All are Welcome to join in our worship service on Sundays at 9:30am.

Building Bridges

After the vote yesterday, I know you, as a congregation, will be excited to welcome your new pastor John Barton and his wife Sarah, the first of May.

When I came to Faith as a bridge pastor ten months ago, my intention was to assist the congregation in getting ready for this new chapter in your life together. I feel so good about the place we are at now.

I wanted to be there for you, just as you a congregation, were there for Pastor Mark Cansino. Your lovingly treatment of him in his illness was an example of how we can build bridges from the difficulties of this world to a world of hope and healing.

I didn't know the bridge I was building with you would extend as long as it did. But Connie and I have had a wonderful time. We had a lot of special moments together like a movie for Reformation, hosting the Synod wide WELCA, serving tamales for Christmas, a barbecue prior to Lent and welcoming of new members. The property has improved with a couple of new air-conditioners, new lighting, roof repair, painting fellowship hall.  We also purchased Cranberry ELW Hymnals. So many people to thank. The call committee and council deserve our appreciation along with others for patience and forbearance. There is a section of this newsletter which is an encouragement to keep those thank you’s coming.

We want to keep the celebrations coming as well. Naturally we will be celebrating Holy Week beginning with Palm Sunday, April 14th. Then that week we have Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services at 5:30 p.m.

April 21st, Easter, we will have a Sunrise Service at 6:30, followed by Easter Breakfast, and our 9:30 worship. We are hoping John and Sarah can join us that day.

The next Sunday, April 28, we take some special time to salute Linda Blanche for her ten years of service here at Faith. Some years were paid some not. If you have any pictures of her during those years, please bring them by the office for scanning or email scanned or electronic photos. We will be enjoying another BBQ by Tex Culp on the 28th of April for Linda’s appreciation. She will continue to be a member of Faith but for the first few months she will be a bit scarce, she is planning a fall season return.

The following Sunday, May 5th we will be our welcome for Pastor John and Sarah Barton. His coming has been years in the making.

We party hearty in the Easter season. Jesus made clear in his resurrection, that the Kingdom of God is at hand.

In the end, our task as the people of God is to build a bridge from life in this world to that Kingdom of Heaven. Keep building the bridge dear people of God. The world seems to have taken an angry turn. People need a bridge to a place of Hope.

I will be back on May 26th to cover for a prearranged vacation John and Sarah had planned, so we can bid farewell to the bridge pastor. My bridge with you is ending but the building goes on with a new pastor and a new chapter and a new opportunity to bring the Kingdom near.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor John Bunge