Christus Victor Lutheran Church

• 1-25-2009 Service (mp3)
• 1-25-2009 Bulletin & Announcements (pdf)

The American Red Cross Bloodmobile Bus will be here on

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH 1:30PM–6:30PM

LOOK FOR THE SIGN-UP SHEET AT THE WELCOME DESK

Here are some helpful tips for all of you kind and generous blood donors:

Before your Donation

• Get a good night’s sleep.
• Eat a good breakfast and lunch.
• Drink extra water and fluids to replace the volume you will donate, but avoid caffeinated beverages.
• Eat iron-rich foods to boost your iron level.

During Your Donation

• Relax and think about the people you are helping!

After your Donation

• Drink plenty of fluids over the next 24-48 hours to replenish what you lost during donation.
• Avoid strenuous activity or heavy lifting for several hours.
• If you feel light-headed, lie down with your feet up.
• If for any reason, something doesn’t feel right, call the American Red Cross toll-free number provided to you after your donation.
• Enjoy the feeling of knowing you helped save lives!
• Enjoy one of the delicious snacks provided by the Social Ministries Committee

If you have any questions, please contact Michele Iaria at 952-891-1303 or miaria@charter.net

• 1-18-2009 Service (mp3)
• 1-18-2009 Bulletin & Announcements (pdf)

• 1-11-2009 Service (mp3)
• 1-11-2009 Bulletin & Announcements (pdf)

The Social Ministries Committee would like say THANK YOU to everyone for helping make our Thanksgiving Basket ministry this year such an incredible success! With your work and donations we were able to provide 200 families in great need not only a Thanksgiving Day meal but the love of God through caring hearts and hands. It was a true gift to hear from recipients how much it meant that someone cared enough to reach out to them.

What an awesome partnership this ministry has become! A big portion of our garage sale concession stand sales goes towards the Thanksgiving baskets, so, if you donated delicious baked goods, pop, food, ice or a fabulous tent and equipment to make it happen, thank you.

If you purchased a tasty snack or beverage from our concession stand, thank you.

We also could not have been so successful without your generous donations this fall. We had more participants in our Adopt-A-Family fundraiser than ever before! We also had two unexpected donations from the kids in Faith Trek and from the Endowment Committee, and our partners at Thrivent Financial once again gave their enthusiastic financial support. It was wonderful to have Thrivent and so many people of all ages participate financially in support of this ministry, thank you.

When the day came to put together and distribute the Thanksgiving baskets, we had many more partners come together to share their gifts, time and fellowship. We had the gift of a truck donated to pick up the food, as well as the gift of a wonderful manager at Apple Valley Cub Foods that worked hard to get us the best prices on the basket ingredients, thank you both!

Once the food arrived at Christus Victor we had approximately 100 people of all ages working together, not only from Christus Victor, but from Casa de Oracion and Lily of the Valley as well. It was an awesome and inspiring sight to see so many people working in harmony to get the job done. We had people assembling boxes, carrying in food from the truck, putting food in baskets, and carrying completed baskets to the Narthex and hallway. Next, we had people greeting the basket recipients, carrying out baskets to their cars for them, and delivering baskets to Lewis House and Dakota Woodlands. What a glorious community of caring hearts and hands, thank you all so much!

How important was this ministry to the people we served? One woman rode her bicycle from miles away in slippery road conditions in order to pick up her basket; it meant that much to her and her family. And you know what? We had generous volunteers make sure she had a safe and less stressful ride back home in their car, THANK YOU! Members of Christus Victor and our friends from Casa de Oracion and Lily of the Valley partnered with Thrivent Financial and Cub Foods to reach out and make a difference in the lives of those who need it most. The gift of a meal, the gift of knowing someone cares, the gift of being able to serve and share fellowship, what blessings all. Social Ministries cannot thank you enough for all the ways you support this ministry near and dear to everyone’s heart. God’s richest blessings to you all!

• 1-4-2009 Service (mp3)
• 1-4-2009 Bulletin & Announcements (pdf)

January is a time to get reconnected with your faith community. Download the January 2009 newsletter and get connected.

Book of Faith Initiative
Members of Christus Victor are taking up the Book of Faith Initiative, a program of the ELCA, by forming several small group bible study groups. Groups are forming in January, and will meet once per month all year. Read more…

Town Hall Forums & Annual Meeting
Town Hall forums are running January 11 & 18 to precede the annual meeting on January 25. Come discuss the goals of our church in the coming year as we deal with a shrinking budget. Learn more on page 2.

Senior Connections 2009
A full calendar of events is planned for our “real” seniors. More details on page 5.

Thank You From Mlowa
Read about the impact your prayers and support are having on our brothers and sisters in the Mlowa parish in Tanzania. More details on page 6.

Youth Fest
School is back in session, and the youth are busy again. The youth pages are brimming with going-ons on page 9 and an invitation for an upcoming TEC weekend is on page 7.

Upcoming Events
Town Hall Forums are January 11 & 18 at 9:45am
Annual Meeting is January 25 at 9:45am
Bloodmobile is on Febuary 24 from 1:30-6:30pm
Men’s Retreat is Feburary 20-22
Adult Forums resume on February 8 at 9:45am