Racism a mix of power, privilege, and prejudice is sin, a violation of God s intention for humanity.

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1 ! A 20, 2017 Inside: The ELCA Stands Against Racism 1 Vital Signs 2 GWOH Sunday 2 God s work. Our hands. 3 FLC vs. FLP 4 Silent Auction 5 Thrivent Thrives 6 Found on Facebook 8 An Update on 1 n 10 9 Taquiza Fundraiser 10 Christian Education 11 Future Readings 11 Faith s Calendar 12 VIP 13 Preschool Parking Lot Sale 14 Lifeline Screening 15 Women s Retreat 16 Faith Works 17 Donations Make a Difference 18 Staff & Council 18 E S P Racism a mix of power, privilege, and prejudice is sin, a violation of God s intention for humanity. -Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity and Culture The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), stands against all forms of hatred and discrimination. The church believes that cultural, ethnic and racial differences should be seen and celebrated as what God intends them to be blessings rather than means of oppression and discrimination. The ELCA s social statement Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity and Culture states: Racism a mix of power, privilege, and prejudice is sin, a violation of God s intention for humanity. The resulting racial, ethnic, or cultural barriers deny the truth that all people are God s creatures and, therefore, persons of dignity. Racism fractures and fragments both church and society. The social statement, adopted by the ELCA 1993 Churchwide Assembly, calls on the church to make confession for complicity, name the spiritual crisis at the roots, commit to change and make pledges to public witness, advocacy and action to confront racism. We recognize that the kind of violence we witnessed in Charlottesville last weekend is very real and affects all of us, said ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton. We need to stand up firmly against racism and anti-semitism, show up for and advocate with others. Jesus, who makes visible those who are invisible, is already there. We need to show up, and we need to listen in each of our communities. The ELCA is a church that belongs to Christ and Christ s church universal, where there is a place for everyone. The job of Christ s people today is to celebrate the diversity of God s creative work and embrace all people in the spirit of love, whatever race or ethnicity, economic status or gender. Continued on page 2...

2 Page 2 Sunday, August 6, 2017 Attendance: 9am am - 33 General Fund Offering: $6, Sunday, August 13, 2017, 2017 Attendance: 9am am - 23 General Fund Offering: $2, Continued from page 1... The article on page 1 was taken from posted at 3:00pm August 15, You can read the full social statement at the links below: English: Spanish: Plan to join us for God s work. Our hands. on Sunday, September 10! A celebration of our ministry and who we are as part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. We will kick the day off with a single, bilingual worship service beginning at 10am, followed by a spirited gathering of fun, food, conversation, and the opening of our Reformation 500 Bookstore an opportunity to purchase fascinating books on the Reformation for yourself and your family. Our celebration will culminate with the sorting, ribbon tying and packing of the diapers and sheets that we have collected for Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest.

3 Page 3 Collections for GOD S WORK. OUR HANDS have begun in a big way! Thanks to all who have already brought in NEW TWIN-, FULL-, AND QUEEN-SIZED SHEETS and/or NEW, UNOPENED DIAPERS IN ALL CHILDREN AND ADULT SIZES. Our donations will help Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest (LSS-SW) continue to provide for some of the most vulnerable and marginalized populations in Arizona. Our donations will be distributed to refugee families, foster families, and seniors. Foster children and refugees often arrive in a new home without the basics, while others simply can t afford to replace worn and threadbare sheets. And did you know that diapers and/or incontinence supplies can average $100 a month? Too many of our neighbors lack access to this basic need that is so important to health and well-being. (Diapers for older children, including pull-ups, are especially needed for foster children, and adult incontinence supplies are especially needed for seniors with limited income.) Please note: LSS-SW is not equipped to launder, decontaminate, and distribute used bedding items such as pillows, bedding and mattresses. A big thank you goes out to everyone who has already donated. The winner of the Sunday, August 6 competition was overwhelmingly PEOPLE WHO MOVED HERE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. On Sunday, August 13, our winner was A PREFERENCE FOR COLD WINTERS. And our CHANGE FOR CHANGE offering for August brought in enough money to purchase 5 pack-n-plays to donate to foster families! But we aren t finished! The remaining mini-contests are: Week 3 (8/20): Church Families vs. Preschool families (Please see the flier on page 4.) Week 4 (8/27): With nuts vs. without nuts (We re talking about chocolate, of course!) For each sheet set or package of diapers you donate, you will receive a raffle ticket, making you eligible to win one of our great prizes! (Prizes include a pair of tickets to this year s Oktoberfest Gala, one of three delicious rum cakes from Trapas, one of four 1-pound boxes of Dee-lightful Double Decker Fudge, or one of our mystery prizes, including a secret grand prize.) Following our worship service on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, we will be sorting all the diapers and sheets sets, and tying ribbons on them to prepare them for delivery to LSS-SW. So mark your calendars and plan to be a part of GOD S WORK. OUR HANDS. SUNDAY. (See page 2 for more information.) God s work. Our hands. Sunday is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. Service activities offer an opportunity for us to explore one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: that all of life in Jesus Christ every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God s grace. We work every day to make our community a better place. Let s continue doing this work together in 2017!

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5 WHO WOULD LIKE SOME INSPIRING IDEAS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR GREAT OKTOBERFEST SILENT AUCTION?! Is it ever too early to start planning for this terri ic and terri ically fun Faith fundraiser? Not for US!!!! So as you are eagerly thinking about what treasure you could contribute for the hectic bidding, I hereby submit some suggestions just to get the creative juices going. The saying is It s not WHAT you know, but WHO you know. I think it s BOTH especially as it pertains to our fabulous Oktoberfest Silent Auction!! We look for wonderful things to auction off to the highest bidder, and you AND your friends and family can be fantastic sources of our auction treasures. Here are some ideas for donations from you or family/friend/neighbor who might own or manage (or have an in at) a business for gift certi icate donation, or who have a special skill: Gift certi icate to a restaurant Catering of a dinner or brunch in the winner s home or yours! Complimentary car wash or auto product Beauty service (hair, nails, face) Therapeutic massage Gift basket with specialty products Pet service or product Homemade goodies Home repair service Teeth whitening or cleaning Tax iling Wine basket Admission tickets to an event or attraction Home or garden de cor or service Tutoring: math; science; languages; reading Lessons: golf; music; photography; cooking; painting; tennis; knitting For whatever your inspiration, you can get a Silent Auction Donation Form from me or from the Church Of ice at any time. Thanks so much. Donna Rae Cintora, Silent Auction coordinator drcintora@cox.net

6 F C, C C PANCAKE BREAKFAST AT GRACE A BIG THRIVENT SUCCESS Records are made to be broken, and Faith Lutheran Thrivent volunteers set a few new ones at this year s Pancake Breakfast for people experiencing homelessness at Grace Lutheran Church on the first Sunday of August. For instance, we served 306 meals (three pancakes and two sausages to a plate along with syrup, butter, coffee, Tang, napkins, and utensils, griddled 1,000 pancakes (including some to serve by Grace during the following week), browned 650 sausages, and involved 33 volunteers (29 on Sunday, plus food shoppers and the person who applied for the Thrivent funds to buy the ingredients). Earlier in the week, a group of Thrivent volunteers shopped at Costco with the $250 Thrivent grant which bought 8 bags of pancake mix, 4 boxes of sausage links, 4 gallons of syrup, 320 bottles of water, 2 packages of butter cups, 2 cans of coffee, and 2 boxes of cutlery (including packets with knife, fork, spoon, napkin, salt, and pepper). All that is leftover will go into Grace s kitchen inventory. On the big day, K K, with help from M M, expertly mixed the pancake batter which got the breakfast underway. Flame eaters who took turns pouring the batter and flipping the pancakes over a steaming hot griddle included J G, M V, J D -T, G T, D H, M O, A J, and C J. G O, Y V, Y V played a key role in the assembly line, rapidly placing the pancakes, sausages, and butter on the plates and delivering the product along with utensil packets to the appreciative guests. Other worthy volunteers who woke up to an early alarm clock were that morning were B O, M T, A T, A G, M H, B L, D T, B R, C C, S C, U D, J D, E K, F C, J H. (I hope I didn t miss anyone). At the other end of the big dining hall, our volunteers were dispensing Tang from a big vat along with coffee. Chris, who poured batter early, was still around to head up the dishwashing brigade late. All in all, it was a great team effort and there were even relaxed moments for volunteers to chat with one another and the guests. It all goes in Grace s kitchen inventory. Faith volunteers are thankful we could contribute in a small way to a most worthwhile ministry by Grace Lutheran Church to less fortunate members of our community. See more on page 7...

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8 Page 8 There was this man, who, upon reaching the Pearly Gates, asked St. Peter, "May I visit Hell just once to see what those poor souls endure?" Peter, being the dutiful servant, agreed, and off they went. In the midst of their tour, they entered a great banquet hall, with all the food and goodies one could hope for. Suddenly, the man, horrified by what he sees, asks St. Peter, "Why are they so pale and gaunt?!" Before St. Peter could answer, the man exclaimed, "They cannot bend their elbows!!" After some silence, they agreed it was time for this tour to end. So, *POOF* They are walking through the Pearly Gates. (Apparently, there's an upside to being St. Peter...) As they tour Heaven together, they reach its banquet hall, and find an equally enticing feast waiting for them. After a few moments, the man stops in absolute shock, realizing that these diners cannot bend their elbows either. Then, the man asks St. Peter, "Why do these souls look so healthy and satisfied?!" St. Peter replies, "Because they feed each other." Isn't this, my dear friends, what the church is for?

9 Page 9 "Ashes are fertilizer for the soil in which something beautiful may bloom." On August 12, an arsonist set fire to the one-n-ten Youth Center, destroying our building and everything in it. The response from community members like you was swift and generous. While we have insurance, the immediate critical support of our volunteers, donors, board, staff, sponsors, and the broader community ensured we did not miss a single day of services. The many donations help us continue ALL of our youth and community events. Camp OUTdoors is on schedule, Q-High classes started Monday, and Dancing for one-n-ten is this Sunday. We will not dwell on what one person did to our beloved youth center and will focus the entirety of our passion on serving LGBTQ youth in Arizona. Thanks to you, we will be stronger than ever before. The outpouring of donations and quick replacement of supplies allows us to hold Camp OUTdoors as planned. Started in 2008, this is the largest LGBTQ camp in the country with over 150 participants and 100 volunteers. Q High opened as planned on Monday with an increased capacity for 36 students. Q-High moved to The Parsons Center along with the youth center in a temporary location until construction is done in September. Before this tragedy, we were already working to move the Youth Center. Thanks to assistance from the Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, we are building out our new Youth Center at the Parsons Center for Health and Wellness on Central Avenue and Portland. We anticipate opening in September and have a temporary location there to support our youth. We are also continuing our youth support groups in various locations across the Valley, Queen Creek and Flagstaff.

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11 Christian Education M H N M, T C -L Page 11 Child Friendly Choices Each Sunday, all children are encouraged to take one of the animals from NOAH S ARK (in the narthex) and care for it during worship. Activity sheets are also available for children ages Pre-K through 4th grade, with stories, puzzles and games to complete during the worship service. There is a CRY ROOM in the balcony and a sitting area in the narthex across from Noah s ark for parents with young children to use during the worship service. Adult Forum THE ADULT FORUM IS TAKING A BREAK DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST. WE LL SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER! Tuesday Morning Bible Study TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY IS TAKING A BREAK DURING THE MONTHS OF JULY AND AUGUST. Thursday Evening Bible Study THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY IS TAKING A BREAK DURING THE MONTHS OF JULY AND AUGUST. Future Lectionary Readings: R S, A 20: R 5:1-13 J 1:29-31 R S, A 27: R 6:1-8; 7:9-17 J 14:1-4

12 Page 12 Faith s Calendar for August 20 ~ August 26 C C B W A A A P L S T A A P AA S M P B M P L O H Sunday, 2:00pm (PH) Sunday, 6:30pm (FC, PH) Monday, all day Monday, 7:30pm (PH) Monday, 8:00pm (FC) Tuesday, 10:45am (O) Tuesday, 6:30pm (O) Thursday, 11:30am - 4:30pm (O) Faith s Calendar for August 27 ~ September 2 W A A A P L S T A A P AA S M P L O H P P L S Sunday, 6:30pm (FC, PH) Monday, all day Monday, 7:30pm (PH) Monday, 8:00pm (FC) Tuesday, 10:45am (O) Thursday, 11:30am-4:30pm (O) Saturday, 7:00am-noon PH = Parish Hall FC = Faith Center O= Church Office Conference Room BW = Breezeway S = Sanctuary CY = Courtyard CH = Chapel The next issue of Faith Alive! will be published the weekend of September 3. (Deadline: noon, Wednesday, August 30) An important service is coming to Faith s campus on September 27. As many of you may know, stroke is a leading cause of death today, affecting over 750,000 people each year. Every 45 seconds someone in America suffers a stroke and every 3 minutes, someone dies from one. This means that during the next 45 minutes, approximately 15 people in the United States will have died due to a stroke. Stroke can be a life threatening and a life changing event, and yet according to the National Stroke Association, 80% of strokes are preventable. By signing up for the Life Line Screening health event advertised on page 15, not only will you be able to take your health into your own hands, but you will also receive $10 off any package of $129 or more. The Stroke, Vascular & Heart Rhythm Package includes four screenings: carotid artery, abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease and atrial fibrillation. To schedule your appointment and to receive this special offer, please sign up by one of these three ways: call , text the word circle to , or visit Join in the fight against vascular disease!

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17 Page 17 This space in our newsletter is for anyone who has a service they would like to advertise or a needed service that they would like to find someone to hire to do. We can either print your business card or run small blurbs (no larger than the size of a business card). We will also, on occasion, print ads from other churches that we are affiliated with. We are hoping that we will be able to help connect those in our Faith family with others who are looking for help - yard work, house cleaning, handyman jobs, or any other jobs that you might think of. If you or someone you know is looking for a caregiver, please consider me, M G. I have prior experience as a care-giver and referrals are available upon request. You can contact me at (home) or at (cell). Thank you! HOUSECLEANING SERVICES: C I G References Available Juan Valenzuela & Hugo Valenzuela Your go to guys for Landscaping Needs tree trimming and general clean-up Handyman Services plumbing, tile/wood floor or ceiling fan installation, painting or Dedicated Members of Faith/La Fe HOUSECLEANING SERVICES: C M References Available

18 Page 18 Your Donations Make a Difference! Grace In The City Summer 2017 Heat Respite Beginning June 12, G L C once again opened its doors for twelve weeks to their street community. They re providing food, water, and shelter from the heat, and fellowship, to their neighbors in need. If you have services to offer, resources to share or time to spare, the Grace community would love to hear from you! program coordinator Kim Davidson outreach@graceinthecity.com. Right now, the biggest need for their guests is individually wrapped snacks that won t melt (i.e. granola bars, fruit snacks, beef jerky, cookies, crackers, nuts). Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church 801 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ Church Office: Fax: info@faithalive.com Website: Sunday morning worship times: 9a.m. (English); 11a.m. (Spanish) Adult Forum - 10:30 a.m. OUR STAFF: R. L F, P D U, O A D. C W, D M D H, S S H, P D B O, C EXECUTIVE TEAM E R, P B R, V P S J, S D H, T CHURCH COUNCIL C C J D A D -T M H J K B R G T