December 2018 Newsletter
Here is what is happening at First Lutheran Church this month!

Worship Schedule
December 2 - 9
Worship: 8:30 am and 11 am
Education Hour: 9:45 am

December 16
Worship: 8:30 am and 11 am
Children's Christmas Program: 9:45 am

December 23
Worship: 10:00 am
"Greening" of the Sanctuary after Worship!
December 24
Christmas Eve Worship with Candlelight
5:00 pm, 7:00 pm & 10:30 pm

December 30
Worship: 10:00 am
No Education Hour

Communion served every Sunday

Worship at 8:30 am & 11 am
Christian Education 9:45 am
All are Welcome!
Pastor Berg's Blog:
We Are An Advent People
The prophet Habakkuk cries out to God,  "O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you 'Violence!' and you will not save?"  Words that God's people have cried out for over a millenia and words that are cried this very day for  children in Yemen , for  children separated from their families , for  children tear gassed . It is easy to fall into the trap of despair; to wonder if this all will ever change for us. But, like Habakkuk, we need to stand watch and witness to the world the way of faith, the way of our God, the way of the Prince of Peace.

Read the rest of the article here .
Journey Classes
Return in January!
5pm with dinner at 6:30 pm
Sunday, January 6, FLC member Kaaren Hatlen will present a class on the Federal Way based World Vision Relief Organization.

Sunday, January 13, The History of Bothell will be led by local author Margaret Turcott .
All are welcome!
If you'd like to provide a treat for the reception following the concert, please contact Cathy Tanner.
Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study, Saturday, December 15th: 9 – 10:30 AM
Please join other men from the congregation and community for breakfast and conversation! There’ll be food for the body, food for the soul and food for thought! A delicious breakfast will be served! Pastor Berg is leading another inspiring Bible Study. Please join us and bring a friend!
Everyone is invited!!!! All ages!!!! Join the fun! Please sign up on the youth board.
Roger Steinke's Notes
UPCOMING YOUTH ACTIVITIES:
Saturday, December 15th: Children’s Christmas Program Practice and Kid’s Time!  10 AM – 2 PM
The Sunday School Christmas Worship Practice starts at 10 AM and ends at 11 AM. A special “Kid’s–Time!” Event is planned from 11 AM to 2 PM. “Kid’s Time” begins immediately after the Sunday School Christmas Worship Practice. Children (Preschool – 6th Grade) will have some “Kid’s – Time!” away from Mom and Dad. Please watch for more information!

Sunday, December 16th, 9:45 – 10:30 AM
Children’s Christmas Program, A Christmas Play

Sunday, December 30:
Holiday Lunch at the Beardslee Public House!
11:30 AM - 1 PM  
Youth (Grades 9 – 12), young adults and College students, especially those who are away at school, are invited to this Holiday Lunch! Enjoy a delicious lunch with your friends at the Beardslee Public House in Bothell. Reconnect with “Old Friends” who are home for the holidays and celebrate “Old Times!” The Youth Committee is buying your lunch
Thank You for your college care package donations!
This is one way our college students, many who live far away from home, are reminded that their church remembers them in thoughts and prayers. Many thanks to the families who helped support the college care package assembly. Your gifts of food and cash are appreciated. 36 college care packages have been assembled and will be shipped during the first week of November
Looking Ahead! Save the Date!
First Lutheran Church Auction
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Help is needed!. Please contact Roger Steinke for more information.
December 2018
Our wonderful Christmas books are on display on the table outside the library. These beautiful books will enrich your Advent Christmas season. Check it out! 

New in our library: A photo of the BELL at First Lutheran Church Bothell.
The new photo is located on the wall next to the magazine rack with a brief history of the bell’s service to our church and community. The bell dates from l907 and this is its third bell tower. View this new addition to our library. 

January and February 2019 we will again be scanning our church historical documents. Please mark your calendar: January 9, January 23, February 13 and February 27 between 10:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M.  (volunteer times-- one hour)  Sign up sheets will be posted on the Library window early January 2019.  
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Giving

Pledges! s supporting resources.
You should have received an email or letter with 2019 pledge information, in November. If you haven't already submitted your pledge, the stewardship and finance committees would like to have them by December 5 to start next year's budget process. Thank you!
Social Ministry Update
December Outreach
Christmas is coming! This thought brings joy to many people, but to those persons in need it is a difficult time. During December our Change for Change effort will be to collect for providing holiday food for Hopelink clients. Please empty your wallets or pockets during the week into a baggie or small jar and place in the Change for Change jar located in the narthex. It is an easy way for everyone to contribute, and the change really does change peoples lives for the better!

The focus of donations to the Hopelink grocery cart will be food for the holidays as well as easy to prepare or heat food including flour, sugar, rice, cereals, peanut butter, condensed milk, pasta sauce, dry beans, canned tomatoes, fruit, oil and tuna.
 
December Monthly Outreach: $1,100.00 each, will go to Faith Action Network .
Our annual tradition of gift giving at Christmas to kids in our community has always been met with an overwhelming positive response and review. The giving tree was set up November 24th in the narthex, with tags for you and your family to take, buy and return with unwrapped gifts by December 9th.  We will deliver the gifts to Hopelink, and to Compass Housing Alliance on December 10th.  We appreciate your generosity all year long.
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.
Thank You The Social Ministries Committee purchased 50 pumpkin pies and cans of whipped cream to help Compass Housing residents with their Thanksgiving celebrations.  
Annual Report Time!
Attention all committee chairpersons, staff and group leaders! Time to start getting those annual reports written. Deadline for submission is January 6th. If you need a digital copy of last year's report, for inspiration, please contact Kris in the church office. Please submit all reports as word document. Thank you!
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: All are welcome!
Deborah: Wednesday, Dec. 5, 10:00 am, The Landing at FLC.
(Gather magazine subscription Bible study and articles.)
Contact: Bonnie Ahlstedt 360-805-1743 or bob.bon@comcast.net.

Hannah: Monday, Dec. 17, 6:30 pm, Fireside Room
Christian studies & fellowship
Call if child care needed
Contact: Linda Siebert 425-821-1703.

Rebecca Circle: Wednesday, Dec. 19, 10:00 am in the Landing. 
Women of the ELCA Gather Bible Study and articles
Contact: Barbara Thieme 425-898-8982

Quilters: Every Thursday, 9:00 am - noon
All are welcome, no experience needed! Tasks for any ability. Cutting and ironing can also be done at home.
Contact: Audrey Fisher 425-822-6143

Quilt-a-Thon for Lutheran World Relief
Fri. Oct. 19 (1:30 PM - 5 PM & 6 - 9 PM) Light supper at 5 pm
Sat. Oct. 20 (9 AM – 2 PM). Lunch at noon
Please sign up in the Narthex. Contact Audrey Fisher 425-822-6143.

WEDNESDAY, December 12, 2018 at NO0N, Christmas Potluck. Everyone is welcome. The Bothell High School Jazz Ensemble will be presenting seasonal music. Invite family, friends and neighbors to enjoy this popular event. A dish to share is appreciated.  

LOOKING AHEAD:
SATURDAY, January 5, 2019
JOINT BIBLE STUDY INTRODUCTION FOR GATHER MAGAZINE at Trinity Lutheran, Tacoma
Pastor Julie Kanarr will present the program.

SATURDAY, January 12, 2019 at 6:30 PM.  EPIPHANY BY STARLIGHT Dessert for Women.
Save this date. Enjoy an evening of music, dessert, fellowship and inspirational message. All women age 18 and older are invited. Please sign up with Cathy Tanner or Marilyn Iverson.  

JUNE 20-23, 2019 
REGION ONE GATHERING for (WA, OR, ID, AK, and MT), Embassy Suites, Hillsboro, OR
More details as the Oregon Synod finalize plans. At previous Region One Gatherings we have met some great speakers such Jane Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick is an Oregon fiction writer about inspiring women of courage such as the All Together in One Place. See Amazon or local book stores for her books.

THANK YOU to all the bakers, quilters and congregation for the Quilt and Bake Sale and to all those who participated in the Do Not Come Event. First Lutheran of Bothell is truly an inspiration every day, but especially on Sundays. 
Visit our Web Page !
Connect With Our Partners
Dear members of the Northwest Washington Synod:

As we enter this Advent season, the Bishop Nomination and Election Task Force offers up this weekly devotional (based on the lectionary) for use in your congregation. It includes a scripture reading, questions to ponder, and a prayer petition to help us as we enter this time of leadership discernment. Perhaps you will include it in your worship setting, small group gatherings, and/or share it via email or social media. We hope that it is a blessing to you.

Find the devotional HERE 

Many thanks to Pastor Kristy Daniels for her writing and to Laura Norton for her calligraphy. 
First Lutheran Church | 425-486-2314 | 425-297-4898 |office@flcbothell.org |flcbothell.org