Guest Post - Lay Pastoral Associates

Lay Pastoral Associates in the Montana Synod

by Dr. John W. Sheppard

The Montana Synod of the ELCA is unusual. Spanning a large geographical region (over 147,000 square miles, not counting the parts in Wyoming) and serving only 38,000 baptized members, the synod finds challenges in bringing its ministries to rural and remote areas, often where ordained clergy are not available. To meet the varied needs for ministry in Montana, the synod formed the Lay Pastoral Associate (LPA) program to enable lay leaders in the synod to serve in leadership positions.

Becoming an LPA within the synod typically takes two years of training, with cohorts being formed at the start of these two year periods. Training consists of at-home study, guided mentorship by a pastor in the synod, and attendance at four retreats. Candidates also undergo criminal background checks when they enter the program. While not intended to be a substitute for seminary, the two-year program provides those wishing to become LPAs with a basic introduction to theological training, focusing in biblical studies (Old and New Testament), church history, Lutheran confessions, prayer and spirituality, worship, preaching, pastoral care, and Christian education. Upon completing the training, each candidate is recognized as a new LPA at the Synod Assembly and receives a “Certificate of Completion” for the LPA program. The new LPA is then listed by the synod as a resource to provide Word and Sacrament ministry where needed within the synod (with approval and license by the Bishop, and under continued supervision by an ordained pastor). Some LPAs act as “synodically authorized ministers,” where they serve in a congregation in a longer-term capacity.

My experience in the LPA training program has been unique since I entered the program having completed two years at Gettysburg Seminary. As part of this, I completed two guided field education experiences, including serving during my first year of seminary in a local parish, where I led worship, taught confirmation, and performed home and hospital visitation. I also completed a basic unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Methodist Hospital in Dallas, where I served as a hospital chaplain in the intensive care unit, the ICU step-down unit, and the cardiac step-down unit. Because of my background, the self-study courses were waived; however, I participated in the four LPA retreats and have received mentoring from both Pastor Lindean and Pastor Grant.

This provides a sense of the mechanics of the LPA program. But what about the experience itself? While much of the actual training served more as a refresher of my seminary education, the most valuable part of the experience was meeting and growing with other members of my cohort. The cohort to be recognized at this coming synod assembly in Billings in June is the largest so far to go through the LPA training program. Over 20 new LPAs will be recognized. During these past two years, we have studied together, practiced together, prayed together, worshiped together, shared our life experiences with one another, and came to recognize the wide and varying talents each of us brings to ministry. We have musicians, teachers, professors, lawyers, and business people who have felt a call to deepen their faith and commitment to serving the church.
One of the most moving experiences I had while going through the LPA program was during the retreat on prayer and spirituality. This retreat was led by Pr. Dan Heskett, and a significant part of it focused on the discipline called Lectio Divina. Here, we chose a biblical passage and were guided through a process of slow, deliberate, and repeated reading and meditation on the passage. The entire process lasted about two hours, and when we finished, we each had a deeper connection to the passage. In fact, I believe any one of us could have stood up and given a sermon on the passage, right there on the spot. Another interesting experience of mine was preaching a sermon for Pr. Steve Loy, who led the preaching retreat. I say interesting because Steve and I studied preaching together under Dr. Richard Thulin while we were both students at Gettysburg Seminary. He was the best preacher in the class back then, and he is still amazing. Even so, it was a bit strange being a student of his after having been students together, 30 years ago.
Ultimately, it is good to be getting back involved in doing ministry within our church. For anyone interested in deeper theological study, a deepening of faith, and an opportunity to serve, I strongly recommend exploring becoming an LPA. I would be happy to discuss the program and my experiences with anyone interested. Let me know, and we can chat.

Guest Post - Loving Your Neighbor

Loving Your Neighborby Pastor John Lund

 

Kudos to the Darby library for going forward with the March 9 talk on Islam by UM scholar Samir Bitar. The rampant rhetoric of fear regarding Muslims immigrants is out of line with our core American value of granting life and liberty to all people. What has made us great is our willingness to give everyone a chance regardless of race, ethnicity, social class, or beliefs. Certainly, we need to denounce and fight ISIS, and we need protection from their attacks. It is reasonable to be concerned about screening immigrants from a war-torn nation. But to judge all Muslims because of ISIS is unfair. The claim that Islam is at war with Christianity or with the US and that all Muslims are out to get us is plain wrong.

For those of us who are Christian, we would do well to look first at the log in our own eye. We have to acknowledge that many Christians justified the killing of native peoples by calling them "heathens" and "savages." Later, Christians sent Native children to boarding schools so they could be "Christianized" and re-cultured. Christians also justified slavery, and many later fought against civil rights for Blacks and all people of color. European Christians perpetuated stereotypes and discrimination against Jews, which allowed the rise of Nazi hatred and the Holocaust. Many Christians fought against the right of women to vote, and some still believe that women should be subject to men and silent outside their homes. Even today, Christians fight the hardest against civil rights for people in the LGBTQ community. If the atrocities of some Christians were used to judge all of us, we'd be lucky to have any neighbors at all.

The truth is that there are an estimated 3.3 million Muslims in this country, and many have been here for decades. Most work hard as teachers, business owners, laborers, doctors, and in other professions, and are integrated into American culture and life. They wage peace through daily prayer, compassion, care for their neighbor, and devotion to the same God that Christians and Jews worship. They honor Moses and Jesus as Major Prophets and have great respect for the Bible. I have known many Muslims in my lifetime and feel fortunate to have some as friends. They are among the most genuine, gracious, giving and humorous people I know. In all of our major cities, Imams and Muslim leaders work with Christian, Jewish and other faith leaders to foster relationships, peace and unity among the world religions. Time after time, when Christians actually meet Muslims and get to know them and share a meal and conversation, relationships are formed, attitudes and perceptions are changed, and the whole community is enriched for the better. Thank God we have different languages, music, food, skin colors, traditions and beliefs! Because of that we learn and grow and become fuller human beings when we are together.

Yes, there are horrible things being done by some Muslims who manipulate Islam and the Quran to justify their own ideology of terror and control. Yes, some Muslims believe that women should obey their husbands and have fewer rights than men. Yes, some Muslims are fundamentalist and practice horrific forms of violent retribution. And this is true for some Christians as well. We see evidence of this today in KKK rallies, mass shootings and vandalism of Black churches and abortion clinics, and the high rate of domestic violence against women. The greater truth is that the huge majority of the estimated 1.7 billion Muslims and 2.4 billion Christians in the world are people who love God and neighbor, care for those in need, and seek peace in our world.

As Christians, we are called not only to love the neighbors who are similar to us, but to also love those who are different and even our enemies. Our world is already filled with fear, lies, hatred, and violence. We can do much better by waging peace, forming relationships, listening to each other, sharing life, and expecting the best from each other. That is exactly what a Galilean Jew did 2000 years ago amid times of great fear, much like today. Perhaps we can follow his lead.

      -Pastor John Lund is Campus Pastor at the University of Montana

Emmaus Campus Ministry at the University of Montana

Guest Post - The Faces of 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!

Faces of Hunger, by Jerry Johnson

The many faces of hunger are . . . emaciation, bloated bellies, stunted minds, helplessness, hopelessness, disease and death . . . a trackless wasteland . . . a vast emptiness . . .

About 34 years ago, shortly after I returned from an ALC (American Lutheran Church) hunger-justice study trip to Mexico and Nicaragua, I was sitting in a church council meeting in Whitefish, MT and one of the members said he was tired of hearing about hunger. As a new hunger advocate, I vigorously disagreed.

A few years later, in 1998, I wrote an essay where I quoted Martin Luther who said, "If you preach the gospel in all aspects with the exception of the issues which deal specifically with your time, you are not preaching the Gospel." It was at that time that the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Reno, NV, began a once a month second offering with fast food cups to support the ELCA World Hunger Appeal against world hunger.

In 1999, when Margaret and I joined Christ the King Lutheran Church, we mentioned this way of collecting funds for World Hunger and CtK began using the fast food cups, also. Christ the King's "hunger" offering went from almost nothing to several thousand dollars a year for hunger relief, locally (Food Bank) and globally (ELCA World Hunger Appeal).

On the first Sunday of every month, when the ushers pass around the fast food cups for a second offering, it does two great things: 1) it helps educate people to curb obesity, and stave off diabetes and hypertension; and 2) it helps feed hungry  brothers and sisters and teaches them how to combat hunger, thus achieving dignity and life quality.

A couple of the Montana Synod congregations have adopted this same means of collecting special offering for ELCA World Hunger, but I must admit I haven't been able to get the churchwide organization to adopt this as a good way to increase hunger giving churchwide.

There are approximately four million members in the ELCA and the 2016 budget for hunger is 24 million dollars. This amounts to $6.00 a year per member, 50 cents a month or 1 3/4 cents a day. If every ELCA member gave a dime (10 cents) a day, it would add up to $3.00 a month and $44 million dollars a year. Can you imagine what could be done to alleviate world hunger with that?

I hate to say it, but in 10 years the average ELCA Lutheran has only increased hunger giving by 3/4 of a penny a day. We pray for God to help, but God uses our hands to do it! We don't give to pat ourselves on the back, but I thank you, thank you CtK for holding up our end of the bargain and also for taking on the 40 Days of Giving journey.

... for you were strangers in the land of Egypt

Last spring, Rabbi Ed Stafman, of Bozeman's Congregation Beth Shalom, was a guest speaker at CtK's adult forum for two Sundays. He reminded us just how often in the Torah God reminds God's people to care for the stranger, the alien, the sojourner, in their midst. As Deuteronomy 10:19 puts it: "You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt."

God uses the people's history to induce empathy, and still does.

I have never been a refugee, but I have felt lost. I've been sick. I've been scared. And over the past two weeks I've seen heartbreaking photos of children on beaches and old people on rafts whose seaworthiness is questionable. And Deuteronomy echoes in my ears: "you shall also love the stranger."

 

Lutheran Disaster Response (a ministry of the ELCA) and Lutheran World Relief are at work meeting basic needs for those fleeing war and crisis, and are working together with partners in the Middle East and Europe. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is calling for the welcoming of 100,000 Syrian refugees by the U.S. We have opportunities to make a real difference in the lives of individuals and families.

 

The Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary, Tamás Fabiny, wrote the following, about the refugee crisis in Hungary, and shared by the Montana Synod:

 

Walking with Refugees - the Church Amidst the Refugee Crisis in Europe
I would like to recall the poignant memories of the weekend when thousands of refugees set out from Budapest, Hungary, towards Austria and, finally, reached the other side of the border on board of buses provided by the Hungarian government.

I will never forget that march. I am very well aware that the refugees were hindering the traffic and broke several rules. However, what this persistent march gave proof of was their final desperation and their determination forged by the war, suffering, persecution and defencelessness they had left behind. And we have to admit that the heartlessness of some also strengthened their feelings of hopeless resolution.

 cannot forget that march. It was similar to the processions led by Martin Luther King in the cities of the US in the 1960s or to the opponents of the apartheid in South-Africa singing “We are marching in the light of God”. Looking at the crowds of refugees walking on the motorway I was also reminded of the wandering, let me use the word “migrant”, Jews on their way to a new homeland. This association is closely linked to a prayer written by the Reformed pastor Sylvia Bukowski: “God of Mercy, who led your people across the desert and shepherded them in the exodus; we cry to you for the millions of refugees who have left their homes in uncertainty and are escorted by poverty, persecution and violence on their way. May you be their guide and guardian, oh Lord!”

In the marching crowd of refugees you could see a one-legged man supporting himself on crutches and trying to keep up with the others. Many were carrying children in their arms or on their backs. One of the parents was pushing a toddler in a shopping cart. Yet others were carrying elderly or sick relatives on their shoulders.

I believe that the Bible’s account is relevant today as well: Jesus has compassion on the crowd, because they are like sheep without a shepherd.
Are we able to have mercy? Do we dare to show empathy? Can we speak words of compassion even if others demand us to demonstrate power?

Let politicians be concerned with politics. As a church we should ask ourselves: are we able to use the voice of humanity and act in a credible manner? When the bodies of 71 suffocated refugees, including women and children, were found in a delivery van on Austrian territory, the Austrian Lutheran Bishop Michael Bünker suggested that, following the identification of the deceased, the victims should be buried in a respectful way according to the rites of their own religion. In Hungary, a middle-aged Syrian man collapsed and died near the railway station of Bicske. Do we know anything of him? Has anyone tried to track his identity or his family down?

Although official reports consequently refer to the alienating term ‘migrants’ instead of refugees, we should make an effort to imagine how traumatised these people must be with all their experiences of war and life-threatening situations. Can we realize what it must feel like to be scapegoated all the time? Can we fathom what it means to give birth to a baby during such a flight and spend the night at a railway station five days later? We should keep this in mind at Christmas time when writing and listening to heartbreaking sermons about the Holy Family...

Still, something has changed. More and more people dare and manage to express their feelings of solidarity towards refugees. Voices of disapproval and reservation seem to be less frequent and the willingness to help is getting stronger.

Beside the sadness and despair expressed in this text, I would also like to voice my hope and even joy. Although the past few weeks have been full of hardships and painful experiences, we have also seen examples of resourceful love. Several Lutherans have shared their insights and practical advice on the internet. The spontaneous help offered by many civil activists is side-by-side with the conscious and relentless efforts of the Diaconal Service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary to organize aid activities. The Hungarian Interchurch Aid, one of the country’s largest and internationally recognized charity organizations, is also present with its decades-long professional experience. Secondary school students are inquiring about ways to contribute, university students are acting as voluntary interpreters and congregations are collecting donations. Many of our international partners have also stated their willingness to help.

All of us can do something to make the suffering of refugees more visible in our countries and to give a face to people who might seem threatening and frightening as members of a crowd. We can make their story heard. Most of all, we can help to recover their dignity.

In my experience, something is stirring within more and more of our Hungarian fellow-citizens. We might indeed be capable of showing our purer sides. We can see Ezekiel’s prophecy fulfilled: “I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh (Ez 36:26)”.

I know that we could talk about Schengen borders, quotas, registration, hot spots and similar subjects for a long time. These are indeed serious issues. Everyone has their own responsibilities. At the same time, wherever we stand, let us not forget the most important thing of all: exercising mercy.

 

Bishop Tamás Fabiny
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary

An ADULT Mission Trip

Here's an opportunity to serve and make a difference on the Rocky Boy's Reservation right here in Montana. It's a mission trip, but it's not for youth. It's for adults! Please read the letter below for information. And if you decide to go and serve, please let me know! (you can send me an email here: lindean@ctkbozeman.org)

A Letter from Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church – Box Elder, MT

July 21, 2015

Greetings!

One thing I have learned as the pastor at Our Saviour’s on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation, don’t be shy about asking for what you need! With that in mind, I would like to invite you, as individuals and as congregations, to participate in a service opportunity at Our Saviour’s.
August 29^th-September 3^rd, we will be hosting an adult Servant Group from Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN. The main project they will be working on is roofing two of our four cabins. We will be changing from rolled asphalt roofing to metal roofing.
Here’s the deal. We could use your help! It would be wonderful if we had enough volunteers so that we could get all four of the cabin roofs completed before winter sets in.
There is also the need to re-roof two sections of the asphalt shingles on the Big Church. This building is used by our congregation and our community as gathering space for VBS, Servant and Immersion groups, larger church services like Christmas and Easter, wakes and funerals, and many other things.
Besides needing people on the roofs, people will be needed on the ground as well to clear away stuff, take stuff to the dump, and help with other projects on our site. We can always use people to be part of the meal prep and clean-up crews.
The Servant Group will be arriving on Saturday afternoon (August 29^th), but the actual work on the roofs will not start until Monday morning (August 31^st). If you are willing to come and help with these projects on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (for any or all of those days), coming the night before would help you have a great start in the morning. The Servant Group from Zumbro will leave on Thursday, but we could continue the work on Thursday and Friday (September 3^rd and 4^th), if there were people interested in working on those days, too.
I wish we were able to offer this opportunity to you at no cost, but we are not in the financial position to do that. So, what we are asking is that you help with the food costs by donating $20 per day and if you are able to make an additional donation to help with the cost of materials that would be wonderful (but we are not asking for a specific amount for that).
We have space in our cabins for about thirty people, space in the Mission House for about ten people, and room for four RVs to hook-up to water, electric and sewer connections. Sorry, we don’t have the space to have couples stay together. And, because of the particular type of work we will be doing, this is an adult-only event. Young people who are high school and/or middle school age could help out, but they will, most likely, be back in school by then.
If you are interested in being part of this project, please contact me (Pastor Linda E. Webster) for more details. We’d love to have you come and participate.

Blessings,

Pastor Linda E. Webster
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
499 Mission Taylor Rd.
Box Elder, MT 58521-8983
www.oslcrb.org
406-395-4307

Welcome to Pastor George Karres

This Sunday we welcome to Pastor George Karres to CtK! He will lead the Adult Forum at 9:00am and preach during worship at 10:00am.

Pastor Karres serves as the Montana Synod's new Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM).  As DEM, he will serve on behalf of the ELCA as a part of the Montana Synod staff in areas of stewardship, mission support, ministry development/redevelopment, and working with the Montana Synod Mission Table. 

George comes to his new position after having served as the Senior Pastor of Pella Lutheran Church in Sidney, MT for the past 11 1/2 years.  During this period he also served as a member of the Montana Synod Council and its Executive Committee, was on the Synod Outreach Committee, served as a Natural Church Development coach, and was Dean of the Southeast Cluster.

George and his wife Carol, who is a retired ELCA pastor, are now living in Great Falls.  Together they have four adult children: Dan Harrison; Jeffrey Karres; Matthew (Lisa) Karres (and grandson Eli!); and Amanda (Michael) Rhame.

One of George's favorite hobbies is home roasting coffee beans - he enjoys trying beans from different countries all around the world.  Every freshly roasted batch is unique and delicious!  He and Carol also enjoy traveling and often staying at Bed and Breakfasts.

 
Please welcome George and Carol as they visit CtK!

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!

 

Words from the Bishop: End of Life Decisions

Each week, the Bishop of the Montana Synod, the Rev. Jessica Crist, writes an article for the Synod newsletter. Here it is for this week:

 

 

Words from the Bishop:  End of Life Decisions

 

As people in the United States are living longer, there are more and more discussions on quality of life issues. Many of those discussions focus on end of life issues. Patients' rights issues mingle with death with dignity issues. Nobody wants to suffer a prolonged, painful death. And the conversation moves eventually to the right to die. Some states, like Oregon, have incorporated it into their legal system, and have physician-assisted suicide as a legal option.

Montana is a legal no-man's land in this issue. The Supreme Court determined that there is no law prohibiting physician-assisted suicide. But neither is there a law that allows it. In past legislative sessions Montana has seen bills introduced both to allow and to prohibit physician-assisted suicide. Both have failed. But the issue is not likely to go away.

Society has changed a lot in the last several decades. Medical advances enable people to live much longer with debilitating conditions. And at the same time there is a movement to allow people more agency in their own health-care decisions. Every time I drop by the hospital lab across the street I am asked if I have a living will.

Families are not always in agreement with each other on end of life issues. The tragic situation of Terry Schiavo a decade ago brought to the public eye the tragedy than ensues when family members are at odds with each other about the best course of action (or inaction.)

So what can we say as Christians? The ELCA has a social message on "End-of- Life Decisions," adopted in 1992. It affirms 6 basic principles:

            +Life is a gift from God, to be received with thanksgiving.

            +The integrity of the life processes which God has created should be respected: both birth and death are part of these life processes.

            +Both living and dying should occur within a caring community.

            +A Christian perspective mandates respect for each person. Such respect included giving due recognition to each person's carefully considered preferences regarding treatment choices.

            +Truthfulness and faithfulness in our relations with others are essential to the texture of human life.

            +Hope and meaning in life are possible even in times of suffering and adversity, a truth powerfully proclaimed in the resurrection faith of the church.

The statement explores artificially-administered nutrition and hydration, and the refusal of beneficial treatment. And it addresses physician-assisted death. It states:

"As a church we affirm that deliberately destroying life created in the image of God is contrary to our Christian conscience. While this affirmation is clear, we also recognize that responsible health care professionals struggle to choose the lesser evil in ambiguous borderline situations-for example, when pain becomes so unmanageable that life is indistinguishable from torture."

"We oppose the legalization of physician-assisted death, which would allow the private killing of one person by another. Public control and regulation of such actions would be extremely difficult, if not impossible. The potential for abuse, especially of people who are most vulnerable, would be substantially increased."

The entire statement is five pages, and you may find it helpful to read. You can find it at www.elca.org. I commend it to you as part of your moral discernment for the legislative issues that face Montana and Wyoming in the coming months.

In Christ,

Jessica Crist, Bishop

Words from the Bishop

Each week, the pastors of the Montana Synod of the ELCA get an email of news updates from our Synod Office. This week's email included an article from our Bishop, Jessica Crist. It explains a bit how we, as Lutherans, think about our life together in the world - especially in campaign season:

Words from the Bishop-Lutherans and Public Policy-New for September 17

It has been said that the 2 topics you shouldn't bring up in polite company are politics and religion. (I don't agree.) So what happens if you mix the 2, and bring them both up? Toxic or redemptive? It all depends, doesn't it?

 

It is September, and the political signs are cropping up on lawns, and the billboards, TV ads and robo-calls are multiplying like spotted knapweed. Some of the messages out there are a sincere attempt to state a position or point of view. Some seem simply to be aimed at instilling fear and tearing down opponents.

 

How do Lutherans respond to politics? Martin Luther talked about "the two kingdoms," as a way to describe it. The "kingdom on the right" is God's realm, and the "kingdom on the left" is the earthly realm. Luther never suggested that Christians get to function only in the kingdom on the right. Only cloistered monks could claim that lifestyle. We live and function in the world, the world that God created, and the world that God so loved.

 As Lutherans, we take seriously our call to live out our baptismal promises in love for God and love for neighbor. And living out love for neighbor sometimes involves taking a stand for justice. The ELCA has social statements voted on by Churchwide Assemblies, and social messages voted on by the Church Council. ELCA advocacy staff work in Washington, at the United Nations and in state capitals on issues that we have agreed upon as a church.

Is it possible for Lutherans to disagree? Absolutely. While we do our best as a church to discern through prayer and study and research what the most appropriate positions and actions are to a broad issue, we never claim that ours is the only way. Learning to disagree graciously and still be part of the same church is a gift that Christians can share with the larger community.

 

We do not endorse candidates. We may support positions and issues, but we do not support candidates. That would, among other things jeopardize our tax-exempt status.

God has called us to live in the world, and to care for our neighbors. There are many issues in our legislatures, and in our national government that affect the lives of our neighbors. Christians of good will may differ in their responses to the world's challenges. But let us do it with civility, treating those who disagree with us as the children of God that they are. Every legislative session in Montana we have Lutherans on both sides of the aisle. That is good.

Jessica Crist, Bishop

Pedal for Peas

Cyclists from around the Montana Synod will be joining together for "Pedal for Peas" - a 160-mile bike ride to raise awareness of, and funds for, ELCA World Hunger ministries.
Two members of CtK will be riding, and we will be participating as a congregation by providing a staggered lunch for the riders after the last leg of their trip. We'll be offering lunch on Thursday, July 3rd, from 11:00am until 4:00pm.
Want to help? Contact the church office.
Want to donate? Put a check made out to "CtK," with "Pedal for Peas" in the memo line, in the offering plate this Sunday. Thanks!
Want more information on the whole thing? Check out this site (Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in Helena).

Want to ride your bike with others? Join the new-ish CtK small group that gathers to ride for a couple of hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month. Meet in the CtK parking lot (bring your bike, helmet, water bottle, etc.) THIS SATURDAY, June 28th at 9:00am. The group will return about 11:00am.

Happy cycling!

A Great Class in a Great Place

The Northern Rockies Institute of Theology, a ministry of the Montana Synod of the ELCA, offers a Midwinter Theological Conference each year, at the Izaak Walton Inn in Essex, near Glacier Park. This year, the title of the conference, to be held February 4th-6th, is "Being Lutheran in a Multi-Faith World," taught by Dr. Michael Trice. Here's a synopsis:

As Lutherans, we live in a country and world filled with a plurality of religions and perspectives. Conflicting voices contend for their place in church life and in the public square. What does it mean to be Lutheran in the midst of the challenges and opportunities within this changing landscape? In the whirlwind of pluralism and change, what does it mean to be a Lutheran, a Christian, a citizen and even a human being in our current age? Join us for presentations, and conversation. The retreat also includes time for worship, recreation and relaxation.


The registration deadline is January 7th. Check out the NRIT website for more information. And let us know if you plan to go!

GiveBack FeedBack

The Montana Synod Mission Table has a question for you: What best describes your reaction to the word “tithe”? To answer this question, please send a text to 84700; in the message, put Mttithe, then reply to the message that will be sent to you. If you do not have texting capabilities, you can offer your voice and opinion by calling toll free: 1-877-253-9566, and answer the question posed on the answering machine. This question is the first in a series, titled “Give Back Feed Back”, to learn more about stewardship attitudes and practices across the Montana Synod—how and why we “give back” to God. Thanks for participating!

Thank you

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
Matthew 25:35

Over the weekend I attended the Montana Synod Assembly in Great Falls, MT with Pastor Lindean, Jane Mangold, and John Sheppard from Christ the King.

Good news was shared with us and the other voting members and guests of the assembly that I want to pass on to you.

Christ the King ranked third in our regional church body (Montana Synod) for being generous in our gifts towards the Evangelical Lutheran Church Hunger Appeal for 2010. And we were less than $500 from being the number one ranked congregation.

What makes this news even more remarkable is that we gave the greatest amount of gifts for a congregation of our size.

You are making a difference here in the Gallatin Valley and across the globe.

In the name of our Lord Jesus I say, “thank you.”

May Synod Newsletter

The May edition of the Montana Synod Newsletter came out while we were on vacation last week. It's still got lots of great information!
We had a good vacation in Washington - my nephew Evan was baptized on Sunday and we are his sponsors, so it was great to be there to make all those big promises!
See you in worship on Sunday! Remember, our Sunday schedule changes this week: WORSHIP AT 9:00 AM!

Montana Synod Newsletter

Here is the latest newsletter from the Montana Synod. Check it out!

Growing in God's Field III

There's a great event coming in October: Growing in God's Field III. You can read about it on the front page of this month's congregational newsletter and on the Montana Synod website. Brochures and registration forms are now available in our church office. We're hoping to get a dozen or two to participate and bring back some new ideas and energy to CtK. Pastor Grant, Barb and Robert Nolan and I attended Growing in God's Field II two years ago. Ask any of us and we'll tell you it was a great weekend!
Check out this video:

Montana Synod Newsletter

The newest edition of the Montana Synod newsletter is available online here. Check it out!

Montana Synod Newsletter

The June issue of the Montana Synod Newsletter is available. (It came while we were on vacation in Alaska - more about that some other time...)
Check the synod newsletter out here.

Busy Weekend!

An exciting weekend is taking shape here at CtK:

The 2010 Montana Synod Assembly and Theological Conference begins at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Billings on Friday afternoon.

On Saturday morning the men's Bible study meets at Perkins at 6:30am and the women's Bible study meets at 7:30am at Wheat Montana.

Saturday evening there's a Jeni Fleming concert at the Babcock Theater in Billings as part of the Synod Assembly. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door. Drive over and check it out!

Sunday morning will be a great celebration here at CtK: during worship at 9:30am we will be receiving almost 30 new members, recognizing the high school class of 2010, hearing our adult choir sing for the last time this season, having a great cake reception after worship, and then tackling Spring Clean-Up Day (weather permitting) at 11:00am. Wear your jeans to worship and plan on helping out a little!

Staying in Touch with the Churchwide Assembly - the MT Synod Blog

We received this email from the Montana Synod office earlier today. Please do keep our Churchwide Assembly in your prayers as they meet next week.

Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Montana Synod,
The ELCA Churchwide Assembly starts on Monday, August 17. I have asked our Synod to join the Presiding Bishop's call for 50 Days of Prayer preceding the Assembly, and I am grateful that so many of you have participated. I ask you to continue your prayers for the Churchwide Assembly, the Montana Synod's Voting members, and the whole Church throughout the 7 days of the Assembly, and afterwards.
A Churchwide Assembly is many things. It is the highest legislative body of the denomination. It is an opportunity for people from all across the church to get together and pray with one another, learn from one another, work with one another. It is a time to hear from the ministries in which this church is engaged--from disaster relief and refugee resettlement, to early childhood education, to global mission. It is a time when carefully thought out documents and proposals are debated and revised. And it is a time when new ideas come forward and sometimes bear fruit.
At this upcoming Churchwide Assembly, human sexuality is one of the issues being discussed. We will consider a social statement on human sexuality and vote on whether or not to adopt it. That is how these things happen in our denomination--not top-down. Voting members at a previous Churchwide Assembly asked to have a social statement on human sexuality, and voting members at this assembly will vote on whether or not to adopt it as policy. (If you have not read it, you can find it online at http://www.elca.org/.) And voting members will also consider proposals to change the ELCA's standards for rostered ministers. (Again, if you have not read the proposals, do so.) If you look in the newspapers or on TV for news of the assembly, they will probably only report on these issues.
But the Churchwide Assembly is so much more. We will be considering a full-communion agreement with the United Methodist Church. This could have real impact in Montana. After Lutherans, Methodists are the largest Protestant group in Montana. A full-communion agreement with United Methodists could help both our denominations serve our communities better, through sharing. We will be considering the Lutheran Malaria Initiative, an ambitious program dedicated to tackling one of the most prevalant and preventable diseases in the world. We will adopt a budget, elect members of boards and committees, worship, pray, study, and so much more.
I am asking the 12 voting members from our Synod to be available to clusters and congregations to give reports and reflections on the Churchwide Assembly. Invite them! Thank them. Listen to them.
There are ways to keep in touch with what is happening at the Churchwide Assembly. I will be doing a daily blog from the assembly. You can find it at http://montanasynod.org/blogs/blog2.php.
And the ELCA will be providing streaming video of the Assembly as well. http://www.elca.org/livevideo. Below are a whole host of links for assembly materials.
Feel free to contact the Synod Office if you need additional information or assistance.
Thank you for your prayers and your support. It is good to be the church together. And we will continue to be the church together, embracing our differences in God's expansive love.

Your partner in Christ,

Jessica Crist, Bishop


Here are some URL shortcuts for the 2009 Churchwide Assembly Web pages.

2009 Churchwide Assembly links:
* Assembly main page: http://www.elca.org/assembly

* Blessing and Sending for CWA09 participants: http://www.elca.org/assembly/blessing

* Live Web stream: http://www.elca.org/livevideo

* Memorials Report: http://www.elca.org/assembly/memorials

* Multimedia section: http://www.elca.org/assembly/multimedia
CWA09 blog: http://blogs.elca.org/assembly
ELCA Twitter stream: http://twitter.com/ELCA
ELCA Facebook page: http://facebook.com/Lutherans
* Pre-Assembly Report (includes all reports and memorials): http://www.elca.org/assembly/report

* Schedule: http://www.elca.org/assembly/schedule

* Summary of Actions: http://www.elca.org/assembly/voting

* Voting Results (when the assembly starts rolling): http://www.elca.org/assembly/actions


Other relevant links:
You can find an alphabetical listing of topics with URL shortcuts at A-Z Index. But here are a few highlights:

* ELCA News Service: http://www.elca.org/news

* ELCA Studies on Sexuality: http://www.elca.org/faithfuljourney

* Lutheran Malaria Initiative: http://www.elca.org/malaria

* HIV and AIDS: http://www.elca.org/aids

* Full Communion partners: http://www.elca.org/fullcommunion

* Justice for Women: http://www.elca.org/justiceforwomen