News & Events - Christ Lutheran Church

M&M'S CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

11/21/2023

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 [email protected] or 214 679 5886.

FRIENDS AT CHRIST

11/21/2023

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 [email protected], sign up on the kiosk, or 214 679 5886.

MT. OLIVE BLESSING BAGS

11/15/2023

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.

North Dallas Shared Ministries

11/15/2023

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 DECORATING

11/15/2023

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, [email protected], to have an accurate headcount. If you have any questions, please contact Connie Uhri or Shannon Cockrell [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you for an evening of fellowship and fun as we prepare Christ Lutheran for Christmas.

FRIENDS AT CHRIST

11/15/2023

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 [email protected].

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS

11/14/2023

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 [email protected] or the office at (214) 363-4355.

Adult Education: The Meaning of Community

9/28/2023

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:

Have you ever learned or thought about church architecture? What effect do you think the physical features of a space have on the church gatherings that take place there?
Specifically, what might a Gothic cathedral building communicate about church, God, and faith? What about a horizontal, Prairie-style building?
Some writers argue that “secularity” is not primarily about people choosing not to attend to church, but rather the way our culture “curbs our capacity to believe in God at all.” Do you agree? Why or why not?
In Pershey’s church, the consultant found that the congregation excelled in hospitality, morale, and conflict management, but scored very low in “spiritual vitality.” How would you describe the spiritual vitality of your faith community? Of your own journey?
Pershey celebrates her own transformation as a gift from God and points to several factors in her growth in addition to learning about modernity: Eugene Peterson’s work, friendships, mental health care, and more. What have been the most significant causes of God’s transformation in your life in the last few years?

Coming up:

October 8: Mission trip report
October 15: The Meaning of Community – Accessibility and Inclusion
October 22: End of Life Care with Pastor Kristen Klade
October 29: What’s Going on in American Christianity? with New York Times national correspondent Ruth Graham
November 5: The Meaning of Community – Constitution Updates
November 12: The Meaning of Community – Building Safety
November 19: The Meaning of Community – Who is Welcome?

Order of St John - Security and Human Rights Issues

9/20/2023

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, [email protected], with how many attendees you are planning to attend this event.

Kind regards

Andreas K. Bremer, CCIM
International Capital, LLC
President & CEO

Ron Bell and CM3

8/17/2023

Mt. Olive News

7/20/2023

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!

9:30 to 11:00 AM Pack Bags
11:00 to 1:00 PM Distribute Bags

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!

TLU Visit to Christ

7/13/2023

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.

PRAYER MINISTRY

7/13/2023

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:

Join us any Wednesday at 1:00 PM in the Sanctuary.
Send your prayer requests to Pastor Ben, Sergio, and me, or place your request on the offering plate. Your prayer request will be included in our weekly bulletin.
Please join us from home or whenever possible if you cannot be with us. We will send you the Prayer bulletin by email.

06-18-23 Sermon

6/20/2023

04-11-23 Sermon

6/12/2023

Mt Olive News

6/8/2023

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!

5-14-23 Readings

5/10/2023

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.

5-7-23 Sermon

5/8/2023

4-30-23 Sermon

5/1/2023

Mt. Olive News

4/26/2023

On Wednesday, it was another busy day at Mt. Olive when volunteers distributed 300 Blessing Bags (lunch bags) before 1 PM. We also distributed over 130 clothing items. Thanks to our faithful donors for your continued support - you are an important part of this ministry!

For May, we are requesting food donations of Vienna Sausages for the Blessing Bags. Men’s and women’s gently used and new jackets, sweatshirts, t-shirts, shorts, pants, socks, shoes, and underwear (new only) are needed year-round 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

Music Ministry

4/25/2023

Happy Easter! What a powerful Holy Week we had this year. Many thanks to those who helped us make the Holy Week services so meaningful! Special thanks to Betsy Lintel, who led us on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

On April 21, we gathered in honor of Scott Kludt to share more stories, watch his videos, listen to his recordings, and perform some of his favorite hymns. It was beautiful to see so many people there. Scott's dedication to church and music ministry was remarkable. He'll always be with us through his audio and video recordings, which are all now a part of CLC archives.

On April 30, we will hold our first-ever Youth Music Concert at CLC. Hearing so many young and talented musicians share their music with us is a joy. I want to thank my Dallas colleagues who will help put this beautiful program together and bring so many guests to CLC.

Have you considered singing in the choir, ringing bells, or leading worship as a soloist or cantor? All are welcome; no professional skills are required. Contact me or the church office if you are interested in our worship-leading opportunities. Join our ministry, and let's glorify God in our music!

Wednesday worship continues at 6:30 PM, led by Vicar Kristen. Please consider participating in these special midweek services. And keep reading our weekly emails and bulletins for future events and announcements.

Many thanks to Sanctuary Choir, Colleen Oates, Romali Fernando, Brad Spellicy, Betsy Lintel, Don Rowland, Suzanne Dunkleberg, Julia Smith, Brandon Parsons, Ashley Mahon, and Samantha Morton for their beautiful musical offerings in April! And Sergio Peña for monitoring our live stream services, and Gary Haschke for sound engineering! God Gets the Glory!

Prayers to all in need: Our church and all other churches, all countries and nations, and people who struggle with conflict and division, people in poverty, those dealing with health issues, and those searching for truth and spirituality and love.

"Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us." (Martin Luther)

Blessings,

Dr. Hando Nahkur
Director of Music

M & M'S – PAINTING Class

4/19/2023

We met at the church on Monday, April 17. We had a fun evening of watercolor painting led by our artist-in-residence, Barbara Bierman. We painted a simple winter scene to take home. Our friends from Mt. Olive joined us for painting, fun, and fellowship.

Mt. Olive News

4/19/2023

From the annals of history

Mt. Olive Lutheran Church Food Pantry
“Frances Byrd Horn of Plenty”
Mission: To follow Christ’s directives to feed the hungry.
“It might interest you to know that:

The first “hunger pantry” ever to open in Dallas was founded by Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in 1967 to serve the needy from all around the metroplex by providing bags of groceries to the hungry.
In October of 1999, under the leadership of Pastor Ralph Gipson, the current food pantry was given the name “Frances Byrd Horn of Plenty” in memory of Ms. Frances Byrd, who operated the 1967 pantry.
Mt. Olive Food Pantry has a two-pronged approach to combating hunger in Zip Codes 75210 and 75215 in the Fair Park Area – serving the homeless and hungry with a healthy luncheon “snack pack” and providing struggling families with a supply of nutritious groceries.
Providing quality food in abundant quantities to those who would otherwise be hungry, especially the elderly, are priority reasons why ten congregations, eight businesses and organizations, 20 patrons, and 40 dedicated volunteers form the backbone of Mt. Olive Food Pantry.
Homeless/hungry people may come every Wednesday, but they only receive a sack lunch, and once a month, hygiene items are provided when available. No criterium is necessary to be served.

A generous man will himself be blessed for he shares his food with the poor.
“Proverbs 22:9”

Christ Lutheran, a partner of many decades and many caring people, is making a difference. Today, Mt. Olive’s Frances Byrd Horn of Plenty Food Pantry continues to provide food and inspiration for those in need. The pantry served almost 14,000 Blessing Bags (lunch bags) in 2022, and the need continues to grow. Approximately 300-450 blessing bags are distributed weekly and can be picked up on foot or drive-through.

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!
9:30 to 11:00 AM Pack Bags 11:00 to 1:00 PM Distribute Bags

Thanks to our faithful donors for your continued support - you are a very important part of this ministry!

For May, we are requesting food donations of Vienna Sausages for the Blessing Bags. 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.”

TEXAS RAMP PROJECT

4/19/2023

"Building Freedom for the Homebound"

Have you ever changed a life in a single day? The Texas Ramp Project does it hundreds of times a year by building wheelchair ramps for older adults and others with mobility issues who can't afford to buy one! In a few hours last Saturday morning, CLC volunteers Teri Kuhlman, Jeff Uhri, Ron Palomares, Mike Macho, David Kuhlman, Peter Kowalczyk, and Andreas Bremer had a successful ramp build constructing a 24' ramp for a young girl with mobility issues.

Stay tuned for the next ramp build date, and join in on the fun and fulfillment of giving freedom to folks with mobility issues!

North Dallas Shared Ministries - Service Day

4/19/2023

Saturday, May 13th
9:00 AM-Noon

Please join us for a half day of fun and some work at North Dallas Shared Ministries, CLC’s new partner in ministry!

We will take a tour of NDSM’s headquarters, learn more about their ministry in the Dallas area, and provide some labor in the Clothes Closet and Food Pantry.

Since 1983, NDSM has provided food and clothing assistance to low-income families and seniors in crises. Today NDSM is a growing creative agency staffed by volunteers and partnering with 47 area churches. Christ Lutheran Church is the newest church to partner with NDSM.

NDSM provides the following services at no cost to its clients and patients:

Basic and supplemental food assistance programs
Rent and utility assistance
Medical and dental care for adults and children
Mental health counseling
Nutrition counseling
Adult ESL classes
School supplies and uniforms
Clothes Closet
Tax Preparation Assistance
Eye exams and glasses

We have already had a successful “Diaper Drive” for the benefit of NDSM and look forward to working with them in more ways to assist our Dallas neighbors.

North Dallas Shared Ministries | 2875 Merrell Road | Dallas TX 75229 | 214-358-8700 WWW.NDSM.OR