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.)

Our goal is 300 boxes

During the month of September Christ the King is holding its annual boxed cereal drive for the Gallatin Valley Food Bank.

Last year we collected 275 boxes of cereal for hungry individuals and families living in the Gallatin Valley.

Let’s make it our goal to collect 300 boxes of cereal.

Take advantage of all the back to school sales at local grocery stores featuring boxed cereal.

Next week when I go grocery shopping for my family, I plan to pick up four boxes of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes. We’ll eat one at our house and the other three we plan to give to the cereal drive.

Together we can reach our goal of 300 boxes for the Gallatin Valley Food Bank.

Making History?

I've been exchanging emails with a mentor and friend this week, who also happens to be our predecessor here at CtK, the Rev. Shelley Wickstrom. Pastor Shelley now works on the ELCA's Region One staff. And she wears quite a few hats. She spent time in June at the Campus Ministry Conference, part of July at the Women of the ELCA's Triennial Convention, and part of August in Orlando for the Churchwide Assembly (CWA). Here's what she had to say about the Assembly:

During CWA I was impressed by the endorsements given to the Genetics Statement. One genetics counselor gave a workshop on it to a national conference of genetics counselors who were amazed at its depth and breadth. That kind of peer review matters. There were also farmers who spoke in favor of it, plus geneticists. Participation in the Malaria Campaign will be one of those experiences that hopefully we'll be able to say to Marit some day that once upon a time there was a disease that killed a child every 45 seconds. Your church stopped that (with the help of philanthropists, other denominations, etc....)

I hope she's right - that Malaria will be history someday. And that we will know we have played a small part in making it so.

Not sure what all Pastor Shelley's talking about? Learn more about the Social Statement on Genetics, the ELCA Malaria Campaign, the Women of the ELCA, and Lutheran Campus Ministry!
See you in worship - don't forget to bring your school bag this Sunday!

Your offering at work

Earlier this week we learned in the church office of a young person who out of the kindness of her heart, took in an elderly person who had no immediate family.

The elderly friend has now become ill and is in need of life saving surgery.
The kind young person wants to accompany her friend to the city where the surgery will take place.

Using resources here in Bozeman and elsewhere in the state of Montana, we were able to secure lodging for the kind young person, so she could support her new elderly friend as this person prepares to undergo surgery.

None of this could have happened without your generous weekly offerings.
A portion of the monthly offering (less than one percent) is set aside in our “Good Samaritan Fund.”

Members and friends of Christ the King have benefitted from this fund to help people in need. And total strangers, too! Bags of groceries, tanks of gas, a month’s rent, a late electric bill, and emergency shelter have all been made available through the Good Samaritan Fund.

A colleague who helped coordinate the assistance said, “Last week both these persons were feeling like their faith was being tested. Your assistance will help to remind them that there are caring people in Montana who are willing to lend a hand, and to help restore someone’s shattered faith.”

This is your Christ the King offering at work, bearing witness to the hope we have in Christ Jesus.

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!

Reflection on today's sermon

The Gospel lesson for the 10th Sunday after Pentecost is Matthew 16:13-20.
Have you been thinking at all about how you would answer Jesus' question, "Who do you say that I am?"
Or about what you might say if someone asked, "What is it you believe?"
What follows is one of the songs we sang quite a bit at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp during the week CtK types were there back in July. And if we'd had music for it (instead of just the guitar chords) perhaps I would have chosen it for one of our songs in worship today. Perhaps the lyrics can serve as a prayer for you this week, and help you think about who Jesus is in your life.

You are holy.
You are mighty.
You are worthy,
worthy of praise.
I will follow. 
I will listen.
I will love you
all of my days.

I will sing to and worship the King who is worthy.
I will love and adore him. I will bow down before him.
You’re my Prince of Peace and I will live my life for you.

You’re the Lord of lords, You’re the King of Kings, you are mighty God, Lord of everything.
You’re Emmanuel. You’re the Great I Am. You’re the Prince of Peace who is the lamb.

You’re the living God, You’re my saving grace, You will reign forever. You are Ancient of Days.
You are Alpha, Omega, beginning and end. You’re my Savior, Messiah, Redeemer and friend.
You're my Prince of Peace and I will live my life for you.

Car Wash Tomorrow

Hope to see you tomorrow at the Car Wash! Help our youth start raising funds for this year's retreats, learning and service opportunities! (not to mention the summer 2012 big high school event!)