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July 2026 Mustard Seed - A Word from Our Pastor

6/30/2026

Greetings Siblings in Christ,

We are now entering fully into the summer months. School has officially been let out. The congregation's program year has ended, and people are on their way to their summer adventures. I do not personally have any big adventures planned for this summer. However, I will be taking a week off starting July 7th-13th. Eileen, Luca, and I will be spending a few days at the shore during that time. However, most of the week will be spent at our home doing maintenance and working in the yard. It has now been a little over a year since we bought our home in Drexel Hill. A year ago, I wrote a newsletter about my moving experience, and I shared with you all my adventures of homeownership. Then, in the second half of my article, I asked you all for “patience as I began to adjust to my new normal,” and I reiterated that “I am available.” I also emphasized that as your pastor that “I am here to be present with you all in the best way that I can.” Overall, the article highlighted the importance of communication, especially with being in the context of part time ministry and my now hour-long commute.
    So, you may be wondering why I am bringing up this year old newsletter article? Well, I was reminded of this newsletter article because recently Jerusalem put together a mutual ministry committee, and we just had our first meeting. At this meeting, this theme of communication and its importance was reiterated, especially with the context of our congregations. With being in shared ministry with both Faith and Jerusalem, sometimes information is not always transferred to the fullest extent. However, as I said last year in my newsletter article, “I am here to be present with you all in the best way that I can.” I am here in this position because I want to be in ministry with you all, and within this ministry we all have our own role. This is one of the reasons why we have a mutual ministry committee. The term “mutual ministry” recognizes that the Church’s ministry is the mutual concern of both the laity and the pastor. “It encourages us to move away from a primary focus on the ministry of ordained clergy alone and includes all the people of God in the mutual work of ministry. There is one ministry in Christ, and all baptized people participate in it according to the gifts given to them and the specific ministries entrusted to them.” However, many congregations have often thought of mutual ministry committees as personnel committees. “Such committees define the job descriptions of the congregation’s staff, evaluate staff performance, make recommendations to finance committees and/or the congregation council about staff salaries, and serve as the place where complaints from the congregation are discussed. Such a model reinforces the notion that ministry is about the pastor and other paid leaders in the church. This is not ‘mutual’ ministry. While all of the above tasks must be performed by someone, experience suggests that these tasks should not be the responsibility of the mutual ministry committee.”
    So, a mutual ministry committee is a group of people that intentionally walks with the pastor in their ministry, since there are parts of ministry that pastors often do alone. However, the mutual ministry committee also serves as a reminder that we are all a part of this “mutual ministry.” You all are doing ministry with me, and I am doing ministry with you. Together we are doing one ministry in Christ. And so, again, it is essential for us to remember the importance of communication. So, I want to invite you all to always feel free to come and talk to me. If there is something you think that I should know or think that I have missed, come talk to me. If you have a question, come talk to me. If you have an idea, come talk to me. If you have any suggestions or comments, come talk to me, and I will also do the same. I am so excited and blessed to be in ministry with you as the body of Christ. We are one mission and one call. Together with Christ, there are many things that we are called to do and so let us go out and do them. Amen.

                             Peace and Blessings, Pastor Ethan Doan

Source: Driesen, Robert, “Mutual Ministry Handbook: Guidance for Healthy Congregations” South Dakota Synod, ELCA.

July 2026 Mustard Seed - Council Notes

6/30/2026

Council Notes June 3, 2026

Council was called to order by President Anne Hutnyk.    Minutes of the May regular council meeting were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report: At the time of the meeting, we had preliminary report with noted additions coming. Since then, the final report has been provided. Current deficit for the year is $3,497.35. All members voted to approve the Treasurer’s Report.

President’s Report: Participated in the Feast Incarnate – thanks to all who helped in any way. Attended first Synod meeting, which was very informative and spiritual. Definitely thankful that I was able to attend.

Pastor’s Report: Presided at worship at Faith and Jerusalem Lutheran. Continue to provide pastoral care for members of both congregations. We give thanks and praise for the lives of Ruth Viscusi (visitation on May 8 and private blessing of ashes at Faith), and Carol Taylor (funeral on May 16 and prayers continue for the family).
At Jerusalem, I attended their council meeting, and I am helping to plan their 200th Anniversary Celebration. Meeting with Pastor Wayne Shelor about restarting conversations about shared ministries.
For Nueva Jerusalen’s worship at Faith, I continue to help with their transition into our building and attended their service on April 7. Special thanks for Adam and Janet who continue to help with the logistics. Adam and I are still recruiting people to help run the technology in the back of the church during services. We continue with our book study “A Listening Faith”. Our last Faith Education dinner for the summer is on June 14. This continues as part of the confirmation program.
I will be away on vacation/continuing education June 20-26. Pastor Dee Littleton will be supplying. Pastor Lauren Bruno from St. John’s in Sellersville and I are planning a pulpit swap for July 19. I will be volunteering at Bear Creek Lutheran Camp in the evenings from July 12-17; hence, working remotely.

Ministry Team Reports:
Christian Education: Sunday School: Children ages 3 to 11 are welcome to attend Sunday School.
   Parent Night Out/Youth Fellowship (PNO/YF) (Ages 3 to 11) – Our next monthly event is scheduled for June 12.
Young Adult Group (Ages 12 to 17) - Our next meeting, scheduled for Sunday, June 28.
Monday Night Bible Study – We concluded our study “Now and not yet.” We will resume with a new study in September.
Liability Waivers – We are currently working on creating a form to sign that would allow for various needs with regard to youth programs (Faith-sponsored events.)

Finance: Current 2026 deficit is less than expected at this time. Pledges are being met. Although we are no longer seeing the $300/month rent from the Korean congregation for building use, we are getting $1500/month from Nueva Jerusalen.   We are saddened about the loss of our beloved Carol Taylor. John has requested all monies donated in her honor be placed in the general fund. So far $5,655 has been collected for operating expenses. Finance Team meeting is scheduled for June 18 to re-evaluate Jerusalen’s effect on our operating expenses. Waiting to hear back from Jerusalem Lutheran in regards to our $500 VBS CD that we offered them. Hospitality: June coffee hours were reviewed.

Long-Range Planning: Pastor is meeting with Pastor Bradley Gow, head of the Synod’s vitality team, about come out and talking with the long-range planning team.

Property Team: The toilet in the nursey was fixed.

Social Ministry: $185 was collected in the noisy can from January to May.
The 2-month collection of funds in support of the Philadelphia Region Ronald McDonald House Charities raised $550 (a 22-night stay).
Feast Incarnate dinner at University Lutheran Church in Philadelphia. Thanks to all who donated - time, money, and food. In all, we served 105 meals.
During the months of June/July, we are collecting personal care items for the Coatesville VA Medical Center.

Stewardship: Theme is “Building a Culture of Generosity.”

Worship & Music: Pastor, Janet and Adam met on May 21 to plan worship for June. All are invited to attend the Worship and Music meeting scheduled for June 11 to discuss worship and music plans. Later, the meeting was rescheduled to June 16.

OLD BUSINESS Constitution Update – Rich will continue to work on this. The end of the initial 4-month lease for Nueva Jerusalen is in July. Meetings are scheduled to allow for the discussion of a possible increase in rent based on our actual costs (Finance Team and Council.) The executive teams of both churches will meet for this discussion.

NEW BUSINESS Pastor Ethan is on vacation June 20-26. Council agreed with the idea of Genevieve taking Paul’s place on council until he regains his health.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 7pm.

July 2026 Mustard Seed - Announcements

6/30/2026

The Listening Life: Embracing Attentiveness in a World of Distraction   by Adam S McHugh

"Be quick to listen, slow to speak." James 1:19

“How would our lives change if we approached every experience with the intention of listening first?
    Adam McHugh places listening at the heart of our spirituality, our relationships and our mission in the world. Heed the call to the listening life and hear what God is doing in you and the world.
The session for July will be July 8, 2026; in person/zoom at Faith Lutheran in adult education room; 6:00pm – read Chapter 8

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)

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.

Christian Education
Gail Achilles, Anna Friedrich and Kate Waldman will be available on a rotating schedule each Sunday throughout the Summer (June 7 thru August 30) 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. We will resume traditional Sunday School on “Rally Day” September 13, 2026, during 9:30 am Worship Service after the children’s sermon and return for the rite of Holy Communion. Parents, 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

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)

Monday Night Bible Study will be taking a break for the summer months and resume their next study (to be determined) on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 7 pm on zoom.

“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)

Parents’ Night Out (PNO) – Youth Fellowship (YF)
PNO-YF will be taking a break for July and August because of summer vacations. Our next meeting will be on Friday, September 18th.

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

Youth Ministry
(ages 12-17)
Youth Ministry will be taking a break for July and August because of summer vacations. Our next meeting will be on Sunday, September 20th.
We hope to see you in September!

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
• Socks (must be new)
• Twin blade razors with flex head and moisturizer strip (not disposable)
• Shower shoes, flip-flops (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 141 Impact, every third Sunday,
which will be July 19, 2026, 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 141 Impact. 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 Social Ministry team will decide which request from 141 Impact’s list of needs we will send the money to.

For January - May, God’s Global Barnyard “noisy coin collection” has received a total of $185.

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

Update on Social Ministry Project: Ronald McDonald House
A total of $550.00 was collected. This was a donation of
22 nights stay at $25 per night. Another generous donation
by our congregation.

Update on Social Ministry Project: Feast Incarnate Meal
On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, several members of the congregation of Faith had the incredible experience of serving at the Feast Incarnate at the University Lutheran Church in Philadelphia. A meal is served every Tuesday night to anyone in need in the community. Pastor Ethan, Anne Hutnyk, Deb Hollenbach, Nancy Gansner, Rich Hollenbach and Gary Apgar travelled to Philadelphia to prepare the meal and serve it. In all 105 meals were served. 50 people were served in person at the Feast. In addition, the group prepared 25 take home meals and 30 meals were taken to two half-way houses.
Thank you to the congregation for the donation of boxed Idahoan Instant Mashed Potatoes, Butter, Frozen Mixed Vegetables, Beef Gravy, and Dunkin Hines Yellow Cake Mixes. Thank you to Janet Hill, Pastor Ethan, Bonnie Staller, Sharon Hood, and Deb Hollenbach for preparing and cooking the mini meatloaves. Thank you to the Prunkel family, Sharon Hood, and Deb Hollenbach for making the honey walnut cake that was served at the meal. Thank you to Cheryl and Howie Harbeck for the Thrivent Action Grant that was used to buy additional things for the meal.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

In Memory…

Dell Greer

August 19, 1926 – June 5,2026

Please keep Dell’s family and friends in your prayers!

DESIGNER BINGO NIGHT
An evening of fun, fashion, and fundraising!
Date: Thursday, July 9, 2026
Doors Open: 6:30 PM, Bingo Begins: 7:00 PM
Location: Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church
615 Cowpath Road, Lansdale, PA 19446
Tickets: $40 per person, Includes 1 bingo card
BYOB & Bring Your Own Snacks!
Make it your own party—snack and sip while you play!
Win fabulous designer prizes!
From handbags to accessories and more!
All proceeds benefit Hedwig House, Inc.
Empowering individuals with mental health needs to live independently and thrive in the community.
Raffles • Prizes • Fun for all!
Invite your friends & family – all are welcome!
Questions or RSVP: Email: [email protected]
Get Your Tickets:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-designer-bingo

The “Golden Girls of Faith” (Golden Men are welcome too!) which usually meet once a month for lunch, fellowship and prayer at a local restaurant will be taking a break for the months of July and August. They will meet again on the first Wednesday of September, which will be September 2, 2026. For more information or if you need a ride, please talk to Anna Friedrich. All are welcome!

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

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 few years 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. Please contact Adam Feldman or Pastor Ethan, if you are interested.

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

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.

As of January 1, 2026 we are now using Tithe.ly as our e-giving company. We will no longer be using Vanco. The finance team has decided that Tithely has more knowledge of working with churches and will be a better fit for Faith.

The new link to donate is: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=f170c342-0478-4214-a5d6-a09c8c86a221

You can also access this link through the “E-giving” tab on our website www.faithmontgomeryville.org

If you have any questions or need any help, please reach out to me via email.

Thank you for continually supporting Faith Lutheran Church financially!

“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

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.

"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)

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.

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)

June 2026 Mustard Seed - A Word from Our Pastor

6/13/2026

Greetings, We are now entering into the month of June! Memorial Day has passed and it is officially the summer. The weather is hot. The pools are open and the beaches are filled with people. June is an exciting month for many. School is out. Vacations are happening. I myself will be going on vacation/continuing education from June 20-26, 2026. Eileen, Luca, and I will be flying out to an educational ministry retreat at Lake Tahoe. We will fly into Sacramento, California where we will spend the first couple days of our trip celebrating Father’s Day. We will be going to the Sacramento Athletics baseball game on Sunday in celebration of Father’s Day and in aiding me in my mission to go to as many MLB parks that I can. It will be a good Father’s Day and the first one that I have celebrated without having to be at worship in the morning.
    Speaking of Father’s Day, this will be first without my stepfather, Mike Pierce. I have been thinking a lot about him lately. Recently, there have been instances when I wish I were able to call him, to ask him for advice, to show him his grandchild and how big he has grown. I miss Mike, and I wish that he was here. We had some really good times together when I was growing up. However, we also had our hard times. Mike made a lot of mistakes in raising his step children, and many of them led to fractured and unstable relationships. Sometimes, I think about this, and I ask myself what mistakes have I as a father made in raising Luca? What ways have I failed him? I wonder if I am a good father? Sometimes, I even ponder if I even know what a “good father" is? I mean I did not really have a stable father figure in my life growing up. As I mentioned earlier, my relationship with Mike was complicated. My biological father lived three hours away and so that relationship was also complicated. Thus, how do I even know what it means to be a “good father?” There are many times when I do not feel like I am. There are many times when I struggle and feel overwhelmed, and honestly a lot of times I feel this way on Sundays. As I am writing this, I just got back from worship. It is May 17th, the Seventh Sunday of Easter. It was a tough day at certain times. When I got to Jerusalem for my second service, Luca was tired and crying. He just kept saying “Daddy, I want to go home,” and I feel bad because it has been a long day for him. However, then I feel bad because I am embarrassed because I cannot keep him calm or keep him still. All he wants is me. Thus, in instances like these, I feel like a bad parent, and at the same time I feel like a bad pastor.
    However, today, I was reminded of what I can do in these moments when things get tough, when I do not know what to do or when I need help. The Gospel text for the Seventh Sunday of Easter is John 17:1-11. In this text, on the night before his crucifixion, Jesus prays to his heavenly Father, asking God to “glorify him so he may glorify the Father.” He proclaims that he has glorified the Father and has “given eternal life to all whom the father has given him.” “ And this is eternal life, that they may know the Father, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he has sent.” Jesus then says “he has given the Father’s word to the people so that they may know the truth.” Then in ending his prayer, Jesus asks the Father to protect and unite the people, because “All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I have been glorified in them”
    And so, what can I learn from this passage? How can this passage help me in these moments to be a good father and a good pastor? Well, first when I am struggling, like Jesus, I can pray to my Father in Heaven. I can ask for help, and I can ask the Father to help me glorify him. Secondly, this text reminds me that I have been given eternal life so that I may know the Father and the Son. Thus, in these moments, I can know that I am not alone, but that God is present with me, and that this is what it looks like to be a good father. I am human and not perfect. As a father and as a pastor, I will make mistakes, but what I can do is show up and be present the best that I can. And on this Seventh Sunday of Easter, I believe that God the Father through the Holy Spirit helped me do this. I grabbed Luca, and we went to the baptismal font together and he helped me do the “Thanksgiving for Baptism.” We went to the chancel and bowed together at the altar before we prayed. We sang and played music together. That moment was holy and at the end I felt like I did my best. This text also reminded me that in these moments that God is not the only one with me, but that you all are with me also for we are united as one. There have been so many times that you all have stepped up to help, and I want to thank you all for that.
    And so, I pray to God the Father, and I thank God for placing you all in my life. I thank God for being present in my life, especially when I am struggling. I thank God the Father for showing me and helping me to be the best father and pastor that I can. God is the best example of how to be a good father. And I pray that you all have a great June, great summer, and happy Father's Day. I pray that you all also feel the love of God the Father, and God’s presence in your life. May you feel peace and love, and may it lead you all to be present in the lives of all those who you meet. Amen.
Peace and Blessings, Pastor Ethan Doan

June 2026 Mustard Seed - Council Notes

6/13/2026

Council Minutes May 6, 2026
Council was called to order by President Anne Hutnyk.
Minutes of the April regular council meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report: This month we are down by another $1,650.72. We are 34% through the year, with a deficit of $6,015.82 which is only 14% of the deficit predicted for 2026. Income is keeping up with the Budget, but total expenses are over 10% lower than target for the year. See Financial Report for more information. The treasurer’s report was approved as written.
President’s Report: See date change for Finance team meeting. Summer council meeting will be on July 8 (with none in August).
Pastor’s Report: Pastor presided at worship at Faith and Jerusalem Lutheran. He continues to provide pastoral care for members of both congregations. We give thanks and praise for the lives of Ruth Viscusi (visitation on May 8) and Carol Taylor (funeral on May 16). At Jerusalem, presided over the funeral of Sandra Amey, performed 3 baptisms and attended their council meeting. For Nueva Jerusalen’s worship at Faith, he continues to help with their transition into our building and attended their service on April 7. Special thanks for Adam and Janet who continue to help with the logistics. Adam and Pastor are still recruiting people to help run the technology in the back of the church during services. We continue with our book study “A Listening Faith”. Our last Faith Education dinner was on April 12. None is scheduled for May. This continues as part of the confirmation program.

MINISTRY TEAM REPORTS:
Christian Education:
  Sunday School – Children ages 3 to 11 are welcome to attend Sunday School..
Young Adult Fellowship (ages 12-17) – Our next YAF is scheduled for May 17 and June 28, 6-7:30pm.
PNO-YF (ages 3 to 11) – Our next monthly event is scheduled for June, 6pm to 9pm in the church fellowship hall.
Liability Waivers – We are currently working on creating a form for parents to sign that would allow for various needs with regard to youth programs (Faith-sponsored events).
Communications: Thanks to John for changing the front signage and Pastor and Janet for Facebook and website updates.
Finance: From January through April (34% of the year), our electric and gas costs are at 93% of that budgeted. Two financial reviews have shown that our financial records are in order. Our payroll and giving vendors are working with no issues. 1099 forms will be given to any businesses that we contract with for any work over $600/year. Adam is researching increases in cleaning supplies, paper products, etc. since Nueva Jerusalen began using the church. Pastor/Debbie is looking into the tax situation with the rental fees charged to Nueva Jerusalen. On June 18, the team will meet to discuss required rental fee changes. We are not having our own VBS this year; however, we would like to donate some funds to another area church (possibly Jerusalem Sellersville) who is holding a summer VBS. The Finance and Christian Ed teams will determine how much will be donated and who the recipient(s) will be.
Hospitality: Coffee hours were reviewed for the month.
Property Team: The water backflow prevented was inspected and approved. Scattons has provided the A/C system maintenance work. Andy to advise Adam of an issue with the nursery room toilet leaking from the bottom.
Shepherding: Cards are being sent to those sick, hospitalized, in mourning, etc..
Social Ministry: $132 was collected in the noisy can from January to March. Requesting the pastor make a reminder announcement the week prior.
There are two exciting Social Ministry projects
Worship & Music: Pastor will schedule quarterly meetings with the team to plan.

OLD BUSINESS
Constitution Update: Rich will continue to work on this.
Synod Assembly: May 29-30 with Pastor, Rich and Anne attending.

NEW BUSINESS
The end of the initial 4-month lease for Nueva Jerusalen is in July. Meetings are scheduled to allow for the discussion of a possible increase in rent based on our actual costs. The executive teams of both churches will meet for this discussion. Pastor Ethan is on vacation June 20-26.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, June 3rd at 7pm.

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)

June 2026 Mustard Seed - Announcements

6/13/2026

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 14, 2026, from 5:30-7pm. At this dinner, we will be discussing the books of the Bible. This dinner is geared toward teens and adults. However, activities will be provided for all ages. Come eat and learn!

Annual Church Family Picnic
Sunday, June 7, 2026, 11am to 2 pm
Rain or Shine!
On Sunday, June 7th 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 7th to fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ!

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 3, 2026, this month. For more information or if you need a ride, please talk to Anna Friedrich. All are welcome!

The Listening Life: Embracing Attentiveness in a World of Distraction   by Adam S McHugh

"Be quick to listen, slow to speak." James 1:19

“How would our lives change if we approached every experience with the intention of listening first?
    Adam McHugh places listening at the heart of our spirituality, our relationships and our mission in the world. Heed the call to the listening life and hear what God is doing in you and the world.
The session for June will be June 3, 2026; in person/zoom at Faith Lutheran in adult education room; 6:00pm – read Chapter 7

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 few years 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. Please contact Adam Feldman or Pastor Ethan, if you are interested.

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!

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.

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.

Christian Education
Gail Achilles, Anna Friedrich, and Kate Waldman will be available on a rotating schedule each Sunday throughout the Summer (June 7 thru August 30) 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 6, 2026, during 9:30 am Worship Service after the Children’s sermon and return for the rite of Holy Communion. Parents, 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 is held on a Friday from 6 pm to 9 pm. The schedule for 2026 is: Feb 13, Mar 27, Apr 17, May 8, Jun 12, (off for July and August due to summer vacations) Sep 18, Oct 23, Nov 20, Dec 11

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

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."

Monday Night Bible Study will be taking a break for the summer months and resume their next study (to be determined) on Monday, September 14, 2026, 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 2026 from 6:00-7:30pm!
We will be meeting this month on Sunday, June 28, 2026.

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)

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 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
Socks (must be new)
Twin blade razors with flex head and moisturizer strip (not disposable)
Shower shoes, flip-flops (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 141 Impact, every third Sunday,
which will be June 21, 2026, 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 141 Impact. 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 Social Ministry team will decide which request from 141 Impact’s list of needs we will send the money to.

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

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)

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)

In Memory…

Ruth Viscusi

November 9, 1934 – April 24, 2026

Carol Taylor

June 29, 1944 – April 30, 2026

Please keep the Viscusi and Taylor families in your prayers!

“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)

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)


As of January 1, 2026 we are now using Tithe.ly as our e-giving company. We will no longer be using Vanco. The finance team has decided that Tithely has more knowledge of working with churches and will be a better fit for Faith.
The new link to donate is: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=f170c342-0478-4214-a5d6-a09c8c86a221
You can also access this link through the “E-giving” tab on our website www.faithmontgomeryville.org
Thank you for continually supporting Faith Lutheran Church financially!

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.

“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 2026 Mustard Seed - A Word from Our Pastor

4/30/2026

Greetings Siblings in Christ,

Easter greetings to you all! We are now entering into the month of May, and it is an exciting month! The flowers are blooming. The weather is getting warmer, and we are nearing the end of the school year. Soon, we will be entering into the summer months, we will be going on family vacations and doing other fun summer activities. However, as I am sitting here writing this, I am not thinking about the summer heat. Instead, I am thinking about Mother's Day and how it has changed. My celebration of Mother’s Day looks quite different, even from just five years ago. I used to only have to focus on my mom and my grandmother. However, now my grandmother has passed, and as a result a lot of our Mother’s Day traditions have changed. Then, as I was thinking about all of this, I could not help but think about how much my life has changed in general. My grandmother is not only gone, but my stepfather is also gone. Now, because of that, at the end of May, my mother will officially be selling our childhood home. She will be moving in with my grandfather, and I will most likely never step into my childhood home again. Also, most of my siblings have or are in the process of moving away from our hometown. To be fair, I was the first to do so. However, we are all just so far away from each other. I am here. I have a brother in Alabama, another in Hawaii, and one other soon to be in Alaska. These housing situations are temporary due to the military, but they are still far away. Recently, I realized that my five siblings and I have not all been in the same room since my grandmother’s funeral. These moments of being all together are getting rarer every day. Thus, a lot has changed and is changing for my family. However, in this Easter season, I am reminded of

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:
3 For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to break down and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance;
5 a time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek and a time to lose;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;
7 a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent and a time to speak;
8 a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace (NRSVUE)

This text reminds us of the regular flow of creation. It highlights that everything in life has a beginning and an end, and that there is a time for everything. Thus, change is inevitable since we are in God’s wondrous creation. In this Easter season, this text is a reminder that the Death and Resurrection is present everywhere in our lives, and this means our lives will change and that things will be different. However, that is okay because in the change there is new life. Although Mother’s Day is different, now I have my own child and a wife to celebrate. I have two nephews and a niece on the way. Therefore, I have two sisters-in-law to celebrate also. There is new life in all of this. So much has changed for my family, some people are gone. However, our family is growing, and we will start our own traditions. We will find new ways of being together. We will gather at new locations. However, in all the new, we can still celebrate and remember the past. As I am writing this, I am sitting here looking at my new hummingbird feeder on my porch remembering my grandmother who so loved sitting on her porch watching for hummingbirds. Thus, we remember the past by celebrating the present, and we look to the future in hope for what our new life brings for every day we are renewed. Thus, this Easter season, let us remember that we are the people of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let us remember that this life is a gift from God. Therefore, as we head into this month of May, let us ask ourselves, “What things in our own lives are coming to a close, and what things are coming into existence?” How are you seeing the Death and Resurrection acting in your own lives, and what does that mean for you? I pray that you all have a blessed May and as the season changes may you all do the same.

Peace and Blessings, Pastor Ethan Doan

May 2026 Mustard Seed - Council Notes

4/30/2026

Council Minutes April 1, 2026
Council was called to order by President Anne Hutnyk.
Minutes of the March regular council meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report: At 25% of the year, our receipts are 32% and our expenses are 26%. Our year-to-date deficit is $4,365. The treasurer’s report was approved as written.
President’s Report: Anne attended the Christian Education meeting on March 15. Happy 61st Anniversary to Faith – celebration was enjoyed by all at Palm Sunday coffee hour. Scrapbooking/craft sale went very well. Total $1309 - $928 between kitchen, donation table and table rent; $381 entrance donation for Feast Incarnate.
Pastor’s Report: Attended the funeral of Anne Lamphere on March 28, 2026. Our Lenten Bible study called “Dwelling in the Word” ended on March 26, 2026. There was an average of eight people who participated from both congregations each week. Attended Chrism Mass on March 31, 2026. I signed up Rich, Anne and I for the Synod Assembly which will be held at the end of May. Throughout March, I worked closely with Nueva Jerusalen in helping them get ready to start here at Faith.Big thanks to the Council, Adam & Janet for all your help.
MINISTRY TEAM REPORTS:
Christian Education:
  Sunday School - Children ages 3 to 11 are welcome to attend Sunday school.
Young Adult Fellowship (ages 12-17) – Our next YAF is scheduled for April 19.
PNO-YF (ages 3 to 11) – Our monthly event is scheduled for April 17, 6-9pm in the church Fellowship Hall.
A special meeting was held on March 15, 2026, covering Liability Waivers for youth program attendees, our youth ministries outreach and VBS 2026.
During the meeting on March 15, it was decided to cancel VBS for 2026 based on volunteer availability. Gail sent out notices to all those who had volunteered.
Communications: Pastor had posted Holy Week service information on Facebook. John has been changing the outside signage.
Finance: Next meeting to be scheduled in April.
Hospitality: Easter Sunday – Coffee lite between service. Remaining Sundays in April are also coffee lites.
Long-Range Planning: We will meet in April or May.
Shepherding: The Shepherding team will be sending out cards for Easter.
Social Ministry: $75 was collected in the noisy can for March.
There are two exciting Social Ministry projects coming up in April and May. First is a two-month collection of funds in support of the Philadelphia Region Ronald McDonald House Charities. The Ronald McDonald House Charities support the families of people who have children in the hospital for a variety of medical issues including pre-term growth, illness, surgery, and cancer. They provide housing, food, transportation to the families, as well as emotional support, social and creative opportunities, tutoring and so much more. Funds are raised in a variety of ways, but people can pledge to provide financial support to families in the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald Houses/ Living Rooms at $25/night. Let us see how many nights Faith Lutheran Church can provide support to a family! Look for a poster and collection can in the Foyer for the months of April and May.
The second project is the Feast Incarnate dinner at University Lutheran Church in Philadelphia. We participated in this outreach in May 2025, and the people involved were really moved by the experience. We committed to prepare and serve two meals in 2026. We will serve the same menu each time – Mini Meatloaves, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, and honey walnut cake. The dates are May 27 and September 15. Watch for the poster containing food items to donate as well as asking for volunteers to make the meatloaves and to help to serve the meal in Philadelphia.
Special Funds: Pastor requested Special Funds Team approval for $500 to pay for the external financial review that happened earlier this year. The team approved and the Finance Team was notified to use the funds from the Boehmler Memorial Fund.
Worship & Music: Rich starts his seminary field work on April 12, so will not be able to manage our AV on Sunday mornings for perhaps 2 months. Adam cannot perform this function every week, so we need volunteers to learn the system.

OLD BUSINESS
Constitution Update: Rich will continue to work on this.
Iglesia De Dios Pentecostal Nueva Jerusalén La Celestial (New Jerusalem Heavenly Pentecostal Church of God:  The final lease agreement was signed, and they started moving in at the end of March. We are working our way through some minor issues, which is to be expected. Linda requested that the township police be notified of the approved use of our facilities since our lights will be on at hours that are not usual for us.

NEW BUSINESS
Anne questioned the use of all the Passion text in the Palm Sunday services.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, May 6th at 7pm.

May 2026 Mustard Seed - Announcements

4/30/2026

Thursday, May 7, 2026, is the National Day of Prayer
  GLORIFY GOD AMONG THE NATIONS - SEEKING HIM IN ALL GENERATIONS
Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. 1 Chronicles 16:24 NASB
  Let’s all make a decision to pray - especially on May 7th, knowing that Christians all over our country are praying with us.
For more information check out: https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/

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 May 6, 2026, this month. For more information or if you need a ride, please talk to Anna Friedrich. All are welcome!

Greetings! As the Faith Education Dinner is scheduled for Mother’s Day this month, we will reconvene in June on Sunday, June 14th from 5:30-7pm. At this dinner, we will be discussing the books of the Bible. This dinner is geared toward teens and adults. However, activities will be provided for all ages. Come eat and learn!

The Listening Life: Embracing Attentiveness in a World of Distraction   by Adam S McHugh
"Be quick to listen, slow to speak." James 1:19
“How would our lives change if we approached every experience with the intention of listening first?
    Adam McHugh places listening at the heart of our spirituality, our relationships and our mission in the world. Heed the call to the listening life and hear what God is doing in you and the world.
        The sessions made available for May will be;
     May 6, 2026; in person/zoom at Faith Lutheran in adult education room; 6:00pm
May 10: in person at Jerusalem Lutheran, after worship at 12:30pm

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!
  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.

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.
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."

SAVE THE DATE:
Annual Church Family Picnic
Sunday, June 7, 2026, 11am to 2 pm
Rain or Shine!
Spring Valley Park  Claremont Drive Montgomery Township

On Sunday, June 7th 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 7th to fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ!

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/86578593792?pwd=1JbbWGoLOKFMtoE53qpqkD13CjF4cX.1
Meeting ID: 865 7859 3792          Passcode: 077581
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 is held on a Friday from 6 pm to 9 pm. The schedule for 2026 is: Feb 13, Mar 27, Apr 17, May 8, Jun 12, (off for July and August due to summer vacations) Sep 18, Oct 23, Nov 20, Dec 11
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 almost every third Sunday in 2026 from 6:00-7:30pm! We will be meeting this month on Sunday, May 17, 2026.
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!

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.

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.

Social Ministry Project for May 2026:
There are two exciting Social Ministry projects coming up in April and May. First is a two-month collection of funds in support of the Philadelphia Region Ronald McDonald House Charities. The Ronald McDonald House Charities support the families of people who have children in the hospital for a variety of medical issues including pre-term growth, illness, surgery, and cancer. They provide housing, food, transportation to the families, as well as emotional support, social and creative opportunities, tutoring and so much more!
    Debbie Hollenbach became more aware of this organization in September when her granddaughter Nadia was born 3 months premature at Medical City in Dallas, TX. Her parents, Ricky and Bethany stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Dallas for over 100 days – having a private room, meals, access to laundry facilities and other amenities, all at NO CHARGE to themselves! This allowed them to spend unlimited time at the hospital, caring for Nadia and even working remotely. Sharon Hood has shared that she has also supported this organization for over 20 years.
    Funds are raised in a variety of ways, but people can pledge to provide financial support to families in the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald Houses/ Living Rooms at $25/night. Let us see how many nights Faith Lutheran Church can provide support to a family! Look for a poster and collection can in the Foyer for the months of April and May.

The second project is the Feast Incarnate dinner at University Lutheran Church in Philadelphia. We participated in this outreach in May 2025, and the people involved were really moved by the experience. We committed to prepare and serve two meals in 2026. We will serve the same menu each time – Mini Meatloaves, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, and honey walnut cake. The dates are May 27 and September 15. Watch for the poster containing food items to donate as well as asking for volunteers to make the meatloaves and to help to serve the meal in Philadelphia.
Any questions, contact: Deb Hollenbach

“Noisy Can” Offering – We continue to collect change for 141 Impact, every third Sunday,
which will be May 17, 2026, 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 141 Impact. 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 Social Ministry team will decide which request from 141 Impact’s list of needs we will send the money to.
   In Christ, Sharon Hood & Debbie Hollenbach, Co-Chairs

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

April 2026 Mustard Seed - A Word from Our Pastor

4/8/2026

Greetings Siblings in Christ,

As we enter the month of April, Easter Sunday draws near, and our 40 day Lenten journey will soon come to a close. On March 29, Palm Sunday begins our journey into Holy Week. A journey that begins with Jesus making his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, which ultimately will lead to his death on the cross on Good Friday. However, as most of us know, this is not the end of the story. On Easter Sunday, Christ is risen from the dead, and God’s glory is revealed to all the world.
As Christians, Easter Sunday is our most holy and important day of the year. It is the very foundation of the Church and the basis of our Christian faith. As Christians, we fight about a lot of things. However, we all can agree that Jesus died and was resurrected. Thus, Easter Sunday is indeed a day for us to celebrate and to remember! It is a day for us to observe together and be in worship together! It is a day that will never be forgotten. However, though it is a day that will never be forgotten, it is a day that is often misplaced. It is a day that we often have to look for because we often forget when it is happening. You see, Easter Sunday is not on a fixed day of the year. Since the fourth century, the traditional date of Easter for most Christians has fallen on the first Sunday after the first full moon that comes after the spring equinox. Thus, Easter Sunday can fall on any date from March 22nd to April 25th in any given year.
So, that sounds simple enough? Look for a full moon after the spring equinox then the next Sunday is Easter? Well, it is a little more complicated than that. In theory the statement above is true, but it has to follow ecclesiastical rules. The ecclesiastical rules are:

The vernal equinox occurs on March 21,
the ecclesiastical full moon is the 14th day of a tabular lunation (a fixed, pre calculated moment of a lunar cycle in a lunar calendar), and
Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after the day of the vernal equinox.

Thus, a more accurate statement would be that Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first ecclesiastical full moon that comes after the vernal spring equinox. So, it is a little more complicated than one may think. The Council of Nicea (325 AD), the same council that gave us the earliest version of the Nicene creed, set this to be the criteria in calculating the date of Easter Sunday. However, the calculation of Easter Sunday was further refined with the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. The Gregorian calendar replaced the older Julian Calendar. Thus, this is the reason why the Eastern/Orthodox Church sometimes celebrates Easter on a different Sunday than the Western Church. The Eastern Church follows the Julian Calendar and the Western Church the Gregorian Calendar.
Nevertheless, my point in telling you all this is to show you all how complicated the calculation of Easter Sunday is. Thus, it is not a surprise that when we get to this time of the year that many people have to turn to the internet or to their calendars to confirm the date of Easter Sunday. However, I wonder how one would know that Easter Sunday was coming if we did not have the internet or calendar. I think back to hundreds of years ago when perhaps the common people did not have access to a calendar or maybe could not read a calendar. How would they know that Easter was coming? Well, hopefully their priest/pastor would make sure they knew. However, nevertheless they would have to be intentional in trying to find out the correct date for Easter. They would have to pay attention. Perhaps, they would need to listen. Perhaps, when they heard those shouts of “hosanna,” when they heard the cries yelling “crucify him,” when they heard the hallelujahs, perhaps then they would know that it was Easter. Thus, perhaps we do not need to fully understand when Easter is. I’m sure there are a few people who know the formula and they have no problem predicting Easter. However, there is something life-giving about having to guess each year when Easter comes. Perhaps it is a call in itself for us to stop and pay attention to what is happening in front of us. Maybe it is a call for us also to listen for the hosannas and the hallelujahs, and when we hear them we can know that Christ is at work in the world. We can know that Easter is near! That salvation and new life is right around the corner. And so, this year I invite you all to stop and listen, for Easter is indeed coming. Let us listen and follow the shouts. Let them lead us to the cross. Let them lead us to the empty tomb. Let them lead us to Jesus. Amen.

Peace and Blessings, Pastor Ethan Doan

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