Concordia CONNECTION March 2017 LENT ISSUE In this Issue... Children, Youth and Families-pg4 Pastor s Note, Lent/Easter Worship-pg2 Adults-pg3 Special Needs, Council Update-pg5 Outbound Ministries-pg6 Our Next Step-pg7 Cover Photo: 3rd/4th Grade Bible Blessing, Feb. 17 Worship Arts-pg8
PASTOR S NOTE Someday soon, we will pray for a country, a world, filled with pagans. These explosive words leapt off the page of a Christian ministry magazine I was reading recently. I thought, Why would I ever pray for a country filled with so-called pagans? The writer, a pastor by the name of James Emery White, was surveying the growing doubt that there is anything more beyond (called transcendence) that lives in the coming generation of 10- to 23-year-olds. The name of the book upon which the article was based is Generation Z. In the article, Dr. White reflected on the early church and how easy they had it in their ministry to a pagan culture. Their ministry, White contends, was easier than ours today because at least everyone who lived in that early church period believed in a transcendent something, if not a someone. When Christian apostles preached Christ crucified, they were preaching to hearts that were already bent toward something more beyond. On the other hand, in our 21st-century day of science and celebrity, transcendental awareness seems to be evaporating! Another provocative thought that follows went something like this and think about it: Before we can lead a person to be a Christian, we may have to help them first be a pagan. Big stuff ahead for missional congregations like Concordia, Kirkwood, that have multiple generations under their care! The Reaching for Something More Beyond worship series we have wrestled through these several opening weeks of 2017 was meant to help the ministry we have toward coming generations. Patience as we shepherd human beings progressively closer to knowing the particular love God has for us in Jesus Christ is critical. We will have to be content to plant seeds and cultivate faith and water the souls entrusted to our care first with the simple conviction that there is something more beyond and, then, that this something is Someone named Jesus. These are harrowing days of wonder-filled and awesome opportunity to BE FAITH- FUL. And, the one thing I love about this moment is the certainty that God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has called us together as a Concordia family to figure all this out! I am thankful for the ways I see the wrestle occur, from the programs we have as a congregation to the homes which our members occupy. LENT AND EASTER WORSHIP Lenten Midweek Services March 8, 15, 22, 29 & April 5 11:00am, 7:00pm; Sanctuary Soup s On following all 11:00am worship Weekends in Lent Ashes to Alleluias Saturday: 5:00pm; Sanctuary Sunday: 8:00/9:15am; Sanctuary 9:30/11:00am; Concordia Center Palm Sunday April 8/9 Saturday: 5:00pm; Sanctuary Sunday: 8:00/9:15am; Sanctuary 9:30/11:00am; Concordia Center Maundy Thursday April 13 11:00am; Sanctuary 7:00pm; Concordia Center (sign language interpreted; childcare available) Good Friday April 14 11:00am; Sanctuary 7:00pm; Concordia Center (sign language interpreted; childcare available) Easter Worship April 15/16 Saturday: 5:00pm; Sanctuary Sunday: 6:30am; Sunrise worship at Oak Hill Cemetery 8:00/9:30am; Sanctuary 9:30/11:00am; Concordia Center (9:30am sign language interpreted) Now, go find someone to draw closer to the person and love of Jesus! Warmly, Pastor Seidler Senior Pastor sseidler@ckhome.org 2
ADULTS Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Dear Friends in Christ, For one whose operating system runs on JOY, Lent is a healthy challenge to living out the Christian faith: The hymns and songs we sing are more contemplative. There is the nudge to give up or add something for Lent. The lessons for worship feature the steady, undeterred march of our Savior to the sufferings of Holy Week that culminate at the Cross. According to the writer of Hebrews, who writes what he writes by the Holy Spirit, our Lord endured all He suffered for JOY. He could see through the suffering, even through the death, to the JOY that would be the result. And that JOY is you! For the JOY of your new life, for the JOY of connecting you to HIM, for the JOY of your victory over sin, death and the devil, He endured the Cross. And, if our Savior has JOY then JOY is ours, as well! My Lent kicks off with a gathering of more than 2,000 folks of our churches in Phoenix (where I am as I write). It is called Best Practices for Ministry and includes the best practice of fellowshipping with like-minded brothers and sisters who serve Christ and His church as lay men and women, and/or as professionals, in the church. Such JOY! There is JOY every Wednesday in Lent with worship both morning and evening. Following Wednesday morning worship, there is JOY in fellowship with those who are running with endurance this journey of life. We gather around a simple meal and great conversation. There is JOY in hearing from ministry partners at each of these luncheons, including Rev. David Lewis from St. Trinity Lutheran Church and Rev. Dr. Greg Seltz, Lutheran Hour Speaker. We will JOYfully share our table offerings with these two ministries. Just think; you and I are the JOY set before Jesus! Come and rest in JOY; BE STILL and know that He is God, your God. His name is Jesus. JOY, Pastor Meggers Associate Pastor dmeggers@ckhome.org THRIVENT CHOICE Participation in Thrivent Choice Makes a Difference As eligible Thrivent Financial members direct Choice Dollars to our congregation, the momentum continues to build. The funds we receive from Thrivent are used to help resource our growing ministry. Thank you to Thrivent and its members who helped make this possible. Together, we can strengthen communities and change lives! 3
CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES What they did not know is that Bennett listened that night and out of his pen streamed God s Words of LOVE Oh, Bennett probably did not fully understand how God was using him to share His story. Bennett was simply open to hearing God speak and God spoke, drawing out John 3:16 using the small hands of a child! Many people have asked me about that picture sitting on my desk, and I get to tell the story of Bennett, the 2nd-grade preacher with a pen, but most importantly about God s great love for us. As we enter into this more somber, mysterious time in the church year called Lent, may our hearts be open to hearing God speak to us so that we, in turn, will share His great love story with others! Audrey Duensing-Werner, DCE Director of Children and Family Ministries awerner@ckhome.org This picture, drawn on Good Friday 2016 by a little guy named Bennett, sits on the desk in my office. It is a picture of Jesus dying on the Cross. And, if you look closely, He has a sad face with tears streaming down. The word LOVE is boldly placed above Jesus head in Bennett s picture. Not King of the Jews like the Passion story tells us in the Gospels, but the word love. Bennett was in 2nd grade when he drew this; his parents armed him with pad and pen on that Good Friday evening in hopes that it would keep him occupied during a more somber worship service that seemed a little too dark and mysterious for a 2nd grader. LENT/EASTER CALENDAR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES UNIT March 11 (Saturday) 4th and 5th Grade EPIC Night Skyzone Fenton 6:00-9:00pm $20.00 per child Invite Friends! RSVP by Friday, March 10, at CKhome.org/Epic March 29 (Wednesday) Kids Night Blitz Magic House (reserved exclusively for Concordia) 6:00-8:00pm Meet at Concordia for a quick bite to eat ahead of time. RSVP at CKhome.org/MagicHouse Children and their families are invited to be a part of this special Kids Night Blitz. 4 April 9 (Sunday) Palm Sunday for Kids ALL children ages 3-5th grade are invited to be part of the musical parade at the beginning of BOTH Concordia Center services (9:30am / 11:00am); KidSong, along with the Jr. and Sr. Youth Music teams, will lead in song and dance while all other children join in the Palm Sunday parade. April 13 (Thursday) Seder Meal All 6th and 7th grade Confirmation students and their families who participated in the Welcome to the Lord s Table Communion class will celebrate with a traditional Seder meal from 5:00-7:00pm, followed by a powerful Maundy Thursday worship service, where they will receive First Communion and a special blessing together with family.
SPECIAL NEEDS MINISTRY For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14 Please consider the following as we welcome individuals who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing into our church family: You do not have to be shy around Deaf people; feel free to wave and say hello. Attract the individual s attention before you try to communicate; appropriate ways of doing so include a gentle tap on the shoulder or waving. The use of facial expressions (even slightly exagger- ated facial expressions) is encouraged as this is one of the main hallmarks of clear communication. Be sure to maintain consistent eye contact. If you are having a conversation, even if through an interpreter, try to ignore distractions and participate in only one conversation at a time. Use meaningful hand and body gestures. If the individual is hard-of-hearing, face the individual and speak slowly at a normal pitch. Jessica Crawford Director of Children and Families with Special Needs jcrawford@ckhome.org, 314-374-0682 ASL CLASS Beginning Monday, April 3, Concordia s Special Needs Ministry invites you to learn American Sign Language (ASL) with us! Class meets on the first and third Mondays of the month, from 7:00-8:30pm, in Concordia s Atrium Room. 7:00-7:45pm instructional time 7:45-8:30pm immersive practice time (optional) Need to leave at 7:45pm? No problem! Can only attend one class? No problem! Need to miss a class? No problem! All ages and abilities welcome. COUNCIL UPDATE On February 20, 2017, Concordia s Council met for its regularly scheduled monthly meeting. After opening in prayer, Council worked through a comprehensive agenda. First, Executive Director Kristin Anderson updated Council on new member assimilation initiatives as well as ongoing staff support and development efforts, highlighted by the upcoming staff performance review process scheduled for completion in March 2017. The Building Launch Committee s work and Concordia s financial picture were also reviewed and discussed. As part of Pastor Seidler s report, Council assessed his performance relative to the Church s Limitation Policies and identified a few discreet policies that could require attention going forward. Finally, the entire Council will participate in a strategic development process aimed at identifying Concordia s ministry goals for the next two to three years. The meeting closed in prayer, with Council mindful that important work lies ahead to help develop Concordia s strategic mission and to work through the issues surrounding the building campaign. If you have any information you would like to be considered for inclusion on Council s agenda, or if you have any questions, please feel to contact me or Karen Allman at kallman@ckhome.org. Matt Schelp Council President matthew.schelp@gmail.com 5
OUTBOUND MINISTRIES Missions in March! Two mission trips leave Concordia during Spring Break: Uganda and Belize. Please pray for these teams as they touch people with the Gospel-saving message of Jesus Christ. UGANDA On March 13, Christ Community International will be visiting Kawete, Uganda, and Christ Community Lutheran School-Uganda. We are excited to return and feel blessed by God for the opportunity to share His love with the students and family of CCLS-Uganda. This year, we will have nine people in the mission group: Pastor David Meggers, Suzanne Braun (kindergarten teacher at CCLS-St. Louis), Dr. Kent Killian, Katie Killian (elementary music teacher at CCLS-St. Louis), and five students from Concordia Lutheran Church Brandon Wyttenbach, Lydia Knorp, Lauren Seidler, Bridget Killian and Chad Killian. The theme for this year s visit is Trust in the Lord as the people of Kawete are trusting in the Lord God to provide for them until the rains return to end the drought and the resulting scarcity of food! Our Bible verse is Jeremiah 17: 7-8: Blessed is the person who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. The team will hold Bible studies, participate in worship, give goats to last school year s graduates to help fund further schooling, stock the chicken coop constructed last fall with 25 hens to provide eggs, paint the school buildings, provide medical care, and get to know our brothers and sisters in Christ of Kawete, Uganda, even more! BELIZE Sixteen missionaries, ranging in age from 10 to 72, are headed to Belize on March 16 to continue fostering relationships with people in the rural village of Bermudian Landing. The trip, now in its seventh year, will include VBS in three preschools, a sports camp, prayer walking with food distribution, a ladies night of pampering and devotion, continued construction on a church expansion, and a family-night bonfire with local residents. Team members will also visit a nursing home for the second year to comfort and witness to the aging residents. The last fundraiser before the trip is on Tuesday, March 7, at Amigo s Cantina, 120 West Jefferson, in Kirkwood. A portion of all sales from lunch or dinner will go toward the Belize trip. Thank you for your support and please continue to keep the team in your prayers! GIVING TREE Make the Giving Tree, located at the Giving Center beginning on Ash Wednesday (March 1), part of your Lenten offering. Choose a tag, purchase the item, and return it by Good Friday. Your contributions will be shared with a number of organizations in our community that serve the less fortunate. Lace up your shoes for the 10th Annual Resurrection Run on Easter Sunday, April 16! The event will begin at 6:30am with a sunrise service at Oak Hill Cemetery. The 5k run/walk will follow as runners make their way to the finish line at the Magic House. Register online at resurrectionrun.org by March 30 to be guaranteed a T-shirt. Early registration is $25. Late registration is $30. Shuttle service will be provided at 6:00am Sunday, April 16, from Concordia to the cemetery. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Belize mission trip. 6
OUR NEXT STEP CAMPAIGN STATUS We met the #1 goal of the Our Next Step capital campaign! It was important that all homes were invited to participate in a home visit. As of 2/28/17, we achieved that goal (with the exception of new members who have joined since August 2016). The Steering Committee worked very hard to make sure all members were included. If, for some reason, you do not remember receiving a phone call or email regarding the campaign, please let Karen Allman know at kallman@ckhome.org. If you have not scheduled a visit and would like one, please let us know! NEXT STEPS The Building Launch Team, under the leadership of Dan Harper, will be sending out a Request for Proposal (RFP) to Design-Build firms. This RFP will include the scope of Phase 1 and Phase 2 only. Phase 1: Parking lot in green space along Clay Ave. Phase 2: Build the Center for Christian Education (completed late spring 2019) Phase 3: Renovate the church areas Phase 4: Tear down the existing school The firms will present their proposals in April/May. The Building Launch Team, Church Council, and staff will evaluate the proposals and bring one forward to the congregation in late May/early June. PROJECT PRIORITIES Our Next Step campaign priorities and how they line up with the project phases: Our BE ONE community space is lacking. We need more large group space for our Older Adults and Youth. Our current facilities are inadequate for our growing ministries. PHASES 2 & 3 Our nursery space is too small and does not accommodate multiple ages effectively. PHASE 2 Finish parking lot expansion. PHASE 1 Expand early childhood facilities. Our preschool has a waiting list and demographics show this will continue into the future. PHASE 2 The middle school building is in disrepair. We need updated classrooms with a more efficient, flexible, multiuse facility. PHASE 2 Our existing church building (outside the worship areas) needs renovation, deferred maintenance and mechanical updates. From energy-efficient lighting, windows, outdated fire panels, old roofs, accessible bathrooms, and new HVAC systems, our church facility needs improvement. PHASE 3 WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW! If you have had a visit, but are still considering a pledge, please let us know either way. If you have not scheduled a campaign visit, contact Karen Allman at kallman@ckhome.org to schedule one. If you are still prayerfully considering a pledge and have made a decision, please email Kristin Anderson at kanderson@ckhome.org. If you have an opinion you would like to express to leadership, please let us know! It is important to us that your voice is heard and documented. The best way to do that is to funnel those comments to one central place, ensuring all comments and suggestions are recorded and communicated to leadership. Please email Kristin Anderson at kanderson@ckhome.org or schedule an appointment with her. 7
WORSHIP ARTS For musicians, Easter is a great day to be involved in leading the congregation in song. One of my greatest joys at Concordia is seeing the span of generations sharing their musical gifts in worship through their singing and playing. I hope that many of you will join us for this festive day! For inspiration, listen to some selections from last Easter at vimeo.com/133455978. We have opportunities for both instrumentalists and singers. EASTER ORCHESTRA Our Easter Orchestra is open to high school (9th grade) through adults. This group is open to woodwind, brass, string, and percussion players. Each year, I work to put together musical arrangements that blend the best of our traditional Easter hymnody with the familiar sounds of modern worship songs. If you would like to participate, please contact me at bknorp@ckhome.org as soon as possible so I know which music parts to prepare. I will send out music prior to the first rehearsal to allow for individual practice time. Wednesday, April 12 Rehearsal 7:00-8:15pm in the Concordia Center Saturday, April 15 Rehearsal 9:00-10:30am in the Concordia Center Sunday, April 16 Concordia Center Worship at 9:30am and 11:00am EASTER CHOIR Our Easter Choir, under the leadership of Jim Marriott, will perform during the Sanctuary services. If you plan to sing, please contact Jim at jmarriott@ckhome.org, so he has an idea of how many to expect. Rehearsal and singing dates are as follows: Wednesday, April 5 Rehearsal 7:30-8:45pm in the Sanctuary balcony Wednesday, April 12 Rehearsal 7:30-8:45pm in the Sanctuary balcony Sunday, April 16 Sanctuary Worship at 8:00am and 9:30am SPECIAL PERFORMANCES Sunday, March 5, at 8:00 and 9:15am at Sanctuary worship special music from Concordia University Ann Arbor s choir Saturday, March 25 Lutheran High School Westland choir from Michigan performing in concert at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary Brendan Knorp Director for the Worship Arts bknorp@ckhome.org Death is all around us We are not afraid Written is the story Empty is the grave The season of Lent begins a 40-day period of reflection on how God moves this world from the ashes of Ash Wednesday to the joyful alleluias of Easter Sunday. While we see the effects of sin and death everywhere we look, we know how the story ends. BE STILL, BE ONE, BE FAITHFUL 505 S. Kirkwood Road Kirkwood, MO 63122 CKhome.org