The Church Council would like to thank all the volunteers for their gifts of time and support and our staff for making our Lenten journey through Holy Week and culminating with a glorious Easter celebration possible.

Speaking of volunteers, starting with June’s monthly newsletter, please watch for a new column called Spotlight on Volunteers. Each month a different committee will share information about the committee and their guilds, their work and the members who dedicate their time and talents to the service of our church and our Lord.

Yours in Christ because He lives,

Ho Brown

Council President

In case you did not notice, the Altar Guild left some subliminal sacred numerical messages in the Easter Sunday plant arrangement. First, did you notice that there were 12 lilies that represent the 12 tribes of Israel or the 12 apostles? Further, seven of the lilies were placed in the back of the cross to symbolize the seven days of creation and the seven Sundays until Pentecost. The remaining five were placed in front of the cross to denote the first five books of the bible, which is commonly known as the Pentateuch. On either side of the plant arrangements were two daisies (four in total) that imply the four evangelists (i.e., Mathew, Mark, Luke and John); each have versions of the Resurrection. The remaining plants, 5 pairs in total, signify the numerous pairs of animals that entered Noah's Ark and repopulated the Earth. Happy blessed Easter to all and we hope you enjoyed our arrangement.

Being in church in person is the best for a rewarding sound experience and fellowship. I encourage you to attend in person when you can. But if you cannot attend in person Zoom and YouTube continue to be options.

Have you been disappointed with Zoom sound from your computer or tablet? I was. I bought an ancillary speaker from Amazon to boost the Zoom church services sound during Covid. It made a big difference in the sound quality. We now use the ancillary speaker for all Zoom meetings.

Listed below are some products that are available online. You will likely find similar products at Best Buy or Fred Meyer.

Speakers for Zoom/You Tube Listening from Your Computer or Tablet- Others Available:

* Amazon Basics USB Plug-n-Play Computer Speakers for PC or Laptop, Black - Set of 2(No Bluetooth)- $19.00

* Upgraded, Anker Soundcore Bluetooth Speaker with IPX5 Waterproof, Stereo Sound, 24H Playtime, Portable Wireless Speaker for iPhone, Samsung and More-$28

* Anker Soundcore Mini , Super-Portable Bluetooth Speaker with FM Radio, 15-Hour - $25

* DOSS SoundBox Pro Bluetooth Speaker with 20W Stereo Sound, Active Extra Bass, IPX6 - $40 (I own this one.)

Happy Listening – Ann Bormann – Sound Tech for FLC

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

Registration has been extended for one more day, so call the church office right away if you wish to attend!

End of School Year Party at Pump It Up! In Lynnwood

Kids in Preschool through High School are invited to celebrate an End of School Year Party at Pump It Up! in Lynnwood. We will leave from First Lutheran at 12 PM – right after the worship service and return to the Church by 3:30 PM. You can either ride in the church bus (round/trip) or drive with your own family. A pizza lunch will be served at a in the Pump It Up! party room.

Pump It Up! in Lynnwood is located at 18027 Highway 99 (Suite J). Our discounted price for First Lutheran Church Members and Friends is only $20 per participant. Price includes admission and pizza lunch. Scholarship help is available. Questions? Please contact Roger Steinke for more information. 

Click here or scan this code to register and pay online.

Due to the limited number of available Sundays in May, there will NOT be a Movie Review Meeting in May. The next Movie Review will be on Sunday, June 25 at 3 PM. The movie will be, “Mars One,” released in January 2023. 

International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) is celebrated annually during the first full week of May, both nationally and throughout the world. Its goal is to raise awareness on why to compost and how to use compost. This year’s theme is “For Healthier Soil, Healthier Food…Compost!” and was chosen because of the grim global issue that every nation faces: hunger.

Bike to Work Week/Day this year is from May 15th thru 21st, with Bike to Work Day celebrated on Friday, May 19th. Did you know that it’s estimated 40% of all trips in the U.S. are less than two miles? This makes bicycling a wonderful option for those short trips, and a terrific way to reduce our carbon footprint. If you’d like to review a downloadable pdf version of Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) 2-year program, entitled “The Pedestrian/Bicyclist and Safe Routes to School Programs 2023-2025 Prioritized Project List and Program Update,” go to: https://wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-11/2023-2025-Bike-Ped-SRTS-Priortized-Project-List-Program-Update_0.pdf

Endangered Species Day 2023 - Each year, on the 3rd Friday of May, people all over the world recognize Endangered Species Day by celebrating and learning about these species as well as actively protecting endangered and threatened species. In 2023, the day is celebrated on May 19th with the theme of “Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act.” The act, which was passed in 1973, was once called the Magna Carta of the environmental movement. According to the World Wildlife Federation/UK, 10 of the world’s most endangered animals are: Javan Rhinos; Amur Leopard; Sunda Island Tiger; Mountain Gorillas; Tapanuli Orangutan; Yangtze Finless Porpoise; Black Rhinos; African Forest Elephant; Sumatran Orangutan; and Hawksbill Turtles.

Here in Washington, we have more than 1,900 species of animals, including at least 40 that aren’t found anywhere else on Earth! Our state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife has identified 268 species that are in the greatest need for conservation help, including golden eagles, fishers, wolverines, and pygmy rabbits. Here is a downloadable pdf that lists the 46 species that the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission has classified as Endangered, Threatened, or Sensitive and a list of the 71 species that have been identified as candidates to be classified as the same.   The list was last updated in March, 2022. If you’d like to get involved or find family education resources, click here.

Do you use pew envelopes for your Sunday morning giving? FLC's preprinted book of offering envelopes is the most economical and easiest way to give to FLC with a check or cash. You will be assigned a personalized giving number that is printed on all your envelopes. These preprinted books of offering envelopes are much more cost effective to FLC than the pew envelopes. Please call the church office to be assigned a book of envelopes! 425-486-2314

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.

First Lutheran Church is partnering with the Northshore Nourishing Networks to collect donations of non-perishable food items. Donations will be distributed to local food pantries and to several school food banks. Thank you for supporting the 2023 Spring Food Drive and giving what you CAN! Learn more about the Northshore Nourishing Networks

Purchase your Scrip gift cards on Sunday morning before and after worship. (No Scrip sales on Easter Sunday, so get your Easter Basket gifts on Palm Sunday!) You can also 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.

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.

The scouts are going to be helping with spring cleaning! Projects they will be working on include washing the church bus and trailer, cleaning the church parking lot, helping with general clean-up, picking up trash around the church and our neighbor’s properties. Special thanks to FLC's Garden Guild, who’ll help supervise several of these projects!  

This show is Free, but due to limited space, you. must have a reservation to attend. While there is no charge, we are asking for donations to fund Imagine. $20 Suggested Donation, but any amount will be appreciated.10% of proceeds will be given to Camp United We Stand. Make Reservations at www.imaginepnw.org.