Living Faith Weekly News (Week of April 20, 2025)

Kay Michaelson
Apr 21
3 min read

The sanctuary of the Presbyterian United Church of Christ was alive with Living Faith members, their families and friends rejoicing in the Good News of Easter, hearing and singing celebratory music, receiving Holy Communion and witnessing the installation of our new pastor, Paige McGrath, with our bishop of the Western Iowa Synod, Lorna Halaas! Easter goodie bags were given out to our young worshipers! Hearts were overflowing with the blessings and goodness of God!

Thank you to Pastor Paige and Bishop Lorna for bringing messages of love, hope and encouragement! Thank you to Yvonne Law for reading scripture and Travis Balt for accompanying us on the piano! We were also happy to have Deacon Eric Haitz and his family join us for worship on Sunday!

Thank you as well to all who assisted in other ways with worship on Sunday: Tim Kass, John and Peg McAllister, Angela Catton, Kari Kopperud, Todd Lang and Brian Michaelson.

Bishop Lorna installed Pastor Paige Elizabeth McGrath as the first pastor at Living Faith! The ceremony included questions of Pastor Paige and Living Faith members, "traveling" the sanctuary to witness what Pastor Paige is called to do, and a blessing for her work ahead. Living Faith gifted Pastor Paige with the long awaited Living Faith t-shirt and a frame for the picture we will take of everyone in their Living Faith gear next Sunday!

Easter Fellowship with Members of the PUCC!

Living Faith partnered with the PUCC to arrange a special fellowship time on Easter Sunday!

Refreshments were served during the 10:00 hour which also featured a time of conversation, an Easter photobooth, and an Easter egg hunt for the children of Living Faith and the PUCC. Thank you to Audrey Scholten and her daughter, Kari Kopperud, Angela Catton, Tim Kass, Todd and Kim Lang, Brian and Kay Michaelson, and Jordan and Jess Kopperud for arranging for the festive hour!

Next Sunday!

Join us in the sanctuary of the PUCC (858 7th Ave. SE) for worship on the Second Sunday of Easter! We worship at 11:00 AM with Pastor Paige McGrath! Gail Kass will accompany us on the piano, Travis Balt will read scripture and Mark Catton will assist with Holy Communion!

If you have a Living Faith t-shirt or sweatshirt, please wear it to worship as we will be taking a group picture in honor of the official naming of Living Faith as a congregation of the Western Iowa Synod and of our newly installed pastor, Paige McGrath! If you don't have a shirt, no worries! You are welcome to be a part of the group picture!

Please plan to stay after worship for a lunch together prior to our Annual Meeting! We will be catering a meal from Mama Barb's of chicken, garlic knots, lettuce salad and dessert! During the meal we will celebrate Living Faith's milestones of becoming a congregation and welcoming our first pastor!

Following lunch, we will convene our Annual Meeting for 2025. At this meeting we will vote on a new Church Council for Living Faith. Other business will include approving a budget for the remainder of 2025, affirming the benevolent partners for Living Faith, and designating the 2025 Lenten offering.

The Many Other Events Happening this coming Sunday!

This event will take place in the Fellowship Hall of the PUCC from 10:00 - 10:45 in place of the regular Faith + Fellowship time. Come to church early to support Noah's Ark Preschool and its ministry in our community!

Following our Annual Meeting and at 2:00, there will be a work session at the PUCC and in conjunction with the PUCC members to clean up the grounds in preparation for lawn mowing season! Bring work gloves and a rake if you have one!

**The Noisy Offering box will be out on the Living Faith table in the Narthex this coming Sunday!**

Camp season will be here before you know it! Check out the camp flyer on the Living Faith table to see what's being offered at Lutheran Lakeside Camp this summer! All Living Faith campers are awarded a $100 scholarship to go towards camp expenses!