Dear Friends,

Thank you to all of you who came to the candlelight vigil.  It was a fun and restorative time together.

June is here.  The beginning of summer comes this month, and we can already feel it in the changing weather.  Even last week we had such awful thunderstorms. Jay and I ended up staying at the church until the worst passed by. And it helped to have a place to shelter. I felt blessed.  I am one of the lucky ones in this town that has a roof over my head both at work and at home. I am heartened by the activities of the people of Klamath Falls as we work to assist in the area of houselessness and housing poverty.  There are new initiatives in town and many more conversations around this issue going on. One such initiative is the Bridges to Belonging that the United Way and Klamath Lake Services have teamed up with the citizens of the town to solve problems and come up with workable solutions.  I was also blessed to be able to serve at the Klamath Interfaith Food Pantry the last two Tuesday nights of May.  It was packed with hungry people needing food.  We need more food to keep up with this kind of demand!!!!!

This is the second annual  “Fill a Bag, Feed a Child” initiative of the Interfaith Food Pantry.  There are items we really need to help families stock up with kid-friendly foods for the summer. Children do not have food to eat at home that they had when they were in school.  So we need the following items donated and left at the church: peanut and other butters, jelly and jam, packets of peanut butter crackers, noodles or ramen cups, cereal, and instant oatmeal. We also need Pop Tarts, canned fruit and fruit cups, applesauce, granola bars, Chef Boyardee Ravioli and Spaghetti (choose the ones with flip-top lids), canned soup, chili, and stews.  We are in the process of filling the table with these items in the entry area of the church.  Drop your items off on Sunday or bring them between 10 and 2 on Mondays or Fridays. I will be here to let you in.

This Sunday starts with Bible Study at 9:00 AM.  We are beginning the Book of Mark.  Thought to be the first book written in the gospels, Mark covers a year in the life of Jesus.  It is fast paced and action oriented, but focuses on Jesus’ want to be of service to people and to us as human beings. It has a simple and clear structure that is practical.  Please come and join us in this Lectio Davina style reading of the gospel.

This Sunday we will have unprogrammed worship, which we have every first Sunday.  But we will be asking you to stay after for a sing-a-long as we practice some of the songs we use in church.  It’s important, and it is fun.  So please plan to stay until noon if possible to participate in the singing.

There will be a No Kings Protest on June 13 from noon to 2 at the corner of 6th and Washburn.  You are invited to wear your Quaker T-shirts if possible.  They are available to be made at Trekkers in town.

We are participating in a three-congregation event to celebrate PRIDE month in town.  We have teamed up with Klamath Lutheran and the UU Fellowship to bring this event to existence.  We need you to come.  You do not have to be a member of the LGBTQIA community to be a good ally or to have fun.  There will be face painting, outdoor games, and indoor dancing. We will eat in a fellowship style, so please bring a dish with you to share.  There is a sign-up sheet for making food for the event on the entryway table at the church.  The Pride Night will be held from 4-7 PM on June 27 at the Klamath Lutheran Church on Crescent Avenue.  Please come show your support for equal rights in this town.

Please look at the following announcements.  If you want to help volunteer with the Food Pantry please contact Alicia Pinkerton @ aliciapinkerton@gmail.com.  I hope to see you Sunday for unprogrammed worship.

Announcements

• June 7 – 11:00 We will be singing together after worship today to practice songs we will be singing in future worship services.
• June 9 – 5:30 Ministry and Care
• June 10—5:30 Music
• June 14 – 11:00 Book Study –The Naked Now (chapters 6,7&8)
• June 15 – 9:00 Church Cleanup
• June 17 – 5:30 Music
• June 21 – 9:00 Peace and Social Concerns
• June 23 – 5-7 PM Food Pantry – if you want to volunteer please contact Alicia Pinkerton
• June 24 – 5:30 Music
• June 27 – 4-7 PM Pride Gathering at Klamath Lutheran
  There is a sign-up sheet for people to bring food to the event.  Please sign up and show your support.
• June 30 –5-7 PM Food Pantry — if you want to volunteer please contact Alicia Pinkerton

Sincerely,

Leigh