Welcome to Christ Lutheran e-news, a weekly electronic newsletter which highlights programs and activities of our congregation. Feel free to .
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A robust group of Christ Lutheran Church members and friends, including three first-time, adult members, enjoyed a rich weekend together at Camp Calumet. Participants entered with feeling into a simulation of the challenges of workers facing harsh conditions in the Central American countryside, migrating north for better working conditions, and attempting a new life in the US. It was a truly intergenerational simulation, and CLC youth, along with "Isaac's entourage," contributed to a thoughtful de-briefing. More cross-generational enrichment abounded at the "Story Corps" time around the fire Saturday night.
Saturday afternoon put the "retreat" into the weekend, with folks taking time to hike, read, knit, play broomball, put together puzzles, dance, quilt, or simply nap.
Sunday worship and plenteous, yummy food rounded out our time at Calumet.
This Sunday Christ Lutheran Church meets for our first semi-annual meeting of the year. In addition to the usual main agenda items of reviewing the prior year's financial statements and approving a budget (spending plan) for the current year, we'll also vote on changes to the Constitution and by-laws, and name voting members to the 2020 New England Synod Assembly. All voting members are urged to participate.
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Music Notes
Tom Berryman, Music Director
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Don't miss the chance this week to hear one of the top college choirs (in the world!): the St. Olaf Choir will be in Worcester's Mechanics Hall on Wednesday, February 5 to present a stunning choral performance. Go to
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/st-olaf-choir-tickets-68477061735
for information at tickets.
The Bell Choir joins the CLC Choir this Sunday, February 9 in leading music for worship. The CLC Choir will be singing Alice Parker's "Let your little light shine" from her Melodious Accord Hymnal. The Bell Choir will be playing "A Joyful Ring" for the Offertory Music.
The Organ Postlude will be Eugene Gigout's "Scherzo." For a performance, click below.
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Eugène Gigout (1844 - 1925): Scherzo - No 8 of 10 Pieces (1890)
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Youth & Family
Gail Weston-Roberts, Youth & Family Ministries Coordinator
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Hello, CLC youth and parentage!
Our annual retreat to Calumet was one of the best I've experienced. Despite the thin snow (no snow tubing!!), the broom ball, basketball, and lake ice were serious fun and the usual fireplace/hot beverage zone was serious comfort. The game we played on Saturday morning was based on immigration experiences at the southern border-which sounds horribly inappropriate, to say the least?!! Yet our reflections on the experience afterward: that's where the Spirit brought understanding. Even this faint reenactment of the suffering of the poor helped us hear God's call to love and support those who must flee their homelands for safety. Serious work, after all.
THIS SATURDAY, Feb. 8, is one of last chances to
BUILD QUILTS before the minibus leaves! People will be creating from 1:00 to 5:00pm - there will be snacks - you can invite friends - this counts as Volunteer Hours for your schools - you know the drill. I hope you can come and measure, rip, seam, tie, et cetera! Replies re: this to me are most appreciated. And your ideas about prepping the minibus are essential!
Lastly: how about a HOT TUB and CHILI AND CHOCOLATE party at the Parsonage? Yes, say I!! Got to figure out a date soon, so please Respond Quickly when you get the email/poll thingy. Thank you so much, all, and peace be with you! Yr. Youth & Fam. Coord. Gail W-R
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ADULT FORUM
Adult Forum resumes this Sunday at 9:00 a.m. in the Memorial room as we consider
Mission-Driven Art and it's purpose within a faith community (part 1). All are welcome.
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CLC BOOK GROUP
Monday, February 17th, 7:30 PM
Journalist Chanan Tigay traces the mystery of a Bible scroll discovered around 1883 that
might be linked to the Dead Sea Scrolls which were discovered 70 years later.
The Lost Book of Moses: The Hunt for the World's Oldest Bible
recounts the story of Moses Wilhelm Shapira, a dealer of antiquities in Jerusalem, who arrived in London with a scroll he said he had found in an area east of the Dead Sea. When the scroll was discredited as a fake, Shapira committed suicide and the scroll went missing. Tigay takes up the search for the missing scroll in this fascinating non-fiction account of biblical scholarship, archeology, and human desire.
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BIBLE STUDY
There will be no morning Bible study this Thursday, February 6. Bible Study resumes next week at its regularly scheduled time: 9:45 a.m. gathering in the Memorial Room for coffee and snacks, with discussion beginning promptly at 10:00.
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The weekend of February 21-23 will be a FULL one! Plans for Pastora Rose Mary and Fernando's return to Boston and the transfer of the minibus to Cristo Rey are nearly complete. They will be in Natick that weekend, and
on Saturday, Pastora, along with a local immigration attorney and recent Central American arrival to the area will offer a "mini immersion," telling their stories and concluding with a simple supper.
Volunteers are needed to help serve the meal and clean up afterward. All are encouraged to attend, and to bring a friend interested in learning about the humanitarian crisis at our southern border.
On Sunday we'll bless the bus and celebrate with a light brunch. Again, friends are welcome, and volunteers are needed to provide egg casseroles, help set up, serve, and clean up.
There are sign-up sheets for both of these opportunities on the kiosk in the narthex and in the parish hall.
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On top of all of the Activities related to Pastora's visit and the sending of the minibus to El Paso, two other happenings on February 22-23 warrant our attention:
Rob Humphreville will
return for his 7
th
appearance, accompanying "Ella Cinder." It's always a hoot, so invite family and friends!
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Finally, our Family Promise host week begins that Sunday (Feb. 23 - March 1). Trained volunteers are needed to prep and/or serve meals, stay overnight, and set up/break down rooms. Please register on CERVIS at
www.familypromisemetrowest.org, or see Robin Hurst or Mary Avalos to assist you.
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On Sunday, February 9,
we celebrate the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany. Pastor Rebecca Bourret preaching and presiding.
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READINGS FOR THIS WEEK - Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
February 9, 2020
Light shines in the darkness for the upright, the psalmist sings. Isaiah declares that when we loose the bonds of injustice and share our bread with the hungry, the light breaks forth like the dawn. In another passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus, the light of the world, calls his followers to let the light of their good works shine before others. Through baptism we are sent into the world to shine with the light of Christ.
First Reading Psalm Second Reading Gospel
Isa 58:1-9a Ps 112:1-9 1 Cor 2:1-12 Matt 5:13 - 20
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Sing For Joy
Enhance your understanding of the weekly scripture readings by listening to Sing For Joy
http://www.stolaf.edu/singforjoy/
from St. Olaf College. The Sing For Joy radio program, produced by
St. Olaf College
, has a simple mission: to explore the weekly themes of Christian worship by providing the best in sacred choral music and thoughtful commentary. The musical performances eloquently "do the talking," while the concise remarks from host
Pastor Bruce Benson
illuminate the meaning of the texts.
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