Mark your calendars for August 17-19, 2012, because Faith Lutheran is going to camp at Mount Carmel in Alexandria for FaithLife Camp. We’re picking up Faith and moving it for one weekend. To a lake. With a campfire and plenty of acoustic guitar. Families. Singles. Empty Nesters. Young kids. Old kids.

FaithLife Camp is designed to get you in touch with your Faith. How many distractions do you have in just one day? Throughout a whole year? At FaithLife Camp, you’re invited to come face to face with your faith in the company of your family and with members of your congregation.

Picture people staying in cabins, their RVs and campers, and lots of people staying in tents. Songs around the campfire, meals eaten together with the rest of the campers, night games, grass stains, swimming, planting our focus where it should be: on God and on our families praying together away from the distractions of home.

When we’re in our every day lives, we’re busy. We’ve got people to answer to, people to drop off, people to scold, appointments to keep, items to pick up, meals to cook, emails to answer, keys to find, houses to maintain… all with an ever-growing to do list.

FaithLife Camp is about dropping all of that.

Of all the things in your life right now, what will matter 5, even 20, years from now? That’s what we want to focus on during FaithLife Camp (August 17-19). Develop your family’s relationships with each other and your faith and build up your connection with your creator in a way we all fail to make time for a home. After camp, we want everyone to go home with a renewed, refreshed connection to faith that you can weave into your everyday life as you jump back into the busy, crazy real world we all live in.

Details about about what FaithLife Camp will be like are available here.

FaithLife Camp registration forms are available now in the church office and online. Please talk to either Julie (320-234-8403 or julieg@faithlc.com) or Diane (320-234-8417 or dianep@faithlc.com) when you turn in your registration so we can assign you either a camp site or a cabin. Please note that no registration is official until you have spoken with either Julie or Diane about lodging assignments.

Since Faith Lutheran began offering the Simply Giving automated giving program, many members have chosen to participate. Several people have said how much they like the program for its convenience – especially during the summer – and appreciate that their offerings to Faith Lutheran continue even if they are unable to attend a worship service.

To have your offerings transferred electronically to the church on a regular basis, please fill out the authorization form on the back and return to Diane in the church office.

Benefits for you:

• The satisfaction of giving to God first
• Easier to fulfill stewardship commitments
• Easier to contribute when you are away
• More secure than bringing cash or checks to church

Benefits for our church:

• Cultivates consistent giving
• More predictable cash flow for better planning
• Less work for office staff
• Secure and easy cash maintenance

Participants in this program will continue to receive offering envelopes, including envelopes for special offerings for a variety of needs. You may continue to participate in the offering during church by marking the envelopes as “Simply Giving” (SG) and placing them in the offering plates

Thank you for your prayerful consideration of this giving opportunity! Click the link below to view and print the form.

Simply Giving Form Revised Dec 2011

or give online:

Simply Giving Online

Faith Lutheran Church

Hutchinson, MN

May 13, 2012

“We Can’t Create Water”

Thoughts  about the Worship Theme to Contemplate and Discuss John 15:9-17

1. Jesus says, “I choose you.” Is that a privilege? A promise? A responsibility?

2. “I have called your friends.” Is that a privilege? A promise? A responsibility?

3. How do we abide in Jesus?

4. How do you hear, “apart from me, you can do nothing”? As good news? As bad news?

The vroom of the vacuums and the squirt of the spray bottles can’t drown the sounds of friendly chatter. Sometimes there are so many people around — talking and laughing — it’s hard to stick with just one conversation. The Spit & Shine group top off each Thursday morning cleaning session with coffee and treats in the Conference Room.

This fellowship endeavor is just one example of a purposeful and fulfilling ministry offered (and heavily organized by members) at Faith Lutheran. Want to learn more about Faith Lutheran’s ministries? Check out the “Get Involved” tab at the top of this page or call the Faith Lutheran office (320-587-2093) or email Marsha Schmit at marshas@faithlc.com.

The ladies of the Spit 'n Shine crew.

Pastor Paul will share his reflections about the sharp contrast between wealth and poverty in Ethiopia and his observations of the fierce and vibrant devotion to Christ at Mekane Yesus.  Come and hear about Pastor Paul’s travels to Ethiopia at a special Adult Forum this Sunday at 9:15 a.m. in the Greenhouse Space. Here’s a preview of his pictures (there are many more to share!).

Faith Lutheran Church

Hutchinson, MN

May 6, 2012

“What Do You See in FLC Seniors?”

Thoughts  about the Worship Theme to Contemplate and Discuss John 15:1-8

1. When is a branch actually alive? What does that tell you about our Faith?

2. A gardener prunes branches to make them bear more fruit. What do you see God has done in your life that is like a gardener pruning branches?

3. Since this is “Bless the Years” Sunday, what “fruits” do you see in Faith Lutheran Senior Citizens?

Missed the presentation? This Sunday is a second chance to see Judge Anderson. He’ll be at Faith Lutheran Sunday, May 6 at9:15 a.m. in the Adult Forum to explain Separation of Church and State from a Lutheran perspective.

The Honorable G. Barry Anderson

]]> http://www.faithlc.com/associate-justice-g-barry-anderson-separation-of-church-and-state-recording/feed/ 0 http://www.faithlc.com/be-bold-sunday-school-performance-video/ http://www.faithlc.com/be-bold-sunday-school-performance-video/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 15:19:02 +0000 Faith http://www.faithlc.com/?p=3329 It’s always exciting — for both the children performing and the congregation members watching — when the Sunday School children perform during a worship service. Watch as the children sing their message to “Be bold” and “Be strong… for the Lord your God is with you!”

Faith Lutheran Church

Hutchinson, MN

April 29, 2012

“Beware the Good Shepherd!”

Thoughts  about the Worship Theme to Contemplate and Discuss John 10:11-18

1. Does knowing that Jesus is your  Good Shepherd change your perspective on life? What difference does it make?

2. Why did Jesus’s declaration that he is the Good Shepherd arouse such opposition and enmity? Why does it still do so today?

3. Since the Good Shepherd seems always to be “wolf bait,” why follow him? How can we make that case to those who “do not belong to this fold”?

The stained glass window -- depicting Jesus as the Good Shepherd -- located in the balcony at Faith Lutheran.

Faith Lutheran Church

Hutchinson, MN

April 22, 2012

“Living the Easter Life”

Thoughts  about the Worship Theme to Contemplate and Discuss Luke 24:13-35

1. What is significant about who Jesus appears to (and who He doesn’t)?

2. “Their eyes were kept from recognizing him,” or He opened their minds and made himself known? Which is it?

3. Where does Jesus now appear?