Welcome to Faith Lutheran Church Andover, Iowa
We are a welcoming people of God striving to reflect Jesus Christ's love, grace, and are open to the work of the Holy Spirit.
**important worship information!**
As a church, we are concerned about public and personal safety and make decisions based on statistics, science, and love for our neighbor while continuing to watch and monitor the situations this pandemic presents. With that being said, the church council along with the worship committee have decided to suspend in person worship at this time for the following reasons:
+Clinton county is listed as critical in its virus numbers
+Iowa’s governor has suggested no more than 15 people at indoor functions
+Southeast Iowa Bishop suggests no indoor worship at this time
+We feel this is best until the county is out of the critical level and trending downward in cases. We plan to evaluate every week or so to make any adjustments.
+The decision to resume in-person worship last summer was contingent upon keeping our members and the public safe. We have now passed a threshold when in-person worship poses serious risks to public safety.
Worship will continue to be live streamed on Sunday mornings at 9am! A copy of the bulletin and announcements can be found on our website to follow along.
Sunday school will meet on Zoom this Sunday, November 22nd at 8:30am. Emails containing the zoom link will be emailed to families. We will NOT meet on Sunday, November 29th for a short break and will plan to meet again on December 6th. Zoom or in person will be decided as the date gets closer.
Please continue to send your donations to the church during this time. They can be mailed to PO Box 57, Andover, IA 52701 or make an online donation by clicking the donate button near the end of this website.
We appreciate your feedback and will take that into consideration in our ongoing discussions. We look forward to seeing each other again in person! Until then, please take care of yourself and your neighbor.
About Faith
About Us
The beginning of Faith Lutheran Church started in 1946, when adults and teenagers participated in Sunday School. Due to the absence of a church building, Sunday School was held at the old depot, old city hall fire station, dance hall and a home. Faith Lutheran Church grew out of the prayers and concerns of devoted people who believed a church was a necessary part of the community. On December 20, 1949, 13 people representing nine families, met at a home to consider organization. This home was renovated and became a place of fellowship and living quarters for the minister.
In April 1951, ground was broken to build the church structure on 3 1/2 acres of land on the edge of town. The dedication of the new church was held on September 14, 1952. Through the years, many improvements and changes to the building have been made possible because of the committment and generosity of the disciples of Faith.
“Praise and thanks be to God for His grace and His presence in all our past, present, and future endeavors.”
Our Beliefs
At Faith Lutheran Church, we believe that we are freed by God’s unconditional love in Jesus Christ that is freely given to all of creation. You are unconditionally loved by God, so am I, and so is everyone else, and in this amazing love there is freedom! All of our other beliefs and values as a Church body comes from this understanding of God and the world God has made.
Fall Supper 2020
Faith Lutheran Church 2020 “No Food” Fall Supper
Faith has a long tradition of providing FOOD, FELLOWSHIP, and MISSION through the Fall Supper!
Faith nourishes our congregation, the near community, and our worldwide neighbors through the Fall Supper. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic has made carrying on this tradition, extremely difficult or near impossible! Members faithfully spend time preparing food in our homes, working side-by-side in fellowship with others, and sit shoulder to shoulder to enjoy the delicious meal. These traditions just do not seem safe in the strange new times of 2020.
What we CAN do as brothers and sisters in Christ, is carry on the tradition of mission that the Fall Supper provides. Did you realize in 2019 we cleared $4,319.96? Of these dollars, the church council voted to put $319.96 in the Current Fund, and use $4000.00 to support mission work locally and globally in the following ways:
· Lutheran Chaplaincy $ 300.00
· Andover Fireman $ 400.00
· Mercy Med Tree $ 300.00
· Synod Benevolence $1,000.00
· World Hunger $ 400.00
· Seminary Education $ 300.00
· YWCA Housing Services $ 400.00
· Information Referral $ 300.00
· Camp EWALU $ 300.00
· Honor Flight $ 200.00
· Veterans Affairs $ 200.00
We CAN make financial contributions that can support these or other missions that are struggling in this pandemic!
Please prayerfully consider joining in the “No Food” Fall Supper campaign to donate any amount you choose to let the Faith Lutheran Fall Supper carry on in a new way for 2020 by November 30th. Additionally, if there is another organization that speaks to you, we would love to hear your thoughts.
Donations can be sent to :
Faith Lutheran Church
PO Box 57
Andover, IA 52701
(Please list Fall Supper in the memo)
Hopefully in 2021 we can return the FOOD and FELLOWSHIP to the Fall Supper
Upcoming events
Thankoffering Service
The Women of Faith will lead us in our Thankoffering service on Sunday, November 22, 2020 at 9am.
In 1987, Women of the ELCA committed to continue a tradition of giving gratitude for blessings. Thanksofferings are given to support life-changing ministries of Women of the ELCA. In gratitude for all God has given to us, and with hope for all that is to come, let us give our thankoffering.
Ministries
Youth
Faith Lutheran Church Women (FLCW)
Faith Lutheran Church Women (FLCW)
Sunday School is held on Sunday mornings at 8:45am for children 3 years old through 6th grade. Beginning after Labor Day through May.
S.T.U.F.F (Sunday Teens Under Faith Formation) meet on Sunday mornings at 8:45am for Confirmation and High School students. Beginning Labor Day through May.
Confirmation is held on Wednesdays for youth in 7th through 9th grade during the school year.
F.L.Y. (Faith Lutheran Youth) is for our High School students.
Vacation Bible School is held annually during summer.
Faith Lutheran Church Women (FLCW)
Faith Lutheran Church Women (FLCW)
Faith Lutheran Church Women (FLCW)
Women of the church who meet monthly for Sharing/Caring Circle, participate in many community service projects, and sew quilts September though April.
Mission Trips
Mission Trips
Mission Trips
Inter-generational mission trips are held each year. Every other year,our group travels to an area of the country that is in need. The opposite years, a mini-mission trip is held at Camp EWALU.
Summer of 2019, Faith Works will travel to the Camp EWALU!
Fall Supper
Mission Trips
Mission Trips
Held every second Sunday of November. We serve ham and Kalmes' Chicken, carrots, mashed potatoes, salads and desserts.
Synod & Outreach Information
Area Food Pantries
Area Food Pantries
Area Food Pantries
We collect non-perishable food items and distribute them to Elvira and Preston food pantries a few times a year.
Community Garden
Area Food Pantries
Area Food Pantries
The Stewardship Committee plants and tends our garden. Produce is available for the community and also taken to the home bound and The Victory Center.
Our Staff
Pastor Eric Hanson
Pastor Eric is called to lead the people of Faith Lutheran Church to participate the good news of Jesus Christ in everything that we do as a congregation. He is passionate about sharing God’s grace with people and working for God’s vision of peace and wholeness for all of God’s creation.
Pastor Eric was born and grew up in Rockford, Illinois. He attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and Religion. He then attended Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa where he received a Master of Divinity degree. He previously served as the Pastoral Intern at Grace Lutheran Church in Cambridge, Wisconsin. Pastor Eric also authored the publication The Hope of Grace: an essay exploring the new atheism, the church, and the gospel (Currents in Theology and Mission 44:2, 2017). Pastor Eric married Carina Schiltz in 2015 and the two of them live in Preston, Iowa.
Office Secretary
Jamie Luckritz
Worship and Music Coordinator/Organist
Deana Jacobs
Organist
Julie Peters
Janitor
Erin Tietjens