Faith E-news    March 25, 2016  

Quick Notes and Reminders    

Please check the calendar for more information.


Food Pantry Item for March is Peanut Butter

Faith Feast 
The menu for Wednesday, March 30, will feature pizza, salad with homemade dressing, fruit, and dessert. Faith Feast is served on Wednesday evenings from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Come enjoy fellowship and a filling, healthy meal, all for only $5.00 per person ($4.00 for kids nine and under).
  
This Week's Ministry Blog 
 At Early Dawn 
 
 
There are those in my life who help me remember. I don't mean remembering as in dwelling on the past or as nostalgia. It's the kind of remembering that holds in front of me experiences and words that help me see the present moments better. Without the prompt of "do you remember..." sometimes I might just lose sight of something that holds great importance toward the future.
 
What we do as a community of faith on so many levels is this helpful prompting toward remembrance. I walk through these days of Holy Week aware of the ways we call to mind what we don't want to forget. We proclaim the mystery of the faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen and Christ will come again. Such things are not merely interesting facts to store away but a promise to live by.

The tomb is found to be empty. And two men in dazzling clothes bring the news of resurrection to the women who are present. The women are perplexed and terrified. The reaction is, well, understandable.   With such unexpected and unusual news it's no wonder there's fear. The news changes everything about their future. And it will immediately redefine the very next things. It will give a whole new meaning to hope.
 
"Remember how he told you" are the needed words here at the end of Luke's story. As the women remembered what Jesus said in Galilee they found the nerve to tell the others what they had heard and seen. The others at first could only hear the story as an "idle tale." But something happens in the telling. The news of the risen Jesus becomes their good news.
 
It is in the remembering and the telling and the celebrating that love finds its way once again into the heart of our fears, and doubts. We are raised up to faith and we can see with clarity of grace and courage!  
 
Pastor Randy
 
Come, celebrate; your banners high unfurling,
your songs and prayers against the darkness hurling,
To all the world go out and tell the story of Jesus' glory.
-        Rise, Shine, You People! ELW 665
 

Join Us for Easter Breakfast
 
Just a reminder that breakfast will be served Easter Sunday in St. Michael's Hall between 7:30 and 10:30 a.m. There will pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, fresh fruit, muffins, and cereal. All proceeds from the free-will offering breakfast will support our mission. We hope to see you there! 
 
First Tuesday Women's Fellowship 
 
The First Tuesday Women's Fellowship will meet at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, at the home of Mary Olson, 2768 NW 152nd Street, Clive.  The study, Christian Citizenship 101, from Gather will continue with Session Four, "Keep On Keeping On," in the April 2016 issue.  For more information, call Susan Petersen at 223-0646 or Stephanie Hoff at 278-4003. 
 

New Member Class 

A new member class will be held on Sundays, April 17 and 24 and May 1, at 9:30 a.m. The class will be held in Faith Lights Room at the north end of Messiah Hall and serves as preparation for those who are interested in membership at Faith. There will be an opportunity to review the basics of the Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective, to meet ministry team leaders and staff, and to develop new friendships. New members will be officially received at the worship service at 10:00 a.m. on May 8. If you would like to register for the class, please email Kala Zanoni at kalazanoni@faithlc.org or call 225-8334.
 

Women's Retreat   
 
Honoring Sabbath....Let It Go, Let God Grow.  This year's theme allows us to spend time in worship, discussion and activities; exploring how remembering the Sabbath day to keep it holy (3rd commandment) is God's command to us to let go the distractions of every life and grow closer to Him and improve our well being.  Friday, April 8, from 6:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.; Saturday, April 9, 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.  Cost is $30. Please submit your payment of cash or check along with your registration form which are available in the office.  Registration deadline is Sunday, April 3 - don't delay!    
   

Annual Congregational Meeting    
 
Our congregational annual meeting will be held on Sunday, April 10, at 11:30 a.m., in St. Michael's Hall. We will take time for the election of new Council members, Endowment Committee, Synod Assembly Voting Members, Nominating Committee, and Audit Committee. Make sure to pick up an annual report at the Welcome Center in the Commons after March 27.  

We Need You!    
 
First Circle Friends has grown in number of participants and need more volunteers in order to help with this wonderful service! First Circle Friends is sponsored and trained by Lutheran Services of Iowa to assist those persons with mild memory loss and/or early stages of Alzheimer's. Since they provide at least one volunteer for each participant, they are in need of additional volunteers in order to keep up with the rapid growth. For more information, please contact Larry Waage at 1-515-326-4851 or email at larrywaage@gmail.com or contact the LSI director of this program, Cannady Fritzjunker , at 515-271-7408 cannady.fritzjunker@lsiowa.org, or their website at www.lsiowa.org/fcf.
 

Children and Family Ministry     

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Save the Date
VBS at Faith 2016
 

Vacation Bible School at Faith will be Sunday, June 12 - Thursday, June 16, from 5:30-8:00 p.m. for campers ages Prekindergarten thru Junior High. Registration for campers and volunteers will be released after Easter.
 

Youth and Family Ministry     

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  • Current 6-8 Graders: Join us for SURGE, a local, two-night service-learning event scheduled for June 13-15. More information is available online at http://bit.ly/SURGEinfo , including registration information.
  • High School Seniors: Save the date! This year's Baccalaureate worship service and lunch is scheduled for Sunday, April 17! Fill out the online R.S.V.P. form at http://bit.ly/FLCgrad and be on the lookout for a letter in the mail with more instructions!
  • College Retreat: Registration is live for the College Retreat in Steamboat Springs, CO from July 28-August 1. It's open to all current college students and costs $200/person. Much more information is available online at http://bit.ly/FLCcollegeretreatFAQ, including an itinerary and registration information.
  • 6-12 Grade: A reminder that confirmation and SHYG will not meet during Spring Break and Holy Week (March 16 and 23). We will resume on Wednesday, March 30.
 

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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.