Our Ministries

AA (Alcoholics Anonymous)
There are currently five weekly meetings of AA held in Luther Hall at the church.  These meetings are: Monday 7:00 to 8:30 pm, Wednesday 6:00 to 7:00 pm, Thursday (Women only) 7:30 to 8:30 pm, Friday 7:00 to 9:00 pm, and Saturday 6:30 to 8:00 pm. 

Altar Guild
The Altar Guild prepares the sanctuary for worship by setting out the altar linens, putting out the flowers in the chancel (altar) area, and setting up for communion. 

Auditing Committee
This committee meets once a year to perform a financial audit of the different groups of the congregation. 

Chattering Crafters
This group meets for food, fellowship, and fun as they work on crafts such as knitting, crocheting, working with clay, making cards, or whatever other craft you may have interest in.  They meet at 9:30 am on the first and third Wednesdays of the month in the Fireside Room at the church. 

Clothing Closet
Members and friends of the First community donate used clothing and on occasion household items that we then make available to those in need who may be members or friends of the congregation or any of the groups who use our building.

Communion Bread Bakers
Volunteers bake the bread for our weekly communion service using a simple recipe from Luther Seminary in Minnesota.  A sign up sheet is found on the bulletin board in the entryway along with a copy of the recipe.

ECCO (Essex County Community Organization)
First is a member of ECCO, a faith based community organization that works to build power and collaboration among families and communities in the North Shore of Boston.  ECCO currently is working on jobs training for machinists and health care workers and is active in the Lynn community in youth violence prevention. 

Education
Sunday School for youth age 3 to grade 6 takes place on Sunday mornings at 9:20 am from September to May.  Contact Person: Lisa Parker, Sunday School Superintendent

Confirmation class for youth in grades 7 and 8 takes place on Sunday mornings at 9:20 am from September to May.  This is a two year program with one year focusing on the Bible and the second year focusing on Luther’s Small Catechism which includes the topics of Baptism, Holy Communion, the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostle’s Creed.  In addition to weekly Confirmation classes, participation in worship, community service, and occasional projects are required. 

Bible study and other adult programming occur seasonally. Check the news and calendar for upcoming programs.

Fellowship
Every Sunday after worship we gather for coffee, juice, snacks and fellowship in the Fireside Room across from the sanctuary.  Volunteers are always needed to help with providing food and to clean up after.

Finance
The Finance Committee tends to the financial stewardship of the congregation’s resources.

Girl Scouts
Lynn Brownie troop 589 meets at the church on Friday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.

Greater Lynn Council of Churches
First Lutheran is a member of the Greater Lynn Council of Churches (GLCC) which is an ecumenical group that meets four times a year for socialization and for a program that is of interest to Lynn and the surrounding community.  GLCC also sends children to summer camp and provides help in the winter months for food and heating oil.

LEO After School Program
Monday through Friday First provides space to an after school program run by Lynn Economic Opportunity (LEO).  Approximately 35 youth gather in our building after school during the school year and all day long in summer for a safe place for learning and fun.  The congregation also partners with the after school program to provide assistance to the youth and families of the program, especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Men's Breakfast
On one Saturday per month at 8:00 AM, the men of First Lutheran--from all ages--gather for breakfast, fellowship, and conversation. You are free to stay only for breakfast if you're in a rush, or you can stay around to talk. No topics are off limits. This is a time to be together, to build each other up, and to grow in faith and friendship.

Music Ministry
Music has always been important at First Lutheran.  Our music ministry is led by Troy Lucia, Minister of Music, and includes a choir, musical ensemble, and individual musicians and singers who share their musical talents in our worship service.  Our choir sings a mix of traditional and contemporary music and practices Sunday mornings at 9:15 am from September thru May.  Our musical ensemble practices at pre-arranged times depending on their performance schedule. 

Mutual Ministry
The Mutual Ministry Committee works with the pastor and the congregation to strengthen our mutual mission and life together as the body of Christ.   

My Brother’s Table
My Brother’s Table provides meals to approximately 200 hungry people in Lynn each day.  First Lutheran serves jointly with St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church at My Brother’s Table on the fourth Sunday of the month from 1:30 to 4:30 pm. 

Personnel
The Personnel Committee meets with the church employees to do performance evaluations and to address any issues of concern of the employees.

Prayer Chain
The Prayer Chain is a faithful and prayerful group who commit to praying for the needs and concerns of members and friends of the First Lutheran community. 

Prayer Shawl Ministry
Prayer shawls are knit or crocheted by members of the First Lutheran community, blessed, and presented to the homebound, sick, or in need.

Property
The Property Committee is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of church property.  A group meets weekly at the church on Wednesday evenings at 5:30 pm to work on property projects and seasonal clean up days are held on a Saturday in spring and fall.

Safe Church
First Lutheran Church, as a spiritual community, takes seriously its responsibility to provide a safe and nurturing environment for persons of all ages who are entrusted to its care.  Our mission must also be to protect those who have responsibilities as leaders and teachers and as such we have set up a policy and system to provide for a safe church environment for all which includes background checks for all employees and volunteers and tracking of all who have keys to the church building. 

Shepherding Ministry
The Shepherding Ministry works to keep members of the First Lutheran community connected.  This group sends the weekly bulletin to our homebound, makes phone calls, visits, and sends cards to those who cannot attend worship as well as facilitating rides to church for those in need.

Stewardship
The Stewardship Committee works to encourage and educate our community in its response to God’s call to share the gifts of time, money, and talents that God has entrusted to us.

Trust Fund
Started in 1990, the First Lutheran Church Trust Fund exists to receive and administer financial gifts to the congregation for use in the ministry of the congregation and outreach to the community.

WELCA (Women of the ELCA)
The WELCA group is a group of women of the congregation who meet to socialize and puts on fundraisers for the congregation including, seasonal craft fairs and a yearly Soup and Chowderfest.  They also provide holiday cards and gifts to the homebound and share in our outreach through the Christmas Appeal to those in need in the community.

World Hunger
First Lutheran shares a vision with those who want to make hunger history.  As such the congregation contributes to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal and during the year offers education on world hunger through newsletter articles and temple talks. 

Wunlang School Project
In 2005 First Lutheran member Franco Majok traveled back home to the Sudan for the first time in 23 years and found a community in desperate need of food and education.  Moved to take action Franco returned to the United States and through the help of the congregation began his dream of building a school in his home village of Wunlang in South Sudan.  Through the newly formed non-profit called Village Help for South Sudan the people of Wunlang will soon have Franco’s dream for them realized.

Youth Group
Youth at First Lutheran are an important part of our church community.  Our youth group is comprised of youth in the 5th grade through high school from First Lutheran and Clifton Lutheran in Marblehead.  The group meets for events for fun, fellowship, and service as planned and scheduled by a group of youth and adult leaders from both congregations.