"Faith Lutheran Church is committed to nurturing and protecting our youngest members by providing a safe environment for children." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. It seems like we’ve just taken down the Christmas lights and packed up all the decorations, and yet the season of Lent is already upon us, beginning with Ash

Wednesday, Feb. 10th. As we begin our first Lenten season together as pastor and parish, I would like to take an opportunity to share some thoughts on the meaning and purpose of Lent: Lent is a special time in the liturgical year of the church. It is a time for reflection and penitence, and therefore also for a deeper understanding of the grace of God in Jesus Christ for all who have faith. On one hand, we do try honestly to assess the sinner in each one of us—to recognize and repent of our sins. This is where we feel the sting of the Law each time we hear, “Thou shalt not…” Our sin is laid bare by the Law. Yet on the other hand, the whole purpose of this season is to lead us to the cross and to the empty tomb! The purpose of the Lenten proclamation is to point to Jesus Christ’s victory over sin, death and the grave! And now, where once the Law stung, now Grace relieves! Thanks be to God, our sins are forgiven by the Gospel of Grace in Jesus Christ our Lord! So, as we begin the season together, let me extend a Lenten invitation to you: You see, Lent is a journey. It is a walk with Jesus Christ to Jerusalem, to Golgotha—to the cross. Two thousand years later, we will bear witness to this journey again.

FACTS OF FAITH

Faith Lutheran Church 8265 Winton Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45231

———————————

Phone 931-6100 FEBRUARY 2016

Fax 931-6101

E-mail secretary@faithcinci.org

Pastor Schultz fasterpastor 48@gmail.com

www.faithcinci.org

THE DEADLINE … for the Facts of Faith is

the 2nd Monday of each month.

Articles for next month are due to the church

office on Monday, February 8th

, 2016

St2, 2013.

The Season begins with Ash Wednesday worship at 7:00 PM on February 10th. As we begin the season, we take the opportunity to ask for prayers of healing, to make a sign of repentance in the Imposition of Ashes and to celebrate Holy Communion. As we gather, we prepare ourselves for Lent and make ready for Easter. I hope you will be able to join us. Sundays in Lent are treated as “little easters,” and are actually not part of the season, but are very important in our journey. They remind us of forgiveness and grace and of the promised resurrection of the Body of Christ. The value of Sunday worship in Lent cannot be over-emphasized for the Lenten journey, so be sure to join us on Sunday mornings throughout the season as we look forward with eager anticipation to Easter. In addition to Sunday worship, we will gather together every Wednesday for our Lenten potluck and worship series. We will have dinner at 6:15 PM and Worship will be at 7:00. Food, fellowship and worship make a great addition to Lent, and all are welcome. Finally, the Season of Lent will lead us into Holy Week—to the triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday; to the last supper in the upper room on Maundy Thursday; to trials before the Sanhedrin and Pontius Pilate and to the cross and grave on Good Friday, and inevitably to the empty tomb on Easter Morning. So now, with great anticipation, let us begin our Lenten journey together. Let us seek to live fully into this powerful proclamation of the church of Jesus Christ, and follow Him to our salvation! Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain; whose blood set us free to be people of God! Amen. Amen. Amen! Brothers and sisters, welcome to Lent!

Pastor Paul+

I would like to introduce myself, especially to those of you I have not had the pleasure of meeting in person quite yet. My name is Kristin Van Fossen and I am the new Administrative Assistant in Faith's office. I have big shoes to fill and a lot to learn as to the ways of Faith. Thank you so much for your kindness and help this first month. I have greatly enjoyed my first weeks here. I welcome any ideas or comments as to how best to serve this amazing church family. A little bit about me and my family. Jeff and I have been married for twenty-three years and have three children, Alexandra, Zach and Clay. Rounding out the family is a Jack Russell mix; a girl named Eddie. We have lived in Wyoming for seven years. I did not get far from my roots having been raised in Finneytown. Go Wildcats! I won't tell you my graduation year! We are members of the Presbyterian Church of Wyoming and live directly across the street from the church. Our old house keeps me busy in my spare time. I also enjoy cheering my boys on at their sporting events and playing tennis myself.

I am blessed to have been offered the opportunity to serve the members of Faith and our Lord in this position. My regular schedule is Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 3 pm. I look forward to meeting more of you in the coming weeks and months! In Christ, Kristin

HAPPY BIRTHDAY… to our members who are celebrating birthdays in February: 2 Judy Middendorf 20 Lucille Collins 4 David Middendorf 23 Anita Burgess 6 David Horsley 24 Karen Bickel 11 Rebecca Cook 26 Chris Topits Carolyn Fehr 27 Stacia Hackmann 19 Meredith Ogle 28 Debbie Staker

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY… to our members who are celebrating wedding anniversaries in February: 2-5-82 Ted & Peggy Hubbard 2-17-79 Dale & Carol Bahr

Prepare yourself for Easter February 10 - Ash Wednesday Service @ 7 pm

Lenten Potluck Dinners & Message

Wednesdays 6:15 – 7:30 pm

Fellowship Hall on the following dates;

2/17, 2/24, 3/2, 3/9 & 3/16

Celebrate Holy Week March 24 - Maundy Thursday Worship Service @ 7:30 pm

Washing of feet & communion

March 25 - Good Friday Ecumenical Service @ 7:30 pm

Including special choir music

March 26 - Community Easter Egg Hunt @ 1 pm;

Ages toddler - 6th grade. Please bring a basket for treats

March 26 – The Vigil of Easter Service @ 7:30 pm

March 27 - Easter Sunday

7 am: Sunrise Contemporary Worship Service

8 am: Easter Breakfast

9 am: Sunday School

10:15 am: Traditional Worship Service

FEBRUARY FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT… is Friday, February 5th. Join us for the presentation of "Big Hero 6", brought to you by our friends at Thrivent. The doors open at 5:50 PM and the food ready at 6:00 PM. As always bring your family, blankets and friends for a free dinner (pizza, hotdogs, and fruit) and then the movie. Dinner and the short feature starts at 6 PM. Our main feature starts at 6:30 PM. Concessions of popcorn & candy sold to benefit Faith Lutheran Church Youth

Programs.

We are playing our Souper Bowl game against Hunger again this year. Each Sunday we

will collect money in the form of change or dollars for four Sundays (quarters) ending on February 7th,

the regular Super Bowl day. The money will be sent to Mt. Healthy Alliance for them to use in supplying

food for the families that are in need. We hope you will want to participate in our game.

The next FLCW Book Club is Saturday, February 20th, 10:30 AM in the church lounge. This month's book is "The Language of Flowers".

THE ALTAR FLOWER CHART for 2016 is posted on the bulletin board in the narthex. Sign up for the Sunday or Sundays of your choice. Please indicate whether you want to keep them or have them delivered to one of our members who are sick or shut- in.

Easter cookies are coming! Orders will be taken beginning February 21st. Look for more information later in February!

News from The Endowment Committee Art Lodi, Ted Hubbard, Kurt Reiber, Linda Roeder and Lee Shroyer The committee met on January 17th for the purpose of going over the grant proposal requests and awarding the money. Art reported to the committee the final figure for the Endowment fund was $525,403.85 through December 31st, 2015. The committee agreed to use four percent of the total figure this year which amounted to $21,016.00. The following money was awarded: Pastor Jim Hanson's Ministry of Hope $2,000.00 Valley Interfaith V.I.N.E. $3,100.00 Vacation Bible School - Faith $1,500.00 Movie Night - Faith $200.00 Kairos Prison Ministry of Ohio $2,000.00 Lutheran World Relief Quilts - Judy Middendorf $1,000.00 Lighthouse Youth Services $1,000.00 Christian Inn Ministries $1,500.00 Mt. Healthy Alliance $5,000.00

Please help the FLCW make personal care item kits by donating items during Lent for the "Baskets of Promise." "The Baskets of Promise" collection is given to Lutheran World Relief. Our donations to LWR have been used around the world and in disaster areas here in the USA. The collection baskets can be found in the Narthex. You can drop your donations off anytime. February 14th: Bars of soap February 21st: Bath towels (52"x27", dark colors preferred) February 28th: Combs March 6th: Toothbrushes March 13th: Metal nail clippers March 20th: Bars of soap

The total of the requests was $17,300.00. A motion was made by Linda Roeder and seconded by Ted Hubbard to award the rest of the money which was $3,716.00 to the Free Store of Cincinnati. Motion passed. The money will be distributed to the various organizations with a letter explaining our fund.

FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH WOMEN FEBRUARY MEETINGS

February 9 - 7:00 PM UNITY PRAYER & STUDY GROUP February 11 - 10:00 AM GRACE CIRCLE Hostess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jan Swartzel Bible Study . . . . . . . . . . . .Elaine Henjum February 16 - 7:30 PM JOY CIRCLE Hostess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Paula Winters Bible Study . . . . . . . . . . . .Paula Winters February 17 - 12:00 PM FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE Hostess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thelma Buxsel February 18 - 9:00 AM SEW & SUCH February 18 - 7:30 PM PEACE CIRCLE February 20 - 10:30 AM BOOK CLUB