First Lutheran Church Old North End Newsletter - Summer 2023

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL AT FIRST LUTHERAN

YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD • MATTHEW 15:14a

July 17 – 21 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Current preschoolers to 5th grade

Come join us for our interactive Vacation Bible School this summer! The children will learn that everyone can make a difference in the world at the Changemakers Lab! The five Bible stories that we will be exploring during the week are examples of people who experienced and brought about change in the world around them. These people provide a model for asking hard questions, working together to solve problems, reaching across differences, caring for all people, and imaging a new world. Through worship and drama, Bible Study, STEAM activities (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), and active games, the children are invited to see and experience the transforming love of God. Grounded in God's love, children can use their unique gifts to make a difference wherever they go!

From the Pastor

FIRST

WWW.FLCCS.NET

719.632.8836

Dear Old North End Neighbors,

What is a good neighbor? I’ve been shocked at the news recently where people are shooting those who show up on their doorstep by mistake. The wrong driveway, the wrong address, the wrong yard should not lead to the loss of life. What is it that makes us fear one another so much? I think we can work together to change this. We can work together to give the stranger the benefit of the doubt, to risk trust, to bring back a feeling of safety in our neighborhoods.

At First Lutheran we want to be good neighbors to you who live with us in the Old North End. This newsletter is written to let you know what’s going on in our house and to make sure you know that you are welcome to stop by anytime. We have recently completed work to repair our gutters and sidewalks in an effort to be good neighbors. We will be doing some more landscaping

work this year to beautify our part of the neighborhood. And we will hold some events that we believe strengthen the bonds of our community.

Our hope is to be a force for good in the world. Our Christian faith teaches us to love our neighbor as ourselves and to serve everyone regardless of who they are. If you join us for worship, you’ll find lively, high quality positive music and a message of God’s generosity and grace for all people. During the summer we have Vacation Bible School, a chance for the youngest among us to learn about God’s goodness and to see themselves as wonderful people created in the image of a loving and creative God. We also have OWLS events for the older among us to gather for fellowship and mind-enriching activities and tours. In the middle there are small groups around hiking, eating out, and even drinking beer. You are cordially invited to all of it!

Thank you for being good neighbors to First Lutheran. We love you and pray for this neighborhood that it can continue to be a safe place of goodwill for all.

Pastor Travis Norton

Senior Pastor

First Lutheran Colorado Springs

FIRST LUTHERAN SENIOR STAFF

The Rev. Travis Norton senior pastor

The Rev. Carrie Baylis associate pastor

Michaela Eskew minister of faith formation

Eric Wicks minister of worship and music

Summer Sermon Series at First Lutheran

We’d love to have you come and worship with us this summer!

We have three services at 8, 9:30, and 11 a.m. They are all identical except we add a children’s sermon and children’s church during the sermon time at 9:30 a.m. This summer we are focusing attention on the work of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew in the Bible.

THE DISCIPLE’S LIFE

What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? Join us for a six week series studying Jesus' words to the first disciples.

Stories by Jesus

July 16 – 30

June 4 – July 9

Everyone loves a good story! Jesus made up stories to teach people the truth about God and God's kingdom. Join us for this three week series on the Parables of Jesus.

MIRACLES

August 6 - 20

Join us as we explore the power Jesus displayed during his ministry. His miracles fed, healed, and strengthened the faith of those on the receiving end.

Youth & Children's Ministry

We have a lot of fun plans for our middle and high school youth this summer! Check out our website to sign up for any of the events below. Friends are always welcome at First! https://flccs.net/ministries/youth

YOUTH UPCOMING DATES

June 14, Rising Grades 6 – 8 12 – 3 p.m. on Front Lawn Middle School Water Day at First Lutheran. Lunch will be provided.

July 24, Grades 6 – 12

10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Youth Trip to Elitch Gardens, Denver. These are departure and arrival times. Separate vans for Middle and High School.

August 6, Grades 6 – 12 8 – 10 p.m.

Movie on the Lawn; BYOS (Bring Your Own Snacks).

August 19, Grades 6 – 8

6 – 8 p.m.

YOUTH SERVICE DAYS

The youth are serving this summer in our own community! Join us for service days.

June 10, 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Habitat for Humanity Build Day. For age 16+ only. To be added to volunteer list contact cheryl@flccs.net.

July 28

7 - 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Sunday School: Preschool through Grade 5 Sundays during the 9:30 a.m. service

Youth Group: Grades 6 – 12 Sundays during the 9:30 a.m. service in the Peel House Youth Room

Middle School Mini-Golf at Lost Island. Cost $10

August 20, For Everyone

1:10 p.m., $18/person

All Church Faith Day at the Colorado Rockies. Everyone in the family is welcome, but teens will get to sit together!

Kids Kamp 2023

Serving at the Marion House Soup Kitchen. Only four youth per shift, so reserve your spot by contacting michaela@flccs.net

August 10, 9:30 – 11 a.m.

Serving at the Care and Share Mobile Food Market. For age 14+ only. Contact michaela@flccs.net to be added to volunteer list.

Matriarchs and Heroines: Remarkable Women of the Bible

9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Thursdays in June • For ages 4 – 10

Every Thursday in June we will be offering a morning of fun activities for children aged 4 to 10. We will have a Bible story each morning, then some kinetic learning through art, games, and even a themed snack! We will also be offering ‘Toddler Tales’ simultaneously for parents and children aged 18 months to 3 years from 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. in the

Peel House. Please sign up via the QR code to make sure we have enough snacks and supplies for everyone. All are welcome!

Young Adult & Adult Ministry

Stay connected with us! Check out our website to keep up with pop-up events throughout the summer! https://flccs.net/ministries/young-adults. You can also follow us on Instagram: @flccs_youth_young_adult.

Enchantment and the Christian Life: A Study of the Harry Potter Series

New Adult Seminar this Summer led by Michaela Eskew, Minister of Faith Formation

July 9 – August 27 in the Peel House Parlor at 9:30 a.m.

Join us for a Christian reading of the Harry Potter Books this summer. Our reading list will be intense, but if you can’t get the assigned books read in time there is a movie for each of them! We will move through the first four books quickly: Sorcerer’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets (July 9) and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire (July 16). We will be covering overarching Christian themes and symbols. Then we will slow down and take two weeks for each of the last three Harry Potter Books: the Order of the Phoenix (July 23 and 30), the Half Blood Prince (August 6 and 13), and the Deathly Hallows (August 20 and 27).

Check out all our summer Adult Seminar offerings at our website: https://flccs.net/ministries/adult-education

Wednesday Night LIGHT

(Living in God’s Holy Truth)

Returning August 16

Contemporary Worship begins at 7 p.m. Then we have small groups that run until 8:15 p.m. for Middle School (6th-7th grade), Confirmation (8th-9th grade), High School (10th-12th grade), and Adults (18+).

Garden of the Gods Hike and Chat

Sunday, July 30 at 1:30 p.m.

Calling all Young Adults in your 20s and 30s! Meet up at Garden of the Gods Visitor Center with First Lutheran Church and St. Michael's Episcopal Church.

GATHER: PIKES PEAK

Young Adult Worshiping Community for 20s and 30s

Keep up with our summer events on Instagram @gatherpikespeak

Adult Groups

WANT MORE FROM FIRST LUTHERAN?

There are many ways to stay up to date with all that the church is doing and offering. We send an email out every Wednesday, called First Weekly. It has the most important announcements of the week as well as a preview of what the pastor is considering for the upcoming sermon. You can sign up for that below.

www.flccs.net/connect

We send out a weekly printed newsletter called the Ekklesia There’s also a digital version on our website. You can get on the mailing list by sending your information to cheryl@flccs.net.

You can also find us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and yes we even have a blog. We love to connect!

Small Groups Highlights

Contact Cheryl Mahon 719-447-6064 or cheryl@flccs.net for more information about any of these groups.

Bible and a Brew meets each Thursday evening at a craft brewery to enjoy a pint while participating in life discussions surrounding the previous Sunday’s sermon. Come join us in fellowship! You can find where we are meeting here: https://www.meetup.com/ first-lutheran-church-colorado-springs-small-groups.

Trail Trekkers hike throughout the Pikes Peak area during the summer months starting at 8 a.m. each Thursday morning. Please email Judy Hagge at outdoorjudy@comcast.net to get a copy of their hiking schedule!

Wednesday Morning Bible Study meets for one hour each week at 10 a.m. in Luther Hall. After the group reads the scripture that Sunday’s sermon will be based on, the pastor poses questions leading the group to ponder how this passage applies to our lives today. Lively discussion and helpful insights follow.

Dining Out with FLC meets at 6 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month starting June 13 at Edelweiss German Restaurant. Enjoy various cuisines (German, Italian, Mediterranean, Greek, Cajun & Creole, American, and more) and meet new friends. Reserve your seat(s) with the group here: https://bit.ly/41Rh4ff.

New Member Classes – At First Lutheran you can become a member by attending the new member class(es) of your choice and making the affirmation of baptism promises to the congregation. The next classes will be held in August 2023. The promises will be made on Sunday, August 27 during the 9:30 a.m. service. Lunch will be served at both classes. Register here: https://bit.ly/3s2W5qN

August 13 – Noon

Introduction to First Lutheran

Meet the staff of First Lutheran Church and get to know others looking into church membership. Meeting in the Fireside Room.

August 20 - Noon Lutheranism 101

Pastor Travis will review what we "as Lutherans" believe and the promises you will make during the service of inclusion. This is a great time to ask questions. Meeting in the Fireside Room.

OWLs stands for Older Wiser Lutherans. They are a group of senior adults who meet monthly for food, fellowship, and excursions. In the past they have toured Pikes Peak Trolley Museum, explored the Cliff Dwellings in Manitou Springs, and visted the Rosemount Castle in Pueblo. During the colder months, the group hosts old-fashioned potlucks at the church and invites speakers to come and share on a range of topics. Below are the topics for the next two months.

Tour of Channel 5 KOAA News and Sports Studio

June (TBA, see flccs.net news tab for date.)

Meet at FLC at 9:30 a.m. Tour is at 10:00 a.m.

Lunch: Marigold Café & Bakery

Come join the OWLs group to enjoy a tour of the Channel 5 KOAA News and Sports Studio. We will enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour to see how the news and sports programs are set up and how they are run on a day-to-day schedule. We will then fellowship during lunch at Marigold Café & Bakery. There is limited space on one bus and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Please sign up by calling FLC at 719.623.8836.

Tour of Shroud of Turin Display at St. Gabriel The Archangel Catholic Church

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Meet at FLC at 9:15 a.m. Tour is at 10:00 a.m. Cost: $20 per person plus lunch on your own

Lunch: Shops at Briargate – Choice of Restaurants

Sign Up Deadline: Tuesday, July 18

The OWLs will take a trip to St. Gabriel The Archangel Catholic Church to view the Shroud of Turin Display that their church has on site. It is a two-hour presentation that spans the history and gives the meaning of this special display. We will then travel to the Shops at Briargate for lunch. There are several restaurants from which to choose. There is limited space on one bus and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Please sign up by calling FLC at 719-623-8836.

AUGUST OWLs and SEPTEMBER OWLs

Events will be announced after our annual planning meeting in May. Please go to flccs.net, News (tab), Ekklesia Newsletter (tab) for OWLs information that will be posted in our Ekklesia weekly newsletter. The 2023 – 2024 OWLs Calendar of Events will be available online and in print in June.

1515 North Cascade Avenue

Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907

Lutheran Family Service Refugee & Asylee Program

Refugee resettlement in Colorado Springs is booming! The Lutheran Family Service Refugee & Asylee Program is currently serving over 800 people from countries such as Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Ukraine, and Venezuela. We expect arrivals of refugee families to continue steadily through the summer. LFSRM celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, and April marks one year of the Refugee & Asylee Program being (back) in the Peel House at First Lutheran Church! We’re grateful to First Lutheran for welcoming and supporting our staff

and clients, and helping make it possible to continue this important work.

Supporting newly-arrived families takes a village, and we’re always in need of Cultural Mentor Volunteers! These volunteers come alongside refugee families as friends and teachers to provide friendship, guidance, and support as families acclimate to Colorado Springs and learn to become independent. If you’re interested in getting involved, or learning more about our work, please contact our Volunteer & Community Engagement Coordinator, Shannon, at shannon.katsos@lfsrm.org.