Faith Lutheran

August Faith Notes

From our Pastor . . .

Learning the Ropes and Checking the Winds:

Before you jump in a sailboat and take off across the seas you must learn the ropes and study the winds. "Learning the ropes" means discovering how to tie different knots, figuring out what gets tied down where, how to take in slack or tighten the ropes, etc...But even if you know the ropes, it does not do much good if you do not study and use the winds efficiently.

The situation is not unlike how I feel beginning as your pastor. There is so much to learn. Thank you all for helping me to "learn the ropes". We are already well underway with activities where others who know the ropes have sailed confidently. VBS was a resounding success (see inside). I cannot thank you enough for the job well done. The garden at Faith continues to supply the local food pantry. Thank you. And the councils and committees have been and are working to set good courses for the future. Some members even attended a parish summit to help "learn the ropes" of what it means to be a multi-point parish (see inside).

Of course, no sailing is always smooth. There are always folks grieving loss of loved ones, dealing with sickness, and hurting in many ways. But that is one of the reasons why we come together as a church: to uplift one another in the name of Christ and to share his love. As the summer draws to a close let us consider the winds that are now blowing and prepare with wisdom to meet the future as God would will.

In Christ,

Pastor Stephen Haverlah

October 26^th, time to be determined. A PARISH event! Hosted by Faith Lutheran. We are looking for singers, dancers, whistlers, poem readers, joke tellers, stomp dancers, magicians, ventriloquists, story tellers, bird callers, riddle tellers, kazoo bands or anyone with a few minutes of entertainment for their friends! So, talent is needed from the Parish!!! Yes, this means YOU!!! Refreshments will be served. Watch for more information in the September newsletter and bulletins.

Start rehearsing now and let Sally Jardine (238.3196 or sjjardine@yahoo.com) know what your talent act will be!

The "Faith’s Fitness & Fun Club" (also known as the 3F’s) has been formed. We meet at the church on Thursday mornings at 10:30. We start with a prayer, "confess" how many pounds we have lost or gained in the last week (never telling our actual weight), share low calorie recipes, menus and ideas. You can be on any diet you want. The goal is to lose the weight. It cost nothing to belong to this club. After the meeting anyone that is able takes a walk together. If you would rather walk before the meeting, that could be arranged also. This club has been in existence for one month and already we have lost 41 pounds. With God all things are possible. We would love for you to join us. If you have questions contact Janet, Karen, Sally, Maria or Norma.

Faith’s Ladies Quilt ~ for Camp Tomah Shinga Auction

Thanks to all who participated in the making of the Camp Tomah Shinga donation quilt. We had a great time getting together for sewing, fun and fellowship. I want to personally thank all of you who helped work on this project with such short notice and the church for their donation to purchase the materials to make this possible. Kirsten and I went to the Auction and our quilt netted $130.00.

We had so much fun that we thought it would be a good idea to start earlier this year. Our first work day will be at the church on September 6th at 9am. Sewing machines will not be needed but cutting mats, rulers and rotary cutters will be, if you have them bring them. After which we will be meeting at the church the first Saturday of each month through the end of the year.

Please bring any cotton fabric to church that day or before, that you wish to donate. We will also take monetary donations to purchase items such as backing, batting and thread. I will be donating the fabric for one top but would like to make as many as we can. The monies collected by the auction go to support camp scholarships. Thanks, Christina

By Norma Neal

WHAT IS IN OUR CHARITY GARDEN?

There is more in our Charity Garden than you would expect. Not only do we have zucchini, onions, cucumbers, Jalapeñoo peppers, okra, broccoli, green peppers and tomatoes but we also have some flying insects that are in the hornet family. After checking with Chuck Otte, our County Extension Agent, we discovered they are an insect that feeds on Locusts. The females are the only ones that might sting, and only if they are agitated, and they are usually out hunting locusts. The males remain in the garden waiting for the females to bring back the locusts for food. Chuck suggested we might spray each individual insect with hornet spray if they become too much of a nuisance otherwise he knows of no other way to rid the garden of them. So please be careful while you are in the garden so as not to get stung.

While you are tending the garden if you see any type of bugs on the plants please get the "Seven" spray out of the custodial closet in the church and spray the plant. Also notify Norma so she can spray the whole garden if necessary.

If you sign up to tend to the garden and have never worked the garden before please contact Norma or Karen to give you a few instructions before you begin. There are very few instructions but they are necessary. We appreciate everyone’s help.

We have donated only nine pounds of produce less this year than we did last year at this time which is surprising since we planted the garden two weeks later this year. Last year at this time we had donated 324 pounds and this year 315 pounds by July 26^th. Pray that God will continue to bless our garden so we can continue to be a blessing to others.

HELP! SOME THINGS ARE MISSING!

by Norma Neal

Please, we need your help. Would you please check your kitchen and see if you accidentally took the wrong casserole dish and/or wrong cooker lid home with you.

Hilde Mukai used her new cooker, with insert and lid for our last Turkey Dinner. As she went to take them home from the church, she noticed the lid does not fit her cooker. Please check your cookers and make sure your lids fit your cookers. Also, Hilde’s cooker was new and the lid left at the church is old. I know I have asked nearly all of you to make sure you don’t have it but would you please check again? It is very important.

Also, Lieselotte Bethel’s beautiful casserole dish was left on the church’s kitchen table and was picked up by the wrong person. Perhaps you have one like it and thought it was yours. Or perhaps you now have two. It is a Corning Ware Casserole Dish with a lid. It is white with blue flowers, and matches her set so it is very important that it be found.

These ladies are always ready to help supply the food when they are asked and we must do everything possible to find these items and return them.

We will be having Acolyte Refresher Training and training for new acolytes in mid-August. Current acolytes are required to attend, and any young person in 4th grade or older is welcome to join us if they are interested in serving the Church in this important way. Pastor Haverlah and Cindy Anderson will be leading the training. Watch the Sunday bulletin for specific day and time.

Worship Hours

Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church
212 North Eisenhower Drive
Junction City, KS 66441

Phone: 785-238-6567

Sunday worship - 9:00 A.M.
Communion is celebrated weekly.
Sunday School - 10:30 A.M.