Sabbatical: Q&A

Dear Friends in Christ,                                                                                                              

Back in September 2015, the church council approved a Sabbatical leave for Grant and me, for three months, beginning on June 6, 2016.

What is a Sabbatical?

A Sabbatical calls for an extended time of Sabbath-keeping, of stepping away from usual duties and responsibilities. It calls for rest of the body, though also rest of the spirit. For a work-loving person, this will be a challenge, though perhaps all the more necessary. Jewish scholar Abraham Joshua Heschel reminds us, a Sabbatical will be a good grounding in humility that the church will survive (even thrive!) without our help.

How long will we be gone?

We will begin our Sabbatical on June 6, 2016, following the conclusion of the Montana Synod Assembly in Billings. Our last day in the office will be June 3^rd. We will return to the office September 6, 2016.

What will we do?

We look forward to continuing education classes, rest, reading, increased time for devotions, and enjoying creation. As a family, we will travel to Minnesota and Washington, to learn and to spend time with extended family and friends. You can read more details about the classes we’ll take online, at: https://weraise.wheatridge.org/en/projects/30218-Pray--Play--Partner---Sabbatical-2016

All of our activities (and time for rest and renewal) focus around the theme: Pray, Play, Partner.

Where will we worship?

As it would be difficult for us to step out of the role of co-pastors here at Christ the King, our family will worship elsewhere during Sabbatical. Though we will miss being in worship here with you dearly, we hope to share ideas from other congregations upon our return.

Who will cover our responsibilities during our absence?

Pastor Mark Ramseth, member of CtK, is coordinating Sunday morning worship. A schedule of wonderful guest preachers, including some members of CtK, has been put together. Sunday services have already been mostly planned.

The Church Council will have a “council host” each Sunday, to answer questions and make announcements.

Pastors Mark and Carol Ramseth, and LPA John Sheppard will provide pastoral care in emergency situations. The Congregational Care Team has been trained and deployed to offer ongoing pastoral care to members of the congregation. If you are in need of a visit or pastoral care, please call the Church Office, 587-4131.

Kristin Harney is coordinating WoW (Worship on Wednesdays).

Jen Erickson is coordinating WoW dinners.

Josh Keehr is heading up the construction of the prayer labyrinth.

Dawn Byrd and Courtney Yovich will oversee church communications.

The Sabbatical Team is planning special summer events (Spring Clean-Up Day, Madison River Float Trip, Worship at Hyalite, etc.)

Lucy Peterson remains our faithful Family Promise Coordinator.

The Family & Youth Team will coordinate the Middle School Service Plunge and the High School Mission Trip through FLBC.

Amy Yovich and Renee Schon will head up Vacation Bible School.

Know that you all will continue to be in our prayers during this absence.

How is the Sabbatical funded?

The congregation voted at the Annual Meeting to increase the usual “pulpit supply” line item by $1300, to cover the cost of guest preachers for the Sundays of the Sabbatical. Also included in the spending plan is $1500 for continuing education (an annual part of our compensation). Costs above the $1500 will either be funded through our crowdfunding campaign, or paid for by us pastors.

Please see the May 13, 2016 post on the CtK blog (http://ctkbozeman.blogspot.com/2016/05/pray-play-partner-sabbatical-2016.html) for more detailed information on the Sabbatical budget.

Will we be in contact with CtK during Sabbatical?

An important part of a Sabbatical is to make a complete break from things. Dawn Byrd will notify us of any major events in the life of the congregation, and we will continue to receive the weekly email newsletter while on Sabbatical. We will not be checking our CtK email accounts. Please contact the Church Office during the Sabbatical, at 587-4131, or office@ctkbozeman.org.

How will we evaluate the Sabbatical upon our return?

We will submit reports to the Church Council upon our return, and will meet with the Sabbatical Team, the Mutual Ministry Team, the church staff to share experiences of the Sabbatical (both ours and CtK’s). I expect that all of our ministries will continue to flourish while we are away and new ones will arise. A Sabbatical is really a two-way process, with both the staff persons and the congregation reflecting upon prior ministry, being renewed, and seeing new patterns emerge as we discern God’s will for us.

We are excited for this time of renewal and pray it will be a blessing for Christ the King as well.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us, before June 3^rd, with any questions or concerns.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Lindean

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.

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:

Blessed Pentecost!

Tomorrow we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the community of Jesus' disciples. If you'd like to get into the spirit of the celebration (yes, it's a bad pun), wear RED or other "fire colors" to worship. We gather at 10:00am! (Sunday School is over for the season...)
Here's a reflection on the day from the facebook page of The Five Loaves:

As we reflect on the Pentecost account of that first coming of Holy Spirit upon the Apostles (Acts 2:1-11) we must...
Posted by The Five Loaves on Thursday, May 21, 2015

National Day of Prayer

It's the first Thursday of May, which means today is the National Day of Prayer.
Yes, of course, EVERY day is a day of prayer. "Pray without ceasing," says 1 Thessalonians 5:17. And yet in some traditions, a pretty big deal gets made out of today. Unfortunately, too often that "big deal" comes across more as judgment than encouragement or inspiration to pray. But don't let that stop you from praying! - and perhaps praying especially for our leaders (elected and otherwise), for wisdom, for humility, for understanding our place in the world, and in all of creation.

Here's a new "Chuck Knows Church" video from our friends at the United Methodist Church, which will give you some background about the day.



Let us pray.
Holy Trinity, one God, you show us the splendor of diversity and the beauty of unity in your own divine life. Make us, who came from many nations with many languages, a united people that delights in our many different gifts. Defend our liberties, and give those whom we have entrusted with authority the spirit of wisdom, that there might be justice and peace in our land. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our sovereign and our Savior. Amen  (ELW p. 77)

Happy happy Easter!

This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Easter - it's often called Good Shepherd Sunday, because all the lectionary Bible readings lift up the image of the Lord as Shepherd.

It IS still Easter after all. The season of Easter is celebrated as the Great Fifty Days - a week of weeks plus a day. Of course the reality of Easter lasts forever. Christ is alive!

Let them deny themselves and take up their cross...

They say that preachers preach the sermons they need to hear. And some Sundays that seems more true than others, at least for me. This past Sunday was one of those. I've continued to think about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, and to deny my selfish, self-seeking, self-justifying self. And it's that last one (self-justifying) that gets me most often. What about you?

Hearts On Fire - Christ the King Sunday

This Sunday is Christ the King Sunday, also called Reign of Christ Sunday. It's the last Sunday in the liturgical year, and we celebrate that Jesus is Lord. Of everything - all time, all places. Here at CtK, since the name of our congregation is "Christ the King," it also serves as a time to remember and celebrate the ministry done with, among, and by us who gather here.

This year, Christ the King Sunday is "Giving Plan Sunday," or "Commitment Sunday" here at CtK. A lot of us have learned over the years that having a plan for the stewardship of our lives is helpful - time, energy, attention, financial resources, the planet. It's all connected.

The end of 2014 means the end of CtK's last capital campaign, Rooted in Faith, Growing in Giving. Over the past three years, the congregation has paid off a huge chunk of the mortgage debt, done some helpful projects around CtK, and given away over $16,000 to a host of other ministries and organizations doing God's work in the world. What a blessing.

Now, we embark on another three-year giving campaign, Hearts On Fire. The goal is to grow in faith through faithful, generous giving, and to pay off the congregation's mortgage completely by the end of 2017. It's do-able. And it will mean even more resources available for ministry with, by and among us. God has set our hearts on fire with faith, hope and love. And now we get to share them.

The Hearts On Fire task force has been sharing personal stories, hopes and perspectives.
This video does a remarkable job of tying it all together.
Enjoy!

Adult Forum Guest Speakers This Week

This Sunday, we welcome two guest speakers to our Adult Forum. Erica Coyle is the co-director of HAVEN here in Bozeman. Anna Saverud prosecutes Domestic Violence cases in Bozeman. Both will help us understand the issues surrounding Domestic Violence generally, and specifically here where we live. Hopefully, we'll also learn how to talk well about relationships, and learn how we can work for healthy relationships in every arena of our lives. Last Sunday, I sent slips of paper home with adult forum participants with a link to this TED Talk by Leslie Morgan Steiner, as "homework" for this Sunday. It is compelling. Take a few minutes and watch.



If you're interested in what the ELCA is doing in the area of Domestic Violence, read this Draft Social Message, Gender-based Violence. This social message is still in draft form, and the writing team is accepting feedback through late-November. A handful of printed copies will be available at Adult Forum Sunday morning.

Domestic and Gender-based violence are not easy topics to discuss, but they are important. Statistics indicate that it's likely all of us know a victim. And a perpetrator. There are children and young adults in our community that need to learn what healthy relationships look like, and how to respond to friends experiencing violence in their homes. It is my hope that this conversation will help us continue to become a safe community for all.

CtK's Fall Adult Forum: TED Talks, 9/28

This past Sunday, the Adult Forum watched a compelling TED Talk by Zak Ebrahim. It was interesting to hear it alongside the First Lesson for last week, from Ezekiel 18, and the prophet's insistence on individual responsibility and an open future.





Some of the questions we considered included:
In what ways do we strive to be like our parents and/or grandparents?
In what ways do we strive to different from our parents/grandparents?
What have been our experiences of stereotyping? And breaking down of stereotypes?
Are there people/causes we'd be willing to die for? To kill for?

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments!

Zak has written a book, called The Terrorist's Son: A Story of Choice. You can learn more about it here:

Financial Peace

Money is one of those things it's often difficult to talk about. It's personal. And for lots of folks, it's anxiety producing.

Beginning a week from today (the class starts Tuesday, September 30th), CtK will offer Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. It's a 9-week course designed to help individuals and families develop a plan for their money. This class will show participants how to get rid of debt, manage their money, spend and save wisely, and much more!

If you'd like to attend, please register online to pay for and receive your materials. The course costs $93 per family.

Want a preview? Check this out:

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:

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!

Lay My Burden Down

North American Lutherans aren't typically known for showing emotion during worship (or at all, in some cases. Some branches of the Lutheran family tree come from solid Scandinavian stock, and there are plenty of jokes about the "quiet" Norwegian-Americans - like the extroverted Norwegian farmer who looks at YOUR shoes while he talks to you).
That said, some news is just so good, that even the shy-est, most quiet people can't help but show it. I can't remember the last time someone thought I was shy, or quiet (ahem), so I knew it wouldn't be hard for me to sing from the pulpit this past Sunday. I was pretty sure that having a friend play the banjo would help loosen people up for a little non-scripted singing. And the congregation SANG. And sang like they meant it. Thanks be to God that none of us has to carry ANY burden alone. And a lot of the time, the burdens we carry, we don't have to carry at all. Set down the guilt, fear, pride...

Jesus says, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy (kind, good, suitable, appropriate), and my burden is light." --Matthew 11:28-30.

Glory glory hallelujah!

Happy Easter!

We had a great weekend here at CtK- many thanks to all who helped make the celebration possible! Here's an Easter greeting from our Presiding Bishop, Elizabeth Eaton:

Five Things You Don't Know About the Big Game

Here's an eye-opening consideration of some numbers associated with the Super Bowl - and how they stack up to some other things going on in the US.

Christmas Greetings from the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA

"O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant."

We all know the story. The shepherds traveled to Bethlehem and found the little Lord Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
But what I think we often overlook is what the shepherds did after they left the manger. "When they saw this, they made known what had been told about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them" (Luke 2:17-18).
The shepherds shared the good news that God is now with us, has become one of us and remains with us, bringing abundant life to all. As we gather this Christmas to celebrate the birth of the Christ child and hear the wondrous story, let us join together as a church to proclaim the good news. "Christ the child was born for you!"
This time also marks the completion of our observance of over 25 years together in Christ as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We are a church that belongs to Christ, and we give thanks and praise to God for the many ways in which the coming of Jesus has blessed this church and our world.
It is all too easy for us these days to be constantly aware that this world is fraught with turmoil and danger. The same was true for the world in which Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus lived. But the ultimate hope for all people across all times is the hope God gives us in the Word made flesh, our Lord Immanuel.
"O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!"

Christmas blessings,
Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

A new Presiding Bishop - video of the Bishop Elizabeth Eaton's installation

The ELCA has a new Presiding Bishop! The Rev. Elizabeth Eaton was installed this past Saturday, October 5th, at the Rockafeller Chapel in Chicago. Below is the video of the service of Holy Communion with her installation.






If you want to skip ahead to the sermon, preached by the Bishop of the Montana Synod, the Rev. Jessica Crist, the video is here:



Enjoy!

Seeing the Underside and Seeing God: Nadia Bolz-Weber with Krista Tippett at the Wild Goose Festival

Several CtK members have let me know they enjoyed hearing NPR's "On Being" this past week. The radio interview featured an ELCA pastor, the Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber, who is the founding pastor of a quirky congregation in Denver, House for All Sinners and Saints. Here's the whole, unedited interview, on video, from the Wild Goose Festival this past summer. Enjoy!
Seeing the Underside and Seeing God: Nadia Bolz-Weber with Krista Tippett at the Wild Goose Festival from On Being on Vimeo.

Day of Pentecost

This Sunday we celebrate the Day of Pentecost - what many consider the "birthday" of the Christian Church. Many worshipers will wear red, or other colors of fire, calling to mind the "divided tongues, as of fire" that danced above the apostles' heads that day when they started telling the story of Jesus in a variety of languages (see Acts 2).
Additionally, this Sunday is the last day of "regular" Sunday School for this academic year, and we'll celebrate all that's been learned with a potluck BBQ and games after worship. Burgers, hot dogs and beverages will be provided. Participants are asked to bring something to share (last names beginning with A-E: salad or fruit; F-O: dessert; P-Z: chips). It's going to be fun!

Want to learn more about Pentecost? Check out this great video (from our Roman Catholic siblings in Christ at Busted Halo):