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Quick Notes and Reminders
Please check the calendar for more information.
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Food Pantry Item for April is Cereal Faith Feast
The menu for Wednesday, April 27, will feature grilled hot dogs and hamburgers. 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).
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This Week's Ministry Blog
By This Everyone Will Know
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What are we followers known for?
This week, join me in a little experiment.
Right now, our congregation is in the process of surveying the membership-asking for their perspectives on Faith Lutheran Church. What do we do well? What are our opportunities to grow?
The perceptions of our own members are important. They will be useful as we reflect on our ministry as it is, and where we go next.
However, something this survey process is not taking into account is what everyone else thinks of us.
Everyone else?
Yes, the wider community: our neighbors who live down the street, the people who shop and work in the businesses in the area, the people who pass by on University Avenue day after day, the ones connected to some other faith community, and the "nones."
What do they think of us?
What are we known for?
If you asked them, what would they say?
Would they have anything to say?
In these last moments before his betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion Jesus has some important parting words for his disciples. More than last minute instructions, it is a new commandment: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
This love is about more than just benefiting the disciples, the believers, the insiders. This love is to be a witness to the world, an identifying characteristic, a sign. This love is not to stay among the community, but radiate outward, in a way that others can't help but notice.
Are we known for our love?
I dare you, ask someone who is not a part of this congregation.
For it is from the outside looking in, that we will we find out if we are truly living as Jesus' disciples.
Pastor Sarah
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On Sunday, May 1, Sunday School will be held in St. Michael's Hall. We will kick off VBS registration and celebrate the end of an awesome year. Join us for the release party of the VBS music! You can register your camper, sign up to volunteer, purchase CDs, and swap/donate old t-shirts and purchase new one.
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 Thank you to the 100 Faith members who have already completed the Church Assessment Tool survey that was emailed out last Friday. We're hoping that every Faith member 16 years old and older will complete a CAT survey so the church leadership will have a broad range of perspectives for planning what's next. Please find about 30 minutes this weekend to complete your CAT. Also, note that the survey does allow you to step away from the screen for a break if needed as long as the window or internet browser are not closed.
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 Grief Support Group will meet at the church this, Sunday, April 24, from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Pastor Randy Olson and Barbara Cavallin, Ph.D. are the facilitators. Anyone who has lost a loved one, a family member, a friend or someone important to them is encouraged to come for this time of caring, sharing and prayer. It will be an informational as well as a support group. Please join us.
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On Wednesday, April 27, Michael Ferjak, B.S., M.A, Iowa Department of Justice, will inform us about the problem of human trafficking in Iowa and what the Attorney General's office is doing to combat it. Enjoy a lunch featuring taco salad bar and Mexican chocolate cake. Reservations are required by Monday, Monday, April 25. Please make yours by calling the office at 225-8334 or emailing mirandakurtt@faithlc.org. All are welcome!
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Parents who are expecting a new baby or who have new babies are invited to attend a baptism orientation. The next quarterly session will be held on Thursday, May 7, at 6:30 p.m. here at Faith. Please sign up for the class by emailing Kala at kalazanoni@faithlc.org or calling her at 225-8334.
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First Tuesday Women's Fellowship
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The First Tuesday Women's Fellowship will meet at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3, at the home of Marilyn Gibbs, 3900 98th Street, Urbandale. The study will be "Mary and Elizabeth: Sisters Across the Generations" in the May 2016 issue of Gather. For more information, call Susan Petersen at 223-0646 or Stephanie Hoff at 278-4003.
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Children and Family Ministry
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VBS Registration is Now Open!
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We encourage you to re-use your VBS t-shirt from the last 2 years (green or teal blue with Faith splash logo). If you have old VBS shirts in good condition that no longer fit, please donate them in the CFM office. During the VBS kick-off during Sunday School on May 1, you can swap/donate a t-shirt or order a new one. If your child needs a new shirt this year, you can order one on the Faith website for only $6 when you register.
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Youth and Family Ministry
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SURGE is a local, two-night service-learning event (think "mini mission trip") with home base at the Gathering House. Students and adults alike will have opportunities to witness God's love in Christ through hands-on service projects throughout Des Moines, while also enjoying fellowship with their peers. All Faith students currently in grades 6-8 are eligible to participate in SURGE, which is scheduled for June 13-15 (Yes, that's during VBS. SURGE will be the only 6-8 grade programming during VBS, but they can still volunteer as helpers). The event will begin the evening of the 13th and end on the morning of the 15th. Please check the website for complete details and registration.
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- 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.
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Registration for Vacation Bible School is now open! 
