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The monthly newsletter of Faith Lutheran Church
February 2013
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40And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' Matthew 25:40
Lent is upon us this month. It is a bit early this year, but given the January most of us have had perhaps that is for the better. Lent is a season of discipline and renewal. More specifically it is about focusing on the discipline of maintaining our side of our relationship with God. It is the forty days when many people give something up-as Jesus did in the desert at the start of his public ministry-to remind them that in all things we rely on God. As you may remember from last year, I am a bigger fan of taking something up instead of giving something up. Take up a new form of devotion, an extra type of service to others, additional people or circumstances to hold in prayer...something that helps you build your spiritual muscles. This year for our Lenten discipline I am extending a Lenten challenge, if you will.
Our relationship with God is multidirectional. The obvious direction is God to us. Jesus came down and died for us. From the Small Catechism, Luther's explanation of the Second Article of the Creed: "God has given me and still preserves my body and soul...God daily and abundantly...all the necessities and nourishment for this body and life." The direction we work on in Lent is us to God. However, this direction is based, at least in part, on a different direction: that of us to neighbor. (There is a great visual for this in the sign and shape of the cross. If you have trouble visualizing it, just ask and I will be glad to help.) We can NOT maintain our part of our relationship with God without focusing on other people. At the same time, focusing on our neighbor (another big theme in Luther's writings and thus our particular theology) not only maintains our relationship with God; that relationship is strengthened by our relationships with those around us.
So a Lenten challenge... I want each of you to pray more. I know you pray in whatever way is comfortable to you. Take it up a notch. Step outside your comfort zone. Commit to praying for OTHERS this Lent in a way that you have not before or are not used to. You do not need to know their specific situation. Just saying a person's name in prayer lifts them before the Creator who knows all things. And they do not need to know that you lifted them in prayer if you do not want to tell them (though it seldom hurts to know someone has prayed for you). Be creative in your prayer. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Pray through the FLC directory. Pick a member or family a day and lift them in prayer.
- Make a list of your family and/or friends. Pray for them one a day with specifics or just lift the whole list simply by name everyday
- Pray for the ministry teams of the congregation i.e. Council, Worship, Mission, CET, Renewal, etc.
- Choose a stranger each day: the clerk at the grocery store, the guy in the car next to you at the light, the conductor of the train that has traffic stopped, etc...Learn their name if you can, and lift them before their creator. They do not have to be a believer to benefit from your prayer.
- Community leaders, emergency responders, elected officials, synod pastors...
I think you get the idea. Pray for them, by name if possible. Lifting up those around you helps you be more aware of you connection to God's creation and to God.
Starting the 1st Sunday in Lent we will add a piece to our community prayers as well. I have not quite worked out the logistics yet, but it will probably be some form of praying through the membership over the season of Lent.
Lent begins Ash Wednesday, February 13. Make your plan now and take up praying then!
+By his cross,
Pastor Thad |
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A Message from Bishop Miller
 Discipleship
Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and
take you where you do not wish to go (John 21:18-19).
For a long time I resisted using GPS mapping devices. They took all the fun out of discovering
where I was going. Additionally, I've lived almost my entire life on the territory of this synod. Chicago is home, family, community, history. I know my way around-so who needs some
robotic coach explaining where to go or how to get there? Eventually I gave in. I discovered that it was reassuring, especially when running late, to count on a voice of authority to guide me to the community waiting to welcome me. I felt this way until I pulled out of my driveway one Sunday morning to preach at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hinsdale and, in my haste to program the endpoint into the machine, my big thumb accidentally hit the location
of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Park Ridge-which is actually about a block and a half from my house. It's more than a little embarrassing to admit to you that I dutifully allowed this machine to lead me around in a circle through my own neighborhood three times before I realized that something was wrong! So much for being obedient to the prescribed program.
It is easy to do. It is easy to think that all there is to living life well is to follow the steps, respond to directions, trust the program-only to discover that just following the path someone places before you isn't quite enough to get you where you intend to go. Sometimes you still end up in a blind alley ... or a dead end ... or just endlessly driving around in circles ....
It's both reassuring and a little terrifying to listen in on the conversation between the risen Jesus and Peter at the end of John's Gospel. Jesus makes it clear that Peter's discipleship is not going to be as simple as following preprogrammed directions. Sometimes discipleship means going to a place we don't want to go to at all.
Lent is a season traditionally marked by a renewed commitment to discipleship. It often starts with a retelling of Jesus being led by the Spirit into the desert for 40 days-no doubt a place he did not wish to go. True discipleship is not precisely an act of compliance at all. It's an act of surrender-surrender to a bewildering, unpredictable and not particularly sensible lifelong love affair with Jesus Christ, who always seems to lead us into ventures of which
we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown, toward places we never, ever intended to go. And it is from there-from that place right there-that we, who have chosen to follow him, are called to feed his sheep and tend his lambs.
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Christian Education Team (CET)
Cross-Generational Sunday School in February The Christian Ed Team welcomes all disciples! On February 17 and 24, we will host a cross-generational Sunday School at Faith. The program is called "Everyday Disciple" and it will allow us to engage the Bible in new ways and with new energy. On Sunday, February 17, we will introduce Martin Luther as a person whose life was changed by reading the word of God. We'll see a skit and make Luther Roses as we hear about and discuss Martin Luther. On Sunday, February 24, we'll all participate in a game called "Dwell in You" and make an all-congregation Bible verse chain and mezuzahs. We'll be reminded to not just keep the Word inside us but to spread it around! "Everyday Disciple" will take place during our normal Sunday School hour, 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Continental breakfast will be served! We hope that everyone will participate! |
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Midweek Lenten Service & Study Wednesday evening in Lent beginning February 20th through March 20th, we will have midweek light supper, service & study. We will start at 6:15 with a light supper. At 7:00 we will have a service. After service those who wish to participate will move upstairs for a Bible Study on Jesus Christ Superstar. |
Treasurer's Report
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1st Quarter | |
2nd Quarter | |
3rd Quarter | |
4th Quarter |
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YTD | |
Regular Contributions | |
21,650 | |
23,471 | |
25,098 | |
28,778 | |
98,997 | |
Monthly Requirement* | |
31,251 | |
31,251 | |
31,251 | |
31,251 | |
125,004 | |
Surplus (deficit) | |
(9,601) | |
(7,780) | |
(6,153) | |
(2,473) | |
(26,007) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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* Monthly requirement based on annual budget of 125,000
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Faith Announcements
Click here to see our current calendar.
Click here to see a list of our caring ministries.
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TUFF News
Second Sunday Funday will be February 10th at 4:30 p.m. Come join us!! All teens are welcome!!
Thank you sooo much to all who participated in this years Chili Cook-off. The event was a huge success!
Thanks,
Jessie Meyer,
TUFF leader
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Baker's Square Fundraiser
 Monday, February 18th 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Bakers Square is located at 942 LaGrange Road, LaGrange
Bakers Square will donate 10% of your bill to Faith Lutheran Church. Invite your family and friends.
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Memorials
Given by: In Celebration of:
Carol Dumas Jim Duff
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Prayer Ministry
We all need prayers. Please take a moment to speak with our prayer ministers after Sunday worship. Sean Nonn is available after the 8:30 service and Fran Blumhagen or Karen Lindberg serve the 10:30 service. Whether you share a joy or concern, for yourself or a loved one, the prayer ministers are here to pray for you or with you. We also have prayer slips available in the pews which you can place in the offering basket. You can also submit your prayer at our website and by clicking here .
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"We are a fellowship of Christians called by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit to be disciples in our community and the world. We welcome all to share in the life altering love and grace of Jesus Christ."
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