Written by Peter Hanson, Lead Pastor We’re just about half-way through the season of Lent. Though some days, it feels like it’s been Lent for a whole year!
After all, it has been exactly a year since the rapidly unfolding COVID pandemic required us to close the Christ the King building. We moved our worship, faith formation, and community-building online. We learned not just how to tune in to worship, but to truly participate in online church in a whole new way. Summer and fall gave us opportunities to experiment with both drive-in and homegrown worship, even as our worship team became more accustomed to (if not particularly fond of) preaching and leading to a camera in an otherwise empty Sanctuary. A year on, however, we might well wonder if it is Lent again or still! The season of Lent is a time for reflection, repentance, and renewal—a time for turning toward and returning to God. We tend to think of Lent as a particularly somber time marked by self-sacrifice, but as we’ve been reminded many times already by our Bible readings this season, repentance is not so much a scary appearance before an angry God, but a homecoming to a loving parent one who lavishly celebrates our return. Normally, Lent lasts for forty days (not counting Sundays, as Sundays are considered “little Easters” and therefore not really part of Lent). Traditionally, these forty days were a time when people new to the Christian faith prepared for baptism at Easter. This year, though, I continue to wonder for what else we are being prepared.
We walk through the season of Lent holding fast to the promise of Easter, praying as we journey that Christ would be made known to us again this year in new and inspiring ways. Let us also walk through what remains of this year-long Lenten-like season of COVID, praying as we journey that God would reveal to us the new life in Christ for which we are being prepared.
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Written by Amity Lantz-Trier, Director of Youth and Family Faith Formation
As February has come to a close we have spent the last month honoring and remembering many of the Black men and women who have had an impact on our county in many different ways. We know Black history is happening constantly and we have been reminded of that more than ever this last year. The murder of George Floyd sparked a fire that has been continuously burning since May. We stood together to bring attention to racial injustice and police brutality, nationally celebrated Juneteenth, we supported Black businesses as much as we could, elected an array of Black and people of color to our local, state, and national governments, combated voter suppression linked to racism, and elected a Black and Asian American to be our first female Vice-President. To me, the most important work happened in our churches. We started asking questions, listening to stories, uplifting Black voices and planning. Planning on how to continue this movement. Planning on how to continue to make the world a better place for our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) sisters and brothers. We can’t stop now. Kathy Pierre of Relevant Magazine gives 5 great ways to continue and support our black communities: Read While figures of Black history won’t be in the forefront of the news, you can keep learning by reading books. Read books about society and the systems and institutions that were set up to keep Black people—and people of color—marginalized. Read biographies on lesser-known Black people who affected the United States and the world in great ways. Read fiction books written by Black writers. Read memoirs written by Black writers. Read to have an understanding and don’t be afraid to read other books and do research inspired by the books you’ve read. Support Black Businesses and Creators “Support small businesses” is a common rallying call in our country. This year, consider shopping from Black-owned businesses where you can and recommending them to your friends and family. In the same vein, look for Black creatives and creators and support their work. Whether that looks like paying Black writers to write—not just about race, buying art from Black artists, watching films and TV shows by Black screenwriters and directors, and listening to music from Black musicians Add Black People to Your Networks One of the downfalls of networking, aside from how much introverts hate it, is the way it unintentionally excludes people of color. When you’re networking or looking for young people to mentor, be intentional about looking for people of color you can connect to opportunities and other people who can help them succeed. Support Nonprofits Consider volunteering with or donating to nonprofit organizations that serve marginalized communities. Get plugged in and genuinely attempt to become part of that community in a way that will transform you and the people you’re helping. Learn More History Many cities across the United States and the world have museums focused on the history and contributions of Black people. Going to a museum is generally a cheap way to spend your day and you’ll come away with information you didn’t know before entering and you’ll be able to experience it and learn with an added visual component, which can even make old information feel new. Most importantly we must continue to do the work in our churches. As the church, it is our responsibility to confront the silence and indifference concerning racial issues. We need a greater understanding of what the Kingdom of Heaven looks like here on earth and what part we have to play in the narrative. We turn to God in prayer first, asking for guidance and understanding as we continue to work towards a world in which all of God’s children are afforded the same privileges as one another. Written by Pastor John Rohde Schwehn
Luke 13:1-9 gives us a couple of Jesus stories that, at first, don’t seem to fit together. First, we hear the disciples asking Jesus about a horrific act carried out against their community: Pontius Pilate slaughtered some Jewish Galileans at the temple in Jerusalem. “Why?” they ask Jesus. “Why can such a horrific thing be allowed to happen?” But rather than answering them, Jesus adds yet another tragedy to the catalogue of suffering: “Didn’t you hear about the big tower at Siloam that fell over and killed eighteen people?” Two-thousand years later, the headlines continue to shock and disturb us: hundreds of thousands killed off by a novel virus; natural disaster, war, and terror continue to claim the lives of innocent people all around the world. We want to know, “Why? Why does this have to happen?” But Jesus rejects our desire for easy answers. Jesus says “no” to any attempt to explain away other peoples’ misfortune, or pain. Those who were murdered in their house of worship, those crushed by a collapsing tower – they were no less beloved, no less good, no more ready to die than any of us. “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than others?” Jesus asks. “No, I tell you!” After all, the story we travel through Lent finds its climax on the cross: the only human who was literally without sin still met a horrible death. Being good is not what saves us. Those who we read about in our headlines were good, decent, and died too soon. We all know and love someone who died too soon. So Jesus suggests repentance. After all, repentance is a practice that roots us more firmly in the soil of today. It keeps us honest when we fall short and daily names our need – and gratitude – for God. Repentance reminds us everything is a gift. Enter the parable of the fig tree. The fig tree has not been growing figs. “Cut it down,” says the landowner. But the gardener (and remember that the risen Jesus appears to Mary as a gardener!), the gardener says, “No, let’s give it another year. Let’s put down some manure and give it one more year.” Do you hear what this gardener is saying about this poor, dead tree? In the face of death, he opts for an act of hope and faith. One more year, one more year, one more year. When our WHYs hold us captive to the fear of death, we have a God whose pardon, forgiveness, and love will always go on for one more year, and then another, and another. Because finally, by the grace of God, we are called to bear fruit that feeds the world, to repent so that our neighbors might thrive. Prayer: Lord, make me a fig tree. Help me to bear fruit that feeds, heals, and loves this world. And, when I am too tired or scared to bear such fruit, grant me your everlasting pardon and mercy. Walk with me through this day, and all the days that are to come, until I rest eternally in your wide and loving embrace. Amen. Written by Jill Loegering, At-Large Council Member
The COVID-19 pandemic has propelled creative thinking with “out-of-the-box” accommodations for many activities. Since we are in Phase 2 of our reopening plan, hosting our Annual Meeting in-person this year was not suitable. Instead, we decided to embrace everything 2020 had taught us, and we jumped into hosting the meeting on Zoom. We knew we had a 100- person login limit with Zoom and the “know-how” necessary to ensure it would be successful. You can review the meeting minutes on CtK’s website lifeatctk.org* or, click here to be linked to the meeting recording. First, really good news! We exceeded the constitution-required number of members attending to achieve the quorum. As a result, the meeting was called to order at 10:37 am. We are very grateful members stepped-up to accomplish the business of the church. There were three main things that we completed at the annual meeting. First, the election of a slate of nominees for the Congregational Council. Several new members were elected to continue their terms, and some new people were added to replace those whose terms were completed. Here’s the result of the unanimous vote: The 2021 CtK Congregational Council will be: (*indicates elected at this meeting) Council Officers: *Brett Kosec, President; *Diane Shallue, President-Elect; *Bob Benke, Secretary; *Dale Erickson, Treasurer Council At-Large: (in alphabetical order) *Scott Black, Chris Frost, *Jill Loegering, Dawn Ralston, Maria Tenorio, *Paul Wilde-L’Heureux, and Peachu Yates. The second goal was to highlight 2020 Ministry reports. No surprise, each report was given socially-distant via video by the leaders of each group. All reports included the changes in programing and activities due to COVID, along with their estimates of spring and summer plans in 2021. The last goal was a major one. CtK’s Financial Report included two main documents. This meeting’s discussion centered around the document “Budget for Ministry: Summary of Comparison.” It centered around the concept of reduced income and reduced expenses, all due of course to the pandemic. Discussion also included the PPP loan, which we anticipate will be forgiven; if not forgiven, we will then plan to repay the loan. Over all, the 2021 virtual Annual Meeting was a successful business meeting. It definitely didn’t have the communal feel of our previous meetings over the years, and it wasn’t immediately followed by a wonderful fellowship meal; but we march on. Thanks again to all who were willing and able to participate in this year’s style of meeting. Jill Loegering, retiring Council Secretary ___________________________________________________________________ *(On lifeatctk.org, click on the words at the top of the page “About Us,” (No password is required for this page) and hover over them until you see the drop-down menu. Look down the list for “CtK Council Page,” and click on it. You will then see a highlighted box that reads: “Minutes of 2021 Annual meeting.”) Written by Pastor Peter Hanson, Lead Pastor
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1. In preparation for CtK’s annual meeting this Sunday, nominees to serve as officers, church council members, and members of this year’s nominating committee were each asked to share some of their own hopes for CtK in the immediate post-pandemic times. They shared everything from the hope of soon being able to worship together, sing together, and break bread together (form the CtK bread oven!), to leaning into what we’ve learned about worship and community during this pandemic, dismantling racist systems, and serving our neighbors in need. As we still don’t know exactly when this time of separation will be over, I hear in their words a good deal of faith. The hopes they have shared reveal their own faith-filled conviction, despite not yet having seen it for themselves, nor even knowing when they might get that chance. Faith in the God we have come to know through Jesus Christ allows us the audacity to hope for such things. Such faith reassures us during times of confusion and doubt, and sustains us when we are feeling sad, isolated, or alone. It is faith in God that will see us through to the end of this pandemic time. And as we wait, it is good to share our hopes with one another.
Written by Pepe Demarest, Pastoral Intern
Black History month has been honored every February since 1976. This date happens to be the bicentennial of America, celebrating 200 years of freedom from oppression. 1976 also happened to be the year I graduated from high school. Although I have changed quite a lot in these 45 years, the freedom, the freedom we declared 245 years ago, hasn’t come for all people. There may be a feeling that “all lives matter", and we shouldn’t have to single out Black lives or Black history. Yet, as the body of Christ, if one part suffers, we all suffer. The Declaration of Independence signed 245 years ago this July 4th states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Sometimes as we celebrate the wonderful contributions of African Americans, we may be proud of the progress we have made. Yes, progress has been made, but Black homeownership, one indicator of economic parity, is the same as it was when The Fair Housing Act was signed into law in 1967. With all of the political gains since the end of Jim Crow voter suppression, today there are no black women senators in the current US Senate. Maybe this year Black History Month can be a time to reexamine why this disparity continues. During Lent, traditionally a season of self-examination, we will be reading My Grandmother’s Hands: Radicalized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem, a counselor and trauma specialist. We will be looking at how all of us, even white people, have been deceived by racism and whiteness. In Mr. Menakem’s words: “Italians, Irish, Eastern European Jews, and other European immigrant groups were initially regarded as stupid, barbaric, and dangerous. Within a generation or two, however, each of these new white immigrant groups was socialized, colonized, and accepted by other Americans by being introduced into the false community of whiteness” (71). We will meet virtually every Monday evening in Lent to discuss the reading and to take time to pray and reflect on how the Holy Spirit is calling us to become more of “The Beloved Community.” If you are interested in joining us, please contact me ([email protected]) and order the book (click here). I pray that you will join us as we listen and learn from each other and experience some discomfort for the sake of healing and wholeness. Black History month can be a time to celebrate all of our history. In the words of Amanda Gorman, the Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate, ”For it’s not just in the Declaration of Independence, but the everyday declaration of its descendants that make a people equal... It is our right and our role to remember these words scratched on a scroll so we may heal our nation whole... Everyday we write the future, together we sign it, together declare it, we share it for this truth marches on inside each of us.” Written by Phil Larsen, CtK Foundation Secretary & CtK Member
In 2020, the Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church Foundation received grant requests totaling $106,845. Sixteen proposals were funded that totaled $69,451. A brief summary of each of the awarded grant proposals follows: First Half 2020 Ralph Reeder Food Shelf Assistance, submitted by Dale Erickson/Local Mission Partners, $5000 Supports Ralph Reeder Food Shelf in addressing the urgent need for food assistance in the community. Exodus Lending, submitted by Sara Nelson-Pallmeyer, $3000 Exodus Lending will use funding from the Foundation to improve its innovative, interest-free, predatory debt, refinancing program. Its mission is to provide trapped Minnesotan borrowers a just pathway out of payday loan debt and toward financial stability. Arusha Lutheran Medical Center, submitted by Marlys Melius, $5000. The Arusha Lutheran Medical Center (ALMC), a primary hospital in northern Tanzania, provides healing and hope in the heart of Arusha and surrounding areas. The ALMC School of Nursing (SON) is providing nursing education for 100 students spread through three class levels. This grant will provide assistance to purchase furnishings for student housing facilities. Prayer Shawl Ministry, submitted by Judy Benke, $500. The Prayer Shawl Committee will have an enlarged coat rack/tree or a large wall rack constructed to display Prayer Shawls they have made and to make them more immediately available to congregation members, who will deliver them to people in need of comfort. CtK Sanctuary Sound System Update, submitted by Caleb Anderson, $5178 A new digital mixing console and related equipment will be purchased that will provide a higher quality of live sound for worship and prepare us to meet the needs of the future, while retaining the flexibility and ease of use that our sanctuary provides. Connected Worship: Streaming Capability for CtK, submitted by Pastor John Schwehn, $6462. Purchase of hardware, cameras and related hardware will provide enhanced communication capability to reach audiences external to CtK’s immediate facilities. Fleece Blankets for Children at Camp Noah, submitted by Vern Rice and Ana Becerra, $2200. Cristo Rey supports Camp Noah, a nationally acclaimed Lutheran Social Services program that helps children process their disaster or trauma experiences through creative activities and play. The intention of this project is to provide fleece material that can be cut and assembled into blankets by Cristo Rey members to provide comfort and hope for traumatized children. Community Support Center, submitted by Karen Meyer, $5000. The Community Support Center works to prevent homelessness through financial aid and counseling of individuals to prevent evictions. Financial Support for 1st 2020 $32,340 Second Half 2020 Matching Funds for CtK COVID Relief Fund, submitted by Pastor Peter Hanson, $4000. Funds will be used to match donations to a COVID Relief Fund at Christ the King that will be used to support CtK Congregation members who are experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the pandemic. Huruma Center Well Project, submitted by Marlys Melius and Pastor Chris Smith, $7414. The grant from the Christ the King Foundation would be allocated toward the purchase and installation of Solar and Grid Energy Systems in conjunction with a community water well project in Tanzania. These systems will power a submersible pump, which will direct water to the existing and new tower storage tanks. The grant from the Foundation will help complete the project. Black Men Teach, submitted by Paul Gunderson, $5000. The focus of this grant request, is to support recruitment and encouragement of young Black men to consider teaching as a career. Most Black men have never had a Black male teacher so they do not see themselves in that role and often their experience in the public education system is less than positive; nor are teachers or family members encouraging them to consider teaching. Black Men Teach is an organization that has an aggressive strategy to change this narrative including programs in high schools, with community-based organizations, and on college campuses, each employing Black male community leaders engaging our youth in this important conversation. CtK Computer Upgrade, submitted by Pastor Peter Hanson and KC Gubrud, $5,697. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the timeline for replacement of computers in the church office and has significantly altered the specific requirements for a larger number of staff computers. The strong likelihood of staff members needing to continue to work from home for the next several months, plus the increased technical requirements of their ministry has thrust these needs to the forefront. This project seeks to replace three (3) computers this year, ahead of what would be their customary place in the office computer replacement rotation. Tree of Life Evening Prayer, submitted by Marissa Sotos, $2500. Tree of Life Lutheran is a worship community that wishes to establish an online evening prayer service for its congregation members in Minneapolis. This grant will help buy a subscription to Adobe InDesign to work with the layout of the program and art associated with this unique worship approach. Technology Essentials Core Initiative/ Daily Work, submitted by Julie Hoff and Dale Erickson, $2,500. This grant will support the launch of a Technology Essentials Initiative with Daily Work participants that will provide a portion of job seekers with a laptop computer, modem, 3 months of internet service, and ongoing training in the use of a computer. Community Partners with Youth, submitted by Mary Stewart, $5000. This grant provides support for the Distance Learning Support Center associated with Community Partners with Youth [CPY]. CPY provides a safe space and low-cost programming after school and during the summer for at-risk, low-income youth in the New Brighton-Mounds View area. Recognizing the emerging needs amid the pandemic and new school norms, CPY has launched the Distance Learning Support Center (DLSC). The Center provides free supervised distance learning support, youth development, and programming to ensure youth don’t fall behind in their academics. Ralph Reeder Food Shelf, submitted by Lisa Baker, $5000. This grant supports Ralph Reeder Food Shelf in addressing the continuing urgent need for access to food by members of our Community. Financial Support for 2nd half 2020 $37,111 Total Financial Support for 2020 $69,451 Written by Paulette Olsen, CtK Member
What are you missing most during the COVID-19 pandemic? Many would answer “personal contact;” being able to reach out to those who touch our lives with handshakes, hugs, or just sharing a cup of coffee. Recently, several CtK members began an outreach effort of phone calling other CtK members for a pandemic check-in. While there are hundreds of family units on our church roster, most of us are acquainted with only a limited number. As one of the COVID callers, it was a joy to experience the scope of the church’s outreach first hand. Katie Ahern, this blog’s coordinator, asked me to share my experience calling parishioners. Here are some reflections: Members are diversely affected. Some lives are basically unchanged. Many are working from home. Young people are being home schooled through distance learning, and some go to school. Grandparents and parents are teaching their kids at home. Some members are struggling with job loss, income loss, or worries about paying for fuel to heat their home. Many elders are "shut-in," trying to stay safe from the virus. Shared experiences:
—Paulette Olsen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CtK extends a BIG thank you to all of our volunteer callers with special thanks to Vern Rice, Diane Shallue, and Paulette Olsen. Your outreach has kept us in touch with members, informed us of otherwise unknown pastoral care needs, and united us in prayer with collected prayer requests. Thank you for your dedicated efforts! Written by Pepe Demarest, Pastoral Intern
Although Minnesota has been celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day for almost 40 years, this past summer has shown that we are still a long way from honoring his ideals. Here at Christ the King, we have a deep history of racial justice concerns, but like the nation, our concern didn’t always lead to more justice. After the killing of George Floyd, Christ the King began seeking new ways to engage in racial equity work, we called it “The One Thing” and these included ways to get involved, ways to donate, and ways to learn. Some members met to discuss “Dialogues on Race”, and Dear Church: A Love letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the U.S. by the Reverend Lenny Duncan. From those groups a new Racial Justice Working Group was formed. Throughout this year of discovery and self-examination, there has been a yearning for action; Martin Luther King Jr. addressed his church’s yearning for action in this sermon. “God set forth his guidelines. And through his prophets, and above all through his son Jesus Christ, he said that, ‘There are some things that my church must do. There are some guidelines that my church must follow.’ And if we in the church don't want the funds of grace cut off from the divine treasury, we've got to follow the guidelines. ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. These are the guidelines. You see, the church is not a social club, although some people think it is. They get caught up in their exclusivism, and they feel that it’s a kind of social club with a thin veneer of religiosity, but the church is not a social club. But in the final analysis the church has a purpose. The church is dealing with man's ultimate concern. And therefore it has certain guidelines that it must follow. Let us first think of the fact that if the church is following its guidelines, it seeks to heal the broken-hearted. Now there is probably no human condition more tantalizing than a broken heart. You see, broken-heartedness is not a physical condition; it’s a condition of spiritual exhaustion. I would say broken-heartedness comes basically from the trying experience of disappointment. The church must say to men and woman that Good Friday is a fact of life. The church must say to people that failure is a fact of' life. Some people are only conditioned to success. They are only conditioned to fulfillment.... But the church must tell (people) that Good Friday’s as much a fact of life as Easter; failure is as much a fact of life as success; disappointment is as much a fact of life as fulfillment. Secondly, when the church is true to its guidelines, it sets out to preach deliverance to them that are captive. This is the role of the church: to free people. This merely means to free those who are slaves. You have a group who would really like to do something about racial injustice, but they are afraid of social, political, and economic reprisals so they end up silent. And the preacher never says anything to lift their souls and free them from that fear. And so they end up captive. These are our guidelines, and if we will only follow the guidelines, we will be ready for God’s kingdom, we will be doing what God’s church is called to do. We won’t be a little social club. We won’t be a little entertainment center. But we’ll be about the serious business of bringing God’s kingdom to this earth.” Delivered June 5, 1966 Written by CtK's Nominating Committee
We have all felt a loss this past year as we have been unable to gather in-person for worship or coffee hour, for meetings, or even for casual encounters in the Narthex or the halls. We deeply appreciate the herculean and creative efforts of our pastors and staff to keep us connected and growing in our faith. Although this lack of in-person contact has made the work of the nominating committee somewhat more challenging, we feel that we have a strong group of nominees to lead Christ the King in the coming year and beyond. Some people are changing positions and others are new to council. Many thanks to departing Council President, Isaac Warner and at-large member, Karen Hillerman for their leadership and service. Here are those (so far!) who will be on the ballot at our annual meeting in February: Executive Board: (one-year terms) President: Brett Kosec (moving from president-elect). President-elect: Diane Shallue (moving from at-large member) Secretary: Bob Benke Treasurer: Dale Erickson (second one-year term) At-large: (three-year terms) Jill Loegering (moving from secretary) Paul Wilde-L'Heureux Scott Black (one year to fulfill Diane Shallue's term) Nominating committee: Terri Black Judy Hill Karen Hillerman Karen Grivna At-large members who will remain on the council: Peachu Yates (term ending 2022) Maria Tenorio (term ending 2023) Chris Frost (term ending 2023) Dawn Ralston (term ending 2023) PLEASE NOTE: We need more members on the nominating committee. If you would like to volunteer to select candidates for the 2022 election, please contact Pastor Peter ([email protected]) or Priscilla Berg ([email protected]). Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. 2 Thess. 2:16-17. Blessings, The Nominating Committee: Darin Zielsdorf, Jennifer Popp, Adam Miller, Judy Hill, Priscilla Berg |
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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 |