Faith Alive!

News for you from Faith-La Fe Lutheran Church
January 1, 2026

Worship News

This Sunday’s Readings
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1,5,10-13
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12

January Birthdays

Jan 3 - Christopher Knorr
Jan 4 - Patsy Perez
Jan 6 - Danielle Bowen-Weiszmann
Jan 6 - Silvia Barron
Jan 9 - Teo Alvarez
Jan 12 - Lucille Flaaten
Jan 12 - Scott Palluck
Jan 17 - Daniel Rinde
Jan 19 - Jessica Velasquez
Jan 23 Sedric perkins Jr
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Jan 23 - Gail Turner
Jan 30- Carly Chamberlain

“Stepping Into the New Year With Open Eyes and Steady Faith”

Dear people of Faith-La Fe,

As we come to the end of the year and begin a new one, it is natural to pause and look back before we look ahead. This past year held joy and gratitude, but it also held moments that were hard, unsettling, and unexpected. As a community, we did not walk through it untouched. We showed up for one another in worship, in service, in grief, and in hope. We stayed present, even when things felt fragile.

One of those moments came during worship last Sunday. An individual entered the sanctuary in a way that caused concern and fear for some who were present. Ushers and leaders quickly recognized that this was not an ordinary situation. Out of concern for the safety of the congregation, the police were called, and the individual was escorted out of the sanctuary. While no one was physically harmed, the experience was understandably unsettling.

Not everyone present felt the same way about the police being called. That difference of perspective matters and deserves to be acknowledged. At the same time, I want to be clear that the ushers acted in good faith, using their best judgment in a moment when they believed safety could be at risk. Their decision was rooted in care for the people gathered for worship.

Fear in moments like this is not imagined. It is real. And it is felt most deeply by those who already live with vulnerability every day. Because we follow Jesus, we cannot be naive about the world we live in. Our congregation includes women, children, LGBTQ people, immigrants, people of color, and a woman pastor. Not everyone outside these walls shares our commitment to safety, dignity, and welcome for all.

We will not let fear lead this church. We also will not ignore reality.

As we move into the new year, leadership is beginning thoughtful conversations about how we can be more attentive to safety during worship and church gatherings. This work is in early stages and will be guided by our values, not by panic or reaction. Safety is not only a leadership responsibility. It is a shared commitment to looking out for one another. In the coming weeks, we will invite able and willing members to help us think through next steps and support this work.

This past year reminded us how fragile life can feel and how much it matters to be a community that pays attention to one another. It also reminded us that God does not wait for things to settle down before showing up. God meets us in real life, in uncertainty, in moments that shake us.

As we step into the new year, we do so with open eyes and steady faith. We look ahead knowing this year will bring new challenges and new possibilities. There are many projects already in the pipeline, and they will only come to life through the participation of this community. Each of you has time, energy, and talents that matter, and this church needs them. Whether through serving, leading, supporting, or simply showing up, your presence makes a difference. We move forward together, trusting that God is already present in the year ahead.

Happy New Year to each of you! I pray this year brings you joy, renewed hope, and countless moments of connection and love, and brings us closer together as a community, sharing hope, love, and purpose in everything we do.

Grace and peace,
Pastora Veronica Alvarez

!Ojo!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, January 25, 2026 11:15AM

Our annual congregation meeting will take place on Sunday, January 25. At this meeting, the proposed 2025 budget for our congregation will be presented and voted on, we’ll elect persons to serve on the Congregation Council, and we’ll hear annual reports. As is the case on Sundays when there’s a congregational meeting, there will be one bi-lingual liturgy that day beginning at 10:00 am with the congregational meeting beginning about 11:15.

A potluck luncheon will follow the meeting in the parish hall. Please bring a dish to pass that is ready to serve. We encourage your presence on this important annual occasion in the life of our congregation.

BIBLE STUDY SCHEDULE UPDATE

Bible studies occur on Wednesdays at 10:30am and 6:00pm in the office conference room or via Zoom. Contact Pastor Linman for additional details.

SAVE THE DATES:

February 7th: Save the date & save your stuff for our next rummage sale

A NOTE FROM OUR NOMINATING COMMEETTEE

As part of the annual congregation meeting in January, elections for Church Council will take place. One of the proposed changes to the constitution of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church that will be voted on at that meeting relates to the size of the Church Council. The proposed constitution change specifies that the Council will be made up of seven members and the pastor(s).

The terms for the seven members remain 3 years and will be staggered with 2 to 3 members elected annually. Of the current members of Council, 5 members have a year or two years remaining on their terms as per their election year. Those Congregation members with continuing terms are Jeff Havir, Dave Hulin, Sonia Martinez, John Shaw and Scott Ulmer. Current members whose terms are ending are Alberto Macareno, Dave McKee, Erik Rehms and Cody Schaar. This leaves two open positions to be elected at the annual meeting. Dave McKee and Cody Schaar are eligible for re-election and have agreed to be on the ballot for a 3 year term.

Also at the annual congregation meeting a Nominating Committee for the year following the meeting will be elected and will include outgoing Council members. Members of the Congregation currently serving on the Nominating Committee are Teo Alvarez, Kevin Daugherty, Rossy Guzman, Nick Pegelow and Erik Rehms. Given the proposed downsizing of the number of Council members, the Nominating Committee will not be actively approaching members to consider serving the church by being a member of the church Council. However, there will be two open positions to be filled and all members can prayerfully consider this service to the church.

If you feel called to serve on the church Council and would like to be on the ballot for a 3 year term at the January 25, 2026 meeting, please let one of the members of the Nominating Committee know of your interest in being considered by January 15, 2026. If we have more than two members on the ballot, the two nominees receiving the highest number of votes will be elected.

WORSHIP MINISTRIES

What a beautiful Christmas Eve worship we shared together! The sanctuary was full of light, song, and the warmth of our community. This year, we were especially blessed to introduce a tradition from our Mexican siblings: gently rocking the baby to sleep. It was a tender, powerful reminder that Jesus came as a child, fully human, fully dependent, and fully loved.

Seeing our congregation embrace this practice, caring for the Christ child in our midst, reminded us that Christmas is about presence, connection, and love—both given and received. Thank you for being part of this sacred moment, for your joy, your reverence, and your willingness to welcome new traditions that deepen our understanding of God’s love.

If you’d like to see your news in the next edition, check out our Share Your News page!

Are you feeling so thrilled by what’s on deck at Faith that your wallet just fell out of your purse and is begging to be used? Me too! Check out our Giving page to make monetary contributions online!

If you’re interested in what’s coming up at Faith, but don’t want to call the church office to ask, check out our calendar, here!

FAITH ALIVE! NewsLetter Week of January 1, 2026