Faith E-news    May 13, 2016  

Quick Notes and Reminders    

Please check the calendar for more information.


Food Pantry Item for May is diapers, pull-ups, and formula

Out-to-Lunch Bunch - We are meeting at Noah's Ark in Des Moines this Thursday, May 19, at 11:30 a.m. for lunch and fellowship with friends from church. All are welcome! Please make a reservation with Kala at 225-8334 or kalazanoni@faithlc.org.
 
This Week's Ministry Blog
As of Fire   
 
Wild. Destructive. Beyond our control. This is no Spirit of Gentleness.

Acts 1:1-21

When the Holy Spirit shows up in Acts,
it sounds "like the rush of a violent wind,"
it appears "as of fire" dancing on heads,
it causes those gathered to all at the same time "speak in other languages,"
and it draws a large, diverse, amazed, perplexed, questioning, even sneering crowd in from the streets.
 
A small, quiet gathering explodes into a cacophony of sounds and a disturbance of visions and an unruly riot of people.
 
It's like a wildfire, spreading fast and furious, igniting and consuming all in its unpredictable path.
 
We may be recoil at this representation of the Holy Spirit when right now high winds and fire are devastating communities to our north. However, wildfire is not inherently bad. It consumes the withered and weak and dead to clear the way for new growth. Following a fire, sun light is able to reach new places and the ash nourishes the soil. Some seeds will only germinate after a fire. Fire is part of the natural cycle of death and rebirth.
 
However, Fire becomes a problem for us when it threatens the structures we have built, what we've established, the things we want to maintain. This problem is only compounded and complicated by the ways we have tried to hold back and dominate the world around us. Fire is a problem for us because it reveals the terrifying truth that we are not in control.
 
And so, on Pentecost we may wonder:
 
Will the church open itself to the power of the Holy Spirit, a power, "as of fire"?
Will the church allow the clearing away of old for sake of clearing a way to new life?
Will the church receive the illuminating truth that puts us human beings our place?
 
If the Holy Spirit has anything to do with it, it will be, regardless of whether the church is willing or not. 

Pastor Sarah 
 
 
Preschool Celebration and Breakfast 
  Seeds of Faith Logo
Seeds of Faith looks forward to celebrating a great preschool year and thanking Faith Lutheran for the support and generosity at their annual Sunday Celebration on May 15. Seeds of Faith will be sponsoring a breakfast between services with a free will offering going to our HUGS (Help Us Grow Safely) program. Preschoolers, past and present, are invited to sing at the 10:30 service.
  
 
Messiah Hall Art Gallery - Meet and Greet
Samuel T. Larson
 
Samuel, a member of Faith, discovered a love of landscape while driving the rural roads of eastern Iowa as an art student in Milwaukee and then eventually as a geography student. At UNI, he learned the art of cartography and discovered another medium through which to create landscapes. His captivating and innovative work focuses on Iowa's geographic diversity and the demographic and societal shifts taking place throughout the region.

As a rural planner, his work focuses on land use and finding a balance between the pressures of growth and the preservation of agriculture and natural areas. He invites the congregation to view his work and draw their own conclusions about the transformations taking place in Iowa. His exhibition runs from May 14 - August 13, 2016. Please stop by Sunday morning to say hello and view his work.
   
 
Who Said Herding CATs Couldn't Be Done
 
Well done, Faith members! We're thrilled to announce 291 Church Assessment Tool surveys were completed. That equates to about 70% of our weekly worshiping attendance 16 and older. Wow! We are awaiting the results of the survey to learn what common themes surface. Stay tune! In the weeks ahead we will be sharing what we've learned, what will come next and how you can become involved.
   
 
I-Cubs Game and Tailgate

Tickets to the I-Cubs baseball game will be available for purchase in the Commons between services from May 8 - 22. You can also drop off your money at the church office. Tickets are $11 and includes tailgating before the game. Game day is Sunday, June 5, at 1:08 p.m.
 
 
Save the Date 
 
The Fellowship Ministry Team and the Golf Committee have started planning for the 2016 Faith Golf Outing. Everyone is welcome! All ages, all abilities. The event will take place on Sunday, September 18, at Hillcrest Country Club in Adel. More details coming soon.
 
 
 
     
 

Children and Family Ministry     

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VBS - June 12-16      
  
Summer is fast approaching and so is Vacation Bible School! Are you ready to follow Jesus, the light of the world, in an underground adventure? Not only is registration free this year, but you are encouraged to reuse your t-shirt from past years. If those shirts are too small, feel free to swap them out for a bigger size or order a brand new orange shirt when you register (http://bit.ly/2016_FLC_VBS). The deadline for a new t-shirt is Friday, May 27. Contact Andrea and Erika for more information at cfm@faithlc.org.
      
Parents, don't forget to sign up to help! There are many different volunteer opportunities available. Contact Michelle Zimmerman at michelle_havens@hotmail.com if you have any questions.
 
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Dinner Before VBS!     
  
Meals before VBS will be catered by Hy-vee and will be served at Faith from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Monday thru Thursday.  We need to get a count of how many kids and adults plan to eat at church so we may order properly. The cost is $5 per meal for ages 4 and up, and $3 for children under three years old. Please fill out this form  and return it with your payment to the church office by Friday, June 10.
Menu
Monday: Pasta Bar
Tuesday:  Taco Bar
Wednesday:  Deli Bar
Thursday:  Pizza 
 

Youth and Family Ministry     

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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.