MARCH 2016
Christ Lutheran Church • Highlands Ranch, CO • Gathering † Gifting † Sending
CLC/Thrivent Programs Annual Report 2015 Thrivent Financial and it's CLC members support several very important programs that benefit our CLC Ministries. Below find a recap of how these programs helped CLC in 2015:
and a Customer Service representative will assist you or CLC Thrivent Congregational Advocate, Steve Strom, would be happy to assist you.
Thrivent CHOICE Program
Thrivent Action Team Program
Thanks to the generosity of 58 CLC/Thrivent members we received $12,152.00 in CHOICE Program dollar designations in 2015! These dollars are used to support CLC Ministries like our Youth Group, Music Ministries, 30th Anniversary Celebration and more!
CLC received $2,250.00 in Thrivent Action Team grants to support these ministries in 2015: Harrington Carnival, Harrington Back to School Drive, Talent Show Fundraiser, Greeting Card Ministry, Military Ministry, 30th Anniversary Party/Fundraiser, Youth Mission Trip, Sky Ranch/Adult Mission Trip, and Lutheran Family Services Food Bags.
We still have 59 CLC/Thrivent members who have 2015 CHOICE Program dollars that they can designate to a charity of their choice by 03/31/2016. We encourage those members to make a designation whether it is to CLC or another charitable organization they are passionate about. CHOICE Program dollars not designated are returned to Thrivent after 03/31/2016 for other charitable uses. For the 59 CLC/Thrivent members who have not designated, you may have received an email or letter from Thrivent recently reminding you to make your designation by the 03/31/2016. If you have questions on how to donate you can call Thrivent at 1-800-847-4836 and at the prompt say "CHOICE Program"
Action Team grants must be submitted by a current CLC/Thrivent member and if guidelines are met, they will be approved for a $250.00 grant to support their Ministry or Project. We have more opportunity to take advantage of this program in 2016 and encourage our Ministry Chairpersons to use this program to support their efforts this year. Again, THANKS to all the CLC/Thrivent members who have either designated CHOICE Program dollars or applied for and led Action Teams in 2015 that have supported many ministries at CLC!
First Impressions The First Impressions Team is a group of individuals and families in the congregation, who adopt a plot or more to help beautify Christ Lutheran Church’s landscape. Duties include planting, weeding, watering and dead heading. This ministry is important to CLC, because it really does leave a “first impression” with first-time visitors and people who may be looking for a new Church home. There is a diagram of all the plots that you can adopt, as well as a sign-up sheet located in the Narthex. Some have already been adopted, so please check the sign-up sheet to make sure that the one you may want has not already been adopted. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Debbie Freeman at dfreeman@clchr.org.
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION BREAKFAST
Sunday, April 10 • 9am-1pm If you have volunteered for anything at CLC, then we want to show you our appreciation. Please join us for breakfast and a special coffee cart. Stay as long or as little as you like and come before, during, or after services – it truly is all about you! Those in attendance will be entered into a volunteer of the month parking spot drawing and will receive a special “we our volunteers” gift.
STAFF: Rev. Steve Berke, Interim Pastor pastorsteve@clchr.org Rev. DJ Dent, Associate Pastor pastordent@clchr.org Pastor Don Marxhausen, Visitation Pastor visitation@clchr.org Pastor Zundel Adult University Dianne Yoss Outreach Coordinator outreach@clchr.org Debbie Freeman Volunteer Coordinator dfreeman@clchr.org Gary Knutson Director of Youth & Family gknutson@clchr.org Deb Morgans Director of Preschool dmorgans@clchr.org Sallie Burns Financial Secretary sburns@clchr.org Linda Holcombe Director of Music lindaholcombe64@gmail.com Nicholas Koltay Administrative Assistant nkoltay@clchr.org Carrie Mallery Principal Pianist Larry Scalfari Pianist Barbara Pierson Director Nursery Ministry Barbara.Pierson@comcast.net Meliha & Predrag Vajzovic Custodians CHURCH COUNCIL: Erika Alpern eajteach@yahoo.com Jeff Bergstrom j-bergstrom@comcast.net Lesley Cantrell we4cantrells@mac.com Sheri Halverson sherilhalverson@gmail.com Pete Koury pmkoury@q.com Beth Ott hunterchief95@comcast.net John Ringkob jer@dascoinc.com Karen Rucker kkosty@excite.com Steve Schaeberle Schaeberle1@comcast.net Bret Sumner bretsumner@hotmail.com Bob Weber B14169k@comcast.net
All articles, photos and notices for the next issue of CrossWord are due by the 15th of the month. Send to mbehnke@clchr.org. Editor reserves the right to edit for content and space.
Pastor Steve’s Message Dear Friends: I am writing to you from our place in Nebraska this time (having spent a few days out here after Holy Week). As an “on-the-spot” reporter, I can assure you that the windy days of March are certainly living up to their billing! Fortunately, the winds have been unaccompanied by snow in this part of the state. Easter Sunday came very early in 2016, but now we are moving into April and the seven weeks of Easter season continue with many signs of life for Christ Lutheran and for the wider church. Here are some of the vital efforts and projects in which we’ll be engaged in April: 1. Continue to pray for the ten members of our Call Committee. As is appropriate in my role as interim Pastor, I have not been meeting with them as they did initial interviews for several candidates for Lead Pastor during March. But I know they are working hard and praying for wisdom! Now a second round of interviews is being scheduled. 2. Wednesday Confirmation teaching sessions will be finishing up during the month of April. I look forward to helping with themes of baptismal life! 3. Please plan on coming to worship on the weekend of April 9-10, as we do an appreciation for volunteers and also a ministry fair. 4. As one of 160+ congregations and ministries of the Rocky Mountain Synod, ELCA (with churches in five states in the Mountain West), Christ Lutheran has an important role in play in our synod. The synod is beginning a strategic planning process this year, and we will do our part. Surveys are now available, and they have been emailed to members of our church council. In addition, I was part of the kick-off event for this process, and I will be part of a directed conversation with other interim pastors during April. 5. The synod assembly for Rocky Mountain Synod will be April 28-30 at Loveland. Pr. DJ will attend a portion of the event, and Sheri Halverson (council vice-president) and I are planning to be there for the whole gathering. I look forward to being together with you to sing our “Alleluias” each week in worship! We continue to live in the stories of the risen Christ during these days! In Christ, Steve Berke, Interim Pastor
Pastor DJ’s Message
How On Earth Do Bunnies Lay Eggs? If you have never asked yourself or somebody else that question, you have not been paying attention to the bizarre symbols that Easter gives to us. That old Cadbury Egg commercial still baffles me to this day. How does a rabbit, who makes noises like a chicken find a way to lay an egg made of chocolate and filled with crème? Believe me, I have wasted too much time thinking about the possibilities, i.e., “What do you get when you cross a peep with a chocolate Easter bunny?” What I have gathered from my hours of scholarly work on this issue is that the bunny is just a far cuter animal than the chicken. It makes more sense, for presentation’s sake, to use a furry, cuddly bunny to sell your product than a jerky, flapping chicken, even if it makes more logical sense that the chicken would lay the egg. It seems that sometimes emphasis is put on the appearance of an object as opposed to the reality. Another symbol comes to mind along this same line, and that is the image of the cross. I look at the crosses engraved on my wedding ring, and the clothespin cross that hangs above my the light switch in my office, and the stylized cross on the letterhead sitting next to me, and I wonder about what all of this means. I work in an ideal environment where everywhere I look I am surrounded by a cross, which by all means exists to remind me of Christ’s work for our salvation, but I wonder if that’s the way it is being used. Let me phrase the issue in a different way... has the cross become a fashion object? Do these crosses that pop up everywhere intend to remind us of our baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection, or do they create an image that is pleasing to the eye? The cross is indeed a powerful symbol of who we are, and how God has claimed us. And it is used easily in ways that do not reflect its essential meaning. Anybody can attach a cross to a letter to try and show how God supports what they are trying to say, all the while claiming that they are doing God’s work. It can be flaunted in front of those who have not experienced yet the love of Christ as a symbol of power. It can be worn just as an accessory so those who see it may think highly of the person who dons such an item. The cross gets changed into any number of things which affect its central significance. It cannot be distinguished from its use as a mode of execution, and an exceedingly painful one at that. It cannot be separated from its message to us, that we stand under the weight of the judgment of the cross. Likewise, a cross cannot be viewed without understanding it as the tool by which we are redeemed to new life. The cross is more horrifying and more beautiful at the same time than any representation we may encounter as we look around us. We cannot turn the cross into some fuzzy, cuddly bunny that looks prettier than the reality, but we also cannot deny the reality that the cross is a symbol of love. Each look at a cross should remind us of these two extremes, that we are both judged and saved by the cross. The empty cross we see throughout Easter affirms us that we are not abandoned to death, but are to share in the resurrection. I hope that the next time you see a cross, you contemplate the reality that encompasses that image, and grow spiritually as you ponder what that means for you in your life, because, as the Cadbury Bunny has taught us, there is more to reality than what is presented to us. Happy Easter Season, DJ Dent
on Harringt l Carniva
Yes, the carnival is EARLY this year. For over 10 years, CLC has hosted a carnival for this special inner-city school. 3 2 il r Together we celebrate the p A Saturday, end of a successful school 11:00am-1pm year knowing that we’ve made a difference the lives of the children and their families by modeling generosity, giving, and God’s love. The carnival features games and a bounce castle. The carnival is free to all students and their families. There is also a food booth serving brats and hot dogs, soda, chips, candy and pickles that is free to everyone in the school. Donations of these food items are welcome as well as donations for booth prizes. If you are interested in giving a cash donation to off-set the $2000 we spend on the event, it would be greatly appreciated!! Volunteers to help run the carnival may sign-up on the response sheet or contact Dianne at outreach@clchr.org. Working this event makes a great service project for individuals, families, small groups, and confirmation groups. All volunteers are asked to please arrive no later than 9:45 am. Please join the fun and THANK YOU!
Care for the Caregiver Meetings will now be held twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of every month at 7:00pm in the Sonrise Room beginning April 5. We are a support and resource sharing group. All caregivers are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Happy Birthday Ben Coleman - April 1 Esther Trautmann - April 1 Kathryn VanDewerker - April 1 Hannah Archuleta - April 2 Jake Beauchamp - April 2 Gary Butler - April 2 Sheldon Hafner - April 2 Madison Hegre - April 2 Dan Johnson - April 2 Janet Kracht - April 2 Shelby Mulverhill - April 2 Abby Porterfield - April 2 Erving Anderson - April 3 Simeon Ehm - April 3 Jordan Lutonsky - April 3 Jaime McNitt - April 3 Laura Meyer - April 3 Dwight Roinestad - April 3 Audra Roosen - April 3 Julie Skelton - April 3 Angela Smith - April 3 Anne Buderus - April 4 Quinn Hunchar - April 4 Evan Lambert - April 4 Trent Sorensen - April 4 Alex Sorensen - April 4 Ray Christensen - April 5 Kevin Henningsen - April 5 Bev Johnson - April 5 Ethan McGraw - April 5 Jackson Mundell - April 5 Stephanie Radtke - April 5 Steve Schaeberle - April 5
Jim Schleuder - April 5 Andy Stevens - April 5 Tom Bielefeldt - April 6 Danica Rowe - April 6 Amanda Wilson - April 6 Elizabeth Zorn - April 6 Dan Abraham - April 7 Linda Cook - April 7 Grant Hansen - April 7 Russ Hunchar - April 7 Elise Schauer - April 7 Helen Beulke - April 8 Judy Siel - April 8 Cooper Whitehurst - April 8 Dru Boggs - April 9 Peyton Friend - April 9 Brianne Mavis - April 9 Donna Riley - April 9 Ken Kroneberger - April 10 Angela McCrosky - April 10 Justin Pellett - April 10 Haley Radochonski - April 10 Linda Bailey - April 11 Olivia Johnson - April 11 Lara Marxhausen - April 11 Sarah Sievers - April 11 Zooey Hill - April 12 John DeBoer - April 13 Forrest Green - April 13 Guy Haller - April 13 Brian Morgans - April 13 Austin Alexander - April 14 Brayden Anderson - April 14
Russell Hunchar - April 14 James Rand - April 14 Pastor Tom Shelly - April 14 Hunter Snauwaert - April 14 Jen Henningsen - April 15 Sherree Mitchum - April 16 Brandon Morken - April 16 Camryn Kramer- April 17 Carl Saur - April 17 Rick Versen - April 17 John Wilson - April 17 Ashley Evens - April 18 Katie Pinon - April 18 Juanita Buckel - April 19 Ryan Cummings - April 19 Roger Green - April 19 Peyton Smith - April 19 Thomas Beal - April 20 Ashley Flynn - April 21 Chris Poltl - April 21 Paul Pontius - April 21 Marcia Strom - April 21 Barbara Terrell - April 21 Lexi Bauer - April 22 Courtney Belin - April 22 Jeff Bergstrom - April 22 Colin Leibbrandt - April 22 Fred Parsa - April 22 Charlotte Wilson - April 22 Richard Oleson - April 23 Kyle Henningsen - April 24 Linda Holcombe - April 24 Joanne Hollowell - April 24
Harriette Shelly - April 24 Chrissy Beukelman - April 25 Chery Koury - April 25 Leslie Sanner - April 25 Sydney Anne Cantrel l - April 26 Lynette Kramer - April 26 Kaleigh Kreimeyer - April 26 Krysta Baca - April 27 Dennis Gereaux - April 27 Jason Radtke - April 27 Tara Vogler - April 27 Gretchen Whitehurst - April 27 Steven Almer - April 28 Kelly Bergstrom - April 28 Karlton Lauer - April 28 David McCrosky - April 28 Benjamin O'Brien - April 28 Laura Reeves - April 28 Alexandria Reeves - April 28 Shalean Rowe - April 28 Kyle Versen - April 28 Treyton Whitehurst - April 28 Cameron Radtke - April 29 Garren Saewert - April 29 Brownie Smook - April 29 John Friend - April 30 Jennifer Gunther - April 30 Andrew Holcombe - April 30 Nancy Hubbard- April 30 Kelly Melcher - April 30 Kelli Schandel- April 30 Jake Stein - April 30 Susan Thoennes - April 30
NEWS FROM THE PRESCHOOL Hello and happy springtime! It is Preschool Appreciation Month and the kids will be performing on Sunday, April 3rd at 9:30 a.m. service. This month we will be talking about careers and inviting parents in to share their jobs. If you have a job you would like to share with the children, please give us a call in the preschool at 303-471-9290 and we can schedule you to visit on Career Day which is on the 13thand 14th. Conferences will also take place this month giving the teachers and parents time to reflect on the wonderful progress their child has made over this past school year. We have enjoyed our Senior readers from Lincoln Meadows and our Music time with Ms. Linda. Chapel time with Mr. Gary, Pastor DJ and Pastor Steve is also fun! Our theme this month is, �The Lost Sheep.� We will host a Family Art Show/Auction and Spaghetti dinner night on Friday, April 22nd. The children will display art they have created for their families and be the stars of the evening. If you have an item you would like to contribute to our auction (a way to advertise a business as well), we would welcome the
donation. This is a big night for our school. Summer camp is available to all children 3 years through 6 yrs. 11 months old. Registration is available at any time. There will be ten weeks of camp this summer held from Monday through Thursday either 9am-1pm or 9am-4pm. And, you can sign up for as little as one day or as many as you want. Please jump on our website for camp information at www.myclcpreschool.org or we can email you information. Please let us know if you would like us to at dmorgans@clchr.org. There is a $25, one time supply fee per each child regardless of how many sessions you attend. This fee is all you need to reserve your space and payment is due when your camp session begins. We can let you know what other paperwork might be required if you are not currently attending the preschool. The themes are Beach/Ocean, Art, Animals, All things Outdoors and Sports. We will have a funtastic time! **Camp does not meet over Vacation Bible School week which is the week of July 25th** Registration for VBS will come from church this month.
APRIL SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY 1 9a Chicks w/Sticks 5p Worship/CC
3 6:30a Men's Breakfast
4 5p Crossroads Band
Ministry & Interest Weekend 8a Worship/CC 9:30a Worship/SS 11a Worship/CC 7p AA Meeting
10 6:30a Men's Breakfast
11 1p Staff Planning Mtg.
12 10a Mops Steering Mtg.
13 8a Preschool
14 12:15p Staff Lunch
15 5p Worship/CC
Mission Moments 8a Worship/CC 9:30a Worship/SS 11a Worship/CC 7p AA Meeting
17 6:30a Men's Breakfast
18 12:30p Visiting Nurse
19 9a Mops Mtg.
20 7p Celebration Choir
21
22 HARRINGTON CARNIVAL 23
8a Worship/CC 9:30a Worship/SS 11a Worship/CC 7p AA Meeting
24 6:30a Men's Breakfast
25 5p Crossroads Band
26 7p Confirmation Learning 27 7p Celebration Choir
8a Worship/CC 9:30a Worship/SS 11a Worship/CC 12:15p Baptism Class 7p AA Meeting
Group 9:30a Beth Moore Bible Study 7p Boy Scouts 7p Personnel Mtg.
Group 9:30a Beth Moore Bible Study 9:30a Mission Quilters 6p Boy Scouts Venture Crew 7p Boy Scouts
Group 9:30a Beth Moore Bible Study 7p Boy Scouts 7p Legacy & Endowment Mtg.
Group 9:30a Mission Quilters 6p Boy Scouts Venture Crew 7p Boy Scouts
5 9a Mops Mtg.
6:30p Praise Team 7p Caregiver Mtg
5p Crossroads Band 6:30p Praise Team 7p Council Mtg. 7p Military Ministry Mtg.
Assoc. 5p Crossroads Band 6:30p Financial Planning 6:30p Praise Team 7p Caregiver Mtg
6 8a Preschool
2
7p Confirmation Learning Event
9a Adult University 7p Celebration Choir 7p Cub Scout Leader Mtg.
7p Confirmation Small Group
7p Confirmation Learning Event
6:30p CLC Bridge - tentative 6:30p Praise Team
Event
9a Adult University 7p Celebration Choir
7 9a RMS Strategic Planning 8 Ministry & Interest Weekend 9 Meeting 12p OWLS Luncheon
6:30p CLC Bridge Group
10a Genealogy 1p Fjelldalen Lodge 5p Worship/CC
16
7a General Maintenance 8a Russell Stamping 5p Worship/CC 6p MOPS - Nursery
28 8:30p 8th Grade Spring Lock-in
29 12a 8th Grade Spring Lock-in 5p Worship/CC
30
Followers of Jesus Christ
8997 S. Broadway Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 Change Service Requested
There’s a place for you! Outreach Ministries
Harrington Elementary School in Denver – various projects Outreach Uganda Urban Peak Teen Shelter Alcoholics Anonymous Bonfils Blood Drive Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp Lutheran Family Services projects Grant Avenue Street Reach Pueblo De Dios (in CA) Projects ELCA World Hunger Military Ministry Chicks with Sticks Mission Quilters
Music
CLC Kids Rock! Youth Worship Weekend Band Celebration Carillon Ringers Crossroads Douglas County Singers Praise Team Carillon Ringers
Preschool
Church Community Ministries Altar Guild New Mothers Ministry Worship Teams First Impressions Team Ushers and Greeters Bulletin “Folders” Readers Decorating Team Assisting Ministers Mowing & Snow Removal Kitchen Team Recycling Team Maintenance Team Sweet Bread Ministry Sign Team Chefs for Christ Sanctuary Care Card Ministry Prayer Tree
Fun and Fellowship
OWLS – Senior group meets monthly for fellowship Shepherds Dinner Group Men’s Book Club Women’s Book Club Advance! Men’s Group Women’s Bunko
Youth & Family Ministries
Baptism Classes First Bible Classes First Communion Classes Summer Vacation Bible School Confirmation Classes (7th & 8th graders) Sunday School Dynamite Youth Group (4th, 5th & 6th graders) BLAZE (Senior High School Youth Group) Mission Trips Family Nights
Education and Fellowship
Adult Education Classes (held during 9:30 service and Thursdays at 9:00am) Men’s Breakfast Group – bible study group meets every Monday morning Women of Joy – a Christian book club that meets twice monthly for fellowship and service Rejoice Circle – women’s bible study, meets twice monthly