By the end of May, we will have celebrated Easter, recognized our graduates and musicians, and begun the countdown to the end of Sunday school for 2010-2011. Don’t go away, though, it isn’t over yet! The official end date for our program year is June 12, Pentecost Sunday, and we want it to be a special final day. Then, it’ll be summer, and time for youth travels, VBS… and whatever else we think up in the months ahead. There’s no down season at First Lutheran Church!
But first: FLC youth will lead worship on June 5.
It’s the Seventh Sunday of Easter, the day we celebrate the Ascension… and a very special day for First Lutheran Youth! We hope the service will be prayerful, faithful, meaningful… and also fun. We’ve taken our theme from Acts 1, planned music and prayers to match, and done a lot of thoughtful preparation. Now, we just need everyone to join us in worship. Due to setup needs, it is likely that both services will be in the sanctuary. We appreciate your flexibility as we change things up, but don’t worry, it will still be a recognizable worship service!
After the youth service, and the final Sunday school, it’ll be time to get serious about our major summer events…
Our youth mission trip will be July 10-15 in Charleston, WV.
We’re bringing twelve youth and three adults to serve and learn this summer. For FLC youth, this is very much the highlight of the year, a time for hard work, great fellowship, and spiritual and personal growth. For three of our seniors, it’s their fifth and final service trip.
Now that the trip is nearly here, we need your help. If you’re able, and willing, you’re invited to become an official Mission Trip Sponsor. You don’t need to do anything, or buy anything, just give a little towards the cost of our travel and service. Charleston isn’t far, and the service isn’t expensive, but gas prices have gone up, and we need a little more to make it to our goal. We truly appreciate your kind and generous support. We’re doing the church’s work, and it means a lot to us to know we have the church’s backing!
If you’d like to help us make our final payment, please contribute by June 5. If you’d just like to ensure you’re on the sponsor list before the trip, your last chance to give is July 3. 
VBS will be in July.
Probably, but not definitely, the week of July 24. (That would mean an official start date of Monday, July 25.) We’re working with St. John’s and holding the event and their building this year. By late July, the construction should be mostly over, and we’ll have plenty of time to prepare. The program is called “ReNew,” and it’s about the Parable of the Sower (from Matthew 13:1-23, and also Mark and Luke)… planting, growing, learning, and also caring for the resources God has given us. It’s a little different, but it still has the best parts of Vacation Bible School – the people, the Bible, and great fellowship together! Stay tuned for information on how to sign up, how to volunteer, and how you can help us prepare.
It’s (still) going to be an amazing summer!
Yours in Christ,
Erin