DECEMBER 2015
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! Nursery Care will be available at all services.
Thursday, December 24th, 2015 1:00pm Children and Family Traditional Service, Featuring the Carillon Ringers 3:00pm Children and Family Traditional Service, Featuring CLC KidsRock! 5:00pm Contemporary Service, Featuring Crossroads Band 7:00pm Contemporary Service , Featuring Crossroads Band 9:00pm Traditional Service of Lessons & Carols, featuring Celebration Choir
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.
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 sign-up sheets during services and pick the service you want or sign the response sheet.
Christmas Worship Team Training
There will be a short training on Sunday, December 20th at 11:00 AM in the Youth Room for the Christmas Eve worship teams. Please come to go over some of the different things we will be doing for Christmas.
Christmas Clean-Up
Clean-up for Christmas Eve will be Monday, December 28th at 10:00 AM. 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 9:00 Christmas Eve services. We really need your help, so please sign the response sheet, if you can help.
Set-up Team for Christmas Eve
We are in need of a team to help us set up chairs in the Narthex and Fellowship Hall for Christmas Eve on Wednesday, 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 email Debbie at dfreeman@clchr.org.
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 Wednesday, 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 6th. If you are interested in helping with this, please sign the Response Sheet.
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 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: 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: As we look to December, my wife Lori and I want to wish you a blessed Advent and a joyful Christmas season! I will briefly lift up three topics this month, namely, Advent, campus ministry, and support to and through the ELCA. “Pain and Peace”− we live in a world where many experience pain and long for peace. This is our overall theme for the four weeks of Advent here at Christ Lutheran Church. “Pain and peace” is both a reflection of current events and a salient reminder of the message of the Biblical prophets. In the inspired words of Zechariah (the “Benedictus,” one of the traditional canticles of the church) we are encouraged by the proclamation of the coming Lord Jesus: “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78−79) We look forward to praying and communing together during Advent! Campus Ministry − We recently received a report from the Lutheran Episcopal Campus Ministry at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. (We are blessed to be able to support significant ministries at several campuses across the synod through the Rocky Mountain Synod budget.) One of our Christ Lutheran students, Ally Williams, is a Peer Minister at UNC. Here is what she wrote about her experience there: “Campus Ministry is a place where I can be completely myself with no worries that somebody is going to judge me. It’s a place that makes me feel welcomed and important. It also gives me a place to explore the huge role of being a Christian and Lutheran. Thank you for supporting us in the things we do and giving us the tools we need to succeed.” Thank you for sharing this witness, Ally! Supporting our Synod − A couple of church council members asked me if sometime this fall we could raise up the issue of our support of the Rocky Mountain Synod ELCA (of which we are a member congregation). One of the big “aha’s” during the recent self-study process was that Christ Lutheran has let this support slip over recent years, so that we are last in our conference in terms of giving per attendee. For example, in 2014 we contributed 15-20 times less (per attendee) than our two closest neighbor ELCA congregations. Thanks be to God, we are beginning to take the first small steps to rectify this situation. For 2016 we have voted as a congregation to move from $5,000 to $10,000 as our yearly gift to and through the synod (and for the ELCA’s mission around the world). Thank you for your helping us to turn around this area of our overall ministry. In the meanwhile, individuals or groups can make an additional contribution to support our synod. [In May the Synod Council announced the Better Together Fund, an opportunity for those passionate about our shared ministry as a synod and as a global church to set aside one dollar a day (or more) for the foundational work we do together. You can go to the synod website and give online.] I have done so personally because I believe in this common ministry across the synod and around the world. Thank you for praying for and supporting our ministry—“better together” − as synod. In Christ, Steve Berke, Pastor
Christmas Shopping with Scrip With the Christmas holidays approaching, please keep in mind that Scrip gift cards make wonderful Christmas gifts!
Pastor DJ’s Message
What’s Going on in Worship? You may be wondering what’s up with our title for Advent. In case you hadn’t heard or read, this year’s theme is “Pain and Peace” highlighted by another magnificent song written by our music director, Linda Holcombe. Is pain something we want to include as a primary focus in worship? The answer is yes; undoubtedly, yes. I hope it becomes clear in the liturgy and preaching that the idea is not to introduce pain into your lives. Rather, the focus for the next several weeks will be on naming what already exists (something theologians of the cross are supposed to do). Church is meant to be a place where you feel comfortable being who you are, and that means bringing all the baggage of your life with you. It is not a place to present a scrubbed version of your story, but a home where that conversation is always allowed and appreciated.
We even have holiday gift card holders available for 25 cents! Order forms are in the narthex, and you may pay by check or credit card. Orders take only one week or less to process. The cutoff date for Christmas delivery will be December 14th. Please contact Sallie Burns in the church office or at sburns@clchr.org.
Thanks for your support!
To put it simply, we all have pain. Some of us deal with physical pain constantly, some of us carry huge emotional weight, some of us bear scars from even the church in our spiritual lives. This Advent, we want to be able to talk through those moments of pain and long together for the peace that God gives. Each week we will be widening our vision for where we see pain in the world – in ourselves, in our families, in our communities, and in our world. When gathering these ideas together in our planning meeting, it became clear that what the world needs most right now is peace. So let’s gather together to explore what that looks like in our lives. And, as in every year, may the arrival of the Prince of Peace calm, relax, and strengthen you for the pain that ails you. Merry Christmas, 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 exceeded our goal for learning toys. We deeply appreciate your support of the school. On another note, December begins Fall registration for 2015! Time sure does fly. We will have registration paperwork for church members, MOPS, 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 7th 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 Monday, January 10th. We will have many class options to offer, as well as, early and late kids klub daily. If you have any questions, please call Deb or Blair at 303-4719290 or email Deb at dmorgans@clchr.org. We thank you in advance for your support and know your child will have an amazing and 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 Dina Silverman 4-Dec Beverly Lundeen 5-Dec Andrea Coe 6-Dec Ava Gregorek 6-Dec John Hirst 6-Dec Grant Schaedig 6-Dec Jennifer Schultz 6-Dec Scott Davis 7-Dec Paula Davis 7-Dec David Oscai 8-Dec Mallory Alexander 9-Dec Nicole Belin 9-Dec
Katie Pierce 9-Dec Will Snauwaert 9-Dec Joshua Waggoner 9-Dec Thomas Parsa10-Dec LisaPeterson 10-Dec Kendall Folkerts 11-Dec Brandon Kimble 11-Dec Jason Kravitz 11-Dec James Viergutz 11-Dec Trevor Witkind 11-Dec Tom Coates 12-Dec Lee Corns 12-Dec Patricia Hansen 12-Dec Emma Pugh 12-Dec Timothy Hammill 13-Dec Jaxon Oberg 13-Dec Zell Cantrell 14-Dec Julie Folkerts 14-Dec Scott Strom 14-Dec Blake Waggoner 14-Dec Allison Cartwright 15-Dec DaveKotta 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 7-Dec Elizabeth Jones 17-Dec Lisa Haney 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 Brooklyn Anderson 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 Glenn Staub 22-Dec Cheryl Dummitt 23-Dec Carolee Weitzel 24-Dec Karrie Witkind 24-Dec Pete Koury 25-Dec Kelly Connolly 26-Dec Patrick Haney 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 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 Charles Fisher 31-Dec AbigailRachubinski 31-Dec Hannah Rachubinski 31-Dec Mike Williams 31-Dec
Legacy and Endowment Team Opening
MEN’S GROUP LEAF
We would like to thank Walt Melcher for over 4 years and 2 terms of dedicated service to CLC and our Legacy and Endowment Team. Walt provided great financial research and advice as we sought to be good stewards of these funds. With Walt's resignation, we have an opening for a new member on our Legacy and Endowment Team. If interested and would like more information, please contact Steve Strom, L & E Chairperson, at sstrom58@gmail.com.
Thank You CLC's Men's Group for purchasing a leaf on the tree of life. Your contributions to the Church and to our debt reduction are greatly appreciated.
DECEMBER SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY 2 Harrington Christmas
8a Preschool 1 8a Preschool 9a Mops Mtg. 11a Preschool Chapel 11a Preschool Chapel 11:15a Staff Mtg. 2p Preschool Chapel 12p Preschool Sports Camp 5:30p Carillon Ringers 12p Visiting Nurses 2p Preschool Chapel 5p Crossroads Band 6:30p Praise Team 7p Blaze-Sr. High 8a Worship/CC 9:30a 9:30 Worship/SS 11a 1st Communion celebration 11a Worship/CC 12:15p Baptism Class 12:15p CLC KidsRock! Musical Rehearsal 7p AA Meeting
6 6:30a Men's Breakfast Group 7 8a Preschool
8 8a Preschool
16 8a Preschool
17 8a Preschool Inservice
18 9a Lutefisk Dinner *COPY* 19
22 8a Preschool Christmas
23 8a Preschool Christmas
24 CHRISTMAS DAY
25 7a General Maintenance 26
29 8a Preschool Christmas
30 8a Preschool Christmas
31
Uganda sale 13 8a Worship/CC 9:30a 9:30 Worship/SS 9:30a Youth Christmas Program 11a Worship/CC 11a Youth Christmas Program 7p AA Meeting
6:30a Men's Breakfast 14 Group 8a Preschool 9:30a Mission Quilters 5:45p Preschool Christmas Program 6p Boy Scouts Venture Crew 7p Boy Scouts
8a Preschool 15 8a Preschool 9a Mops Mtg. 10:45a Preschool storytime 5:30p Carillon Ringers 11:15a Staff Mtg. 12:30p Visiting Nurse Assoc. 5p Crossroads Band 6:30p Praise Team 6:30p Preschool Christmas Program 7p Blaze-Sr. High 7p Caregiver Mtg.
8a Worship/CC 20 9:30a 9:30 Worship/SS 9:30a BAPTISM - Ruggeri 11a Worship/CC 5p Christmas Caroling/Supper 7p AA Meeting
6:30a Men's Breakfast 21 Group 8a Preschool Christmas Break 7p Boy Scouts 7p Legacy & Endowment Mtg. 7p Legacy & Endowment Mtg.
8a Preschool Christmas Break 11:15a Staff Mtg. 5p Crossroads Band 6:30p Praise Team 7p Blaze-Sr. High
28 8a Preschool Christmas
27 6:30a Men's Breakfast
Group 8a Preschool Christmas Break 6p Boy Scouts Venture Crew 7p Boy Scouts
Break 11:15a Staff Mtg. 5p Crossroads Band 6:30p Praise Team 7p Blaze-Sr. High
Rehearsal 9a Chicks w/Sticks 5p Preschool Parent's Night Out 5p Worship/CC
11 Uganda sale
9a Nursery - MOPS 9:15a Preschool Music Time 11:15a Staff Mtg. 1:45p Preschool Music Time 5p Crossroads Band 6:30p Praise Team 7p Blaze-Sr. High 7p Council Mtg.
Break 5:30p Carillon Ringers
Break
9 8a Preschool
Baskets 8a Preschool 9a Adult University 7p Beth Moore Bible Study 7p Celebration Choir 7p Fjelldalen Mtg.
SATURDAY 4 9a CLC KidsRock! Musical 5
10 8a Preschool
9:15a Preschool Music Time 10a Mops Steering Mtg. 1:45p Preschool Music Time 5:30p Carillon Ringers
8a Preschool 7p Boy Scouts 7p Personnel Mtg.
8a Worship/CC 9:30a 9:30 Worship/SS 11a Worship/CC 7p AA Meeting
Baskets 8a Preschool 9a Adult University 7p Beth Moore Bible Study 7p Celebration Choir 7p Fjelldalen Mtg.
FRIDAY 3 Harrington Christmas
9a Adult University 7p Celebration Choir 7p Cub Scout Leader Mtg.
9a Adult University 5p Confirmation Group Pot Luck 7p Celebration Choir
Break 1p Christmas Eve service 3p Christmas Eve service 5p Christmas Eve service 7p Christmas Eve service 9p Christmas Eve service/ Lessons & Carols
Break 9a Adult University
12p OWLS Luncheon 4p Staff Lunch 5:30p Preschool Parent's Night Out
No school 11a Preschool Luncheon 6:30p CLC Bridge Group
9a CLC KidsRock! Musical Rehearsal 5p Worship/CC
12
5p Worship/CC
OFFICE CLOSED 8a Preschool Christmas Break
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