An Electronic Newsletter by the Community of Christ known as Joy Lutheran Church

Our Mission Statement

We of Joy Lutheran Church foster
grace-filled relationships with Christ
through worship, fellowship, and service.


This week's scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Here is one of the most familiar and beautiful passages in the Bible - a look at love - over, around, and under. What's striking is its life; love is described almost as a living, breathing being. We learn what it is, what it is not, what it does, how it responds and reacts, what it bears, what it believes, hopes, and endures. Love is not just a feeling. It is alive. It thrives on more love. It is active, not passive. In fact, it is the most active... even the most active of activities (voice, sight, faith, generosity) are nothing without love to give those activities life. Where do you see love nurturing faith, hope, generosity, justice, peace...?

Synod Assembly Update

Last week, the Alaska synod held our annual Synod Assembly, a gathering of the voting members and pastors of the Synod.  Many people have described our Alaska Synod Assemblies as a "family reunion interrupted by occasional business."  That may be true.  This year's Assembly allowed plenty of time to renew time with long-time friends and to get to know some new ones.

We heard Faith stories, testimonies of God's work in the lives of people in our Alaska Synod as they search to follow Jesus in their life and situation.  We heard some wonderful teaching from The Rev. Dr. Steve Bouman and Rev. Ruben Duran. Both were our representatives from Churchwide (the ELCA headquarters in Chicago) and they did a great job of exploring with us what it means to do Jesus' mission in an age of change and uncertainty. 

We also did the business of the Church.  We elected Sue Delgado (Alaska Native Lutheran Church, Anchorage) as our new Synod Vice President.  The VP serves as the President of the Synod, and is one of the most important offices in the church.  We elected new Synod Council members and affirmed some incumbents.  We also passed a Memorial to the Churchwide Assembly (the ELCA version of the Synod Assembly, which occurs ever 3 years and meets this August) to formally repudiate the "Doctrine of Discovery" that insists that the dominate population "discovered" the Americas and the expense of the those who were already native to the land.  This is seen as a way to embrace our siblings of Native heritage (Red and Brown) who were here long before Columbus. 

A huge "Thank you!" to Bob and Diane Kelly who attended this year's Assembly as the Voting Members for Joy!

- Pastor Martin 

This Week's Calendar
This Week:
Sunday, May 1
9:30 AM
11:00 AM
1:00-5:00 PM
6:30 PM
7:00 PM
Worship
Adult Bible Study
Bel Canto Choir Practice - Sanctuary
Narcotics Anonymous -  Upper Narthex
Boy Scouts Troop 219 - Brause Fellowship Hall 
Monday, May 2
6:00 PM
6:30 PM
UAA Culinary Class - Kitchen & Upper Narthex
Narcotics Anonymous
Tuesday, May 3 1:30 PM
6:30 PM
6:30 PM
 Theroux Music Student Group Session
Narcotics Anonymous - Upper Narthex
Alcoholics Anonymous - Library
Wednesday, May 4
6:30 PM
Narcotics Anonymous 
Thursday, May 5
 12:00 PM
6:30 PM
6:30 PM
 Banner Babes
Alcoholics Anonymous - Library
Narcotics Anonymous - Upper Narthex
Friday, May 6 5:00-9:00 PM
6:30 PM
 Plunked Student Piano Recital - Sanctuary & Upper Narthex 
Narcotics Anonymous
Saturday, May 7
6:30 PM
Narcotics Anonymous
Next Week:
Sunday, May 8
9:30 AM
11:00 AM
6:30 PM
7:00 PM
Worship
Adult Bible Study
Narcotics Anonymous -  Upper Narthex
Boy Scouts Troop 219 - Brause Fellowship Hall


Weekly Worship Assistant Schedule
We have a lot of openings in the schedule.  Please help!
 If you'd like to volunteer to serve in any one of these, please contact the office at 694-9601, or [email protected].  You may also add your name to the schedule on the 
 Opportunities bulletin board in the narthex.

Joy of Reading Book Club

The Joy of Reading Book Club invites everyone who loves talking about books to our monthly meetings.  The meetings take place on the 3 rd Monday of the month. May's meeting will be at the home of Nancy Hemsath at 6:30 pm on May 16th.  The book will be  Blonde Indian by Ernestine Hayes.  If, as you read the book, you have questions you'd like to ask the author, please submit the question to Nancy.  She knows the author and will ask her!
Upcoming:
June 3-4 (sleepover!) -  All the Light We Cannot See  by Anthony Doerr
             This is the Joy Book Club's 6 th anniversary celebration at the lake                    home of Gerry Norene on Nancy Lake in Willow
July - no meeting, we are too busy doing other summer activities
August -  An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff


Electronics Recycling Event
This year's Electronics Recycling Event is scheduled for Saturday, May 21.  Event organizer Kathy Huntington is seeking help with advertising.  

There is a sign-up sheet for the volunteer positions needed during the event on the Opportunities bulletin board in the upper narthex.

If you're interested in flexing your marketing muscles, please contact Kathy at 242-2566.

Other Joyful News...

National Day of Prayer Service 
Thursday, May 5, 2016 - Eagle River
Sponsored by Love INC of Eagle River
Noon - 1 PM at Town Square Gazebo
Across from Garcia's Restaurant
Come and go as your schedule permits
Please join us in prayer for our community, state, nation, and world!
For more information call: (907) 250-1735

They've Cut the Line!
Pastor Martin and Shelly have stopped their "land-line" for their home (694-1883).  If you wish to get ahold of them, you may contact them via their cells phones: Pastor Martin: 223-0519; Shelly: 350-5030.

Remember the Food Pantry This Summer!
School is almost out, and with that end the Free and Reduced Breakfasts and Lunch program at schools that many of our Eagle River and Chugiak young people rely on will end as well.  

This summer let's focus on: 
  • Proteins: Peanut Butter, Spam (very popular), Chili, etc.
  • Breakfast Cereals: Especially more healthy options. 
  • Can Soup (other than Ramen):  Easy to make, Good balance between protein and carbs.
  • Box milks: Doesn't need refrigeration.
Congratulations Sonja Hoversten
Today we also pray for Sonja Hoversten who will Affirm her Baptism today at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wayzata, Minnesota.  Sonja and her family were part of the faith community of Joy Lutheran while they were stationed at JBER.  We celebrate this important milestone of Sonja's faith journey!

Mark Your Calendar for Shingle Removal 2016!
The next Breakfast Club meeting is Saturday, May 14.  We will meet at 8:00am for breakfast, and at 9:00am we'll start removing the old shingles from the next section of roof to be replaced (weather dependent).  Bring hammers or other tools for removing staples and nails.  We will also be scraping the peeling paint on the south side of the building.  If you're interested in helping with that job please bring scraping tools if you have them.  We will have some extra tools on site.  All help is greatly appreciated!

Little Free Library Donations
Scott Hobbs is collecting books and maps for the Little Free Library he is installing at Joy. The theme is  "Reading will take you places!"   He needs books for all ages of readers to fill the library--preschool, elementary, teen, adult.  He needs maps to decorate the library--think road maps, Mileposts, National Geographic inserts, wall maps, etc.  Donation boxes are located in the narthex.  Thank you for contributing to help Scott's project!  
The official installation ceremony will be held later this spring.




Lutheran Summer Camp July 24-29
Youth entering grades 3 through 9 are invited to join the fun at Lutheran Summer Camp, July 24 - 29, 2016.  Camp includes Bible camp worship, study, fun music, and summer camp fun like hiking, swimming and playing at the waterfront, crafts, campfires, games, and community, and opportunities for horseback rides. Registration is now open - learn more at AkLutheranSummerCamp.org.  High school and college youth are invited to participate as counselors or counselors-in-training.

And You Shall Be My Witnesses
The Adult Bible class will be looking through the books of Acts this spring.  The book of Acts is the story of average men and women who are called to "be my witnesses to the ends of the earth."  After Jesus leaves, they set out to proclaim and live into the Kingdom of God that Jesus promised.  As they go, the Holy Spirit continues to break open their hearts and minds, helping them to understand how the gospel of Jesus continues to tear down walls of division, opening the church to all people.
 
We meet in Brause Fellowship Hall beginning at 11:00 after worship.  Everyone is welcome.  Bring your coffee and you Bibles if you have them (we have plenty of extras if you don't).


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