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On Sun Aug 30, we were thrilled to hold our worship service outdoors, especially after it had rained all day on Saturday.  We welcomed our local Ukelele Group, a talented bunch of musicians!  They led us in singing Gospel favorites like "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," "They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love," and "I'm So Glad Jesus Lifted Me."  Our worship service also included a special prayer of blessing for our Little Free Pantry and Little Free Library after both were repaired and reinforced by Mike Smith (father of Dave Smith).
In our Gospel reading (Matthew 16:21-28),  we heard Jesus say to his disciples, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?"
Through the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives, we are empowered to deny ourselves and, like Jesus did, go into places where it may be difficult to walk.  Right now we have members who are concerned about advocating for migrants.  They have joined with others from our community who are trying to find ways to come alongside immigrants and make sure their rights are protected.  And just last weekend, our church had a booth at Marshfield PRIDE Day, showing support to those who are marginalized based on gender.  We have other members who are taking up their cross to spread the love of Jesus in many other important ways through programs like Habitat for Humanity, Soup or Socks, the School Backpack Program, etc.  It might be easier to use our feet and go somewhere else where things are easier.  But with God, we are able to bear all that we might face.  Someone once put it this way:  “When we say, "But Lord, I cannot,”  God says, “I’m glad to hear you say that.  Through you, I CAN.’”

Welcome to the newly created FLY Weekly Update — your go-to place for everything happening in FLY!

Here you’ll find what’s coming up, what’s new, important reminders, and all the updates you would normally receive through email. Now, instead of searching through emails or messages, you’ll have one place to find the latest information about FLY.

Check back regularly for upcoming events, announcements, youth opportunities, mission trip information, fundraisers, and more.

Follow Jesus • Build Friendships • Make a Difference

Check Out the FLY Mission Trip Wall!

Have you been part of a FLY Mission Trip — or know someone who has?

Come check out the FLY Mission Trip Wall located just outside my office! You’ll find photos and memories from 2015–2025, highlighting the people, places, service, and experiences that have been part of FLY Mission Trips over the years.

Were you part of one of these trips? Stop by, take a look, and share a story or two! We’d love to hear your favorite memories and continue adding to the story of FLY.

And we’re not done yet!

More updates are coming soon to the FLY Room and the Mission Trip Wall downstairs!

Come see where we’ve been — and get excited about where we’re going next!

Welcome to this week’s GLOW/RISE Weekly Update! We're excited to be getting closer to the start of another great year of learning, growing, and building faith together at Faith Lutheran!

As we begin a new school year, we’re praying for all our GLOW and RISE students, families, teachers, and school communities. We hope everyone is off to a great start and that this new year is filled with new friendships, exciting opportunities, and plenty of reasons to grow in faith.

Have You Registered?
If you haven’t already, please take a moment to register your child for GLOW/RISE for the upcoming education year. Registration helps us make sure we have the information we need to plan classes, communicate with families, and prepare for a great year.
Not registered yet? Be sure to get signed up!

We Want to Hear From You!
This GLOW/RISE Weekly Update is new, and we want it to be genuinely helpful for our families.

What would you like to see here?
Is there information that would make it easier for your family to stay connected? Do you have ideas for things we could add, change, or improve?

We’d love to hear your feedback! Your ideas can help us make this page better for everyone.

Looking Ahead
We’re getting excited to officially kick off our GLOW/RISE education year! We can’t wait to see our students back, reconnect with families, meet new faces, and begin another year of learning about God, building friendships, and growing together.

Be sure to check back here each week for upcoming events, important reminders, class information, announcements, family updates, service opportunities, and more.

Here’s to a great new school year and an exciting year of GLOW/RISE!

Learn Together • Grow in Faith • Share God’s Love

Thank you for your continued support of our Education & Family Ministries! We are grateful for the many ways you encourage and support our children, youth, teachers, and families.

If you would like to help with an upcoming event or have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. Please ask, please communicate, and please let me know how we can better serve your family!

Dear Faith Family,

Join us this Sunday, August 30, for Outdoor Worship (weather permitting - BYOC) as we gather together for Pentecost 14! Our Ukulele Group will help lead us in worship as we sing, pray, hear God’s Word, share Communion, and enjoy being together in God’s beautiful creation.
This Sunday’s readings invite us to reflect on God’s call, genuine love, and what it means to follow Jesus:

• First Reading: Exodus 3:1–15 — God calls Moses from the burning bush and promises, “I will be with you.”
• Psalm 105:1–6, 23, 26, 45b
• Second Reading: Romans 12:9–21 — Paul encourages us to let love be genuine and to overcome evil with good.
• Holy Gospel: Matthew 16:21–28 — Jesus calls his disciples to take up their cross and follow him.

We will lift our voices together in familiar songs, including Kum Bah Yah, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love, Shall We Gather at the River, Bind Us Together, and I’m So Glad Jesus Lifted Me.
We hope you will join us for this meaningful time of worship, fellowship, and praise as we gather in faith and share the Good News!

Faith Lutheran Church
Loved by God, Living for Others
CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Following the "Livestreamed" and In-Person Worship Services, you can view the service at the following locations.
- Faith Lutheran Church Facebook Page
- Faith Lutheran Church Website - SERVICES
- YouTube - Faith Lutheran Church - Click Here
- Faith Lutheran Church Marshfield App.
- Faith Lutheran Marshfield - Roku
- Spectrum Cable Channel 989. Our Service will appear during the following times:
-- Sundays at 12 Noon
-- Monday at 11:30 AM (this will be the TV debut for each Sunday service)
-- Fridays at 11:00 AM

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FLC Weekly Reflection & E-News | 2026.08.26

This Week’s Reflection
On Sun Aug 23, we held a School Backpack Blessing to kick-off the new school year.  Students of all ages were invited to put their backpacks by the altar at the beginning of the worship service.  Following the Prayer of the Day, all schoolteachers and school personnel (past and present) were asked to stand and be recognized.  Next, students came forward to share in the following prayer before they returned to their seats with their backpacks --

Gracious God, bless our students, teachers, and school staff
as they begin a new year.  Give students curiosity, patience, and a desire to learn.
Give teachers wisdom, joy, and strength. Help us all to grow in knowledge, kindness, and faith, and remind us that you are with us wherever we go.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray.  Amen.
 In our Gospel (Matthew 14:13-21) for Sun Aug 23, we read what happened when Jesus heard about John the Baptizer’s death.  He wanted to be alone, to withdraw “to a deserted place” (v. 13). But both the crowds and the disciples followed him, and it seemed everyone wanted something from him. Jesus’ response was compassionate, and he met their needs, healing those who were sick. Then evening fell, and the disciples came to him with a request: “You’ve healed everyone. Now send them home. They can buy food in the villages for themselves.”
Jesus took the meager food he was given — five loaves and two fish -- and multiplied it so everyone had something to eat, and there were twelve baskets left over.  In a deserted, barren place, Jesus's miracle brought an abundance of food where there was none.  He showed compassion, mercy and love for those who were hungry, as he still does today.
Have you experienced a "wilderness, desert" time in your life?  I know I have.  And there are many times when God has entered into the midst of the barrenness by sending his abundant grace and compassion.  He has done this through the care and concern of others, filling even the darkest moments with his light and love.  Jesus fed over 5000 people with just five loaves and two fish at a time when the disciples believed that food was scarce. This is the true message of Matthew 14:13-21: Even in the bleakest of times God gives us what we need, we share what we have with others, and in the end, we are given more than we could ever imagine.
Pastor Heather Brown

Welcome to the newly created FLY Weekly Update — your go-to place for everything happening in FLY!

Here you’ll find what’s coming up, what’s new, important reminders, and all the updates you would normally receive through email. Now, instead of searching through emails or messages, you’ll have one place to find the latest information about FLY.

Check back regularly for upcoming events, announcements, youth opportunities, mission trip information, fundraisers, and more.

Follow Jesus • Build Friendships • Make a Difference

Welcome to the GLOW/RISE Weekly Update — your place to stay connected with everything happening in our GLOW and RISE ministries!

Here you’ll find upcoming events, important reminders, announcements, class information, family updates, and opportunities to get involved. Everything you would normally receive through emails or other messages can now be found right here in one convenient place.

Be sure to check back regularly for the latest information, upcoming activities, special events, service opportunities, and other ways for our kids and families to learn, grow, and connect together.

Learn Together • Grow in Faith • Share God’s Love

Thank you for your continued support of our Education & Family Ministries! We are grateful for the many ways you encourage and support our children, youth, teachers, and families.

If you would like to help with an upcoming event or have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. Please ask, please communicate, and please let me know how we can better serve your family!

Dear People of God,

On Wed Sept 24, I was teaching our confirmation students about the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion.   As we talked about how the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper become the body and blood of Christ, I asked the students how they preferred to receive Holy Communion.  Do they like to “intinct” by dipping the wafer in the chalice?  Or do they like to eat the wafer and then drink wine from an individual communion cup? One student said he prefers intinction because when you dip the wafer in the wine, you are receiving the body and blood of Christ all at the same time, not separately.  For this student, the wafer dipped in the wine becomes Christ’s complete body united with his blood.  I had never thought about it this way and was quite amazed by the wisdom and insight of this young person!
 
As I left the church later that evening, I was reminded that as Christians, God always has new things to teach us about our faith.  It’s never too late to grow in our understanding of the sacraments or deepen our understanding of the scriptures – even if we have studied those same things many times before.

In our confirmation class, we also talked about how the word for “sacrament” in the Latin language is “mysterium.”  As human beings, we all have questions about our faith and, at times, God can even seem like a mystery to us.  But when we experience God’s love and grace made real to us in the waters of Baptism and the bread and wine of Holy Communion, we can be confident that we are his beloved children.  In Baptism we are marked with the cross of Christ forever and God promises that he will never leave us or forsake us. And, as Martin Luther assures us in the Small Catechism, let us proclaim together, “This is most certainly true!”  

Peace,
Pastor Heather

FEBRUARY 2025
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9)

Dear Friends in Christ,

In these past weeks I have been dismayed by the violent conflicts taking place around the world.  It seems that images of war and bloodshed from the Ukraine, Israel/Palestine, the Sudan, the Congo and elsewhere loom large in the media.  And here in the USA, I am weary of the gun violence that plagues our communities.  I long for destruction and heartache to end so that children, families, and all others can feel safe and free from fear.

In 1995, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America released a social statement called “For Peace in God’s World.”  In recent years, people have taken a renewed interest in this document and the wisdom it offers as to how Christians can work toward global peace.
In the social statement,
“For Peace in God’s World,” it reads: We of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America share with the Church of Jesus Christ in all times and places the calling to be peacemakers. In the liturgy of Holy Communion we pray ‘for the peace of the whole world,’ asking, ‘Lord, have mercy.’ Our petition unites faith in the Triune God with our world’s sufferings and hopes… The basis of the Church’s peace-calling is in God’s final peace, the peace of God’s eternal reign. That calling is to proclaim the Gospel of God’s final peace and to work for earthly peace.
 
Indeed, throughout the Scriptures we see that God’s ultimate desire is that peace prevail on the earth.  This is the example Jesus Christ has given us:
◆ Jesus taught love for one’s enemies;
◆ he reached out to those who were oppressed, downtrodden, and rejected;
◆ he prayed for his enemies while himself being rejected on the cross;
◆ above all, through Jesus’ violent death, God redeemed the world, “for...while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son” (Romans 5:10).
How can we as Christians promote the peace of Christ in our world?  The social statement spells it out quite clearly:  Where the Church lives in unity, overcoming divisions and welcoming the stranger and outcast, the Church contributes to earthly peace.  Where the followers of Jesus refuse to repay evil with evil but turn the other cheek and go the extra mile (Matthew 5:38-42), where in their life together Christians’ creative, nonviolent responses to hostile acts open up possibilities for reconciliation, the Church contributes to earthly peace.

Where churches in different countries work in solidarity for human dignity, the Church contributes to earthly peace. Peace in the community of faith serves by example the ministry and message of reconciliation entrusted to the Church for the world (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
 
May we all heed the words of Jesus’s Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12):  “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  And as Edwin Markham so wisely stated, “We have committed the Golden Rule to memory; now let us commit it to life.”
 
Prayer:  Dear Lord Jesus Christ, help us to be expressions of your love in the world, both as individual members of your body and as your whole body, the Church. Empower us to support one another as we seek to build peace.  Amen.

In Christ,
Pastor Heather

My dear congregation,

As we stand at the threshold of a new era, emerging from the shadows of a global pandemic, I am filled with both gratitude and anticipation. The journey we have traveled together has been marked by challenges and uncertainties, yet through it all, our faith has remained steadfast. Now, as we embark on the path of post-pandemic re-engagement, let us do so with courage, compassion, and a renewed sense of purpose.
First and foremost, let us give thanks for the resilience and strength that has carried us through this difficult season. We have witnessed the power of community, the importance of connection, and the unwavering love of our Creator. In the midst of hardship, we have discovered new depths of faith and reliance on God's grace.
However, as we look ahead to reengaging with our congregation and community, let us not forget the lessons we have learned during this time of isolation. Let us remember the value of intentional outreach, the significance of inclusive fellowship, and the need for adaptive creativity in our ministry efforts.
Re-engagement is not simply about returning to the way things were before the pandemic. It is an opportunity for us to re-imagine and revitalize our mission as a church. It is a chance to reach out to those who may have felt disconnected or marginalized, to welcome them with open arms and open hearts.
Let us embrace this moment with humility and empathy, recognizing that each member of our congregation may be navigating their own unique challenges and uncertainties. Let us extend grace to one another as we seek to rebuild and renew our community together.
As we reengage with our ministries, programs, and worship services, let us do so with a spirit of innovation and adaptability. Let us be willing to try new things, to take risks, and to listen deeply to the needs of those we serve. Let us be guided by the love of Christ in all that we do, seeking always to bring hope, healing, and reconciliation to a world in need.
My friends, as we stand on the threshold of this new chapter in our journey together, let us do so with faith, hope, and courage. Let us step forward into the future with confidence, knowing that God is with us every step of the way.
May we embrace post-pandemic re-engagement as an opportunity to deepen our commitment to God and to one another. May we be guided by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit as we seek to build a more just, compassionate, and inclusive community.

In Christ,
Pastor Heather Brown