A few of this week's highlights!

• You can view this email in its entirety here.
• How has Jesus transformed you? See Pastor's Ponderings for more.
• Grow closer to Jesus, every day a few minutes at a time during Lent! 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.

This Sunday - the last Sunday before Lent - is Transfiguration Sunday, the day we remember how Jesus was transfigured and transformed from the way he usually appeared in his human form and revealed in all His glory to the disciples on the mountain. In that moment, when Jesus was illuminated by the glory that is uniquely His, it became profoundly apparent that He was not just man, but God in the flesh. And if there was any doubt about that, His Father proclaimed it in a thunderous voice from heaven. Jesus’ true identity was revealed, not merely for the benefit of the disciples who were with Him, but for us, as well . . .

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

Thank you.

I truly appreciate the support and engagement of the Faith Family over the past several weeks.

The Biermann farewell luncheon, the Annual Forum, and the Voter's Meeting all went extremely well and are great examples of what makes our Faith Family so special.

In the Voter’s Meeting, the motion was passed that we will conduct a Special Meeting on February 11th at Noon with the sole purpose of placing a call for an Intentional Interim pastor.

Please plan to attend this meeting to support the next step we will take as a Faith Family to

address our current Senior Pastor Vacancy.

Thank you for all of your prayerful support of this process. It is reassuring to know that as we

move forward God is in control.

God is good.

Scott A. Hans

Congregation President, Faith Lutheran Church

Family Lenten BINGO! Starting February 14th, special BINGO cards will be available at the Youth bulletin board for families to grow closer to Jesus and each other throughout the Lenten season. Children and families - try to get as many BINGOS as you can by doing the activities listed (some as simple as reading a Bible verse!). Each BINGO you receive will earn a prize, with a special prize for those who get a blackout (doing all the activities on the card). Every child can have their own BINGO card (4 versions A-D are available). Turn in cards March 31st-April 7th to Mr. Zander. Blackouts can be turned in at any time through April 7th!

Set Apart to Serve: Set Apart to Serve is a Synod-wide, multi-year initiative to identify, encourage, and form church workers. If you are interested in finding out more about this initiative, please feel free to contact Carol Koke [email protected] or go to the Set Apart to Serve website at www.lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve.

Thank You: To all the beautiful people of Faith Lutheran Church, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the prayers, cards, well wishes, and love that you have shown to myself and Gil during my time of recovery. All the prayers made me feel safe and secure in the healing powers of God our Father. Thank You. -Marcy Montez 

Winter/Spring 2024 Education: You can view a list of Faith's winter/spring educational opportunities, including 2024 Faith Legacy classes, HERE. Printed copies are also available at our Welcome Centers.

2024 Youth Calendar: A revised 2023-2024 Calendar of school year youth events can be found HERE. Printed copies are also available at the Welcome Centers.

Church Cookbooks: A limited number of Faith Lutheran Church Cookbooks are left! Remaining copies are now available to purchase for $20 at the church office. If you have any questions, feel free to call Lisa Priestap at 810-423-9119. Bon appetite!

Lent and Easter Choirs: The Choirs of Faith invite you to join us for our season of Lent and Easter. We would love to have you join us in lifting our voices in praise to our Lord. The Choirs sing through May. Rehearsals are Thursdays: Women 5:30-6:15 p.m., Mixed Chancel 6:15-7:15 p.m., Men 7:15-8:00 p.m. All are welcome from 6th grade to adult. Music experience is helpful but not necessary. Contact Emily Craw with any questions.

Do you play an instrument? Opportunities are available to play solo pieces or join an ensemble for an occasional service. Contact Emily Craw for more information at [email protected].

High School Youth Super Bowl Party! High School Youth are invited to join us for our Super Bowl LVIII Watch Party this Sunday, February 11th, at 4:30 p.m. in the youth lounge. Bring party food to share (chips, salsa, dips, etc.) and your favorite drink to share as well. Pizza and wings will be provided. Youth can expect some great Super Bowl party games, great food, great friends, and a great game! And don't forget to bring a friend or two along as well! Sign up to attend HERE.

What's Faith? Class: Starting next Tuesday, February 13th, at 7:00 p.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 Pastor Scott.

Parents' Night Out! Let us entertain your kiddos while you entertain yourselves! Parents' Night Out will be held Friday, February 16th, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. We’ll entertain children from ages 4 through 11 (5th grade). Space is limited, so register soon HERE! Activities 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.

The Epistles of St. Peter: Join Pastor Scott for this 5-week class on the two letters from the chief apostle. The class begins Wednesday, February 21st, at 6:00 p.m. and runs through March 20th.

Faith Legacy Series: Family Communication: Our next Faith Legacy class is for 7th & 8th grade youth and their parents on Sunday, February 25th, at 9:30 a.m. in the Music Room. The fourth commandment teaches us to honor our fathers and mothers. But what about the really difficult days? This class will teach how to honor each other in difficult circumstances. Parents and their youth will explore tools to maintain honoring relationships. A blessing event will follow the class in the 10:45 worship service. Sign up to attend HERE.

February All Youth Hangout: All youth K-12 are invited to join us for our next All Youth Hangout Sunday, February 25th, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Hangouts include open gym, games, snacks, devotion time, and more!

Monday Morning Monthly Meditation: All ladies are invited to an informal time for devotion and fellowship hosted by Karen Scott. This group will meet in the Music Room the first Monday of the month beginning March 4th from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. 

Women's Faith-Based Book Club meets next on Thursday, March 7th, at 10:00 a.m. to discuss "Seven Women and the Secret of Their Success" by New York Times Bestselling Author Eric Metaxas. Well-known for his research and publications related to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Metaxas presents captivating portraits of some of history's greatest women, each of whom changed the course of history by following God's call upon their lives. His conversational style quickly draws you into the story and is always engaging. We will meet in the church library, and our discussion will be led by Gayle Pickett. You may share one of the eight copies in our church library generously gifted through a Wave Grant and a Thrivent Action Team Grant. Book Club participation is open, depending on your availability each month, with remote access also available via Zoom. Invite your friends to join this enjoyable fellowship any time. Check the bulletin board outside the church library, or the church website HERE, for a list of upcoming titles and meeting dates. Questions? Contact Roxanne Steffe at 810-280-1399.  

Save the Date for TRIVIA NIGHT! Faith Youth's largest fundraiser of the year will be Friday, April 26th. It's a night filled with fun, Faith family, trivia, great food, prizes, and a silent auction. We are seeking donations for the silent auction. Please contact Jenny Mervyn at 989-233-5225 or Sara Holleboom at 517-281-9501 to arrange your donation.

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

Food Pantry Donations: Due to increased need, we are running short on a few staple items in our food pantry: pasta and pasta sauce, boxed mac'n cheese, canned meat (tuna, chicken, etc), and canned beans (black, kidney, etc). Please bring any donations to the church office. Thank you for your generous donations!

Parents' Night Out 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 16th, 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 by signing up HERE!

Rescheduled HS Youth Escape Room: Rescheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, February 24th, the high school youth will go to an escape room event (we are working on confirming times and will provide additional details). As always we will have some food and time for the youth to hang out in the Youth Lounge. Friends are welcomed and encouraged. Cost will be $15 per person. If you have signed up and paid already, you are all set. Otherwise, you can sign up and pay HERE or RSVP to Bruce Trevithick by texting/calling 810-287-7913 or by emailing [email protected]. Please register or RSVP no later than Tuesday, February 20th.

Feed Our Firefighters Service Event for Youth and Parents: On Monday, March 4th, we will provide dinner for the Grand Blanc City Firefighters at their monthly training meeting. Faith youth and parents are invited to serve at this event. This is open to anyone with a joy for cooking and serving God. Please arrive with your food or items at 117 High St. at 5:30 p.m. Before we leave them to enjoy the meal, we will all gather for a brief prayer. Typical main dishes in the past have been baked spaghetti, lasagna, mostaccioli, chili, or chicken casserole. Please bring your items in disposable containers if possible. Please contact Becky Belill with any questions at 810-730-6980. Click HERE to sign up. Participants are also encouraged to bring cards, pictures, or messages of appreciation to these vital community workers.

Grand Blanc Beautification Planning Underway! Mark your calendars! Last year's beautification efforts were very successful and appreciated by our community. We want to try it again with your help. Clean-up day is April 27th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with a pizza lunch. Planting week is June 3rd to June 7th. Specific details to follow! If you want to help plan, the next meeting is Monday, March 11th, 5:30 p.m. at Grand Blanc Township. All welcome! If you have questions, contact Deb Lund.

Grades 6+ Faith Night at the Pistons! Youth in middle and high school are invited to join us Friday, March 15th, for a Pistons game at their Faith Night event! We will meet at Faith at 4:00 p.m. for pizza and depart at 5:00 p.m. The game begins at 7:00 p.m. and we will arrive back at about 11:00 p.m. Bring: $20-ish for drinks, snacks, and any souvenirs. The cost is $25 for pizza, admission, and parking. We have room for 15 youth and 5 adults. We need 3-4 adult drivers depending on the number of passengers. Sign up HERE by Wednesday, February 14th! 

Faith Lutheran Church Scholarship Forms: Did you know that Faith offers a scholarship for those interested in attending an LCMS affiliated school? The scholarships are available for LCMS elementary schools and high schools (primary-secondary), and for the Concordia universities and seminaries (higher education). To access the forms with instructions, click on the link https://faithgb.org/forms/ and choose the appropriate scholarship application. You may also pick up a blank scholarship form in the church office. Deadline to submit the applications is April 1, 2024. These applications are for the 2024-2025 school year. Contact Carol Koke at [email protected] or WL Scheller [email protected] if you have questions or would like additional information.

Church Extension Fund (CEF) is a unique ministry where LCMS members can invest their funds and earn interest. In turn, these funds provide a source of low-cost loans for new church sites and upgrading current facilities. Visit with Faith's Congregation Representative Greg Baehr, view CEF's FAQ page or website www.mi-cef.org, or call 800-242-3944 and learn how your invested dollars make a difference! CEF's interest rates for February can be found HERE.

St. Michael's, Richville, 23rd Annual Living Passion Drama: You are invited to St. Michael's Church to learn about Christ's last hours on earth March 22nd and March 23rd. You'll "watch the path of Jesus Christ" and see and hear live action scenes of what our Lord endured before He gave His life for us on the cross. See more details at stmichaelsrichville.com.

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

SUNDAY - February 11th

8:15 a.m. - Worship/Communion

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

9:30 a.m. - Sunday School

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

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

12:00 p.m. - Special Congregation Meeting

4:30 p.m. - HS Youth Super Bowl Party

MONDAY - February 12th

6:30 p.m. - Faithful Ringers (Sanctuary)

6:30 p.m. - Board of Congregational Ministries Meeting

7:00 p.m. - Elders Meeting

TUESDAY - February 13th

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

6:15 p.m. - K.O.O.L. Ministry (K.O.O.L. Room)

7:00 p.m. - What's Faith? Class

WEDNESDAY - February 14th

9:30 a.m. - Tiny Tots

4:30 p.m. - Puppet Club (basement B2)

5:30 p.m. - Faith Alive Dinner (Heins Hall)

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

• Adult: "Whose We Are" Bible Study (Music Room)
• Grades K-5 (Basement Classrooms)
• Middle School (Living Room)
• High School (Youth Lounge)

7:00 p.m. - Ash Wednesday Worship/Communion - Click here for the live stream.

THURSDAY - February 15th

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

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

7:15 p.m. - Male Chorus Practice (Sanctuary)

FRIDAY - February 16th

3:00 p.m. - Youth Worship Team (Sanctuary)

6:00 p.m. - Parents' Night Out

SATURDAY - February 17th

SUNDAY - February 18th

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

Readings: 2 Kings 2:1-12; Psalm 25:1–10; James 1:12–18; Mark 1:9–15

See the full schedule of our Bible study on The Chosen as begin Season 3 HERE.

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 live-streamed, 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 11th, can be found HERE.

The complete order of service for Ash Wednesday, February 14th, 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.