Christus Victor Lutheran Church

Monkeys, the jungle and birds with bright beaks coming to CV when the summer does peak. VBS is on our minds, and we are looking for a few of a kind. SonQuest Rainforest is on it’s way, we need your help and we need you to pray. There is a lot of planning that needs to be done, and this for sure cannot be done by one. If you want to be part of a fantastic team, please call Stacey Klein, and I promise not to scream. (952-431 9124)

I need your help! For this sabbatical time to benefit the whole congregation, I am asking you to not only pray for me during my time away, but to participate in my learning and growing. I would like to invite you to consider joining one of three different groups of church members to do your own reading and reflecting on the same books I will be reading and reflecting on over the course of my sabbatical this summer.

• One group made up of junior and senior high youth and their parents will read and reflect on Frogs Without Legs Can’t Hear, by David Anderson and Paul Hill. I hope that this will compliment the work that will be going on around the Youth Ministry Management Plan with Corey, the Youth Committee and Tentmakers, and the work that Pastor Laura and the Children and Family Ministries Committee is doing on their GIFT ministry.
• A second group made up of young men and older men will read and reflect on Adams Return: the Five Promises of Male Initiation, by Richard Rohr. I will actually be participating in this Male Initiation, and so will bring fresh, real life experience to the discussion and be eager to hear what others are thinking about Male Spirituality.
• A third group of adults will read and reflect on The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction, by Eugene Peterson. If you are interested in prayer and spiritual direction, this would be
  a great book for you.

In the two months after I return from my sabbatical I will be meeting with these three groups separately to discuss with each other our reflections and ideas that come out of our shared reading. This will give me a chance to share with a wide spectrum of people from the congregation, in an intimate and less formal setting, some of my experiences and discoveries from my sabbatical time. It will also provide some common ground for discussion around ideas and thoughts on how we can improve or change how we pass on the faith from one generation to another and from one person to another through the ministries of our church.

What’s Summer Trek you say? It’s an adventurous day combining
service, a bite to eat & fun. This ministry is open to incoming 6th
graders through outgoing 12th graders, & will take place three days
this summer (June 24th, July 27th, & August 12th). Registrations will
be mailed out this week. Contact Corey in the church office for more information.

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

YOU are AWESOME CV!!  At last count, you have contributed 2298 food items to our local food shelf!  Your enthusiasm in stepping up to the plate to put a dent in hunger has been inspiring, (We imagine there might also be some enthusiasm for watching Pastor Kent lose his fabulous head of hair).  The food shelf continues to experience record demand & both greatly appreciates & relies on the support of members of CV.  Our commitment to the food shelf has made us an important partner for them, & our continued support is vital to their efforts in providing for local families in need.  We have only one week left to meet our goal, we are confident we will succeed!  However, Confirmation & Senior High youth, you have an uphill battle to meet your challenge, so get some friends together & get busy collecting food!

need to be turned in to the church office no later than 12:00 Noon on Sunday, March 30^th.

The campers are offering 2 evenings of babysitting so you can enjoy a break!  Babysitting will take place here at CV; Saturday, April 5th, from 4:00 – 8:00 PM & Saturday, April 19th, from 4:00 – 8:00 PM.  Please feed your kids before they come, or pack them a “sack supper”.  Ages invited: Infant on up.  Games, crafts, movies & snacks will be provided.  Please sign up at the “Information Desk”.  There will be a free will offering taken to help offset the cost of camp.