SERVE EACH OTHER

IN LOVE

WELCOME TO FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH

Inviting all people to faith . . . Come and Worship - Go and Work

Pastor - Lee Laaveg I Ministers - All

Phone 580-4316 2912 Hwy Blvd N

February 25, 2018 Second Sunday in Lent

Email us at: faithlutheran@smunet.net

Catch us on the Web: www.faithlutheranspencer.com

Follow us: @flcspencer | Like us on Facebook! Faith Lutheran Church LCMC

Watch us on SMU: Mondays @ 8:30 p.m. I Tuesdays @ 11:00 a.m.

Prelude

Opening Song - “Lift High The Cross”

Welcome

Prayer

Song - “Give Me Your Eyes”

*Invocation:

We meet in the strong name of our God.

We praise you Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

*Litany:

Lord, you are the Source of Life, and the Father of all the living;

We are grateful for your love and the truth that we belong to you.

Forgive us when we act like orphans, rebels, or prodigals;

We call on you as our “Abba,” and we ask your forgiveness.

Teach us to live in your grace to build households of faith;

Teach us to love and forgive each other.

Fill our homes with your Holy Spirit,

Shape the relationships of our lives to reflect your kingdom of love.

In the name of Jesus, transform all that needs healing within us,

In the power of His grace, help us live with joy and faith. Amen.

*Prayer of the Day

Thank you, God, for the blessing of our marriages and our family relationships of

love. As you have served us with sacrifice and self-giving, teach us to love and

serve one another. Change our hearts and renew us in Your Spirit. Empower us

to forgive as you have forgiven us. May our homes shine with your love as signs

of your kingdom on earth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

First Lesson - Exodus 18:1-23

Second Lesson - Ephesians 5:21-33

*Gospel - John 13:5-15

Children’s Message

Song - “Make Me A Servant”

Sermon - “Serve Each Other In Love”

Offertory Song - “Live Like That” (Offering will be received at this time)

*Offertory Response - “I’m Forever Grateful”

*Offertory Prayer:

Merciful Father, we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us

our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive

them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*Confession of Faith

Prayers of the Church

*Sharing of the Peace

*Lord’s Prayer

*Blessing

*Closing Song - “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands”

Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

*Please stand if you are able.

A SPECIAL WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS THIS MORNING!

Whether you are from across town or out-of-state, your presence is a blessing to us.

When the Friendship Pad is passed down the row, please fill it out so we may connect

with you. Thank you for joining us today!

First Lesson - Exodus 18:1-23 1Now Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God

had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out

of Egypt. 2After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro

received her 3and her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have

become a foreigner in a foreign land”; 4and the other was named Eliezer, for he said,

“My father’s God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.” 5Jethro,

Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the

wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain of God. 6Jethro had sent word

to him, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two

sons.” 7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him.

They greeted each other and then went into the tent. 8Moses told his father-in-law

about everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake

and about all the hardships they had met along the way and how the LORD had

saved them. 9Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the LORD had

done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10He said, “Praise be

to the LORD, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and

who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. 11Now I know that the LORD is

greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.” 12Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to

God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-

law in the presence of God. 13The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for

the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14When his father-in-

law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing

for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around

you from morning till evening?” 15Moses answered him, “Because the people come to

me to seek God’s will. 16Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I

decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.” 17Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18You and these

people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you;

you cannot handle it alone. 19Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and

may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring

their disputes to him. 20Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the

way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21But select capable men from all

the people - men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain - and

appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22Have them serve

as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you;

the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter,

because they will share it with you. 23 f you do this and God so commands, you will be

able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

Ephesians 5:21-33 21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22Wives, submit yourselves to your

1st Communion Class

The 1st Communion Class continues today at 10:30 a.m. in the old middle school classroom at the foot of the stairs. The class runs for 5 weeks.

Set for youth in the 5th Grade, the class is open to any child whose

parents feel they are ready to learn about and receive Holy Communion.

The 1st Communion Banquet will be Sunday, March 25, at 5:00 p.m.

The students will receive their first Holy Communion at the Maundy Thursday Worship service, March 29, at 6:30 p.m.

own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as

Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the

church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for

her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any

other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their

wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever

hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the

church - 30for we are members of his body. 31“For this reason a man will leave his father

and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32This is a

profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one

of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her

husband.

Gospel - John 13:5-15 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying

them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6He came to Simon Peter, who

said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7Jesus replied, “You do not realize

now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8“No,” said Peter, “you shall

never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as

well!” 10Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet;

their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11For he

knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was

clean. 12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned

to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13“You

call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your

Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

Pastor’s Ponderings . . .

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1. What is your first response to the command of God to submit to one another in

love?

2. Why does Moses send Zipporah to her father, Jethro?

3. Why does Jethro bring her right back?

4. How does Jesus use His infinite power?

5. What is the ultimate service Jesus has given to us and what difference does it

make?

6. In all your dreams, have you ever aspired to be a servant?

7. Is love for Jesus your primary motivation in life?

February 26 Darrel Heckathorn February 27 Eldren Holstad February 28 Leora Riedemann March 1 Steve Oleson March 3 Chris Christofferson

March 2 Tom and Jean

Willey

YEAR BALANCE

GIVING TO DATE REMAINING ATTENDANCE

JANUARY $36,316.47 $36,316.47 $316,138.53 180 AVG.

FEBRUARY 1-4 $ 5,640.25 $41,956.72 $310,498.28 177

FEBRUARY 5-11 $ 5,166.54 $47,123.26 $305,331.74 183

FEBRUARY 12-18 $ 4,553.00 $51,676.26 $300,778.74 188

THANK YOU FOR GENEROUSLY SUPPORTING FAITH IN 2018!

GENERAL OFFERING

AND ATTENDANCE

2018 BUDGET $352,455

YEAR TO DATE TOTAL GIVING BALANCE REMAINING

$3,749.00 $243,212.50 $506,787.50

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

FAITH LUTHERAN’S HOLY SPIRIT RETREAT DAY SATURDAY, MARCH 3RD Without the Holy Spirit God’s people would not be the church God

intended. This 1-day event is more than just an intellectual

discussion. It is a chance for guests to experience God personally

through the Holy Spirit.

8:30 a.m. Registration - Please pre-register to the Office, 712-580-4316

9:00 a.m. Group Worship and Opening Prayer

9:15 a.m. First Video, Who is the Holy Spirit, and Break Out Session

10:45 a.m. Second Video, What Does the Holy Spirit Do, and

Break Out Session

12:00 p.m. Lunch provided at the church

12:45 p.m. Third Video, How Can I Be Filled with the Holy Spirit, and

Break Out Session

2:00 p.m. Group Prayer and Song

Please RSVP by

Monday, Feb. 26th.

If you need child

care, please

contact the

Church office or

the Simington’s at

712-363-0663.

2018 Lenten Series

February 28 Dave Susie “Jesus Speaks Forgiveness” March 7 Karol Gafkjen “Jesus Redeems Us to Hold Us Fast” March 14 Eric Tigges “Jesus Gives Us His Robe and Access” March 21 Stu Christians “Jesus Speaks Our Language. Jesus Lets Us Choose”

March 29 Maundy Thursday Eric Patten - “Jesus Understands Our Pain” March 30 Good Friday Pastor Lee - “Jesus Loves Us Forever”

Wednesdays, February 21 - March 21

5:30 p.m. Lenten Potluck

6:30 p.m. - All Lenten Services

He

Ch

ose

Th

e N

ails

’“ ”

Building

Households

of Faith

March 4: Blessing the Children

March 11: Amazing Moms

March 18: The Family of God

March 4: Dodgeball Tournament - 6th-12th Grades - Cost is $3 (covers pizza meal)

4:15 p.m. meet at Faith, carpool to Camp - 8:30 p.m. Parent pick-up at Faith

Faith Youth are encouraged to RSVP Eric Patten (712-229-1340) by 2:00 p.m.

We are in need of a few more drivers. If you can drive this Sunday, or any

Outreach Night in the future, please contact Eric by cell phone or email

cymdirector@faithLutheranspencer.com

Faith Youth are invited to

Ingham/Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp Outreach Night - Sunday, March 4

Prayer Shawl Ministry

(Loopy Ladies)

meets Thursday, March 1

at 1:00 p.m. in the Library

We welcome anyone who can knit or crochet to join us!

We meet the first and third Thursday of every month from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. If these

times don’t work for you to meet, you can still be a part of this ministry.

To find out how or if you have any questions,

please contact Carla Vanderberg at 712-260-6051.

If you are CPR certified or have a desire to

learn CPR, the Church Council would

appreciate knowing.

Please call the church

office or Pastor Lee at

712-580-4316 or Karen

Brandt at 712-262-5967.

Iowa Great Lakes Lutheran School 1311 E. 18th St., Spencer

2018-19 Kindergarten Roundup

and All School Open House

Tuesday, March 6 - 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. A time for parents seeking a Christian

education for their children to tour the

school, visit classrooms, learn about the

curriculum and ask questions.

Faith Lutheran Church Staff:

Pastor: Lee Laaveg - pastor@faithlutheranspencer.com

Church Administrator: Lori Krei - office@faithlutheranspencer.com

Director of Children & Youth: Eric Patten - cymdirector@faithlutheranspencer.com

Custodian: Rich Stueven - custodian@faithlutheranspencer.com

Technology Director: Lori Krei - techdirector@faithlutheranspencer.com

Office Assistant: Cheryl Stueven - office@faithlutheranspencer.com

Worship Director: Denise Laaveg - worshipdirector@faithlutheranspencer.com

Thank you to today’s:

Worship Leader Del Brockshus

Instrumentalists Denise Laaveg, Kevin Skadeland, Jared Hansen

Vocalists Tedra, Austin and Trista Jorgensen

Lector Greg Lear

Children’s Message Alice Nielsen and Bo

Prayers of the Church Al Vanderberg

Nursery Kyle and Jamie Rouse

Camera Doug Schwartz

Computer Cindy Tigges

Sound Kristine Christianson

Lead Tech Lori Krei

Fellowship Hosts Gene and Pam Englin, Chris and Carolyn Christofferson

Set up: Carolyn Christofferson

Greeters/Ushers Kent and Carol Heazlett, Carissa Doran, Joy Kelsch

Offering Counters Kay Iversen, Gene Englin, Becky Simons

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Worship Leader Pastor Lee

Instrumentalists Denise Laaveg

Lector

Computer

Sound

Lead Tech Lori Krei

Fellowship Denise Lovitt, Ann Lear

Greeters/Ushers Paul and Kris Behrens

All current and new worship volunteers are encouraged to attend

information and training meetings with Pastor Lee following church

services from 10:15-10:30 a.m. This will be a time to review and

refresh basics for each role on the following dates:

February 25: Lectors (Scripture readers)

March 4: Communion Assistants

March 11: Children’s Sermons

March 18: Worship Vocalists

Worship Volunteers

Next Sunday, March 4, 2018

Worship Leader Karen Brandt

Instrumentalists Denise Laaveg, Kevin Skadeland, Jared Hansen

Vocalists Joy Kelsch, Dennis and Jan Larson

Lector Kevin Swancutt

Children’s Message Nancy Ketcham

Prayers of the Church Randy Enge

Nursery Deb Ortiz, Avelino Perez

Altar Prep Lora Johnson, Shirley Nelson

Communion Servers Duane and Pam Harris, Wayne and Barbara Burnham

Prayer Intercessors Doug and Courtney Schwartz, Darrel and Nancy Heckathorn

Camera Cheryl Stueven

Computer Del Christman

Sound Nathan McKenney

Lead Tech Lori Krei

Fellowship Hosts Dave and Linda Susie, Greg Lear

Set up: Linda Susie

Greeters/Ushers Kim Rye, Leah Heikens, Cindy Essick, Larry Peterson

Offering Counters Lori Krei, Wayne Burnham, Greg Lear

Eligible Thrivent Financial members who have been

designated Choice Dollars, have until March 31, 2018,

to direct any remaining 2017 Choice Dollars.

Help support the organization of your choice,

including Faith Lutheran, by going to thrivent.com/thriventchoice

to learn more and find program terms and conditions.

Or call 800-847-4836 and say “Thrivent Choice” after the prompt.

Don’t forget to direct

Thrivent Choice Dollars®

Ways to give Choice Dollars:

Log in to your Thrivent account

Call Thrivent Financial at 1-800-847-4836

Contact your Thrivent representative

Complete and mail the Choice Dollars

form found on the Welcome Center Desk

THIS WEEK AT FAITH Today, Sunday - February 25

8:00 a.m. Worship Vocalist Rehearsal

8:15 a.m. Prayer Time - All are welcome!

9:00 a.m. Worship

Fellowship - Immediately following Worship

10:30 a.m. Children’s Sunday School

Del Brockshus’ Journey Team, Discipleship Room

1st Communion Class

11:00 a.m. Council Meeting at Faith Lutheran Church

Tuesday, February 27

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Missions Work Day

1:00 p.m. Staff Meeting

Wednesday, February 28

3:30 p.m. LifeKids

5:30 p.m. Lenten Potluck

6:30 p.m. Lenten Worship Service

7:15 p.m. Worship Vocalist Rehearsal

Confirmation

7:30 p.m. High School Youth Group

Thursday, March 1

8:30 a.m. Coffee Group (All are welcome!)

1:00 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry (Loopy Ladies)

5:30 p.m. Children’s Ministry Meeting

7:00 p.m. Worship Team Meeting

Friday, March 2 - World Day of Prayer

Saturday, March 3

7:30 a.m. Men’s Bible Study

8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Holy Spirit Church-Wide Retreat

5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Homeschool Evening Function

Sunday, March 4

8:00 a.m. Worship Vocalist Rehearsal

8:15 a.m. Prayer Time - All are welcome!

9:00 a.m. Worship

Fellowship - Immediately following Worship

10:30 a.m. Children’s Sunday School

Del Brockshus’ Journey Team, Discipleship Room

1st Communion Class

4:15 p.m. Ingham/Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp Outreach