Thanks to your generous support, on Sunday, August 8, we will be sending off four members of Christus Victor to Tanzania as Ambassadors of our church.  Pastor Kent, Barb Damlo, Malisa Kreutzmann and Paula Nierengarten will travel to Tanzania to strengthen and grow our partnership and ministry with our friends in Tanzania (Bega Kwa Bega/Shoulder to Shoulder).

This is a mission trip of relationship building, not building things, which is the foundation of all of the real building that has been going on in Mlowa, Tanzania these past 11 years.  Here are some of the things our Ambassadors we will be doing:

• Connecting with the students we sponsor and visiting their schools
• Spending time worshipping and building friendships in Mlowa
• Visiting all of the preaching points (Mlowa is a Parish with 1 main site, and 11 preaching points spread out into the surrounding countryside)
• Touring their Agricultural Demonstration Plot
• Exploring the possible need for a well for clean drinking water
• Learning more about their lay leadership training program and evangelism ministry as an incredibly effective model we need to learn from

Your continued prayers and support are greatly needed and appreciated.  If you would like to receive email updates while our Ambassadors are in Tanzania, please send your email address to Pastor Kent at pastor.kent@christusvictor.org.

SUNDAY MINISTRY MINUTES

How many committees are there at CV?  Who is working behind the scenes to make all of the ministries and programs happen, and keep the staff and the property going?  How can you get involved?

These are some of the questions we are going to address this summer with CV Committee Temple Talks.  Throughout the summer, the many committees of the church will give a short Temple Talk during worship about what they do, why they do ministry, and how people can get involved.   There will be hand-outs, maybe some treats, and a time to ask questions and get to know about who and how the ministries of the church happen.

“And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done.  So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done.” – Genesis 2: 2&3

Dear Sisters and Brothers, Friends in Christ, 

            Work and rest, rest and then back to work; this is the rhythm of all of God and God’s Creation.  Even creative, fulfilling, and meaningful work (think about creating the Universe and all that is in it sometime) cannot be sustained without rest. 

            An example of the need for rest before getting back to work again, is the final tour of Spirit Bound.  I wrote about this last month (and you can read the article “Change and the Future of CV” at www.pastorontheloose.com).  The issue is that before continuing the creative process of work, we all need rest.   Even a group, a ministry, or program needs to take a rest.

            The issue that we modern day Americans seem to struggle with is, “What kind of rest?”  What can we do, or stop doing, that will actually give us the rest of mind, body, and soul that we need, for the sake of our continued work and creativity in the world?  It’s an interesting paradox, of course, since God just stopped creating and rested; God didn’t “do” anything, just rested.  And that certainly is the antithesis of our Mid-western American work ethic.

            So, to get you thinking about your own summer plans and intentions, here are some of the things I plan to do this summer to find rest for my body, mind, and soul, and relationships:

            Family time in Wisconsin and Lanesboro– I am planning on spending time at our family cabin in Wisconsin and at my in-laws outside of Lanesboro, MN, fishing, boating, swimming, bbqing, biking, and sitting by the fire and watching the stars at night.

            Reading and music – I have a stack of books to read this summer.  The top three are Diana Butler Bass’s, A People’s History of Christianity, Corrine Ware’s, Discovering Your Spiritual Type, and John J. O’Meara’s, Voyage of St. Brendan.  I’m also planning on attending some of the free concerts in the parks that are offered around the Twin Cities, especially Mears Park in St. Paul and Alive at 5 at Peavey Plaza in downtown Minneapolis.

            Exercise and meditation – Join me on Tuesday mornings at 9am in the Fellowship Hall for Tai Chi exercises.  We use Tai Chi forms and moves for 45 minutes of low-impact exercising and stretching.  The Chinese sometimes call this moving meditation.  I am also continuing my spiritual growth through daily meditation, using STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN to help me focus on God.  (*See the link on my blog)

            Worship, WAPO, VBS, and Tanzania – I’d be a liar if I said that worship wasn’t critically important to refreshing my soul, re-focusing and de-stressing.  So I look forward to worshipping with you all this summer.  I’m also looking forward to visiting our kids at WAPO this summer and to a fun week of VBS!  And even though there won’t be a lot of rest, I am incredibly excited to be going on the mission trip to Tanzania as an ambassador from our church in August!

            Your list may be different than mine.  And what may look non-spiritual to you on the surface, is in fact deeply spiritual to me.  It may not seem like rest to you, but it is for me.  I offer my list and plan not for you to copy, but to get you thinking and planning for your own rest and renewal this summer.   

            May the Lord God, who gives the gift of rest, lead and guide you into rest for your body, mind, soul, and relationships!

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Kent Claussen Gubrud

Early Bird Special: Pay $3 per family and shop from 3pm to 4pm before the official opening on Friday. 

Volunteers: Christus Victor volunteers who have worked two hours or more during the week are invited to shop at the Friday afternoon pre-sale from 1pm to 3pm.

Silent Auction: A Silent Auction featuring unique items will operate from Friday at 4pm until Sunday morning at 11am.

When Can I Drop Off My Items?

Clothing and Small Items:  August 8 – 10 (Sunday, Monday & Tuesday) from 10:30am to 9pm and August 11 (Wednesday) from 10:30am to 12 noon.

Furniture and Large Items:  August 12 (Thursday) from 8am to 6pm.  Limited pick-up service is available.  If you can’t deliver your large donations, please call the church at 952-454-6927 by Monday, August 9 to make arrangements.

PLEASE NOTE:  Because we begin pricing items on Thursday, August 12, we cannot accept clothing or small items after Wednesday, August 11 at 6pm.  Please do not leave items after this deadline.  Garage Sale volunteers reserve the right to refuse any donation for any reason. Thank you for your understanding in these matters.

What Kind of CLEAN & USABLE & UNTAGGED Items Should I Donate? Antiques, Baskets, Books, Collectables, Electronics, Furniture, House Wares, Jewelry, Linens, Office Equipment, Seasonal, Sporting Goods, Tools, Toys, Children’s Clothing (dresses, two-piece outfits, winter-wear on hangers) and Adult Clothing (suits, dresses, shirts, slacks and coats on hangers.)  We do not accept Christmas trees, cribs, computer monitors, curtain rods, exercise equipment, infant seats, mattresses, microwaves, organs, paint,  televisions WITHOUT digital converter boxes, skis or water beds.

How Can I Help?  Please save items and encourage family and friends to contribute to and attend the garage sale. Offer to take items to the church for them. There are extra flyers in the church office – please share them with anybody and everybody!  It takes a swarm of volunteers to create a buzzing sale.  Volunteer sign-up sheets are located at the Information Desk.  Help will be needed during the week of set-up, during the actual garage sale, and during the clean-up. (Anyone who helps clean-up can keep any unsold item.)

Questions?  Call Queen Bees Nancy Erler (952-432-8081) or Julie McDonald (952-250-1503).

Newsletter July 2010rev