Category: 2021 07 July

July 2021 Mustard Seed - Announcements

7/2/2021

Church Re-Opening
At the June 2, 2021 Church Council meeting it was decided that we can ease some of the COVID restrictions at worship services.

The new guidelines will be as follows and went into effect on Sunday, June 6, 2021:

Masks will continue to be worn while in the church for worship but most other restrictions have been lifted.
Singing will now be permitted.
Temperature checks will no longer be taken.
No reservations are needed to attend worship.
All restrooms and water fountains will be open.
We will still provide the sanitizers throughout the building.
We still won't have coffee hours after church but will allow folks to socialize outside the building after the service.

Council will continue to monitor and will update the restrictions as deemed necessary.

Movie Nights
On July 9thand July 23rd,Faith will be hosting a movie night in our church parking lot.  We will be watching “Peter Rabbit” on Friday, July 9thand “Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie” on Friday, July 23rd. You can either stay in your cars for a drive in or bring a lawn chair and sit outside. Everyone is welcome!  Plan on coming around 8:30 p.m. for Summertime fun!

Church Picnic Report
On Sunday, June 6, 2021 right after our 9:30am worship service we had our Annual Faith Family Picnic at Spring Valley Park.  We had 34 people attend!  It was beautiful day and adults and children were so happy to be able to join together again for food, fellowship and fun.  Thank you to Thrivent for providing the funds and to Vince and Janet Hill and Adam Feldman for putting it together.

Technology Volunteers
We are looking for a few volunteers who are willing to learn and help with the technology behind our virtual and in-person worship services. Each week we host our Zoom meeting for worship as well as running the video cameras and sound system in the sanctuary.  Over the past year we have refined this process and it’s running very smoothly now. But it’s being managed by the same few people every week and we are looking to train others to share in this responsibility.  We have engaged a professional to help review our processes and to provide training and want to have other volunteers participate.  Please contact Rich Hollenbach if you are interested.

HELPSY Bins
Please continue to fill the HELPSY bin!  When cleaning out your closets please fill the blue Helpsy bin at the end of our parking lot with used clothing and shoes (IN ANY CONDITION.) Faith receives $600 annually from this community outreach.

July 2021 Mustard Seed - Council Notes

7/2/2021

Council Notes June 2, 2021

Council was called to order by President Rich Hollenbach.  Vince Hill led devotions on a healthy church. Minutes of the May 5thregular council meeting were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report: After a few questions and concerns were addressed, all members approved the treasurer’s report.  With year-to-date income at $83,942.64(80%) and operating expenses at $40,427.71 (27%) we have a $43,514.93 surplus. (This surplus is only because we carried over last year’s surplus of $35,516.76.)

President’s Report:
Rich Hollenbach reported hybrid worship continues with in-person and zoom and recording posted to our Facebook page.  We had our first full month without a Designated/Bridge Pastor, with Pastor Frank Sayford presiding.  In June we have Pastor Bruce Davis and Pastor Maggie Ainslie.  Rich is currently working on July.  (On behalf of the entire congregation, thank you President Rich Hollenbach).  June Pastors will be having communion, and the prepackaged communion kits are working out.

MINISTRY TEAM REPORTS:

Call Committee:Gail Achilles reported that there isnothing definitive to report as yet.  Our Call Committee continues to pray that God will send the right Pastor to Faith Lutheran Church according to His will and His time, and we are hopeful that we can report some news sooner than later. Please keep those prayers coming for God to send us a Pastor.

Christian Education: Melissa Prunkel is still working on a meeting to gather plans to initiate bible studies and possible VBS for our children during the summer months.
The Faith family picnic is on Sunday, June 6, 2021.

Communications: Jack Walls suggested posting church picnic on Facebook page, and that we should show highlights of people in our congregation in action.  Jack noted as more and more things open up, hopefully people will physically come back to church.  Rich suggested showing more pictures of people in the church on our web site and Facebook page.

Adam Feldman stated that the PPP loan forgiveness application was approved by Univest and sent to the Small Business Administration. The Finance Team is having a meeting at the end of June. The Audit is complete. Thanks to all who worked on the Audit.

Fundraising: Sharon Hood asked if anyone is inspired to put their fundraising talents to work to replace our current chair, Linda Kratz?

Property Team: Vince Hill reported that Fast Signs is still waiting on the permit for our front sign.
The new furnaces are 98% completed. Landis has to test them and should be completed this week.

Sharon Hood reported that the team is sending out Father’s Day cards. She will also get updates on all addresses.

Jack asked Pastor Penman to share some ideas on bumping up e-giving. Pastor Penman stated that he would send resources for inspiring generosity during Covid and post-Covid. Pastor Penman during his services during the Offertory makes a point to tell the congregation how thankful they are for their monetary gifts to the church and tells their members about how this money helps with missions, ministries, and the church expenses. He also reminds members of ways they can give and how important their generosity is to do God’s work. Missy suggested that we bring back the offertory plates and go through the motions of going pew to pew and bringing up the offering to the altar. Rich agreed and would begin steps to bring this back to our services.

Transportation: Dale Foster is going to send out an email to find out people’s availability to help with transportation needs. Dale is also going to put a note in the church bulletin to remind people to contact the church office if they have any transportation needs.

Worship & Music: Rich will begin steps to add offering back into the worship services. He is working on Supply Pastors for July.

OLD BUSINESS:

Constitution Update– No update.
Audit Team Update– The updated Audit Team report will follow when completed.

NEW BUSINESS

The Korean congregation has donated $1000 for Faith’s missions. A thank you note from Council and the congregation has been sent to Pastor Shin.
Easing COVID Restrictions: We still need to wear masks in church, but congregational singing will be permitted; sanitizer will be available for use; reservations are no longer required to attend service; all restrooms and water fountains will be open; fellowship hall will remain closed, but fellowship is encouraged outdoors (Vince stated that he could put some chairs outside of church). All members voted in favor of these changes. Council President Rich Hollenbach documented this in an email and sent to Janet Hill, Faith Lutheran Church Administrative Assistant, for distribution to our congregation.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at 7pm.

July 2021 Mustard Seed - Note from Council Secretary

7/2/2021

Hello Church Family! I am Gail Achilles, staying connected to you through the Word of God!  To all Americans, I hope you have a spectacular Fourth of July celebration! I know many of us commemorate this holiday with the love and respect we have for all citizens and our ancestors before us, and for the many freedoms we enjoy in this great country of ours.

Not only in America but the entire earthly kingdom has so much to praise God for including being the Creator of the whole world and its people, standing by the Israelites and bringing them to the promised land, for God’s rainbow of promises, sending Jesus to put death to our sins and rise again to give us a path to eternal life in heaven with God.

The Good Lord stood by our forefathers who along with other true patriots fought to bring freedom for all America. That was a time when most Americans put God first in their daily lives.  Look: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. (Preamble to the Declaration of Independence.

Our Almighty God was, is, and always will be present in our lives. Many Christians today have faith in God and put Him first and praise Him.  There are, woefully, a growing number of people all over the world who are ignorant to His Truth, who just don’t care, and are not aware of God’s presence in their lives.
Sadly, we see in the media not only in America but all across the world that there are people who are lost in many ways, and they are trapped in Satan’s net.  They not only cause gloom and doom but take down innocent souls along with their evil and hate filled antics.

I want to remind the entire human race that Jesus died for His Church, His followers, and He is coming back for His Church, and His Church must be ready to fly into glorious eternal life with Christ!
It is prophesized in Revelations 16:15 that our Lord will come for us without warning like a thief in the night!

ARE YOU READY?  HAVE YOU COMMITTED YOUR LIFE TO JESUS?

The apostle John tells us as revealed by Jesus in Revelations 21:1-8 of a new Heaven and a new Earth:
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

These are some pretty heavy Bible passages.  We need to realize God gave us the gift of free will out of dignity and respect for His Creation, but He also taught us right from wrong.  The Choice is Yours!
Please join me in prayer:  Almighty Father, We are grateful for Your Word and always keeping Your promises to us.  We pray for Your Son Jesus’ power to spread the seeds of your truth to the ends of the Earth, so that all personkind can be filled with the love and wisdom of your Holy Spirit and put You first in everything we do.  As we watch the earthly fireworks light up the sky this Fourth of July, let us remember that You Jesus are the light of the world. (In John 8:12 Jesus applies the title to himself while debating with the Jews and states: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. ... When I am in the world, I am the Light of the World.”)  We thank You for the freedoms we enjoy, and the peace and happiness with You Lord leading the way.  In Jesus’ name we are blessed.  Amen.

Thank You!  May God be with you!

       Gail Achilles, Call Committee Chair and Council Secretary

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July 2021 Mustard Seed - Announcements

July 2021 Mustard Seed - Council Notes

July 2021 Mustard Seed - Note from Council Secretary

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