Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity and Culture - Adult Forum 2/19/17

This Sunday, February 19th, CtK's Adult Forum will continue conversation around our calling to confront racism and celebrate diversity in culture and ethnicity. So far the conversations have been engaging and thought-provoking.
If  you're planning to participate, here are a few links which will help you get ready:

The 1993 ELCA Social Statement, Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity and Culture.

Reflection on the social statement from Montana Synod Bishop, the Rev. Jessica Crist.

Bishop Crist's reflection on repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery, "Actually, Columbus Didn't Discover America."

See you on Sunday at 9:00am in the social hall!

Welcome, Bishop Jessica Crist

This Sunday we welcome our bishop as the guest speaker in Adult Forum (9:00am) and as our guest preacher in worship at 10:00am. Please greet her and welcome her to Bozeman and Christ the King!

 

The Rev. Jessica Crist is Bishop of the Montana Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  A resident of Great Falls, she is married to Turner Graybill, a retired attorney.  They are members of Bethel Lutheran Church in Great Falls, Montana.  They have two adult children—Rhiannon, who is a professor in the religion department at Rhodes College in Memphis, and Raphael, a recent graduate of Yale Law School.  Bishop Crist grew up in Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Yale College and Harvard Divinity School.

 

Prior to assuming the office of Bishop, Pastor Crist served as Associate to the Bishop for 5 years, and Director of the Northern Rockies Institute of Theology for 18 years.  She served congregations in Great Falls, Montana, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, and started in ministry as a campus pastor.  She served on the Transition Team that helped put together the Montana Synod from the predecessor churches, and was elected Synod Secretary at the Constituting Convention.  She served in that capacity for 12 years.  She has worked with the Montana Association of Churches for many years, including serving as President, and as part of the teaching staff for the Lay Ministry Institute. She has served on the Board of Lutheran World Relief.
Her community service over the years has included chairing boards for the local YWCA, the PTA and the hospital’s Women’s Health Board.  She writes a monthly column for Montana Woman Magazine.

Bishop Crist was elected Chair of the ELCA Conference of Bishops. She currently serves on the Board of the Montana Association of Churches, on the Board of Luther Seminary.

She is a member of the ELCA Task Force on Communal Discernment, the Bishops’ Liason Committee for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, and the Bishops’ Domestic Ready Bench.    

“I am honored to serve as the Bishop of the Montana Synod.  As I travel the Synod and visit your congregations and ministries I get to function as an ambassador.  I get to meet you and listen to your stories.  And I get to share the story of the wider church with you.  I pray for every congregation and every pastor and AIM each week.  And I hope you will join me in praying for the whole church.”

Sunday School for ALL AGES kicks off this weekend; guest speakers in adult forum!

This Sunday CtK launches Sunday School classes for kids age 3-103. (Children under age 3 will sing songs and play in the nursery). Sunday School Registration forms are available now on the CtK website: www.ctkbozeman.org - every child age 3-12th grade needs a form.

This Sunday in the Adult Forum, meeting in the social hall, we welcome Amir, from Iran, and Mahmud, from Jordan. They will tell about their experiences in the USA, as Muslims, and discuss the current media that often portray Islam as a danger to Americans. They may also have some thoughts on how Americans treat visitors (including tourists, refugees and immigrants). This will be an opportunity to broaden your understanding of spirituality and how God is at work through all our hands in this world!

Check out this video:

Remember you are dust... Adult Forum Feb. 8th & 15th

We are approaching the beginning of Lent, which starts on Ash Wednesday, February 18^th. Worshipers will hear on that day, during the imposition of ashes, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” With this reminder of our mortality in mind, Adult Forum for February 8^th and 15^th will focus on caring for ourselves during critical times of health and at the end of life.

On February 8^th, Pastor Grant and his colleagues from the Spiritual Care Department of Bozeman Deaconess Hospital will help Adult Forum attendees understand the health care document “Five Wishes.” It is designed to help individuals put down in writing how they want to be cared for at the end of life.

1. Naming the person I want to make care decisions for me when I can’t
2. The kind of medical treatment I want or don‘t want.
3. How comfortable I want to be.
4. How I want people to treat me.
5. What I want my loved ones to know.

You can learn more at fivewishes.org, sponsored by Aging with Dignity. Aging with Dignity is "a national non-profit organization with a mission to affirm and safeguard the human dignity of individuals as they age and to promote better care for those near the end of life. The life and work of Mother Teresa of Calcutta served as the inspirational foundation of Aging with Dignity."

On February 15^th, both pastors will lead participants in conversation about memorial/funeral service planning. Crafting a meaningful memorial/funeral service can become a powerful testimony by a Christian of how they value the gift of faith as their loved ones and friends bid them farewell and commend them to God’s care. Hymns, prayers, Bible verses, and personal testimony can convey a sense of hope in Christ’s resurrection in the midst of death; a document listing your preferences can be a great gift to your surviving family and friends. Come for a life affirming presentation.

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!