generous gift!
Andrea Daniels, member of Faith's Parish Life Committee, and Anne Poulson, Director of Maple Alley Inn, have coordinated their efforts on this and chosen a stove that will serve the needs of Faith's kitchen well. Thank you to the Opportunity Council, all involved! It will certainly be put to good use!!
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Faith Has a New Childcare Attendant!
It is with love and gratitude that we say goodbye to Maegan Tillotson as our nursery and childcare attendant. We are grateful for all you have done for the children and families of this parish, and we look forward to seeing you and little Lucas around the church--you are part of our family!
We would also like to introduce our new childcare attendant, Alana DiMarco, who will be starting in the nursery the first week of September! Welcome to Faith!
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The Worship Committee would like your feedback!
As we plan ahead for the seasons of Advent and Christmas, we would like to know how the worship opportunities serve you. Specifically, have you or your family attended the 5:30pm Christmas Eve Service in the past few years? Do you find the early Christmas Eve Service to be a good option for you and your family? Please contact Pastor Sharon, Carol Wendt (Worship Committee Chair), or Renee King (Music Director) with your feedback. Thank you!
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AN INVITATION to men and women of Faith
From the Parish Life Committee
Parish Life Committee is more than baking, cleaning, making coffee, arranging flowers and ironing tablecloths!
The committee is looking at expanding into "parish care."
We have been asked to consider being involved when new members join Faith, and when members are in need of a casserole or a prayer. A few times a year, when moving and housekeeping at the church, we also have need for some strong bodies for heavy lifting.
Please gather with us and the pastor for a brainstorming
session on September 27, 2011,the last Tuesday of the month, at 6:30pm.
If you have ideas, concerns or questions, please call Nancy Holl or email her at samishlady@comcast.net.
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Thrivent Builds/Habitat for Humanity
Volunteer Opportunities!
The Thrivent Builds/Habitat for Humanity house in Ferndale is well on its way to being a reality, thanks to Lutherans and others from Whatcom County. There is still time to become involved. Work by volunteers happens every Thursday and Saturday. Anyone with sheetrocking experience would be especially appreciated between now and Sept 10. Painting and staining will begin Sept. 15. We would like to have a group of painters from Faith for Sept. 17th. Can you help? Please contact Carol Wendt for information and forms at 676-6224. |
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Food Drive Sunday:
September 18, 2011
Please bring items from list and donation checks to the church; checks can be made out to Faith Lutheran Church (Memo: Food Bank).
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Exciting Building News!
Property Committee Update:
This month has been a busy and exciting time around the church. In early August, the carpeting was completed when the chancel floor was covered. The last week of the month, work was completed on the window project. The new window was installed, cracked and broken stained glass panels were repaired, and all of the panels were stabilized. While the scaffolding was set up, the large speaker that has been a permanent (unused) fixture for many years in the center front of the sanctuary was removed. The anchoring that attaches the cross to the ceiling was checked and found to be stable.
Also this month, a new sound system was tested and has been installed. This should enhance the ability of all of us better to hear and enjoy the worship service. The sounds from the musical instruments are now clearer, and both singing and speaking voices project much better.
Special thanks to Tom Stieve for the many, many hours he has dedicated to the remodeling work that has happened over the past few months, to Maynard and Keith Pederson for their contribution in installing electrical wiring and conduits in the chancel, to the carpet selection committee for the many hours they spent in choosing the carpeting, and to Jeff McClure for his counsel and advice throughout the project. All of these improvements would not have happened without their many volunteer hours. Also, to all of you Faithful members for your support and contributions, a heartfelt thank you.
 
 
A Note on Building Use:
Due to increased usage by the Supervised Visitation program and our relationship with Maple Alley Inn, plus all the activities of our parish and the Ukrainian congregation, the building has become less available to outside groups for one-time events. As always, we prioritize use by local non-profit organizations, and do not reserve space for any person or group who charges a fee for their services.
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Stewardship Note
Faith-Based Advocacy
Last month's stewardship theme at FLC was Faith Based Advocacy, inspired by the recent adult ed workshop led by Karen Bloomquist. Faith based advocacy invites us to ask the question, how do we best manage our civic time, talents, and treasures in a way that aligns with God's vision for our communities? It then calls on us to participate in God's vision by raising awareness in areas where we are falling short and helping to build a bridge towards a new reality. Here are a few ways to do this:
1. If you missed the article in last week's Sunday Bulletin on this month's stewardship theme you can read it here:
http://bellinghome.blogspot.com/2011/08/faith-based-advocacy.html
2. For a full copy of the ELCA Social Statement on economic policy titled Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All, click here:
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Greening Your Congregation
2011 Creation Care Stewardship Event, Sept 24 9:30-3:00pm
Keynote speaker, Professor H. Paul Johnson, Ph.D., Marine Geology and Geophysics, UW School of Oceanography, Bishop Wm. Chris Boerger, and others!www.lutheransnw.org
Dr. Johnson will help inspire through learning--by looking at why as individuals and as congregations, we should care about a transition from oil to electricity for transportation; how to attract migrating and neighborhood wildlife and restore native habitat; and how to reduce our carbon footprint.
Afternoon sessions: Dangers in cosmetics & cleaning supplies; Electric cars; Free toilets; Community gardens; Help from the National Wildlife Federation; Solar panels for churches; Reducing your carbon footprint; Questions about scientific support for climate change.
Register by September 15!!
Lunch is included in the $15 registration.
Date: 9/24/2011, 9:30 a.m.
Location: St. John United Lutheran Church, Seattle
Address: 5515 Phinney Ave. North, Seattle, WA 98103
Contact: Diakonda Gurning
Phone: 425-231-2814
Email: diakonda@gmail.com
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Faith at Holden Village
Pastor Swanson will be attending the 17th Biennial Holden Theological Symposium at Holden Village, September 19 - 22, as part of her continuing education this year. The theme for the conference this year is Radically Incarnate: God's World and Church. Keynote speakers at the conference are the Rev. Dr. Karen Bloomquist and Dr. Dan Peterson.
For those who don't know, Holden Village is an ecumenical retreat center located 12 miles above Lake Chelan in the Cascades. A former Canadian-owned copper mine, the Village was vacated over 50 years ago and thanks to some persistent Lutherans (in particular Wes Priebe) was leased to the church by the National Forest Service.
Many members of Faith have had a close relationship with the community at Holden Village over the years: Steve Swanson presently serves on long-term staff, Keena Bean, Yvonne Sorter, and Allie Myers have all been short-term volunteers this summer, the Fairbairns and Jeanne Larson are regular visitors during summer program each year, plus many others including our high school people who attend the Holden May Youth Weekends most years. Jack and Kerstin Oman will be visiting Holden this September for the first time.
The Education Committee is planning to host a weekend retreat at Holden next Spring. If you are interested in this venture, speak with Chris Behee or the Pastor.
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Faith Community Garden
Food & Community: Planting, Growing, Harvesting, Building
  
Updates
As you can see, tomatoes are on the vine, crops are growing, and gardeners have been busy! This year's gardeners range from total beginners to seasoned gardeners, and part of the fun is all the learning that is taking place!
We have a compost bin, started by the workshop a few months ago, helped in part by Community First! Gardens. We have been adding to the bin vegetable waste from the feeding programs here and shredded bulletins from our services!
Volunteer Opportunities
Whether or not you have a garden plot, if you'd like to pitch in some time, David Campbell (gardener, volunteer, and staff-member at Faith) is hosting a work party every Monday, 6:00-8:00pm, until the moving of soil and gravel is complete!! If Mondays don't work for you, please contact us for other opportunities.
Events
Mark your calendar! Community Garden Block Party--Sun, Oct 2, 2011--4:00pm! Live music, food, activities for kids and adults, and pie sale! This will be a fabulous opportunity for gardeners, church members, neighbors, and community members to come and see the garden and celebrate our first year!
To volunteer in the garden, to contact a committee-member, or for any other questions, contact:
communitygarden@faithbellingham.org
Find the garden on Facebook!
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Global Consciousness
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
UPDATE: HORN OF AFRICA DROUGHT
in August 2011
www.elca.org/disaster
Two years of sporadic rain--and the driest year since 1951--have devastated the Horn of Africa. Crops have failed and drinking water is scarce, putting the lives of over 12 million people at risk. As a result, more than 3,000 refugees are flooding into refugee camps each day seeking food and water.
As a church that is called to do God's work in the world, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is already helping to provide enriched porridge for small children and safe water to all of the 500,000 people living in these camps.
Thanks to the generosity of ELCA members like you, ELCA World Hunger has helped protect African families living in drought for over a decade. Each year, over a million dollars of aid has brought relief to people in drought-vulnerable areas of Africa. And thanks to special gifts of members to ELCA Disaster Response, an additional $1.25 million has been committed to help those impacted by this crisis.
Your gifts now to ELCA World Hunger support long-term sustainable solutions to hunger and poverty. Your additional gifts to ELCA Disaster Response, designated for "Drought Relief," will be used in full--100 percent--in presponse to this disaster. Thank you for your generous offerings of prayer and financial support.
Give online, through your congregation, or send your check directly to:
ELCA, P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60694-1764. (Write "ELCA World Hunger" or "ELCA Disaster Response" in your check's memo line.
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Music at Faith
As we enter the program year, the following music opportunities are available for anyone who would like to join in making a joyful noise!
Adult Choir Wed, 7:15pm & Sun, 9:30am
Chime Choir Sun, 11:30am & Special services
Faith's Adult Choir has a wonderful blend of singers incorporating all kinds of voices--singing to God, for God, and about God.
Faith's Chime Choir is a mixed-age group who play instrumental music with hand chimes--musical experience is not required!
Join us!!
Because people have varying schedules, there are new options this year: join for a season, through Christmas, or longer. Some seasonal break downs for participation could be:
Early Fall
August 31, through October 30, (Reformation).
Late Fall
November 6, (All Saints), through December 18, (Advent 4), including Thanksgiving Eve.
Christmas & Epiphany
(Rehearsals from Dec. 7), December 24 through February 27.
Interested? Call Renee King at 733-3970 or 927-6331
Or email to
renee.king@faithbellingham.org
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Education @ Faith
All Ages
All Fall discussion groups, classes, and programs begin on Celebration Sunday--Sun, Sept. 11, 2011 (and that following week) and continue throughout the program year.
Godly Play (Pre-K through Grade 3) Sun, 8:45am
Godly Play is a Montessori-based children's curriculum that invites the young children into the sacred stories and the act of "wondering." Each session also includes a time for a creative response from the children as well as time for the feast (snack)! Godly Play sessions include a storyteller and a doorperson--roles filled weekly by a team of GP volunteers.
Life and Stories (Grade 3 - 5) Sun, 8:45am
For the older elementary-aged children, this class incorporates some of the elements of Godly Play yet with a slightly more practical tone. It engages the children, based one who and where they are, still incorporating sacred story, creativity, and the feast! Life and Stories is taught by Jared Ogle.
Confirmation Class (Grade 6 & 7) Sun, 8:45am
Confirmation class delves into the basics of the faith and the Lutheran tradition. Students who have completed confirmation class are confirmed into full membership in the church on Reformation Sunday in the Fall. Confirmation is taught by Don and Cindy Early.
High School Convo (Grades 8-12) Fourth Sun, 11:30-1:00pm
High school students are invited to a monthly (fourth Sunday of each month--after church) study and discussion on what it means to be young people of faith and justice, what it means to be advocates, and how we recognize and respond to need around us. Study is led by Jessie Twigg-Harris.
Adult Study Sun, 8:45am
The adult study group will going through the "First Light" DVD and discussion series by Marcus Borg & John Dominic. Study is led by Pam Behee.
Mid-Week Bible Study Tues, 12:30-1:30pm
The mid-week study group will also be going through the "First Light" series by Marcus Borg & John Dominic. Study is led by Renee King.
Faith Reads! Fall, 2011
We would like to introduce a new version of a book club at Faith! Faith Reads is an opportunity for us to coordinate our personal reading schedules and collectively read one title per season. This program will not have formal meeting/discussion times but will rather serve as an opportunity to inform our group consciousness, to stimulate coffee-hour conversation, and to open a common dialogue. For FALL 2011, the Faith Reads title will be: Jesus Freak, by Sara Miles. Pick up your own copy, or inquire about a loaner copy in the office!
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Middle & High School Youth
Special Thanks These Youth Volunteers:
An exuberant thanks to youth: Drew Markwood, Noah Markwood, Ethan Behee, and Mark Behee for volunteering several hours of summer afternoon time to come help move couches into the new youth room, distribute cardboard in the community garden, and shred bulletins for recycling! Thanks for giving back!
Recent Summer Activities
In August, the middle and high school youth took a trip down to the Seattle area, visiting Sky High Sports, and due to some unforseen schedule changes also ended up at a family fun center--not a bad stop on a hot day--bumperboats in the water and all kinds of other activities! We even stopped at Seattle's famous Dick's Drive-In for a greasy, yet delicious, lunch!
New Youth Room
The new youth room is taking shape--located in Room 3 of the church annex, we are excited to turn over a new leaf and continue our program in a new space! The former youth room is being converted into another adult meeting space.
Fall Program Begins!
Fall Youth Night Kick-Off (Mid & High School)
Wed, Sept 7, 2011 7:15-8:45pm
Come help us kick-off the youth year!
High School Youth Nights
Every Wednesday 7:15-8:45pm
We gather for games, activities, food, and laughs! Join us early at 6:00pm for dinner and Holden Evening Prayer with everyone else!
Second Wednesdays, serve CAST (6-7:30pm), followed by Bowling Night!!
Middle School Youth Nights
First Wednesday of the Month 7:15-8:45pm
The high school youth welcome middle schoolers on the first Mondays!
Confirmation Class
Sundays, 8:45am
Taught by Cindy & Don Early--meets in Room 2, Church Annex.
Monthly High School Convo
Fourth Sunday Monthly 11:30-1:00pm
Join us once a month after the service, starting Sept 25, 2011, for lively conversation about how we as young people of faith and justice can develop relationships and foster advocacy. Come and share your thoughts--join in the conversation!
Contact Jessie Twigg-Harris for more info:
or get more information on our Facebook Page!
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A Note From the Pastor
By Pastor Sharon Swanson
Brothers and Sisters,
Let us build a house where love can dwell, where all can safely live,
A place where saints and children tell how heart learn to forgive......
We are busy these days putting our house in order. By God's grace and generosity we are fortunate to own a building which serves a much wider community than our own-we share our house willingly-we also try and make the building accessible for all people, from the youngest to the elders.
Changes have happened: new carpet (different colors, different feel), altar platform extended (better visibility/sound, more open appearance), furniture and furnishings are moved around as necessary and in harmony with the seasons of the church year, repairs and upgrades have been made to the stained glass window (watch for dazzling colors against the altar wall when the sun shines through.)
An important thought to hold in balance is that while Faith is our church home, it is also a place of public worship. The church is never a private affair, catering to individual needs. We are Christ's body, a community, and we must always think of ways to include everyone and to make things accessible and safe. Furnishings and art are a part of this welcome.
Soon there will be even more change as the City of Bellingham moves ahead with plans for a roundabout at the junction of NW and McLeod - right outside our worship space! While this may seem like an unpleasant upheaval, it will increase safety for our neighbors and make the building more visible from the road.
If change represents a "growing edge," fear not! There will be plenty of opportunities to reflect on this in the coming months as we faithfully journey together into the future. Let's take comfort tin the fact that the things that matter most are unchanging: God's love for all creation, God's Word, God's gifts of bread and wine, the prayer that Jesus taught us, the rock of our faith, and the support of the community....these are the treasures to hold most dear.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of Christ shall end divisions; All are welcome in this place.
God's peace to you all!
Sharon |
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