OCTOBER 2016
Christ Lutheran Church • Highlands Ranch, CO • Gathering † Gifting † Sending
NEW WEDNESDAY NIGHT ADULT STUDY TO BEGIN SEPT. 21ST Have you been able to join Pastor Eric at the new Adult Christian Education Study taking place Wednesday nights? It’s not too late to gather with us in the Sonrise Room at church from 7pm to 8:30pm! We are continuing our 5-week series look at “Worship: Heart, Mind, Soul & Voice”. We hope to see you there.
Are you signed up to join Pastor Eric and Jenny Allert in one of the three Tuesday night "Cottage Style" gatherings this month? Don’t forget about these meaningful times to share vision and hopes with one another on either the 4th, 18th or 25th from 7:00-8:30pm. Sign-ups have been available in the narthex and we hope you’re able to join us.
OUTREACH OCTOBER HAPPENINGS Lutheran Family Services Cultural Food Bags Pet Blessing
October 2 12:00-1:00 on CLC patio
Blood Drive October 23 8:30am-12:30pm
Once again CLC has agreed to adopt 50 immigrant families in need of a cultural Thanksgiving meal. Look for details late October.
OKTOBERFEST THANK YOU!
Thank you CLC for participating in our annual Oktoberfest! Everyone’s contributions are greatly appreciated. From food, beverages, incredible baskets, to volunteer time – it only comes together with everyone’s help. And a special thank you to our sponsors whose generous contributions help offset costs. Please patron these businesses. Again – thank you all!
CLC Members: Rick and Margie Versen Randy and Karen Patz
STAFF: Pastor Eric Allert, Lead Pastor pastorallert@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 Anne Buderus Financial Administrator finance@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: Joanne Edmunds hiranch@comcast.net Jeff Bergstrom j-bergstrom@comcast.net Liesl Farrier bbflcf@msn.com Jennifer Gunther j.gunther@comcast.net Pete Koury pmkoury@q.com Beth Ott hunterchief95@comcast.net John Ringkob jer@dascoinc.com Rich Novotne husker7575@hotmail.com Steve Schaeberle Schaeberle1@comcast.net Bret Sumner bretsumner@hotmail.com Jennifer Smith jennifersmith303@hotmail.com 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 Allert’s Message Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, “The church spends too much time talking about money.” “Honestly Pastor, I don’t go to church during November because it’s always ‘budget this’ and ‘budget that’.” “Stewardship, finance, legacy and endowment… they’re all just churchese for what ends up in the offering plate.” “What I give – if I choose to give – is between me and God, and no one else.” Sound familiar? Maybe you’ve heard similar statements in your life as a Christian… maybe you’ve thought similar thoughts. I have. I have both heard and said something similar on more than one occasion. Well, to a point anyway… The church (in general) has been done little good service in talking about only money, and even less good service in only seeking to grow spiritually as disciples by talking about during November because the budget is about to roll around a few weeks later. And, for many, stewardship and finance and legacy and endowment are seen as church-language for the offering because many only hear such discipleship vocab words placed before the church budget backdrop (again, little-to-no good service done here too). And finally, what we do give is a gift given back to God. As Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6, there is a holy righteousness in keeping this particular discipleship practice in proper confidentiality. Let me just say something briefly here about the first three statements together, and then the fourth statement separately as you get to know me further as your Lead Pastor. It is my call, both from God and from you as His Church, to walk together in discovery along the faith journey. That includes the marvelous development and growth in learning how God is calling each of us to walk closer with Him, receive and share and work for His vision, and be pillars of faith in support for one another and the communities around us. (Re-)Discovering why our giving to God of all that we are called to give is truly a blessing to us is a joyous part of that call. That’s not just more churchese that you’d expect your pastor to say, it’s a truth that I have come to personally know and celebrate! We’ll open more of this together as church together (and not just in November). Next, drawing back again to Matthew 6… you should know from me, that as your pastor, I have instructed both our Financial Administrator Mrs. Anne Buderus and our Parish Treasurer Mr. Jeff Bergstrom that I do not want to know what any one person or household gives financially. I will not know dollar amounts. That is not a detail that I want to know in our relationship, because I believe it is between you and God. It does remain a detail that only Anne and Jeff know for the sacred logistical needs of caring for God’s Church here at Christ Lutheran. However, I have instructed both Anne & Jeff to let me know if there is a noticeable change – either up or down – in a contribution pattern of a household. Often, changes in giving are indicative of an event in a disciples’ faith walk. A reduction in giving could be the result of a sudden hardship in the home that the pastor could be of supportive help. It is also sometimes a reflection of a hurt or frustration within the congregation that remains unresolved and raw. Whereas, the opposite side of the coin (pardon the awful pun) is also true. An increase in giving could be the result of an exciting development at home that is an opportunity for praise and thanksgiving. It may also be a faithful step forward in growth as a disciple toward understanding the Holy Spirit’s guidance in giving back to God for the sake of His Church and the mission of the Gospel. In Christ, Pastor Eric J. Allert
NEWS
from the
PRESCHOOL
Hello and welcome to the fall season at the preschool!
We have such a busy month planned with Chapel themes; “Jesus Heals” and “The Good Samaritan.” Our Storyteller, our Senior Silver Speakers will visit and we will have music time with Ms. Linda, CLC’s Music Director. Dads can come and play on Saturday, October 1st for our Superdad Saturday! Parent’s Night Out continues to be a great success and teachers will have their first conferences with parents and attend a Christian conference. Also, our yearly and exciting Butterbraid fundraiser begins on the 3rd and ends on the 22nd. We will have order forms upstairs for the congregation to order and we so appreciate the support we have received over the years. They are good to have on hand for the holiday season! The children will have a Halloween parade, we will visit St. Luke’s pumpkin patch and host classroom parties at the end of the month. They look so adorable in their costumes! We wish everyone a colorful fall season. Ms. Deb and Ms. Blair
Pastor DJ’s Message Bad luck. Whether it is watching your favorite sports team tumble down the drain, or realizing that an odd series of events has made you lock your keys inside your car, all of us have experienced this phenomenon that we have labeled “bad luck”. In con-junction, we have also had the benefit of enjoying a matter of “good luck.” I’ve never been able to explain exactly what luck is, but it seems to be defined by example. “Good luck” is winning the lottery. “Bad luck” is having your tire go flat on the highway. “Good luck” is guessing correctly on a multiple choice question. “Bad luck” is leaving your wallet in your pocket as it goes through the washing machine. It sounds as though luck is a scale of judging events based on a predicted outcome. If you are not supposed to win the lottery and you do, that’s “good luck”. If you are supposed to remove your keys from the car before locking it and you don’t, that’s “bad luck”. Most occurrences of luck are beyond any action taken by the person whom the luck affects, which is probably a good reason why luck is so hard to pin down. The danger with luck is to assume that our actions somehow affect what type of luck we receive. Typically the word “Karma” gets thrown about. It fits with our worldview. Our understanding of justice is that the good should get rewarded and the bad should get punished, or that people should get “luck” based on the type of people they have been. There seems, however, to be a bit of randomness to the entire luck sys-tem. Good things happen to bad people, and vice versa. One immediate answer upon receiving “bad luck” is to turn to God and ask, “Why?” On the flip side, an immediate answer to receiving “good luck” is to turn to God and say, “Thank you.” As a frequent recipient of luck of both kinds, I have started to change my answers a little bit. I still ask “Why?” when bad things happen, but it is in less of an accusative sense. I try not to blame God for what happens but, rather, look for the life on the other side of it. My “good luck” response is now in that same place as well. I say, “Thanks,” but then I ask “Why?” Why is it that I who have already received such good fortune continue to receive more? In my mind, there has never really been a good theological answer to what “luck” really is and what God’s role is in regard to it. Some theologians have said that God has no sway over such events and has left the universe to its own devices. Others have said that God micro manages every detail and everything that happens is a direct result of God’s action. There also are a myriad of viewpoints in between, all of which have their own upsides and downsides. “Luck” is a baffling phenomenon indeed. What has been resolved is that God’s will is for life. Whether it comes in the form of new life blossoming from an already growing life or in the form of death is not for me to decide. That decision is better left up to God anyway. Whatever “luck” I may receive is not the result of my actions because it is beyond me. Whether “good luck” or “bad luck” falls on my head, I can trust in God’s promise that I have life abundant because of God’s actions on my behalf on the cross. God’s Peace, Pastor DJ
A Word of Grace
for Peace, Wonder, and Growth in Discipleship Sometimes, I take a look around the Lutheran communities that we have inherited from nearly 500 years of journeying alongside our siblings in the Christian Kingdom, and I get to thinking that (like any other) we too have both our many strengths and also our areas of which we remained a bit challenged. We do love our brother St. Paul. No doubt about it – and for good reason! But I wonder if we may have anchored down on one message too heavily as a denomination… In Galatians 6 (and elsewhere), Paul writes “As for me, may I never boast about anything except for the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” And by-and-large, we Lutherans have taken that sacred verse of scripture and run with it. We are not a boastful denomination. Maybe it’s the German or Norwegian or Swedish or Dutch or Finnish temperament that we’ve inherited from the previous generations of Lutherandom. Thinking back to my own grandparents, both Norwegians and Swedes and each Lutheran, the word boastful would not be one I would use to describe them. But I think somewhere along the lines, we either lost or shelved the last half of this verse, forgetting the invitation to boast about Christ’s work, and along with it the purpose and mission of the church! That means that it is not just ok or permitted, but it is actually even welcome and joyfully expected to boast about our faith walks! That means celebrating the accomplishments that we’re able to do in the name of Christ as his disciples. The disciples are called to do the work of God throughout the Gospels and the book of Acts, and there is always praise in the reporting afterwards as a community. Boasting! So, at the (no small) risk of turning this part of our Lutheran identity in Christian Kingdom over on its head, I’ve prayerfully decided that we as a congregation are going to delight in our boasting about doing God’s work in the world. The staff, lay leaders, volunteers and I are going to begin ways of recognizing and introducing something that I’m going to call “SOFIA”. Yes, I know, that sounds like more pastoral churchese again… and you’re right. Stories Of Faith In Action… SOFIA. I want us as a church to celebrate, proclaim, praise, boast about the stories of faith that we have because of our actions in Christ’s mission. They’re fun, holy fun, and fun is mean to be shared in relationship – even for us Lutherans. Because after all, as James 2:20 says, “faith without works is dead.” So let’s breathe even more excitement into the life of God’s Church, and share our SOFIAs with some boasting! -Pastor Eric
Happy Birthday Cindy Chavez - Oct 1 Jack Mahalik - Oct 1 Chuck McGavern - Oct 1 Rylie Mundell - Oct 1 Paul Betthauser - Oct 2 Nathan Marxhausen - Oct 2 Lynn Prescott - Oct 2 Neb Bailey - Oct 3 Kenny Jensen - Oct 3 Mark Johnson - Oct 3 Greg Kleen - Oct 3 Linda Pace - Oct 3 Barbara Pierson - Oct 3 Annie Roth - Oct 3 Priscilla Raddatz - Oct 4 Tim Stohs - Oct 4 Chris Dull - Oct 5 Delilah June Fisbeck - Oct 5 Alex Hinz - Oct 5 Lila Inmann - Oct 5 Meghan McDonald - Oct 5 Julia Hegele - Oct 6 Celeste Leibbrandt -Oct 6 Scott Lichty - Oct 6 Maddy McCullor - Oct 6 Steve Mitchell - Oct 6
Pastor Frank Philipp - Oct 6 Bryan Warren - Oct 6 Richard Dethlefs - Oct 7 Al Kravitz - Oct 7 Jeff Moore - Oct 7 Tessa Polodna - Oct 7 Brodie Dilges - Oct 8 Nicholas Koltay - Oct 8 Donald Perko - Oct 9 Jenny Radtke - Oct 9 Marvin Althoff - Oct 10 Chad Freitag - Oct 10 Gary Knutson - Oct 10 Marilyn Kolseth - Oct 10 Amy Pierce - Oct 10 Dick Swanson - Oct 10 Chase Bigelow - Oct 11 Hailey Johnson - Oct 11 Thomas Kinsella - Oct 11 Mike Lee - Oct 11 Sophie Mickus - Oct 11 Travis Saxton - Oct 11 Barb Bremer - Oct 12 Sharon Burbank - Oct 12 Mark Mitchum - Oct 12 Rusty Porterfield - Oct 12
Megan Silverman - Oct 12 Mike Morton - Oct 13 Kati Polodna - Oct 13 Curt Rowe - Oct 13 Darin Weitzel - Oct 13 Joanne Edmunds - Oct 14 Cyndi Perry - Oct 14 Don Alpern - Oct 15 Steven Gutsch - Oct 15 Jessica Lytle - Oct 15 Kelly O'Hearn - Oct 15 Michael Porter - Oct 15 Tressa Stohs - Oct 15 Mario Flores - Oct 16 Michael Hansen - Oct 16 Jack Connolly - Oct 17 Reece Evans - Oct 17 Bruce Klein - Oct 17 Lindsay Ross - Oct 17 Mikayla Devin - Oct 18 Jon Hegre - Oct 18 Gail Lasater - Oct 18 Luke Peretti - Oct 18 Joyce Woody - Oct 18 Lillianna Flores - Oct 19 Lary Thomas - Oct 19
Mark Bauer - Oct 20 Mike Hefti - Oct 20 Chad Liley - Oct 20 Barb Sande - Oct 20 Warren Arnold - Oct 21 Audrey Larsen - Oct 21 Steve Heutmaker - Oct 22 Isabella Lembke - Oct 23 Dean Macko - Oct 23 Leah Ringkob - Oct 23 Jeff Snauwaert - Oct 23 Colin Brown - Oct 24 Taylor Holter - Oct 24 Carlos Martinez - Oct 24 McKenna Riley - Oct 24 Madison Riley - Oct 24 Kathy Bigelow - Oct 25 Josh Garcia - Oct 25 Erik Johnson - Oct 25 Reilly McGavern - Oct 25 Nicole Moses - Oct 25 Bob Mulverhill - Oct 25 Carter Parks - Oct 25 Madison Bachelder - Oct 26 Sallie Burns - Oct 26 Sarah Fisbeck - Oct 26
Eric Hemenway - Oct 26 Natalie Martin - Oct 26 Linda Nix - Oct 26 Lesley Cantrell - Oct 27 Nadia Carroll - Oct 27 Sam Hughes - Oct 27 Evatt Licalzi - Oct 27 Don Marxhausen - Oct 27 Lara Rockwell - Oct 27 Lucas Trevino - Oct 27 Darrell Woody - Oct 27 Anthony Dimercurio - Oct 28 Conrad Freeman - Oct 28 Charlie Larsen - Oct 28 Owen Waldenmyer - Oct 28 Jason Gray - Oct 29 Katie Lyneis - Oct 29 Zachary Tiedgen - Oct 29 Susan Carroll - Oct 30 Raymond Johnson - Oct 30 Brooke Libner - Oct 30 Hollie Dieffenbaugher - Oct 31 Sergio Mena Casa - Oct 31 Carol O'Hearn - Oct 31 Kyoko Okada - Oct 31
Don’t forget about the Church Open House at Pastor Eric and Jenny Allert’s house on Sunday, October 23rd from 2:00pm – 5:00pm! Pastor Eric and Jenny want to warmly welcome you into their home to invite you into the personal side of their life, get to know them better, and say a very personal word of thanks and appreciation for all the house-warming gifts, contributions, and prayers during the move from Arizona. The address is 9827 S. Townsville Circle in Highlands Ranch (just south of Highlands Ranch High School). Refreshments and snacks will be provided, and don’t worry about missing the Broncos game because they play Monday night that weekend. :-)
Seasonal Reading Recommendations from Pastor Eric I Wonder What Noah Did with the Woodpeckers, by Tim Wildmon Lake Wobegon Days, by Garrison Keillor A Man Called Peter; The Story of Peter Marshall, by Catherine Marshall Sulha: Palestinian Traditional Peacemaking Process, by Elias J. Jabbour Giving to God: The Bibles’ Good News About Living a Generous Life, by Mark Allan Powell
0CTOBER SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY OKTOBERFEST 9a Chicks w/Sticks 9a Superdad Saturday Preschool 10a Genealogy 1p Fjelldalen Lodge 5p Worship/CC
8am Worship 9:30a Worship 11a Worship/CC 12:15p CLC KidsRock! 12:15p Pet Blessing 3p Memorial Service Joann Klein 7p AA Meeting
2 6:30a Men's Breakfast Group 3 8a Preschool
7 Book Sale
8
Book Sale 8am Worship 9:30am Worship 11a Worship/CC 12:15p CLC KidsRock! 7p AA Meeting
9 6:30a Men's Breakfast
10 8a No Preschool Fall Break 11 8a No Preschool Fall Break 12 8a No Preschool Fall Break 13 8a No Preschool Fall Break 14 Book Sale
15
Book Sale 8am Worship 9:30am Worship 9:30a First Bible Class 11a Worship/CC 12:15p CLC KidsRock! 5p Dynamite 7p AA Meeting
16 6:30a Men's Breakfast
17 8a Preschool
8am Worship 8a Bonfils Blood Drive 9:30am Worship 9:30a First Bible Class 11a Worship/CC 12:15p CLC KidsRock! 7p AA Meeting
23 6:30a Men's Breakfast
24 8a Preschool Music Time 25 8a Preschool
8a Preschool 9:30a Beth Moore Bible Study 12p Preschool Sports Club 7p Boy Scouts 7p Personnel Mtg.
Group 8a No Preschool Fall Break 9a Mission Quilters 12p Preschool Sports Club 6p Boy Scouts Venture Crew 7p Boy Scouts
Group 8a Preschool 9:30a Beth Moore Bible Study 9:30a Preschool Storytime 12p Preschool Sports Club 7p Boy Scouts 7p Legacy & Endowment Mtg.
Reformation Sunday 30 8am Worship 9:30am Worship 9:30a First Bible Presentation 11a Worship/CC 12:15p CLC KidsRock! 7p AA Meeting
Group 8a Preschool 9a Mission Quilters 9:30a Beth Moore Bible Study 12p Preschool Sports Club 6p Boy Scouts Venture Crew 7p Boy Scouts
6:30a Men's Breakfast 31 Group 8a Preschool 9:30a Beth Moore Bible Study 12p Preschool Sports Club 7p Boy Scouts
4 8a Preschool
10:45a Preschool Chapel 11:15a Staff Mtg. 12p Preschool Sports Club 1p Christmas Planning Meeting 1:15p Preschool Training 5p Crossroads Band 6:30p Praise Team 7p Blaze-Sr. High 7p Caregiver Mtg
9a MOPS - Mom's Day Out 5:30p Carillon Ringers 7p Adult Ed - Worship: Heart, Soul, and Voic
11:15a Staff Mtg. 12p Preschool Sports Club 5p Crossroads Band 6:30p Praise Team 7p Blaze-Sr. High 7p Council Mtg. 7p Military Ministry Mtg.
18 8a Preschool
10:45a Preschool Chapel 11:15a Staff Mtg. 12p Preschool Sports Club 12:30p Visiting Nurse Assoc. 5p Crossroads Band 6:30p Praise Team 7p Blaze-Sr. High 7p Caregiver Mtg 11:15a Staff Mtg. 12p Preschool Sports Club 5p Crossroads Band 6:30p Praise Team 7p Blaze-Sr. High
5 8a Preschool 9a MOPS 9a Adult University 10:45a Preschool Chapel 7p Celebration Choir 1:45p Preschool Chapel 5:30p Carillon Ringers 7p Adult Ed - Worship: Heart, Soul, and Voice 7p Confirmation Learning Event
9:30a MOPS Steering 10:45a Preschool Chapel 1p Preschool PAT 5:30p Carillon Ringers 7p Adult Ed - Worship: Heart, Soul, and Voice 7p Confirmation Learning Event
9a Adult University 7p Celebration Choir 7p Cub Scout Leader Mtg.
19 8a Preschool
9a Adult University 7p Celebration Choir
26 8a Preschool 9a Adult University 9a MOPS 7p Celebration Choir 9:30a Preschool Music Time 2p Preschool Music Time 5:30p Carillon Ringers 6p Confirmation Guide Huddle 7p Adult Ed - Worship: Heart, Soul, and Voice 7p Confirmation Learning Event
6 Book Sale
1
12p OWLS Luncheon
5p Worship/CC
5p Worship/CC
20 8a Preschool
21 7a General Maintenance 22
27 8a Preschool
28 5p Worship/CC
6:30p CLC Bridge Group 7p MOPS - Mom's Night Out
5:15p Preschool Parent's Night Out
8a Russell Stamping 5p Worship/CC 5:15p Preschool Parent's Night Out 5:30p Hafner Party
6p Halloween Party
29
Followers of Jesus Christ
8997 S. Broadway Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 Change Service Requested
There’s a place for you! Church Community Ministries Outreach 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 Care for the Caregiver Grief Group MOPS
Preschool
Women’s Bunko Soul Sisters Women’s Group Bridge Group
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
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 Beth Moore Bible Studies for women. Spring and Fall sessions.
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 Soul Sisters Women’s Group Bridge Group
Music
CLC Kids Rock! Youth Worship Weekend Band Celebration Carillon Ringers Crossroads Douglas County Singers Praise Team Carillon Ringers