Joy Lutheran Staff have moved into our Summer Office Hours.

Please note the deadline for Notes of Joy and Bulletin annoucements is now on Wednesdays. 

• Presider: Pastor Sean Avery
• Assisting Minister: Ray K.
• Readers:  Hazel S. & Nancy D.
• Pianist: Nancy W.
• Altar Care: Scooter B.
• Communion Assistant: Scooter B. 
• Acolyte: Peter W.
• Ushers: N/A

Thank you for serving in worship. Your faithfulness and heart for God help create a space where His presence is felt. Our Sundays are truly blessed because of servants like you.

Join us right after worship for a laid-back, potluck-style brunch. Bring a dish if you’d like—or just bring yourself! There’ll be plenty of good food and great company. Everyone’s welcome, so come hang out and enjoy some tasty bites with us!

Do you enjoy knitting or crocheting? Come be part of a welcoming group that meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month to create cozy cold-weather gear and heartfelt prayer shawls for those in need.

We gather once a month at the church (attendance is flexible!) to share fellowship, lift each other up in prayer, and use our hands to bring comfort and warmth to our community. Whether you're an experienced crafter or just curious, there’s a place for you here.

Contact Laura R. for more information—we’d love to have you join us!

Join us for a special Back-to-School Blessing as we send our kids, teachers, and school staff into the new year with love, encouragement, and God’s presence. During worship, we’ll take time to lift them up in prayer and offer a blessing for the journey ahead. Students and school staff are invited to bring their backpacks or work bags with them! 

Our Jesus on the Go Facebook event will come to a close next Wednesday, August 13th. We have truly enjoyed seeing all your photos and sharing in your summer adventures—it has been a blessing to witness how each of you has carried Jesus with you in your everyday moments.

Though the posts may be ending, let us hold onto the deeper truth: Jesus is always with us. Whether we’re snapping a photo, carrying our little reminder of Him, or simply walking through our daily lives—His presence never leaves us. God is with us, now and always.

With school starting soon, Joy is helping to supply Eagle River Elementary School with much-needed supplies. Donations of new items will help to ensure that kids start the school year confident, prepared, and ready to learn. 

Here is a standardized list provided by the school district:

2-pocket folders
Pencils (#2)
Pens (black or blue)
Pink erasers
Rulers
Markers
Colored pencils
Composition notebooks
Wide-ruled notebook paper
Blunt tip scissors
White glue bottles
Crayons
3-ring binders (1”)

We are excited to share that we have officially filled two classrooms. We now have a preschool room for ages 3-5 years and a toddler room serving our sweet 19 month to 3 year old kiddos. With this momentum, we are ready to hire more staff and open another classroom.

We currently have four teachers working in classrooms with children and are recruiting additional teachers through Thread, Indeed, and on Facebook.

Our community has shared that toddler care is in high demand here in Eagle River, so we worked with licensing and got approval to convert one of our preschool rooms into a 2-3 year old transition classroom. Our goal is to have it ready by October 1.

If you know someone who would love to work in an inclusive, play-based program, please send them our way. And if you feel called to support us in another way, we’ve included an Amazon wishlist to help furnish this new classroom with appropriately sized furniture and developmental toys to meet the needs of our younger learners.

We are incredibly grateful to our Board of Directors and the Joy Lutheran Church family for believing in our vision and cheering us on every step of this reopening journey! 

With gratitude,

Justice Hansen and Brittany Worsham

JCDC Directors

Unveiling Revelation: A 10-Week Study

What if the Book of Revelation isn’t about fear—but hope?

Join us for a 10-week group study where we explore the Book of Revelation not through sensational headlines or end-times predictions, but through careful, theological, and faithful interpretation.

In this study, we’ll move beyond cultural assumptions and discover what Revelation really says about God, justice, resistance, and hope—especially for communities living through turmoil and uncertainty.

This study is open to all who are curious, questioning, or even hesitant about Revelation. Whether you've read it before or avoided it entirely, you're welcome here. If you've ever felt unsettled, excluded, or harmed by how Revelation has been interpreted or weaponized, know that this space is safe for you. Together, we’ll seek clarity and hope in this powerful text.

When: Tuesdays, 6-7:30pm, beginning September 9th
Where: Narthex @ Joy Lutheran Church
Let’s demystify Revelation together—and uncover its surprising message of renewal, not fear.

All are welcome. No prior experience required. Just bring your curiosity.

Thank you so much to Arden P. who brought back this beautiful cross from his travels to Germany.

 If you're traveling and come across a cross you'd like to add to our wall, we’d be honored to include it.  We’d also love to feature it in the Notes of Joy,  either leave your cross in the church office with a note that says who it's from and where, or take a photo and send it to Ericka at joylutheran@gmail.com along with the information.  

This summer let’s celebrate our baptism using the waters of Alaska! Grab a container from church and collect water from your travels: rivers, lakes, harbors, or the ocean. Label it with your name and location, then return it to Joy. We’ll filter it and, in the fall, pour each one into our baptismal font—reminding us that though we come from many places and stories, we are one in Christ. Let’s make a splash of connection and faith this summer!

Open on the first Sunday of each month 1-3pm.

We are currently in need of boys and girls size 5 (pants and shirts)  Thank you all for your donations and help serving our community in this way, you are a huge part of the success of our ministry. 

Our work group will take a vacation in July; look for us again August 9. For more information, please contact Nancy Hemsath. Happy Summer!

 Visit our website for information about our book club, including book titles, a full list of dates and locations.

Please join us!

Please contact the office on 907-694-9601 if you would like any more information.

Community Meetings that take place here at Joy Lutheran Church. For more information please visit our website.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) CLICK FOR PRINTABLE FLIER

Narcotics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous 

• Kaela W. (strength and courage for on-going treatment)
• Mark S. (revovering from surgery)
• Alicia R (healing and strength)
• Family of Linda Ernst, including David, Jessica, Donna, and Pete (Pete's aunt) who recently passed away. 
• Jeanean, Kevin, Noah & family (at the loss of Jeanean’s Mom)
• Layli (Trudi's granddaughter, for good decision making)
• Dave Mitton (for strength)
• Kent & Victoria Rush, Wayne’s brother and sister-in-law (Kent is fighting cancer again.)
• Hegna Family (as they grieve the loss of Jonny).
• Julie Meyer (facing the uncertainty after suffering a stroke)
• Justin Dailey (Chris Dailey’s brother, for continued strength and healing)
• Reimer & Oistad family (as they grieve the loss of Gary)
• Lai Ming Reimer (as she recovers from a successful kidney transplant)
• Diana Flaherty (for pain and healing)
• Lisa Linds family (friend of Kristi Swain)
• Dick Prien and family (as they mourn the passing of Sharon)
• Stella Scamman (Kristi Swain’s aunt)
• Corrine Finnie (healing)
• For all military members and their families, especially those serving in Alaska and our veterans

Online: To sign up visit joy-lutheran.com/give

Cash/Check: You can place cash or check into the offering plate or send by mail.

Text-to-Give: Text "Give" to: (833) 685-5023

Joy Lutheran App: Coming Soon

Fred Meyer Community Rewards: Fred Meyer Community Rewards - Non Profit Organization BV101 Joy is enrolled in Fred Meyer's Community Rewards Program. You can link your Rewards Card to donate to Joy at www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards. Link your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to Joy Lutheran Church to earn a donation from Fred Meyer. If you do not have a Rewards Card, you can sign up for one at the Customer Service Desk of any Fred Meyer store.