FLC CURRENT ACTIVITIES

A service ministry of Faith Lutheran Church in San Dimas

www.faithsd.net

To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ…Grace to you and peace from God our Father.  Colossians 1:2
 

WALK THE WALK – THE APOSTLES WALK
   A new ministry for the whole congregation begins January 11th. 
   Sharon Caldwell will bring a Ministry Moment at both worship services that day about  “The Apostles Walk”. 
   Is it a new dance step, an exercise fad, or a way to look cool while walking?
   Come and see how you can use materials provided by the church to make an immediate and lasting change in someone’s life this year.
 

GET THE BIG PICTURE FOR 2009
   Almost all of our Gospel Lessons read in church will come from the gospel according to Mark this year.
   It’s the shortest of the four gospels (with Matthew, Luke and John) and has been “performed” on Broadway and throughout the world by a single person reciting it from memory.  But, we only get small sections on Sundays.
   On Saturday, January 17th,, we will hear the entire gospel read aloud, starting at 2:00 p.m.
   Members and friends of the congregation are invited to sign up for a chapter or two on the announcement wall and then to come and read and hear the whole gospel.  Or, just come and listen.  Invite your friends.
   There will be an intermission, and free professional child care will be provided.
   Come and get the big picture of Mark, the gospel for 2009.
 

GIVING TO FOOD PANTRY
  
RECORD BREAKING GIVING TO FOOD PANTRY IN 2008
   We set a goal of giving 6,288 lbs. of food and personal hygiene items to our local emergency food pantry in 2008.  With 2,192 lbs. given in December alone, we reached that goal and gave a record final total of 6,412 lbs in 2008!
   Unfortunately, the needs are growing.  And, so is our goal.  Let’s set another record and give 6,500 lbs in 2009!  We seek to help the  people who need our help in the name of Jesus Christ with a little extra food throughout the year.  Food that does not need cooking, small water bottles, canned food, staple food, easy-to-prepare food, diapers and personal hygiene items are much needed. 
   If you prefer, you can contribute funds and volunteers will shop for you.
   God is doing great things at Faith Lutheran Church.  Let’s continue to respond to his blessings.

DISTRIBUTING FOOD FROM THE PANTRY
   FLC is the largest contributor to our local emergency food pantry, run by the Inland Valley Council of Churches at the San Dimas Community Church.  They are asking for help from 2:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, once or twice a month.  Call Liz Moore at (909) 624-8618 to help.

 

DE-DECORATING THE CHURCH SATURDAY JANUARY 10TH
   Come and help the Altar Guild remove our Christmas season elements and prepare the church for the Epiphany season on Saturday, January 10th at 9:00 a.m.  All help is needed and will be greatly appreciated.  And you’ll have a good time, too!
 

JANUARY STRAW POLLS
   A series of Straw Polls will be received every Sunday in January.  Straw polls are questionnaires that are used to gauge the sense of the congregation as to how God is calling us to minister.  Results will be posted and used by our church council at its annual planning retreat

   How do you share your faith?  One starting point is to share your church.  A series of new tools are being prepared to help express the Biblical truth that you and I are the church.
   New license plate frames are being designed.
   A selection of shirts and hooded sweatshirts is being designed for different age groups as a means of communicating our message of faith.
   Coffee cups are being designed with our logo and web site for members and as gifts for visitors.
   Pens and pencils  are being ordered with church information on them to get into circulation.   Another set of personal sharing and bulk mail postcards is being prepared to help invite people in the community to take part in special activities and worship.
   Small cards are being designed with the church name, address, worship times and web site for you to carry and give to people you invite.
   The costs to make these items are not coming from the General Fund (see page 4), but from excess FLC Pre-school funds.  We do not use these funds for General Fund expenses, or to substitute for our own good stewardship.  We will not grow to depend on these funds, but on the generous heart of God expressed in our generous  and joyful giving.  We use them only to provide ministries that would not otherwise be contained in our General Fund to build up the Body of Christ

GENERAL MINISTRY & MORTGAGE FUND ENVELOPES FOR 2009
   Offering envelope sets are available at a table at church for member households that use them.  We don’t do fund raising at Faith Lutheran Church.  Our life-changing ministries are supported by first-fruits, proportional, direct growth giving.  If you don’t see a set with your name on it on the table and would like a set, just use the sign up sheet on the offering envelope table and we’ll see that a set is prepared for you within a week.   Thank you for your generous and faithful giving in response to God’s blessings!!

FLC LOGO ITEMS TO SHARE YOUR FAITH
   Pens and pencils with the FLC logo and web site address on them are available at the church today.  Pick up a supply this week, use them yourself  and give some away. 
   Our FLC logo polo shirts can be ordered in men’s and women’s sizes and a variety of colors for $10 each.  Orders received by December 16th will be ready by Christmas.
   “Cupa-Joe” diner style coffee mugs with the FLC logo on them are available for $5.00 each.  Use them and give them as gifts.  NOTE: Logo could melt off in very high dishwasher heat.
   Find creative ways to start a conversation this Christmas and share the most important thing you have, the thing that nothing or no one can take away, a living relationship with the living God!
 

AN INTRODUCTION TO FAITH FOR VISITORS
   Are you a visitor, a newcomer, or just someone interested in learning about who we are at Faith Lutheran Church?   Then you are invited to take part in our next Introduction to Faith Classes in January.
   The three sessions will introduce Faith Lutheran Church, and where it fits within the Christian faith in general.  You’ll have opportunities for questions and informal conversation, as well as time devoted to growing in the Christian faith.
   We’ll gather on Saturdays, January 10, 17 and 24, at 10:00 a.m. 
   Those who want, will be received as members of the congregation Sunday, January 25th
   Please let us know how many are coming by calling 909 599-3978 or emailing flc@faithsd.net, and tell is if you’ll need child care, which will be provided by the church.

Men of Faith

MEN OF FAITH BREAKFAST AND WORKDAY

First Saturday

      The Men of Faith will discuss ideas for the expansion of their group’s mission at their monthly breakfast and work morning November 1st at 8:00 a.m.  We’ll carpool to Roberta’s Restaurant in La Verne.  All FLC men are invited.

Call Bert Smith for more information at 909-392-0054 . 

Click here for New Building Dedication Photos

Click here to see more photos of the New Communion Set

POSTCARDS, Shirts, Coffee Cups & pens

  How do you share your faith?  One starting point is to share your church.

   Another set of personal sharing and bulk mail postcards is being prepared to help invite people in the community to take part in special activities and worship.

   Small cards are being designed with the church name, address, worship times and web site for you to carry and give to people you invite.

   A selection of shirts and hooded sweatshirts is being designed for different age groups as a means of communicating our message of faith.

   Coffee cups are being designed with our logo and web site for members and as gifts for visitors.

   Pens are being ordered with church information on them to get into circulation.

   The costs to make these are not coming from the General Fund (see page 4), but from excess FLC Pre-school funds.  We do not use these funds for General Fund expenses, or to substitute for our own good stewardship.  We will not grow to depend on these funds, but on the generous heart of God expressed in our generous  and joyful giving.  We use them only to provide ministries that would not otherwise be contained in our General Fund to build up the Body of Christ.

Sunday School Teachers Needed

Having separate class spaces means that additional teachers are urgently needed. Sign-up at the announcement wall to express your interest in taking on a teaching role in our Sunday School. Call Lia Gyore at 909-394-1959 for more information. Training and mentoring will be provided.

WALK BY FAITH WALKING GROUP winter HOURS
   Come for exercise and fellowship any day, Monday—Friday with our group of walkers, Walk by Faith!   The group leaves at 7:00 a.m. and returns by 8:00 a.m. during the fall.  Come when you can.  Contact Patrice Heuring for more information about start locations at 909  592-9395.   “So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord- for we walk by faith, not by sight.”  2 Corinthians 5:7
 

A GREAT GIVING OPPORTUNITY FOR PERSONS 70.5 AND ABOVE
   The IRS has given a great gifting opportunity only in the year 2007.  A cash gift of up to $100,000 of accumulated pension money may be donated to Faith Lutheran Church without paying any taxes.  If you are 70-and-a-half years old or older, or will be in 2007, then you are eligible to make a direct gift from an IRA, 401k, TSA, 403b or other pension fund.  A Required Minimum Distribution given directly to the church is a good example of this opportunity.  Our thanks to Gary Thomasser for providing this news for the church.  Contact the church office to review the info Gary has provided.

PARKING NEXT DOOR
   You are welcome to use the parking lot at Casa Bonita Convalescent Hospital next door on Sunday mornings.  We have a special arrangement with Casa Bonita to use their parking lot on Sundays, a low time for them, and they use our parking lot on weekdays, a low time for us.  This arrangement will be especially helpful during construction.

FAITHFUL VISITORS

   A group of FAITHful Visitors is being formed to check in on shut-ins, visit people new to FLC, call on members who are ill, bring Communion, see people who just need to talk, and so on.  Participants will only call on people in situations where they feel comfortable.  Call Maryann McGee (626 290-8280) to take part.
 

MEN OF FAITH COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS

   Do you know someone who is ill or homebound and could use a little help with yard work and minor maintenance?  Our Men of Faith group may be able to help.  Contact the church office at 909 599-3978.

PRAY FOR SAMANTHA PALUMBO BRACELETS AND POSTCARDS AVAILABLE
   Samantha Palumbo, a 16 year old member of our church and the current Miss California Junior National Teenager, was very seriously injured in a one vehicle automobile accident on April 8, 2005 when her car left the road and hit an equestrian trail fence in San Dimas.  A cross rail did major damage to her head.  At first, medical personnel did not expect her to live.  She has been moved from County/USC Hospital to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and, now, to the Healthbridge Children's Rehab Hospital in Orange, and has made exceptional progress in her recovery.  She has recently begun to respond to commands and walking!  We are now praying that Samantha will gain a higher level of cognitive ability.
   We have been sending out prayer requests and regular updates by email to all those on our list, and have been bringing bi-weekly updates to our worship services.  Our prayer requests have been heard and acted upon all over the world.  We are preparing for the long haul and for needs that will present themselves over time, as well.
   A friend of the family has prepared bracelets as reminders to be praying for Samantha.  They are available at the church.  We are asking to meet the costs of the bracelets ($2) and any extra funds will be used for her care or, if not needed, for a cause that Samantha chooses.  Postcards are also available to share Samantha's story.

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Would you like more information about FLC?
   Call the church at (909) 599 3978, send a fax to the church at (909) 599 3324 or email us at flc@faithsd.net to be placed on our mailing list for our monthly printed newsletter.
   Use the same email address to be put on our direct list of E-zine online subscribers.
Faith Lutheran Church is located at
505 E. Bonita Ave. (½-block east of the Post Office) in San Dimas, California   91773-3124.
Click here for directions.
Our worship times are:
Sundays:  8:15 a.m. (Blended worship, with keyboard and flute)
               9:30 a.m. (Contemporary worship, with band)
                    (Christian Education from 9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.)
              10:45 a.m. (Traditional worship, with organ)
Wednesdays:  6:45 p.m. (Informal worship, about 45-mins., with a potluck meal at 6:00 p.m.)

Reach out for us.  Our mission is to introduce people to new life in Jesus Christ that grows into enthusiastic Christian living.