If you are in town this Sunday, May 30, I hope you join us for worship.
On Sunday, we will make good on a promise we made as part of The Master's Plan to give away 50,000 for every million that we raise. We just crossed that million dollar mark and are delighted to present a check to Pastor Tony Marciano, Executive Director of Charlotte Rescue Mission. Specifically, we will parter with CRM on their Dove's Nest Program. CRM provides a 120 day, in-house treatment program for homeless women who are addicted to drugs or alcohol. They are building a new, 90 bed center beginning the end of the year and we will be a partner with them in this ministry.
During this down economic times, the tendency is to hunker down and take care of yourself first. The survival instinct is for us to keep the 50,000, raise the four million needed to break ground and then think about giving money away. However, such self-preservation does not reflect the trust and faith of a community of believers. We need to give in order to remain true.
The same is true for our personal giving. The tendency now is preservation. However, as the church models generosity, so do we as individual church members, and trust God for the care that he generously returns to us.
See you on Sunday!
Pastor Scott
Friday, May 28, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
A Few Thoughts from Pastor Chris
How well do you remember your ten commandments? We three pastors are in the middle of confirmation interviews and one of the requirements of these students is to memorize the 10 Commandments, the Apostles Creed and the Lord's Prayer. For the next portion of this blog consider yourself in the middle of one of these interviews. The question that I want you to answer is how well do you follow the third commandment? Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. How well are you living up to this commandment? We are a culture that prides ourselves on how much we can get down, how productive we are, how well we multitask and we are driven to be this way because the more we accomplish the more we are rewarded and we quickly find ourselves merged into the rat race.
Now working hard is by no means a sin. Working hard is a part of our DNA and God wants us to work hard but he also knows that we need to rest, hence the third commandment. If we continue to push ourselves and consume latte after latte eventually we will run out of gas and hit a brick wall. When we reach that point we are useless. How well are you obeying the third commandment?
We are about to enter a season that many of us look forward to, the summer, and with the summer comes the summer vacation. Is summer vacation a chance for you to find sabbath? Our summer vacation will involve a 1400 mile one way drive to the boundary waters in northern Minnesota. Believe me this does not sound like a sabbath to me. For some of us our summer vacation will include a ride to the airport, followed by lay overs, delays, lost luggage and bags that require a $50 ticket. Will you find sabbath here? We need sabbath but too often we feel we cant afford it or fit it into our busy schedules.
One of the Jesus stories that I struggled with for a long time involved Jesus going off to a lonely place to pray. Poor Jesus is off all alone and all by himself. But what is he doing in this lonely place. He is praying. He is reconnecting with God. He is finding sabbath. Now if the son of God needs sabbath how much more do we? I can't tell you what your sabbath should be, we are all created differently and we all connect with God in different ways but we all need sabbath, we all need to reconnect with God. So again I ask you, how well are you following the third commandment?
Now working hard is by no means a sin. Working hard is a part of our DNA and God wants us to work hard but he also knows that we need to rest, hence the third commandment. If we continue to push ourselves and consume latte after latte eventually we will run out of gas and hit a brick wall. When we reach that point we are useless. How well are you obeying the third commandment?
We are about to enter a season that many of us look forward to, the summer, and with the summer comes the summer vacation. Is summer vacation a chance for you to find sabbath? Our summer vacation will involve a 1400 mile one way drive to the boundary waters in northern Minnesota. Believe me this does not sound like a sabbath to me. For some of us our summer vacation will include a ride to the airport, followed by lay overs, delays, lost luggage and bags that require a $50 ticket. Will you find sabbath here? We need sabbath but too often we feel we cant afford it or fit it into our busy schedules.
One of the Jesus stories that I struggled with for a long time involved Jesus going off to a lonely place to pray. Poor Jesus is off all alone and all by himself. But what is he doing in this lonely place. He is praying. He is reconnecting with God. He is finding sabbath. Now if the son of God needs sabbath how much more do we? I can't tell you what your sabbath should be, we are all created differently and we all connect with God in different ways but we all need sabbath, we all need to reconnect with God. So again I ask you, how well are you following the third commandment?
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
We know that the economy is hitting people hard. Our giving at the church is down about 12%. (about $50,000) About 130 families who gave during the first quarter last year have given less than half that same amount for the first quarter of this year, 90 have given nothing at all.
The council made an immediate cut of $45,000 worth of expenses with some additional expenses on the cutting block if it is needed, some program, some staff.
Unfortunately, those who are hurting the most continue to hurt even more.
We have an account called the Pastor's Discretionary Fund. It's not for books or conferences or trips for me. It's to help out the poor who come knocking on the church door, looking for a meal or gas or sometimes a place to stay. In the past, it has built up to an account of several thousands. Today, we have a balance of $112.33 left.
This fund does not come from the general fund. It comes from generous individual donations of those who want to help out the least of these. If you are able to make a contribution to enable us to continue to help those worst hit by this economy, you can make it out to Christ Lutheran and in the memo put: Pastor's Discretionary Fund. And I'll make sure it goes to those in need.
Thank you!
Pastor Scott
The council made an immediate cut of $45,000 worth of expenses with some additional expenses on the cutting block if it is needed, some program, some staff.
Unfortunately, those who are hurting the most continue to hurt even more.
We have an account called the Pastor's Discretionary Fund. It's not for books or conferences or trips for me. It's to help out the poor who come knocking on the church door, looking for a meal or gas or sometimes a place to stay. In the past, it has built up to an account of several thousands. Today, we have a balance of $112.33 left.
This fund does not come from the general fund. It comes from generous individual donations of those who want to help out the least of these. If you are able to make a contribution to enable us to continue to help those worst hit by this economy, you can make it out to Christ Lutheran and in the memo put: Pastor's Discretionary Fund. And I'll make sure it goes to those in need.
Thank you!
Pastor Scott
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
It's May again--the new December! Honestly, can we cram any more activities into one month? Between all the end of year gatherings, staying up late for tests, and wrapping up the school year, this month seems to be even more overwhelming than preparing for Christmas.
To keep some balance, I try to keep first things first. First, this is the time in which spiritual matters can quickly take a back seat to all the pressing activities. Fight this. I do two things. I make worship a priority (not just because I have to be there, but because this keeps me balanced for the week) and second, I start the day with a prayer walk at about 5:45 to begin the morning with a conversation with God to sort out the day.
The second thing I keep as a priority is personal connections like family dinners that linger an extra half hour, talking about the day. With Hannah home for the summer, it is like old times again with the laughter and the playful jostling back and forth. Another is setting up intentional times with our small group so we don't let life overtake us or taking the initiative to contact friends for a more intimate gathering at a restaurant or around the fire in the back yard. Without these small gatherings, it can feel like those large May activities are nothing more than completing a checklist.
Don't reduce life to leaping from one event to the other. That can easily happen in May. Time to reconnect. . .with God as well as with others.
To keep some balance, I try to keep first things first. First, this is the time in which spiritual matters can quickly take a back seat to all the pressing activities. Fight this. I do two things. I make worship a priority (not just because I have to be there, but because this keeps me balanced for the week) and second, I start the day with a prayer walk at about 5:45 to begin the morning with a conversation with God to sort out the day.
The second thing I keep as a priority is personal connections like family dinners that linger an extra half hour, talking about the day. With Hannah home for the summer, it is like old times again with the laughter and the playful jostling back and forth. Another is setting up intentional times with our small group so we don't let life overtake us or taking the initiative to contact friends for a more intimate gathering at a restaurant or around the fire in the back yard. Without these small gatherings, it can feel like those large May activities are nothing more than completing a checklist.
Don't reduce life to leaping from one event to the other. That can easily happen in May. Time to reconnect. . .with God as well as with others.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
How do you clear out the clutter?
I don't mean sifting through the attic and throwing away boxes. I mean the clutter on the calendar. How do you draw the line and take back control of a life that is overcommitted?
The Leadership Team talked about that today when it came to the church calendar. We know that people love CLC and are committed to it. However, life, sports, work, travel, (you name it), all get in the way. And the church becomes one more event to check off an already busy life.
HIGH COMMITMENT, LESS HOURS.
As we planned for the fall, that was our slogan. How can we ask for the same high level of commitment with fewer invested hours? Crazy? I don't think so. I think if we minimize the hours while increasing the quality, people will have a greater commitment because they will be able to fully participate.
To help us, can you name a program at church that you think is worthwhile, but the time commitment prevents you from participating? Do you have a solution?
Thanks,
Pastor Scott
I don't mean sifting through the attic and throwing away boxes. I mean the clutter on the calendar. How do you draw the line and take back control of a life that is overcommitted?
The Leadership Team talked about that today when it came to the church calendar. We know that people love CLC and are committed to it. However, life, sports, work, travel, (you name it), all get in the way. And the church becomes one more event to check off an already busy life.
HIGH COMMITMENT, LESS HOURS.
As we planned for the fall, that was our slogan. How can we ask for the same high level of commitment with fewer invested hours? Crazy? I don't think so. I think if we minimize the hours while increasing the quality, people will have a greater commitment because they will be able to fully participate.
To help us, can you name a program at church that you think is worthwhile, but the time commitment prevents you from participating? Do you have a solution?
Thanks,
Pastor Scott
Friday, May 7, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Here's a question for you (I'll need an answer soon for the sermon on Sunday!)
How do you discern the will of God?
Let me give you some ways I wrestle with it. . .
1. Prayer walk. I like to walk in the mornings, early, listening, searching and waiting for that sense of peace with a decision.
2. Bounce it off trusted Christian friends. There is something powerful when two or more gather in his name.
3. Look to where God is already at work, and then seek to join him (rather than asking God to join me in my hair brain ideas).
How about you? I'd like to suggest a few (anonymous) from the blog if you don't mind.
Peace,
Pastor Scott
How do you discern the will of God?
Let me give you some ways I wrestle with it. . .
1. Prayer walk. I like to walk in the mornings, early, listening, searching and waiting for that sense of peace with a decision.
2. Bounce it off trusted Christian friends. There is something powerful when two or more gather in his name.
3. Look to where God is already at work, and then seek to join him (rather than asking God to join me in my hair brain ideas).
How about you? I'd like to suggest a few (anonymous) from the blog if you don't mind.
Peace,
Pastor Scott
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
We had a death in the congregation on Monday. Shirley Dodge. Shirley and her husband, Bob, have been members of CLC for 35 years.
Shirley struggled with eyesight problems for 20 years. For the past three years, she has undergone dialysis twice a week. With her eyesight nearly gone, her health failing and her kidneys shutting down, we had one of those frank, honest, heart-to-heart conversations about when to give up and let nature take its course.
And so with confidence and faith, she wanted to make some plans for her funeral. She had some special requests, a couple of songs, one or two Bible passages, suggestions of people to speak. And then she asked what passage I thought might fit. I immediately said, "When Paul was awaiting his imminent death, sitting in a prison cell, he wrote, 'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is a crown of righteousness awaiting for me. And not just for me but for all who long to see his coming.'"
Shirley said, "I like that."
I said, "I think it fits. I think it describes your long battle and your sure and certain hope of what lies ahead. By the way, has your faith always been this strong?"
"No," Shirley replied. "My husband, Bob, was the one who made faith and church important in our family. I give him the credit."
When I told Bob this, he had no idea.
Do you? Do you realize the impact that you have on others. People are watching and learning. You may never know the impact you have on others--for all of eternity!
Pastor Scott
Shirley struggled with eyesight problems for 20 years. For the past three years, she has undergone dialysis twice a week. With her eyesight nearly gone, her health failing and her kidneys shutting down, we had one of those frank, honest, heart-to-heart conversations about when to give up and let nature take its course.
And so with confidence and faith, she wanted to make some plans for her funeral. She had some special requests, a couple of songs, one or two Bible passages, suggestions of people to speak. And then she asked what passage I thought might fit. I immediately said, "When Paul was awaiting his imminent death, sitting in a prison cell, he wrote, 'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is a crown of righteousness awaiting for me. And not just for me but for all who long to see his coming.'"
Shirley said, "I like that."
I said, "I think it fits. I think it describes your long battle and your sure and certain hope of what lies ahead. By the way, has your faith always been this strong?"
"No," Shirley replied. "My husband, Bob, was the one who made faith and church important in our family. I give him the credit."
When I told Bob this, he had no idea.
Do you? Do you realize the impact that you have on others. People are watching and learning. You may never know the impact you have on others--for all of eternity!
Pastor Scott
Monday, May 3, 2010
"Lord Save Us From Your Followers'
Pastor Chris is our guest blogger today!
Last fall I saw a movie that moved me like few have. The films has a unique title, "Lord Save Us From Your Followers" and is beginning to have an impact from coast to coast. It would be classified as a documentary but it is so much more than that. The director, writer and producer Dan Merchant, frustrated by the "culture wars," sets out on a nationwide trek wearing a jump suit covered with political and religious bumper stickers in hopes of having a conversation with anyone who will listen.
I found this film to be challenging, convicting, enlightening but also hopeful. Too often we have allowed our differences to define us rather than our similarities. We have a long history of harming others in the name of religion, something many are still trying to heal from. How do we return to the core of the Christian message? How do we get back to the words of Jesus and use them as the foundation of our faith and actions?
I want to share this movie with you. Over the summer we will have a few showings of this film and take some time afterward to discuss it's impact on you. I hope this film can ignite a conversation in our church and spur us on to actions more inline with the teachings of Jesus. If this is something you would like to be a part of let me know (chermansen@christelca.org) I will reserve your seat and a bag of popcorn.
See you in church,
Chris Hermansen
Last fall I saw a movie that moved me like few have. The films has a unique title, "Lord Save Us From Your Followers" and is beginning to have an impact from coast to coast. It would be classified as a documentary but it is so much more than that. The director, writer and producer Dan Merchant, frustrated by the "culture wars," sets out on a nationwide trek wearing a jump suit covered with political and religious bumper stickers in hopes of having a conversation with anyone who will listen.
I found this film to be challenging, convicting, enlightening but also hopeful. Too often we have allowed our differences to define us rather than our similarities. We have a long history of harming others in the name of religion, something many are still trying to heal from. How do we return to the core of the Christian message? How do we get back to the words of Jesus and use them as the foundation of our faith and actions?
I want to share this movie with you. Over the summer we will have a few showings of this film and take some time afterward to discuss it's impact on you. I hope this film can ignite a conversation in our church and spur us on to actions more inline with the teachings of Jesus. If this is something you would like to be a part of let me know (chermansen@christelca.org) I will reserve your seat and a bag of popcorn.
See you in church,
Chris Hermansen
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