We’re entering the season of vacation and travel. I, myself, have some travel dates hopefully coming up, when Brandon and I hope to head back to Iowa to see our families. As we enter this season of travel, I’d like to offer some practical tips and suggestions about keeping faith central to your life even when you may be away from your church home this summer.
1) Take Flat Jesus with you! Part of why we are doing Flat
Jesus at FLC is to keep connected to our church family even
as we may be away from one another. Flat Jesus is the per-
fect companion for your summer travels, as he’s, well…flat!
He doesn’t take up much space, but he can be a fun addition
to your travels this summer! And he is a way that you can re
main connected to the ministries at FLC. We have a page
that we encourage you to post your pictures to, so others can
see what you’re up to as well! And it’s very simple: just take
pictures of your ordinary activities and include Flat Jesus.
He’s also a great conversation starter, as others may see you
taking pictures with him! Let him be a way to talk about your faith and your home church with others this summer!
2) Visit other congregations while you’re away this summer! It’s always fun to try out new congregations or even ones with
which you’re familiar when you’re away! And with the large variety of options offered by many congregations, you don’t
always have to choose traditional Sunday morning services. A simple Facebook or Google search will help you find a conger-
gation wherever you may be traveling to or visiting this summer, and most congregations list their times of worship. Plus, it’s
always neat to see what ideas other congregations are trying! Who knows, maybe you’ll bring back FLC’s next BIG IDEA!
3) Find ways to remain connected to FLC. Maybe that looks like watching the Facebook live stream on Sunday mornings when
you’re not here in Harvey (or even if you are in Harvey, because 9:30 does come early on summer mornings!). Maybe that
looks like signing up for Flocknotes so you get the weekly bulletin and important updates. Maybe that looks like signing up
for online giving so that you can continue to support the ministries of FLC even while you’re away. There are lots of ways to
remain connected to your church family!
4) Don’t put God in the back seat. What I mean is that our faith is something that should remain at the forefront of our lives. We
are all busy people, that I recognize! But our faith in God is something that goes with us no matter where we go. Scripture
tells us that God desires for us to remain close, and to remember that God is the most important thing in our lives: “The Lord
is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them
when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.” (Deuteronomy 6:4b-7) There’s a vari-
ety of ways you can do this: I encourage you to intentionally set time away each day to remain rooted in the Word of God and
in prayer. Maybe this looks like praying together as a family, or having daily devotions together before your daily adventures.
Maybe this looks like praying together as a family before bed, or reading the Bible together. No matter what, I encourage you
to spend time in connection with God. Time spent with God is never a waste of time!
I hope these tips and suggestions help enrich your life this summer! Please know that I continue to hold you all in my thoughts and prayers, and that I am grateful to be here among you, serving God in this place. May God bless you with a fun, faith-filled summer! God loves you and so do I!
In Christ’s peace,
Pastor Katie Rodriguez
1) Take Flat Jesus with you! Part of why we are doing Flat
Jesus at FLC is to keep connected to our church family even
as we may be away from one another. Flat Jesus is the per-
fect companion for your summer travels, as he’s, well…flat!
He doesn’t take up much space, but he can be a fun addition
to your travels this summer! And he is a way that you can re
main connected to the ministries at FLC. We have a page
that we encourage you to post your pictures to, so others can
see what you’re up to as well! And it’s very simple: just take
pictures of your ordinary activities and include Flat Jesus.
He’s also a great conversation starter, as others may see you
taking pictures with him! Let him be a way to talk about your faith and your home church with others this summer!
2) Visit other congregations while you’re away this summer! It’s always fun to try out new congregations or even ones with
which you’re familiar when you’re away! And with the large variety of options offered by many congregations, you don’t
always have to choose traditional Sunday morning services. A simple Facebook or Google search will help you find a conger-
gation wherever you may be traveling to or visiting this summer, and most congregations list their times of worship. Plus, it’s
always neat to see what ideas other congregations are trying! Who knows, maybe you’ll bring back FLC’s next BIG IDEA!
3) Find ways to remain connected to FLC. Maybe that looks like watching the Facebook live stream on Sunday mornings when
you’re not here in Harvey (or even if you are in Harvey, because 9:30 does come early on summer mornings!). Maybe that
looks like signing up for Flocknotes so you get the weekly bulletin and important updates. Maybe that looks like signing up
for online giving so that you can continue to support the ministries of FLC even while you’re away. There are lots of ways to
remain connected to your church family!
4) Don’t put God in the back seat. What I mean is that our faith is something that should remain at the forefront of our lives. We
are all busy people, that I recognize! But our faith in God is something that goes with us no matter where we go. Scripture
tells us that God desires for us to remain close, and to remember that God is the most important thing in our lives: “The Lord
is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them
when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.” (Deuteronomy 6:4b-7) There’s a vari-
ety of ways you can do this: I encourage you to intentionally set time away each day to remain rooted in the Word of God and
in prayer. Maybe this looks like praying together as a family, or having daily devotions together before your daily adventures.
Maybe this looks like praying together as a family before bed, or reading the Bible together. No matter what, I encourage you
to spend time in connection with God. Time spent with God is never a waste of time!
I hope these tips and suggestions help enrich your life this summer! Please know that I continue to hold you all in my thoughts and prayers, and that I am grateful to be here among you, serving God in this place. May God bless you with a fun, faith-filled summer! God loves you and so do I!
In Christ’s peace,
Pastor Katie Rodriguez
Pastor Katie’s New Office Hours:
(Also available by appointment)
Monday – 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday – 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday – 2:00 p.m. – 5::00 p.m.
Friday – Day Off
Saturday - 10:00 - 2:00
(Also available by appointment)
Monday – 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday – 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday – 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday – 2:00 p.m. – 5::00 p.m.
Friday – Day Off
Saturday - 10:00 - 2:00