Living Faith Weekly News (Week of January 11, 2026)
- Kay Michaelson
- 7 days ago
- 7 min read
Living Faith moved into the season of Epiphany with worship on Sunday. Pastor Paige presided over worship and used the name "Immanuel" - which means "God with us" - often in her message. During the 9:30 Bible Study session, Pastor Paige gave the challenge to notice where God is this week. Continually practicing noticing where God is can be a help in these trying times.
We are grateful for all who helped out on Sunday morning: Tim and Gail Kass, Mark and Angela Catton, Karen Schroeder, Yvonne Law, Brian and Kay Michaelson and Todd Lang.
Pastor Paige McGrath will lead us in worship on Sunday, January 18th at 11:00 AM in the sanctuary of the Presbyterian United Church of Christ at 858 7th Ave. SE. Travis Balt will accompany us on the piano, Judd Kopperud will read scripture and Todd Lang will assist with Holy Communion.
All are welcome to worship, hear a message of the Gospel, and come to the table of Holy Communion.
On December 28th, Pastor Paige gave a message on "Why does God allow suffering in the world?" The recording of this sermon (worship on December 28th) is still on our Facebook page if you would like to go back and watch the full sermon. The sermon starts at 11:55.
The following is a summary of this excellent and thoughtful message.
January 12, 2026
Dear Living Faith,
In times such as these, the question of theodicy is ever more pressing: why does God allow suffering in the world? As much as we’d like to and as desperately as scholars have tried to, we are not meant to answer this question. To believe you have answered the question of theodicy is to commit idolatry. To claim to know why God allows suffering to exist in the world is idolatrous; to claim to know why God does anything is to make yourself your own god. And if we were our own gods, we would be required to put our own selves into the question of theodicy: why do you allow suffering to exist in the world?
And frankly, that question is probably just as difficult and painful to answer because, if we’re honest, we allow suffering to exist because we’re afraid – of losing power, of being hurt, of dying. We allow suffering to exist because we’re selfish. We allow suffering to exist because we think we’re too powerless to do anything about it – and that’s the most honest reason. It circles back to the truth: You are not God; you do not have the power. It is not your job or your privilege to know why suffering exists.
However, how you decide to deal with the question of theodicy – not necessarily answer it, but just deal with it – definitely has an effect on how you understand who God is, how you live your life, and how you interpret the church’s mission in the world.
The first step in dealing with the question of theodicy is refusing to deny, diminish, or dismiss suffering. As much as we do not like it, suffering is real. It is unhelpful and dishonest to deny it. Denial can sound like, “Everything happens for a reason,” or “It’s not really that bad; you're being dramatic.” Denial can look like ignoring large-scale suffering, scrolling past the article on the genocide in Gaza or changing the channel when the news shows ICE fatally shooting a woman. We deny suffering all the time; it’s not helpful. It’s not honest, and it’s not a holy way to engage with the world. It’s not what Jesus would do. It was not what Jesus did.
Jesus exists to be with you, to bring God into the suffering world in the most tangible, full way. The incarnation is a radical act of solidarity and empathy and companionship. This is how I personally “deal” with the question of theodicy: I hope in the incarnation. I don’t hope in the future; I hope in the present. I hope in truth and reality; I hope in the truth of God’s presence on earth through the fully human, fully divine Jesus, Emmanuel, God-with-us. This reality of God becoming human means that God chooses to sit in the suffering with us. The incarnation means God is with you in your suffering. That is not a promise or a wish for the future; it’s real. It already happened when Jesus was born, suffered himself on the cross, and died – for the sake of eternal life for all!
In my experience, suffering isn’t easier if you understand why it’s happening, but it is lighter if one person is not carrying it alone. I do not know why God allows suffering in the world, but I do know that God is with you in the suffering. And I do know that you are called to be the church, to be a little bit of Jesus in the world – to be present in one another’s suffering, as God is with you in yours. That is a holy act; it’s one of the most radical acts God has ever taken! You are not alone; we are not alone.
With incarnational hope,
Pastor Paige
Come to Room 105 at 9:30 each Sunday morning to dig a little deeper into the second reading of the day with Pastor Paige. During this season of Epiphany, we will be looking at 1 Corinthians. There's always room around the table for YOU!
At 10:30, the PUCC members and Living Faith enjoy a time of refreshments and fellowship together. Grab a cup of coffee and join in the conversation!
Confirmation will take place on Wednesday, January 14 at 7:00 at Christ Lutheran Church, rural Brunsville. This semester the students will study the Apostle's Creed and the 10 Commandments of Luther's Small Catechism.
Living Faith will hold its first Annual Meeting as a full-fledged congregation on Sunday, February 1st at 1:00. Items on the agenda include Living Faith reports, electing a council member, adopting a 2026 budget and the distribution of Noisy Offering monies.
Before the meeting, Living Faith's Church Council will host a Living Faith 2025 Celebration meal for all to enjoy immediately after worship. Mama Barb's Catering will be providing the meal.
Look for and pick up an Annual Report coming soon to the Living Faith table in the narthex of the PUCC.
The Reconciling in Christ Committee has had 3 meetings to date. Travis Balt is the chairperson of the committee and Bailey Quanbeck is the secretary. They have been working through the toolkit and preparing for the one-on-one conversations and contacting members to schedule these conversations are underway. They have also been discussing how newcomers to Living Faith are welcome, contacted, etc. Their next scheduled meeting is February 22nd.
In compliance with our Constitution, Pastor Paige and the Church Council are working on the formation of a Mutual Ministry Committee. The synod has a book recommendation for those new to this kind of committee - including Pastor Paige! - so the committee will start their work with guidance from this book.
Look for an article about Pastor Paige in Friday's edition of the Le Mars Sentinel.
Pastor Paige and the Council are putting plans in place for Lenten services. When logistics are finalized a schedule will be released soon!
The Council has voted to purchase an office grade copier. The copier we were given can make copies but the Council has hit a wall in working to get a WIFI connection or a hard wire connection to enable printing from a device. This makes the copier extremely limited in use and thus the decision to purchase a copier that will meet the basic printing needs of Living Faith.
Soon we will be piloting the use of children's bulletins as well as projecting hymn lyrics on the screen.
Thank you to all who helped out Monday with packing snacks for the Le Mars Backpack program! Pastor Paige, Rich and Pastor Jean Ziettlow, Sue Stream, Sharon Utesch, Tim and Gail Kass, Kari Kopperud, Yvonne Law, June Ferguson, Angela Catton, and Brian and Kay Michaelson made quick work of the 400+ snack packs. Thank you to Johnny Sanchez for assisting us with the project!
Thank you to everyone who brought in meals to Pastor Jan this past week: Kevin and Dawn Richards, Kay Allen, Rich and Pastor Jean Ziettlow, Karen Schroeder, Brian and Kay Michaelson, Mark and Angela Catton and the Kopperud Family.
Additionally, thank you to Mark and Angela Catton and Brian Michaelson who have been taking shifts to walk Pastor Jan's dog, Buddy!
Pastor Jan had surgery on her arm on Monday and is recuperating at home. If you would like to send a card of encouragement, her address is 504 6th Ave. SE.
Living Faith and the PUCC will be delivering Meals on Wheels the weeks of February 16 - March 13. Be looking for the sign up sheet in the narthex and consider volunteering a half hour of your time (10:30 - 11:00) during the week days.
Wednesday, January 14 - 7:00 PM - Confirmation at Christ Lutheran
Monday, January 19 - No office hours
Sunday, February 1 - 2025 Celebration Meal and Annual Meeting following worhsip
Sunday, February 8 - 11:00 AM - Bishop Scott Dalen preaches at Living Faith
Sunday, February 8 - 2:00 PM - Lutheran Men in Mission meeting at Living Faith
Monday, February 16 - No office hours
Thursday, February 26 - Lutheran Day on the Hill - Visit the Iowa Legislature
Lenten details will be added to this calendar when dates, times and locations are set.
Please hold in prayer:
Kay Allen
Rick Stream
Travis Balt and the MOC-FV faculty and students and families
The Remsen St. Mary's faculty and students and families
Rod Hallberg
Mitch Lang, Derek and the Iowa National Guardsmen and women serving overseas
Dorothy Ashmore - Dorothy is Peg McAllister's mother. She is experience neck pain and it has been difficult to get her pain under control.
The Matthew Kenny Family
The Ostermyer Family
The Kristy Pecks Family
The Ruhrer Family
The Cherry Family
The Wittkop Family - Sherry Jo Wittkop, a sophomore at Gehlen, who has been dealing with cancer for the past two years, has had the cancer return and it is now located in her spine. Please pray for comfort and peace for Sherry Jo and her parents and sister.
Pastor Jan
Marilynn
Ali
Marie
Kathryn
Pastor Paige
Living Faith
The Living Faith brother or sister you are praying for.
