FAITH LINES FAITH Lutheran Church Offering Christ-Centered Preschool and Childcare E-Mail: faithluthchurch@sbcglobal.net 4241 Williamson Rd. P.O. Box 242 Bridgeport, MI 48722 Phone: 989-777-2600 Fax: 989-777-5069 Web: faithlutheranbridgeport.org July 26, 2015 Volume XXII Number 30 MISSION STATEMENT: In responding to God’s great love to us in Christ Jesus, FAITH Lutheran Church dedicates itself to the continual growth of Christ’s Church in Bridgeport, in all of Michigan and the United States of America, and into all of the world through.... ● Fellowshipping around the Gospel (Acts 2:42) ● Administering the Means of Grace (1 Cor. 4:1) ● Investing our time and talents (2 Cor. 9:7, 8) ● Teaching the Christian FAITH (2 Tim. 2:2) ● Helping those in need (Matt. 25:40) News & Notes: Welcome to FAITH Lutheran Church! Your presence here today is greatly appreciated. If you are visiting, please sign the Guest Register in the Narthex before leaving. There are also some information packets with additional materials about FAITH. May God bless your worship of Him and go with you throughout the week to come. Professional Staff: Pastor: Rev. William W. Hessler .......................................... 989-497-0304 ............................................................ E-Mail: pastorwwh@yahoo.com Preschool/ Childcare Director: Crystal Claus .......................989-777-2702 ....................................................... E-Mail: crystalclaus37@gmail.com Secretary: Barb Swanson .......................................................989-777-2600 1 Life & Growth at FAITH This Week: 9 Pentecost Sunday 26 9:00 am ..................................................... Worship H/C 10:30 am ............................................ Adult Bible Class Monday 27 6:30 pm ......................................... LifeLight Bible Study 7:00 pm ............................................................ Worship Tuesday 28 1:00 pm ............................................... LifeLight (Koehr) Wednesday 29 7:15 am ............................................. Men’s Bible Study Thursday 30 9:30 am ............................................. FAITHful Sew-ers FAITH’s Preschool/ Childcare Monday through Friday* Childcare: 6:30 am - 6:30 pm Preschool Classes: 8:30 am - 12:30 pm *Unless otherwise indicated. FAITH’s Stewardship Life: Attendance: Sunday, July 19, 2015 ..................................... 9:00 am 120 Monday, July 20, 2015 ....................................... 7:00 pm 18 Weekly Receipts: ............................ Sunday, July 19, 2015 66 envelopes gave toward Budget ....................... $7,143.81 Preschool/Childcare Weekly Receipts ................. $1,014.47 Total .................................................................... $8,158.28 Budget Receipts Needed Weekly to Meet 2015 Budget - $8,661.40 Today is Dimes for Missions! 2 Serving in God’s House: Accompanist ................................................................... Amanda Lewis Altar Care ..................... Judy Becerril, Louise Davis, Edna Walentovic Elders .................... George Pavlicek Jr., Mike Hastedt, Andy Hoffmann Ushers Group 3 . Jim Jordan, Bob Ferchau, David Stroup, Gary Gerken ............... Tyler Stroup, Wes Padgett, Roger Schumann, Tom Pierce Fellowship ......................................................... Doug & Linda Williams Kidz’ Word ............................................................................ Carla Hurd Greeters............................................. Rachel Szaroletta, Karin Reinbold Pastor’s Bible Challenge Last Week’s Challenge: Multiple Choice: Who became leader of the Israelites after Moses died? a) David; b) Joshua; c) Solomon; d) Aaron. Answer: Joshua (see Deuteronomy 34:9) This Week’s Challenge: Multiple Choice: Where did Jesus say one should store one’s treasure? a) in heaven; b) in the heart; c) in a bank; d) in the ground. Answer next week. CHRISTIANITY AND THE COMPETITION, the 8-session summer video study series narrated by Dr. Paul L. Maier, has addressed the major religious systems in both the east and the west by providing a brief summary of each in terms of its founder, its holy book (if any), its prime beliefs and, in particular, its credibility. The series also enabled Christians to respond in an informative way to claims made by other religions. The focus of this Sunday’s eighth and final session is “A Christian Response.” The Class will meet in the sanctuary shortly following the Sunday worship service. 3 Welcome: FAITH welcomes Miss Jill Topham, who will be installed as FAITH’s next “Teacher at St. Lorenz” on Sunday, August 2, during the 9:00 morning worship service. Jill is a 2013 Graduate of Concordia University, Ann Arbor, and has moved into our area having taught the last year at St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Roseburg, Oregon. She will be teaching one of the Kindergarten classes at St. Lorenz. FAITH welcomes Jill and prays God’s blessings on our walk and work together. Women of FAITH: Board Members will be having the 201516 planning meeting on August 7th. We need your help in the following ways: If you would like to serve refreshments or lead a devotion for our monthly meetings. If you have ideas for service projects or “girls night out”. If your contact information has changed. Please let Elisa know if you want to help in any of these areas. Labels for Education: We were able to send 23 Summer Bonus Sheets for our preschool. Thank You So MUCH! Please continue to clip Campbell’s Pepperidge Farm, Post Cereal, Bic and Top Secret labels. Church Store News: Thank you for visiting the Sharing Station. Our next set up is Sunday, August 9 th after church at the Sharing Station. Cards are .50 and profits go to Lutheran World Relief. Check out birthday, get well, baptism, baby congratulations, sympathy cards. Thrivent Grant Project: Over 150 breast cancer pillows were sewed and stuffed. They will be delivered to local hospitals so they can be given to men and women after surgery. At least 30/month are needed in Saginaw County. 4 A big shout-out to Edna Walentovic for volunteering to sew and stuff. Please join us at the next Fellowship of Christian Men: breakfast on Saturday, August 1st from 7:30-9:00 am, and help us celebrate the beginning of our 20th year! Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth will be our host and the cost will be $6. If able, RSVP to fcm.muth@gmail.com to help us prepare Zehnder’s for the approximate attendees. Guest speaker will be State of MI Hall of Fame football coach Ralph Munger. Summer months are typically challenging for FAITH congregation experiencing lower attendance and lower offerings. It might be helpful to have your contributions transferred electronically to our church’s account. Church Extension’s electronic giving program Excel in Giving gives members a convenient way to keep up with their intended offerings. Many of our Michigan District Congregations and Schools have already completed their application to enroll in Church Extension Fund’s Excel In Giving. Excel in Giving option offers convenience and security for individuals. For more information see Dwight McNally. Life Quote for Sunday, July 26: “Are you ‘pro-life’ or ‘lifeaffirming’? Undoubtedly your answer is ‘Yes!’ However, I believe we will have a greater impact on our congregations and culture if we see ourselves as ‘life-affirming.’ But this must be more than changing an adjective. It must also reflect a change in perspective—affirming life because that is precisely what the Gospel of Jesus Christ does!” Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb, executive director of Lutherans For Life 5 Life Thought in the Church Year for July 26 – Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: At our baptisms God’s Spirit joins us to Christ. We live in Him and He in us. That means His power is “at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20b). Paul is heavy on the adverbs when it comes to what this means. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think …” (3:20a). No matter what situations may be storming around us, Jesus speaks, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid” (Mark 6:50). Prayer: Lord, calm my fears and may your power be at work in me. Amen. God Loves Marriage - Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend: October 2- 4, 2015 Comfort Inn - Birch Run, Michigan Apply now at GodLovesMarriage.org! Or contact Albert & Sally Chan at Sallyalme@yahoo.com or 517-540-0781 for more information. Weekends fill fast - don't miss out! Urgent Need for Individuals to Join MOST Ministries' El Salvador Eyeglass Team Dates: October 16-24, 2015 Location: San Salvador The Bad News … This past week this team lost six of its team members. The Good News … God’s Word and promises are the same yesterday, today and forever and we are trusting in Him to provide the needed servants for this team. Perhaps the Lord is already speaking to you about becoming His hands and feet in El Salvador. Please contact Debby Suchyta (MOST Ministries Team Administrator) at 734.994.7909 X11 or dsuchyta@mostministries.org to request an Application Form or with any questions you may have regarding the team. The deadline to join is August 15. We look forward to hearing from you! 6 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL At: Faith Lutheran Church 4241 Williamson Road, Bridgeport 777-2600 Starts SUNDAY August 2-THURSDAY August 6th 6-8pm Everyday For All Kids! Preschool thru 6th Grade GAMES! SNACKS! CRAFTS! FUN BIBLE STORIES! SONGS! Cost is FREE! ►Please Cut and Return This Form to Faith Lutheran Church__ CHILDS NAME Grade in Sept. 2015 0Address Home Telephone Tshirt size (kids)_____ Emergency Contact & Phone Parents Name Help @VBS?_____ Home Church 1st Time Attending VBS at FAITH? Yes No Allergy or medications needed? Would you like to attend Adult VBS at the same time? __________ 7 VBS DONATIONS Thank you so much everyone for your overly generous donating. The kids and the VBS team sincerely are grateful for your giving. PLEASE take a tag off the board in the narthex of what you are bringing. Put the tag on the items you are bringing. Place the item in the first Sunday School room to the left in the basement. NOTE: If you are bringing a fridge or freezer item, please bring to the kitchen ON AUGUST 2nd. Thanks! VBS TEAM Plan to be here Sunday, August 2nd at the worship service for induction at 9am. Wear your VBS shirts. (get them from Carla morning of or before if you see her around) Brief meeting to follow the service in the church basement. Crew, Jr. Crew and Station leaders really need to be here if schedules allow. Thanks FAITH FRIENDS, the theme this year for VBS is EVEREST— Conquering challenges with God’s Power. One challenge is the “overtaking” VBS has on our church. We know VBS can seem to turn the church upside down the weeks leading up to and during. There’s no doubt it’s kind of a mad house and there’s lots of chaos and “stuff” everywhere. A mountain is about to be built in the Fellowship Hall!! Tents and a sky will soon be seen and there might even be an ice cave in the basement hallway!!! The VBS team wants to thank you for being so flexible during this time. Your efforts are appreciated and if you ever need reassurance as in the little bit of change needed by ALL OF US during this time is worth it, just stop into 1 day of VBS and see the kids faces and hear their signing voices. Watch as they learn Bible stories they will never forget and see them witness themselves! The God Sightings will be on a big “sky” in the Fellowship Hall. Please take a minute to read these if you can. You will laugh and maybe even cry at their genuineness. This alone is proof of God’s work during VBS. The team is often handing out Bibles because so many children are non-members, this is exciting stuff! Come and see what happens at VBS—you will see it’s all really worth it! Thank you Faith 8