Our Mission Statement We of Joy Lutheran Church foster  grace-filled relationships with Christ through worship, fellowship, and service.

Notes of Joy - Week of March 21, 2021

Gospel: John 12:20-33 God promises Jeremiah that a “new covenant” will be made in the future: a covenant that will allow all the people to know God by heart. The church sees this promise fulfilled in Christ, who draws all people to himself when he is lifted up on the cross. Our baptismal covenant draws us to God’s heart through Christ and draws God’s love and truth into our hearts. We join together in worship, sharing in word, song, and meal, and leave strengthened to share God’s love with all the world.

Sunday, March 21 Worship In-person and Online Fifth Sunday in Lent Sunday School and Confirmation are after worship at 10:15am. Our Sunday worship is also available on the Facebook app at 9:30 am., or online any time after 10:15am. CLICK HERE TO GO TO FACEBOOK Link to Sunday bulletin

Holy Week Schedule April 2 Good Friday Service - 7:00pm April 4 Easter Worship - 8:30am .......... Easter Worship - 10:30am  (no Sunday School or Confirmation on Easter) We will have an Easter egg hunt at 10:00am between worship services.

SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING Sunday, March 28 10:15 a.m. Agenda: Calling of Pastoral Candidate Sean Avery and Compensation Package  What a successful opportunity we had to meet and greet our pastoral candidate Sean Avery this past weekend. The next step on the Call process is to hold a Congregational Meeting to formally vote on the candidate and approve the compensation package. This meeting is scheduled for Sunday, March 28th right after the regular service at approximately 10:15 am. This is also Palm Sunday so we might count our votes by a show of palms!

Easter Sunday We will have two services, allowing room between people as we continue to follow COVID protocols. We will need 2 ushers at each service to help people come forward in staggered 6 ft. rhythms as they receive holy communion.  Please sign up on the sheet provided on our Opportunities bulletin board.  For the time being, we will continue to use "pre-filled" cups and wafers. Remember, what makes communion holy is Jesus. He promises to come to us through the bread and wine/juice as we gather in His name, and Pastor Karen pronounces the Words of Institution at the altar: "In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took the bread... and said, ‘do this in remembrance of me’... After supper, he took the cup and said, ‘do this for the forgiveness of your sin’.“ It is not the containers, but rather the elements and Jesus’ promises as we gather that make this a holy sacrament.

Easter Egg Hunt We would appreciate any donations for our small Easter Egg hunt for children on Easter Sunday: plastic egg containers, wrapped candy. We hope to have the older youth hide the eggs. More information forthcoming.

What's Happening in Confirmation? Confirmation Class made food packets Sunday as we studied the miracle of Jesus feeding the multitudes. They included notes (like “You are important and loved ” or "Hope this helps" or "God loves you"), and then took them to the Blessings Box down at Eagle River's Sleepy Dog Coffee shop. People in need can help themselves to the Blessings Box.  Some of our other members also like to add to the shelves.

Sunday School!  Still having fun Every Sunday 10:15 after worship  Here was our craft last week  John 3:16

Wednesday Lenten Services Midweek Lent Services will be provided virtually every Wednesday at 7:00pm. A link to the service will be sent out each week in a special "Notes of Joy."

LOOKING FOR A CHANCE TO GIVE CREATIVELY? This Spring we hope to have a FUNDRAISER. Details are still being ironed out. The funds raised will go toward the one-time Moving Expenses of our new Pastor. Right now we have $3,000 toward our $9,000 goal. We hope to have a Silent Auction where we contribute items that will be silently bid on. We may post some of these on-line in addition to having items displayed along with a bidding sheet at Church over the span of 1-week.  Think creatively: hand crocheted items, quilts, runners, wooden bird houses, seedlings you've got started for gardens, a weekend at your cabin, a home-made pie, lefse...you name it! If you would like to give a financial gift, beyond your regular giving, simply put a note that you would like your check directed toward pastoral moving expenses. If it’s an electronic gift, click Special Offering and let the office know it’s for moving expenses. Thank you!

Joy of Reading Book Club Our Book Club meets the 3rd Monday of the month at 6:30 PM.  We read a wide variety of books and have a wide variety of discussions!   We are ready to start in-person meetings again in the church Fellowship Hall.  Zoom meetings helped us get through COVID, but we look forward to getting together in person again.   April’s book is How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior   May’s book is The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah   Please feel free to come, even if you have not read the book; we all need the socialization!            PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS for the June 11th book club anniversary celebration at the beautiful Nancy Lake cabin of Gerry Norene.

Children's Message - Saturday at Noon Pr. Karen records a 3-5 minute message for young people each week. The Children's Message is available on Facebook every Saturday at noon. Click the Facebook link above.

Library We have a Church library filled with children and adult books on the West side of the building. Free lending.... take one home and return after you have finished reading.

Food Pantry Donations Needed!  This can be a very difficult time for families. Bring your food donations to church on Sunday or you’re welcome to call ahead to drop them during the week.  Special need: empty egg cartons

‌

Visit our website

Donate

The next Church Council meeting is Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 7:00pm