We will resume our regularly scheduled 9:30 am worship schedule on Sunday, April 12th.

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

Straddling the Fence

Liminal: occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold. 

It is difficult, at times, to remember that God is here. That God is present even in these times of war, persecution, extra-judicial arrests, and economic struggle. We never thought that this would describe our country, again. When will we leave in the past these injustices and instead live into the abundance and peace God lays before us?

As Christians we straddle the fence of transformation. We are Easter people living in a sinful time. We have one foot lightly stretching into heaven and the other firmly planted in the mud of this time. Do you feel this?

Continue to Pastor Berg's Blog.

An Easter Message from ELCA Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry

We are Easter people. Even when the ground below us is shaking, we will not grow weary. We know that Jesus is our foundation. Christ is risen, and that truth strengthens us. It gives us courage to live, to hope and to proclaim joy.

The Rev. Yehiel Curry

Presiding Bishop

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

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

April 13, 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, April 18, 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!” Please join us for discussion and enrichment. Questions to Roger Steinke

They’re back! The 16 voices and chamber orchestra of the Lyric Arts Ensemble will return on Sunday, April 19 at 3 pm with another program that will pique your curiosity and satisfy every music appetite.

Yes, there’s some Bach for the choral “purist” as well as music for two choirs. There’s a lullaby and there are spirituals. For those who relish music of the last century, there’s music by Pete Seeger and Carly Simon. Their genius-inspired programming is directed by their conductor Kenneth DeJong, long-time regional community and church musician.

It’ll excite and nourish your musical and tug at your emotional heart. It’s the perfect opportunity to invite a friend or neighbor followed by dessert or an early dinner.

Concert is free, but a free will offering will be accepted.

Youth

Easter Breakfast on Easter Sunday, April 5th (Breakfast Served from 9:30 to 10:45 AM)

The Youth of First Lutheran Church invite you to join your Church Family and Friends at the 2026 Easter Breakfast! A free will offering will be received with proceeds supporting the Youth Fund. The Breakfast Menu features fresh baked coffee cake with streusel, fresh fruit salad, coffee, tea, juice and milk. Youth and adults are invited to help with serving breakfast and with cleaning up afterwards.  Please sign up to help on the Youth Board.

Easter Breakfast Prep and Set Up is on Saturday, April 4th, from 9 AM to 12 PM / Noon

Youth and adults are needed to help prepare food for the Easter Breakfast, such as baking Coffee Cakes and preparing fresh fruit salad. Help is also needed with setting up tables and chairs in the Fellowship Hall and decorating the space for Easter morning. Please sign up to help on the Youth Board.

Sunday, April 26, Whirlyball in Edmonds, 11:45 AM - 2:45 PM

Youth in Grades 6 – 12 are invited to play Whirlyball!!! We will leave the Church at 11:45 AM at the end of Sunday School and return to the Church around 2:45 PM. Cost per person is only $20 per person. Lunch is included! Please Sign Up on the Youth Board!

Looking Ahead - Registration Deadline is April 12, 2026!

May Youth Weekend at Camp Lutherwood

May 23 – 25, 2026 (Saturday 9:30 am – Monday afternoon) (Memorial Day Weekend)

ABUNDANCE FOR ALL!

Grades 9-12 - (students entering 9th grade for the 2026-2027 school year AND 2026 high school graduates are all eligible to attend).

I CAME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY!  John 10:10

This event will include several large group gatherings with our special guest speaker and musician, small group time, sacred evening space, service projects, lots of fun free time opportunities (Including swimming and boating!), and a collaborative closing worship service.

The Cost to attend is $80 per person. This includes 2 nights lodging, meals (Saturday Lunch – Monday Lunch) and Registration costs. Scholarship Help is Available. Please contact Roger. The Registration Deadline is Sunday, April 12, 2026. Questions? Please contact Roger.

First Lutheran Church Book Club Meeting Via Zoom      

Breakfast at Sally's: One Homeless Man's Inspirational Journey” by Richard Lemieux

Tuesday, April 28 at 7 PM

Discussion Leader: Ann Aagaard

“One day, Richard LeMieux had a happy marriage, a palatial home, and took $40,000 Greek vacations. The next, he was living out of a van with only his dog, Willow, for company. This astonishingly frank memoir tells the story of one man's resilience in the face of economic disaster. Penniless, a failed suicide, estranged from his family, and living "the vehicular lifestyle" in Washington state, LeMieux chronicles his journey from the Salvation Army kitchens to his days with "C"—a philosopher in a homeless man's clothing—to his run-ins with Pastor Bob and other characters he meets on the streets. Along the way, he finds time to haunt public libraries and discover his desire to write. LeMieux's quiet determination and his almost pious willingness to live with his situation are only a part of this politically and socially charged memoir. The real story of an all-too-common American condition, this is a heartfelt  and stirring read.” (Summary by Goodreads)

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 were displayed on March 15th in the library. What amazing photos of interesting places our FLC Bothell members have visited. What fun! Visit the library soon to see the photos selected for display in 2026.  

Books on aging are featured on the special library reading table just outside the library. Children’s books are displayed on the special lower shelf.  

* Finding Grace in the Face of Dementia

* Third Calling: What are you Doing the Rest of your Life?

* The Art of Growing Old: A Guide to Faithful Aging 

* Bible Readings for the Retired

* The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

CHECK IT OUT!!1  

April Ministry of the Month

Click on image for more information about Global Refuge.

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

April Outreach: Global Refuge

The Social Ministries Committee invites your help collecting these “TOP 5” needed supplies for Compass Housing Guests and Families during April 2026. Items can be dropped off in the Church Narthex Caring Corner or in the Collection Bin located near the Preschool Entrance.  Questions? Contact Roger Steinke.

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

CREATION CARE

King County Hazardous Wastemobile – April 2026

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.

This year, Earth Day (www.earthday.org) is on Wednesday, April 22nd. The theme for 2026 is “Our Power, Our Planet,” acknowledging that individual actions can make a difference in protecting our environment, if the actions are persistent. What can we do individually? Knowledge is power. Learn about environmental issues and actions through the toolkits, quizzes and other documents on the Earth Day website. Review the list of 50 Easy Ways to Help the Planet Every Day, and pick one or more activities that you can commit to add to your life to help the life of our planet and make Earth Day every day.

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.

Registration is open! Click on the picture to learn more.

Please contact Joyce Thode or Kristi Pyne with questions.

The Traveler & the Bishop on American Democracy and Christian Nationalism

Sunday, April 26, 6:00pm 

Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Seattle

(1245 10th Ave. E., Seattle)

Free but registration required: HERE

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.

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