Learn more about how Faith is supporting Christ’s mission in the world and how your offerings are used to further that mission Sundays during Adult Forum, February 5-26 at 9:15 a.m. in the Faith Center.

February 5

“Are Seminaries and Church Districts Really Mission Work?” –Pastor Randy Freund, Pastor Mark Richardson, and Marsha Schmit

February 12

“Can a Publishing House Be a Mission Outpost?” –Pastor Steve King, SOLA Publishing, Maple Lake, Minnesota

February 19

“Giving or Receiving? Mission with Missional Churches” –Pastor Paul Knudson

February 26

“Mission Fields in Our Back Yards” –Pastor David Christensen, Living Word Lutheran Church, Marshall, Minnesota

Introducing Faith @ Home: a monthly discussion/class/support group for parents about being the primary teachers of faith in their children’s lives. Our first meeting will be over coffee and treats on Sun. Feb. 5 at 9:15 a.m. in the new North Entry (door 1) at Faith Lutheran. Anyone who has the opportunity to influence the faith journey of a child is welcome to attend.

Contact Kacie Lange (kaciel@faithlc.com) with questions. If you are a Sunday School teacher and are interested in attending, let Kacie know and she will arrange for a substitute to teach your class that day.

“Teach [these words] to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.” -Deuteronomy 11:19

Faith Lutheran Church

Hutchinson, MN

Jan. 29, 2012

“Conquering Love”

Thoughts  about the Worship Theme to Contemplate and Discuss Mark 1:21-28

1. In today’s gospel, Jesus evades a confrontation. Jesus is where you’d expect him to be, but the man with an unclean spirit is not (see #4).

2. Why do demons see Jesus as a threat, but the religious people do not?

3. Jesus’ authority does not rely on precedent or majority opinion.

4. In what follows, Jesus shows up in all the places you would not expect him to be. What do you make of that?

Faith Lutheran’s proposed budget for 2012 is $737,750, a figure that is so far beyond our personal financial reality that it is hard to fathom. It will require an average weekly offering of $14,000 in 2012 — which is still several months’ income for most of us.

When that amount is spread across all the households of Faith, however, it can be reached and even exceeded. The amazing response to the 3-PEAT challenge at the end of 2011 proved that.

Faithful giving throughout the year — in proportion to how God provides for us — will allow all of Faith’s ministries to continue, without facing a major shortfall at the end of the year. Because God keeps His promise to provide our daily bread so generously, this is a goal we can reach together for Jesus’ sake.

How is it going so far?

Preliminary figures suggest that the momentum of the 3-PEAT championship has carried over into 2012! It appears that generous offerings will allow the church to meet all January expenses with no new deficit opening up. That is a welcome contrast to recent years, when January often put us right back into a deficit, even after a big year-end offering had closed the gap for the last year.

The purpose of Give-12 is to provide encouragement, information and Biblical insights about giving, so that this momentum can continue and the ministry of our church can be put on an ever-more solid and predictable footing. Look for more Give-12 reports all through the year as we joyfully pursue this ministry God has entrusted to us.

 An easy way to help Faith Lutheran start 2012 strong is through Simply Giving. You can read more about it and sign up for the program here.

This new six-week ILT class, Discipleship Delivered: Disguised and Daring begins tonight: Monday, January 30 from 7-8 p.m. at Faith Lutheran.

Session One: Monday, January 30: “How Did We Get Here?”

Session Two: Monday, February 6: “Theological Realism Meets the Great Commission”

Session Three: Monday, February 13: “The Christian Right, the Christian Left, the Christian Pure… Is There an Alternative?”

Session Four: Monday, February 20: “A New Look at a Forgotten Lutheran Gift: Doctrine of the Two Kingdoms”

Session Five: Monday, February 27: “A Proposal for Change”

Session Six: Monday March 5: “Summary and the Sources”

Faith Lutheran Church

Hutchinson, MN

Jan. 22, 2012

“Follow the Leader”

Questions about the Worship Theme to Contemplate and Discuss Mark 1:14-20

1. What do you think the first disciples were expecting when they responded to Jesus’ promise to make them “fish for people?”

2. Have you ever faced a situation where you had to go forward in a truly blind way? What gave you the courage to do that?

3. When we are called to follow the leader, which is more important: the leader or the path the leader takes?

The choir’s first meeting is Wed. Jan. 25 at 5:15 p.m. in the music room, and it will run for 6 or 7 weeks.  Call Sue Graff at 587-6289 or kssgraff@hutchtel.net for more information.

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” Psalm 98:4

Faith Lutheran Church

Hutchinson, MN

Jan. 15, 2012

“Nazareth: Starting Point or Destination?”

Questions about the Worship Theme to Contemplate and Discuss John 1:43-51

“Come and See”

1. Why would you?

2. How would you convince someone else?

3. What if they came and saw… and left disappointed?

Each household in our congregation will receive a giving packet on Jan. 22, and the packet will be picked up on Jan. 29. All members are asked to prayerfully consider their contribution to the Legacy of Faith… Moving Forward capital campaign. This campaign, which has the goal of paying the mortgage for Phase 1 our new building (construction was completed in 2010), began at the start of January and will last three years.