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Sunday Coffee Hosts: Youth & Family Ministry Team

Monday, May 1910:00 a.m. Free Store opens10:00 a.m. Augsburg Central Health Commons11:00 a.m. Worship11:30 a.m. Community Meal12:00 p.m. Bible Study & Conversation 1:00 p.m. Restoration Center Mens’ Group 2:00 p.m. Festival of Homiletics 5:00 p.m. Spirit Submissions Deadline

Tuesday, May 20 8:00 a.m. Festival of Homiletics 9:30 a.m. Heritage Ministry Team 9:30 a.m. Bulletin Meeting10:00 a.m. Free Store opens10:15 a.m. Staff Meeting

Wednesday, May 21 8:00 a.m. Festival of Homiletics 9:00 a.m. Resource Assistance 6:30 p.m. Communications Committee Meeting

Thursday, May 22 8:00 a.m. Festival of Homiletics 9:00 a.m. Resource Assistance10:00 a.m. Free Store opens10:30 a.m. Augsburg Nursing Women’s Group12:00 p.m. Augsburg Central Health Commons

Friday, May 23 8:00 a.m. Festival of Homiletics

Monday, May 26Building Closed

Donate Your Gently-Used Furniture Saturday, May 31st at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Parking Lot from 9am-12:00pm. Furniture donations go to St. Vincent DePaul and then to people who come to direct service provid-ers of DCEH congregations when they are moving into apartments. Furniture only. We will not accept appliances or building materials. All donations are tax deductible!

VBS Registration is OpenJune 23-27 at 5:15 p.m. Pick-up a VBS registration form from the church offfice or download it at http://centrallutherancyf.wix.com/clc-family-ministry.

Ireland Trip, Oct. 30 - Nov. 9., Information MeetingSunday, June 1, noon in Room 123A meeting for those signed up for the Ireland trip with Pastor Stone for maps and travel insurance infor-mation. Eight places are still available. If you are inter-ested in this great experience, please contact Pastor Stone. Brochures are in the information racks.

A Different Kind of Book Club Thursday, June 12 at 1:30 p.m. We shall be discussing “Faith in the Face of Empire.” The Bible as seen through Palestinian eyes. Please join us. We would love to see you. Any questions contact, Eve Overby, 612-822-3542 or eveoverby@msn.com.

Annual Congregation Meeting Sunday, June 22 at 11:15 a.m.All voting members are encouraged to attend to have a voice in the business of the church. You will have an opportunity to affirm the slate of leaders for the upcoming year and to approve the budget for 2014-15.

Central Choir, Soloists and members of the Metropolitan Symphony OrchestraSunday, May 18 at 10:00 a.m. in the SanctuaryThe Central Choir, soloists Susan Troselius, Rochelle Milbrath, Roy Heilman and Tommy Glass, along with members of the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra will present works by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach in celebration of the 300th anniversary of the composer’s birth. The service will include C.P.E. Bach’s mini cantata “Heilig” (“Holy Is God”) as well as the Largo from Bach’s keyboard Sonata in G featuring noted area pianist Stephanie Wendt.

OWLS Lunch and Orchestra Event Sunday, May 18 at 11:30 a.m.Please note — because of the worship time change, the OWLS will leave for lunch at the Hilton Garden Inn at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 18.

OWLS Padelford Boat TripWednesday, July 16 at 11:00 a.m.Ride the Minnesota Centennial Showboat and take in the Showboat Melodrama “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”. Reservations taken May 25, June 1 and 8.

Luther Seminary CommencementSunday, May 18 at 3:00 p.m. Central’s own Kris Stedje and Melissa Melnick are among the graduates. Congrats, all!

Summer Worship ScheduleSaturday evenings at 5:30 p.m.Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m.“God’s Word in Our Midst” Weekly Bible StudyEvery Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. This weekly Bible study, held in Fireside Lounge, focuses on the scripture texts for the coming weekend.

Enjoy early-bird coffee and fellowship in South Commons before our 10 a.m. summer service time, and coffee and fellowship on the North Plaza after service. Also enjoy music on the North Plaza and a lunchtime picnic from a variety of food trucks through the summer.

Fellowship is indoors this weekend.

Congregational ForumSunday, May 18 at 9:00 a.m. in the Community Room Update on strategy and process with Dr. Jim Pence.

Alzheimer’s Awareness ForumSunday, June 1 at 9:00 a.m. in Room 123Join us for an adult forum on dementia and alzheim-er’s June 1 before worship. Debbie Richman, Direc-tor of Education and Outreach for the Alzheimer’s Association Minnesota/North Dakota (also a former Central Choir member/section leader) will be our pre-senter. This promises to be a most informative ses-sion including information on the difference between memory loss, alzheimer’s and other dementias. For further information contact Joyce Anderson, CAnder4704@aol.com or 952-440-4928.

The Festival of Homiletics will be on cam-pus.

The Building is Closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26.

Central Lutheran ChurchThe Spirit is published weekly and distributed at worship services. It is a companion publication to Central’s website and electronic newsletter.

Prepared by Debbie FriezAssisted by Karen Knox and Barb Brown

333 South 12th Street Minneapolis, MN 55404612-870-4416 www.centralmpls.org

EvangElical luthEran church in amErica Elca.org Downtown congrEgations to EnD homElEssnEss DcEh.org

The Spirit deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Monday.

Please submit announcements to

dfriez@centralmpls.org

News about the mission of Central Lutheran ChurchDowntown Minneapolis

Celebrating, Discovering, and Sharing the Love of Christ May 17 & 18, 2014

SpiritThe

Shared Ministry Spotlight: Music MinistryOne of the most recognized ministry teams of the Central family is the music ministry. We are blessed by the many talents of the members of this ministry and the gifts they share with us each week. The music department consists of the Central Choir, Mannerchor, Cantorei, Central Choris-ters, the Campanas Bell Choir and the Silver Bells. We marvel at the voices of our featured soloists-Susan Troselius, Rochelle Milbrath, Roy Heilman and Tommy Glass. Each week we are enlightened by the music, which highlights the lessons and the Gospel. We are proud to sing and listen to the music written and arranged by Mark Sedio our cantor. We listen to the mighty Casavant pipe organ and the bells from the carillon calling us to worship. Have you ever looked around the sanctuary after the postlude to see the number of people still sitting in the pews awaiting a mini-concert on the great Casavant?

We have been taken to the countries of Tanzania, Korea, Moravia, Norway, Finland and Palestine through the music during worship. This has been made possible through the hard work and dedica-tion of Mark Sedio, Jane Lien and Carolyn Diamond.

Our majestic sanctuary has had the honor of hosting countless events and gatherings., including the music of great composers, like Bach and Mozart. We have listened to the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, and even enjoyed Dixieland music on the Plaza for the 4th of July. One of the largest at-tended events every year is the Augsburg Vespers. The Sunday afternoon concerts continue to be popular, and offer some of the most respected vocal and orchestral ensembles. The concerts en-able Central members, their friends and the public the opportunity to enjoy our Church and the gift of music.

This Sunday we will hear the works of Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach in celebration of the anniversary of his birth 300 years ago. The concert is presented by the Central Choir, our soloists and the Metropolitan Sym-phony Orchestra.

This series of introductions is provided by the Shared Ministry Team, introducing some of the many ministry teams in the Central family. If this ministry speaks to you, contact Karen Knox for additional information at kknox@centralmpls.org.

Beginning on Wednesday, May 28, the building Summer schedule will be:

Sunday – 7:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.Mondays – 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Tuesdays – 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Wednesdays – 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.Thursdays – 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Fridays – 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Summer on the Plaza

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Food trucks will once again be part of our Summer on the Plaza. Some of the vendors, who will begin serving us on May 25, are Potters’ Pasties, I luv coffee minnesota, NateDogs, the Sassy Spoon, Rusty Taco, and Anchor Fish. Get ready to enjoy some good food and wonderful summer concerts.

Quilt BlesssingThe quilters have been busy! The quilts will be blessed during the worship service on May 25.

Prayer Corner Psalm 23:1-3 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.

“Be still my soul”, writes the hymnist; “Embrace silence”, says Pastor Beckmen in a recent adult education hour on ‘Prayer’; Sit beside “still waters”, sings King David in the above psalm. If we do this, if we listen in silence, we can hear what God is telling us. He first gives us his love and assurance; he restores our souls; he fills our hearts with joy. What an amazing blessing! Then we are ready to follow the “right paths” he is leading us toward. Our individual evangelism flows out of our joyful souls. We can know how to lead our lives in Jesus’ name. Maybe, this week, we could all try to find our own green pasture or quiet place by the water where we can experience being silent with God. Let us pray: Thank you God for your total acceptance and grace. Help us be in communion with you beside still waters.

The Prayer, Spirituality and Meditation Ministry Team

Sent Forth by God’s Blessing… This was the printed theme of the Minneapolis Area Synod Assembly held at Lord of Life Luther-an Church May 2-3, 2014. I was blessed to be named a Central voting member to that assembly. From the Opening Worship, throughout the evening and into the next day another shared message was “Joining up with what God is already doing.” Luke writing in Acts was the scriptural foundation for the assembly. “Acts Now,” was the theme as six different pastors read and spoke to the gathered 420 plus delegates. Interspersed between the readings were short and sometimes lengthy orders of business. The messages were always clear. The processes of active listening and being adaptive to change are vital to congregations in renew-al. Moving congregations forward asks the question “How do we help people who have talents to give, but don’t know how to give?” Bishop Ann Sevnnungsen’s words, “Everyone welcome, every-one sent forth,” echoed and rebounded as our time together moved on. Diane Dulitz Olson, Julie Anderson, Phil Holst and I were Central’s voting members to the Assem-bly. Barb Brown, Pastor Christopherson Pastor Bents attenend as rostered voting members. Clar-ance Smith represented the ELCA Church Council. Everyone was welcomed and everyone was sent forth. Respectfully submitted,Brian McKinley

Welcome New CLC Staff Vladimir Asenov, part-time security officer

Vladimir has been working contract security since 2008. He will be working at the security desk, and also working in the Restoration Center periodically.

Dennis Watkins, part-time security officer

Dennis has over 15 years of experience, and also owned his own security company. He will be working at the security desk, and also the Restoration Center from time to time.

Solomon’s Shoesby Pastor Melissa Pohlman

One Thursday a few weeks ago the Free Store received a really nice pair of size 12 shoes. It is rare to receive the larger sizes in men’s clothes and shoes, so they were a prize. They went out on the shelf with all the other shoes. As the door was opened to the Free Store two men spotted the shoes, and went to claim them. Each man grabbed one shoe. Neither man was willing to give up his find. They were adamant and each left the Free Store each with only one shoe. One of the men came back after some time, and sheepishly handed his shoe to one of our volunteers admitting there was nothing he could do with only one shoe. A short time later another volunteer found the shoe’s mate abandoned in the men’s restroom.

At the same time this shoe drama was unfolding the nurses in the Augsburg Central Health Com-mons were caring for a man whose feet were beginning to break down due to his lack of well-fitting shoes. The nurses asked if there was any way I could help the man acquire larger shoes for his feet. I asked them to check in the Free Store, but promised them if they did not find any there that I could give them a few gift cards to Target from one of our circles, and he could purchase them. As the nurse entered the Free Store the really nice size 12 shoes were being reunited. They were exactly what our guest with the hurting feet needed. Everyday God provides in the Restoration Center, and some days the stories are all too familiar.

Faces from Celebrating Women, the Mother Daughter Sister Friend

Breakfast on May 10

Prayer Shawl Knitting at Central