If you need to reach Pastor Karen over the weekend, please call her husband George's cell phone at 907-434-1863. It's a Nome cell phone so you will need to dial the 907.
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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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Notes of Joy
- Week of May 3, 2020
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This Week's Gospel: John 10:1-10
This Sunday is sometimes called “Good Shepherd Sunday.” Jesus is called the “gate” of the sheep in today’s gospel. The risen Christ opens the way to abundant life. He anoints our heads with oil and guides us beside the still waters of our baptism. Each Sunday he spreads a feast before us amid the world’s violence and war. We go forth to be signs of the resurrection and extend God’s tender care to all creation.
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On Grief
During this time of Covid 19, many people are grieving as they adjust to the loss of the “old normal.” Major changes have occurred suddenly: school, work, home, travel, church, seeing friends and family. Grief is one of the most difficult things we go through. The death of a loved one or friend, saying good bye to a significant person or pet in our life, the closing of a career or our normal routines, moving from what has been a home to you for many years, the loss of a relationship------these are all transitions we go through in life. Each carries its own sadness, lament and grief.
In my own experience with grief, one of the thoughts that has resonated with me is:
"The presence of that absence is everywhere.”
Edna St. Vincent Millay
This absence that nags our soul is a very deep feeling in the gut. Something, someone, has died...their absence is very present on our heart and mind. Suddenly we experience it as a wave of pain washes over us. I often tell people who are grieving, it will come in waves. Try to float on the wave and it won't take you under.
A very close friend of mine shard this as it pertains to the death of a loved one:
Your loved one has departed from this temporal world. Their physical bodies are departed, but their love has not departed. It is always there. We speak of "loss," as if we have lost our loved ones But they are not lost. We know where they are -- they are with God. We also know we have not lost their love. It is still with us , shaping our lives and values. Their love is everlasting; it does not disappear.
"Faith, hope and love. These three abide. But the greatest of these is love." 1st Corinthians 13:13
-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 2, at noon
. Check it out!
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Happy 100th Birthday to Kathryn Schwyn!
Kathryn turns 100 on May 8. Send her a card! Her address is in the printed newsletter we sent out this week, or you can call the office.
In her honor, we are collecting 100 cans of a meaty soup or chili for the Food Pantry. You can bring them to church and place in the blue bins out front.
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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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Congratulations!
Congratulations to
Doreen Auletto & Darron Wood!
They were married in our sanctuary May 1st!
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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 and Shelly, Scooter, and 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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Thank You!
Thank you to Mona Mitton and Kathy Huntington for the beautiful music they provided 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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Confirmation Class
Confirmation will meet again this Sunday, May 3... on Zoom. Watch your emails! Pastor will be sending out a Lesson.
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Thank You
The Chugiak Eagle River Food Pantry really appreciated your donations!
They are particularly needing cans of chili, meaty soup and canned meat (not Mac and Cheese). More information in our next newsletter.
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Health Masks & Devotionals
Our "Mask Tree" is outside the front door weekdays, 10am-5pm. There's also a basket with the pocket size devotional booklets,
The Word in Season
. If you'd like one, don't wait! We order 20 per quarter, so once they're gone, they're gone!
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 here because they know 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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ELCA COVID-19 Response Fund
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) provides ministry to its members, to those who are hurting and searching for peace, and to those in need. To continue this important work, the church needs your help.

With congregations and ministries across the country, and a network of companion churches and partners in over 70 countries around the world, we anticipate this crisis will affect us all. In the United States, unemployment has soared. We see rising demands on our food pantries, homeless shelters and social services. Around the world, millions of people living in poverty are facing this pandemic without reliable access to sanitation and health care.
Now is a time when we need one another. Now is a time to live and act as faithful people of God.
You can help by supporting your congregation and making a gift to the ELCA’s COVID-19 Response Fund. Your donation will provide funds to the ministries of the ELCA most in need and best positioned to help. This includes our congregations as well as local and churchwide ministries capable of reaching and assisting those in need.
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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 date is
TBA.
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