One of our great partners in ministry is Luther Park Bible Camp.  I got to spend a day there this last week and it renewed my belief in the importance of our partnership.  I have often said I think a week a Bible Camp is worth a year of confirmation classes when it comes to faith formation.  There is something special that happens when our youth unplug and spend a week in intentional Christian community with young adults who are excited about faith and love kids.  

I am grateful to our JWELCA for providing generous scholarships, making it possible for our youth to attend.  Both Joy and Luther Park are committed that finances not be an obstacle, and finding a way for any kid who wants to go to camp to be able to go.

If you have never visited Luther Park...it is worth the road trip. A great time to visit will the Heart for Luther Park event on August 6  (more information below in our newsletter.

God's Story...Our Story

5 simple steps to help bring your household closer to God and each other. 
  Click here    for this week's home devotion.

In honor of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation we invite you to de corate a paper Martin Luther cutout (available at Joy or on our web page)  an d  take a picture of Luther wherever you travel this summer.  Sen d back your photos and we will include them in the newsletter.  Let's see how far Marty travels.

Flat Luther

All women are invited to the JWELCA General Meeting to be held on Thursday, July 27 at 7:00 P.M. in the Fireside Room. (Please note change of date from that printed in the JWELCA Directory.) This is a meeting to plan the calendar of activities for 2017-18 and discuss matters pertinent to JWELCA. Everyone's input is welcomed so do plan to attend. Devotions will be given by Marcia Lindseth.

All women of Joy are invited to join our ecumenical sisters from the other churches in Prescott for Joy's Annual Summer Bible Study Retreat. 

This year it will be held on Wednesday, August 2 from 8:30 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. in the Joy Lutheran Church Fireside Room.  This year's Bible study is called "All Anew: Ready or Not."   It is written by Kelly Fryer, a pastor, teacher, entrepreneur and communicator.  She has taught leadership at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN and co-founded A Renewal Enterprise, a national firm that helps values-based organizations work more effectively.  Currently, Kelly serves as the executive director of the YWCA in southern Arizona. The Bible studies will focus on renewal in our churches, communities, society, and our own lives.  Three women from Joy Lutheran will lead the three sessions. The sessions for the morning study are as follows:  

Session one is "Say Goodbye to Nice." Nice is not the same as good.  Making nice is what you do to avoid upsetting people.  But Good knows there are more important things than your reputation, your balance sheet and whatever else it is you count on to make you comfortable.  Good does what matters.

Session two is "Stand with the Least of These."  God requires of those who live in privilege and comfort to recognize what God is up to and join in.  God is on a mission to love, bless and save the world.  If we are going to be a part of that mission, here is where it begins: Among he poor and those who have been displaced and disenfranchised.

Session three is "Upend the Tables." What is our responsibility when the very systems that have been put in place to protect people and make sure justice is done become tools to oppress?  Do we just stand by and allow injustice to continue?  

Bring a friend.  Hope to see you there!

The 8th Annual "Heart for Luther Park" event will be Sunday, August 6th, 2017. Heart for Luther Park is the main fundraiser for Luther Park. Mark your calendars and plan to attend this fun day at Luther Park. There will be food, pie and ice cream, a live auction, a silent auction, supervised activities to occupy children, visiting with folks and enjoying the peaceful setting of the camp. New this year will be the addition of Artisan Vendors!

 

The schedule for the day is as follows:

9:15 am                      Camp-Style Worship

10:00 am                      Browsing, Silent Auction, Craft Vendors Open

11:00 am                      Lunch (grilled chicken)

12:30 pm                      Live Auction Begins

3:00 pm                       Raffle Drawing

 

This event will be held at Luther Park's Main Site, 944 24 ¼ Street, north of Chetek on County Road M. (Look for signs.)

 

Luther Park is always looking for items for the Auctions. Already, Joy Lutheran Church has donated four Quilt Kit/Gift Baskets which Georgia Freidel and others assembled with the help of a Thrivent Grant. Thanks also to Ken and Deanna Roen who have donated two Watkins Gift Baskets for the Auctions and to Joan Schaack, Lynda Johnson, and Judy Hamann who have each donated a beautiful quilt for the Quilt Auction. Anyone else who would like to donate a quilt, an artisan piece, or a themed basket should do so by July 31st. Contact Marcia Lindseth or Georgia Freidel if you would like to make a donation. Because of generous people like we have at Joy, we can help raise funds for the ministry of Luther Park and help pass on the faith to the next generation - and that's what "Heart for Luther Park" is all about - "nurturing faith through holy play" for people of all ages.

All women are invited to the St. Croix Conference Summer Retreat on Thursday, August 10th, 8:15 A.M. - Noon at Zion Lutheran Church in Woodville, Wisconsin, co-hosted with Wilson Lutheran Church. In commemoration of the 500th anniversary year of the Reformation, the theme of the retreat is "Be Bold, Be Strong!" The speaker will be Pati Kachel, a gifted story-teller. She will tell the story of Katie Luther, a bold strong woman of faith who lived a fascinating life as a supportive wife of Martin Luther, mother, and homemaker. The morning will also include news from the recent WELCA Triennial Gathering and election of Conference Officers. An offering will be taken, half of which will go to the Synodical Women's Organization and Katie's Fund and the other half to the ministries of the women of Zion and Wilson Lutheran churches. The registration fee of $5.00/person will be paid by our own JWELCA. Take some time to come and enjoy a morning of inspiration and fellowship with your sisters from around our St. Croix Valley Conference. For more information or to arrange to car-pool, please contact Marcia Lindseth.

 

Joy is looking for a small group of people interested in and with the skills to archive and digitize the history of Joy!  We have the information in boxes and books and needs it to be combined and digitally archived for generations to come.  If you are interested in helping with this very important project, please contact the Church Office or Pastor Steve.  Thank You!

RINGING IN THE GARDEN

Try your hand at handbell-ringing in the St. Philip's garden on Monday, July 24, at 6:00 p.m.  Absolutely no experience necessary - you don't even need to read music! Join Bells of the Bluffs ringers to try a little Christmas in July and other fun, easy songs. This isn't a concert - it's a chance for you to give bells a try and see what makes them tick (ring!). Just bring yourself, a friend and possibly a hat and sunglasses, depending on the weather. If it's raining or too hot, we'll move the party inside. You can watch a video of a similar event last summer in Red Wing here: https://youtu.be/LuHcrW8_UeE .  See you in the garden on July 24!

The directories (both picture and address) are ready to pick up...they are also available on the church web page on a password protected page (please call the office for the password).

 If you have corrections please let the office know.   

Name Tag s... are a great way to help people remember your name.  We are working on a system to have more permanent name tags available, but for now any time you can wear one helps the rest of us get to know you. Thank you.

and want to catch up or share it with someone who might appreciate it. We record our worship each week and post it on our web page as well as the bottom of this weekly electronic newsletter.  Just click on the YouTube button.                   

Group meets on Wednesdays at 6:30pm in the Fireside Room

If you would like to give electronically you can do so through our web page

  Set up or manage my electronic giving

If you have a QR reader on your phone you can also access the page by scanning here
 

If you don't have a QR reader and still would like the convenience of working from your phone.  
We also have a church giving app called Give+  available as a free download.     How it works