Living Faith Weekly News (Week of June 15, 2025)

Kay Michaelson
Jun 16
6 min read

**The males of Living Faith were celebrated on Sunday, Father's Day!**

Holy Trinity Sunday and Father's Day were celebrated at Living Faith on Sunday! Pastor Paige led us in worship and Travis Balt accompanied us on the piano. We also heard about the Synod Assembly from Pastor Paige and delegate Travis Balt.

Thank you to Pastor Paige and Travis for leading us in worship. Thank you to Kim Lang for reading scripture and Todd Lang for assisting with Holy Communion. We also express our gratitude to John and Peg McAllister, Tim Kass, Angela Catton, Yvonne Law, Sharon Utesch, Brian Michaelson, and Jenelle and Anniston Van Otterloo for their help on Sunday.

Please click on the right arrow within the photo to see additional pictures.

Fathers were honored with a Powerpoint of our fathers living and in heaven. Afterwards all males of Living Faith were gifted with doughnuts!

**Sunday, June 22nd, is the Second Sunday of Pentecost.**

Pastor Paige, fresh off her first Ice Cream Days parade, will lead us in worship on Sunday and Gail Kass will accompany us on the piano! If you would like to read scripture or assist with Holy Communion, please let Kay know!

Please join us for worship at11:00 AM in the sanctuary of the Presbyterian United Church of Christ located at 858 7th Ave. SE! We look forward to seeing you! All are welcome!

Start your Sunday experience off with a time of fellowship with our PUCC friends at 10:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall. Coffee and goodies will be out for you!

Last Week's Celebration for Bishop Lorna

Living Faith joined with many across the Western Iowa Synod to celebrate Bishop Lorna and her years of ministry as she looks to retirement at the end of August. Living Faith was asked to assist with the evening meal and serve Well's Blue Bunny vanilla bean ice cream with Bishop Halaas' favorite, pie!

Please click on the right arrow within the photo to see more pictures from the evening.

After the meal, Pastor David Halaas moderated an evening of reminiscing and sharing of Bishop Lorna's years in ministry.

Living Faith Recognition at the Western Iowa Synod Assembly

Words from Angela Catton: "We will and we ask God to help and guide us!" Living Faith Lutheran joyfully affirmed its responsibilities serving as the hands and feet of Jesus as it was accepted as a fully organized Evangelical Lutheran Church in America church during the Western Iowa Synod ELCA Assembly Friday evening in Sioux City. We are eternally grateful for the unwavering support and guidance from the countless individuals who stood with us this evening! God's presence was felt among us tonight, just as He has faithfully walked beside us throughout our journey to become the newest organized church in the Synod. Thanks to all the Living Faith members who joined us for this amazing experience!"

Words from Kari Kopperud: "Thank you to the Western Iowa Synod and staff for all they have done to make this day happen for Living Faith."

Words from Deacon Eric Haitz: "The proudest, teariest moment! Welcome, Living Faith. Well done."

Words from Sharon Utesch: "Definitely a teary eyed moment, and then turn and see Pastor Denne, who was one of our first in helping us to become a congregation...such a spiritual moment. Thank you Deacon Eric and all who made it possible."

Thank you to our Living Faith delegates: Pastor Paige, Tim and Gail Kass and Travis Balt. Mark Juhl also attended the Assembly as a delegate for Lutheran Men in Mission.

Pastor Jean Ziettlow was recognized during the assembly for her 35 years of ministry! Congratulations, Pastor Jean!

The new Bishop-elect of the Western Iowa Synod is Pastor Scott Dalen of Underwood, Iowa!

Other photos from the Assembly! Click on the right arrow within the first photo!

**Around $14,000 was raised for the Western Iowa Pig Project during the Synod Assembly!**

**Ice Cream Days Parade is Saturday, June 21 beginning at 9:30!**

Living Faith's parade float entry will be centered around the theme: "We love because He first loved us." Float riders will be Pastor Paige, Gail Kass, Sharon Utesch, Mark Juhl, Yvonne Law, Casey Mack and parent, and John and Peg McAllister. Walkers to hand out candy along the route will be Kay Michaelson, Mark and Angela Catton, Travis Balt, Dakota Utesch and Clayton Whitehead. Tim Kass will be towing the float and Brian Michaelson will be managing the candy buckets! Thank you to all our volunteers!

If you'd like to help decorate the float, come to our float location at 8:30 Saturday morning along 8th St. SW on the south side of the boulevard. We are parade entry #62. (See map below.) Pssst: There will be doughnuts!!

Float riders should arrive at our location at 9:00. Park in the Le Mars Community Schools' north parking lot.

Thank you to all who have donated candy for the parade on Saturday! Here you see just a fraction of the generosity of Living Faith members! It might be hard to believe, but all the candy will get distributed by the end of the parade route!

Living Faith will welcome new members on Sunday, June 29th at our 11:00 worship service! Please contact Pastor Paige (712-541-3782) if you would like to join! New members should plan to meet with Pastor Paige at 10:00 that morning! Everyone is invited to stay following worship for a potluck lunch in the Fellowship Hall! Please bring a main dish, side dish or a dessert to share. Beverages and table service will be provided!

After lunch on the 29th, we will be painting Pastor Paige's office and our meeting room! If you can stay to help paint or move furniture, your help would be greatly appreciated - and you don't have to worry about drips on the carpet as new carpet will be installed in July! Bring brushes, rollers, paint trays, and liners!

Living Faith's annual outdoor worship will be held Sunday, July 13th on the front lawn of the PUCC! Bring a lawn chair for the 11:00 service and worship under the leadership of Pastor Paige and Dave Grosenheider! We will enjoy lunch together afterwards in the Fellowship Hall! Main dish and beverages will be provided! Bring a side dish or dessert and your own table service!

At 9:00 on July 13, prior to our outdoor worship, Living Faith will host a Sunday Bible School session! Be watching for more details to come! If you would like to volunteer to help Pastor Paige with the day's activities, please let her know!

There will be a Do-Day with the PUCC on Thursday, June 26 from 9:30 - 3:00 in the Fellowship Hall. Come when you can, leave when you must! Coffee and bars will be served and lunch will be taco salads which will be ordered when you arrive. The cost is $6 and bring your own beverage for lunch. Here are supplies you can bring for the projects we will be working on: scissors, thread, needles, sewing machine and extensions cord, serger, rotary cutter and large cupping mat. If you do not have any of these things, do not worry, you will be able to help no matter the equipment! We will be making baby caps and blankets for Honduras.
See Angela Catton if you would like Living Faith apparel!

The Church Council is working to put in place protocols for safe handling of plate offerings on Sunday mornings. Yvonne Law, Brian Michaelson and Sharon Utesch have volunteered to help with this. We would like to have 2 - 3 more people to volunteer to be on a rotating team of taking care of this right after worship on Sunday mornings. Let Kay know if you would like to help with this from time to time!

Pastor Paige's office hours are Mondays from 10 - 2 and Thursdays from 1 - 4. Please note that there will be no office hours on Thursday (June 19) as Pastor Paige will be on vacation.

Living Faith has a new telephone number for you to put into your contacts! It is 712-541-3782. This is a second line into Pastor Paige's cell phone which will be used exclusively as our Living Faith number.