December 2014 CLC CrossWord

DECEMBER 2014

Christ Lutheran Church • Highlands Ranch, CO • Gathering † Gifting † Sending

Christmas at CLC

Carols, Communion and Candlelight

Come and experience the joy and wonder of Christmas at one of our five Candlelight Christmas Eve Services!

December 24th, 2014 1:00pm Children and Family Service, Featuring the Carillon Ringers 3:00pm Children and Family Service, Featuring the Children’s Choirs 5:00pm Contemporary Service, Featuring the Crossroads Band 7:00pm Contemporary Service , Featuring the Crossroads Band 9:00pm Lessons & Carols, Featuring Celebration Choir Nursery Care will be available at all services.

Advent/Christmas Decorating

Set-up Team for Christmas Eve

We will be decorating the church on Monday, Dec. 2nd at 9:00 am. We will put up Christmas trees and decorate them, hang garland and wreaths in the fellowship hall, narthex and Sanctuary. Please sign the response sheet if you are interested.

We are in need of a team to help us set up chairs in the Fellowship Hall for Christmas Eve on Tuesday, December 23rd at 9:00 am. We will also be setting out the poinsettias that day. If you can help us, please sign the response sheet or call Debbie F. at 303-791-0803.

Worship Teams for Christmas Eve We are starting to schedule Worship Teams for Christmas Eve services 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 7:00 and 9:00 pm. If you would like to help usher or serve communion, please watch for the signup sheets in the Narthex and pick the service you want or sign the response sheet.

Christmas Worship Team Training There will be a short training on Sunday, December 21st at 11:00am for the Christmas Eve worship teams.

Please come to go over some of the different things we will be doing for Christmas.

Poinsettias If you would like to purchase a poinsettia for the altar on Christmas Eve in honor or memory of a very special person, please sign the response sheet and put a check in the offering plate for $16.00. We are putting together a list for the Christmas bulletin, so the sooner we get your information, the better. We also need people to help place the Poinsettias around the altar on Tuesday, December 23rd at 9:00am, and/or to water the flowers once a week for about 3 weeks. If you are interested in helping with either of these, please sign the response sheet. The poinsettias need to be watered twice a week from December 23rd to January 13th. If you are interested in helping with this, please sign the response sheet.

STAFF: Rev. Tom Shelly, Sr. Pastor pstrfstr@clchr.org Rev. DJ Dent, Associate Pastor pastordent@clchr.org Dianne Yoss Interim Director Outreach & Equipping outreach@clchr.org Debbie Freeman Interim Office Staff for Outreach & Equipping dfreeman@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: Adrian Hafner backyardkids@hotmail.com Bret Sumner bretsumner@hotmail.com John Ringkob jer@dascoinc.com John Riley johnriley05@comcast.net Lesley Cantrell we4cantrells@mac.com Erika Alpern eajteach@yahoo.com Karen Rucker kkosty@excite.com Steve Schaeberle Schaeberle1@comcast.net 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 Tom’s Message

The Story of Stories.

Stories.

What is it about stories that fascinate human beings? From our ancient ancestors gathered around an evening camp fire, to the safety and security of a child’s bedroom where a parent reads a night time tale, stories have been important companions to us since the beginning of human time and up to the current moment.

We tell stories to explain things, like why the world is like it is according to myth or science. We also tell stories just because we cannot stop, because they fascinate and engage us, inspire and help us, teach and entertain us. Some stories scare us and in a way can prepare us for what we do not expect.

Christmas is about stories. The Christmas story may even be the story of stories especially in light of the scriptures. The Christmas story otherwise referred to as the birth stories of Jesus are only to be found in two of the four Gospels, Matthew and Luke. Yet these birth stories of Jesus draw us in to the divine drama of God’s profound love of the world God created and the human race.

Someone recently told me that they spent a year reading the entire bible through beginning to end. One of the insights they got from doing that was, as they read the stories of human dealings with each other and God, they were struck by the incredible vastness of God’s love for people; of God’s grace, forgiveness, tenacity, strength yet gentleness, especially as found in the infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke. This goodness of God cast a small yet bright inextinguishable light over the darkness of that time, pushing it back, and of our time, also pushing the darkness back.

Here is where the story is meant to intensify. This God story is meant to include us.

In the telling and retelling, in the hearing and hearing again, we are meant to find the points of intersection of our own lives, of our own world. How do Joseph and Mary, the Shepherds and Wise Ones intersect with your story? Do you sometimes feel there is no room for you? Do you have the need for swaddling or the peacefulness and care that can from a Shepherd? What gifts does the Wise Old One have for you? Are the gifts practical or ornate? Which details resonate with you?

Of course there is reason to go deeper. What are the life assurances, hope promises, growth surprises that come from the nativity to you?

I hope you will be able to contemplate these things and more, while at the same time find the soul feeding spirit of the Christmas Story whether for the first time or 50th time you hear it here at CLC. I hope you find what God is looking for in you at worship as well as under your Christmas Tree at home!

A Blessed Merry Christmas and Happiest of New Year!

See YOU in Worship + Many Blessings + Pastor Tom +

Pastor DJ’s Message

Christmas at CLC Shuttle Bus for Christmas Eve

We will be using our own bus to shuttle people from the AMC parking lot across from the Outback restaurant on Christmas Eve. The shuttle will start at 2:30 pm and go until 8:30 pm. Please remember to come a little early so you can take advantage of riding the bus. On a day when there are around 1600 people worshipping at CLC, we would like to encourage all members and regularly attending guests to ride the bus. Many people who only attend church once or twice a year will be here so let’s show them God’s love by letting them have a parking space.

Christmas Clean-Up

Clean-up for Christmas Eve will be Monday December 29th at 10:00am. Please sign the response sheet, if you can help!

Nursery

We will need volunteers to help in the nursery for the 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 7:00, and 9:00pm. Christmas Eve services. Please sign the response sheet if you can help.

Christmas Shopping with Scrip With the Christmas holidays approaching, please keep in mind that Scrip gift cards make wonderful Christmas gifts!

We even have holiday gift card holders available for 25 cents!

Order forms are available in the narthex, and you may pay by check or credit card.

Orders take only 1 week or less to process. The cutoff date for Christmas delivery will be December 15. Please contact Sallie Burns in the church office or at sburns@clchr.org.

Thanks for your support!

A Blessing I had mentioned in my last article that I would be tackling angels starting this month. However, since it is intended to be a perspective of the Christian faith and not just my own belief, I discovered that there is much more study that needs to be done.

About 1/5 of the way through writing the article I was already nearing about 750 words, which is not good for a newsletter (but not bad for a short informational booklet).

I will take some time to do more research, but also to trim out the fat and deliver the meat of what I feel should be shared. I will hopefully tend to this task over the next month, and be able to lay out what will likely be several months of “angel” material. In fact, I may just spend the entire year writing about angels, which would be an interesting exercise. But I thank you for allowing me the privelege to delay my intended topic for a bit.

Instead, what I will offer is a blessing to you all for the month of December. There is no doubt a never ending schedule of appointments, should-attend events, parties, celebrations, moments of grief, challenges, travels, etc. coming up this month. A lot of times, we preach a message to get us to slow down. You will likely hear that out of some of us this month, but instead I want to write to you about moving fast.

This is not an encouragement to move faster. I trust that life will provide that enough for you. Rather this is a word of comfort to those of you who can't find the time to slow down. One of my interesting discoveries in angel research was an obscure verse in Daniel 9:21 which speaks of Gabriel in flight, or rather swift flight. Throwing out for a moment that any flight would be swift to a world without airplanes, that idea stuck with me because what it indicated was that no matter how fast I run, there are things that can run faster. This is not a challenge to my shortcomings, but a reminder that the frustrations and burdens of a packed schedule are like a simple, casual stroll to beings with a universal perspective.

What that means, is that no matter our speed or weariness this month, God moves quicker – always going ahead of us and walking with patience even when we are sprinting and out of breath. May you be blessed by the knowledge this season that no matter how fast the days seem to fall off the calendar, that God delights at your presence in every one, and is waiting sipping a cup of coffee while you sprint from place to place. In swift flight, may God bring the comfort of His presence in all that you do.

God's grace and peace, Pastor DJ Dent

News from the Preschool Hello from the Preschool and blessings to everyone on this holiday season! The preschool is gearing up for our holiday celebration, learning about the birth of Jesus and performing in our Christmas programs. We thank everyone again who participated in our Butterbraid fundraiser. We raised enough to purchase an IPAD for each classroom. How exciting this will be for our kiddos after Christmas break.

On another note, December begins Fall registration for 2015!

Time sure does fly. We will have registration paperwork for church members, existing preschool families and alumni available on December 14th for everyone to take home and complete over the holiday. These forms will need to be returned to the preschool no later than January 16th to guarantee your class for the fall. A $60.00 registration fee will also be required when you turn in your forms. The forms will be on the table under the church member picture wall in the Narthex in a labeled basket. Please take one and tell your friends to call and schedule a tour with us to see our wonderful program. Open Registration to the public will begin on Tuesday, January 20th. We will have some exciting new class options to offer and they will be outlined in the paper-

work. If you have any questions, please call Deb or Blair at 303-471-9290 or email Deb at dmorgans@clchr.org. We thank you in advance for your support and know your child will have an amazingly loving time learning about Jesus and having fun in our school.

Isaiah 9:6: For a child will be born unto us, a son will be given to us: And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty god, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

As we celebrate the wonderful gift of the birth of our Christ, blessings for a safe and happy holiday.

Ms. Deb and Ms. Blair

Happy Birthday Nic Vasilauskas 1-Dec Davin Anna 2-Dec Randy Hofmann 2-Dec Tyson Thomas Shelly 2-Dec Michael Fisbeck 3-Dec Susanne Freitag 3-Dec Daniel Martinez 3-Dec Jianna Valenti 3-Dec Travis Dull 4-Dec Tanner Mavis 4-Dec Paul McCulloch 4-Dec Alan Pearson 4-Dec Rick Shimonkevitz 4-Dec Dina Silverman 4-Dec Beverly Lundeen 5-Dec Andrea Coe 6-Dec Ava Gregorek 6-Dec Carole Gullia 6-Dec John Hirst 6-Dec Randall Nylander 6-Dec Grant Schaedig 6-Dec Jennifer Schultz 6-Dec Scott Davis 7-Dec Paula Davis 7-Dec David Oscai 8-Dec John Wallrath 8-Dec Mallory Alexander 9-Dec Nicole Belin 9-Dec Katie Pierce 9-Dec Will Snauwaert 9-Dec Joshua Waggoner 9-Dec Thomas Parsa 10-Dec

Lisa Peterson 10-Dec Katie Yvars 10-Dec Christopher Black 11-Dec Kendall Folkerts 11-Dec Jason Kravitz 11-Dec James Viergutz 11-Dec Trevor Witkind 11-Dec Ken Buechler 12-Dec Tom Coates 12-Dec Lee Corns 12-Dec Tiffany DiGrappa 12-Dec Patricia Hansen 12-Dec Marcy Ongert 12-Dec Christie Tew 13-Dec Zell Cantrell 14-Dec Julie Folkerts 14-Dec Alexander Ridenour 14-Dec Blake Waggoner 14-Dec Allison Cartwright 15-Dec Ethan DiGrappa 15-Dec Dave Kotta 15-Dec Anthony Valenti 15-Dec Logan Abraham 16-Dec Lenny Bates 16-Dec Kenny Mena Casa 16-Dec Karen Ramon 16-Dec Nick Roosen 16-Dec Garrett Anderson 17-Dec Michelle Hinz 17-Dec Elizabeth Jones 17-Dec Jennifer Amoroso 18-Dec Caitlin Kroneberger 18-Dec

Kaylyn Radtke 18-Dec Lydia Veeder 18-Dec Ryan Vogler 18-Dec Sue Buck 19-Dec Tracy Etten 19-Dec Maggie Green 19-Dec Karen Herdahl 19-Dec Wade Leibbrandt 19-Dec Jen Schrader 19-Dec Casey Whitehurst 19-Dec Hailey Dull 20-Dec Lisa Friedenthal 20-Dec Tanya Hollowell 20-Dec Wendie Moses 20-Dec David Ornes 20-Dec Gerry Rasel 20-Dec Adam Scheuerman 20-Dec Bruce Silkworth 20-Dec Bill White 20-Dec Lois Betthauser 21-Dec Jacob Christensen 21-Dec Todd Evans 21-Dec Greg Forge 21-Dec Nick Palazzo 21-Dec Mike Adams 22-Dec Jillian Beal 22-Dec Steve Bohren 22-Dec Jim Lundeen 22-Dec Jeff Lynne 22-Dec Walt Melcher 22-Dec Alaina Oscai 22-Dec Christian Shimonkevitz 22-Dec

Glenn Staub 22-Dec Beth Wilson 22-Dec Cheryl Dummitt 23-Dec Stefania Benner 24-Dec Carolee Weitzel 24-Dec Karrie Witkind 24-Dec Pete Koury 25-Dec Kelly Connolly 26-Dec Madison Sain 26-Dec Amy Schulte 26-Dec Katie Zellner 26-Dec Mike Jewell 27-Dec Aidan Lambert 27-Dec Peggy Norris 27-Dec Nancy Sullivan 28-Dec Joseph Zorn 28-Dec Wayne Beck 29-Dec Sara Berg 29-Dec Kaipo Lau 29-Dec Larry Lovelace 29-Dec Holly Mena Casa 29-Dec Amy Mitchell 29-Dec Mark Russell 29-Dec Diane Schauer 29-Dec Bob Tronrud 29-Dec Leslie Grant 30-Dec Mary Johnston 30-Dec Dan Jones 30-Dec Aaron DeBoer 31-Dec Mike Williams 31-Dec

URBAN PEAK 2015

CHICKS WITH STICKS SCARF SALE... HUGE SUCCESS Thanks to all who participated in the Chicks with Sticks Annual Scarf Sale!!

We made $1504 and most of that will go directly back to the church. Thanks to all the knitters and crocheters as well for making all the items. The remaining items will be going to either the Fresh Harvest Food Bank (in Lone Tree) or the organization, Women4WomenKnitting4Peace.

Chicks with Sticks meets the first Saturday of each month from 9-11 in the Sonrise Room. Everyone is welcome! If you are interested in learning to knit or crochet, there are always teachers there to help. We also have yarn, needles and crochet hooks, so you can even come empty handed. We would love to see you there. Thanks again to everyone who made our Sale a Huge Success!

This is the time of year to start thinking about which month your family or small group would like to take a meal to Urban Peak in 2015.

CLC takes meals to the shelter on the fourth Friday of every month and the teens at Urban Peak really appreciate a good meal. This is a wonderful opportunity, and we greatly encourage your participation. Please indicate your interest on the response sheet or contact Dianne Yoss at outreach@clchr.org.

DECEMBER SUNDAY

MONDAY

6:30a Men's Breakfast Group 8:15a Preschool 12p Preschool Sports 7p Boy Scouts 7p Personnel Mtg.

TUESDAY

1 8:15a Preschool

Uganda Beads in Narthex 7 6:30a Men's Breakfast 8 8a Worship/CC Group 9:30a Worship/SS 8:15a Preschool 11a Worship/1st Communion 9:30a Mission Quilters celebration 12p Preschool Sports 12:15p Baptism Class 6p Boy Scouts Venture Crew 12:15p CLC KidsRock!

7p Boy Scouts 7p AA Meeting 7p Legacy & Endowment Mtg.

9a Advent Decorating & Sanctuary Re-set 11:15a Staff Mtg. 5p Crossroads Band 6:15p Praise Team 7p Blaze-Sr. High 8p mops set-up

8:15a Preschool 11a Preschool music time with Linda 11:15a Staff Mtg. 12p Preschool Sports 5p Crossroads Band 6:15p Praise Team 7p Blaze-Sr. High 7p Council Mtg.

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY 2 8:15a Preschool 3 Christmas Baskets

FRIDAY 4 Christmas Baskets

SATURDAY 5 Christmas Baskets

10 8:15a Preschool

11 8:15a Preschool

12 8:30a CLC KidsRock!

13

17 8:15a Preschool

18 8:15a Preschool Teacher

19 5p Worship/CC

20

8:15a Preschool 9a Adult University 12p Preschool Sports 4:30p Douglas County Singers 6:30p Cub Scout Den Mtg. 7p Celebration Choir

9a MOPS Mtg 11a Preschool Chapel 2p Preschool Chapel 4:30p CLC KidsRock!

5:30p Carillon Ringers 7p Confirmation Learning Event

9 8:15a Preschool

10a MOPS Steering 11a Preschool music time with Linda 2p Preschool music time with Linda 5:30p Carillon Ringers 6p Brownie Troop Mtg.

7p Celebration Choir 7p Cub Scout Leader Mtg

8a Worship/CC 14 9:30a Worship/Youth Christmas Program 11a Worship/Youth Christmas Program 3:30p Dynamite youth group 7p AA Meeting

6:30a Men's Breakfast 15 8:15a Preschool 16 8:15a Preschool 9a MOPS Mtg. Group 11:15a Staff Mtg. 5:30p Carillon Ringers 8:15a Preschool 12p Preschool Sports 12p Preschool Sports 1p Visiting Nurse Assoc.

5:30p Preschool Christmas 5p Combined Band Practice Program 6 and 7 p.m.

6:30p Preschool Christmas 7p Boy Scouts Programs 7p Blaze-Sr. High 8p mops set-up

8a Worship/CC 21 9:30a Worship/SS 11a Worship Team Training 11a Worship/CC 5p Christmas Caroling/Supper 7p AA Meeting

6:30a Men's Breakfast 22 Group 8:15a No School Preschool 9:30a Mission Quilters 6p Boy Scouts Venture Crew 7p Boy Scouts 7p Crossroads

8a Worship/CC 28 9:30a Worship/SS 11a BAPTISM - Waldenmyer 11a Worship/CC 7p AA Meeting

6:30a Men's Breakfast 29 8:15a No School Preschool 30 8:15a No School Preschool 31 Group 11:15a Staff Mtg. 8:15a No School Preschool 7p Blaze-Sr. High 7p Boy Scouts

7p Celebration Choir

8:15a Preschool 9a Rejoice Circle 4:30p Douglas County Singers Rehearsal 5:30p Preschool Parent's Night Out 6p Douglas County Singers Holiday Concert

12p OWLS Luncheon 4p Staff Day

inservice no school 9a Rejoice Circle

Christmas Eve set-up 23 CHRISTMAS EVE 24 CHRISTMAS DAY 25 8:15a No School OFFICE CLOSED Preschool 8:15a No School Preschool Office opens at 9am 8:15a No School Preschool 11:15a Staff Mtg. 8:15a No School Preschool 5p Crossroads Band 1p Christmas Eve service 6:15p Praise Team 3p Christmas Eve Service 7p Blaze-Sr. High 5p Christmas Eve Service 7p Christmas Eve Service 9p Christmas Eve Service

Uganda Beads in Narthex 9a Chicks w/Sticks 5p BAPTISM - Pollock 5p Worship/CC

9a Preschool Parent's Day Out 5p Worship/CC

6

26 7a General Maintenance 27 5p Worship/CC

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