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October Mustard Seed 2022 - A Word from our Pastor

10/1/2022

 
For this reason, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.  Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.”  2 Timothy 1:6-14
 
As the leaves begin to turn color and fall and the days grow shorter and cooler we may reflect on the seasons of our own lives, especially those of us in our autumn years. St. Paul was reflecting on his life and legacy from a prison cell when he wrote his second letter as an older mentor to his younger partner in ministry, Timothy. We’ll be reading this second letter to Timothy in our Sunday worship this October.  Paul writes to encourage Timothy in his faith and ministry, reminding him to “rekindle” God’s spirit of power, love, and self-discipline that Paul passed on to him through the laying on of hands. This wasn’t a transfer of magical powers but sharing the gift of God’s spirit the way we still do when we baptize children, confirm young people, and ordain new pastors. Paul warns that following the way of Jesus will not be easy, comfortable, or profitable. It may involve suffering. But we need not be afraid or ashamed, for our Savior Christ Jesus has abolished death and brought new life to light in our dark and dangerous world. Jesus has done all this through the gospel he lived and taught and gave us by his grace as a gift.    
 
On October 30 we’ll celebrate Reformation Sunday and the particular gifts we offer the church and the world as Lutherans.  “Lutheran” was originally a derogatory name, just like “Christian” was first used as a slur. Martin Luther didn’t invent a new church to be named after him. He called his followers “evangelicals”, as Lutherans are still called in Germany. Evangelical, comes from the original Greek word meaning gospel or good news. Following the teaching of St. Paul, our Lutheran faith is focused on sharing the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, given to all of us and all the world by God’s grace as a free and undeserved gift.
                
Like St. Paul, Timothy, Martin Luther and all who have followed the way of Jesus, we too have been made heralds to proclaim this good news, apostles sent to share this gospel and teachers to guide others by our loving example. This is not an obligation laid on us, but a gift given to us by God’s grace shown in Jesus Christ, for us to share as freely and generously as God has given the gift of the gospel to us. This month remember the gift of the gospel Jesus gives us and share it with grace.  
               
Hoping to see you every Sunday.                                      Pastor Bruce + 

October 2022 Mustard Seed - Council Notes

10/1/2022

 
Council Notes                                                                                                                                                                 September 7, 2002
 
Council was called to order by President Rich Hollenbach.  Devotions were led by Linda Kratz.  Minutes of the August regular council meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report: Council reviewed the August 2022 treasurer’s report.  With year-to-date income at $74,432.32 (68%) and operating expenses at $64,345.06 (41%) we have a $10.087.26 surplus at the end of August 2022.  After some discussion about the Food Basket money (which is money donated to Manna on Main Street) all members voted to approve the August 2022 Treasurer’s Report.
President’s Report: Pastor Bruce is our Bridge Pastor until end of September 2022, and we will revisit extending this agreement if necessary.  Still waiting on Synod office for preaching date for Vicar Ethan Doan.  Rich talked to Pastor Sarah about meeting with Living Word Lutheran Church in Roslyn, Pa, regarding sharing a Pastor.  It was suggested to Pastor Sarah to have the Council Executive Team represent council after Rich pointed how difficult it is to have 9 people present all at the same time.  We are the calling church with compensating a pastor for 3/4 time and Living Word would compensate for the Pastor 1/4 time.  Rich recommended that both churches should have Sunday worship service at the same time and as the calling church we would have the Pastor in person 3/4 Sundays zooming to Living Word’s congregation and Living Word would have the Pastor in person the fourth Sunday zooming to Faith Lutheran’s congregation.  The exact details will be worked out and approved by each council.
 
Pastor’s Report: Pastor Bruce Davis said that he is happy to stay as our Bridge Pastor as long as we need him.  Council thanked him for his service, and his offer to stay on if it becomes necessary. 
 
Ministry Team Reports:
 
*  Call Committee: Gail Achilles, Call Committee Chair, reported that we are waiting on a date from the Synod for the congregational meeting.  Sent compensation package (signed by Vicar Ethan on 8-22-22 and Council President Rich Hollenbach and Council Secretary Gail Achilles on 8-21-22) to Synod for their approval and coordination of date for Vicar Ethan to preach and for the congregational meeting
  • Christian Education: Gail Achilles reported that Melissa Prunkel is stepping down as Co-Chair of Christian Education.  Church Council expressed its appreciation of Missy’s past five years servicing this Ministry.
Sunday School: Before Sep 11, 2022, Sunday Worship Services, after announcements, the Sunday school children will come forward and present a cheer with a “Rally Around Our Jesus” poem; last verse read by the entire congregation.   Then, there will be an installation of the Christian Education Team including Sunday School Teachers Nancy Gansner, Anna Friedrich, and Gail Achilles, and substitute teachers Anita Halpern and assistant teacher, Leigh Ann Foster.  After worship service, we will enjoy waffles, fruit, and ice cream sundaes in the Fellowship Hall.  Our Sunday school lessons for ages 3 to 11 will officially begin at 9:45 am to 10:25 am, September 18 through May 21.  The children ages 6 to 11 will join their families for 10:30 am worship service and the children ages 3 to 5 are welcome to join Miss Gail or a teacher substitute in the Nursery Room during service.
Monday Night Small Group will be meeting for dinner on September 19 to discuss and choose our first course of study.  We will meet thereafter each Monday from 7 pm to 9 pm via zoom starting Sep 26 through May 22 (with the exception of some Mondays near Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.)
Men’s Group has a once-a-month social fellowship dinner meeting.
There is no Adult Forum at the present time..  
  • Communications: Sign – quotations updates:  Jack Walls will update this Sunday, September 11, 2022.  He will set up a date with Rich sometime this coming week to make a promotional video message.  Jack will meet with Janet Hill regarding any web site updates.
  • Finance: - Janet Hill has sent out and received back the Preliminary Budget Worksheets from the Ministry Teams at Faith.  The Finance Team will be meeting on Thursday, September 15th at 7:00PM to put together a preliminary budget.   The Preliminary Budget/ Pledge Packets will be available to the congregation on Sunday, September 25 and Treasurer Deb Hollenbach would like to do a Temple Talk on that day to introduce the packets to the congregation.  Commitment Sunday has been scheduled for Sunday, October 16th.  Sharon Hood reported that the audit is scheduled for September 17, 2022, from 9am to 1pm. 
  • Fundraising: Linda Kratz reported that the money raised at the Ice Cream Sundae Fundraiser on August 12, 2022, is to be advised. There was a scrapbooking proposal from Emily Gallo for 1 to 4 scrapbooking events in 2023. All council members approved Emily’s Scrapbooking proposal. 
  • Hospitality/Fellowship: Anne Hutnyk reported that the Coffee Hour Sponsor list has been updated.  There will be football type snacks on cookie can sale day and there will be no coffee hour on Christmas Day since it falls on a Sunday this year.  Anne also reported that she will donate this year’s Christmas tree and that it needs to be tagged by November.
  • Mutual Ministry: Will meet with staff in September.
  • Property Team:  AC Unit Repair $2434.12:  Rich stated to Vince Hill to send this invoice to Finance Team and then it will go to Special Funds for payment from a chosen fund.  Melissa reported to Vince that the Morgan Street side parking lot has a pothole to be filled.  Vince said that he would see that it gets repaired.
  • Social Ministry:  Sharon Hood reported that September’s social ministry project is collecting snacks for Manna.  Sharon also reported that the Operation Kid to Kid raised $337.00 to purchase necessary school supplies for Native American Children.
  • Special Funds: Rich reported that special funds will get the AC Unit Repair invoice of $2434.12 from Finance and coordinate approval.
  • Stewardship: Jack will make an announcement on 9/18 to the congregation.
  • Transportation: Linda Kratz reported that Wawa food deliveries have resumed.
  • Worship & Music: Choir will resume in September, practice Tuesday nights at 7pm.
 
OLD BUSINESS
  • New Copier – Rich reported that we will be getting an upgraded model.
  • Coffee Hour sponsors are listed in the bulletin each week.
  • Parking Request: Rich reminded Vince that he needs to present the amended copy of our current agreement with Pinetree Ridge Condominium Association regarding their parking request and send it to council for our approval.
  
NEW BUSINESS
  • Wooden Nativity Set: On behalf of the Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church Congregation, council will send out a thank you note immediately for this very kind and thoughtful donation.  Linda suggested and council agreed that after it is set up for the Christmas holiday that we take a picture of it to send to the donor.
  • Position descriptions: Council reviewed the position description of the church Admin/Secretary. All council members voted in favor of approving the secretary job description.
Next Meeting:  Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at 7:00 PM. Will be a hybrid meeting.  Devotions will be led by Melissa.

October 2022 Mustard Seed - Announcements

10/1/2022

 
FAITH NOTES...
 
Christian Radio keeps the faith going    
     560 AM  WFIL -- Christian teaching all day long
     88.9 FM  WORD -- Contemporary Christian Rock Music
     91.7 FM -- A mixture of Bible teaching, traditional 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!
  
Although our HELPSY bin was removed there are two other bins in our area!  We were happy to have to have a bin that accepted clothing and shoes in any condition.  If you would like to still donate, the two closest bins are at the Doylestown YMCA, 2500 Lower State Road in Doylestown or at the Maple Glen Exxon, 450 Limekiln Pike in Maple Glen.

Please keep the stamps coming!
It’s a continuing need!  Thank you for all your contributions.  It really helps! 
 
 
Hatfield Flowers and Gifts ((215) 822-1530) provides Faith with two lovely flower arrangements to adorn our sanctuary.
          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.
 
 
 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.
  
“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)
 
Fall Scrapbook Fundraiser for Faith Lutheran Church Friday, October 14, 2022, 9:00am–10:00pm and Saturday, October 15, 2022, 9:00am-6:00pm $65 for both days or $35 for one day.  Please join us for another fun scrapbook event – 2 days of scrapbook time, lunch and dinner on Friday and baked potato bar for lunch on Saturday. You get your own 8-foot table so you can spread out and bring lots of supplies and tools.  Deb Hollenbach will be providing an assortment of Creative Memories products for sale. If you would like to order an album or a specific item, please let her know by September 30.  There will be 12 x 12 pages, protectors, tape runners, paper packets, embellishments, stickers and more! Check www.creativememories.com to see all products. Contact Chris Jones and Debbie Hollenbach for more information.

For our Fundraiser at Sundae World on Friday, August 12, 2022 we raised $108.76. We received 15% of the sales to those who mentioned Faith Lutheran Church.  A delicious fundraiser!  Thank you to all who bought ice cream!
 

WAWA Food is back!  We are again receiving 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.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Sunday School:  Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church new Sunday School hours will be 9:45 am to 10:25 am starting on Sunday, September 18, 2022. 

 
At the conclusion of Sunday School, children ages 6 to 11 will return to attend 10:30 Worship Service with their family. 
 
Children 5 and under are welcome to join Gail Achilles, or a teacher substitute, in the church nursery room during Worship Service. 
 
This new time will benefit both the children having longer uninterrupted time for their weekly bible lesson and the teachers who will not have to miss Sunday Worship Service.   
 
Any comments or questions, please see Gail Achilles, Christian Education Chair
 
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 will be reading, studying, and discussing the book, "Messy People - life lessons from imperfect bible heroes," by Jennifer Cowart.  It is a six-week study which we will read the first session on Rahab and be ready for our first discussion on Oct 3 from 7 pm to 9 pm.  We will finish this study with the sixth session on Daniel, Monday, Nov 14 (we will not be meeting on Halloween, October 31.)  If you would like to grow in your relationship with Jesus and fortify your Faith in fellowship, and this book sounds interesting to you, please join us.
    Just order the book, get started and join us on October 3.  
                                                                                                  Your Sister in Christ, Gail Achilles, Christian Education Chair 

 
We will be having a Wawa Hoagie Sale on Sunday, October 9, 2022.  It is also a Fundraiser! 
 
The 6-inch hoagies are $6 and the 10-inch hoagies are $8.   Order forms are available at church. 
 
Orders need to be in by Sunday, October 2, 2022.
 
 
Update on our August Social Ministry Project
For the Operation-Kid-to-Kid project to provide notebooks, pencils, backpacks, and paper for kids on Native American reservations we raised $337. With this project, $1 will help supply a child with the school tools needed for a whole school year! All donations will be sent directly to World Vision, who will purchase and then distribute the school supplies to select reservations.  Thank you so much for your generosity!

SOCIAL MINISTRY                                                                                                                           Lord, when did we see you...? 
 
Here’s the 2022 Social Ministry Calendar.  Please be encouraged to participate in those projects which touch your heart!  Please contact Sharon Hood or Debbie Hollenbach if you’d like to join this ministry!
 
   October   Code Blue - Socks, Mittens, Gloves, Scarves
   November  Thanksgiving Food Items for Manna
   December  Angel Tree Grocery Cards
                     Martin Luther School under Gemma Services
  
Code Blue - Helping the Homeless in our Community when it gets cold at night!
The Code Blue Shelter is located at Trinity Lutheran Church (Luther Hall), 1000 W. Main St., Lansdale, PA 19446.  The shelter is open when the shelter organizers call a Code Blue.
Located at the corner of Welsh Road and Valley Forge Road, Trinity provides a warm shelter, refreshments, and company for those in need on nights declared as a “Code Blue.”  Code Blue declarations occur when the outside air temperature falls below 30°.   Those with questions, comments or concerns can contact Mark Lanan at codeblue@trinitylansdale.com or follow “Code Blue Shelter – Lansdale PA” on Facebook.
    Faith will be collecting socks, mittens, gloves and scarves.  Please put your donations in the purple bin under the coat rack in the Narthex hallway.  For more information see Mary Lou Foster. 
    Thank you for supporting this ministry in our community!
 
The Lunch Bunch group is starting up again with a new name and new facilitator.  The group will now be called the “Golden Girls of Faith” (Golden Men are welcome too!)  They will be meeting once a month for lunch, fellowship and prayer at a local restaurant. 
 
They will meet the first Wednesday of the month and will be starting on Wednesday, October 5, 2022. 
 
For more information or if you need a ride, please talk to Anna Friedrich.  All are welcome!

 
Announcement!
 
THE CHOIR IS BACK!
 
We are always looking for fresh faces and happy voices to lift their praise to the Lord on Tuesday nights and Sunday mornings. Practices will be on Tuesdays at 7PM in the choir room (next to the kitchen.) If you have any questions, please see Laura Cooper, Music Director.  😊
  
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…  

A note from Carol Taylor: 
Dear Church Family,
Update on John, Jr.  He is having dialysis 3 times a week at a clinic.  He was having problems with the equipment he was using for home dialysis.  John is working from home and is able to go places to see family.  It’s great to see him getting out of the house.  He isn’t on a transplant list at this time but might be in the future.   Many thanks from Johnny, Kathy, John and I for all your prayers.  They are working.    Thanks, Carol
 
Romans 8:28 (NASB)"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."
 

 
Coffee Hour after Worship on Sundays at Faith
 
  10/2 Property Team (Tacos) – Vincent Hill 
10/9 Hoagie Sale/Coffee Hour-Beth Schoening 
10/16 Congregation Coffee Hour 
10/23 Social Ministry-Sharon Hood/Debbie Hollenbach
10/30 Octoberfest-Pumpkin/German Themed - Congregation
 
    Thank you to all those that pitch in to set up and clean up the kitchen on Sundays!

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