Joy and Pineapples Since the Chili Cook Off was such a favorite Weeping may linger for the night, but joy with everyone, we will be having a cooking contest at comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5 this event also. The rules for this one are that you One of the things that I wish we would talk can make whatever type of dish that you want to more about at church is Joy! After all it is one of the cook; the most important rule is that the dish you gifts of the Spirit that we read about in Galatians prepare must contain Pineapple!. It 5:22. can be a main course, a side dish or a dessert. The most creative use of I love the verse (above) from Psalm 30. Pineapple will win a special prize. As in Every one of us goes through difficult times in life. It the past, the identity of the cook will be is just a part of being human. Many times in my life I kept a secret until all of the voting is have held on to this verse to remind myself that hard completed. times never last forever. We are always under God’s care. When we cry or hurt, God cries and Pineapples were first discovered by hurts with us. I truly believe this with all of my heart. Columbus in his sailings and exploration. He took them back to Europe where they were Now, we at Living Faith do a pretty good job enthusiastically received. Europeans soon of having fun and laughter together. We are a pretty discovered that pineapples could not be grown in the joyful bunch of spirit-filled Christians. I think back on climates of Europe. So, to serve a pineapple at a the Halloween parties, meal meant that you really cared about your guests the Easter Egg hunts and because they were very expensive. our Chili Cook Off back in 2018. I remember us Sea captains would usually bring a pineapple sharing a lot of joy. As I with them as they sailed home from their voyages. always say, we take Once the sea captain was safely home, the God’s work seriously, but pineapple was placed on a stake in front of his we never take ourselves house. This signaled to his friends and family in the too seriously. community that he was safely home. We are planning an event for September 21st With this history, the pineapple has come to between 3 and 5 just so that we can have some fun represent hospitality, generosity, friendship and together. We were looking for a reason for a party celebration. and found that the year 2019 marks 60 years since Please mark your calendar…Saturday, Hawaii became a state. (So did Alaska in the same September 21st from 3 to 5 in the Fellowship Hall. year, but Hawaiian food and music seems more fun.) Dress up in your favorite tropical garb and come We will have a Silent Auction and a Free Will prepared to share laughter and joy with one another. offering. Anything we collect will be saved for Blessings, sending our Youth to the Youth Gathering in the summer of 2021 in Minneapolis, MN. Pastor Shaw Living Faith Lutheran Church: We are a living presence of God, celebrating as an extended family. We are committed to sharing our faith through joyful worship and Sacrament. We provide opportunities for growth by offering ministries that meet the needs of our members and community. MISSION & MINISTRY Page 2 September 2019 To My Friends at Living Faith Lutheran Church; The Lord has I really want to take this opportunity to say Thank You to my church family done great for all the Love and Support. Your things for us prayers and letters have really sustained me. I appreciate all the and support. I am in Pensacola, Florida in my A school now and will be home at we are glad. Christmas time hopefully. Again, thank you for the prayers. —Psalm 146:3 Thanks, Submitted by Jack Murphy Doris R. Weaver Keep those cards and letters rolling in! Jack’s new address is: MURPHY, JACK, D 440 Roberts Ave PMB # 2345 Pensacola, FL 32511-5151 New Bibles I purchased BIRTHDAYS some new Bibles for the Adult Sunday 2 Bette Wade School classes. These are NRSV in 9 Sara Beltran extra large print. I got them at a good 13 Janice Kelly price from a place that only sells in units of a dozen. Their retail price is 16 Rita Engelbrecht $34.99, but our cost is $22.00. If you 22 Gregory McCord would like to purchase one for 23 Matthew McCord yourself, for a loved one or a friend, please let Deborah Richardson in the 27 Michael Lidell church office know. Blessings, Pastor Shaw MISSION & MINISTRY The Crossroads Page 3 Saturday, September 21, 3 - 5 pm Fellowship Hall Living Faith Lutheran Church is having an Hawaiian Luau. You are all invited to wear your best Hawaiian outfit and bring a pineapple dish for our Pineapple Recipe Competition. Potluck items (with or without pineapple) are also welcomed and appreciated. There will be games and a silent action. Monies from the silent auction and any donations will go towards sending the youth to the ELCA Youth Gathering in 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mark your calendars NOW for this event! If you have items you can donate for the silent auction, please bring them to the church by Sunday, September 15. GOD’S WORK. OUR HANDS. Page 4 September 2019 Share Your Personal Words of Appreciation Operation Gratitude sends 250,000+ Care Packages each year to Deployed Troops, Veterans, and New Recruits. Of all the items included in these Care Packages, the most cherished are the personal letters of appreciation! It only takes five minutes of your day, but will bring lasting joy to the recipients. God’s Work. Our Hands. LETTER WRITING TIPS 2019 – Serving those in the Service Start with a salutation, such as “Dear Hero” or “Dear Brave One” For our social ministry event this year, Living Faith Write to either a Deployed Troop or a New will be collecting personal care items for Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guards Recruit deployed overseas through Operation Gratitude. A Deployed Troop is currently overseas in Drop off your donations in the collection container in harm’s way. the narthex, and join us after the worship service on A New Recruit just completed Boot Camp September 8, to assemble the kits! and has sworn to serve for 4+ years. Shower or Body Wipes (individual or 10-pack max) Express your thanks for their selfless service All Purpose Wipes (30 wipe pack) Please do not include the date or year on your Travel Size Body Powder (1oz) letter or card Disposable Razor Avoid politics completely and religion in excess; Travel Size Deodorant (0.5oz) however, saying you are praying for them is Travel Size Hand Sanitizer (2oz) wonderful Travel Size Lotion (1oz) Share a little about yourself: Family, Hobbies, Travel Size Mouthwash (1.2oz) Work, School, Pets, Travel Lip Balm Talk about life and interests: Sports, Weather, Travel Size Nail Clippers/Emery Boards (0.5oz) Music, Movies, Food, Books Travel Size Sunscreen (1oz) Adults: Include your contact information (mail or Insect Repelling Band or Wipes email) so the recipient can reply. Children: USE Hand and/or Toe Warmers FIRST NAMES ONLY and no addresses please Gallon Size Freezer Bag (for items) Can’t find the words? Consider drawing or Snack Size Ziplock (or 4x6 Ziplock bag) painting a picture instead; please add a note to Please be mindful of the sizes of the individual kids’ drawings with their age. Please avoid items as space is always at a premium for those glitter! who are deployed. No need for postage or individual envelopes as Choose quality over quantity. all letters will be included in with the care package. Monetary donations to support the cost of shipping is also appreciated. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - See the next column for info on how you can write We will assemble packages after to those who will receive our kits! Worship on Sunday, September 8. Please stay to help, if you can. EVENTS IN OCTOBER The Crossroads Page 5 Saturday, October 5, 9am to 1pm Living Faith will be holding a Yard Sale. Dig through your attic, closets, drawers and basement to find all the things that you are not using but could find a new life with someone else. Items you wish to donate to the Yard Sale can be dropped off at the church on Friday, October 4th, 8am—7 pm. Arrangements may be made for large items to be picked-up - contact Barbara Bolhoff (301-340-0082) to schedule a day/time. (Sorry, we can’t take other items sooner, but we don’t have enough storage space for everything.) Proceeds from the sales will go towards the loan Living Faith took out to pay for air conditioning repairs. Volunteers are needed to help on Friday, October 4th, with gathering, preparations, sorting and pricing. Volunteers are also needed on Saturday, October 5th, to help with final preparations, the sale, and cleanup afterwards. Please contact Barbara Bolhoff (301-340-0082) or the office if you can help. Sunday, October 13th at 2pm in the back parking lot. Watch for a list of items you can donate to help shelter animals. 05 28 21 14 07 Saturday 6-9pm IJD Worship IJD 6-9pm 6-9pm IJD Worship IJD 6-9pm 3-5pm LFLC Luau 6-9pm IJD Worship IJD 6-9pm 6-9pm IJD Worship IJD 6-9pm IHOP 8am Men's8am Breakfast @ 04 27 20 13 06 Page Friday 6 ~6pm MCC Music ~6pm ~6pm MCC Music ~6pm w/Pastor 11:30am Lunch ~6pm MCC Music ~6pm ~6pm MCC Music ~6pm 03 26 19 12 05 Thursday Living Faith Lutheran Church (LFLC) Church Living Faith Lutheran 12pm Yoga Class 12pm 9:30am Quilters 9:30am 12pm Yoga Class 12pm 12pm Yoga Class 12pm 9:30am Quilters 9:30am 1:30pm Mary-Martha1:30pm 12pm Yoga Class 12pm 02 25 18 11 04 SUNDAY Wednesday FIRST DAY OF WEEK OF DAY FIRST CALENDAR 7:30pm LFLC Choir 6:26pm 30-Minute Worship 7:30pm LFLC Choir 7:30pm LFLC Choir 6:26pm 30-Minute Worship 7:30pm LFLC Choir 01 24 17 10 03 Tuesday 6pm AyO Mtg.