Living Faith Weekly News (Week of March 29, 2026)
- Kay Michaelson
- Mar 30
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 30
Living Faith observed Palm Sunday with an outdoor blessing of the palms and a processional into the sanctuary on Sunday morning. The palms waved high as Pastor Paige McGrath led worshipers into the sanctuary accompanied by Travis Balt at the piano.
Thank you to Pastor Paige for our meaningful worship, Travis Balt for his piano accompaniment, Karen Schroeder for reading scripture, Tim Kass for ushering, Todd Lang for assisting with Holy Communion, Angela Catton for live-streaming our service, and Peg and John McAllister for providing bread and preparing the elements for Holy Communion.
The worship service also featured the reading of the Passion Story from Matthew's Gospel. Pastor Paige, Karen Schroeder, Kim Lang, Nathan Summerside and Kay Michaelson were a part of this Reader's Theater offering.
Thank you also to those who helped after the service: Tim Kass, Angela Catton, Brian and Kay Michaelson, Sharon Utesch, and Yvonne Law.
Palm Sunday pictures of our worship taken by members:
Pastor Paige will lead this special worship service and Gail Kass will accompany us on the piano. Travis Balt will be the reader and Kim Lang will assist with Holy Communion. At the end of the service, Todd Lang, Kay Michaelson and Yvonne Law will help to strip the altar.
Pastor Paige will lead this special worship service with Dawn Richards accompanying on the piano. Travis Balt and Bailey Quanbeck will be readers for this service.
Pastor Paige will lead this special service which will begin outside with the lighting of the paschal candle and a candle for each worshiper. The congregation will then process into the Chapel. Travis Balt will accompany us on the piano. Jess Kopperud will play "Be Thou My Vision" on the violin. Dell and June Ferguson will supply the fire pit for our outdoor fire. Yvonne Law and Kay Allen will usher and greet you. Todd Lang will be the candle bearer and Kay Michaelson will assist Pastor Paige at our outdoor location. Our readers for the evening will be Karen Schroeder, Travis Balt, Bailey Quanbeck, Kari Kopperud, Kim Lang and Angela Catton. Todd Lang will assist with Holy Communion.
All are invited and welcome to Living Faith's Easter Sunday service at 11:00 AM on April 5th in the sanctuary of the Presbyterian United Church of Christ at 858 7th Ave. SE in Le Mars! Pastor Paige McGrath will lead worship and Travis Balt will accompany us on the piano. Living Faith's Easter choir will offer a selection to which the congregation will lend their voices also. The choir is under the direction of Travis Balt, accompanied by Pixie Balt. Also adding brass accompaniment will be Michael Prichard and Chloe Witt. Mark Catton will read scripture, Peg McAllister will serve Holy Communion, Tim Kass will usher and Angela Catton will live-stream our service.
Other Easter Sunday Activities!
Living Faith is hosting an Easter Brunch at 10:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall of the PUCC. On the menu: egg bakes, sweet breads, fruit, and beverages. Come early to church to enjoy this meal together!
An Easter egg hunt for students ages 5th grade and under will be held on the front lawn of the PUCC, weather permitting, at 10:30 AM. Older students are welcome to help "hide" the eggs!
Wednesday, March 25 Lenten Service
Our last Lenten evening began with a meal of pizza in the PUCC Fellowship Hall. Thank you to Kari Kopperud for ordering and delivering the pizza! Others who contributed to the meal were: Sharon Utesch, Kay Allen, Kay Michaelson, and Amy Riccio-Beveridge. Once again, Pastor Paige divided us up and devised discussion questions while we enjoyed our meal!
The Bible story for Wednesday was the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and we used our time of confession to write down our thoughts, approach the font, receive a word of forgiveness and burn our sins into the baptismal waters.
Thank you to Pastor Paige for creating a special final Lenten service, Clara Kass for ushering and reading scripture, Dawn Richards for accompanying us on piano and Tim Kass for ushering as well.
Easter Choir practice will take place on Thursday at approximately 8:00 PM (or when the PUCC Maundy Thursday service is complete) in the sanctuary of the PUCC. We will practice our anthem for Easter Sunday and the anthem for those who can attend the Easter Vigil service on Saturday.
Bring your flowering plants to the PUCC Fellowship Hall on Maundy Thursday or by Friday, April 3. After the Living Faith service on Easter Sunday, you may take your plants home.
Thank you for the many donations that are filling the narthex for Sleep in Heavenly Peace! We have had gift cards, bedding and building items donated from the needs described on the eggs from the tree! We have also had a donation to cover the cost to complete the build for one bed! In addition, Living Faith designated their Lenten offerings for Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Here is the breakdown of our monetary donations: Ash Wednesday offering: $540; Lenten offerings: $646; Gift from Ruth Peters for missions: $100. The total of our monetary offerings for Sleep in Heavenly Peace is $1,286. Thank you for your generosity, Living Faith!
Sunday, April 26 is an important day for Living Faith as we begin visioning for the future at our first visioning meeting right after worship. A light lunch will be served by the Church Council and then Pastor Paige will lead us in this first session of what we would like to see for the future of Living Faith. Please mark this date on your calendar and include this meeting time and discussion in your prayers!
Confirmation classes will resume on Wednesday, April 8 at 7:00 PM at Christ Lutheran Church, rural Brunsville.
We celebrate with those who are celebrating in the month of April!
Birthdays:
Tyler Gibson - April 8
Jean Ziettlow - April 11
Kevin Richards - April 13
June Ferguson - April 25
Baptismal Birthdays:
Shawn Shipley - April 18
Dell Ferguson - April 27
There will be no office hours for Pastor Paige on Monday, April 6th. Office hours will resume on Thursday, April 9 from 11 - 4.
Thursday, April 2 - 7:00 PM - Maundy Thursday service - PUCC Chapel
Easter Choir rehearsal following
Friday, April 3 - 7:00 PM - Good Friday service - PUCC Chapel
Bring flowering plants to PUCC Fellowship Hall
Saturday, April 4 - 7:00 PM - Easter Vigil service - PUCC Chapel
Sunday, April 5 - 10:00 AM - Easter Brunch - PUCC Fellowship Hall
10:30 - Easter Egg Hunt - front lawn
11:00 - Easter Worship
Monday, April 6 - No office hours for Pastor Paige
Wednesday, April 8 - 7:00 PM - Confirmation classes at Christ Lutheran
We hold in prayer:
Clayton and Janice Kooiker
Trish Underberg
John, Peg and Katie McAllister
Rick, Sue and Marley and the Stream and Brennan Families
The Kristy Pecks Family
The Easton Riddle Family
The Ostermyer Family
The Matthew Kenny Family
Sherry Jo Wittkop and her family
Rod Hallberg
Marilynn
Pam Jeneary
Ali
Marie Clinton
Pastor Paige
Living Faith
The Living Faith brother or sister you are praying for
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