AUGUST 2014
Christ Lutheran Church • Highlands Ranch, CO • Gathering † Gifting † Sending
Harrington Elementary Back-to-School Collection We are starting to collect backpacks, school supplies and tennis shoes for Harrington Elementary School. Harrington is a very low income school in Denver that our congregation has adopted. Please bring in backpacks, tennis shoes (all sizes for elementary kids) and any type of school supplies and drop them in the bin located in the Narthex/Lobby marked Harrington Backpacks. These back packs filled with school supplies may be the only supplies the children get all year. The Physical Education teacher says that many kids come to the gym wearing flip flops or shoes that are too small for them. Last year we took 250 backpacks and 70 pairs of tennis shoes to the school and made many children very happy. We will be delivering everything to Harrington on August 18th.
Scrip For Back-to-School Supplies Summer is in full swing! However, school will be starting before you know it. Please consider CLC Scrip Gift Cards for your back-to-school needs. And, you could use Scrip Gift Cards to purchase school supplies and tennis shoes for Harrington Elementary - you would be helping CLC while also helping the very important Harrington Elementary ministry. Take a look at the Scrip order forms and complete vendor lists located in the Narthex. Thanks for supporting the CLC Scrip Gift Card program!
Saturday • October 5th • 6:00pm Please mark your calendars for the annual Oktoberfest celebration! The festivities include dancing, theme baskets, drinking German beer and wine in our Beer Garden and eating brats, pork tenderloin, potato salad, bean and all the fixings. Please invite all of your friends to this great evening! There will be more information to follow!
THEME BASKETS FOR OKTOBERFEST Oktoberfest will be Saturday, October 5th at 6:00pm. The Theme Baskets were such a hit, that we are starting early so that there will not be such a mad rush at the end to decorate. Some of the baskets last year and/or possibilities include: children’s books, chocolate, High Tea at the Brown Palace, a football party, wine, going to college, books, movies, sports, car supplies, tea pot and various teas, stuffed animals, kids makeup, spa day, winter warmth, dinner and a movie, and many, many more. You can donate all of the fixings or just a portion of a basket. We have had baskets donated by groups, such as the Choir, Women’s Book Club, MOPS, Rejoice Circle, Agape Circle, Crossroads Band, CLC Council , confirmation groups, as well as families and individuals just to mention a few. If you are interested in donating a basket, please sign the response sheets at Church and bring in everything needed for the baskets, as soon as possible. You can bring your materials into the church office.
DECORATING THEME BASKETS If you are creative and have time to decorate Theme Baskets for Oktoberfest this year, we are in great need of your help. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact our Theme Basket Coordinator, Jill Stuab at jstaub4@gmail.com, or sign the response sheet.
STAFF: Rev. Tom Shelly, Sr. Pastor pstrfstr@clchr.org Rev. DJ Dent, Associate Pastor pastordent@clchr.org Debby Kinsella Director Outreach/Equipping dkinsella@clchr.org Gary Knutson Director of Youth & Family gknutson@clchr.org Deb Morgans Director of Preschool dmorgans@clchr.org Mary Behnke Administrative Manager mbehnke@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: Ken Kroneberger kenk@jcmh.org Lee Bergstrom lee_berg@yahoo.com Nancy Bauer nancybauer@q.com Rick Boyer safetyguy74@yahoo.com Julie Waggoner waggoners5@gmail.com Norm Beulke nbeulke@gmail.com Adrian Hafner backyardkids@hotmail.com Bret Sumner bretsumner@hotmail.com John Ringkob jer@dascoinc.com John Riley johnriley05@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 Tom’s Message Still Moving Forward! Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— 1 Corinthians 1:3-5 3
Last month you may remember I wrote a very short article titled “Change, Again!” And spoke of our staff changes in Debbie Kinsella’s departure. Although I knew it at the time, the time was not right for me to share the change that was going on with me. That had to come later at a more proper time. Now I think most everyone knows but may still have a question about it as to what it means. As the dust settles from these changes around us, what it means is that CLC will continue to move forward in faithfulness with ministry. There will be staff changes and membership changes in the future as there have been in the past. (For now I can function normally.) But what remains constant is God’s presence in grace. That grace abounds in you and the congregation; I have seen it in the many years past, the past few weeks and presently! It has been as Saint Paul puts it, “Enriched in Him, you have been enriched in speech and knowledge of every kind –“ Still moving forward, so far, so good! The process continues to fill our staff position and maintain our ministries. Still moving forward so far, so good! Our summer finances while still struggling have seen stability and some improvements which need to keep up for the final month of summer. The scripture I started out with seems so fitting to our situation and my feelings about you! I didn’t think much about any of St. Paul’s greetings at the beginning of his letters but this one seems to resonate with me more than ever, “I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus!” Ahh, by Grace we are “Still Moving Forward!” See YOU in Worship + Many Blessings + Pastor Tom +
GIVING UPDATE Just as you rely upon receiving income on a regular basis, CLC relies on your regular contributions. We greatly appreciate the efforts of congregation members to make consistent donations throughout the year - especially during popular summer travel periods. To assist you, Simply Giving provides a convenient electronic giving option for setting up regular contributions. Online Giving is also available through our website, www.clchr.org. Please contact Sallie Burns, Financial Secretary, for details.
Don't forget the church when you go on vacation we're still here!
THANK YOU 2014 VBS VOLUNTEERS
CLC just concluded its 2014 Vacation Bible School (VBS) session during the week of 21-25 July. Enrollment reached its maximum of 220 children. These children, ages three (3) through ten (10), experienced a fun, God-filled week focused on Jesus' extraordinary love for each of us–even if you feel left out, different, don't understand, do wrong, or are afraid... Jesus loves you! The event could not have succeeded without the generous involvement of VBS Volunteers. Volunteers, numbering 110– including 30 adults and 80 youth–enthusiastically shared their time, talents and faith to enable and enrich the learning experience of these children. Thanks to all these volunteers, but special thanks to the 80 youth, who serving as Crews Leaders for groups of 5, and other assisting roles, were critical role models for impressionable young children.
Adult Volunteers Christine Kleen* Kristin Bergstrom* Shalean Rowe* Erin Young* Nancy Bauer* Jill Staub* Allyson Evans* Janet Bergstrom Norm Beulke Anne Buderus Lesley Cantrell Alyson Curry Kristen DeBeer Jennifer Dent Joanne Edmunds Amy Hill Jessica Jackstien Kristen Kellogg Brittany Kinder Nikki McCullor Meghan McDonald Roslyn Paine Kathy Pfalzgraff Michelle Reetz Christine Schaeberle Cathy Showalter Julie Skelton Jennifer Smith Jessica Sumner Meghan Symes * = VBS Committee
Youth Volunteers Mallory Alexander Emma Alpern Hailey Archuleta Hannah Archuleta Hannah Bauer Lexi Bauer Kristen Behnke Matthew Behnke Courtney Belin Jeremy Belin Nicole Belin Ryan Butler Claire Cantrell Mariah Cornell Katie D'Agostino Jack DeBeer Jane Dunbar Kaitlyn Fisher Andrew Freeman Jimmy Freeman Peyton Freitag Madelyn Graham Jordan Green Kennedy Green Maggie Green Shantell Hafner Shelby Hafner Sheldon Hafner Bryan Harant Heather Hemenway Emma Hicks Holden Hill Sam Isner Taylor Holter Hadley Jason Katie Johnson Olivia Johnson Hunter Julander Alex Kleen Haley Kolseth
Avery Liley Christian Liley Greg Malburg Luke Marxhausen Jessica Matsushima Ryan Matsushima Emily McDonald Alejandro Mena Casa Ben Miller Brian Morgans Samantha Morgans Lillianna Navarro Avery Ornes Brendan Parsa Landon Patz Maddy Pontius Tyler Pontius Haley Radochonski Ben Reinholtz Jacob Reinholtz Austin Riley Madison Riley McKenna Riley Michael Rocha Amanda Rowe Emily Rowe Megan Rucker Joey Schulte Matt Schulte Megan Silverman Olivia Smith Sadie Solomon Emma Stanek Ryan Tesch Eric Urban Tyler Urban Payton Walters Taylor Walters Madison Weitzel Matt Weitzel
Pastor DJ’s Message Humility and Patience These are no longer virtues in our society. Rather, we give attention and reverence to the person who offers certitude without question and results without delay. There are very few radio or television programs which talk about the gray areas of life. I have not seen a politician in years that was looked up to not for the answers that they gave but for the questions that they asked. And it has been a similarly long time that I have seen a leader make a public apology as part of their leadership (rather I see too many apologies when something has gotten completely out of control). So what does the Christian faith have to say in the midst of certainty, immediacy, and pride? Probably that these are things we need to remove from ourselves before we become too concerned about what blocks someone else’s vision. You may have heard the phrase before that the church is supposed to be counter-cultural. If you haven’t, what that means is that the church shouldn’t just go around adopting society’s values without careful reflection. It does not mean that we should stand against everything society stands for (otherwise I think the church would have to be pro-stealing), but it means that when it comes to change, the church moves a bit slower. It gives time for prayer and discernment; for asking questions; for begging for forgiveness; and when it does move forward or change, it does so with the understanding that it could still be wrong, but that we pray God will bless our attempt at faithfulness. If you turn on your TV at all, you will not be encouraged in such attitudes. You will be nurtured in fear, conviction, short repeatable catch phrases, a small perspective, certainty, pride, and instant gratification. For Jesus’ sake, I commend all of us to be counter-cultural. No, we are not going to agree on candidates, politics, government, or even any of the issues that face us every day; but God’s appeal is that we submit with humility and patience in love to our neighbor. It is much harder to do this, to be sure, because it is not just counter-cultural, it is counter to our very nature. As brother Paul reminds us “We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.” (Romans 6:6). I pray that the Spirit pull all of us from death to life when it comes to how we treat one another. If you are anything like me, you have a lot of dying left to do. Peace, Pastor DJ
CALLING ALL WOMEN
Come join the Beth Moore: Children of the Day Bible Study Have you ever wanted to take a bible study class? Have you taken a break from bible study and want to get back into the scriptures? Do you want to learn more about all these stories within the bible? Are you looking to enhance your faith journey? Here's your chance to join other women for Beth Moore's bible study, Children of the Day, 1 & 2 Thessalonians. On our first meeting we'll get our workbooks for the study and watch the opening lesson on DVD. You will then complete some homework (yes, homework!!) and at each session we'll spend some time discussing the homework and then watching the next lesson on DVD. We will meet on Mondays from 9:15am to 11:15am in the Sonrise room, starting September 15, 2014. This is a 9 session, video-driven bible study. The cost is $25. Childcare will be available. Please sign up no later than September 5, 2014. If you would like more information, or have specific questions, please feel free to contact Chris Schaeberle at 303-794-3673 or schaeberle1@comcast.net. Here is a bit more information about "Children of the Day" and Beth Moore from www.lifeway.com... Join Beth Moore and walk the shores of Thessalonica with this verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 and 2 Thessalonians. During this nine week study, you'll learn how to let go of past mistakes and discover your circumstances are not coincidental - God's timing is impeccable! Whether you're facing family crises, medical diagnoses, relationship troubles, doubts, or fears, you'll come away encouraged that even though it may not feel that way, you are exactly where Christ wants you to be! "You are children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness." 1 Thessalonians 5:5 Known for presenting Scripture in living color, Christian speaker and Bible study author Beth Moore enjoys getting to serve women of every age and denomination, and she is passionate about women knowing and loving the Word of God. Beth's broad collection of LifeWay women Bible studies covers relevant topics from believing God to be Who He says He is to loving difficult people. Each in-depth study guides you on your faith journey
Happy Birthday Diane Abraham 1-Aug Jodi Emsley 1-Aug Jeffrey Harhigh 1-Aug Jennifer Mitchell 1-Aug Callen O'Hearn 1-Aug Carlyn Poltl 1-Aug Leanne Saxton 1-Aug Cass Schaedig 1-Aug Ian Tonelli 1-Aug Julie Anna 2-Aug Jackson Curry 2-Aug Allyson Evans 2-Aug Carley Fellows 2-Aug Harper Fennel 2-Aug Jordan Goldman 2-Aug Lexi Parks 2-Aug Griffin Rasel 2-Aug Bob Reiter 2-Aug Pat Douhan 3-Aug Nickolaus Freitag 3-Aug Sara Goldman 3-Aug Ashlyn Long 3-Aug Zach Belcher 4-Aug Jim Etten 4-Aug Matt Sullivan 5-Aug Charles Warren 5-Aug Lance Devin 6-Aug
Kristin Lichty 6-Aug Liz Watts 6-Aug Kurt Kramer 7-Aug Jean Mayland 7-Aug Ashley Harhigh 8-Aug Katie Pickrell 8-Aug Barry Reeves 8-Aug Linda Rickard 8-Aug Predrag Vajzovic 8-Aug Dru Vorthmann 8-Aug Gretchen Gunther 9-Aug Madelyn Gutsch 9-Aug Tamra Hughes 9-Aug Brock Kreimeyer 9-Aug Joe Schulte 9-Aug Kris Weber 9-Aug Marla Elhard 10-Aug Alex Pierce 10-Aug Carl Douhan 11-Aug Beth Hemenway 11-Aug Ellie DeBeer 12-Aug Brendan Elkins 12-Aug Bill Lepper 12-Aug Steve Strom 12-Aug Laura Whitney 12-Aug Kerrigan Kreimeyer 13-Aug Kathryn Quist 13-Aug
Mark Versen 13-Aug Tammy Black 14-Aug Tawny Hansen 14-Aug Don Korte 14-Aug Heidi Nickel 14-Aug Dylan Oxenford 14-Aug Jeremy Purchase 14-Aug Sheri Rocha 14-Aug Carolyn Wilson 14-Aug Kim Harhigh 15-Aug Kori Libner 15-Aug Kat Pearson 15-Aug Grant Dilges 16-Aug Arianna Dimercurio 16-Aug Kyle Millyard 16-Aug Charlotte Paul 16-Aug Julianne Yoss 16-Aug Katie Ziesman 17-Aug Chad Alexander 18-Aug Lonnie Cummings 18-Aug Owen DeBeer 18-Aug Craig Ziesman 18-Aug James Keney 19-Aug Rachel Rude 19-Aug Randy Schrader 19-Aug Carla Coleman 20-Aug Spence Doyle 20-Aug
Cruz Fleming 20-Aug Samuel Harlan 20-Aug Darin Kreimeyer 20-Aug Gerry Murphy 20-Aug Haley Reiter 20-Aug Daniel Bolte 21-Aug Kelly Cross 21-Aug Bryce Henningsen 21-Aug Matthew Hill 21-Aug Avery Liley 21-Aug Kelsey Quist 21-Aug Audrey Burt 22-Aug Aaron Meyer 22-Aug Chase Newman 22-Aug Brent Pickrell 22-Aug Pete Skelton 22-Aug Deanna Johnson 23-Aug Eric Schaedig 23-Aug Denny Schaedig 23-Aug Chris Doernbrack 24-Aug Macayla Hansen 25-Aug Marilyn Jaster 25-Aug Nancy Montini 25-Aug Susan O'Brien 25-Aug Matthew Best 26-Aug Randy Dougherty 26-Aug Brecken Hansen 26-Aug
Kathy Peterson 26-Aug Julia Porterfield 26-Aug Sherrilynne Wieseler 26-Aug Amanda Lichty 27-Aug Joseph Stohs 27-Aug Dave Walker 27-Aug Delaney Wieseler 27-Aug Conor McGavern 28-Aug Emily Richards 28-Aug Victoria Ruggeri 28-Aug Joan Tew 28-Aug Nathan Gordon 29-Aug Kennedy Lau 29-Aug Lindsay Nickel 29-Aug Trent Ongert 29-Aug Edna Swanson 29-Aug Pat Viergutz 29-Aug David Graham 30-Aug Elle Haller 30-Aug Dave Mowers 30-Aug Dan Saur 30-Aug Becky Tesch 30-Aug Rachel Behnke 31-Aug Kali Hill 31-Aug Nathan Kroneberger 31-Aug
It’s time to head Back to School! Preschool begins on August 25th and we are very excited to have everyone back, returning and new families! We have been busy remodeling the school and playground with a new awning, sandbox, playhouse, bathroom floors, new painted walls and new carpeting. It looks amazing!! All renovations should be done after the 12th so come on down and take a look! We have a great year planned with the kiddos and are so glad we can serve children ages 2 ½ through 6! Our summer camp was very busy and we had lots of fun. We wish everyone starting school a smooth transition and a grand new adventure! Many blessings, Deb and Blair
SUNDAY SCHOOL Surely, you have heard about our need for volunteer Sunday School Teachers, but did you know how easy we make it for you? First of all, you may teach as much or as little as you want! You can co-teach or team teach with others. Secondly, we train you before teaching, and your materials for teaching and any art of crafts are provided by our special team. How easy is that? All that is needed is your smiling face, compassionate heart and sparkling personality to teach! But even more, you will be blessed by the experience yourself!
Sound interesting? Please fill your name and number on the Response Sheet at Church and check the SS Teacher line. We will contact you, or call the church office and leave a message for Allyson Evans, our SS Coordinator.
AUGUST SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY 1 HARRINGTON
2
8 FAMILY CAMP
9
15 HARRINGTON
16
HARRINGTON BACKPACKS
HARRINGTON BACKPACKS 8a Worship/CC 9:30a Worship/SS 11a Worship/CC 7p AA Meeting
3 HARRINGTON
BACKPACKS 6:30a Men's Breakfast Group 9a Preschool Camp 7p Boy Scouts 7p Personnel Mtg.
FAMILY CAMP 10 HARRINGTON BACKPACKS 8a Worship/CC 9:30a Worship/SS 11a Worship/CC 7p AA Meeting
HARRINGTON BACKPACKS 8a Worship/CC 9:30a Worship/SS 11a Worship/CC 12:15p Baptism Class 7p AA Meeting
8a Worship/CC 9:30a 9:30 Worship/SS 11a Worship/CC 7p AA Meeting
Adult Mission Trip-tentative 11 HARRINGTON BACKPACKS 6:30a Men's Breakfast Group 9:30a Mission Quilters 6p Boy Scouts Venture Crew 7p Boy Scouts 7p Legacy & Endowment Mtg.
17 HARRINGTON
8a Worship/CC 24 10a 10am Worship in the Park 11a CLC Picnic 7p AA Meeting
31
4 HARRINGTON
BACKPACKS 9a Preschool Camp 11:15a Staff Mtg. 5p Crossroads Band 6:15p Praise Team
5 HARRINGTON
BACKPACKS 9a Preschool Camp
6 HARRINGTON
BACKPACKS 9a Preschool Camp
Adult Mission Trip-tentative 12 Adult Mission Trip-tentative 13 HARRINGTON BACKPACKS HARRINGTON BACKPACKS 11:15a Staff Mtg. 5p Crossroads Band 6:15p Praise Team 7p Council Mtg.
18 9a Preschool Teachers
BACKPACKS 6:30a Men's Breakfast Group 9a Preschool teachers/training 9:30a MOPS Mtg. 7p Boy Scouts
Set up 11:15a Staff Mtg. 1p Visiting Nurse Assoc. 5p Crossroads Band 6:15p Praise Team
6:30a Men's Breakfast 25 Group 8:15a Preschool 9:30a Mission Quilters 9:30a MOPS mtg 6p Boy Scouts Venture Crew 6:30p Preschool Orientation 7p Boy Scouts
8:15a Preschool 11:15a Staff Mtg. 5p Crossroads Band 6:15p Praise Team
7 FAMILY CAMP
BACKPACKS 9a Chicks w/Sticks 5p Worship/CC 5p BAPTISM - Pellett
HARRINGTON BACKPACKS 12p OWLS Luncheon
Adult Mission Trip-tentative 14 HARRINGTON BACKPACKS HARRINGTON BACKPACKS 9a Rejoice Circle 7p Military Ministry Mtg. 7p Cub Scout Leader Mtg.
HARRINGTON BACKPACKS 5p Worship/CC
BACKPACKS 5p Worship/CC
19 9a Preschool Teachers
20 8a Preschool teachers
21 9a Preschool Teachers
22 7a General Maintenance 23
26 8:15a Preschool
27 8:15a Preschool
28 8:15a Preschool
29 5p Worship/CC
5:30p Carillon Ringers 6:30p Confirmation Registration 7th Graders 7:15p Confirmation Registration 8th Graders
5:30p Carillon Ringers 6:30p Confirmation Registration 7th Graders
offsite training 7p Celebration Choir
7p Celebration Choir
Set up
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
Fair Trade Coffee Project ELCA World Hunger The Gathering Place Grant Avenue Street Reach Habitat for Humanity Harrington Elementary Lutheran Family Services Adult Mission Trips Outreach Uganda Urban Peak (MOPS) Mothers of Preschoolers
Music
Celebration Choir Crossroads Worship Band Confirmation Choir Jubilation Choir Joy Choir Carillon Ringers
Preschool
Caring Connection
Individual Care Team Confidential Prayer Tree Card Ministry New-Mother Ministry Prayer Shawl Knitters Chefs for Christ Pastoral Care and Counseling Chicks with Sticks Mission Quilters
Youth & Family Ministries
Sunday School Dynamite Youth Group (4th, 5th, 6th graders) Blaze (High School Youth) Sr. High Mission Trip Confirmation (7th & 8th graders) First Communion classes First Bible classes Baptism classes Family Nights