Bulletin Announcements

Vacation Times: Pastor Dennis and his family will be away on vacation Thursday, July 24 through Wednesday, July 30. Also he will be away Thursday, August 7 through Wednesday, August 20. Pastor Mary Johnson will be preaching on July 27, August 10, and August 17. She will also be handling any emergencies, should they arise. . Her phone numbers are: home 925-6802 or cell 607-9130. Thank you Mary!

"YELS" (Youth Empowered for Leadership and Service) A youth event called "YELS" (Youth Empowered for Leadership and Service) will be taking place at Shoshone Base Camp in North Idaho this summer. The dates are Sunday, August 3 to Wednesday, August 6, 2008. This great event is for youth who will be in High School in the Fall of 2008 and are interested in learning about leadership and service opportunities in the church. You will learn about bible study; participate in small groups, enjoy great music on the banks of the Coeur d'Alene River, play games, attend campfire, worship services and enjoy tubing/hiking and spiritual rest in the great outdoors! If you are interested, contact Paul and Julie Johnson at 968-3403 or paulandjulie@elltel.net. The registration date is coming up fast so let us know right away if you are interested.

SUMMER YOUTH EVENTS We're still working on dates for many summer youth events but will get the word out to everyone as soon as those dates/times are confirmed. In the meantime, here's a list of some of the activities:

High school and middle school service projects

Youth Ministry Team meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. to plan, dream and form youth ministry at FLC. We would invite anyone who is interested to please join us. Contact Paul or Julie Johnson with any questions.

Church Picnic Sunday, August 3 All are invited to our annual church picnic coming soon! Mark your calendars for Sunday, August 3, from 12 noon to 3:00 p.m. This year we are having an "old fashioned picnic" just like the old days, in honor of our 100th Anniversary year! Come on up after morning worship at the church to the Lazy F Camp and Retreat Center, just 20 short minutes from town (if you need directions, please call Carla Bergman at 929-2926). We will meet in the grassy area up the hill at the picnic tables. Park in the lot below and walk over the bridge. If the walk is difficult for anyone, they may be dropped off right at the site. Hamburgers and hotdogs will be provided by Thrivent. We will have utensils, plates, napkins, cups, and serving spoons available. Please bring a dish to share with everyone, and your own beverage . See you there!

Worship Service in the Street Sunday, August 24th at 10:00 AM It's time next month for our annual "Service in the Street" with our friends from First Christian Church. The Connections group will be leading the music. Pastor Dennis and Pastor Arick Johanson, the pastor at First Christian, will give the message. We'll pray together, celebrate the Lord's Supper together and fellowship together afterwards. Both churches will supply chairs and we'll need a little help with those chairs before and after worship (hint! hint!). Lutherans will supply bread and wine and First Christians will supply the grape juice. It's First Christian's turn to provide refreshments afterwards. This is always a fun and meaningful time to worship the Lord in the great outdoors. So come join our friends from First Christian between our two churches on 6th Street at 10 AM on Sunday August 24th .

Habitat for Humanity is building again. The crew works on Saturdays for more information please call, 962-5058.  

Stewardship Stu here with a question.  What are we looking for at First Lutheran Church? I know that we will find it, but I know that we must look, that we must pray, and that we must be responsible. We are so fortunate to have Word and Sacrament centered ministry, our Pastor, Dennis Hickman, who speaks with love, vitality, and authority, awesome music, dedicated leadership that constantly encourages our participation, ministries that offer diverse opportunities of outreach, and facilities that invite use. It's here for us to find, and stewardshiply speaking, to share, but it's up to us to look and to pray. One of the saints of FLC told me that her prayer is to have the Holy Spirit inspire our hopes and dreams that Christ's work may be done in this place. My prayer is that we do hope and dream, that we will allow the Holy Spirit to motivate us, that we will be members, not just attenders. Lordy, what is this next century going to be like? See you in church. Love, Stu

Summer is here and our attendance historically declines. It's a time when families need to get refreshed and relax. So, some of us vacation out of state others just like to be at home and enjoy the weather. So, this is just a couple of reminders!! First, please keep up on your pledges. You've always been very faithful whenever we have a need. You can send them to the church or someone could pick them up also. Second, please don't forget that we have two worship services. If you are gone or can't make it to Sunday worship at 10:00 a.m.; we have WOW (Worship on Wednesday). It begins at 7:00 a.m. with scriptures, message, singing, communion and a time for coffee after worship. These will be your two chances to worship God and visit with friends and new people.

Consider Simply Giving® Simply Giving® is an automated giving program designed to help you conveniently and consistently contribute to your church. Through Simply Giving®, your financial gifts are made through a pre-authorized withdrawal from your bank account. You determine the frequency of your automatic gift—weekly, semi-monthly or monthly—the option is yours. Your gift or payment is deposited into the church's bank account on the same day it is withdrawn from your account—at no cost to you or the church. You may also designate specific amounts to separate funds, such as Operating Budget, Building Loan, or Youth funds.... Simply Giving® is a reliable, safe way to move your stewardship plan into action. It allows you to share your gifts through planned giving and activates your generosity into ongoing stewardship. Because your gift is given consistently, you won't need to play "catch-up" at year-end or worry about forgotten checkbooks or missed Sunday offerings--especially during the summer and holidays. But you're not the only one that benefits. Your congregation benefits from steady, more predictable revenues throughout the year, more efficient bookkeeping and greater confidence in meeting its financial commitments. Forms are available on the Thrivent Board by the sanctuary doors. For more information contact Jim Stolte, Edna Madsen, or Marla Firman.

FISH The council would like to encourage any of you that are planning on financial support for the FISH building to run it through the FLC channels. This way we will be able to track it as support through the church. We are not able to have this in our budget right now. We will have to wait until the annual meeting the first of next year. There are many members and friends that want to help with supporting this worthwhile project. FLC is committed to this also.

FISH Donations: FLC has been informed that we need to make a special effort to bring one or more staples each Sunday for the Food Bank. Staples are posted by the food box (canned fruit and veggies are always needed). In addition to “staples,” the food bank likes to make available other foods, such as pancake mix & syrup, special canned foods (not green beans), cake mixes, jam, mashed potato mix, and of course, fresh produce.

Lutherhaven Summer Camp: Brochures are available on the table in the Fellowship Hall that describes the variety of summer programs available for children and youth entering grades 1-12. Discounts are available for early registration by March 15 and family discounts for more than one child. FLC offers $100.00 camperships to help with the cost for each camper. To receive your campership coupon, please write the name of the camper and the camp dates on the sign up sheet at the table. Coupons are available in the FLC office or from a Youth Ministry person. Coordinating dates with other campers can help with travel arrangements. Note: If someone would like to sponsor a camper, please contact the church office. Anyone needing a sponsorship please do likewise. Early registration is encouraged because the camps fill up quickly.  

Background Checks Our insurance is requiring that we run background checks through the Washington State Patrol on any and all adults that would like to chaperone an event or attend an event with youth. This a simple procedure , one that is similar to that which the schools are now requiring also. All you need to do is contact the office or event coordinator with your information at least one week in advance, so we can get it back in time for the event. This information will be kept on file in the church office for future events. There is a charge, but the church will cover it. Thank you for helping with these important changes in policy.

Rise and Shine Preschool: Rise and Shine's annual fall registration starts this month for classes beginning in September 2008. All children who will be 3 years old (for the Tuesday/Thursday class) or 4 years old (for the Monday-Wednesday-Friday class) are eligible to enroll. If you or someone you know is looking for a quality Christian preschool in a beautiful facility, Rise and Shine is the place for you! Please pick up a registration form from the church office, or call and we will mail one to you. Contact Carla Bergman at 925-2844 for more information about our preschool or to visit a class in session.

Lutheran Travel Guru Rick Steves, host of Public television's Rick Steves' Europe, Public radio's Travel with Rick Steves, author of over 30 travel guides, and active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lynnwood, Washington, now has his own Web page on elca.org. The web page has links to the series of faith based documentaries hosted by Steves and in collaboration with ELCA video producer Tim Frakes. Find out more about these documentaries and read Steves' reflections on their production. These popular programs can be used for family devotions, adult Bible classes and confirmation classes. To visit Steves' Web page go to: www.elca.org/communication/ricksteves/.

Sponsor a New Worship Book! Psalm 96: 1-2 states: "O sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless his name: tell of his salvation from day to day." Our choir director would like to start teaching new songs to the choir from the new “Evangelical Lutheran Worship” book this fall. The Church Council, at the 6/11/07 meeting, decided to purchase 200 worship books at $20.00 a piece with fund raising starting immediately. The Council asks each member to sponsor purchase one or more of these worship books. The book may be in the memory or in honor of a loved one by a label attached to the inside front cover. Forms will be available at the Church office!

The FLARE is a monthly publication of First Lutheran Church and welcomes articles from all members. If you would like to be included on this mailing list please contact the church office, 925-2844 or email us at flc@eburg.org

Hospice Friends' Hospitality House: I would like to remind everyone about the Hospice Friends' Hospitality House. The Hospitality House is a place to stay for out-of-town family members that are visiting a loved one with a life threatening illness or attending the funeral of a loved one. This home-away-from-home can be incredibly rewarding for families that are under an enormous amount of stress. The house is available through the generosity of one of our volunteers, Caroline Onstot. She has opened her house to guests, but has promised that they don't have to spend their time engaging in polite conversation with her unless they want to. They have access to the kitchen, their own bathroom, and a private entrance, allowing them to truly use her home as a place of retreat and relaxation. To be honest I feel disappointed in myself that we have not been able to get more people to utilize this service when I know it would be a benefit to them. But I also know that families need a personal invitation to use this type of service. As a family, we were extremely blessed by this service when my mother-in-law, Kathryn Johnson, passed away at the end of August. If you personally know of families that could benefit from this service and/or you want to know more about the Hospitality house, please contact Hospice Friends at 962-7379. ~Sheila Johnson

Café Highlights Women’s Issues: Café is an award-winning, online magazine from Women of the ELCA that features timely articles about faith and life, scripture reflections, and an opportunity for sharing your thoughts with others. The e-zine’s articles will inform and inspire women of all ages.
Some of the latest topics covered in Café, are: spiritual consequences of credit card debt, forgiveness for good health, looking at hunger, and the current article, “Timelines and Transition.” Café continues to be well received in young and older audiences alike in our church and beyond. Come to www.womenoftheelca.org/cafe and refresh your spirit.

PRAYER CHAIN When prayer requests come to the office they are passed on to the head of each chain. Each person in the chain calls the next one to inform them of the concerns. If you are interested in being a part of the prayer chain, please call Carla Bergman at the church office 925-2844.

MONTHLY FLARE ARTICLES Do you have something for the FLARE? How about a story, poem, testimony of your “faith journey”, book review, thank you note, or favorite recipe? Please submit your FLARE item to the FLC office or by email: flceburg@yahoo.com by the 15th. All articles will be printed in the FLARE upon approval of Pastor and Ministry Associate.