Faith E-news        August 28, 2015 

Quick Notes and Reminders    

Please check the calendar for more information.


Food Pantry Item for August is 100% Juice in cans or plastic bottles.
                               June Donated Totals were 81 items and $515.00

This Week's Ministry Blog
Hypocrites  
 
"Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile."
 
This election season, out of the mouths that are getting the most attention comes: the praise of greed, the deceit of spreading unfounded rumors, the slander of women, the poor, and the stranger.
And the crowds roar with approval.
 
Out of the radio, comes a voice asking "What's wrong with slavery?"
And sponsors have not pulled the plug.
 
Out of the compromised internet comes proof of millions of married men desiring to commit adultery, evidence of their folly in paying for promises that would not be kept.
And many revel in their embarrassment.
 
Out of the news feed comes the toxic equation of envy and pride and weapons adding up to murder. It happens every single day in this country. But that day the footage was posted online.
And too many of us gawked and then hit "share."
 
In our scripture this week Jesus is trying to reach the self-righteous, the pompous, the arrogant, the better-than-thou's. He wants to point out the lie that some are better than others by what they do or don't do, the traditions they keep, the laws they follow.
 
Jesus is not just speaking to the Pharisees and the Scribes.
He is speaking to the entire crowd.
This is a message for everyone.
 
Sin comes from within.
It is in all of us.
All people are in need of forgiveness.
 
And no amount of hand washing can change that.
 
 Pastor Sarah


Children and Family Ministry End of Summer
Bash For All! 

Hot dogs, hot dogs, hot dogs!

It's good ole Lutheran potluck
on Sunday, August 30, 11:30-1:00. The Children and Family Ministry Team is providing the hot dogs, fun games, giving tours of the Sunday School rooms and more.

Please bring a salad or dessert to share. Come and enjoy lunch, fellowship, and fun!


Matthew 25 Outreach Ministry Meeting
All are Welcome!
 
Join us this Sunday, August 30, at 9:30 a.m. in the Faith Lights Room to learn ways you can be involved in outreach ministry at Faith. We will set our calendar of events this fall and share opportunities to serve our community. The mission of Matthew 25 is to invite all members to fulfill the words of our Lord to seek out those in need of loving ministry and then to minister them for our Lord. It is our commitment and mission as stated in I John 3:18 - Dear children, Let us not love with words or tongue, but with action and truth.


Sundays in September
 
In September we'll be RenewingFaith in worship and during the Sunday School hour (9:15-10:15). The following Sundays will feature continental breakfast and opportunities for all members to engage their faith in an active, fun way.

September 13: RenewingFaith Through Education - Children, youth and adults are invited to gather in St. Michael's Hall for a Sunday School lesson for all ages. Join us for a tour of the lower level Sunday School classrooms. Find out more about this year's educational opportunities.

September 20:
RenewingFaith Through Stewardship - Adults will gather in St. Michael's Hall for an update of the Renewing Faith Capital Campaign. Take a tour of the unfinished spaces, and learn about the upcoming changes.

September 27:
RenewingFaith Through Service - Adults will gather in St. Michael's Hall as the participants of the ELCA Youth Gathering share about their experiences. Learn about how you can serve others in the coming year. Join in and help out with a hands-on service activity.
 


 Join the First Tuesday Women's Fellowship     
 
The first meeting of the year will begin with a salad supper at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 1, at the home of Joan Strentz, 9306 Greenbelt Drive, Urbandale. Please bring a salad to share. Or, if instead you would like to bring a dessert (only two desserts are needed), indicate that choice when you make your reservation. Rolls, beverages and table service will be provided. Please respond (reply all) to Joan at [email protected] or at 278-5607 by Sunday, August 30. There will be a brief study of Session One, "Sabbath Keeping," in the September issue of Gather. For more information, call Susan Petersen at 223-0646 or Stephanie Hoff at 278-4003.


First Sunday Breakfast and
Donut Holes are Coming Back
 
Please join us each First Sunday beginning October 4 for breakfast in St. Michael's from 9:00-10:15 a.m. The remaining Sunday's of the month enjoy coffee, hot tea, water and donut holes from 9:00-10:30 a.m. in St. Michael's Hall.

Would you like to honor a life event such as a special birthday, anniversary, or baptism? Celebrate it with your Faith family by sponsoring a Sunday of donut holes. Cost is $50 per week. Please go to SignUp Genius on the church website under Quick Links or contact the church office to sponsor a week of donut holes.


Preschool Openings Available for the
2015-2016 Preschool Year
 
Seeds of Faith Early Learning Center has a few openings in the following classes for the 2015-2016 preschool year:
* Two-year-old Classes: Fridays from 9:15-11:15 a.m.
* Three-year-old Classes: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:15-11:45 a.m. OR 1:00-3:30 p.m.
* Four-year-old Classes: Monday through Thursday from 12:45-3:15 p.m.

To
Seeds of Faith Logobe eligible for programming, children must be the age for the class by September 15, 2015. Seeds of Faith offers quality faith-based half-day preschool programming for children ages two through five. A ministry of Faith Lutheran Church, Seeds of Faith utilizes the Creative Curriculum and the Project Approach to provide a developmentally appropriate preschool experience in a loving and nurturing environment. Our classrooms are center-based with an emphasis on learning through play. Seeds of Faith is rated five stars on Iowa's Quality Rating System (QRS).

To learn more information or to set up a time to visit, please contact Heidi LaBounty, Director, at 515-689-8334 or [email protected].
 

Join Us at Friends of Ruth
 
What is Friends of Ruth? Friends of Ruth is a women's Bible study that examines Christian issues in contemporary literature. This group meets on Fridays from September through May from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Faith. Join us for a morning of discussions, laughs and treats. Free childcare is provided. The first meeting is Friday, September 11 and we will start the videoThe Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst. Everyone is welcome!
 

Youth and Family Ministry     

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  • Confirmation: Confirmation Orientation will take place on Wednesday, September 2, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Faith. Attendance is required for all 7-9 grade confirmation participants and their parents! Remember to bring cash or check for fees. Confirmation classes begin the following Wednesday, September 9.
  • 7th, 8th, and 9th Grades: Save the date! Our yearly confirmation retreats will take place the following dates: 7th grade: September 18-19; 8th grade: October 16-17; 9th grade: December 4-5. Retreats run Friday evening until Saturday late afternoon. Be on the lookout for more information via email and snail mail.
  • 7th Grade: We're still looking for volunteers to serve as confirmation small group guides! Contact Jake Bouma with any questions, then sign up here → http://bit.ly/SGGinfo15. Training for new small group guides will take place on Wednesday, August, 26 from 6:00-7:30 at Faith. 
  • 9th Grade: Don't forget to be on the lookout for an adult to serve as your confirmation mentor for the coming year! Once your mentor is on board, please instruct him or her to fill out the information form here → http://bit.ly/FLCmentor15
  • Senior High: Save the date! Faith is hosting a Lutheran College Fair on Sunday, October 11, from 6:00-8:30 p.m. During the event, you'll talk with representatives from the 41 Lutheran colleges and universities, and learn why the Lutheran college experience is unlike any other! The event is free to attend and there is no need to pre-register.
  • Confirmation Parents: Join our confirmation parent text message list! Joining is easy: Just text message FLCCP to the number 68398!