CLARION. The Case for Faith Forward. June Christ Memorial Lutheran Church

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1 Christ Memorial Lutheran Church June 2018 CLARION The Case for Faith Forward On May 14th, the voters approved a motion to move forward with a Capital Campaign, Faith Forward: Bringing the Love of Christ to All Generations, to eliminate the mortgage by 2023 and to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Christ Memorial Lutheran Church. A Capital Campaign Committee has been formed and has held three meetings. Pastor Jeff said, "We re in the midst of a massive generational shift. Elder generations long to pass the Christian faith to children and grandchildren. For younger generations, following Jesus is getting harder. We must tell what God has done in generations past while empowering new generations for the future." Seeing an end to our mortgage debt means opening additional avenues for ministry expansion. Christ Memorial currently offers many wonderful and unique ministry opportunities: Christ Memorial Child Care Center, Health and Fitness Center, Christ Memorial Productions, Crave Coffee House, Reliant, Loved + Sent Servant Event. With no mortgage payment, funds will be freed up to multiply opportunities for the next generation of our church. (continued on page 3) Inside this issue Pastor Bill retirement... 2 CMP... 3 VBS... 4 Adult Connections...4 Library News,... 5 Youth Ministry... 6 Health Center...7 Summer Connections... 8 Mark your calendars 6/11-15 VBS 6/16 & 17 Pastor Bill s last sermon 6/22 CMP Concert Event 6/23 & 24 Celebrate Pastor Bill 7/6 & 7 CMP Auditions 7/8 Pregnancy Help Center Baby Shower 7/16-20 Summer Theater Camp 1

2 »celebrating the ministry of pastor bill simmons Join our congregation to celebrate the ministry of Pastor Bill Simmons as he retires at the end of June. Over the weekend of June 16-17, Pastor Bill will preach his last sermon as a regularly called pastor of Christ Memorial. Many of his family members will be joining him from around the country. Celebrate with Pastor Bill and Gail clarion Christ Memorial Lutheran Church 5252 S. Lindbergh Blvd. Saint Louis, MO (314) The Clarion is published ten times a year for members, family, and friends of Christ Memorial Lutheran Church. All copy (in Microsoft Word) is due the second Tuesday of each month. Please attach to an or deliver an electronic copy to the church office. to: clarion@cmstl.org Next deadline: June 12 for July/August edition Susan Senechal, Editor On June 23-24, we will celebrate his ministry throughout weekend worship. Worship will include special music and a video highlighting his ministry through the years. Saturday night s 5:00 service (June 23) will be followed by a catered meal for worshippers to enjoy with Pastor Bill and Gail. Sunday morning (June 24) will include breakfast food, coffee, and refreshments. There will be no Sunday School or Connections so that the 10:00 time frame is free for fellowship and time to greet Pastor Bill and Gail. Pastor Bill has been a member of Christ Memorial for 36 years, 27 as a called pastor. July 1st of this year will mark the 39th anniversary of his ordination. We honor Pastor Bill and his wife Gail for their years of faithful service with Christ Memorial. In retirement, they look forward to travel and time with family. They will remain members of our congregation along with three of their four children, their spouses, and five grandchildren. 2

3 »faith forward (continued from page 1) Faith Forward draws on the faith of Abraham to pass on the generational blessing that God had promised him. The promise lives on in our generation, with Christ the fulfillment. We faithfully carry the faith forward into the future. Faith Forward Capital Campaign Committee»follow cmp this summer Friday June 22 Free Event--CMP is pleased to present a free concert event on June 22, Registration is open at CMPShows.org. Our event will feature performances by four different groups along with free refreshments. See Cicoff, Exodus, GEN52 and Remedy Drive. Attend any or all of the evening s performances. Friday July 6 at 7:00 pm The Wizard of Oz Munchkin auditions for kindergarten age to age 8. Saturday July 7 Noon to 4:00 pm The Wizard of Oz auditions for ages 8 and up. July from 9:00 am Noon Summer Theater Camp for ages The cost is $90.00 per child. Space is limited. Saturday August 4 at 3:00 p.m. The Wizard of Oz ticket sales begin. Sept & The Wizard of Oz performances. Sept. 20 Sensory friendly performance of The Wizard of Oz. See CMPShows.org for additional information. Campaign Chairs Todd and Katie Hotaling Committee Members Advanced Gifts Director Gail Hartmann Campaign Manager Dana Shearman Communications Manager Lauren Kreienkamp Events and Fellowship Committee Karen Smitt-Lewis Media and Communications Committee Mike and Cynthia Behr Wally and Kathy Glaenzer Multi-Generational Projects Committee Bobbi Cloeter Brett and Sarah Hartmann Spiritual Emphasis Committee Renee Hartmann 3

4 »vbs is shipwrecked Each summer, Christ Memorial runs a FREE, Christcentered, fun, and educational 5-day program that we call Vacation Bible School (VBS). This year s program is for kids age 3 years (and potty trained) through 5th grade; students in 6th grade or higher are welcome and encouraged to volunteer! This year s vbs will be June At Shipwrecked VBS 2018, kids discover that Jesus rescues them! Kids participate in memorable Biblelearning activities, sing catchy songs, play teamwork-building games, make and devour yummy treats, experience one-of-a-kind Bible adventures, and test out Sciency-Fun Gizmos they ll take home and play with all summer long. Plus, kids will learn to look for evidence of God all around them through something called God Sightings. Each day concludes with the Sail Away Sendoff that gets everyone involved in living what they ve learned. On Friday the 15th, all family & friends are invited to join us for lunch and a celebration from 12:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. To read more about CM VBS and register online: cmstl.org/connect/children-and-families/children/vacationbible-school/»summer adult connections change Sabbath ceasing means to cease not only from work itself, but also from the need to accomplish and be productive, from the worry and tension that accompany our modern criterion of efficiency, from our efforts to be in control of our lives as if we were God. Marva J. Dawn As summer approaches that means that we will have a slightly modified schedule for our 10am Adult Connections time this June and July. Beginning on Sunday, June 3 rd through Sunday July 29 th we will offer 3 classes at 10am in rooms 206, 208, and 209. Topics for each week s class will be posted in the In Touch and on our website at cmstl.org. The 9am Adult Connections classes will meet as usual. This break in schedule allows our Connections leaders a time of rest and refreshment in the summer months. We will kick-off the full slate of Connections classes again in mid-august. Blessings to all of you this summer season, may God give you His rest and peace! 4

5 »summer reading ideas Okay so the summer is underway. We ve got the reading -log(s) to track the kid(s) summer reading but now what. If you are looking for recommendations for reading materials we suggest you consult The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with your Kids written by Sarah Mackenzie and published Zondervan. CMLC Library owns three copies of the title along with about 40% of the titles she recommends. You will find copies of The Read-Aloud Family and the recommended titles on display in the Family Room unless they are checked out. St. Louis County Library has copies of The Read-Aloud Family and most if not all the recommended titles. The Read-Aloud Family has received great reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly and from consumers on Amazon. Booklist states that Mackenzie brings a zeal to her argument that informs the pages of this interesting and often-inspiring book and that she is a veritable Norman Vincent Peale of the page, her message grounded in religion. So please stop by the Family Room and see what your library has to offer.»llama, llama, bee Wow it is that time of the year, CMLC Library s annual Summer Reading Club (SRC) starts on May 20 and ends July 29, A few things have changed this year. As usual we have two sets of awards but the ages have changed. One for children ages 0 to 6 years and one of children ages 6 to 12 years. The goal is to encourage the young people to enjoy reading by being read to or to read book that they like. We urge them to check out materials from the children s library in the family room and from the public library in addition to reading from their own personal library. Ages 0 to 6 years The goal for this age level is to have 40 board books or picture books read to them. 1 st Level Award- Dairy Queen Gift Card for a small cone 2 nd Level Award- 5-Minutes Nighttime Bible Stories Ages 6 to 12 Years The goal for this age level is to read or be read to for 10 hours. 1 st Level Awards- Dairy Queen Gift Card for a small cone 2 nd Level Awards- Journey on Never Alone USB Power Pal Life team plans baby shower Save The Date! The Life Team would like to invite you to a baby shower for Pregnancy Help Center. The shower will be on Sunday July 8 from 2pm to 4pm. Please consider attending to show your support for mothers who chose life. We are asking everyone to bring a pack of any size diaper and a wrapped traditional shower gift. There will be fun and games. Ramona, director of the center will be on hand to speak, answer questions and open the gifts. In the mail Thank you, thank you, thank you! We appreciate your support for the Pregnancy Help Center and your generous doantion through the Baby Bottle Campaign during the 2018 Life Sunday observance. Collectively your congregation contributed $1938 during this campaign. Because of your prayer and these contributions, we are able to continue helping women in crisis and share the gospel and perfect love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Together, we will continue the work in 2018 to end abortion. For the unborn, Ramona Davis, Executive Director 5

6 Youth on mission Our Junior and Senior High Youth will be busy this summer living out our Loved+Sent vision. Please keep us in prayer as we travel. Mexico - May 29 June 2 Building a house with Casas Por Cristo Texas - June Hurricane relief in Corpus Christi Camp Concordia - July Junior High Trip to impact the camp ministry in Michigan»meet small group leaders impacting our youth Our Confirmation program has an important component that we have built up over the past several years. Our relational program is blessed with 6 amazing Small Group leaders. These individuals volunteer their time throughout the 2 year process to impact the faith and lives of our youth. Karen Smitt-Lewis I am a youth ministry veteran. God has used me in numerous ways over the years to impact youth. People have asked me "why are you getting involved with Jr. High, young adults." I have found it is the most exciting time of their life. There is a myriad of emotions; energy, laughter, hurt, and surprise. When they finally get a concept, and recognize where Jesus is truly working in their lives, their faces light up. I love being there when each of these emotions are revealed. For me it's simple, they bring me joy, and laughter. Jill Harmon I am a lifelong member of Christ Memorial. I currently work as a math teacher at Lindbergh High School. I am a small group leader in order to help student find and grow in their faith. Lauren Kreienkamp I love books, field hockey, and rocky road ice cream. I work as the Program Coordinator at Camp Wartburg. In my spare time, I work with CMP, coach field hockey, play indoor soccer, and direct VBS. My husband Stephen and I just celebrated our fourth year of marriage. I think it is important for youth to understand that their relationship with God is more than church on Sunday it is a pivotal, active, part in your life. I believe that multi-generational relationships helped me build my foundation of faith and I am excited to continue to get to know our youth and watch their relationship with God grow. Angelo Ceko I have been a member of Christ Memorial for 12 years. I was confirmed at CM in I want to help the youth in our church grow in their faith. I want them to feel and know that they are loved by God and sent into the world to spread His Word. Daniel Striker I am 21 years old with an older brother. I was in the Confirmation Class of I work as the opening manager at Chick-Fil-A in Sunset Hills. I am small group leader because I feel it is my responsibility to help others grow in their faith. Joel Kosberg I am a student at Concordia Seminary and I am married to my beautiful wife, Becky. Becky and I like to cook (and eat), go on walks, and hangout with friends. I am a Confirmation small group leader because I want young people to know how deeply loved they are by Jesus. 6

7 »new position to help shape future of the cm health center Christ Memorial Lutheran Church has hired Susan Jones to be Provisional Director of the Christ Memorial Health Center. The new position is a one-year contracted position, funded through the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis, and will have as its major objective to develop a sustainable funding model for the future of the Health Center. Susan Jones is a graduate of Maryville University with a BSN in Nursing in 2007, and holds an MSN from the Goldfarb School Nursing at Barnes Jewish College, where she received her Nurse Practitioner license. In response to the Loved+Sent ministry aspect of the Health Center, Jones said, I feel I have been given certain gifts, and I have the desire to share my knowledge and abilities in service to others. Jones also posed the question of how the Health Center can do even more. In addition to overseeing the future funding model of the Health Center, Jones will conduct a program evaluation and will explore the possibility of growing and expanding upon current services and programs. Pastor Bill Simmons, retiring after 27 years in ministry at Christ Memorial, played an instrumental role in beginning the Health Center Ministry, building upon the volunteer Parish Nurse program into the Health and Wellness Center, which now offers free or low cost Health and Wellness services to members of Christ Memorial and the community at large. Pastor Simmons, who led the search committee commented, "Susan showed a passion for health and wellness, and a commitment to the Loved & Sent mission of Christ Memorial. She brings a great deal of experience to our team, and demonstrates a great heart for our mission. We re delighted to have her. Jones will begin her role at Christ Memorial June 11. She is a recent member of Christ Memorial and has a daughter.»thrivent: choice dollars and action teams make a difference Thrivent Financial - Have you allocated your Thrivent Choice Dollars? Have you applied for a Thrivent Action Team to receive $250 seed money for a project or event? stewardship update Current Fiscal Year July 1, 2017 through April 30, 2018 spending YTD Actual Spending $1,205,044 Actual Giving $1,214,894 Budget Giving $1,304,399 giving YTD $1,212, $1,214,894 Attendance report April 2018 Week One 1403* Week Two 645 Week Three 732 Week Four 693 Week Five 916** Average per Week 878 *Easter **Confirmation If you need help or want more information about either of these programs, contact one of our church advocates - Ashlyn Cunningham, Wally Glaenzer, Ruth Hertlein, Anna Jacob or Kathy Poppitz. If you would like to find out how you can become a Thrivent member and have access to these programs, you may ask the advocates or Keith Poppitz, Thrivent Financial Advisor

8 Time for fun, fellowship and barbeque! Mark your calendars for the following Saturdays to enjoy some great barbeque sponsored by the Men s Club. The barbeques last from 11:00 AM to 6:00PM in the church cafe and feature either dinner or sandwich plates of Pulled Pork, Pork Steaks, Bratwurst, Chicken, Pork Ribs or Hot Dogs with sides that include Baked Beans, Cole Slaw and Potato Salad. Proceeds to Benefit: June 16 CFNA (Christian Friends of New Americans) July 21 Citizens Police Academy August 18 Christ Memorial Productions (CMP) September 15 Green Park October 20 Men s Club Thanks for your continued support. 8