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.



Gospel:  Matthew 10:24-39
Jeremiah knew the frustration of having his words rejected. Jesus declares that his words may not bring peace, but division. In baptism we are buried with Christ that we may walk in newness of life. As we take stands for the sake of justice and lose our lives for the sake of others, we need not be afraid. The hairs of our head are counted. In baptism we are marked with the cross of Christ forever.

Stewardship and Faith
Someone has said, "Stewardship is everything we do after we say, "I believe.'"  In other words, when we talk about Stewardship, we are not only talking about money and finances, but the fullness of our discipleship, faith, and ministry.  How we use these gifts is our "spiritual form of worship."  (Romans 12:1)  
  • As we take care of our bodies, our schedule, our talents and abilities - we are being stewards of the gifts of God. 
  • As we work or study in our given vocations in life - we are being ministers of God, through the healthy use of our industry, our relationships, and our giving back to our community. 
  • As we care for the earth, for creation, and for all that God has made - we are helping to fulfill the God's original mandate to Adam and Eve to care for the things God has made, both to honor the Creator that made them and so that future generations may be blessed by their benefits. 
  • As we share a regular, proportional gift of the financial resources we have - we are giving in thanksgiving for the great and gracious love of God in our lives, we are supporting the ministry of not only our congregation, and our community but the work and ministry among people we may never know. 
In all we do, in all we share, in all we give back, we are making a faith statement:

      Trusting in God's abundant mercy and supply, we travel in faith and courage, sharing and loving as has first been given to us, so that all may be blessed in Jesus' name.

- Pr. Martin Eldred

Meet Our New Intern
Hello! I'm your intern for the next year, Kate Drefke, and I wanted to take a few minutes to introduce myself. I grew up in Michigan, and after graduate school (Master Social Work) moved to Wisconsin. While there I worked in a couple of agencies as a case manager and mental health counselor. I've just finished three years of coursework at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) in Berkeley, CA. While t/here, I have loved volunteering at a men's prison in their inmate run Restorative Justice Roundtable, and a Bible study/ worship group. I did field education (teaching parish) in an amazing, small congregation in San Francisco that does a variety of interesting things with worship and music. My areas of interest in ministry include education, social justice, and helping the church do the work of the church in their communities. I try to incorporate these into worship leadership and preaching.

In my free time, I enjoy tabletop gaming, binge watching shows on Netflix with the cats and/or the boyfriend, cooking, crocheting, hiking, and reading. I'm also looking forward to being back in a town with good college hockey, and seeing my college team (Northern Michigan) play against the Seawolves. Go Wildcats!

See you soon!

Meet our new intern, Kate Drefke
Meet our new intern, Kate Drefke
Changed Times

In her June column for Living Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth
Eaton reflects on serving the neighbor in politically charged
times.  She reminds us that "active participation in public life and the duty of government to care for its people, especially the most vulnerable, have been part of the Lutheran movement since its beginning."   Read her column here.

This article is reprinted from the June issue of 
Living Lutheran with permission. 

This Week's Calendar
Sunday,
June 25
9:30 AM
10:45 AM
11:00 AM
Worship
Faith Family Breakfast
Boy Scout Troop 219 - Scout check-in & Chilkoot Trail departure
Monday, June 26 6:30 PM
Narcotics Anonymous
Tuesday, 
June 27
6:30 PM

Alcoholics Anonymous
Wed.,
June 28
6:30 PM
7:00 PM
Narcotics Anonymous 
Summer Bell Choir Practice
Thurs.,
June 29		 6:30 PM
Alcoholics Anonymous
Friday,
June 30
6:30 PM
Narcotics Anonymous
Sat.,
July 1
6:30 PM
Narcotics Anonymous
Next Week:
Sunday, July 2
9:30 AM
10:45 AM

Sunday Worship
Faith Family Breakfast

The office will be closed July 3-4 for Independence Day.
Weekly Worship Assistant Schedule
Please take a moment to consider serving in one of our 
Worship Assistant positions.   
Thanks for your service throughout the year!

Summertime at Joy!
Thank you to everyone whom has already volunteered to help with summer activities at Joy!  We still have many opportunities for you to get involved with the garden, lawn care & Sunday breakfast.

Grow vegetables! Our raised beds have been planted and now need tending (weeding, thinning), and then harvesting later in the summer.

Tend the lawn! The grass around the church  needs mowing on a regular basis and other TLC (trimming, etc).  

Have breakfast!  Our Sunday Faith Family Breakfasts began after Memorial Day and go through Labor Day Weekend.  Each week we need someone to prepare breakfast to be shared after worship (anything from muffins and coffee to where your imagination takes you), as we enjoy the meal in fellowship.  There are still a few opportunities open!

If you are interested, please sign up on the sheets in the narthex. If you are interested in being the coordinator for any of these activities (this does NOT mean doing it all yourself!), please contact Jan in the church office or Henry Huntington, the Council president ([email protected]). Many thanks! three seasonal
 
Joy of Reading Book Club
Our Book Club had a wonderful sunny & sociable 7th Anniversary Celebration!  Thank you Gerry Norene for your exceptional hostessing!

No meeting in July!

The book for August is To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey.  It will be August 21st at 6:30 pm at the home of Jennifer Moore.

Upcoming books are:
September - The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels
by Alex Epstein- a good thinking/discussion book for all Alaskans - come one and all!
October - Rosemary - The Hidden Kennedy by
November - To be Determined
December - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman 

Alaska Women's Synod Organization Convention
September 22-24, 2017

Fairbanks Lutheran at Fairbanks, Ak
Rooted in Love Grow in Faith!
 
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.   Ephesians 3: 16-19 NIV
 
ALASKA SYNODICAL WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION ASWO's Purpose Statement:   We, as diverse women of God, respond to God's love by sharing the Gospel, cherishing creation, and encouraging each other's growth in faith.
 
Travel and Registration Scholarship Available : Alisa Butcher, ASWO Treasurer; 4882 #2 Glasgow Dr, Fairbanks, AK 99709. Questions? Contact Alisa Butcher at (907) 388-2436 or [email protected] 

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