Living Faith Weekly News (Week of November 23, 2025)

Kay Michaelson
5 hours ago
5 min read

**Living Faith ends the liturgical year with Christ the King Sunday!**

Pastor Paige delivered a message on Christ the King Sunday explaining the origins of this day: 100 years ago, Pope Pius XI instituted Christ the King Sunday as a response to the rising nationalism and authoritarianism of the World War I era. It was to be a reminder that our loyalty is not to earthly powers, but to the reign of Jesus who defined the values of justice, peace and mercy as a way of life.

Thank you to Pastor Paige for leading our worship. Thank you also to Dawn Richards who accompanied us on the piano, Tim Kass who ushered and manned the sound booth, Angela Catton who live streamed our service, John and Peg McAllister who prepared communion, Karen Schroeder who read scripture, Peg McAllister who assisted with Holy Communion, and Tim and Gail Kass and Todd Lang who helped clean up our worship space.

Thank you to Kinley and Anniston Van Otterloo for helping with clean up.

Next Sunday

On November 30, Living Faith, led by Pastor Paige, will light the first candle of the Advent wreath as we begin the Advent Season, awaiting the birth of Christ. All are welcome to journey with us in this time of waiting as we worship at 11:00 on Sunday mornings in the sanctuary of the Presbyterian United Church of Christ at 858 7th Ave. SE in Le Mars.

Tim Kass will greet you at the door with a bulletin. Conor Rathke will read scripture and Kjersten Rathke will assist with Holy Communion. Travis Balt will accompany us on the piano.

At 9:30, Pastor Paige leads a Bible Study in Room 105 where we dig into the scripture of the day. Join us! There's plenty of room around the table! Following Bible Study, there is a time of fellowship with coffee and treats in the Fellowship Hall of the PUCC!

With November 30th being the last Sunday of the month, the Noisy Offering box will be out on the Living Faith table in the narthex. Bring your loose change to drop in the box!

Living Faith Collects Donations for The Table and the Le Mars Backpack Program

The Table (food pantry at Rejoice! Church) and the Le Mars Backpack Program enter this holiday season facing a community in need. Living Faith is raising funds to support those programs in the needs they have. This basket will be in the back of the sanctuary for you to place your gift. Donations will be taken until December 7th where they will be split evenly between these two ministries in Le Mars. Checks can be made out to Living Faith. Thank you for your generosity!

Monday, November 24

5:30 - Decorate Living Faith tree and the Chapel - all welcome to help out!
6:30 - Church Council Meeting

Wednesday, November 26

No Confirmation classes due to the Thanksgiving holiday

Thursday, November 27

No office hours due to the Thanksgiving holiday

Sunday, November 30

9:30 Bible Study
11:00 Worship on the First Sunday in Advent

The first Advent meal will be held on Wednesday, December 3 at 6:00 in the Fellowship Hall. There is a sign up sheet for volunteers to bring items for this meal of walking tacos. Items needed are a bag of shredded cheese, 3 desserts, a box of 10 small bags of Doritos, 2 pounds of seasoned taco meat, and 1 bag of cuties. Thank you for your help with this! Help is also needed in serving the meal.

Tour of Steeples

The Tour of Steeples is coming up on Sunday, December 6th. Sign up if you'd like to carpool to this event. We will leave from the PUCC parking lot at 9:30 that morning and return between 3:00 and 3:30.

Advent calendars are available on the sign up table! There is a round one for families with young children and the other calendar, with a focus on helping those in need, is available for all!

Unveiling of the 2025 Living Faith Christmas Ornament!

The 2025 Living Faith Christmas ornaments will be out on the sign up table for the taking on Sunday. Please, take just one per family!

Thank you to Peg McAllister for obtaining supplies! Peg and Kay Michaelson crafted the ornaments at Peg's home recently!

It's not too late to join our Christmas Choir led by Travis Balt! The choir will rehearse on December 17th following our Advent services and will present their anthem on Sunday, December 21st! Let Kay Michaelson know if you'd like to join!

Living Faith extends its sympathies to the Kristy Pecks family upon her passing. Kristy's Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, December 6th from 3:00 - 5:00 at the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home here in Le Mars.

Thank you to all who helped with turkey pulling at Rejoice! Church on Saturday: Tim and Gail Kass, Angela Catton, Nathan Summerside, Sharon Utesch, June Ferguson and Kari Kopperud.

Message from Maggie Catton: "And we are all done, DONE! Thank you again for all of the help!! Two weeks ago I didn't get out of here until 4 o'clock (with Living Faith's help, all was taken care of in 1 hour!) We appreciate the Living Faith team!"

Thank you to Gail Kass for providing treats for the Faith & Fellowship hour at church on Sunday!

Sunday Celebration of Pastor David Halaas and His Retirement!

Sunday marked then end of Pastor Halaas' years of ministry and Living Faith was privileged to be a part of his celebration which took place at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Sioux City.

Bishop Lorna opened the program which featured several speakers including Pastor Halaas' brothers, Bruce Miller of the Sioux City Journal, Pastor Andy Nelson, Rebecca Elder and her husband, and Bishop Scott Dalen.