outreach october happenings · outreach october happenings pet blessing october 2 12:00-1:00 on clc...
TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 2016
Christ Lutheran Church • Highlands Ranch, CO • Gathering † Gifting † Sending
NEW WEDNESDAY NIGHT ADULT STUDY TO BEGIN SEPT. 21ST
Have you been able to join Pastor Eric at the new Adult Christian Education Study taking place Wednesday nights? It’s not too late to gather with us in the Sonrise Room at church from 7pm to 8:30pm! We are continuing our 5-week series look at “Worship: Heart, Mind, Soul & Voice”. We hope to see you there.
Are you signed up to join Pastor Eric and Jenny Allert in one of the three Tuesday night "Cottage Style" gatherings this month?
Don’t forget about these meaningful times to share vision and hopes with one another on either the 4th, 18th or 25th from 7:00-8:30pm. Sign-ups have been available in the narthex and we hope you’re able to join us.
OUTREACH OCTOBER HAPPENINGS
Pet BlessingOctober 2
12:00-1:00 on CLC patio
Blood DriveOctober 23
8:30am-12:30pm
LutheranFamily ServicesCultural Food BagsOnce again CLC has agreed toadopt 50 immigrant families inneed of a cultural Thanksgiving meal. Look for details late October.
OKTOBERFEST THANK YOU!Thank you CLC for participating in our annual Oktoberfest!
Everyone’s contributions are greatly appreciated. From food, beverages, incredible baskets, to volunteertime – it only comes together with everyone’s help. And a special thank you to our sponsors whosegenerous contributions help o�set costs. Please patron these businesses. Again – thank you all!
CLC Members:Rick and Margie VersenRandy and Karen Patz
STAFF:Pastor Eric Allert, Lead Pastor
[email protected]. DJ Dent, Associate Pastor
[email protected] Don Marxhausen, Visitation Pastor
[email protected] Zundel
Adult UniversityDianne Yoss
Outreach [email protected]
Debbie FreemanVolunteer [email protected]
Gary KnutsonDirector of Youth & Family
[email protected] Morgans
Director of [email protected]
Anne BuderusFinancial Administrator
[email protected] HolcombeDirector of Music
[email protected] Koltay
Administrative [email protected]
Carrie MalleryPrincipal Pianist
Larry ScalfariPianist
Barbara PiersonDirector Nursery Ministry
[email protected] & Predrag Vajzovic
CustodiansCHURCH COUNCIL:
Joanne [email protected]
Jeff Bergstrom [email protected]
Liesl [email protected] Gunther
[email protected] Koury
[email protected] Ringkob
[email protected] Novotne
[email protected] Schaeberle
[email protected] Sumner
[email protected] Smith
All articles, photos and notices for the next issueof CrossWord are due by the 15th of the month.
Send to [email protected]. Editor reserves theright to edit for content and space.
Pastor Allert’s MessageDearest brothers and sisters in Christ,
“The church spends too much time talking about money.” “Honestly Pastor, I don’t go to church during November because it’s always ‘budget this’ and ‘budget that’.” “Stewardship, �nance, legacy and endowment… they’re all just churchese for what ends up in the o�ering plate.” “What I give – if I choose to give – is between me and God, and no one else.”
Sound familiar? Maybe you’ve heard similar statements in your life as a Christian… maybe you’ve thought similar thoughts. I have. I have both heard and said something similar on more than one occasion. Well, to a point anyway…
The church (in general) has been done little good service in talking about only money, and even less good service in only seeking to grow spiritually as disciples by talking about during November because the budget is about to roll around a few weeks later. And, for many, stewardship and �nance and legacy and endowment are seen as church-language for the o�ering because many only hear such discipleship vocab words placed before the church budget backdrop (again, little-to-no good service done here too). And �nally, what we do give is a gift given back to God. As Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6, there is a holy righteousness in keeping this particular discipleship practice in proper con�dentiality.
Let me just say something brie�y here about the �rst three statements together, and then the fourth statement separately as you get to know me further as your Lead Pastor. It is my call, both from God and from you as His Church, to walk together in discovery along the faith journey. That includes the marvelous development and growth in learning how God is calling each of us to walk closer with Him, receive and share and work for His vision, and be pillars of faith in support for one another and the communities around us. (Re-)Discovering why our giving to God of all that we are called to give is truly a blessing to us is a joyous part of that call. That’s not just more churchese that you’d expect your pastor to say, it’s a truth that I have come to person-ally know and celebrate! We’ll open more of this together as church together (and not just in November).
Next, drawing back again to Matthew 6… you should know from me, that as your pastor, I have instructed both our Financial Administrator Mrs. Anne Buderus and our Parish Treasurer Mr. Je� Bergstrom that I do not want to know what any one person or household gives �nancially. I will not know dollar amounts. That is not a detail that I want to know in our relationship, because I believe it is between you and God. It does remain a detail that only Anne and Je� know for the sacred logistical needs of caring for God’s Church here at Christ Lutheran. However, I have instructed both Anne & Je� to let me know if there is a noticeable change – either up or down – in a contribution pattern of a household.
Often, changes in giving are indicative of an event in a disciples’ faith walk. A reduc-tion in giving could be the result of a sudden hardship in the home that the pastor could be of supportive help. It is also sometimes a re�ection of a hurt or frustration within the congregation that remains unresolved and raw. Whereas, the opposite side of the coin (pardon the awful pun) is also true. An increase in giving could be the result of an exciting development at home that is an opportunity for praise and thanksgiving. It may also be a faithful step forward in growth as a disciple toward understanding the Holy Spirit’s guidance in giving back to God for the sake of His Church and the mission of the Gospel.
In Christ,Pastor Eric J. Allert
Pastor DJ’s MessageBad luck. Whether it is watching your favorite sports team tumble down the drain, or realizing that an odd series of events has made you lock your keys inside your car, all of us have experienced this phenomenon that we have labeled “bad luck”. In con-junction, we have also had the bene�t of enjoying a matter of “good luck.”
I’ve never been able to explain exactly what luck is, but it seems to be de�ned by example. “Good luck” is winning the lottery. “Bad luck” is having your tire go �at on the highway. “Good luck” is guessing correctly on a multiple choice question. “Bad luck” is leaving your wallet in your pocket as it goes through the washing machine. It sounds as though luck is a scale of judging events based on a predicted outcome. If you are not supposed to win the lottery and you do, that’s “good luck”. If you are supposed to remove your keys from the car before locking it and you don’t, that’s “bad luck”. Most occurrences of luck are beyond any action taken by the person whom the luck a�ects, which is probably a good reason why luck is so hard to pin down.
The danger with luck is to assume that our actions somehow a�ect what type of luck we receive. Typically the word “Karma” gets thrown about. It �ts with our worldview. Our understanding of justice is that the good should get rewarded and the bad should get punished, or that people should get “luck” based on the type of people they have been. There seems, however, to be a bit of randomness to the entire luck sys-tem. Good things happen to bad people, and vice versa. One immediate answer upon receiving “bad luck” is to turn to God and ask, “Why?” On the �ip side, an immediate answer to receiving “good luck” is to turn to God and say, “Thank you.” As a frequent recipient of luck of both kinds, I have started to change my answers a little bit. I still ask “Why?” when bad things happen, but it is in less of an accusa-tive sense. I try not to blame God for what happens but, rather, look for the life on the other side of it. My “good luck” response is now in that same place as well. I say, “Thanks,” but then I ask “Why?” Why is it that I who have already received such good fortune continue to receive more?
In my mind, there has never really been a good theological answer to what “luck” really is and what God’s role is in regard to it. Some theologians have said that God has no sway over such events and has left the universe to its own devices. Others have said that God micro manages every detail and everything that happens is a direct result of God’s action. There also are a myriad of viewpoints in between, all of which have their own upsides and downsides. “Luck” is a ba�ing phenomenon indeed.
What has been resolved is that God’s will is for life. Whether it comes in the form of new life blossoming from an already growing life or in the form of death is not for me to decide. That decision is better left up to God anyway. Whatever “luck” I may receive is not the result of my actions because it is beyond me. Whether “good luck” or “bad luck” falls on my head, I can trust in God’s promise that I have life abundant because of God’s actions on my behalf on the cross.
God’s Peace,Pastor DJ
We have such a busy month planned with Chapel themes; “Jesus Heals” and “The Good Samaritan.” Our Storyteller, our Senior Silver Speakers will visit and we will have music time with Ms. Linda, CLC’s Music Director. Dads can come and play on Saturday, October 1st for our Super-dad Saturday! Parent’s Night Out contin-ues to be a great success and teachers will have their �rst conferences with parents and attend a Christian conference.
Also, our yearly and exciting Butterbraid fundraiser begins on the 3rd and ends on the 22nd. We will have order forms upstairs for the congregation to order and we so appreciate the support we have received over the years. They are good to have on hand for the holiday season!
The children will have a Halloween parade, we will visit St. Luke’s pumpkin patch and host classroom parties at the end of the month. They look so adorable in their costumes!
We wish everyone a colorful fall season.
Ms. Deb and Ms. Blair
NEWSfrom the
PRESCHOOL
Hello and welcometo the fall seasonat the preschool!
Happy BirthdayCindy Chavez - Oct 1Jack Mahalik - Oct 1Chuck McGavern - Oct 1Rylie Mundell - Oct 1Paul Betthauser - Oct 2Nathan Marxhausen - Oct 2Lynn Prescott - Oct 2Neb Bailey - Oct 3Kenny Jensen - Oct 3Mark Johnson - Oct 3Greg Kleen - Oct 3Linda Pace - Oct 3Barbara Pierson - Oct 3Annie Roth - Oct 3Priscilla Raddatz - Oct 4Tim Stohs - Oct 4Chris Dull - Oct 5Delilah June Fisbeck - Oct 5Alex Hinz - Oct 5Lila Inmann - Oct 5Meghan McDonald - Oct 5Julia Hegele - Oct 6Celeste Leibbrandt -Oct 6Scott Lichty - Oct 6Maddy McCullor - Oct 6Steve Mitchell - Oct 6
Sometimes, I take a look around the Lutheran communities that we have inherited from nearly 500 years of journeying along-side our siblings in the Christian Kingdom, and I get to thinking that (like any other) we too have both our many strengths and also our areas of which we remained a bit challenged. We do love our brother St. Paul. No doubt about it – and for good reason! But I wonder if we may have anchored down on one message too heavily as a denomination…
In Galatians 6 (and elsewhere), Paul writes “As for me, may I never boast about anything except for the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” And by-and-large, we Lutherans have taken that sacred verse of scripture and run with it. We are not a boastful denom-ination. Maybe it’s the German or Norwegian or Swedish or Dutch or Finnish temperament that we’ve inherited from the previous generations of Lutherandom. Thinking back to my own grandparents, both Norwegians and Swedes and each Lutheran, the word boastful would not be one I would use to describe them.
But I think somewhere along the lines, we either lost or shelved the last half of this verse, forgetting the invitation to boast about Christ’s work, and along with it the purpose and mission of the church! That means that it is not just ok or permitted, but it is actually even welcome and joyfully expected to boast about our faith walks! That means celebrating the accomplishments that we’re able to do in the name of Christ as his disciples. The disciples are called to do the work of God throughout the Gospels and the book of Acts, and there is always praise in the reporting afterwards as a community. Boasting!
So, at the (no small) risk of turning this part of our Lutheran identity in Christian Kingdom over on its head, I’ve prayerfully decided that we as a congregation are going to delight in our boasting about doing God’s work in the world. The sta�, lay leaders, volunteers and I are going to begin ways of recognizing and introducing something that I’m going to call “SOFIA”. Yes, I know, that sounds like more pastoral churchese again… and you’re right.
Stories Of Faith In Action… SOFIA. I want us as a church to celebrate, proclaim, praise, boast about the stories of faith that we have because of our actions in Christ’s mission. They’re fun, holy fun, and fun is mean to be shared in relationship – even for us Lutherans. Because after all, as James 2:20 says, “faith without works is dead.” So let’s breathe even more excitement into the life of God’s Church, and share our SOFIAs with some boasting!
-Pastor Eric
A Word of Grace
for Peace, Wonder, and Growth in Discipleship
Pastor Frank Philipp - Oct 6Bryan Warren - Oct 6Richard Dethlefs - Oct 7Al Kravitz - Oct 7Je� Moore - Oct 7Tessa Polodna - Oct 7Brodie Dilges - Oct 8Nicholas Koltay - Oct 8Donald Perko - Oct 9Jenny Radtke - Oct 9Marvin Altho� - Oct 10Chad Freitag - Oct 10Gary Knutson - Oct 10Marilyn Kolseth - Oct 10Amy Pierce - Oct 10Dick Swanson - Oct 10Chase Bigelow - Oct 11Hailey Johnson - Oct 11Thomas Kinsella - Oct 11Mike Lee - Oct 11Sophie Mickus - Oct 11Travis Saxton - Oct 11Barb Bremer - Oct 12Sharon Burbank - Oct 12Mark Mitchum - Oct 12Rusty Porter�eld - Oct 12
Megan Silverman - Oct 12Mike Morton - Oct 13Kati Polodna - Oct 13Curt Rowe - Oct 13Darin Weitzel - Oct 13Joanne Edmunds - Oct 14Cyndi Perry - Oct 14Don Alpern - Oct 15Steven Gutsch - Oct 15Jessica Lytle - Oct 15Kelly O'Hearn - Oct 15Michael Porter - Oct 15Tressa Stohs - Oct 15Mario Flores - Oct 16Michael Hansen - Oct 16Jack Connolly - Oct 17Reece Evans - Oct 17Bruce Klein - Oct 17Lindsay Ross - Oct 17Mikayla Devin - Oct 18Jon Hegre - Oct 18Gail Lasater - Oct 18Luke Peretti - Oct 18Joyce Woody - Oct 18Lillianna Flores - Oct 19Lary Thomas - Oct 19
Mark Bauer - Oct 20Mike Hefti - Oct 20Chad Liley - Oct 20Barb Sande - Oct 20Warren Arnold - Oct 21Audrey Larsen - Oct 21Steve Heutmaker - Oct 22Isabella Lembke - Oct 23Dean Macko - Oct 23Leah Ringkob - Oct 23Je� Snauwaert - Oct 23Colin Brown - Oct 24Taylor Holter - Oct 24Carlos Martinez - Oct 24McKenna Riley - Oct 24Madison Riley - Oct 24Kathy Bigelow - Oct 25Josh Garcia - Oct 25Erik Johnson - Oct 25Reilly McGavern - Oct 25Nicole Moses - Oct 25Bob Mulverhill - Oct 25Carter Parks - Oct 25Madison Bachelder - Oct 26Sallie Burns - Oct 26Sarah Fisbeck - Oct 26
Eric Hemenway - Oct 26Natalie Martin - Oct 26Linda Nix - Oct 26Lesley Cantrell - Oct 27Nadia Carroll - Oct 27Sam Hughes - Oct 27Evatt Licalzi - Oct 27Don Marxhausen - Oct 27Lara Rockwell - Oct 27Lucas Trevino - Oct 27Darrell Woody - Oct 27Anthony Dimercurio - Oct 28Conrad Freeman - Oct 28Charlie Larsen - Oct 28Owen Waldenmyer - Oct 28Jason Gray - Oct 29Katie Lyneis - Oct 29Zachary Tiedgen - Oct 29Susan Carroll - Oct 30Raymond Johnson - Oct 30Brooke Libner - Oct 30Hollie Die�enbaugher - Oct 31Sergio Mena Casa - Oct 31Carol O'Hearn - Oct 31Kyoko Okada - Oct 31
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
8am Worship9:30a Worship11a Worship/CC12:15p CLC KidsRock!12:15p Pet Blessing3p Memorial Service - Joann Klein7p AA Meeting
6:30a Men's Breakfast Group8a Preschool9:30a Beth Moore Bible Study12p Preschool Sports Club7p Boy Scouts7p Personnel Mtg.
8a Preschool10:45a Preschool Chapel11:15a Staff Mtg.12p Preschool Sports Club1p Christmas Planning Meeting1:15p Preschool Training5p Crossroads Band6:30p Praise Team7p Blaze-Sr. High7p Caregiver Mtg
8a Preschool9a MOPS10:45a Preschool Chapel1:45p Preschool Chapel5:30p Carillon Ringers7p Adult Ed - Worship: Heart, Soul, and Voice7p Confirmation Learning Event
8a Preschool9a Adult University7p Celebration Choir
8a No Preschool Fall Break11:15a Staff Mtg.12p Preschool Sports Club5p Crossroads Band6:30p Praise Team7p Blaze-Sr. High7p Council Mtg.7p Military Ministry Mtg.
8a No Preschool Fall Break9a MOPS - Mom's Day Out5:30p Carillon Ringers7p Adult Ed - Worship: Heart, Soul, and Voic
8a No Preschool Fall Break9a Adult University7p Celebration Choir7p Cub Scout Leader Mtg.
8a No Preschool Fall Break12p OWLS Luncheon
Book Sale Book Sale5p Worship/CC
1OKTOBERFEST9a Chicks w/Sticks9a Superdad Saturday Preschool10a Genealogy1p Fjelldalen Lodge5p Worship/CC
0CTOBER
I Wonder What Noah Did with the Woodpeckers, by Tim WildmonLake Wobegon Days, by Garrison KeillorA Man Called Peter; The Story of Peter Marshall, by Catherine MarshallSulha: Palestinian Traditional Peacemaking Process, by Elias J. JabbourGiving to God: The Bibles’ Good News About Living a Generous Life, by Mark Allan Powell
Seasonal Reading Recommendations from Pastor Eric
32 4 5 6 7 8
Book Sale8am Worship9:30am Worship11a Worship/CC12:15p CLC KidsRock!7p AA Meeting
6:30a Men's Breakfast Group8a No Preschool Fall Break9a Mission Quilters12p Preschool Sports Club6p Boy Scouts Venture Crew7p Boy Scouts
Book Sale5p Worship/CC
109 11 12 13 14 15
Book Sale8am Worship9:30am Worship9:30a First Bible Class11a Worship/CC12:15p CLC KidsRock!5p Dynamite7p AA Meeting
6:30a Men's Breakfast Group8a Preschool9:30a Beth Moore Bible Study9:30a Preschool Storytime12p Preschool Sports Club7p Boy Scouts7p Legacy & Endowment Mtg.
8a Preschool10:45a Preschool Chapel11:15a Staff Mtg.12p Preschool Sports Club12:30p Visiting Nurse Assoc.5p Crossroads Band6:30p Praise Team7p Blaze-Sr. High7p Caregiver Mtg
8a Preschool9:30a MOPS Steering10:45a Preschool Chapel1p Preschool PAT5:30p Carillon Ringers7p Adult Ed - Worship: Heart, Soul, and Voice7p Confirmation Learning Event
8a Preschool9a Adult University7p Celebration Choir
8a Preschool6:30p CLC Bridge Group7p MOPS - Mom's Night Out
7a General Maintenance8a Russell Stamping5p Worship/CC5:15p Preschool Parent's Night Out5:30p Hafner Party
1716 18 19 20 21 22
8am Worship8a Bonfils Blood Drive9:30am Worship9:30a First Bible Class11a Worship/CC12:15p CLC KidsRock!7p AA Meeting
6:30a Men's Breakfast Group8a Preschool9a Mission Quilters9:30a Beth Moore Bible Study12p Preschool Sports Club6p Boy Scouts Venture Crew7p Boy Scouts
8a Preschool Music Time11:15a Staff Mtg.12p Preschool Sports Club5p Crossroads Band6:30p Praise Team7p Blaze-Sr. High
8a Preschool9a MOPS9:30a Preschool Music Time2p Preschool Music Time5:30p Carillon Ringers6p Confirmation Guide Huddle7p Adult Ed - Worship: Heart, Soul, and Voice7p Confirmation Learning Event
8a Preschool9a Adult University7p Celebration Choir
8a Preschool5:15p Preschool Parent's Night Out
2423 25 26 27 28 5p Worship/CC6p Halloween Party
29
Reformation Sunday8am Worship9:30am Worship9:30a First Bible Presentation11a Worship/CC12:15p CLC KidsRock!7p AA Meeting
6:30a Men's Breakfast Group8a Preschool9:30a Beth Moore Bible Study12p Preschool Sports Club7p Boy Scouts
3130
Don’t forget about the Church Open House at Pastor Eric and Jenny Allert’s house on Sunday, October 23rd from 2:00pm – 5:00pm!
Pastor Eric and Jenny want to warmly welcome you into their home to invite you into the personal side of their life, get to know them better, and say a very personal word of thanks and appreciation for all the house-warming gifts, contributions, and prayers during the move from Arizona.
The address is 9827 S. Townsville Circle in Highlands Ranch (just south of Highlands Ranch High School). Refreshments and snacks will be provided, and don’t worry about missing the Broncos game because they play Monday night that weekend. :-)
8997 S. BroadwayHighlands Ranch, CO 80129Change Service Requested
Church Community MinistriesAltar GuildNew Mothers MinistryWorship TeamsFirst Impressions TeamUshers and GreetersBulletin “Folders”Readers Decorating TeamAssisting MinistersMowing & Snow RemovalKitchen TeamRecycling TeamMaintenance TeamSweet Bread MinistrySign TeamChefs for ChristSanctuary CareCard MinistryPrayer TreeCare for the CaregiverGrief GroupMOPS
PreschoolWomen’s BunkoSoul Sisters Women’s GroupBridge Group
Followers of Jesus Christ
Education and FellowshipAdult Education Classes (held during 9:30 service and Thursdays at 9:00am)Men’s Breakfast Group – Bible study group meets every Monday morningWomen of Joy – a Christian book club that meets twice monthly for fellowship and serviceBeth Moore Bible Studies for women. Spring and Fall sessions.
Fun and FellowshipOWLS – Senior group meets monthly for fellowshipShepherds Dinner GroupMen’s Book ClubWomen’s Book ClubAdvance! Men’s GroupWomen’s BunkoSoul Sisters Women’s GroupBridge Group
MusicCLC Kids Rock!Youth Worship Weekend Band CelebrationCarillon RingersCrossroadsDouglas County SingersPraise TeamCarillon Ringers
Outreach MinistriesHarrington Elementary School in Denver – various projectsOutreach UgandaUrban Peak Teen ShelterAlcoholics AnonymousBon�ls Blood DriveSky Ranch Lutheran CampLutheran Family Services projectsGrant Avenue Street ReachPueblo De Dios (in CA) ProjectsELCA World HungerMilitary MinistryChicks with SticksMission Quilters
Youth & Family MinistriesBaptism ClassesFirst Bible ClassesFirst Communion ClassesSummer Vacation Bible SchoolCon�rmation Classes (7th & 8th graders)Sunday SchoolDynamite Youth Group (4th, 5th & 6th graders)BLAZE (Senior High School Youth Group)Mission TripsFamily Nights
There’s a place for you!