Author: Office

September & October 2017

The Illuminate

A publication of Family of Christ Lutheran Church

“Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.” Romans 12:9-13
Dear Family,
As I sit and write this reflection our news is awash with angry divisive words, hateful deeds, and violence. It feels as if the world has gone insane. If that were all there is, I think it would be very hard to hold onto hope. But that is not all there is. You see, also as I write these words, parents are bringing their little ones to register them for preschool here at Family of Christ. We are gearing up for Fall, ordering Sunday school curriculum. We are gathering essentials for foster children. We are walking gently beside the fragile ones among us. We are being the Church.
The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the congregation in Rome during a time when the world must have seemed to have gone insane. Violence was rampant, angry words divided peoples and families. It was a hard time, but in the midst of it, God was doing a new thing. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God had overpowered death with life, hate with love, anger with hope, and division with new ways of being in community. Paul encouraged these new communities of faithful folk with these words of wisdom so that they might claim their identity in Christ, be the new creation—the new thing God was doing—and stand up to what ever the storms around them might bring.
In these times, let me give you once more these simple words of wisdom. They are powerful. They are true. They are the way forward.
Blessings,
Pastor Kit

Family of Christ Vision Statement
Family of Christ is a family of God where all are welcome as we worship and grow in spirit and in life by…
Connecting the scriptures with our Christian faith and life experiences
Serving and caring for our neighbors and communities
Building relationships among people of all ages and walks of life
Transforming our world by teaching love, grace, peace, and kindness
Moving purposefully into God’s future and we ask God to help and guide us.

Connecting the Scriptures ~ Building Relationships ~ Transforming our World…

This year we mark the 500th year of the Protestant Reformation. What better time to delve into conversations with The Great Reformer, Martin Luther! Beginning Sunday, September 17th at 10:00 a.m. in the Library, we will begin Augsburg’s seven-part series written especially for today’s Lutherans. How will we carry our tradition of reform forward in year 501 and beyond? If you are new to the Lutheran tradition, returning to the Church after a while away, are new to Christianity, have not experienced a deep conversation around the ideas of faith, or are a life-long Lutheran Christian, this class will be a real blessing. Join Us!

By Heart
Conversations with Martin Luther’s
Small Catechism

Fall Schedule Begins September 10thth!
Worship @ 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.
Christian Education for all ages @ 9:45 a.m.
On Sept. 10th all ages gather in the Family Room for
“God’s Work, Our Hands” Sunday service event packing
Dignity Bags for Foster kids.
(Turn to page 11)

hSeptember Birthdayh
Tiffany Alexander 9/08
Susan Koeser 9/08
Sharon Crisp 9/09
Dave Yankee 9/09
Dexter Corlett 9/10
Tom Sandeen 9/13
Beth Stark 9/13
Marty Alexander 9/15
Lauren Leonard 9/15
Lillian Poe 9/16
Jennifer Beems 9/17
Melinda Staub 9/17
Linda Stringer 9/18
Dale Perry 9/20
Elaine Felt 9/25
Tylie Leatherwood 9/27
Rebecca Harris 9/28
Jerry & Trudy Swan 9/12
Bill & Linda Czech 9/15
Eric & Sabrina Eisenbarth 9/24

Connecting the Scriptures ~ Building Relationships ~ Transforming our World… Through Confirmation Ministry
Confirmation Ministry is what we call our faith formation ministry for young people in the 7th & 8th grades. The truth is, our young ones have been learning and growing in faith since their baptisms! Parents have lived out the promises they made on that special day by bringing their young ones to worship, Sunday school, and placing into their hands and hearts the holy scriptures. The People of God at FOC have done a great job loving them and modeling what it means to follow Jesus. Great job People of God!
Once a youth enters 7th grade, they become all the more aware of the world. Making sense of what they see in the light of the innocent faith they have carried to this point can be very hard. Our young ones have huge questions! Confirmation class is a safe place to explore those questions and to challenge and bring the ideas and ideals of the Christian faith to the task. This year we will be using the Colaborate Lutheran Confirmation curriculum to help us along the way. Check it out at www.augsburgfortress.org/Colaborate-Lutheran-Confirmation.
Confirmation class gathers on Sunday morning at 10:00 A.M. and Wednesday evenings from 6:00-7:00 P.M. to explore the scriptures and Luther’s Small Catechism by connecting the texts to our observations, experiences and lives. It’s not just class work and studying! Along the way, our youth grow strong friendships with each other and wonderful relationships with the adult mentors that work with them. Our confirmation youth participate in service projects and fun activities all designed to foster faith and healthy relationships. This year, we hope to bring back our Confirmation Camp/Retreat. Stay tuned for more info on that and other great events!
Once the youth complete this two-year program at the end of 8th grade, they are invited to make a public affirmation of their baptism on Pentecost/Confirmation Sunday in which they share their faith and make a commitment to continue in the promises of their baptism and take their places as full members of the Body of Christ here at FOC.

Connecting the Scriptures ~ Building Relationships ~ Connecting the Scriptures…

Adult Christian Education ~ we have your year planned!
Growing in faith and deepening our spiritual journey begins with the first language of faith, the Holy Scriptures. For many folks, just reading the bible isn’t enough, and can be a bit intimidating. Exploring the scriptures in fellowship with others on the journey helps. There are several Adult Christian Education options for you to choose from.
Sunday Morning @ 10 a.m. in the Library. By Heart, Conversations with Luther’s Small Catechism.
Monday Night @ 7:00 – Bible Study at the home of Jerre & Sharon Crisp walks through both Old Testament and New, connecting the sacred texts to daily life.
Tuesday 10:00 A.M. – Tuesday morning Bible Study Join us as we take on the text for the upcoming Sunday Pastor Kit will meet in the library. We won’t stop at just the words themselves. We will dig into culture, history, context and lots more and we wrestle with the Word—and who knows, we might even help Pastor with her sermon! Join us, we have a great time.
Wednesday 1:00 P.M. – Small Group Ladies Bible Study @ Donna Lucky’s
Wednesday 6:00 P.M. Adult Bible Study is TEMPORARILY ON HOLD. We’ll announce when it resumes.

New in 2017 – Men’s Friday Breakfast Bible Study will meet every 2nd and 4th Friday at 8:00 A.M. Pastor Kit and Nancy Hilgendorf will be cooking a scrumptious breakfast! The goal is to make space to foster strong relationships and conversations that focus on the men’s interests, issues and the unique journeys of men in today’s world. It will be a great time to connect men of all ages as they walk together growing in faith and in life.

Meetings are the first Thursday of each month-Mary Elizabeth Circle at 1:30 p.m. and Phoebe Circle at 7 p.m. Each meeting lasts about 1 1/2 to 2 hours with Bible study and fellowship on the agenda. The Bible studies are from the WELCA Gather magazine. For subscription information, call Traci at the church office.
Every woman is invited to become a part of a WELCA circle - to grow in faith and to get to know other women in our congregation. Come and join us. It's fun, it's formative, it's inspiring and it's Christ filled! Questions? Call Marilyn Wilken (360) 718-7058 or Jeanne Downing (360) 573-5657
1:30 pm is at Sandra Farrell’s, 13108 NW 11th Pl. #B, handicap accessible. 7 pm is at Marilyn Wilken’s, 3106 NE 169th Way, Ridgefield.

hOctober Birthdaysh
1 Travis Marble
2 Sue Lincoln
8 David Holmquist
9 Chris Connolly
13 Alina Staub
14 Ty Leatherwood
14 Teresa Marble
15 Ann Corlett
17 Christien Born
18 Kara Ausman-Martin
18 Marilyn Bearham
18 Pat Doud
20 Cecilia Shepard
21 Pam Ausman
22 Dan Corlett
22 Shellie Johnson
25 Melissa Sandeen
26 Jim Sundal
27 Cathy Pedersen
29 Carol Collell
30 Kendra Fry
30 Susan Starkey
31 Carissa Johnson
Happy Anniversary 
2 Marty & Tiffany Alexander
2 Neil and Bobbie Fykerud
20 Al & Pat Doud
30 Greg & Pat Shaw

Single Ladies Fellowship
Meet at FOC in the Library every 4th Thursday, Starting at 6 pm. They watch movies, socialize, have snacks and sometimes picnic potlucks. All single ladies are welcome to attend. It’s always a good time!

Coming in September & October ~ Serving Our Neighbors...Moving Purposefully

Calling all Quilters or Quilter Wanna Be’s!
Anyone that can thread a needle or tie a knot is welcome to join us for quilting the first Wednesday of each month. Come join us in the family room at 10 am on Wednesday, September 6th.

Paint Party September 16th
On Saturday, September 16th, beginning at 8:30 a.m. bring your ladders and paint brushes (paint will be supplied) and help us paint the south outside of the building; it really needs it!

Social Concerns: Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Located in Ridgefield, Neighbors Helping Neighbors serves Felida and Salmon Creek, bringing tangible help to our neighbors in need. September requested food is canned veggies. October requested items are toilet paper/paper products. Please place your donations in the basket by the north entrance door. Thank You!

Friday’s from 10-11:30 am. $5 per class. This is a gentle breathe, stretch and release class. Come try it out!

Beginning September 6th
'EXULTATION ENSEMBLE' Adult Hand bell Choir resumes on Tuesdays at 6:30pm

Choir Practice Resumes!
Everyone that would like to sing to the Lord come join us on Wednesday, Sept. 6th,
practice from 6:30-8pm. Let’s make a joyful noise!

Opportunities for Our Youth at FOC
Wednesday Eve Little Christians
Little Christians is a fun time for all children from pre-k through 5th grade. Little Christians time is filled with crafts, games, stories, laughter & fun! Join us from 6:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday nights and bring a friend!

Trunk-N-Treat &
Halloween Carnival
Join the fun!
Wednesday October 25th
6-7 pm
(More information and sign-up sheets will be out mid Sept.)

Pet Blessing
Saturday, October 7th, at 10 a.m. Gather in Gertie’s Garden at the NE corner of the parking lot.

Senior Lunch Bunch
Every month on the 3rd Thursday, we gather at 11:30 a.m. at a local restaurant for a time of food and fellowship. Watch the bulletins for the September 21st and October 19th locations, then please sign-up in the family room if you plan to attend.

Million Meals
As of August 31st we have donated enough funds to provide 2,148,856 meals!

Fall Cleanup Saturday September 30th
All hands on deck! There will be a work day on Saturday, September 30th to clean
up the outside yard and spruce up the inside from 9:00 am until Noon.
Please bring tools, gloves, etc. Let's spiff up our church to make it appealing to visitors as well as Family members. Coffee and donuts will be provided.

Mobile Giving
Scan this QR code with your smart phone and it will take you directly to our secure online giving link! Thank you!

Building Relationship…Serving Our Neighbors

Wednesday is Family Night @ FOC

Beginning Wednesday, September 6th you can take the night off from cooking, and relax and enjoy the fellowship while you enjoy a hot dinner prepared by loving hands. Folks that can, pitch in and help with clean up. The cost is still just $4 per person, no family pays more than $13. (No one is left out, so if cost is a factor, please talk to Pastor Kit). After dinner, join in on one of the scheduled activities. There will be:
Dinner served from 5:00 until 6:30 pm
Kid’s Sing in the Library, 5:30-6:00 pm
Little Christians for children PreK-5th grade join together for lots of fun from 6:00-7:00 pm
Confirmation Pastor Kit and Pam Ausman~ 6:00-7:00 pm
Adult Bible Study ~ led by Edie Dietzen 6:00-7:00 pm
Chancel Choir Rehearsals ~ 6:30-8:00 pm
Board/card games will be available for high school youth and adults that wish to focus on fellowship

Wednesday Night Dinners Help Wanted
From Congregational Life
We are always looking for a few extra hands to help us with preparation, set up, serving and clean-up! Can you help with….
Preparation-Starts around 12 noon on Wednesdays. Help cook the main meal or make a dessert. Dessert can be made at home.
Set Up - Starts around 3:30 p.m.. Get dining rooms set up with drinks, food placement on the main serving table, serve, and cashier.
Clean Up - Starts around 6 pm to approximately 7:30 pm. This allows our cookers and set up crew to attend 6:30 pm church events.
Thank you for considering helping us because we really need you! Sign-up in the Fellowship Hall and/or talk with Sandie Beems or Lauren Leonard with any questions or concerns.

Social Justice Concerns Ministry has several dates for you to add to your fall calendar.

November 1 at 6 p.m. we'll have a semi annual meeting in the Family Room after dinner to talk about upcoming events. We invite everyone interested in our programs to come join us. We are open to all new ideas of how to make our events better and we need all the help we can get.
The ads for inexpensive turkeys come out in the paper around November 12 before Thanksgiving and that's when we invite everyone to purchase turkeys for us and bring them to church to store in our freezer for our Christmas food boxes for needy families. Our goal each year is 100 boxes to be divided between 4 downtown schools who provide us with names of families who need help during the holidays. The shelves will go up Nov. 1 in the Family Room to store Christmas box trimmings of food so please plan to fill the shelves for the 100 food boxes.
The last week of November, the 26th through December 3rd, we will partner with Bethel Lutheran and All Saints Episcopal to staff the Winter Hospitality Overflow or WHO shelter for single women and families at St. Andrew Lutheran Church. Our shifts will be Friday December 1 morning shift for 6 people, the evening shift of that day for 4-6 people and overnight for 2 people. The same shifts for Saturday and early morning for Sunday Dec. 3. So that's only 7 shifts for Family of Christ and we should have no trouble filling the shifts. Please plan to help. It's heartwarming. Sign up sheets will go up mid-October.
Dec. 16 we will gather at 9 a.m. to fill the Christmas food boxes in the Family Room.
Dec. 17th, Sunday, we'll gather in the Family Room following 2nd service to pick up food boxes and deliver them to needy families.
Dec. 30 is our day to volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church for the men's shelter for the WHO. We will only have 3 shifts, evening Saturday, overnight Saturday and early morning Sunday the 31st. The sign up sheets will be self explanatory and go up in plenty of time for you to get your favorite spot. We will also need food for both volunteer opportunities for the WHO.
Thank you for helping Social Justice Concerns Ministry.
Judy Enders, Hoffmans, and Sandeens, Co-chairs

Building Relationships...Transforming Our World

Here we go again! The start of another school year is upon us here at FOCCP. We are ready and excited to share the love of Jesus with our families.
Changes in staff ~ we have added two new staff member to our amazing team of teachers. Miss Leah (Leah Kravas) who will be joining Miss Kathy teaching a W/F morning 2’s class in the Rainbow Room, and Miss Lexi (Lexi White) who will be teaching with Miss Carmella in the afternoon 4’s class in the Star Room. Other staff members include Miss Adria who will be teaching a group of 2 year olds on T/Th mornings with Miss Kathy in the Rainbow Room and then the two of them will popping into an afternoon T/W/Th 3’s class Sunshine Room. We have Miss Caryn who will be teaching 5 mornings with Miss Carmella in the 3’s and 4’s class in the Star Room and Miss Julie who will be teaching 5 mornings with Miss Jackie in the Sunshine Room.
Thank you to Christian Ed for allowing us to share space upstairs. We are looking forward to the excitement of having our 2’s classes in Rm 5-6. The sound of children in the building will bring many smiles to members and visitors. We hope you will pop down and peek in the windows.
Volunteers
If you find yourself with a little extra time here and there this year please consider becoming a volunteer in our program. We would love to have someone come down and read a story to the children, do a craft, teach a new game or song etc. Please contact us at foccp@comcast.net or call 360-546-0731.
September - October Events
Sept 11th – 13th ~ First Days of
School
Sept. 28th & 29th ~ Meet Your
classmates Spaghetti Dinners
Oct 10th & 11th ~ Our Annual
Trike-A-Thons.
Oct 30th & 31th ~ Halloween Parties

Sunday School Kick-Off
Sunday School begins September 17th at 9:45! Come join our new program called "All in One Sunday School" geared for ages PreK-6th grades! We'll welcome everyone in Classroom #1 with fun activities along with an Ice Cream 'Sunday' Social!
This year, the teachers are planning to provide more drama and music to our curriculum that will tie in with biblical lessons. Our kids are always excited to perform drama/skits for the congregation, so we hope to bring more of their talents to you this season!
We also offer a class for our younger kids located in the Nursery with Vickie McKay leading. This is an opportunity for our younger siblings and friends to bond together and begin learning how much Jesus loves them through simple bible stories and activities.
Sunday School registrations are ready and can be found on the Sunday School bulletin boards located near the hallway restrooms.
We look forward this season to teaching our children the love that Christ Jesus has for them and for everyone!
~Cheri Herzog ~ Sunday School Coordinator
At this time, we are in need of a High School Youth leader who will help coordinate activities for our youth on Sunday mornings. This is a special time in their lives where they get a chance to be with their peers, implement ways in which they can provide service projects to our community, share ideas and concerns with each other that ties in with biblical lessons & current events. If this is an area that you would like to explore, please contact Cheri Herzog or Pastor Kit for more information

Building Relationships ~ Transforming our world...

"EXULTATION ENSEMBLE"
Tuesday 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. starting SEPT. 5th
Handbell Ensemble For youth ages 6th grade through adults are welcome to become a part of this group. Some music knowledge is helpful but not necessary, I will teach you all you need to know about being a ringer.
Come and be a part of this SPECIAL group. We have lots of fun as well as make a joyful sound........LEARN....RING.....PRAISE...ENJOY! Our goal is to ring once a month at both services. Call, email, come to the piano and talk to me, or just show up.
Sue Lincoln, FOC Church Musician

Sanctuary: Safe Conversations on Gay Issues
Our fall start-up meeting will be on Tuesday September 19th at 7:30pm. Meet in library. We are working on getting a speaker, check the weekly bulletin for details.
The Sanctuary Group has been meeting for about seven years to discuss and explore a variety of issues relevant to LGBTQ folk and their loved ones. An important part of our mission is to reach out to our LGBTQ neighbors with a warm invitation to worship, as well as providing a supportive presence within the congregation for family members of LGBTQ loved ones. Everyone is welcome to join us, drop in anytime.
LGBTQ=Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer

The Reformation’s Gift of Engagement in Public Life

By Rev. Elizabeth Eaton
Presiding Bishop of the ELCA in America
These are politically charged times. Americans hold significantly different views about the proper role of government in caring for its citizens and about the proper role of the church as it relates to the state and as advocates for the most vulnerable in our society. In these charged times, I think it is helpful to consider two things: the relationship between church and state, and how Christians participate in a civil society.
Often, we speak about the “separation of church and state.” This principle is sometimes raised when parishioners feel that their pastors of church are being too “political.” The assumption is that the church should only deal with the spiritual and that it should have nothing to do with civil and political life. The First Amendment says, “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The separation of church and state is intended to protect religious liberty and keep the government from interfering in the church.
In this 500th anniversary year of the Reformation, the thinking and teaching of a 16th century German monk are remarkably relevant. Martin Luther formulated the doctrine of two kingdoms--the temporal and the spiritual.
Luther’s doctrine of the two kingdoms has been misinterpreted to mean the temporal realm is inferior to the spiritual, or that God--and therefore the faithful---should not be concerned with the temporal. In this mistaken notion, the temporal is not to be allowed into the church, and the faithful really need not to be too engaged in the public square.
What Luther was trying to get across was that the church and the state, the spiritual and the temporal, are both established by God and are both part of God’s two-fold rule. “Give us today our daily bread” we are also praying that God send us the gift of good government. (Luther’s Small Catechism).
Both church and state are gifts from God and have been established for specific purposes. The proper work of the church is to “preach the gospel in its purity and administer the sacraments according to the gospel” (Augsburg Confession).
The proper work of the state is to keep peace and order and to support and nourish the lives of its citizens. And, since we confess that God entered human life through the incarnation of Jesus Christ--who took our flesh upon himself--we do not have a hierarchy of value that places the spiritual about the temporal.
Active participation in public life and the duty of the government to care for its people---especially the most vulnerable--have been hallmarks of the Reformation movement from its very beginning.
In his explanation of “give us today our daily bread” in the Lord’s Prayer, Luther says that, “It would be therefore fitting that the coat of arms of every upright prince were emblazoned with a loaf of bread instead of a lion” (Large Catechism). In commenting on Psalm 82, Luther wrote that the “second virtue of a prince is to help the poor, the orphans, and the widows to justice and to further their cause.” Christians do not withdraw from public life. We fulfill our baptismal vocation when we keep showing up.

Serving and Caring for our Neighbors and Communities

Hurricane Harvey
The situation: Please stand by our neighbors as we begin the long road to recovering from Hurricane Harvey, one of the most catastrophic storms to hit the country in more than a decade. Our response: Lutheran Disaster Response’s affiliate is actively present, collaborating with community leaders and officials to initiate the proper responses, particularly the long-term recovery efforts. Together, we have a strong history of working with disasters in the Gulf Coast area. Recovery efforts are expected to take years, and Lutheran Disaster Response will be there to accompany those affected through every phase of this disaster. We invite you to stand by our neighbors on the Gulf Coast during this time. Your gifts ensure that our church will be able to provide help and hope for those left homeless or otherwise affected by this disaster for years to come. Gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response, designated for "Hurricane Response – United States" will be used entirely (100 percent) for this disaster until the response is complete. Together, we can help provide immediate and long-lasting support. Give today to support the needs in this response and others like it. What you can do: Pray Please pray for the people who have been affected and are in the path of Hurricane Harvey. May God’s healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need. Give Gifts to “US Hurricane Relief” will be used to assist those affected by the hurricane until the response is complete. You may give through Family of Christ or go online at
http://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Relief-and-Development/Lutheran-Disaster-Response/

Another Painting Party
Building on the success we had last year in the repainting of the south and east sides of the addition, another painting event is planned for Saturday, September16, weather permitting, start time, 8:30 a.m. This time we will be working on the north side of the addition and possibly a couple small areas of the sanctuary exterior. Paint will be supplied so bring brushes, rollers, rags, ladders and strong arms. You’ll find coffee and doughnuts waiting. Also, note that the calendar shows the Fall Property Cleanup Day to be Saturday, September 30. Another chance to trim and cut back shrubbery and low hanging limbs as well as cleaning the windows. Any questions, contact Dale Wilken, Property or the Church office.

How Did You Get Connected at FOC?
When you were new to Family of Christ, how did you find a place, a connection, a seat at the table? Did someone offer you a chair, reach out a hand, invite you to join in? Did it feel like they were waiting especially for you, and that you’d found a whole new family? How comforting it is to know we belong.
As new folks enter the sanctuary and family room in the coming months, let’s make sure their experience equals or exceeds our own. Don’t forget to make space.

Moving Purposefully into God’s Future….

ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR
Saturday, September 30, 2017
9:30 to 11:30 am
Held at Trinity Lutheran Church
309 West 39th Street, Vancouver, WA
Some of the topics to be covered:
Powers of attorney for financial reasons and health care issues.
Differences between a Will and a Trust and the advantages of each.
Washington community property laws.
Role of a personal representative or trustee or attorney-in-fact.
Alternatives to a guardianship for an incapacitated person.
Assets that will (or will not) be subject to the terms of a person’s Will.
Options for taking money out of an IRA with minimal taxes.
Charitable giving with life insurance or other assets.
When is gift tax due?
You are cordially invited to attend a free seminar about estate, charitable, and tax planning. Attorney Justin Curtiss and Accountant Kaye Nelson from the law firm of Landerholm, P.S. will provide helpful information and will also be available to answer your questions regarding estate planning documents, post-death administration procedures, and beneficiary designations.
Doors Open at 9 a.m. with Refreshments Available!
Sponsored by:
Vancouver Trinity Lutheran Foundation
EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
Please RSVP by calling 360-695-1221 or sending an
e-mail to office@trinityvancouver.org

DAILY DEVOTIONS
www.luthersem.edu/godpause

Highlights of Women’s Ministry at FOC
Women on the move!
Did you notice the beautiful Tree of Life mural on the back wall in the Family Room Wall? That was designed and painted by Randi Osborn with help from Laura Holmquist. And, thanks to Cleo Norcia the sanctuary is neat and tidy every Sunday. Then there are the counters that come every Monday, and the ladies that make great treats for hospitality, and the ones that maintain the landscape by weeding and pruning. There are those that serve on council or lead and serve on ministry teams. The ladies are also busy setting and cleaning up Holy Communion, feeding and serving the homeless, and let’s not forget Sandie and her Wednesday night team that keep us well fed!
The list goes on and on telling the story of how our FOC women are always ready to step up and in. Thank you for all you do! Sharing our time and talents for the sake of others comes naturally to the women of FOC. We are hard at work both at FOC and in the community, serving those in need and blessing lives in countless ways. This is being the Church at its best!
BUT, we also need to feed and nourish our lives as well. That’s why we began two WELCA circles and a single women’s group that each meet monthly for fellowship, prayer, fun, and bible study (turn to page 3 for more detailed information). If you have not participated and would like to it’s easy. WELCA circles use the Gather Magazine from the Women of the ELCA for bible study and discussion. Contact either Marilyn Wilken or Jean Downing to connect with a circle. Wouldn’t it be great if we needed to start a third circle? Our Single Women’s group meets on the 4th Thursday of each month at 6pm for a movie and pot luck dinner. It’s always a good time! More opportunities will be coming soon. So stay tuned!

This is being the Church at its best!

China Connect News…..
Learn more about ChinaConnect at : www.chinaconnectonline.org

Moving Purposefully ~ Transforming our world...

Clark County Food Bank Invites you to
Friday, September 15, 2017
6:30-9 pm
Taste & See is an inspiring evening where guests enjoy fine wine, delicious food, an exciting live auction, and heartwarming stories of how Clark County Food Bank is providing real life change through alleviating hunger and its root causes. Taste & See brings together 300 community members, business leaders, philanthropists, and generous businesses to raise funds for local hunger relief.
6502 NE 47th Ave, Vancouver, WA 98661
http://www.clarkcountyfoodbank.org/tasteandsee/

You can Support Family of Christ when you shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon donates.
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-0928556
This link above will take you directly to smile.amazon.com in support of FOC, bookmark it so you don’t have to search for us when you shop.

Friends of the Carpenter
Annual Dinner & Auction
Saturday, October 21, 2016
5:30 p.m.
New location: Warehouse ‘23
This fundraiser is for Friends of the Carpenter, a non-profit based day shelter facility that provides safety, structure and purpose for vulnerable members of our community.
To register, check out Friends of the Carpenter at: www.friendsofthecarpenter.org

Council for the Homeless Annual Luncheon
October 12, 2017 12 pm -1:30 pm
Hilton Vancouver Washington
www.councilforthehomeless.org
Thanks to our generous sponsors there is no charge to attend. However, registration is required.

Where shopping & giving unite
Re-enroll your rewards card to
Family of Christ Lutheran Church
and continue earning donations by shopping!
Here’s how to re-enroll:
Log onto your account at www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards
Select Re-enroll or enrolling your Rewards Card now.
On that sign in page if you don’t remember your password, click Forgot your password? And you will get an email where you can re-create a new one.
Then every time you shop and use your Rewards Card you can continue to help us earn donations.
Remember, you still earn your Rewards Points, Fuel Points, and Rebates.
Currently, we receive close to $150 each quarter that gets deposited into our building maintenance fund. Don’t delay, enroll or re-enroll today!

Serving Our Neighbors...Transforming Our World

God’s Work Our Hands Sunday, Sunday, September 10th
Bringing a little bit of love to area foster children!

By now you have noticed our Mission Bulletin Board all decked out in child sized gear. These sample items represent just a few of the needs of the most vulnerable and powerless of our brother and sisters, children entering the foster care system. Did you know that every day in the United States 1,200 children enter foster care? Just imagine being removed from your home with only what you can carry, or worst yet taken from school with only what you have on your back. This scenario plays out every day when a child must be removed from a home for its protection and safety.
We can help make a sad time in a child’s life a little brighter by providing a few of the things they need while they are in transition. They will need hygiene items, socks, undies, a comfort toy like a teddy bear, and Target gift cards that can be
used to purchase things like shoes and clothing. A shopping list can be found on the table in front of the bulletin board in the narthex.
A basket has been placed beneath the Mission Partner bulletin board in the narthex to receive donations. This will be an ongoing emphasis for us, but our first “packing day” will be on God’s Work Our Hands Sunday, September 10th between services. Join us at 9:45 in the Family Room and following the 11:00 am service to create care kits and dignity bags for local foster children. If you have questions about this new ministry or have questions about the foster care system, call Cecilia Shepard at 360-450-8448.

FOC Men’s Ministry is Standing Tall!
You only need to look for a minute to find our hard-serving fellas at work blessing us and our community! There’s Don getting our choir ready for another season—and let’s not forget the bass and tenor sections! You’ll find George is out there hauling goods for Neighbors Helping Neighbors every Tuesday. Dale and his crew of able bodied fellas keep our facility in great shape. Just this week Fred was out pulling thistles that were invading our play yard! FOC men pack and deliver food boxes and volunteer out in our community. Ian, Jeff and Andrew invest their hearts and time in raising strong men through their leadership with the Boy Scouts. Dave, Dale, Eric, are serving on council—as have many men before them. Eric films our services for Facebook Live most every Sunday. We can count on Larry to step up and lead a great adult-ed when called upon. FOC men are ushers, greeters and worship assistants. If you need help, our guys are always quick to step up and in! Up to this point we may not have named our men’s ministry, but I could go on and on and name every one of our FOC men and the ministry they live out every day. We are truly blessed.
I want to be intentional, recognizing and honoring the ministry of our FOC Men. That’s why you will begin to see in print and hear references made to FOC Men’s Ministry as we become more intentional about celebrating and shaping ministry with and for men here at FOC!

Living Stones Ministries
Win a Hawaiian Vacation!
$5000 Hawaiian trip tailored personally for you! Choose your island, accommodations, airfare and activities.
Raffle tickets: $10 each or 6 for $50
Tickets are available from Traci in the office now through the end of September. Bishop Rick Jaech will draw the winning ticket on October 12th at 1 pm in the SWWA Synod office (you need not be present to win).
Living Stones Prison Ministry is a joint ministry of all the SW WA congregations and each congregation is asked to participate to support the program.
Learn more about Living Stones Ministries at
www.livingstonesprisoncongregation.com

Building Relationships

Serving and Caring for our Neighbors and Communities

24 Reasons to Give. 24 Hours.
When the clock hits 12 a.m. on September 21, this will become your hub for local giving.
Here, you’ll be able to make a quick, secure donation to any of the125 participating nonprofits that serve our community every day. See the complete list of eligible nonprofits by visiting our Leaderboard page, or browse by cause area above to find your reason to give. Click on any of the nonprofits to learn more about the organization's mission and what projects or programs your Give More 24! donation will support. Once you find your favorite nonprofits, get an email reminder to give on Thursday, September 21 by filling out the form to the right. We’ll make sure you don’t miss your chance to make a big difference during 24 hours of local giving.
The Day Your Gift Gives More You might wonder how your gifts actually give more during Give More 24! It’s all thanks to our Stretch Pool and Nonprofit Prizes. Our $30,000 Stretch Pool is made possible by a generous group of local donors and will help boost every Give More 24! donation. These funds are allocated to each organization based on how much money it raises on September 21. For example, if your favorite organization receives 3% of the total raised on September 21, it will also receive 3% of the stretch pool. So, the more dollars your favorite organization brings in, the more stretch dollars it wins. There are also $15,000 in Nonprofit Prizes available. Each of these is another way that you can raise more money for your favorite organizations. Each prize is designed to bring a little excitement to the day. Some are contests, while others are just random “golden tickets” as we like to call them. You can read all about our prizes here, and start planning on how to win one for your favorite cause.

LCM at Western Washington University
1720 Harris Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
Dear Ministry Partners,
Greetings from Bellingham! Lutheran Campus Ministry at Western Washington University is excited for another year of supporting students in faith formation at such an important time in their lives.
In the past year, we enjoyed monthly faith discussions over homemade pizza and weekly chats over coffee and donuts. We also enjoyed other activities, such as community dinners, visits to the trampoline zone, and bowling. We are also excited to announce that next year we will be volunteering with the InterFaith Coalition for students interested in participating in service. In addition, we hire students as ministry coordinators throughout the year. Ministry coordinators help promote the ministry and organize our activities during the school year.
Our offices are housed at a local congregation Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in the Happy Valley neighborhood, which is about a mile away from the south edge of campus. Students are encouraged to attend Sunday worship at Our Saviour’s or any of the other Lutheran congregations in Bellingham. If you have any students currently attending Western or starting in the fall please let us know and we will be excited to welcome them with a Trader Joe’s Gift Card at our table at the Student Activities Fair in Red Square on September 25 & 26.
Thank you for your support,
Pastor Joel Langholz and the Board of Lutheran Campus Ministry - WWU
360-733-6749 www.lutherancampusministrywwu.com

Holy Yoga is held here at Family of Christ on Fridays at 10:00-11:15 am in the Family Room. Each class costs $5. Our instructor is Debbie Lenihan. She teaches a gentle class that offers soft and slow posture, movement, and breathing techniques. This class is great for beginners and all skill levels are welcome.
We took a summer break but classes are set to resume on September 2nd and will continue every Friday throughout the month and beyond.

Prayer Ministry
How can we pray for you? Our prayer chain upholds those in need of special prayers. Include your prayer request on your record of worship card or email it to: prayer@foclutheranchurch.org
You can also contact Jeanne Downing to request prayers or be added to the prayer chain,
(360) 573-5657
cjdowning55@msn.com

Opportunities for Our Youth at FOC
Little Christians
Little Christians is a fun time for all children from pre-k through 5th grade. Little Christians is a time filled with crafts, games and laughter. Join us from 6:00-7:00 PM on Wednesday nights starting September 7th.

Building Relationships ~ Transforming our world...

Shout Out!!
We need a few more coffee hour helpers and greeters. Training is provided!
Friendly folk that can smile and shake a hand, please call Edie Dietzen to let her know to sign you up!
Do you like to provide simple treats and hospitality? Call Sandie Beems and tell her you’ll help provide refreshments after a worship service. People at FOC really enjoy this time of fellowship, so please consider helping out.

Have you signed up for Online Giving?
Electronic Giving is a convenient way to automate your offering. It’s a great way to practice first fruits giving and to stay on track with your support of our shared ministry.
Collection basket offerings fluctuate significantly from week to week but when contributions are automated, the church receives the funds it needs to operate on a steady, uninterrupted basis. Once you sign-up, you can edit or cancel or at anytime.
It is easy to get started! Sign-up on our website; or contact our Financial Secretary, Dale Perry.
finsecretary@foclutheranchurch.org

Annual Christian College Fair
Over 40 Christian colleges and universities will be represented at the Portland National Christian College Fair! Students and families will have the opportunity to meet with college representatives and attend financial aid seminars. The college fair is from 6pm to 8pm on Monday, September 26, at Westside Christian High School in Tigard, OR. Admission is free. For directions go to: http://myblueprintstory.com/christian-college-fairs/
See you at the fair!

Family of Christ Lutheran Church Page # email: office@foclutheranchurch.org

The Illuminate Page # www.foclutheranchurch.org