Parent Connection April 29

Much Ado about…Something!
Many times we humans can be accused of putting out great effort chasing after what really are trivial things, or of placing great importance on things that really have no importance. At the same time, Satan has a way of making us think that some very important things are not.
Some people of the world might wonder why believers celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus. Even in the early church, the resurrection was being questioned, or denied. The Apostle Paul was moved to write about this subject to the Corinthian congregation. He emphasized the importance of the resurrection for them and for us. He wrote, “For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”  I Corinthians 15:16-17.
 Christ’s resurrection is the foundation of our faith and hope. His resurrection declares that His death on the cross was accepted as payment in full for the sins of the whole world. Praise the Lord for the resurrection. Don’t let Satan mislead you concerning the importance of the resurrection. Our hope is built on this pillar.

Track Practice    
On Tuesday, we will have a mini-meet/practice at Hanshew Middle School (10121 Lake Otis Pkwy) beginning at 5:00pm.  We will try to be done by 7:00pm
Thursday will be a regular practice at Cuddy Midtown Park from 4:00pm-5:30pm.

Spanish Class
We will have class tonight and Wednesday from 3:45pm-4:15pm.

PTF Meeting
PTF will meet Thursday, May 2nd, at 6:00pm.

Dome Day
We will not be going to The Dome this Friday as previously noted.

FLS Invitational Track Meet
The meet will be held Saturday, May 4, at Wendler Middle School (2905 Lake Otis Pkwy).  Students and volunteers need to be on the field no later than 9:30am. Events begin at 10:00am and should be done around 1:00pm.
We still need many volunteers to help time the races and judge the jumps and throwing events. We also need people to fill out the ribbons for the awards.  Please contact Mr. Z. if you are interested in helping.

Hand Chimes
The hand chime choir will be playing during the 10:30am 8th grade Confirmation worship service at Faith this Sunday, May 5th. Choir members please be here at 10:00am to warm up.

K-8 Singing at Faith Lutheran
K-8 students will be singing during the 10:30am worship service on Sunday, May 12th.  Please have your children here by 10:10 am.

Spring Fling Performance
Grades Preschool-8th will be performing All Hands In on Friday May 17th at 6:30pm at UAA Mainstage Theater (Located in the Fine Arts Building, 3700 Alumni Drive).
Students will need to be at UAA Theater by 6:15pm.  It is imperative that all students are in attendance for the performance.  It will last about an hour.

Reading Rendezvous
Our next school promotional event is Saturday, May 18th 12:00pm – 4:00pm at Loussac Library.  We will have a booth making the same craft that we made at Kids’ Day.

Volunteers are needed to help at the booth and with the soccer games in the center area. If there are any teens available, this would be a great opportunity to get involved.  It would also show our community how awesome our teens are!!

Parent Connection April 23

Strength in Weakness?

          That sounds like a bit of a contradiction, doesn’t it? In our world, strength is an admirable quality, everyone wants to be strong; no one wants to be weak. The physically strong always have an advantage over the physically weak. The world relies on strength. Nations compete with each other for military strength. They depend on their strength of arms to feel secure and often use their strength to suppress the weak. Athletes train strenuously to develop their strength because the strong are the winners, the weak are the losers.

          “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” What could Paul possibly mean by this? This is the same writer who found “joy in suffering”; now, he finds strength in weakness. It is God’s grace on display for us! It is God’s amazing grace that makes us forget whatever human strength we may have and depend entirely upon the strength supplied by the Lord himself. The strong think they have no need of help and do not seek help. The weak know their helplessness and lay hold of the Almighty’s strength.

          Moses never pointed to his own strength when he led the children of Israel. In fact, when God told him to go back to lead, Moses could only point to his weaknesses. Moses proclaimed to the people, “The Lord with his mighty hand has brought us out of Egypt.”

          In Jesus’ work of redemption, we see Jesus submitting “in weakness” in order to show His strength over sin, death, and the devil. In the weakness of His sufferings, the strength of Christ was made perfect. That strength was displayed for us in unmistakable glory that first Easter morning.

          His strength is also displayed in our lives. The trials we endure, the sufferings we experience, and the crosses we are called upon to bear for His Name display the grace of our Savior. His grace is our strength as we look forward to our heavenly joy.  

Track Practice     

This week we will practice on Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00pm-5:30pm.

There will be a track meet on May 4th. More details will be forthcoming.

Spanish Class

          We will have class Wednesday from 3:45pm-4:15pm. 

Kindergarten Round-Up

Do you know any families looking for a Christian school for their children?  Faith could be the place they are looking for. 

          Invite them to come Thursday, April 25th, 5:00pm-7:00pm to hear more about what happens in our Kindergarten class.

PTF Meeting

          PTF will meet Thursday, May 2nd, at 6:00pm.

FLS Invitational Track Meet May 4th

We will need many volunteers to help time the races and judge the jumps and throwing events. We also need people to fill out the ribbons for the awards.  Please contact Mr. Z., if you are interested in helping.

Parent Connection April 15

Rags to Riches?

          The world is full of stories of people striking it rich. Whether it was someone finding gold in the California or Klondike gold rushes or building a computer in their garage or developing some software. Maybe it was making a fortuitous choice in the stock market at just the right time.  Whatever the situation, they enjoy their wealth and we enjoy hearing their stories and maybe dreaming about being in their place. But for every “rags to riches” story, we also find stories of those who, through some quirk of fate, have gone from “riches to rags” to having lost everything.

          You could say that Jesus lost all of His wealth.  Well, more accurately, He gave up all of His riches, the riches of heaven itself.  He could have come to earth with the richest gold crown on His head and the most expensive jewels on His fingers. He could have paraded around in glory that had never been seen on earth. Instead, He exchanged His golden crown for a crown of thorns, His throne of glory for a cross of suffering. He even took on Himself the stinking heap of my sins, the world’s sins.  “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9. 

He did this for me! He gave up everything for me! Instead of suffering in hell for my sins, I can look forward to a crown of glory at my Savior’s side—for eternity.  “We are rich for he was poor; Is not this a wonder?” Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn 64.

Track Practice     

This week we will practice on Tuesday from 4:00pm-5:30pm and Thursday from 4:00pm-5:00pm due to the Maundy Thursday Service.  Depending on traffic, students should be back at Faith around 5:15pm Thursday. 

Spanish Class

          We will have class tonight and Wednesday from 3:45pm-4:15pm. 

April Hot Lunch

          Hot Lunch is on Thursday.  The menu for this month is sloppy joes, carrots and celery, fruit, and dessert.

The cost is $4.00 cash or check made out to PTF Faith Lutheran. Please return the attached form and money by Wednesday.  Parents are welcome to join their students for lunch.

Maundy Thursday Seder Meal

          On Maundy Thursday, April 18th, at 6:00pm, we invite you to share a special meal to remember the passion history of our Lord called a “Seder Meal.”  This meal is a commemoration of the Old Testament Passover Feast to honor our Passover Lamb, the Lord Jesus, who was offered as our sacrifice for sins once for all.

We’d love to have you here!  If you’re able to join us, please call or text Pastor Chris (907-792-9788) to let him know how many people you will be bringing.

No School

          There is no school or preschool on Friday, April 19th (Good Friday) or Monday, April 22nd for the Easter holiday. Classes resume on Tuesday, April 23rd.

Kids’ Day at the Dena’ina

          We still need volunteers to help from 12:00pm to 4:00pm at our booth on Saturday, April 20th.  To sign-up, go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A44A5A723A20-kids

Easter Celebrations

          Our family here at Faith Lutheran Church would be honored if you would make plans to join us to celebrate Easter. 

Maundy Thursday Seder Meal: 6:00pm

Good Friday Worship Service: 6:30pm

Easter Sunday:

Early worship service at 8:00am. 

Hymn Sing at 9:15am

Late worship service at 10:30am

Breakfast will be served between and after services.

Kindergarten Round-Up

Do you know any families looking for a Christian school for their children?  Faith could be the place they are looking for. 

          Invite them to come Thursday, April 25th, 5:00pm-7:00pm to hear more about what happens in our Kindergarten class.

FLS Invitational Track Meet May 4th

We will need many volunteers to help time the races and judge the jumps and throwing events. We also need people to fill out the ribbons for the awards.  Please contact Mr. Z. if you are interested in helping.

Open Enrollment

Enrollment for the 2019/2020 school year is currently in progress.  Please enroll your student(s) who will be returning to Faith next year using the link in the email you received from TADS. 

If you have any questions, please contact the office.

April Birthdays

Caroline K. – April 21

Parent Connection April 8

More Permanent than Mountains

          One of the key features of Alaska is the mountains. People come from all over the world to climb, hike, ski, photograph, and appreciate the mountains we have the privilege of viewing every morning when we awake. We boast about the massive white peak named Denali. This highest mountain north of the Andes was there long before the explorers found and named it. It will be there long after we are gone.

We think of mountains as being very permanent, but they will not be here forever. An earthquake could flatten Denali to sea level, or even sink it in Cook Inlet. However, there is one thing that will last forever. Isaiah says, “‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord.” Isaiah 54:10.

God’s love for us is “unfailing”, it cannot be destroyed. That love shines most brightly on another mountain – the one called Golgotha. It was on that hill that God’s Son climbed the steepest mountain in the world while carrying the massive load of the world’s sin. He carried that awful load all the way into hell’s furor. He conquered that mountain and victoriously planted His flag of salvation in Joseph’s garden. Because He completed His work, we sinners now have peace with God. God is our Father, we are His children, heaven is our home. His love for us, unshakable in this world and stretching into the next, reassures us in every time of trouble. 

Indoor Soccer

Congratulations, Huskies, for winning second place in the tournament!  We are very proud of you!!

Track Practice     

We will begin practicing on Thursday, April 11th, at Cuddy Midtown Park at the skating oval between 4:00pm-5:30pm. Children may be picked up at the park at 5:30pm or at school between 5:45pm and 6:00pm depending on traffic.

Please return permission slips by Thursday, April 11th.

Spanish Class

          We will have class tonight and Wednesday from 3:45pm-4:15pm. 

Midweek Lenten Services

          Our last midweek Lenten worship service is Wednesday at 3:00pm and 6:30pm.   

Easter for Families

Bring your whole family to Faith for some Easter fun! On Saturday, April 13th, families are invited from 9:00am-12:00pm for fun Easter activities. Come and hear the Easter story, dye eggs, make crafts, play games, and go on an Easter egg hunt!

Jr. Choir Sings

          Junior choir will sing and hand chimes will play at Peace in Eagle River on Sunday, April 14th, during the 10:30 am service.  Please be there by 10:10am. 

If you need a ride to the church, please speak with Miss Kruger or contact her at 928-812-0311 or missheidikruger@gmail.com.

April Hot Lunch

          Hot Lunch will be on Thursday, April 18th.  The menu for this month is sloppy joes, carrots and celery, fruit, and dessert. The cost is $4.00 cash or check made out to PTF Faith Lutheran. Please return the attached form and money by Friday.  Parents are welcome to join their students for lunch.

No School

          There is no school or preschool on Friday, April 19th (Good Friday) and Monday, April 22nd for the Easter holiday. Classes resume on Tuesday, April 23rd.

Kids’ Day at the Dena’ina

          We will be hosting a booth at Kids’ Day on Saturday, April 20th.  The event runs from 10:00am – 4:00pm, and highlights programs for children in and around Anchorage.  We are in urgent need for volunteers to help throughout the day.  If you can spare two hours, that would be awesome!  Please sign-up to help kids make maracas at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A44A5A723A20-kids

Easter Celebrations

          Our family here at Faith Lutheran Church would be honored if you would make plans to join us to celebrate Easter. 

Maundy Thursday Seder Meal: 6:00pm

Good Friday Worship Service: 6:30pm

Easter Sunday:

Early worship service at 8:00am. 

Hymn Sing at 9:15am

Late worship service at 10:30am

Breakfast will be served all morning.

Free Piano

          Are you in the market for a free piano? All you’ll have to do is move it and have it tuned on your own.  Please see Mrs. Z for more details. 

Open Enrollment

Enrollment for the 2019/2020 school year is currently in progress.  Please enroll your student(s) who will be returning to Faith next year using the link in the email you received from TADS. 

If you have any questions, please contact the office.

April Birthdays

Caroline K. – April 21

Parent Connection April 1

Basking in the Sonshine

          I’m sure that you have noticed how the days have been starting earlier and staying later into the evening. The mornings have been a little nippy but the air warms up pretty quickly once the sun comes up over the mountains. It is hard not to find a reason to be out in the sun to soak in the warmth and enjoy the vitamin D produced when the sunshine hits your skin. We crave the warmth through the long dreary, dark winter. We wish that we could bottle it up and bring it out on a particularly gloomy day.

          We need the light in our life, too. This is a world of gloom and darkness. We cannot be our own light, we cannot pierce the gloom and darkness of a light that has been infected with sin. We need to be engulfed in God’s love, in His light, in order for us to see through the darkness. God’s love shines on us when we know His forgiveness for our sins. His “Sonshine” follows us around like a follow spot in a stage production, the spotlight that follows a performer wherever he or she goes on the stage. God wants us to know that His Love is ours to keep. The weather outside can change, but through His Spirit, we can stay in the Light forever.

          “The true light that gives light to every person was coming into the world.” John 1:9

Indoor Soccer

          This week we will practice on Tuesday and Thursday 4:00pm-5:30pm at APU.    

The tournament game on Friday is scheduled for 4:00pm vs. Lumen Christi at Lumen Christi. 

Spirit Week

          Let’s show our Huskies soccer team our support for their tournament this weekend.  Starting Tuesday, April 2, we are wearing different outfits each day:

Tacky Tourist Tuesday

Neon Wednesday

Backward Thursday

School Colors Friday

If you don’t want to participate, please wear your school uniform. 

Spanish Class

          We will have class tonight and Wednesday from 3:45pm-4:15pm. 

Midweek Lenten Services

          Midweek worship services continue this Wednesday, April 3rd at 3:00pm and at 6:30pm.  These services will last a little more than half an hour.

PTF Meeting

          PTF will meet this Thursday, April 4th at 6:00pm.

Heath Fair

Faith Lutheran Church and School is sponsoring a Health Fair this Saturday, April 6th, 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 most of the materials, supplies, medical volunteers, and core support but we need volunteers to help set up and take down, and donate food. Set up will be Friday, April 5th, at 4:00pm.

          A signup sheet is in the Fellowship Hall or you can contact Gabby Bauer at gyb279@yahoo.com or 907-223-8449.

Singing in Church

          Sunday, April 7th, the preschool and kindergarten students will be singing in church.  Please be sure to have your child here by 10:15am.  The service begins at 10:30am.

Jr. Choir Sings

          Junior choir will sing and hand chimes will play at Peace in Eagle River on Sunday, April 14th, during the 10:30 am service.  Please be there by 10:10am.

          If you need a ride to the church, please speak with Miss Krueger or contact her at 928-812-0311 or missheidikruger@gmail.com.

No School

          There is no school or preschool on Friday, April 19th (Good Friday) and Monday, April 22nd for the Easter holiday. Classes resume on Tuesday, April 23rd.

Kids’ Day at the Dena’ina

          We will be hosting a booth at Kids’ Day on Saturday, April 20th.  The event runs from 10:00am – 4:00pm, and highlights programs for children in and around Anchorage.  We need volunteers to help throughout the day. Please sign-up to help kids make maracas at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A44A5A723A20-kids

Easter Celebrations

          Our family here at Faith Lutheran Church would be honored if you would make plans to join us to celebrate Easter. 

Maundy Thursday Seder Meal: 6:00pm

Good Friday Worship Service: 6:30pm

Easter Sunday:

Early worship service at 8:00am. 

Hymn Sing at 9:15am

Late worship service at 10:30am

Breakfast will be served all morning.

Free Piano

          Are you in the market for a free piano? All you’ll have to do is move it and have it tuned on your own.  Please see Mrs. Z for more details. 

Open Enrollment

Enrollment for the 2019/2020 school year is currently in progress.  Please enroll your student(s) who will be returning to Faith next year using the link in the email you received from TADS. 

If you have any questions, please contact the office.

April Birthdays

Caroline K. – April 21

Parent Connection March 25

God’s Blank Check

          Charles Steinmetz had a pretty sweet arrangement with his sponsors. Charles was a great electrical engineer and inventor during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. He never received a fixed salary from those who sponsored his work. Instead, from time to time, his backers would give him a book of blank checks. When a need arose, whether great or small, all Steinmetz had to do was fill in the amount on the check, sign his name as the payee, and present it to the bank.

          Not too bad an arrangement! It would surely help at bill-paying time if you never had to worry about the balance in the account.

However, there were limits to this arrangement. The backers could have run out of money, or Charles could have written a check so large that the account couldn’t pay what he asked. Certainly, his sponsors would have been helpless in keeping him from getting sick. They couldn’t give him the strength, knowledge, and ability he needed to do his work.

We have such an arrangement with God, only it is infinitely better. God provides for the needs of all people. From Him came everything in the universe. From Him comes all we need for our bodies. If God were to withdraw his providence for even one second, we would have nothing and we could not live.

More importantly, through Him alone come all of our spiritual blessings. In a sense, God has given us a blank check, made out to us, and signed in Jesus’s blood. Our greatest need is our problem of sin. Our sin has separated us from our God, but “the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” I John 1:7. We have been reconciled and that makes all the difference in the world.

Whenever we have a need, we can take that need to our Father knowing that He will lovingly fulfill that need for us in the way He knows is best.

Indoor Soccer

          We will practice today 4:30pm-6:00pm and Thursday 3:30pm-4:45pm at The Center.  The games Friday will be played at Lumen Christi between 3:00pm and 6:00 or 7:00pm.  Exact times will be announced later this week.

Spanish Class

          We will have class tonight and Wednesday from 3:45pm-4:15pm. 

Midweek Lenten Services

          Midweek worship services continue this Wednesday, March 27th at 3:00pm and at 6:30pm.  These services will last a little more than half an hour.

Hot Lunch

Hot lunch will be served this Thursday March 28th.  The menu for this month is Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza, Salad, Fruit, and Dessert.  Please return the sheet indicating your pizza choice to your child’s teacher by Tuesday, March 26th, in order to assure we have enough pizza for everyone.

Due to Spring Break and a super busy March, we are late sending out hot lunch sheets.  We apologize for the late notice.  If you are unable to send payment ($4.+00 cash or check made out to PTF) with your child by tomorrow, please try to send it by this Friday, March 29th.

Parent Meeting

          Come this Thursday night, March 28th, at 6:30pm for an open forum to discuss the future of our school.  Please bring all comments, questions, and concerns to discuss with us. 

Science Fair

          This is not a required event, but if you are interested we encourage all students in grades K-8 to participate in the 2019 Alaska Science and Engineering Fair happening March 29th-31st.  If you'd like more details, please contact the office.

           

Heath Fair

Faith Lutheran Church and School is sponsoring a Health Fair Saturday, April 6th, 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 most of the materials, supplies, medical volunteers, and core support but we need volunteers to help set up and take down, and donate food. Set up will be Friday, April 5th, at 4:00pm.

          A signup sheet is in the Fellowship Hall or you can contact Gabby Bauer at gyb279@yahoo.com or 907-223-8449.

Free Piano

          Are you in the market for a free piano? All you’ll have to do is move it and have it tuned on your own.  Please see Mrs. Z for more details. 

March Birthdays

Connor S. – March 25

Parent Connection March 17

Only God Knows

There are times in our lives when we are left with questions, questions like ‘How?’ and ‘Why?’ It seems that no matter where we turn for answers, those answers are less than satisfactory. We don’t like those times of trials and tribulations and turmoil. We find our family at Faith Lutheran School in one of those times.

The storms of life can be fierce and we find ourselves like a sailboat in the ocean, being battered by the wind and waves. Terrifying tempests seem bent on washing us up on the rocky beach and breaking us to pieces like a towering tsunami. By God’s grace we are safely and securely anchored in Him.  The storms of life will still come but we have the assurance that our anchor will hold and keep us safe. There is no power on earth and no power in hell that can tear us away from our God. No matter what happens, we know that our loving God is by our side, we are never alone.

And those questions, when they come and the answers aren’t satisfactory for our minds or hearts, we may have to be content with ‘Only God knows’. And that is enough. When we know that God loves us dearly – which He has shown us by giving His own Son to save us – then it is enough for us to know that God knows the ‘How’s’ and the ‘Why’s’. It is enough to trust His promise that everything He allows is for our eternal good. May that knowledge be your comfort, your anchor. God does know.

Indoor Soccer

          We will practice today 4:30pm-6:00pm and Thursday 3:30pm-4:45pm at The Center.  The games Friday will be played at Lumen Christi between 3:00pm and 6:00 or 7:00pm.  Exact times will be announced later this week.

Spanish Class

          We will have class tonight and Wednesday from 3:45pm-4:15pm. 

How to Talk About…

          We invite parents of Faith Lutheran School and Preschool to join us tonight, March 18th, at 6:00pm or on Tuesday, March 19th, at 4:00pm at Faith for a special meeting as a school family.  Pastor and Police Chaplain Fred Voss will facilitate a discussion to help our families cope with the loss our hearts sustained. 

Midweek Lenten Services

          Midweek worship services continue this Wednesday, March 20th.  We will have one service beginning at 3:00pm to close out the school day and an identical service at 6:30pm.  These services will last a little more than half an hour.

          If you are unable to worship with us at 3:00pm, your student will meet you out front at the end of the service.

AK Junior Theater

The students in grades K-8 are going to the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts to watch a performance of “Moon Mouse: A Space Odyssey” on Thursday, March 21st at 10:00am.  We plan to leave school at 9:15am.

          We have two extra tickets for the performance.  If anyone would like to go along as a chaperone, please contact Mrs. Z.

Report Cards

          Report cards will be sent home on Friday, March 22nd.  Please go over them with your child then sign and return the envelope.  If there are any questions about the report, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher.

Culture Fair & Spaghetti Dinner

It’s show time!  Our Spaghetti Dinner and Culture Fair: A Look into the World Missions of the WELS is this Saturday, March 23rd at 5:00pm.  Please bring projects to your student's classroom by Thursday, March 21st.

If you are able to help with preparing the food or clean up afterwards, please sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/ 20F0A44A5A723A20-spaghetti

Jr. Choir Sings

          Junior choir will sing at Shepherd of the Hills this Sunday, March 24th, during the 10:30 am service.  Please be there by 10:10am.

Chapel Mission Offerings

          Our mission offerings for the second semester of the school year will be donated to WELS mission work in Nigeria.  During third quarter, we collected $390.34. Thank you to everyone who donated!

There are only nine weeks of school left, who thinks we can double that amount?

Heath Fair

Faith Lutheran Church and School is sponsoring a Health Fair Saturday, April 6th, 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 most of the materials, supplies, medical volunteers, and core support but we need volunteers to help set up and take down, donate food, and loan tables of any size. Set up will be Friday, April 5th, at 4:00pm.

          A signup sheet is in the Fellowship Hall or you can contact Gabby Bauer at gyb279@yahoo.com or 907-223-8449.

March Birthdays

Blossom M. – March 21

Emma R. – March 21

Lexi K. – March 22

Levi P. – March 22

Pastor Chris – March 23

Connor S. – March 25