More thoughts on last Sunday's Gospel text

Though I wasn't the preacher this past Sunday, I have been reflecting on the Gospel reading from Luke. I hear Jesus' call to invite "the poor, the blind, the crippled and the lame" to dinner, instead of one's friends and family, and think, "But I don't really KNOW that many poor, blind, crippled, or lame people." And then I think, "Why is that? Maybe I should."
What does it say about contemporary small town/suburban life that it's pretty easy to go day after day without crossing paths with folks who are all that different from me?
Our household gives regularly to the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, and that's a good thing, but I don't know many folks who receive regularly from the Gallatin Valley Food Bank. I wonder how my life would be different - better, I'd bet - if I did. Jesus isn't just calling us to share what we have with those we don't know, but to get to know those who would benefit from our sharing. I believe it's in the relationship that everyone benefits, perhaps the ones sharing most of all. Yes, it might make me more uncomfortable on one level, to put names and faces and very real lives to all the statistics it's so easy to shrug off, but is it right, or holy, to avoid that discomfort?

Sunday Reflections

1. Read Luke 14:1, 7-14.
2. Why do the guests actions (v. 7) attract Jesus’ attention? How do you imagine this scene? How does Jesus’ view of honor vary from that held by others at the meal?
3. How do things like customs and status get in the way of loving others in your family? Church? Work place? School? Community? World?
4. If you could throw a party for the “poor,” “crippled,” “lame,” and “blind” in your world, would you invite? How might you do this?

Cereal Drive Continues

CtK's Annual Cereal Drive is on! So far we've collected fewer than 50 boxes; our goal is 300+!
If you're able, pick up an extra box (or two) of breakfast cereal the next time you're at your favorite grocery store, and bring it to worship with you on Sunday. Volunteers will make sure it gets to the Gallatin Valley Food Bank.
Thanks!

Annual Blessing of the Backpacks this Sunday

School is starting! School is starting! For some of our students, classes began yesterday. Others hit classrooms this coming Monday. Please remember to hold all learners and educators in prayer this week and next!

This Sunday, August 29th, we'll have our annual Blessing of the Backpacks during worship at 9:30am. All students, teachers, professors, etc., are encouraged to bring their school bags with them to worship for the blessing.

A Prayer for Schools

Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges and universities, that they may be lively places for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen

-ELW, p. 78

Spaghetti Feed & Silent Auction

CtK is hosting a Spaghetti Feed & Silent Auction to benefit baby Shelby and her family. While she is growing stronger each day, Shelby remains in the NICU, after being born 16 weeks early back in April.
All funds raised will go to help the Ullom family with medical bills and other expenses resulting from Shelby's hospitilization and care.
Who could you invite to join you for this fun event? There will be lots of great items to bid on (photo sessions, salon services, a ton (literally!) of hay, lots of handmade arts and crafts, gift certificates to local businesses and more) and super tasty food to eat. A free will offering will be received at the door, how much do you think we can raise?
The Broadwater-Gallatin chapter #30546 of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will be matching funds up to $5000. How great would it be if we can send several thousand dollars to the Ulloms!?!

Sunday Reflections

Did you notice that last week Pastor Grant wrote a reflection following his sermon on Sunday the 15th? Each week, the preacher is going to try to write something as a follow-up to his/her sermon, to help folks keep thinking about and applying the message to everyday life. Please let us know what you think! (especially you, Mr. Anderson...)

What IS Sabbath/Sunday for? Have you thought any more about that question? Have you considered being more intentional in the way you "remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy?"
In the Hebrew Scriptures, we see a development in thought about Sabbath - starting as a day to rest, as God rested in creation (Exodus 20), then as a way to celebrate freedom (Deuteronomy 5), and later as an identifying characteristic of God's people (Ezekiel): Who are the people of God? The Sabbath-keepers. Holiness, social justice, identity.

What gets in the way of your own sabbath-keeping? How would your life and schedule the rest of the week need to change in order for you to truly have a day off every week? Would it mean less TV on Tuesdays so that you could take a nap on Sunday? Getting the laundry and shopping done on Friday so that the to-do list doesn't get in the way of worship?

What blessings might you find in honoring sabbath? I know that I enjoy looking forward to a day with no "have-to's," or even "need-to's." Honoring sabbath reminds me that I'm not the one responsible for keeping the world spinning - not even my little corner of it. Keeping sabbath offers rest from the week before and fuel for the week ahead. Not that I'm always that good at it, but when the rhythm of my life includes a weekly day that is totally unlike the others, my life is better, and I'd venture to say I'm a better person to live and work with.

In Practicing Our Faith, Dorothy Bass writes,

What, besides churchgoing, is Christian Sabbath keeping? The answer must be
tailored to specific circumstances and will vary considerably in different
cultures and stages of life. It will be helpful in each circumstance to reflect
carefully on both what is good and what is not.
What is not good on Sabbath, or in Sabbath time? We would do well to heed
three millenia of Jewish reflection on the Sabbath commandment. Not good are
work and commerce and worry. To act as if the world cannot get along without our
work for one day in seven is a startling display of pride that denies the
sufficiency of our generous Maker. To refrain from working - not every day, but
one in seven - opens the temporal space within which glad and grateful
relationship with God and peaceful and appreciative relationship with nature and
otehr people can grow. Refraining from work on a regular basis should also teach
us not to demand excessive work from others. Commerce? Buying and spending are
closely related to working too much; they depend on work, create the conditions
for more work, and often are work. We could refrain from shopping on
Sundays, making a choice that might complicate the weekly schedule at first but
should soon become a refreshing habit. And worry? It may be difficult to banish
cares from our minds altogether, but we can refrain from activities that we know
will summon worry - activities like paying bills, preparing tax returns, and
making lists of things to do in the coming week.
And what is good on a Christian Sabbath? Most important is joyful worship
that restores us to communion with the risen Christ and our fellow members of
his body, the church. For Christians, every Sunday is Easter Sunday, a time
to gather together with song and prayer, to hear the Word proclaimed, and to
recognize Christ in the breaking of the bread. It is a festival, a spring of
souls, a day of freedom not only from work but also from condemnation. At
times, worshiping communities lose sight of this: hymns drag, elders judge,
children fidget, fancy clothes constrain, and the minutes tick
slowly by. In other congregations, joyful prayer and song burst
through the seams of the worship service, and hours pass before anyone is
ready to leave. The contrast suggests that we all need to remember that
Sunday worship is not just about "going to church"; it is about taking part in
the activity by which God is shaping a new creation. It is a foretaste
of the feast to come.

In Sabbath, Wayne Muller writes,

Our lack of rest and reflection is not just a personal affliction. It
colors the way we build and sustain community, it dictates the way we respond to
suffering, and it shapes the ways in which we seek peace and healing in the
world. I have worked for twenty-five years in the fields of community
development, public health, mental health, and criminal justice. With a few
notable exceptions, the ways problems are solved is frantically,
desperately, reactively, and badly. Depsite their well-meaning and generous
souls, community and corporate leaders are infected with a fearful desperation
that is corrosive to genuine helpfulness, justice or healing. As Brother
David Stiendl-Rast reminds us, the Chinese pictograph for "busy" is
composed of two characters: heart and killing.

A Welcoming Congregation

I've been doing a little research to help out one of our church council members who is writing a newsletter article for the September newsletter. It's amazing how much good stuff (and how much junk) there is online these days.

One of the good things I found online today is a set of "Tools for a Healthy Congregation," on an archived page of the ELCA website. There are three sections: Faithful, Welcoming and Generous. In addition to descriptions and stories to go along with each adjective, there are self-assessments showing how a congregation can becoming more faithful, welcoming and generous. If you decide to take any of the assessments, let me know what you learn!

Here's a great description of a Welcoming Congregation:
To be a welcoming congregation is to learn to welcome strangers as neighbors. It means moving from the mindset of “We know everybody here” to “I wonder who will come next; I can’t wait to get to know them!”
In welcoming congregations ALL members bear the responsibility of being a greeter. They have adopted the norm that they speak to at least one stranger BEFORE they speak to their friends. If they see someone they don’t know, they introduce themselves and welcome the visitor.

Do you think YOU could make it a habit to speak to at least one person you don't know (beyond just smiling and saying, "Good morning") before you talk to your friends and family here at CtK? You might be surprised how many regular worshipers you DON'T know. You might be the first to welcome someone new to Bozeman and new to the congregation.

How might the Holy Spirit use YOU on a regular old Sunday, to extend hospitality and welcome to new folks as well as the CtK "regulars?" What are some places, and who are some people, who have made you feel welcome when you've been the newbie? What can you learn from them?

Do you think you could make it a habit to talk to someone of a different generation at least once a week? How long would it take to get to know the names of every middle school and high school student? All of the elementary school kids? How would you feel if every Sunday a whole bunch of kids ran up to you to say "Hi!" and give you a high five? (It feels pretty great, trust me).

What do you have to lose?

Mark your calendar NOW!

The Learn Ministry Team met this afternoon, and in keeping with the tradition of the last several years, VBS 2011 will be the first week of August, 2011. So, MARK YOUR CALENDARS and plan to make a difference in the lives of the children of our community during Vacation Bible School, August 1st-5th, 2011!

My best garage sale purchase, ever!

I have a bible on the book shelf here in my office at Christ the King.

It cost me 1 buck to purchase it back in 1992.

Best dollar I ever spent.

The binding is now broken, and the pages are marked with yellow highlighter from the previous owner.

But I like it because the garage sale bible still gets read on occasion.

It’s not leather bound, or minature. It’s pages don’t have gold around the edges, like the bible I use during worship.

It’s a simple bible, well read and well loved.

What treasures will you find at garage sales this summer?

Pakistan Floods - Emergencies - Disaster Response - Lutheran World Relief

Check out this link to Lutheran World Relief's response to the flooding in Pakistan:

Pakistan Floods - Emergencies - Disaster Response - Lutheran World Relief

Post Sunday thought and reflection on Luke 1:46-55

Luke 1:46-55
Mary’s Song of Praise
46 And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
48 for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’


1.What song or story from the bible would you want to share with your child or another adult?
2.Do you remember caring adults in your life who shared stories of God’s activity in the world?
3.Make a list of those caring adults in your life. If they are still alive, contact them and thank them for their witness. If they are deceased and awaiting the promise of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, name them in prayer and thank God for their faithful witness.
4.What words of phrases in Mary’s Song give you comfort? What words or phrases make you uncomfortable? Why?

Mission Trip Journal, The Return Home

This is the fourth and final installment of the CtK Middle School & High School Mission Trip to the Yakama Indian Reservation group journal. Enjoy!

July 23rd, Day 6 - Saying Good-bye, arriving in Coeur d'Alene, the afternoon and evening at Silverwood Theme Park.
Q: Who was it hardest to say good-bye to this morning? Why was it hard?
A: For me, it was hard to say good-bye to all the new friends I'd made. I had become especially close with these people: Luke, Sam and Rebecca. It was hard because I had worked with them and hung out with them all week and we had gotten really close. I hope we will be able to keep in touch! - Courtney

Q: The best thing about Silverwood was...
A: The best part about Silverwood was being able to stay late and ride some roller coasters at night. One of the roller coasters named Thunder Shock was the last coaster Jesse, Marley and I rode. It was an exhilarating ride and it woke us up. I wanted to ride again and again. - Robert

Q: My favorite part of today was...
A: Silverwood! Because one of the rides, Tremors, was freaky. There weren't any loop de loops, it was just fast and shake and dark... oh my! - Jeannette

Q: This trip was good because...
A: of the mission trip. I learned how to "be" more with Jesus and there were many new ways to see, hear, be with God. They were good teachers, the YouthWorks staff. - Robert

Q: The best parts of the trip were ___________ because ____________.
A: The best part was meeting new people and helping with kids and houses. THe most fun was serving God. - Marley

Q: The hardest parts of the trip were _______ because _________.
A: The hardest part of the trip was pleaseing the kids, because we didn't know them at first. - Jeannette

Q: I learned...
A: how good it feels to serve God and serve the community. I loved this mission trip! - Julian

Mission Trip Journal, Days 4 and 5

If you're just joining us, please go back and read the posts from Tuesday and Wednesday. Thanks!

July 21st, Day 4 - Third day of service on the Yakama Reservation
Q: Is there anything you didn't pack for the trip but wish you did? What is it and why do you wish you had it?
A: A ball, or frisbee, so I could contribute to the fun during free time. Sometimes we end up sitting around waiting for the next activity. Not that this event isn't fun, but some sections can be dull. - Jesse

Q: What was Bible study/devotions like this morning?
A: Devotions was really nice this morning since we got to go outside and lay on the lawn. I thought it was really peaceful and relaxing. - Julian

Q: How do you think God is using you to make a difference in the world this week?
A: It feels like he is using me to teach the kids about him. He's having Cory teach us how he worships him.

Q: What or who surprised you today? How?
A: The new friends that I meet. They become closer to us. But God brought them to me. I don't know the purpose that they have come to me. I think Memile and Katlin became our friends to show to me that I can be a friend and make people's days better. - Robert.

July 22nd, Day 5 - Fourth day of serving on the Yakama Reservation
Q: What are you missing about home?
A: I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME! No, but I've had an amazing time here. I've met so many amazing people and done some awesome things that really inspired me. However, I miss my friends and my own bed. I also miss long, hot showers! (Sadly, I miss my cell phone more than I should.) - Courtney

Q: What was the best part of your day today?
A: The best part of my day was having the time to spend with the new friends that I have met. Almost everything we did together. - Robert

Q: Which ministry site did you go to today? What did you do - what was the day like?
A: Kids' club. Today was "Funday," so today we played with water. The kids had a blast. It was particularly difficult to prevent the youth from playing with the water balloons, the kids needed to have fun first. - Jesse

Q: How have your feelings about Indian Reservations changed this week?
A: They haven't. - Jeannette

The end of the journey tomorrow...

Mission Trip Journal, Days 3 and 4

Go back to yesterday's post if you have no idea what I'm up to here, with the group journal kept by the participants in the CtK Mission Trip to Yakama.

July 19th, Day 3 - First day of service on Yakama Reservation
Q: What were your meals like today? What did you eat?
A: Good. B: cereal. L: sandwich. D: pasta. - Jeannette

Q: What was the hardest thing about your day today?
A: Opening up to a new perpsective on God from the Native Americans and how they view him and how they think of him. - Marley

Q: Did you go to kids' club or do home repair today? Tell about your experience.
A: I did home repairs today. I helped paint a house and today we just painted the trim but tomorrow we get to paint the actual house. It was really fun and I had a good time. - Julian

Q: The funniest thing that happened today was...
A: when one of the adult leaders started "preaching" to us about the zombie apocalypse. Bob and another group of kids were engaged in this huge conversation about the best way to survive. It was fantastic. Bob definitely knew what he was talking about. - Courtney

July 20th, Day 4 - Second day of service on the Reservation
Q: What was Club time like tonight?
A: Club tonight was fun but also kind of interesting because the main story of the day was the same as the story we had a sermon on on Sunday morning. The story was about when Jesus visits Martha and Mary and Mary listens to Jesus while Martha cleans the house. When Martha gets mad at Mary for not helping her Jesus tells her that it is better to listen and spend time with him than to be distracted by other things. We talked about how we need less distractions and more time just to be with Jesus. - JJ

Q: Who is the most interesting person you've met so far? What makes him/her interesting?
A: Cory has been the most interesting person. We are total strangers to him and he invites us like we knew him forever. He showed how he worshiped God. - Marley

Q: What was the weather like today? How does it affect the day?
A: The weather today was really hot. One of the leaders said it was about 95 degrees! Since I was helping paint it was better than it raining, but it could have been a little cooler because it was hot! - Julian

Q: Did you do kids' club today or repairs? Tell about your experience.
A: Today I worked with kids' club. Quite honestly, it was INCREDIBLE. Jeannette and I worked for the "Sharing Square," where we sang songs and read a story from the Bible. The kids had instant connections with all of the YouthWorks kids. A lot of the little girls loved to play and so I spent a lot of time with them. My back is a little sore from all the piggy back rides, but to see all the kids so happy was amazing! They are so full of energy and love. - Courtney

The journey continues...

CtK Garden Goodies

Check out this great photo of the first produce from the CtK garden delivered to the Gallatin Valley Food Bank yesterday. Many thanks to Ron Hanson for his work in the garden and for delivering the food (48 pounds so far!) to the food bank. If you haven't checked the garden out, stop by this week, or go peek on Sunday!

Mission Trip Presentation this Sunday

This Sunday, August 15th, the youth and adults who participate in the YouthWorks mission trip to the Yakama Indian Reservation in Washington will be making a presentation about their trip. The generous support of the congregation made this trip possible - don't miss hearing all about it and seeing the photos, too!

In addition to serving, making new friends, worship and Bible study, the group also kept a journal, responding to prompts each day. This week I'll highlight a few each day... a foretaste of the feast to come on Sunday.

July 17th, Day 1 - drive from Bozeman to Spokane
Q: What are you most nervous about for this mission trip?
A: I am most nervous about the kids getting along the whole week! I trust that they will make the best of their time together and take some "me" time if they need it. - Barb

Q: Tell about one interesting thing you saw on the way from Bozeman to Spokane.
A: One thing I noticed was that almost every car that passed us on the freeway was from Washington, even when we were in Montana. Silly Washingtonians! - Courtney

Q: What do you think will be the best part of this trip?
A: I think the best thing will be sleep. - Jeannette

July 18th, Day 2 - worship at Central Lutheran, Spokane, drive to mission site, meet other groups and leaders.
Q: How was worship this morning at Central Lutheran Church in Spokane? How was it similar/different from worship at CtK?
A: It was different ebcause there were not a lot of kids, had an organ. Everything had a memory of someone or something. They had stained galss, it was really cool - every single window had a story. - Marley

Q: What are your first impressions of the YouthWorks staff and site?
A: Cheerful, and they had their goofy sides. They seem kind and ready to help. - Jesse

Q: What are your first impressions of the other youth groups and leaders?
A: My 1st impression of the youth is that many of them are a lot younger than me. Lots of them are in middle school and only a few high schoolers. - JJ

More to come...

BBQ and Potluck this Sunday

EVERYONE is invited to worship at 9:30am this Sunday, when the VBS kids will sing a favorite song or two from Baobab Blast. After worship we'll have a potluck and BBQ. Burgers, hot dogs, buns, condiments and beverages will be provided. Please bring a salad, side dish or dessert to share. And feel free to bring croquet, bocce ball or a frisbee for some lawn game action. Invite your friends and neighbors, it's going to be great!

Newest "Bold Cafe" Issue Online: The changing relationship with our parents

The newest issue of Women of the ELCA's online zine for young women is now available. Check it out here.

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:

Fun at VBS

Vacation Bible School is FUN!

The Baobab Blast is Underway!

It's Vacation Bible School time here at CtK- 40 kids and a whole bunch of teen and adult leaders are here for "God's Great Get Together: The Baobab Blast!"

The kids are learning about life with God and with each other, as well as life on the African Savannah: so many animals, so many plants, so many customs that are different from ours! The songs are fun and rhythmic - make sure to put the VBS sing-along and Ice Cream Social on your calendar for this Thursday at 6:30pm. Ice cream will be provided - bring your favorite topping to share for the "build your own sundae bar." Yum!

Today's theme was Trust. We really can trust God, just like Abraham and Sarah did back in Genesis 12:1-9. The Bible Memory Verse today is Psalm 37:5 - Let the LORD lead you and trust him to help. See if you can commit it to memory, too!

Please keep the kids and leaders in your prayers this week. We're hoping for a FUN and SAFE week here at Ctk!