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Church Office As of this writing, Sarah Bender is serving as temporary part time office administrator. Her hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Leave a voicemail if no one is able to answer the phone, and check at other times to see that someone is present if building entry is needed. We will have other volunteers in the office from time to time, and we thank Becca Jordan for publishing this newsletter. Susan Hunt continues physical rehabilitation at St. Mary’s Rehabilitation Hospital.
Volume 30, No. 9 September 2017
WORSHIP IN SEPTEMBER
September 3 — On Labor Day Weekend we recognize the work the people of our congrega-tion do and the faith that goes with our vocations as we live our lives as people faithful to Christ each day. We each do ministry in daily life.
September 10 — We revert to the two service schedule with worship at both 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. It is on this Sunday that congregational educational opportunities begin, and the Sunday School teachers will be installed at the services. Reid Bartek, son of Annika and Joe, will be baptized at the 10:30 a.m. service. We will begin using With One Voice Setting 5 on this Sunday.
September 17 — We look forward to the children of the Sunday School singing at the 10:30
a.m. service.
Dad’s Group The next Dad’s Group meeting is set for Friday, September 8, tentatively at the home of Kersten Horn. The third step Of Holding Your Family Together will be discussed. Some Dad’s Group members plan to participate in the Flint Ridge 4 or 10 mile run on Saturday, September 16, and others are welcome. Becca Jordan and Colleen Wagner are forming a cheering section if anyone wants to join! Email Becca at [email protected] for information.
120th
Anniversary of Christ Lutheran Saturday, September 30, 2017
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. See page 7 for a full-page flyer by Dave Fey.
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PROGRAM BEGINS SEPTEMBER 10
Sunday School Begins with Breakfast Snack for Children and Families Plus Knitting Ministry Demonstration and Craft
Sunday School kickoff is September 10th. Once again we are completely blessed to have our parent/teachers leading our children in this ministry.
On the first day of Sunday School we will be having a gathering for all Parents and Kids in the lower room of the Mead Center. A light breakfast snack will be served and we will be learning more about our congregation’s knitting group and the projects they work on. Alena Horn will be leading the kids in a "Yarn Dyeing" craft. Parents please join us at 9:15 a.m. for this fun first day of Sunday School.
—Superintendent Brent Wood Our Sunday School staff this year is: Superintendent: Brent Wood Music leader: Jesse Helton Preschool Team: Melissa Allen, Sarah Bender, Bryan Dopuch, Rachel Helton, and Sarah Ringkor Grades 1 and 2 Team: Kate Dopuch, Jodi McCarty, Steve McCarty, Dave Ringkor, and Lynnae Ruff Grades 3 through 6 Team: Matt Bender, Katie Ciorba, Alena Horn, and Kersten Horn Assistants and Substitutes: Luke Bruns (music), Matt Ciorba, Mike Hoyer, Jadee Lauer, Sylvia Rogers, and Danielle Uy
SAVE THE DATE! The Sunday School Christmas program will be Sunday December 17.
Confirmation Classes Begin September 10 to Study Christian
Beliefs
Seventh and eighth graders will meet at the Mead Center for weekly confirmation classes, beginning September 13. This year they will study the main beliefs of Christians as presented in Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. Lessons will include DVD clips from the “Re:Form” curriculum by Sparkhouse. One Sunday each month the class will meet with parent “guides” to discuss the month’s lessons. These small groups will often meet at local restaurants. The confirmation program at Christ extends into the fall of freshmen year in high school when students prepare in a variety of ways for Confirmation Day later in the fall.
Ninth Graders to Meet September 10 to Plan for Their Confirmation
Ninth graders and their parents will meet after church on September 10 in the Conference Room to plan how they will prepare themselves for the day when they will be affirmed in their faith (Confirmation Day). Besides other activities to prepare for confirmation, the youth will write a faith statement and choose a Bible verse which is meaningful to them. They will also have an interview with the pastors and other adults prior to confirmation. The date of their Confirmation day has yet to be determined. As in years past, the ninth graders will not have traditional classes on Sunday morning but will attend the Sunday morning high school group (see below).
Sunday Morning High School Group Reconvenes September 10
All high school youth are invited to meet in the youth room at the Arden Mead Center every Sunday at 9:15 a.m. for a time of informal discussion. Periodically the group will also go out for breakfast together. Deanne Bussler is the leader of this group, assisted by Mike Hill.
Children from Christ and Emmanuel Episcopal gather for the opening at Vacation Bible School this summer.
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High School “Cluster” Event Sunday, September 24 The September “Cluster” event for high school youth will be on Sunday, September 24, from 6 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Manchester, and will include games, food, and a program. Our Cluster youth will join with other area ELCA youth to hear about the National Youth Gathering in Houston, Texas, June 27-July 1, 2018. Youth are asked to bring $10 to cover the cost of food and to let Sherri Swanson know no later than Sunday, September 17 that they will be coming so food can be ordered. Shared youth director, Aaron Elliott, will give rides to and from Good Shepherd. For a ride, meet at Christ Lutheran at 5:30 p.m. Good Shepherd is located at 327 Woods Mill Road. The four ELCA congregations which form our “Cluster” with Christ are Gethsemane, St. Mark’s, St. Thomas/Holy Spirit, and Trinity, Kirkwood.
HIGH SCHOOL “CLUSTER” FALL SCHEDULE
Sunday, September 24 - 6-8 p.m. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Manchester, pre-gathering information, $10 for pizza, let Sherri Swanson know that you're going no later than Sunday, September 17 at [email protected]. Aaron will provide transportation. Meet at Christ at 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 15 - 6-8 p.m. St. Thomas/Holy Spirit Lutheran Church – Food, games, and program. Bring friends!
Friday—Sunday, November 17-19 Jr./Sr. High retreat to Carlinville, Illinois — $160 to Christ Lutheran Church, leave from Gethsemane Friday at 6:30 p.m. and return to Gethsemane Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 17 - time TBA Jr./Sr. High Christmas party at Gethsemane Lutheran Church
Was the Cluster youth trip to Trout Lodge this summer able make
friends of school rivals? Ask Anna Bussler!
The Cluster youth gather for the trip to Trout Lodge in Potosi, MO for a long weekend of learning, fun, and service.
Calvin Ciorba on the high ropes course this
summer at Confircamp, Camp Wartburg.
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ADULT FORUM
Adult forum resumes September 10 during the education hour. This fall we will be focusing on two anniversaries: 120 years of Christ Lutheran Church and 500
years of Lutheranism. We will also have sessions on Church History, Personal Spirituality, and Spirituality in popular culture.
Our fall adult forum schedule has come together! Thanks to Pastor Keith and Mark Ruff for multiple
sessions, and the rest of you for helping to massage our ideas into a plan. Our next meeting will be in November.
Adult Forum Fall 2017 Schedule:
September 10 & 17 Laurel Koepf Taylor: Spiritually and Harry Potter September 24 Mark Ruff leads discussion of 1953 movie, Martin Luther October 1 WRHM: Community outreach of 120
th anniversary celebration
October 8 Pr. Keith Holste: Introduction of Conflict to Communion October 15 Adam Ployd: Christian Martyrs October 22 Matt Miller: Being Church in the Community October 29 Mark Ruff: The Reformation November 5, 12, & 19 Matt Miller: Church to Community cont. November 26 No session or intergenerational activity December 3 Pr. Keith: Luther Exhibit December 10 & 17 Pr. Keith: Discover personal Spirituality December 24 & 31 No sessions
Questions, comments, ideas? Contact Harriet Scholle.
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ADULT FORUM Continued Here’s a preview of what’s coming in September: September 10 & 17: Spirituality and Harry Potter Laurel Koepf Taylor is Assistant Professor of Old Testament at Eden Theological Seminary and an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. Rev. Dr. Taylor's work focuses on children and families in the biblical world and today. She is the author of Give Me Children or I Shall Die: Children and Communal Survival in Biblical Literature and the editor of the Journal of Childhood and Religion. This two-week series will explore theological and biblical themes throughout J.K. Rowling’s popular Harry Potter novels. September 24: Post-viewing discussion of the 1953 black-and-white film Martin Luther, which will be shown at 7:00 p.m. in the Arden Mead Center on Saturday September 23. Many of you will have seen this film growing up. One of those most involved in the film's produc-tion was the Lutheran Hour speaker and LCMS pastor, Rev. Oswald Hoffmann, the father of John Hoffmann, one of the members of this parish. Mark Ruff has carried out extensive re-search into this film's origins which has run in the United States and countries throughout the world. Millions rushed to theaters and church basements for screenings. At the same time, the film was heavily criticized by Catholics throughout the world. It was censored in West Germany, banned outright in Quebec, Cuba, Egypt and the Philippines, and yanked off Chicago television under pressure from the archdiocese. Mark Ruff will introduce the film and discuss the contro-versies that ensued.
TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
The Tuesday morning Bible study group resumes their weekly sessions on Tuesday September 19 at 10:00 to 11:15 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The group will continue its study of the Gospel of Matthew, using N.T. Wright’s Study Guide for Matthew.
WEDNESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
This study meets from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays in the 3rd floor lounge of the Laclede Groves senior living community at 701 S. Laclede Station Road. The pastors lead a study on the lessons from the Revised Common Lection for the upcoming Sunday. It begins this fall on September 13. All are welcome.
First Choir Rehearsal Wednesday September 6 at 7:30 p.m. Our first rehearsal is Wednesday, September 6
th at 7:30 p.m.. with the regular
schedule continuing on the 13th, 20
th, and the 27
th.
We have lots to do! Reformation, Cantata*, and a new way to incorporate bells this year. So let’s roll up our sleeves and dig in – all singers welcome!
*The Cantata will be Sunday December 10th.
If you have questions, contact Diane Drollinger at [email protected].
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Sunday, September 17 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mark Ruff will have a Book Signing
Mark Ruff will be having a book signing for his new work, The Battle for the Catholic Past in Germany, 1945 - 1980, which was just published with Cambridge University Press. The signing will take place at the Urban Chestnut Brewery in the Grove, 4465 Manchester Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110. The book is about a topic that will be of great interest to those with an interest in the history of the Churches during the Nazi era. Most historians today would conclude that the Protestant churches in Germany collaborated more and resisted less than the Catholic Church during the dictatorship of Adolf Hitler. Why did the Catholic Church - and Pope Pius XII in particular - receive for decades almost all of the public criticism, and not the majority Protestant churches? Come here about the book and drink some fine beer. Mark Ruff's academic host from his three years of research in Germany, Dr. Wilhelm Damberg, Professor of Catholic Theology at the Ruhr-Universität-Bochum, will also be present.
Wednesday, October 4 at 7 p.m. “Race and Religion: Sheep and Servant Leadership”
Speaker: Amy Hunter, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, St. Louis Children’s Hospital Holy Redeemer Catholic Church: 341 E. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves
Sponsored by Christ Lutheran and 8 other area congregations
Alliance for Interracial Dignity Meets Thursday, September 14
The next Alliance for Interracial Dignity meeting is Thursday, September 14, 7-8:30 p.m. at the Webster Groves
Christian Church located on the southwest corner of Lockwood and Berry Road. This meeting will feature Dr. Terry
Jones discussing “St. Louis and Race: The Weight of History.” Dr. Jones will cover the historical movement of popu-
lations in the St. Louis area and how public policy has affected where people live. Dr. Jones addressed the adult forum
at Christ several years ago and was very well received.
The Alliance is a group that meets monthly during the school year in Webster Groves, represents people in the
63119 zip code, and has the motto “Talk-Heal-Change.” The goals of the Alliance are: Coming Together as a Communi-
ty and Growing Together as a Community Building community alliances with government, cultural/racial, and faith-
based groups to create a sustained social justice partnership.
The Alliance is under the leadership of Sarah Booth Riss, former Superintendent of Schools in Webster Groves.
IMPORTANT DATES!
WurstFest Saturday, October 7 at Larson Park
We will welcome fall with our annual Wurstfest Picnic & Potluck on Saturday, October 7 at Larson Park in Webster Groves. The picnic begins at 4:00 p.m. and dinner will be served at 5:00 p.m. There will be bratwurst and hotdogs with all the fixin's. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share and your own drinks. In addition to dinner, we will have lively conversation, skits and songs, and s’mores around the bonfire. Please sign up in the Fellowship Hall.
Monday, October 2 at 12:30 p.m. CLC Community Birthday Party!
Celebrating 90+ birthdays for Anita Trautmann, Dolly Hoyer, Cletus Romay, and Melba Thomsen! Details about location and menu will be provided in mid-September, and we will post a sign-up
sheet on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall.
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Christ Lutheran Outside Church New Member Dinner at the McCarty’s on August 20th
Eclipse Viewing at the O’Brien’s on August 21st
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Pastors Linda & Larry Daniels-Block House Fire Relief
Pastor Linda Daniels-Block of Lutheran Church of the
Good Shepherd, Hazelwood, and Pastor Larry Daniels
-Block of Holy Trinity Lutheran, St. Louis, were stricken
with a house fire several weeks ago. They have been
living in a hotel in Westport along with their children
and grandchildren. Their house is a total loss and will
be razed soon. Pr. Larry is resigning from his position
at Holy Trinity in the near future to better manage the
family’s recovery.
You can help them in several ways: Home-cooked meals for the family of 6 can be
dropped off, but should be prearranged with Pr. Linda at 314-882-7266.
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd is sponsoring a benefit luncheon at noon (after the 10:45 a.m. worship) on Sunday, September 10. The congregation is providing a BBQ menu with potluck sides and desserts. A free-will offering will be collected to help their recovery after the fire. The luncheon is limited to 100 people; please contact Bill Budenholzer at [email protected] to reserve your spot.
The collection of gift cards and other donations are being coordinated through the secretary at Good Shepherd, Angie Kemper. Please contact her regarding other donations at 314-837-3589.
Ways to Give
CLC Treasurer’s Report - Financials Through July 31, 2017 Below is a condensed report for the 7-month period of CLC’s General Fund:
Actual Budget Income All Sources $259,300 $269,000 Expenses $271,700 $276,000 Surplus/<Deficit> $<12,400 $ <7,000
Income is $10,000 below budget due to a summer slump in regular giving. As fall months begin, please consider helping us “catch up” on our shortfall.
Expenses remain in good control and are below budget. However, pressing human needs of the marginalized/poor have put our Pastors’ Discretionary Fund expense line item in a $3,000 deficit position. Special contributions to aid in offsetting this higher expense would be most welcome and appreciated. *To donate money to this specific fund, please put “Pastors’ Discretionary Fund “ in the memo line of your check.
We are most grateful for your generous giving to Christ Lutheran. Thank you! — Larry Hill, Treasurer
Donation Match!
Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis recognizes the ef-forts of Lutheran congregations in rapidly respond-ing to Hurricane Harvey tragedy. In recognition of this it is creating a special one-time matching fund of up to $400,000 to increase the impact of local donations. Here are how funds will be distributed: Each congregation’s match will be up to
$10,000. Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis will match dol-
lar-for-dollar the cash donations raised by St. Louis Area Lutheran congregations in support of Hurricane Harvey disaster relief efforts.
The match period for cash donations raised by Lutheran congregations is from August 29, 2017 through September 24, 2017. (Please make do-nations to Christ Lutheran by Sept. 17 so they can be processed in time.)
Only funds donated by the congregation to ELCA Disaster Response qualify. Individual contributions made directly to ELCA Disaster Response will not qualify--they must go through the congregation! CLC members can make checks payable to Christ Lutheran Church and note “Hurricane Response—
U.S.” in the check memo line. Lutheran Foundation’s matching gift will be
awarded to the congregation’s selected organi-
zation and designated to Hurricane Harvey dis-
aster relief efforts. Funds will be donated in hon-
or of St. Louis Area Lutheran congregations.
Contact the church office for more information.
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500th Anniversary of the Reformation
Events will begin in September commemorating the 500
th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation.
Some of them will be educational. See the articles about the showing of the Luther film of 1953 and the explanatory forum led by Dr. Mark Ruff on September 24 about the making of the film in spite of difficulties with East Germany and the Roman Catholic Church.
Other films pertaining to the Reformation with introductory comments will be shown on other Sunday nights in September and October free in the Mead Center. See the coming schedule.
Lutheran School of Theology is sponsoring a series of lectures by Dr. Mark Ruff on Six
Reformations of the period. They will be at Christ Lutheran. See the story elsewhere in this edition. In the realm of service, work on building a Habitat for Humanity House is to begin in
September. Word is to come from Habitat for the start date details. Stay tuned. There may also be an opportunity to assist with Feed My Starving Children food pack at Good Shepherd in Manchester in October. Be watching.
Reformation music will highlight the St. Louis Bach Society concert on October 29 at
3:00 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Kirkwood. A number of reformation songs including Heinrich Schuetz’s Psalm 136 will be sung. Tickets are available at church.
The epitome of the month will be the Lutheran-Catholic Joint Commemoration of the 500
th
Anniversary of the Reformation Worship and Prayer Service on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica, 4431 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis. The service will be highly musical with co-preaching from Bishop Denis Madden of the Archdiocess of Baltimore and Bishop Donald McCoid of the ELCA.
Bishops Madden and McCoid will participate in a panel discussion on Monday morning,
October 30 at 9:30 a.m. the Aquinas Institute of Theology, 23 S. Spring St., St. Louis.
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Music of the Reformation
A Musical Celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation
Performed by The Bach Society of Saint Louis Sunday, October 29 — 3:00 p.m. — First Presbyterian Church, Kirkwood
Tickets: $25 — $35 — $45
See Pastors Penny or Keith or Carolyn Crowe for tickets
Celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation through song! Martin Luther had a
profound and lasting influence on sacred music and even Bach himself! Bach’s Reformation cantata Ein feste burg ist unser Gott (A Mighty Fortress Is Our God) and Heinrich Schütz’s Psalm 136 will highlight the program, along with an opportunity for
audience participation in joyous Reformation hymns.
Follow-up lecture by Dr. Mark Bangert on Sunday, Nov. 5, at Bethel Lutheran Church, 7001 Forsyth Blvd., $15, register at lststl.org/courseregistration
Mark Ruff to Teach “Reformations” LST Class Beginning September 25
Dr. Mark Ruff, organist at Christ Lutheran and Professor of History at Saint Louis University, will teach a class, “A World Turned Upside Down: Six Reformations in Europe,” at Christ Lutheran beginning September 25.
When the Augustinian friar, Martin Luther, went public with his 95 Theses on the evening of October 31, 1517, he had no idea that his protest against indulgences would turn the Church, the European political landscape and ultimately much of the Western world upside down. Luther’s ef-forts at reform inspired five subsequent waves of reform – the Swiss, Radical, Calvinist, English and Catholic Reformations. They complicated already fraught relations between Christians, Jews and Muslims in Europe. New religious ideas are often blamed for having unleashed the devastating bloodshed of the Peasants’ War, the Schmalkaldic Wars, the Thirty Years War and the English Civil Wars. But how much of the ensuing conflict stemmed from political tensions? And how did religious change upend the political structures of Europe?
The course will be offered six Monday evenings, Sept. 25-Oct. 30 from 7:00 to 9:30 p. m. at
Christ Lutheran. It is offered by Lutheran School of Theology of St. Louis. Tuition is $86 if registra-tion is received by Sept. 25 and $96 if later. Register with Prs. Penny or Keith, by calling LST at 314-918-2556, online at www.lststl.org/courses, or by email to [email protected].
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CROP Hunger Walk and Concert to be held on Sunday October 1 Confirmation Class Receiving Donations
The Confirmation Class will be walking in the CROP Walk for hunger again this year and will be collecting donations for hunger after worship September 17 and 24 and October 1. The CROP Walk will be held at Eden Seminary (see details below). You may also donate to their account online:
Go to crophungerwalk.org/saintlouismo Click on Donate Click on Donate to a team In the box that says Search for a team by
name, type Christ Lutheran Select donation amount (Team goal: $500) Members may want to walk in the CROP Walk themselves: The CROP Walk will be Sunday October 1, at the Eden Theological Seminary (475 E. Lockwood Ave.) All are invited to walk. The schedule this year is: 5:30 — 6:30 p.m. Walk around Eden campus 6:00 — 6:45 p.m. If you want to stay to eat you may buy food from “2 Girls 4 Wheels!” food truck (a portion of their proceeds donated to CROP) 7:00 p.m. Enjoy a free concert featuring Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, Paul Vasile and the Eden Choir, among others. Both Paul and Richard are nationally-known and internationally-known musicians.
CROP Hunger Walks are community-wide events sponsored by Church World Service and organized
by religious groups, businesses, schools and others to raise funds to end hunger in the U.S. and around the world. This year’s proceeds will go to Circle of Concern Food Pantry, Operation Food Search and Webster-Rock Hill Ministries.
Attention Thrivent Members
Have you designated your Thrivent Choice Dollars for this year? Remember that you have to identify an organization to receive them each year. You can name Christ Lutheran or another charitable organization. To do so, go on line to Thrivent.com/choice dollars or phone 800 847-4836. Also, you can volunteer to lead an "action team" to work on a project for the church or community
and receive $250 seed money to get started. See Thrivent.com/action team.
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LET'S CELEBRATE SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
AND BIRTHDAYS!
Congratulations and Best Wishes! Your Christ Lutheran family wants to celebrate you!
Every month we will honor anniversaries and birthdays with a special cake, party fun, and
decorations after the service. This month we will celebrate on Sunday September 3, 2017.
ANNIVERSARIES: 09/01 Andrew and Lauren Bennett 09/04 Brett and Deanne Bussler 09/04 Steve and Jodi McCarty 09/08 David and Patty Hopper 09/11 Alan and Mary Richter 09/14 Joe and Annika Bartek 09/15 Robert and Carol Brockelmeyer 09/15 Keith and Nancy Lissant 09/16 Dave and Sarah Ringkor 09/17 Mark and Linda Elkin 09/24 Tore and Rosemary Stole
BIRTHDAYS:
09/02 Janna Langholz 09/05 Eric Deck 09/05 Nancy King 09/10 Becca Jordan 09/12 Jacob Joern 09/13 Dave Eftink Jr. 09/14 Bill Wischmeyer 09/16 William Zempel 09/17 Alexa Gunther 09/17 Laura Swanson 09/18 Megan Cromer 09/19 Ian Bennett 09/21 Ernestine Bartee 09/22 Kate Hoerchler 09/25 Donald Pace 09/25 Micah Ruff 09/25 Anita Trautmann
09/26 Michael Hill
09/26 Rosemary Stole
09/27 Doug Austin
09/29 Gege Brightman
09/29 Dorothy Hoyer
09/29 Bryn Stole
09/30 Emma Austin
WOMEN'S GROUP Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, help-ers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12: 27-28. We are all part of the church — individuals but with various gifts. We try to use these gifts to be a part of the body of Christ, the church. Women’s Group will meet on Wednesday, September 13 at 12:00 p.m. at church. Bring a sandwich; we will provide beverages and dessert. We will assemble “Missouri Readin’ & Writin’” packs for the Festival of Sharing, sponsored by Church Women United in October. You may won-der why this event is held so late. The supplies are distributed to needy students throughout the state. Funding for the supplies for the backpacks from our congregation is underwritten by Thrivent. Church Women United is an international group that makes up a portion of the “body of Christ.” Our group is proud to assist them. See you in church!
STEPHEN MINISTRIES There will be no Stephen Ministries meeting for the month of September. Our scheduled meetings for the remainder of 2017 are as follows:
Thursday October 19 — Details to come in the October newsletter Thursday December 14 —Annual holiday party at Anita’s house
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Reconciling in Christ: Statement of Affirmation
Thank you to the many folks who have shared ideas and opinions about the Reconciling in Christ
draft affirmation statement. (For more information about the creation of the statement, please see
last month’s newsletter.) The draft statement is as follows:
“Welcome to Christ Lutheran! We are a growing church community that welcomes, and affirms all
who seek God’s grace. The world is often an unloving place, but, as Christ has show his love for us,
we pledge to show love to on another. Members of Christ Lutheran humbly strive to create
wholeness, inclusion, justice, understanding, and healing in a world divided. We affirm that in Christ,
“there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor
female” (Galatians 3:28). Christ has made us one.
People of all sexual orientations, gender identities, ethnic and racial background, economic
conditions, people who are differently abled, and all who have been unfairly excluded are embraced
and celebrated at Christ Lutheran.”
We are still looking for your input. If you have ideas or proposed changes, please contact Katie
Ciorba at [email protected] or 314-775-9517. We hope you will consider attending a listening
session on Sunday September 17th in the chapel next to the sanctuary, after the 8:00 a.m. service
with Flo Saeger and after the 10:30 a.m. service with another member of the committee in order to
listen to your thoughts, ideas, hopes, and concerns.
Picture This! Has your family changed this year? Do you have an updated style you want highlighted in our online church directory? If so, please send a picture to Katie Ciorba at [email protected] to replace your current picture, or add one if you don't have one now. Want to access the online directory? Go to: www.instantchurchdirectory.com Click on “church member sign in” On the sign in page go to: First time signing in? Create a login now. Type in the email (the one you’ve provided for church) and create a password; retype the password. You will then receive a “code” in your email that will allow you to log in to the website using your email and password. Want to get the directory app? The app is great for being out and about. You can open it up and look up anyone’s phone number or address. Find the app “instant church directory” in your favorite app store. You can have more than 1 app registered per email address.
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September Member Spotlight Each month the Inreach Committee will highlight a member of Christ
Lutheran so we all can get to know each other better. Please send member and question suggestions to Jodi McCarty at [email protected].
Kate Dopuch
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Profession: Chief Program Manager, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri
How long at CLWG: Almost 8 years!
Why do you still choose CLWG: When we were visiting churches
and looking for our church home, we really appreciated the warm
welcome we received at CLWG. We really felt early on a sense of
community and family, and we know we have a unique place to help
Christ Lutheran continue to flourish and grow.
Favorite Bible Verse/Story: John 13:1-17, Jesus Washes His
Disciples’ Feet
I love the stories in the Bible about the washing of the feet. We are all
here to help each other, to truly serve one another. This action shows
our sense of generosity. While not the most glamorous, washing feet
humbles us and shows that we are here to help, no matter what.
Hobbies: Spending time with my kids, Luke and Lauren, working on
projects around the house and doing creative arts projects with
children.
Fun Fact: I mistakenly ran in a marathon once!
Iris Caroline Ludwig died in the Lord on Saturday, August 19. Her funeral was on Tuesday, August 22, at Jay B. Smith Funeral Home in Maplewood.
We commend her to our Lord who rose for her sake and pray that all who mourn her death will be comforted by the promise of life given to us by our Lord.
Pastoral Acts
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“The summer went by too fast!” I’ve heard that sentiment expressed many times in the past few weeks. Sometimes it’s said wistfully, knowing that shorter, colder days lay ahead. Often it’s said with regret for things left undone. “We meant to get away one more time as a family.” “I planned to clean out my closets.” “I was going to do that landscaping project.” “I wanted to take early morning walks.”
With each change of season we mourn the passing of time and that’s probably healthy. It makes us appreciate each moment while we have it and reminds us that our earthly lives are part of a much bigger, spiritual reality where time is not limited and the passing of time need not be feared.
Our regrets, however, that we didn’t accomplish what we had intended during the past summer, can leave us feeling frustrated and defeated and that is not healthy. I think many of us have adopted our society’s value of productivity. It’s how we get things done. Productivity, however, does not need to be the yardstick we use to measure how we feel about ourselves.
I think of the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 15:14-30. Three slaves were entrusted with their master’s money. Each was given a different-sized account to handle: five, three and one talent (a talent was a huge sum of money). Both the slaves handling the five and the three talent accounts doubled their investment. Both were praised with the exact, same words as being “good and trustworthy” even though their accomplishments were different. Only the one who was afraid of his master and hid his talent and made nothing, was criticized and punished by the master.
God gives us days on this earth to build a better world and to enjoy what God has given us and while it’s good to be productive, productivity is not what makes us valuable. Just as we value our children or our pets apart from anything they may “accomplish,” God cherishes us because we are God’s children. When we’re tempted to let regret and frustration hover over our lives, may we remember that the most important productivity is what Jesus accomplished—living, dying and rising again—for which God has determined that we are “good and trustworthy” for all time.
---Pastor Penny
Building a Better World
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COLLECTIONS: Did you know Christ Lutheran has a number of ongoing collections to benefit local charities that you can participate in ANY time of the year?! Here is the list as a refresher; feel free to drop off items anytime at their designated spots in fellowship hall:
Box Tops for Education — local schools
Gently used and new shoes — Get the Word Out
Meal-a-Month food items — WRMH & Feed My People
from your Christian Service Ministry Team
GIVE-A-MEAL-A-MONTH SEPTEMBER OCTOBER
- Beef stew - Canned chicken and dumplings, low sodium - Canned carrots, low sodium/no salt - Canned green vegetables, low sodium/no salt - Cornbread mix - Biscuit mix - Canned fruit in light syrup or own juices - Applesauce in plastic containers, unsweetened - Powdered milk/shelf stable boxed milk/soy milk - Powdered milk/shelf stable boxed milk/soy milk
Return to Church by SEPTEMBER 24, 2017 Return to Church by OCTOBER 29, 2017
A meal a month for you, a meal a month for your neighbor. Please fill a yellow shopping bag or two (available in the Fellowship Hall) with food items and return them to CLC. Any donation is appreciated! Peanut butter, jelly, fruit rolls, and tea bags are always welcome. And donations of disposable diapers, femi-nine products, and hygiene products are always appreciated. Thank you for remembering your neighbors!
Immigrant Refugee Women’s Program
The mission of the Immigrant Refugee Women’s Program (IRWP) is to increase the independence and reduce the isolation of immigrant and refugee women by teaching them basic English and practical living skills in the security of their own homes. IRWP focuses on women as they tend to be more isolated as new immigrants and have more limited social interaction then male members of immigrant families. Students who are referred to IRWP are matched with volunteer teachers. The teacher and student meet initially with a staff member from IRWP, and then schedule individual times to meet together. The curriculum ranges from an introductory level for individuals who are learning basic literacy skills all the way to advanced skills including studying for continued education and improving job skills. The agency has been in existence since 1995 and has served students from 69 areas of origin. The funds that are raised are used to purchase books and other educational material for the students to use to improve their English and basic living skills. For more information, visit their website at www.irwp.net.
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SEPTEMBER 2017 "WHO-DO" LIST
September 3 9:30 a.m. Key Person Joan O’Brien Assisting Minister Flo Saeger Acolyte John Hoffmann Ushers Jim Bennett / Joan O’Brien Lector Jim Bennett Presenters Natalie Bruns / Donna Munger Altar Guild Carolyn Lange / Janet Roock Flowers Ellen Mead / Joan Rivas Nursery Lynnae Ruff Counter Susan DeBusk / Judy Wessler Refreshments Alena Horn / Jadee Lauer / Sarah Ringkor / Lynnae Ruff
September 10 8:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Key Person Bill Griffith Matt Bender Assisting Minister Sandy Hoyer Acolyte Sam Allen Ushers Alan Richter / Roger Rose Lector Larry Hill Jodi McCarty Presenters Larry Hill The Bender Family Altar Guild Matt and Sarah Bender Flowers Sarah Bender Nursery Lynnae Ruff Counters Sarah Bender / Jessica Gunther Refreshments Melissa Allen / Katie Ciorba / Kate Dopuch / Jodi McCarty
September 17 8:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Key Person Jerry Kuziel Peter Jordan Assisting Minister John Hoffmann Acolyte Marc Horn Ushers Brett Bussler / Eric Deck Lector Susan Laughlin Kersten Horn Presenters Irene Kalnins / Susan Laughlin Dianne Deck / Tom Palazzolo Altar Guild Kathy Kuziel / Angela Bratcher Flowers Dianne Deck Nursery Lynnae Ruff Counters Susan DeBusk / Andrew and Tiggerr Schleicher Refreshments Angela Bratcher / Harriet Scholle / Sally Wachtman
September 24 8:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Key Person Bill Scholle Keith Lissant Assisting Minister Carolyn Crowe Acolyte Harrison Ringkor Ushers Natalie Bruns / Jessica Hopper Lector Vic Saeger Danielle Yu Presenters Vic and Flo Saeger Becca and Peter Jordan Altar Guild Nancy Lissant / Harriet Scholle Flowers Nancy Lissant / Harriet Scholle Nursery Lynnae Ruff Counters Dave Austin / Tore Stole Refreshments Ellen Mead / Sharon Hornbeck / Carolyn Lange / Flo Saeger
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September 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2
3
9:00a Childcare 9:30a Worship 10:35a BP check 10:35a Fellow-ship time w/ Sep-tember anniver-saries & birth-days
4
Labor Day—Office Closed Prs. Out of Town 11a Conscious Body Alignment—Fellowship Hall 12p Sr. Fellowship 6p Fitness Group
5
Prs. Out of Town 10a Pastor’s Text study—Conference Room
6 Prs. Out of Town 11a Involvement Fair—Webster U 6p Fitness Group
7 8 7p Dads Group
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10 7:45a Childcare 8:00a Worship 9:15a Education Hour 10:30a Worship w/ Baptism 11:45 Fellowship 7p Ref 500 movie
11 11a Conscious Body Alignment—Fellowship Hall 12p Sr. Fellowship 6p Fitness Group
12 10a Pastor’s Text study—Conference Room
13 10a Bible Study at Laclede Groves 6p Fitness Group 6:30p Worship Committee mtg.
14 1:30p Deacon Mtg Conference Room
15 16
17 7:45a Childcare 8:00a Worship 9:15a Education Hour 10:30a Worship w/ Children sing 11:45 Fellowship 4:30p Mark Ruff book signing 7p Ref 500 movie
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11a Conscious Body Alignment—Fellowship Hall 12p Sr. Fellowship 6p Fitness Group
19 10a Bible Study 10a Pastor’s Text study—Conference Room 7p Church Council meeting—Conference Room
20
10a Bible Study at Laclede Groves 6p Fitness Group
21
22 1p VBS meeting
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24 7:45a Childcare 8:00a Worship 9:15a Education Hour 10:30a Worship 11:45 Fellowship 6p High School youth at St. Mark’s 7p Ref 500 movie
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11a Conscious Body Alignment—Fellowship Hall 12p Senior Fellow-ship 6p Fitness Group
26 10a Bible Study 10a Pastor’s Text study—Conference Room
27 10a Bible Study at Laclede Groves 6p Fitness Group
28 29
30 10a 120th Anniver-sary Celebration
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Christ Lutheran Church, ELCA 1 Selma Avenue at Lockwood Webster Groves, MO 63119-3199
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
ST. LOUIS, MO
PERMIT #741
September 2017 Highlights
09/03 10:35a.m.: Celebrate September anniversaries &
birthdays during Fellowship time.
10:35a.m.: Blood pressure checks with Parish Nurse.
09/10 9:15a.m.: Sunday School and Adult Education Hour.
10:30a.m.: Baptism of Reid Joseph Bartek.
11:45a.m.: Fellowship time
11:45a.m.: 9th grade meeting in Conference Room.
09/13 6:30p.m.: Worship Committee meeting in Conference Room.
09/17 9:00a.m.—9:20a.m.: CLC Mission Statement Listening Session.
9:15a.m.: Sunday School and Adult Education Hour.
11:45a.m.—12:05p.m.: CLC Mission Statement Listening Session.
11:45a.m.: Fellowship time.
4:30p.m.: Mark Ruff book signing at Urban Chestnut Brewery.
09/19 7:00p.m.: Church Council meeting in Conference Room.
09/22 1:00p.m.: VBS meeting
09/24 9:15a.m.: Sunday School and Adult Education Hour.
11:45a.m.: Fellowship time
6:00p.m.: Cluster High School youth at St. Mark’s.
09/30 10:00a.m.: 120th Anniversary Celebration on the front lawn!
TELEPHONE: 314-962-6011
FAX: 314-962-4810
E-MAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE:
WWW.CHRISTWG.ORG
WORSHIP SCHEDULE: SUNDAY AT 8:00 & 10:30 A.M.
CHILDCARE: 7:45 A.M. — 12:15 P.M.
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY, WEDNESDAY,
& THURSDAY 8:00—11:45 A.M.
PASTORS: PENNY AND KEITH HOLSTE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT:
BRETT BUSSLER
PASTORAL ASSISTANT: MARK ROOCK
SOUTHSIDE CLUSTER SHARED
YOUTH COORDINATOR: AARON ELLIOTT
DIRECTOR OF SENIOR
ADULT MINISTRIES AND FAITH COMMUNITY NURSE:
CAROLYN CROWE
DIRECTOR OF CHOIRS: DIANE DROLLINGER
ORGANIST: MARK RUFF
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR:
SUSAN HUNT
FINANCIAL SECRETARY: TAMMY PRYOR
CUSTODIAN:
KELLY LAKIES
WEBMASTER: DAVE RINGKOR
