The Reverend Owen Griffiths, Pastor
Faith Lutheran Church
Heading 1
4150 Woodhaven Road
Philadelphia, PA 19154
(215)-637-4210
flcphiladelphia@verizon.net
Welcome
Thank you for visiting Faith Lutheran Church online!
We are a small, family-friendly church in NE Philadelphia.
Whoever you are and wherever you are on life's journey--married or single, old or young, black or white, native-born or immigrant, gay or straight, bisexual or transgender, parent or childless, rich or poor--you are always welcome here at Faith Lutheran.
Help us out: If you missed your weekly offering, or if you just want to support the ministry of Faith or the ELCA, you can make an online donation by clicking the "GIVE!" button on the menu bar.
Our Mission
Our mission is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people through worship, education, service to our community and world, fellowship, caring, and prayer.
We would love to have you join us!
Baptisms & Weddings
Call the Pastor at (215)-637-4210
for information on how to schedule baptisms and weddings; he will be glad to work with you.
SUNDAY WORSHIP
You can enjoy VIRTUAL worship on Facebook Live every Sunday.
Go to Faith Luther on Facebook!
Just click the underlined link!
Worship Schedule
Sunday Worship
10 AM
Children's Time
during worship
every Sunday
News
Help Needed for Faith’s Veggie Garden
It’s time to start planting Faith’s Organic Vegetable Garden, but we are in need of a Master Gardener. We are looking for someone to organize the planting of the garden – pick a date, get volunteers, buy plants (re-imbursed by church), determine if we need more dirt and buy it if needed (again, reimbursed by church), then actually plant. Additionally, we’ll need people to weed, water, and harvest. If you have a little time on your hands
And you don’t mind getting them dirty, please speak to Pastor or Dorothy. We will put up a sign-up sheet shortly.
Last Sunday of the Month Offering
Faith’s Last Sunday of the Month Offering for May will go to Feast of Justice. Last year Feast served almost one million pounds of food to over three thousand households here in Northeast Philadelphia. We don’t know what will happen to our economy in the next few weeks and months, but we know there are already hungry people right here in our own neighborhood. Please give generously on May 25th.
Never Surrender Hope Returns
The Never Surrender Hope support group will meet again at Faith on the second Tuesday of every month at 7 PM in the Fellowship Room (outside Pastor’s office). NSH is a support group for people who have family members addicted to drugs or alcohol or any destructive behavior. The group also does occasional service projects, often in support of grandparents who are raising grandchildren. They do fundraisers for school supplies and uniforms and other expenses. The group stopped meeting because of COVID, but has now regrouped. The first meeting will be on May 13th.
Carolyn Rides Again! Read her message:
“Thank you for supporting my ALS United Ride fundraiser! I decided to do the ALS Ride this year in honor of my friend Patti who was diagnosed with ALS in late December 2024. Seeing the toll it is taking on her body is heartbreaking, but learning that they do not know what causes this disease is just as difficult.
“Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. The life expectancy of a person with ALS averages 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis. ALS can strike anyone, and presently there is no known cause or cure. That's why I'm riding. To change the statistics. To bring help and hope to those living with the disease. To ensure that no one ever hears the words: ‘You have ALS’ again.
“The past two years have brought incredible advancements in ALS research, expanded access to care for people living with ALS, and enabled legislation that impacts the quality of life of people with ALS and their families. But we can't stop now. Please consider sponsoring me. With your help, we will be able to make a difference in the lives of people affected by this disease.”
Carolyn Edwards
Carolyn asks for our support. You can sponsor her ALS ride by clicking this link: https://secure.alsmidatlantic.org/site/TR/Endurance/General?px=1182009&pg=personal&fr_id=1280
The Midatlantic ALS Bike Ride is June 14th. She will also ride in the MS Ride in September.
Kids' Time
Just a reminder Faith has a Kids' Time every Sunday during the 10 o'clock worship. Miss Grace and Miss Emma tell stories to the tiny tots who may not be able to sit comfortably through our liturgy. The kids also do crafts and get a special message from Pastor. If you have a little one, please know
VBS is Coming!
Watch this space for more details. Faith’s Vacation Bible School will be held on July 22, 23, and 24. There will be Bible stories, snacks, games for the kids, and crafts. Mark you calendars and remember that Faith kids can invite their friends. There’s no charge.
WELCOME! VIRTUAL WORSHIP NEWS:
If you can't make it to church on Sunday morning, we're bringing church to you. We are livestreaming Sunday morning worship at 10 AM on the Faith Luther Facebook page. You can also read the texts of Pastor's sermons by clicking on the "Pastor's Blog" tab on the toolbar. Please remember, too that you can make online donations by clicking on the "GIVE!" button above.
You can also check out videos from our national church body, the ELCA, our Synod, or our congregation below. We usually start our livestream about 10 minutes BEFORE the worship begins, so you can fast forward through the video to hear this week's announcements and experience the previous Sunday's service.
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Easter 5
Gospel: John 13:31-35
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him,[a] God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
First Lesson: Acts 11:1-18
11 Now the apostles and the brothers and sisters who were in Judea heard that the gentiles had also accepted the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers[a] criticized him, 3 saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” 4 Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners, and it came close to me. 6 As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7 I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I replied, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But a second time the voice answered from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ 10 This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. 11 At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. 12 The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us.[b] These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; 14 he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.’ 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” 18 When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”
Second Lesson: Revelation 21:1 - 6
21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“See, the home[a] of God is among mortals.
He will dwell[b] with them;
they will be his peoples,[c]
and God himself will be with them and be their God;[d]
4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for[e] the first things have passed away.”
5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.