Faith E-news    June 10, 2016  

Quick Notes and Reminders    

Please check the calendar for more information.


Out-to-Lunch Bunch You are invited to come to lunch at Gilroy's on Eighth Street in West Des Moines this Thursday, June 16, at 11:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome! Please make a reservation with Miranda at 225-8334 or mirandakurtt@faithlc.org.
 
Food Pantry Item for June is canned fruit and vegetables
 
This Week's Blog
Hospitality 
 
 
VBS 2014
Luke 7:36-8:3

It's finally here, vacation bible school week!  We feel like the mothers of the bride, just before the wedding. We are constantly monitoring the weather forecasts, double checking our to-do lists, finalizing with vendors and volunteers, and we have our fingers crossed that we have not forgotten anything. Nothing is certain until the event actually starts. Invitations were sent a few months ago, now we must wait for the kids to show up. After all, all of our preparation and planning all comes down to what this means for the kids - how can we engage them in the lessons, the crafts, the games?

This is the first year that there is no charge for a child to attend VBS at Faith! It is our hope to make this a true outreach project of our ministry. Children made invitations to invite their friends from school. We want children from across the community to attend VBS, even if they can only come for one or two nights. We want children who have never attended church here to feel loved, to feel welcomed here, to make new friends and grow friendships that may have already started at school.

In the gospel lesson this week we will learn about the woman who cleaned Jesus' feet. She was not invited to the dinner at Simon's house, but went anyway to meet Jesus and show him love. While she was the least "desirable" guest, she showed the greatest hospitality to Jesus.

Hospitality is a common theme during VBS. Of the over 125 children attending, some of the kids are members, arriving full of confidence and knowing many people here. Others may be preschool students or members of our community attending Vacation Bible School for the very first time. But amazingly, they all come to VBS with open hearts, with the desire and ability to faithfully and happily jump into new friendships and new experiences. Are we as adults that open? How quickly do we offer our hand to someone we have never met on Sunday morning? Do we have to wait for an invitation to join that bible study or volunteer for an event; and are we inviting new faces to participate or are we more comfortable asking those we know will say yes?

The challenge is for us all to learn from the woman in the Gospel and from our children when it comes to our level of hospitality, to jump in headfirst like our kids, without fear, to welcome new people, new experiences, and to do it with our hearts full of Jesus' love for us. Let's start with VBS. We think the most uplifting part is the closing celebration (which begins each night at 7:40). If you have ever witnessed the sanctuary full with over 125 children singing and dancing you will know you have seen God's love in action. We invite you to come, join us and witness God's love and the hospitality of our children! They make it seem so easy!

Erika Weber and Andrea Stone, Interim Directors of Children and Family Ministry 
 

Cancer Support Group  

The Cancer Support Group will meet at the church Sunday, June 12, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in the Adult Education Room. Jan Stegeman, R.N. and Barbara Cavallin, Ph.D. are the facilitators. Anyone who is dealing with cancer, has a friend or relative who is, or is dealing with the loss of a loved one from cancer, is encouraged to come for this inspirational, compassionate, uplifting time of devotion, information, sharing, caring and prayer. If you have any materials that you would like to share with the group, please bring them and join us.
 
 
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.
 

Faith Book Club  

The Faith Book Club meets in homes on the third Tuesday of the month. Our next meeting will be June 21, at 7:00 p.m. at Beth Carlson's house. The book is Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and my Journey from Homeless to Harvard by Liz Murray. For July, we will read The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. Please contact Sara Broadrick at sbroadrick75@gmail.com or 515-528-6881 for more information or to be added to the group's email distribution list.
 
 
Faith Hosting Family Promise June 26-July 3   
 
Family Promise Our congregation will be hosting Family Promise-homeless families with children-at the Gathering House from Sunday, June 26, - Sunday, July 3. There will again be opportunities to prepare and/or serve meals, to host during the evening or overnight, and help set up and take down needed supplies. Sign-up sheets and additional information will be available in the Commons between services during the next several weeks. Please help us in providing for our guest families.
 
 
 
     
 

Children and Family Ministry     

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VBS - It is Almost Here!
 
VBS Starts this Sunday! Are you coming? It's not to late! Go to http://bit.ly/2016_FLC_VBS to  sign up.
 
 

Youth and Family Ministry     

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Senior High Lock-in

Registration for next weekend's senior high lock-in is now open!
 
All 9-12th grade students and their friends are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please read through the lock-in FAQ at http://bit.ly/FLClockinFAQ and then register online at http://bit.ly/FLClockin16.

 

Youth Mission Trip


On July 9-12, 2016, 38 youth and 8 adults will be spending a week at the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota.

 

* Save the Date: Next Meeting is Tuesday, June 21, at 6:00 p.m. for all participants and parents.
 

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.
 

Archived Faith E-news

Did you miss last week's Faith E-news? You can find archived E-news on Faith's website under Archived  E-news button on the homepage.
  
Do you have questions or comments regarding this publication?  Please contact Miranda at mirandakurtt@faithlc.org or 225-8334.  We welcome your feedback.