Living Faith Weekly News (Week of April 6, 2025)
- Kay Michaelson
- Apr 8
- 7 min read
Last Week
On Saturday, April 5, Living Faith gathered with pastors, friends, and family of Vicar Paige McGrath for her Service of Ordination at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Sioux City. This moving service was planned by Vicar Paige and it was evident every detail was special in nature to Paige and thus made this service so impactful!
Reaction from Angela Catton sums up the morning, "In my almost 57 years on this earth, I have never attended an Ordination and I can tell you that it filled my soul and my heart in ways I never expected! I have never felt more connected to my God and my Faith family...And this includes my collective Faith family...as I did today. These last few years have been a difficult spiritual journey for me.. But today was the culmination of my journey and God truly spoke to me today. I am uplifted and inspired by this beautiful sister who He has provided to us at Living Faith Lutheran. So many Pastors and Deacons and other Faith leaders both near and far who have helped in my personal healing were in the room for Pastor Paige's Ordination. Thank you to the Holy Spirit for moving me in this way and whispering in my ear that Faith is a twisty-turny road and that you MUST trust His process. It will not always be easy...But it is always worth it. I am filled and restored., I have never been more excited to be a small part of this story that includes being an ELCA Lutheran and a member of Living Faith!"
It was humbling to also observe all those in the building who have had a part great or small in supporting Living Faith since 2022: Bishop Lorna Halaas, Pastor Dave Halaas, Pastor Trish Underberg, Pastor Joy Gonnerman, Pastor Jan Christensen, Pastor Jean Ziettlow, Pastor Kristine Stedje, Pastor Andy Nelson, Deacons Eric Haitz and Bruce Pollock, and Vicar Grace Baumgartel.
Last Week's Lenten Activities
Thank you to Kjersten Rathke and Rachel Cunningham for leading us in the Holden Evening Prayer liturgy!
Thank you to Jess Kopperud for reading scripture, Kenzie McLaughlin for handing out Holden Evening Prayer booklets and Jordan Kopperud for picking them up!
Carolyn Bickford came to speak to us about her involvement with Mission Honduras and Feed Just One. The work that is done by these two groups is vital and inspiring!
The Taco Bar was a big hit last Wednesday! Thank you to all who donated items for it: Kari Kopperud, Cheryl Juhl, Sandy Heeren, Kim Lang, Dawn Richards, Sue Stream, Sharon Utesch, Yvonne Law, Kate Melvin, Rachel Cunningham, and Gail Kass. Thank you to Nate Rathke and Dakota Utesch for helping with clean up following the meal!
Following our meal, Kari Kopperud led the small group discussion on the topic of the Enneagram. Thank you, Kari, for helping us to figure ourselves out!!
This Week
We welcome Pastor Paige McGrath to Living Faith for her first service - Palm Sunday! Living Faith worships within the walls of the Presbyterian United Church of Christ (858 7th Ave. SE) at 11:00 AM.
During the service, we will distribute palm branches and hear the Passion narrative done as a Reader's Theater with congregation members as readers. Be watching your email for what we will need for volunteers and please let Kay know if you are interested in helping with this! Nathan Summerside will be reading the day's scripture lessons and Kay Allen will assist with Holy Communion. Gail Kass will accompany us on the piano.
Nametags will be on the sign up table Sunday morning! Stop by and put one one to help Pastor Paige connect names and faces more quickly!
The Faith + Fellowship Hour begins at 10:00 on Sunday morning when we will share coffee and fellowship with our PUCC friends. We will introduce Pastor Paige to the PUCC during the hour! Come early and join us for this time!
Wednesday's Lenten Activities
5:00 - Holden Evening Prayer led by Kjersten Rathke and Rachel Cunningman
5:15 - This week we welcome Michel and Berth Lundula to hear about their ministries here in Le Mars.
5:45 - 6:15 - Lenten Meal. Taverns and Cheesy Potatoes are on the menu this week. Volunteers for this meal are:
Tavern mix: Sandy Heeren, Yvonne Law, and Kari Kopperud
Hamburger buns: Kay Michaelson and Sharon Utesch
Small Bottles of Water: Kay Michaelson and Sharon Utesch
Pan of Cheesy Potatoes: Rachel Cunningham, Kari Kopperud and Peg McAllister
Grape Cluster: Kay Allen
Dessert: Gail Kass, Sharon Utesch and Kay Michaelson
6:15 - 7:00 - Lenten Discussion: Pastor Jan will lead us in the final video and discussion forum of our series, "Reclaiming Wholeness: Hospitality, Fear and RElastionship in a Divided World."
Please join us in the Sanctuary of the PUCC for this last Lenten time of 2025! Be sure to stop by the sign up table to put on a nametag to help Pastor Paige become acquainted!
Sunday, April 13 at 11:00 AM - Palm Sunday worship in the PUCC Sanctuary
Thursday, April 17 at 7:00 PM in the Chapel of the PUCC: Maundy Thursday worship. Come to the Chapel for this special service which will feature the volunteer washing of feet, Holy Communion and the stripping of the altar. We are in need of 2 people to assist with the stripping of the altar and a person to assist with Holy Communion. Please let Kay know if you would like to volunteer to help with either of these! Dawn Richards will accompany us at this service, Peg McAllister will provide bread, and Kari Kopperud will read scripture.
Friday, April 18 at 7:00 PM in the Chapel of the PUCC: Good Friday service. This meaningful service will prepare us for our Easter Sunday worship! For this service, we need 2 volunteers to read. Please let Kay know if you would be interested in helping! Dawn Richards will accompany us at this service.
Easter Sunday, April 20: 10:00 AM - Fellowship and Refreshments with the PUCC in the Fellowship Hall. There will be an Easter backdrop for photo opportunities with your family. There will be an Easter egg hunt on the church lawn (weather permitting) for those in 5th grade and younger.
11:00 AM - Easter worship will be held in the sanctuary of the PUCC. In the midst of this special day of worship, we will double up on that with the installation of Pastor Paige McGrath! Bishop Lorna Halaas will worship with us and install Pastor Paige into our Living Faith congregation! Travis Balt will accompany us on Easter Sunday.
Flowering plants will be collected this year for making our Easter Sunday sanctuary festive looking! If you would like to donate a plant, please sign up on the sheet located on the PUCC sign up table in the narthex. Plants should be brought to the Fellowship Hall on Thursday or Friday of Holy Week. Please do not donate Easter lilies due to allergies.
Sunday, April 27, following worship, Living Faith will hold is Annual Meeting in the Fellowship Hall of the PUCC. We will have a catered lunch before our meeting begins. There will be a sign up sheet out on our table in the narthex for you to sign up for this meal so we know how many to prepare for. We will celebrate our becoming a congregation and the installation of Pastor Paige at our meeting! We will also elect a new Church Council and approve a budget for the remainder of 2025. The Living Faith Annual Report will be emailed out soon. Hard copies will be available on the 27th as well.
Congratulations to Dave Grosenheider who has been named the 2025 Le Mars Community Schools Distinguished Alumni! Dave will be honored at the LCSD Foundation Banquet on April 23. Tickets for the banquet can be purchased at the Superintendent's Office at 940 Lincoln St. SW.
Pastor Paige, Travis Balt, and Tim and Gail Kass will be our delegates to this year's Synod Assembly in June. Pastor Paige is on the Bishop Selection Committee for the assembly.
Happy Birthday to those celebrating in April!:
Tyler Gibson - April 8
Jean Ziettlow - April 11
Kevin Richards - April 13
June Ferguson - April 25
Baptismal Birthdays:
Bob Gibson - April 12
Shawn Shipley - April 18
Dell Ferguson - April 27
Please keep these individuals in prayer this week:
Kortney Kopperud - Kortney will have surgery on her arm this coming Thursday.
Bob Gibson - Bob is home from the hospital and will be entering hospice care this week.
Karen Schroeder
Judy Bowman
John and Peg McAllister's niece and her husband
John and Peg McAllister's sister's sister-in-law and her family
John and Peg McAllister's brother-in-law, Phil - Phil suffered a stroke on Tuesday morning. He is doing better but would appreciate your prayers.
Kristy Pecks
Marilynn
Pixie
Ali
Steve
Bobbie
Mary
Beth - Pastor Halaas reports that his sister has begun radiation treatment for 20 days.
Jim Gergeni - Jim is a neighbor to Brian and Kay Michaelson who fell on Sunday and broke his hip. He had surgery on Monday.
Pastor Paige
Living Faith
The Living Faith brother or sister you are praying for
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