SAUL TO PAUL. Inviting all people to faith... Come and Worship - Go and Work Lee Laaveg Pastor Phone Hwy. Blvd. N.

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1 SAUL TO PAUL WELCOME TO FAITH LUTHERAN Inviting all people to faith... Come and Worship - Go and Work Lee Laaveg Pastor Phone Hwy. Blvd. N. May 22, 2016 Holy Trinity Sunday - faithlutheran@smunet.net Catch us on the Web: Like us on Facebook! Faith Lutheran Church LCMC Watch us on SMU: 8:30 p.m. 11:00 a.m.

2 Prelude Welcome Opening Prayer Songs - Praise To the Lord, The River Litany: We meet as a people called out by the Lord to be His light into all the world, We meet in the name of our Almighty God. We seek to do your will and live according to your plans. We will follow you to the ends of the earth. May your law be hidden in our hearts, may your Word burn like wildfire within us, We meditate on your Word day and night, we follow in the path of your commands. Great are the works of the Lord, our God is mighty to save, May His redemption and salvation reach every heart and every life. Honor, glory, and power belong to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, We praise you Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with all of our lives. Hear our praise to you O Lord, may our praise be acceptable in Your sight, We were once a people who were lost, but now in Christ were are found. Amen. Prayer of the Day: Your love and salvation extends to every heart who turns to you. We turn our hearts and lives to you God. Have your way with us Lord. You are the potter, and we are the clay. Strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ, and light a fire in our hearts to take your salvation to the world. May we be your light to the ends of the earth. Fill us with your Spirit, and lead us in paths of everlasting peace. In Jesus name, Amen. Honoring of 2016 Graduates Lesson - Acts 9:1-15

3 Gospel - John 5:19-27 (Please stand if you are able) Children s Message Song - Open the Eyes of My Heart Sermon - Saul to Paul Song - All the Way My Savior Leads Me (Offering will be received during this song) Offertory Song - We Are an Offering Offertory Prayer: Merciful Father, we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Confession of Faith Prayers of the Church Sharing of the Peace Lord s Prayer Blessing Song - Faith Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God! A SPECIAL WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS THIS MORNING! Whether you are from across town or out-of-state your presence is a blessing to us. Be sure to fill out the blue visitor card at the Welcome Desk and place it in the offering plate or leave it at the Welcome Desk.

4 SCRIPTURE READINGS Lesson - Acts 9: Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? 5 Who are you, Lord? Saul asked. I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied. 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do. 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. 10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, Ananias! Yes, Lord, he answered. 11 The Lord told him, Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight. 13 Lord, Ananias answered, I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name. 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. Gospel - John 5: Jesus gave them this answer: Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. 24 Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

5 ERIC S PONDERINGS What are your summer plans? What does your life look like over the next three months? 2. What does life look like for someone before they come to know Jesus? 3. Jesus radically broke into Paul s life and changed him. How is the Gospel changing you now? Name one big way, and one small way. 4. After Jesus changed Paul, He began to prepare Paul to be a light to the Gentiles. How is God preparing you to be used in the Kingdom? 5. Are there people you know who were once like Saul, far from Christ? How can you reach out to that person with the heart of Christ and the seeds of the Gospel? 6. Once that person experiences Christ s salvation, how can you continue to disciple that person to grow? PRAYER REQUESTS / CONCERNS: If you have a prayer concern or request, please Karol Gafkjen at:kgafkjen@gmail.com May 22, June 5, June 12, June 19 JOIN US DURING THE SUNDAY SCHOOL HOUR AFTER WORSHIP IN THE DISCIPLESHIP ROOM. PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND!

6 BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES THROUGH Birthdays May 22 Kim Wilson May 24 Delaney Weeks May 27 Zach Lear May 28 Eli Franker Anniversaries No Anniversaries this week DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS TODAY, MAY 22! When: Monday, June 13 - Thursday, June 16 Time: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Cost: Members of faith - free Non-members - $10 per child Place: first congregational church Ages: Finished Kindergarten / kinderkids through finished 5th Grade Look for registration forms in the back of the church Questions? see Ann lear or Eric patten

7 at VBS supplies needed supplies are needed for vbs! If you would be wi lling to donate som e supplies, please see ann lear after worship today! Thank you! Caitlin Campbell Alyssa Dotson Congratulations to our 2016 graduates! For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11

8 Coed Fellowship Softball NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2016 Anyone interested in Church League Coed Fellowship Softball please contact Doug Schwartz at Please leave your name and cell number on the message. Games are Tuesdays at 7:00 or 8:10 p.m. The Dream Center is hoping the community will take the opportunity on Saturday, May 28, between noon and 2pm, to come to our open house, tour the entire facility and get a first-hand look at what's going on in the six-floor outreach in downtown Spencer. Come and see the His Hands Extended food and clothing outreach, the Underground Youth Center, Spencer's B.E.S.T. after-school tutoring program, the "Say 'Yes!' to a Dress" formal dress outreach, the Grand Avenue Free Medical and Dental Clinics, as well as tour the third and fourth floor residential areas. We will be hosting a question and answer session at 1pm on that date, and all are welcome to come and have their questions answered regarding the residential discipleship program or any other outreach in the building.

9 UNITED SOMETHING NEW!! High School Sunday School! Finished 8th grade - Finished 12th grade Meet upstairs in the Mezzanine after worship!

10 2016 GENERAL OFFERING AND ATTENDANCE 2016 BUDGET $340,141 MONTHLY YTD BALANCE REMAINING ATTENDANCE MAR. $25, $86, $254, AVG. APR. $23, $109, $230, AVG. MAY 1 $6, $116, $223, MAY 8 $5, $121, $218, MAY 15 $3, $124, $215, Online giving EASY - FAST - SECURE Thank you for supporting Faith in 2016! Do you pay your bills online? Did you know you can do the same with your giving?! Visit to get started! Find a step by step guide at the Faith Connections Wall. START GIVING ONLINE TODAY! The topic of money may be the most important discussion that churches are not having. The sad truth is that we re often reinforcing the idea that Christianity is based on assenting to a belief system, but we re hesitant to be too vocal about how that affects someone s pocketbook. In the end, Martin Luther was right: There are three conversions necessary to every man: the head, the heart, and the purse. Jesus discussed money constantly. Even when it wasn t the topic at hand, he used it as a prop in parables to make other spiritual points. It makes complete sense; our priorities are manifested in the way we spend, save, give, and value money. There isn t a better indicator of our true spiritual state than how we use our resources. Jesus wasn t kidding when he said, For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. - Luke 12:34 When people give more to their church, they become more emotionally invested. When people are more emotionally invested, the church grows. It really is that simple. - Faith s Stewardship Team Our church isn t held back in growth because we don t receive enough money from offerings; we might be held back in growth because...

11 Thank you to todays: Worship Leader Karol Gafkjen Vocalists Sophie Behrens, Gloria McKenney, Ashley Schuster Instrumentalists Denise Laaveg, Nola Gafkjen, Jared Hansen, Kevin Skadeland Lector Al Vanderberg Children s Message Alice Nielsen Prayers of the Church Joe Simington Nursery Attendant Pam Livasy Fellowship Set-up - Lora Johnson Fellowship Hosts - Steve & Lora Johnson, Barb Solberg Camera Cindy Tigges Computer Del Christman Sound Kyle Fueston Lead Tech Steve Quattlebaum Greeters/Ushers - Garold & Lisa Becker, Bruce & Gayle Simons Next Sunday, May 29: Worship Leader Greg Lear Vocalists Sharon Simington, Becky Simons, Carla Vanderberg Instrumentalists Denise Laaveg, Nola Gafkjen, Jared Hansen, Kevin Skadeland Lector Karol Gafkjen Children s Message Becky Simons Prayers of the Church Kathy Fueston Nursery Attendant Kim McKenney Fellowship Set-up - Lois Christman Fellowship Hosts - Arlene Fairchild, Colleen Rouse Camera Cheryl Stueven Computer Becky Simons Sound Dave Solberg Lead Tech Lori Krei Greeters/Ushers - GA Darnell, Nancy Newgard, Dave & Linda Susie

12 THIS WEEK AT FAITH This Sunday - May 22 8:00 a.m. Prayer time - All are welcome Worship Vocalist Practice 9:00 a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. Fellowship Forgotten God Study 10:45 a.m. High School Sunday School Tuesday - May 24 1:00 p.m. Staff Meeting Wednesday - May 25 6:00 p.m. Worship Vocalist Practice 6:30 p.m. Confirmation Discipleship Team Thursday - May 26 8:30 a.m. Coffee - Join us! 1:00 p.m. Loopy Ladies 6:00 p.m. Communications Team 7:00 p.m. Order of St. Luke Saturday - May 28 7:30 a.m. Men s Bible Study Sunday - May 29 8:00 a.m. Prayer time - All are welcome Worship Vocalist Practice 9:00 a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. Fellowship Forgotten God Study 10:45 a.m. High School Sunday School Faith Lutheran Church Staff Directory: Pastor: Lee Laaveg - pastor@faithlutheranspencer.com Director of Children & Youth: Eric Patten - cymdirector@faithlutheranspencer.com Technology Director: Lori Krei - techdirector@faithlutheranspencer.com Church Administrator / Financial Secretary: Jenn Schuster - office@faithlutheranspencer.com Custodian: Rich Stueven - custodian@faithlutheranspencer.com