• Presiders: Pastor Sean Avery
• Assisting Minister:  
• Readers: Hazel S. & Philip W
• Pianist: Kathy H.
• Communion Assistant: Becky A.
• Altar Care: Sue W.
• Ushers: Sue W. & Shontelle S.

We 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.
For more information, please contact Nancy H.

As summer redeces, we are coming back together for another year of ministry together. Thus, September 13th is our "Coming Together Sunday". On this day, we'll worship together, take a new JOY church photo, and share church brunch while our strategic plannning team shares four exciting experimental ideas from our plan.  Come join us! 

Join us for a potluck-style brunch! We gather for brunch immediately after worship. All are welcome to join us for delicious food and fellowship. This is one of the ways we build community with each other. There is no Sunday School or Confirmation class - this way everyone can join! 

We are taking a new ariel photo of our congregation as we spell-out JOY in the parking lot! Join us after worship for the photo and then stick-around for brunch and conversation about ideas from our strategic plan! 

If you have not already connected with Pastor Sean please do so to recieve text notifications and to put in your coffee order!

Holy 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 or by clicking the link below.

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. 

For the second year, we are grateful to partner with Homestead Elementary School to support their Weekend Food Program.

Many students and families rely on free school meals throughout the week. Homestead Elementary has identified approximately 100 students who may not have reliable access to enough food over the weekend.

The Weekend Food Program helps bridge that gap by providing these students with food to take home, helping ensure they have something to eat until they return to school on Monday.

Together, we have an opportunity to make a meaningful difference for children and families right here in our community.

Items we are collecting:  Individual oatmeal packets, Packages of Top Ramen (square packages), Boxes of Macaronie and Cheese, Granola bars/Protien bars, Applesauce/Fruit cups, Canned tuna/chicken, & Plastic grocery bags. 

Each weekend bag will contain: 2 oatmeal packs, 2 packages ramen, 2 boxes macaroni and cheese, 2 granola/protien bars, 2 cups applesauce/fruit cups, and 1 can of tuna/chicken. 

Monetary items can also be collected: Checks can be made to Joy Lutheran church memo: Homestead food bags or by donating using the button below.

Items at Joy can ONLY BE COLLECTED on Sundays'. We are unable to collect items during the week. 

As you can imagine, coming up with one sentence to capture the essence of Joy Lutheran Church’s purpose was not a quick process. It took some time, some DEBATE (if you catch my drift) and some determination to see it through until we got what we all thought was right. All of the members of the Strategy Team will have their chance (2 paragraphs) to tell what parts of Joy’s Statement of Purpose mean to them. Here’s my chance.

For over a year, the Strategy Team has listened to the congregation, both individually and in groups, delving into their vision of Joy. Over and over, we heard that Joy gives us the opportunity for service in our community. Our team also, studied Scripture and discussed, at length, the lessons Jesus taught his followers. We dug deep. Clearly, Jesus modeled tender love for others and served them whenever he could. Loving and caring for one another is his commandment to us: “everyone will know you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35).

As part of the process, I was given the opportunity to talk to other organizations in our community who are dedicated to service, and the work being done is mind-blowing in its compassion and expanse. It was my favorite part! I so hope that our congregation will be able to hear more about these organizations at work also. (We will figure that out). There are many needs, physical, emotional and spiritual, out there. The “engage in God’s work in the world” is a natural outward sign of knowing and being grateful for God’s continual flow of love in our lives.

We look forward to seeing where this giving spirit takes us!

The Listening Post is offering a new volunteer training on Saturday- September 12, 2026 from 1-4pm

We listen at several locations in Anchorage. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about us: www.listeningpostanchorage.com

If you are interested in the training, please email us: listeningpostak@gmail.com for details about the training.

We are moving into the ACTION phase of our journey through strategic planning. We look forward to having conversations with the congregation on September 13th during brunch. Please click the link below to read the update from our team!

- Henry, Betty, Laura, Erica, Jim, & Pastor Sean

Confirmation is a time for middle school students to ask questions, grow in faith, and explore the foundations of Christianity through a Lutheran lens. Together we'll discover the story of Scripture, the meaning of worship, and what it looks like to follow Jesus in everyday life—all in a welcoming community where curiosity is encouraged. The journey culminates in Affirmation of Baptism, an opportunity to affirm God’s promises made at their baptism and their intention to continue growing and learning within the Christian community.

There are no prerequisites to participating in Confirmation. All students are welcome!

The Bible can sometimes feel like a collection of disconnected stories, characters, and events. But what if it is really one story—God's story of love, mercy, and faithfulness that continues to shape our lives today?

Join us for Manna and Mercy, an adult Bible study based on Daniel Erlander's beloved introduction to the biblical story. Through engaging conversation, Scripture, and Erlander's memorable illustrations, we'll journey from creation to the prophets, from Jesus' life and ministry to the birth of the church, discovering how each chapter reveals God's unwavering commitment to humanity and all creation.

This study is designed to be approachable for everyone. Whether you've spent a lifetime in church or are exploring the Bible for the very first time, Erlander's simple illustrations and engaging storytelling make it easy to follow the larger story of Scripture.

More importantly, this is a space for honest questions, respectful conversation, and genuine curiosity. Faith grows through wondering, listening, and learning together—not by having all the answers. Bring your questions, your experiences, and an open heart as we discover where God's story meets our own.

Everyone is welcome!

Please sign-up by September 20th so that we can order books for everyone. We will order extra, so if you forget - please still come! 

Ladies from Alaskan ELCA congregations and friends are invited to come together to learn, share meals, worship, sing, craft, & study on the topic of Creation Care. Friday evening and Saturday, September 18-19, 2026, @ Christ Our Savior Lutheran in Anchorage.

Worship leaders and presenters include Rev. Anna Silco, Glenn Hart from the National Parks Service, a friend from Anchor Gardens, and Deb Nyquist of Christ Lutheran of Soldotna.  Our focus verse will be Genesis 1:27-31.  $20.  RSVP by Sunday 9/6 to AlaskaSynodicalWomensOrg@gmail.com and we can recommend a hotel or seek a guest room invitation for those of you from outside the greater Anchorage area. 

We do plan to live-stream the worship, Bible study, and presentation portions of the event—send us a note if you’ll want to participate from home or your travels.

Each month, Joy will pray for another ELCA congregation, as part of the Synod Prayer Partner mission. 

It’s simple, and it’s powerful. We lift up their joys, their challenges, their ministries. In this way, we remember that God’s work doesn’t stop at our doors. We are part of something bigger: a church that stretches across towns, states, even countries, united in prayer and love.

We invite each of you to join in. Let’s be faithful in holding our partner congregation before God, trusting that God is holding us in return. This is our prayer for one another, and for the world God loves.

Join us as we crochet projects for a good cause. We are now meeting on the First Sunday of the month right after Worship. Projects include prayer shawls for those in the hospital or extended care settings, hats for the Jump for Joy Kid's Closet, or other projects for our community. For Questions reach out to Hazel S.

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

Thank you so much for your help stocking our size 5 clothes.

We are currently in need of boys and girls size 7/8 (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. 

 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 

• For those struggling with mental health and anxiety.
• For Kinging Lutheran Church, Wales, our September Prayer Partner.
• Randy (Corrine's son-in-law, prayers for healing and recovery from complications due to heart surgery)
• For the Allen Family, as they grieve the loss of their beloved daughter, Katie.
• Ami S. for healing and strength
• The family, friends, and congregation of Pastor Rich Mauer (ELCA pastor in Delta Junction) as they grieve.
• Derek (Corrine’s granddaughter’s husband) has stage 3 colon cancer.
• Swain-Kotlarchuk family as they mourn the loss of Donald, Kristi's father.
• Corrine F.  (for strength)
• Judy (Christy Dailey's mom for strength and healing)
• Clarke H. (prayers for continued healing)
• The Hegna Family (as the mourn the passing of Marsha’s brother, Mark)
• Kaela W. (strength and courage for on-going treatment)
• 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.)
• Diana Flaherty (for pain and healing)
• Stella Scamman (Kristi Swain’s aunt)
• For all those who continue to grieve the loss of loved ones.
• 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.