Thank you Sunday School Teachers

  

Sunday marks the end of our Sunday School year.  Many thanks to all those who helped with the faith formation of our younger members.

We are already looking ahead to next fall and talking about how we can work to fulfill the goal we set as a congregation to: "provide more opportunities for Christian Education for all ages".  We are seeking you input as discern how to do this along with our goal of "Deepening our sense of connection to God and one another through more inspiring worship". Yesterday we sent out an invitation to complete a brief survey if you didn't do so yet, please take a few minutes to do it now brief survey The survey will help us understand why you favor one option over another and to be more responsive to the goals and needs of the congregation.

  

Our preaching series on the book of Acts has begun.  The readings will make more sense if you put the in context. To view the reading guide click here. If you have questions as you read send them to [email protected] so we can reflect on them together.

  

Congratulations to Kayson James Robert Helgeson, born December 30th, 2015 in Green Bay, WI. Baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, May 15th, 2016. Congratulations also to his parents, Martin D. and Lynnae L. Helgeson and his Godparent, Margaret M. Marmitt. 

Thank You! To all who have worked so hard on our annual Joy Plant Market. Proceeds will be going to the Prescott Food Shelf, St. Croix Habitat for Humanity, ELCA Missions, and Joy Worship enhancements. There is still time to do some shopping after worship, Sunday May 15.

Prescott community event: Friday, June 3rd from 5-8pm at Lion's Park (across from the Middle School). We have reserved a spot for Joy Lutheran Church to sell Popcorn. Hope Olson will need help for a generator to run the popcorn machine, transporting the machine and anyone willing to make and sell popcorn. Call or email the church or Hope, ([email protected]) (715-262-3724) if you can help. Thank You!

There's still time to sign up!! Vacation Bible School is June 13-17, 2016 at Joy Lutheran Church. Kids going into 1st-6th Grade, 12 - 5pm. Kids going into Kindergarten, 12 - 3pm.  Register Here.

FaithWorks is about having a heart to serve those in need with other people who are looking to make a difference. We may help the local schools, do yard work or pick up along the riverfront.

Join us for work projects around Prescott
Friday June 10  (noon - 5pm)
Saturday June 11 (8am-5pm)

Friday we will meet at Ptaceks Deli at noon.
Saturday meet at Ptaceks Deli area for donuts, coffee and prayer before heading out to serve

Cost is $10 which will get you a T-shirt, provide lunch on Saturday and help cover project costs.

We are still looking for more projects let Pastor know if you know of a project that needs doing.  If you would like to serve there is a sign up sheet in the hallway at Joy to sign up so we know how many to prepare for.  Or register online by clicking here

Wednesday Worship continues at 6:30pm every Wednesday.  As soon as the weather cooperates we will be moving outdoors.  If you are traveling on weekends, this half hour informal worship is a great way to keep connected.

Thank you to the following women who have been making cards that are given to people in our congregation who are ill, grieving, or celebrating special events: Emilie Horken, Jean Setering, Deanna Roen, Susan Metcalf, Shirley Johnson, Julie Fiedler, Char Burgeson, Sue Hood, Sharyn Calton, Judy Hamann, Diane Meyer, Joan Northouse, and Lynda Johnson. The cards are also available for sale in the narthex for $2.00 - a GREAT bargain for a beautiful card! The cards were also sold at the Synod Women's Convention in Eau Claire on April 29-30 with many convention attendees commenting on how beautiful the cards are.

Luther Park has announced that they will be doing a quilt raffle along with their annual Heart for Luther Park Quilt Auction this year. The quilt raffle has three prizes: First Prize: Court Yard Steps Quilt (Queen/King sized quilt), valued at $1000; Second Prize: 2 weeks of summer camp in 2017, valued at $750; Third Prize: Chain saw carved bear, valued at $300. The tickets sell for $5 each or 5 for $20. The drawing will be held at the Heart for Luther Park Auction on August 13, 2016 at 3:00 P.M. You do not need to be present to win. If you'd like to buy some Quilt Raffle tickets, please contact Georgia Freidel at 715-262-3495 or [email protected].

On April 16th, six women from our JWELCA unit attended the St. Croix Conference Morning of Renewal at Bethel Lutheran Church in Hudson. Among the 65 women in attendance were six women from Joy: Charlotte Burgeson, Emilie Horken, Andrea Barstad, Deanna Roen, Diane Meyer, and Marcia Lindseth. The theme if the day was "Be Still and Know that I am God: Finding God in the Midst of our Active Lives." The theme was well addressed by the guest speaker, Pastor Amelia Houdek, Pastor at First Lutheran Church in New Richmond. Opening devotions, also centered on the theme of the day, were given by Pastor Alicia Hilding of Bethel Lutheran Church. Avalene Swanson, Chair of the Malawi Literacy Project, also reported that $3500 has been contributed by the women of our Synod. This money is being sent to Malawi to help fund supplies (blackboards, chalk, etc.) and books that are being used at eleven sites in Malawi that have been set up to teach at least 100 women in Malawi how to read. Sue Saarem, President of the Synod Women's Organization (SWO), was also present to share about activities that our SWO is involved in-and there are many! An offering of $783 was received-half of that is going for work of our SWO, 1/4 of it is going to Grace Place (a shelter for women and families in o9ur area), and 1/4 of it is going to Hudson Food Shelf. Sue Hood was re-elected for the Conference Board during the short business meeting, and installed by Sue Saarem. This was a great morning of fellowship and renewal. The women of Joy are invited and encouraged to mark  their calendars to attend the next St. Croix Conference event which will be at the St. Croix Valley Conference Summer Retreat on July 14th at Bethany Lutheran Church in Star Prairie. Take time to come away from your busy activities and spend s half day in inspiration, prayer, song, sharing, and learning. You're worth it!

On April 29-30, six women from Joy attended the biennial NW Wisconsin Synod Women's Convention in Eau Claire, joining with about 200 women from Northwest Wisconsin for two days of fellowship, learning, and inspiration. They were Emilie Horken, Marcia Lindseth, Deanna Roen, Sue Hood, Stefanie Branter, and Mandy Bernick. The theme of the convention was "Ordinary Women Serving an Extraordinary God". This was an inspiring convention with ten workshop awareness sessions to choose to attend, a keynote speech by Michelle Rayburn who spoke on "Treasure in Jars of Clay: When God Uses Ordinary Vessels", opportunities to participate in service projects such as tying fleece blankets and working at a Feed My People site, and special worship opportunities, including a Communion service at which SynodBishop Hoyme presided. Entertainment was provided by a blue grass group called "King's Countrymen". At the business meeting, Emilie Horken was re-elected to a two year term as the St. Croix Conference Representative on the SWO Board. Marcia Lindseth chaired the Nominating Committee and presented the ballot for SWO Board positions. She was also elected as an alternative voting delegate to the WELCA Triennial Convention in July of 2017. Mandy Bernick gave a very interesting workshop session on using Social Media in our WELCA groups. She shared about Joy's Bold Women Cafe group that she and Kathy Sommer lead. There was much interest in her workshop. At the business meeting, the women approved a resolution on domestic violence that will be forwarded to church-wide WELCA to be discussed (and hopefully approved) at the Triennial Convention in Minneapolis in July, 2017. Our Card Ministry from Joy sold their greeting cards at the exhibit fair, selling almost 70 of our beautiful cards! We received many compliments on the handiwork of the women of Joy who make these cards! In all it was a very fine convention and we encourage our own Joy women to attend the next SWO Convention in 2018!

Invites you to an afternoon of FREE music and fun! Sunday, May 15th from 2-6pm at The Brickyard in Prescott. Featuring local music, neighbors and friends who enjoy art and music in Prescott. Stop by and bring your friends and family to enjoy a variety of music, raffles and fun!