VOLUME 35–NO. 7 JULY 2012

This past Sunday (at time of writing) we heard about God’s

“mustard-seed kingdom” that, despite its humble appearances, is

growing and thriving in people’s hearts all around this spinning

globe. When we say that we “believe in the holy Christian Church,

[which is] the communion of saints,” we’re confessing our faith in

Christ Jesus whose love draws no national or geographical bounda-

ries, whose gracious reign is worldwide.

And I was reminded of a hymn that I love. It’s not one we get to sing

very often, nor did we sing it this Sunday, because it comes from the

section of the hymnal called “Evening Hymns,” those most appropriately sung at nightfall, as a bedtime

prayer. But the tune is so beautiful, and the words express such a lovely thought, that I wanted to

share it with you here, no matter what time of day you’re reading this.

(If you’d like to actually hear it, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pigh8VHr-ZE where you’ll find

a beautiful rendition sung by an English choir.) But here are the lyrics, for your reflection.

The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended, the darkness falls at Thy behest;

To Thee our morning hymns ascended, Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.

We thank Thee that Thy Church, unsleeping while earth rolls onward into light,

Through all the world her watch is keeping, and never rests by day or night.

As o’er each continent and island the dawn leads on another day,

The voice of prayer is never silent, nor dies the strain of praise away.

The sun, that bids us rest, is waking Thy saints beneath the western skies,

And hour by hour, as day is breaking, fresh hymns of thankful praise arise.

So be it, Lord! Thy throne shall never, like earth’s proud empires, pass away;

Thy kingdom stands and grows forever, till all Thy creatures own Thy sway.

Before I learned this hymn, I guess I’d never really had this picture of the world, but

I love it. Even as you and I prepare to go to sleep, and our prayers and praises go

quiet for the night, other Christians beyond the western horizon are waking, and

taking up the song – in other lands, in other languages – so that God’s kingdom is

never silent, but constantly being renewed.

And one day we’ll all join together, all God’s creatures “owning God’s sway,” that is,

acknowledging God’s sovereign power, with one united voice. For Thine is the

kingdom…forever and ever. Amen.

This Month’s Message from Pastor Dunbar

Faith Lutheran Church The Parish News

PAGE 2 VOLUME 35–NO. 7

Prayers For Health Karla Bergman, Doris Bruntz, Chris Davis, Melvina Dillman, Linda Gardner, Anthony Gonzales, Mar-

git Haberman, Bernadine Harms, Renee Hinderks, Jim Jugert, Howard Kohtz, Wes Lampher, Karen

Lee, Rich Lundquist, Carol Lytle, Verlin Mosier, Ken Nollette, Jackie Ortegren, Perk Perkins, Larry

Reimnitz, Dale Schroeder, Mark Sorge, Bryan Stanley.

In Sympathy

We pray for Marie Ochsner at the death of her sister-in-law, Sally Whitcomb; for Lisa Stramel, Willie

and Amanda, at the death of their husband/father, Scott Stramel; and for Carrie Custard and family at

the death of her mother, Elaine Rottmeyer. May all who mourn the loss of a loved one know the peace of

God’s everlasting promise He gives us through His son, Jesus.

New Life

We welcome . May God wrap each of these families in His loving care and may they continue to grow in

the knowledge of their faithful Lord Jesus.

July Highlights

FAITH FELLOWSHIP 4th OF JULY You are invited to join friends and family from Faith on the 4th of July for a “Cream

Can Supper.” The fun begins at the Henkel home (765 S. Marian Rd.)

at 5:30 PM. Please bring a salad or dessert to share, your own lawn

chairs, (and fireworks if you wish.) To reserve your spot call Deb at

402.460.7020 by July 2nd.

Book Group meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at the Blue Moon Coffee Co. at

7:00pm. All those who love to read are invited to pop in anytime. On July 12 we will be

discussing The Girl who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson. Books through the end of the

year include: Aug.9- The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by A. Bender; Sept. 7- Mis-

taken Identity by Van Ryn and Cerak; Oct. 11-Miss Peregriene’s Home for Peculiar Chil-

dren by Ransom Riggs; Nov. 8- The Broken Teaglass by Emily Arsenault, and Dec. 13-

Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman.

The Chorus of the Plains, our local men’s barbershop harmony group, will sing pre-

service music at the 8:00am Worship Service on July 15. Don’t miss the chance to hear these

men as they lift

their voices in

song!

XYF Fireworks Stand

June 27 - July 4 at Russ’s Market

9:00 AM - 10:00 PM

The stand will close at 1:00 PM on the 4th

Now accepting credit cards

News and Notes

Pots and Pans and other kitchen things

Please check the church kitchen for left items if you are missing a bowl or cake pan, etc. Items will be

given away if not claimed by July 7.

PAGE 3 VOLUME 35–NO. 7

Nebraska District Convention Notes

Rev. Russell Sommerfeld was re-elected to his fourth

term as our District President. For a summary of

other elections that took place at the Nebraska District Convention last week in Seward, please check the Dis-trict Convention webpage at: http://www.ndlcms.org/news/convention/final12.html.

Full convention coverage will also be provided in the newspaper-sized Nebraska Lutheran Reporter which will be sent to congregations in mid-July. Feel free to stop by the church and pick one up.

Televised Worship Services

Our Sunday morning worship service is tele-

vised each week on cable channel 12 ( and

channel 3 at Good Samaritan Village.) The

service will air on Wednesdays at 9am and

Sundays at noon on channel 12. GSV air times

are Wednesdays at 9am and Sundays at 2pm.

June/July Advertizing Sponsors

Thanks to our Bazaar Committee for spon-

soring the website in June and July in honor

and appreciation of Marlin and Louan

Meyer, for their dedication and hours of ser-

vice to the church bazaar.

AV Improvements Will Begin

At the Voters’ Meeting on June 10th, our congregation approved a proposal for upgrades to our sound,

lighting, video, and projection systems in the sanctuary, including the following:

▪ Two new speakers and two new wireless microphones

▪ A new sound board

▪ An assisted hearing system

▪ A wall dimmer for the lights

▪ Directed lighting in place of floodlights

▪ An additional camera, joystick and button panel

▪ A video switcher and digital capture device

▪ An automated projection screen with a new projector

The total cost of the plan is $65,000. This project will be paid for through a combination of memorial

funds, general fund monies and directed gifts. If you would like to make a special offering toward this

project, you can make a check out to Faith Lutheran Church with “A/V Improvements” in the memo

line. We anticipate that this project will be completed sometime this fall. Thanks to all who were pre-

sent at the meeting! If you have questions, feel free to contact Pastor Josh.

Thank-you Notes

Many thanks for prayers, cards, phone calls and best wishes on our 65th

wedding anniversary. God bless all of you! Roy & Dorothy Alber

Thank You...to Pastor’s Paul & Josh and all those involved in the Sunday

New Member Welcome luncheon and to ALL the Faith Lutheran Church

members who welcomed us with love into the family. God bless you all!

Ivan & Eileen Valentin

Dale & Tammy Valentin

Steve & Patti Ocker

Thanks to everyone who donates to the Hastings area Food Pantry!

Hunger is still a BIG issue in our world and in our community. If all those

who are able would give just a little we could do wonders in helping put an

end to hunger! Will you answer the call and help those in need?

A special thank you for all the lovely cards and friendly greetings on

my 95th birthday. God’s blessings! Ruby Cole

PAGE 4 VOLUME 35–NO. 7

Summer Sunday school features

for Preschool - 6th Grade

Our summer of Arts continues. On

July 1st and 8th we will dive into the

wacky world of airagami arts (that’s

balloon twisting) with DCE Wade

Johnson. Wade used balloon twist-

ing as an income for college. On

July 15th we will start on a water

color mural with Marci Schroeder.

Marci, a member of Faith, is an art

teaching major at UNK.

PAGE 5 VOLUME 35–NO. 7

JULY 2012

Adult Christian Education Sundays

THE SUNDAY LESSONS - Fellowship hall - 9:15AM

This class takes an in-depth look at the scripture lessons taken from the

Sunday morning readings. The pastors will lead this class.

QUARTERLIFE BIBLE STUDY-Pastor Josh’s home-6:30PM

Bible Study for those in their 20’s & 30’s. Contact Pastor Josh for more information.

No Quarterlife on July 15

Wednesdays

MORNING BIBLE STUDY - 9:00 - Room 11- Pastor Dunbar, leader

Perhaps you missed the opportunity earlier this spring to join in our class examining Mormonism

from a Lutheran perspective. You’ve seen the TV commercials with the catchy tagline: “…and I’m

a Mormon.” And you likely know, in this presidential election year, that the Republican Party

frontrunner identifies himself as a committed Mormon. This class, that began in June, continues

to take a look at the fast-growing Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Come join the

discussion over coffee and goodies.

All About Kids

PAGE 5 VOLUME 35–NO. 7

Perfect Attendance

Sunday School –

Beginners’: Eva Magallanes. Kindergar-

ten: Reid Fahrenholtz 2nd: Sam Shafer.

3rd: Andrew Brandt, Natalie Brandt. 4th:

Meredith Brandt, Oliver Dunbar. 5th:

Moses Dunbar. 6th: Hannah Mulligan. 7th:

Phoebe Dunbar.

During the summer months we are supporting Ayinkamiye, our Compas-

sion International Child from Uganda. Our offerings help her and her fam-

ily with food, clothing, shelter, schooling, and medical care. We have chosen

to support Compassion International, like our other offering recipients, in

that most of the funds reach the final destination. Compassion has the

highest four star rating on www.charitynavigator.org. Which is to say they

have financial transparency and they keep the cost of administration and

advertising down?

This year’s theme focused on how God chose and redeemed

us as His winning team. Having been chosen by God we are to

work as a team in praising God as our response.

With the sports theme came a sports themed offering. The children’s

generous offerings of $520 translates into 40 soccer set-ups for children

through Compassion International for developing countries. 148 children

were registered for VBS. Yes, that is down a little which says you were

missed if you did not attend. Thanks to all of the adults and youth who

served before, during, or after this week’s Vacation Bible School!

PAGE 6 VOLUME 35–NO. 7

Adding a splash

of color to VBS

t-shirts during

Craft time!

The beauty of BUBBLES! Awesome!!

Soul Patrol South Dakota Mission Trip – We will pack the van at 7:00 on the evening of

July 21st. A Commissioning will be held at the 8:00 am service on the Sunday, July 22, followed by our

departure. Please pray for those who are being served and those that will serve.

Youth News

LCMS National Youth Gathering

July 1-5, 2013 in San Antonio Texas

Pre-registration requirements: Attend worship and Bible

Study 13 times between March 1 and August 26, 2012. An

informational letter was sent to all XYF students earlier

this year regarding the National Gathering. Please check

the church website to review that info.

XYF MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY A mid-week Bible study is being planned for June and July, open to all high school students, and will be

lead by Vicki Fisher. Please register by May 30 to help choose a date and time. Friends are welcome!

PAGE 7 VOLUME 35–NO. 7

XYF Co-ed Softball

Game times and fields are posted on the

church website. Games are played on Sun-

day nights and are also listed on the

monthly calendar. Practices will be held

on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm.

J oin us each Sunday morning at

9:15 for Sunday Education Hour!

Class meets in Room 8 with Vicki

Fisher. Class will include (next year’s) 7-12th

graders.

Non Profit Organization

US POSTAGE PAID

Hastings, NE

Permit No. 309

FAITH LUTHERAN CHURC H

837 CHESTNUT

HASTINGS NE 68901

Sunday Morning Worship - 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM

Education Hour at 9:15 AM

The Sunday service is televised on cable channel 12 each Wednesday at 9:00am and on Sundays at noon.

(Channel 3 at GSV- Wed at 9am & Sun at 2pm)

Return Service Requested

2012 Church Council

Chairman: Bill Henkel Vice Chairman: Phil Herrmann

Treasurer: Adam Jacobitz Recording Secretary: Lynette Wojahn

Board of Education: Bev Powell, Trisha Shafer, JR Muske

Board of Evangelism: Janel Nierman, Jacquie Bachman, Mike Hoskins

Board of Family Life: Gail Shively, Dina Michel, Tonya Krueger

Board of Finance: Mike & Charlotte Waters, Dan Laux, Dale & Karen

Pospisil, Ann Gragert, Alice Oelke, Norma Hansen

Board of Lay Ministry: Ron Haase, Dan Klammer, Frank Koch,

Myron Peters, Ray Brandt, Ray Gangwish

Board of Trustees: Alice Gloystein, Roger Nelson, Billy Hudson,

Mitch Kimle, Gene Viglicky, Reid Ayres

Board of Stewardship: Ellen Jank, Eileen Saathoff, Laura Bulas

Staff of

Faith Lutheran Church Office – 462-5044

www.aFamilyofFaith.com

(includes all email addresses)

Paul T. Dunbar, Pastor

462-9551 (Home)

Josh Davis, Pastor

402-705-0874 (Cell))

Wade Johnson, D.C.E.

463-8670 (Home)

Vicki Fisher, D.C.E.

462-0194 (Home)

Support Staff

Cindy O’Donnell, Secretary

Deb Henkel, Bookkeeper

Rich & Sandy Frerichs, Custodians

2012