Join us for our annual Hanging of the Greens as we prepare our space for Advent and the start of a new church year! Right after worship, we’ll gather to decorate the tree and our building, turning our space into a beautiful reflection of the season of hope and expectation. This joyful, intergenerational event is for everyone—young and the young at heart—as we share cookies, snacks, laughter, and the joy of being together. Come help pass on cherished traditions, make new memories, and share in fellowship that make our congregation a community. All are welcome—come ready to decorate, connect, and have fun!
|
|
Office Hours |
|
Don't Miss These! |
|
Hanging of the Greens |
|
Youth Service ProjectMiddle & High School youth are encouraged to participate! Elementary-age kids are welcome with their parents. We will have pizza at 12:30pm in the library and begin the project at 1pm. |
|
Acolyte TrainingLet us know you can attend! |
|
News and Information |
|
Thanksgiving @Complex CareUPDATE: We’re getting close, but we still need more support! We could really use a few additional turkeys, hams, and side dishes, along with three more volunteers. Your help makes a big difference! Thanksgiving at Complex Care: Complex Care is a facility for 83 elderly or medically fragile individuals experiencing homelessness in Anchorage. Let’s come together to help our neighbors celebrate Thanksgiving by sharing one of your favorite dishes. You can sign-up to either bring a food dish (bring to Joy) or volunteer to serve (at Complex Care). Click below for the sign-up for food and volunteering. FOOD: If you sign-up to bring a food dish, please drop them off at Joy Lutheran Church with Pastor Sean between 10:00am-11:30am. Pastor Sean and another volunteer will transport them to Complex Care. VOLUNTEER: If you are going to volunteer to serve at Complex Care, please arrive by Noon or slightly earlier. If you'd like to carpool, please let Pastor Sean know. |
|
Thanksgiving Blessing DistributionWe’re proud to once again be the host site for the Thanksgiving Blessing and supporting Love Inc as the local distribution coordinator! Each food box feeds approx. a family of 8 and includes (but not limited to):
No sign-up is required — boxes will be available while supplies last! Please bring I.D. Come by, pick up a box, and help us spread the word so that every family in need can enjoy a hearty meal together. For information please contact Geoff Woods the new Love Inc. director at geoffmwoods@yahoo.com or 907.863.0177. Please remember that Joy Lutheran is only the host site. |
|
LEAD Planning UpdateThank you to everyone who completed the congregational survey! As Laura mentioned on Sunday, we had 49 responses, which is well over the target of 30 that Jessica Noonan, our consultant, had set for us. We also had participants in every age range, from under 20 to over 80, which is great. Five major themes stood out in the responses, among much other great information that the LEAD team will be going through carefully. These were:
All of this is great to hear. We will also be looking for new and different ways to help spread the message of God’s grace and love. Our next step is to convene some focus groups to explore some of these ideas in more detail. Those will take place early in the New Year, so stay tuned! |
|
THANK YOU~ from Homestead ElementaryWe’ve received some wonderful thank-you cards from the students at Homestead Elementary in appreciation of your support for their Weekend Food Bag program. Take a moment to check them out on the bulletin board in the Narthex— they’ll brighten your day! |
|
Group Text StudiesWe are planning future group learning opportunities at church, and we’d love input from the whole congregation—even if you haven’t participated in a study before. To help us shape offerings that fit the interests, schedules, and needs of our congregation, we’ve created a short survey. It asks about what kinds of topics you’d find meaningful, when you’re most available, and what formats work best for you. The survey also includes an optional question for those who may be interested in joining a small team that meets a few times a year with Pastor Sean to help brainstorm and plan future studies. Whether you’ve attended many group studies or none at all, your feedback is valuable and will help us develop engaging learning opportunities. |
|
We Need Your Photos!As we prepare (because it's never too early) for our Annual Ministry Celebration in February, we’re gathering photos from the past year to showcase the amazing moments and memories from our church family! If you’ve captured pictures from any ministry events, gatherings, or special occasions, please share them with us. Deadline:We will take them through December Let’s celebrate all that God has done through our ministries this year—together! |
|
Memory CafeA monthly gathering for individual with early to moderate Alzheimer's or dementia and their care partners as well as those who worry about memory problems. When: December 12, 2025 (Second Friday of each month) Time: 10:00-11:00am Where: Our Redeemer Lutheran Church; 18444 Old Glenn Hwy, Chugiak |
|
Regularly Scheduled Events |
|
Sunday SchoolAges toddlers through 5th grade are invited to Sunday School after worship in Brause Hall. We use Godly Play - a montessori based curriculum that involves engaging kids in storytelling and lots of "I wonder..." questions that help them explore the mystery of God's presence, listen for God, and authentically respond to God's call in our lives. *Reminder that Sunday School does not meet on Brunch Sundays (2nd Sunday of each month)* |
|
ConfirmationConfirmation Class for youth in grades 6 and up begins on Sunday, September 7th! Please register using the link below. If you have any questions, reach out to Pastor Sean. *Reminder that Confirmation Class does not meet on Brunch Sundays (2nd Sunday of each month)* |
|
Holy GroundsHoly Grounds is a weekly gathering of high school youth at Jitters Café with Pastor Sean and other adult youth leaders. It’s an opportunity for fellowship, peer support, and faith formation before school hours over beverages at no cost to youth. Please consider supporting this ministry with prayer and donations to cover the cost of beverages. You can donate online via our webpage. Holy Grounds follows the ASD calendar, if there is no school on Monday, Holy Grounds does not meet. Please see the EVENTS page for up to date meetings. |
|
Kid's Closet | December 7thOpen 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.
|
|
Knits of Joy | December 10thDo 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! |
|
Church Brunch | December 14thJoin 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! **Please note that there is no Sunday School or Confirmation class on Brunch Sundays |
|
Saturday Work GroupWe gather on the second Saturday of each month to take care of various tasks around the church. All are welcome to lend a hand—no experience needed! Coffee is ready by 9:00 AM, so come early, pitch in, and enjoy some fellowship. |
|
Joy of Reading Book ClubVisit 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 Here at JoyCommunity 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 |
|
NAMI | FAMILY-TO-FAMILYRegister today! NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, 8-session educational program for family, significant others, and friends of people with mental health conditions. It is a designated evidenced-based program, meaning that research shows that the program significantly improves the coping and problem-solving abilities of the people closest to a person with a mental health condition. This will be taught by Kathy H. For more information and to register click the REGISTER HERE button below. |
|
Prayer Concerns & Requests
|
|
Ways to GiveOnline: 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. |
|
Updated Email Addresses for Joy Lutheran CommunicationWe wanted to share a quick update—both Ericka and Pastor Sean have new email addresses! Pastor Sean: pastorsean@joy-lutheran.com. Ericka Stotlenberg (Church office): admin@joy-lutheran.com. Thank you for staying connected and being part of the Joy community! Blessings, |
