Nora came into my office and sat down, wearily. She said, "When you said on Sunday that you were tired, that really resonated with me!" We spoke about how we are just not able to find the energy we once had. The joy in life is harder and harder to find. I attended the Byberg Preaching Workshop and sat with 80 other rostered leaders, and we all agreed, that we are tired.

This malaise (a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or uneasiness whose exact causer is difficult to identity) is certainly attached to the trauma of a three year pandemic. But, also, before the pandemic we were talking about the radical changes already at work on us. The coupling of these realities has settled into our bones, I think. It has stubbornly stuck to our emotions and has glued us to the floor.

Come to the Fellowship Hall to learn all the ways you can serve the FLC community! It's fun, and you'll get to know others in at First Lutheran Church! Please contact Stephanie Almeida for more information.

New FLC Council Officers: Ho Brown, President; Stephanie Almeida, Vice President; Johannes Skjonsby, Secretary.

2023 FLC Council members: David Berg (new), Emily Curcio (new), Gary Curtis, Jess Faubion, Christy Freriks (renewed), Kathy Konieczka (new), Jean Peterson, Kristi Pyne and Jacky Schnarre (new).

Due to Vacations, there will not be a

Join other congregation and community members for breakfast and conversation! There will be “food for the body, food for the soul and food for thought!” A group of 17 men typically attend. Please join us for discussion and enrichment. Questions to Roger Steinke.

The Annual Youth Auction supports the Youth Ministries of First Lutheran Church. 

12:15 PM  Appetizers and Silent Auction Begin

12:45 PM  Taco Bar Lunch Begins (All you can eat!)

1:30 PM  Live Auction and Cake Auction Begin

2:15 PM  Youth Auction Ends 

Please join us! All are welcome! Tickets available at the door!

Email Roger Steinke for more information.

The Burial of Kojo is a 2018 Ghanaian drama film written, composed and directed by Blitz Bazawule. Produced by Bazawule, Ama K. Abebrese and Kwaku Obeng Boateng, it was filmed entirely in Ghana on a micro-budget, with local crew and several first-time actors. The film tells the story of Kojo, who is left to die in an abandoned gold mine, as his young daughter Esi travels through a spirit land to save him.” Rotten Tomatoes rates this movie with a score of 100%.

MOVIE REVIEW:  Please watch the movie prior to our ZOOM Movie Review. “The Burial of Kujo” is currently available to watch on Netflix, Bing.com Videos and MSN online. Our discussion will begin with a review of the main parts of the movie. We will also explore some of the spiritual themes of the movie and share corresponding Bible verses during our discussion. Join us! Questions? Contact Roger.  

Here are some photo tips for your Share Your Favorite Photo:

Submit 8x10 Photo prints SOON! Place in basket on desk in Library.

Questions: Contact Linda Siebert  

"Viewing an image for the first time always evokes some kind of feeling. Sometimes they can make us sad, happy, or angry. Sometimes they force us to look inward at ourselves. That's called an impact, and the more powerful the image, the more powerful the emotional response of the viewer." Those words come from the Professional Photographers of America 12 Points of a Merit Image, a guide to PPA's annual photo competition. 

Photos with impact have a clear subject and generally have a strong focal point. The Dramatic light from sunrise, sunset, or following a storm can add to the impact of a photo.

Listed below are ways for you to share with First Lutheran even when you can't attend in person:

* Mail in your checks. We are still doing weekly deposits.

* Set up electronic giving by using the Give Online button at flc.bothell.org, or calling Vanco services at 800-675-7430. Note: there is a one time fee to FLC for the set up of bank to bank transactions. There are approximately 3% transaction fees on all credit card donations, making credit card and debit card giving more effective if combined into a monthly transaction, rather than smaller amounts, weekly.

* Set up one time or auto payments through your bank’s pay service

Thank you for your faithfulness.

The Finance Committee

Bob Berg, Chair

CHANGE FOR CHANGE All money received in the Change for Change jar will be used to support HOPELINK food bank.

HOPELINK helps homeless and low-income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities gain stability, while providing others with the tools and skills they need to exit poverty for good. HopeLink is not accepting food or other goods at this time. Click here for donation information.

Purchase your Scrip gift cards on Sunday morning before and after worship or this is an excellent time to set up Shop with Scrip and Presto Pay for instant Scrip purchases and redemption on your smart phone. This is a super easy way to continue to support FLC's Scrip program. (See below for more information.)

If you have questions email Gordy Phelps.

The FLC Creation Care team would like to introduce a new logo that supports our social statement and our church’s work on the care of God’s creation. The blue arrow at the top represents the sky and the heavens while the green arrow on the bottom represents the earth. The hands of a 7-year-old child are holding a seedling of a bay laurel, as the future of our world is in our hands and in the hands of the generations to come. The bay laurel, mentioned in the Bible, symbolizes victory. The Creation Care team designed the logo and has gifted it to FLC. As a daily reminder, the team had refrigerator magnets made with the logo on them and distributed the magnets during the Vision for Mission – 2025 updates held last month. If you didn’t get one, please check with the office. A limited supply is still available. 

World Wetlands Day

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance was held in Ramsar, Iran in February, 1971. Annually, on February 2nd, we celebrate the work initiated by that convention. The mission of the convention is "the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world." When the treaty became effective on December 21, 1975, only 7 countries had signed on. Today, there are over 170 countries who have committed to prioritizing the importance of wetlands and freshwater around the world and their impact on our global ecosystem. The U.S. became a contracting party on December 18,1986, and has 41 sites, 4,656,830 acres, designated as Ramsar sites.  

National Skip the Straw Day

On the fourth Friday of every February, we are encouraged to skip the straw and save not only the planet but all living things on the planet. Plastic straws are not recyclable, so end up in landfills, water ways and oceans, polluting our environment and endangering our oceanic and land wildlife as well as humans. It takes over 200 years for plastic straws to decompose into microplastics, which then can invade the bodies of all living things with yet-to-be-known consequences. This year, National Skip the Straw Day is on February 24th, but you can participate every day simply by not purchasing or using this less than necessary utensil. If not before, make 2/24/2023 the last straw! 

Submitted by Christy Freriks and Ho Brown, FLC Church Council

Young people in Grades 1 – 6 are invited to attend the Camp Lutherwood Elementary Retreat. This “Over Nighter” includes Bible Study, Campfire, Games, Music, Outdoor Experiences and much more!  Youth from other church groups will help fill the camp! Be prepared for some ultimate camp fun! Cost is $30 per person (includes Friday dinner & lodging and Saturday meals).  Please meet at the church at 3:30 PM on Friday. We will leave at 3:45 PM on Friday and return to the church on Saturday night at 8:00 PM.  Rachel Jackman and Roger Steinke are attending as Adult Leaders. Please sign up on the Youth board by Sunday, February 19.  Questions? Ask Roger.

July 6 – 9, 2023 The Western States Youth Gathering (WSYG) at California Lutheran University. Youth entering Grades 9 – 12 in the Fall of 2023 (and 2023 High School Graduates) are all invited to attend. A group of youth and adults from First Lutheran Church Bothell is being assembled. Our group will leave Seattle on Wednesday, July 5th and return on either Tuesday, July 11th or Wednesday, July 12th. Please Sign-Up on the Youth Board. Registration for this event has opened. Please contact Roger with any questions regarding the WSYG.

Sunday, August 13 – Friday, August 18 Camp Lutherhaven Summer Mission Trip. This event is open to Middle School and High School students. Please watch for more information.