Faith Lutheran Church
Bellingham, Washington
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April/May 2013 Newsletter
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TAKE THE PEACE CRANE PLEDGE!
Help us make thousands of peace cranes by Pentecost (May 19) to hang in the worship space. Sign a pledge sheet for your family! How many can you make? Post your pledge on the bulletin board at the end of the church hallway!
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NEW BIBLE STUDY: AUTHENTIC PAUL
Cranky misogynist or brilliant theologian?
Thursdays, May 2 - June 6
6:30-8:30pm
Taught by Pastor Sharon Swanson, the study will explore Paul's social, theological, and ecclesiastical legacy and why, without this extraordinary teacher, Christianity would most likely have remained a Jewish sect.
Sign up now at the church office.
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DINE OUT FOR MAPLE ALLEY INN
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
This is a huge annual fundraiser for Maple Alley Inn (meal program of the Opportunity Council--served right here at Faith)! All you have to do is take your family out to one of the many participating local restaurants--they'll donate a percentage of their profits from the day to MAI. For more information on restaurants, visit:
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NEW FAITH COOKBOOK COMING SOON!
Many of you shared recipes and stories over the past few months for the upcoming Faith Cookbook. You won't have to wait much longer! The draft us in it's final edit and headed to the printer soon. You can expect copies to be available at church sometime in May!
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CHURCH WORK PARTY
Pitch in and join in the fun!
Saturday, May 18
9:00 - 1:00pm
Young and old! Please bring your work gloves and help us do some spring cleaning! Get to know other Faith community members by pitching in!
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Weekly Sunday Worship
10:00am
Wednesday Supper & Prayer
Every Wednesday
6:00-7:30pm
Adult Choir Rehearsals
Wednesdays
7:30-8:30pm
"Authentic Paul"
Bible Study
Thursdays
May 2 - June 2
Wed, May 8
Wed, June 12
8:30am
Youth Serve CAST
Wed, May 8
Wed, June 12
6:00-7:00pm
Parish Council Meeting
Mon, May 13
6:30pm
Worship Committee Meeting
Tues, Mar 14
5:30pm
NW WA Synod Assembly
May 16-18
Church Work Party
Sat, May 18
Pentecost Sunday
Sun, May 19
Trinity Sunday
Sun, May 26
Bellingham Schools Out for Summer
June 19
Summer Program at Faith Begins
Wed, June 26
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CONCERT BENEFITING INTERFAITH COALITION
Attend the Interfaith Coalition Choir Festival, a concert featuring a variety of spiritual music, on Saturday, May 4 at 1:00 p.m. at Assumption Catholic Church, 2116 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham. The program will include individual performances by ten church choirs, concluding with two compositions performed by a combined choir of over 200 voices. Each year, the Interfaith Coalition Choir Festival offers an opportunity for singers and audience members alike to rejoice in the voices of our many faith traditions. An offering to benefit Interfaith Coalition programs, which provide homes, healthcare and shelter for all, will be gratefully accepted.
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FOOD DRIVE SUNDAYS:
Sun, April 21, 2013
Sun, May 19, 2013
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!
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FAITH READS
Announcing Book #2 for 2013...
Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?
Christian Identity in a Multi-Faith World
By Brian MacLaren
Sign up outside the church office to order your copy ($18) today! Faith Reads is a chance for folks to read some common material and for that to stir up casual yet provocative conversation within the community. Earlier this year, we read Living The Questions, a book that generated some important wondering about our assumptions and the fundamentals of our faith journeys. Join in the conversation! Order your copy today.
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CAST
By Donna Matthews
CAST Bread Buyers deliver bread to the church.
As many of you know, our sandwich program was started right here in Faith Lutheran's kitchen 13 years ago by Rev. Dick Christianson to help feed the hungry in our area. CAST now boasts over 150 volunteers monthly from many local congregations and students from WWU, and averages 240 volunteer hours per month! Our volunteers include those who make the cheese and peanut butter & jelly sandwiches as well as those who transport and serve the sandwiches, soup, coffee, hot chocolate, and other supplies downtown. There are four volunteer buyers who purchase the supplies and keep the CAST storeroom stocked. Mary Ann O'Hara and Carolyn DeSilva also volunteer many hours as Director and Assistant Director to keep the program running smoothly. Many different locations have been used as places to serve--right now we can be found at Garden Street United Methodist Church in Bellingham, Monday-Thursday weekly, 6:00-7:00pm.
Expenses run close to $1,000.00 per month and the program is funded entirely by donations. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans continues to be a proud supporter this year, awarding CAST a grant of $1,000.00. In addition, donations from the Loaves & Fishes baskets at Faith and personal donations keep the program functioning. Volunteers are always needed and always welcome. We encourage you to get involved and see for yourselves!
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FAITH WELCOMES NEW MEMBER!
Mel Melson
I'm a born and raised southern California girl with a Belling-Hampster heart!
I lived in CA until Kim and I moved here in Dec. 2004. When we moved, I retired from Beckman Coulter after working there as a lab tech/planner for 27 years. I am now working at Sterling Insurance as a Team Lead in Marketing. I have been a Snoopy/Peanuts collector from almost the day I was born and I'm always looking to add to my collection! I love most kinds of music and have a collection of 400 record albums I am transferring over to CD for preservation. I also have over 2000 cds with 1/8 of the collection being Christmas music! Music is a big part of my life. The most important part of my life is my partner of 22 years, Kim and our cat Shadow. I am so happy to have a new family here at Faith and look forward to getting to know you all.
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FAITH COMMUNITY GARDEN
  
Faith Community Garden is FULL for the 2013 Season! We have 13 individuals/families gardening with us this season and four full beds being tended by Maple Alley Inn volunteers growing food for the meal program. Community First Gardens provided us with a load of compost-blend dirt to top off all the beds this season, and we are grateful for their generous support of our garden. In addition, some vegetable starts were provided by the Bellingham Food Bank. We look forward to a season of growth and vitality in the garden, as we have plans for a new tool shelter, finishing a raised bed, and creating a new compost system!
If you would like to volunteer in the garden this season, please contact us at: community.garden@faithbellingham.org.
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FAITH YOUTH 
Youth Serve CAST Downtown
Second Wednesdays monthly
(Upcoming dates: 5/8, 6/12)
Contact Jessie Twigg-Harris for more info:
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PROPERTY COMMITTEE NEWS
Spring is a time of transition. A few months ago our long-time Property Committee chair - Lois Peterson - decided to pass on the role of caring for Faith's facility needs to a new set of hands. Lois has faithfully shepherded us through many years of annual maintenance, capital projects, and late-night and early-morning emergency repairs. Lois always approached projects with care and consideration, and was able to do great things with a very limited budget. Some of the many projects completed under her guidance were exterior and interior painting, roof repairs and roof replacements, new front entry doors, new ovens for the kitchen, new carpet for the worship space, new lights for the whole building, restoration and improvement of the stained-glass windows, new locks and keys for all of the doors, and new furnaces to keep us warm. She has also organized and led countless work parties weeding, cleaning, repairing, weeding, mowing, sweeping, raking, polishing, hauling, and weeding some more! We've all seen how this place shines for festival Sunday celebrations!
While there is always more work to do, our building is in great shape and provides a safe, inviting place for us to welcome the community to God's table. For that we are truly grateful. Thanks Lois!
Chris Behee - Parish President
The new committee chairperson is Greg Schnackenberg. The need for property maintenance is ongoing. An all-parish work party is scheduled for May 18th. Please let Greg or the office know if you are able to come , and also if you are interested in serving on the committee.
Mike Bates continues to be our liaison with the contractors and the City of Bellingham with regard to the roundabout construction. Many thanks to Mike, Jeff McClure and Myrna Hicks for all the hours they have put in on this project over the past years. The current date for paving the parking lot is Tuesday April 30. The end is in sight. Keep the Faith!!
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ELECTION OF NEW SYNOD BISHOP
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America exists in 3 expressions: at the congregational level; in synods, and as the churchwide organization (offices in Chicago).
There are 65 synods in the ELCA, clustered into 8 regions. We are one of the 109 congregations in NW WA Synod, with 45,000 members and offices in Seattle. We are also part of Region 1, which includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.
The pastors and congregations of the Northwest Washington Synod of the ELCA will be electing a new bishop at the Synod Assembly on May 16 - 18. We are grateful to retiring Bishop W. Chris Boerger, who has served two terms in office.
There are 16 people who have allowed themselves to be nominated for election. Of these at least 4 are well known to this congregation: The Rev. Chris Berry, Lutheran Campus Ministry WWU; The Rev.Dr. Eric Finsand, Christ the Servant Lutheran Church; The Rev. Dr. Karen Bloomquist; and the Rev. Kirby Unti, St Matthew's Lutheran Church, Renton
All the candidates, including biographical information, are listed on the synod website. Public forums are scheduled for May 4 and 5 where candidates will speak and be available for questions. The event in our area will be held at Salem Lutheran Church, 2529 N. LaVenture Road, Mount Vernon, on Saturday May 4th from 2 - 4pm.
Former FLC Pastor Dick Christensen is serving on the committee to elect our new bishop.
Faith delegates to the Synod Assembly are Chris Behee, Carmen Bean, Ethan Behee (youth) and Rebekah Swanson (attending as a visitor). All pastors and rostered persons attend.
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MEET THE PARISH COUNCIL
The parish council is comprised of the pastor and up to twelve elected members of the congregation, who each serve for three years. The council meets monthly and provides general oversight of the life and activities of the congregation, and in particular its worship life. The duties of the council include (and aren't limited to) the following:
1. To lead the congregation according to its mission in planning, member involvement, and goals and priorities.
2. To support and oversee the staff.
3. To have responsibility over financial and property matters of the congregation.
4. To promote a climate of peace and goodwill within the congregation.
Since the work of the parish council is so important to our life together as well as requiring significant commitment, we'd like to make sure you know who these individuals are! Talk to them--get to know them--these are leaders among you!
   
Chris Behee (Pres) Carmen Bean (VP) Dick Clark (Treas) Cindy Early (Secr)
   
Brian MacNevin Kim Bradley Brad Stephan Myrna Hicks
  
Bob Riesenberg Rochelle Wolber Lori Olson
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LIFE AT FAITH
Go. Remember. Serve.
Throughout this season of Easter, we look for ways to recognize and participate in the resurrection all around us. We are an Easter people! Over the past months, we have journeyed from Lent into Easter, celebrating the sacred stories of our faith along the way on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. This is the way we walk through the year...
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FROM THE PASTOR
Christ is Alive! Let Christians sing. The cross stands empty to the sky. Let streets and homes with praises ring. Love, drowned in death, shall never die.
ELW 389
Brian Wren's fine text describes the Easter season at Faith very well especially the bit about streets ringing with praise....at least, that's how I'm choosing to interpret the noises of construction outside our building! After a while the jackhammers, drills, and bulldozers make their own kind of music. Just take a look at another beloved hymn "Earth and All Stars," by the late Herb Brokering.
During the Easter season our worship continues to relate dynamically to the culture around us in different ways:
1. It is transcultural, the same substance for everyone, everywhere, beyond culture.
2. It is contextual, varying according to the local situation (both nature and culture).
3. It is counter-cultural, challenging what is contrary to the gospel in a given culture.
4. It is cross-cultural, making possible the sharing between different cultures (The Christian Life: Baptism and Life Passages, p.212)
I know that many of you are concerned about the close proximity of the roundabout as construction proceeds. Think of it as Faith Lutheran Church emerging from the woods to come closer to the world that we serve. Occasional sirens en route to an accident or the ER can become, as my friend Jerry Evenrud would say, "A kyrie for the world: Lord have mercy."
The story of the Resurrection is indeed transcultural. It is the first content of faith for the early followers of Jesus, the theme of their message going out to the world as they knew it, and down through the centuries to us. A message which continues to be deeply counter-cultural , which defies the power structures of the world around us, and privileges the poor and marginalized.
Christ is alive! No longer bound to distant years in Palestine, but saving, healing, hear and now, and touching every place and time.
Amen and God's peace!
Sharon
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