A few of this week's highlights!

• You can view this email in its entirety here.
• We celebrate first steps. See Pastor's Ponderings for more.

Our weekly list of those in need of urgent and ongoing prayer.

Weekly charitable contribution updates and stewardship information.

Weekly updates on the Covering the Next Generation Capital Campaign.

First Steps

They may be small, but a toddler’s first steps are cheered, photographed, and remembered as monumental. Pentecost was a BIG first step for the church, a step we continue to celebrate. But what is God’s end game? On that day when 3000 people were baptized, God envisioned the day when every person in the world would know they are loved by God.

What are my “first steps” in that process by which God would “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19)? . . .

Click here to see the rest of Pastor Heimsoth's article . . .

Summer 2024 Youth Calendar: A calendar of summer 2024 youth events can be found HERE. Printed copies are also available at the Welcome Centers.

Thank You Faith Educators! The Faith Family would like to give a big thank you to all our dedicated teachers who taught in Sunday School, on Wednesday nights for Faith Alive, and other weekly Bible studies. Your commitment to these programs is greatly appreciated. You are truly a blessing to our congregation and to those you teach!

Class of 2024: We want to help honor our graduates by displaying their photo during the June 2nd worship service and publishing their name in the Faith Happenings newsletter. If you have a Faith Lutheran Preschool, high school, or college graduate in your household, please send a portrait with their name and the name of the school they are graduating from, as well as degree title for college graduates, to churchoffice@faithgb.org by May 17th. Together we can praise the Lord for all He is doing in their lives!

Adult Bible Study and Sunday School: The last session of our study on Season 3 of The Chosen was Sunday, May 12th. Sunday School finishes for the school year on Sunday, May 19th. Sunday, May 19th, will feature our first Intentional Interim Report from Pastor Heimsoth. A Bible study opportunity WILL be held Sunday, May 26th, in the Library (this differs from what has previously been communicated). Summer Bible study opportunities for adults will begin Sunday, June 2nd. Sunday's Cool Sunday morning hangouts for youth will also begin Sunday, June 2nd. Look for further announcements in this email for each opportunity!

Intentional Interim Report: During Education Hour (9:30 a.m.) THIS Sunday, May 19th, Pastor Heimsoth will present his first Intentional Interim Report, "Who Are We?" Join us for the discussion on what Pastor Heimsoth has learned during his first few months at Faith!

Springfest 2024! Join us THIS Sunday, May 19th, from noon to 3:00 p.m. for Springfest, a good old-fashioned church potluck picnic with games, entertainment, and lots of fellowship!

What to bring:

• A side dish to pass
• Lawn chairs and/or blankets

What's provided:

• Hot dogs
• Chips
• Ice Cream
• Beverages (lemonade, water, iced tea)

It’s ok to wear your comfy picnic clothes to church that day! Hope we will see you there for the fun!

Summer Bible Studies: Journey with us into some great Bible adventures this summer! These all-inclusive trips are free and you need not drive any further than 12534 Holly Road. We invite you to join us for any of the following!

• Great Stories of Jesus: June 2, 9, 16, 23
• Thank, Praise, Serve, & Obey: June 2-August 18
• Grace: The Refining Truth of the Reformation: August 4, 11, 18
• Sunday's Cool (Youth K-12): June 2-August 18

See more details on our Summer Bible Excursion Itinerary HERE (printed copies are available at the Welcome Centers). The full schedule of Thank, Praise, Serve, and Obey Sunday morning Bible study can be found HERE. Sign up to attend HERE. Please note a Bible study WILL be offered next Sunday, May 26th, in the Library.

Interested in Being a Part of a Women's Faith-based Book Club? Whether you've never been part of a book club, or are part of another group, join us at Faith where the richness of our fellowship relates to everyday faith and blessings from our Lord. Join us on Thursday, June 6th, to discuss "Back Home Again" by Melody Carlson. Sleepy little Acorn Hill is in for a big surprise when three sisters reunite after the death of their father, a beloved minister. Each has inherited a share of his worn-down Victorian house. They decide to turn their family home into a bed-and-breakfast, but are as different as sisters can be. They encounter many obstacles along the way but learn to trust in God. We will meet in the church library at 10:00 a.m., and this discussion will be led by Roxanne Steffe. You may share one of the eight copies in our church library generously gifted through a Wave Grant and a Thrivent Action Team Grant, enjoy the book via Audible for free, or possibly borrow from the local Grand Blanc Library. Book Club participation is open, depending on your availability each month, with remote access also available via Zoom. Invite your friends to join this enjoyable fellowship any time! Church membership is not required. Check the bulletin board outside the church library, or the church website HERE for a list of upcoming titles and meeting dates. Questions? Contact Roxanne Steffe at 810-280-1399.

Sunday’s Cool This Summer! Youth K-12 will have regular opportunities to get together this summer on Sundays June 2nd through August 18th from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. (no class July 7th). The youth lounge will be staffed by young adult volunteers so that youth can hang out. A brief group devotion and snacks will be provided. Come on the Sundays that you can! Let us know you’re coming HERE! Registration is not required, but we want to know if you're interested in attending.

VBS registration is open to children 4 years old through 6th grade! Youth 6th grade through 12th grade are invited and encouraged to sign up as a volunteer! VBS is June 24th-28th from 9 a.m. to noon. Register at faithgb.org/vbs.

You can view a running list of our regular service opportunities HERE.

Altar Guild: The Altar Guild is seeking new members - of all backgrounds - families and men included! Preparing the sacramental elements for Holy Communion is an essential support ministry for the congregation. Training is provided. If you are interested, please contact the church office by June 1st.

Lutheran Choralaires Spring Concert: Support Concordia University Ann Arbor and enjoy some great choral music at The Lutheran Choralaires Annual Spring Concert, Saturday, May 18th, at 4:00 p.m. The concert will be held at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Livonia. Freewill donations will be taken at the door, with all proceeds going to Concordia.

All Youth Mini-Golf! Youth of all ages are invited to join us at Cops & Robbers: Great Escape (5154 Flushing Rd, Flushing, MI 48433) at 3:00 on Sunday, June 9th, for an afternoon of mini-golf and ice cream! We'll meet at Faith at 2:30 p.m. or Cops & Robbers at 3:00 p.m. Please sign up by Wednesday, June 5th. Bring $5 towards your mini-golf and ice cream! Parents who are willing to help youth have a positive experience, please contact Mr. Zander. We'll cover the first 3 parents! Sign up HERE!

VBS Volunteers! Faith Family! We have an opportunity to share the good news of Jesus’ love and forgiveness with children in our community at our very own VBS this June 24th-28th! The volunteer registration form is live and available. There are many opportunities of various kinds for each morning as well as opportunities leading up to VBS including decorating. You are invited and encouraged to consider how you might join this mission to our very own community HERE. Look for the volunteer button with the heart.

LAST CALL! The Michigan District Jr. High Youth Gathering, where youth in middle schools from all over Michigan gather for growing closer to Jesus and each other, is July 30th through August 1st (Tuesday 11 a.m. to Thursday 2 p.m.) in Frankenmuth at the Bavarian Inn. Registration is open through Wednesday, May 22nd. Register ASAP HERE!

Church Extension Fund (CEF) is a unique ministry where LCMS members can invest their funds and earn interest. In turn, these funds provide a source of low-cost loans for new church sites and upgrading current facilities. Visit with Faith's Congregation Representative Greg Baehr, view CEF's FAQ page or website www.mi-cef.org, or call 800-242-3944 and learn how your invested dollars make a difference! CEF's interest rates for May can be found HERE.

Holy Spirit Lutheran Church Food Distribution: Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, 7234 Fenton Rd.

Grand Blanc, will be offering a free food distribution on the third Saturday of every month, May through October. Their first distribution is Saturday, May 18th (see more details and the full schedule HERE). They welcome volunteers to help beginning at 8:00 a.m. and plan to begin distributing food around 9:00 a.m. to the first approximately 200 households who arrive. Individuals do not need to meet any income or address restrictions to receive the food. If there are any questions, please call the Holy Spirit church office at 810-424-6707.

Office Hours: 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Monday-Friday

SUNDAY - May 19th

8:15 a.m. - Worship/Communion

9:30 a.m. - Intentional Interim Report: Who Are We? (Sanctuary)

9:30 a.m. - Sunday School

• Grades K-5 Basement Classrooms
• Grade 6 Library
• Grades 7-8 Confirmation Music Room
• Grades 9-12 Youth Lounge

10:45 a.m. - Worship/Communion - Click here for the live stream.

12:00 p.m. - Springfest

MONDAY - May 20th

7:00 p.m. - Board of Directors

TUESDAY - May 21st

6:15 p.m. - K.O.O.L. Ministry (K.O.O.L. Room)

WEDNESDAY - May 22nd

7:00 p.m. - Worship/Communion - Click here for the live stream.

THURSDAY - May 23rd

FRIDAY - May 24th

SATURDAY - May 25th

SUNDAY - May 26th

8:15 a.m. - Worship/Communion

9:30 a.m. - Adult Bible Study (Library)

10:45 a.m. - Worship/Communion

Readings: Isaiah 6:1–8; Acts 2:14a, 22–36; John 3:1–17

See the schedule of our summer 2024 Sunday morning Bible study opportunities HERE. The full schedule of Thank, Praise, Serve, and Obey Sunday morning Bible study can be found HERE.

Our Sunday morning 10:45 a.m. service can be viewed HERE.

NOTE: To keep in compliance with copyright laws, our services can legally be live-streamed, but we are not able to keep recordings of several parts of our services. Our Sunday service is streamed at 10:45 a.m. and Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m. After this, the full service will not be available; however, the pastor's sermons will be archived on our YouTube channel after the service.

The complete order of service for Sunday, May 19th, can be found HERE.

We also have Sunday morning children's bulletins for the children in our Faith family. You can print them from the following links:

• 3-6 year old HERE
• 7-12 year old HERE

Our COVID-19 response plan can be found HERE.