APRIL 2024 NEWS
We are a church that believes God seeks to connect with us: WE CALL THAT GRACE.
We are a church seeking to connect with God: WE CALL THAT WORSHIP.
We are a church seeking to connect with each other: WE CALL THAT COMMUNITY.
We are a church seeking to connect with the world: WE CALL THAT MISSION.
As we seek to make connections, be church for the world with us.
worship
In person: 10 a.m. sundays
Livestream or watch previous services at:
http://www.faithlutheransaginaw.net/virtual-church
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pastor’s ponderings
As Christians, we often find ourselves discerning between what we think we are supposed to believe, and what our brain tells us is true. (The heart vs head debate) We can feel conflicted about what is “right” and what is “true”. This often happens when we look at differences between scientific findings and religious beliefs/Biblical assumptions. In our ELCA Christian faith, we look to the Bible as the inspired word of God and an authoritative source, but we also acknowledge that the Bible needs to be analyzed in the context of its time and place. In other words, we do not take the Bible literally.
Scientific discoveries over the years have been very important to society—bringing us better ways to do the basic things in life, better medical treatments, and more understanding of how the world around us works. We don’t have to fear or denounce scientific findings because they appear to conflict with our Biblical testaments. What we CAN do is lean into the unknown mysteries—mysteries that both religion and science hold in common wonder. And, we can use those differences to expand our view of God in the world..
We will discuss this topic more in our new book study (see p. 2). I hope to see you there!
Yours in Christ, Pastor Christina Schultz
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church & community activities & opportunities
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NEW BIBLE STUDY: HOW DO WE RECONCILE SCIENCE AND FAITH?
Join Pastor Christina in a book study starting April 11 at 5:30 p.m.
BOOK TITLE: LOVE AND QUASARS
Paul Wallace, an astrophysicist, reconciles faith and science
STUDY RUNS
APRIL 11- JUNE 13,
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Join in person at Faith Lutheran, 4432 Mackinaw RD, Saginaw, OR
email pastor@faithlutheransaginaw.net for Zoom link
Please bring your own copy of the book. Read chapters 1 and 2 for the first session.
In Love and Quasars, Wallace shows how faith and science are pitted against one another, and he explains how the standard ways of reconciling them don't work. He then proposes a reasonable, thoughtful approach that will appeal to Christians and students of science alike. Readable and wise, Love and Quasars is an indispensable resource for people who wonder if faith and science can coexist.
About the Author
Paul Wallace teaches in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Ga, and is Pastor for Adult Education at First Baptist Church of Decatur. He teaches occasionally at Emory University's Candler School of Theology and at Columbia Theological Seminary. He holds a PhD in nuclear physics from Duke University and an MDiv with a concentration in historical theology from Emory.
For 10 years Paul was a professor of physics and astronomy at Berry College in Rome, Ga. He has twice been awarded a NASA Faculty Fellowship at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and has twice served on the faculty of the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative in Dharamsala, India.
Paul lives in Decatur, Georgia.
Book is available on Amazon and most retailers. Book will also be available for purchase from the church office.
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THE KEY TO OUR CHURCH (Check your key ring!)
The key to our Church is Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. But I would also like to talk about the literal keys to our Church. Since our new building was built in 2006 we have passed out many keys to the facility. If you have a key to the Church, that is great! The facility belongs to everyone. However, If you have a key you no long use or need we are asking that you turn it back into the office. We recently did an inventory of our keys and might need to get more made.
They have an “N” and a number on them. An example might be N1. They also say DO NOT DUPLICATE on the back side. Please drop them by the church office at your earliest convenience, or I can come by your house to pick them up. Feel free to call or email me to arrange pickup.
Thanks!
Paul Hudson / President 989-860-3237
phudson597@gmail.com
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ONLINE CALNEDAR ACCESS
Access our dynamic online calendar on our website at: http://www.faithlutheransaginaw.net/calendar. If you have additions or corrections to the calendar, please call the church office or email Terra at: office@faithlutheransaginaw.net
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DID YOU KNOW?
When you give funds for memorials, you have OPTIONS for where your money goes? Your choices can be designated with the church secretary.
Your options are:
• Endowment Fund (5% annually used to donate to non-profits)
• Pastor Support Fund (meets General Fund shortfalls for expense of having full-time Pastor)
• Personal Needs Pantry (provides non-food personal need items to community)
• Audio/Video Fund (maintains and updates technology and organ)
• Roof & Building Maintenance Fund (for roof replacement and major building maintenance)
• Outreach Projects Fund (assists with outreach projects)
• Good Samaritan Fund (used to meet emergency needs for individuals)
• Accessibility fund (for purchase of accessibility aids)
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STEWARDSHIP NEWS
New Good Samaritan Fund Procedure
An important part of our ministry is helping those in need in our community. The best way we help is by doing what we do already—give to local organizations that support community needs in a specialized way.
However, often people call or come to the door asking for various forms of assistance directly. Due to a high volume of requests, we have developed a form to help us determine if we have help available for individuals and what form of help is available at the time.
If you know someone who needs help, please consider the following FIRST:
Each person requesting help will be asked to call 211 before filling out the form. 211 is a wonderful resource that can help guide people to organizations in the community that can help them. (Like the organizations we give to from our endowment and outreach funds)
At Faith Lutheran, we have some small Meijer gift cards available and some food and personal needs items.
Your generous giving makes a difference in the community! Thank-you for your generosity.
Operation Hope and Care 2024
Drop off totes between April 7 and April 28
Many see the problem of housing insecurity and the un-housed as overwhelming. But, often even the smallest gesture can bring great impact on a person’s life. And, we all know that when people feel better about themselves, they are more likely to feel confident to make other more long-lasting changes in their lives.
Operation Hope & Care gives the un-housed population something most of us take for granted—basic hygiene essentials!
Hope Totes are specifically designed “help bags” that can be filled with necessities such as shampoo, deodorant, and other essential items. The items are then given to the men, women, and children staying at the City Rescue Mission. Help provide hope and care to the un-housed community by filling a Hope & Care Tote with the following items:
Shampoo & Conditioner Body Wash & Cleaning Poofs
Lotion Deodorant
Razors Toothpaste
Shaving Cream (for any gender) Chapstick
Brushes & Combs
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DELTA COLLEGE HYGIENE CARE
The Delta College Hygiene Clinic at Delta College provides the following reduced rate services:
Full Mouth X-rays: $20 Adult Prophy $25 - $48
Panorex: $20 Child Prophy $15
2 x-rays: $6 Oral Cancer Inspection: *NC
4-7 x-rays: $12 Fluoride Treatments: *NC
Fit & Fissure Scalants: $4/tooth Athletic Mouth Guards: *NC
Please call 989-686-9469 (Bay City and Saginaw) or 989-495-4010 (Midland) for an appointment or more information about the Delta Hygiene Clinic.
*Fees are subject to change without notice; NC = No Charge; Prophy = Proplylaxix/Cleaning.
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A CHRISTIAN GARDEN
1. First plant four rows of peas:
• Presence
• Preparedness
• Perseverance
• Promptness
2. Next, plant three rows of squash:
• Squash gossip
• Squash criticism
• Squash indifference
3. Now put in four rows of lettuce:
• Let us be faithful
• Let us be prayerful
• Let us obey rules and regulations
• Let us love one another
4. No garden is complete without turnips:
• Turn up for meetings
• Turn up ready to participate
• Turn up with a can-do attitude
• Turn up with new ideas
• Turn up with determination to work for something worth
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MUTUAL MINISTRY COMMITTEE
The following people make up the Mutual Ministry Committee. The purpose is to accompany Pastor and help guide her and give her feedback. The secondary purpose is to help Pastor with ministry goals for the congregation.
If you have any issues you would like the Mutual Ministry team to address, you can speak with Pastor or with the following people:
Paul Hudson
Pat Bloom
Diane Tolles
Cindi Galonska
Vinicio Verdoni
Betty Nagel-Cribbins
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SEEKING CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS
Bulletin Board Designer: Keep the hallway bulletin board organized, up-to-date, and looking good.
Saginaw ELCA Marketing: Work with the Saginaw ELCA visioning group to develop ELCA social media posts. (Functional tech skills is a definite plus.)
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NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 21, 2 - 4 pm
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Faith Lutheran Events Calendar can be viewed on the Events Calendar page.
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Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church
4432 Mackinaw Road, Saginaw, MI 48603
Phone: 989-799-0162