Did you see us on the news?

A new ministry, In Our Backyard, has grown here at Central.  The idea is to house five to ten seniors in tiny homes on our church property.  The selected individuals or couples will be those who meet occupant criteria and are awaiting permanent housing solutions.  The big plan is to then help other non-profits and property owners to replicate this ministry at multiple locations across the Anchorage area and beyond.  See the most recent news story at https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/video/2025/08/01/tiny-home-project-homeless-seniors-is-bloom-thanks-garden-volunteers/, read their Annual Report for 2024 here, and learn a lot more at the In Our Backyard website.

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Upcoming Events

† Join us in-person or via our livestream for 9:30 am Sunday worship services. ​

​† Ash Wednesday is February 18, join us for Imposition of Ashes at Noon or a worship service at 6:45 pm. 

† Sunday, January 25, sledding, chili & cocoa party at Kincaid Outdoor Center’s north room, 2 - 5 pm.  All ages fun. We’ve reserved the north room (the big one with the windows overlooking the sledding hill) so we can visit and sing and enjoy food indoors, and you can bring your sleds, skis, walking boots or snowshoes for outdoor fun if you’d like.  All are welcome, so invite a friend or three!

† Fur Rondy is coming up -- we're open during the sled dog races, Noon - 2:30 pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 27 - 28 and March 1, and during the Iditarod ceremonial start on Saturday, March 7 from 10 am - 12:30 pm to provide hospitality.  Free parking, restroom access in our facility, and a bake sale / coffee / cocoa booth by donation are great reasons to be here at Central to cheer on the dog mushers.  

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† The Anchorage Farmers Market is here in our upper parking lot 9 am to 2 pm Saturdays, May 16 through October 10, in 2026, which will be our 25th Anniversary!  Find freshly harvested local vegetables, salad greens, fruits, herbs, eggs, plant starts and hanging baskets in the spring, flowers, ferns, freshly made breads, cookies, kolaches, brownies, cakes, fermented foods, kombucha and kefir, local honey, and more.  Some vendors are able to accept SNAP and other payment methods.  Prospective vendors and buskers (acoustic musicians) can call market manager Kathy Freeman in the Church office at 907-277-1622.

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† Third Saturdays of the month (January 17, February 21, March 21) our Foot and Wound Clinic is open 11 am - 2 pm, Helping Hands Clothing Closet is open 1- 3 pm, Listening Post is open Noon - 2 pm, and Eddie hosts his AA monthly dinner between Noon and 3 pm

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​Wanted: donations of shelf-stable foods like pre-packaged trail mix, granola bars, dried fruits, meal bars, jerky, packets of tuna, canned meats and bottled water for the church office to have on hand for hungry neighbors.  It’s a blessing to be able to offer two or three items to a hungry person along with the directions to the Food Pantry.  Also welcome, donations of canned and boxed foods that we can pass on to the Lutheran Social Services of Alaska Food Pantry.  

 

The In Our Backyard Garden and Forest Forage Gardens on our west property lines are open to the public to walk through and harvest responsibly.  There are treasures in the Forest Forage Garden (northwest side, between the upper and lower parking lots) including comfrey, currants, and other medicinal herbs.  Thank you to Anchor Gardens and Yarducopia for joining our In Our Backyard volunteers in all of the work to build out the new gardens with compost, trim and weed in the existing gardens, and re-mulch the walkways.

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​THANK YOU to our many Central members who donate funds or portions of the meal to our monthly evening meal for the women and children at Clare House.  Each fourth Thursday, including Thanksgiving, we deliver a complete meal with milk, main and side dishes, fruit and dessert.

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Local Organizing Ministry:  Want to make a difference in your community? Along with Anchorage Faith & Action Congregations Together AFACT and Justice Organizing Interfaith Network  JOIN, Central folks listen to our congregation and Fairview neighbors, builds relationships, and develops leaders.  Through these relationships, we identify issues and work to effect change in ourselves and in the public sphere. We meet every other Tuesday and the current focus is to get to know our Fairview neighbors and our homeless neighbors and see how we can grow relationships with them.   Our recent focus is the Fairview Recreation Center, specifically adequate staffing and open hours to support the neighborhood residents in having a safe place to play, learn and grow.

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Central Seniors/Golden Opportunities:  Wednesday coffee klatsches are again being held in person with 8:30 am gatherings at Kaladi Brothers Coffee on Brayton Drive.  

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Our Helping Hands Clothing Closet is open seven or eight days monthly and is staffed by volunteers from Central Lutheran Church and Christ Church Episcopal.  We’d welcome your donation of new or used shoes/boots, clothing, cold-weather gear, blankets, sleeping bags, back packs and GLOVES.  Bring donated items (clean and ready to give away) on Sundays around worship service times, during Closet hours, or during office hours. 

The closet is open 1 - 3 pm on the following dates:

Tuesdays (almost all Tuesdays) 1/6, 1/13, 1/20, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 2/24;

Thursdays (third Thursdays of the month) 1/15, 2/19, 3/19;

Saturdays (third Saturdays of the month) 1/17, 2/21, 3/21.

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The Lutheran Social Services of Alaska (LSSA) Food Pantry welcomes your donation of canned meats, chili, soup, canned fruit, dried potato mixes, tuna and peanut butter, and more, and your donation of time if you're able to help prepare food boxes for clients. 

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Stay in Touch with Central Lutheran

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