Greetings, family of Faith!

I know it’s been a long time since you received a monthly newsletter. While you have received other mailings from the

church, I decided back in mid-March that with all the fast-moving changes to our plans and with so many events can-

celled or postponed, it didn’t make sense to try to send out a typical monthly newsletter and calendar through the postal

service. It probably would have been outdated information even before it reached you, and I didn’t want to create that

confusion.

Instead, we on the church staff have relied on our website, weekly online worship services, Facebook, emails, texts, and

phone calls to and from you to get the word out. I’m sure there’s more and better I could have done, and I do sincerely

ask forgiveness from any of you who have felt overlooked, neglected, or “out of the loop” these past months. And if you

ARE feeling that way even now, please, please pick up the phone and give me a call. I want to know, I want to listen, I

want to learn, and I want to make it right.

We’re still living with the reality of COVID-19. All of us are. Every institution is, every business, every church. Even

with in-person worship at Faith having started again on June 21 (with about 150 people attending), there are still many

disruptions to what we’re doing as a congregation, many people still staying home, and countless uncertainties about

what comes next. Checking our website or calling the church office continue to be the best way to get the latest informa-

tion.

But I wanted to use this mid-summer newsletter to highlight and celebrate some of the many good things that have gone

on at Faith recently. I am very proud of the work and worship and ministry we’ve done together as a congregation, and

I’m thankful to all of you who have been involved.

Beginning on March 16, our meetings and Bible study groups quickly transitioned to being held over Zoom (which I

admit I’d never even heard of before this year). Our children’s ministries, including VBS, have been adapted to take-

home family kits with creative video supplements. With worship services being created for online participation, we have

seen the traffic on our website and Facebook page more than double. Many people who were not members of our con-

gregation, including those not even living in Nebraska, discovered those worship and study resources online and have

been fed by God’s Word over the past months. Just this week I received a very kind note and generous donation from a

woman and her family whom I’ve never met who said she watches our services each week and thanked our congregation

for “offering worship experiences that satisfy our love of Lutheran tradition, served up with creative imagination.” Praise

God!

Also, as you’ll see in the many pictures included here, our building has been a busy place even while we weren’t holding

in-person worship. We got a new roof (from last year’s hail damage), had small groups of volunteers come in to do land-

scaping, painting, and other projects. We even moved all the pews in the sanctuary out and back to do a deep clean and

rewax the floors! And the work goes on.

In the midst of strange and changing times, I am ever grateful to Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today, and for-

ever (Hebrews 13:8), whose promises and compassion never fail (Joshua 23:14, Lamentations 3:22), who is with us al-

ways, even to the end of all the ages (Matthew 28:20, Romans 8:38-39). Let’s keep our eyes fixed on Him, and keep

serving Him every day with glad and thankful hearts. He continues to love us, to forgive us, to bless us, to equip us…

and He will see us through.

In Him,

Pastor Paul

July’s Message from Pastor Paul Dunbar

Contact us at:

402-462-5044

Visit us at:

AFamilyofFaith.com

July 2020 Volume 43 Issue 4

Faith Lutheran Church The Parish News

Health, Treatments,

or Hospitalization Recently included in prayers:

Marty Cobb, Stan Jaynes,

Jaunice Mullen, Ron Nissen,

Bill Petersen, Andre Sims,

John J. Uhrich, Marcia Weiss.

Births & Baptisms

We give thanks with Jamie &

Schyler Bohlen at the birth of

a daughter; and with Kelsey &

TJ Peterson also at the birth

of a daughter.

Page 2 NEWS AND NOTES

Prayers

The July web site is spon-

sored in honor of and in

thanksgiving to God for Pas-

tor Josh’s 10th anniversary of

his installation and Deb’s 20

years of employment at Faith.

Their talents and service are a

blessing to our congregation.

The website is available for a

monthly sponsorship. If you

would like to sponsor the web-

site ($40 per month) please call

the church office.

Priscilla Circle - July 7 at 1:00pm Circle will meet at the church (Room 102-103) at 1:00pm with Marlyce Brown serving as hostess. For questions contact Wyoma, 402-469-6149

Book Group - July 9, 7:00pm at Dally’s Deli - South St. Join us to discuss Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate. All are welcome! If you have questions about book group or need a copy of the book group selections please call Amy Hafer, 402-984-8886.

The church office will be closed July 3

Marriage We give thanks with Tressa

Gloystein and Adrian Torres

on their recent marriage. God

bless this union as they grow

together in His love.

Sympathy

We pray for the family of Shirley Borrell at her recent death; for Melanie Klatt at the death

of her mother; for Kathy Schroeder at the death of her sister; and for Craig Ritterbush at

the death of his mother. May ALL who mourn find the true peace and comfort found only

through God’s promises in Jesus.

Dear church family… thank you for all of the prayers and support dur-

ing our mom and grand’s illness and at the time of her passing. We are

truly blessed to be a part of the family of Faith. Sincerely, Melanie, James, Emily & Abby Klatt

Please watch for mailings or information on our web-site for activities that are meeting in person.

Upcoming

Staff Anniversaries

We are recognizing these

anniversaries in July and the

July web site is sponsored

in their honor.

The Lay Ministers will be

presenting a gift from the

congregation in

appreciation of their hard

work and dedication. Please

extend your well wishes and

thanks to these staff members

with a card or words of

encouragement.

Deb Henkel Bookkeeper/Educ. Asst.

20 years of service

Pastor Josh Davis Director of Worship

10 years of service

Sunday, July 12th at 11:45

in the sanctuary. Join us!

Thanks to a generous donor, Faith members who have a

child who will attend Zion Classical Academy (Kindergarten

through 8th grade) can apply for a tuition grant. Call the church

office to find out more, 402-462-5044.

Page 3 Volume 43 Issue 4

Youth Education

*The last few weeks of WOW classes were recorded and available

on the church website.

*A Birthday Banner was made to

take to Faith’s children during this

pandemic time to replace the Sun-

day School birthday box where each

look forward to picking a surprise.

Summer Sunday School Offerings will go to support

Freddy Victorio Sanchez Sanchez, our Compassion Interna-

tional Child. VBS Offerings were given to the HOPE fund.

Page 4 Middle School Service Trip

has been canceled.

Captain Leah & Lifeguard Wade lead the way...

THANKS to everyone who helped to make this

year’s VBS fun in a whole new way!

Get your “move” a-going!

Creative Bible Stories!

Musical melodies!

My first day of VBS!

Love our

crafts!

Reporting the News!

Ready, Set, Go!

Sundays

THE SUNDAY LESSONS [E-100] - - Offered on ZOOM.

This class takes an in-depth look at the Sunday morning scripture lessons.

WE THE PEOPLE [C-301] - Offered on ZOOM– with leader Wade Johnson.

We have all heard there are two things you cannot talk about and that’s church and

politics. We are challenging this notion by doing both in this class. We’ll be taking a

look at what the Bible, the Constitution, and words of America’s founding fathers

have to say on the subject. In true Lutheran fashion we will be asking” what does this

mean?” Check your email or contact DCE Wade Johnson for a current ZOOM link.

BIBLE JOURNALING [P-300] - Offered on Facebook– with leader Lisa Mertens.

Artwork based on readings from the lectionary done on your own, then meeting on

Facebook to share and discuss. Call Lisa Mertens or Leah Werling for more info.

Page 5 Volume 43 Issue 4

Adult Education Classes in July

Even though for the past several months we have not been able to be physically present

for with our faith family we have offered a variety of ways to stay connected.

Information was posted on our website: afamilyoffaith.com or on

Faith’s Facebook page

Worship services were recorded each week. DVD’s were hand delivered or mailed to all who re-quested them, when Public Access broadcasts or

internet were not available to them.

Communication through letters and by way of emails...

Just a few of the many volunteers

willing to help with over 15

recorded services. Thanks to

new technology many recorded

their segment right at home!

All enter through the west

doors where masks & hand

sanitizer are available.

Pews are clearly marked for

seating and an usher will help

you get seated.

Recommended

ways of prevent-

ing virus spread.

Holy communion will be offered at each

service using social distancing practices and

spacing of communion ware.

Sharing of the Peace!

Following the service everyone is

ushered out using the south doors.

Please continue to sign up weekly to attend a worship service. Thank you!

Thanks to our volunteer

seamstresses ! Nearly 200 masks have been

donated by a handful of ladies. Bless you!

Thanks to everyone for their generosity in

giving to our Food

Pantry ministry. To

date we have given

1,585 pounds of food

& other nonperishable

items to the Hastings

area Food Pantry. A

special thank you to the

Reinke family for your

weekly donation of fresh

eggs over the past sev-

eral months. Thank you

Over 33 people

called the church to volunteer to do shop-

ping, provide a meal, or run errands for

those with special

needs or in high risk categories.

1,267 pounds in 3

months...you heard the call and came through!

Thank-you!

The Trustees, along with many talented and willing Faith family members & community professionals have taken these

past few months to complete some projects in and around the church. Thanks to all who donated their time and talents to keep our building and grounds safe and beautiful!

▪ The church and the parsonage were re-shingled.

▪ The pews were removed, the floor in the sanctuary was repaired, professionally waxed, and the pews once again placed and secured.

▪ The outside landscaping has been refreshed with new plants and several old bushes are being replaced, and inside plants now have a new caretaker.

▪ The windows in the south classrooms have been caulked and a couple of class-

room walls sanded and repainted. ▪ The carpets have been professionally cleaned.

Devotionals were put in the entryway

to allow for easy pick-up!

Faith Lutheran Church

837 Chestnut

Hastings, NE 68901

2020 Church Council Chairman: Bill Henkel Vice Chairman: Cole Bulas

Treasurer: Adam Jacobitz Recording Secretary: Deb Bunde

Board of Education: Dave Johnson, Jason Weseman, Christine Schenk

Board of Evangelism: Jade Bartunek, Denise Koch, Judy Bosier

Board of Family Life: Jocelyn Rundle, Deanna Haase, Kathy Nelson

Board of Finance: Ron & Linda Hemberger, David Bierman, Jody Davis,

Victor & Teresa Bockerman, Brian & LeAnn Hawes, Gayle Kuhlman

Board of Lay Ministry: Phil Nelson, Trisha Shafer, Regina Anderson,

Larry Kuehn, Steve Ocker, Ray Brandt

Board of Trustees: Kathy Johnson, Tyler McCartney, Donna Buss, Patti Hinrikus

Larry Ochsner, Bill Henrichs

Board of Stewardship: Sandy Frerichs, Deanna Dirks, Kendra Bargen

Our Mission Statement: Faith Lutheran Church is the body of Christ, called to be the caring hands and loving voice of Christ in this world.

Faith Lutheran Church

Office – 402-462-5044

www.aFamilyofFaith.com

-includes all email addresses

STAFF

Paul T. Dunbar, Pastor

462-9551 (Home)

Josh Davis, Pastor

402-705-0874 (Cell)

Wade Johnson, D.C.E.

463-8670 (Home)

Leah Werling, D.C.E. Intern

leah@afamilyoffaith.com

Support Staff

Cindy O’Donnell, Secretary

Deb Henkel, Bookkeeper

Angie Nissen, Custodian

Non Profit Organization

US POSTAGE PAID

Hastings, NE

Permit No. 309

Return Service Requested

2020