Faithfully Yours

Membership Newsletter December 2014

Faith Lutheran Church
180 County Road PPO, Ishpeming, Michigan 49849 / Rev. David Johnson, Pastor
Church (906) 486-9083, Parsonage (906) 204-2401, faithlutheran@faithinishpeming.com

Luke 2:8-11: 8 And there were shepherds

living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over
their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord
appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord
shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But
the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring
you good news that will cause great joy for all the
people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior
has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
God will not give you more than you
can handle. I wrote a devotion over
Thanksgiving week that had to do with this
phrase for the Pray Faithfully Devotions on the
Northern Great Lakes Synod website; maybe
thats why its still so fresh on my mind.
This is a phrase used as a means to offer
encouragement to people who are struggling
with a lot. This phrase has been used to reach
out to people in despair in hopes of lifting them
up. This phrase is meant to give people hope.
However, it is a statement that has left many
people stuck in the pit it was meant to lift them
out from. I have heard people say in response to
this, Well I wish that God wouldnt think so
much of me. This phrase has left many people
wondering about this God that would give them
so many burdens and struggles without any
room to breathe.
I say that this is a phrase because you
will not find this quote anywhere in the Bible.
In a lot of cases its a misquote of another

passage found in 1 Corinthians 10:13 (I wont

write it out here since it will give you a chance to
look it up in your Bible). Even though its not
found in the Bible I think its true but also
misleading. I truly believe that God would never
give any of us more than we can handle. God
would only place on our shoulders the things that
He knows we can manage. However, this world
on the other hand, ever since Adam and Eves
rebellion, has been giving us more burdens than
we could ever handle. Our selfishness, our sin,
and this world has placed more burdens on our
shoulders than we could ever handle, and it seeks
to crush and kill us underneath its weight.
Even though God would never give us
more than we can handle, the world on the other
hand delights in it, and its for this reason that
Jesus entered into our world and our lives. He
entered into this world to bear the weight of all
those burdens that are too much for us to handle.
You see, if we could handle it or if we were
meant to be able to handle it, then there would
have been no reason for Jesus to come at all. If
we could all handle all of the burdens in our
lives; that we were never given more than we can
handle, then I can simply tell a few methods on
how to handle those burdens and we would be
able to make it on our own.
However, that is not the case. We need a
Savior; we need a Messiah; we need Jesus to be
born and placed in that manger in the city of
David. We need Jesus to tell us what God really

From the Pastors Desk cont...

wanted from us from the very beginning, and we
need Jesus to show us where our sin and
selfishness has caused us to fail. We need Jesus
to bear the full weight of our sin, selfishness,
and the burdens of the world on His shoulders,
so we can know what its like to live life free
from those fears and burdens that sin,
selfishness, and distrust in God has placed in our
lives. And we need Jesus to rise again from the
grave so we can know that the burdens,
struggles, and trials that we face in this life will
not ever destroy us completely either.

Heres the bad news: There will be

times that you may experience more than you
can handle in your life. Heres the good news:
Because God loves you so much, He came down
and was born as a human to carry those burdens
with you. Jesus encourages you to carry His
burden in exchange for yours; a burden where
the yolk is easy and the burden is light. May
you this Advent and Christmas season find a
Savior in the midst of your burdens and
struggles, and discover the God who will bear all
that you cant handle (and all that you can) with
you.

In Gods Peace, Pastor Dave

Sunday School Teacher Schedule December 2014

Date
Dec. 7
Dec. 14
Dec. 21

PreK-Kindergarten

1st-2nd Grade

3rd-4th Grade
Alice Johnson
Kathy & Dave Magnuson

Kathy Swanson

5th-6th Grade
Sara Johnson
Mary Hewitt
Irene Kindstrand

Please note: No Sunday School December 28 due to Christmas Break.

Faith Lutheran Church Council ~ 2014

Committee Liaisons

Norma Denney, President

Worship & Music/Altar Guild

Carole Watson 485-6156

Judy Swanson, Vice President

Carole Watson, Secretary

Evangelism / Fellowship
Judy Helsten
486-8603

Judy Helsten

Long Range Planning

Norma Denney 485-1941

Dave Magnuson
Ross Carlson
Victor Cox
Jeff Swanson

Mission Statement

Finance Committee
Ross Carlson

486-9040

Thrivent
Judy Helsten

486-8603

Mutual Ministry
Dave Magnuson 485-1642

It shall be the mission of Faith Lutheran Church of

Ishpeming to develop, strengthen, and share witness
to the message of the Gospel; through an increased
understanding of our ministry, and our daily living,
both individually and as a congregation.

Property
Vic Cox

485-1922

Keep in our Prayers

Our home-bound and nursing home residents:

specifically Signe Carter and Red Hytinen,

Those We Prayed For in November

Jackie
Susie
Ann
Ellen
Janice
Anna
Ashley
Danielle
Judy
Jackie
Eloise
George

Larry
Donna
Lorraine
Rick
Jason & Katie
Bill
Pearl
Susie
Jackie
Mark
Jackie
Donna

Lorraine
Karen
Danielle
Douglas
Janice
Diane
Marcia
Mike
Brad
Tim
Marilyn
Jackie

Bill
Pearl
Judy
Donna
Lorraine
Douglas
Eloise
Our Needy
Our Neighbors
Our Homeless
Our Veterans
Our Military

~ ANGEL TREE ~
Angel TreeA Christmas tree decorated with paper ornaments is in the narthex this month. These
ornaments list gifts deserving children and adults wish to receive for Christmas. Faith has adopted three
families this Christmas and we need your help to make their Christmas a little
brighter!
Angel Tree Instructions: Be an Angel and make someones Christmas wonderful .
Select a tag with a paper ornament attached. Wrap the item you purchase and
attached the paper ornament. Bring your wrapped gift back to Church by Sunday,
December 15, and place it under the narthex Christmas Tree!
Questions, please see Marilee Koval.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas PoinsettiasSign up sheets are in the narthex and in the

Fellowship Hall. This year our cost is $7.50 per Poinsettia. Last day to
sign-up is Wednesday, December 17th. On the sign-up sheet, put in
your name and who the plant is given in memory or honor of.
Blue Poinsettias have been donated in loving memory of all our loved
ones from Faith Lutheran congregation that have passed.

Mitchel Ahola
Kaleb Smith
William Brewer
Steven Racine
Ryan Argilan
Melissa Harmala
Noah Penrose
Jesse Pietro
Michael Elenich
Wayne Helsten
Jacob Richards
Joshua Richards
Jacob Kaare

12/2
12/4
12/4
12/4
12/5
12/6
12/7
12/8
12/9
12/9
12/9
12/9
12/10

Daniel Irish
12/11
Elizabeth Williams 12/11
Mariah Bertucci 12/12
Elisabeth Delayre 12/12
Jack Goldsworthy 12/12
David Helsten
12/12
Cody Magnuson 12/12
Michael Cox
12/14
Billy Helsten
12/15
Jason Kaare
12/15
Sandra Ostola
12/16
Kelly Penrose
12/16
David Johnson
12/18
Abagail Lake
12/20
Roy Anderson
12/21
Lisa Westman
12/26

Jack and Pam Juntila

Karen and James Marshall II
Christine and Kurt Alto
Victor and Carol Cox
Susan and John Hamel
Daniel and Lois Poirier

Joseph Garceau
Roger T. Pietro
Kenneth Blau
Don Darga
Daniel Dobson
Jane Hebert
Robert Helsten
Tracy Rogers
Gerald Kippola
Vicky Jo Racine
Melissa Heikkila

Dec 3
Dec 12
Dec 17
Dec 22
Dec 22
Dec 27

12/27
12/27
12/28
12/29
12/29
12/29
12/29
12/29
12/30
12/30
12/31

For December
Psalm
85:1-2,8-13
~*~
Psalm
126
~*~
Psalm
89:1-4,19-26
~*~
Psalm
96
~*~
Psalm
97, 98
~*~
Psalm
148
~*~

~ Faith Lutheran Church ~

~ NEWS ~
Church Committee Meetings and .
Please notethere will be no Mutual Ministry meeting this month.
12/02Tuesday, Finance Committee meets at 6:30pm
12/03Wednesday, Midweek Advent Service at 6:45pm
12/06Saturday, Mens Bible Study at 10:00am
12/09Tuesday, Council Members meet at 7:00pm
12/10Wednesday, Midweek Advent Service at 6:45pm
12/17Wednesday, Midweek Advent Service at 6:45pm
12/24Wednesday, Christmas Eve Service at 7:00pm
01/04Sunday, Share & Care Committee will meet after worship services.

Midweek Book/Bible Study Tuesday, December 3 at 4:00pm; December 9, 16 at 3:00pm. No book/

bible study December 23 or 30.
Sunday School Christmas ProgramThe children will have their Christmas Program
on Sunday, December 21, during worship service. This will be a wonderful program! Please
plan to attend!
Operation Christmas Child Shoe BoxesUPDATE85 shoe boxes went out this
year! Thanks to all that participated and pray that the boxes get to there destinations safely!
THANK YOU goes out to all that helped make the Quilt and Craft Sale successful and
THANK YOU to the Quilters and Crafters that made all the beautiful items.
Our Food Drive continues; if you can, bring in non-perishable food items and add them to the
donation table in the Fellowship Hall.

FLC Cancellation Policy

Sunday: In the event Sunday School and/or services are cancelled, a message will be
on the church answering machine by 8:00am on Sunday morning. Telephone calls will
be made to as many people as can be reached.
MondayFriday Events: In the event the NICE School District is closed
due to inclement weather, any activities scheduled for that day at church will
be cancelled. A message we be on the church answering machine by 9:00am
that day.

Office Hours
Pastor Dave
Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday:
10:30 a.m.1:00 pm
Church Secretary
Tues, Wed, Thurs 6:008:00 pm,
Saturday 8:00noon

Church Office: (906) 486-9083

Sunday Worship Schedule

Adult Sunday School 9:15 a.m.
Childrens Sunday School 10:15 a.m.
Worship Service 10:30 a.m.
Coffee fellowship to follow service
5

DECEMBER 2014
Sun

Mon
1

Tue

Book Study 3pm

Council Meeting
7pm

14

15

16
Book Study 3pm

21
28

Sunday
School
Christmas
Program

22 Christmas
23
Basket
Work-Bee
1pm

29

Thu

Tea 3
2 Christmas
2-4pm
Book Study 4pm
Finance Mtg 6:30

Wed
4

Fri
5

6
Mens Bible
Study 10am

Midweek Advent
Service 6:45pm

10

Sat

11

12

13

18

19

20

25

26

27

Midweek Advent
Service 6:45pm

17
Midweek Advent
Service 6:45pm

24
Christmas Eve
Service 7pm

30

January
1

31

2015
With Thanks to Those Who Serve in December
Ushers
12/07 Debbie Kroon and Judy Helsten
12/14 Lorraine Wheeler and Judy Swanson
12/21 Bev and Jerry Kippola
12/24 Melissa and Ward Harmala
12/28 Lois Ombrello and Norma Denney
01/04 Elaine Maki and Cyndi Armitage
Lectors
12/07 Irene Kindstrand
12/14 Ilene Mattson
12/21 Pat Kroon
12/24 Ilene Mattson
12/28 Donna Kroon-Harris
01/04 Cyndi Armitage
Counters
12/07 Ross and Barb Carlson
12/14 Jerry Kippola and Elaine Maki
12/21 Carole Watson and Lorraine Wheeler
12/28 Debbie Kroon and Kathy Richards
01/04 Nancy Harmala and Robyn Stille

Coffee Servers
12/07
12/14 Ann Poirier
12/21 Sunday School / Christmas Program
12/28
(Coffee Server volunteers neededif you can
assist, please sign-up on the white board in the
kitchen).
Communion Servers
December
Ken Blau
If you are unable to serve on your scheduled day,
please switch with someone or contact the
following:
Irene KindstrandLectors and Ushers
Kathy MagnusonCommunion Servers
Cheryl SalmerCounters
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