March 2017 Newsletter
Here is what is happening at First Lutheran Church this month!

Worship Schedule
Worship: 8:30 am & 11:00 am
Christian Education: 9:45 am


Communion served every Sunday
Pastor Berg's Message

Lent and Sabbath

For adult education class for the Sundays of Lent we will be discussing the radicalness of church attendance. Sound interesting? It should. As Christians, we are not citizens of this world; we are resident aliens. As resident aliens, much like the Israelites who were enslaved by the Babylonians, we must discover ways of maintaining our identity as a people of God. One of the most radical ways we have of doing that is practicing Sabbath, or to put in today’s vernacular, attend church on Sundays.

This Lenten season an encouragement I have for you is to practice regular church attendance. Not one Sunday here and another Sunday there. But attending each Sunday of the season, even if NASCAR starts at 10 am. It is a practice that helps remind us that we are not of this world, we are not of this culture, we are not like others who do not worship God.

The encouragement of Lent is to “Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love...”

For the rest of the articleclick here.

March Adult Education
Sundays 9:45 am, Fellowship Hall
The Radicalness of Church Attendance
A Cascadia Parish Event!

The Refugee Committee from Holy Spirit Lutheran Church will be screening the feature documentary “After Spring” March 23, 7:30pm at Cinemark Lincoln Square Cinema in Bellevue. The movie will be preceded by a short 20 minute introduction.

“After Spring” focuses on the Syrian refugee crisis. With the Syrian conflict now in its sixth year, millions of people continue to be displaced. “After Spring” is the story of what happens next. By following two refugee families in transition and aid workers fighting to keep the camp running, viewers will experience what it is like to live in Zaatari, the largest camp for Syrian refugees. With no end in sight for the conflict or this refugee crisis, everyone must decide if they can rebuild their lives in a place that was never meant to be permanent. Executive Produced by Jon Stewart.


Buy your tickets here: https://www.tugg.com/events/after-spring-k67o ($11.00 + $1.00 processing fee) . This is a crowd sourced event so please buy your tickets before the March 16 deadline. We need to sell 73 tickets to make sure this screening happens.

Please sign up to bring a crock pot (or two!) of soup! You will find the sign up sheet on the narthex kitchenette door. Thank you!

Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study, Saturday, March 18th:  9 – 10:30 AM

Come and join other men from the congregation for breakfast and conversation!  There will be food for the body, food for the soul and food for thought! Gordy Phelps is preparing a delicious breakfast spread.  Pastor Berg is leading an inspiring Bible study and discussion.  Please join us!  

Roger Steinke's Notes

UPCOMING YOUTH ACTIVITIES:

Junior High GO! Night! Over-Nighter
Friday, March 3, 7:00 PM – Saturday, March 4, 7:30 AM
Grades 7 – 9 are invited to this FUN overnight event! Please meet at First Lutheran at 7:00 PM.  to carpool to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Everett and join other ELCA Junior High youth groups.   GO Night activities include:  bowling, worship, PIZZA, inflatables, roller skating, games and other FUN STUFF!  We return to First Lutheran at 7:30 AM on Saturday. Stay tuned for more information!     The cost per person is only $20.  Please sign up on the youth board!

Lutherwood Elementary Retreat
Friday, March 17, 4 PM  – Saturday, March 18, 8 PM
Youth in Grades 3 – 6 are invited to this retreat at Camp Lutherwood.  This over nighter includes bible study, campfire, games, music 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 4 PM on Friday.  We will leave at 4:10 PM and return to the church on Saturday night by 8:00 PM.    Please sign up on the youth board!
Many, Many Thanks!  
Many, many thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of the 2017 annual Youth Auction!  Over $22,000 was raised, with over 135 in attendance.  Fergus Prestbye once again did an outstanding job as our auctioneer.  To the over 30 youth and adults who helped produce this year’s auction, thank you again for all of your hard work and efforts!

We are richly blessed to have such a strong response from the congregation.  The generosity and support to the children’s and youth ministries is truly amazing and extremely gratifying!

“I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the Gospel, from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion, until the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Philippians 1:3-6

Here are several “Summer 2017” dates for your calendars!  
* High School Western States Youth Gathering, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, California:  Sunday, June 25 – Sunday, July 2
* Junior High / Middle School Mission Trip, Camp Lutherhaven & Shoshone Retreat, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho:  Sunday, July 16 – Friday, July 21
* Vacation Bible School / Summer Day Camp (Grades 3 Year-olds – 6th Grade) “We are God’s Masterpiece!” Monday, July 31 – Thursday, August3

Again, many, many thanks for all of your help and support!

With Joy in Christ,
Roger Steinke                                                                                     Director of REACH Ministries 

From the IT Committee

FLC Website Evaluation Project 2017!
We would like your input to improve the FLC church website.  Go to  www.flcbothell.org , and let us know what's attractive about the FLC website, what works, what doesn't and what's frustrating.  At their February meeting, the IT/Communications Committee will be reviewing all comments and how they might be implemented.  E-mail all comments to  Tom Larsen  at  tclarsen2@gmail.com .

 Celebrate First Lutheran Church's 131st Anniversary

March 12, Sunday Fellowship Hour
First Lutheran Church Library Committee  invites you to visit the library as we host the Fellowship Hour in celebration of our 131st anniversary. 

We invite you to visit the library and view the new 2016 “ Show Us Your Summer” photo contest winners. We will also have on display few of the interesting historical documents from our church archives.  Volunteers have been scanning historical articles during January and February .  The Library Committee is working with the IT committee to make these historical papers available in  digital format so they can be easily accessed by computer by any of our  church members.  The original documents will be archived in acid free conservation boxes. 

Wednesday, March 8th from l0:00 -2:00 we will be scanning for the last time this year. One hour is great—or more if you enjoy this time in the library helping preserve our history. 

Check out our new Library Books:  
Ordinary Grace  by William Krueger. An instantly engaging book. 

The Annotated Luther, Volume 4: Pastoral Writings edited by Mary Jane Haemig.   You will remember Mary Jane, a Luther scholar from Luther Seminary, and  for numbers of years, a frequent a speaker at our adult classes at First Lutheran Bothell. 

Help, Thanks, Wow - The Three Essential Prayers by Anne Lamott.  Several of our members are familiar with her books and highly recommend her writings.          
Happy Birthday to our 80+ Year Olds!

Marlys Helgeland     March 2

Sherman Russel   March 2

Perdy Carlson   March 14

Bud Carlson   March 23

Betty Magee   March 23

Don Klein   March 31

BUILDING UPDATE

All youth room work is complete. 

All 2016 giving statements have been mailed or emailed. Please contact Kris in the office if you have not received one.
There are still 2017 offering envelopes waiting to be picked up ! Please check the boxes in the office if you haven't picked your up!
Bell Tower Donations Report
Thank you for your gifts to the Bell Fund!
Good news! We have reached our fund raising goal of $53,000. Gabbert Architecture will manage construction. We are waiting on the city permitting process
Social Ministry Update

Change for Change: All money received in the Change for Change jar will be used to support Hopelink food bank.


Hopelink food bank emphasis in March is for personal products (shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, etc.)  
 

February Monthly Outreach: $1,000.00 will go to Open Door Ministries.

Scrip Funds Help With Drought Relief in the Morogoro Region, Tanzania, Africa

The Social Ministry committee has designated $2500.00 of Scrip proceeds money to help with the devastating drought in Tanzania.  FLC has been in relationship with Bishop Mameo of the Morogoro region for many years and felt the call to respond to his cry for help.  We appreciate that you buy Scrip;  the proceeds we receive help many people in need.

Thank You!
Dear First Lutheran Family,
The family of Pastor Kris Frosig wishes to say thank you for your love and support.  We came in our sadness on January 21st to celebrate this man we know and love, who always had time for others.  As with all those present at his memorial service, we left full of joy in our hearts and ready to go - Make it a Great day, Do some good, Love one another, Don't be afraid, and for us "Remember, you are a Frosig".

Thank you, Kris Frosig for planning the perfect memorial service for yourself. Thank you Pastor Berg, Kris Smith, Lucy Kay Osborne, Richard Edmonds, Nancy Funsinn and all those who made the reception beautiful and comfortable for our guests.
 
Takk for Alt
Marilyn Frosig
Thank you from the FLC Quilters! The February QUILT-A-THON for Lutheran World Relief was a wonderful success with more than 80 hours of fun and 76 completed quilts. Thank you to all who shared their time, and donated cookies and soup.  The Thodes helped in the kitchen and Thrivent Financial Services provided Team Action funds of $250 for batting supplies and pizza on Saturday.  A Bothell Reporter article and pictures brought in a huge supply of donated fabric!
Women of First Lutheran Church (WFLC or WELCA)
The Women of First Lutheran Church (WFLC) is a local organization of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (WELCA). All women at FLC are considered members of both WFLC and WELCA. You are invited to participate in any of the bible study circles, WFLC sponsored events and/or regional and national events.
This Month!
Bible Study opportunities available:
Deborah:  Wednesday, March 1, 2017, 10:00 am, The Landing at FLC.  
Reformation Bible Study, Galatians: Christian Faith and  Freedom
Contact:  Bonnie Ahlstedt 360-805-1743

Rebecca Circle:  Wednesday, March 15, 10:00 am in the Landing. 
Women of the ELCA Gather Bible Study and articles
Contact:  Barbara Thieme 425-898-8982

Hannah: Monday, March 20, 2017, 6:30 pm, Fireside Room, 
Child care available
Contact: Linda Siebert 425-821-1703.

Women of the ELCA Tenth Triennial Gathering, July 13 - 16, 2017 in
Minneapolis, MN. Make your reservations now for All New. For more information click here.

Visit our Web Page!
Looking Ahead!
From Our Partners
From the Cascadia Parish
From The Lutheran World Federation - 500th Anniversary of the Reformation Motto:  We are Liberated by God’s Grace.

The Lutheran World Federation, which has 145 member churches in 98 countries and over 70 million members, including the ELCA, has produced a document to support the 500th commemoration of the Reformation called: We are liberated by God's grace:  Across the world Lutherans are offering God’s grace revealed through Christ to God’s people everywhere. 
One of the highlights of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 is the Twelfth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation that will meet in Namibia in May under the theme “Liberated by God’s Grace”. 
To read more click on the link above pick up the full article from the news shelf in the narthex.
From Lutheran Counseling Network 
Faith and Everyday Life - March 2017

Too Uncomfortable
There is a wonderful line from a Kris Kristofferson song, “I’m going to be leaving no more quicker than I can, because I’ve enjoyed about as much of this as I can stand.” Enough is too much. 
We all have our limits and breaking points and we have to know what they are.
 
Saying, “I should” be able to take, stand, endure this (or whatever) is actually a little crazy. It assumes that I am some kind of failure if I can’t. Where did we get that conclusion anyway? The world says we should be able to endure it all. However, being tougher than we should can bring on poor health and even eventual death.

This is tricky when it comes to evaluating our closest relationships. What is “too” uncomfortable? When do we say, “I just can’t do this anymore?” I can’t stay in relationship with you.” We all need to test our own hearts and look deep into our souls.  God does not want alienation between people. But alienation is a consequence of our fallen nature. God recognizes our frailty and does not expect super-human strength from us. 

Please remember, it is a gracious God we turn to for love and tenderness as we examine all of our decisions.

On Sunday, April 2 at 3 pm, Gethsemane Lutheran Church (911 Stewart St., Seattle) welcomes the Boeing Employees Choir in concert. Currently directed by Dr. David Chrysler, the choir has served as ambassadors of goodwill through music for over 75 years with a repertoire both sacred and secular, ranging from Broadway to Bach--and beyond. An offering will aid in hunger relief through various local agencies. Free parking is available; use any unreserved space in the public parking garage of the neighboring Aspira Apartments (garage accessed from Stewart St, just past Terry).

Summer Camp Registration is  Open!
We have a new online registration system. Please click the link below to register for camp. Questions to office@camplutherwood.org or call 360-734-7652, M - F 9 -4.

Registration
Connect With Our Partners
First Lutheran Church |  425-486-2314 | 425-297-4898 |office@flcbothell.org |flcbothell.org
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