October 2017 Newsletter
Here is what is happening at First Lutheran Church this month!

Worship Schedule

September 2017
Worship: 8:30 & 11 am
Education Hour: 9:45 am

Communion served every Sunday
We especially need help on Saturday, Oct. 21, Sunday, Oct. 22, Monday, Oct. 23 and Wednesday, Oct. 25. Thank you!
Pastor Berg's Message
Reforming Lives Reform the World

This October we will mark the 500th anniversary of the day Rev. Dr. Martin Luther, an Augustinian Monk, University Professor of Old Testament, and Preacher at the Wittenberg Church, nailed 95 Theses (or arguments) against the selling of indulgences (or get out of purgatory cards). This action, which Rev. Dr. Luther did to spur a conversation in his community, was the match to the tinder of an explosive revolution. 

These theses walked through an argument that can be summed up in this way: If God offers forgiveness freely, how can the church make people pay for it? 

For the rest of the article, click here .
All are welcome!
Several fall dates available! Sign up in the narthex!
Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study
Saturday, October 21, 9 – 10:30 am
Come and join other men from the congregation for breakfast and conversation! There will be food for the body, food for the soul and food for thought! Roger Steinke is preparing a delicious breakfast spread. Pastor Berg will lead an inspiring Bible study and discussion. Please join us! 
At their last meeting, the church council voted to set up a Disaster Preparedness task force. 
We’ve all witnessed the disastrous, recent hurricanes and the earthquake in Mexico City; we see the disruption and havoc on human life, communities and whole countries. Locally, we are told that it is not if, but when a massive earthquake will hit western Washington. 
The FLC council wishes to form an initial leadership group to discern the immediate effect an earthquake will have on First Lutheran Church members, the church building and our community. 
Persons who have an interest in learning more about disaster preparedness and/or providing leadership in the congregation, please contact Paul A. Anderson at Email: paul.a.anderson49@comcast.net ; cell: 206-914-1424 or home: 425-485-9883.
Roger Steinke's Notes
UPCOMING YOUTH ACTIVITIES:
Camp Gilead Fall Retreat
Friday, October 6th – Saturday, October 7th
All confirmation students in Grades 7–8 and high school students in Grades 9 – 12 are also invited to attend and help serve as small group leaders. Please meet at First Lutheran at 4 pm on Friday (10/6);  Activities include bible study, games, hayride, put-put golf, pond games and much more! Our friends from Peace Lutheran in Puyallup are joining us! Cost is only $30 per person (scholarship help is available). Please sign up on the youth board.  

College Care Package Donations Are Needed! Our college students, many who are far away from home, are reminded that their church family remembers them. Donations of treats, snack foods and cookies will be collected. Please look for the College Care Package Donation container in the church narthex before October 22nd. Questions? Contact Roger.

College Student Current Address Updates! Please forward your college student's current address to Roger or the church office by Sunday, October 22nd, so that your students can be included in the College Care Package shipment.

College Care Package Assembly,
Sunday, October 29, 12:15 – 2 PM 
Elementary, Middle School and High School Youth are all invited to help assemble College Care Packages.
Looking ahead:
Open Door Ministries Auction
Saturday, November 4
Young people are needed to help with the Auction. Contact Roger.

Youth Sunday Worship Planning Meeting
Sunday, November 5th, 12:15 - 2 PM

Youth Sunday, Dream BIG!
Sunday, November 12
Thank you library patrons! You are enjoying our library resources, and remembering to return the books. We appreciate your use and care of our library. Keep checking out !  
 
Two new books in our library:
 
Recently available:  Images of Bothell (Arcadia publishing), a history of Bothell in pictures, by Margaret Turcott. Margaret and her husband Jim regularly worship at the 8:30 a.m. worship service. 
 
With numerous historical photos, stories of our early settlements and the new community of Bothell, new appreciation is given to this special community on the Sammamish River. You will gain new insight into the roll our church played in Bothell’s early development. 
 
Waterbugs and Dragonflies ,  by Doris Stickeny . A graceful fable explaining death to children in a nice and delicate way. 
 
Show Us Your Summer 2017 photo contest.
 
Photos should be submitted by October 8, 2017 
 
Here is how you can participate: 
 
Select one photo from your photo library of 2017 summer/fall events which you would like to submit to Show Us Your Summer 2017 photo contest.  
 
Then: 
Have an 8x10 print of your one photo made and mount on cardboard.[change from previous years—cardboard rather than foam ] Include your name, a title for your photo entry, date, location and information you want to include—especially if this is a group event or portrait.  
 
Bring your mounted photo to our church library and place it in the blue basket on the file cabinet right next to the door.  
 
All photos will be displayed in our gallery show and judged by a professional photographer. Award photos will be framed and in our library for 2018—a year on display.  

Questions: Sue Toyoda 206-890-0017 or Ann Aagaard:425-488-8418 

CHECK IT OUT!
    
Happy Birthday to our 80+ Year Olds!
Bell Tower Donations Report
Thank you for your gifts to the Bell Fund!
Good news! We have reached our fund raising goal of $53,000. Gabbert Architecture will manage construction. We are waiting for the last of the bids for cement work.
Social Ministry Update
Special Request!
A new family has moved into Heritage Park, a Hopelink apartment in Bothell, and they are in need of everything. 
Please call Janet and Tim Jorve ( 206-914-2065) if you have gently used furniture: A bed, mattresses, bedding, a couch, lamps, end tables, kitchen supplies.
Thank you!
October Outreach
Money deposited in the Change for Change jar in September will be used to support Hopelink's food bank.

The focus of donations to the Hopelink grocery cart in June will be for baby supplies (formula, baby food, diapers, baby wipes, etc.)
 

October Monthly Outreach: $1,000.00 will go to Foss Home, Seattle .
If you would like to donate to Hurricane Relief through Lutheran Disaster Relief, click here .
Scrip and Other Passive Fundraising for First Lutheran Church!
We have several opportunities for earning money while you shop for FLC's many social ministry programs:
  1. Buy Scrip on Sunday mornings or sign up for Shop with Scrip. Many vendors are available for instant purchase and redemption from your mobile phone in the Shop with Scrip program. No more writing checks; the money is automatically deducted from your checking account using Presto Pay. (The profit margin for scrip is not great enough to support credit card payments.) Scrip returns anywhere from 3 - 12% of your purchases to FLC! You can buy grocery cards, movie tickets, Amazon, even Groupon - the list is great!
  2. Sign up for Amazon Smile and name First Lutheran Church as your charity. Every time you shop with Amazon Smile FLC receive .05% of your purchase price. You can still use Amazon Prime. Get your kids to sign up, too!
  3. Link your Fred Meyer rewards card to their Community Rewards program for First Lutheran Church. All of your purchases will result in a quarterly donation to FLC.
  4. Sign up for Bartell's B Caring Program, and name First Lutheran Church as your charity.
Looking Ahead
Registration opens on October 1!
Women of First Lutheran Church (WFLC or WELCA)
The Women of First Lutheran Church (WFLC) is a local organization of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (WELCA). All women at FLC are considered members of both WFLC and WELCA. You are invited to participate in any of the bible study circles, WFLC sponsored events and/or regional and national events.
Bible Study opportunities available:
Deborah: Wednesday, October 4, 2017, 10:00 am, The Landing at FLC. 
Women of the ELCA Gather Magazine bible study. 
Contact: Bonnie Ahlstedt 360-805-1743

Hannah: Monday, October 16, 6:30 pm, Fireside Room, 
Child care available
Contact: Linda Siebert 425-821-1703.

Rebecca Circle: Wednesday, October 18, 10:00 am in the Landing. 
Women of the ELCA Gather Bible Study and articles
Contact: Barbara Thieme 425-898-8982

Tuesday, October 10, 9:30 am. Women of First Lutheran Church board meeting. (Note date change)

Thank you to all who donated and attended our September shower for Eastside Baby Corner. Especially thank you to the Jorve’s and Hillard’s for loading up their trucks and delivering gifts to EBC. If you still have some items to donate to EBC, place items in the box in the Caring Corner or contact Dawn Bastin at 425-471-8084 / dawnbrewster119@gmail.com.

NW WA Synodical Women’s Organization Convention October 7, 2017, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lynnwood. Theme: Dancing through the Waters, Exodus 15:20 focusing on Miriam’s story. Worship Leaders: Pastor Joan Beck and Pastor Heidi Fish. $45.00 registration includes lunch. See Women’s bulletin board for registration form and program.

Visit our Web Page !
From Our Partners
From the Cascadia Parish
From The Lutheran World Federation - 500th Anniversary of the Reformation Motto:  We are Liberated by God’s Grace.

The Lutheran World Federation, which has 145 member churches in 98 countries and over 70 million members, including the ELCA, has produced a document to support the 500th commemoration of the Reformation called: We are liberated by God's grace: Across the world Lutherans are offering God’s grace revealed through Christ to God’s people everywhere. 
One of the highlights of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 is the Twelfth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation that will meet in Namibia in May under the theme “Liberated by God’s Grace”. 
To read more click on the link above pick up the full article from the news shelf in the narthex.
October 22, 5 pm - Cascadia Parish Joint Worship
Faith Lutheran, Redmond
Lutheran Churches from across our parish join together for music and worship! The FLC bus will be available for ridse. Contact Roger Steinke.

October 29, 3 - 5 pm - Joint Catholic-Lutheran Worship
St. James Cathedral, Seattle
Archbishop J. Peter Sartain & Bishop B. Kirby Unti will lead a joint Catholic - Lutheran service marking this milestone 500th anniversary of the reformation!
From Lutheran Counseling Network 
Faith and Everyday Life - October 2017

God’s Too

There are a lot of ways to read this one. Here, the “too” is a noun. It is a something God gives that is “in addition” to what you have already. It is a gift. 
It is like, “Have another … “(you fill in the blank). It is about abundance. You think you are full? Well I have a surprise for you! There is more so take this one too!
God can do this endlessly, but humans are a bit more limited. When a new relationship starts out, they are “toos”. You can’t wait to give another one and you can’t wait to see what the next one will be. They happen naturally.
But over time, the spontaneous giving of “toos” doesn’t flow so naturally and sometimes each person can give a little less. Sometimes one person keeps giving and begins to protest that the other is being stingy. This can start a cycle of resentment, at which point the person who gets labeled as stingy gives even fewer ”toos”. You can see where this is going, can’t you?
Breaking the cycle can be tricky. Who will go first, the person demanding or the person withholding? Tailoring to each other’s needs can lead to a more fulfilling relationship for both partners.
What might it be like to realize that there is such an abundance of, well, whatever you need, that you no longer felt desperate? What if you really believed that God says, “Here, have what you need, and then have another one too, and another and another and one for good measure?”
If we were full of “toos”, it might it be easier to stop and say, “This isn’t working. Could we just exchange a “too” and start over?”

Lutheran Counseling Network
An Evening with Rick Steves

Lutheran Peace Fellowship invites you to meet a remarkable Lutheran public figure: Rick Steves! Rick is host and producer of Travel with Rick Steves on NPR, and Rick Steves’ Europe on PBS. You may also recall that he created and narrated a superb film on Luther and the Reformation... He will speak about how travel and faith shape his politics and commitment to peace. In the second part of this multimedia program, he will share the latest on travel in Europe:
Sunday, October 8, 2017
Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, 
10021 NE 124th St, Kirkland, WA 

7 pm, Talk by Rick Steves (general admission $15 in advance; $18 at door, $8 student/limited income).
6 pm, Reception with Rick Steves ($50, with talk)

Tickets available from LPF, or online at Brown Paper Tickets.

Our thanks to Rick Steves for his generosity in donating the proceeds to Lutheran Peace Fellowship to further its efforts towards peace with justice in our troubled world For more information: Alice McCain, 360.328.0920 or Glen Gersmehl, LPF Nat. Coord., 206.349.2051 lpf@ecunet.org
More Bothell Fun!
Lefse Making Class
Sons Of Norway in Bothell
October 21, 9 am - Noon
$15, members; $20, non-members
Registration required - Mike Nelson
425-486-5275

Learn lodge member, Elesa Hanson's recipe!
Connect With Our Partners
First Lutheran Church | 425-486-2314 | 425-297-4898 |office@flcbothell.org |flcbothell.org