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
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
