The Branch
August 2019
The monthly newsletter of Christ Lutheran Church
We had a great time at VBS this week! Here is a sneak peek. Watch for more
Pastor Justin J. Walker Greetings from Frederick, Maryland! I write this brief
message to you a day after visiting with Jessica’s father’s family and a day before gathering with pastors from around the country for a conference of senior pastors of large congregations in the ELCA. Yes, CLC is considered a large congregation in the ELCA. Our average worship
attendance is well over double and nearly triple the average nation wide. Sometimes it may not feel that way.
Sometimes it may feel like we are a small family when we
gather together for a Bible study or for a service project or more. But we have so much potential and can reach so far that only God knows where our outer boundaries may be.
Right now our congregational community is gathered to hire a new staff youth leader. This is an exciting time and I’m very grateful to the team who is hard at work doing the interviewing now. Members are traveling far and wide across the U.S. and beyond. We send our thoughts and prayers with them for a great set of experiences and safe travels. All in all, the reach of our ministry is great and this is a great time to be a member of CLC!!
Finally, words cannot fully express my joy in sharing that it has been one year that we have partnered in Ministry. I love being your pastor. I look forward to all the things God has in store for us together!!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Justin
VBS Update
The sun, as well as the Son, have been shining high at our CLC Beach Bash all week! We’ve been gathering with 80-ish of our closest friends each night to sing and learn about Jesus, hear the stories of the Bible and find out what it is about Him that should make us each want to walk closer to Him!
We’re Meeting Up, Looking Up, Joining Up, Opening Up, and Firing Up about Jesus! We are so thankful for the support from our congregation to make this week possible!! It was EPIC!! More details and pictures of the week to come in next month’s Branch!
“
Renewing A Vision”
Twenty six years ago, our church added a new sanctuary. I was not a member then, but long-term members told met it was members and contracted workers building the new sanctuary. (There is a picture by the office showing over a dozen volunteers on-site working . . . do you recognize them?) A new enlarged space was constructed for all of our life events: weddings, baptisms, funerals, confirmations, and a place of worship to share the peace and pray together. “When King Solomon finished his temple, they worshipped and gave thanks to the Lord and he said he is good, His love endures forever.” (2 Chron. 7). A church to unite his people, volunteers and
community working together, building a place inviting worship and praise. Our building lives on and we are upgrading and inviting the community to visit, worship and proclaim the Word. We will be re-carpeting the sanctuary, altar and
music performance areas and we are asking for some volunteers. The pews will need to be moved out to make room for the new carpet. Once it is installed, the pews will need to be returned to the sanctuary.
A dozen volunteers are needed after church on August 18 to move pews to allow the old carpet to be removed and the new to be installed. We can use your help and our effort saves us some money just as the work in
1993. Join common purpose and association and picture working together in an improved worship space to last another 26+ years touching lives and supporting those we touch and encourage at CLC. If you are available and willing to help move pews, please send an email to property@clcwyoming.org and let them know!
Jim Ward
News from our Mission Support Committee
Continuing to build on our believe statement: “As evidence by our ministries, we believe strongly in outreach and care of our fellow human beings. We seek to care for the
physical, emotional and spiritual needs of others through the gift of time, talent, and treasures with which God has blessed us.”
This month’s Mission Support Committee’s focus in highlighting CLC outreach is CLC’s Back to School Minsitry and you will be hearing from Jennifer Buddemeier about this ministry.
Education is one of the strongest tools a community has for breaking the cycle of poverty. This ministry was started many years ago and here are some of the schools and organizations that we have partnered with: Jackson Park Middle School,
Lutheran World Relief, Gladiola Elementary and Wyoming Public Schools.
School Kits contain essential supplies to help children - and in some cases, adults - continue learning in the face of serious obstacles. That learning leads to a better life for them, their families and their communities. The school bags and supplies that go to Lutheran World Relief go to many places across the globe. Since we started tracking in 2016, the bags have gone to Jordan, Nicaragua, and Peru!
We are blessed with being able to serve and give the gift of education as these gifts continue to pay it forward to others and future generations. I have been humbled by coordinating this ministry for years and while it is hard to pass the torch on for someone else to coordinate this ministry, I am thankful and grateful to CLC for all the fantastic support of this ministry.
Handbell Ringers Are Needed!
This fall could be your chance to ring handbells and become a member of one of our choirs here at CLC! There are plenty of spaces in the easier choir, so if you’d like to ring with us, please consider this your invitation.
If you're not a singer, but would like to participate in music, there’s a place for you in bell choir! Maybe you’d like to be a part of a musical ensemble like one you were in in high school. Maybe you’re starting piano lessons, or learning another instrument and would like to do more with music. If you are tall enough to stand at the table and reach the bells (perhaps with the aid of a step pad), we’d love to have you join us. There is no age restriction; all ages are welcome.
We will be starting our 20th season on September 9, the Monday after Labor Day. Please let me know of your interest or if you have any questions - or approach one of the ringers that you may know. We are a friendly, welcoming group and would like to have you participate!
Upcoming Ways That YOU Can Serve
Volunteer for the Feeding America Food Truck
Feeding America is an organization which provides perishable food for people less fortunate than we. We are helping once a month with the food truck which distributes to the Wyoming Schools. We assist by unloading the boxes of food so the people can select what they need. We also assist them with
making their selections. There is no cost involved for the shoppers. The food is donated by stores like Walmart, Meijer, bakeries, and other large food distributors.
We just helped on Monday, July 29, and served approximately 175 families. The next few opportunities to help with this project will at 4:00 p.m. on the following dates:
Monday, August 12 at West Elementary Monday, September 9 at Gladiola School Monday, October 14 at West Elementary Monday, November 11 at Gladiola School Monday, December 9 at West Elementary
This project is one that you can pick the date or dates you would like to help. Reminders will be in the announcements for all of these dates. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Reister at 608-6744 or reisterkathy@gmail.com.
Donate and Serve at the Second Best Sale 2019
We will again sponsor a fall sale to benefit an outreach ministry as our church’s “God’s Work. Our Hands” project. Our sale will take place September 27-28.
As you clean or sort through your clothing and household items, please consider donating them to our sale. Items should be clean and in good condition.
As we get closer to the sale, we will be looking for volunteers to ready items for the sale, workers for the sale and bakers who are willing to donate some of their specialties. We will begin taking donations some time in August. Watch the Weekly Announcement page for
further information!
Also mark your calendar for our Fall Ministry Kickoff that will be held on Sunday, September 8, before and after each service.
Gladiola School Update
“School bells are ringing loud and clear; vacation is over, school is here”. By Winifred C. Marsha In June each of our volunteers wrote a paragraph telling us “what it is that they do at Gladiola and why they enjoy it”. One paragraph was left out, not intentionally, but my computer and I had a disagreement so it did not appear. Every volunteer is important and so better late than never the lost paragraph is here to read:
I am completing my second year of volunteering at Gladiola School. Last year I helped in 3rd grade
and this year I spent time in a first-grade room and " friended" a second-grade girl. I have felt appreciated and look forward to my weekly times with these special "little" people. It provides me with my Grandma and teacher "fixes" since my own live so far away and I no longer substitute teach after 27 years of doing so. I look forward to learning where I might serve next fall.
Nancy Larson
This is our 6th year in “Connecting with our Neighborhood” at Gladiola. I thought it might be fun to look back
to when we began this ministry. In 2014-15 school year, we had nine of our members help at least one day or more a week. Some worked in the media center, the library, others in the classrooms helping students with reading and math skills. We were told we were a blessing, but we felt we were blessed as well.
Some other events we have helped with include “serving pizza” on math night; doing a craft night; organizing a “game night”; groceries have been distributed; donations of many books; a clothing drive; and helping with the spring picnic. It is important to mention the activities which take place in the evenings are manned by CLC volunteers who are not there during the school day. Many, many helpful hands!
As we approach the beginning of another school year, we are most welcomed to be a “blessing” to teachers and students once again. If you enjoy working with children once a week or more prayerfully consider this ministry. You pick the day(s), hours, age of students and what you feel the most comfortable doing. Men and women are needed at Gladiola to become friends with the children. The children were always excited to see us each week even if it meant doing multiplication tables. If you are a “snowbird” your help the months you are still in Michigan is also greatly appreciated.
This year there is also the opportunity to become a mentor to one child. This would take place at the school for 1 hour a week. You would have a meeting to learn more about this position with the Principal. You would then be matched with a child.
Consider being a friend to these neighborhood children by sharing God’s love with them through our actions. Registration forms and more information are available now. If you have any questions, please feel free to talk with me.
We will also do a clothing drive in October.
God calls us to be doers of His word and not hearers only. (James 1:22) Kathy Reister
Church Staff
Pastor Justin J. Walker
pastorjustin@clcwyoming.org Patrick Blanchard
Outreach Ministries Coord. patrick@clcwyoming.org Audrey Geers Administrative Secretary office@clcwyoming.org Jim Barritt Bookkeeper bookkeeping@clcwyoming.org Marilyn Burgard Organist/Handbell Director burgardm@sbcglobal.net Casey Huls
Junior Choir Director hulscas@mail.gvsu.edu Sara Miller Minister of Music sara@clcwyoming.org Executive Council President Jim Ward Vice-President/Personnel Curt Johnson Treasurer Vicki Blubaugh Secretary Michael Phillips Council Chairpersons Education Aimee Paulson Evangelism Mike Evele Fellowship
Nikki Diaz & Rylee Huston Mission Support Katelyn Conat Property Bill Houseknecht Technology Michael Phillips
Well-being & Social Concerns Tamara Wright
Worship, Music & Arts Vicki Blubaugh Youth & Family Aimee Paulson Recording Secretary Dave Harris Contact Information Phone: 616-532-2774 Email: office@clcyoming.org Fax: 616-532-6488 www.clcwyoming.org
Notes From the Office
Office Hours:
Monday: 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (Jim) Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Audrey) Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Audrey) Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (Jim)
Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (Audrey)
**If you need to connect with us outside of these hours,
please give us a call and make an appointment.
Weekly Announcement Deadline: Friday morning, 10:00 a.m.
Next Branch Deadline:
Tuesday, August 27, at 10:00 a.m.
Did You Know?
All loose quarters put in the
collection plates on Sundays are
collected specifically to benefit
ELCA World Hunger. Your
quarters make a difference!!
Safety Reminder
Being located at a very busy intersection and in the city, there have been reports of vehicle break-ins in the neighborhood and even one of our member’s vehicle was tagged (spray painted) while parked in the lot. Do not leave packages or purses on the seat (even in a locked vehicle). Always lock your car during church events. People
walk and drive through our parking lot and unlocked cars can be entered by non-owners. This is a problem everywhere: malls, other parking lots, in driveways, parked outside houses in “nice” neighborhoods, etc. “An ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure.”
Dear CLC Family,
Thank you so much for the gift card! You have been a great home to grow my faith in, thank you for supporting me!
Sam McKenney
School Supplies Needed:
Whether you are specifically shopping for school supplies or not, it is hard to miss all of the deals available at the stores right now! As you read about on page 4, we are collecting items for the Back To School Bag ministry. For all of the details, please see the display in the Gathering Space, but here is a list of the supplies we are collecting:
pencils (unsharpened) pens 70 ct. spiral notebooks rulers 2-inch erasers pencil sharpeners blunt tipped scissors
construction paper
An Art Show To Visit
I have a one-person show at the St. Adalbert Cathedral art gallery now until November 1. Viewing hours are usually M-F 12:30 to 5. They are on 624 Davis Street. My art shown at this gallery are mostly trees, landscapes and some city scapes. All of my work is in pastel on paper, in bright colors with dark lines. All are welcome to attend, and viewing
is always free!
Kristen Thornton Pham
Please add recycling to your
errand route and bring your
paper by once a week—help
your church and your
environment.
Items collected include: Newspapers
Catalogs/magazines Junk mail Phone books Office/school paper Hard and soft cover books
Does NOT include:
plastic, metal, trash, glass, cardboard, or paperboard
Editor’s Note: Inclusion of Council Minutes has been requested by the Council. Due to the timing of meetings and approval of minutes at the next meeting, there is a delay in getting them published in this newsletter.
