January, 2020

Christ Church Comments

Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church 225 E. Elm Avenue Monroe, MI 48162 734.241.4554

Pastor: davidhively@gmail.com New - Website: christmonroe.com

Facebook: Christ Lutheran Church—Monroe, MI Karen: secretaryonelm@sbcglobal.net

Kristen: CLCYouth225@gmail.com Newsletter: srsmiller74@yahoo.com

Peace,

Pastor David

2020 is a big year for Christ Lutheran Church. All through the year we will be celebrating the congrega-

tion’s 75th anniversary. A team of people is preparing events for each month of the year to help us mark this

momentous event. You’ll see announcements for all of these events, but I want to call your attention particu-larly to a special anniversary worship service scheduled for 5 p.m. on March 14th. Bishop Don Kreis, of

the Southeast Michigan Synod will join us for the service and for a reception afterward.

But this will not just be a year for looking backward. God has many things in store for this congregation

and our ministry in Monroe and the surrounding community. Much of this work is shaped and made possi-

ble by the time that we spend together once a year at an annual meeting. This year, in addition to the nor-

mal work of selecting leaders for the church and approving a budget, there are several important things that the annual meeting will also be asked to address:

1. Endowment Fund and Gift Policy: A recommendation from the Stewardship Committee to establish an

endowment fund and gift policy. The endowment fund is designed to provide financial support for the con-gregation’s ministries, especially those beyond the walls of this congregation. The gift policy adds transpar-

ency to a number of our financial processes and helps people trust that the money that they entrust to our

care is going to be used for ministry.

2. A Welcome Statement: If you regularly attend worship at Christ Lutheran, there’s a pretty good chance

that you already feel welcome here. But did you know that for many people who aren’t believers, churches

are often seen as judgmental and unwelcoming places? This statement, developed over the course of 2019,

moves beyond a general statement of welcome, to specifically name certain groups and categories of people

as welcome. Each group named in this statement is a group that is currently or has been historically exclud-

ed from full participation in the life of some churches. We name these groups specifically as a way of break-ing with other congregations whose welcomes are conditional and incomplete and giving context to our state-

ment “All are Welcome.”

Video recording of services: We have an opportunity to add the capability to video record and then broad-

cast (via the internet) our services. This will be an opportunity for us to connect with shut-ins (similar to the tape ministry from many years ago), maintain connections with those who are traveling or who spend part of

the year in another place, and introduce new people to the congregation. Many of my colleagues who record and broadcast their services indicate that visitors “checked them out online” before they made a visit in per-

son. Adding this capability will require the commitment of a team of volunteers who commit themselves to

this ministry (much like counters, ushers, or altar guild.)

Our community works best when we discern God’s will together. I hope that you will plan to stay after

worship on January 19th to hear summaries of the ministry that has been done in 2019 and to plan

together how best to live as faithful disciples of Jesus in 2020.

CURRENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION

November 2019 Year to Date 2019

Actual Budget Actual Budget

Operating Income: $ 15,003 $ 16,201 $ 170,587 $ 171,087

Operating Expense: $ 15,833 $ 15,225 $ 184,097 $ 187,546

Surplus [Deficit]: [$ 830] $ 976 [$ 13,510] [$ 16,459]

November giving was down somewhat, resulting in an operating deficit unfavorable to budget.

Thank you,

Donors!

Thanks to our very generous donors, ALL dates for altar flowers in 2020 have been filled!

Please contact Ann Link at 734.243.9396 if you would like to donate a pulpit bouquet. Or you can send an e-mail to: donlink1@att.net

Donations of Warm Socks And Gloves Are Needed

Many people in our community need warm clothing, especially during the winter months.

Please help by donating socks and gloves for men and women. These items will be dis-tributed to people who attend local meals for those in need. You can leave your donations at church.

If you have any questions, please call Ann Link at 243.9396.

Many thanks to

Thrivent Financial recently donated a grant to help Christ Lutheran provide essential clothing to the people who attend the local Community of Needs

meals. We are grateful for their support.

Scam Alert from Pastor David:

Many of my colleagues have reported that they have had scammers impersonate them online to try to get money from people in their congregation. Usually, the scammers assume a pastor’s identity by creating a Facebook account or e-mail address that is very similar looking to the pastor’s authentic account(s). They then use this account to ask for gift cards that would be “passed on to” needy people in the commu-

nity.

Please be aware, I will not ask you to buy gift cards/send money directly to me for any reason. On the occasions when I do ask someone directly for money, it will always be routed through the church’s account for the sake of transparency and accountability. If you are ever in doubt, please contact me directly by phone, text, or email before you send any money or

gift cards.

Family and Youth Ministries

YOUTH MINISTRY YOUTH CHRISTMAS PARTY & LOCK-IN! Friday, January 3rd, from 8 p.m. to Sat., Jan. 4th, at 7 a.m.

Youth in middle and high school are invited to a festive night filled with games, movies, food and fun, with a

holiday twist! As always, friends are welcome. There is a sign-up in the Narthex. Kids of the Kingdom MOVIE & HOT CHOCOLATE EVENT - Sunday, January 12th, at 12 noon in the Narthex.

Kids in kindergarten-5th grade are invited to join us for a fun afternoon of movies and hot chocolate. Bring a

pillow and blanket so you can get comfy. We will also serve lunch. There will be a craft, too. MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL JUMP PARTY! - Saturday, January 25th, from 1-3 p.m.*

You didn’t miss it! Kids in the 6th-12th grades are heading to “Get Air Toledo” for an afternoon of trampoline

fun! The cost is $10 per jumper, with pizza and pop included. If you want to carpool, we will meet at the

church at 12:15 p.m. Please sign-up on the bulletin board in the Narthex. Go to getairsports.com/Toledo to fill

out a waiver (*REQUIRED for ALL jumpers). As always, friends are welcome!

SOUPER BOWL OF CARING will be on Sunday, February 2nd. Our youth will be collecting money and food to

support our food pantry after the worship service.

MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH PROGRESSIVE DINNER is now on Friday, February 7th, at 6 p.m.

This event is back by popular demand. The middle and high school youth will experience the hospitality of

congregation members as they travel from home to home, enjoying a different course to the meal at each

stop. This event was re-scheduled from Advent. We can still use a couple of volunteers to host the youth for a

course, as well as drivers. Please let Kristen know if you are interested. MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH! The Charge Event is coming up fast! This is a weekend at Great Wolf Lodge in Trav-

erse City during the weekend of March 20-22. Parents can register youth by going to elcalivingwater.com/

charge/. Families are responsible for the registration fee ($95, if registered before January 13; $120, if regis-

tered after) and the church will cover the housing cost. There is more information on the bulletin board in the

Narthex.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION We will be back to our regular Faith Formation class schedule on Sunday, January 5th. Classes will meet the

first 3 Sundays of the month at 10:30 a.m., starting in the Parish Hall. The 4th Sunday of the month will be our

Cross-Generation Sundays. See you there! VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: We are creating our own Vacation Bible School Program this year. If you feel that

you are called to be creative and share the word of God with children, this is a great opportunity for you. If

you are interested in helping us with this project in any way, large or small, please let Kristen know.

CALLING ALL CAMPERS! We are heading to Stony Lake Lutheran Camp the week of July 5-10, 2020. Elementary, Confirmation, and

High School youth, if you are interested in an amazing week of fun, friends and faith, this is a great experience

for you. Parents must register their kids by going to elcalivingwater.com. We will be having a meeting to talk

about the details soon!

BAPTISMAL MINISTRY The Baptismal Ministry Team will meet on Saturday, December

28th, after worship to set final plans for the Epiphany Party. The Annual Epiphany Party will be on Sunday, January 5th, be-

ginning at 6 p.m. It will be in conjunction with the January Fellow-

ship Potluck. Soup and dessert are provided; please sign up for a

side dish. ALL ARE WELCOME! Mark your calendars!

Marilyn’s Nurse’s Notes for Healthy Living

Notes and Tips for the New Year!

January 3-4 Youth Christmas Party & Lock-In from 8 p.m. Friday - 7 a.m. Saturday

January 5 Faith Formation Classes Resume

January 5 10th Annual Epiphany Party in conjunction with the Fellowship Potluck at 6 p.m.

January 11 Altar Guild will take down Christmas decorations at 10 a.m.

January 12 Kids of the Kingdom Movie & Hot Chocolate Event at 12 noon

January 12 Women’s Book Club meets for planning & discussion at 4:30 p.m. at Kelly Kellie’s home

January 25 Middle & High School JUMP Party! from 1-3 p.m. at “Get Air Toledo”

February 2 SOUPER BOWL OF CARING

February 7 Youth Progressive Dinner at 6 p.m.

Upcoming Events ...

The CDC reported that at least 35% of adults in nine states were obese in 2018. Now a new report, pub-

lished in the New England Journal of Medicine this month, states that nearly half of American adults will be

obese within a decade and one-quarter will be severely so. This will cause many medical and financial prob-

lems. Obesity raises the risk of numerous health problems including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer

and other health problems. Despite this bad news, there are a few hopeful signs. The CDC reports that new

diabetes cases are declining which suggests progress on recognizing and treating early signs of the disease.

It also reported in June that obesity rates are declining among preschoolers on government food stamps.

Get moving if you are diagnosed with cardiovascular disease [CVD]. A study in JAMA Network Open found

that more than half of women with CVD do not do enough physical activity and the percentage has grown

over the last decade. Recommended physical activity is defined as 30 minutes or more of moderate to vigor-

ous exercise 5 or more days per week. Researchers found that those who met those guidelines expended one

-third less in health care costs than those who did not meet the guidelines.

If you are using legalized marijuana (cannabis), be aware that no one knows that “safe” THC driving level or

for how long the impairment persists after using marijuana, or how best to assess legal impairment limits.

However, some states have set legal driving limits for presumed impairment based on blood levels of its main

psychoactive chemical, tetrahydrocannibinol—THC. A driver can be considered DUI if the blood level is above

these levels whether the use was medical or recreational. In some states the driver can be arrested for suspi-

cion of DUI based on totality of circumstantial evidence of impairment such as a police officer noting erratic

driving, smelling marijuana, finding marijuana or paraphernalia in the car or doing typical field sobriety test-

ing. At any rate driving under the influence of marijuana is risky as it may affect reaction time and coordina-

tion. Establishing legal uniform standards will take time because of the way the drug is used and how it re-

acts in the body depending on how it is used (orally ingested, smoked or vaped).

The CDC reports that 70% of cases of rabies are caused from bats. The other 30% is from other wild ani-

mals, including raccoons, skunks and foxes (dogs are no longer considered a reservoir of rabies in the U.S.).

Bites and scratches from bats are hard to see and easily overlooked. Usually you can’t tell if a bat is infected

with rabies but telltale signs might be that it is active during the day, is unable to fly or is easily captured. If

you know or even suspect that you have been bitten by a bat or even if you awaken to find one in your room,

seek medical attention promptly and discuss whether you should get rabies post exposure prophylaxis treat-

ment which consists of a series of 4 injections in the arm. To prevent rabies, avoid contact with wildlife, es-

pecially injured animals and wild dogs, and vaccinate your pets.

- Marilyn Sanderlin, BSN Source: U of CA, Berkeley Wellness Letter, January 2020

Assisting Ministers

January 5

9:30 a.m. Rusty Ward

January 12

9:30 a.m. Jim Jackel

January 26

9:30 a.m. Geof Oetjens

January 26

9:30 a.m. Marilyn Sanderlin

Altar Team

January 5, 12, 19 & 26

Amber Clute, June Coyne, Elaine Guyer,

Becky Huepenbecker, and

Mary Jackel

HELP!! We need volunteers to serve on Sundays as communion assistants, assisting ministers, ushers, scripture

readers, acolytes, and greeters. Please sign up on the bulletin board in the Narthex hallway, call or e-mail.

VOLUNTEERS FOR JANUARY 2020:

Ushers

January 5

9:30 a.m. Shelby Carter, Ed Oley, Clint Nemec, Geof Oetjens

January 12

9:30 a.m. Bob Nemec, Ted Vavrick, Jason Vavrick

January 19

9:30 a.m. Mary Jackel, Jim Jackel, Will Vavrick

January 26

9:30 a.m. Karen Russell, Doug Link, Dave Kreiger, Gary Huepenbecker

HAVE YOU HAD A CHANGE OF ADDRESS? Please notify the church office with the details of your new address, if you have moved, or have

a new phone number, or are vacationing for an extended period of time. This helps save postage on returned mail. All church contact

information is found on the front page of this newsletter.

Volunteers

are needed for:

Greeters

Communion Assistants

Acolytes

Please sign up in the Narthex.

Scripture Readers

January 5

9:30 a.m. Patricia Sargent

January 12

9:30 a.m. Don Link

January 29

9:30 a.m. Sara LaBo

January 26

9:30 a.m. David Kreiger