Scriptures for
January 25, 2026
Follow Me
• Isaiah 9: 1-4
• Psalm 27: 1, 4-9
• 1 Corinthians 1: 10-18
• Matthew 4: 12-23
We keep following the Epiphany Star as we strive to make 2026 shine. We saw how the Magi, John the Baptist, two of his disciples followed Jesus and now we have in Matthew’s Gospel, the invitation to four disciples to come and fish for people.
This Sunday, January 25 we meet for our semi-annual meeting, right after the Sunday service. We have reports from myself, your council members and committee chairs about how we are doing the fishing for people. We sent them out via email and will have them available in the narthex on Sunday.
Matthew gives us a different account in the Gospel of John of how Andrew came to follow Jesus. In Matthew and Mark’s Gospels, Andrew and Simon are together fishing. John and James are nearby, and they all follow Jesus right away. In John, Andrew was drawn to Jesus because John the Baptist pointed him out. In Luke Peter is drawn to Jesus because of a miraculous catch of fish.
What made Mark and Matthew think that following Jesus was so compelling that people like John and James would just leave boats and father and go?
What is it about Faith Lutheran that we leave alternate options behind and commit to this community of faith?
It may be that something marvelous happened in our lives and we found a place here to respond. It may be that this church was commended to us by someone like a John the Baptist and we came and stayed.
In our case, Connie and I were invited by the Synod to come and see. We saw and appreciated your commitment to care for one another and members of the community.
We have seen and we have appreciated your openness to trying new things to “catch people” like the streaming of the service, which we have improved. We did a lot of work on the front yard of the church, which now includes new signage. I remember putting up all the gazebos, painting around the church, improving the fireside room and updating the kitchen including a dishwasher and this year an oven, stove, refrigerator and microwave. You were also open to bringing in a painting from my former parish, Trinity in Hemet now that the property there has been sold. You are so supportive of the pantry. And touching people’s lives with cards, prayer rocks and soon prayer cloths and shawls. We welcome new members every year. This year, through my trip to Tanzania with Ombeni, a connection was made with his old church home in Chome and with the home church of his brother and sister-in-law in Arusha. They are partners with us in the Gospel.
In our reading from Isaiah 49 last week, Isaiah was disappointed in the response he was getting from his efforts. He writes in verse 4 that “I have spent my strength for nothing and
vanity. Yet surely my cause is with the Lord and my reward with my God. God responds in verse 6 that just being his servant to the tribes of Jacob would not do. He would make Isaiah into a Light for the nations. The Lutheran church in Europe and America planted the Tanzanian church. Now they have their own seminary and pastors. The ELCA no longer needs to send pastors, now we send Seminary teachers or pay for their students to come here for further education. I believe we have done much to make Faith a welcoming place, a place that provides care for the community, through our pantry, NA and AA programs and
our preschool. We support our camp just up the hill and Central City Lutheran Mission in San Bernadino. Maybe this is too small a Godly calling for us at Faith. Perhaps we are being called upon to reach out to the “ends of earth”. After a twenty-hour flight, Tanzania is just about half a world away from us the “ends of the earth” from us. In August, we brought gifts totaling $1,500 from Faith for the churches and pastors of Arusha and Chome and clothes for the people of Chome. They delighted in our generosity. In the words of Isaiah 9:3 we “multiplied exultation and increased joy.”
Because of your abiding support for Faith, I believe we can offer such gifts again, to that “end of the earth”. Ombeni annually visits those churches, so we have a bridge to bring our gifts to them.
PRAYER Thank you Lord for our members who heard your call and respond. May we continue to be a Light in Yucaipa and to the ends of the earth. Grace and Peace, Pastor John Bunge
Reminder
Annual meeting this Sunday after our service. Donut and Coffee will be provided in the Narthex Also, your giving statements for 2025 are available in the narthex.
Elisha’s Yucaipa Choir Last Sunday Elisha made an appeal for support for his High School Choir’s trip in the Southern California area competition. If you can help sponsor him, it would be best to give through Faith so the church can be recognized in their program and funds can be matched. Just indicate your gift on your envelope or check for Elisha YHS Choir.
Pantry – It has been cold for us in recent weeks. If you have any extra sweaters, coats or sweatpants they are appreciated. Wow thanks for all the sweatshirts. Note the date of the next pantry is January 24. If you know of someone with needs between now and then give Carol Jensen a call. We are glad to help but do need to track who we are helping with the pantry.
Pastor Bunge will be in the office Mondays and Tuesdays.
QUILTING – 36 quilts were made in 2025. 16 were boxed for Lutheran World Relief, which distributes them around the world. 10 were given to our San Bernardino Wellness Center.
MOVING FORWARD WITH YOUR SUPPORT
Those who have noticed our sign out front and the lighting of it have said how wonderful it is. We are adding a bit more solar lighting to it. The sound for the streaming is much improved and does include Closed Captioning.
Thanks to Dana, Kyle, Lou and Tim for doing so much around the church, especially in the kitchen area.
Thanks to Connie for doing the touch-up painting in our updated kitchen.
Thanks to Karen Hall who provided a new coffee pot for Fellowship and Pantry use!
PRAISE
• Jennifer Maldonado’s surgery went well but she is done with radiation treatments. More chemo may be ahead for her, but she plans on being back in the Preschool in April.
PLEASE PRAY FOR
• Barbara Kuerzinger would like us to pray for her son Ian, who was fortunate to have his colon cancer discovered early, but now will likely face chemo therapy.
• Heather Lewis would like us to pray for her mother Rosalind Lara who remains in care at Kaiser in Ontario, CA.
• Jeanne Koening had good news and bad news. She finally has some answers for the cyst in her brain. Rather than just draining fluid, they will be doing surgery to remove it. Her surgery was on December 30th at USC Arcadia Hospital.
• Bonnie Strack is seeking relief from pain. She also appreciates prayers for her son Brendan Simms, who has suffered years from a series of strokes.
• Michael Shea has continuing health issues and would also appreciate prayers for his and Ann’s son, Andrew.
• Eloise still has some double vision. She has a checkup schedule for February 6. Parkinson’s is acting up.
• Bob Jensen also developed a kidney stone and infection and a cyst was found in his kidney. He has not been able to be with us in worship.
• Bonnie Hallberg is still awaiting shoulder surgery. The blood clot discovered in her leg has not dissolved. She sees a doctor next Monday. The shoulder is painful, but not overwhelming and the clot must be taken care of first.
• Nelson Hall continues to have health concerns including his heart function and breathing but he and Karen were able to move to their new home, and he is doing better in that situation.
• Lauren Shaffer surgery for a stent on her right leg did not go well. The vein completely closed; the leg is so swollen it is hard to move. More surgery will be needed.
• Kim Guevara appreciates your prayers for granddaughter, Kayla, who is now living with her father, their son, Kyle.
• Judy Martin likes her new home at Golden Oaks and is receiving Hospice care. Pray for her home in Calimesa to be sold.
• Continued prayers for Jacque Kottmeier who, due to her eyesight, is no longer able to drive. Nice to have her neighbor Ellen Risso back with us in worship.
Thanks to all who continue to give shoes for Soles 4 Souls. The box was full and so was taken for its good use. The box is still in the Narthex for continued donations. Thanks to David Strack for coordinating. Thanks to Holly from Family Assistance Center in Yucaipa for making donations as well.
FELLOWSHIP/OUTREACH
PRAYER CARDS – With the help of the Quilting Group, the next project is to make and provide prayer quilts with crosses on the inside. Thanks to Barbara for the idea, and Emily, Dana, Dona for willingness to help make them.
PRAYER/FRIENDSHIP ROCKS –
Karen, Connie B., Sharon C., and Carol Hamre have painted prayer/friendship rocks for you to keep, give to someone, surprise someone, or put in your garden, etc. We have painted for a Prayer Ministry that Paula will begin; also rocks are available in the Narthex, Chapel and Fireside Room for the AA, NA, Al-anon, pantry etc. groups that meet weekly.
WATERCOLOR PAINTING CLASS by our OWN MASTER WATERCOLORIST, HOLLY – CLASSES WILL BE ON THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH. WE’LL PAINT CARDS FOR THE MONTH. NEXT SCHEDULED CLASSES: FEBRUARY 1, AND AGAIN ON MARCH 1
(No class fee, materials provided if you do not have own. For taking the class, we ask you to please donate to the Camp fund for youth.)
SUNDAY MORNING FELLOWSHIP HOUR
JANUARY
25 Annual Meeting; Donuts in Narthex
FEBRUARY
1 Thanks to Kim for Taco Soup
8 Thank you to WELCA
15 HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY
Thanks to Nancy for her fantastic Spaghetti
Thanks to Diane Watson for cookies from the Cookie Company!
22 POTLUCK
THEME: LOVE IS IN THE AIR WITH APPETIZERS
Please sign up in the Narthex
Some of you have asked us to publish a list of donations that are needed
for the Fellowship Hour on Sundays. Here is a start. Thank you.
Coffee (this is for the pantry as well as they provide coffee on Pantry Saturdays)
Coffee creamers (not coffee mate, please)
Juice; any flavor
Iced Tea (sugar free)
If you have a special dish you’d like to prepare, please let us know. (We are not confined to crockpots now!)
Any monetary donations can be given through the offering, marked Fellowship
Bingo Items – we had a special Outreach “Bingoing for others” and are mostly wiped out of prizes.
