Living Faith Weekly News (Week of December 15, 2024)

Kay Michaelson
Dec 16, 2024
4 min read

Welcome to Living Faith's Third Sunday of Advent!

Last Week

Pastor David Halaas lit the third candle of the Advent wreath, the Shepherd's Candle or the Joy Candle! The worship service featured our second annual No-Prep Intergenerational Christmas program: "The Christmas Parade". Living Faith-ers journeyed through the church checking the "inns" for the Christ Child, singing as they went. Along the way they were given lanterns to light their way and poinsettias to give as gifts to the baby. Finally, the inn was discovered and gifts were given to the baby and his family. Thank you to all who participated in this program and especially Jordan and Jess Kopperud, Kari Kopperud, Kinley Van Otterloo, Shawn Shipley, Kjersten Rathke, Pastor Halaas and Kay Michaelson. We are also grateful to Dawn Richards, Judd Kopperud, Marley Stream and Tim Kass for their assistance in worship.

No baby in the second inn but poinsettias are there to give the baby!

Next Week

We will light the fourth candle on the Advent wreath, the Love candle on Sunday, December 22nd. Pastor David Halaas will preside over worship and Dawn Richards will accompany us on the piano. Karen Schroeder will read scripture. If you would like to volunteer to assist with Holy Communion, please let Kay know!

Living Faith worships in the Sanctuary of the Presbyterian United Church of Christ at 858 7th Ave. SE. Park in the front part of the parking lot and you can enter the south facing door or the doors under the portico. Tim Kass will be there to greet you! Our service begins at 11:00 AM.

Come to the Fellowship Hall at 10:00 AM on Sunday to enjoy refreshments and conversation with Living Faith and the PUCC!

Upcoming Services

Living Faith's Candlelight Christmas Eve service will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, December 24th in the Sanctuary of the PUCC. Pastor David Halaas will preside over worship which will feature Holy Communion and lighting of individual candles. If you would like to assist with Communion at this service, please let Kay know.

The Presbyterian United Church of Christ will hold its candlelight service at 5:30 PM on Christmas Eve. Living Faith members who cannot attend the 1:00 time earlier in the day are welcome to join the PUCC at their 5:30 service.

Joint Service with the PUCC at 10:00 on Sunday, December 29th!

On this Sunday, we will gather in the PUCC Fellowship Hall for an informal, intergenerational worship service where the Christmas story will be retold with activities related to the story! If you would like to read a short portion of the Christmas story for this service, please sign up on the sheet on the Living Faith table in the Narthex. Please note

two items: There will be no Communion at this service and the service will be held at 10:00.

Living Faith Christmas Ornaments

Stop by the Living Faith sign up table in the Narthex and pick up the 2024 Living Faith Christmas Ornament! One per household, please!

Christmas Gifts for the Children of Living Faith!

There are a few gift bags left after Sunday's service! If your child did not get a bag, stop by the table in the Narthex and pick one up! Merry Christmas to our Living Faith young ones!

WANTED! THREE KINGS!

.....and we did! Check out the fun photos below!

On Sunday, December 15, Living Faith partnered with the PUCC to go caroling in our community! Stops were made at 2 homes along with Brentwood, Stonebridge, and Accura! When we finished singing, we traveled back to the PUCC and enjoyed a soup supper together! Thank you to all who brought in food for this delicious meal! Thank you to Rachel Cunningham, Kay Michaelson, Amy and Steve Beveridge and Pastor Jan for organizing this time together! Did you know that caroling with music professionals is a great treat?! It is!!

Here's the crew - we had others join in along the way! It was a festive group of singers!

Cereal Boxes Delivered!

Thank you to Kari Kopperud and Brian and Kay Michaelson for delivering the Living Faith donations to the Le Mars Backpack program's warehouse last week! Brandy Nohava expresses her thanks and feels we more than met our goal!

Thank you to Ardis Boetger, Yvonne Law and Kay Michaelson for coming out last week to assist with the PUCC in the placing of the poinsettias and other Christmas decorating tasks!

Thank you to Living Faith from Marley Stream!

Marley says, "Thank you to all who shared in my Confirmation Day and to those who helped me get to that day. I appreciate the many cards, gifts and good wishes. Special thanks to the pastors who have helped me along the way: Pastor Trish, Pastor Halaas, and Pastor Jean!"