Living Faith Weekly News (Week of January 18, 2026)

The Second Sunday after Epiphany featured this question.

On January 18th, Living Faith gathered for worship and was posed the question, "What are you looking for?" just as Jesus posed this question to two disciples in the Gospel reading of John 1:29-42. Pastor Paige asked worshipers, "Why do you come to worship? What are you looking for?" Responses were: Assurance, Hope, Peace, Comfort, Acceptance, Reassurance, Joy, Guidance, Community, and Grounding. What are YOU looking for? How can Living Faith help you in that search?

Thank you to Pastor Paige for presiding over worship and Travis Balt for providing piano accompaniment along with prelude and postlude. Thank you to Judd Kopperud for reading scripture and Todd Lang for assisting with Holy Communion. Others who contributed to worship were Tim Kass and Angela Catton - thank you!

There are some behind-the-scenes tasks to do after worship and thank you to those who helped on Sunday: Tim Kass and Gail Kass, Todd and Kim Lang, Yvonne Law, and Brian Michaelson.

An invitation is open to all to worship at Living Faith Lutheran Church at 11:00 AM on Sunday morning in the sanctuary of the Presbyterian United Church of Christ at 858 7th Ave. SE, Pastor Paige McGrath presiding.

Helping out in worship will be Dawn Richards, Jess Kopperud, Karen Schroeder, Tim Kass and Angela Catton.

Bible Study at 9:30 in Room 105!

Living Faith gathers at 9:30 AM in Room 105 for Bible Study and in this time of Epiphany, we are looking at 1 Corinthians because the second readings of each Sunday during Epiphany come from this New Testament letter to the people of Corinth. Come and listen and discuss with us!

Last week, we listened to each other as we contemplated the gifts God has given us:

Following Bible Study, plan to gather in the Fellowship Hall of the PUCC at 10:30 for coffee and conversation with our PUCC friends.

Confirmation classes will meet this Wednesday, January 21st, at 7:00 at Christ Lutheran Church, rural Brunsville. Mentors will be attending as well this Wednesday.

Annual Meeting Notice

Living Faith's Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, February 1st beginning at 1:00. The agenda includes the election of a Council member, reports from 2025, the adoption of the 2026 Living Faith budget, and the selection of the charity for the 2025 noisy offering collection.

At 12:00 PM on February 1st, Living Faith will host a Celebration Meal prior to our Annual Meeting. The meal, catered by Mama Barb's, will feature smothered chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, macaroni salad, and bars and cookies. Come celebrate Living Faith's 2025!

The Living Faith Annual Report for 2025 is out on the Living Faith table in the narthex of the PUCC. Pick yours up and bring it to the Annual Meeting on February 1!

Giving Statements from 2025 are now ready to hand out. See Kay Michaelson on Sunday to receive yours! If you have any questions about your statement, please contact Sandy Heeren.

Sunday is the last Sunday of the month (already?!) and that means it is Noisy Offering Sunday. Look for this box on the Living Faith table in the narthex and drop your loose change there! We will collect a Noisy Offering on the last Sunday of each month in 2026 and will donate the amount to an organization in our community that serves the community!

The sign up board is out in the narthex of the PUCC for those who can volunteer to deliver Meals on Wheels the weeks of February 17 - March 13. Living Faith needs to help out with 3 of the routes in that time period. Kay Michaelson and Yvonne Law are taking the south route the week of February 23rd. This service to our community should only take about a half hour of your time (10:30 - 11:00). Check out the bulletin board sign up this coming Sunday!

We extend our heartfelt sympathies to John, Peg and Katie McAllister upon the passing of Peg's mother, Dorothy Ashmore. Dorothy passed away on Thursday, January 15th. A visitation with the family will take place from 3 - 5 PM on Saturday, January 31st at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home, 4245 US Hwy 20, Correctionville, Iowa.

Wednesday, January 21 - 7:00 - Confirmation at Christ Lutheran with mentors

Sunday, January 25 - 9:30 - Bible Study in Room 105

Sunday, January 25 - 11:00 - Worship in the PUCC Sanctuary

Sunday, February 1 - 12:00 - Celebration Meal in the PUCC Fellowship Hall

Sunday, February 1 - 1:00 - Living Faith Annual Meeting

Sunday, February 8 - 11:00 - Worship with Bishop Dalen

Tuesday, February 17 - 6:30 - Church Council Meeting

Wednesday, February 18 - Ash Wednesday service

Please pray for:

Kay Allen

Rick Stream

John, Peg and Katie McAllister

Travis Balt and the students, faculty and families of MOC-FV

The Family of Kristy Pecks

Rod Hallberg

Sherry Jo Wittkop and her family

Mitch Lang, Derek, and the Iowa National Guardsmen and women serving overseas

Pastor Jan

Amy Beveridge - Amy is the secretary for the PUCC and she has had several surgeries to correct sinus issues she has been dealing with. Amy will have yet another surgery on Tuesday to try to address yet more difficulties she has been having with her sinuses.

The faculty, students and families of Remsen St. Mary's

The Ruhrer Family

The Cherry Family

The Ostermyer Family

The Matthew Kenny Family

Marilynn

Ali

Marie

Pastor Paige

Living Faith

The Living Faith brother or sister you are praying for