February 16, 2010

Christ Lutheran “Church Chat”

Thoughts from Pastor Ron…

Some of the things Pastors think about –

Have you ever noticed that while the world goes about its holiday every year on the same date in the “common calendar”, the date for the most Holy Day of the Church year moves around? Maybe is it because the world is out of synch with God and God’s time?

Have you ever noticed that the two most important Holy Days in the Church year are preceded by 40 days of preparation?  During one of the periods, society (and we, too) seems to focus on nothing but acquiring? But during the other, which the world pretty much ignores expect for the Mardi Gras party (without really knowing the history), we focus on giving “things” up. Have we in the Church got it backwards?

Have you ever thought about why we light more and more candles leading up to Christ Mass – in the middle of winter – yet seem to focus inward and get more and more somber as we move toward Easter and Pentecost in the spring as the days are getting longer?

During the weeks between Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday you will see some new items showing up in the sanctuary. They are being made by our Sunday school children (with the help of their teachers – Beth, Dave, and Laurel - and two of our artists – Charles and Zack). These “new” items come very from a very old tradition. Do you recognize any of them? If so, what do they mean to you? If not, what do you think of them?

As we being the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday this week, may this be a time of blessing for you.

Shalom
† Pastor Ron  

CHOIR PRACTICE AT 6:40PM ON WEDNESDAY THIS WEEK AND AT 11:30 EVERY SUNDAY DURING LENT

2010 Synod Assembly News No. 1
The 2010 assembly for the Southwest California Synod will be held in Burbank on June 3-5. The congregations voting representatives at the assembly are the pastor and the lay delegates. The number of lay delegates for each congregation is based on the number of active members. We elected *** and **** as our two lay delegates at the December congregational meeting. I will pass on agenda information as soon as it becomes available.

The first item that has been published is the elections, We will be electing the synod council treasurer, secretary and five at-large synod council members. (clergy or lay, male or female). We will also be electing one youth representative (male, 10th – 11th grade). We will also be electing ten voting members to the 2011 churchwide assembly, one at-large position for the endowment committee and one synod council representative from our Channel Islands conference.

Nominations are due in the  synod office no later than 15 Feb 2010. Please check with the office for the detailed job descriptions and nomination forms. If you have any questions, please contact me in the church office, or your synod delegates **** or ***.

† Pastor Ron.  (No, the names *** and **** are not misspelled. We did not have anyone volunteer at the December congregational meeting! How about YOU?)

A Note from Kelly
BFF Thursday 6:30-7:30 PM

Conformation Wednesday 5- 6:15 PM.

Any age of youth call Kelly to hang out one on one or in groups.  (805) 252-4605.  I’ll take you out to frozen yogurt or blenders, my treat!

February Mission Basket:
Domestic Violence Solutions (DVS) is a Santa Barbara based shelter whose mission is to “end the intergenerational cycle of domestic violence by providing prevention and intervention services and by challenging society’s attitudes, beliefs and behaviors to effect social change.”  DVS provides a safe and confidential place for battered women and their children, providing emotional support as well as teaching empowerment to victims.  Furthermore, DVS is also the only full service domestic violence shelter in the Santa Barbara area operating 24-hours a day and providing both short-term care, such as its 24-hour helpline, and long-term care, such as its transition house program.  Beyond helping victims of domestic violence, DVS works to educate the community about how to stop and prevent domestic violence.  Donations will go to benefit all of DVS’s outreach and care programs.

Our Lenten Schedule

Ash Wednesday  12:15 pm and 7:00 pm. This service includes imposition of ashes and                                 Holy Communion
ALL Wednesdays of Lent, 2/24, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24:
6:30 pm,     Soup Supper
7:15 pm    Vespers (Holden Evening Prayer)
Triduum (the three Holy Days)
Maundy Thursday     7:00 pm      Communion and stripping of the altar
Good Friday          7:00 pm
Easter Vigil (Sat.)      7:30 pm
Easter Sunrise      6:30 am     Invite a friend to join us on the beach for praise,                                 communion, coffee, and muffins!
Easter breakfast      8:30am        This is a fund raiser for our youth Tickets
will go on sale soon. The suggest contribution                                                   is $10 for adults, children under 12 are free, and $5
for guests. Invite a friend for breakfast and worship!
Easter service      10:15 am
All services are here at Christ Lutheran except the sunrise service on the beach.
2010 Flower Chart – Thanks!  Still need a few sign-ups!
Many Thanks to all who signed up recently to provide flowers!  There is still need for a few more sign-ups, especially in the coming 3 months.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.

FEBRUARY 21 Scripture Readings:
First Lesson:         Deuteronomy 26:1-11        Psalm:               91:1-2, 9-16
Second Lesson:      Romans 10:8b-13        Gospel:     Luke4:1-13

UPCOMING EVENTS
CHOIR PRACTICE EVERY SUNDAY AFTER WORSHIP
Feb. 17    12:15pm    Ash Wednesday Service at CLC
7:00pm    Ash Wednesday Service at CLC
Feb. 21    11:30am    Acolyte Training
Every Wednesday of Lent:
2/24, 3/3, 3/10/ 3/17 and 3/24
5:00 ConFORMation
6:15 Soup Supper (please see sign-up sheet)
7:00 Holden Evening Worship
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.

Servers for February 21
Ushers:    Trowbridges
Greeters:    Bonnie Wilson
Assisting:    Marsha Honnold
Acolyte:    Davis Craig
Offertory:    Anne Burggraf
Reader:    Dave Almcrantz
Flowers:    Jan Rosendahl
Coffee:        Liana Landru
Counters:    Arleen Twedt and Frank Renda
Snacke:    Nancy Nolan, Alta Lenander
Sacristan:    Julie Vanderhoof