God is in the Waiting

Advent is a time to wait, Not yet time to celebrate.

Light the candles one by one, 'til the advent time is done.

Christmas time soon be here time for joy and time for cheer. (FLC preschool song)

But waiting is becoming increasingly hard to do when we are inundated with messages of hurry and busyness. How am I supposed to practice waiting when I do not have time to wait? When I am full of worry and dread? When I just need to get 'all these things' done? 

The answer, of course, is that we need to cut out the false prophets' voices. Those voices that are counter to God's still quiet voice. Since election night I personally have turned off the news.

Continue to Pastor's blog here.

Alley Traffic Direction Change

On November 10th the Council provided Harbour Homes with a written response of concerns regarding the prospective change to the alley traffic direction (from westbound to eastbound, only) and possible remedies. 

For our property, cut-through traffic, line of sight, paving of the entire alley, and lighting are a few of our concerns.

Updates will be provided as this project develops.

Annual Meeting on January 26, 2025

Please mark your calendars - our annual meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 26th. If you plan to vote on any business matters presented, including new Council members, please be sure your membership status is up to date. Voting members are confirmed members who, during the current or preceding calendar year, have communed and contributed to our congregation. If you have any questions on your status, please contact the church office.

Yours in His service,

Ho Brown

Council President

jepromets@comcast.net

Scrip Card Purchases are Available Online

If you need gift cards for your Chirstmas gifts our Scrip cards have you covered! You don't have to wait until Sunday to purchase Scrip. Purchase scrip cards directly from RaiseRight for your gifts and everyday purchases, and benefit First Lutheran Church’s Social Ministries programs!

Follow this link to easily set up your account. The RaiseRight app is available in the IOS App Store or Google Play Store.

Happy Shopping!

Widows Support Group

December 9, 10 am

(formerly known as Friends Supporting Friends)

We are not a therapy group, but we are a place for widows to find friendship, support, and fun.

We meet the 2nd Monday of the month at 10:00 am in the library. Please join us!

Call Paula Glandon for more info. 425-483-1783

Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study!

Saturday, December 21, 9 – 10:15 am. 

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

Middle school and high school students are invited to help chaperone this fund event!

Sunday, December 15th - Children’s Sunday School Christmas Program!

9:30 AM Worship Service Children’s Message

The Christmas Story will be shared with a proper Nativity scene, costumes, familiar characters, favorite music and some really cute kiddos!   

Please join us!

Save the Date!

Sunday, February 2, 2025,12:00 – 2:00 PM First Lutheran Church Youth Auction.

Donations for the Youth Auction are being received. Please contact Roger Steinke for additional auction and donation information. All are welcome!

No Book Club or Movie Review in December! We will be back in January!

FLC is partnering with 2 local organizations that are supporting local families experiencing homelessness and food insecurity this holiday season.

To support Compass Housing Alliance, please donate $25 gift cards for Amazon, Fred Meyer, Safeway or Target. Take one or more gift tags off the giving tree in the narthex, and purchase your gift cards on Sunday mornings at the Scrip Sales counter or contact Gordy Phelps. All gift cards must be received no later than 1 pm on December 16.

To support Hopelink please visit Hopelink's First Lutheran Giving Page to make your donations.

Together we can make a BIG difference to make Christmas a little brighter for families in our area.

December Ministry of the Month

Established in 1946, Lutherwood provides a place to explore grace in creation by providing opportunities for growth, renewal, adventure, community, and education. Learn more about Lutherwood.

Monthly Outreach

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

Monthly Financial Outreach

January Outreach: Compass Housing Alliance

February Outreach: Hopelink

March Outreach: Lutheran Community Services

April Outreach: Poor People's Campaign

May Outreach: ELCA World Hunger

June Outreach: Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Services

July Outreach: Camp United We Stand

August Outreach: Lutheran Disaster Response

September Outreach: Lutheran World Relief

October Outreach: Faith Action Network

November Outreach: Northshore Senior Food Bank

December Outreach: Camp Lutherwood and Retreat Center

Sam Townsend, Director of Community Engagement for Compass Housing, writes, “Thank you! We are so thankful for your community!”

75 pumpkin pies and 18 cans of whipped cream were purchased and delivered to Compass Housing Alliance on Monday, November 25th. The Social Ministries Committee is so very grateful for the many members and friends who generously made donations to this project. 

 Food donations are distributed to local food pantries and to school food banks.

CREATION CARE

World Soil Day

Beginning in 2014, the United Nations General Assembly designated December 5th, annually, as World Soil Day. The title of 2024’s campaign is "Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage." The theme emphasizes the importance of soil management based on accurate data, impacting decisions on agriculture, food security and sustainability.

International Mountain Day 

On Wednesday, December 11th, we acknowledge another day designated by the UN General Assembly - International Mountain Day. The theme for 2024 is "Mountain solutions for a sustainable future – innovation, adaptation, youth and beyond." This theme shines a spotlight on ways to empower mountain communities through technology, such as climate-smart agriculture; adapting approaches to disaster risk management in an effort to support ecosystems; and engaging youth, through training and work opportunities to help build and maintain a sustainable future.

Recycling Holiday Waste

For a copy of FLC’s guide on how to deal with holiday waste, please click here or go to Vision 2025 on our website and select “Guide to Holiday Waste” from the drop-down menu.

If you’d like more information on proper holiday recycling practices, please check out the Earth 911 website.

Tickets are on sale now for Pacific Lutheran University's annual Christmas concert at Benaroya Hall and the PLU campus. Click here for dates and purchase information.

First Lutheran Church has purchased the Northwest Washington Synod's LiVE bundle for 2024-25, so any LiVE events are free to our congregation! See the complete LIVE Project Catalog and register using FLC's Confirmation Code to register for free!

Click the button below for all the upcoming LiVE Project offerings and related information!

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