For me, as your pastor, it is a nightmare. This is the season, in many ways, I am on my "A" game. I know the themes, the messages and the purpose of this time. From Ashes to resurrection, from pain to healing, from guilt to forgiveness, I got this. Except, here I sit in bed, tapping on my computer wondering if I need yet another nap.

If you are unable to attend in person the service may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/@firstlutheranchurchofbothe6600/streams

Join us in the narthex 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.

Are you celebrating 60 years of marriage in 2023? Several FLC members who are celebrating 60 years of marriage would like to share a Sunday fellowship time to celebrate with the FLC church family. If you are marking a 60th anniversary we want to include you in the planning. Please contact Ann or Knut Aagaard, Sandy or Allen Glenn, or Donna or Dave Hillard. 

The Church Council welcomed newly-elected council members David Berg, Emily Curcio, Christy Freriks (2nd term), Kathy Konieczka, and Jacky Schnarre. We humbly thank Holly Batstone, Karen Johnson, Craig Lichtenstein and Randall Wampler for the invaluable gifts of service that they have given FLC during their tenure on the council.

The council would also like to thank all those who helped produce the Youth Auction and all who supported it. It was an incredible success!

The council members have selected which committees on which to serve as liaisons to FLC’s various committees. Our website and the council bulletin board should be updated within the next week or two to reflect this information. The council has also decided to continue to reach out to our membership by aligning a council member with each member of FLC. A council member should contact you, either by email, mail or phone, within the next month to introduce themselves.

As mentioned during the annual meeting, there are two educational opportunities coming up this spring. The first is a LiVE (Living into Vocational Engagement) project retreat that FLC will host at our church on Saturday, April 1st, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The title of the retreat is “Spirit Stirring and Creation Care.” The second opportunity is the Synod gathering “Equip the Saints for the Work of Ministry,” to be held at Salem Lutheran (Mount Vernon) on Saturday, May 13th and St. Andrews (Bellevue) on Saturday, May 20th. The FLC bus has been reserved for May 20th so that we can share the ride and take a few cars off the road. Pastor Berg has volunteered to drive the bus. Please watch for more information as details become available.

Last, the draft copy of 2023’s annual meeting minutes is available for your review. Please click here to download a copy or contact Kristin Smith.

Yours in Christ because He lives,

Ho Brown

Council President

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

Young people in Grades 1 – 6 are invited to attend the Camp Lutherwood Elementary Retreat on Friday, March 10 to Saturday, March 11. 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.

Currently, a group of 5 youth and 2 adults are signed up to attend. Rachel Jackman and Roger Steinke are attending as Adult Leaders. Please Sign Up on the Youth Board!  Questions? Please contact Roger.

Youth in Grades 7 – 12 are invited to attend an afternoon of play at the FUN CENTER in Tukwila!  Please meet at the Church at 12:15 AM after Worship for this FUN event. Please bring $25 to help cover the cost of admission and lunch. Please bring along extra money if you want to purchase additional tokens above and beyond the “160 Value Ticket” and/or additional food and refreshments.  We will return to the Church at around 5:30 PM. Please Sign-Up on the Youth Board. Scholarship help is available, please contact Roger.

From war-torn Syria to the 2016 Rio Olympics, two young sisters embark on a harrowing journey as refugees, putting both their hearts and champion swimming skills to heroic use. Sisters Yusra and Sarah Mardini fled their home country of Syria in 2015 when their house was destroyed during the civil war. They journeyed to Lebanon and then onto Turkey where they arranged to be smuggled into Greece on a dinghy. However, the refugees were in the middle of the Aegean Sea when the engine of the overcrowded dinghy cut out and the pair, plus two others who could swim, were responsible for saving the lives of those on board. Just a year after their harrowing experience Yusra competed in two swimming events at the Rio Olympics as part of the Refugee Olympic team. (Summary by IMDb)

MOVIE REVIEW: Please watch the movie prior to our ZOOM Movie Review. “The Swimmers” is currently available to watch on Netflix and YouTube. 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.

The FLC Book Discussion Group has been meeting regularly, via Zoom on the fourth Tuesday of each month, since August of 2020. We have read and discussed a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction books, including poetry, a graphic novel, racial and social justice themes, religious/spiritual stories, and mysteries/thrillers. We typically spend about 60-75 minutes discussing symbolism, themes, storylines, and how the book might relate to our present life. Many of our discussion participants often say that they learned as much about the book during the discussion as they did reading the book.

The FLC Library Committee and I recently solicited nominations for future books, voted on them, and assigned them to upcoming months. We try to rotate discussion leaders for the books; if you see a book that strikes your interest, and would like to volunteer to lead the discussion, please let the Library Committee or me know. We hope you can join us in our future interesting, challenging, and fun discussions!

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

On Sunday Feb 12, 2023 your First Lutheran Bothell Endowment Committee presented a check to the church for $3,000.00 in support of the entry remodel and upgrade project. Kae Peterson chair of the committee explained that the endowed fund interest supports worthy church projects and student scholarships to Lutheran colleges. Most of the funds come from estate gifts and in memory gifts. If you would like information on including FLCB in your will or estate plan please reach out to the committee and we can provide resources to assist you. Thank you to all who have supported this fund I the past. This is truly the gift that will keep on giving!!!

Presenting the check is Gordy Phelps and Ryan Stute endowment committee members. Accepting the check is Ho Brown, council president and council member Christy Freriks.

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.

March 3rd is recognized annually as World Wildlife Day. This day was set aside by the United Nations as an international day to celebrate all of the world's wild flora and fauna and the contributions that they make to our lives and to the health of our planet. The date was selected because it’s the birthday of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES was signed in 1973, which adds to the celebration of the earth’s wildlife as it turns 50 years old this year!

Solar Appreciation Day is celebrated annually on the second Friday in March, which falls on March 10th this year. The ability to create an electrical charge from solar light was first observed in 1839. This eventually led to the exploration and development of pairing solar energy and technology to create alternative means for self-sufficient heat and energy sources. In the long run, we are protecting our planet, but there are issues regarding the amount of non-recyclable waste produced by solar panels that still cause concern.

To complement Solar Appreciation Day, National Renewable Energy Day is recognized on March 21st of every year. This day focuses on the dangers associated with over-exploiting fossil fuels and also recognizes the benefits associated with using natural and renewable energy sources.

Each year, on the last Saturday of March, at 8:30 p.m. local time, landmarks and homes all over the world in over 190 countries and territories show support for our planet by celebrating Earth Hour. This year Earth Hour is on Saturday, March 25th. To recognize and support the critical state of our planet, all you need to do is sit at home in your favorite chair, lean back and relax and turn your lights off for 1 hour.

Will you give 1 hour to our creator and raise awareness of humankind’s impact on our shared planet, including climate change, wildlife endangerment, the destruction of natural habitats and the exploitation of our natural resources? Please spread the word to family and friends and let’s all join together in 1 hour of darkness that will help us all see the light.

The 2023 Youth Auction held on Sunday, February 5th was a huge success!    

Dear members and friends of First Lutheran Church Bothell, Thank You so very much for your generosity, help and support with the Youth Ministries of First Lutheran Church!

The Youth Auction raised over $22,000 to support our youth! Around 110 attended the auction.  Participants enjoyed the Taco Lunch Buffet, the Silent Auction, Cake Auction, Live Auction, FUN and Fellowship. A group of 30 youth and adults helped prepare, set up, serve and clean up.  Special thanks to David Osborne for stepping in and serving as our Auctioneer!  One person summed it up by saying, “What a Wonderful Feel-Good Event!”

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.