STORIES OF FAITH

NOT REALLY SHUT IN
Each week the older woman waits for the person from Faith Lutheran Church to bring her the tape of the worship service from last Sunday.  She enjoys the music, the message, and the prayers.  The announcements keep her informed about what is happening in the congregation.  The tape stirs her memory so she can almost see the sanctuary and the people in it.  The large print bulletin gives her additional connection to her church.  She most enjoys the brief conversation with the person who represents a community of faith that will not let her be forgotten.  God comes to her each week this way.

SUMMER CAMP
The young people didn’t want to go to confirmation camp at first.  Some had older brothers or sisters that told them it would be fun, but they still weren’t sure.  Why give up the one week of freedom between school and summer school at confirmation camp?  By the end of the week, they didn’t want to go home.  They had grown together as a small community of Christian eighth graders.  They had been inspired by counselors who could be Christian and still be very cool.  They had gotten to know their pastor better.  God came to them in Bible study, worship and songs.  It was a great week.

Dear Friends,

	Storytelling is a great art.  Is there a better way to convey a message than to tell a story that invites the listener to see a picture?  Hear a voice?  Feel an emotion?
	Jesus was a storyteller.  He knew that faith turned into action led to great stories of courage, kindness, generosity and God’s grace.  And He shared those stories freely with His followers.
	Today and for the next few weeks, we will be sharing some stories too.  These true “Stories of Faith” were written by Pastor Hedding before he started his new ministry, and they demonstrate how the ministries of Faith Lutheran Church have touched lives.  They could not have been written without your faithful actions.
	November 11, 2001 will be Commitment Sunday at our church.  We encourage you to begin thinking and praying about how your gifts of time, talent and finances can help us to create new Stories of Faith in 2002!

In Christian Love,
The Stewardship Committee

STORIES OF FAITH
2nd Edition

A STEWARDSHIP STORY
	There wasn’t any one thing that made us want to look at our giving to the church.  God has given us so much that we take for granted in America, and I guess we took it for granted as well.  Somewhere along the line we began to appreciate what God has done for us: life, family, work, our freedom, and most of all we began to really appreciate Jesus’ death and resurrection.  With all that God has done for us, and, really, continues to do for us, we wanted to be more generous as well.  We thought that our offering of $10 a week was pretty good, but when we looked at it as a percentage of our weekly income, around $730 a week for both of us, we found it was about 1.4%.  We thought it would be more than that, and wanted it to be more than that, so we found that $17 a week would be 2.4%.  That was an increase that wasn’t too scary, but helped us be the generous people that God has made us to be.  We may increase more, but this is a good start.  Our need to give is a result of our gratitude to God and our trust in God for the future.  We have been please with how things have gone for us and our goal is to reach a tithe, 10% or about $73 a week.  That sounds like a lot to us now, but we feel so good about our increase last year that we trust God will enable us to reach this goal with gladness.  As God’s people, we need to give.

Dear Friends,

Ever wish you had an owner’s manual for life?

Well we can’t provide that, but as a gift to you, we’ve enclosed a copy of the new Owner’s Manual for Faith Lutheran Church.  We hope that this will help you understand the scope of our ministries and maybe even encourage you to think of new ways in which those ministries can be extended.

Thanks to our generous God, and your gifts of time, talent and resources, there are many Stories of Faith to tell, and many yet to be told.

Remember, November 11, 2001 is Commitment Sunday.

In Christian Love,
The Stewardship Committee

OWNER’S MANUAL FOR

Faith Lutheran Church
207 S. Cherry Avenue
Marshfield, Wisconsin
715-387-3757 phone
faith@faithofmfld.org

Opportunities for Worship, Education
Service and Mission.

MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission at Faith Lutheran Church
is to be a community of loving people who spread God’s Word
by nurturing faith in Jesus Christ and serving those in need.

WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
	Services are held on Sunday morning at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. and on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. for those who are away or have to work on Sunday.  We also have special summer worship hours (beginning the weekend after Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend) where our Sunday services are held at 8:00 and 9:30 a.m.
	A variety of liturgical settings are used including the traditional, a contemporary setting, a healing service and inclusion of a hymn sing each month.  Communion is served twice each month and on festival Sundays and weekly during Lent and Advent.
	A nursery is available for newborn to three years of age.
	Sunday School classes for children and youth are held between services; as well as Adult Education classes.  These education classes run from the first weekend after Labor Day through May.
	A coffee hour after the first service offers a time for fellowship.  The coffee hour is not held during our summer worship hours.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
	Faith Lutheran Church Sunday School starts the first Sunday after Labor Day and continues through the third Sunday in May, from 9:15-10:15 a.m.  We offer classes to children who are age three before September 1 (Preschool 1) through 9th grade.
	There are two children’s choirs, “Kids in the Kingdom,” which is Preschool 1 through 1st grades; and “Joyful Noise,” which is 2nd through 5th grades.  Choirs meet each Sunday at 9:15 and practice for 15 minutes.  Both choirs perform 2-3 times a year at the 10:30 church service.
	Each year we hold a Christmas program and students in grades Preschool 1 through 5th grade are involved.
	Our confirmation program is held for those in 7th through 9th grades.  In the 7th grade year, students are required to maintain a good Sunday School attendance and are required to take 7 sermon notes.  In the 8th grade year, they are required to attend confirmation camp in June (the end of their 7th grade year), maintain a good Sunday School attendance, attend a confirmation class one Saturday a month (taught by one of the pastors), perform 3 service projects, and take 20 sermon notes.  In the 9th grade year students must attend a summer VBS program (taught by the pastor), maintain a good Sunday School attendance, attend a confirmation class one Saturday a month (taught by one of the pastors), attend a 9th grade retreat in December, and take 20 sermon notes.  Confirmation for our 9th graders is held the first weekend in May.
	We present 1st year Bibles to our 3 year olds, and present the Good News Bible to our 3rd graders.
	We offer a ten-week course of Welcome to the Lord’s Family and Welcome to the Lord’s Table classes to our 5th grade students, in which we prepare them to take their first communion and become acolytes.
	Each summer (usually in June) we offer a VBS program to students in Preschool 1 through Kindergarten.  These students attend classes taught by volunteers.  For students in Grades 1 through 6, we have Day Camp, where we hire summer camp counselors from Luther Park to come in and teach the students Bible stories, crafts, songs and skits.  The classes are a full day Monday-Thursday and a partial day on Friday.  There is no cost for VBS, but to help offset costs there is a charge for Day Camp.
ϖ	Sunday Morning adult education classes offer a variety of topics either in single presentations or short series.
ϖ	Tuesday morning Bible Study, 8:30-10:00 a.m. is led by the pastors and focuses on books of the Bible or related topics chosen by the group.
ϖ	Sunday Evening Bible Study is for busy people who still desire to grow in understanding and faith in the message of the Bible.  It combines a better understanding of the context of the texts with conversation about the application of the Gospel message for our lives today.
ϖ	Men’s Prayer Breakfast: An ecumenical group of men meet every Wednesday morning at 6:30 a.m. in Four Seasons’ Dining Room at St. Joseph’s Hospital for Bible Study.
ϖ	Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (WELCA) have four circles at Faith Lutheran.  Circles are small groups that study the Bible and also give us the opportunity to become better acquainted in fellowship.  All circles discuss the designations of their monthly donations; assist in cleaning our church kitchen; serve wedding and funeral meals; and other projects as the circle decides.  A brief business meeting is after the Bible study.  We welcome all women.  We can arrange a ride if necessary.  Our church bulletin and calendar also list the circle meetings.  Listed below are the names of the circles including the time and place.
o	Elizabeth Circle meets at 9:15 a.m. on the third Wednesday of the month at the home of members or at church.  The Bible study is led by a member or one of the pastors.  A brief business meeting follows the Bible study.  Our attendance consists from ten to 15 women.
o	Miriam Circle meets at 9:15 a.m. on the third Wednesday, September through May in the church Upper Room.  Members take turns leading the Bible study.  Many of our members have school-age children and/or preschoolers and we provide childcare during our meetings.  Our attendance is seven to 15 women.
o	Priscilla Circle meets from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month in the church Upper Room.  Our pastors rotate as Bible study leaders.  A brief business meeting is held after our Bible study.  The majority of our members are retired women but all ages are welcome.
o	Ruth Circle meets from 7-9 p.m. the third Tuesday from September through July in the church Upper Room.  Our Bible study is led by a member or by one of our pastors.  A brief business meeting is held after our Bible study.  We have about 20 members of all ages.

LEADERSHIP AND COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES

	CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS are held to approve important decisions regarding the mission and business of the congregation.  These include the Annual Meeting to receive reports, approve the budget, changes in staff and Church Council.  Church Council members are elected at the Annual Meeting for terms of three years and, on behalf of the congregation, provide overall direction for and evaluation of the church’s ministries.  They meet monthly as a council and members serve as liaison on the various committees.  The Pastors and Financial Secretary serve as non-elected members of the Council.
	Faith Lutheran Church has an active committee structure.  Members do the work of the congregation in cooperation with the membership.
ϖ	The PARISH EDUCATION COMMITTEE sets the direction for youth and adult education, assisting the Parish Education Director.
ϖ	The YOUTH COMMITTEE sets the direction for and coordination of the youth ministry and special event planning in coordination with the Youth Director.  Youth sponsors offer a two-year commitment to a relational ministry with Junior and Senior High students.  Chaperones assist youth sponsors as needed in major youth events and trips.
ϖ	The FINANCE and MEMORIAL COMMITTEE makes recommendations to the Church Council on financial matters and supervises the Memorial Fund.
ϖ	An AUDIT COMMITTEE audits the church books annually.
ϖ	The PROPERY COMMITTEE provides direction for maintenance and care of the building and grounds owned by the congregation.  Property workers are volunteers who help with the work that needs to be done around the church such as spring-cleaning, painting, yard work, etc.
ϖ	The SOCIAL CONCERNS COMMITTEE leads the ministry of social concerns in the congregation and to people in society where deeds of mercy and justice are a prerequisite to evangelism.
ϖ	The HEALTH CABINET, in recognition that physical, emotional and spiritual health are important for each member assesses needs and sponsors programs to meet those needs.
ϖ	The STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE coordinates efforts to encourage the faithful management  of time, talent and financial gifts that God has entrusted to our care.  Stewardship volunteers may assist with mailings, calls, and special events.
ϖ	The CONGREGATIONAL LIFE COMMITTEE organizes the congregation for closer personal ties including witness and social functions such as trips and soup suppers.
ϖ	The LIBRARY COMMITTEE oversees selection and cataloging of books with librarians and coordinate library helpers who check books in, keep shelves in order, decorate, etc.
ϖ	The WORSHIP and MUSIC COMMITTEE encourages the ministry of worship and music in the life and mission of the congregation.
ϖ	The PERSONNEL COMMITTEE establishes and reviews personnel policies for recruitment, training and performance management of paid staff.  It establishes and reviews compensation and benefit policies for paid staff.  It provides input as needed for personnel issues regarding paid staff.
ϖ	The MEMBER HOME SERVICE COMMITTEE is a group of volunteers who lend a hand to elderly and widowed persons with things such as raking leaves or minor household repair.
ϖ	The ALTAR COMMITTEE cares for the acolyte gowns, sets up candles for worship and special occasions, communion set up and clean up, take care of altar supply inventory, make up banners, care for flowers and plants, etc.

OPPORTUNITIES IN SERVICE,
MISSION & PARTICIPATION

ϖ	PIECE CORPS: Women make quilts, lap robes, layettes, knit baby sweaters, and make health, school and sewing kits.  These are occasionally made available to needy individuals in the community, but are primarily sent out to Third World countries in need or crisis through Lutheran World Relief.  Members may participate by coming to the church on the first and third Thursdays of the month to put quilts together (i.e. tie them, sew, or help in other ways).  Members may sew quilt tops or full quilts at home and bring them in to be completed.  Materials may be donated; sheets, blankets, fabric, including old curtains, receiving blankets, etc. for use in making up the items.  Details are listed in the directory.
ϖ	GREETERS welcome worshipers before services and are available to assist visitors.
ϖ	COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS make coffee and host the coffee hour between services.
ϖ	COMMUNION ASSISTANTS assist the pastors with serving of communion.
ϖ	LAY MINISTERS assist the pastors with liturgy during services.
ϖ	LECTORS read scripture lessons during worship services.
ϖ	NURSERY VOLUNTEERS provide childcare during church services and the education hour.
ϖ	TAPE MINISTRY VOLUNTEERS duplicate tapes after services and others deliver the tapes to shut-ins.
ϖ	USHERS prepare the sanctuary for worship, hand out bulletins, and assist with communion and offerings.
ϖ	VISITATION VOLUNTEERS visit shut-ins and elderly and may assist as needed.
ϖ	CARE FUND is the pastor’s discretionary fund in which money donated by the congregation members for use by the pastors to give to needy individuals who come to the church for assistance in our community.
ϖ	PRAYER CHAIN is at call requests for anyone with a prayer concern; it is not limited to members of the church.
ϖ	SOUP OR SOCKS is a community food pantry and clothes closet sponsored by the churches of the community and is housed at the Presbyterian Church.  It is staffed by volunteers from Faith one week each month.  Donations of food or clothes may be dropped off in the collection box here at Faith.  Volunteers then transport these goods to SOS.
ϖ	SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS are needed for all ages and may do team teaching, teach all or part of the year or be available as substitutes.  Training is provided to assist new teachers.
ϖ	The CRADLE ROLL VOLUNTEER keeps track of baptized children under three years of age and sends parents of these children parenting newsletters.
ϖ	MUSICIANS have many opportunities to participate.  Senior Choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings – childcare is provided.  Three youth choirs are available to children and youth of various ages.  Choir leaders, accompanists, organ and piano, soloists or ensembles, both vocal and instrumental, contemporary musicians, and organists all have a place and are welcomed.
ϖ	STAFF SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES:
o	AUDIOVISUAL OPERATORS run video and other equipment as needed for services and special events
o	MONEY COUNTERS count offerings each Monday morning.
o	MAILINGS AND BULLETINS are collated and prepared for use or mailings.
o	RECEPTION DUTIES are performed by those filling in for the church secretary in her absence and involves answering the phone, greeting visitors, taking messages, etc.
o	MEMORIAL FUNDS are used as designated by the donors.  Gifts that are undesignated are used for special needs as directed by the Church Council.
o	The ENDOWMENT COMMITTEE administers the use of the interest from the endowment funds as defined in the bylaws and as applied for by grant applications.  This fund also administers the scholarship funds for members of the church attending an ELCA college.

Our pastors are called to a ministry of Word and Sacrament in service of all people, particularly those in this congregation and community.  Pastors are available for counseling, visitation at times of need and/or illness.  Pastors are available to offer guidance and support through the Scriptures.  Please contact them any time you would like.  The pastors hope to get to know you in the ordinary as well as critical times of your life.
	Faith Lutheran Church members feel the church should be a community center as well as a place of worship.  Its facilities are made available to non-profit groups for meetings like AA and Al-Anon, The Grieving Parents Support Group, Over-Eaters Anonymous, Red Cross shelter for disasters, Sons of Norway, and Girl and Boy Scout troops.  Our facility is also used for the Music in the Key of Fun classes for preschool age children, a meeting center for preschool registration through the Marshfield School District and Board of Education.

NOTES