Please join us for worship. Services will be both in person and live streamed. Contact Pastor Berg or Kristin Smith for the streaming information.
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All are welcome to enjoy this wonderful
afternoon of seasonal music and treats!
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Help us Decorate the Sanctuary Chancel with Poinsettias!
if you would like to participate in purchasing a poinsettias for Advent in memory or in honor of a loved one, please pick up an order form on the table in the inner Narthex. Please return by Sunday, December 10th.
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Advent: Blue
from Pastor Berg's Monthly Blog
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When one says they are "feeling blue," we know what they mean. They are feeling sad. The saying dates back to the 17th century. Sadness or melancholy are universal feelings and for some reason is associated with the color blue. But, blue is also a color associated with the sky and sea, open spaces, and hope. In other places the color blue is associated with healing, spirituality, calmness, and faith. What does the color blue conjure for you?
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Council Corner
Coffee for Council on December 3rd has been cancelled so that we can meet during that time to discuss the possibility of First Lutheran Church becoming a cold weather shelter. Pastor Berg has a copy of the North King County Severe Weather Shelter Proposal that he will send out via email, upon request, or you can pick up a paper copy of it from the office. Please plan to attend the meeting at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday, December 3rd.
The Council will be electing new members to both the Audit and the Personnel committees to begin serving in January, 2024. Incoming members of each committee are asked to serve a 3-year term and are eligible to serve a second term. For the Audit Committee, an accounting background would be helpful, but is not required. For the Personnel Committee, an HR background or experience would be beneficial, but is also not required. If you would be interested in serving on either committee, please speak with Pastor Berg or myself.
Yours in Christ because He lives,
Ho Brown
Council President
[email protected]
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Widows Support Group
November 13, 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
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Women's Bible Study & Fellowship opportunities available:
Hannah Circle: December 16, 9:00 am.
Contact: Linda Siebert 206-369-7047
Rebecca Circle: December 20, 10:00 am.
Contact: Lucy Kay Osborne 425-823-9793 or [email protected]
FLC circles welcome all women of the congregation! Please contact the persons listed above for meeting locations.
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Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study! (Also available on Zoom)
Saturday, December 16, 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
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Reach Ministries
Opportunities for all Ages!
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Saturday, December 16th “Kid’s-Time Event!” (11 AM – 2 PM)
A special “Kid’s–Time Event!” is planned from 11 AM to 2 PM. Children (Nursery – 6th Grade) will have some “Kid’s – Time!” away from Mom and Dad. We’re doing a BUILD YOUR OWN PIZZA LUNCH at Church. “Kid’s Time” activities include Christmas Movies, Fun Crafts, Games, Hot Chocolate and Cookies!
NEW: We will be decorating ornaments and gifts to give to clients and families who are part of the Compass Housing Alliance.
To help with planning, PLEASE Sign Up on the Youth Board! ($5 per child donation)
Middle School and High School students are invited to help chaperone this FUN event.
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Sunday, December 17th “Children’s Sunday School Christmas Program”
The “Children’s Sunday School Christmas Program” will be presented at the
11 AM Worship Service during the 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!
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Sunday, December 17th, Christmas Caroling 12:15 – 2 PM
Elementary Students, Middle School, High School Youth, College Students and Adults: Everyone’s invited! Choir members are especially welcome to join us! We are scheduled to carol at Woodland Terrace starting at 1 PM.
A light lunch will be served immediately following the second Worship Service, from 12:15 – 12:45 PM in the Fellowship Hall. We will leave for Woodland Terrace at 12:50 PM and return to the Church around 2:00 PM. To help with planning, please sign up on the Youth Board!
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The Library committee reminds you to select and save your summer/fall adventures and events for your photo entry to our “ Share your Favorite Photo” contest/display. We are creating a new youth category for next year. START CLICKING. Watch for the date and details for submitting your photo in upcoming newsletter(s).
Visit our church library. “CHECK IT OUT”
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No Book Club or Movie Review in December! We will be back in January! | |
The above link will be updated with the previous month's financial information after the Finance Committee is able to review the financial statements at their monthly meeting. | |
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Monthly 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 Outreach: Earth Ministries
February Outreach: HopeLink
March Outreach: Lutheran Community Services
April Outreach: Poor Peoples Campaign
May Outreach: Earth Ministries
June Outreach: Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services
July Outreach: Lutheran World Relief
August Outreach: Camp United We Stand
September Outreach: Lutheran Disaster Response
October Outreach: TBA
November Outreach: Northshore Senior Center Food Bank
December Outreach: HopeLink
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“The 2023 First Lutheran Church Christmas Gift Giving Tree!”
Please consider helping local families in our community by supporting one or both of these organizations.
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Compass Housing Alliance is collecting $25 Gift Cards for their families. “Because Gift Cards allow our families and clients to select the gifts and items they need and want.” $25 Gift Cards for Amazon, Fred Meyer, Safeway, Target or Walmart can be donated to Compass Housing. You can donate as many $25 Gift Cards as you wish! In December 2022, First Lutheran donated $2,200 in Gift Cards to clients of the Compass Housing Alliance!
Compass Housing Gift Card Giving Options:
1. Purchase $25 Gift Cards through the First Lutheran Church Scrip program. Please contact Gordy Phelps to place your order from Scrip. Your purchased Gift Cards will be designated for Compass Housing.
2. Purchased $25 Gift Cards can be dropped off at the Church with Roger Steinke from now until 1 PM on Monday, December 18th. Gift Cards for Amazon, Fred Meyer, Safeway and Target are requested.
The Donation DEADLINE is 1 PM on Monday, December 19th. Please contact Roger Steinke for more information.
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Hopelink is accepting financial donations for their families and clients. Please visit the online First Lutheran Giving Page.
With Lend a Hoping Hand, Hopelink galvanizes community support to bolster services for families and individuals experiencing poverty as needs increase through the wintertime. Monetary contributions through direct gifts or fund drives infuse critical funds for services that partner with our neighbors to heat their homes, pay emergency expenses, and more. Meanwhile, food drives and donations ensure the shelves of all five Hopelink Food Markets are stocked throughout the season, so families can keep their seasonal traditions alive. However you choose to contribute, 100% of your gift directly benefits Hopelink services.
Every contribution – no matter the size – makes a difference. Will you partner with us to ensure no one goes without this holiday season?
The URL for First Lutheran Church Bothell’s Giving Page is: https://fundraise.hopelink.org/team/543120
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Quilting News!
On November 5, First Lutheran Church delivered 126 quilts, 416 school kits and 60 personal care kits for Lutheran World Relief (LWR). Thank you to all the quilt packers - with six packers we were done in 90 minutes! 90 churches from the Northwest Washington Synod participated in this year’s LWR Ingathering at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.
Since the FLC Quilters started in 1979, they have created more than 18,900 quilts.
The FLC Quilters meet every Thursday from 9 am to noon (we break for coffee and treats at 10 am). They would love to have more help! Please join us; the work is not difficult! Would a Saturday be better for your schedule? Please call Audrey Fisher at 425-822-6143 to let her know your Saturday availability.
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THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING The Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie Project for Compass Housing Alliance
First Lutheran Church purchased 75 pumpkin pies and 18 cans of whipped cream for the more than 400 women and men who reside at several Compass Housing Alliance homes and shelters. The pies and whipped cream were purchased and delivered on Monday, November 20th. The Social Ministries Committee is so very grateful for the many members and friends who generously made donations to this project. Sam Townsend, Director of Community Engagement for Compass Housing, writes, “Thank you! We are so thankful for your community!”
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World Soil Day
Beginning in 2014, the United Nations General Assembly designated December 5th, annually, as World Soil Day. The title of 2023’s campaign is “Soil and Water: a source of life,” to spotlight the link between these fundamental resources. Soils and water naturally contain salts, which move freely through the soil. But climate conditions such as droughts and human activities such as improper irrigation can increase the quantity of salts in the soils, thus degrading the soils and impacting the ability to grow food. The loss of nutrients in soil is one of the most important issues globally for agriculture, food security and sustainability.
International Mountain Day
On December 11th, we acknowledge another day designated by the UN General Assembly - International Mountain Day. Did you know that mountains are home to 15% of the world´s population and have about half of the world's biodiversity hotspots? These hotspots support large varieties of species that are unique to their geographic region and not found anywhere else in the world. International Mountain Day 2023’s title of “Restoring mountain ecosystems” provides us with an opportunity to recognize the vulnerability of mountains against the threat of climate change and constant exploitation.
Recycling Holiday Waste
If you missed picking up the flyer entitled “How to Deal with Holiday Waste Correctly” last month, you can find it on our website here and on our Instagram page. When celebrating Christmas or any other holiday, give a gift to our planet as well by practicing the three Rs to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. If you’d like more information on proper holiday recycling practices, please check out this website.
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Tickets are still available for the December 4 performance at Benaroya Hall. Call or go online: Benaroya Hall Box Office at (206) 215-4747 or 1-866-933-4747 or the Benaroya Concert Hall website. | |
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First Lutheran Church has purchased the Northwest Washington Synod's LiVE bundle for 2023-24, 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!
Upcoming events:
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Crossways Bible Study
Ever had reading the entire Bible on your bucket list? Let Crossways and Pastor Mike Anderson be your guide. This two-year program, hosted by Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, begins October 1 with Genesis, and will include pre-recorded lectures sent on Sundays to your email address to be watched at your leisure. Optional Thursday evening Zoom discussions will follow each lecture’s release. The course is academic in nature and works well for those with or without Bible background. Click on the following link to register and to read endorsements from: Kathryn Buffum, Red Burchfield, Rena Connell, and Rebecca Langholz. Crossways Registration and Information.
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January 7 - Journey Class - Leona & Richard Keltner's Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage
January 14 - Journey Class with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services
January 23 - Book Club - Title TBA
January 29 - Movie Review - Title TBA
February 4 - 2024 Youth Auction
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