Living Faith Weekly News (Week of September 17)

Last Week

We welcomed Pastor Joy Gonnerman to the Chapel to lead worship! Pastor Joy will alternate Sundays with Pastor Halaas as supply pastors for the next few months! Thank you for your message and leadership in our worship, Pastor Joy!

Thank you to Tim Kass, Gail Kass, Sandy Heeren, Kjersten Rathke and Kay Michaelson for your service to our Living Faith worship experience!

This Week

Living Faith welcomes David Krahling to the Chapel! David grew up on a farm in Lyon County, went to high school in George, Iowa and attended Iowa State University. He began his working career by teaching high school agriculture in Sioux Center in 1984 where he joined Hope Lutheran Church, a congregation in their second year of existence! At Hope he taught High School Sunday School for 25 years and he occasionally fills in as a lay leader. He is semi-retired from Interstates in Sioux Center and he farms part-time. David currently serves as the Mayor of Sioux Center. He and his wife, Char, a retired school librarian, enjoy traveling. David graciously volunteered to deliver a message to us if we were ever in need! Thank you, David, and welcome to Living Faith!

Debbie Gibson will read scripture and Angela Catton, Mark Juhl, Kari Kopperud and Kay Michaelson will assist with worship as well. Kjersten Rathke has volunteered to be our musician for the day - Thank you Kjersten - we are blessed to have your leadership! Tim Kass will usher for us. There will be no communion served on Sunday.

Last week we had the opportunity to hear from Efi Latsoudi, the peacekeeper from Greece, who spoke about her work with the refugees who come to the Greek island where she lives, Lesvos.

This week we will return to Room 103 at 10:00 to enjoy time together and discuss God's Word for us. We will have the coffee on and enjoy treats from Yvonne Law!

Sunday will be the last day to "drop your drawers" off into the basket on the hallway table as a part of God's Work Our Hands efforts by Living Faith to supply new underwear for teens to the nurse's offices in the Le Mars Community Middle School and High School.

Donations will be taken to the schools the week of the 24th.

Happy Birthday on the 20th of September to Nick Shipley who was inadvertently left off the September celebration list.

September 26 - Pack snack packs for Le Mars schools' Backpack Program -

4:00 at Nohava Construction, 209 2nd St. SW.

October 1 - S'mores and Ashes at the Park at 7:00 PM

Bring your lawn chair and join us as we burn the palm branches from Palm Sunday to make the ashes for 2024 Ash Wednesday! Following, we will enjoy s'mores and lawn games!

October 8 - Children's Chapel at PUCC - Living Faith preschoolers - 5th graders are invited to the PUCC Children's Chapel time from 10:10 - 10:50. Children's Chapel is offered every Sunday except for the first Sunday of each month.

October 8 - Living Faith Chili Feed and Meeting - Following worship on October 8th, Living Faith members will gather in the Fellowship Hall of the PUCC for a chili lunch and meeting. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share for the meal. Our meeting will feature a financial report from Kari Kopperud and discussion and decision making about Living Faith benevolence monies and projects as well as future plans for fellowship and faith building among members. Please plan to stay and join in on the discussion!

What's happening here?!

On September 10th, Pastor Halaas included the following quote about forgiveness in his sermon. Requests were made for this quote and here is is:

"Forgiveness is not a matter of exonerating people who have hurt you. They may not deserve exoneration. Forgiveness means cleansing your soul of the bitterness of 'what might have been', 'what should have been' and 'what didn't have to happen'. Someone has defined forgiveness as 'giving up all hope of having had a better past'. What's past is past and there is little to be gained by dwelling on it. There are perhaps no sadder people than the men and women who have a grievance against the world because of something that happened years ago and have let that memory sour their view of life ever since."

--Rabbi Harold S. Kushner

A Note of Thanks from Pastor Denne

Pastor Denne extends thanks to Living Faith and his note was written on a card from a monastery gift shop!

"Dear Friends in Christ of Living Faith Lutheran,

Thank you very much for the generous gift of funds which will enable me to attend future retreats and continuing education! You figured out that I have a habit of life-long learning that I can't seem to quit.

Although our time together was less than a year, your witness to the abundant grace, love and mercy of Christ will shape my ministry the rest of my life. Living Faith embodies the Gospel in so many ways that it is hard to believe you are just getting started.

May the peace of the Lord, which surpasses all understanding be with all of you as you continue to share the good news in the months and years to come,

Pastor Jay

If you are in need of pastoral care and support, please contact Pastor David Halaas at 701-430-339 or at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 712-276-2418.

Please keep the following in your prayers this week:

The Living Faith member you are praying for.

Baby Morgan and her parents: Morgan has been diagnosed with a rare (for babies) malignant cancer, Hepatoblastoma. She has had surgery to remove a tumor on her liver. Tests show the cancer is likely contained to her liver which is the good news of the day. More tests are going to be run this week and once all the information is gathered, a plan of treatment will be developed likely at the end of this week.

Kevin Olson who is battling lung cancer.

Mark Juhl's sister, Judy Plank, who suffered a stroke on Monday and was air lifted to Sioux Falls.