February 23, 2010

Christ Lutheran “Church Chat”

Thoughts from Pastor Ron…
I could have titled the next few Sunday s “everything you ever wanted to know about the catechism in 2 hours or less.” Dr. Timothy Wengert, one of the world’s most renown scholars on the life and writings of Martin Luther calls Luther’s Small Catechism “the heart of the Christian life. It reveals our sickness, leads us to the Great Physician, who gives us the prescription for the medicine that heals us.”  This little book was actually written to be used by the head of the house for teaching of the family and everyone who was working or living in the household.

Luther did not invent the catechism. Augustine changed the Latin verb catechizo to a noun (catechismus) in the 5th century.  The Latin verb came directly from the Greek (kataecho) which describes a form of oral instruction: to repeat over and over again. The teacher said something, and the students repeated it until they had learned it correctly – oral repetition. In the church, it came to mean the basic instruction given to all beginners in their faith.

By the late Middle Ages the catechism meant the Apostle’s Creed, followed by the 10 Commandments, then the Lord’s Prayer, other prayers such as the Ave Maria, a prayer to St. Gregory, prayers at the monastic hours, the doxology, the 5 commandments of the Holy Church, a list of 23 specific sins,  the seven good works, and how to “do” confession. Parish priests were required to preach on this four times a year and test everyone on them during confession. Not knowing the catechism resulted in even more penance – and may have been grounds for exclusion from communion.

Everything was structured towards the sacrament of penance: moving from contrition to confession to works of satisfaction required for earthly punishment. More next week….

Don’t forget the soup supper before Vespers – and invite a friend out to dinner!

Peace,
† Pastor Ron  
REMEMBER THE 4th SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH IS FOOD BASKET SUNDAY!!! – Please put  “Food Pantry” on the memo line of your check or envelope.

PLEASE NOTE:  TIME OF SUNDAY WORSHIP WILL CHANGE TO 10:15 am NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 7th

CHOIR PRACTICE AT 9:25 Sunday Morning plus the usual after Worship practice

SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
There will be a special congregational meeting on March 7th.  The purpose for the meeting is to discuss and vote on the PPC’s recommendation for the investment of the pastoral housing funds.

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.

INVITE A FRIEND
To one or all of the soup suppers and Holden Evening Prayer Worship Service on the Wednesdays in Lent.  Also, invite a friend or neighbor to join us at our Youth sponsored Easter Breakfast.

Our Lenten Schedule
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.

CHECK TO SEE IF “YOUR” MONTH FOR SUPPLYING THE CELEBRATION CAKE FOR CELEBRATION SUNDAY IS STILL AVAILABLE.  SIGN UP IF IT IS!!!

FEBRUARY 28 Scripture Readings:
First Lesson:         Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18    Psalm:               27
Second Lesson:      I Corinthians 15:1-11        Gospel:           Luke 13:31-35

UPCOMING EVENTS
CHOIR PRACTICE EVERY SUNDAY AFTER WORSHIP
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.

Tracey’s Hours
New hours, Mon, Tues, Wed from 8:30-12:30 and Thurs & Fri, 9- 10.

Servers for February 28

Ushers:    Trowbridges            Greeters:    Honnold Family
Assistant:    Greg Honnold            Acolyte:    Kanani Honnold
Presenter:    Lucy Hughes            Reader:    Tori Blunt
Coffee:        Baumanns            Counters:    Arleen & Fank
Sacristan:    Julie Vanderhoof        Flowers:    Lucy Hughes