St. Michael and All Angels

Today, 29 September, is the day the Christian church remembers St. Michael and All Angels. St. Michael is mentioned in the Book of Daniel,in the Gospel of Luke, and in the Book of Revelation.

Read these following Bible verses to learn more about St. Michael.
Daniel 10:10-14, 12:1-3
Luke 10:17-20
Revelation 12:7-12

Everlasting God, you have wonderfully established the ministries of angels and mortals. Mercifully grant that as Michael and the angels contend against the cosmic forces of evil, so by your direction they may help and defend us here on earth, through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God whom we worship and praise with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, now and forever. Amen!

Photos from Friday at the Cardboard Box City

A good time was had by all at the Family Promise Cardboard Box City on Friday night. And CtK participants even won some prizes - congratulations!

It's not too late to donate to Family Promise if you'd like to. Check out their website.

And a few more photos from the event:

The Parade of Boxes

Looking for a fun and easy evening "out" on the town tomorrow night? Stop by the Family Promise Cardboard Box City at Bogert Park in Bozeman at 7pm for the Parade of Boxes. Cheer on the CtK members who will be spending the night outside in cardboard (and check out their groovy Monopoly game-themed boxes). Stick around to listen to the speakers and learn about homelessness in the Gallatin Valley - and how Family Promise makes a real difference in the lives of families in our area.
It's gonna be great!

Tag-Ons to Pr. Grant's sermon reflections

On Sunday morning, Pr. Grant once again confessed to having raided the stacks of books I'm reading (yes, there's always more than one book being read at a time, perhaps it's my own version of having a short attention span...)
The book he mentioned on Sunday was The Story of Stuff, by Annie Leonard. She wrote the book after her short movie, of the same name, received a ton of attention, and many folks asked her to expand on the ideas she'd condensed down for easy communication in short video format.
I haven't read the whole book yet, but it is very thought provoking. If you pick up a copy, let me know, I'd love to know what you think.
Here's the video that started it all:



And here's the latest video, The Story of Cosmetics, which makes me glad I got over the habit of making up my face every day. I find it very interesting that companies are not required to prove the safety of their products or ingredients before encouraging us to rub them all over our bodies. Just because it's for sale, doesn't mean it's safe. Thoughts?

Sermon reflections September 19th

1. Read Amos 8:4-7
2. These words are written in the front of one of my study bibles. "God's Word comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable." How do these words apply to you and your situation.
3. Do you know of a company that handles toxic materials in a responsible way? Emily Natale on Sunday reminded me that Apple resources its raw material for production from reliable sources that do not exploit their workers or the environment. Thanks, Emily!
4.Here's an exercise in wise financial management. Pull the credit cards from your wallet/purse and determine the balance you owe on each of the cards and the interest rate charged by each card. You may discover that the $45 you spent on sandals last week are costing you $10 in interest every month you don't pay off the balance owed on the credit card.
5. Is there hope in this bleak passage from the prophet Amos? Where are you bringing hope to the poor here in Bozeman and in greater Gallatin County?

Taize Service this Weekend

All are invited to a service of music, readings and prayers in the style of the Taize community, this Sunday, September 19th at 7pm. The service is meditative, incorporating periods of silence for reflection and prayer.
Curious about Taize? Check out their website, and some of their music.

Family Promise Cardboard Box City

A fabulous box from the 2009 Cardboard Box City

It's that time of year again: time to get a really big box, decorate it, collect pledges, and then sleep in your box at Bogert Park to raise money for Family Promise of Gallatin Valley. The Family Promise Cardboard Box City 2010 is coming Friday, September 24th, with set up beginning at 5pm, dinner at 6pm and the parade of boxes (for everyone, even if you're not spending the night) at 7pm. This event is not only a ton of fun and the biggest fund raiser for an amazing ministry to homeless families in our area, it's practically guaranteed to make you appreciate the roof over your head and the warm, comfortable bed you get to sleep in every night. Not bad, huh?

You can learn more at familypromisegv.org and pick up a brochure and money collection envelope here at CtK.

We'll be having a "Build Your Box" event here on Sunday evening, from 5-7pm. Bring your big box (fridge boxes work well) and decorating supplies, and join with other CtK folks to get ready for next Friday night!

Sermon reflections

Sorry this is getting out a bit late.
The in-laws were in town last weekend and I thoroughly enjoyed their company (as well as them taking us out on a Costco run).

1. Read Luke 15:1-10.
2. Think about the last time you felt lost. It could mean being physically lost or mentally lost due to a divorce, job loss, or death of a family member or friend.
How did you feel? What helped you get oriented once again?
3. How does God "find us?" Can God "find us" through the proclamation of God's Word, or by receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion?
4. Do you rejoice when a loved one is "found?" Can you rejoice when a complete stranger is "found" by God?
5. Name the ways Christ the King helps sinners feel welcomed. Can we do a better job at making them feel more welcomed?

Remember, Education Hour/Sunday School is for EVERYONE - grown-ups, too! We're never done learning about how awesome God is, what the Bible says, what it means to live as a Christian today, how to live in community, etc...

See you Sunday for learning, worship and a great time of food and fellowship at the BBQ Potluck!

Hunger Action Month

Did you know that September is Hunger Action Month? I didn't, until I saw a bunch of handouts at the library earlier this week.

The Gallatin Valley Food Bank has a great calendar of daily activities for the whole month - check it out!

And don't forget to bring a box of cereal for CtK's annual Cereal Drive!

Sermon Reflections

I know I'm a bit late. Some weeks are like that...

Last Sunday's reading from the Gospel according to Luke was a tough one. After worship I asked Grant if my sermon seemed harsh. He hesitated. So I added, "Well, Jesus' words were harsh." And he said something like, "Yes, and you stuck to them." There you go, then.
(Check out the reading, Luke 14: 25-33 and see for yourself.)

We had friends from Missoula stay with us Saturday night, who also came to worship Sunday morning. Julie is a pastor's kid, grew up in the church, and now is raising her son in church, too. We talked a little about the reading, and the sermon, over brunch. She said she appreciated the challenge to live differently, noting that following Jesus isn't always supposed to be easy or comfortable. It might make us squirm to have our shortcomings called out, but that doesn't mean it's not good for us.

I told her about a great line I read somewhere (I have no idea where): People don't commit to that which requires no commitment.

Jesus requires commitment of his disciples. To me it goes back to the first commandment: You shall have no other gods. God is first. In all things. Lord help our lives reflect that, each and every day.

Despair at the gym

Why do we obsess about this woman?

I was working out The Ridge, a Bozeman athletic club, on Friday morning.
In front of the treadmills, stationary bikes, and elliptical trainers are a number of very large flat screen televisions. Two of them are always tuned to Sports Center. One is usually tuned to a local station. Another one broadcasts re-runs of popular cable shows. One television is dedicated to the entertainment channel E!
That television is usually right in front of my favorite elliptical trainer, the third one from the left in the back row.

At the time I was doing my workout, between 8:45 a.m.-10:15 a.m. E! was broadcasting a report about the recent arrest of Paris Hilton in Las Vegas. She was charged with drug possession, a minor charge if she didn’t have a prior criminal record. Unfortunately she does have a record, so it’s big entertainment news.

The report continued with countless portrayals of Ms. Hilton at parties, gatherings, celebrity functions, and the like.

Ms. Hilton appears to enjoy the spot light, no matter how harshly it shines upon her.

My question to the E! Channel and to my fellow television viewers is “Why do we obsess about this woman?” There is hunger in the world. Countless men, women, and children are dying for lack of food, clean water, and sustainable shelter. Who gives a rip what Paris Hilton is up to these days?

Throughout much of my workout I was in great despair.

Then I came to work at Christ the King.

In the social hall, against the north wall by the kitchen entrance, there is a table set up for Gallatin Valley Food Bank. During August and September Christ the King collects boxes and bags of cereal for the food bank. Our goal is three hundred boxes collected by the end of September.

Fifty boxes sat on the table, waiting to be brought to the food bank. Fifty boxes had been collected and distributed.

We are a third of the way to our goal!

I am glad to know there are people in the world who worry more about their hungry neighbors near and far, than the troubles of a misguided celebrity.

FREE Suicide Prevention Webinar

Thanks to CtK member Tom for sending this information our way. Unfortunately our wireless service in the social hall doesn't quite have enough "oomph" to make hosting this webinar a possibility at this point. That said, registration is FREE, so if you've got some free time a week from today, check it out!

Mental Health First Aid for Suicide Prevention
Friday, Sept 10, 2010 11:00 am Mountain time

FREE REGISTRATION

In the United States, a person dies by suicide every 16 minutes. Approximately 87% of people who complete suicide have a mental disorder. But suicide is preventable. September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, and you can make a difference. Take an hour and join us for a webcast that sheds light on the common signs, symptoms, and risk factors for depression and other mood disorders that increase the risk of suicide. Learn how you can recognize when someone is experiencing symptoms of depression or is suicidal and see what you can do to help.The webcast is presented by Marie Dudek, a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor, President of Creating Today, Inc., and the executive committee chair of the Central Florida Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Click on the link for more information about the National Council for Community Behavioral Health Care.

The Cereal Drive Continues

What did you have for breakfast? I ate a nice big bowl of store brand oat honey and nut flavored o's. With the last of the nonfat milk and a glass of orange juice. Yummy!
I'll be stocking up on cereal and milk later today, at one of the local store's 13 hour sales. I'll also be buying a couple of extra boxes of cereal for the Cereal Drive here at CtK. Perhaps you might do the same?

Confirmation Kick-Off

Tonight is Confirmation Orientation for 6th-8th grade students and their parents. I'm really looking forward to beginning another year of questions, stories and lots of laughter, and I think Wednesday night classes will be one of the ministries I miss most when on parental leave.
One of the ways I think about preparation for Affirmation of Baptism (Confirmation) is that it's a partnership between the congregation and domestic church, aka the family. Please pray for our students and their families as we dig in again, that parents will remember all those promises they made at their child's baptism, and realize that they truly are the primary teachers of faith for their kids.
I can talk all I want about the importance and amazing gift of prayer, but if families never pray together, and kids/youth don't see/hear their parents pray, the chances of them growing a strong prayer life are slim.
I can talk all I want about stewardship and the blessings of generosity, but if families are not generous with each other and the world, kids/youth will not learn the joy of sharing who they are and what they have.
You get the idea.
Let's pray!