Living Faith Weekly News (Week of September 21, 2025)

Kay Michaelson
Sep 24
4 min read

Updated: Sep 27

**Living Faith welcomed Pastor Kris Hackbart to worship on Sunday!**

Living Faith joined with guest pastor, Kris Hackbart, to worship on the fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Thank you to all who helped with the worship service: Kim and Todd Lang, Dawn Richards, Angela Catton, Mark and Cheryl Juhl, Sharon Utesch, Sandy and Jim Heeren, and Kinley and Anniston Van Otterloo.

Next Sunday is the 16th Sunday after Pentecost

Living Faith will be worshiping at 11:00 on Sunday morning in the sanctuary of the Presbyterian United Church of Christ at 858 7th Ave. SE in Le Mars. Pastor Paige will preside over our worship and Travis Balt will accompany us on the piano. Yvonne Law will read scripture and Sue Stream will assist with Holy Communion. We welcome all to worship with us!

Prior to worship, at 9:30, Pastor Paige will lead a Bible Study in Room 105. Come for a thoughtful discussion and learning time of the scriptures of the day!

Sharon Utesch will be providing refreshments for the Faith + Fellowship time from 10:00 - 11:00. After Bible Study, stop by the Fellowship Hall for a cup of coffee and conversation with our PUCC friends!

This coming Sunday is Noisy Offering Sunday. Look for the Noisy Offering box on the Living Faith table in the narthex and drop your change off there!

Confirmation classes for students in 6th grade - 9th grade meet today, Wednesday, September 24th, at 7:00 in the Fellowship Hall of the PUCC. This year, the students are studying Luther's Small Catechism. Mentors for each student join in on the Catechism sessions on the third Wednesday of every month. Pastor Paige and Vicar Grace of Christ Lutheran Church lead each session.

Please put the following events on your calendars!

**Ongoing God's Work Our Hands projects finish up this week!**

Week of September 22

Visit Kay Allen! Contact Kay at 712-540-6950 to set up a time to visit her at her home, 1354 6th Ave. SE.

Write notes of encouragement to the faculty and students of MOC-FV. Bring your notes to church and hand them to Travis this Sunday.

Monday, September 29

Living Faith will pack snacks for the Le Mars Backpack program on Monday, September 29th at 4:30. Enter the marked, east facing door of the Nohava Construction building at 209 2nd St. SW!

Sunday, October 19

Living Faith will worship with our PUCC friends on Sunday, October 19th at 10:00 at the Hillview Recreation Area west of Hinton, 25601 C 60. Pastor Paige will lead us in worship and the PUCC praise band, Grace Notes, will provide the music. Holy Communion will be celebrated. Following worship, we will enjoy a potluck meal together. Bring a main dish, a side dish or a dessert along with your table service.

Saturday, October 25

The Western Iowa Synodical Women's Organization is hosting a retreat on Saturday, October 25 at Lutheran Lakeside Camp from 10:00 - 2:00. The retreat will feature a Bible Study, camp tour, craft making and a service project. The cost is $10 and lunch will be provided. Deadline to register is Monday, October 13. Please click on the link below for registration information.

October 2025 Retreat Registration.pdf

Sunday, October 26

Living Faith will celebrate the Confirmation of Jordan Kopperud at the 11:00 service on Sunday, October 26.

Also on Sunday, October 26, Living Faith will gather at 4:00 in the Municipal Park to enjoy a bonfire and s'mores and also to burn the palm branches from our Palm Sunday 2025 service to make ashes for our Ash Wednesday service in 2026. Please bring a lawn chair.

Mission Project for October

**Care Package Drive for Mitch Lang and his fellow guardsmen and women who are deployed overseas!**

Mitch Lang, son of Todd and Kim Lang, is deployed overseas for the upcoming months with the 113th Cavalry Iowa Army National Guard. Mitch serves as a medic for the Guard. During the month of October, Living Faith will conduct a care package drive to be sent to Mitch and his co-workers. Beginning October 5th, collection bins will be set up near the Living Faith table in the narthex. The above flyer will be available for your reference in deciding what you would like to contribute. Kim Lang has secured a Thrivent action money card which will go towards items and the shipping costs.

Living Faith's Church Council met on Tuesday and here are some items that were discussed:

Improvement of pastor's sound during worship: The Council has ordered a headset mic for Pastor Paige in an effort to make the volume of sound more consistent. The PUCC also has a poster in the narthex about sound enhancement devices and the Council will ask about information on this.
The Council is working to project music lyrics for hymns on the screen for worshipers who would prefer this. It is hoped to have this enhancement available soon.
The Council is preparing to put together a budget and proposed compensation package for 2026 at our November meeting.
The Council and Pastor Paige are working on programming and worship events for October, November and December: joint worship experiences with the PUCC, Camp Sunday for Living Faith, and special Advent worship opportunities. Be watching the weekly news and email for all that's coming up!

First Communion at Living Faith!

Congratulations to Abby Odens who celebrated her first Communion at Living Faith on Sunday, September 14th! Abby is the daughter of Dr. Donald and Jolene Odens. Blessings to you, Abby!

Pastor Paige has a busy October coming up!

Here is Pastor Paige's schedule for the upcoming weeks for days of continuing education and other synod responsibilities:

Saturday, September 27 - Participating in the installation of Bishop-elect Scott Dalen in Council Bluffs.
Monday and Tuesday, September 28 and 29 - Attending the Tri-Synod Fall Gathering in Des Moines
Wednesday and Thursday, October 15 and 16 - Continuing Education in Dubuque
Saturday, October 18 - Synod Council Meeting in Sioux City.

Pastor Paige's office hours this week were Monday and then will be Thursday from 1 - 4.