Worship Schedule
Sundays with Holy Communion 10 am
Please join us for worship. Contact Pastor Berg or Kristin Smith for the Zoom links. Zoom meetings can be accessed via your smart phone, computer, tablet or, for audio only, by phone. Download the zoom app today!
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All are Welcome!
Pentecost Sunday is May 23. Wear Red!
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My Story, Your Story, God's Story
Rev. Tor K. Berg
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The pen is mightier than the sword.
Words can create love that can last a lifetime.
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God.
When asked to summarize how I think about ministry I often say I am the curator of stories: my story, other's stories and God's story. Weaving these together into a story of salvation is an honor and a privilege that I do not take for granted. I believe that storytelling that is embedded in truth telling is one of the most powerful works we do as a people of God.
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Dear First Lutheran Family,
On behalf of Vicki and me, please know how truly blessed we feel to have such a caring family to give us so much support during this difficult time. We are truly blessed! I am healing well from back surgery and hope to be back to work sometime this summer. Blessings again. He is Risen, he is risen indeed!.
Love, Kevin and Vicki Kastning
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From the FLC Council's Reopening Committee
Re-Opening Goals:
June 7 - FLC Office Reopens
September 12, Rally Sunday - Return to In-Person Sunday Worship
Zoom Sunday Worship is ongoing.
Small Group In-Person Meetings at FLC - Paused until Covid number reduce. Please check back after monthly FLC Council meetings for updates.
The FLC Council uses Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery in making re-opening decisions. To see the current state of cases and vaccinations, please visit:
Please note that all people entering the FLC building or using the parking lot for meetings must complete a temperature check and wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth. In addition, they must hand sanitize and complete the CDC Covid Self-checker, found here, This must be done even if you are fully vaccinated. Questions to Christy Freriks. |
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KAAREN HATLEN HOSTING WORLD VISION EVENT
Over the past two years, First Lutheran has brought clean water to over 236 people! That is clean water to drink, wash their hands, clean their dishes, do the laundry, and do so much more. Team World Vision is inviting each of YOU into a season of health, community and purpose in this season of isolation and uncertainty. If you are afraid of training or fundraising, know that YOU CAN DO THIS! Sign up for the 7 Day 6k, the week of May 16th, and move your feet to get children clean water to wash their hands and protect themselves from the spread of diseases like COVID-19. Click here for more World Vision information. Questions??? Contact Kaaren Hatlen at [email protected]
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Women's Bible Study & Fellowship opportunities available:
Deborah: May 11, 10:30 am on Zoom. Everyone is invited to join as we explore The Gift of Intergenerational Friendships by Rev. Violet Cucciniello Little. Please watch the video introducing May's Bible study at gathermagazine.org.
Rebecca Circle: May 19, 10 am on Zoom. Everyone is welcome!
Contact: Barbara Thieme 425-898-8982
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Men’s ONLINE Breakfast and Bible Study via Zoom!
Saturday, May 15, 9 – 10:15 am.
Come join other men from the congregation and community online for breakfast and conversation! There will be food for the body, food for the soul and food for thought! A group of 15 men attended the April 2021 online breakfast. Please join us from the comfort of your own home for discussion and enrichment.
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Roger Steinke's Notes
Director of REACH Ministries
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AGES
Education Classes for all Ages are held virtually on Zoom. Classes begin at 9 AM and end at 9:45 AM. You and your family are invited to grow in your faith and in your knowledge of God’s Word! Please join in the First Lutheran Church Faith Journey!
SUNDAY SCHOOL: (2-year-olds through 6th Grade)
Sunday School is offered for 2-year-olds through 6th Grade. The Sunday School Opening begins at 9 AM. The Opening includes an introduction to the Lesson of the Day, special music (songs from Camp, VBS and the Hymnal), some guests and unexpected surprises. After the Opening, students will join for a Bible Lesson and group activities. We are currently planning a combined class for students in Nursery – 2nd Grade and a second combined class for students in 3rd – 6th Grades. Please contact Roger Steinke for additional information.
CONFIRMATION CLASS: (Grades 7 - 8)
A Combined 7th - 8th Grade Confirmation Class will also meet virtually on Zoom. Please contact Roger with any questions regarding the Confirmation Program.
THE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS: (Grades 9 – 12)
Through Bible Study and sharing, youth grow in their faith, learn to connect with each other in meaningful ways and explore ways to serve God and others. This class will also meet virtually on Zoom.
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Last day of Christian Education classes is Pentecost Sunday, May 23. |
Monday, July 26 – Thursday, July 29, 9 AM to Noon
All children ages 3 through 6th Grade are invited to attend. Registration will open in early June. We are excited to hold in person Vacation Bible School! Please watch for more information.
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IN Person Outdoor Youth Group Event at the Coble family's home in Brier
Saturday, May 22, 3 - 5 pm.
All Youth (Grades 6 - 12) are invited to attend. Plans include an outdoor gathering (physically distanced and wearing masks) with games, time for catching up and enjoying some s'mores around their fire pit. We will
continue to monitor the State COVID health directives and guidelines.
We are hoping for a beautiful day! This will be our first in person youth event since February 2020!
Please watch for more detailed information.
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High School Graduate Recognition Sunday, June 13
10 AM worship service.
Graduation is near! Graduation Information is needed!
Please forward information about your high school and college graduates to Roger Steinke. Please include any important information about their choice of college, awards, scholarships and other achievements.
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I hope that you can join your First Lutheran Church family in these exciting events!
With JOY in Christ,
Roger
Roger Steinke,
Director of REACH Ministries
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Zoom Movie Review
The Farewell
Sunday, May 23, 3 pm
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The Farewell “follows Billi, a young Chinese American woman who learns that her beloved grandmother, Nai Nai, has cancer -- and only a few weeks left to live. Billi is further shocked to find out that her extended family has vowed to keep Nai Nai in the dark about her diagnosis, creating the ruse of a wedding as an excuse for them to gather to see her one last time. As the family comes together in Changchun, Billi struggles with Eastern vs. Western philosophies of how to live life. Starring Awkwafina, Diana Lin, Shuzhen Zhao and Tzi Ma.”
MOVIE REVIEW: Please watch the movie prior to our Zoom Movie Review. The Farewell is available to watch on Amazon Prime, Google Play and Vudu. Our discussion will begin with a review of the main plots of the movie. We will also explore the spiritual themes of the movie. Questions? Please contact Roger Steinke.
Join us!
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The Share Your Pandemic Story presentation by Linda Siebert in honor of FLC’s 135th birthday will be shown live at church, in May or June when the FLC council guidelines permit small in-person gatherings. Stay tuned for more info!
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Book Club!
Discussion Book: Empire Falls by Richard Russo
May 25, 7:00 pm on Zoom
Discussion Leader: Katie Pyne
“Welcome to Empire Falls, a blue-collar town full of abandoned mills whose citizens surround themselves with the comforts and feuds provided by lifelong friends and neighbors and who find humor and hope in the most unlikely places, in this Pulitzer Prize - winning novel by Richard Russo.”
"Miles Roby has been slinging burgers at the Empire Grill for 20 years, a job that cost him his college education and much of his self-respect. What keeps him there? It could be his bright, sensitive daughter Tick, who needs all his help surviving the local high school. Or maybe it’s Janine, Miles’ soon-to-be ex-wife, who’s taken up with a noxiously vain health-club proprietor. Or perhaps it’s the imperious Francine Whiting, who owns everything in town–and seems to believe that “everything” includes Miles himself. In Empire Falls Richard Russo delves deep into the blue-collar heart of America in a work that overflows with hilarity, heartache, and grace.”
Questions to Clint Bastin (Book Club Coordinator) or Roger Steinke. Copy of book is available on table outside the library. The zoom link will be sent on May 24.
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The above link will updated with April's financial information after the Finance Committee is able to review the financial statements later in May. |
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The Finance Committee is pleased to announce
that the FLC Mortgage has been paid off!
Effective April 1, 2021, all funds pledged or given to the Mortgage Fund will be deposited in the Capital Improvement Fund. As mentioned in the 2020 Annual Report and during the Annual Meeting in January 2021, we will continue to receive donations into the Capital Improvement Fund for building improvements and repairs (roof, entry way repairs, etc.) Upon payoff of the the Mortgage Fund, any remaining funds were transferred to the Capital Improvement Fund.
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These are anxious and trying times for all of us. Physical distancing has changed how First Lutheran provides mission and ministry. We are all eager to have worship and all ministries return to normal.
What has not changed are the expenses for mission and ministry. Thank you to all who have continued their faithful giving.
Listed below are ways for you to share with First Lutheran.
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Mail in your checks. We are still doing weekly deposits.
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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
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From the Endowment Committee:
Scholarships Available to Students Attending Lutheran Colleges and Universities
The Endowment Committee has authorized the awarding of scholarships to First Lutheran Church members who are currently or will be attending a Lutheran College/University.
Applications are available online. Please submit completed applications to Gordy Phelps no later than May 28th, 2021.
The committee will convene on June 10th and recipients will be notified shortly thereafter.
The Endowment Committee supports and affirms students attending college.
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First Lutheran Church Continues Support of Lutheran World Relief |
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Quilting is being done at home. Thank you to all who are continuing to sew for the upcoming shipment in April.
People are needed to sew school bags. Fabric and instructions are on the black table by the Care Corner in the narthex. Questions about sewing the bags to Audrey Fisher 425-822-6143 or Lucy Kay Osborne.
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Help is Needed!
Items for school kits are being accepted now (no substitutes!):
spiral notebooks (70 page/college or wide ruled)
rulers (metric & empirical)
scissors (for age 7+)
pencils (#2)
pens (ball point only/blue or black)
pencil sharpeners with receptacle for shavings
pink 2.5” erasers
Please call Lucy Kay if you’d rather donate funds for this.
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Thank you!!! Thank you for supporting the Cascadia College Kodiak Cave (Food Pantry) Kitchen and Household Item Drive! Many new and used household and kitchen items were collected during the month of April. The students and staff of Cascadia College are very thankful for your generous donations!
Update: Over 2500 food items were received from FLC members and friends for the Nourishing Network food drive. Your generous food donations were distributed weekly among all the Little Free Pantries in our community, including Little Free Pantry in the Kingsgate (north Kirkland) area; the new food bank at Ruby Bridges Elementary School and the Threads and Treads Clothing Bank at Canyon Park Middle School, both in Bothell.
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January Outreach
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.
January Monthly Outreach: Compass Housing Alliance
February Monthly Outreach: Hopelink
March Monthly Outreach: Lutheran Community Services
April Monthly Outreach: Earth Ministries
May Monthly Outreach: ELCA World Hunger
June Monthly Outreach:
July Monthly Outreach:
August Monthly Outreach:
September Monthly Outreach:
October Monthly Outreach:
November Monthly Outreach:
December Monthly Outreach:
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Scrip and Other Passive Fundraising for First Lutheran Church!
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.)
Additionally, while worship is being celebrated virtually, you may mail a check to FLC Scrip, attention Gordy Phelps, with a note of what scrip cards you wish to purchase, and he will mail the cards back to you.
We have several other opportunities for earning money while you shop for FLC's many social ministry programs:
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.
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Connect With Our Partners |
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From KBIG - Kenmore Bothell Interfaith Group |
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After 14 years of providing shelter to people who are unhoused in North King County with the support of many community partners via the Lake City Taskforce on Homelessness, Lake City Partners 501c3 is pleased to announce that we have transitioned our winter shelter to a 24/7 Enhanced Shelter at The Oaks in Shoreline. The Oaks will serve 60 unhoused single adults and couples with pets - more than double the number of people that were served during this past Winter Shelter season. Rather than move from location to location and only being open at night and in the winter, this new 24/7 location will be a springboard for residents to move into permanent housing. We are so grateful to be able to create privacy and safety for people as they will have their own rooms at this new location.
See the KBIG Website for a full release and Volunteer opportunities and signups for helping with Meals, Snacks, Painting, clothing/hygiene Product Drives, Landscaping/Gardening and more!
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