Faith E-news     November 20, 2015 

Quick Notes and Reminders    

Please check the calendar for more information.


Faith Feast Menu 
On Wednesday, November 25, Faith Feast and Faith Night activities will not be meeting due to the holiday. Enjoy your Thanksgiving celebrations. All scheduled activities will resume on Wednesday, December 2.
 
Food Pantry Items for November are Whole Grain Pasta and/or Spaghetti Sauce in plastic jars

This Week's Ministry Blog 
As Grains of Wheat 

John 18:33-37

After worship every Sunday, I stand at the entrance and extend greetings. I like being outside and I am often asked if I will continue the practice when winter settles in. Sundays come around rather quickly and by being at the front doors it helps me to be mindful of the way the gospel keeps inviting us back. And it helps me to be aware of how the gospel goes forth into the world through the lives of others. I feel the very movement of our witness in that part of our "worship."  

Christ the King Sunday is the last Sunday of the liturgical season. Advent begins a new one. We move from the year of Mark to the year of Luke. Always centered in the proclamation of the gospel we as a congregation are shaped by our worship life from week to week. While it all may feel like a matter of routine we do trust that something real is at work in our hearts and among us. There is a presence that draws us back into a living relationship with the God of promise.

While we may be filled with plenty of distractions, the weekly gatherings of the Christian community keep bringing us back to our identity and to the truth of "whose" we are. So over time the very formation of faith is taking place and we discover the significance of this kind of belonging. Here we find a rhythm to our daily lives: gathering and sending; receiving and giving; listening and speaking; resting and working.

Christ the King Sunday brings perspective to the busy weeks. Looking back through the seasons we feel grateful for the on-going expressions of living the faith in community with one another. This last Sunday of the church calendar is a helpful reminder that the reign of Christ is a gentle rule of love for healing and wholeness.  In the good gifts received and in the challenges given we embrace this duty and delight to gather and to serve through the seasons of our lives.        

Merciful God, as grains of wheat scattered upon the hills were gathered to become one bread, so let your church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom, for yours is the glory through Jesus Christ, now and forever, now and forever. Amen (
Sundays & Seasons 2015: Augsburg Fortress)

Pastor Randy 

Adult Sunday School 
   
This Sunday: "The Songs of Advent: Why we don't sing Joy to the World on Thanksgiving weekend?" Join Dr. David Johnson in Messiah Hall 203 to discuss the importance of Advent hymns and ask the question, "Why do some of these Advent hymns fall into obscurity?"
Next Sunday, November 29, will feature Christmas Traditions. Fun for all ages. You are invited to bring your favorite Christmas treat, craft, or game to share during the Sunday School Hour in St. Michael's Hall.
 

Mosaic Giving Tree    

green-wrapped-present.jpg Look for the Mosaic Giving Tree decorated in the Commons where you can pick out a tag, buy the items listed on it, wrap them and return them under the tree. These gifts bless the residents of MOSAIC, who have mental and physical disabilities significant enough that they can't provide for themselves. Mosaic will pick up all the wrapped gifts on Wednesday, December 16.
 

First Tuesday Women's Fellowhsip     

The First Tuesday Women's Fellowship will begin the holiday season with a Christmas supper at Susan Petersen's home, 927 40thStreet in West Des Moines, on Tuesday, December 1, at 6:30 p.m. Please bring a hors d'oeuvre, salad, side dish or dessert to share. The main course (lemon chicken), beverage and table setting will be provided. Please let Susan know if you plan to attend on or before November 29 at 223-0646 or by e-mail at susansandholmp@gmail.com.

We will share in "Imagining: An Advent Lesson" from the December Gather. In addition, if you would like, plan to participate in an "inspiration exchange" by bringing along a holiday-related poem, brief story, anecdote or other short reading of significance to you to share with the group. For more information, contact Susan at the telephone number or e-mail address above or Stephanie Hoff at 278-4003 or atsah@netins.net.
 

Meals for Crestview Families    

Faith Lutheran Church and Clive Lions Club are partnering this holiday season to deliver meals to Clive Crestview Elementary School families the second week of December. The Clive Lions Club will be donating the perishable items and need our help with the non-perishable food items, which include: dry beans, white rice, tuna, salmon, sardines, canned chicken, flour (5 lbs.), and sugar (4 lbs.). The hope is to collect 60 of each item to make holiday gift baskets. Donations will be taken now until Sunday, December 6. Donation boxes are located in the Commons. Please contact Paul Bissinger at 987-5514 or dpbissi@gmail.com or Andrea Stone at acneuman@yahoo.com if you have questions.
 

Guys' Night Out    

Guys Night Out will be celebrating Thanksgiving this month by eating the appropriate food: BACON! Join them on Monday, November 30, at 7:00 p.m. at Jethro's Bacon Bacon in West Des Moines. Please let Dave Eppert (710-8558 ) or Tim Tessier (707-0880) know if you will be attending by sending a text or sending an email to flcgno@gmail.com. Hope to see you there!
 

Luther Park Gifts     

It is time for us to think of Christmas gifts for the residents of the Luther Park campus. Vi Munsch, Faith's Luther Park Representative, placed copies of idea's for you to take with you on the Community bulletin board or you download a copy here. Please take one with you and place your gifts in the Christmas box in the entryway. You have been very generous in the past and the hope is you can give again. Thank-you in advance!  
 

Green Hymnals Available      

Would you like to have one of the old green hymnals, the LBW? We have several available. Contact Kala at 225-8334 or kalazanoni@faithlc.org if you are interested. No cost.
 
 

Worship Helpers Needed     

Don't forget that we need greeters, communion servers, worship coordinators and lectors during the month of December and on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. If you can help, please contact Kala at 225-8334 or  kalazanoni@faithlc.org or go to SignUp Genius.  
 

General Giving       

 
 

Children and Family Ministry     

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Cookie Exchange        

Come to the Cookie Exchange on Friday, December 4, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in St. Michael's Hall. Bring two dozen cookies to share plus 8 to 12 for tasting. We will have dinner together first, then walk around the cookie table to fill our containers with delicious cookies! Don't forget to bring your Tupperware! Bring your daughters, aunts, grandmas, godmothers, and anyone you think would enjoy this event! Please let Kala know if you plan to attend.
 

Youth and Family Ministry     

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2016 Youth Mission Trip Registration       

Registration is now open for the 2016 mission trip to Minnesota's Leech Lake Indian Reservation! Any Faith student (and their friends) currently in 9th through 12th Grades are eligible to participate in the Leech Lake mission trip, which is scheduled for July 9 through 15, 2016. As in the past, we're partnering with the mission organization YouthWorks! to offer an eye-opening experience in the Leech Lake Reservation, which is surrounded by the Chippewa National Forest. Students and adults alike will have unique opportunities to witness to God's love in Christ through hands-on service projects like assisting with home improvement projects, providing children's programs, and maintaining community gardens. To register, you must go to www.faithlc.org/youth-mission-trip to fill out the appropriate forms.
 
 

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Do you have questions or comments regarding this publication?  Please contact Miranda at mirandakurtt@faithlc.org or 225-8334.  We welcome your feedback.