HANDS & FEET PRAISE ~ LOVE ~ SERVE PRAISE~LOVE~SERVE PASTOR S LETTER. Christ s Community Church News. Continued on page 2...

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1 NOVEMBER 2013 HANDS & FEET Christ s Community Church News PRAISE ~ LOVE ~ SERVE PRAISE~LOVE~SERVE PASTOR S LETTER Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!...Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The holidays Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas, and New Year s Day are just around the corner! Every year when I write the November newsletter article, I find myself thinking of how thankful I am for God s continued blessings. There was a day last month, however, that my thanksgiving tank was feeling a bit empty. It happens to all of us at some point, doesn t it!? It was one of those days. Nothing was going well and by evening I was pretty much ready to call it a day before I had even made dinner. There wasn t much rejoicing happening that night! But as so often happens, our daughter, Sophie, reminded me of the importance of being thankful. The kids and I had some errands to run that evening. We were on the busy freeway and I passed someone an everyday kind of occurrence. All of sudden, however, I heard this enormous cheer from the backseat. Sophie yelled, You did it, Mommy, you passed that car! Yay! Well, my first thought was, Oh no! Has my day gone so badly that all I can say for it was that my two year old is impressed that I managed to pass a car on the freeway? But my second thought was, Wait a minute! She s right! I DID do something right! I passed that car on the freeway, didn t get in an accident doing it, managed not to inspire road rage in anybody, and my kids are even learning something from watching me drive (maybe)! Continued on page

2 PASTOR S LETTER cont. Sophie reminded me that even in the most simple, everyday acts there is always something for which we can be thankful, something that reminds us to rejoice in the Lord always! That doesn t mean pain and difficulty, challenges and sorrow go away. Philippians 4 teaches us that, instead, those things can t erase the peace that being thankful to God brings us when prayerful thanksgiving is part of the foundation of our faith. Sophie also reminded me that day of how important it is as part of a family to encourage one another. As a church family we do the same thing in many ways all the time. You are wonderful encouragers and I am very grateful for each and every one of you! As we learned in our Discipleship Series this fall, gathering, connecting, serving, and giving are all means through which we encourage one another, means through which we can help bring God s hope, peace, joy, and love to a world that so badly needs it. When we do those things, we live our faith fully and multiply God s kingdom. God gives us so much for which to be thankful! May we each find the peace that God gives us, a peace that comes from a thankful heart that rejoices in the Lord at all times. In His Peace, Pastor Jenny YARD SIGNS The final Sunday of our Discipleship Series: Multiply! was October 27th. During the service, Board of Elder's member, Brad Carlson, kicked off a new opportunity for our congregation to make disciples and multiply. The Board of Elders had yard signs printed up with the church s name on them at the top and in large letters our mission: PRAISE, LOVE, SERVE. These signs can be purchased by members of the congregation for $14 each. The Board is asking people to commit to purchasing two signs and then putting them up on a street corner or in your yard Friday nights and removing them Sunday. We don t have too many more weeks before the ground is frozen, so this is a manageable and exciting new way to share the love of Jesus with others to make disciples! We have a few signs available that people who live outside of the Maple Grove area have purchased and are available for anyone to take who is willing to commit to putting the signs up. Please see Brad Carlson if you are interested in purchasing signs, putting signs up, or doing both! The mission of Christ s community church is to: GLORIFY GOD AS WE 2

3 CORE VALUES 1. Discipleship 2. Come as you are! 3. Family 4. Community Outreach 5. Children / Youth SENIOR WOMEN S BIBLE STUDY We have a great opportunity to join Maple Grove Lutheran s Senior Women s Bible Study group the third Thursday of every month at 12:00pm. Pastor Chris and Pastor Jenny will be sharing the leadership of this group. This year is an especially appropriate time to join in because the group will be using Moravian Bishop Kay Ward s Bible Study on the character of Hannah. All women who consider themselves seniors are welcome to join us! We next meet at noon on Thursday, November 21st. SLIPPERS AVAILABLE The Slipper Ministry wants you to know that there are always slippers available at CCC if you find a need. They are located in the Jericho Room. UNITY PRAYER WATCH This month Tanzania, South, and Malawi are praying for the worldwide Moravian church, including us here at CCC! SIMPSON SHELTER Our next date for making sandwiches for Simpson Shelter is Sunday, November 10th following the service. CCC VISION We see Christ s Community Moravian Church as a caring and accepting church, equipping people to serve, reaching out to the community, and sharing God s love as we invite people into the family of God. PRAISE SINGER SCHEDULE November 3: Janet B. & Norm B., Ted and Kristi B. November 10: MN Teen Challenge November 17: Kelly S. & Marian M. November 24: Ted & Kristi B. MINI-RETREAT The T.E.N (Teacher Education Network) is sponsoring a oneday retreat for Christian educators and those interested in Christian Education. This will be held on Saturday November 9, 2013 at the Waconia Moravian Church in Waconia, MN. It is offered at no cost to the attendees. The retreat begins with registration at 9am and will run until 3pm; a lunch will be provided. This is an opportunity to meet others interested in Christian education, and to discuss best practices, and to explore Sunday school needs at various grade levels. Registration forms are located in the office. PASTORAL NEWS... Sunday Worship November 3, 9:30 am All Saint s Sunday Communion Ephesians 1:11-23 Luke 6:20-31 November 10, 9:30 am 25th Sunday after Pentecost Mn Adult & Teen Challenge 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 November 17, 9:30 am 26th Sunday after Pentecost Isaiah 65:17-25 Luke 21:5-19 November 24, 9:30 am 27th Sunday after Pentecost Thanksgiving Sunday Luke 17:

4 THANK YOU... Dear Friends, Thank you for donating 200 sandwiches and extra meat to Simpson Housing Services. On behalf of our shelter guests, program participants, and staff I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your support. Christina Giese Volunteer Service Manager MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES: *Comforter Ministry *Slipper Ministry *Men s Breakfast *Young Adults *Prayer Ministry *TeleCare Ministry *Music Ministry *Mission Trip *Sunday School: Adult *Sunday School: Youth *C.R.O.S.S. Food Shelf *Prison Ministry *Simpson Shelter *Habitat for Humanity *Salvation Army Bell Ringing *Operation Christmas Child *Hat & Mitten Tree *Mission Concert *MN Teen Challenge *Gideons International *Board of World Mission *Moravian Open Door *Carry the Cross *World Relief SUNDAY SCHOOL TIME FEEDBACK... We are now entering our third month of holding Sunday School after worship from 10:45-11:30. This change came about because we were hoping to bring some more energy and attendance to our Sunday School program, as well as provide a Sunday School class that was accessible for visitors, a means of welcoming them and helping them to grow in their faith and feel part of the family. So far, the change has, for the most part, accomplished those things! The kids are focused and really excited about Sunday School, much more so now that they all start off singing together and have fully woken up for the day. The teachers are doing a great job, too, providing structure and fun learning for the kids. The adult class has indicated that they really enjoy being able to discuss the sermon Scripture texts more in depth, too, which can only be done after worship. There are, of course, equal pros and cons to the time change. Here are just a few to provide examples: PRO: For some people, it is nice to be able to sleep a bit later and not have to feel rushed in the mornings to get to Sunday School before worship, especially if they are teaching. CON: For others, it is nice to come early for Sunday School and then have more time for fellowship after worship. PRO: Having Sunday School after worship makes it easier for the praise team to practice without having to worry about missing some Sunday School. CON: Having Sunday School after worship also means we sometimes have to shorten Sunday School to make time for things like volunteer training, potluck meals, or fellowship time. Sunday School after worship brings energy to Sunday School, but also require flexibility from everyone. The list could go on and on of pros and cons...i'm sure you've thought of some, too! We will be asking for your feedback in December, so please be thinking about how you might respond now. We'll keep it simple and put a printed form in your bulletin for you to complete and put in the church office. The Joint Boards will take all your feedback and thoughts into consideration and will work faithfully to find a time that best reflects the mission of our congregation. The truth is that either time, before or after worship, can be better for some people and more difficult for others. We will continue to strive to follow God's leading as our congregation grows and changes as we PRAISE, LOVE, and SERVE! 4

5 VOLUNTEERS today in the life November 3 rd November 10 November 17 th November 24 th Welcome & Announcements/ Offering Prayer: Karen O. Pastor Jenny M. Kristi B. Linda T. PowerPoint: Brad C. Jim H. Pat J. Paul S. Scriptures: Nora HS Brad C. Maureen C. Deb H. Ushers / Greeters (2): N & C Langseth D & J Beumer S & B Ellingson B & B Jarvis Nursery: K & N Johnson Barb K. N & C Langseth Karene H. Children s Chat: Ted B. Karene H. Pastor Jenny M. Linda V. Snak & Yak Host: Maureen C. Brenda E. Deb H. Kelly S. Treats: Kristi B. MN Teen Challenge Brunch Potluck Kris K. Marian M. Prayers of the Church: Communion Marian M. Karen O. Pastor Jenny M. Praise Singers (2): Janet B. and Norm B. MN Teen Challenge Kelly S. & Marian M. Kristi B. & Ted B. Children s Church N/A Kim B. & Sharon B. N/A N/A TREASURER S REPORT today in the life E-Giving: If you would like sign up for e-giving (have your tithe/donation go directly from your bank account the church s account on a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly basis) please see Janet Ohrt for a form. Operating Accounts Date Weekly Receipts 1-Sep-13 $ Sep-13 $ 5, Sep-13 $ 1, Sep-13 $ 1, Sep-13 $ 1, September 2013 Designated Funds Occasion/Cause Total District Loan Principle Red. $ Maintenance Reserve $ 1, Slipper Ministry Fund $ Mission Fund $ 3.50 Total: $ 1, General Fund/Operating Account Month Beg. Bal. Receipts Disbursements Balance July $ (103.58) $ 18, $ 17, $ August $ $ 11, $ 11, $ Sept. $ $ 11, $ 12, $ (383.14) YTD $ $ 111, $ 111, $ (383.14) Financial Position at the end of September $ (383.14) Pastor's Pension & Insurance Package paid thru December Worship Attendance Date Kids Staff Adults Total 1-Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep CONGREGATIONAL WATCHWORD THEREFORE, SINCE WE HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED THROUGH FAITH, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. ROMANS 5:1 5

6 PASTORAL NEWS CONT... On Wednesday, October 16th we packed meals at Feed My Starving Children. We packed 79 boxes, 17,064 meals and $ was the cost of the food Approved Annual Goals For Worship: We will reassess worship from a variety of different perspectives. The Worship Team will lead this worship Assessment which will include a congregational survey. The Worship Team will give the Joint Board a report in August Community: We will develop prayer cells of 2-3 people who covenant to meet regularly to check in with each other and spend time in prayer. Mission and Service: We will dedicate one Sunday service as a Mission & Ministry Day to help raise awareness of God s existing service opportunities for our congregation. Leadership: We will sponsor Leadership Workshops for the Joint Boards throughout the year led by Rev. Jim Hicks, Western District President. Stewardship: We will have regular Trustee Minutes for Ministry during worship. The Trustees will take this opportunity to teach the congregation about different aspects of CCC s finances. Spiritual Formation: We will develop a comprehensive children s program, including establishing a 4-5 person Christian Education team to plan Sunday School, VBS, and other programs, as well as develop a nursery committee. The CCC Choir sang Jesus Makes My Heart Rejoice at the Byzantine Choral Festival on October 20th. It was a beautiful evening of hearing music from diverse traditions. Purpose: We will hold a workshop or retreat that will highlight Moravian heritage and explore Moravian mission and ministry today. 6

7 PASTORAL NEWS CONT... ADVENT ACTIVITIES The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy (church) family all wrapped up in each other. Please join us on Sunday, November 24th right after Sunday School as we decorate the church for Christmas. Sandwiches will be provided. Mark your calendars for the Annual Women s Advent Brunch! The brunch will be at Jenn and Paul Straumann s home, December 7 th, from The theme is Sharing the Gifts of Advent. You will receive a cookie tin and recipe cards at the brunch as part of the program. Bring your tin back filled with your favorite Christmas cookie for the All Church Cookie Exchange and Advent Workshop on Sunday, December 8 th. The Cookie Exchange and Advent Workshop will be held during Sunday School on the 8 th. If you aren t able to be at the brunch on the 7th, you can still bring cookies and be part of the exchange on the 8th! The kids will have their own cookie craft project during the cookie exchange and those people who aren t exchanging cookies can help wrap Christmas Eve candles. Please plan to join us for this opportunity to celebrate the Advent season and anticipate the joy of Christmas! This year s Christmas program, Bethlehem Bound, promises to be memorable! This program comes as a complete kit, meant to be accessible and simple. It s a family program, so kids, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends can all be part of it. There are only a few parts that need to be memorized. Everyone else involved has simple parts that you can learn in one day. Please Dianne if you would like to be part of the program! Everyone is welcome! We are still looking for a director for this program! If you love to have fun, to lead people, to act, and to organize, this is for you! The program comes in a fully prepared kit. We just need someone to head it up! Barb Kalland is our Assistant Director. Please see Pastor Jenny if you are interested! Program Date: Sunday, December 22 nd, during worship at 9:30 (Tentative) Rehearsal Dates: November 16 th 9-10:30am November 24 during Sunday School December 1 during Sunday School December 15 during Sunday School December 21 st 9-10:30 (tentative, if needed) CHRISTIAN EDUCATION TEAM UPDATE PART I The Christmas program, Bethlehem Bound, is coming up. We would love all kids and adults to be part of it! Please see Pastor Jenny or Barb Kalland if you would like to be in the program. If your child would like to sing a solo verse of "Morning Star" on Christmas Eve, please see Pastor Jenny or Hyueeun Ham. The Kids' Choir will be singing on December 8th and January 5th. We hope your kids can join us then! We will be ordering Christ s Community Moravian Church Sunday School T-shirts this month. If you haven't given us the sizes your child/children need, please Dianne ASAP. 7

8 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION TEAM UPDATE PART II October 20th Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Packing Party What a huge success!!! Thank you to everyone who donated materials and time for this fun party. The kids and adults all had a great time. We have successfully packed 30 boxes but still have stuff to make even more boxes. Our goal is 40 boxes! If you Have any old shoeboxes at home or would like to purchase plastic shoes boxes, we could use them! Would like to make a donation of $7 for shipping costs, we would greatly appreciate it! Remember, you can pack your own box at home. There are labels available in the church office or you can print them online. The deadline to bring in your packed box, with the donation of $7, is Sunday, November 17th. We will be dropping off the shoeboxes at our local drop-off location the week of November 18th. Thank you for all your generosity! 8

9 FELLOWSHIP TEAM UPDATE The Soup Border Battle on Sunday, October 27th was tons of fun! Even though the MN Vikings were not victorious, we are happy to announce the MN Wild Rice beat out the WI Beer Cheese Soup! Many thanks to everyone who brought food, had fun, and particularly to the Straumanns for hosting The Fellowship Team is still forming and planning on their first meeting in November. Stay tuned! MINNESOTA ADULT AND TEEN CHALLENGE CHOIR TO PERFORM in Maple Grove, MN Inspiring Choir Composed of Teen & Adults Recovering from Drug and Alcohol Addiction Minnesota Teen Challenge (MnTC) announced today that Christ Community Church will host the Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge Choir in a free performance on Sunday November 10th, The choir will perform at their 9:30 am service. The MNTC Choir is known statewide, having performed at over 225 churches in The choir s contemporary Gospel and Praise songs will be accompanied by inspiring client stories of addiction recovery. Additionally, representatives from the program will be available following the service to answer questions about the programs of Minnesota Teen Challenge. The event is open to the public and all are welcome. You will be inspired by the message of hope brought by the MnTC Choir, said Anthony Bass, MnTC Church Relations Manager. For more than 25 years, Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge has been restoring hope to teens and adults struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. They are one of the largest, most effective, and most affordable programs in the nation with campuses in Minneapolis, Brainerd, and Duluth, Minnesota. Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge offers both a long-term faith based recovery program and a shorter-term licensed treatment program called Life Renewal allowing us to effectively serve individuals with a broad spectrum of addiction issues; from those seeking treatment for the first time, to those who have been struggling with addiction for many years. Every Sunday, groups of Teen Challenge residents visit regional churches where they share inspirational songs and personal stories of their recovery from addiction. The choir provides a unique learning environment and plays an integral part in the recovery process as residents truly benefit from giving vocal expression to the life change that they have experienced. For more information, contact Sheryl Mortenson at

10 WESTERN DISTRICT NEWS... From the Provincial Ecumenical Officer November 2013 Recently I heard a middle-aged Moravian sadly say, after hearing a sibling pray, That s the same prayer he prayed as a teenager. We grow in our relationships to children, spouses, friends, colleagues. Do we also grow in our prayer relationship to God? One very practical way that ecumenical contacts, experiences with Christian brothers and sisters of different traditions, can help us grow is in our life of prayer, as we see the varying ways in which the followers of Jesus pray. NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS: Nov. 1 Nov. 2 Nov. 5 Nov. 6 Kristin Johnson Brenda McIlveen Deb Hjemstad Karen O Rourke Nov. 16 Pat Jones Nov. 17 Kalan McIlveen Nov. 27 Benjamin Heupel Nov. 30 Greg Jones Moravians have traditionally prayed to Jesus God with a face more than have other Christians, who usually have prayed to God the creator or sometimes to the Holy Spirit. Moravians as in the Daily Texts and our communion and lovefeast services are perhaps more accustomed to praying through hymns. Many Moravians have found these patterns helpful in their prayer life. But many Moravians have also profited by discovering how Christians in other traditions pray, privately and publicly. Some of us pray, whether alone or in a group, in words on the printed page or in memorized words. Others pray almost always in words of their own forming. For some of us, silence is essential for times of prayer. For others, this is unfamiliar territory. Christians usually pray in the language we speak every day. But for some, another language whether Latin or tongues has been a pathway to God. Some of us pray standing. Some pray sitting. Some pray kneeling. Some of us pray while sitting still, some pray with active hands, some pray while moving. For some of us, the quiet music of Taizé helps us pray as other forms do not. We can learn by reflecting not only how others pray, but what they pray for. We may be reminded to pray for those far away as well as those close, for our enemies as well as our friends, for our needs of spirit as well as our needs of body. Prayer is the soul s sincere desire, unuttered or expressed, the motion of a hidden fire that trembles in the breast. O Christ, by whom we come to God, the life, the truth, the way! The path of prayer you also trod; Lord, teach us how to pray. James Montgomery, Moravian Book of Worship, #749 NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARIES: Nov. 25 Kelly & Karen O Rourke Hermann I. Weinlick Ecumenical Officer, Moravian Church Northern Province NEW BOOK Advent A to Z has been written to provide a resource for families, individuals, couples, and/or friendship groups to practice daily experiences of Advent reflection, discernment, and engagement. If you and your family would like a copy of this wonderful book to learn more about Advent through daily fun and reflection, please contact the office. This book includes discussion starters, games, crafts, meditations, journaling, outreach project and devotions. 10

11 CROSS NEWS... To Contact the Pastor Reverend Jennifer Moran th Avenue Maple Grove, MN (763) Office: Hours: 9:00 to 2:00 pm Closed Fridays Church Administrator: Dianne Omoth Church Treasurer: Bruce Kalland To Contact an Elder: Ted Bergstrom (2013) (763) Brad Carlson (2013) (612) Casey Langseth (2015) (612) Paul Straumann (2015) (763) MONTHLY FOOD DRIVE Each month CROSS will request two items they are in need of. For November, CCC has: To Contact a Trustee: Dale Beumer (612) djbeumer01@hotmail.com Greg Jones (612) gapajones@comcast.net If you are out shopping and would like to help out, please consider these donations. Kelly O Rourke (612) korourke@belronusa.com CROSS is the only food shelf serving Osseo, Maple Grove, West Champlin, Rogers, Dayton, & Corcoran 11

12 AROUND THE COMMUNITY today in the life Christ s Community Church rd Avenue North Maple Grove, Minnesota