Joy-Filled News for the Week of April 7, 2019
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Our Mission Statement
We of Joy Lutheran Church foster
grace-filled relationships with Christ
through worship, fellowship, and service.
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The Lord our God makes all things new. In the first reading God promises it. In the gospel Mary anticipates it, anointing Jesus’ feet with costly perfume in preparation for the day of his burial. In the second reading we recall the transformation of Saul, the persecutor, into Paul, the apostle. In baptism, God’s new person (you!) rises daily from the deadly mire of trespasses and sins.
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Spotlight on Council Members: Richard Dana
This is Richard's first time on Church Council. He and his wife Peggy joined Joy Lutheran Church in 2018. Richard came to Alaska in 1979 from San Diego. He is retired from construction heavy equipment operation and maintenance. His hobbies are guns, coins and gardening. His wife Peggy said he can fix anything. He is a valued participant in repairs and maintenance around the church, and we're grateful for his willing help and handy skills!
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Lent, Holy Week, and Easter at Joy
“Hearing God’s Word”
Our Lenten journey together focuses on listening to God’s Word for us, highlighting key moments in the biblical witness that connect to key moments in our relationship with God. We gather each Wednesday for a meal (6:15pm) and for worship (7:00 pm) using Holden Evening Prayer and hearing God’s Word for us in our lives.
March 6 Ash Wednesday – Remember and Return to God
March 13 “Where Are You?” – the God who Searches - Genesis 3
March 20 “I will be Your God” – the God who Promises - Genesis 17
March 27 “I will be with you” – the God who Remains - Exodus 3
April 3 “I have called you by name” – the God who Claims - Isaiah 43
April 10 ‘I will Forgive Their Iniquity” – the God who Restores - Jeremiah 31
April 18 Maundy Thursday – “Love One Another” – the God who Serves - John 13
April 19 Good Friday – “Father, forgive them” – God who Saves - Luke 23
April 21 Easter – “He is not here, he has risen.” – the God who Lives - Luke 24
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Wednesday Evening Lent Soup Supper
Our final Soup Supper for the Lent season is this next Wednesday, April 10. Please join us!
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New Member Sunday
We welcomed eight new members into the Joy faith family this past Sunday.
Thank you to all whom contributed to our “
Smörgåsbord
of Cakes!”
Thank you for your Service!!
On Sunday March 31
st
after the cake reception for new members we formed an assembly line to make sack lunches for the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission located on Tudor Road. Our young Christians decorated the lunch sacks with stickers from the supplies in the attic. Each sack contained fruit, drinks, cookies, string cheese, mayo, a sandwich and a bible verse. Many hands make light the work and this congregation always comes through to help each other and others!
When Tom & Debby Bird and I dropped off the lunches, the left overs and the left over cakes the Mission staff were very grateful. They were also very surprised that this gift came from Eagle River. I have been bringing them our leftovers from various potlucks for years and they have always assumed I was from a congregation in Anchorage. They were very moved to find out that we are reaching out to help their mission with food, clothing and prayer. Before we left we witnessed 4 lunches leave the mission with patrons and each of them said, “Thank you and God Bless You.”
Blessed are those who help the poor. Thank you very much!
Please call or e-mail me if you have any questions or ideas.
– Pax, Kathie Adams
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Saturday Morning Work Group: April 13
(formerly ‘The Breakfast Club’ and ‘Men’s Group’)
The Saturday Morning Work Group welcomes YOUR hands to help us get the church ready for Easter. Jan D. always keeps us looking good, but this will give us a chance to dust the pews (and clean out the hymn holders of food and crayons ;-); dust the windowsills; vacuum the Sanctuary, etc.
We will begin with breakfast at 9:00am – bring something to share! – followed by tasks around 10:00am. Our goal to be done by noon, no later. Please contact Nancy Hemsath if you need more information.
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Upcoming Events
Come and eat: Easter Potluck Brunch
Joy’s enduring tradition continues! Join us in an informal potluck brunch between services on
Easter Sunday, April 21
. With services at 8:30 and 11:00, the brunch will be open from 9:30 to 11:00 in order to allow folks from both services to participate.
We’ll need help setting up tables on
Saturday, April 20
, beginning at 9:00am, as well as with set-up and clean-up on Easter morning. All manner of food welcome!
Photography Workshop
Ever wanted to get a little help with your photography skills? Learn how to store photos, how to shoot, know what to do after taking a photo? Just learn how to make photos look better? Roy Corral and Wayne Fredeen are offering a photography workshop after church on
Sunday, April 28
. Whether you take pics with your cell phones, point-and-shoot or DSL cameras, there’s something for everyone. They will touch on composition, photoshopping, how to take better pictures, etc. There will be lots of Q&A. Join us and invite your friends interested in photography!
Electronics Recycling
Joy Lutheran is again hosting its annual electronics recycling event. This is a great community service and a way to keep electronic materials out of the landfill.
This year’s event is scheduled for
Saturday, June 1
, 10:00am - 2:00pm. Stay tuned for more information regarding volunteer opportunities, possible fees for larger items, and a list of accepted items.
Blood Drive
- Tentatively Scheduled - Stay tuned!
In conjunction with the recycling event, we hope to bring back our tradition of a blood drive in partnership with the Blood Bank of Alaska. See Nancy Hemsath if you have any questions.
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Worship Assistant Schedule
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Joy of Reading Book Club
The Joy of Reading Book Club meets the 3rd Monday of every month and gets started around 6:30 PM. We share a light dinner and have open discussions on the book of the month: whether we liked it or did not like it, whether it inspired us or not and, most importantly, whether we learned something about ourselves and the rest of the world and the people in it.
Upcoming books are:
April 15 – Mona is hosting and the book is
Reasons to Stay Alive
by Matt Haig
May 20 – Karen is hosting and the book is
Educated
by Tara Westover
June 7 – 9
th
anniversary party at Gerry Norene’s lake home and the book is
Tidying Up
by Marie Kondo
July – no meeting
August 19 – Marcia is hosting and the book is
Pachinko
by Min Jin Lee
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It’s Time to Think About Coats!
As February comes to an end, local retailers are closing out their winter products. This is the time when winter coats for kids can reach some of the cheapest prices of the year. Those values help us gather more coats for kids for next fall’s back-to-school outreach! Every year, we at Joy help our community give warm coats and other school necessities to children who need some extra help. If you are able, please check out the deals at Walmart, Target, Fred Meyer, J.C. Penny’s, and Costco to see if you can grab some kids’ coats and great prices.
We will gather what you bring and present it to our local Love INC (Love In the Name of Christ) organization. They coordinate our community back-to-school outreach.
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