Faith Lutheran Church, ELCA 1700 E Pettit Ave Fort Wayne, In PH: fax:

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Faith Lutheran Church, ELCA 1700 E Pettit Ave Fort Wayne, In 46806 PH: 260-745 745-2565 fax: 260-456 456-6282 6282 Email: faithfw@

1 Faith Lutheran Church, ELCA 1700 E Pettit Ave Fort Wayne, In PH: fax: faithfw@frontier.com On the Web: Office Hours: Mon-Fri from 10:00am til 2:00pm Strengthening Faith & Families in the Fort Wayne Area A Word from Pastor Marty As disciples of the Lord Jesus we are called to struggle against everything that leads us away from love of God and neighbor. Repentance, fasting, prayer, and works of love disciplines of Lent help us wage our spiritual warfare. I invite you, therefore, to commit yourselves to this struggle and confess your sins, asking our Father for strength to persevere in your Lenten discipline. Invitation to Lent Lutheran Book of Worship These words, spoken by the worship leader on Ash Wednesday, the first day of the season of Lent, serve as that invitation and challenge to all those who call themselves disciples of Jesus Christ. These words invite us to live more intentionally during Lent, taking up certain behaviors and patterns confessing our sin, refraining from substances or practices that pull us from God, praying more fervently, and showing God s love more through our words and actions. These words challenge us to pay attention to that which strains our relationship with God, each other, and ourselves, and then do something about it. They challenge us to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. This Lent, I invite and challenge you to engage in another spiritual practice hearing God s word. During the season of Lent we will offer two different opportunities for dwelling in the Word of God, in addition to our Sunday morning worship. I invite and challenge you to participate in at least one of these opportunities through this season, to discover how God s word will enrich your life. afternoons beginning at 12:15 pm. We gather in the social hall for a light lunch of soup, bread, crackers, and beverages. Following which we will study together portions of the gospel of John where we hear Jesus describe himself using the words I am the. I am the bread of life. I am the good shepherd. I am the vine, you are the branches. We will reflect on these images, and what they mean for us today. We conclude each week no later than 1:30 pm. The second opportunity, Witnesses at the Cross, will take place on Wednesday evenings at our 6:00 pm worship. Each week we will meet a different person from scripture who witnessed the crucifixion and death of Jesus. We will hear the story in their words, inviting their witness to move our hearts and faith. Following worship we gather for a meal at 6:40 pm. As always, do not forget Sunday morning worship at 9:30 am. Throughout the months of March and April we will gather around the theme Unexpected Encounters with Jesus as we meet other individuals in scripture who were forever changed by their brief interaction with Jesus. We conclude each week with the celebration of Holy Communion, as we encounter Jesus in his body and blood poured out for us. The first opportunity, called Soup and Scripture, will take place on Wednesday

2 You are invited to join your brothers and sisters in Christ this March and April in these various opportunities. You are invited to encounter Jesus through these words of scripture and these eyewitness accounts. You are challenged to discover the ways Jesus is moving in your life in unexpected ways, calling you to a more full life in his love. Join us this March and April. In Christ, Pastor Marty Hampton BATTERY RECYCLING Many of you have asked. We are answering. Yes, we are still asking you to donate all your used batteries. Deidre Dorsett will be taking care of them when the box is full. Do your part and recycle! Please Keep This in Mind Are you one of those people who collect those free samples the hotels/motels leave out? Are you someone who might have an abundance of those samples sitting around your house? Fort Wayne community schools are currently accepting donations of these samples to share with children who do not have access to hygiene products. If you have extras you would like to donate, please bring them to Faith and give to the Outreach Coordinator, Jessica Johnson. Thanks! IN OUR PRAYERS You are encouraged to pray regularly and often for those on our Prayer List. Lifting one another up in intercessory prayer is an act of love as well as faithfulness to God's will, and an important part of our Faith ministry. Please call the Church Office directly whenever you wish to request prayer, to remove yourself or someone from the Prayer List, or if you know someone who needs a pastoral visit. We pray for the health of: Kelly Fox Alex Cheng Helen Fox Chuck Mynett Harold Henline Steve Kingsley Robert Schmeding Bob Johnson Pat Bradley Carol Bollacker Thomas Steup Matt Woods Pastor Vern Graham Bob Bollacker We pray for our homebound members: Leroy Cook Audrey Wiedemann Delores Priest Paul & Lucy Shrader Sister Rose Anne Kraus We pray for the family of: Mike Sprinkle RECIPE OF THE MONTH One Dish Chicken Bake 1 package Stove top stuffing mix (or generic equivalent) 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves or 6 if small 1 can cream of mushroom soup (or cream of celery or cream of chicken) 1/3 cup sour cream ¼ cup margarine 1 ½ cup hot water Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Stir the bread crumbs, contents of the seasoning packet, 1 ½ cups hot water and ¼ cup of margarine cut up, just until moistened and set aside. Place the chicken in a 13 x 9 baking dish. Mix the soup and sour cream and pour over the chicken. Top with the stuffing mix. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. LUTHERAN TRIVIA What is the oldest ELCA seminary? Faith Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana February 2014 Newsletter Page - 2 -

3 NOISY-BUCKET OFFERING The First Sunday Noisy-Bucket will be going to the Shepherd s Fund. The second noisy offering which is collected on the third Sunday will be donated to the ELCA Campaign. Outreach Corner It s been a hard time even in February, but we continue on. During the month of February, we have been looking at booking some of the major activities such as the clown for our Summer Festival. We have been looking at what we will be doing come the remainder of this year. One event that you helped tremendously with was spur of the moment. Associated Churches thanks you for how generous you were when the news reported that their shelves were empty. Coming up, we will have FYFF on Ash Wednesday. We will also be collecting cans of tuna and other canned fish for the Fish and Loaves. LIGHT OF THE CROSS FOOD BANK PANTRY REPORT Operations at the L.O.T.C. Pantry were seriously impacted by the severe weather in January when Mother Nature forced suspension of services on several days. However, the Pantry served 550 individuals in 142 families during the month, despite the closings. Of those served, 209 were children, 25 families were new, first time clients and 49 families were "Female Head of Household" status. You may have noticed the change in the Partner Assignments below. While Epiphany is committed to generously support the feeding of Fort Wayne's hungry, and is committed to continuing support of the LOTC Thanksgiving Basket ministry, their monthly food collections go directly to The Associated Churches network warehouse for distribution through that ministry. Because of this, they have asked to be removed from the assignment matrix. PARTNER ASSIGNMENTS FOR MARCH ARE AS FOLLOWS: Faith: Pasta Sauce and Noodles CONGREGATIONAL LIFE EVENTS March 4 th : Shrove Tuesday Pancake and Sausage Supper March 5 th : Ash Wednesday Soup Lunch following Ash Wednesday service March-April- Loaves and Fishes collection. April 20 th - 7:30am-9am Easter Breakfast May 8 th - Ladies Night Out May 9 th and 10 th - Bake Sale at Messiah June 15 th - No Ants Potluck Picnic July and August- Collection of School Supplies for Rising Stars August 26 th - Spaghetti Supper September 7 th - Fall Kick off with Potluck Meal October 19 th - Potato Soup and Chili Lunch following worship November 23 rd - Thanksgiving service with dinner following December 28 th - Lessons and Carols with refreshments following In January, 311 pounds of food was donated by member churches. To meet needs, the Pantry spent $ to purchase an additional 1,604 pounds of food from various sources. The LOTC staff and volunteers extend special thanks to Parkview Hospital for giving free flu shots to clients that wanted them. Also a special thanks goes out to Jane and Amy Reff for donating hand crafted hats, gloves and scarves to client families. Scrip Tip Been looking for something to put in those Easter baskets for kids or grand kids? Why not order scrip? There are many fast food restaurants that parents frequent and you can get a small increment card for them. Remember, we order from St. Johns as well so that gives you more of a selection of local businesses! Information Board Faith Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana February 2014 Newsletter Page - 3 -

4 Faith receives words of thanks from agencies, families, and individuals for the hospitality and care we share. Please take some time to read these words of thanks posted on the bulletin board outside the church office. Loaves and Fishes Collection Beginning March 2nd, we begin to collect canned fish and crackers for the Associated Churches "Loaves and Fishes" program which concludes the Sunday following Easter. Canned fish may include: tuna, mackerel, and salmon and crackers of any variety are welcome. Please place your food offerings on the table in the church office. ADDRESSES We are updating our records here at Faith. We have also switched s. There is a correction to this . What we had in last month s newsletter is incorrect. The correct address is faithfw@frontier.com. We are sorry for any inconvenience this might have caused you. Don t Forget March 9th! It s the time we hate the most as Hoosiers. Remember to spring forward March 8 th so you are on time for worship come March 9 th! Shrove Tuesday Invitation Come out for Sausage and Pancakes! Once again, we will meet for the annual Shrove Tuesday Sausage and Pancake Supper, Tuesday March 4 th from 5-6:30 pm. The meal includes blueberry pancakes, link sausage, applesauce and cookies. There are still a few items that are needed so please check the sign up sheet on the counter in the office if you can help. Proceeds from the free will offering will benefit the purchasing of hams for the LOTC Easter baskets. Members of Faith are also included in the distribution of baskets from LOTC, so we ask that you please be generous. Suggested offering is $5 per person. Ash Wednesday Service We will have an Ash Wednesday worship service beginning at 12:15 pm March 5 th. The service includes Holy Communion and the Imposition of Ashes and is followed by a Soup and Scripture in the Fellowship Hall. We will meet every Wednesday at 12:15 pm during Lent for Scripture Study and lunch. If you are willing to bring soup, crackers and maybe drinks, please find the sign up sheet on the counter in the office for those Wednesdays during Lent. Offerings from the lunches will benefit the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. MILITARY MATTERS With working with veterans, I have found that there are many things that could happen if people took a stand. Something I encourage you to do is to look at some of the bills they are trying to pass. Talk to your local congressman about passing such bill. It might not be much, but if you love writing letters, this would be a good way to get plugged in. One thing they are trying to get right now is to get funding to get service dogs for men and women who come home with PTSD. We all know what a difference man s best friend can make. Speak up and let statesmen know you support those who serve! Mark your calendars - March is Music Month! Save these dates and join Faith and other local congregations for these concerts: Remedy Drive on Sunday, March 2 at Come2Go Music Hall. Doors open at 6 pm. Cost is $10 per person (for group rate). All ages are welcome! Winter Jam on Thursday, March 20 at the Colliseum. 10 bands for $10! We will be joining Messiah Lutheran's group. Plan to wait in line starting around 4 pm. Concerts start at 7 pm! Faith Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana February 2014 Newsletter Page - 4 -

OUR STAFF Pastor: Pastor Marty Hampton Min of Music: Marceile Taggart Redmon Office Secretary: Deidre Dorsett ABC Ministry Pastor: Elder Isaac Fincher, Jr ABC Sunday School Dir: Sherry Fincher

5 OUR STAFF Pastor: Pastor Marty Hampton Min of Music: Marceile Taggart Redmon Office Secretary: Deidre Dorsett ABC Ministry Pastor: Elder Isaac Fincher, Jr ABC Sunday School Dir: Sherry Fincher Outreach Dir: Jessica Johnson Ministers: Everyone at Faith! Please call Pastor Marty Hampton or if you would like to speak with a pastor. OUR COUNCIL: President: Russ Miller Vice President: Vacant Secretary: Larry Doctor Treasurer: Debra Funk Outreach: Vivian Sarver Property: Chuck Blosser, Russ Miller, & Chuck Mynett GET INVOLVED: Worship Volunteers: Assisting Ministers Acolytes & Crucifers Communion Assistants Ushers & Greeters Lay Readers Altar Guild Choir ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS: Sew-Sew Ladies Newsletter Assistants Tellers (counting the offerings) FYFF Volunteers Property Committee Helpers Prayer Circle Scouting Program Leaders...and More Good Neighbors meet on 1st Thursdays each month. Join us for games and fun. LUTHERAN TRIVIA ANSWER The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. March Birthday Celebrations 1 Alice Gallmeyer 2 Sharon Wild 12 Sonja Lilly 14 Russ Miller 14 Lucy Shrader 16 Amity Austin 16 Dana Maloney 26 Jane Caffee A Word from Marceile Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Beginning March 2nd, we begin to collect canned fish and crackers for the Associated Churches "Loaves and Fishes" program which concludes the Sunday following Easter. Canned fish may include: tuna, mackerel, and salmon and crackers of any variety are welcome. Please place your food offerings on the table in the church office. March 2nd is Transfiguration Sunday, when we will say "farewell to the alleluia" in our worship services for the next several weeks, as it ushers in the season of Lent. Choir rehearsals begin again following worship on that morning. Everyone who loves to praise God in song is welcome to sing with the choir. We meet by the organ following worship each Sunday. Faith Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana February 2014 Newsletter Page - 5 -

6 The season of Lent begins on the 5th of this month with the Ash Wednesday Worship Service at 12:15 pm and a soup lunch that follows. Worship that day will include Holy Communion and the Imposition of Ashes. Please come and bring a friend. Worship during Lent will look a bit more somber as we "drop" the hymn of praise and bring back the "Kyrie". We will sing the Gospel acclamation for Lent ("We are Turning") from setting 10 in the ELW, and we will be using the "Thanksgiving for Baptism" in the place of the confession. There will be a soup lunch in the fellowship hall following each of the Wednesday scripture studies (12:15 pm) during Lent. If you can help with providing soup, bread, crackers and drinks for any of the Wednesday lunches please sign up in the church office. The offerings each week will be sent to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. The Sanctuary Choir returns to bring us God's word in song during the March 16th worship service. The choir piece for the day will be "Lenten Anthem". Hymn and song suggestions are always welcome. Please leave your favorite hymn and song titles in my mail slot in the office or me: Marceilet@redmons.com. For the Music Ministry at Faith, Marceile Annual Meeting Review We had a great turn out for the annual meeting and the potluck that followed. The proposed budget was passed. We added three new people to our council. We ask you to warmly welcome Dawn Goodrich, Ronald Davidson, and Tony Figurelli. Hospitality on Sunday Mornings Beginning in January, we have coffee, punch and cookies available at 8:30 am., before worship. So for those who like to come a little early for fellowship, there will be a little something to eat and drink. Please consider being part of the hospitality team who helps make the coffee, cold drink and arranges the cookie/goodie tray. The coffee takes approximately 20 minutes to brew, necessitating the hospitality person to come around 8 am. If you are willing to help, please see Marceile. (Marceilet@redmons.com). Worship Set Up Team Please consider being part of the worship set up team, which sets up communion, takes down communion, helps to change the paraments during the different liturgical seasons and festival days and helps change the flower arrangements seasonally. Setting up communion only takes a few minutes and can be done Sunday mornings before 9:15 am. If you can help, please see the sign up sheet on the counter in the office, or contact Marceile. LUTHERAN OUTDOOR MINISTRIES OF INDIANA-KENTUCKY It might be January, but it s not too soon to start thinking about summer events at our local Bible camps of Lutherwald and Lake Luther! Here are just a few highlights: - Children s Day, Saturday, June 14 10:00 am 2:00 pm FREE - Family Saturday & overnight July 12 - Grandparent Pilgrim Camp - Lake Luther Fest, July FREE EACH ONE REACH ONE Been looking at empty pews? Bring a friend with you! Make a friend, be a friend, share Christ with a friend. Faith Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana February 2014 Newsletter Page - 6 -

Faith Lutheran Church, ELCA 1700 E Pettit Ave Fort Wayne, In PH: fax:

Faith Lutheran Church, ELCA 1700 E Pettit Ave Fort Wayne, In 46806 PH: 260-745 745-2565 fax: 260-456 456-6282 6282 Email: faithfw@yahoo.com On the Web: : www.faithfw.com Office Hours: Mon-Fri from 10:00am