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Sunday, April 27, 2025

Second Sunday of Easter

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

Acts 5:27-32

The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus.

Psalm 118:14-29

You are my God, and I will exalt you (Ps. 118:28).

Revelation 1:4-8

Jesus Christ, the firstborn of the dead, is coming.

John 20:19-31

Beholding the wounds of the risen Christ.

Join us at 7 p.m. tonight in the sanctuary for a captivating four-hands piano concert featuring pianists Andi Zdrava, Faith's own music director, and Jessé Martins.

Enjoy beautiful music by Schubert, Brahms and Rachmaninoff.

Admission is free, and donations are appreciated. We look forward to seeing you there!

Andi Zdrava and Jessé Martins

Do you love Faith Lutheran, but never officially joined the congregation? Do you want to learn more about Faith’s ministry and service opportunities? Do you want to meet Faith’s leaders and hear what this special congregation of God’s children means to them?

If so, join us for a potential new-member meet and greet Q&A during coffee hour in fellowship hall immediately following the 10:15 service today. 

If you can't make the meeting but are interested in membership, please contact Pastor Eric, pastor@faithlutheransrq.com or 716-352-0055. Faith will receive new members during the 10:15 a.m. service next Sunday, May 4.

Worship to Go needs additional helpers! It is a heartwarming experience in which volunteers bring worship with Holy Communion to people in care.

You can participate at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 29, 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!  

• Adult Forum meets between the two morning worship services in the conference room. This Sunday, the group will study lesson 4, The Philippian Jailers, in the "A Clash of Kingdoms" series.
• Women of Faith meet for breakfast, prayer and camaraderie at 8:30 a.m., Monday, April 28, at Skillets, 8635 S. Tamiami Trail. Questions? See Pastor Marianne or email her, pastorp2.0@gmail.com.
• 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." Can't attend in person? Join via Zoom: Meeting ID 867 2113 5300, Passcode 815433.
• 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.
• 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.

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. Be there to move with the music and join in the fun

“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of your possessions” (Luke 12:15).

In that verse, Jesus tells us, his listeners, that if we store up things only for ourselves and are not “rich toward God,” we will have the same fate as the Rich Fool. To be “rich toward God” with our money, we need to acknowledge that God is the source of all that we have and to glorify God through the use of our money.

Dear Lord, help me to be rich toward you in how I view and use my money. Amen.

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

On April 28, the group will discuss The Gift of Empathy: Helping Others Feel Valued, Cared For, and Understood by Joel P. Bretscher and Kenneth C. Haugk. You can purchase the book from StephenMinistries.org (not Amazon, which has a similar title, but not this book).

Come and join the conversation. Or log in via Zoom, Meeting ID: 840 3904 1433, Passcode: 182787.

From 3 to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 29, be part of the crew that will cook and serve for about 70 food-insecure and homeless siblings in Christ at St. Paul Lutheran in downtown Sarasota, 2256 Bahia Vista.

To volunteer, sign up on the sheet in the narthex or contact the church office.

You are invited to help assemble personal-care kits for Lutheran World Relief (LWR) after the 10:15 a.m. service May 4 in fellowship hall.

Faith's Women of the ELCA (WELCA) are again sponsoring the effort to provide our brothers and sisters in Christ who are in need with items such as combs, toothbrushes, nail clippers, soap and new towels. Some of the kits will be shipped overseas, and some will go to people in the United States who have suffered catastrophic disasters.

Thanks for your donations toward this effort and for your help May 4.

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.

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 May 11.

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.

Pastor Eric often speaks with people about aid they require. 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 give via check or cash to Faith designated for Pastor's Discretionary Fund.

Have you lost an item? Perhaps a piece of jewelry or a water bottle? Contact the church office to describe and claim your item.

Dear Faith Friends,

Thank you so much for all the wonderful dishes that were so generously given for the luncheon that followed John’s funeral service. I truly appreciate and love every one of you! And we so appreciated the generous offer to take leftovers home. I can assure you that they didn’t last much longer.



With thankful blessings,

Karen White

Today, Friday, April 25

7 p.m., Four-Hands Piano Concert, sanctuary

Saturday, April 26

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

9 a.m., Diakonia, conference room

Sunday, April 27

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

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

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

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

5 p.m., In-Person Worship, sanctuary

Monday, April 28

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

2 p.m., Readers Club, library

6 p.m., Zumba, community center (gym)

Tuesday, April 29

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 a.m., Worship to Go Prep, chapel

10:30 a.m., Worship to Go, Aravilla Sarasota, 3271 Proctor

3 p.m., Feed the Hungry, St. Paul Lutheran, 2256 Bahia Vista

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

Wednesday, April 30

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

3:15 p.m., Bereavement Group, chapel

Thursday, May 1

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

10:30 a.m., Men's Study 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, May 2

8 a.m., Jazzercize, community center

Saturday, May 3

8 a.m., Jazzercize, community center

9 a.m., Diakonia, conference room

• Lucy Abbott, sister-in-law of Judy Millard
• Dick Allender, cousin of Gerri & Terry Copper
• Billy Bajor
• Gail Brown
• Dee Burlingame                                                      
• Rick Chauncey, son of Wess Chauncey
• Linda Craley, sister-in-law of Dick & Jetty Zarfos
• Lindsey Dacey
• Doug Dahlquist, father of Hannah Boyd
• Nancy Dandino
• Tyeann Dillon
• Ken Dixon, online worshipper
• Family & Friends of Joe Dongarra, friend of Lois Weaverling
• Janet Dullard, friend of Bev Hungate
• Mark Evan
• Beth Farmer, mother of Lynn Clancy
• John Robert Flower, son of Bob & Catherine Flower
• Travis Galyon, cousin of Bev Hungate
• Becky Hilton Heeps, friend of Lisa Olsen
• Kevin Hooks, son-in-law of Jon & Anita Wooton
• Pete Inkrott
• Family & Friends of Joan Bridges, sister of Bill Greenaway
• Bruce Katz, friend of Nancy Flanagan
• Leonard Kotwitz, brother of Janet Falk
• Ruth Levy, sister of Joan Hirsch
• Juli & Eli Maresch, niece and grand-nephew of Patty McKee
• Judy McMahon, friend of Kristine Ordman
• Family & Friends of Judi Melander
• Jay Millard, son of John & Judy Millard
• John Millard
• Bob Miller, friend of Bill Greenaway
• Dulce Mogan, friend of Nancy Flanagan
• Valerie Nicolls, mother of Pastor Ashley Nicolls
• Kathy Ocker, friend of Lisa & Pastor Eric Olsen
• Heather Schott, daughter-in-law of Les Lorenz
• Kathy Schilio
• Stephanie Sebastyn, friend of Carolyn Winemiller
• Norman Stoll, brother of Dottie Gustavson
• Leigh Tarantino, friend of Marlene Radesk
• Melissa Thompson, cousin of Lisa Olsen
• Darren Thomsen, son of John & Tricia Thomsen
• Jessica Uebel, cousin of Adele Smith
• Carol Wambold
• Family & Friends of John White
• Dorothy Wolfe, cousin of Adele Smith
• Jon Wooton
• Rev. Melvin Younger, friend of Bill Greenaway

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.

4/25 Pray for the leaders, voting members and others gathering for the assemblies of the Alaska Synod, Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod and Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and inspire them as they reflect on the mission of the church, choose leaders, and encourage one another to proclaim the gospel and serve our neighbors in need.

4/26 Thank God for the spiritual nourishment we receive when we gather around the table to celebrate communion, and for the Triune God, who calls and equips us to do God’s work in the world.

4/27 Like the apostle Thomas, we all experience moments of doubt and disbelief. Pray that God will be patient and forgiving with us, rekindling our trust in a Spirit that helps us when our faith weakens.

4/28 Thank God for volunteers who respond to the needs of the church and society by sharing their time, gifts and passion. Pray that we will extend to people of all ages the invitation to serve God.

4/29 Pray for those who suffer the trauma of gun violence in their communities and elsewhere. Ask for wisdom in responding to our stricken neighbors, for guidance in working to end gun violence and for fearless respect for human life — a precious gift from God, our creator.

4/30 Again, we rejoice and shout, “Hallelujah! The Lord, our savior, is risen!” The good news and power of Easter that we experience cannot be confined to a single calendar day.

5/1 Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Praise God for Asian and Pacific Islander members, congregations and ministries of the ELCA, which represent a diversity of cultures, languages and traditions. Pray for the ministry of the Association of Asians and Pacific Islanders of the ELCA.

5/2 Pray for the leaders, voting members and others gathering for the assemblies of the Arkansas-Oklahoma, Metropolitan New York and Minneapolis Area synods, that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and inspire them as they reflect on the mission of the church, choose leaders, and encourage one another to proclaim the gospel and serve our neighbors in need.

4/11 Mark & Amy Nelson

4/19 Gene & Barbara Wulf

4/22 Bill & Kris Ordman

4/23 Chu Lee & Quyen Dang

4/25 Dave & Nancy Windish

4/27 Ken & Karen Knatz

4/30 Larry & Pat Liedel

5/2 Richard & Kris Sullivan

5/7 Lee & Helen Kohlhafer

5/20 Greg & Joey Larson

5/27 Kevin & Linda Fewell

5/27 John & Tricia Thomsen

4/30 John Thomsen

5/2 Chloe Millard

5/7 Doris Anne Prieur-Lucia

5/11 Jesus Jimenez

5/11 Darrel Huggins

5/11 Mark Greenwood

5/12 Todd Brown

5/13 Lynn Clancy

5/13 Lyna Jimenez-Ruiz

5/14 Lilian Moore

5/17 Ashley Garlitz

5/18 Christopher Degroote

5/19 Dave Windish

5/19 Lee Kohlhafer

5/19 Daniel McKee

5/19 David McKee

5/23 Judy Carlsen

5/25 Pat Faubel

5/25 Linda Urgo

5/26 Karen Knatz

5/27 Ron Walter

5/30 Kris Sullivan

5/31 Ingrid Velkme

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.