At the bottom of this email, if you see words such as "View entire message," please click the link to view all content.

At the bottom of this email, if you see words such as "View entire message," please click the link to view all content.

Sunday, January 12, 2024

Worship Services at 8 a.m., 10:15 a.m., & 5 p.m.

Please note that we are offering a Contemporary Worship at 5 p.m. on Sundays. It is an uplifting and exciting service! Attend Live or via Stream!

Isaiah 62:1-5

As bridegroom and bride rejoice, so shall God rejoice over you

Psalm 36:5-10

We feast upon the abundance of your house, O Lord. (Ps. 36:8)

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

There are a variety of gifts but the same Spirit

John 2:1-11

The wedding at Cana

Please note that we are having our regular services at 8:00 & 10:15 but we are also offering a special service every Sunday at 5 p.m.

Live and stream!

Please join us for a 3 part series by Dr. Richard Crank, Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon. Dr. Crank will share vital information with our community regarding Joint Health, Fall Prevention, and practices that lead to enhanced well being. Breakfast will be provided.

Saturdays 1/18, 2/22, & 3/01

Doors open at 9:30 a.m. and lectures will start at 10 a.m.

FLC - Fellowship Hall

As part of the St. Lutheran Concert Series, FLC will be hosting a Jazz Concert! Sat., 2/15 @ 7 p.m.   Stay tuned for more details!

In lieu of our Contemporary Worship Service, we will have a special Jazz Service! It will be very exciting! 

Sun. 2/16 @ 5 p.m.

So “investing for time and eternity” includes how we use our “time” and “talents.” It also includes the use of our “treasure.” We are managers and stewards, not owners. God owns it all! When we give, we are simply giving back to God that which

rightfully belongs to God.

• Think about Sundays — your church life and the motivation you receive.
• Think about your children and their future. And their children’s future.
• Think about your neighborhood — unreached individuals by the hundreds.
• Think about the possibilities of radio or television outreach, Faith’s Food Pantry, increased “Worship-to-go outreach”, increasing the service use of our Community Center! What’s it worth?

The Adult Bible Study class is looking forward to a study “Witness at the Cross”, as we move towards the season of Lent and Holy Week.

My heart is most grateful, not only for the opportunity to continue to be one of the leaders of Bible Study at Faith, but to Learn along with my sisters and brothers in Christ, and to enjoy this way of being the body of Christ together.

Words do not fully describe my gratitude to all of you; those participating in our class sessions, and other in the congregation who have offered many kind words and given generous gifts, often anonymously. Ann and I are humbled by them and are truly blessed.  Thank you dear ones, Gracious!

Attendees shall gather again, beginning on Wed., January 15^th, to read from study books, from the Bible, and to sit at the feet of Professor Amy-Jill Levine, and first timers are strongly encouraged to attend. Will you consider joining us as we seek to grow in faith together? A blessed Christmastide to all as we look toward Epiphany. Peace and joy! 

Immediately after the close of each worship service today in the sanctuary, you’ll be treated to information about Faith’s new and long-awaited pictorial church directory.

During the season, you’ll learn how o use Faith’s safe and secure church software system to:

·     Keep your own record up to date.

·     See your donations to Faith.

·     Choose what personal information you would like to share in the new pictorial directory.

·     View digital pictorial directory that includes your church friends. Paper copies will be available upon request.

·     Schedule a directory photo appointment with our own Kelly Ashlock by choosing a time on the sign-up sheet in the narthex.

If you have not done so already, please be sure to fill out a Household Email Form. The forms were distributed as you entered the sanctuary several Sundays ago in October, and copies are available in the narthex. You can complete the form and place it in the offering plate.

For more information you may speak to Lauren Wardach.

As you may know, Hurricanes Helene and Milton have brought unprecedented devastation to our communities across Florida. Many of our congregations have suffered severe damage and flooding, and countless families have been displaced, losing homes and possessions. In times like these, we are called to come together as the body of Christ. We know that Lutherans respond to disasters in three powerful ways: pray, give, and serve.

Please join us in lifting up all those affected by the hurricane in your prayers. Pray for comfort and strength for those who have lost so much, and for wisdom and endurance for the first responders and relief workers on the ground.

Immediate financial support is urgently needed to provide essentials like temporary housing, transportation, and food for those in crisis.

Please prayerfully consider giving a Special Offering to help the ELCA Disaster Response. There are ELCA giving envelopes located in the Narthex and we have a giving tile on our website for the Florida-Bahamas Synod Hurricane Relief.

Faith Book Club will resume our reading discussions on Mon., Jan. 27th with the book The Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner.

If you would like to join us please contact Janet Petersen at luvstitches55@gmail.com

Zumba Class will take place on Mondays at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Center (gym). All fitness levels are welcome! It is free for congregation members and a voluntary donation from non-members is appreciated. Join in the FUN!!!

The Suncoast Blood Centers has a new incentive for our donors because we have been in such a critical need. See the new award system below! Please sign up online or on the sign up sheets on the narthex tables. Donors can click link to make appointments or they can walk on mobile:

Sun., Jan. 19^th 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

(FLC parking lot)

You can sign up in the fellowship hall or call 1-866-97-BLOOD

(866-972-5663)

Faith will pay for Uber or Lyft to bring you or others to worship or other events.

Contact Pastor Eric to make arrangements, 716-352-0055.

Mary Circle starts off 2025 on Tuesday, January 14^th with our guest speaker, Pastor Marianne Powrie. She will be entertaining us with her adventures traveling to Turkey and Greece. Please try to join us for this interesting conversation. We meet at 12 in the fellowship hall - bring lunch, dessert will be provided.

Investing for Time and Eternity

 “. . . store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Matt. 6:20-21

The Prayer Support Group meets at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays in the chapel to pray for all in need, our community, our nation, our world, and to share Holy Communion.

The Bereavement Group meets at 3:15 p.m. Wednesdays in the chapel. If you or a friend can use help bearing the burden of grief, this group is for you. All are welcome!

Opportunities to study God's word among an ever-widening circle of women friends return as G.I.F.T.S. (Growing in Faith Through Scripture) women's Bible study every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

All women are invited to meet in the upstairs library for a relatable, encouraging and easy-to-follow study by Deb Burma,

"Leaning on Jesus: A Study of God's Strength." 

Let's make new friends and grow in faith together! Please come! Questions? Contact Peggy Ragan, 941-302-7722 or pragan12@aol.com.

We are passionate about opportunities to grow new ministries and further develop our faith into actionable steps of support and expansion. We remain ready and willing, eager to see our church family and broader community feel the love of Christ in our work. We are updating our brochure, which will be available for you in the next couple of weeks. There will also be some placed on the narthex table when they are finished as well.

Today, we celebrate you, as we cannot grow without our loving congregation. Your gifts, of any amount, give us a means to have a perpetual fund that extends beyond us and our lifetime in support of ministry at Faith Lutheran Church. Our Committee members, including Patty McKee, Denise Kirkeeng, Marlene Radesk, Terry Copper, Pastor John Spittal, Karen Kolschowsky, Pastor Eric, and Ann Greenwood are all available to talk with you about any potential grant ideas or ways for you to contribute your valuable treasures with this fund. Again, thank you deeply for your generosity, support and ideas of ways to deepen our faith and spreading of God’s love.

Adult Forum  -  January 13^th with Volume 13 – 5 Lessons “Israel’s Mission”. The lesson will be Lesson 2 – Israel at Sinai: The First Commission. Jan. 19^th will feature Lesson 3 – Jesus renews his Mission: Seeking the Lost.

Between worship services - 9:10-9:50 a.m. in the conference room. 

Please consider donating altar flowers in honor of a special occasion, in memory of a loved one or to glorify God.

The cost is $30 for one vase or $60 for two vases. For each week, we can have either one donor for both vases, or two donors for one vase each. Make checks payable to Faith Lutheran Church, and indicate "altar flowers" in the memo line.

Check the altar flowers donation board in fellowship hall to see if your desired date is available. If not, please choose an alternate date. 

The next open dates are Sunday, 1/26, 2/16, 3/02.

When you purchase altar flowers, your name and dedication will be published in the bulletin on your selected Sunday. To make a dedication:

• At church, complete an Altar Flowers envelope with your payment, and place it in the offering plate. Indicate your wish to keep or donate the flowers on the donation board in fellowship hall. You also can include a note in the envelope with your donation or call the church office.
• By mail, send payment with a note indicating your desired date and dedication, and if you want to keep the flowers or donate them.
• By email or phone, contact the church office with your desired date and dedication, and whether you want to keep or donate the flowers. Pay through the altar flowers option on the Faith website.

If you have questions or specific requests about who or what organization should receive flowers that you purchased and choose to donate, contact Joan Hirsch, 941-726-7885.

Coffee hour is an important fellowship ministry at Faith that needs additional volunteers. All you have to do is provide and put out snacks, and clean up afterward.

Faith can cover the cost of the snacks If you would like to volunteer but don't have resources to purchase them.

Please sign up on the sheet beside the coffee pot in fellowship hall. Questions? Contact Karen Naulty, knaulty@yahoo.com or 406-334-1063; or Denise Kirkeeng, kirkeengd@verizon.net or 941-468-6668.

Pastor Eric often speaks with people about aid they require, including desperately needed assistance following Hurricane Debby. The Pastor's Discretionary Fund allows him to assist financially, when appropriate.

The need currently is great so, if you can, please consider a donation to the fund so those in need can receive assistance. To give online, click here, or designate a cash or check donation.

As we continue to celebrate our Lord and Savior’s Birth and the New Year and what promises it will bring, we also need to focus on year end fiinancial concerns.

• Year-end giving statements from Faith were sent out on January 8-9th, either by email or USPS per your opted in/out preferences. 
• Please check your spam or junk folder if you did not receive an email or if you do not receive a letter in the mail in the next few days.
• If you have questions or concerns, please contact Patty McKee, Financial Secretary-FLC, at 941-228-1192 (cell), 941-921-3709, or financialsecretary@faithlutheransrq.com. Thank you!

Monday, Jan. 13

12:45 p.m. Worship to Go Prep

1:30 p.m.  Worship to Go, Sarabella Senior Living, 5650 Gant Road

5 p.m.        Executive Committee Meeting, Conference Room

6 p.m.        Zumba Class, community center

Tuesday, Jan. 14

8:30 a.m.    Men of Faith Breakfast at The Toasted Yolk, 3750 S. Tamiami Trl.

9:30 a.m.     G.I.F.T.S. Women’s Bible Study, library

10 a.m.        Worship to Go Prep

10:45 a.m. Worship to Go, Elance/The Barclay, 3260 Lake Pointe Blvd., Tiffany Room

12 p.m          Mary Circle, Fellowship Hall

6 p.m.           Diversity Voices of Sarasota practice, choir room and sanctuary

Wednesday, Jan. 15

10:30 a.m.   Prayer Group, Chapel

12:30 p.m.   Property Management Team Meeting, Conference Room

3:15 pm       Bereavement Group, Chapel

6:30 p.m.     Voice of Faith Practice, Choir Room

Thursday, Jan. 16

9 a.m.          Food Pantry Prep, Fellowship Hall

9:30 a.m.     Finance Committee Meeting, Conference Room

4:30 p.m.     Food Pantry Prep, Fellowship Hall

5 p.m.          Food Pantry

Friday, Jan. 17

8 a.m.         Jazzersize, Community Center

Saturday, Jan. 18

8 a.m.          Jazzersize, Community Center

9 a.m.          Diakonia, Conference Room

10 a.m. Brunch & Learn, Fellowship Hall

Dick Allender, cousin of Gerri Copper

Pastor Steve Anderson, friend of Jan Phillips

Tani Banta

Barbara Brannan, mother of Kim McDonald

Arthur Brucato, friend of Karla Lewis & Michael Leonhardt

Dee Burlingame

Judy Carlsen

Terry Copper

Evelyn Conlon

Merle Cusmano

Doug Dahlquist, father of Hannah Boyd

Jeanine Davis (nee Molella), granddaughter of Karen & John White

Eloise Dettmer

Beth & Mary Farmer

Andrea Gamboa

Vicki Goffinet

Jeff Hansen, nephew of Joan Searles

Patricia Head, mother of Wayne Head

Sonja Hickling, mother of Kelly Ashlock

Becky Hilton Heeps, friend of Lisa Olsen

Bob Hurdle, friend of Gerry & Karen Kolschowsky

& friend of Gerri & Terry Copper

Pete Inkrott

Jan and Michele

Jesus & Rita Jimenez

Alf Kirkeeng

Leonard Kotwitz, brother of Janet Falk

Lillian Lapenckas

Kevin Lasko

Chick Lehmann, husband of Suzie Lehmann

Ruth Levy, sister of Joan Hirsch

Diane Lewis, sister-in-law of Karla Lewis &

             Michael Leonhardt

Pat Longo & Ronnie Mojo, friends of Susan Wakefield

Julie & Eli Maresch, niece & grandnephew of Patty McKee

Paul & Debbie Maresch, brother & sister-in-law of Patty McKee

Dennis McCaughey, friend of Lois Weaverling

Kim McDonald

Judi Melander

Alison Nommay, friend of Karla Lewis & Michael Leonhardt

Terry O’Connell, friend of Marlene Radesk

Meghan Ortega, niece of Lisa & Pastor Eric Olsen

Judy Osborn, sister of Peggy Ragan

Sue Ostrom

Pastor Terry Parker, friend of Max & Pastor Marianne Powrie

Fran Perkins

Carl Petersen

Richard Keith Radcliffe, brother of

             Gail Radcliffe Brown

Annabel Ryan

Robin Ryder, daughter of Floyd Ryder &

             sister of Gail Murphy

Lorna Sawyers-Sucra, friend of Jeremy & Yvonne Mullins

Kathy Schilio

Becky Sciranko, niece of Alice Rush

Joan Searles

Stephanie Sebastyn, friend of Carolyn Winemiller

Shirley Schimke

Pastor John Spittal

Pamela Spry, mother of Hannah Boyd

Dr. Heather Stark, friend of Cliff Hornsby

Mark Stengel

Ed & Gail Straight, friends of Nancy Dandino

Tess Stransky, daughter, grandaughter, & cousin of Lynn Clancy

Leigh Tarantino, friend of Marlene Radesk

Melissa Thompson, cousin of Lisa Olsen

Brittany Wanko & her premature newborn

             infants, Olivia Mae & Emmet Walter

Friends & Family of Paul Wick

Dr. Patty White

Dorothy Wolfe, cousin of Adele Smith

Jessica Uebel, cousin of Adele Smith

Jon Wooton

Celeste & John Yee (daughter and father), friends of Marlene Radesk

Robbie Yahrus, Gail Murphy's friend's son

If you have an addition to or would like to remove a name from the prayer list, email the person's name to officeadmin@faithlutheransrq.com.

Dick & Jetty Zarfos1/19

Greg Cooper 1/01

Mike Hansen 1/01

Amelia Hubschman 1/02

Carol Wambold 1/02

Mary Foxwell 1/03

John Spittal 1/04

Brandon Ragan 1/05

Lauren Wardach 1/06

Conrad Zabor 1/08

Doug Weaver 1/09

Barbara Little 1/09

Jay Millard Jr. 1/09

Dominick Rodriguez 1/09

Ryan Verwey 1/10

Ileana Capilla 1/12

Colin Fewell 1/12

Paula Harris 1/16

Valerie Meister 1/17

Annabel Ryan 1/19

Mark Nelson 1/23

Karen Vogel 1/24

Laurie Stramaglia 1/25

Kaitlyn Clark 1/25

Dick Bruning 1/26

Marianne Powrie 1/29

Nell Rude 1/30

If a birthday or anniversary is missing or listed incorrectly, kindly notify officeadmin@faithlutheransrq.com.

Pastor: Rev. Eric Olaf Olsen

pastor@faithlutheransrq.com

Assistant to the Pastor: Rev. Larry Wright

larannw@comcast.net

Retired Pastors in Residence: Rev. John Hilficker, Rev. Marianne Powrie, Rev. John Spittal

Director of Music/Organist: Andi Zdrava

musicdirector@faithlutheransrq.com

Church Administrator/Executive Assistant to the Pastor: Heidi Floyd

officeadmin@faithlutheransrq.com

Congregation Council: Scott Rice, president; Lauren Wardach, vice president; Mark Nelson, secretary; Anita Wooton, treasurer; Jane Sanks, assistant treasurer; Jerry Cooper; Quyen Dang; Ann Greenwood; Peggy Ragan; Joan Searles

941-924-4664 | www.faithlutheransrq.com

Office hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday

Mission – Gathered faithfully to love and serve God and all others

Values – Mutual Respect, Honesty, Kindness, Service, Forgiveness, Commitment, Perseverance, Faithfulness, Compassion, Flexibility

CLICK HERE to view the current Constitution of Faith Lutheran Church.