FAITH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

June 2025 Mustard Seed - A Word from Our Pastor

5/29/2025

Greetings Siblings in Christ,

Alleluia! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia! As you are reading this, we are now nearing the end of our Easter Season. This season began on Easter Sunday and continues for fifty days ending on Pentecost Sunday, which takes place this year on June 8th. Pentecost is a well known major Christian festival. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and other disciples following the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This story is recounted in the Book of Acts, chapter 2. We, as Christians, put a lot of importance on this day for it marks the beginning of the Christian church’s mission to the world. In essence, one can say it's the church's birthday. However, there is another Christian holiday that often gets overlooked that takes place right before it. On the fortieth day after Easter, Christians around the world celebrate what is known as the Ascension. This is the day we remember when Jesus was lifted up into the heavens to be at the right hand of the father. This event is recorded in Luke 24 and Acts 1. In my rereading of this story, I was particularly struck by the ending of Ascension account in Acts 1. The Book of Acts states:

10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

I am struck by this passage because I wonder what the disciples must have thought as they saw Jesus being raised in the heavens? I wonder what feelings they must have had as they searched for Jesus in the clouds. Were they sad? Were they angry? Perhaps, they were confused or even felt abandoned. One may even guess that they could be worried, scared of what was to come. Jesus was not there anymore to lead them or protect them. Could they have been afraid of what might happen to themselves?

When I read this passage, I cannot help to think about how sometimes we too are looking for Jesus. In this world that we live in, there is so much happening, and a lot of time we too are afraid. Perhaps, we too wish that Jesus was physically by our side, and because of this we like the disciples are looking up into the heavens searching for Jesus. However, is this what we are called to do? Are we to stand back waiting for our Lord to come? Perhaps, sometimes we spend all our time looking up searching for Jesus that we miss Jesus standing right in front of us. In Matthew 25, Jesus said:

35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ …‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’ (v35-36,40).

And so, Jesus is already here in front of us in and with those who are in need, the “least of these brothers and sisters” of ours. So, we need not stand looking up at the heavens for him. However, we are to recognize him in front of us and go where he is at and be with those who he is with. When we do this, we are with Jesus and through the gift of the Holy Spirit Jesus is leading us to where we need to be. As we enter into the summer, as part of the VOCARE spiritual practice of the Nourishing Vacation Project, we will be exploring what it means to be open to the Holy Spirit and how he leads us into calling as disciples. We will talk about what it means to walk and to be with Jesus, and how that relates to how we live and walk in this world. Instead of waiting and looking for Jesus to come again out of heavens, we are going to explore what it means to live an active faith grounded in Christ. And so, as we begin this exploration, I pray that we never fail to see Christ in front of us. I pray that we open ourselves up to the mission that Christ is calling us into, to be where Christ is, and to be with the “least of these” as Christ is with us.
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Peace and Blessings, Pastor Ethan Doan

June 2025 Mustard Seed - Council Notes

5/29/2025

Council Minutes May 7, 2025
Council was called to order by President Rich Hollenbach.
Minutes of the April regular council meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report: At 33% of the year, our receipts are about 37% and our expenses are at 33%. Pledged Member Giving is at 35.77% and Unpledged Member Giving is at 41.58%. Fundraising events: $1,093.72, Thrivent Choice Dollars: $303, Merck Dividends: $260. Expenses are in line with the budget. The deficit for the month is $3,901.37 and our year-to-date deficit is $8,092. Our current mortgage balance is $146,521.19. The treasurer’s report was approved as written.
President’s Report: We had a wonderful Palm Sunday/60th Anniversary worship service and luncheon. Our Holy Week services went well, and it was nice to share the services with Jerusalem and Grace. We have had two meetings with Grace leadership, one with the Bishop and Synod staff and the other between our council leadership. More in the Old Business below.
Pastor’s Report: I have led and presided at worship regularly throughout the month of April at Faith and Jerusalem. Led the Holy Week services. Had two First Communions at our Easter Worship Service. Presided at David Gansner’s Funeral. Participated in the meetings with Grace. I will be away on vacation July 7-13th.

MINISTRY TEAM REPORTS:
Christian Education:
  Sunday School - Our lectionary Sunday school lessons will end on May 25 and resume on Rally Day, September 7. Sunday school will be held at the same time during worship service for the summer months starting June 8 and ending August 31, but we will be meeting down in the Fellowship Hall for teacher directed Summer Fun Fellowship.
Young Adult Fellowship (ages 12-17) - On May 18, 6 pm to 8 pm, this youth group will join with Adult Formation Group to watch a movie, “Godspell,” followed by a discussion. We will go back to our regular group meeting on June 22, 6 pm to 7:30 pm in the fellowship hall.
PNO-YF (ages 3 to 11) – Our May 9th theme will center on our own cherished mothers and mothers of the Bible. We will also celebrate Caden’s birthday with a treat provided by his mom. Our June parent night out will be held on the 20th. Both dates are Fridays, 6 pm to 9 pm.
VBS 2025 - “True North: Trusting Jesus in a Wild World,” is scheduled Monday through Friday, August 4 thru 8, from 9am to 12 noon.   Thank you to all those who signed up as volunteers for serving our youth community in getting to know Jesus. We still need two volunteers for Imagination Station: one assistant for Wild Bible Adventures, and one assistant for Tundra treats (preparing and serving snacks). In addition, we need two to four adults to be Crew Leaders. So, if you would like to be part of this fun Christian formation event for our youth please contact Gail Achilles, [email protected] (email) or 267-664-3328 (cell).
MNBS - May 19 is our last session of our current study, “The Me I want to Be” by John Ortberg. We are learning a lot about ourselves and how to be better servants of God for others, and that building God centered, loving relationships with family, friends, and community is so important to all those in this connectedness to find true joy in good and dark times. Our MNBS will not be meeting during the summer months, but we will resume on Monday, September 8, 2025, via zoom. If anyone is interested in joining this group, please contact Gail Achilles.
Communications: Posts were made on our website for Holy Week. The front sign was updated.
Finance: A Scrapbook Fundraiser was held in the Fellowship Hall on April 24-26 and brought in $1,023. Redner receipts came in at $70.72.
Hospitality: Coffee lite all the month of May. Testing the recipes and assembling the volunteers for the Feast Incarnate at University Lutheran Church, Philadelphia on Tuesday the 27th where we will be planning meals for approximately 95 to 100 people. Long-Range Planning: Coordination with the Nourishing Vocation Project. Will be scheduling a meeting soon.
Property Management: Fellowship hall rental request for Hollenbach/Blauvelt Wedding Shower on Saturday, July 12, 2025 – Need council approval for serving alcohol. All voted in favor of approving.
Property Team: We were able to have the workday on April 5th even though it was raining. Thank you to everyone who came to help. The gutter drain system has been fixed, and grass seed was planted where holes had to be dug. All air conditioners were turned on and the sanctuary units didn't work. IT Landes is coming on Wednesday May 7th to check them and get everything up and running.
Shepherding: Beth Schoening has taken over the ministry.
Social Ministry: Social Ministry Project – April/May (Debbie Hollenbach, Sharon Hood, Nancy Gansner, Mary Lou Foster) The congregation is being asked to donate food items for the “Feast Incarnate” at University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in University City, Philadelphia. We will provide a meatloaf, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies, iced tea and honey cake dinner on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, for 95-115 people. The congregation will also be asked to prepare the food at home, bring it to Faith, organize it for transport, and help serve at University Lutheran.
Social Ministry Project for 2025 For January - April, God’s Global Barnyard “noisy coin collection” has received a total of $230.50. This collection is taken on the third Sunday of each month through November. Thank you to John Taylor for finding a coin collector. It turns out there was nothing of significant value. He indicated that the foreign coin was worth nothing, but he did donate $1 to our church.
Special Funds: Approval requests in April: property expense for the drain camera: $252.61; Pastor’s replacement laptop: $419.99.
Worship & Music: Substitute organist Pat Keen will continue to play through the middle of June. We will not have music on Sunday, June 1st due to Pastor Nancy Raabe’s retirement (Pat will be playing at Grace.)

OLD BUSINESS
Constitution Update: Needs a few changes based on feedback from council review before being sent to the congregation for review. Will need to wait until after the Churchwide Assembly in July to see if there are any additional changes / updates needed.
Discussion with Grace Lutheran Leadership has continued. April 11th meeting with Grace Council, Bishop Penman, Pastor Sease, Pastor Ethan, Rich, Gary, Debbie, Anne Hutnyk were present. Bishop Penman gave Grace’s leadership options since Pastor Nancy Raabe is retiring. Pastor Ethan, Rich, and Gail had a second meeting with their council leadership on April 30. Tom, Grace’s council president, informed us that they have a supply pastor for the summer months, and will hold a meeting on June 8 to inform the congregation of the options they have to move forward and see where the congregation is at and where they hope to go. We also talked about partnerships on a ministry level; we will keep having ongoing conversations. Synod Assembly, May 30 & May 31, 2025, at Trinity Lansdale. Gary and Gail are the Faith lay representatives and will attend along with Pastor Ethan. Rich will also be attending as part of the Synod Transitional Ministry Team.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, June 4th at 7pm.

June 2025 Mustard Seed - Announcements

5/29/2025

Greetings! You are all invited to our Faith Education Dinner. At this dinner, we will discuss various topics related to the Church and Scripture. This dinner will be held on the second Sunday this month, Sunday, June 8, 2025, from 5:30-7pm. This dinner is geared toward teens and adults. However, activities will be provided for all ages. Come, eat and learn!

16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT)

FaithNotes...

Christian Radio keeps the faith going
     88.9 FM WORD -- Contemporary Christian Rock Music
     107.5 FM -- Praise/Gospel Music & Bible teaching
     106.9 FM -- KLOVE -- Contemporary Christian Rock

Check out bibleproject.com They provide videos, podcasts, Bible study, online classes and more, all for free. They are “helping people experience the Bible as a unified story that leads to Jesus.” Check out their website!

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TTW is the cure for broken Bible habits and lost-in-Leviticus syndrome. Easy to start, easy to keep, easy to share. Go to throughtheword.org or download the app on your phone.

Please keep the stamps coming!
It’s a continuing need! Thank you for all your contributions. It really helps!

Do you shop at Giant?
If you do, you can buy Giant gift cards from the church. A $50 card costs you $50. How does the church make money? Well, when Faith purchases $1,000 worth of cards from Giant, they only charge us $950 (a 5% discount.) So, when we sell those cards to you, the church makes $50. It adds up…

Hatfield Flowers and Gifts (215) 822-1530) provides Faith with two lovely flower arrangements for our sanctuary each Sunday.
   You can sign up to sponsor flowers, bulletins or a food basket. The flowers are $35, the bulletins are $10 and the food basket is $25.
    You can dedicate any one of these things to someone special, to celebrate a birthday or in memory of a loved one. You may take the flowers home, or they will be given to an ill or homebound member. The $10 for the bulletins is to help cover the cost of making the bulletins and the $25 for the food basket is money donated to “Manna on Main Street” to help feed those in the North Penn area.
          To sign up for a particular Sunday either sign up on the chart on the Foyer bulletin board or call Janet in the church office (215) 368-0240.
If you shop at Redner’s, please save your receipts. Anna Friedrich turns them in and the church receives a monetary donation from Redner’s. All you need to do is to put your receipts in the labeled basket outside of the sanctuary. Thank you to those who bring in their receipts and to Anna who does the paperwork to receive this donation! Please note that when bringing in your receipts we need the entire receipt. Please do not tear off the bottom. Redner’s will not accept the receipt if the bottom is torn off.

Annual Church Family Picnic
Sunday, June 1, 2025, 11am to 2 pm
Rain or Shine!

Spring Valley Park,  Claremont Drive,  Montgomery Township

On Sunday, June 1st right after the 9:30am worship service we are planning on having the Annual Church Picnic at Spring Valley Park. We’ll provide hamburgers, hot dogs, rolls, drinks and paper products and condiments (through funding from a Thrivent Action Team card). If you’d like to bring a side or dessert, please sign up on the sheet on the table outside of the sanctuary. Please sign up on the sheet even if you will not be bringing anything just so we know how many people will be attending. Also bring a lawn chair if you don’t want to sit on the cement benches. Come out on the 1st to fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ!

Christian Education

Sunday School
Gail Achilles, Anna Friedrich, and Kate Waldman will be available on a rotating schedule each Sunday throughout the Summer (June 8 thru August 31) during 9:30 am Worship Service - same length of time as our traditional Sunday school. We will plan to do an activity/lesson with the children in our Fellowship Hall, like writing notes and/or drawing pictures to our homebound members, military personnel, and ill congregational members or even to a family member or friend who needs cheering up.   Other ideas are learning scripture with puppets, making a food creation to share at coffee hour, and helping out with our ministries when needed. We will resume traditional Sunday School on “Rally Day” September 7, 2025, during 9:30 am Worship Service after Children’s sermon and return for the rite of Holy Communion. Parent, grandparents and guardians, thank you for glorifying our God by bringing your children to learn His Word and His Good Works.
(Note: Older youth ages 12 to 17 are welcome to serve as Youth Volunteers at Sunday School.)

Any comments or questions, please see Gail Achilles, Christian Education Chair

A special thank you to our teachers Gail Achilles, Anna Friedrich, Nancy Gansner and Kate Waldman for their dedication and ministry to our littlest disciples.

As scripture teaches, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

Parents’ Night Out (PNO) – Youth Fellowship (YF)

Looking for a night out and a fun, safe place to bring the kids? Well, look no further! We here at Faith Lutheran Church are ready to care for your child(ren) in a safe environment, provide food and fun activities, and share the love of Jesus.

The children will have dinner when they arrive consisting of pizza or chicken nuggets, grape and apple slices with caramel dip, water, 100% fruit juice, then enjoy music, games, crafts, stories, and end the evening with popcorn and a movie!

PNO-YF will be held on Friday, June 20, 2025
from 6 pm to 9 pm.

If interested, please register at www.faithmontgomeryville.org
and click on the PNO – YF tab or call 215-368-0240.

Note: A minimum donation of $5.00 per child is suggested so we can provide future youth events.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Where the Word of Jesus is spoken, heard, and lived

Our Vacation Bible School theme this year will be “True North: Trusting Jesus in a Wild World” As kids trek the tundra, they’ll discover how easy it is to lose sight of what’s true in our wild world today. Guiding them towards Jesus, True North VBS reveals that He is a faithful friend we can always trust. He’s our True North! Gail Achilles, our coordinator, is enthusiastically looking forward to this adventure. The dates for this year are Monday through Friday, August 4-8, 2025, from 9am to 12noon.
    Please contact Gail or the church office to volunteer to help. Thank you, Church Family!
Monday Night Bible Study will be taking a break for the summer months and resume their next study (to be determined) on Monday, September 8, 2025, at 7 pm on zoom.

Youth Ministry
(ages 12-17)

Looking for somewhere to learn about Jesus with others your age? Join us at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Montgomeryville every third Sunday in 2024-25 from 6:00-7:30pm! We will be meeting this month on Sunday, June 15, 2025.

Expect to have fun while learning about the Word of God by joining in prayer, devotions and readings at the church. We will also have occasional outings around the area such as mini golf, bowling and more! Our adult support team will provide snacks and beverages during meetings. We hope to see you soon!

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)

Lord, when did we see you...?
The purpose of the Social Ministry Team is to follow Jesus' commandment to love one another as he loved us. To offer opportunities to our congregation to be good and faithful servants. To share the love and truth of Jesus Christ and to offer hope to all God's children by giving of our time, our money and ourselves to our church, our community, and the world.
Social Ministry Project for June and July
During the months of June and July the Social Ministry team will be collecting Personal Care Items and a few miscellaneous items for the Coatesville VA Medical Center.
    The Coatesville Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center is one of 150 VA medical centers nationwide. The medical center and its outpatient clinics in Spring City and Newtown Square, Pa. comprise an integrated health care system dedicated to providing Veterans with health care that improves their health and well-being. The health care system offers urgent care, primary care, specialty care, mental health care, long term care, pharmacy and numerous supportive services to outpatients, inpatients and residential patients.
    There will be a poster board in the foyer containing post-it notes for the items listed below. Please take a post-it note or two, purchase the item(s) and put them in the purple bin in the narthex hallway.

Personal care Items

Body lotion, soap, deodorant (full size)
Dental supplies: toothbrushes, toothpaste (full size), and denture adhesive
Hairbrushes and combs
Twin blade razors with flex head and moisturizer strip (not disposable)
Shower shoes, flip-flops (must be new)
Socks (must be new)

Misc Items

Markers for art projects
New puzzle books
Reading glasses (1.25 and higher) and eyeglass repair kit

If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Gansner.

“Noisy Can” Offering – We continue to collect change for God’s Global Barnyard, every third Sunday,
which will be June 15, 2025, this month

A noisy coin offering is a worship service collection where members donate loose change to a specific cause. The collection is called "noisy" because the coins make a clanging sound as they are placed in the offering bucket.
    On the third Sunday of each month, you will be asked by our Sunday School children to donate your “loose change” in our collection can for God’s Global Barnyard. The more noise the better.    Of course, paper money is fine too.   This is our continuing Christian love to serve others.
    This collection will continue from January through November. In December, the Sunday School children will be asked what animals to purchase based on your total donations. A variety of animals helps provide ample nutrition and a sustainable source of income for many families.

      In Christ, Sharon Hood & Debbie Hollenbach, Co-Chairs

We are in need of Greeters (standing at the door and welcoming people as they come in) and Lectors (reading the lessons and psalm.) If, you would like to volunteer or would like more information, please see Anna Friedrich.
    We are also in need of Communion Assistants. Please see Rich Hollenbach if you are interested in serving as a worship assistant. Training will be provided.

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)

Congratulations

Anne Lamphere celebrates
her 90th birthday on
June 5, 2025

Howard and Cheryl Harbeck
celebrate their 60th Wedding
Anniversary on June 12, 2025

The “Golden Girls of Faith” (Golden Men are welcome too!) will be meeting once a month for lunch, fellowship and prayer at a local restaurant. They will meet the first Wednesday of the month which will be June 4, 2025, this month. For more information or if you need a ride, please talk to Anna Friedrich. All are welcome!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Faith’s Transportation Initiative
If you need a ride to church on Sunday or you are interested in providing a ride to church to someone, please contact Dale Foster.
We currently receive donations of WAWA Food through the Food Donation Connection. We may receive anything from sizzlies, to breakfast burritos, to lunch sandwiches, to muffins, to sweet treats, to hot dogs...anything they didn’t sell the day before and have now frozen. If you are in need of some supplemental food or know of someone who is, please let either Janet Hill in the church office or Dale Foster know and we will make sure you receive some Wawa food.

Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."

Check out the can in the Fellowship Hall to recycle aluminum cans. Not only does it help the environment, but it will generate some cash for the church. Beth Schoening has volunteered to empty the can periodically and take the cans to the recycling center. So, if you have any aluminum cans at home, please bring them in and it will help the earth and Faith Church! Thank you! (Make sure they are aluminum though…if a magnet does not attach to it, it’s aluminum.) Thank you to everyone who is filling the can!

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

May 2025 Mustard Seed - A Word from Our Pastor

5/1/2025

We are now entering into the month of May. We are nearing the end of the school year, and soon we will be entering into the summer months. I do not know about you all, but I am tired. It has been an overwhelming few months, or at least it has been for me. There have been multiple health issues within my family. My grandfather, Bill Stender, has been in and out of the hospital. My stepfather, Mike Pierce, received bad news and has an important decision to make for his health. My wife, Eileen, has been dealing with a pain in her leg. So, all of that has just been a lot, and I want to thank you all for your continued prayers. Then, Lent and Easter are just busy times. The rainy weather also does not help anybody's mood. Life has just been busy, and I just need a break. I need to take a breath.

One of my favorite passages in scripture that we hear around this time of the year in the season of Easter or around Pentecost comes from John 20:19-23. This text reads:

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

This text is very important to me, because it stands as a reminder of the peace that Christ brings into our lives. It stands as a reminder for me in these busy times to stop, take a breath, and receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit upon the disciples as they were hiding in fear after Jesus’ resurrection, and Jesus breathes that same Spirit upon us too. When we receive this Spirit, we receive the peace of Christ. We are put at ease. We are given the opportunity to take a breath and remember that Christ is with us. Things may sometimes be hard and tiring. However, the good news is that Christ is with us throughout it all, and because of this we can be at peace. We can allow the Holy Spirit to energize us so that we can be who Christ has called us to be. So, as we enter into the summer months, stop and take a breath. Receive the Holy Spirit and be at peace. I pray that you all have a great summer, and that you always remember that Christ is with you. Amen.

Peace and Blessings, Pastor Ethan Doan

May 2025 Mustard Seed - Council Minutes

5/1/2025

Council Minutes April 2, 2025

Council was called to order by President Rich Hollenbach.
Minutes of the March regular council meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report: At 25% of the year, our receipts are about 28% and our expenses are just below 25%. Our year-to-date deficit is $4,542. The treasurer’s report was approved as written.
President’s Report: Our new supply organist, Pat Keen, has started and will be playing through Easter and then on select Sundays throughout the rest of 2025. Our Palm Sunday preparations are well under way, and we should have a great 60th anniversary celebration. We will be meeting with Grace Lutheran’s council along with Bishop Penman and his staff on Friday, 4/11.
Pastor’s Report: I have led and presided at worship regularly throughout the month of March at Faith and Jerusalem. Our last Faith Education Dinner was on March 9, 2025. The focus was on the prophets of the Old Testament. Our April gathering is cancelled due to a busy church calendar. Our next dinner will be in May 2025 TBD. Our participation in the Nourishing Vocation Project continued March 5, 2025, with the beginning of Lent. Our focus for this Lent is on values and our theme for Lent is “Unbroken: A Living Faith.” Small groups have also begun. I also participated in the Nourshing Vocation Project monthly cohort meeting on March 20, 204. Attended a ”Preaching with Power” event at United Lutheran Seminary on March 19, 2025. I have sent official documents to the SEPA synod declaring our support of Rich in entering candidacy for rostered ministry.

MINISTRY TEAM REPORTS:
Christian Education:
  Sunday School - For Palm Sunday, April 13, during Sunday School we will read the Resurrection Story using the Resurrection eggs; the children will also be given an Easter Story Activity Booklet that they may enjoy doing during Holy Week.   We will have an egg hunt for all the children who attend Worship Service that day. We prepared bags with an Easter Story Activity Booklet plus a few filled plastic eggs to give to all the children in our church community who were not able to be present on Palm Sunday.   Reminder, there will be no Sunday school on Easter.   In addition, our lectionary Sunday school lessons will end on May 25 and resume on Rally Day, September 7. Sunday school will be held at the same time during worship service for the summer months starting June 8 and ending August 31, but we will be meeting down in the Fellowship Hall for teacher directed Summer Fun Fellowship.
Young Adult Fellowship (ages 12-17) - Our March 23 bowling event at Earl Bowl Lanes was so much fun. There were 12 bowlers and 4 observers. We had many laughs and some of us even danced to the lively background music. We would like to make this an annual event. Our next two meetings will be held on April 27 and May 18, 6 pm to 7:30 pm in the Church Fellowship Hall.
PNO-YF (ages 3 to 11) – April 11, the children will enjoy an Easter Theme and the Fruits of the Spirit lesson on faithfulness and peace. Our May meeting on the 9th we are planning a Mother’s Day Theme highlighting mothers of the Bible.   We will also continue teaching the Fruits of the Spirit focusing on goodness and gentleness.   Both dates are Fridays, 6 pm to 9 pm
VBS 2025- --“True North: Trusting Jesus in a Wild World,” is scheduled Monday through Friday, August 4 thru 8, from 9am to 12 noon. We will have an April 6 meeting for volunteers and those who want to support VBS in any capacity. We hope the meeting will be very fruitful, but we can always use more help. So, if you would like to be part of this fun Christian formation event for our youth please contact Gail Achilles, [email protected] (email) or 267-664-3328 (cell).
MNBS - Our small group, which meets on Mondays via zoom, finished up the “Deeper Connections, Parables of Jesus” book and are grateful for gaining a better understanding how we can apply Jesus’ teachings to our daily lives. Our next study is John Ortberg’s “The Me I Want to Be’ Becoming God’s Best Version of You” which we will begin on April 7 and will end on May 19.   All are welcome. If interested, there is contact information available in the back of the Mustard Seed and weekly church worship service bulletins. (Note: our MNBS does not meet through the summer months; we will resume on September 8, 2025).
Communications: Holy Week Announcements
Hospitality: Palm Sunday Luncheon - will be putting out a signup sheet for finger sandwiches and we will supply a cake for the anniversary. Need Low-carb/no sugar items for the bishop. Started coming up with recipes for the Feast Incarnate at University Lutheran Church, Philadelphia on Tuesday, the 27th where we will be planning meals for approximately 95 to 100 people.
Long-Range Planning: Coordination with the Nourishing Vocation Project. Will be scheduling a meeting soon.
Property Team: Adam Feldman is contacting the owner of what looks like an abandoned car in our church parking lot. If the owner does not respond, Adam will call the Development Association Manager, and if that step fails to produce action, the township police department will be notified. A pipe inspection camera was rented to find out where the underground downspout drain system was clogged. There were three spots that were found to be blocked and were temporarily fixed. A permanent fix will happen on our workday when more people will be there to help. Adam would like to be reimbursed for the camera rental, the total was $252.61. Pest services sprayed the building for carpenter ants. Spring workday is April 5 9am-noon. We will be spreading mulch and cleaning up the church property. If it rains, mulching will be postponed until April 12.
Shepherding: The Shepherding team will be sending out cards for Easter.
Social Ministry: Social Ministry Project – March (Mary Lou Foster) The total donations for Covenant House Pennsylvania (CHPA) were $351.
Social Ministry Project – April (Debbie Hollenbach, Sharon Hood, Nancy Gansner, Mary Lou Foster) The congregation is being asked to donate food items for the “Feast Incarnate” at University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in University City, Philadelphia. We will provide a meatloaf, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies, iced tea and honey cake dinner on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, for 95-115 people. The congregation will also be asked to prepare the food at home, bring it to Faith, organize it for transport, and help serve at University Lutheran.
Social Ministry Project for 2025 For January, February, & March God’s Global Barnyard “noisy coin collection” has received a total of $140. This collection is taken on the third Sunday of each month through November. If anyone knows of a coin collector, please contact Sharon (215) 822-2579. We have several coins that need to be evaluated.
Special Funds: Property expense for the pipe camera: $252.61; Pastor’s replacement laptop: $419.99. Will send out to the team for the approvals.
Worship & Music: Substitute organist, Pat Keen started to play on Sunday, March 30. Our Holy Week Services: Palm Sunday at 9:30am with Bishop Penman; Maundy Thursday Service will be held at Jerusalem at 7pm; Good Friday Service at Grace at 12:00pm; Good Friday Tenebrae Service at Faith will be held at 7pm (not 7:30pm); Easter Vigil Service at 7:30am and Easter Worship Service at 9am.

OLD BUSINESS
Constitution Update: Needs a few changes based on feedback from council review before being sent to the congregation for review. Also seeking guidance from SEPA Synod on the review and approval process.
Faith 60th Anniversary on Palm Sunday, April 13th Planning continues. Bishop Penman expressed to Rich that he is excited to reside over the worship service and deliver the sermon for our church anniversary.
Discussion with Grace Leadership and the Synod, meeting scheduled for Friday, April 11th at 6pm at Grace Lutheran Church in Hatfield. Synod Assembly, May 30 & May 31, 2025, at Trinity Lansdale. Gary and Gail are the Faith lay representatives and will attend along with Pastor Ethan.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, May 7th at 7pm.

May 2025 Mustard Seed - Announcements

5/1/2025

Thursday, May 1, 2025, is the National Day of Prayer

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble
themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
(2 Chronicles 7:14)

Humble yourself, reach out to God and pray (have a conversation with God). Pour out your heart to him. And thank him for all the blessings He has given you.
Let’s all make a decision to pray - especially on May 1st, knowing that Christians all over our country are praying with us.

FaithNotes...

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A BIG THANK YOU to all who came out for Spring Workday on April 5th
Even though it was drizzly (and sometimes downright raining) we got all the sticks picked up, weeded the beds and laid down the mulch. Thank you to the strong arms and backs of John Taylor, Andy McCully, Dale Foster, Rich Hollenbach, and Adam Feldman for shoveling, pushing wheelbarrows and spreading the mulch. Thank you to Mary Lou Foster and Janet Hill for picking up sticks, weeding and spreading mulch. Your efforts are much appreciated, and the church grounds look great!.


Please keep the stamps coming!
It’s a continuing need! Thank you for all your contributions. It really helps!

Do you shop at Giant?
If you do, you can buy Giant gift cards from the church. A $50 card costs you $50. How does the church make money? Well, when Faith purchases $1,000 worth of cards from Giant, they only charge us $950 (a 5% discount.) So, when we sell those cards to you, the church makes $50. It adds up…

Hatfield Flowers and Gifts (215) 822-1530) provides Faith with two lovely flower arrangements for our sanctuary each Sunday.
   You can sign up to sponsor flowers, bulletins or a food basket. The flowers are $35, the bulletins are $10 and the food basket is $25.
    You can dedicate any one of these things to someone special, to celebrate a birthday or in memory of a loved one. You may take the flowers home, or they will be given to an ill or homebound member. The $10 for the bulletins is to help cover the cost of making the bulletins and the $25 for the food basket is money donated to “Manna on Main Street” to help feed those in the North Penn area.
          To sign up for a particular Sunday either sign up on the chart on the Foyer bulletin board or call Janet in the church office (215) 368-0240.

If you shop at Redner’s, please save your receipts. Anna Friedrich turns them in and the church receives a monetary donation from Redner’s. All you need to do is to put your receipts in the labeled basket outside of the sanctuary. Thank you to those who bring in their receipts and to Anna who does the paperwork to receive this donation! Please note that when bringing in your receipts we need the entire receipt. Please do not tear off the bottom. Redner’s will not accept the receipt if the bottom is torn off.

SAVE THE DATE:
Annual Church Family Picnic
Sunday, June 1, 2025, 11am to 2 pm
Rain or Shine!

Spring Valley Park
       Claremont Drive
      Montgomery Township

On Sunday, June 1st right after the 9:30am worship service we are planning on having the Annual Church Picnic at Spring Valley Park. We’ll provide hamburgers, hot dogs, rolls, drinks and paper products and condiments (through funding from a Thrivent Action Team card). If you’d like to bring a side or dessert, please sign up on the sheet on the table outside of the sanctuary. Please sign up on the sheet even if you will not be bringing anything just so we know how many people will be attending. Also bring a lawn chair if you don’t want to sit on the cement benches. Come out on the 1st to fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ!

We are in need of Greeters, Lectors (reading the lesson and psalm) and Worship Assistants (reading the prayers and few other passages) for our worship. If you would like to volunteer or would like more information, please call Anna Friedrich.

16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT)



Sunday School: Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Sunday School hours are at 9:30am during the worship service.
The children will leave worship service after the Pastor-led children’s sermon with one of our teachers, Nancy Gansner,
Anna Friedrich, Gail Achilles or Kate Waldman and return to worship service before the rite of Holy Communion.
Please call the Church office 215-368-0240 or email [email protected] to register your child for Sunday School. Any questions or comments, contact Gail Achilles, Christian Education Chair

We are looking forward in sharing Jesus’ love and word with your Child(ren).

Proverbs 22:6 ESV Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

* * * * * * *
Our Monday Night Bible Study group meets on Zoom on Monday nights from 7-9pm. If you would like to grow in your relationship with Jesus and fortify your Faith in fellowship, please join us.

Here is the zoom link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89517994658?pwd=2AE3yRc631cCcIP7aNDBRK1WrhIQ1X.1

Meeting ID: 895 1799 4658      Passcode: 478541

All are welcome to join.

Parents’ Night Out (PNO) – Youth Fellowship (YF)
Looking for a night out and a fun, safe place to bring the kids? Well, look no further! We here at Faith Lutheran Church are ready to care for your child(ren) in a safe environment, provide food and fun activities, and share the love of Jesus.

The children will have dinner when they arrive consisting of pizza or chicken nuggets, grape and apple slices with caramel dip, water, 100% fruit juice, then enjoy music, games, crafts, stories, and end the evening with popcorn and a movie!

PNO-YF will be held on Friday, May 9, 2025
from 6 pm to 9 pm.

If interested, please register at www.faithmontgomeryville.org
and click on the PNO – YF tab or call 215-368-0240.
Note: A minimum donation of $5.00 per child is suggested so we can provide future youth events.
We look forward to hearing from you!

Where the Word of Jesus is spoken, heard, and lived

Our Vacation Bible School theme this year will be “True North: Trusting Jesus in a Wild World” As kids trek the tundra, they’ll discover how easy it is to lose sight of what’s true in our wild world today. Guiding them towards Jesus, True North VBS reveals that He is a faithful friend we can always trust. He’s our True North! Gail Achilles, our coordinator, is enthusiastically looking forward to this adventure. The dates for this year are Monday through Friday, August 4-8, 2025, from 9am to 12noon.
    Please contact Gail or the church office to volunteer to help. Thank you, Church Family!

* * * * * * *

Youth Ministry
(ages 12-17)

Looking for somewhere to learn about Jesus with others your age? Join us at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Montgomeryville every third Sunday in 2024-25 from 6:00-7:30pm! We will be meeting this month on Sunday, May 18, 2025.

Expect to have fun while learning about the Word of God by joining in prayer, devotions and readings at the church. We will also have occasional outings around the area such as mini golf, bowling and more! Our adult support team will provide snacks and beverages during meetings. We hope to see you soon!

Faith’s Transportation Initiative
If you need a ride to church on Sunday or you are interested in providing a ride to church to someone, please contact Dale Foster.
We currently receive donations of WAWA Food through the Food Donation Connection. We may receive anything from sizzlies, to breakfast burritos, to lunch sandwiches, to muffins, to sweet treats, to hot dogs...anything they didn’t sell the day before and have now frozen. If you are in need of some supplemental food or know of someone who is, please let either Janet Hill in the church office or Dale Foster know and we will make sure you receive some Wawa food.

Lord, when did we see you...?
The purpose of the Social Ministry Team is to follow Jesus' commandment to love one another as he loved us. To offer opportunities to our congregation to be good and faithful servants. To share the love and truth of Jesus Christ and to offer hope to all God's children by giving of our time, our money and ourselves to our church, our community, and the world.

Feast Incarnate –
A New “Social Ministry” Outreach for Faith
We are continuing this ministry into May. A year-round food & hospitality outreach ministry since November 1988 at University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in Philadelphia.

On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, Faith will share this “feast” with 95-115 people.

Please check our poster board each Sunday to see if there are still items to donate: boxes of Idahoan instant mashed potatoes, bags of frozen mixed vegetables, Dunkin Hines yellow cake mixes, beef gravy, honey.

When we get closer to May 27, we will ask for additional ingredients to make the meatloaf and cakes (eggs, walnuts, etc.).   Please check the poster board.

A Thrivent grant will help cover the meatloaf meat and milk.

Please volunteer on our designated sign up sheet to let us know what you will like to make (meatloaf, cake, etc.). Indicate also If you are available to put all the food together for transport to Philadelphia and/or available to go to University Lutheran to serve the meal.   Needed are 5 to 6 people to serve. We will carpool to Philadelphia.
Thank you for serving others as God has commissioned us!

Any questions, contact: Deb Hollenbach

“Noisy Can” Offering – We continue to collect change for God’s Global Barnyard, every third Sunday,
which will be May 18, 2025 this month
A noisy coin offering is a worship service collection where members donate loose change to a specific cause. The collection is called "noisy" because the coins make a clanging sound as they are placed in the offering bucket.
    On the third Sunday of each month, you will be asked by our Sunday School children to donate your “loose change” in our collection can for God’s Global Barnyard. The more noise the better.    Of course, paper money is fine too.   This is our continuing Christian love to serve others.
    This collection will continue from January through November. In December, the Sunday School children will be asked what animals to purchase based on your total donations. A variety of animals helps provide ample nutrition and a sustainable source of income for many families.

      In Christ, Sharon Hood & Debbie Hollenbach, Co-Chairs

First Communion
Congratulations to Taylor Witkowski and Carson Rice who received their First Holy Communion on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025!

In Memory…
David Gansner
December 1, 1936 – April 10, 2025
Celebration of life at Faith Lutheran Church,
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 -11am service, 10am calling time Reception to follow service

Check out the can in the Fellowship Hall to recycle aluminum cans. Not only does it help the environment, but it will generate some cash for the church. Beth Schoening has volunteered to empty the can periodically and take the cans to the recycling center. So, if you have any aluminum cans at home, please bring them in and it will help the earth and Faith Church! Thank you! (Make sure they are aluminum though…if a magnet does not attach to it, it’s aluminum.) Thank you to everyone who is filling the can!

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)

April 2025 Mustard Seed - Council Minutes

4/4/2025

Council Minutes March 12, 2025
Council was called to order by President Rich Hollenbach.

Meeting with our Thrivent Reps: David Kratz, who has been our very capable Thrivent financial representative for Faith Lutheran church and some of our congregational members, is retiring after 40 years. Dave said that it has been his pleasure to serve us with our financial needs. Our church council thanked him for his past service and wished him a good retirement. He introduced Amanda Schulenberg, who will be taking over for him. Amanda told us that she loves finances and will always be dedicated to her clientele. The former Thrivent office location has been closed, and Amanda will provide us with the new address shortly. Our new Thrivent Financial Adviser Amanda Schulenberg can be reached at 215-368-4888.

Gail lead devotions on Psalm 32. Minutes of the February regular council meeting was approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report: At 16% of the year, Member Giving Pledged is on track at 15.28% with Member Giving Unpledged at 21% and Loose Plate Offering at 22.43%. We had a donation of $370 from the Emily Gallo Scrapbook Fundraiser, $108 in Thrivent Choice Dollars and $260.82 in Merck Dividends.   Our biggest expense was with the snow removal line at $750 for a total of $1,100 for the year ($100 more than budgeted). The treasurer’s report was approved as written.
President’s Report: We had a nice, albeit small Ash Wednesday service. We continue to plan our Holy Week services (See below) especially our Palm Sunday service. We have confirmed our new part-time organist, and she has started practicing.
Pastor’s Report: I have led and presided at worship regularly throughout the month of February at Faith and Jerusalem. Our
last Faith Education Dinner was on March 9, 2025. The focus was on the prophets of the Old Testament. Next dinner will be on April 13, 2025, at 5:30pm. Our participation in the Nourishing Vocation Project continued March 5, 2025, with the beginning of Lent. Our focus for this Lent is on values. Our theme for Lent is “Unbroken: A Living Faith.” Small groups have also begun. Our Lenten study on the Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer began on March 6, 2025. In conversation with the president of Feast Incarnate about hosting/sponsoring a meal at University Lutheran Church Philadelphia. We will be sponsoring the meal on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.   Debbie Hollenbach, Anne Hutnyk, and I are in the planning stage to provide a total of 90 meals. Met with Pastor Nancy to discuss greater collaboration between Faith and Grace. We plan to collaborate during Lent. First Holy Communion for 2 to 3 persons is planned for Easter Sunday.

MINISTRY TEAM REPORTS:
Christian Education:
  Sunday School - For Palm Sunday, April 13, during Sunday School we will read the Resurrection Story using the Resurrection eggs and have an egg hunt. There will be no Sunday School on Easter, April 20.
  Parent Night Out/Youth Fellowship (PNO/YF) – Next two events are scheduled on Fridays, March 14 - Lenten Theme, and April 11 – Easter/Resurrection Theme, 6pm to 9 pm in the Fellowship Hall.
  Young Adult Fellowship (ages 12-17) - For this month’s meeting, we are having a bowling event on March 23 at Earl Bowl Lanes in place of the March 16 meeting. An email was sent out on Feb 18 to see who was interested in attending. So far, we have ten coming for fun and fellowship and a striking good time. A second email was sent out on March 10th to parents of youth in this age group with all the details, and to sign-up if interested. The more the merrier.
  VBS 2025- This year’s VBS, scheduled for Monday through Friday, August 4 to 8, 9 am to 12 noon, is “True North, Trusting Jesus in a Wild World.” An email was sent out on March 10th to past volunteers with more details of VBS stations requiring leaders and assistants and the need for Crew leaders and assistants to make this year’s VBS fun and successful in bringing Jesus to the youth in our community. The email also notes that there will be a meeting for volunteer sign-up and those just wanting more information on Sunday April 6 after Worship Service in the Fellowship Hall. Please look into your hearts and volunteer your God-given gifts to this year’s VBS. As noted last year, we had an awesome group of volunteers in 2024! Feel free to contact me anytime by email [email protected] or text at 267-664-3328 if you would like to sign up for a volunteer position.
Communications: Holy Week Announcements
Hospitality: Palm Sunday Luncheon - will be putting out a signup sheet for finger sandwiches and salads, and we will supply a cake for the anniversary; need Low-carb/no sugar items for the bishop.Long-Range Planning: Coordination with the Nourishing Vocation Project. Will be scheduling a meeting soon.
Property Team: Spring Cleaning Day is scheduled for Saturday April 5 from 9am to noon.
Property Management: Hedwig House has requested to use the Fellowship Hall to host their Annual Bingo event once again, this year on Thursday, July 17th.
Shepherding: Sharon needs to talk to Beth Schoening about her taking over this ministry.
Social Ministry: Social Ministry Project – February (Sharon Hood/Debbie Hollenbach) We made our goal of 20 “soup bags” containing 3 cans of soup and crackers. These and additional food were delivered to Keystone Opportunity Center in Souderton for a total of 83 pounds.
Social Ministry Project – March (MaryLou Foster) The congregation is being asked to make monetary donations for Covenant House Pennsylvania (CHPA), an organization that offers safety and wellness for vulnerable youth who may be experiencing homelessness and who have survived trafficking.
Social Ministry Project for 2025 For January & February, God’s Global Barnyard “noisy coin collection” has received a total of $77. This collection is taken on the third Sunday in each month through November.
Special Funds: Faith’s portion of Rich Hollenbach’s ELCA candidacy fee of $650 taken from the Mathias Memorial was approved.
Worship & Music: Meeting held on March 4th to review worship from Ash Wednesday through Pentecost. Maundy Thursday Service will be held at Jerusalem at 7pm. Good Friday Service at Grace at 12:00pm. Good Friday Tenebrae Service at Faith will be held at 7pm (not 7:30pm). Easter Vigil Service at 7:30am and Easter Worship Service at 9am.

OLD BUSINESS
Constitution Update: Needs a few changes based on feedback from council review before being sent to the congregation for review. Also seeking guidance from SEPA Synod on the review and approval process.
Faith 60th Anniversary on Palm Sunday, April 13th Planning continues.
Discussion with Grace Leadership – Pastor Ethan informed us that Pastor Nancy Raabe, Grace Lutheran Church in Hatfield, is retiring early June 2025. Our Synod Dean Julie Dewerth reached out to Pastor Ethan to have a meeting with him along with council members from Grace to work out transition for a partnership. In meantime, our council President Rich Hollenbach had a meeting with Grace’s Council President to be on the same page. Dean Julie Dewerth will be present at Grace’s March 19th Church Council Meeting to explain the details. Linda motioned to approve that we will have a discussion with Grace for the short-term plan to potentially share Pastor Ethan between Faith and Grace, Paul seconded, and all voted to approve.

NEW BUSINESS
Pastor’s Laptop replacement—approved by council and this request will go to Special Funds. Substitute organist, Pat Keen. Teri Apgar & Sephie Duff have requested transfer to Lansdale Presbyterian Church in Hatfield.
Synod Assembly, May 30 & May 31, 2025, at Trinity Lansdale. Registration is due April 23rd. Gary Apgar and Gail Achilles will be our representatives this year.

Next Meeting:  Wednesday, April 2nd at 7pm.

April 2025 Mustard Seed - Announcements

4/4/2025

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER AT FAITH

PALM/PASSION SUNDAY  April 13th      9:30am
Bishop Bryan Penman preaching and officiating
A 60th Anniversary Luncheon follows worship

HOLY THURSDAY April 17th              7:00pm
Maundy Thursday Worship at Jerusalem Lutheran Church, 733 Ridge Road, Sellersville, PA
(If you are interested in carpooling, please see Janet in the Church Office.)

GOOD FRIDAY April 18th
       Worship at Grace Lutheran Church in Hatfield 12pm

       Good Friday Service of Shadows (Tenebrae) 7pm

EASTER SUNDAY April 20th
      7:30am    VIGIL TO PROCLAMATION!
      9:00am     RESURRECTION PROCLAMATION!
       Easter Sunday Breakfast follows 9am Worship

Alleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church Cross wall 20th Anniversary:

As our congregation celebrates the 60th Anniversary of our church on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025, we are reminded that 20 years ago Verna Wilde and Helen Haag began to affix donated crosses from our members to form what is known as the Cross Wall.

All are greeted when you walk into our narthex hallway outside the church sanctuary by this beautiful wall which gives the eye of the beholder various thoughts.

One being God’s grace and great love for us of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to free us from sin so that we who believe may have eternal salvation (John 3:16 paraphrased).
One may also be reminded of Jesus’s words in verse 34 in Mark 8, NIV: “Whoever wants to be my disciples must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” As a Sunday School teacher, I have the pleasure of seeing the children’s delight when they look upon the cross wall. They feel the love through the variety of colors and décor of the numerous crosses accumulated these past 20 years; they enjoy picking out their favorite (as many of us adults do) as they are in the early stages of growing their relationship with Jesus and learning the divine meaning of the Cross!

Thank you, Verna and Helen, for beginning this wonderful tradition and all those who made contributions over the years!
Will you and I take up the cross and follow Him?

Gail Achilles

LENTEN OFFERINGS

Lessons from Dietrich Bonhoeffer in a House Divided and a World on Fire – [Thursdays, April 3rd and 10th, Location: 10:00 am Faith Lutheran Montgomeryville Adult Forum Room or 7:00 pm Zoom]
Join us this Lent as we explore the life and theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and the lessons we can use as we live at the intersection of faith and civic life today. Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor and theologian living in Nazi Germany, who eventually joined the resistance and was arrested and killed before the end of WWII. This curriculum was compiled by Dr. Lori Brandt Hale, an internationally renowned Bonhoeffer scholar and president of the International Bonhoeffer Society – English Language Section. Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania is a partner in distributing to congregations to inspire deeper conversation and discernment about how we live as disciples. All are welcome to join this study. Each session is intended to be an hour long. Please note that the in-person session and the Zoom session on each Thursday will present the same information. Hope to see you all there!
Zoom Information:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85404123462
Meeting ID: 854 0412 3462

Adult Confirmation Opportunity!
Did you go through confirmation when you were younger? Did you know that technically you are supposed to have gone through confirmation to be a voting member? Confirmation, which is now commonly called Affirmation of Baptism, is the time when young people declare for themselves that they will live out the promises made for them by their parents and sponsors in their baptism. In a traditional confirmation program, middle school age students spend two to three years in confirmation classes that are intended to continue, more intentionally, the exploration of faith, faith and life, and faith and the church so that students can make that affirmation of baptism and statement of faith in the hope and trust that God will continue to lead and guide them in all the aspects of their lives now and in the future”(Living Lutheran). However, due to pastoral transition and the pandemic, we realize that some did not have the opportunity to participate in confirmation. We also understand that some Christian denominations do not require confirmation. So, for those adults who would like to participate in the Rite of Confirmation, we would like to invite you to participate in a condensed program. In this program, you would be asked to participate as much as possible in our Lenten Study on Dietrich Bonhoeffer and then come to a separate two hour session on Saturday, April 12, 2025 from 1:00 to 3:00pm. You would then confirm your faith on Easter Sunday. If you are interested in this, please contact pastor at [email protected]

Spring Workday is Set for Saturday, April 5
We will need lots of volunteers to help with sprucing up the outside of the church as well as dusting and cleaning windows on the inside of the church. We will be meeting at 9am on Saturday, April 5th. Bring shovels, rakes, clippers, trimmers, blowers and anything else you can think of we might need to get the job done.

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 (NASB)

Hatfield Flowers and Gifts (215) 822-1530) provides Faith with two lovely flower arrangements to adorn our sanctuary each Sunday.
   You can sign up to sponsor flowers, bulletins or a food basket. The flowers are $35, the bulletins are $10 and the food basket is $25.
    You can dedicate any one of these things to someone special, to celebrate a birthday or in memory of a loved one. You may take the flowers home or they will be given to an ill or homebound member. The $10 for the bulletins is to help cover the cost of making the bulletins and the $25 for the food basket is money donated to “Manna on Main Street” to help feed those in the North Penn area.
            To sign up for a particular Sunday either sign up on the chart on the Foyer bulletin board or call Janet in the church office (215) 368-0240.

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (John 14:27, NRSV)

The “Golden Girls of Faith” (Golden Men are welcome too!) will be meeting once a month for lunch, fellowship and prayer at a local restaurant. They will meet the first Wednesday of the month which will be April 2, 2025, this month. For more information or if you need a ride, please talk to Anna Friedrich. All are welcome!

16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT)

Sunday School: Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Sunday School hours are at 9:30am during the worship service.

The children will leave worship service after the Pastor-led children’s sermon with one of our teachers, Nancy Gansner, Anna Friedrich, Gail Achilles or Kate Waldman, and return to worship service before the rite of Holy Communion.
Please call the Church office 215-368-0240 or email [email protected] to register your child for Sunday School. Any questions or comments, contact Gail Achilles, Christian Education Chair

We are looking forward in sharing Jesus’ love and word with your Child(ren).

Proverbs 22:6 ESV Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Our Monday Night Bible Study group meets on Zoom on Monday nights from 7-9pm. If you would like to grow in your relationship with Jesus and fortify your Faith in fellowship, please join us.   Here is the zoom link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84493505997?pwd=eEVUUGpKRnJQSTU2MUNJZHBzMFNRQT09

Meeting ID: 844 9350 5997      Passcode: 196585

Parents’ Night Out (PNO) – Youth Fellowship (YF)

The children will have dinner when they arrive consisting of pizza or chicken nuggets, grape and apple slices with caramel dip, water, 100% fruit juice, then enjoy music, games, crafts, stories, & end the evening with popcorn and a movie, sharing the love of Jesus!

PNO-YF will be held on Friday, April 11th from 6pm to 9pm

If interested, please register at www.faithmontgomeryville.org
and click on the PNO – YF tab or call 215-368-0240.

Note: A minimum donation of $5.00 per child is suggested so we can provide future youth events.

Where the Word of Jesus is spoken, heard, and lived

Youth Ministry
(ages 12-17)

Looking for somewhere to learn about Jesus with others your age? Join us at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Montgomeryville every third Sunday* in 2024-25 from 6:00-7:30pm!

Expect to have fun while learning about the Word of God by joining in prayer, devotions and readings at the church. We will also have occasional outings around the area such as mini golf, bowling and more! Our adult support team will provide snacks and beverages during meetings. We hope to see you soon!
Where? Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, 615 Cowpath Rd. Montgomeryville, PA 18036 (215-368-0240 Pastor Ethan Doan/Janet Hill, Administrative Assistant) or (267-664-3328 Gail Achilles, Chair, Christian Education)
When? Third Sunday of the month from 6:00-7:30pm
Dates for 2025: Apr 27* (3d Sunday is Easter), May 18, June 22* (3d Sunday is Father’s Day), July 20, Aug 17, Sep 21, Oct 19, Nov 16, Dec 21

Our Vacation Bible School theme this year will be “True North: Trusting Jesus in a Wild World” As kids trek the tundra, they’ll discover how easy it is to lose sight of what’s true in our wild world today. Guiding them towards Jesus, True North VBS reveals that He is a faithful friend we can always trust. He’s our True North! Gail Achilles, our coordinator, is enthusiastically looking forward to this adventure. The dates for this year are Monday through Friday, August 4-8, 2025, from 9am to 12noon.
    We will have our first VBS 2025 meeting on April 6 after 9:30 am Worship Service during coffee hour for those interested in helping and supporting this fun and Christian formation event for our youth.
    Please contact Gail or the church office to volunteer to help. Thank you, Church Family!


Social Ministry
Lord, when did we see you...?
The purpose of the Social Ministry Team is to follow Jesus' commandment to love one another as he loved us. To offer opportunities to our congregation to be good and faithful servants. To share the love and truth of Jesus Christ and to offer hope to all God's children by giving of our time, our money and ourselves to our church, our community, and the world.

Feast Incarnate –
A New “Social Ministry” Outreach for Faith
A year-round food & hospitality outreach ministry since November 1988 at University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in Philadelphia in response to two members of the parish who had been diagnosed with HIV and rejected by friends, families and partners. The first evening was planned as a safe environment, free from prejudice and discrimination. Every Tuesday since, University Lutheran has served a meal for the HIV/AIDS community in University City.
    The program has been expanded to reach all of those in need of a meal within the community with the help of volunteers like ourselves.   After the meal, Holy Communion is shared.

    On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, Faith will share dinner with 95-115 people. What a wonderful way for us to reach out in love to others as God has commissioned us.
    In April, as part of our ongoing social ministry projects, you are being asked to donate the following:
     .  boxes of Idahoan instant mashed potatoes – 100% real potatoes
     . butter
     . bags of frozen mixed vegetables
     . beef gravy
     .  Dunkin Hines yellow cake mixes (for a Honey Cake recipe shared from Grace Lutheran, Hatfield)
     . honey
A Thrivent grant will help cover the meatloaf meat and milk.
    As we get closer to May 27, we will ask for eggs, additional meatloaf ingredients and anything else we may still need.
    At that time, we will need volunteers to make the muffin tin meatloafs, mashed potatoes and cake. We will also need volunteers to put all of this food together at Faith to transport and then serve at University Lutheran.
    Let us share our love for others! What a wonderful experience!
    Any questions, contact: Deb Hollenbach or Sharon Hood, Co-Chairs, Social Ministry

Faith Lutheran Church Spring Scrapbook Fundraiser!!  615 Cowpath Road, Montgomeryville
Friday, April 25 (9am-9pm) – Saturday, April 26 (9am–5pm)

Each person will have their own 8-foot table so that you can spread out and bring lots of supplies and tools. Access to shared Creative Memories punches, border punches and border maker cartridges. Creative memories products -pages and protectors, stickers, card stock, decorative pages, decorative borders, tape runners, peek-a-boo pockets and more will be available to purchase. If you would like to pre-order any particular product, please contact Deb Hollenbach.
Meals to be provided: lunch and dinner on Friday/Baked Potato Bar on Saturday.
Price: $70 for both days/$35 for one day – please specify.

Bonus Day: Thursday, April 24 (1pm-9pm) Extra time to work on your projects! No food provided. Price $20.

Please RSVP to Debbie Hollenbach at [email protected]. Payment will be collected when you attend. 20 spots available. Please invite a friend to join us!

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

April 2025 Mustard Seed - A Word from Our Pastor

4/4/2025

As we enter the month of April, Easter Sunday draws near, and our 40-day Lenten journey will soon come to a close. On April 13th, Palm Sunday begins our journey into Holy Week. A journey that begins with Jesus making his triumphant journey into Jerusalem, which ultimately will lead to his death on the cross. Holy Week is a somewhat somber time as we prepare for Jesus' death, as we remember his final days. However, this year, there will be another death other than Jesus’ on my mind during Holy Week. This week I will not only be mourning the death of our Lord and Savior, but I will also be mourning my grandmother, Janet Stender. If you all recall, she passed away in June of 2024, and this will be my first Easter without her. It has been many years now since I have physically spent Easter Sunday with her. However, my grandmother served an important role within my own faith journey, and all of my Easter Sunday memories from childhood include her. Our tradition was to get up on Easter Sunday and go to worship with her and my grandfather. Then, we would walk a block down the street to my grandparents’ house, where we would find our Easter baskets full of goodies. After receiving our baskets, we would go outside for our Easter egg hunt, which included around 6 dozen hard boiled painted eggs and 6 dozen plastic candy filled eggs (two dozen for each child). Finally, we would sit down for Easter lunch, which my grandmother always prepared. The staple dishes being her potato salad and her California blend vegetable casserole. So, Easter has always brought memories filled with her and even when I was not physically with her, I often called her on Easter Sunday. Then, this year, my emotions will be even greater because her birthday falls on Holy Tuesday, April 15th.

And so, this year, Holy Week will be different for me. In recent years, the start of Holy Week is full of preparation for what lies ahead later in the week. Usually, my mind is so full of information that I do not fully embrace the call to remember Jesus's death, and to walk with him to the cross. However, this year I will remember, and I will be mourning for Jesus and for my grandmother. However, the good news is that at the end of Holy Week is Easter Sunday, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is resurrected! He is resurrected from the dead, and in this resurrection, we too are brought into new life, a life where God’s love is made known to all the world. And in this love, God lifts us up out of despair and into joy to experience the Resurrection and to be who we are called to be!

And so, I will begin Holy Week in mourning for my grandmother, but the Resurrection of our Lord reminds me that where there is death there is also life, and the Holy Spirit continually reminds us of this in our everyday life and calls us to participate in this Resurrection. My Holy Week might begin with mourning for my grandmother and remembering her birthday, but it ends with Easter Sunday and the celebration of Luca's third birthday on Monday, April 21st. And so, I will participate in this resurrection, I will remember Jesus and my grandmother, by passing on these Easter traditions to my son. I will love him and teach him about Jesus as my grandmother did for me, and together we will shout our Alleluias for “Christ is risen, He is risen indeed. Alleluia!” Amen.

Peace and Blessings, Pastor Ethan Doan

March 2025 Mustard Seed - A Word from Our Pastor

2/25/2025

Greetings Siblings in Christ,

We are now entering into the month of March. The weather will soon begin to change. The air will get warmer. The sun will be out and the green of spring will fill the land. However, not everything will be green. In fact, in March, the green paraments found in our sanctuary will turn from green to purple. On Wednesday March 5, 2025, the season of Lent will begin with Ash Wednesday. Lent is the forty-day season (excluding Sundays) of penitence and preparation for the Three Days of Holy Week and Easter. During this season, one is called into reflection and self-examination, asking ourselves what God is calling us to do. In Advent, the congregation was introduced to the spiritual practice of VOCARE, which is the Latin word that when translated means “to call.” VOCARE” is a regular spiritual practice designed by the Nourishing Vocation Project at St. Olaf’s College. It was designed to help congregations and individuals discern and embrace our multiple vocations so that we can more intentionally live lives of purpose for the common good. “VOCARE” invites ongoing reflection upon values, openness, call, attentiveness, regret, and the experience of the sacred in everyday life.

V – Values: What do I value, and how am I living my values?
O – Openness: To what am I being asked to be open? How do I respond?
C – Call: What voices are calling to me? Which ones do I listen to, and why?
A – Attentiveness: Where am I giving my attention? Does my attention align with my values?
R – Regret: What are my regrets? What insight do I gain from them?
E – Experience the Sacred: When, where, and how have I encountered the presence of the holy in my everyday life?

In Advent, we started our journey by reflecting on and identifying our longings for the Church and the world. We then reflected on how our longings aligned with God’s longings for us. In Lent, we continue this reflection by diving deeper into VOCARE by focusing on the “V” of VOCARE, which stands for “values.” So, throughout Lent, we will ask ourselves: What do I value, how am I living my values, and what does God value? To do this, we will be using a sermon series made by an organization called Church Anew that is entitled “Unbroken: A Living Faith.” This series emphasizes that “faith is passed down from generation to generation - it’s an unbroken line of ancestry that connects us all the way back to Jesus.” So, throughout Lent, we will be asking ourselves what these essential beliefs and values are? To further answer this question, we will also be doing an education series on the life of the Lutheran pastor and theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was a pastor in Nazi Germany. This study will be in person at Faith at 10:00 am Thursday mornings and over Zoom on Thursday evenings at 7:00pm (more details in a separate section of the newsletter). All are welcome to join this study.

So, as we continue this journey of spiritual renewal by reflecting on our values, let us remember the words of Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” I pray that as we continue on this spiritual journey that we fully submit ourselves to God, and trust in what the Lord is doing. I pray that God will continue to open our hearts and minds, so that we can truly live into our callings, to be who Christ has called us to be. Amen.

Peace and Blessings, Pastor Ethan Doan

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