Faith Lutheran Church

09/05/2026

09/05/2026

God Pause for Saturday, September 5, 2026
Lord, Speak to Us, That We May Speak (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 676)
1 Lord, speak to us, that we may speak
in living echoes of your tone;
as you have sought, so let us seek
your straying children, lost and lone.

2 Oh, lead us, Lord, that we may lead
the wand'ring and the wav'ring feet;
oh, feed us, Lord, that we may feed
your hung'ring ones with manna sweet.

3 Oh, teach us, Lord, that we may teach
the precious truths which you impart;
and wing our words, that thy may reach
the hidden depths of many a heart.

4 Oh, fill us with your fullness, Lord,
until my very hearts o'erflow
in kindling thought and glowing word,
your love to tell, your praise to show.

Text: Frances R. Havergal; Music: Robert Schumann; Public Domain

Devotion
This hymn, written by Frances Ridley Havergal in 1872, was originally titled “A Worker’s Prayer.” It reflects a belief that service flows from being shaped first by God. To me, it echoes the psalmist’s desire expressed in Psalm 119. The hymn’s first three verses give voice to that desire. “Speak… lead… feed… teach.” Verse after verse asks for the same thing in different forms: before we can offer anything to anyone, we need to have first received it ourselves. We speak only as an echo of a voice we’ve heard. We lead only because we've been led first—through wandering, uncertainty, our own need to turn back. We feed only on bread that was placed in our hands by another. We teach only truths that were first taught to us. This pattern underlies everything we have been hearing and pondering this week: we can't pour out what we haven't first received.

Prayer
Lord, speak, lead, feed, and teach us, so that we might do the same for others. Amen.

Joe Jorgensen '23 M.Div.
Pastor, Christ Lutheran Church, Faribault, MN; Gol Lutheran Church, Kenyon, MN

09/05/2026

✨ The Spirit in Action! ✨

Because of your partnership in shared ministry, we’re seeing the Spirit move in powerful and meaningful ways across the Virginia Synod.

From young people gathering for the Shine Jesus retreat at Caroline Furnace, to fellowship at the Highlands Conference corn roast, congregations collecting food for Pasta with a Purpose, communities gathering around the table for worship, and celebrating a Serving Boldly Award recipient—it’s the Spirit in action!

📲 Share this graphic! Post it, include it in your newsletter, or use it in worship to celebrate what God is doing among us.

Thank you for the ways you listen, respond, and give as the Spirit leads. 💛

09/05/2026

Sunday September 6, 2026, Holy Communion

All are welcome to join us Sunday for our Holy Communion Service at Faith Lutheran Church, Fort Valley, VA at 10:00 AM.

We will broadcast the in-person worship service live over Zoom. Feel free to join us there if you cannot attend in person.

Faith Lutheran is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Sunday Worship
Time: Sep 6, 2026 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 835 2725 9174
Passcode: 909259

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09/04/2026

A great opportunity right in our own backyard!

09/04/2026

God Pause for Friday, September 4, 2026
Matthew 18:15-20 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 18:15-20 on biblegateway.com

15"If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. 16But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."

Devotion
"Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." I often hear these words spoken as a promise about worship, about Sunday mornings. But Jesus says these words right after talking about confrontation and reconciliation. He's not just promising to show up when we sing. He's promising to show up in the hard conversations, too. He promises to be present in moments where someone has to say "you hurt me" and someone else has to hear it. And that is good news, because this work is hard—reconciling, speaking truth to those who've wronged us, forgiving. We need God’s presence to turn our hearts from hurt to restoration. We need the Holy Spirit to give us the words to speak. None of this is meant to be done alone. Not the confrontation, not the forgiveness, not the restoring. Christ is in the room for all of it. Thanks be to God.

Prayer
Lord, meet us in all our gatherings—especially the hard ones. Amen.

Joe Jorgensen '23 M.Div.
Pastor, Christ Lutheran Church, Faribault, MN; Gol Lutheran Church, Kenyon, MN

09/04/2026

The Season of Creation begins today! 🌱🌎

From September 1 through October 4, Christians around the world celebrate the Season of Creation as a time to rejoice in God’s good creation, listen to the voices of creation and our neighbors, and renew our commitment to caring for the earth.

As we begin this season, may we slow down, pay attention, and remember that we are part of God’s beautiful and interconnected creation. 🌎

Let us pray: Creator God, open our eyes to the beauty of your creation and our hearts to its needs. Give us grateful hearts and courageous spirits to care for the earth and all your creatures. Bless the celebrations and all who mark this Season of Creation, that our wonder may lead us to lives of care and renewal. Amen. 💚