Living Faith Weekly News (Week of March 15, 2026)
- Kay Michaelson
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Lenten Theme: Journey to Easter Vigil
This Week: God's "Free Feast" from the Book of Isaiah
Come join us at the Presbyterian United Church of Christ at 7:00 PM on Wednesday evening for our weekly Lenten service. The service will feature music, scripture, readings, discussion, prayer, and this week, Holy Communion. Pastor Paige will lead the service, Kenzie McLaughlin will read scripture, Gail Kass will accompany us on the piano, and Clara Kass and Nate Rathke will assist with Holy Communion. Thank you to John and Peg McAllister for providing the bread for our "feast'!
Come early and enjoy our Lenten meal at 6:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall of the PUCC. This week's menu features taverns.
Pastor Paige will preside over worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM in the sanctuary of the Presbyterian United Church of Christ (858 7th Ave. SE). We will have a seat waiting for YOU! Travis Balt will be accompanying us on the piano and Trish Underberg will live stream our service. Tim Kass will greet you at the door with a bulletin and help usher, Nathan Summerside will read scripture and Brian Michaelson will assist with Holy Communion.
Bible Study takes place on Sunday mornings at 9:30 in the church office, Room 105. During Lent we are previewing the scripture to be considered at the Wednesday Lenten service.
The PUCC is serving Sunday Brunch from 10:00 - 11:00 during the season of Lent and Living Faith is invited!
Last Week's Happenings at Living Faith!
Last Wednesday's Lenten Meal
A great meal and conversation occurred in the Fellowship Hall last Wednesday! Thank you to Pastor Paige for facilitating the groupings and conversations. Thank you as well to the individuals who contributed to our meal: Clara Kass, Mark and Angela Catton, Kari Kopperud, Kim Lang, Debbie Gibson, Kay Allen, Sharon Utesch, Rich Ziettlow, Karen Kass, Kay Michaelson, Dawn Richards, Kay Allen, Jim Heeren, and Gail Kass.
Last Wednesday's Lenten Service
The focus story for our service was Moses parting the Red Sea. Thank you to Dakota Utesch for reading scripture.
Pastor Paige led worship which featured poetry and a prayer walk. Thank you to Travis Balt for accompanying us on the piano. Thank you as well to Clara Kass and Tim Kass for ushering.
Thank you for your understanding of the need to declare last Sunday as a snow day. The Church Council will be holding discussions on the possibility of providing online options on the rare days such as these in the future. We acknowledge the work of Pastor Paige, Dawn Richards, John and Peg McAllister and Nathan Summerside in what they did to prepare for our service during the week.
Sign Up Table is Busy!
The Living Faith table contains several sign up sheets as volunteers are needed in the upcoming weeks!
Ongoing Needs!
Volunteer to read scripture on Sunday mornings.
Volunteer to help with live streaming our services. Angela Catton is happy to give you a quick tutorial on live streaming with the Living Faith iPad.
Holy Week Needs!
Palm Sunday, March 29 at 11:00:
4 readers
Communion Assistant
Maundy Thursday, April 2 at 7:00 in the Chapel:
1 reader
2 - 3 people to strip the altar
Communion assistant
Good Friday, April 3 at 7:00 in the Chapel:
2 readers - must be comfortable walking around the Chapel and must be free to rehearse with Pastor Paige before worship or earlier in the week
Easter Vigil, April 4 at 7:00 in the Chapel:
1 - 2 ushers/greeters
1 candle bearer - walk with Paschal candle from outdoors into the Chapel
1 binder holder for Pastor Paige
3 - 12 readers/actors - must be available for a "dress rehearsal" earlier in the week or on Saturday
1 Communion Assistant
Look for the sign up sheets on the Living Faith table in the narthex to volunteer to be a part of our ongoing services and also the special services of Holy Week!
How You Can Make Holy Week and Easter Special
Here are several ways you can add to your season of Lent and Holy Week!
Check out the Easter egg tree in the narthex to pick an egg and shop for items needed by Sleep in Heavenly Peace for their beds and bed builds! Return the egg and item to the tree by Easter Sunday.
The Church Council has designated the Wednesday Lenten offerings to Sleep in Heavenly Peace. The box to collect these offerings will be out on a table in the Fellowship Hall during our Lenten meals.
Sign up online to attend the Sleep in Heavenly Peace bed build in Le Mars at Le Mars Chevy & GMC. Go to the Sleep in Heavenly Peace web page and search for the Sioux City chapter. Once you are in the Sioux City chapter's page, you will be able to find the March 28th bed build and you can sign up online for either the 9 - 11 time slot or the 1 - 3 time slot. The PUCC will be helping at the 1 - 3 time slot.
The PUCC sanctuary will be decorated with flowering plants on Easter Sunday. If you would like to donate a plant, please bring it to the Fellowship Hall on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday. Also, please locate the sign up sheet on the PUCC table in the narthex to note your donation and who it is in memory or honor of. After our worship service on Easter Sunday, your plants may be picked up.
Let Kay Michaelson know if you are interested in being a part of a pop-up choir for our Easter Sunday worship service. We will need to know if we have enough singers by March 25th.
New ELCA Website
There is a new design to the ELCA website! Check it out at elca.org.
Caleb and Jenelle Van Otterloo welcomed Banks Dwight to their family on Friday, March 13th. Banks is also welcomed home by big sisters Kinley and Anniston.
Wednesday, March 18 - 6:00 - Lenten Meal
Wednesday, March 18 - 7:00 Lenten Meal
Sunday, March 22 - 9:30 - Bible Study
Sunday, March 22 - 10:00 - Brunch with the PUCC
Sunday, March 22 - 11:00 - Living Faith Worship
Please pray for:
Clayton and Janice Kooiker
John, Peg and Katie McAllister
Rick, Sue, Marley, and the Stream and Brennan families
Adam Curry
The Kristy Pecks family
The Easton Riddle Family
The Ostermyer Family
The Matthew Kenny Family
Sherry Jo Wittkop and her family
Rod Hallberg
Marilynn
Ali
Marie
Pastor Paige
Living Faith
The Living Faith brother or sister you are praying for
Comments