As you attend the Easter Sunday worship service this year, please pause by the cross and add flowers. You can bring flowers from your garden or take one provided by the Flower Committee.
On Easter Sunday, some churches incorporate a ceremony called “The Flowering of the Cross.” Congregation members bring flowers or greenery and decorate a bare wooden cross covered with chicken wire until it is completely covered with fresh flowers. The ceremony transforms a barren cross into an Easter symbol, representing the transition from Good Friday to Easter, from meditation on Jesus’ death to joyful celebration of His resurrection.
As you attend the Easter Sunday worship service this year, please pause by the cross and add flowers. You can bring flowers from your garden or take one provided by the Flower Committee. We hope you enjoyed Mt. Olive's Black History Program on February 25. We were glad to have you share that special time with us, and we hope you enjoyed the fellowship that followed.
Thank you to everyone who completed the congregational survey for the Strategic Plan Team. We set a goal of 85, which felt ambitious given our recent experience with surveys, and 96 of you completed the survey. Great job! The team will have more to report about this soon, but I want to focus on a few things that caught my attention. You may remember the first question about your overall satisfaction with the church. According to our consultant, the average for Lutheran churches is that about 30% of respondents answer with a 9 or a 10, making them “promoters.” About 15% of respondents answer with a 1-6, making them “detractors.” The other 55% mark 7 or 8 and are classified as “neutral.” In our survey, 66% of respondents came out as “promoters,” and only 3% were “detractors.” I don’t say this to diminish anyone’s dissatisfaction, but that is an impressive degree of energy and positivity for our congregation, and it says to me that the kinds of very negative behaviors that make church life difficult for some people are comparatively rare here. A third of respondents were between 18 and 55, a healthy number for a Lutheran church. Over a third of our respondents have been members of CLC for five years or less, which is also unusually high for a Lutheran church and suggests real resiliency during and after COVID. There is much more in the survey, some suggesting real challenges we will face together. You’ll be hearing more about all of it soon. But for now, I want to acknowledge that good and uplifting news about churches is rare today, and I am thankful that our community is, in the words of our consultant, “bucking the trends.” Thank you for your commitment, faithfulness, and continuing support for our life and mission. See you in church! Pastor Ben As I write, it is January 4—a little late for saying "Happy New Year," let alone for reviewing the year that was, but still early enough that the current segment on our calendars is beautifully undefined. The church year begins in late November or early December with the first Sunday in Advent, and the Lunar New Year begins later this winter. There's nothing spiritually meaningful about January 1 (unless you're celebrating the Holy Name of Jesus, the festival that falls on that date). But it's a fact of life. This is how we mark time as a culture; if nothing else, it's a chance to think about things afresh. I want to highlight a few things about the year ending. I tracked our worship participation all year long in 2022 and 2023. On Sundays, our average participation was about the same as the year before (88 in 2023, 87 in 2022), and our median Sunday was slightly higher (84 in 2023 and 82 in 2022). This is notable because, for the first five months of 2022, we worshiped in two services, which meant that several people (Dr. Nahkur, any music leaders, Vicar Veronika, and me) were being counted twice each Sunday. It's also notable because some of our very faithful every-week worshipers became homebound, died, or moved away, and those who joined our worshiping community tend to be here less frequently. In 2022, we also had several visits from Mount Olive's congregation, which didn't happen in 2023. Holding our own in Sunday participation despite those changes is a sign of real health and resilience in our congregation after a season of major dislocations. By the broadest measure—including holy days and festivals like Christmas Eve, mid-week worship, and preschool family chapel services—our total weekly participation stayed at 116. Our pledging campaign in 2023 was also solid. Our number of pledges (80) and the total amount pledged ($506,000) were up by ten percent or more from last year. Thirteen of those pledges were new. This has allowed us to confidently move our youth and family ministry director position to full-time, showing that new people are committing to the church's ministry. We've continued to welcome new worshipers, some of whom have joined the congregation (one through baptism as an adult!), others who plan to participate in 2024, and others who are just becoming acquainted. This is a tremendous blessing and not something I ever take for granted. I've been blessed by my conversations and interactions with these newcomers, and I know they enrich our community in numerous ways. This year, we have the chance to set new goals. How can we move from welcoming guests in worship and assuring them that they are safe and cherished here to involving them in the wider life of the congregation? How can we continue to build our youth program while also reaching out more deliberately to young adults, the campus community, and the parents of young children? And perhaps most importantly, how will we use our gifts—the immense time, faith, skill, wisdom, and, yes, financial resources of our community—to engage with our broader community in all its joy and need? This year, we're starting a strategic planning process to help us think through some of these questions deliberately. I'm excited for that. But I'm also just excited about the vigor and enthusiasm of our people. I don't know what the year ahead holds for us; apart from what we all rely on, the Word will be preached, and the Sacraments will be celebrated. It's an honor and a joy to serve this community. I give thanks to God for all of you. I look forward to how you will inspire and challenge each other and me in 2024. See you in church! Pastor Ben A reminder about the upcoming dates for amendments and voting on the updated Constitution.
The important dates to remember are: December 6, 2023 -
Please submit any Constitutional amendments in writing and support from 10 voting members to Pastor Ben (add his email) and Lisa Nelson (pastorben@clcdallas.org). Submit any Bylaws amendments in writing and support from one (1) voting member to Pastor Ben and Lisa Nelson (lnelson@jldallas.org).
Thank you for your support and attention to this effort. This serves as a cordial invitation for You, Your family, and Your friends to attend the traditional Annual German Church Service (in the German language) at Christ Lutheran Church on Saturday, December 9, at 4 PM. This church service is being arranged by the Johanniterorden, the Dallas Goethe Center, and the Deutsche Kirche in Dallas and is being hosted by Christ Lutheran Church; it offers English and German speakers a chance to experience a traditional church service in the German language with traditional Advent songs. The service will also include a special children’s sermon, and it will be followed by a reception afterward with German cookies, cake, and Stollen!
The service will be accompanied by singing performances of children of the German International School of Dallas and the Dallas Frohsinn Singer! The service will be presided over by Rev. Ben Dueholm and Rev Kurt Maerschel, Master of Divinity, MA, who will also welcome participating children! We look forward to welcoming you and your friends to this German North Texas tradition! Please feel free to send this out to anybody interested, to friends and family members. In HIS name! Kind regards, Andreas K. Bremer, CCIM Exciting news! The 2023 Angel Tree has officially kicked off and will spread holiday cheer until December 3. In partnership with Emanuel Lutheran Church in East Dallas, this impactful ministry is dedicated to bringing warmth and delight to deserving children in Dallas by providing them with clothing and toys.
This festive season, our goal is to bring Christmas joy to 35 wonderful children aged six months to 18 years. Join us in making a difference and ensuring that every child experiences the magic of the holidays. We will gather on December 11 at the home of Connie Uhri, 317 Ridgehaven Pl, Richardson. Social time will begin at 6 PM, with a light dinner at 7 PM. We will also have a gift exchange. If you want to participate, please bring a gift not to exceed $25.00.
If you have considered joining us, this is a perfect evening to get acquainted and have some holiday fun; please come. RSVP to uhrifam@gmail.com or 214 679 5886. Christmas dinner will be held this year on December 17. We will gather at 6 PM for cocktails and serve dinner at 7 PM. The event will be held in the home of Jeff & Connie Uhri, 317 Ridgehaven Pl, Richardson. Please either bring a side or dessert to share with the main course.
If possible, bring a picture of yourself at Christmas time from your childhood, for some fun after dinner. All are welcome, and we would love to see new faces. Please RSVP to uhrifam@gmail.com, sign up on the kiosk, or 214 679 5886. Thanksgiving is fast approaching. CLC has previously worked with Mt. Olive to supply baskets for needy families. The pantry has changed since COVID-19, and its efforts are now focused on supporting the Wednesday Blessing Bags. There has been a huge increase in the numbers from 200 per week to 350.
If you would like to donate to purchase the supplies for these bags, please use the envelope in the pews, or if you give by other means, please mark your donation to Mt. Olive Thanksgiving. Thank you in advance for sharing your bounty with those in need. Thanksgiving blessings to you and your families. NDSM - Calling for VolunteersHELP CHANGE LIVES EVERY DAY!
NDSM, CLC's partner in ministry, aids some 80,000 people in need every year with the help of volunteers. They stretch every dollar to purchase food and clothing and to compensate the healthcare professionals who serve their uninsured and underinsured. They rely on volunteers to do everything else. The demand for their assistance continues to grow, and they can use more of you to help them change lives. Current Openings No Special Skills Required to Learn on the Job Food Pantry SHIFTS - Tuesday & Wednesday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm Pick and pack grocery bags for the following day. (The morning volunteers are overwhelmed by long lines of people seeking help.) Clothes Closet SHIFTS - Monday - Friday - 9 am to 12 noon or 12 noon to 3 pm Sort donated clothing, display, and hang clothes. Assist shoppers in selecting the best clothing for their needs. Medical Volunteer Openings Medical Clinic RNs, LVNs, and medical assistants are needed to help in the medical clinic, which is open Monday - Thursday, 7:30 am - 6:00 pm. Shifts are flexible based on volunteers' schedules. Many of the patients speak Spanish as their primary language; facility in Spanish is a real plus. If you want to volunteer, please visit www.ndsm.org and click TO VOLUNTEER. Christmas is right around the corner! Please join us Wednesday, December 6, from 5 - 8 pm as we adorn the sanctuary and building for Christmas. It’s a come-and-go, all-ages event. Everyone is welcome. We’ll be setting up and decorating the tree, hanging wreaths, and decorating the narthex and entry hallway. Pizza and beverages will be provided. Please R.S.V.P. on the sign-up sheet in the narthex or by emailing Connie Uhri, uhrifam@gmail.com, to have an accurate headcount. If you have any questions, please contact Connie Uhri or Shannon Cockrell secockrell@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you for an evening of fellowship and fun as we prepare Christ Lutheran for Christmas.
Mark and Pam Stein look forward to hosting the next Friends at Christ gathering in their home at 3631 Normandy Ave in Highland Park on Sunday, November 19, starting at 6 p.m. In addition to our usual lively fellowship, we’ll look at the history of Israeli-Palestinian relations. We hope this discussion will heighten our understanding of the challenges of the current day and the future of this region.
There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex where you can indicate whether you will bring an appetizer or dessert. We welcome newcomers and visitors! If you have any questions, please email pamstein92@gmail.com. We invite you to purchase and share Christmas poinsettias. You may buy a poinsettia in honor, in memory of a loved one, or the Glory of God. The poinsettias will decorate the sanctuary on Christmas Eve and can be taken home after the Christmas Eve services. The price of a 6' poinsettia plant is $11.00, and 8” poinsettias will cost $35 each. All orders must be received by December 16, 2022. Sign up and pay (Here). The payment link is the link's header. Should you have any questions, please contact Laura Smith at LauraMsmith66@gmail.com or the office at (214) 363-4355. We’re starting a new series for the Fall on the meaning of community. It’s easy to want community, to praise it, to assume we have it. It’s not always to easy to know what exactly we mean by it. When we call ourselves a “community of faith,” what does that mean? We’ll start this five-session topic with a discussion of church words and church spaces, looking at recent articles by Pastor Peter Marty and Pastor Katherine Willis Pershey. Some questions for discussion for Pr. Pershey’s article:
Coming up:
Dear friends and members of the Order of St John, dear members of Christ Lutheran Church, Texas is a crucial state facing a growing number of immigrants who are looking to enter the United States. The increasing number of immigrants is causing continued political discussions in Texas and the United States. To better understand the underlying reasons for this trend and to better appreciate the humanitarian and security questions related to this development, it will be helpful and enlightening to benefit from insights of a member of the US State Department who has long-standing experience in the analysis and assessment of refugee cases and who is currently based out in Mexico. Migration, human and drug smuggling, the trade in illegal weapons and narcotics, weak rule of law and corruption, decaying infrastructure, and fragile democratic institutions are all issues that beset the border zone of Mexico. These problems have been around for quite some time, but why are they in the news cycle seemingly every day, and what, if anything, can the US government do about it? Is there a solution, or is this issue unresolvable? Why should Americans care about it beyond the obvious security issues? Please join us for a lecture providing a deeper understanding and inside view of this significant development from the perspective of an expert U.S. Government employee. Details of this event are as follows:
Topic: “Perspectives from the U.S./Mexico border – Perspectives of the U.S. State Department related to security and human rights issues.” Speaker: Dr. Trygve Has-Ellison, Manager of Fraud Prevention, U.S. State Department in Mexico Date: October, 20 Time: 06.30 PM Venue: Christ Lutheran Church Room 220 3001 Lovers Lane Dallas, TX 75225 Dr. Trygve Has-Ellison has long-standing experience living and working in Mexico and analyzing questions related to legal and immigration. During his presentation, he will provide his personal views on the situation and what options might exist to improve and manage the current situation in the best possible way. The lecture will be followed by a reception, offering light snacks and drinks. Please RSVP by email, abremer@international-capital.com, with how many attendees you are planning to attend this event. Kind regards Andreas K. Bremer, CCIM International Capital, LLC President & CEO If you enjoy serving others, please join us as we pack and distribute Blessing Bags every Wednesday at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 3100 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. Dress for work and the weather, and be prepared to make new friends!
For July, we are requesting food donations of Vienna Sausages for the Blessing Bags. Men’s and women’s gently used and new summer clothes, including t-shirts, shorts, pants, socks, shoes, and underwear (new only), are needed now with a special need for men’s clothing and shoes. They may be left in the red wagon in the narthex. Or donations of any amount are always greatly appreciated and can be made online at clcdallas.org or by check/cash to CLC annotated with “Mt. Olive Food Pantry.” We’ve received a lot of clothing donations recently, which are greatly needed and appreciated. Thanks to our faithful donors for your continued support - you are a very important part of this ministry! Dr. Debbie Cottrell President Texas Lutheran University Dr. Debbie Cottrell is a native of Dallas, Texas. Before assuming the presidency of TLU in 2019, she served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at TLU for seven years. As president, she has led TLU in creating a new strategic plan that focuses on strengthening the student experience; diversifying academic programs; furthering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion; enhancing financial stability; and creating strong community partnerships. She has overseen programmatic growth, including the addition of TLU’s first doctorate program, and geographical expansion, including a TLU Nursing program presence in Houston. In the presidency, Dr. Cottrell has drawn on her work as chief academic officer, including in facilities expansion and growth in sponsored research opportunities. Dr. Cottrell holds a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and a master’s and Ph.D. in History from the University of Texas at Austin. Before attending graduate school, Dr. Cottrell taught middle school and worked as an editor at the Texas Historical Commission in Austin. After completing her Ph.D., she began her college teaching career at Cottey College in Missouri. She subsequently held administrative positions at Smith College in Massachusetts and William Peace University in North Carolina. Her scholarly interests are in U.S. women’s history and the history of education, along with a distinct appreciation for regional history. Dr. Cottrell serves on the Board of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas and is active in numerous programs of the Council of Independent Colleges, the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities, and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. Dr. Cottrell is married to a fellow historian, Dr. Alan Cottrell. They have one grown son, Andy, a first-year medical student. Jeremiah 29: 12-13 Then you will call upon me and go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. Prayer Ministry meets every Wednesday in the Sanctuary at 1:00 PM. All are welcome! This midweek time allows us to be together in God’s presence. We share our gratitude and concerns and then read aloud from a prepared bulletin, praying for the church, the world, members of our congregation, individual concerns, our community, and all in need. Then we quiet our minds to meditate and listen to our Father.
The Wednesday time has become an anchor for me, and I look forward to the peace I experience each week. How you can participate:
Fair Park neighbors were excited to see the Mt. Olive Blessing Bag Ministry on Wednesday following a month’s leave when over 200 grateful individuals were served lunch bags. Today, Mt. Olive’s Frances Byrd Horn of Plenty Food Pantry continues to provide food and inspiration for those in need. Christ Lutheran, a partner of many decades and many caring volunteers, is making a difference. The pantry served almost 14,000 Blessing Bags (lunch bags) in 2022, and the need continues to grow. Approximately 300 blessing bags are distributed weekly and can be picked up on foot or drive-through.
To become a part of this ministry, please join us on Wednesdays at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 3100 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, any time between 9:30 AM and 1:00 PM. Dress for work and the weather, and be prepared to make new friends! 9:30 to 11:00 AM Pack Bags 11:00 to 1:00 PM Distribute Bags Or donations of any amount are always greatly appreciated and can be made online at clcdallas.org or by check/cash to CLC annotated with “Mt. Olive Food Pantry.” There has been an approximate 35% increase in prices, and your generosity helps us deliver tangible help and hope to those who need it most! For June, we request donations of single-serve fruit juices (Capri-Sun or similar) for the Blessing Bags. They may be left in the red wagon in the narthex. A special thanks to all of our faithful donors for your continued support – your gifts greatly impact this ministry! READINGS FOR THIS SUNDAY Acts 17:22-31 Paul’s message to the Athenians Psalm 66:8-20 Bless our God, you people; let the sound of praise be heard. (Ps. 66:8) 1 Peter 3:13-22 The days of Noah, a sign of baptism John 14:15-21 Christ, our advocate OVERVIEW Not Orphaned “I will not leave you orphaned,” Jesus promises us in today’s gospel. God is not some ruthless heavenly spectator judging us as on reality television, relishing our failures, wishing to exchange us for a better or more attractive child, no curmudgeonly “Daddy Warbucks” in the sky. Instead, God comes to love us in Jesus, singularly loving and accepting, seeking our trust and promising to be ever-present with us in the Holy Spirit. This Holy Advocate moves us even when we don’t recognize its power, even when it seems “an unknown God” (Acts 17:23). Though we might battle essential loneliness, we have not been abandoned.
Many life experiences can leave us feeling orphaned or abandoned. Family can ease that feeling but also magnify it if our family relationships are strained or if our families live far away. Think of those in your congregation who count deployed soldiers among their loved ones in recent years or construction workers and tradesmen who need to live in hotels far away from their families to keep making money for their families in the current challenging economy. The Internet, webcams, Skype, and social networking can link people across the miles. Still, it can further aggravate loneliness and isolation when these substitute for real intimacy in our highly connected world. How do we experience this loneliness and this longing for home and belonging? How does Jesus’ promise that he will not leave us orphaned speak to these real-life concerns? When Jesus makes this string of promises in John 14, saying that he will remain with us in the Holy Spirit as our Advocate, it’s hard to envision how this support comes to us sometimes. When we do not see or hear those we love, the simple gifts Jesus offers in body and blood, bread and wine shared with actual warm neighbors, have great power. Even when life keeps delivering bad news about how far apart we are from one another and how broken our relationships are, “I will not leave you orphaned” is the godly reassurance that we are not alone. |
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