From the Senior Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ:

Thanksgiving…just another day off from work for many…but nothing less than a way of life for people of Faith!

As people of Faith, we give thanks for the freedom that is ours in this good land to worship God without fear of persecution or imprisonment.

As people of Faith, we give thanks for the privilege of bearing witness to the Lord of Life through the mission of our congregation which is global in scope.

As people of Faith, we give thanks for the hundreds of believers among us who serve Christ as Sunday School Teachers, Small Group Leaders, Stephen Ministers, Ministry Team Leaders, Worship Support Ministers, Office Volunteers, Church Councilors, Musicians…and all the other important areas of service.

As people of Faith, we give thanks for our dedicated staff of men and women who do their part each day…and many evenings…as servant leaders in our congregation.

As people of Faith, you are invited to worship the living God who is worthy of our praise and thanksgiving at 7:00 pm on Wednesday evening, November 22.

Some members of our congregation have never participated in our “Thanksgiving Eve” worship.

If you are one of them, then won’t you prayerfully consider coming to this year’s service?

Peace, joy and strength in the Lord,

Dr. Bruce Wilder

November 2017

Pastoral Staff

SENIOR PASTOR Dr. Bruce Wilder

ASSOCIATE PASTORS

Pr. Mike Easton Pr. Jerry Watts Pr. Carol Clark Pr. Nico Ashe

Director of Operations Amber R. Otero

Church Council Philip Mayo, President

Joel Edwards, VP Daniel Gahan Jane Hamill Arthur Humphries Karen Kainer Heather Martin Chrissy Pease Trudi Rexroth Alex Zimmerman

Faith Alive Editor Katarina Nagy

Our Mission Our Mission is to lead people to Christ, incorporating them into the life of the church, and equipping one another for effective Christian living.

Our Vision We are a vital, dynamic Christ-centered church reaching out to others and to one another in His name. Among us God is worshipped and glorified, faith is nurtured, and the abundant life is empowered.

Births * Madison Polly Rogers, daughter of Josh & Missi Rogers, and

granddaughter of Ken Rogers - October 4 * Mallory Jane Velasquez, daughter of Nicholas & Carrie Velasquez, and granddaughter of Tom & Sherry Wubbels - October 10

Baptisms * Madison Polly Rogers, daughter of Josh & Missi Rogers, and granddaughter of Ken Rogers - October 15

Weddings * William Thurow & Victoria Anderson - September 23

Deaths † Jimmy Porter - September 23 † Delano Surdahl - September 23 † Marla Kist’s mother, Doris Mortensen - September 28

† Bob Sedillo’s sister, Priscilla Pyson - October 8

MONTHLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Month of September

Year-To-Date as of 09/30/17

Year-To-Date Comparison of Offerings

Offerings

$ 121,344

$ 1,205,557

Budget

$ 161,113

$ 1,450,017

($ 244,460)

Expenses

$ 157,493

$ 1,318,812

($ 113,255)

PASTORS’ GREETINGS Christians often ask, “How do I know that God answers prayer?” Sometimes there is a presupposition in this question. It’s the idea that prayer is about asking God to do things for us, and then He delivers what we ask for. Prayer is far richer and more complex than sending up a laundry list of wants to God.

Many of you are familiar with the ACTS model for prayer. Each of the letters reminds us of an important aspect of prayer, and a proper order for prayer. We begin our prayers with ADORATION, recognizing the Lord is the Almighty and we are but dust. When we start out praising God, honoring him, trusting in His will, then we are getting our minds in a proper place to come into His presence and have a conversation with Him. Next we CONFESS. Because we are sinful and unclean, we need to get these obstacles out of the way. We want to come before Him repentant for our sin and then rejoicing in His forgiveness. And so next we give THANKS to God. We all have plenty to be thankful for, right? We recognize that all the good things we enjoy are gifts from him.

By the time we’ve glorified God, confessed and given thanks, we are in a position that helps us recognize how humble we are and how great he is. Only then – and with this understanding – do we bring our requests to him in prayer. SUPPLICATION is this asking

of God for help, and we don’t just list what we each want and need. We pray for one another, for the needs of the world and the church, for our friends and family.

When we approach the Lord in prayer, we do so knowing that he has called us friend. But we also do so with reverence, because He is Lord – and we are miserable sinners. Unfortunately, for most of us our prayers consist of a kind of “to do” list. It’s almost like what children do with Santa Claus. When you pray are you instructing God? Do your prayers provide the solutions to all your troubles? Are you putting your wisdom in the lap of the Almighty, and demanding that He follow your instructions?

Have you prayed, but then did not see God deliver on the requests made? Has this caused doubt because the scripture clearly says, “Ask. Seek.” This brings us to another pre-supposition. That the only answer God gives to prayer is “yes”. Guess what? He often says, “no” or “wait”. “Wait” is a particularly difficult answer for us. First of all, it may look like the answer was “no.” We cannot see the future or the plan of God. However, we trust that He knows best in these matters. Draw near in prayer today, rejoicing in the blessing of having this relationship with Him.

Pr. Carol

Pr. Carol Clark

GENERAL NEWS

Prayer Chain Volunteers for this ministry respond to all prayer requests by praying for the names they receive. All names are confidential unless you request the name be published in the “Prayer Needs” list each week. To notify us of a prayer need or to become a Prayer Chain member, please contact Barbara Peterson at 898-6093 or Cheryl Dix at 280-2101 or 771-2014, or call the church office at 296-0762.

Hospital and Home Visits Our Pastors make regular and faithful visits to our hospitalized members and those in rehabilitation centers. Communion is also brought to those who are homebound and physically unable to join us for worship. Remember to contact the church office im-mediately when you or a family member are in need of this pastoral care ministry. Providing the location and room number is essential given today’s confidentiality laws known as HIPAA. Thank you for your understanding and assistance!

In my short article in last month's Faith Alive, I mentioned the gift of a special bamboo fishing rod. For this issue I would also like to mention an anonymous gift I received this past summer. It appeared in my mailbox and it was something that I had always thought about purchasing when I was taking courses in Hebrew at the Catholic University of America many years ago. This item was 11 x 8 x 2 inches in size and weighed about six pounds and it barely fit into my mail slot. Can you guess what it was?

I am now in possession of a Koehler-Baumgartner Hebrew lexicon (Lexicon in Veteris Testamenti Libros) published in 1958 by E. J. Brill. It is a classic reference work and it has already encouraged me to brush up on my biblical Hebrew. I may even be inspired to offer an introductory course in classical Hebrew prose just so I can show off this fine volume. And, if not that course, I promise that I will make an effort to preach more sermons from the Old Testament.

To the generous individual who gifted me with book, I say "Thank you!" I will much enjoy using this excellent research tool. And I would like very much to thank you in person and inquire as to how you came to have this well preserved copy. So don't be shy. Step forward, own up to your secret passion for Semitic languages, and let this grateful pastor say thanks in the flesh.

Pr. Mike

Pr. Mike Easton

I am so glad for Fall; my favorite season, with apple cider and fires in the fireplace. Our garden is winding down; but we had our greatest harvest ever of peaches and grapes. Maybe it was the hot Summer, perhaps 11 years of composting finally paid off. But, in this harvest season, we are thankful for seeds planted years ago that are only now bearing delicious fruit.

Of course, in the church, we think of the harvest and our hearts ponder the infinite ways we have been blessed. We are blessed by God and the ongoing gift of God’s Word. Our church is shaped by the hard work and dedication of all who labored faithfully before us through persecutions, the reformation, missions, translating, bible scholarship, etc. Quite a harvest.

Sometimes, when we think we our own lives and ministry, we wonder about the seeds we’re sowing. We don’t

always see the harvest. We give because we have a need to give. We serve because we have a need to serve. But we don’t always see the results of our labors in the garden.

This year, I discovered the personal stories on the web from kids who received shoeboxes through Operation Christmas Child. These are a treasure trove of “harvest stories.” If you have ever been underwhelmed by your capacity to make a difference in someone’s life, find these stories on the web. You will read how chapstick, or a wash cloth, a yo-yo, or dental floss was indeed “the love of God” for a child. Be touched and humbled by these beautiful stories.

This Fall, let your family gather together and plant some seeds of hope by filling a shoebox for a child. Share generously from your own wealth. Share the word of God. Plant the seed of faith for someone you never met and will likely never know. But share from your own abundant harvest of the richness of God’s abundant love, and the blessings of the free gift of salvation you are offered in Christ.

Pr. Nico

Pr. Nico Ashe

Lutheran Swedish theologian Gustaf Wingren is considered the preeminent scholar on Martin Luther’s teaching on theology of Vocation. Vocation, Wingren will remind us, is the place where Christians bear the cross of Christ in the World. As the baptized people of God we are given the calling and authority to carry the Gospel to every

corner of our daily lives. This calling includes our role in the family, our profession, as students, how we volunteer, and every other way we live in this world. By bearing Christ in each of these callings the Holy Spirit is at work bringing God’s kingdom come from heaven to earth.

When we gather as the people of God in worship, Sunday School, youth retreats, or programs we are inviting the Holy Spirit and our fellow sisters and brothers in Christ to equip and stir us to live out our calling in all of these places. When we invite you to the youth retreats, programs, and opportunities you see pictured below, it is an invitation to be equipped to live out our faith not just when we are together but most especially when we are sent out in the world of our daily lives to be the presence of Christ to the world around us. Consider this an

invitation to be part of this Holy calling!

Pr. Jerry

Pr. Jerry Watts

PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY

Kelly Alexander

Dominic Anderson

William Berlin

John Bohnhoff

Daniel Brinson

Jeremiah Brinson

Brandi Brown

James Butcher

Rebecca Castillo

Chad Craner

Bria Day

Jessica Dow

Gregg Espelien

Timothy Everhard

William Fink

Russ Graef

James Hansen

W. Allen Henderson

Chris Hinnerichs

Ryan Loyd

Phillip Levison

Matthew Lueders

Gaetano Mangano

Daniel Miranda

Faun O’Brien

Ryan O’Brien

Anthony Pivirotto

Carl Powell

Jason F. Ruetschilling

Sean Ryan

William Werth

Craig Wheeler

Canyon Wilder

Patrick Winkels

New addition

MILITARY SUPPORT MINISTRY TEAM

Military Support Ministry Team

Mission Statement To support our men and women of the United States Military through sharing the word of

God and encouraging their morale and welfare.

Dear Members of Faith Lutheran Church, On behalf of the Board of Directors of Friends of Madagascar Mission, I wish to express our thanks for your gift of $700: $600 to support evangelist Randriamanana Tovohery so he will be able to share the Gospel with the people of Madagascar, and $100 to send him to the annual Evangelist Training Event. We continue to be on the Frontlines of Mission so your gifts may make a difference in God’s kingdom! Peace in Christ,

The Rev. David P. Lerseth, President

To whom It May Concern: As of this November, I am now back in the states. I would like to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your outstanding generosity. You have gone above and beyond to help Soldiers in a combat zone. Your care packages were a bright spot, and created many smiles, for me and for my co-workers. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. God bless you all, and have a Hooah day. Thanks again!

SSG Gregg M. Espelien

Dear Faith Lutheran Church, Thank you for the importance you put on education and for putting that belief into action by supporting children and families through Common Hope in Guatemala. Your annual gift of $720 in support of María and María Fernanda play an important role in their success, providing school supplies, after school programs, and sometimes even a bag of food to help the family get through a tough time. Thank you for being part of changing precious lives! Sincerely,

Rachel Langefels, Sponsorship Operations Assistant

Dear Friends, Thank you for your recent $1,100 gift to Samaritan’s Purse. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria have left tens of thousands of people hurting and devastated. In Texas and Florida, Samaritan’s Purse is responding with an army of volunteers – true Good Samaritans – working hard to help families get back into their homes. We are airlifting tons of emergency supplies to islands in the Caribbean to provide survivors with water, food, shelter, and other life-saving assistance. At the same time, we are continuing our work around the world to help save lives, relieve suffering, and share the hope we have in Jesus Christ. Please join us in prayer, lifting up those who are suffering in the aftermath of these storms. Thank you again and may God bless you. Sincerely,

Franklin Graham

Dear Dr. Wilder and Members of Faith, Thank you for your consistent dedication to Meals on Wheels of Albuquerque. We are so honored that you have remained steadfast in your ongoing commitment to our clients. Please know that your generosity provides the foundation for the

advancement of our mission: Nourishing bodies and spirits with balanced meals and friendship. Sincerely,

Shauna Frost, Executive Director

Dear Faith, We appreciate your prayers for our congregation. Thank you for thinking of us, and more importantly, for carrying our ministry before God’s throne. May God continue to empower your work for and in His kingdom.

Living Word Lutheran Church, Milbank, SD

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Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID Albuquerque, NM

Permit No. 655

FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH 10,000 Spain Rd NE Albuquerque, NM 87111

Phone: 505-296-0762 Fax: 505-291-5576 Email: faith@faithabq.org Website: www.faithabq.org

Children of Faith School www.cofschool.com

1 Jamison Calvert, Loren Cox, Susan Ellenwood, Diana Haven, Matt

Meyer, Campbell Roberts, Nathan Roberts, Megan Rogers

2 Patricia Forshaw, Jeremy Oswald,

Lois Stueber 3 J.R. Arnold, Paula Martin

4 Harper Kist, Katie Murray, Lori Steward, Clardel Walker

5 Darlene Garmus, Bryn Orell 6 Kevin Mech, Liz Trainor

7 Marleta Anderson, Matt Bohnhoff, Kent Childs, Megan Eickman,

Stephanie Goodrich

8 Jim Cumiford, Ian Hall, Pam Limke, Keith Miller, Rob Pease

9 William Cottle, Marie Hall, Scott Lasher, Sarit Mall, Jacob Oswald

10 David Abbott, Alex Ellenwood, Tom Kirby, Brandi Lords, Priscilla Rarrick,

Liberty Watts

11 Ann Bolton, Doris Condon, John Hausermann, Kathy Hedemann, Iris

Kelly, Grace Meindl, Zander Poltzer, Jon Schwenke, Bonnie Smith

12 Nancy Thurow, James Raquet

13 Kristen Bauer, Matt Burger, Eric Jorgensen

14 Kaye Myers 15 Stephanie Fellows, Emily Hamill,

Steven Morelock 16 Alan Brackett, Linda Hansen, Erica

Rodriguez 17 Susan Craycraft

18 Logan Ekman, Arthur Humphries,

Kenneth Lachmann, Kirsten Wilder 19 Dylan Blomker, Gavin Hertrich,

Linda Oberdorfer, Diane Sedillo 20 Sue Dederman, Derek Etzcorn,

Janice Gale, Hudson Parker, Jayson Wintermute-Covel

21 Katie Limke, Ashley Walker, Naomi Walker

22 Jim Hamill, Janiece Mattison, Gayle Puls

23 Heidi Beakley, Ann Greenberg, Joyce

Thom 24 Brian Cochran, Meghan Frankland,

William Thurow 25 Tony Sill

26 Sean Ellenwood, Sandra Johnson, Jeffrey Saracsan, Christy Strachan

27 Ethan Chesser, Amy Gee, Marianne Lasher

28 Howard Ahlness, Valerie Hart,

Meghan Rodriguez, Peggy Williams 29 Joshua Burns, Aaron Frankland,

Gina Meyer, Diane Wilder 30 Pr. Nico Ashe, Terry Hinnerichs,

Isabel Miranda

Mailing Address

Thank the Lord for:

Current Resident or...