A few of this week's highlights!

• You can view this email in its entirety here.
• We look forward to the coming of Spring, and the return of Jesus! See Pastor's Ponderings for more.
• We see the blessings of daily "sending off" blessings! See Faith Family Encouragement for more.

A column by Joel Zander, Director of Education and Youth.

Our weekly list of those in need of urgent and ongoing prayer.

Weekly charitable contribution updates and stewardship information.

Weekly updates on the Covering the Next Generation Capital Campaign.

Today is Groundhog Day - the day when it’s determined whether there’s six more weeks of winter, or only four. Depending on whether or not Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, of course. That is, if you put much stock in groundhogs. And why would we? I mean, everyone knows winter doesn’t officially end until March 21, anyway. Which, here in Michigan, doesn’t really mean a thing, since we often get snow clear up into April. All we know is that, sooner or later, winter will come to an end. It’s hard to imagine, now, when we’re chipping ice off our windshields and even the dog refuses to go outside, but fair weather will soon be here. Trees will begin to blossom, the grass will turn green, and flowers will begin popping up out of the earth that’s currently frozen as hard as concrete.

It’s hard to imagine. But what’s even more difficult to imagine is that the time is coming when

Jesus will return, as well . . .

Click here to see the rest of Pastor Scott's article!

Additional FBRJ Devotions: Congratulations to all those who have completed our Faith Bible Reading Journey. I can't believe two years have passed! Most of you are aware that I wrote a devotion for each week of our journey. There are 103 in all. I know some of you have been collecting these, as well. However, there are 15 weeks missing, from when I was in the hospital. You may or may not be happy to learn that I am going to go back and write the devotions for weeks 50 - 65, so that you can complete your collection. We will begin sending those out via email each week, and I will publish them on the Faith Bible Reading Journey Facebook group, as well. Thanks for being such devoted readers for so long! -Your Fellow Traveler in Christ, Pastor Scott.

AmazonSmile ending February 20th: Amazon.com's charity support program, AmazonSmile, is ending February 20th, 2023. Donations through Amazon purchases will still be available through February 20th. Thank you to all that designated Faith Lutheran as their AmazonSmile recipient. Over time, we received $921.55!

You can view a list of Faith's educational opportunities, including Spring 2023 Faith Legacy classes, HERE. Printed copies are also available at our Welcome Centers. NOTE: Our March Faith Legacy class has been rescheduled for one week earlier and Wednesday Adult Bible study dates have been revised due to 1/25 snow cancellation.

A 2023 school year calendar of Youth events can be viewed HERE. Printed copies are also available at our Welcome Centers.

Covering the Next Generation Commitment Cards: Commitment cards for the Covering the Next Generation capital campaign can now be found near the tracking puzzle on the baptismal font and are included in brochures in campaign displays. The campaign is still actively seeking contributions, and we encourage those who may not have made a commitment to prayerfully consider making one. For more information, please review a campaign brochure or visit faithgb.org/covering-the-next-generation.

West Entrance Doors on Sunday Mornings: Starting THIS Sunday, February 5th, the West entrance doors (4W; back parking lot) will be locked on Sunday mornings between 8:30 and 9:15 a.m. and then again starting at 11:00 a.m. Anyone arriving during or after those times can still enter the building through doors 1S or 2N.

Nursery Survey: The Board of Congregational Ministries (BCM) is conducting a survey regarding the use of the nursery that is located across the hallway from the Heins Hall kitchen. Parents or expecting parents of children under 3 are invited to take this survey. You can use this Google form. Paper surveys are also available at the Welcome Centers. BCM is collecting responses through the end of February.

Youth Breakfast! Dear Faith Family, please plan to enjoy a pancake breakfast THIS Sunday, February 5th, between 9 and 10:30 a.m. and support our youth ministry in the process! A free-will donation will be collected in support of our summer 2023 youth programs! Please help us meet a generous $500 match!

Parent’s Night Out! Let us entertain your kiddos while you entertain yourselves! We’ll entertain children from ages 4 through 11 (5th grade) and up to 4 children under 4 years of age Friday, February 10th, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Space is limited, so register soon HERE! Activities will include gym time, arts and crafts, a brief movie/tv program, snacks, and story time. This is a free event sponsored by our Youth as a service opportunity.

Faith Alive Adult Bible Study Feed My Lambs: Join Deaconess Christie Hansard for “Feed My Lambs,” a Bible study exploring how members of the body of Christ demonstrate love and compassion to people in need as an expression of faith. This class will meet at 6:00 p.m. Wednesdays February 15th through April 26th (no class 3/29 or 4/5) in the Library.

February All Youth Hangout: Youth grades K-12 are invited to come and hang out on Sunday, February 12th! We will meet at a SPECIAL TIME from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and part of our time will be spent making Valentines for a special group of women in our Faith Family. Please come and be part of making a positive difference in someone’s life!

What's Faith? Class: Starting Thursday, February 23rd, from 10:00-11:30 a.m., Faith staff members will begin a six-week class called What’s FAITH? This class is a great way to learn about our Christian faith in general and to learn about how that faith is received and lived at Faith Lutheran Church of Grand Blanc. Participation will be especially beneficial to anyone considering officially joining Faith, but would certainly also be edifying for anyone who simply wants to grow in faith at Faith. To register or ask questions, please contact the office.

Faith Legacy "Towel and Basin" Class: Parents of 6 and 7-year-olds are invited to attend the Faith Legacy Series class called "Towel and Basin" on Sunday, March 12th, at 9:30 in the basement Room B3. This class will build on skills to talk about God at home, specifically in regard to family devotions, service, and handling money. A blessing event for the parents and children will occur in the 10:45 worship service. Please note that this was previously scheduled for Sunday, March 19th, but has been rescheduled for Sunday, March 12th. See more and sign up HERE.

You can view a running list of our regular service opportunities HERE.

Youth M&Ms Fundraiser! If you haven’t returned your coin-filled tubes, please do so by this Sunday! Thank you for your generosity! (We’ll still take whatever you’ve got later, but the display is coming down and this is the final reminder).

Social Ministry Reading Mentors: We have finished our first week of meeting with the children at Grand Blanc Academy. The staff is very excited to have us there, and the children are receptive to getting some extra help with sight words and reading. We have 8 volunteers that meet with 6 classrooms once a week. They spend one hour helping as many students as possible. After the first week, I can say that I wish we had many more volunteers. We are not just there teaching reading skills - we are there being the Hands, Feet, and Face of Christ. If you would like to have some fun and show the love of Christ, please contact Marcy Montez at 810-869-4479. -Marcy Montez

Youth Breakfast Sunday, February 5th: Here’s how youth and parents can help! We will set up on Saturday, February 4th, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Additionally, we invite youth and parents to serve at one or more of three shifts on Sunday morning. Please check out the SignupGenius for more details and to sign up HERE!

Parents' Night Out Youth Volunteers: We need at least five youth 12 and older who love children and want to serve Jesus by entertaining some kiddos on Friday, February 10th, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. We also need at least 3 adults to help supervise. Plan to arrive by 5:45 and leave at about 8:45. Please let us know if you intend to help HERE!

Serving at Franklin Avenue Mission this month! Our teams this month are in need of volunteers to serve at Franklin Avenue Mission. Join us Tuesday, February 14th, or Thursday, February 16th, starting at 4:00 p.m. All ages are welcome! We are assembling meals for residents of Flint's east side. Contact Dick Gookin at [email protected] with any questions or if you would like to help. Caps are required for all servers. You can see more about Franklin Avenue Mission at https://franklinavemission.com. 

Youth Bowling: Youth 3rd grade through 12th grade are invited to go bowling on Sunday, February 26th! We’ll meet at Faith at 5 p.m. and begin with a devotion and prayer and then carpool to Galaxy Lanes. The cost for this event will be $10 and will include 2 hours of bowling, shoe rental, 2 slices of pizza, and a small drink. Youth and adult drivers/leaders, please sign up HERE by Sunday, February 19th. 

The annual MI District Jr. High Youth Gathering is June 2nd-4th at the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth, MI. This event is open to youth currently in 6th grade through 8th grade. The theme is “Enough” based on Galatians 2:20-21. Check out the promo video! Watch closely to see some of your Faith Family members! You can find more information and registration HERE. Registration is due by Sunday, March 19th.

MI District Sr. Youth Gathering: Less than ONE WEEK remains to register for the MI District Sr. High Gathering on Mackinac Island which takes place June 25th-28th! All youth in 8th grade and older are invited to register by Wednesday, February 8th. Please don’t miss out on this faith-impacting opportunity! For more information and to register online click HERE.

HOME PLATE is an annual outreach event held at Comerica Park at which current and former members of the Detroit Tigers, along with other professional athletes, share about their careers as professional athletes and their faith in Jesus Christ. This year's event is scheduled for Saturday, June 10th. See more and order tickets at https://www.homeplatedetroit.org.

Worship Anew for this Sunday. Lutheran Ministries Media, Inc. produces a weekly, 30-minute Lutheran broadcast worship service called Worship Anew. Each service includes music, scripture readings, prayers, and a Pastor delivering a message that is designed to feel one-on-one to the viewer. Broadcasts can be viewed on Worship Anew's homepage at https://worshipanew.org or on TV on TCT, AFN, and several more stations (click here for local stations and times). The sermon for this Sunday, February 5th, is "Beyond Our Imagination" based on 1 Corinthians 2:9.

Office Hours: 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Monday-Friday

SUNDAY - February 5th

8:15 a.m. - Worship/Communion

9:15-10:30 a.m. - Pancake Breakfast (Family Life Center)

9:30 a.m. - The Chosen Adult Bible Study (Sanctuary)

9:30 a.m. - Pre-Communion Class (basement B3)

9:30 a.m. - Sunday School

• Grades K-5 Basement Classrooms
• Grade 6 Library
• Confirmation (Grades 7-8) Music Room
• Grades 9-12 Youth Lounge

10:45 a.m. - Worship/Communion - Click here for the livestream.

MONDAY - February 6th

2:00 p.m. - Student Hospitality

6:30 p.m. - Adult Handbell Choir

7:00 p.m. - Youth Board Meeting

TUESDAY - February 7th

10:00 a.m. - H.O.T. Ladies Bible Study (Music Room)

6:30 p.m. - KOOL Ministry (KOOL Room)

6:30 p.m. - Euchre (Heins Hall)

WEDNESDAY - February 8th

6:30 a.m. - Men's Virtual Bible Study (Google Meet) - Click here to join.

9:30 a.m. - Tiny Tots

4:30 p.m. - Puppet Club (basement B3)

5:30 p.m. - Faith Alive Dinner

6:00 p.m. - Faith Alive Bible Studies

• Adult: Passing on the Faith (Music Room)
• Grades K-5 (Basement Classrooms)
• Middle School (Living Room)
• High School (Youth Lounge)

7:00 p.m. - Worship/Communion - Click here for the livestream.

THURSDAY - February 9th

5:30 p.m. - Women's Choir Practice (Sanctuary)

6:15 p.m. - Chancel Choir Practice (Sanctuary)

7:00 p.m. - Male Chorus Practice (Sanctuary)

FRIDAY - February 10th

6:00 p.m. - Parents' Night Out (Family Life Center)

6:00 p.m. - Game Night (Heins Hall)

SATURDAY - February 11th

SUNDAY - February 12th

8:15 a.m. - Worship/Communion

9:30 a.m. - Adult Bible Study

9:30 a.m. - Sunday School

10:45 a.m. - Worship/Communion

3:00 p.m. - Youth Hangout

Readings: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37.

Our Sunday morning 10:45 a.m. service can be viewed HERE.

NOTE: To keep in compliance with copyright laws, our services can legally be livestreamed, but we are not able to keep recordings of several parts of our services. Our Sunday service is streamed at 10:45 a.m. and Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m. After this, the full service will not be available; however, the pastor's sermons will be archived on our YouTube channel after the service.

The complete order of service for Sunday, February 5th, can be found HERE.

We also have Sunday morning children's bulletins for the children in our Faith family. You can print them from the following links:

• 3-6 year old HERE
• 7-12 year old HERE

Our Covid-19 response plan can be found HERE.