Parent Connection February 26

Piles and Piles and Piles

          As I look out my window this morning, I see some more of the white stuff falling from the sky. Last night, it was drifting slowly to the ground and this morning it is being driven by the strong winds. When I arrived this morning, Mrs. Gillespie and Mrs. Z were just finishing off the task of shoveling what had fallen during the night. By the looks of it at recess time, there will be more shoveling to be done. Even after it stops snowing, there will be more shoveling to be done. Sometimes it is frustrating because, just after you finish shoveling, the sidewalk cleaner or the grader comes past and provides another pile of snow to move out of the way.

          In much the same way, when we look over our lives, we see piles and piles and piles of sin. We daily keep adding to those piles. The sad thing is that there is nothing we can do to move those piles. We may try to hide those piles, or ignore those piles, but they are evident to all.  If we convince ourselves that everything is just fine, Satan will come along with his grader to make those piles ever more evident, putting them right in front of your face. It is hopeless to try to deal with your heap of sin and shame by yourself.

          Thanks be to God for He has removed our guilt by paying the price for our sins! Jesus gave up His throne in heaven, came to earth, and lived His life in full obedience to God’s law. He was completely innocent of any wrongdoing but God the Father put all of our guilt on His Son and punished Him in our place. As He died for us, He declared that our debt had been “paid in full”!  On Easter morning, God raised His Son from the grave as His stamp of approval on all that Jesus had done.

          Now when we are troubled by sin, or when Satan tries to raise those piles in front

 of us, we can turn to our Savior and know that the piles are gone, never to bother us again.  With St. Paul, we can “Forget[ting] what is behind and strain[ing] toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13b-14.

Chicken Dinner

          A big Thank You to all who contributed to support our school!  With your help, we were able to raise over $800.

YMCA Visits

          Grades K-8 will be going to the YMCA again tomorrow, Tuesday, February 27th.  Have you noticed your child sleeping better on Tuesday nights after all of that exercise??

          Our last trip will be next Tuesday, March 6th.  TADS accounts will be billed after this visit.

Indoor Soccer Practice

Soccer practice for grades 5-8 begins next Tuesday, March 6th, at APU, 4:00-5:30pm.  Practices will continue every Tuesday and Thursday.  Games will be announced as soon as they are scheduled.

Midweek Lenten Services

We are continuing our Wednesday Lenten Services this week.  Parents are encouraged to join their Faith Lutheran School students at 3:00pm to hear about “Jesus, Our Great High Priest.”  This service will last a little more than half an hour.  Students will be dismissed for the day at the end of the service.

Hand Chimes Choir

          We will play one song during the 3:00pm Lenten service.

Health Fair

          Faith Lutheran Church and School is sponsoring a Health Fair Saturday, March 3rd from 8:00am-12:00pm to bring free health education, health screenings, and affordable blood tests to our community.  Alaska Health Fair Inc. will provide the majority of materials, supplies, medical volunteers, and other support but we need volunteers to help set up and take down, to help during the fair, and to donate food.  Setup begins on Friday afternoon, March 2nd.  A list of food items needed and a signup sheet is posted in the Fellowship Hall or you can sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054ba5a72ba57-101516.  Contact Gabby gby279@yahoo.com for more information.

SPRING BREAK BEGINS NEXT FRIDAY

          Friday, March 9th, is the end of 3rd quarter.  All classes will dismiss at noon.  There will be no After Care available so please pick up your students at 12:00 pm.

The following week there will be no school Monday, March 12th through Friday, March 16th.  Classes resume March 19th.

March Birthdays

God’s blessings on your birthday and throughout the year.

Elizabeth A. – March 16

Emma R. – March 21

Parent Connection February 20

My Savings Bond

          When our children were small, we tried to put away their PFDs for educational uses. Some years we put them into certificates of deposit, other years Savings bonds seemed like better deals for them. In either case, our children had money set aside for their use at a time in the future. Until they were used, these accounts continued to earn value, or interest.

          There is a “savings bond in God’s filing cabinet with my name on it. It was placed there when Jesus died and rose again. My name was put on that savings bond when the Holy Spirit created faith in my heart when I was baptized. It promises me an inheritance that nothing can ever wipe out.

          I Peter 1:3-4 “In his great mercy, God has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade – kept in heaven for you.”

          This inheritance is completely God’s gift to me. Just as we gave our children those savings bonds, so God has gifted me with something far more precious: I’m going to live in heaven with Him forever! My inheritance is certain because my Savior has paid for it completely. His blood covered the cost of my sins. His resurrection is the guarantee that my sins are forgiven, that my death is conquered, and that his heaven is opened to me. The day is coming when I will cash in that savings bond and I will have everything I need forever. All praise to God!

Volleyball Practice and Games

          Volleyball players will practice tonight and Thursday. The Tournament will be played at Lumen Christi, however, we do not have game times yet. 

Midweek Lenten Services

We are continuing our Wednesday Lenten Services this week.  Parents are encouraged to join their Faith Lutheran School students at 3:00pm to hear about “Jesus, Our Great High Priest.”  This service will last a little more than half an hour.  Students will be dismissed for the day at the end of the service.

Faith Lutheran Volleyball team has a tournament this Friday and Saturday.  To show our support for our players, we are dressing up on the following days:

 Wednesday 2/21 – Neon Day

 Thursday 2/22 – Team USA Olympics Day

 Friday 2/23 – Husky Day (Teal and Gold)

Hot Lunch

          Hot lunch will be served on Thursday, Feb. 22nd. The menu includes grilled cheese sandwich, tomato or chicken soup, fresh fruit, and dessert. The cost is $4/person. Payment is only by cash or check made out to PTF Faith Lutheran.  Permission slips need to be returned by Wednesday, Feb. 21st.  Parents are welcome to join their students for lunch. 

Chicken Fundraiser Dinner

It’s finally here!  Please join us Friday, February 23rd, when PTF will host a delicious Chicken Fundraiser Dinner to fund our new basketball goals.  It will begin at 6:00pm and will be a free will donation.  The menu will be chicken with sides of pasta, fresh vegetables, Olive Garden Salad and breadsticks.  We will have dessert and drinks as well.

We look forward to seeing you there for fellowship and a great meal.

  

Box Tops

          Please bring all Box Tops you have collected to school and place them in the collection box or give to your teacher.  The deadline for us to send them in is this Friday, February 23rd.

Health Fair

          Faith Lutheran Church and School is sponsoring a Health Fair Saturday, March 3rd from 8:00am-12:00pm to bring free health education, health screenings, and affordable blood tests to our community.  Alaska Health Fair Inc. will provide the majority of materials, supplies, medical volunteers, and other support but we need volunteers to help set up and take down, to help during the fair, and to donate food.  Setup begins on Friday afternoon March 2nd.  A list of food items needed and a signup sheet is posted in the Fellowship Hall or you can sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054ba5a72ba57-101516.  Contact Gabby gby279@yahoo.com for more information.

Parent Connection February 13

Where Do You Put Your Trust?

          Is it just me or have you noticed how sensationalized the news media have become? It seems to me that no matter what they are reporting about it gets blown all out of proportion. If there seems to be an upturn in crime, it is unprecedented, worse than ever before. If the population is being hit by the flu, or the mumps, or whatever it might be, it is almost an epidemic, or pandemic!

Then there is the weather! Before I woke up yesterday, the school district had called off school in Anchorage, UAA had cancelled classes for the day, the military bases had a delayed workday, and I heard that conditions were worse than ever before. I drove around for twenty minutes, through some subdivisions and on main roads. The snow and freezing rain predicted during the previous night hadn’t materialized anywhere that I had driven. All I could think of was that the storm hadn’t arrived yet and conditions during the day were going to deteriorate. So, I followed the crowd and called off school for the day.

The prognosticators of this world will let us down because they are not in control of all things. Paul reminds Timothy, and us, about the safe place where we can anchor our faith and life: “Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we disown Him, He will also disown us; if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.”

Spelling Bee

          Congratulations to Elijah E. for winning the K-2 Spelling Bee and to Emma R. for winning the 3-8 Spelling Bee. 

Volleyball Practice and Games

          Volleyball players will practice tonight, but there will be no games this week.

Next week’s schedule includes practice on Tuesday and Thursday and tournament games on Friday and Saturday. Unfortunately, we have not been assigned game times yet.

Christians Forward-Southeast Asia

Anne Press, the executive director of CF-SA, will be with us tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. She will be presenting information about her work with this medical mission. This group is our mission project for this portion of the school year. Parents are welcomed, and encouraged, to join us for this presentation. We will meet in the church for this presentation.

Midweek Lenten Services

          As we begin our journey together towards the cross of Christ, we commemorate Ash Wednesday, February 14th, with a service of imposition of ashes at 3:00pm for our children and parents of Faith Lutheran School.  The service will last a little more than half an hour.  Students will be dismissed for the day at the end of the service.  Please pick up your students through the main church entrance instead of the school entrance.

Hand Chimes Choir

          We will play one song during tomorrow’s 3:00pm Ash Wednesday service.

No School Reminder

All FLS teachers will be attending the Pacific Northwest District’s Teacher’s Conference this Thursday and Friday.  There will also be no school on Monday, February 19th.

          There is aftercare available for K-8 grades after school on Wednesday, however, Preschool will not have aftercare available due to the teachers’ flight times. 

Junior Choir

          We will NOT be singing this Sunday, February 18th at Shephard of the Hills Church.

YMCA Visits

          The first day back from a long weekend can be very hectic.  Grades K-8th will continue their visits to the YMCA on Tuesday, February 20th.  Don’t forget your child’s swimming attire (K-4) or gym shoes (5-8).

Spirit Week

Next week, Wednesday through Friday, we will ditch the uniforms and dress in theme to cheer on our volleyball team before their tournament!  Look for the daily themes in your Parent Connection next Tuesday. 

Chicken Fundraiser Dinner

Next Friday, February 23rd, PTF will host a Chicken Fundraiser Dinner to fund our new basketball goals.  It will begin at 6:00pm and will be a free will donation.  The menu will be chicken with sides of pasta, fresh vegetables, Olive Garden Salad and breadsticks.  We will have dessert and drinks as well.

We look forward to seeing you there for fellowship and a great meal.

Health Fair

          Faith Lutheran Church and School is sponsoring a Health Fair Saturday, March 3rd from 8:00am-12:00pm to bring free health education, health screenings, and affordable blood tests to our community. 

Alaska Health Fair Inc. will provide the majority of materials, supplies, medical volunteers, and other support but we need volunteers to help set up and take down, to help during the fair, and to donate food.  Setup begins on Friday afternoon March 2nd.  A list of food items needed and a signup sheet is posted in the Fellowship Hall or you can visit SignUpGenius at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054ba5a72ba57-101516.  Contact Gabby gby279@yahoo.com for more information.

February Birthdays

God’s blessings on your birthday and throughout the year.

Sean T. – February 28

Parent Connection February 5

Oh, For A Faith!

          People are often heard to say things like, “If only I had a faith such as that!”  But in our admiration of another Christian’s faith, we dare not overlook the fact that we have been greatly blessed by God. We, too, are a part of God’s family. As Luther reminds us, “Jesus did not only die for Peter and Paul, but also for you.” In Ephesians 1:13, we are told, “You also were included in Christ when you heard the Word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation.”

          What an honor it is to be numbered along with the great men and women of faith in the Bible. At your Baptism, God made a covenant with you alone. Jesus was born, suffered, died, and rose again for you as an individual. Certainly, God’s plan was accomplished for the salvation of all humans, but He reached down to each of us personally to save each of us personally. God’s peace is given to each of us to comfort in time of sorrow, to strengthen in time of struggle with sin, and to cheer us with His ever present love in every situation of life. May God’s peace ever live in your heart and cause you to overflow with joy!

          We may admire other Christians and look up to the Bible’s heroes and heroines of faith. But let us not forget that we have the same Savior and the same word of truth and the same faith for our salvation.  

YMCA Visits

          Grades K-8th will be visiting the YMCA tomorrow, February 6th and every following Tuesday through March 6^th.  There has been a change in the cost from what was sent home on the permission slips.  Each child will be charged $5 per visit.  You will see the fees added to your TADS account after March 6th.

Volleyball Practice and Games

          Volleyball players will practice Tuesday and Thursday this week.  Friday’s game is in Wasilla at Valley Baptist Tabernacle, 1600 N Double B St, Palmer, AK.

          Next week there will only be practice on Tuesday due to the short school week.

PTF Meeting

          We invite all parents and friends to join us this Wednesday night, February 7th at 6:00pm.  Topics for discussion include plans for the chicken dinner fundraiser, for the health fair, and for events during the remainder of the school year. 

Field Trip

Kindergarten through 8th grade will go to the Discovery Theatre for a performance of “Anatomy of the Piano” at 10:00 am Thursday, February 8th. 

We will be using a bus to transport children, therefore, we do not need drivers or chaperones.  Thank you to all who volunteered.

Spelling Bee

          We will have our Faith Lutheran Spelling Bee for grades 3-8 on Thursday, February 8th at 1:15pm.  Family and friends are welcome and encouraged to join us. 

“Mission of Love” Fundraiser

The Central Africa Medical Mission (CAMM) has helped thousands in Zambia and Malawi. This Sunday, February 11th, the Faith congregation will support CAMM with a free-will donation breakfast prior to Bible study and Sunday school.  Contact Joy Bromaghin at 336-6186 for more information.

Junior Choir

          Junior Choir will be singing during the 10:30am services on February 11th at Faith Lutheran Church.  Please be here by 10:10am.

          There has been a schedule change.  We will NOT be singing at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church on February 18.    

Mission Presentation

          On Wednesday, February 14th, Anne Press, director of the Medical Mission to Southeast Asia, will be here to tell us about the work being carried out in that area of the world.  Her presentation will be in the sanctuary at 10:30A.M.  All of you are invited to join us.

Chicken Fundraiser Dinner

On Friday, February 23rd, PTF will host a Chicken Fundraiser Dinner to fund our new basketball goals.  It will begin at 6:00pm and will be a free will donation.  The menu will be chicken with sides of pasta, fresh vegetables, Olive Garden Salad and breadsticks.  We will have dessert and drinks as well.

We look forward to seeing you there for fellowship and a great meal.

 No School

          All FLS teachers will be attending the Pacific Northwest District’s Teacher’s Conference on Thursday, February 15th and Friday, February 16th.  There will also be no school on Monday, February 19th.  Happy Five-Day Weekend!!

Tardiness/Absences

Classes start promptly at 8:30.  Students who miss the start of the school day often feel rushed and can become unfocused and stressed for the day.  Please make every effort to have your student to school on time.  This means adequate planning, especially on days with inclement weather.

If your child will be absent from school, contact the school before 8:30.  Please make every effort to collect your child’s assignments on that day so the missed assignments may be completed at home.

For planned early dismissals and absences, send a written note in advance of the absence.  Children often forget to inform their teachers or do not remember the details. 

Please make school as important to your child as work is important to you, even in the primary grades.  Tardiness and absences though sometimes necessary, are frustrating and stressful to students, teachers, and the classroom as a whole.  Frivolous excuses for tardiness and absences can teach children their educational responsibilities aren’t important and can be detrimental to the value they place on education in the future.  Please act in the best interest of your child in this regard.

February Birthdays

God’s blessings on your birthday and throughout the year.

Olivia Z. – February 6

Elijah E. – February 10

Sean T. – February 28