Faith Works & News 2021-10-29

Agenda for November 14, 2021, Voters’ Assembly

Opening Prayer
Roll Call and Introduction of New Members
Act on Approval of Minute from May 16, 2021, Voters’ Assembly
Receive and Review 2021 Financial Performance Reports
Receive Oral Report on Capital Campaign V, “Giving Abundantly, Growing Abundantly”
Receive Oral Report on Capital Campaign VI
Review and Discuss Staff, Council, and Committee Reports
New Business
     Discuss and Act on Call Description – Director of Music and Parish Administration
     Discuss and Act on Call Description – Director of Christian Outreach and Youth Ministry
     Discuss and Act on Approval of Proposed 2022 Operating Budget
     Conduct Election of Congregational Officers for 2022
Act to Adjourn following Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer

A link to the Council Reports and 2022 Proposed Budget is provided below. If you are unable to view/print the linked documents, you may obtain a copy at the church office.

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2021 FALL VOTERS’ ASSEMBLY PACKET.

We invite you and your children to take part in this year’s Children’s Christmas Service at Faith: “One Night in Bethlehem.” Sunday, Dec. 12, at the 11:00 AM service. For questions or more information, please contact Jonathan Loesch at 512-863-7332. Thank you!

Please click here to sign up!

One night.  It all comes down to one joyous, miraculous, wonderful night—one special night in Bethlehem—when God sent Jesus to be our Savior! Encourage your child to help share the Good News of Christmas and experience it for themselves!  Parts are available now.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David
a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

WHAT IS  IT LIKE TO SPEND CHRISTMAS IN AN INSTITUTION? If you come from a place where no one cares for you, this might be your first glimpse of Christmas joy. Would you help us provide Angel Tree gifts for 80+ girls at the Upbring New Life Children’s Center in Canyon Lake? The TREE and Wish Lists are available at the Ministry Center.  Contact: Danny Swafford.

3 WAYS TO HELP:  Shop for an Angel’s Gifts Make a Monetary Donation Purchase Gift Card(s). This special outreach ministry is a way of sharing some Christian love with formerly abused and troubled teenage girls.

Christmas gifts, clothing, and contributions are due before THANKSGIVING!! Blessings on your considerate donations. Thank you.

“Jesus loves you, and so do I.”  What if you started your Operation Christmas Child shoe box by writing a note to the person who will receive it?  The Love of God is a great place to start…then you will know what to put in the box for the person you love.  CLICK HERE to hear the testimony of Yuri (pictured left) who lived in 14 different orphanages and how the note from another little girl changed her life.

To build your own, amazing shoe box for a child in need,  CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF ITEMS RECOMMENDED FOR EACH AGE GROUP. If you don’t have a shoe box, put everything in a plastic bag, and we will provide boxes. All filled shoeboxes (or bags) need to be turned in by Nov. 14.  

No time to make a shoe box?   It takes $9 to process and ship each shoe box.  You can drop some cash in the Sunday School Mission offering basket or write a check to Faith with “Operation Christmas Child” in the memo. 

CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER
at the
2022 LCMS YOUTH GATHERING

July 9-13, 2022. 

Young adult volunteer application deadline is Dec. 31.

“Surviving the Holidays”

Presented by Grief Share

November 6, 2021, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

at First Baptist Church, 1333 West University Ave., Georgetown, Texas

For information and other locations and dates, go to griefshare.org.

To connect with someone from Faith on this topic,
call the church office, 512-863-7332.

Thank you!  The Chrismon Committee would like to thank everyone for our very successful fundraiser. We greatly appreciate the generous donations toward our mission of providing 20 wreaths to shut-ins at nursing homes this Christmas. We reached our goal and extra funds will be set aside for Christmas 2022, as well as to purchase additional Chrismon kits to prepare for the sanctuary. We could not have done it without your help!
Blessings to all!
Chrismon Committee

• A new Compass Group is starting at Faith Lutheran Church for Professional Women interested in digging into God’s Word while we share the joys and challenges of balancing our personal and professional lives.

• Meets 2nd Sunday of month in Room B116.  The next meeting is Sunday, November 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m. 

• 6-session study:  “The Dwelling Place of God: Lessons from Ezra and Haggai,” which highlights God’s longing to dwell among us.

• Contact Jill Meyer or CLICK HERE.

On behalf of Helping Hands Society of LWML, we want to extend to the members of Faith, our sincerest gratitude for your generous donations to the Upbring New Life Children’s Center at Canyon Lake.  Through your generosity, we raised $860 with which we were able to purchase items for their Pointe Store as well as items each girl receives when she enters the program.  What a Blessing it is to be able to help these children who have been treated so badly in their lives and who can now see that we care about them and for them.  Thank you again for joining us in this endeavor to bring joy to others!

“Autumn in Vermont,” “Autumn Leaves” and other songs remind me of the glorious days of Fall. Now, for me, Fall has become more meaningful than ever. I’m in the autumn of my life. I am grateful for each new day, but I can’t help wondering how many more times I’ll turn the pages of the calendar from September to October. But don’t Fall into that trap! I don’t need to spend too much time there. While I’m still standing and can turn the pages, I need to cherish the gift of the present and not be overly concerned with what the future holds. However, with this gift comes responsibility. To a large extent, I am the caregiver of my health. I need to respect that assignment. Proper rest, hydration and exercise are mine to manage. When to seek help with problems is usually mine to decide. As is following directions for treatment. I’m not the best at that.

Fall has many definitions. One I’m most concerned with is, Don’t! The place where I live does all they can to assure that I don’t. Grab bars and handrails help keep me on my feet. They reassure me in my shower and in hallways and on stairs. I can use the pendant I wear around my neck to notify the front desk if I need help. Classes, online and in-house, make me aware of the dangers of falling. Seeing neighbors with bruises, stitches and braces reminds me to be careful. My daughter constantly advises me to always take Bruno when I walk. Bruno is my guard dog. He is black with bright green eyes. His head is the grip on my cane. He guards me against falling. I even lean on him when I go up for communion.

I know this is stupid and silly, but if I should Fall in the shower, I’d want to get dressed before EMS came! Sometimes I have trouble with my balance on the putting green. If I should Fall out of and off the green, it would take my entire team to get me on my feet again. Don’t want to go there! Mustn’t Fall!

It is wonderful to remember ‘Falling in love’. What sweet, happy days those were. Love’s Old Sweet Song plays on. But there were times in our 63-year marriage when I would ‘Fall in love’ with Frank all over again. Special days in a long and happy marriage. Even now, there are times when I Fall in love with his memory. It blends with missing him and lessens the pain of grief.

From Sunday School days we’ve studied the ‘Fall into sin and Fall from God’s grace’. Falls that have consequential results. Falls that seem to come so easily and naturally. We studied the Fall of the Roman Empire, and sometimes hear that the Fall of Democracy and our Country may be at hand.

One of my most pleasant memories from school days is shopping with Mother for new, Fall clothes. We lived in climates where that meant pleated wool skirts, sweater sets, gloves, scarves and other cool and cold weather wear. The colors were so bright and beautiful and the textures so soft to the touch. And it was such good mother/daughter time. I enjoyed that climate in my younger years, but now the warm, sunny days of Fall in Texas feel good.

Judy knows how I love and miss Fall colors. We’ve enjoyed them together over the years. When she was up yesterday, she asked if I’d like to go to Utopia for a couple of days? She didn’t need to ask. Of course, I would! She made reservations, and Jana will go along. We’ll stay in a beautiful log cabin on the Frio. It will be a wonderful time of great Fall scenery, good food that Judy will prepare and take along, games, and a fire in the fireplace.  A real celebration of Fall. The Fall that is beautiful. Leaves that leave you celebrating God’s beautiful creation.

There are many hymns, folk songs and stories about what Heaven will look like. Pearly Gates, Streets of Gold, Long White Robes and Golden Slippers. With all respect, Father, I know you’ve planned a New Earth. Could it just be the best of this one? With seasons and glorious Fall colors?  Your child, Tess Todd.