By Joanne Zenz
Exciting things are happening at Christ the King. It’s our Jubilee and we are celebrating 60 years in ministry together. The founders of CtK had a long-term vision and made long-term investments setting the stage for the amazing things that have happened in doing God’s work over the years. We now look forward to the next 60 years of CtK. Long-term vision and investment will again set the stage for CtK to continue to do God’s work. We have an opportunity to make a long-term investment in solar energy, reducing energy costs and preserving the environment that God gave us for the next 30+ years. As Christians, we need to care for God’s creation and preserve the environment for future generations at Christ the King. The Property Committee of Christ the King, of which I am a member, has spent countless hours in the last few years reducing energy costs. We are stewards of a large church building with many lights, furnaces, and air conditioners. In response, we have installed energy-efficient LED lights, put timers on bathroom and hallway lights, and replaced HVAC systems with higher efficiency models. After thorough study by the Property Committee, we see solar as a long-term investment we need to make to further reduce energy costs and help our environment. Let’s take the next step in Christ the King’s future and celebrate our Jubilee by going SOLAR! Please attend the congregational meeting on November 7 and vote in favor of this exciting project.
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By Vern Rice
About fifteen years ago, fellow member, Pastor Richard Mork (who was then serving as ELCA Mission Director for our St. Paul Area and three other synods) commented to me that Christ the King had such a dynamic Global Missions Team. Would I consider also starting a Local Mission Partner Team since there were several local ethnic/immigrant ministries that also needed our support? So Dale Erickson and I met with Richard and reached out to local Hmong, Chinese and Latino ministries. We agreed to a three-part commitment with those ministries: To Pray for each other; To be Present with each other, and to share Presents with each other as our gifts and needs become known. Since then we have developed local partnerships with Redeemer Lutheran Church in North Minneapolis and Daily Work, a job counselling service in St Paul. This Local Mission Partner ministry has become one of the main passions for ministry in my retirement years. I am so glad to have worked these many years with several ethnic/immigrant partners and members at Christ the King who continue to support this ministry. By Judy Hill, Global Mission Team Member
Christ the King’s Global Mission Team is excited to welcome Jason Bergmann as our 2021 Global Mission Sunday speaker. His global perspective is an important part of his role as the Executive Director of Operation Bootstrap Africa (OBA), a Minnesota-based non-profit foundation that has been working with Africans in educating their children since 1965. Jason Bergmann is a Minnesota native and graduate of St. Mary’s University in Winona. He has found inspiration for his life in a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior: “What are you doing for others?” He previously worked at Mercy Nursing Home and was the executive director of their foundation for five years. He came to Operation Bootstrap Africa in 2018, feeling called by their mission to build African partnerships and strengthen their future through education, healthcare, agriculture, and other long-term development. As their name suggests, OBA has a self-help philosophy, working with local groups, using local resources, and following local priorities. OBA has worked with partners in Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar and is interdenominational. In October 2020 Jason Bergmann received a text with pictures from OBA schools in Southern Madagascar. He had known about the prolonged drought there, but had not realized that famine had set in. The pictures showed children with obvious signs of malnutrition. Because of the global pandemic, Madagascar had closed its borders to international travelers. OBA did, however, get special permission from the Malagasy government to enter the country for humanitarian reasons. He will share some of his experiences from this and other African trips, both in the day’s sermon and in the 11 am adult education forum. Please join us in listening to Jason Bergmann’s stories. By Pastor Peter Hanson
As we approach the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Christ the King Lutheran Church, we have declared a year of Jubilee. This will be a year unlike any other before (and perhaps unlike any other to come). This will be a year to celebrate God’s faithfulness to us as a congregation, as well as the faith-filled ways CtK has responded to the call to love God and love our neighbors over the years. This will be a year to take stock of what is important to our ministry, as we continue to resurface and emerge from a year of shutdown, separation, and continued uncertainty This will be a year to focus on where God is calling us in the future, using our newly debt-free status (for example) to invest ourselves and our shared resources in some bold new ventures that prepare us to sustain our ministry presence for years to come. One of the ways we want to mark this year of Jubilee is to hear from some of the many and varied voices of life at CtK. We want to hear from our remaining charter members—those who have been part of this congregation from the very beginning. We want to hear from those who chose to call CtK home at various times since 1961, those who have seen both the consistency and the change in our ministry over the years. We want to hear from new and new-er members, those who can see benefits of the firm foundation that has been laid by those who have gone before, and who respond “I want to be part of that, too!” Beginning in the month of October, we’ll be sharing some of these voices and the stories in our Sunday morning “Life at CtK” blog. Here’s where you can help!
Do you need a little “prompt” to get you thinking about which of these stories you’d like to share? Consider the questions below:
Sound the trumpet! Blow the ram’s horn! Let this be a year of celebration and jubilee, a year to give thanks to God for 60 years of faithful ministry, and a year to commit ourselves to 60 plus years of continued ministry together. By Pastor John Schwehn
Then you shall have the trumpet sounded loud…And you shall hallow the fiftieth year and you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you: you shall return, every one of you, to your property and every one of you to your family. – Leviticus 25:9a-10 We are beginning our new program year at Christ the King by focusing on the biblical concept of Jubilee. With COVID continuing to rage, with violence and war throughout our world, with climate change reaping havoc on large swaths of the country, it is difficult to feel anything like jubilation. But the year of Jubilee, laid out in Leviticus 25, is God’s way of calling us to start over, to begin again, and to let go of all that holds us captive. Every fifty years, God commands that all captives be released, all land returned, and all debts forgiven! It’s meant to disrupt cycles of generational poverty, allow the land to rest, and ensure that all people – and the earth – might live into the future with hope, equity, and mutual trust. Sadly, after Leviticus 25, the Bible is lacking in stories of God’s people actually following the command for Jubilee. Until, one day, Jesus of Nazareth stepped into the pulpit and read from the book of Isaiah, announcing that he had come to bring Jubilee to the earth: “Jesus unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ - Luke 4:16b-19 In 2021, Christ the King has so much to celebrate. The generosity and faithfulness of this congregation over sixty years has freed us to engage in meaningful ministry for our neighbors, and for the land. Here are a few aspects of Jubilee springing up at CtK that we will think about together this year:
After a year of complete separation, may we keep stumbling our way into the future to which God is calling us. With a heightened appreciation of our mortality and for the gift of life that God gives us each day, we return in order to begin again with a clean slate, rejoicing in one another’s presence, and leaning fully onto the grace of God in Jesus Christ. So blow the trumpet! God is with us. By Pastor Ana Becerra
As I have been struggling with feelings of pain and helplessness while watching our Afghan siblings fight to escape their homes, we received the terrible news on Thursday, August 26th that our troops were attacked at Hamid Karzai International Airport by suicide bombers and gunmen. This was the deadliest day for US military (13 killed) in Afghanistan since 2011. The next day, I received a call from my son Joshua, a Navy corpsman, who shared with me his grieving. There is no training to prepare a mother to deal with the pain when she sees her son suffering. In that moment, I could only remind Joshua (and myself) that God is our anchor. God promises to walk with us even in the midst of such a horrific tragedy. As a Navy mom I have to support and honor any orders that Joshua might receive. And he will always be my little boy! Holding onto both of these things at once is difficult and causes me pain. Even though my heart aches, I experience moments of comfort like during the prayers from last Sunday's morning worship service at CtK. The power of prayer is real. And when I heard the prayers raised by voices from Cristo Rey, I was reminded that I am not alone. None of us are alone in our journey towards healing, justice, and peace. As God's people, we are called to continue to find ways to bring justice to ALL. I ask you to please continue to pray for those 13 families that lost their children as well for all the military families who continue to walk with and support our service members -- our children, partners, and parents. May the power of the Holy Spirit move us to find ways to show compassion to one another and to share God's peace. Amen By Pastor Peter Hanson
For nearly sixty years, Christ the King Lutheran Church has been actively involved in nurturing the faith of people both within our congregation and in the wider community around us. As our Value Statement suggests, this congregation prepares folks of all ages to “live out their evolving faith in everyday life.” Such nurturing includes discovering one another’s spiritual needs, supporting one another in our lives of discipleship, listening to each other with care, and praying for one another with intention. For many of us, this nurturing faith that we share has come to us in large part through the example of those who have gone before us—our elders in the faith. Many of us can think of role models (whether here at CtK or elsewhere) who have faithfully taught us, patiently demonstrated for us, gently nudged us, and even lovingly corrected us in our own faith development. One such role model for me was CtK member Ted Kalkwarf. Ted was an ELCA pastor who joined CtK after his retirement. He remained committed to both lifelong faith formation and lifelong service. He never stopped reading, never stopped taking notes whether in the margins of the books or on the edges of bulletins. Ted was a particularly supportive elder in ministry to me, encouraging me in my pastoral role without meddling at all, affirming some of the tougher decisions I’ve made, while also offering constructive criticism to my preaching and teaching, all in a manner that was so gently and appropriately offered that it was so very welcome. His faith nurtured mine. He did for me what so many the founding generation continue to do for others here at CtK: they offer hope and encouragement to our faith. Of course, the methods for this have changed, evolved, and transformed over the years. This seemed particularly evident this past year or so, as many of our tried and true patterns of faith formation either moved outdoors, pivoted to online platforms, or required entirely new levels of creativity and innovation. To the casual observer, Sunday school, confirmation, and even adult ed don’t look anything like they used to pre-pandemic. Despite these changes big and small, though, the underlying value of nurturing faith has remained the same. Committed to Christ and his teachings, CtK claims as part of its tradition inspiring generation after generation to find faithful ways to put their Christian discipleship into practice. Lutheran theologian Jarislav Pelikan famously observed that “tradition is the living faith of the dead,” while “traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.” As we seek to nurture faith in one another, may we draw on best of the tradition of the elders, nurturing a faith that is living still, in spite of chaos, challenge, and change. And may we learn to let go of those things that, no matter how familiar they may feel, no longer truly support the underlying value of nurturing a deeply-rooted faith in a rapidly changing world. By Pastor Peter Hanson
Thanks to everyone who completed our recent online survey regarding our initial plans for Sunday morning worship, beginning this fall. With over 135 responses, we feel well equipped to move forward in this coming season, recognizing that while the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over, we can continue to make the adjustments we need to engage in worship, nurture faith, build community, and grow in compassion in the coming months. While far from being set in stone, what has emerged from this survey is a workable plan for the foreseeable future. On Rally Sunday, September 12, we will begin living into this new Sunday schedule. Worship will begin at 9:30 am, as it has been since the earliest days of our move to online worship in March 2020. We will continue to livestream this service, as we continue to hear what a blessing this is to elder members, members with young children, members with particular health concerns, as well as those who wish to engage in worship even when they are not nearby on a given Sunday. As conditions allow, we will reintroduce Coffee Hour at around 10:30 am or so with various options for faith formation, community-building, service projects, and even committee work beginning within the following half-hour or so. At noon, Cristo Rey will offer weekly worship in Spanish, providing a more regular gathering time for the Latinx faith community growing among us. It is great to have had such good participation, and your staff and other leaders appreciate the input and feedback you offered. Of course, a survey is more nuanced than any sort of “up or down” vote might be. It reflects a sort of “snapshot” in time, with some issues already resolved by the time feedback is shared, while other unforeseen concerns arise even after the survey is completed. There is always room for different interpretations of the results, and those called to serve and to lead are still charged with making and implementing decisions that go beyond what can be gleaned from a handful of multiple choice and open-ended questions. Moreover, there remains a certain level of uncertainty woven into any planning process we undertake these days, no matter how participatory, no matter how conclusive. The Delta Variant is proving to be both persistent and fast-changing, meaning that we will certainly have to set aside some of the plans we have so carefully made. If we’ve learned anything over the course of the past eighteen months or so, we’ve learned to be flexible, understanding, and patient with regard to making any plans! The link below gives a more thorough commentary on the results of the survey itself. As these also rely on context and can be open to a variety of interpretations, we’ve scheduled a time to discuss some this survey in-person: Sunday, August 29th after worship (about 10:45 or so). Please take a look at this commentary here, and bring your questions and further insights to CtK in two weeks’ time! Together in God’s mission, Pastor Peter Click here to download complete survey responses By Nate Crary
My mom is the best. No matter the situation I encounter or difficulty I face, she has always been a constant source of encouragement. Frequently I will open my personal email inbox to find a forwarded message from my mom that offers me an inspirational quote for the day. I even posted one such quote from Niccolo Machiavelli on my office wall when I first started at Christ the King back in 2015. It read: “There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.” In the month of August, we are focusing on our core value of nurturing faith. As a faith community, we value preparing all ages to live out their faith in daily life, offering hope and encouragement. How do you put this value into action in your daily walk with Jesus? When have you been encouraged by another to live fully into the promises of God’s abundant love and enduring grace? Where might we aspire to grow as a church that fosters a culture of nurture and care? Speaking from experience, I haven’t found faith to be something that gets easier to live out as I get older. Because of this, I’ve learned that it’s really helpful to be a part of a faith community that not only has my back when I inevitably stumble and make mistakes, but one that nudges me forward when I’m feeling stuck. I am blessed by you, Christ the King, to have your support while we grow and learn and fail and journey together in faith. If I could, I would share all of your email addresses with my mom so she could forward you the same encouraging notes she sends to me from time to time. It is incredible how a simple gesture like this helps me to process through the messiness that life throws my way. And, it is my prayer, that God provides you the encouragement you need today to live faith-fully into the hope that sustains you on your way. I fear in the dark and the doubt of my journey; but courage will come with the sound of your steps by my side. -- from “Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song” ELW 808 Amen |
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July 2024
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Christ the King Lutheran Church
1900 7th Street NW New Brighton, MN 55112 Phone: 651-633-4674 Email: [email protected] Office Hours: 9 am - 2 pm Mon - Thurs or by appointment Sunday Schedule Morning Worship at 9:30 am |