Living Faith Weekly News (Week of August 23, 2026)
Updated: Aug 28
Sunday, August 23rd
Living Faith welcomed Reverend Deb Mechler as our guest pastor for the day. Reverend Mechler, along with her husband, Dean, traveled from her home in Spencer to be with us. The scripture from the book of Matthew quoted Jesus posing the question to his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" Reverend Mechler asked Living Faith attendees: "Who do people say who you are?" To hear her remarks to those questions, please look up the Living Faith Facebook page where you will find the live stream of our service and Reverend Mechler's thoughtful message!
Many helped to make worship happen: Pixie Balt, Tim & Gail Kass, Mark and Angela Catton, Brian and Kay Michaelson, Yvonne Law, and Sharon Utesch. Thank you!
Blessing of the Backpacks
At the conclusion of Sunday's service, students and school personnel were invited to come forward with their backpacks to receive a blessing upon the start of a new school year this week. Teachers placed their hands on students to offer a prayer of blessing and in turn, students held hands with teachers to offer a prayer of blessing for them.
This year, Living Faith has been sharing that everyone needs a Little Jesus and so key chains of Little Jesus were handed out to students and teachers alike for their school bags.
Next Sunday, August 30
Living Faith will gather with the members of the PUCC for worship on Sunday, August 30th at 10:00 AM to celebrate Pastor Jan and her last Sunday preaching and serving at the PUCC. After the worship service, there will be a brunch reception in the Fellowship Hall.
Pastor Jan will be retiring from the ministry on August 31st and will move to Ames, Iowa to be closer to family.
Pastor Jan extended an invitation of friendship and welcome to worship back in 2022 when the idea of Living Faith had not yet even been formed. She and the members of the PUCC have walked alongside Living Faith from our very beginnings to today. We thank her for her grace and kindness and we wish her many blessings on this new chapter of retirement!
Thank you to those who have volunteered to bring items for the brunch reception: Kari Kopperud, Rich Ziettlow, Robin Grosenheider, Peg McAllister, Karen Schroeder, Sharon Utesch, Gail Kass, Yvonne Law, and Mark and Cheryl Juhl.
For Sunday's offering, if you wish to give a cash donation to Living Faith, please pick up an offering envelope from the Living Faith table and place the cash in the envelope and put your name on the outside of it. Then place that envelope in the offering plate as it is passed on Sunday. Thank you!
Sunday, August 30th
Living Faith Porch Party
We'll see you right here with your lawn chairs at 4:00 on Sunday at Jim and Sandy Heeren's home (30561 150th St.) for a porch party! Bring a snack to share and a beverage of your choosing!
Noisy Offering Sunday
Sunday is Noisy Offering Sunday and the box to gather this offering will be out on the Living Faith table in the narthex. Drop off your spare change. This 2026 Noisy Offering is going to Pastor Paige's online ministry, Fully Beloved.
August Mission Project
Yvonne Law and Kay Michaelson will be out and about this week and next Thursday to deliver Meals on Wheels. Thank you to Nathan Summerside who helped out last week!
September Mission Project
Give a Leg Up: Donate Pants and Leggings!
Le Mars Community Elementary school nurse, Rhonda Lassen, reports that elasticized pants and leggings are needed for the nurse's offices at all three elementary schools. The biggest need are the sizes for the younger students: XSmall, Small and Medium. Living Faith will conduct a drive for these items from now until September 13. There is a bin on the Living Faith table where you can drop off your donations. If you wish to give a cash donation, there is a box on the table for that as well. Thank you for your generosity!
Living Faith will have a shortened, lay-led service on God's Work Our Hands Sunday, September 13. We will gather at 11:00 for worship and at the conclusion of the service, there will be a Hand Blessing and then we will adjourn to the Fellowship Hall and bake and package cookies to take to the fire station, police station, hospital, and Plymouth County jail. There will be no Holy Communion that day. If you would like to read scripture for this service, please sign up on the volunteer sheet on the Living Faith table!
Students in 8th grade and older and their parents are invited to Room 105 this Wednesday, August 26th at 7:00 PM to learn details about the Youth Gathering being held in Minneapolis next summer. Pastor Paige will share all the information known to date!
Pastor Paige will host 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th graders and their parents at a Confirmation Informational Meeting at 7:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall of the PUCC on Wednesday, September 2nd. All students in those grades and their parents are asked to attend!
Office hours resume for Pastor Paige this Thursday from 1 - 4 PM.
There will be no office hours on September 7, 10, and 14.
It's Back to School Week!
.....and it's Football Season!
Wednesday, August 26 - 7:00 PM - Youth Gathering Meeting - Room 105
Sunday, August 30 - 10:00 AM - Worship with the PUCC
Sunday, August 30 - 11:00 AM - Brunch Reception for Pastor Jan
Sunday, August 30 - 4:00 PM - Porch Party at the Heeren Farm
Wednesday, September 2 - 7:00 PM - Confirmation Student and Parent Meeting - PUCC Fellowship Hall
Saturday, September 12 - Pastor Paige and Bailey's Wedding
Sunday, September 13 - 10:00 AM - Fellowship with the PUCC, Gail Kass serving
Sunday, September 13 -11:00 AM - God's Work, Our Hands service and service project
Saturday, September 19 - 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Party celebrating Pastor Paige and Bailey - Ice Cream Parlor
We lift up prayers for:
Kay Allen
Trish Underberg
The Kass Families
Janice Kooiker and the Kooiker-Wood Families
Jolene Odens Family
Randy Stream
Dennis Renes
Pastor Paige's Uncle Craig (Pastor Paige's mother's brother) - He had been receiving treatment for esophageal/stomach cancer but will soon receive hospice care.
Sue Moller
Ruth Peters Family
Sherry Jo Wittkop and her Family
Mike Rathke
Jenna
Amy Beveridge
Rod Hallberg
Marilynn
Ali
Pastor Paige and Bailey and their upcoming marriage
Living Faith
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