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Faith Matters July 2012
Upcoming Dates to Remember…
Church Office Closed Fourth of July
Outdoor Worship moved to Faith Lutheran (north lawn)
Sun. July 8, 10 a.m.
West Virginia Mission Trip July 6-14
Vacation Bible School@ Christ the King
July 16-20 (see “Kids News”)
Mission Trip Reunion Sunday July 29
Pie in the Park Mon. July 30, 7 p.m. @ Library
Square Park (see p. 4)
The Garden Tour/Salad Luncheon
Sat. Aug. 4, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (see p. 4)
Green Lake Day Camp Aug. 5-6 (see “Kids News”)
Summerland Mon. Aug. 13
FaithLife Camp Aug. 17-19
Pastor’s Page What Should We Do? Last month in Faith Matters, Pastor Randy provided an insightful list of “The Top 10 Things We Should Not Do” in response to the challenges facing Christianity and Faith Lutheran in today’s world. One person expressed thanks for the list, while suggesting that it should be paired with a list of what we should do. She wrote, “It is a great thing to define what NOT to do, but I’m convinced the Spirit is more proactive than defensive.”
We couldn’t agree more, so here is a matching list of “The Top 10 Things We Should Do.” It comes with a few stipulations, though: a. there are many more ways to act in faith and I would not claim that these are the top 10. b. these all reflect my own struggles to live faithfully and witness boldly. They are not meant
to be demands or criticisms, but Biblical calls for us to pursue together as God’s people. c. because they are Biblical calls, I listed a Bible verse that informs each one. Here they are:
Top 10 Things We Should Do 1. Trust God—it is a constant temptation to think that God’s Kingdom depends on our
efforts. It doesn’t. We are called to be faithful in ministry, but God will see that His Kingdom endures.
“God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” I Corinthians 1:25
2. Be Bold, not Timid—When we face opposition or criticism, it is natural to withdraw or doubt. But Jesus is Lord! We can and should have the confidence of our convictions.
“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel; it is the power of God for salvation…” Romans 1:16
3. Prioritize Our Spiritual Health—Receiving Word and sacrament in worship, prayer, Bible study and Christian support are essential for our faith to be strong and resilient.
“Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17
4. Pray—God wants us to share everything with Him in prayer. Prayer should not be just a list of requests, but deep conversation with God about every aspect of life.
“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6
5. Stay Anchored—In the face of constant change and challenge, we must stay rooted in the Bible, the Lutheran Confessions and the Great Tradition of Christian faith.
“Continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” II Timothy 3:14-15
Continued on page 2
Be a little weird for
Jesus’ sake.
Faith Lutheran Church
335 Main Street South
Hutchinson, MN 55350
320-587-2093
www.FaithLC.com
Take note: A worship time
change has been
approved for Fall of 2012.
More information on p. 3.
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Continued from page 1
6. Recognize What Is Really at Stake— Christianity is not just a leisure time activity or hobby for those who are interested. The Gospel concerns salvation from sin, death and the devil.
“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” John 3:16
7. Take the Great Commission Personally—Evangelism is too important to be left up to the professionals. Jesus wants you to be his witness.
“You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit …and you will be my witnesses…” Acts 1:5,8
8. Innovate and Adapt—Church traditions have great value and some should be preserved, but, unlike the Gospel itself, very few church practices are of ultimate importance.
“I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the Gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.” I Corinthians 9:22-23
9. Define and Defend the Non-
Negotiables—These days, everything from the Lordship of Jesus to the meaning of the cross to God’s
design for marriage is being debated, but core Biblical and Christian truths cannot be compromised.
“But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed!” Galatians 1:8
10. Risk Being Just a Little Weird for Jesus’
Sake—Creepy fanatics are not helpful, but holding to our convictions, even when it distinguishes us from our neighbors, is a vital witness.
“I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.” II Corinthians 12:10
Do you have other ideas of what should be on this Top 10 list? What challenges or promises do you hear in these 10? What might they be calling us as Faith Lutheran to do or to be? How is God calling you to respond? Let’s keep the conversation going as we strive to be faithful in this time and place where God has called us to serve. Grace and peace to you,
Pastor Scott Grorud
Using the ILT
Website By Dr. Doug Dillner, Associate Dean
for Academic Affairs, Registrar &
Director of Information Technology
at ILT
As the Webmaster of the Institute of Lutheran Theology website, I thought it would be good to give you a “hitchhiker’s guide” to our website. So if you would like to sit by your computer while you read this article, we can “stroll the site” together. It is easiest to think of our front page (www.ilt.org) as being divided into five sections: top, bottom, left side, center and right side. Along the top is the main menu, where you can jump to:
About Us Mission and Vision (what we are all
about) Newsletter (get the recent and past
editions)
Letter from the President (a word from the boss)
FAQ (it may even have your question in it!)
Accreditation Plan (our current status and plan)
Programs (MDiv, STM, PMC, AMC, etc.)
Faculty and Staff Directory (who’s who in the zoo)
Course Registration Summer Fall
Congregations Become a DTC (Designated
Teaching Center—join us in education)
Hosting an Intern (how else can they get their “feet wet”?)
Bookstore (Along the bottom is another link so
that you can order books other than text books here and we get a share of the profit—easy way to donate to ILT!)
Along the sides We have our calendar, subscriptions
area, and links to past Chapels, as well as links for donations, Facebook, and the Forum.
The center section We use this for posting news. This is
the most dynamic area (next to the registration links). It might be nice to make this your homepage in your browser.
Well, there you are. I pray this roadmap will help you navigate your way around. If you have any questions/comments/suggestions, please contact me: [email protected].
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Ministry & Mission A Moment for Missions This monthly column lifts up mission ventures supported by Faith Lutheran Church. Presented by the
Church in the World Ministry Team.
Dorothy Desens, a member of the Church in the World Ministry Team, has
given presentations about a pillowcase dress mission numerous times in the last
year. The dresses are simple sewing projects made from pillowcases and
decorated with spare ribbons or buttons. Many Faith Lutheran members have
donated pillowcases, accessories or their sewing talents to help create dresses for
this mission.
A 90-year old woman in Isle, Minnesota, heard about the pillowcase dresses
sometime last year, and the mission went to her heart. Throughout the winter
of 2012, the woman singlehandedly sewed 120 dresses. Dorothy received a call
and went to pick up the dresses in May. Dorothy said she has no idea where or when this woman heard of the
pillowcase dress mission, although she presented this mission at numerous
venues in the last year: at the Augustana District Conference at Christ the King
Lutheran in Hutchinson, Minnesota, in April; at a Lutheran Churches in
Mission for Christ (LCMC) and North American Lutheran Church (NALC)
gathering in Duluth, Minnesota, this winter; and at two events last October: the
LCMC conference in Des Moines, Iowa, and the Women of the Word
gathering at Faith Lutheran.
“This really is the perfect example of how we never know how our words or
ideas may impact other people,” Dorothy said.
The pillowcase dresses will be sent to places and children who truly have no
other clothes, Dorothy said, including a mission outreach in Nigeria, an orphanage in western Africa and to Vision
Honduras, a mission site where members of Christ the King Lutheran Church serve as missionaries. The woman had also prepared receiving blankets for newborn kits assembled by Global Health Ministries.
If you have interest or questions about this or other mission projects at Faith Lutheran, call Dorothy Desens at
320-587-8777, or visit http://FaithLC.com/ministries/missions.
We’re not sure how a 90-year-old woman from Isle, Minnesota, heard
about this mission effort, but now120 pillowcase dresses (she’s holding one
in the picture above) will be sent to girls who need clothing in Africa and
Honduras.
Proposed Worship Time Changes Approved by Church Council
At the Church Council meeting on
June 19, a proposal to change the Sun-
day morning worship times at Faith
Lutheran was discussed and approved. We are going to wait until next month
to give you a final schedule for worship
and study times in order to give church
leaders time to plan the worship transi-
tion times and Bible study offerings.
This fall will be a time of adjustment
as we become used to a new schedule.
There are several reasons for this
change. First, we want to emphasize to
families the importance of parents mod-eling worship with their children by
making it easy for parents and children
to attend the same service. Second, we
want to maximize the use of our congre-
gation’s time for Christian education
options, as Sunday mornings is when
the majority of our members have time
for study. Third, we want to make good
use of our worship leaders’ time and
talents by creating three distinct Sunday morning worship atmos-
pheres.
More information to come!
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Thoughts and Prayers Please remember all those who are serving our country through active duty:
Andrew Hantge (Navy, Everett, WA - son of Marsha Schmit and Robert Hantge)
Sam Butler (Iraq - Nephew of Matt Butler)
Lee Johnson (Fort Bragg, NC - son of Geri & Ralph Johnson)
Lt Col Katie McCormick (granddaughter of Liz & Don Krasen)
CAPT Gail Hathaway (Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX - daughter of Marlin &
Ruth Torgerson)
CAPT James Lepse (active duty - nephew of Lorraine Burch)
Willy Eckstrom (Afghanistan - son of Dean & Karen Eckstrom)
SFC Guy Sing (Iraq - nephew of Tony Sing & cousin of Darlene Karg)
Colten Hughes (Iraq & Kuwait - son of Curt & Tressa Hughes)
Justin Olsen (Behring, Kuwait - son of Sharon Grivna and Jerry Olsen)
Prairie View (Hector) Jerome Lindquist
Lakeside (Dassel) Eloi Hamre
Emmanuel (Litchfield) Pete Hoefs
Prairie Senior Cottages Delores Saar Peg Tapper
Harmony River
Valerie Fimon
Hazel Neuman
Agnes Rettman
Helen Goertzen
Lorraine Burch
Charles Kisling
Clarence Kulberg
Doris Nelson
Remember our Faith members in
Nursing Homes & Health Care Centers
Council Highlights
June 2012 Bob Kreie was approved as a new member on the Endowment Committee.
FaithLife Camp report: about 60 people are registered. The FaithLife Taskforce said this is a good number to go to camp with. Anyone who still wants to sign up is more than welcome.
Discussed the Worship Time Change Proposal. Council voted to approve the worship time change for Fall 2012 (see p. 3 for more information).
FLCW Calling Faith pie makers, salad chefs, bread makers and cupcake
experts: Locate your best recipes and sign up on the poster by the office or call Bobbi Knudson (320-587-2227) to bring pies, cupcakes, salads or breads.
Pie in the Park is on Monday, July 30 with Mona Hjerpe singing. Bring your pies to the church or the park by 6 p.m. No cream pies, please.
The Garden Tour/Salad Luncheon is Sat. Aug. 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. tickets are available at the church office: $8 for adults, $4 for children 12 and under.
Proceeds go toward the church mortgage principal, church projects, missions, kitchen supplies and repairs.
Thank you to those who served the coffee hour on Sun. June 3.
The first four months of Legacy of Faith…Moving Forward presents a classic good news/bad news scenario.
The good news is really good! So far, LFMF has received enough in gifts each month that Faith has been able to meet its mortgage payment without using any reserves. With a monthly payment around $19,000, that is quite an accomplishment. Thank you for your generous support!
The bad news is not really bad, but more like “not-as-good-as-we’d-like.” So
far, LFMF has not received enough in gifts to warrant any principal reduction payment that would shorten the life of the loan and reduce the monthly payment. Additional offerings, planned and estate gifts could greatly reduce the total cost of the mortgage to the church. Are there ways that you or someone you know could help make that difference?
Click here to make a donation!
Legacy of Faith… Moving Forward
Update
Members of Faith Lutheran,
You are cordially invited to
share in our joy and join us
for the wedding dance celebration for
Rachel Freund and Aaron Logan,
beginning at 8 p.m. on July 21 at the
Crow River Winery.
—Pastor Randy and Stephanie Freund
Bulletin Board
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Faith Lutheran Church
INFORMATION & STAFF DIRECTORY
Pastors
Randy Freund [email protected] 587-9594 (home)
Paul Knudson [email protected] 587-2227 (home)
Scott Grorud [email protected] 587-0171 (home)
Paulus Pilgrim, Visitation [email protected] 234-9753 (home)
Staff
Dave Wollan, Youth & Family Ministry [email protected]
Diane Pedersen, Finance [email protected]
Jim Brodd, Custodial Services Coordinator [email protected]
Julie Guggemos, Administrative Assistant [email protected]
Kacie Lange, Children & Family Ministry [email protected]
Kathy McDonald, Ministry Coordinator [email protected]
Keith Lange, Maintenance
Marsha Schmit, Pastoral Care & Evangelism [email protected]
Sue Graff, Worship Coordinator [email protected]
Q: If the Lord is the Lord of all and can control everything, why doesn’t He do away with Satan entirely? Then there wouldn’t be any sin in the world.
A: This is a great question, one that has been asked often by theologians and ordinary believers alike. The answer, of course, is hidden in the mystery of God. A colleague of ours once noted that “a long time ago, God decided not to fix the world, but to save it instead,” but God never explained why He made that choice.
Here is one possibility, though. Satan tempts people to sin, but he is not the source of sin. In Genesis 3, the serpent sowed doubt and deceit, but it was Eve and then Adam who failed to trust God and rebelled against Him. Sin is a part of human nature, a congenital inclination to be our own gods and serve ourselves, even at the expense of our neighbors.
So if God were simply to cleanse creation of sin, it would mean destroying more than Satan. It would mean destroy-ing us, too. In fact, God once vowed to do that in the Great Flood, but even then, His love for Noah and his family was too great and they were rescued, instead.
Just because “God so loved the world” (John 3:16), He refuses to wipe it out with one stroke, but instead “for our sake, He made (Jesus) to be sin, who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (II Corinthians 5:21)
To save the world through Jesus, instead of “fixing” it with almighty destruction, means that God must allow evil to endure, for now, against His will. The greater goal, though, is to assure that neither evil nor his righteous anger will cause us “to perish, but (to) have eternal life.”
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Faith Lutheran Church
335 Main Street South Hutchinson, Minnesota 55350
Non-Profit
US POSTAGEPAID
Hutchinson MN
Permit No 5
our mission is:
Building FAITH
“Equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up
the Body of Christ”
Ephesians 4:12
To live out that mission, God calls us to:
Follow Jesus
Announce the Gospel
Invite all people
Teach Christian truth
Help all who are in need
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Put mailing label here
Summer Worship Times:
8 a.m. @ Faith Lutheran
10 a.m. @ Library
Square Park (rain site:
Faith Lutheran)
*July 8 Outdoor
Worship will be on
Faith’s north lawn.
