Our Mission Statement
We of Joy Lutheran Church foster
grace-filled relationships with Christ
through worship, fellowship, and service.

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Notes of Joy
- Week of May 10, 2020
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This Week's Gospel: John 14:1-14
As we continue to celebrate the fifty days of Easter, today’s gospel includes Jesus’ promise that he goes to prepare a place for his followers in his Father’s house. Our baptism commissions us to share Jesus’ mission in the world. As 1 Peter reminds us, we are a holy people, called to proclaim the one who called us out of darkness into light. In words and deeds we bear witness to the risen Christ—our way, our truth, our life.
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Letter from Our Interim Pastor
I’d like you to be thinking and praying about 3 important matters.
1.
The Bishop is urging all congregations to ask themselves, “What ministry is God calling us to do in the midst of these Covid 19 times? It is likely we will be in these times for awhile. Instead of trying to do things virtually that we were doing pre-Covid 19, are there new ministries we could be doing to reach out to our neighbor and one another now?"
I should say right here that I believe the Face Mask ministry has definitely been one of them as has also the exchange of cards and supporting the local Food Bank which has such high current needs.
2.
The Church Council will be discussing at their Tuesday, May 12 meeting when we should open up worship again. If you have strong feelings about this, please contact one of your representatives. The Bishop has reminded us that singing is another area we need to consider since it may be as dangerous as coughing.
3.
Finally, the Congregation will need to consider if they believe Joy needs a full-time or half-time pastor. This should be established before the Call Committee is formed. Are there enough people and ministries to warrant calling a full-time pastor? If Joy calls a full-time pastor are there enough funds to also support a full-time office administrator? If not, does it make more sense to have a half-time pastor and full-time administrator?
Please be thinking about these things. The Church Council is working on data to inform our decisions.
-Pastor Karen
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Sunday's On-line Worship
This week's worship will be available on our Facebook page Sunday at 9:30am.
You can still view our Facebook page, even if you do not have a Facebook account. Click the link above.
(Ignore the bar at the bottom when it opens asking you to sign-in or create an account. You are still able to scroll down through our page. You need to click "not now" on the pop-up page when it again asks you to sign up, then it will go away - - hope that helps!!) :-)

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A Youth/Children's Message from Pastor Karen will be available on our Facebook page on
Saturday, May 9, at noon
. Check it out!
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Happy 100th Birthday to Kathryn Schwyn!
Kathryn turns 100 today, May 8!
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We Did It! 115!
Thank you to all who contributed to the 100-can soup offering for the Chugiak Eagle River Food Pantry, in honor and celebration of Kathryn's 100th birthday! As of midday Friday, we have received 115 cans.
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Update from the MSP Committee
Remember those 4 ½-sheet surveys you filled out? The results have been compiled and here they are for your review. Again, these surveys are taken right from the ELCA’s Ministry Site Profile (MSP).
We thank you for your input and we will be completing this portion of the MSP using this information.
You also completed 2 larger surveys regarding the
Top 5 Ministry Tasks
for the position of pastor and
Gifts for Ministry
priorities. These are also summarized for you – but we are anxiously looking forward to having a congregational meeting to really talk about these with you and hear your input first hand. We are hoping that day comes soon!
We have other discussion topics also and we want you to know we are still working on the MSP and value hearing from you. Here is the summary:
Thank you so much MSP Team!
This is worth reading.... we could not get the entire results in your hard copy, so please take the time to read this.
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No Confirmation Class this Sunday
Confirmation class is cancelled this week as Sunday is Mother's Day - go honor and celebrate your Mom!
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Cross Wall
We have some beautiful editions to our cross wall.
Although the pandemic may have us staying home and safe, new crosses beckon our thoughts and prayers to distant places. Thanks to Pastor Martin & Shelly, and Scooter & Roy!
115 - Holy Cross Cathedral, Sedona, AZ,
from Pr. Martin & Shelly Eldred
116 - Washington National Cathedral, Washington, DC,
from
Pr. Martin & Shelly Eldred
117 - Portal, AZ (mesquite & turquoise)
from
Scooter Bentson & Roy Corral
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Prayer Requests
Please keep Sue & Larry Weimer in prayer as they mourn Larry's mother, Mary Lou Weimer, whom passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 7 in Colorado.
Also, remember Nancy Olson in prayer as she recovers from hand surgery.
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Thank You!
Thank you to Mona Mitton, Laura Storrs and Kathy Huntington for the beautiful music for Sunday's worship!
Folks who might be willing to record themselves performing special music, please let Pr. Karen or the office know you're interested. Pastor Karen will include it in a future online service. Thank you!
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THANK YOU to BOY SCOUTS
for sweeping our Parking Lots of gravel
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Health Masks & Devotionals
Our "Mask Tree" is outside the front door weekdays, 10am-5pm.
We received 125 new masks this week!
Thank you to our sewing group for replenishing our mask supply!
New people come by every day - many from the area whom we don't recognize but come to Joy Lutheran because they've heard about YOUR generous good will for our community.
We love your ministry!
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On Giving
Did you receive a Stimulus Check?
Please consider tithing on it to the Church.
Thank you for those who are making an extra "Easter" donation. We usually receive a "bump" in that offering that helps carry us through. Your special gift helps.
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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. Even if you haven’t read the book of the month you are still welcome to join us. It’s a fun evening of discussion, sharing of ideas and respectful listening. And lots of socializing and laughter!
May 18 –
We are Called to Rise
by Laura McBride at the home of Mona Mitton
June 5 –
Akin
by Emma Donoghue. This is also Book Club’s 10
th
Anniversary Celebration! Once again our anniversary party/sleepover will be at the beautiful lake home of Gerry Norene on Nancy Lake.
August 17 –
The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life
by David Brooks
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Joy Church Council Members
Sue Weimer - slweimer@gci.com
Scooter Bentson - sbentson55@gmail.com
Tom Bird - tbird@mtaonline.net
Debby Bird - debbybird@me.com
Corrine Finnie - corrinefinnie@hotmail.com
Kelly Mullin - mullinkm260@comcast.net
Heather Slocum - heather_slocum@yahoo.com
Clarke Hemphill, Treasurer - mrs_mousie@hotmail.com
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The next church council meeting is Tuesday, May 12 at 7:00pm
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