Photos from the last week of Advent

Photos from the Sunday School Advent/Christmas program on 12/20 and high school/young adult "Cookie Ninjas" delivering treats to those who work the night shift in service to our community, 12/18.

 

... 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

God's work. Our hands. Day of Service - Sunday, September 13th - Part One: School Kits

This fall CtK will join other ELCA congregations for the third annual "God's work. Our hands." Day of Service. There will be several opportunities to serve right here in Bozeman, as well as an opportunity to make a difference around the world.

Assembling School Kits for Lutheran World Relief is one way to have global impact, by making it possible for children who might otherwise not be able to pursue their education to attend school. In order to assemble School Kits, we need folks (you!?) to purchase and donate the supplies for them.

Each School Kit contains:

Four 70-sheet notebooks of wide– or college– ruled paper; no loose-leaf paper
One 30-centimeter ruler, or a ruler with centimeters on one side and inches on the other
One pencil sharpener
One pair of blunt scissors (safety scissors with embedded steel blades work well)
Five unsharpened #2 pencils with erasers
Five black or blue ballpoint pens (no gel ink)
One box of 16 or 24 crayons
One 2 ½” eraser

It is NOT necessary for you to purchase items for one complete kit. Purchase whichever supplies you like, and when everything is gathered we'll put together as many kits as we can. All items should be new and in good condition.

 

For more information about Lutheran World Relief and where school kits go, check out:

lwr.org/schoolkits

 

 

It's a Party!!

It may be hard to believe, but this month marks TEN YEARS since CtK's first service of worship in our current building. There were a lot of prayer, planning, work and faith that went in to making the move from the corner of 3rd and Kagy to the corner of Durston and Flanders Mill.
THIS SUNDAY, June 28th, there will be a celebration of CtK's life in this place, with cake, treats and a special slide show during fellowship time after worship.
A "wish list" has been put together, for those who'd like to include giving a gift as part of the celebration. The list includes:
Toilet Paper
Paper Towels
Postage Stamps (First Class, "Forever" stamps)
Postcard Stamps
New Crayons
Garbage Bags
Copy Paper (letter size: white, pastel, brights)
Copy Paper (legal size, white)
Copy Paper (ledger size, buff/ivory)
Coffee (regular, decaf)
Flat Screen TVs (2, 30"-40")
White Board Markers

And,  CtK's fabulous nursery attendant, "Miss Liz," has shared a list of things that need updating/replacing after 10+ years of wear and tear in the nursery:

Step 2 Kitchen (prefer Modern Cook Kitchen, Heart of the Home Kitchen, or Lifestyle Dream Kitchen)
Plastic Play Food & Dishes
Small Cars (Hot Wheels size up to smart phone size)
Car Garage (2, prefer Wader Quality Toys or Fisher Price)
Plastic Animals (prefer Learning Resources)
Baby dolls with clothes and blankets (at least 2 dolls are needed)
Baby doll High Chair
Plastic tool bench and tools (prefer American Plastic Toys or Step 2)
Books (for ages 1-4, prefer Christian books/Bible stories, classics, Dr. Seuss)
Puzzles (ages 1-4)
Cloth Storage Cubes to go with the shelving in the nursery

Thanks so much for joining the celebration!

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!

 

Service Plunge & Family Art Night photos

Those gathered at CtK this past Sunday had a great time, kicking off another year of learning in Sunday School, blessing backpacks, and enjoying this video of photos from the Middle School Service Plunge and Family Art Nights this summer. Enjoy!

Holy Week and Easter Schedule

Be still and know that I am God.

My life is not very quiet these days.

This is why I need the quiet atmosphere of midweek Lenten worship to calm my mind, body, and spirit.

I have always enjoyed evening worship. There is something about darkness, candlelight, quiet music, and gentle voices that calm me and help me be still.

My eldest daughter Marit won’t take an afternoon nap unless she is still and quiet.

I have a hard time sensing the presence of the Holy Spirit unless I am still and quiet.

Evening worship provides an opportunity to be still and quiet.

A musical prelude and postlude draws me into the worship space, and keeps me there when I think I need to leave to tend to my duties as a pastor, husband, and father.

The contrast between darkness and light during evening worship holds my attention, unlike some other lighting arrangements.

Quiet voices reading scripture, uttering prayers, and singing hymns calm me down much like when I speak to my boisterous children with a still, small voice.

I will continue to participate in evening worship because I need the quiet, I need the calm, and I need the stillness to help me sense the presence of God’s Holy Spirit.

Perhaps that is God’s gift to us during this season leading up to Holy Week and Easter.

We need the quiet. We need the calm. We need the stillness to help us sense the presence of God’s Holy Spirit.

Trunk or Treat!

Trunk or Treat is THIS Sunday, October 27th. Trunk set up will begin at 4:00pm, and more trunks are needed! Bring some treats to hand out (candy or otherwise - we've got some erasers to hand out from our trunk) and dress up in costume if you'd like. There just might be a prize for the best trunk decorations. At 4:30pm the Trunk or Treating will officially begin, and there will be games for kids in the social hall as well.
Invite your friends and neighbors - the more the merrier!
---
A word about Halloween, from one of my ELCA clergy colleagues:
At this time of year, many Christian parents wonder if they should allow their children to take part in Halloween activities. The Christian history of Halloween (All Hallows’ Eve) ties it to All Saints Day (the following day). It is a part of a celebration of Christ’s victory over sin, death, and the devil.
Far from acknowledging Satan’s power or “worshiping the devil,” Halloween actually is a way of making fun of the devil and celebrating the truth that Christ has been victorious and evil has been defeated. Let your kids know this.
Use Halloween for fun; put on the masks, walk with the little ones, and have a good time.

Blessing of the Backpacks

It's that time of year again: the first day of school is just around the corner!

Here at CtK we want to bless students (of all ages) and teachers as they head back to the classrooms. So, all students, teachers, professors, and everyone else headed back to school, are invited to bring their backpacks/school bags/brief cases to worship with them THIS SUNDAY, August 25th, at 10am for a blessing as the new school year begins.

Vacation Bible School 2013 - God's Backyard Bible Camp!

CtK's Vacation Bible School begins on Monday, July 29th and runs through August 2nd. This year we're trying something a little different, and VBS will be in the evening, from 5:45-7:45pm each night. Children age 4 years  - entering 5th grade this fall are invited to attend and have a great time! We'll sing, learn, play and have a great time serving!

Registration forms are available online at the CtK website: www.ctkbozeman.org Please fill out one per child and bring it with you on Monday evening.

Have questions? Contact the church office at 587-4131.

VBS & The Pancake Buffet

We're in the middle of a wonderful week of Vacation Bible School. Our theme this year is Splash in God's Word, and each day students are learning great, water-filled, Bible stories. Pictures will be posted at the end of the week...

The end-of-VBS tradition continues with a Pancake Buffet following worship THIS SUNDAY, August 5th. The Learn Ministry Team will provide the pancakes - bring a favorite topping to share! Berries, a variety of syrups, sprinkles, whipped cream, etc., have all proven popular in the past. What's your favorite?

The Tale of The Three Trees

The children and youth of CtK have been hard at work during this season of Lent, rehearsing an adaptation of The Tale of the Three Trees.
Their final rehearsal will be this Saturday, March 31st, from 10-11am.
They will perform the musical on Sunday, April 1st, at 9:30am. If you enjoyed their fabulous Christmas program, you're going to love this! Invite your friends and family to join you for the musical, and then to stay for worship. This week is Palm/Passion Sunday. Worshipers will gather in the social hall for the procession with palms, and then hear the Passion story from the Gospel according to Mark. There will be hymns and other great music as well.
See you in worship as we begin Holy Week!

(Looking for an opportunity to pray and reflect as we begin Holy Week? The Gallatin Valley Interfaith Association is offering a Labyrinth Walk, hosted at CtK, on Saturday, March 31st, from 11am-4pm. Come and check it out!)

Sledding Fun 4 Everyone!

The third annual sledding party is THIS weekend, Saturday, January 21st, beginning at 4:30pm, and with the arrival of winter, promises to be a good time for EVERYONE (this is a fabulous intergenerational event!)! Just meet at the 100 Acre Park (the big hill near the Dinosaur Park).
Bring your sled, saucer or inner tube, wear lots of warm gear, and bring snacks to share, too, if  you want. Some snacks, hot cocoa and water will be provided.
Parents: Please plan to stick around and sled with/supervise your kids!
Questions? Contact the church office: 587-4131.

Blessing of the Backpacks this Sunday, 9am

The Belgrade School District began classes for the 2011-2012 school year today. Bozeman Schools and MSU launch the fall term on Monday. Are you ready? I, for one, am not feeling particularly ready for summer to be over. That said, the fall is always an exciting time to begin new learning challenges, catch up with folks who traveled a lot over the summer, and recognize with awe and amazement how quickly some of those students are growing!
This Sunday, August 28th, during worship at 9am, backpacks and school bags - and most importantly students, teachers, and other school-types - will be blessed. So, if you're heading back to the classroom, bring your own school bag with you to worship for the blessing!

A GREAT week of VBS!

It's Wednesday - which means VBS is already more than half way over. Where do the days go?
We're having a great week, thanks to so many wonderful adult and teen leaders and helpers, and all the children who are here to learn, praise, pray, create and have fun!
Check out the CtK website for the daily VBS "newsletters."
And enjoy some pictures of the week so far! (The donkeys came for "duct tape the tail on the donkey" on Wednesday, when we talked about Palm Sunday and Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Cool, huh?)

July Outdoor Adventure

We will meet for Outdoor Adventures on Saturday, July 9th, in the CtK parking lot at 9am.
This will be a short, scenic hike, ideal for children. We plan to walk 1.5 miles around a beautiful forested lake, just 25 miles driving distance from Bozeman. We plan to return to Bozeman at 12noon, approximately.
Those interested can climb to Garnet Mountain Lookout or Storm Castle Peak, returning to CtK at approximately 6pm.
For more information, call Jerry and/or LaVonne Nilesen, 587-8643, and to make travel arrangements.

Great American Backyard Camp Out!

If the weather holds, CtK will be participating in the Great American Backyard Camp Out tomorrow night, Saturday, June 25th. Folks will start to gather on the congregation's lawn at 5pm, pitch tents, grill dinner and make s'mores! (Please bring your own camping gear and food). Then they'll spend the night under the stars and get up in time for OUTDOOR WORSHIP on Sunday morning.
Even if you aren't planning on spending the night, consider bringing a camp chair or picnic blanket to sit on during worship on Sunday morning (not to mention sunblock or a hat!).
Let's enjoy God's beautiful creation together!

Lutheran College Fair (and application fee waivers!)

Here's a great event to encourage youth and their families to attend this weekend. The schedule:

2pm = Registration; 2:15pm = Financial Aid Seminar; 2:45-4:00pm = College Fair (Reception & Hors d'Ouvres).

All families attending will receive FOUR APPLICATION FEE WAIVERS (up to a $60 value each), applicable for any Lutheran College/University listed on the fee waiver.

Yes, it's BHS's prom, but if you're a high school student or parent, this event is for YOU!

Lutheran Educational Conference of North America

Lutheran College Fair

Saturday May 8, 2-4 p.m.

Hope Lutheran Church

2152 W Graf St, Bozeman, MT

What student age group benefits from attending a Lutheran College Fair?
The college search process has changed dramatically over the last decade. Families are beginning to plan much earlier in an effort to find the best “fit” for their child. Visiting college campuses can be an expensive proposition if you wait until your high school years to begin familiarizing yourselves with the wide variety of college experiences available. Family vacations now often include stops on college campuses.

If your child is in elementary school, it would benefit parents to participate in the financial aid seminar held in conjunction with the Lutheran College Fair. This seminar is applicable to all families, regardless of the choice of college/university. The financial aid process is much more easily navigated if you get an early start on understanding the process, the system, and how to maximize your opportunity to receive financial aid (scholarships, grants, work-study, loans).

If your child is in middle school, he/she can greatly benefit from discussions with admissions representatives about high school course selection. Parents can benefit from the financial aid seminar and discussions with admissions representatives pertaining to high school course selection. There are specific requirements in the high school curriculum necessary for preparation for college. Attending a Lutheran college fair can be a fabulous motivator for a middle school student. You will have an opportunity to get on the mailing lists for those colleges/universities in which you are interested.

If your child is in high school, the college search process is usually in full swing, so students of all high school grades can greatly benefit from conversations with admissions representatives regarding their potential major, athletic participation, fine arts opportunities, summer plans, and how to go about applying for scholarships. Students and parents should seriously plan several college visits beginning as early as the freshman year in high school. A college fair offers a unique opportunity to begin to establish relationships with counselors at Lutheran colleges/universities nationwide.

Check out more information about Lutheran colleges and universities at http://www.lutherancolleges.org/

Deer Pants

This text is from an email we received in the CtK office today - a mom in the congregation shared this conversation with her son (names removed to protect the innocent...) I just have to share my son's question he asked me on the way home from worship last Sunday: We were in the car, almost home, and he asked, "What are deer pants?" I looked out the window, saw nothing (I'm not sure what I expected to see), and said, "WHAT?" "Deer pants. What are they?" "I have no idea. Where did you hear about them?" "In church today." "Ok. WHAT????" He grabbed the bulletin and read directly from the final communion hymn... "As the deer pants..." Isn't that great! He was picturing some sort of outerwear for deer! I wonder what other nuggets of humor and wisdom the children of the congregation could share with us?