On Monday, January 20, 2024, you are invited to walk the labyrinth in reflection and prayer. The labyrinth is an ancient prayer form rooted in Christian tradition of pilgrimage. For medieval Christians, the labyrinth represented a path to the Holy Land. Unlike a maze, which is a puzzle of many paths from which to choose, the labyrinth is a singular road to the center and back. Following the curved path in a prayerful stance can accompany an inward journey—letting go of barriers and the busyness that stands between us and God. The middle of the labyrinth invites us to center in God, reflecting on God’s presence, truth, and love in our lives. As we remember the journey of the magi this Epiphany, let us too make our journey in reflection as we continue toward a life with God. The labyrinth will be in the fellowship hall and will be open from 1pm-3pm and 5pm-7pm Pastor Ethan will be available at that time for guidance and prayer.
OFFICIAL NOTICE
The 60th Annual Meeting of the congregation will be held on Sunday, January 26, 2025, following the 9:30am worship service.
2025 Phone Directories will be coming out in February.
Please make sure we have your updated information. During the next month look at your contact information in the directory and let Janet know if there are any changes. Thank you!
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!
Understand the Bible in ten minutes a day with plans for every book and guides for every chapter.
Through the Word is a nonprofit ministry dedicated to equipping people around the world to read the Bible, understand it, apply it, and make it a habit. They provide simple yet powerful tools via the web and mobile apps that lead users on a journey to understand the entire Bible, one chapter at a time. TTW combines clear, balanced, and relatable teaching with direct accessibility. Their purpose is God’s calling: to make disciples, equip the saints, and preach the word. (Mat. 28:19, Eph. 4:12, 2 Tim, 4:2)
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.
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 second Wednesday of this month which will be January 8, 2025. For more information or if you need a ride, please talk to Anna Friedrich. All are welcome!
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10 New International Version (NIV)
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.
[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
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
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 will be on hiatus until January 6, 2025, when they will be choosing a new study. They meet 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:
All are welcome to join, please contact Gail Achilles by email [email protected] or text at 267-664-3328 if interested.
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, January 17, 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
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 (215-3680-0240 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: Jan 19, Feb 16, Mar 16, 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.
Please don't hesitate to contact us at the number above, we hope to see you soon!
Greetings! You are all invited to our Faith Education Dinner. At this dinner, we will be discussing +the books of the Bible. This dinner will be held on the second Sunday of the month, this month, Sunday, January 12,2025, at 5:30-7pm. This dinner is geared toward teens and adults. However, activities will be provided for all ages. Come eat and learn!
FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY: The Fellowship Ministry Team at Faith tries to schedule activities for members of the congregation to spend time together to strengthen their bonds outside of the traditional worship service. We also encourage members to bring their family, friends and members of the community to these activities. This strengthens our ties to one another and opens opportunities to meet new people.
The Fellowship Team will be meeting this month to decide on the calendar for 2025. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please talk to team chairs, Dale and Mary Lou Foster.
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.
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 in January
GOD’S GLOBAL BARNYARD – ELCA “Noisy Can Ministry”
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 (January 19 to start), 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
Nancy Gansner and MaryLou Foster
Romans 12:10 “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."
An Update on one of December’s Social Ministry Projects GREAT BIG “THANK YOU” FROM James, Sophia & Kareem from MARTIN LUTHER SCHOOL – and ME
What a generous, loving Faith Family you are!! How does one thank such generous people. You have never let the children down at Martin Luther School, aka Gemma Services.
Because of your generous giving of $220; $191 went to cover the gifts for these children and the remainder of $29 was donated to the School. These additional monies cover other Christmas funding needed either this year or in the future.
Thank you so much to Vivian Prunkel for helping collect your donations.
“Santa’s Elf”, Amanda Bryant, from the School again was so grateful for what all of you donated for the children.
God Bless you and your families in 2024 as generously as you have shared! You have truly followed what God has asked us to do as Christians….love him and serve others.
There certainly will be a lot of happy faces on Christmas Day!
In Christ, Sharon Hood
"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)
In Memory…
Esther Foster
October 5, 1938 – December 5, 2024
Please keep the Foster family in your prayers!
At the request of council, following up from a number of complaints about the cost of providing coffee hours and an emphasis on the desire to spend time time together - we are bringing back Coffee Lites - coffee hour with packaged cookies and less involved foods. The committees will then only be assigned one coffee hour throughout the year and we will only have one elevated coffee hour per month. Coffee Hour Schedule for January: January 5: Congregational Coffee Lite; January 12: Congregational Coffee Lite; January 19: Congregational Coffee Lite: January 26: Annual Congregational Meeting and Breakfast-Council
In an effort to make our prayer list more manageable we are working on a new system in which the full prayer list will be in the Mustard Seed, while the list in the Prayers of Intercession in the Weekly Bulletin will include prayers only for Faith members and immediate family. Please submit requests to Janet in the church office at [email protected], specify whether the need is “ongoing” or “current” and please notify her if and when the name can be removed from the list.
We’ll be trying to trim down our current list, please let the church office know if someone you put on the list needs to remain or be removed. Thank you!
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:33-34, New King James Version
OFFICIAL NOTICE
The 60th Annual Meeting of the congregation will be held on Sunday, January 26, 2025, following the 9:30am worship service.
2025 Phone Directories will be coming out in February.
Please make sure we have your updated information. During the next month look at your contact information in the directory and let Janet know if there are any changes. Thank you!
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!
Understand the Bible in ten minutes a day with plans for every book and guides for every chapter.
Through the Word is a nonprofit ministry dedicated to equipping people around the world to read the Bible, understand it, apply it, and make it a habit. They provide simple yet powerful tools via the web and mobile apps that lead users on a journey to understand the entire Bible, one chapter at a time. TTW combines clear, balanced, and relatable teaching with direct accessibility. Their purpose is God’s calling: to make disciples, equip the saints, and preach the word. (Mat. 28:19, Eph. 4:12, 2 Tim, 4:2)
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.
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 second Wednesday of this month which will be January 8, 2025. For more information or if you need a ride, please talk to Anna Friedrich. All are welcome!
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10 New International Version (NIV)
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.
[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
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
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 will be on hiatus until January 6, 2025, when they will be choosing a new study. They meet 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:
All are welcome to join, please contact Gail Achilles by email [email protected] or text at 267-664-3328 if interested.
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, January 17, 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
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 (215-3680-0240 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: Jan 19, Feb 16, Mar 16, 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.
Please don't hesitate to contact us at the number above, we hope to see you soon!
Greetings! You are all invited to our Faith Education Dinner. At this dinner, we will be discussing +the books of the Bible. This dinner will be held on the second Sunday of the month, this month, Sunday, January 12,2025, at 5:30-7pm. This dinner is geared toward teens and adults. However, activities will be provided for all ages. Come eat and learn!
FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY: The Fellowship Ministry Team at Faith tries to schedule activities for members of the congregation to spend time together to strengthen their bonds outside of the traditional worship service. We also encourage members to bring their family, friends and members of the community to these activities. This strengthens our ties to one another and opens opportunities to meet new people.
The Fellowship Team will be meeting this month to decide on the calendar for 2025. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please talk to team chairs, Dale and Mary Lou Foster.
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.
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 in January
GOD’S GLOBAL BARNYARD – ELCA “Noisy Can Ministry”
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 (January 19 to start), 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
Nancy Gansner and MaryLou Foster
Romans 12:10 “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."
An Update on one of December’s Social Ministry Projects GREAT BIG “THANK YOU” FROM James, Sophia & Kareem from MARTIN LUTHER SCHOOL – and ME
What a generous, loving Faith Family you are!! How does one thank such generous people. You have never let the children down at Martin Luther School, aka Gemma Services.
Because of your generous giving of $220; $191 went to cover the gifts for these children and the remainder of $29 was donated to the School. These additional monies cover other Christmas funding needed either this year or in the future.
Thank you so much to Vivian Prunkel for helping collect your donations.
“Santa’s Elf”, Amanda Bryant, from the School again was so grateful for what all of you donated for the children.
God Bless you and your families in 2024 as generously as you have shared! You have truly followed what God has asked us to do as Christians….love him and serve others.
There certainly will be a lot of happy faces on Christmas Day!
In Christ, Sharon Hood
"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)
In Memory…
Esther Foster
October 5, 1938 – December 5, 2024
Please keep the Foster family in your prayers!
At the request of council, following up from a number of complaints about the cost of providing coffee hours and an emphasis on the desire to spend time time together - we are bringing back Coffee Lites - coffee hour with packaged cookies and less involved foods. The committees will then only be assigned one coffee hour throughout the year and we will only have one elevated coffee hour per month. Coffee Hour Schedule for January: January 5: Congregational Coffee Lite; January 12: Congregational Coffee Lite; January 19: Congregational Coffee Lite: January 26: Annual Congregational Meeting and Breakfast-Council
In an effort to make our prayer list more manageable we are working on a new system in which the full prayer list will be in the Mustard Seed, while the list in the Prayers of Intercession in the Weekly Bulletin will include prayers only for Faith members and immediate family. Please submit requests to Janet in the church office at [email protected], specify whether the need is “ongoing” or “current” and please notify her if and when the name can be removed from the list.
We’ll be trying to trim down our current list, please let the church office know if someone you put on the list needs to remain or be removed. Thank you!
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:33-34, New King James Version
