January 12, 2010

Christ Lutheran “Church Chat”

Thoughts from Pastor Ron…

Here we are … the Christmas decorations are put away, it is the middle of winter (yes, it really is winter - even here in sunny, southern California!). The next few weeks will see the paraments and vestments changed back to green – the symbol of “ordinary time” in the liturgical year. But the season of Epiphany is hardly ordinary (common, usual).

Kelly and I asked the students at confirmation last week what Epiphany is all about. One of our students immediately said “it is about a new understanding” – and she was exactly right. An epiphany is an appearance, a manifestation, a new understanding. What is your new understanding of Jesus? How are you sharing this new understanding with someone else so that they, too, may have a new understanding of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus?

What is your new understanding of who we are called to be as Christ Lutheran Church – Christ’s church to this community? What is your new understanding of what defines our community? Is it the neighborhood across the street? Within a 1 mile radius? Within the greater “Goleta metropolitan area”?

We are having a SALT (serving as Lutheran’s together) planning retreat on January 16th, followed by our annual PPC planning retreat on the 23rd. What is our mission? Where do you see our congregation in 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, 10 years? What are your thoughts? Ideas?  How are we being called to make Jesus manifest?

Peace,
† Pastor Ron  

Older Kids continuation?
Is there anyone in the congregation who can take over the coordination of our once a month luncheons and fellowship time for our “Older Kids”?  Older Kids is for anyone who can make it to church during the lunch hour on the first Wednesday of each month to have some wonderful food, good conversation and laugh a little.   Everyone is welcome, young and old.

Winter “Book of Faith” Classes
“This may be the season of Advent – but it’s time for you to make the most important New Year resolution you will make – and we will even help you keep it! “Huh? “What is that?” you might ask.

Why to read the Bible daily, of course – and what a better way to start than joining one of the group Bible studies! The winter “Book of Faith” classes will start on  Epiphany (January 6th) and run for 6 weeks until the week before Ash Wednesday (February 17th).  Making sense of Scripture, Exodus, the Gospel of John, and “Prophets, Kings and Ordinary Folks” will meet at Christ Lutheran on Wednesday evenings at 6:45. The John class will also meet at Christ on Wednesday afternoon and “Prophets, Kings and Ordinary Folks” will be offered at Grace on Wednesday afternoon.

The evening sessions will open with a brief worship time for all classes. The worship time will be led by one of the three pastors. The instructors for the courses are not yet firm.  All of the courses will use the Augsburg Fortress material. Sign-up sheets will be on the patio after the service on Sunday.”

This Week’s Activities

Tuesday:        7:00p.m.    “Gospel of John” Bible Study
Leader:  Maurice Lee
Location:  Trinity Lutheran
Wednesday        11:00a.m.    “People of Faith” Bible Study
Leader:  Jeannie Christensen
Location:  Grace Lutheran
2:00p.m.    “Gospel of John”  Bible Study
Leader:  Kent Carlander
Location:  Christ Lutheran
5:00p.m.    CLC ConFORMation Class
6:45p.m.    “Making Sense of Scripture” Bible Study
Leader:  Pastor Ron
Location:  Christ Lutheran
6:45p.m.    “Exodus” Bible Study
Leader:  Mark D’Evelyn
Location:  Christ Lutheran
6:45p.m.    “People of Faith” Bible Study
Leader:  Heather D’Evelyn
Location:  Christ Lutheran
Thursday:        6:00p.m.    BFF
Next Sunday:        11:30a.m.    Memorial Camp Meeting & Registration

2010 Flower Chart – Please Sign Up !!!

Please sign up!  There are many blank spaces to be filled on the 2010 chart.  The beauty of flowers greatly enhances our worship services.  Take this opportunity to give thanks to God for all His Blessings, honor a loved one, or to celebrate a special occasion. Then you will have flowers to beautify your home the following week, or you may give them to a friend or shut-in for enjoyment!  You may provide your own arrangement or arrange a week in advance for Janet Schoepp or Marsha Honnold to make an arrangement for about $30.  Many thanks from the Altar Guild.

January 17 Scripture Readings:
First Lesson:         Isaiah 62:1-5                Psalm:     36:5-10
Second Lesson:      1 Corinthians 12:1-11    Gospel:     John 2:1-11

UPCOMING EVENTS-
Jan. 16                SALT Retreat:  at Trinity Lutheran

Jan. 17                New Members Meeting

Jan. 23                PPC Retreat, Catherine Baarsch’s club house

Jan.31                Reception of New Members

Feb, 26-28            Farstrup-Mortensen Lecture Series
Bethania Lutheran Church
(see bulletin board for information)

Pastor Ron’s contact information_
Pastor Ron may be reached through the church office (964-2267, the church e-mail (pastor@christlutherangoleta.org), his home e-mail _(ronald_f_cox@hotmail.com) or his cell phone (805-807-5257).  Please use the cell phone or home e-mail for “time critical ” messages or emergencies at any time.  Please contact Pastor directly to schedule meetings.

Jan’s Hours
New hours, Mon, Tues, Wed from 8:30-12:30 and Thurs & Fri, 9- 10. This is kind of a prelude to my full retirement coming in February 2010.

Servers for January 17

Ushers:    Vanderhoofs
Greeters:    Twedts
Assisting:    Laurel Johnson
Acolyte:    Kanani Honnold
Offertory:    Tapphorns
Reader:    Sonja Renda
Flowers:    Liana Landru
Coffee:        Lucy Hughes
Counters:    Lucy Hughes/Arleen Twedt
Snack:        Helen Cox/Liana Landru
Sacristan:    Janie Yanos

TIME AND TALENT SHEETS
There are still some of you that have not returned your Time and Talent Sheets.  Please fill one out,(or if you have misplaced yours, I have more), and return it to the office.  It is important that these are received so accurate schedules may be made up for the following year.