On Leave-taking

Tomorrow is our last day in the office until September. Yes, it feels really weird. No, I'm not "ready." I'm not sure what "ready" even means or would look like (though it would likely involve fewer post-it notes stuck to my computer monitor and less laundry waiting).

At the same time, I am ready: ready to take a big enough step back to get a wider view of things than I usually do. I'm ready not to have a deadline hanging over my head every day when I wake up. I'm ready to be outside more often, and to play more, pray more, read more, be creative more. And all because of the great gift of Sabbath - a rest, a ceasing, enjoying that who I am is a greater gift than what I can do, because God's grace says so.

So - farewell for now.

This blog will lie fallow this summer. We'll rev it back up when we return in September.

Lutheran Disaster Response - US Spring Storms

Photo Credit: David Valdez FEMA

Torrential rainfall, reaching more than 2 feet in some areas, is setting records in the South, especially Louisiana and Texas. River fl ooding has reached historic levels, affecting streets and highways, damaging or destroying homes, causing thousands to evacuate, and leaving at least five dead. More storms are predicted across the Midwest and throughout the South in the days and weeks ahead. 

Through congregations, synods and disaster affiliate organizations, Lutheran Disaster Response is working to assist those who have been affected by the flooding. Lutheran Disaster Response’s coordinators are present, working with local community leaders and
officials to begin planning the proper responses, particularly the long-term recovery efforts.

We know that the road to recovery is long, and Lutheran Disaster Response will be there to assist those who have been affected through every phase of this disaster recovery process. Our gifts are needed to begin relief efforts. Gifts designated for “U.S. Spring Storms” will be used in full (100 percent) until the response is complete to assist those impacted. Because of generous offerings of prayer and financial support, the ELCA walks alongside disaster survivors.

You can give through CtK (put US Spring Storms/Disaster Response on your check) or give online here. Check out the Lutheran Disaster Response blog here.

Guest Post - Fasting for Hunger

This Lent, CtK joins thousands of other ELCA congregations in ELCA World Hunger's 40 Days of Giving. A daily devotional booklet, a piggy bank, and the challenge from CtK's 40 Days of Giving Team to give $0.25/day will help us learn about hunger issues, and make a difference in our world. Look for occasional guest posts from team members during this season!

Fasting for Hunger

February 29, 2016 - LEAP DAY!

by Barb Benson

Are you giving up something and fasting for Lent? …how about on February 29^th?

I sort of grimaced when Pastor Lindean asked me to write up something about fasting for our CtK blog. Given I am a registered dietitian, I would be expected to know something about fasting…and I do. Unfortunately, I did too much of it as a teenager in angst that it imprisoned me into an unhealthy binge/purge cycle.  After individual and group counseling and regular visits with a dietitian in my early college years, I am thankful that I learned to like my body and take better care of it. I also changed my major to nutrition and have not had the desire to fast or restrict my eating since then.

The word “fast” from the Unger’s Bible Dictionary means, in Hebrew, “to cover” (the mouth) and in Greek “to abstain.” Yet the purpose of “fasting” described in the Bible also has a spiritual component connected to it that goes far beyond restriction and dieting for the sake of self-sacrifice or the hope of cleansed living or temporary weight reduction.  Many of the Bible’s Greats like Moses, Elijah, Daniel, Paul, and even Jesus, fasted as a way to draw closer to God, as it seems to be combined with prayer and often repentance. I’m told that fasting can help remind us of our dependence on God and his provisions- help fine-tune the senses to be more like-minded with our Creator.

We are given an extra day this year on February 29^th. The ELCA World Hunger’s 40 Days of Giving is challenging us to consider fasting and instead of eating a meal or drinking a fancy coffee to spend that time with God and pass the money “saved” to someone in need. Collectively this could be a big “drop” into our piggy banks and not only make a difference in our World Hunger giving but time alone with God promises to have an even more profound impact on our living. That’s exciting!

Jeff and I have seen first-hand what “piggy bank” donations can do. Early in our marriage we returned to Jeff’s home in Tanzania and were Associates in Mission with ELCA Global Mission. Jeff worked for MSAADA that helped church-related projects design and build buildings such as hospitals, colleges, and churches. They designed a rural hospital cooking structure for families to use for providing food to sick family members. Actually- CtK's Sunday School donations helped fund that project! CtK also was a part of starting the “nutrition program” at that same hospital, to provide local and nutritious foods to malnourished children and microloans in the surrounding community. For under $1/day, “piggy bank” donations helped treat a malnourished toddler for a day in that hospital. God really does miraculous things with little offerings.

Will you join me in some sort of “fast” this leap year? Your fast will look different than mine. Could be you will fast from the technological feast we devour each day or the extra hours you spend at the office. Whatever you “give up”…may God and the amazing things he can do through us be our focus as we entrust our time, talent, and treasure back to him.

Day of Service

Tomorrow, September 13th, is God's work. Our hands. Day of Service. Everyone who worships with CtK tomorrow morning (worship is at 10:00am and will include an opportunity to hear from the youth who went to Detroit for the ELCA Youth Gathering this summer) will be invited to stick around to help assemble school kits for Lutheran World Relief or decorate cookies and assemble boxes of treats for those who protect and serve our community (first responders, hospital employees, etc.). We'll need a few folks to make deliveries of treats, too.
Would you rather spend some time serving outside? There will be a group heading to God's Garden to pick green beans. Wear your sunscreen and take a water bottle!

What a privilege it is to serve in God's world!

2015 Rummage Sale

It's time! Time to clean out closets, shelves, garages, etc., and to let-go of all those things sitting around collecting dust at your house. The annual Family & Youth Team Rummage Sale is THIS Saturday, May 9th, from 8am-12pm.
The youth are receiving donations now through Friday - please bring your "stuff" and leave it in the social hall. Youth, parents, and other wonderful adults will begin sorting stuff tomorrow evening (5/6) from 6-8pm. They'll sort again on Thursday evening from 6-8pm, and again on Friday, from 6pm until the job is done. If you'd like to help, please just show up!
And THEN, please come back and shop at the sale - this year it looks like there are lots of kids' clothes, and there are always some hidden treasures. Mother's Day is this Sunday - maybe you'll find JUST the thing for a mom in your life!? Rummage Sale proceeds support CtK's ministries with and to youth and their families. This summer we're sending 6 youth and 2 adults to Detroit for the ELCA Youth Gathering. It's going to be great, but it's not an inexpensive proposition... Your support is much appreciated. Thanks for your generosity!

Advent Midweek Worship and Words from the Bishop

Tonight is the last Wednesday of Advent!

We'll gather for soup supper at 6pm. At 7pm we'll move into the sanctuary for Holden Evening Prayer, a lovely sung vespers service. There will be time for quiet reflection and prayer - just what so many of us need in the midst of this busy season of preparation!

 

Fruits of the Spirit

This afternoon during the Tuesday noon bible study our group talked about gifts of the spirit, as listed in Galatians 5:22-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control.

We also discussed how we saw these gifts reflected in the life of our community here at Christ the King Lutheran Church.

We saw members display self-control during our annual meeting times, allowing everyone to speak their mind at an important community forum.

We saw members practice patience with folks who had more “challenging personalities” in our midst, covering them with God’s grace when it would have been so easy to write them off.

We saw members carry out acts of generosity in time, talent, and treasure for the sake of God’s mission in this place.

We also saw love, joy, and peace in the lives of our members genuinely touched by God’s life giving love.

Where do you see the gifts of the spirit reflected in the lives of those who call Christ the King their community of faith?