June 2023

Happenings

Monday June 6th Noon - 6pm

Bethany Hall

Van for sale

2002 Ford Econoline E350 1 Ton Super Duty

Passenger Van (Seating for 12)

$8,500

Extended Van- V8, 5.4 L, Automatic VIN- 1FBSS31L82HB43879

Mileage- 69,325

AM/FM/ Cassette Radio, Trailer Hitch Contact the church office 373-6424

To schedule an appointment go to: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give or call 1-800-RED-CROSS

Grace and peace to you from God who is, who was, and who is to come...

As some of you know this past month I was able to attend The Festival of Homiletics for my continuing education. I am happy to report that the festival lived up to its reputation! We were able to hear from wonderful preachers such as Rev. Michael Curry, Rev. Otis Moss III, and Jonathan Merritt (just to name a few), and I deeply enjoyed learning from their sermons and lectures on what it means to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. There were about twelve hundred people at the conference and the backgrounds varied from ordained ministers to church members who just wanted to learn more from those around them.

One of my biggest takeaways from this conference was the message on trust. Each speaker had their unique understanding of what it meant to trust God, but my favorite understanding was spoken in a sermon by Rev. Otis Moss III. Using the gospel story of Jesus calming the storm, Rev. Otis pointed out the importance of rest. He talked about how Jesus had just finished speaking to thousands of people and had escaped with his followers on a boat. The weather began to change and the disciples became afraid so they woke Jesus from his nap, and he very harshly told the storm to stop, and it did. Throughout this sermon Rev. Otis focused on the fact that Jesus was resting in a boat even though everything around him was seemingly falling apart. In his sermon he made the argument that resting is a form of resistance in our world because it shows that we understand that we are more than just people who produce. Even God rested from making the world and enjoyed the new creation. Resting is a crucial part of being human and is something that God intends for us to do. It is also a way for us to trust in God because God is always taking care of us, even when we are resting.

This message might seem a bit trivial, but I think that it is important for us to remember. So, as you go out this week I pray that you will remember to find rest for yourself. Maybe that looks like attending a worship service at FLC. Maybe it means going for a walk by yourself and silencing your mind. Maybe it means journaling as a form of prayer. There are many different ways that we can practice rest both in and outside of the church walls, and in doing so hopefully we will be reminded that it is a good thing to find rest in our faith. God will still be God if we need to sleep during a storm!

Blessings of Peace, Pastor Joy

A few words from Pastor Joy

Council Corner with Jennifer Levisen

Tell us a little bit about who makes up your family. My husband, Jens, and I were married at FLC in 2006. We have two boys, Anders, 11, and Dag, 8. We also have a golden retriever, Cody, who serves as my therapist, coworker, running buddy, and the family baby.

What do you love about First Lutheran Church? My favorite thing about First Lutheran Church is the community of faith-filled people. Regardless of the service you go to, the activities you are involved in, or the things you volunteer for, there is always a smiling face, someone to talk to, and a great conversation to have. What is one thing you are excited for First Lutheran Church There are many things I’m excited about for FLC momentum. Our church is the sum of all parts; we are greater than any one thing, person, or program. When I reflect on my time in Albert Lea, FLC has been part of the most important events in my life. I can’t wait to be part of its future!

Job Title

Education Director

Brief overview of your position?

Plan and direct youth education programs

Fun fact not many people know?

I hate having my picture taken

What’s the last book you read? One of my favorite books is The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

What is your favorite hobby? Cheer on my kids!

Ingathering by the Numbers

The Spring Lutheran World Relief Ingathering held on Saturday, May 20, was attended by 47 churches from Southern Minnesota & Northern Iowa. The truckload included 2642 quilts (136 from our Quilters!), 26 fabric kits, 291 school kits, 191 baby care kits, & 1005 personal care kits. Donations in the amount of $5044 were received for LWR shipping costs.

Kudos go to the 30 awesome volunteers who helped throughout the morning & to FLC staffMike, Paul, Pat, & Jordan - for various means of assistance. Indebted thanks go to Crossroads Trailer of Albert Lea for the continued donation of transportation to the LWR Warehouse in St. Paul! See you October 14!

Staff Spotlight with Jenny Edwin

Workers:

Barb Cliff

Diane Damerow

Judy Folven

Jill Johnson

Cathie Kammerer

Ruth Noren

Women’s Ministry (FLCW)

July Meeting

Wednesday, July12 1:00pm

Bethany Hall

Program: Eye Care with Dr. Della Simmons

Caring and Sharing June 2023

Chair: Judy Hagen

507-402-3762

Sue Jensen 507-373-7839

Cakes:

Barb Ochs

Laurie Olson

Dawn Pestorious

Shirley Strand

Elaine Syverson

Kaley Waldemar

We are looking for new members. Please come to the meeting or call Debbie Pilgrim - 377-1544.

Beth Beamer

Barb Cliff

Angie Drescher

Jill Johnson

Arianna Liebsch

Darlene Levisen

Julie Nafzger

Sue Olson

Marilyn Sasser

Dawn Thompson

Jill Tweed

Tuesday, June 20 11:30am

Picnic at Pioneer Park

Pulled Pork, Baked Beans, Potato Salad

Daily Scripture Verses from the Sharing the Faith Team

Theme for June

Marriage

1 Mark 10:6-9

2 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

3 Ephesians 5:25, 28-33

4 Matthew 5:27-28

5 Song of Solomon 3:4-5

6 Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

7 Hosea 2:19-21

8 Ephesians 4:1-7

9 Romans 13:8-9

10 Revelation 19:7-9

11 Ruth 1:16-17

12 1 Corinthians 7:3-5

13 1 Peter 4:8-10

14 Hebrews 13:4-6

15 Song of Solomon 4:9-11

Youth

16

Proverbs 22:6

17 Psalm 127:3-5

18 Psalm 144:12

19 Matthew 19:13-17

20 3 John 1:2-4

21 Ephesians 6:1-4

22 Psalm 139:13-16

23 Colossians 3:20-21

24 Proverbs 1:8-10

25 Deuteronomy 6:4-9

26 Ecclesiastes 11:9-10

27 1 Timothy 4:12-16

28

1 Peter 5:5-9

29 Jeremiah 1:4-8

30 Luke 18:15-17

FLC Prayer Ministry

Want prayer for yourself or others? Call Jo, 763-257-9018 or Julia, 373-9594. Prayers are kept confidential.

Prayer List

Ourprayersarerequestedforhealingandwholenessfor: Susan Christensen, Kathy Dail, Dave Mullenbach, Mary Powell, Julie, and Pam.

Ourcontinuedprayersarerequestedforhealingandwholenessfor:

Jaya Fever, Joyce Fredin, Bob Herman, Nancy Jenson, Laurie Lenz, Larry Nelson, Pauline Kohnke Nelson, Wanda Soland, Pam Stern, Mollie Tolic, Jenny, John, Sheila, and their spouses, families, and caregivers.

Testimonials from our Food Ministry recipients:

"We enjoy the meals. It helps us every week knowing we are going to get a good meal to eat on Thursday. We appreciate the people who help make the meals possible. God bless you all.”

"The meals are very delicious. The people serving the food are very friendly. We appreciate the chance to get communion. It helps the keep our food budget down.”

The Five Sisters Project mission is to provide help, healing, and hope to women and their families in crisis. Some of the services they provide are: temporary safe housing, resources & support, referrals, someone to listen, life skills classes, and spiritual coaching. The Five Sisters Project is located in Wells, Minn.

462-6836)

A note from the Parish Health & Wellness Team

It appears that spring/summer has finally arrived. It is time to refresh our memories on how to stay safe this summer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers several tips to stay safe and healthy in the summer.

1. Swimming is great fun but can also pose danger. Remember to accompany children when they are near water. Always swim with a buddy. When enjoying pools, it may be wise to check online or on site to ensure that the pools are cleaned correctly using the appropriate amount of chemicals.

2. Heat kills more than 600 people in the United States each year. Individuals who are at greatest risk are those under the age of 4 or more than 65 years of age and/or those with pre-existing medical conditions. Remember to stay hydrated, wear cool clothing, pay attention to heat advisories and, when needed, find shade or air conditioning.

3. Sunburn is a common injury. Unprotected skin can be burned in as little as 15 minutes but the damage may note be seen for several hours. If possible, stay out of the sun between the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00pm when the sun’s UV rays are at their highest levels. Remember to wear hats, sunglasses and long sleeves and use sunscreen to minimize your skin’s exposure to the sun.

4. Food poisoning peaks during the summer months due to the warmer temperatures that allows foodborne germs to thrive. According to the CDC, 1 in 6 Americans get sick from eating contaminated food each year. To help prevent food poisoning, always wash your hands when handling food. Thaw foods in the refrigerator, cold water or in the microwave. Refrigerate foods when marinating, and cook (or grill) foods thoroughly.

5. Insects and ticks are also thriving during the summer months. At best they may simply cause an irritation (e.g. mosquito bites) but in some cases they may cause significant illnesses (e.g. Lyme disease). Protect yourself by applying an Environment Protection Agency -registered insect repellent as directed by the product label.

6. Bicycles, motorcycles, scooters, skateboards are fun summertime modes of transportation. Remember to wear a helmet and travel under control!

Stay safe and enjoy the summer.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019). CDC’s Eight Tips for Safe and Healthy Summertime Work and Play retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/p0517-eight-tips-healthy-summer.html

The Perfect Gift Shop

The Perfect Gift Shop has you covered for graduation and Father’s Day gifts!

Hours are Sundays 9:30am to 11:30am and Wednesdays 6:00pm to 7:30pm.

Office

Monday Thursday 9:00AM-3:00PM

FRIDAY & SATURDAY CLOSED

Sunday Building Hours—7AM-12 noon

[Other times by special arrangement]

s

These hours allow the office staff to be in the office and have time to work on special projects and events with fewer distractions. If you need to come in outside of normal office hours, please call for an appointment.

Building

Monday - Thursday 8:00AM-5:00PM

Tues. & Wed. 5:00-8:00PM If there are meetings scheduled

Pastoral Records: Baptisms, Weddings, Deaths, Funerals, Memorial Services

Baptisms

Waverly Mortensen May 21

Atlas Espinosa May 21

Memorials, Honors, & Special Gifts

PEACE & POWER

In Memory of:

Orland Lee given by Mark & Judy Langrud

Gifts Given By:

Larhee Mathison, Arline Engh, LaVonne Emmons, Sonja Cook

“BILL” BOARD

Gifts Given By: Jane Maiden

CARE MINISTRY

Gifts Given by: Wayne & Jackie Sletten

FOOD FOR BACKPACKS

In Memory of:

Orland Lee given by John & Barb Cliff

FOOD MINISTRY

Gifts Given By: JoAnn Palmer

FLIGGE SCHOLARSHIP

In Memory of: Ken Ullman given by John & Barb Cliff

GENERAL FUND

In Memory of:

Orland Lee given by Ann Hanson

In Honor of:

Katelynn Oudekerk for her graduation given by Steve & Sue Gregerson

Summer Worship Schedule

Sundays

10:00am - In-person Worship and live streamed on our Facebook page

10:00am - Peace & Power broadcast on KAAL-TV ABC6

10:00am - Live broadcast on KATE Radio 1450 AM

Wednesdays

6:30pm - In-person Worship

Anytime: Access the video of our worship services at www.flcal.org

First Lutheran Church Albert Lea

THE MISSION OF FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH IS TO GATHER, EQUIP, AND EMPOWER PEOPLE TO JOYFULLY DO CHRIST’S WORK.

First Lutheran Church 301 W Clark St. Albert Lea, MN 56007

Periodicals Postage Paid at Albert Lea, MN 56007

Sunday Worship Broadcasts

10:00am - Peace & Power on ABC 6

10:00am - Live broadcast on KATE Radio 1450

[Address label here]

Have you moved? Phone number changed? Please email Kara (kara@flcal.org) your updated info.