January 26, 2010

Christ Lutheran “Church Chat”

Thoughts from Pastor Ron…
The last two weekends have found many of us taking time to be on planning retreats. On the 16th, John Spiess, Karen Tapphorn, Frank Renda, Gerda Knudson and I were at the SALT (Serving as Lutherans Together) board retreat, along with members from Grace and Trinity. If you were in church last Sunday, you heard Frank tell us all about the expanded food bank. We also talked about the need, and opportunities at UCSB and Isla Vista. Campus ministry has lost its funding due to cut backs at the national and synodical level. The consensus at this meeting was that SALT was not yet ready to take on responsibility for these two areas. It was also noted that we – Christ Lutheran – are the closest Lutheran congregation. What does this mean to us?

Last weekend was our annual PPC planning retreat. We also invited the call committee. The retreat was based on the four key tasks specified in my letter of call from you: develop youth programs, equip the congregation for evangelism, shepherd us to know God’s will, help us grow in faith toward God and service to others. The primary activity was based on the ELCA Evangelism Assessment Survey. The survey looks at prayer life, how we share our faith, whether we are an evangelizing church, community outreach, discipleship, and communications. We evaluated how important these are, and how well we are doing. The evaluation boards will be in the fellowship hall next weekend – take a look at them.

We looked at the question “What does Evangelism mean?” invite/encourage visitors, share the good news, create opportunities to invite friends (for example,  worship services, Bible studies, camping, into small groups in our homes, community work and service projects (such as Habitat, Food Bank), being sensitive to our neighbor’s needs, improved publicity, build relationships, speak the gospel/listen/share your faith.  Everything begins with prayer, and the goal of Christian evangelism is that people come to faith in Jesus.

What does CLC mean? Christ Lutheran Church? How about Caring with the Love of   Christ?

What do you think of the following mission statement for Christ Lutheran:

Helping our neighbors and community through worship, witness, prayer and service to others in Christ’s love.

Watch the news letter for more info on exciting opportunities in the near future for you to invite others to visit us (besides our Sunday worship, of course!).
† Pastor Ron  

To the Congregation of Christ Lutheran Church,
In November I announced that we would be starting a year-round Stewardship drive to help educate members of the congregation as to how their donations are spent.  At the time I also announced that the budget shortfall at the end of 2008 was around $13,624 and that this year was projected to be $4,000.  However, I am happy to announce that the church brought in $61 more than it spent in 2009 thanks in part to the increased giving.  As your Stewardship Chair I’d like to give you a resounding THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH in your help to balance the budget; because of we will not be having a budget shortfall this year, we are not looking to withdraw interest from the Housing Fund and will just carry the balance into the next year.  I have planned to increase my giving in 2010 to help increase this surplus in the coming year, and I’d like to ask all members to keep up their generosity and if they can, to join me in getting a surplus budget in 2010.

Again, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for your support of Christ Lutheran Church.

Michael Stewart

We have a new Secretary!
Welcome to our new Secretary, Tracey Goss.  She will officially start on March 1, 2010.

She is the wife of Pastor David Goss of Light and Life Goleta and mother of three boys, Noah (8), Caleb (6) and Micah (4).  While in her official position as “stay at home mom” for the past nine years, Tracey has performed the duties of Church Secretary for Light and Life Goleta and worked part-time as the Pastoral Care Coordinator for the Asbury Seminary Spouse Ministry.  Responding to her own call to ministry, Tracey is on track for ordination within the Free Methodist Denomination and is a licensed minister.  Prior to ministry to ministry and motherhood, Tracey was a Project Manager for Goodwill Industries of Southern California where she served as Job Developer and Creator and Director of their Micro Enterprise Program for Welfare-to-work participants.  Prior to social work, Tracey was Public Relations Director and later a Marketing Manager for Sebastian Internationsl.

Helping Haiti

Lots of confusion for “Helping Haiti” funding raising with respect to writing
checks. So here is some clarification:

1) If you are a Thrivent member (Benefit or Associate) please try to make your
donations online at the following website.  This is the only way to request
matching fund from Thrivent as it must come individually through Thrivent
members.

https://www.thrivent.com/helpinghaiti/

2) As a Thrivent member (Benefit or Associate) you may also mail your checks
made out to “Thrivent Financial” directly to Thrivent at the following address.
Please indicate “ELCA Disaster Response-Helping Haiti” along with your
membership ID number in the memo of check.  This method will also achieve matching funds from Thrivent.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Appleton Office
4321 N Ballard Road
Appleton, WI 54919-00001 USA

3) Please do not write checks to “Christ Lutheran” or “ELCA Disaster Response”
if you are a Thrivent member requesting Thriven matching funds for “Helping Haiti” as these checks cannot
be credited for Thrivent matching funds.

4) Finally, if you are not a Thrivent member you may make a check out to
“Christ Lutheran Church” with “Helping Haiti-ELCA Disaster Response”
in the memo. However, these funds will not be matched by Thrivent.

New Phone Directory Coming
I plan on getting a new small phone directory done soon.  I have a question about it, however, do you want your cell phone numbers listed?  If I don’t hear from you within the next two weeks, I will automatically add them to the directory.  Thank you.    Jan

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 would like to come 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.  Please call or e-mail the office if you are willing to do this.

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
7:00.m.        “Making Sense of Scripture” Bible Study
Leader:  Pastor Ron
Location:  Christ Lutheran
7:00p.m.    “Exodus” Bible Study
Leader:  Mark D’Evelyn
Location:  Christ Lutheran
7:00p.m.    “People of Faith” Bible Study
Leader:  Heather D’Evelyn
Location:  Christ Lutheran
Thursday:        6:00p.m.    BFF

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 31 Scripture Readings:
First Lesson:         Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10        Psalm: 19
Second Lesson:      1 Corinthians 12:12-31a        Gospel:     Luke 4:14-21

UPCOMING EVENTS

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 31
Ushers:    Vanderhoofs
Greeters:    Johnsons
Assisting:    Debbie Audus
Acolyte:    Mimi Honnold
Offertory:    Tapphorns
Reader:    Bruce Trowbridge
Flowers:    Bonnie Wilson
Coffee:        Sonja Renda
Counters:    Lucy Hughes/Arleen Twedt
Snack:        Beth Lee/Karen Tapphorn
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.