Guest Post - Fasting for 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!

Fasting for Hunger

February 29, 2016 - LEAP DAY!

by Barb Benson

Are you giving up something and fasting for Lent? …how about on February 29^th?

I sort of grimaced when Pastor Lindean asked me to write up something about fasting for our CtK blog. Given I am a registered dietitian, I would be expected to know something about fasting…and I do. Unfortunately, I did too much of it as a teenager in angst that it imprisoned me into an unhealthy binge/purge cycle.  After individual and group counseling and regular visits with a dietitian in my early college years, I am thankful that I learned to like my body and take better care of it. I also changed my major to nutrition and have not had the desire to fast or restrict my eating since then.

The word “fast” from the Unger’s Bible Dictionary means, in Hebrew, “to cover” (the mouth) and in Greek “to abstain.” Yet the purpose of “fasting” described in the Bible also has a spiritual component connected to it that goes far beyond restriction and dieting for the sake of self-sacrifice or the hope of cleansed living or temporary weight reduction.  Many of the Bible’s Greats like Moses, Elijah, Daniel, Paul, and even Jesus, fasted as a way to draw closer to God, as it seems to be combined with prayer and often repentance. I’m told that fasting can help remind us of our dependence on God and his provisions- help fine-tune the senses to be more like-minded with our Creator.

We are given an extra day this year on February 29^th. The ELCA World Hunger’s 40 Days of Giving is challenging us to consider fasting and instead of eating a meal or drinking a fancy coffee to spend that time with God and pass the money “saved” to someone in need. Collectively this could be a big “drop” into our piggy banks and not only make a difference in our World Hunger giving but time alone with God promises to have an even more profound impact on our living. That’s exciting!

Jeff and I have seen first-hand what “piggy bank” donations can do. Early in our marriage we returned to Jeff’s home in Tanzania and were Associates in Mission with ELCA Global Mission. Jeff worked for MSAADA that helped church-related projects design and build buildings such as hospitals, colleges, and churches. They designed a rural hospital cooking structure for families to use for providing food to sick family members. Actually- CtK's Sunday School donations helped fund that project! CtK also was a part of starting the “nutrition program” at that same hospital, to provide local and nutritious foods to malnourished children and microloans in the surrounding community. For under $1/day, “piggy bank” donations helped treat a malnourished toddler for a day in that hospital. God really does miraculous things with little offerings.

Will you join me in some sort of “fast” this leap year? Your fast will look different than mine. Could be you will fast from the technological feast we devour each day or the extra hours you spend at the office. Whatever you “give up”…may God and the amazing things he can do through us be our focus as we entrust our time, talent, and treasure back to him.

ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission - applications due 2/15!

This is copied from the ELCA YAGM website:

Young Adults in Global Mission

The ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission program invites ELCA young adults ages 21-29 into a transformative, year-long journey in international service. As they offer themselves in service, ELCA young adults are shaped by the witness of our global neighbors. They share in the journeys of companion churches and organizations in one of nine countries around the world.
A year of service through the Young Adults in Global Mission program invites young adults to become the hands and feet of Jesus in the world, providing critical support to ministries and projects in communities of need. It also invites volunteers into a journey of self-reflection, providing space to consider their sense of identity, God’s work in the world, and their place within it all.
Young adults serve in the spirit of accompaniment, walking alongside global companions in a manner that practices mutuality, interdependence and solidarity. Areas of service include, but are not limited to, health and development, congregational ministry, human rights, education, homelessness, addiction recovery, women’s issues and children and youth. All site placements provide opportunities for young adults to confront issues of wealth and poverty, racial privilege, economic disparity and globalization, all through the lens of faith.
Candidates for Young Adults in Global Mission apply to the program at-large rather than to a specific country. Applicant preferences are taken into account but the final decision about where volunteers serve is made by Global Mission staff and YAGM country coordinators in mid-April. Current YAGM country programs include: Argentina/Uruguay, Cambodia, Central Europe (Hungary), Jerusalem/West Bank, Madagascar, Mexico, Rwanda, Southern Africa and United Kingdom
Applications for the program open on December 1, and are due Feb. 15 each year, for service beginning that same August.
We are a church that believes God is calling us into the world – together. Come, imagine yourself in the world!
To learn how you can support Young Adults in Global Mission, visit their sponsorship page here.
For further information contact YAGM at 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2446 or by email.

Day of Service

Tomorrow, September 13th, is God's work. Our hands. Day of Service. Everyone who worships with CtK tomorrow morning (worship is at 10:00am and will include an opportunity to hear from the youth who went to Detroit for the ELCA Youth Gathering this summer) will be invited to stick around to help assemble school kits for Lutheran World Relief or decorate cookies and assemble boxes of treats for those who protect and serve our community (first responders, hospital employees, etc.). We'll need a few folks to make deliveries of treats, too.
Would you rather spend some time serving outside? There will be a group heading to God's Garden to pick green beans. Wear your sunscreen and take a water bottle!

What a privilege it is to serve in God's world!

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

 

 

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

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!

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!

CtK Fall Adult Forum: TED Talks

Every Sunday, as worship draws to a close and we prepare for the Spirit to send us back into the world, the Assisting Minister asks, "Who are we?"
And the congregation replies, "We are a Christian community, practicing discipleship as we worship, learn and serve."
The folks gathered have just worshiped together. And most folks can name ways they serve - within the congregation, serving their friends and family, in the community and beyond.
Intentional lifelong learning, though, takes a little more effort, for most adults. Somewhere along the line, too many people decided that Sunday School was just for kids, and they have no need to keep learning. That's not true! Besides, if adults (especially parents) aren't learning, they are teaching by example that learning isn't important - and none of us wants to do that!

So, in an effort to make our Sunday morning Adult Forum a bit more engaging, and relevant to life the rest of the week, this fall we're watching a TED Talk each week, and then having some conversation about it. Yes, it might require participants to be a little bit vulnerable - that's not a bad thing. Maybe, as a Christian community, we can be a school for vulnerability, honesty, forgiveness, and love.

In case you missed this past Sunday's Adult Forum, or want to watch the video again, here it is:

This congregation: A Community of Disciples

Christ the King: A Community of Disciples

“We are a Christian community practicing discipleship as we worship, learn, and serve.”

Any effective organization must revisit and recommit to their mission and purpose from time to time. With this in mind, the Pastors and church council have discerned that the true and simple purpose of our church is to be disciples of Christ and to make disciples of Christ. We intentionally and actively move towards fulfilling this purpose by connecting with God, connecting with others, and connecting to the world through opportunities to worship, learn, and serve.

Our simple mission statement of “We are a Christian community practicing discipleship as we worship, learn, and serve” calls us to engage in activities both inside and outside of our church walls. The diagram of three intertwining circles reminds us of the tri-fold mission to worship, learn, and serve, and demonstrates that by engaging in all three we grow as disciples. The cross in the center of the diagram emphasizes that Christ is the center of our very being, the perfect servant, and for whom we strive to be disciples.

With our affirmation of practicing discipleship comes the task of aligning our processes and activities with this mission. The most notable implication of this task will be a commitment to support and encourage citizens in their paths toward, in, and of discipleship.

Moving forward, you may expect to find a more consistent and personal invitation to worship, learn, and serve. It is with this intention towards developing a path toward richer, deeper spiritual life - one of discipleship - that all who walk through the doors of Christ the King will be mindfully and intentionally presented with:

· opportunities for worship, Bible study and theological discussion,

· opportunities to connect with others through small group interaction, and

· opportunities to serve Christ's world both within the church and outside the church.

September 2011 Global Links

Drought in the Horn of Africa
Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and other countries in East Africa are experiencing the worst drought in 60 years. The ELCA has committed $1.25 million for drought relief to support long-term rebuilding; more help is needed. See www.elca.org/disaster, http://blogs.elca.org/disasterresponse/ and also www.elca.org/news (click on News Releases in the left-hand column).

ELCA assembly officially launches the ELCA Malaria Campaign

Every 45 seconds a child dies from malaria, a preventable and treatable disease. Based on the decision made at the Churchwide Assembly, the ELCA will join with Lutheran churches in Africa, to work toward a malaria-free future. See www.elca.org/news (click on News Releases in the left-hand column).

Germany: Explore Luther's heritage in Wittenberg, Germany
The ELCA Wittenberg Center can assist you in exploring the many study and learning opportunities available in the heart of this historic city of Martin Luther and at other Reformation sites. See www.elca.org/wittenberg.

Senegal: Christian-Muslim relations
ELCA missionaries Peter Hanson and Sarah Grow reflect on life and ministry in an interfaith setting. Watch a short video at http://blogs.elca.org/handinhand.

The ELCA's best-kept secret: Young Adults in Global Mission
"We have been blessed this past year here in Jerusalem with six amazing, dedicated and talented Young Adults in Global Mission who have impacted our lives and the lives of the Palestinian church, while taking a giant step that means they will never see the world in the same way as before." Read more about the work of these young adults at http://blogs.elca.org/handinhand.

South Africa: "Ubuntu! I am because we are!"
"Being present here is so important. The electricity may be down. The water supply may be down. But, I am here with you." Read more reflections from two young adults at www.elca.org/handinhand.

Asia/Pacific: Regional representative for diakonia sought
Represent the ELCA in diakonia ministries (development, health care, disaster response). Preference will be given to applications received by September 15, 2011. Position starts January 2012. See www.elca.org/globalserve and click Global Service Opportunities to search the database at the bottom of the page.

Why missionaries?
After two months on home assignment, ELCA missionary Brian Konkol considers the role and purpose of Christian missionaries in a blog post at http://lwfyouth.org/.

Glocal Mission Gathering in Wichita, Kansas, September 31-October 1
Equip yourself for God's work in today's global and local realities. For more information and to register, visit www.elca.org/glocal.

Companion synod relationships: More profiles
Online profiles have been updated by the ELCA Alaska, Northwestern Ohio, Southeastern Iowa, and the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synods, and by the Synod of Alberta and the Territories of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. Learn of new developments in companion synod relationships at www.elca.org/companionsynodprofiles.

In our prayers
Pray for the new missionaries who are being deployed to many corners of the world this summer. Give thanks for their service to the church and their devotion to mission in God's world. (This prayer for August 30 is available along with daily prayers from around the globe at www.elca.org/prayerventures.)

Global Links - the monthly newsletter from ELCA Global Mission

GLOBAL LINKS – March 2011

Connect to the global church through http://www.elca.org/

Egyptian protests and refugees

Amid the chaos in Egypt sits a forgotten community, tens of thousands of refugees currently in Egypt awaiting the outcome. See www.elca.org/disaster.

Australian floods

Flash flooding overwhelms the city of Toowoomba. The Lutheran Church of Australia responds. See www.elca.org/disaster.

Young people are connecting globally through Lutheran World Federation (LWF)

Over 200 young people from 27 groups in different countries have already registered for LWF together -- the earth needs you, an innovative program sponsored by the Lutheran World Federation. Each group will be matched with two groups in other continents for a six-month period of Bible study, environmental projects, and building relationships through the Internet. Register your group of 2 to 15 members, with a majority in ages 15-30, by April 1, 2011, and receive a handbook and guidelines for the time period of May through October. See http://lwfyouth.org/lwf-together/.

Raising of Lazarus

Make the connection between the story of Lazarus (the Gospel reading for Sunday, April 10) and the ELCA’s work around the world to help communities overcome the crisis of HIV and AIDS. Find a powerful 30-minute documentary and discussion guide on The Lazarus Effect at www.elca.org/aids/lazaruseffect.

How can goats change a village?

Watch as gifts of livestock help the Lingson family in Malawi end hunger. See www.elca.org/hunger/video.

Glocal Mission Gathering in Park Ridge/Chicago, Ill., May 6-7

Equip yourself for God's work in today's global and local realities. For more information and registration, visit www.elca.org/glocal.

"For Slaves and Kings"

"As a pilot, I learned the words of another anonymous pilot: ‘Slip the surly bonds of earth and touch the face of God.‘ These words sent shivers down my spine. As a missionary, I get to touch the face of God both in slaves and in kings." Read more from this article by Phil and June Nelson, ELCA missionaries in Cameroon, at www.elca.org/handinhand; click either the copy-ready bulletin insert or the Hand in Hand newsletter, Spring 2011.

Sponsors invited

Pastor Paula Stecker, ELCA missionary in Haiti, is in need of prayer and financial sponsors. Paula is currently working with the Lutheran World Federation to strengthen communications with international partners and build up the network with faith communities and community-based organizations. Sponsors from the Southeastern, Florida-Bahamas, and Southeastern Iowa Synods are especially welcomed to minimize her travel time and maximize her effectiveness while on home leave. For more information, visit www.elca.org/missionarysponsorship or call 800-638-3522, ext. 2657.

Final call for Young Adult in Global Mission applications

March 1 is the deadline to apply for the Young Adult in Global Mission program, an opportunity to serve one year in another country. See www.elca.org/yagm.

Regional representative sought in West Africa

This position is responsible for assisting the ELCA in fostering relationships with companion churches, ELCA mission personnel and programs in West Africa, with a focus on Theological Education and Interfaith Relations. Preference given to applications received by March 15, 2011. Starts July 2011. See www.elca.org/globalserve and click Global Service Opportunities to search the database for “West Africa.”

Mission service changed my life

"The whole community had come together." After four years in South Africa, Paula Powell reflects on how the people she worked among with broadened her horizons and understanding. See her video reflections at http://blogs.elca.org/handinhand/

Three more Companion Synod Profiles

Online profiles have been completed for by the Greater Milwaukee Synod, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, and the Upstate New York Synod. Learn what's happening in companion relationships across the ELCA at www.elca.org/companionsynodprofiles

Global headlines at www.elca.org/news (click News Releases)

+ ELCA Provides Input for Federation Regional Committee Work, Coordination
+ ELCA Presiding Bishop Responds to Veto of Resolution on Israeli Settlements
+ Record-Level Giving to ELCA World Hunger in December 2010
+ ELCA Presiding Bishop Calls on U.S. to Support Resolution on Settlements
+ ELCA Missionaries Left Egypt with Mixed Feelings, Look Forward to Return

In our prayers

Lift up in prayer Randall and Carol Stubbs, teaching music at Makumira University College of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania. Rejoice with them and their students as they learn the gifts of music and friendship. (This prayer for March 1 is available along with daily prayers from around the globe at www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Prayer-Center/Prayer-Ventures-2.aspx. )

Global Links contains highlights from elca.org of ELCA ministry or connections in other countries. See a current issue, subscribe, or follow on Facebook or Twitter at www.elca.org/global-links. Send your suggestions and comments to lanny.westphal@elca.org or to Pastor Lanny Westphal, ELCA Global Mission, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631.

ELCA Global Links

GLOBAL LINKS
Connect to the global church through elca.org

LUTHERAN WORLD FEDERATION ASSEMBLY BEGINS THIS MONTH in Stuttgart, Germany
Join your thoughts and prayers with Lutherans from around the world. Follow the schedule. Sing the hymn. Study the Bible. Read the news. Live out the theme. Find resources for this and more at www.elca.org/lwf and click the links under The Lutheran World Federation Eleventh Assembly in the middle of the page.

AIDS PANDEMIC IN THE WORLD
Globally, the AIDS pandemic is a human crisis of unprecedented scope. Each day, more than 6,800 people became HIV-positive and more than 5,700 people die from AIDS. In countries hardest hit by HIV, life expectancy has declined by 20 years, poverty has deepened, and economic growth has been reversed. Learn more at www.elca.org/AIDS; click on the Learn tab at the bottom and then The AIDS Pandemic in the World.

VOICES OF OUR COMPANIONS
Two men from Colombia - a priest and a young adult from the Green Paradise Youth Cooperative - came to the United States to share stories about Lutheran World Federation projects and to advocate for peace in their country. They also have something to tell YOU. Hear them at www.elca.org/companionvoices.

WALK WITH A NEW PASTOR…TO JERUSALEM
Elly McHan just graduated from Wartburg Seminary. On August 15, she will be ordained at the congregation where her father serves. Then she leaves for Jerusalem to begin her service as a new ELCA missionary with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. Learn how you can be part of her journey at http://blogs.elca.org/handinhand/post/mchan-28062010/.

YOUNG ADULTS TO SERVE AROUND THE GLOBE
Do you recognize any of the 44 people who will gather in August to prepare for a year of service with the Young Adult in Global Mission (YAGM) program? Pray for these young missionaries by name: http://blogs.elca.org/handinhand/post/2011-yagms-named-04062010/.

CHICKENS AND MUTUAL ENCOURAGEMENT
In Lima, Peru, missionary Dana Nelson learned how 20 chickens can aid the "mutual up-building of the saints". See http://blogs.elca.org/handinhand/post/pollada-22062010/.

COULD YOUR NEXT POTLUCK END WORLD HUNGER?
More than a billion people around the world are hungry. Many struggle to live on less than $1 per day. What if we could join together to make a difference in the fight against hunger? What if it started at your next potluck? A Month of Potlucks is a movement started by two Lutheran pastors. The idea is simple. Host a potluck, include a talk or activity about hunger and take a collection for ELCA World Hunger. Register your potluck and find great resources at www.amonthofpotlucks.org.

Position open: ELCA REPRESENTATIVE IN TANZANIA
Assist the ELCA Global Mission unit in key areas of relationship, communication, and administration with the ELCA’s companion church in Tanzania. Four-year commitment. Preference given to applications received by September 15. Starts January, 2011. See www.elca.org/globalserve and click Global Service Opportunities to search the database at the bottom.

GLOCAL MISSION GATHERING in Billings, Montana, August 6-7 Connect with other Lutherans interested in both global and local mission at King of Glory Lutheran Church. See www.elca.org/glocal.

COMPANION SYNOD CONSULTATIONS ELCA synod leaders are invited to periodic consultations with companion leaders in particular countries or continents. For a current list of consultations, see www.elca.org/localevents.

NEW RESOURCES FOR COMPANION SYNOD RELATIONSHIPS
Find information in the updated Companion Synod Handbook on combining service trips with building relationships (p. 21), establishing a congregation-to-congregation program (p. 24), congregations involved in another synod's companion relationship (p. 26), and missionary sponsorship (p. 32). See www.elca.org/companionsynods and click on the English version of the Handbook.

GLOBAL HEADLINES at www.elca.org/news (click News Releases)
+ Lutherans Address HIV Epidemic in the Caribbean, Latin America
+ Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service Comments on World Refugee Day
+ Bread for the World, Heifer International Leaders Share World Food Prize
+ Top Leaders of ELCA, Church of Christ in Thailand Sign Bilateral Agreement
+ Lutheran's Mobile Phone Technology Project Earns 'Time 100' Honor
+ Young Adults Take Leap of Faith Volunteering Overseas
+ ELCA Presiding Bishop Responds to Gaza Ship Convoy Incident
+ ELCA Ministries Benefit from Thrivent Financial Member Vote
+ ELCA Awards Phoebe Herman Scholarships to 15 International Students

IN OUR PRAYERS
Give thanks for all who are concluding service through Young Adults in Global Mission, the ELCA global mission program for young people ages 19-30, especially Sarah Dorman, Sara Higgins, Kaitlin Nelson, Peter Severson, and Katherine Sommer, who served in Mexico. (This prayer for July 2 is available along with daily prayers from around the globe at http://archive.elca.org/prayerventures/.)


This issue of Global Links (July 2010) contains highlights from elca.org of ELCA ministry or connections in other countries. Please forward Global Links in whole or in part to others, use it in publications with attribution, or encourage others to read it or subscribe at www.elca.org/globalmission/engage. Send your suggestions and comments to lanny.westphal@elca.org or to Pr. Lanny Westphal, ELCA Global Mission, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631.

One Body

The sermon text for this Sunday is 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, and I've been thinking a lot this week about how as the church we are one body. Every person is connected. Every person is valuable and needed. Every person has a part to play in the divine drama of God's work in the world. It is God's mission we're following, after all. Sometimes I think we forget, this is God's church, in God's world. Our task is to discern what God is already doing out there and then join in.

I look forward to the day when we have a few more options when it comes to multimedia in worship here at CtK. I'm not saying I believe worship should be all electric, all the time, but a little more flexibility might help us carry out our part of God's mission even more effectively.

For instance, I'd love to show this video in worship on Sunday (and I would have embedded it here, but I don't want to take the time to figure out the glitch in the html, so you'll just have to click the link to see it). Enjoy!