A trained Nursery Care Giver staffs the Church Nursery from 9:15 – 10:45 AM during the School Year.  

Decolonizing Your Faith

When I was in elementary school we were taught stories about our country - George Washington chopping down a cherry tree, the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, Abe Lincoln building his family's log cabin - that were not true. The biggest lie that probably has done more harm is the myth of "manifest destiny."

Manifest destiny was the belief that white Europeans had an obvious and certain right to expand westward and claim land for themselves. Many a clergy person in white churches promoted this belief in biblical terms, claiming that to move west was to bring the Christian faith to "those savages on the plains." The harm this belief system has reeked on our country is almost unmeasurable.

Continue to Pastor Berg's Blog.

In March 1886, seven pioneer families organized a church in a log cabin. Reflecting on their immigrant backgrounds, the new church was named ‘Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Lutheran Molde Congregation of King County, Washington Territory.

In the 140 years since the beginning with Norwegian-Dannish immigrants until now, First Lutheran Church has grown into a multicultural congregation family with roots in over 40 countries. We want to celebrate that!

On Sunday March 8th at 4pm, we’ll gather to enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of our collective cultural heritages.

Every room downstairs will represent a part of the world that our ancestors called home. We’ll honor each culture by displaying artifacts, artwork and historical items from the region. Guests will be able to learn about the countries, taste food from that region and hear traditional music. Native costumes are highly encouraged!

How can you help?

? Donate items to add decor to the rooms, either from your heritage or from your travels

? Help set up and decorate the rooms on Sunday afternoon.

? Bring an item of food. It may be from your culture or you may be asked to help with another region.

? Some rooms will need help to serve food throughout the evening.

? We still need a couple of room coordinators-especially for Asia

Let’s make this a great celebration of heritage and how diverse we truly are!

If you have any questions, please contact Linda Siebert or Joyce Thode.

Intern Pastor Liz Colver

Can you believe that Pastor Liz’s internship is now halfway complete?!

Pr. Liz comes to us from Kenmore, WA, and has been a rostered minister of Word and Service since 2015. She has served in a variety of calls, including as synod staff, a community organizer, a mission developer, a Director of Vocation and Education, and in a number of interim and transition facilitator roles in her tenure as a Deacon. She has been feeling a call towards sacramental and pastoral ministry for a few years and is interning with us to discern moving from serving as a deacon to serving as a pastor.  

The internship committee wanted to remind you that you are warmly welcomed to connect with Pr. Liz for a visit, coffee, or a meal to get to know her and learn about her discernment. Please reach out to her directly to schedule such a time at intern@flcbothell.org. If you have any questions or feedback regarding Pr. Liz’s internship, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Sue Ebert, Joe Siebert, or June Condra as her committee, or Pr. Berg.

First Lutheran Church families with children aged 3-5 years old are welcome to join our preschool's annual story night on March 6, from 6:30-7:30pm. There will be treats & we will have special guests reading some of our favorite children's stories. Hope to see you there.

From the Music Director

The choir is starting to learn music for Good Friday’s Tennebrae’s service on April 3rd at 7 pm. “The Final Week,” written by John Purifoy is a cantata based on the events of Holy Week. There are a few familiar melodies in the piece, and it has speaking parts, as well. We welcome help with additional voices. I have rehearsal CDs that can be transferred to a thumb drive to practice the singing parts at home. Please contact Lucy Kay Osborne by phone or email if you have any questions.

Scrip Card Purchases are Available Online

You don't have to wait until Sunday to purchase Scrip. Purchase scrip cards directly from RaiseRight for your gifts and everyday purchases, and benefit First Lutheran Church’s Social Ministries programs!

Follow this link to easily set up your account. The RaiseRight app is available in the IOS App Store or Google Play Store.

Happy Shopping!

Widows Support Group

March 9, 10 am

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

LWR Personal Care Kits: Put your faith into action!

Lutheran World Relief has a long history of sending Personal Care Kits to refugees in other countries as well as our own. And First Lutheran has a long history of participating in that ministry. When disaster strikes, the items in these kits, necessary for hygiene, are often left behind, but we can help with that!

During the month of March, someone from Hannah Circle will be in the narthex each Sunday to accept donations that will be used to purchase supplies for the kits. Your donation is a way to offer comfort and express love to our neighbors in need and let them know that they haven’t been forgotten.

Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study!

Saturday, March 21, 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!” We will ask the question, "What do you think Joseph feared?" Please join us for discussion and enrichment. Questions to Roger Steinke

Youth

Elementary Retreat at Camp Lutherwood in Bellingham

Friday, March 20 – Saturday, March 21, 2026

3:30 PM Friday to 8:00 PM Saturday

Young people in Grades 2 – 6 are invited to attend the Camp Lutherwood Elementary Retre0at on Friday, March 20 to Saturday, March 21. This “Over Nighter” includes Bible Study, Campfire, Games, Music, Outdoor Experiences and much more!  Youth from other church groups will help fill the camp! Be prepared for some ultimate camp fun! Cost is $30 per person (includes Friday dinner & lodging and Saturday meals).  Please meet at the church at 3:30 PM on Friday. We will leave at 3:45 PM on Friday and return to the church on Saturday night by 8:00 PM.  Roger Steinke and another adult (TBA) are attending as Adult Leaders. The sign up deadline is Sunday, March 8.  Please Sign Up on the Youth Board!  Questions? Ask Roger. More information is coming soon!  

A HUGE Thank you!!!

The Youth Auction Team and the Young People of First Lutheran want to THANK the members and friends who donated over $32,400 to the Youth Fund at the recent Youth Auction held on Sunday, February 1, 2026!!! Over 112 people attended this spectacular event! Your generosity, help and support is very much appreciated!

First Lutheran Church Book Club Meeting Via Zoom      

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jess Q Suntato

Tuesday, March 24th at 7 PM

Discussion Leader: Knut Aagaard

Nominee for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2023) “Put the kettle on, there’s a mystery brewing… Tea-shop owner. Matchmaker. Detective? Sixty-year-old self-proclaimed tea expert Vera Wong enjoys nothing more than sipping a good cup of Wulong and doing some healthy ‘detective’ work on the internet (AKA checking up on her son to see if he’s dating anybody yet).

But when Vera wakes up one morning to find a dead man in the middle of her tea shop, it’s going to take more than a strong Longjing to fix things. Knowing she’ll do a better job than the police possibly could – because nobody sniffs out a wrongdoing quite like a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands – Vera decides it’s down to her to catch the killer. Nobody spills the tea like this amateur sleuth.”  (Summary by Goodreads)

Knut Aagaard will serve as the discussion leader. Please contact Katie Pyne or Roger Steinke for additional information about the Book Club. A copy of this Featured Book of the Month is available in the First Lutheran Church Library. Please join us! 

Thank you to all participants who submitted photos for our Photo contest. All photos will be displayed on March 15th in the library. The photos selected to be framed and displayed in the library for 2026 will receive special recognition.  

On the special reading table/ shelf outside the library this month: we continue to showcase devotional reading for your Lenten journey.

Also on display are five wonderful new children’s books.

o God Made Us: a board book to teach little ones that God made us all different, but all special.

o Bats at the Library: A charming tale of nocturnal adventures in reading.

o All the Things I Say to God: A curious girl learns to pray anytime, anywhere, about anything.

o Penguin Problems: A story filled with snarky humor where a grumpy penguin learns an important lesson on finding joy.

o Magnolia Wu Unfolds it All: A poignant story of friendship and community. A Newberry Honor book for early readers.

CHECK IT OUT!!1  

March Ministry of the Month

Click on image for more information about Lutheran Community Services and Compass Housing Alliance's recent merger.

CHANGE FOR CHANGE All money received in the Change for Change jar will be used to support HOPELINK food bank.

Monthly Financial Outreach

January Outreach: Camp United We Stand

February Outreach: Hopelink

March Outreach: Lutheran Community Services/Compass Housing Alliance

 Food donations are distributed to local food pantries and to school food banks.

CREATION CARE

World Wildlife Day

March 3rd is recognized annually by the United Nations as World Wildlife Day. This day celebrates all the world's wildlife - animals and plants - and the contributions they make to our lives and to the health of our planet. The theme for 2026 is “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods.” This theme raises awareness of thousands of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) around the world that are crucial to healthcare and to an ecological balance. There are an estimated 60,000 plant species that are used for medicinal purposes, so recognizing World Wildlife Day also means supporting methods for sustainability, legal trade, and conservation. 

It’s the “Biggest Hour for Earth!”

Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 28th to participate in the 20th anniversary of Earth Hour – the Biggest Hour for Earth! This day is organized by the World Wildlife Fund and is supported by millions of people across more than 190 countries and territories. Won’t you join your neighbors across the globe by turning the lights out for 1 hour (8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., local time) in support of our planet?

King County Hazardous Wastemobile

Looking ahead, the King County traveling Wastemobile is scheduled to be at the University of Washington - Bothell campus (18115 Campus Way NE) on April 17, 18 and 19. For the full 2026 schedule of dates, times, and locations, and complete instructions, please check out their website.

2026 SUMMER DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR:

The Western States Youth Gathering (WSYG)

June 26 – July 1, 2026

Youth entering Grades 9 – 12 in the Fall of 2026 (and 2026 High School Graduates) are all invited to attend. A group of 12 First Lutheran Youth and Adults are signed up to attend.

The WSYG will be held at California Lutheran University, June 28-July 1. Our theme is "A Faith Odyssey," where we'll take a deeper look into our spiritual journeys. Our youth will explore their faith, gather as a community through creative team-building activities and workshops, and enjoy endless summer fun under the sunshine of Southern California. WSYG will feature an outdoor festival-style main stage, interactive and service-learning opportunities, exciting worship and nightlife events. Karey Coble and Roger Steinke will be attending as adult leaders. A few spots for youth participants are still open, but the deadline for Sign-Up’s is March 15th. Please contact Roger with any questions about the WSYG.

First Lutheran Church has purchased the NWWA Synod's LiVE bundle for 2025-2026, 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!  Please contact the Church Office for the Code.

NWWA Synod LiVE Project Opportunities:

The LiVE Project Offerings for 2026 | Practicing Faith in Woven Ways 

* Lenten Course: Practicing Faith in the Wilderness: Mystics and Mysticism - Online Thursdays, Feb. 19-March 25, 7-8:30pm

This month we're sharing lots of information on our Lenten Course - Mystics and Mysticism: Practicing Faith in the Wilderness including session dates, speaker spotlights featuring our Guest Facilitators and more! We have also announced a 4th Saturday Retreat for the course year! A follow up to our Lenten Course; Mystics and Mysticism. Happening May 2 at Edmonds Lutheran Church.

• ELCA News
• Lutheran Disaster Response
• Northwest Washington Synod
• Global Refuge
• Living Lutheran
• Lutheran Counseling Network
• Faith Action Network
• Gay Church
• Poor Peoples Campaign Washington
• Reconciling Works