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Announcements – December 16, 2016

Mission of the Month: Angel Trees

Angel Trees are here! Instead of the traditional ornaments, the Angel Trees are adorned with tags that detail a special need for the following organizations:

  • Good News Prison Ministry – Soft cover new or gently used Bibles and faith-based books, new greeting cards and stationery for inmates
  • Refugee and Immigrant Services Program of LSS/NCA – Basic household items. These are items that we all obviously take for granted (like towels, pillows, blankets, diapers, etc.), but are essential when you’re starting with basically nothing. Donations of many of these things will allow both LSS and the refugee family to stretch their existing finances further, if even for just a bit.

Choose one or more tags, purchase the item(s) and place them unwrapped under the matching tree. We’ll gather up the donations and deliver them to the correct organization. This year we are collecting items right up to Christmas for Good News Prison Ministry and LSS.  The items are useful throughout the year as these organizations serve our community.

Questions?  Contact Becky Thomas: beckythomas4236@verizon.net.

Monetary Donations this month will benefit the Refugee & Immigrant Services Program of Lutheran Social Services/National Capital Area (LSS/NCA). At any moment, more than 15 million refugees around the world must leave their homes because of war or civil unrest.  Since the 1970s, LSS/NCA has partnered with local organizations, companies, and individual volunteers to aid in the resettlement of thousands of federally approved refugees as they begin new lives in the Washington, D.C. Metro area.  For more information, go to:  http://lssnca.org/programs/refugees_immigrant/

You can give to the mission of the month by using the special mission offering envelopes in the pews, online at www.flcva.org, or by scanning the QR code on the back of this bulletin.

Young Adult Christmas Party / White Elephant

TODAY, December 18th.  Meet at Pastor Kate’s house at 6:00 p.m. for our annual Christmas Party. Pastor Kate will provide a main dish and asks everyone to bring a side and/or beverage. We’ll also do a White Elephant gift exchange. Please bring a $10-15 gift wrapped and ready to be exchanged. It can be as fun, gaudy, or useful as you want.

Newsletter Article and Opt-in Deadline

Articles and announcements for the January-February edition of The Key are due by Monday, December 19th.  Please bring your submissions to the church office or send by email to Laura Bolger (communications@flcva.org).

For those who would like to continue receiving a paper copy of the newsletter by mail, December 19th is also the deadline to submit your opt-in form.  Paper copies will also be available for pickup at the church on Sunday, January 8th.

Christmas Service Times

Christmas is finally upon us!  On Christmas Eve (Saturday, December 24th) there will be two services, one at at 5:00 p.m. and another at 8:00 p.m.  The first will be more kid-friendly and streamlined. Both will include candle lighting and communion. The second service will be followed by a reception at 9:00 p.m.

On Christmas Day, Sunday, there will be only one worship service at 10:30 a.m.  This will be a special “lessons and carols” service with communion to celebrate the coming of our lord, Jesus Christ.

XYZ New Years Eve Lunch at Red Lobster

On Saturday, December 31st, we will celebrate New Years Eve at the Red Lobster.  Van leaves at 11:30 a.m.

Church Office Closed for Christmas & New Years

The church office will be closed on the following dates:

  • Monday, Dec. 26 – Thursday, Dec. 29
  • Monday, Jan. 2

Welcome to the Waiting Room: Week 4

Advent is a season of hoping, waiting, yearning, and preparing, but for what or whom and how? These are some of the themes explored in this Advent series. The word “advent” is from the Latin adventus; it means “arrival” or an awaited coming. It’s a season of big promises. We wonder, “Will God keep ancient promises or has God forgotten

Advent is a season largely forgotten by our culture of immediate gratification, and likewise we’ve forgotten what it means to wait well. In all of this waiting, God is creating desire within us. And we trust it’s worth the wait. Along the way, there are a few things for which we’re not yet ready, because when God comes close it’s almost always accompanied by surprise or scandal.

This is God’s story. This is our story. Welcome to the season of Advent.


Week 4 Homework: Cradle Our Hopes

For the sake of loving us, God comes to us at the very center of scandal, both in the cradle and on the cross. This is what it looks like when God comes close: humble and vulnerable. In Jesus, God is bringing about the dream for mending families and relationships, nations at war, the environment and all of creation. Now that’s good news for all people.

Are you willing to lay your hopes on this child born of scandal? It seems like a lot for just a little baby. But this is no ordinary child. So what are your hopes for the world, for your family, and for your life? Write down your greatest hopes and bring them to church next Sunday to add to the prayer wall in the sanctuary. Place them in the hands of a child, the One who is Emmanuel, God-With-Us.

You may pray this simple prayer as part of your time of reflection this week.

 

Oh Emmanuel, cradle our fragile hopes as we place our trust in you.

AMEN.

Welcome to the Waiting Room: Week 2

Advent is a season of hoping, waiting, yearning, and preparing, but for what or whom and how? These are some of the themes explored in this Advent series. The word “advent” is from the Latin adventus; it means “arrival” or an awaited coming. It’s a season of big promises. We wonder, “Will God keep ancient promises or has God forgotten us?”

During these four weeks, the future and the past mingle together as we celebrate the Christ who came and is yet to come. Memories, inherited through scripture and tradition, are sparked in order to feed tomorrow’s hope. The Spirit nudges the discovery, “If God came once, maybe God really will come again.”

Advent is a season largely forgotten by our culture of immediate gratification, and likewise we’ve forgotten what it means to wait well. In all of this waiting, God is creating desire within us. And we trust it’s worth the wait. Along the way, there are a few things for which we’re not yet ready, because when God comes close it’s almost always accompanied by surprise or scandal.

This is God’s story. This is our story. Welcome to the season of Advent.


Advent 2: Prepare

Hope might sound passive, but it’s the farthest thing from it. Christian hope won’t let you just sit on your hands. There are preparations to be made and roadwork to be straightened out because God is coming.

Advent Week 2 Homework

Announcements – December 5, 2016

Mission of the Month: Angel Trees
Angel Trees are here! Instead of the traditional ornaments, the Angel Trees are adorned with tags that detail a special need for the following organizations:

  • Good News Prison Ministry – Soft cover new or gently used Bibles and faith-based books, new greeting cards and stationery for inmates
  • Arlington Foster Care – (focusing on teens age 13 and up who make up over half of the kids in foster care) gel soaps and body lotions (Bath and Body Works), colognes/fragrances (with appropriate message), baseball sports caps (preferably plain), t-shirts or polo shirts (solid colors), ear buds, nail polish, make-up, hair accessories for teen girls and hoodies for both boys and girls (solid color or appropriate message). Also appreciated are gift cards in $25 or $50 increments from these suggested stores: Generic Visa/AMEX, Target, TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Walmart, Forever 21, H&M, Old Navy, and Amazon.

Choose one or more tags, purchase the item(s) and place them unwrapped under the matching tree.  We’ll gather up the donations and deliver them to the correct organization.   This year we are collecting items right up to Christmas for Good News Prison Ministry.  The items are useful throughout the year as these organizations serve our community.  Please note, for Arlington Foster Care we have a December 8 deadline as their annual party is on December 10.

Questions?  Contact Becky Thomas: beckythomas4236@verizon.net.

Monetary Donations this month will benefit the Refugee & Immigrant Services Program of Lutheran Social Services/National Capital Area (LSS/NCA). At any moment, more than 15 million refugees around the world must leave their homes because of war or civil unrest.  Since the 1970s, LSS/NCA has partnered with local organizations, companies, and individual volunteers to aid in the resettlement of thousands of federally approved refugees as they begin new lives in the Washington, D.C. Metro area.  For more information, go to:  http://lssnca.org/programs/refugees_immigrant/.

You can give to the mission of the month by using the special mission offering envelopes in the pews, online at www.flcva.org, or by scanning the QR code on the back of this bulletin.

Open Council Positions for 2017
Faith’s Nominating Committee is currently accepting nominations for open positions on the 2017 church council. Please see the Nominations flyer for more details or to submit a nomination.

Homeless Bagged Meals Ministry
On every second Saturday of the month, we prepare simple meals in the kitchen and hand them out directly to our homeless neighbors at an outdoor location in North Arlington. You can help with shopping for the food, the meal preparation at 1:30 p.m., or the distribution of meals at 5:30 p.m. Contact Paul Wengert to get involved: poor.yorick@verizon.net
Faith Volunteers at the Arlington Homeless Services Center (HSC)
Volunteer days require 2-3 volunteers to serve the evening meal, monitor the clothing room, or assist staff with other tasks.  The next volunteer day will be December 11th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Please contact Ginny Paulus at virginia.paulus@gmail.com if you’d like to help.

Women of Faith Holiday Happy Hour
Thursday, December 8, 6:00 p.m.
Samuel Beckett’s – Shirlington

Please join us in celebrating the Christmas Season with a social event for the women of Faith (21 and over). Contact Liz Schuch with any questions: lizabethdawn@hotmail.com

Upcoming XYZ Activities:
Saturday, December 10th – We will attend a Christmas concert at the Bible Church in Springfield, then go to Silverado restaurant. Tickets are $5.00.  The van leaves at 1:00 p.m. for the 2:00 p.m. concert.
Tuesday, December 13thWe will go into Washington for lunch at the Old Ebbitts Grill.  Van leaves at 11:30 a.m.

FLP’s Annual Pop-In & Shop
Sunday, December 11th – 7:00-9:00 pm
Monday, December 12th – 10:00 am-1:00 pm

On Sunday night we will have music and snacks. Monday is kid-friendly with snacks and featuring entertainment featuring the grandson’s JR.!
Local vendors include: Stella & Dot – LuLaRoe – Noggin Toppers Hair Bows – Crafty “D” Girls – Pretty Fizzy Bombs – Trunk Love dõTerra – Keep Collective – Pampered Chef – Lemongrass Spa – J. Marlou & Company – BeautyCounter – Mary Kay – Thirty-one Gifts – Wildtree – Holy Land Christian Solidarity Cooperative – Matilda Jane – Sweets for my Sweet – Postmarked Yesterday & More!

Please RSVP to flpshop16@gmail.com or on the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1697653907215973/

Poinsettia and Greenery Dedications are due by Sunday, December 11th.  Please fill out one of the forms available at the service, or complete our online dedication form at: https://goo.gl/forms/bYzNWrvrh5r6Rlre2. The Google form can also be found on the church website’s “Sign Up Central.”

Newsletter Article and Opt-in Deadline
Articles and announcements for the January-February edition of The Key are due by Monday, December 19th.  Please bring your submissions to the church office or send by email to Laura Bolger (communications@flcva.org).

For those who would like to continue receiving a paper copy of the newsletter by mail, December 19th is also the deadline to submit your opt-in form.  We will also have some paper copies available for pickup at the services on Sunday, January 1st.

Our Annual Children’s’ Christmas Program will take place at the 9:30 service on Sunday, December 18th.  The service will be followed by a 10:30 “Birthday Party For Jesus.” All are welcome to attend. Watch next week’s announcements for more details and signup information.

CC0 Public Domain

Vulnerable God – Christ the King

We aren’t too good with vulnerability. When we choose leaders, we look for those who promise power and might. But instead, on this Christ the King Sunday, we get a God who is incredibly vulnerable; who hangs on the cross and will not save himself. And in so doing, invites us into our own vulnerability as a source of life.

Accompanying scripture:

Luke 1:68-79
Luke 23: 33-43

Good News
Good News
Vulnerable God - Christ the King
/
Image Credit: Cindi Albright, retrieved from Flickr. License: CC BY-ND 2.0

Announcements – November 18, 2016

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mission of the Month

November’s Mission of the Month is A-SPAN (Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network), a community-based non-profit, which has supplied services to the homeless of Arlington for the past 25 years.  Arlington County’s Homeless Services Center (HSC) at Courthouse is operated by

A-SPAN under contract to the County.  The HSC provides a multitude of services under one roof 24/7, 365 days a year, a first for the DC Metro area and one of very few comparable facilities on the East Coast.  By consolidating all these components-housing, medical, shelter, meals, street outreach, employment and case management- the hope is to shorten the ultimate time between moving people from homelessness to homes.  For more information on A-SPAN, go to their website at: www.a-span.org.

Shopping Bags for Outdoor Ministry will be available for pickup today and for the rest of the month at the church entrances.  The bags will have a “shopping list” attached of all the clothing and personal care items we can put to good use in our outdoor ministry to the homeless. Donations can be placed in bins near the Jackson Street doors.

Homeless Bagged Meals Ministry
On every second Saturday of the month, we prepare simple meals in the kitchen and then later that day hand them out directly to our homeless neighbors at an outdoor location in North Arlington. You can help with shopping for the food, the meal preparation at 1:30 p.m., or the distribution of meals at 5:30 p.m. Contact Paul Wengert to get involved: poor.yorick@verizon.net


Faith Volunteers at the Arlington Homeless Services Center (HSC)
Volunteer days require 2-3 volunteers to serve the evening meal, monitor the clothing room, or assist staff with other tasks.  Please contact Ginny Paulus at virginia.paulus@gmail.com if you’d like to help.

Arlington Turkey Trot
Come run with Pastor Kate and Kris Finney before you gorge yourself on food on Thanksgiving Day! Bridges to Independence, our August Mission of the Month, is a beneficiary of the Turkey Trot. Register to run and help this wonderful organization while burning off a few calories in advance. For more information and to register, go to www.arlingtonvaturkeytrot.org.

Please Note that the church office will be closed on Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25 for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Guardians of the Cosmos:
Being a Christian in an Age of Doubt and Mystery
The series will conclude with a fourth Bible study on November 30th, at 8:30 p.m. Either join us for an hour at the church building or on Facebook Live.

To access the Facebook Live video, either go to our website and follow the link on the main page or head to www.facebook.com/flcarlington. Once on our Facebook page, the video should be in the feed as you scroll down. If you are not a Facebook user, you can still see the video. You will only need an account if you wish to comment on the video. Videos for the first three sessions are up and ready to be viewed.

Angel Trees are here!
Angel Trees are the December Mission of the Month!  Starting Sunday, November 20th and continuing through Sunday, December 25th, we are collecting items for the following local organizations:

  • Good News Jail & Prison Ministry
  • Arlington County Foster Care
  • More to come, please stay tuned!

Starting November 20th, visit the trees — located in the Fellowship Hall on the stage  — choose one or more tags, purchase the item(s) and place them unwrapped under the matching tree.  We’ll gather up the donations and deliver them to the correct organization.  Please note, one of the trees this year, Arlington County Foster Care (focusing on teens age 13 and up who make up over half of the kids in foster care) that will have a hard December 8 due date so presents can get to their annual party.  Let’s try to make sure that no child leaves that event with empty hands.

Questions?  Contact Becky Thomas at beckythomas4236@verizon.net.

XYZ Annapolis Trip
Thursday, December 1
The XYZ group will go to Annapolis, MD to tour the decorations at Homestead Nursery, followed by lunch and shopping at the Amish Market. The van will leave at 10:30 a.m.

Breakfast with Santa
Saturday December 3
9:30 a.m. -11:00 a.m.
Join Santa in the Fellowship Hall for holiday photos, breakfast treats, crafts & more.  Neighbors, friends, and family welcome. Please bring your own camera; $10 suggested donation per family to benefit Faith Lutheran Preschool.

Women of Faith Holiday Happy Hour
Thursday, December 8, 6:00 p.m.
Samuel Beckett’s – Shirlington
Please join us in celebrating the Christmas Season with a social event for the women of Faith (21 and over). Please contact Liz Schuch with any questions: lizabethdawn@hotmail.com

XYZ trip to the Bible Church Christmas Concert
Saturday, December 10
The XYZ group will attend a Christmas concert at the Bible Church in Springfield, then go to Silverado restaurant. Tickets are $5.00.  The van leaves at 1:00 p.m. for the 2:00 p.m. concert.

Image credit: Stacy Spensley, Retrieved from Flickr (License: CC BY 2.0)

Thanksgiving Week at Faith Lutheran Church

On Sunday, November 20th at 3:30 p.m. we will have a community potluck.  Sign up here to attend, bring a dish, or help out with the event.

Then, on Thanksgiving Day at 8:00 am, join Pastor Kate and Kris Finney in the Arlington Turkey Trot.  Register to run or walk this 5K race supporting AFAC, A-SPAN, and Bridges to Independence.

Photo credit: Albert de Bruijn, retrieved from Flickr. License: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Beasts

Daniel’s dream could be something right out of an epic fantasy novel: Four beasts come out of the water to wreck havoc and there’s no telling what will happen. Whatever it is, it won’t be good.
Which is how many of us feel about this election. Pastor Kate explores the election, what beasts may be in our world, and what God’s up to in the midst of all that.
Accompanying scripture:
Good News
Good News
Beasts
/

Announcements – November 4, 2016

Image credit: Jasleen_kaur. CC BY-SA 2.0
Image credit: Jasleen_kaur. CC BY-SA 2.0

A Friendly Reminder:
It’s time to turn back your clocks!  Daylight Savings Time will end this Sunday at 2:00 a.m.

Gift Donations for Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR) are still being accepted for another week. Please place your items in the large designated box in the Fellowship Hall. Thank you for caring!

Mission of the Month
November’s Mission of the Month is A-SPAN (Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network), a community-based non-profit, which has supplied services to the homeless of Arlington for the past 25 years.  Arlington County’s Homeless Services Center (HSC) at Courthouse is operated by

A-SPAN under contract to the County.  The HSC provides a multitude of services under one roof 24/7, 365 days a year, a first for the DC Metro area and one of very few comparable facilities on the East Coast.  By consolidating all these components-housing, medical, shelter, meals, street outreach, employment and case management- the hope is to shorten the ultimate time between moving people from homelessness to homes.  For more information on A-SPAN, go to their website at: www.a-span.org.

Shopping Bags for Outdoor Ministry will be available for pickup this Sunday and for the rest of the month at the church entrances.  The bags will have a “shopping list” attached of all the clothing and personal care items we can put to good use in our outdoor ministry to the homeless. Donations can be placed in bins near the Jackson Street doors

Homeless Bagged Meals Ministry
Next Saturday and every second Saturday of the month, we prepare simple meals in the kitchen and then later that day hand them out directly to our homeless neighbors at an outdoor location in North Arlington. You can help with shopping for the food, the meal preparation at 1:30 p.m., or the distribution of meals at 5:30 p.m  Contact Paul Wengert to get involved: poor.yorick@verizon.net


Faith Volunteers at the Arlington Homeless Services Center (HSC)
Volunteer days require 2-3 volunteers (from 5:30 p.m. to around 7:00 p.m.) to serve the evening meal, monitor the clothing room, or assist staff with other tasks.  Please consider putting yourself on a list for future consideration by contacting Ginny Paulus: virginia.paulus@gmail.com

Guardians of the Cosmos:
Being a Christian in an Age of Doubt and Mystery
Join us for a four-week Bible Study as we explore what it means to be a Christian in an age of doubt and mystery. Using Guardians of the Galaxy as a metaphor, we’ll unpack the apostle Paul’s claim that we are “servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries” (1 Corinthians 4:1).  The series continues November 9th, 16th and 30th, at 8:30 p.m. Either join us for an hour at the church building or on Facebook Live.

To access the Facebook Live video, either go to our website and follow the link on the main page or head to www.facebook.com/flcarlington. Once on our Facebook page, the video should be in the feed as you scroll down. If you are not a Facebook user, you can still see the video. You will only need an account if you wish to comment on the video.

The XYZ group will take Blankets to Lutheran World Relief in New Windsor, MD on Tuesday, November 15th.  The van leaves at 10:30 a.m.

Richmond Town and Country Hike.
Saturday, November 12th, 10:00 a.m.
We’ll meet at Faith and then drive together to Richmond where we’ll have lunch, and then hike Belle Isle in the James River just outside the city. Afterward, we may see more in town before heading home. Please email Greg Mantell at greg@sharptel.com to sign up or for more information.

Arlington Turkey Trot
Come run with Pastor Kate and Kris Finney before you gorge yourself on food on Thanksgiving Day! Bridges to Independence, our August Mission of the Month, is a beneficiary of the Turkey Trot. Register to run and help this wonderful organization while burning off a few calories in advance. For more information and to register, go to www.arlingtonvaturkeytrot.org.

Faith Lutheran Church

3313 Arlington Blvd
Arlington, VA 22201

703.525.9283 (Church)
703.525.1375 (Preschool)

Worship Times

9 am Contemporary Worship

11 am Blended Traditional Worship with Livestream

We invite you to join us this Sunday.