Faith's Friday Update

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“Gathered faithfully to love and serve God and all others.”

Faith's Friday Update

May 13, 2022

Sunday, May 15, 2022

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Worship Services at 8AM & 10:15AM

Worship Bulletin

Readings:

Acts 11:1-18 - Peter’s vision: God give the Gentiles repentance that leads to life

Psalm 148 - The splendor of the Lord is over earth and heaven. (Ps. 148:13)

Revelation 21:1-6 - New heaven, new earth: springs of living water in the new Jerusalem

John 13:31-35 - Jesus gives a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you

Minutes from the April 21, 2022 Congregation Council meeting are now available.

Please CLICK HERE to view them.

FAITH FINANCIAL CORNER

Emailed to those with a valid opted-in email address on file on Saturday May 7.

Paper copies will be provided on request. Signup for a paper copy in the narthex or contact Patty McKee (941-921-3709), or email pattymckee15@gmail.com.

Available for Pick Up in the Narthex on Sunday May 8 for those without email addresses or have opted out after which they will be mailed to the address on file.

If you have questions, please contact Patty McKee directly: pattymckee15@gmail.com, or 941-921-3709.

WOMEN'S BREAKFAST - MAY 19

Many thanks to Sue Rice for organizing! Here are the details: April’s meeting was so good and meaningful, we decided to try to make it a regular thing!!

This time it will be a breakfast and song theme (no singing, I promise - or hope not! - you don’t want to listen to my attempt to sing!) It will again be the 3^rd Thursday, May 19 at 9:00 a.m. in the Pioneer Room at Skillets at 8635 So. Tamiami Trail.

Reservations are necessary, so please sign up on the sheet in the narthex, call Sue Rice 941-955-0489 or e-mail at suerice68@hotmail.com. Sorry—gals only!

ADULT BIBLE STUDY - WEDNESDAYS AT 9:30AM

Back in 2015 we did a study of the book of Revelation. This Apocalypse is one of the most engaging and disputed books in the Bible. It has inspired great works of art and music, and it has also fed social upheaval and speculation about the coming end of the world. Is it true that all faithful Christians can expect to be whisked up from the earth into heaven in an event known as the Rapture? Who are the 144,000 envisioned to play a key role in the apocalyptic drama? What is the final battle of Armageddon about?

In this post-Easter series, we will briefly explore the message of this Book and continue on to discover why it has played such a volatile role in Western culture and how it continues to be meaningful to contemporary readers.

We are meeting weekly on Wednesdays at 9:30-10:30 a.m. and will conclude on May 25. We will gather in the upstairs Youth Room of the Community Center. Unless plans change, meet in the Conference Room, masked, to be escorted to the room.

WELCOME ALL!!!

MARY'S CIRCLE IS GOING TO THE DOGS!

Vintage Paws couldn’t save the lives of aging and elderly dogs without the gentle touch of volunteers. Come join our volunteers, who dramatically improve the quality of our dogs’ lives simply by showing up, helping out and giving these old souls the human attention they so richly deserve. To learn more or become a volunteer, please email info@vintagepaws.org!

Meet Max…our guest who stole the show and and Paula’s heart!

Paula says:

“If you want some more love and joy, become a VOLUNTEER like I am!”

ORPHAN GRAIN TRAIN

"It was with great joy that we were able to deliver the 100 pillowcase dresses to the Orphan Grain Train International Headquarters in Norfolk, NE. They were extremely grateful for the generosity of the ladies of Faith for making the beautiful dresses. We were told by Suzie Leffers, Director of Public Relations, that they would continue their journey to Africa, where girls will be excited to receive them.

The pictures are of the huge facility where OGT works to bring relief for human need to over 69 countries worldwide. Our hearts were overwhelmed as we toured this facility. We ask that you, along with us, pray for them and all the work they do.

I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to. John 14.18"

Joyfully, Gwen

ALTAR FLOWERS

ALTAR FLOWERS are a beautiful and meaningful way to honor/remember someone or a special occasion, while decorating our altar for worship. The 2022 Altar Flowers signup poster is available in Fellowship Hall.

The next available date is Sunday, May 29!

When you purchase altar flowers, your name and dedication will be published in the bulletin on your selected Sunday and the flowers are yours to keep after the service!

To make a dedication: At church, complete an 'Altar Flowers' envelope with your payment, and place it in the offering plate; By mail, send payment with a note indicating your desired date and dedication; or CLICK HERE to order online. The cost is $60, which is for 2 vases. Please make checks payable to Faith Lutheran Church and indicate ‘altar flowers’ in the memo.

Thank you for making Faith Lutheran’s altar beautiful!

BUILDING WISH LIST

The Property Committee has identified needs that are not currently in the regular budget but are needed to maintain and improve our church.

Current needs:

1. Upgrade Narthex Restrooms to ADA (cost TBD)

2. Electronic Sign Upgrade on Beneva (cost TBD)

3. Touch-Up/Repaint the Gym (cost TBD)

4. Reseal the Parking Lot

Please consider supporting the church building by making a special offering. Any amount, small or large, is appreciated! To contribute by check, please indicate “Improvement Fund” in the memo. To contribute electronically, please visit our website at www.faithlutheransrq.com/online-giving or using via the Vanco Mobile app (be sure to select “Improvement Fund”).

EMPTY INK CARTRIDGES COLLECTION

Please consider donating your empty ink cartridges to help the church and environment! When we bring the cartridges to Staples, we receive store credit from Staples to help offset office supply costs.

The ink collection bin is on the counter in Fellowship Hall.

DAILY PRAYER

VENTURES

The ELCA offers daily Prayer Ventures, which may be found on their website, https://www.elca.org/en/Resources/Prayer-Ventures. The prayers for this weekend are below. Visit the website if you would like to follow the daily prayers!

6 Pray for the leaders, voting members and others gathering for the assemblies of the Metropolitan New York Synod, the New Jersey Synod and the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and encourage them as they reflect on the mission of the church, choose leaders, proclaim the gospel, serve our neighbor and do God’s work in the world.

7 Pray for the leaders, voting members and others gathering for the assembly of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and encourage them as they reflect on the mission of the church, choose leaders, proclaim the gospel, serve our neighbor and do God’s work in the world.

8 On Mother’s Day, thank God for mothers, stepmothers, foster mothers, expectant mothers, women struggling with parenting, women trying to conceive and women who cannot bear children of their own but serve as loving and caring adults in the lives of children and youth.