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Letter from Pastor Barb: Download "Holy Week Home Worship" booklet from Pastor Barb
April 2, 2020
Greetings Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ at Faith Lutheran Church,
I write to you with a heart full of love and concern for you, my dear Faith family.
I’ve been thinking so much about you in the midst of this most unprecedented and worrisome time. I’m certain that not being able to gather together to worship our good and faithful God has been as difficult for you as it has been for so many other faith families throughout our synod, our state, our nation.
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has been leading our ELCA through this most challenging time with grace and deep understanding about how trying these times are. She has had to make many difficult decisions in her guidance of our denomination. One of those difficult decisions was to ask us to fast from the sacrament of Holy Communion. Bishop Eaton knows the centrality of the sacrament to our life of faith and how comforted we are in the receiving of the bread and wine, the body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And yet, she understands that at this time it is not wise for us to celebrate this sacrament in person and we have not had enough time to engage in a meaningful conversation about what receiving the sacrament might look like when we are not gathered together. The Office of the Bishop of your Southeastern Minnesota Synod and Bishop Regina Hassanally stand together with Bishop Eaton in the request of all congregations in the ELCA to fast from Holy Communion at this time.
Bishop Hassanally has offered the following as we consider fasting from the sacrament: Americans are not particularly skilled in the spiritual discipline of fasting so it can be difficult for us to wrap our minds around...or to even see the benefit in it. I do believe, however, there are benefits. One is that a fast from a particular practice is meant to bring us greater clarity about that which we fast from. What do we miss? Why do we miss it? What longings does this reveal? These are all questions a period of fasting might introduce. Holy Communion does often bring us comfort but what else offers comfort in these days? We are a people who have longed believed in the power of the Word. How can a fast from Holy Communion lead us to a deeper appreciation of the Word? How can we train ourselves to see, know and experience the love and grace of God in the ways God offers it to us beyond Holy Communion? And what if, for this one Easter, we allowed the proclamation, "He is risen! He is risen indeed!" to be enough? What if we could experience the power of those words because this Easter they are all we have...just as they were for the women first gathered at the empty tomb.
In speaking with Faith Congregational Council President Sue Anderson, we talked about how Faith might engage in worship together during this Holy Week. It is my joy to put together a Holy Week Worship Booklet for your use as you see fit. I encourage each and every one of you to continue to journey Holy Week as it leads us to Easter Sunday as we celebrate life out of death, light out of darkness, joy out of mourning. I fully believe we need to celebrate to remind ourselves that our God, who raised Jesus from the dead, will raise us from this time of darkness, death, and mourning and we will have life, light, and joy.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, dear people of Faith. May the Lord’s face shine on you and give you peace. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Pastor Barb
Pastor Barb Streed
Assistant to the Bishop
SEMN Synod, ELCA
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Letter from Pastor Barb: Download "Holy Week Home Worship" booklet from Pastor Barb
April 2, 2020
Greetings Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ at Faith Lutheran Church,
I write to you with a heart full of love and concern for you, my dear Faith family.
I’ve been thinking so much about you in the midst of this most unprecedented and worrisome time. I’m certain that not being able to gather together to worship our good and faithful God has been as difficult for you as it has been for so many other faith families throughout our synod, our state, our nation.
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has been leading our ELCA through this most challenging time with grace and deep understanding about how trying these times are. She has had to make many difficult decisions in her guidance of our denomination. One of those difficult decisions was to ask us to fast from the sacrament of Holy Communion. Bishop Eaton knows the centrality of the sacrament to our life of faith and how comforted we are in the receiving of the bread and wine, the body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And yet, she understands that at this time it is not wise for us to celebrate this sacrament in person and we have not had enough time to engage in a meaningful conversation about what receiving the sacrament might look like when we are not gathered together. The Office of the Bishop of your Southeastern Minnesota Synod and Bishop Regina Hassanally stand together with Bishop Eaton in the request of all congregations in the ELCA to fast from Holy Communion at this time.
Bishop Hassanally has offered the following as we consider fasting from the sacrament: Americans are not particularly skilled in the spiritual discipline of fasting so it can be difficult for us to wrap our minds around...or to even see the benefit in it. I do believe, however, there are benefits. One is that a fast from a particular practice is meant to bring us greater clarity about that which we fast from. What do we miss? Why do we miss it? What longings does this reveal? These are all questions a period of fasting might introduce. Holy Communion does often bring us comfort but what else offers comfort in these days? We are a people who have longed believed in the power of the Word. How can a fast from Holy Communion lead us to a deeper appreciation of the Word? How can we train ourselves to see, know and experience the love and grace of God in the ways God offers it to us beyond Holy Communion? And what if, for this one Easter, we allowed the proclamation, "He is risen! He is risen indeed!" to be enough? What if we could experience the power of those words because this Easter they are all we have...just as they were for the women first gathered at the empty tomb.
In speaking with Faith Congregational Council President Sue Anderson, we talked about how Faith might engage in worship together during this Holy Week. It is my joy to put together a Holy Week Worship Booklet for your use as you see fit. I encourage each and every one of you to continue to journey Holy Week as it leads us to Easter Sunday as we celebrate life out of death, light out of darkness, joy out of mourning. I fully believe we need to celebrate to remind ourselves that our God, who raised Jesus from the dead, will raise us from this time of darkness, death, and mourning and we will have life, light, and joy.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, dear people of Faith. May the Lord’s face shine on you and give you peace. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Pastor Barb
Pastor Barb Streed
Assistant to the Bishop
SEMN Synod, ELCA
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March 2020 Faith Lutheran Church Newsletter Weekly Faith in Focus Without our Sunday worship services, our church is not receiving the offerings that we usually receive on Sundays. Please mail your offering envelopes to the church or consider signing up for Simply Giving so that we can keep our fund balance healthy, also. Simply Giving Form. |
People of Faith Reaching Our Community
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Faith Community Food Pantry
This ministry is in place to offer emergency food rations to those who need them most, specifically in Dodge Center. Potential referral sources in the area have received a letter about the ministry and how to refer an individual or family. You can help by picking up a card from the pantry area and returning the item listed to the church office. Alzheimer's Caregivers Support Group We welcome anyone dealing with or caring for a loved one with dementia of any sort. The purpose of the group is to share our experiences and any resources we have found helpful. You do not need to be the primary caregiver but can be anyone with interest. Our privacy will be respected in all areas. We will meet on Thursdays from 5pm-6pm at Faith Lutheran Church. Shirley Traff — Trained Facilitator. |
Faith in Focus
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Faith Lutheran has been again chosen as one of the official non-profit organizations to work at and benefit from the Berne Pizza and Music evenings. A registered volunteer who works on behalf of an official non-profit organization will earn $50/full shift or $25/half shift worked. Worker registration forms are available in the Gathering Area or downloaded here. Send them in to the address on the form or return them to the church office by March 15. We had so much fun last year and through the efforts of our Faith family (over 40 volunteers) we raised approximately $4,000 that was donated to the Pantry of Faith. Join us in this important work of God!
When you shop at Erdman’s, please save your receipts, bring them to church and put them in the labeled box in the Fellowship Hall. Thank you, Charleen Louks for volunteering to coordinate this project. |
