A monthly publication to keep members and friends informed of the ministry of Faith. March 2017 Vol. 68 Issue 3
3100 E. Evergreen Dr. Appleton, WI 54913 | 601 E. Glendale Ave. Appleton, WI 54911 ● 920-739-9191 ● www.faithfoxvalley.org
STANDING AT THE CROSS LENTEN SERIES As we approach the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, this worship series will focus on portions of sermons Martin Luther actually preached during Lent, Holy Week and Easter in the parishes where he served. As we stand with Luther at the foot of the cross each week, we contemplate the ways in which we stand firm in the faith as followers of Christ during this holy season.
Ash Wednesday - March 1 Week 4 - March 29 Standing in the Word Standing Through Persecution Tuesday Ash Wednesday Worship (Feb 28) Tuesday Worship (March 28), 11 a.m., FMC 11 a.m., Faith Ministry Center (FMC) Wednesday Worship (March 29), 6:30 p.m., FMC Ash Wednesday Worship (March 1) 6:30 p.m., FMC Week 5 - April 5 Standing in Truth Week 1 - March 8 Tuesday Worship (April 4), 11 a.m., FMC Standing in the Prayer Wednesday Worship (April 5), 6:30 p.m., FMC Tuesday Worship (March 7), 11 a.m., FMC Wednesday Worship (March 8), 6:30 p.m., FMC Maundy Thursday - April 13 Standing in Faith Week 2 - March 15 Maundy Thursday Worship (April 11), 11 a.m., FMC Standing Unafraid Maundy Thursday Worship (April 13), 6:30 p.m., FMC Tuesday Worship (March 14), 11 a.m., FMC Wednesday Worship (March 15), 6:30 p.m., FMC Good Friday - April 14 Standing in Forgiveness Week 3 - March 22 Good Friday Worship, 12 p.m., FMC Standing in Suffering Good Friday Tenebrae Service, 6:30 p.m., FMC Tuesday Worship (March 21), 11 a.m., FMC Good Friday Worship, 6:30 p.m., Celebration Ministry Center Wednesday Worship (March 22), 6:30 p.m., FMC
LENTEN SUPPERS Once again Faith’s Fellowship Ministry will sponsor the Lenten Suppers on March 8, 15, 22, 29 and April 5. Please look on the bulletin boards and on the Faith website, faithfoxvalley.org, for sign up and more info.
Please contact Mike Henning @739-9191or [email protected] or Lynelle Weber at [email protected] if you are willing to help in any way. A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
It’s Lent! This season that precedes East- daily creating a new heart in each of us. A group of students was very quiet as I er begins this year on March 1. It extends His work in us not only cleanses us from showed pictures and told the account of for 40 days (we don’t count the Sundays) sin. It also gives us a new attitude and Jesus’ death and burial. When I finished, until we celebrate the resurrection of our changed direction. We turn toward the one little girl spoke up with certainty, “It’s Lord on April 16. But what is the reason One who took our sins on Himself and with OK. He’s going to be alive again next for this season? His help, re-align our priorities. week.” With Jesus there is always a happy ending. There is always new life. One of the joys of spending so much time It always happens – at every 5 p.m. Lent We know that for every dark, sad, with children at Faith is watching and Worship service. As our big, wooden cross horrible, guilt-laden, sin-filled day in our listening to them simply live out their is carried down the center aisle, students, lives, there is always going to be an beliefs and faith. I’m sharing a few of especially the younger ones, crowd to the Easter. We are resurrection people who their Lenten stories and activities in the end of the pew and spill into the aisle. will always be able to experience hope that the children can lead us, as is They want to see. They are keeping their forgiveness, joy, peace, hope and often the case, to get to the heart of this eyes on the cross. Lent calls us to do that. abundant life lived in the victory of Christ. holy season. We focus on Jesus and His cross to see His Lent shows us our struggle and points us unconditional love, ultimate sacrifice, to that victory. One Sunday, I was walking through the redemption and victory. Life is best lived halls as students were gathering for with our eyes on the cross. May you take some lessons from the Sunday School. I was humming the children in our midst and be especially melody, not singing the words, of the That same cross processional tradition blessed during this holy season of Lent. song “Alleluia! Praise Ye the Lord!” A 1st allows our older students to serve as grader ran up to me and said, “Mrs. Lane, crucifers, to carry the large cross. It takes Check out page 4 of this newsletter for you shouldn’t be singing that. We put three of them to do it and they all want family –friendly activities during the sea- that away.” He remembered that we had very much to be chosen for the task. As I son of Lent. boxed, wrapped, and tied up the wooden watch them each week, I’m reminded of ALLELUIA from the Sunday School altar. Jesus’ call for us to “deny ourselves, take We had hid it away and wouldn’t bring it up his cross and follow him” (Matthew - Kathleen Lane out until Easter. This little guy knew that 16:24). Jesus calls, and empowered by that our mood and worship is more Him, we follow. As we take up Christ’s muted and quiet during Lent. Lent is a Cross in our lives and follow Him wherever time for introspection. As we that may lead, He allows us to make a contemplate the love and work of Jesus, difference in people’s lives. This season is a we must acknowledge that our sin is the good time to intentionally turn with love cause for His suffering and death. Coming and service toward our neighbors. face to face in the mirror with sin is not an “alleluia, praise the Lord” kind of During a class session, I asked “What is the experience, but it is a necessary one. As special meal Jesus had with his disciples? we contemplate and examine our lives We continue to have this meal today.” our joy of forgiveness remains The first answer blurted out was “Lent undiminished, but our rejoicing is more Suppers!” It was not the answer I was subdued. As the hymn says: “Alleluia looking for, but it did make me consider cannot always be our song while here how important the suppers and other below; Alleluia our transgressions make events that bring us together are for our us for a while forego.” community life here at Faith. Yes, we need the nourishment of soup and sandwiches Several of our Sunday School groups are and we especially need the nourishment learning the song “Create in me a Clean given in the Lord’s Supper. But there is Heart, O God”. In their sweet voices we also spiritual strength to be found as we hear the Lenten theme of spiritual eat, grow, live and serve in a family of renewal and repentance. Lent is a time to faith. We need to be together. We need reflect on our baptism and the fact that to be fed. God comes to us and is present with us,
2 page / March 2017 / Faith Lutheran Church TOGETHER IN MINISTRY SUNDAY SERIES - “BROKEN” One of the unique traditions of our worship is the inclusion of a time for confession. For those who have come to the Lutheran Church from other Christian traditions, this may seem strange—why is it that we spend time confessing our sins … every week? Didn’t Jesus rescue us from sin? Can’t we move past our slavery to sin?
What we’ll find in our Sunday series, “Broken,” is that confessing our sin and brokenness is an essential part of the Christian life. We dare not approach the throne of God without acknowledging that we can only come by His grace — only because Christ’s sacrificial death has paved the way for us to stand before our holy God.
We also spend time in this series exploring what Martin Luther called the “Office of the Keys” — the authority Christ gave the Church on earth to forgive sins. We will address the questions many people ask: “Isn’t God the only One who can forgive? Why does the pastor say, ‘I forgive you …’?”
FUNERAL LUNCHES CHURCH WORK FAITH CHILD CARE If you have brought a salad or dessert for a funeral lunch in the past few months, SCHOLARSHIPS IS HIRING thank you so much! Please stop down at Faith Church has a scholarship program We are beginning to plan for our school- the FMC kitchen (lower level) and pick up for those pursuing full-time church work aged summer program and are looking your container. There are many pans and at an LCMS university or seminary. for college students to help as bowls on the shelf at the back wall. One Information and application brochures assistant teachers. We also have an of those might be yours. The families we are available through the church office at immediate fulltime position open for a serve are so appreciative of your both campuses. Applications must be toddler room teacher. Please contact donations. What a rewarding act of received by May 1 to be considered for the Sandy Amundson at (920) 739-7772 service and kindness to be able to serve the 2017 fall semester. if you know of someone who might be these families during their time of grief. It interested in either of these positions. is our practice at Faith to call everyone on the church roster to donate if able. Thanks again for saying yes when called. Any unclaimed items will be donated to Bethesda.
Easter & Spring Break Plan ahead so you don’t miss a chance to purchase Scrip for your upcoming Easter celebrations and Spring Break trips.
Gas and Groceries are POWERFUL! We have several options to choose from for your monthly gas purchases. Grand Central Station Shell offers a generous 10% rebate! In addition we have Kwik Trip (5%), MotoMart (5%) and Fleet Farm (5%). Scrip gift cards for local grocery stores such as Copps (4%), Festival Foods (3%), Piggly Wiggly (3%), Walmart & Sams Club (2%) and Woodmans (5%) are always in stock. Gas and groceries are the easiest and most powerful way to earn free money for Faith and its ministry partners.
Regular Scrip Hours: Faith Ministry Center: Celebration Ministry Center: Sunday: 9:00 -10:45 a.m. Saturday: 6:00-6:30 p.m. Tuesday: 9:30 -11:30 a.m. Sunday: 10:00-10:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 8:30-11:00 a.m.
www.faithfoxvalley.org / March 2017 / 3 page CHILDRENʹS MINISTRY
SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS SING The 3K-4K students at Faith Ministry Center sing for 9:20 a.m. worship on March 12. Students are asked to be in their large group room by 9:10 a.m. 3K-Gr 6 Sunday School students at Celebration Ministry Center sing for 9:00 a.m. worship on March 19. Students should arrive by 8:45 a.m.
COMMUNION CLASSES Information and enrollment forms about our Communion preparation classes have been sent to families with grade 5-7 students. This year’s classes are on April 1 and 8, 10-11:30 a.m. or April 3 and 10, 6:30-8:00 p.m. First Communion will be observed during Maundy Thursday worship on April 13, 6:30 p.m. Families can register on the Pulse Portal or by contacting Kristi Schrampfer ([email protected], 739-9191 ex 1118).
There is no Midweek School on March 29 or April 12 because of Spring Break and Holy Week.
SUMMER CHILDREN’S MINISTRY Vacation Bible School for 3K-Gr 2 students will be July 31-Aug 3, 9:00- 11:30 a.m. at the Faith Ministry Center. Under the Reformation theme “A Mighty Fortress", kids will learn God promises to be their rock and their salvation—their fortress and sure defense.
Super Summer Specials for Grade 3-6 students will be on June 14, July 26 and Aug 9, 9 am.-3 p.m. There will be music, Bible learning, crafts, games and service activities. It will be fun! Kids will want to come to all three events – and bring their friends!
Registration forms and more information are coming next month! We are now recruiting leaders for story-telling, crafts, snacks, and recreation as well as small group leaders to accompany students to the site activities. We also need a team of creative, artistic people to develop props and theme backgrounds. Youth and adults anxious to help with our summer kid programs can contact Kathleen Lane at [email protected] or 739-9191 x 1116).
LENTEN ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS Here are some suggestions for faith-building activities during Lent for families with young children.
Wednesday, 5 p.m. Family Devotions Cross Mosaic Lent Suppers Worship Services The habit of daily family time Cut out a large cardboard cross Enjoy having a meal with your Lent Worship is a part of the for prayer and faith talk is even and many small squares of Faith family. Wednesday Lent Midweek School schedule but more meaningful during Lent. colored paper. Display the suppers will be held at the is open to all families with Journey ‘Round Jerusalem cross where it is easily seen by Faith Ministry Center, 5:30- preschool/elementary-aged devotion books and sticker family members. Each day take 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday in children. The services are 5:00 activities are available in the time for confession of sins. Lent. See details about menu -5:30 p.m., March 1-April 5 (no lobby and narthex. They can Family members can write and advance registration on service on March 29). The help children recall the account their sin and shortcoming on page 1. March 1 Ash Wednesday of Jesus’ passion and count the squares. Glue them to the service will include the down the days until Easter. cross and announce, “Jesus imposition of ashes and Holy paid the price for my sin. I am Communion. forgiven.” Give hugs to offer forgiveness to one another, too.
4 page / March 2017 / Faith Lutheran Church TOGETHER IN MINISTRY NOTES FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE Help us keep in touch with you better! Be envelopes and have been using the tan have questions, feel free to call Deb in the sure to let us know if your address envelopes to contribute, please give us as church office and she can help get you set changes. Did you know that we can get much information as possible on the up. up to 30 letters back from the Post Office envelope so that we are sure to credit the each month? Even though most of our gift to your household. The new security system is up and running mailings are sent at a bulk rate, at both ministry centers. We have done incorrectly addressed mail is returned to Are you an “electronic” contributor? If you our best to issue entry fobs for many of us at the first class rate. The Post Office have your bank transfer your contributions our regular volunteers to eliminate the can usually tell us new addresses, but to Faith, and do not use your envelopes at need to buzz them in. As we move save the delay and let us know your new all, you can also call Deb at the church forward in this new era at our ministry address. Likewise, if you have changes in office and let her know. She can reassign a centers, we ask your patience and your household such as children who 4000 number to you to a) signify that you understanding. move to their own household or if there are an electronic contributor and is a divorce, please let Deb in the church b) remove you from the paper envelopes Lastly, Deb and Jennifer may always look office know. to save the church some expense. busy, and many days we are, but it is in service to our Lord, and to you! We love Contribution envelopes have been mailed Do you wish to set up electronic each other and we love you and will to homes as of the week before contributions? If you have a current email always do our best to serve you. No Christmas. You should have received address on record with the church office, question is too small and, if we don’t them. If you have not, they probably got you are able to log into our Pulse Portal. know the answer, you can know that we hung up in the mail. Call Deb at the Get started at www.faithfoxvalley.org, will do our best to find the answer for Church Office and she will be glad to do a under the Give tab. From there you can you. Welcome to our office! swap with you and provide you with a set up your information for scheduled new packet. If you did not receive your giving as well as spontaneous gifts. If you
STEPHEN MINISTRY A Great Way You Can Help a Hurting Friend Do you have a friend, neighbor, coworker, or relative who is going through a difficult time? Here’s a great way you can help them—tell them about our Stephen Ministry! Stephen Ministers are people from Faith who have received special training to provide high-quality, confidential, one-to-one, Christian care to people who are grieving the loss of a loved one, coping with a cancer diagnosis, going through a divorce or separation, battling a chronic illness (or caring for a spouse or parent who is chronically ill), experiencing a great deal of stress, facing the loss of a job—or encountering any of countless other life challenges.
Stephen Ministers meet weekly with their care receivers to listen, care, encourage, and provide emotional and spiritual support. (Males are matched with males, and females are matched with females.) The caring relationship lasts for as long as the person needs care. It’s free, and it’s a powerful way you can help a hurting friend.
To learn how to connect someone you know with a Stephen Minister, talk with one of our Stephen Ministry Leaders: Bob Zuehlsdorf, Pastor Jim Wiebel, Kris Smith, Mary Nimmer, Dick Lane, Joan Klaas, Pastor Kyle Jones, or Amy Cox. Our Stephen Ministers are there to care! SENIOR MINISTRY Senior Potluck & Games Faith Senior Ministry is sponsoring a “Potluck” on Thursday, March 16, at 11:30 a.m. in the Faith Ministry Center Fellowship Hall. Fol- lowing the meal, a variety of table games will be offered. Everyone is asked to bring one WRAPPED “White Elephant” item. Please check out the bulletin board posters for details. Final sign-up date is March 14.
www.faithfoxvalley.org / March 2017 / 5 page Treasurer’s Report for January 2017
Actual Budget YTD Actual YTD Budget YEAR-TO-DATE OFFERINGS
OFFERINGS: $125,750 $129,776 $125,750 $129,776 COMPARED TO BUDGET (S4,026) OTHER INCOME: 10,370 10,720 10,370 10,720
TOTAL INCOME: 136,120 140,496 136,120 140,496 TOTAL EXPENSE: 158,280 154,725 158,280 154,725 VARIANCE: (22,160) (14,229) (22,160) (14,229)
CHECKING & SAVINGS WHAT WE HAVE—OUR ASSESTS $718,702 DESIGNATED FUNDS—OUR LIABILITIES $716,867 VARIANCE $1,835
JANUARY 2017 RITES AND RECORDS
Weddings Transfers out Melvin Wallenhorst and Michalle Salter Jason Bowers James and Jean Bremer, John Baptisms Dustin and Michelle Boerst, Weston, Finley Emma Marie Huss Eric and Shayna Reichenbach, Brielle Theodore David Brellen Mason Blaine Vander Wielen Releases Judith McCarty Deaths Kathleen Tebo Stephen Virnich Joanna Yow
New Members Received Amy Valleskey
Worship Attendance:
January 2017 Celebration Ministry Center Faith Ministry Center 5:00 pm 9:00 am 8:00 am 9:20 am 10:40 am 6:00 pm TOTAL
1st Weekend 105 73 142 172 83 21 596 2nd Weekend 88 124 197 359 135 29 932 3rd Weekend 95 111 218 300 138 -- 862 4th Weekend 108 117 208 351 132 39 955
5th Weekend 96 126 204 266 150 21 863
6 page / March 2017 / Faith Lutheran Church TOGETHER IN MINISTRY S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 MARCH 2017 EVENTS (CALENDAR) 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Weekly Events: Communion is 6:30am Morning Men’s 10:00am Senior Bible 6:00am Men’s MinistryAM 6:30pm Puppet Team @ 5:00pm Communion celebrated on the first, third Bible Study (Scherbarth Class @ FMC @ CMC last mtg on 15th FMC no mtg on 23 or 30 Worship @ CMC and fifth Sundays of the group) 11:00am Lenten Worship 3:45pm Midweek Classes 7:00pm Faith Chorale @ month 7:00pm Glory Ringers @ @ FMC @ FMC FMC 8:00am Worship @ FMC FMC 6:30pm Rooted in Faith 5:00pm Midweek Class 8:30pm Festival Choir @ 9:00am Worship @ CMC 7:15pm Men’s MinistryPM Membership Class @ Worship @ FMC no class FMC 9:20am Worship @ FMC @ FMC last mtg on 13th FMC no class on 21st on 29th 9:20am Education Hour @ 5:30pm Covenant Choir @ FMC No Monday Worship dur- FMC no choir on 29th 10:15am Education Hour ing Lent 5:30pm Lenten Suppers @ @ CMC FMC no meal on 3/1 10:40am Worship @ FMC 6:30pm Traditional Lenten 1:00pm Festival Choir @ Worship @ FMC FMC 6:30pm Foundations @ FMC no class on 3/1
8:30-1100am Scrip @ CMC 9:30-11:30am Scrip @ FMC 8:30-11am Scrip @ CMC 6:00-6:30pm Scrip @ CMC 9-10:45am Scrip @ FMC 8:30-11am Scrip @ CMC Additional Events: 12th 6th 14th 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Newsletter Items Due 1:00pm Grief Support Grp 9:00am Senior Committee 8:30am MOPS @ FMC 6:00am Women’s B’fast 6:00pm CLS Gala @ Grand 10:00am Baptism Treas- Women’s Guild Card Sale @ FMC Meeting @ FMC 8th Bible @ Apple City Rest. Meridian ures @ FMC in Commons @ FMC 5:30pm Grief Support Grp 6:30pm Pens for Puerta @ 6:30pm WYN BASIC @ 8:30am Women’s Guild 11th Women’s Guild Mite Box @ FMC FMC FMC Mission Grp @ FMC 9:30am Celebration Book 9:20am 3K-4K SS Students 7:00pm Baptism Treasures 6:30pm WOF Bookclub @ 16th Club @ Apple City Rest sing @ FMC @ FMC FMC 22nd 8:30am MOPS Bible Study 11:30am Senior Ministry 18th 19th 13th 21st @ FMC Potluck & Games@ FMC 8:00am Youth Pizza Mak- 9:00am 3K-Gr 6 SS Stu- 6:30pm Faith Women’s 6:30pm Bd Directors @ F 6:30pm WYN BASIC @ ing @ FMC dents sing @ CMC Guild @ FMC 6:30pm Prayer Chain @ F FMC 20th 1:00pm Grief Support Grp @ FMC 5:30pm Grief Support Group @ FMC
It’s been five months now since we kicked off our relationship with Children’s HopeChest and Puerta Abajo. If you sponsored your child, we hope that you’ve been writing them and giving them a glimpse into who you are. Your monthly donation to HopeChest helps to provide meals for the children and improve their lives spiritually, educationally and socially. The goal is to show them the love of God in practical ways.
Since the overall plan has always been to grow the village from surviving to thriving, additional plans are now in place to create a community of self-sustainability. Our first step is to purchase a property where meals are currently being served and is a safe place for the children and families to gather. Purchasing this property will eliminate a monthly rent, which the directors have often had to pay themselves, and give us the opportunity to create a cement courtyard between the two rental buildings and add a tin roof over the yard for the children to have their activities. The estimated cost for the property, cement floor and roof is $45,000.
In addition to the property and improvements, we will need to raise money to purchase tables and chairs for the children to be able to eat, study and do activities. The estimate for 15 tables and 90 chairs is $5,400. So far Sunday School students have raised $1,880, enough to purchase 10 tables and 18 chairs. Their goal is to purchase 32 more chairs at $42 each before the end of Sunday School.
So what next? With scrip dollars, donations and Sunday School offerings, we have a great start to making this dream a reality in the village. Our congregation has been so generous and we’re confident that we can raise the full $50,000 before summer. Please watch the mail for a special request for donations.
LETTER WRITING We will be hos�ng a leter wri�ng evening once per quarter where you can come and enjoy a litle fellowship and write leters to your sponsored child. The next one is scheduled on Tuesday, March 14 at 6:30 p.m. in N4 at the Faith Ministry Center. Don’t hesitate to ask if you have ques�ons. If there are problems with online leters going through, please let Julie Hahnemann know. And check out our Facebook group page “Faith in Puerta Abajo”. It is a private group so just request to join if you are not already on it.
Dear Fellow Faith members, I wanted to say a quick hello and introduce myself to anyone who doesn’t know me. My name is Julie Hahnemann and you may have seen me fli�ng around church during the big Puerta Abajo sponsorship kickoff weekend as I am currently serving on the Puerta Abajo leadership team. My husband Todd and I have three children of our own and have been blessed to be able to sponsor children in Ethiopia, China, Mexico, Peru and now Guatemala over the last 21 years.
I wanted to share a few insights we have gained over those years of sponsorship. In the beginning, we thought it was mostly about sharing the financial resources that God had entrusted to us. We wrote some leters but I thought the money was most important as it helped fill hungry bellies and help children get an educa�on. However, 10 years in, we were invited to our first sponsored child’s Quinceinerra (a big coming of age celebra�on on a young woman’s 15th birthday that looks a lot like a Wisconsin wedding). Norma lived in a small village in the middle of Michoacan, Mexico. My husband was brave and said we should go, so we got our immuniza�ons, packed up the kids, flew to Morelia, rented a car (infested with the cutest litle sugar ants), and set off for the two-hour trip to Uruapan. We were met by a translator at our hotel and set off again for the village.
When we arrived, we were a bit surprised that physical change was not drama�c. Their houses were s�ll run down by our standards, their streets were uneven brick roads with mud and potholes, and their clothes were shabby. Don’t get me wrong, they were pleased to show us that their circumstances had improved; they had a dental chair and a den�st who made regular visits to the village, and they received medical care, assistance with school, and educa�on about ea�ng a healthy diet and the importance of clean water. But, those things paled in comparison to that beau�ful pink Cinderella dress and the smile on Norma’s face as she came down the street that day in her very own parade. The mariachi band walked behind her playing with the instruments our sponsorship dollars had helped to provide. Norma knew she was loved. She was a beau�ful princess, a child of her heavenly father. And her father was proud to be able to return our generosity. We were treated as honored guests that day: seated in the front row of the church, seated at the head table with Norma during dinner, fed a huge banquet, and Todd was even asked to start the dancing with Norma instead of her father. Such a joyful �me we had! They even sent us on our way with an en�re layer of the mul�- �ered cake. Our hearts were so full, and we finally got it; God wants us to be connected to other people. It is all about the rela�onships. What we learned in the course of that adventure was that as much as Norma’s family appreciated the financial support, the rela�onship—the leters and prayers—meant so very much more. She has since finished high school and agricultural school, and plans to use that to help her village.
So, going forward, though the news may some�mes seem infrequent, or the observable progress may seem slow, I ask you to be pa�ent. You are making a difference!
Your friend in Christ,
Julie www.CelebrationLutheran.net
www.facebook.com/CelebrationLutheranSchool
Registration is Now Open! Registration for the 2017-2018 school year at Celebration Lutheran School is now open. Please encourage your family, neighbors, and friends to come and check us out. We offer a Christian Education for students in 3K (Tuesday and Thursday mornings), 4K (Full or half day programs), and K-8th grade. For information or a tour please call 920-734 -8218. You can also visit us online at www.celebrationlutheran.net.
National Lutheran Schools Week March 5-11, 2017 Theme: Upon this ROCK “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” Is. 26:4 God has blessed Celebration Lutheran School with wonderful partners in ministry. Some of these partners include: Faith Lutheran Church (Appleton), Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (Greenville), Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Appleton), Bethany Lutheran Church (Kaukauna), N.E.W. Lutheran High School (Green Bay), and Celebration Children’s Center (Appleton). We thank you for your support and look forward to what God has instore in the coming years. Together we celebrate Lutheran Education and the work that is being done in all of our ministries.
N.E.W. LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL (920) 469-6810 www.newlhs.com
NOW ENROLLING AT NEW LUTHERAN HIGH! Think a Christian school experience is out of reach for your son or daughter? By checking out the WPCP Voucher program, you may find that a free tuition voucher can be attained. The online enrollment period runs now through April 20. Tuition assistance is also available along with programs like SCRIP and Packer/ Resch center events to help earn tuition credits. Come and experience the difference an excellent Christ-centered education can make for your student! Contact the school office for more information about vouchers and tuition assistance at 469-6810 or visit the website - www.newlhs.com. Blaze On!
www.faithfoxvalley.org / March 2017 / 7 page COURSE FOR NEW MEMBERS WOMEN OF FAITH “Rooted in Faith”—Starting March 7 BOOK CLUB New to Faith? Looking to get connected to others who are a part of the Faith family? The Women of Faith Book Club will meet Curious about what we teach at Faith? on March 14, April 4 & 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Faith Ministry Center Library to A group is now forming to explore the foundational teachings of Faith church. Over an discuss The Mother of the Reformation: eight-week period, group participants will have a chance to see what is most important The Amazing Life and Story of Katharine to us here. Although it is in no way an obligation, group members will have an Luther by Ernst Kroker and translated by opportunity in November to join Faith officially as members. Mark E. DeGarmeaux. Four chapters will be covered at each session. The exploratory Rooted in Faith group will meet on Tuesday evenings, March 7 - May 9 (with the exceptions of March 21 and April 18), 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Faith Ministry Center. Child care will be available for young children (advance notice required). Register for the group by contacting the church office (739-9191 or LWML 75th [email protected]). ANNIVERSARY YOUNG WOMEN & June 22-25, 2017, Albuquerque, NM “Jesus Christ Above All" YOUNG AT HEART RETREAT Read all about it in the Winter issue of the Lutheran Women's Quarterly, the Saturday, April 1, Camp Luther • Registration at 9 a.m., Retreat 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. LWML national magazine, found in the Are you in need of a "recharge?" Enjoy a day of fellowship & fun, and have a chance to FMC commons. Information can be re-energize with friends old and new. Bring a friend - all ladies are welcome! Come found in the center insert (Pages A-O). early for an optional overnight in the Camp Luther Retreat Center on Friday, March 31 for $31.50 per person. Fellowship, snacks and fun will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday! Registration forms are available in the LWML publication Mission Tidings on page 5. Find these booklets in the rack in the gathering area. Contact Jeanne Braatz with any questions, [email protected].
WOMEN’S GUILD/LWML Thanks to everyone who came to the Thrivent Action Team event on February 25 to help tie fleece blankets, tie quilts and make birthday and Christmas cards. Fleece blankets will be distributed to the Warming Shelter and Homeless Connections. Quilts will be do- nated to Harbor House and cards will be distributed to residents of Brewster Village throughout the year.
Women's Guild/LWML quilting and card making group will meet on Thursday, March 2 from 8:30 - 11:00 a.m. at the FMC (Room N4). If you enjoyed helping on the 25th, or weren't able to come that day, please join our group. Help is always welcome.
Greeting cards, including birthday, encouragement, sympathy and Easter cards, will be available for sale after the 8:00 and 9:20 a.m. services on Sunday, March 12 in the gathering area at the FMC.
The larger LWML (Lutheran Women's Missionary League) mite box will also be available to add your coins, currency or checks to go toward the North Wisconsin District and National LWML mission projects. An updated list of paid projects will be on display.
There will be a short Bible Study and very brief business meeting on Monday, March 13 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at the FMC. Items to bring for Harbor House include socks, underwear (all sizes - baby, children's, teens, or women's) or dishwasher soap. Copy paper is always on the needs list too. Remember to bring your MITE boxes. All women are always welcome. . 8 page / March 2017 / Faith Lutheran Church TOGETHER IN MINISTRY 2017 MOBILEPACK Volunteers from Faith Lutheran and from around the community will be packing meals for Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) this summer. The MobilePack will be Friday and Saturday, June 9-10 at New Hope Lutheran in Neenah. FMSC provides life-saving meals for desperate children around the world. Faith has been a part of packing over 1.1 million meals since March 2012!
The current goal is to pack 100,000 meals for starving children. That means that 500 volunteer slots will be available for packing. Our previous MobilePack events have been so popular that many volunteers were not able to pack, because there weren’t enough spots available. Our hope is to make more than 500 spots available for volunteers, giving many more people the opportunity to pack.
In order to open more spots, we need your help! Our 100,000-meal goal requires a fundraising goal of $22,000. Thanks to some generous donors, we have already passed 50% of that goal. If we surpass our goal by mid-April, we will be able to add more volunteer packing spots, but even more importantly to pack more meals for children desperately in need of food and other resources.
Ways you can help: Pray for the success of our MobilePack event and for the MobilePack steering committee, as well as the children who will benefit from the meals we pack. Make a donation by writing a check to Faith Lutheran Church or Feed My Starving Children (memo: ‘FMSC MobilePack 1706- 105AU’). Make a donation online at https://give.fmsc.org/faithlutheran. You can also start a fundraiser group and follow instructions to invite friends and family to join your fundraising efforts. Watch future newsletters and bulletins for the opportunity to participate in, or help out with, future fundraisers and for details on signing up to help pack meals on June 9-10, 2017.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died –more than that, who is raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:34 By praying we are growing in our relationship with our heavenly Father and learning to rely on Him more fully. We allow time to join Him in conversation and release our burdens into His care.
Intercessory prayer is the act of praying for other people. The Lord instructed us to pray not only for our own personal needs but to reach out and pray for others as well. We find an example of this in 1 Timothy 2:1-6 where we are told to pray and to make intercession for all men.
There is an erroneous idea in contemporary Christianity that those who offer up intercessory prayers are a special class of “super- Christians,” called by God to a specific ministry of intercession. The Bible is clear that all Christians are called to be intercessors. In fact, God invites us to come to him all the time. “Pray without ceasing,” Paul says (1Thessalonians 5:17). Jesus was a model for this. He prayed often. He prayed alone or with His followers. He prayed at mealtime, during His teaching, just before healing people. God invites us to do the same.
At Faith we have a wonderfully active prayer ministry. Prayer requests come to Faith through phone, prayer cards, email, and through the internet. Requests are for health concerns, family relationships, government leaders, and much more. Faith also receives prayers of thanks for prayers answered.
Members at Faith are encouraged to become active in the prayer ministry by: Prayer request cards: The cards are located in pews. The prayer request can be marked confidential or public. The cards are then placed in the collection plate or basket located at the entrance based on which side of the cards that has been filled out. Members are encouraged to submit prayer request and also take a request card along home and pray throughout the week.
Prayer Chain: Faith’s Prayer Chains consist of people who intentionally and confidentially pray for the needs of others.
Prayer Shawl Ministry: This group knits and prays for members going through difficult situations. The shawls are then given to the person reminding them that they are loved and prayed for and by others.
Prayer Partner: Prayer Partners meet in public or private with members who are in need of prayer after each service and pray daily for the person’s need during their private payer time.
To learn more about the prayer ministry at Faith contact Steve Moore 739-9191 or by email at [email protected] . Note: Portions of this article are from various websites and the “Rooted in Faith” book.
www.faithfoxvalley.org / March 2017 / 9 page
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'++((+, -'.&,)(-&' Please send all newsleer submissions to Tracey Saari, [email protected]. The deadline for newsleer submissions is .V VHQJR Sunday of every month. Would you consider receiving your newsleer electronically? You can make that preference change on 7Q%` 6%C V6Q` :CQ`H:CC .V&.%`H.4 HV^ R _8FVGQ`BVJJ1`V`11CC$C:RC7.VC]7Q%I:@V .: H.:J$V8
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601 E Glendale Ave Vs Appleton, WI 54911 (920) 739-9191
[email protected] Milwaukee Bucks A Party with a Purpose! Vs
Minnesota Timberwolves Scheduled to perform: Are you ready for this classic border Skillet / Michael W. Smith INSIDE THIS ISSUE battle? See two of the youngest and ex- Newsboys / Matthew West citing teams in the NBA! Tenth Avenue North
Milwaukee Buck ………………………………...1 Matt Maher / Hawk Nelson WHEN/WHERE Lifest …………………………………………………..1 Building 429 / JJ Heller Saturday, March 11, 2017 Side Walk Prophets & MORE! Youth Time During Lent ………………………1 Bus leaves Faith @ 3:00pm for
His Word………………………………………….….1 the BMO Harris Bradley Center. July 6-9, 2017
March Calendar …………………………………..2 Sunnyview Expo Center WHO Christian Growth Opportunities …………..2 Oshkosh, WI Students and parents. Upcoming Dates ………………………………….2 Students in grades 6 and under Special Group Ticket Pricing: MUST be accompanied by a parent. Full-Event Tickets
Adults: $56 COST Students: $30 Students $48 & Adults $58
Includes game ticket, coach bus See Lifest.com for event information transportation, and early admission
to sit courtside to watch team warm-ups. “His Word” Contact Mike in the church
office to purchase these He was despised Contact Mike in the church special discounted tickets. and rejected by office to reserve your spot. men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffer-
ing. Confirmation and Wednesday Youth Night During Lent Like one from whom men
hide their faces. 7th & 8th Grade FOUNDATIONS Wednesday Youth Night (WYN) Surely he took up our infir- During Lent, 7th and 8th grade students During Lent, high school students are mities and carried our sor- rows, yet we considered him report to class at 6:15pm to check in encouraged to attend the 6:30pm Lent and then attend Lent worship with their worship. The Youth Room will be open stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. -4 parent(s). Following worship students following worship and students are in- -Isaiah 53: 3 and parent(s) go to the Fellowship Hall vited to come for food, music, games, for a guided discussion time. and short devotional time until 8:30pm. MARCH 2017 SUN MON TUES WED THU FRI SAT
*WYN ELEVATE & *FOUNDATIONS: -Ash Wednesday BASIC: 6:30-8:00pm 1 2 3 4 6:30-8:30pm No WYN or FOUNDATIONS
5 6 7 8-Lent Worship @ 9 10 11 6:30pm. Milwaukee Bucks -FOUNDATIONS & Game WYN following worship.
12 13 14 15-Lent Worship 16 17 18 @ 6:30pm. Pizza Making -FOUNDATIONS & WYN following worship.
19 20 21 22-Lent Worship 23 24 25 @ 6:30pm. -FOUNDATIONS & WYN following worship.
26 27 28 29-Lent Worship 30 31 No WYN or FOUNDATIONS
CHRISTIAN GROWTH DATES TO REMEMBER MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES April 5 - FOUNDATIONS @ 6:30pm Middle School Sunday School High School Sunday School WYN BASIC @ 7:30pm Celebration Ministry Center: Celebration Ministry Center: 12 -No FOUNDATIONS A combined 7th—12th grade class A combined 7th—12th grade class -WYN6:30-9:00PM will meet from 10:20-11:20am. will meet from 10:20-11:20am. Movie Night “The Passion of the Christ” Faith Ministry Center: Faith Ministry Center: 15 -Easter Breakfast Prep 16 -Easter Sunday: Youth Serve Classes for 7th & 8th grade stu- High School students in grades 9 Easter Breakfast dents will meet from 9:20- through 12 will meet from 9:20- 19 -FOUNDATIONS @ 6:30pm 10:20am. 10:20am. No WYN “BASIC” 26 -FOUNDATIONS @ 6:30pm WYN BASIC @ 6:30pm