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Sunday, March 9, 2025

First Sunday in Lent

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

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.

Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16

God will give the angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways (Ps. 91:11)

Romans 10:8b-13

If you confess that Jesus is Lord, you will be saved.

Luke 4:1-13

The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness for 40 days.

Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m., Sunday, March 9.

Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour before you go to sleep Saturday night.

Together, we can urge our elected representatives to fully fund crucial nutrition programs for women and children by participating in the 2025 Bread for the World Offering of Letters.

If you have not already done so, download a copy of the sample letter, personalize it with information that will make it even more powerful, and address your letter to your congressman (likely either Rep. Greg Stuebe or Rep. Vern Buchanan).

No need to add postage. Instead, return your letter to Faith by no later than Thursday, March 13. A representative from the local Bread for the World team will hand deliver the letters to our congressmen.

If you prefer, you also can write your letter after worship this Sunday in fellowship hall. Copies of the sample letter and blank paper will be available.

The people of Faith enthusiastically applauded Mary Circle's choice of Linda Burton as Bold Woman of 2025.

Linda is perhaps most visible as she manages distribution at the Faith Food Pantry. Often putting in a 12-hour volunteer day and addressing myriad details each Thursday, she leads volunteers who receive food shipments, arrange the food on tables and shelves so neighbors in need can easily shop, constantly replenish supplies when the pantry is open and clean up after it closes.

Linda also is part of the Monday-morning crew that cares for the Memorial Garden. She often is found in the Faith kitchen, preparing for coffee hour, special meals or cleaning up, and she is a dependable volunteer who cooks and serves meals on fifth Tuesdays to the hungry and homeless at St. Paul Lutheran downtown ... and more.

Congratulations, Linda. And thank you for all you do.

Mary Circle volunteers recently delivered Lutheran World Relief kits for shipping – now it’s time to start collecting personal-care kit items for next year! Please place nail clippers, combs, bath-size soap and adult-size toothbrushes in the bin in the narthex. Soap is the most-needed item. A Thrivent grant will cover the cost of towels for the kits. If you are unable to shop, monetary contributions are welcome.

Lenten Wednesdays: March 12, 19 and 26, and April 2 and 9

• Noon, Midweek Lenten Worship followed by a common meal, sanctuary/fellowship hall

Palm Sunday, April 13

• 8 a.m., Celebration Worship with Holy Communion, sanctuary
• 10:15 a.m., Celebration Worship with Holy Communion and choir, sanctuary
• 5 p.m., Contemporary Worship with Holy Communion, sanctuary

Maundy Thursday, April 17

• 7 p.m., Worship with Holy Communion, sanctuary

Good Friday, April 18

• 7 a.m., Multi-Denominational Stations of the Cross, park at Church of the Redeemer, 222 S. Palm Ave.; take a free trolley to the starting location
• 2 p.m., Stations of the Cross, sanctuary
• 7 p.m., Tenebrae Worship, sanctuary

Holy Saturday, April 19

• 7:30 p.m., Easter Vigil Part One, parking lot

Easter Sunday, April 20

• 7 a.m., Easter Vigil Part Two, Memorial Garden
• 9 a.m., Easter Breakfast and Egg Hunt, fellowship hall and playground
• 10:15 a.m.,  Easter Celebration Worship with Holy Communion choir, sanctuary

It’s time to update the Faith Prayer List so, beginning this Sunday, March 9, the list will begin anew.

To add someone to the list or to ensure that someone who had previously been on the list remains there:

• Email officeadmin@faithlutheransrq.com, or
• Complete a Prayer Request Card. The cards are found in the pews, on the tables at the back of the sanctuary and in the narthex. Place completed cards in the offering plate. You are welcome to use the back of a card for additional names.



It is a privilege and joy to pray for those in need, and all prayer requests are welcome. Names can remain on the list for as long as prayers are requested. 

Faith photographer Kelly Ashlock will not be available to take photos on the next two Sundays, March 2 and March 9.

Sunday, March 16, will be your final opportunity to get your photo taken for the Faith pictorial directory. If that date doesn't work for you, contact the church office, officeadmin@faithlutheransrq.com or 941-924-4664.

• Adult Forum meets between the two morning worship services in the conference room. This coming Sunday, the group will study Lesson 4, Ascension: The King Takes His Throne, in the “Mission of Jesus” series.
• Men of Faith meet for breakfast and prayer at 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays at Skillets, 8635 S. Tamiami Trail.
• G.I.F.T.S. (Growing in Faith Through Scripture) Women’s Bible study meets at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays in the library to focus on "Leaning on Jesus: A Study of God's Strength." 
• The Prayer Support Group meets at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays in the chapel to pray for all in need, our community, nation and world, and to share Holy Communion. Can't be there in person? Join via Zoom: Meeting ID 871 4720 3661, Passcode 041291.
• During Lent, the Bereavement Group meets at 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays in the chapel. If you or a friend can use help bearing the burden of grief, this group is for you.
• The Men's Group meets at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 13, in the conference room for study and fellowship.
• Women of Faith will meet for breakfast, prayer and camaraderie at 8:30 a.m., Monday, March 17, at Skillets, 8635 S. Tamiami Trail. Questions? See Pastor Marianne or email her, pastorp2.0@gmail.com.

Worship to Go needs additional helpers! You can participate at:

• 10:45 a.m., Tuesday, March 11, at Elancé (next door to Faith), 3260 Lake Pointe Blvd., Tiffany Room.
• 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 18, at Angels Senior Living, 5750 Honore Ave.
• 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 25, at Aravilla Sarasota, 3251 Proctor Road.

Volunteers will meet in the chapel and can carpool to the facility (30 minutes prior).

To join in, contact Pastor Eric directly, 716-352-0055, or show up at the chapel. No experience necessary!  

Mary Circle meets at noon, Tuesday, March 11, in fellowship hall. All women of the church are invited! Bring your lunch; dessert is provided. The group will discuss plans for the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (WELCA) Mid-Gulf Spring Gathering, which Faith will host.

Save the date for the WELCA Mid-Gulf Spring Gathering, Saturday, April 12, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Faith. It will be a day of fellowship, Bible study and a special presentation by Faith’s own Al Ernst. Both continental breakfast and lunch will be served at a cost of only $10. Plan to join us!

The seeds may be tiny, but their impact spans the globe! With seeds and other materials provided by Hope Seeds, Faith volunteers packed 1,000 packets of tomato seeds that will be sent all over the U.S. and the world to help people feed themselves.

The next opportunity to help is at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 25, in fellowship hall. Why not try it out? Sign up on the sheet in the narthex so Hope Seeds will know how much material to provide.

To enrich our Lenten experience, the Faith Evangelism Ministry team is sharing daily devotions and prayers from Luther Seminary called “There in God’s Garden.”

You have begun receiving a devotion via email from Faith each morning. Printed devotional booklets also are available on the table in the narthex for people who do not use email.

During midweek Lenten lunches on Wednesdays, which will follow midweek worship, you will be invited into meaningful discussion based on the daily devotions.

The Evangelism Ministry team prays that the devotions and discussions will draw us closer as a congregation during our Lenten journey.

The Faith Readers Club meets at 2 p.m. on the final Monday of each month.

On March 31, the group will discuss How We Learn to be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith by Mariann Budde, Episcopal bishop of Washington, D.C.

Come and join the conversation. All are welcome.

The new garden benches for the Memorial Garden have all been purchased and dedicated in memory of loved ones. Thank you.

Zumba begins at 6 p.m. Mondays 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!

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.

You can place small, used batteries in the box on the counter in fellowship hall. A volunteer will take them to Staples once a week for recycling.

Batteries that can be recycled are:

• Lithium Ion (Li-Ion). 
• Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH).
• Nickel Zinc (Ni-ZN).                                   
• Non-Rechargeable Lithium.
• Rechargeable Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd).
• Single-Use Alkaline.
• Small Sealed Lead Acid (SSLA/Pb).

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 date is April 6.

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.

“You cannot serve God and money" (Matthew 6:24).

The world sees money as life's report card, and source of all happiness and security.

In contrast, we, as faithful stewards, see money as a means to provide for our needs, to help others and to further God's kingdom.

Dear heavenly Father, help me to hold money loosely and to have a proper attitude toward it. Amen.

Saturday, March 8

8 a.m., Jazzercise, community center (gym)

9 a.m., Diakonia, conference room

Sunday, March 9

8 a.m.. Worship In Person and Live-Stream, sanctuary

9:10 a.m., Adult Forum, conference room

9:30 a.m., Voices of Faith, choir room

10:15 a.m., Worship In Person and Live-Stream, sanctuary

5 p.m., Worship In Person, sanctuary

Monday, March 10

10:30 a.m., Graveside Service for Warren Russell, Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Road 72

6 p.m., Zumba, community center (gym)

Tuesday, March 11

8:30 a.m., Men of Faith Breakfast, Skillets, 8635 S. Tamiami Trail

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

10:15 a.m., Worship to Go Prep, chapel

10:45 a.m., Worship to Go, Elancé (next door to Faith), 3260 Lake Pointe Blvd., Tiffany Room

12 p.m., Mary Circle, fellowship hall

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

Ash Wednesday, March 12

10:30 a.m., Prayer Support Group, chapel

11:30 a.m., Property Committee, conference room

12 p.m., Midweek Lenten Worship Followed By a Common Meal, sanctuary/fellowship hall

1:30 p.m., Bereavement Group, chapel

Thursday, March 13

9 a.m., Food Pantry Prep, fellowship hall

10:30 a.m., Men's Group, conference room

4:30 p.m., Food Pantry prep, fellowship hall

5 p.m., Food Pantry Open

6:30 p.m., Voices of Faith, choir room

Friday, March 14

8 a.m., Jazzercize, community center

Saturday, March 15

8 a.m., Jazzercize, community center

9 a.m., Diakonia, conference room

• Michele Bajor
• Gail Brown
• Dee Burlingame
• Linda Craley, daughter-in-law of Dick & Jetty Zarfos
• Nancy Dandino
• Mark Evan
• Pete Inkrott
• Family & Friends of Matthew McKelvey
• Jay Millard, son of John and Judy Millard
• Kathy Ocker, friend of Lisa & Pastor Eric Olsen
• Family & Friends of Warren Russell
• Stephanie Sebastyn, friend of Carolyn Winemiller
• Darren Thomsen, son of John & Tricia Thomsen
• Lola Troost, friend & client of Terrie Ulmer
• Jessica Uebel and Dorothy Wolfe, cousins of Adele Smith

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.

Find daily Prayer Ventures on the ELCA website. Here are prayers for today and the days ahead.

3/7 Lift up praise and thanksgiving that God is perfect, impartial and ever present, defending those who suffer.

3/8 Remember in prayer our national leaders, that they will exercise wisdom, compassion, justice, mercy, respect for the diversity of humankind, and attentiveness to those who are neglected and excluded. Pray that our leaders will foster wellbeing in our communities, nation and world.

3/9 Pray that the Spirit will give us strength whenever we are tempted to stray from the ways of God as revealed to us in human terms through the life of Jesus Christ.

3/10 Give thanks for moments of joy and celebration in your life, and in the lives of your neighbors and siblings in Christ.

3/11 Who is our neighbor? Pray that we might recognize people everywhere in the world as our neighbors, created by and beloved of God and sharing with us a common lineage.

3/12 Ask God to bless our congregations’ community meals during Lent, that we might build relationships, reflect in prayer and feel renewed in our enthusiasm for doing God’s work in the world.

3/13 “When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble; I will rescue them and honor them” (Psalm 91:15). Lift up prayers of gratitude to God, who hears our pleading and lamentations, and does not ignore or abandon us.

3/14 Give thanks for the ELCA Fund for Leaders scholarship program, which supports students attending ELCA seminaries so that they can graduate with less debt, and respond to God’s call as the church needs and the Spirit leads.

3/4 Kenneth & Sandra Brinker

3/18 Steve and Susan Ashby

3/3 John White

3/4 Eloise Dettmer

3/5 Virginia Chauncey

3/5 Lars Olsen

3/7 Sherry Morrison

3/8 Nancy Dandino

3/10 Ann Wright

3/10 Linda Burton

3/11 Elaine Donham

3/12 Steve Stramaglia

3/13 Joan Zabor

3/13 Patty McKee

3/15 Rita Jimenez

3/16 Denise Kirkeeng

3/16 Jeffrey Ragan

3/16 Aaron Puebla

3/17 Jerry Kolschowsky

3/18 Kathy Schilio

3/20 Kay Bruning

3/22 Janet Petersen

3/25 Sandy Gerber

3/26 Donna Pappalardo

3/26 Marlene Radesk

3/27 Chase Graziade

3/31 Ray Giannini

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

Interim Executive Assistant: Linda Fewell

officeadmin@faithlutheransrq.com

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

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.