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CHRIST LUTHERAN

36 Broad St Suite 100

Oshkosh, WI 54901

OFFICE HOURS

Monday-Friday

9:00 am-Noon

SUNDAYS

9:30 am Worship

10:30 am Coffee Hr.

CONTACT

INFORMATION:

CHURCH OFFICE

Barb Schneider

920.231.6570

clcoshkosh@gmail.com

PASTOR

Rev. Connie Weiss

920.904.5919

pastor.cweiss@gmail.com

PRESIDENT

Kevin Harvot

920.379.0829

August, 2019

Dear Friends,

I’m sure this past month you’ve found yourself doing some unwanted yard work. This summer has brought us pretty big weather accompanied by some destructive winds. Throughout our state, large, healthy trees have been yanked out by their roots or snapped in half. My prayers have been going out to those people who have had more than a few branches to pick up. After the last storm, I watched the news as a reporter stood with a woman in her yard that had been once surrounded by forest. No longer shaded by tall trees, she was now sur-rounded by a forest of stumps. For this woman it must have felt like a grave yard. Let’s face it. This was definitely not a prune job. For no good gardener would have done this!

This past week, I attended the Faithful Innovations Summit hosted by Luther Seminary. We listened to story-after-story of people who found fresh new ways to be church in this new and changing world. Instead of seeing their crumbling churches and low attendance as fail-ure - they understood their change to be a healthy pruning. Unlike our downed trees as of late, these faithful people of creation trusted God, their gardener. We met John Binder who serves the congregation of Mill City Church in North Minneapolis. They meet out of a public school on Sundays. 11 years ago, they were in search of a place to be church. As they grew, they refused to look for a building that they could call their own. Rather, they had become a strong part of their neighborhood - living out their mission to love their community in the name of Jesus. And this is exactly where God is calling all of us to be.

Christ Lutheran has gone through a pruning rather than a death, my friends. The old has been removed to make some space for new growth. We prayed hard for the Spirit to lead us. We stayed connected to Jesus - our life-giving vine. We are living into God’s mission in a place that puts us closer to our own community. John reflected on the word innovation at our conference. He said innovation is not invention. Rather, innovation is taking things that already exist and making them in a new way. Now that’s an exciting way to look at how God, our gardener, is lovingly caring for us and our community! Some have wondered if Christ Lutheran Church in Oshkosh was dying. If you happen meet those that are still pon-dering that - remind them that we remain firmly attached to our life-giving vine. In fact, we’re now beginning to bear new fruit. It’s just that we’ve been pruned a bit.

If you have time, check out John’s innovative congregation at www.millcitychurch.com

Your Partner in Christ,

“‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.”

John 15:1-2

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June, 2019 Report

Total Offerings: $4,395.60

Other Revenue: $3,808.63

Total Expenses: $14,321.61

Net Profit/(Loss): ($6,117.38)

Transfer from Savings: $9,500.00

Year-to-Date Totals

Total Offerings: $28,545.10

Other Revenue: $46,516.57

Total Expenses: $87,923.66

Net Profit/(Loss): ($12,861.99)

Your church council met and discussed the following. 1) We held a phone conference with a representative of Vanco. They voted unanimously to offer electronic giving in September. 2) Members of council will also be performing staff evaluations in the next month. 3) Since we are using more storage space in the basement for our worship items, we have agreed to pay an additional $47 in rent each month. 4) Pastor is working on a date for a council retreat. 5) She also secured 2 church sites for sanctuary use if needed for weddings and funerals.

2019 CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS Kevin Harvot President

Ron Lippold Vice President

Susie Smith Secretary

Ryan Birschbach Treasurer

Gloria Heidl

Barbara Shew

Summer Giving

Campaign

Since we know that summer can be a busy time, we have enclosed an offering enve-lope to encourage members to continue to give even if you are not present at worship. We’ve placed our address on the outside of the envelope to make it easy to mail. A slip for you to share your giving information is inside it.

We’re looking for extra peo-

ple willing to help us set up

before 9:30 worship on Sun-

day mornings. Please call the

church office if available …

920.231.6570

We are happy to announce that Christ Lu-

theran Church will soon offer the option of

Electronic Giving for those who find it con-

venient. Pastor and the Church Council met

with a representative from Vanco Payment

Solutions about the program.

After learning about their services, a unani-

mous vote was carried to sign on with Van-

co—a company that serves many ELCA con-

gregations throughout the county.

Members will be able to set up regularly

scheduled offering payments through their

computers or smart phone.

Electronic Giving is Coming!

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Worship & Music Committee

We hope all choir members are enjoying their summer and being rejuvenated for fall. Re-hearsals will resume on Sunday, September 15th, at 8:00 am. We will have our first rehears-al with a meeting involving a discussion to move practice to another day and time for the up-coming season.

This will beneficial in many ways for our group, and please join us in the planning of our new adventure this year. There will be new music as well as new ideas for various worship changes. One of them being we will have a contemporary music worship Sunday on October 13th. Also, different styles of worship services are being planned for our evolving identity as Christ Lu-theran Church. Please attend the rehearsal/meeting on 9/15 as well as perhaps bringing a friend or neighbor to join us. God Bless and see you all soon.

SPECIAL SERVICE TIME

One time only on August 11th, we will

hold our Sunday worship service at 9

am. Please adjust your calendars. This is

for one Sunday only!

We will hold our 9:30 am worship time

on August 4th and resume on August

18th.

Addresses Needed

We are looking to gather as many email

addresses from our members as possible.

Those who share their email addresses

will also be receiving an electronic version

of The Messenger and other important

notifications. Please consider sharing your

email address with our secretary.

important note!

2020

During Synod Assembly, Bishop Mansholt an-

nounced that he would be leading a group on

a tour of the Holy Land. We’re excited to share

that Pastor Connie and her husband Rick will

be attending - along with member Mark Ar-

end.

The trip will take place during Lent - from

March 23rd-31st. Pastor will be investigating

the ways in which she can bring the sites and

stories of each day that they are touring to our

congregation throughout that week.

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Save the Dates for “Let the Choice Be Mine”- a 3-week Sunday morning forum in the lower level following worship. Snacks and refresh-ments will be provided.

September 29th PROTECTING YOUR CHOICES

Wills, Power of Attorney, Helpful Record Book

October 6th PLANNING FOR YOUR FUNERAL

Planning Booklet and Resources

October 13th WHAT COMES NEXT?

Grieving, Estate Settlement, Questions

Let the Choice Be Mine

A 3-Week Forum Series this Fall

Beginning Sept. 11th - 5:30 - 7:00 pm

Last school year, our confirmation students journeyed through the Bible. This year, stu-dents will be learning what it means to be Lu-theran and how their faith connects with real life. Students will participate in several servant projects throughout the year during the Sunday Youth Group hour. During Lent, students will be joining other confirmation students from other ELCA churches as we continue to collaborate with them. This time, however, we will not ro-tate pastors over Lent —but will gather as one big group at different locations. Parents and students will soon be receiving more details about the upcoming confirmation year.

Beginning Sunday, Sept. 8th

10:30 - 11:30 am

As the summer is quickly coming to an end, we are anxiously awaiting a new year of Sunday school. This year we will be calling it “Sunday Youth Group”. We will be changing the format slightly to make it more inclusive of all ages of youth - and we could not be more excited! This year, our focus will be on serving the communi-ty as a group and teaching the importance of helping those in need. As always, we’ll be tying the lessons back to the Bible and helping the kids understand their roles in serving. We look forward to serving in nursing homes, helping with shut ins, and one of our first projects will be Trunk or Treat! We can’t wait to see where this year leads us with these youth and will be sharing our adventures with all of you along the way! We always have room for more, so if you know of any youth who would be interested in a program like this, please help us spread the word. Our first official class will be Sunday, Sep-tember 8th! Thank you all for your continuous support! - Kristin and Ashley

Sunday, September 15th

9:30 a.m.

Join us for a very special morning. We’ll gather for a shortened worship, and then dive into a meaningful service project on site for an hour. After that, we’ll come together to reflect on our work and close out worship. Come join us as we carry out God’s Work - through Our Hands!

SU

ND

AY

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Sue Dorman 1

Susan Andre 1

Kristin Schwab 4

Kiera Carpenter 4

Russell Carpenter 5

Ryan Backus 5

Carolyn Lewis 6

Danielle Dorman 6

Betty Jane Weber 7

Lily Boegh 7

Madysen Weiss 13

June Backus 15

Michael Dorman 17

Nancy Schwartz 19

Don Schmidt 20

Raikk Radtke 23

Christine Esselman 26

Mallory Birschbach 29

Keith Lujeck 30

Kevin Lujeck 30

Mary Backus 31

David Lewis 31

This month, we celebrate the following birthdays...

Did we miss your birthday or get it wrong? Please contact the office to let us know! Email us at clcoshkosh@gmail.com or call 920-231-6570.

6th Annual

Neighborhood

Night Out Picnic

Tuesday, August 6th

5:50 PM – 7:30 PM

This event is a great opportunity for us to

meet our neighbors. They will have food,

friendly conversation, fun and games for

all. There will be live music at the Leach by

“Rising Phoenix” from 6:30-7:30. Bring a

lawn chair.

The neighborhood association will provide

hot dogs, chili dogs, salads, popcorn, water

and lemonade. If you are able, please bring

a desert or dish to pass!

Riverside Park

(Next to Leach Amphitheater)

305 Ceape Avenue, Oshkosh

COLLECTION FOR THE BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR

Final Pick Up

AUGUST 13TH

There’s still time to pick up a tag from our tree and shop for a child in need

this coming school year.

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The 8th Day Project provides a vibrant, non-traditional worshipping community of people who share a vision for social justice and spiritu-al practices. 8th Day meets every Sunday night in Oblio’s at 6 pm. Everyone is welcome!

We’ve had requests within our community to bring back our workshop on The Culture of Pov-erty. Al Rolph, a social worker with the Salvation Army, will this lead us in this meaningful con-versation.

Mark your calendar and join us at one of the two sessions offered. Our mission is to help equip people with the knowledge and tools nec-essary to help those in need. Al will educate on poverty and its hidden rules.

Valuable strategies, resources and hand-outs will help equip participants to more effectively walk along side of those in need. This will also be a good time to make new friends

Our church is taking a lead role in the new initi-ative called Fill the Gap - Oshkosh. If you have the chance to make this workshop, we hope you will find it not only revealing - but also help-ful as you live out the love of Christ!

We’re bringing it back... Transportation issues are great in Oshkosh. The Community Bike Program is one way that can help. The program receives donat-ed bikes and then provides them to those in need. If you have a bike that you are not using, please consider donating:

• Bikes - especially 24” & 26” (all sizes welcome)

Along with bikes, we need people to pur-chase and donate:

• Bike Locks

• Bike Helmets.

To donate, contact:

Steve Sagmeister - 920.688.2356

(Wednesdays 9:30 am -3:30 pm)

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Articles and information due in the church office

Wednesday, August 21st

EVENING PRAYER & PICNIC WORSHIP WITH A VIEW!

On Sunday, July 7th, Christ Lutheran and Our

Savior’s joined St. Andrews for our annual Even-

ing Prayer and Picnic. We gathered in the sanc-

tuary for Holden Evening Prayer. Afterward, we

sat down together and enjoyed a shared meal.

We are so blessed to have such wonderful part-

ners in ministry. Already, many of our local ELCA

pastors are beginning to plan more collabora-

tive gatherings for Thanksgiving Eve and also

Mid-Week Lenten Services and confirmation.

Members from Christ Lutheran who attended the event

Pastors Jan LaVake (Our Savior’s), Karen Jewell (St. An-

drews) and Connie Weiss (Christ Lutheran)

3rd Annual

We wanted to hold an outdoor worship service this year. As we were scouting out a location in our park-ing lot, our wonderful new neighbors—Growing Osh-kosh—offered their space overlooking the river. We enjoyed a beautiful morning worshipping our Lord and sharing a delicious picnic meal afterward. Each and every day, we are discovering new friends in our new location at the community center!

A Weekly Hosting of Local Pastors

For three years now, Pastor Connie has served as host to a weekly gathering of pastors who come to study the scriptures in preparation for upcom-ing sermons on Tuesday afternoons. Attendance varies depending on the week. These pastors have become a close support group for each other. Over the years, they also have planned very meaningful collaborative events between their congregations.

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Sermons are now being streamed live on Facebook. Search for Christ Lutheran Church Oshkosh, WI. Like this site to see the sermons live, or listen later.

All women of Christ Lutheran are invited

and encouraged to attend the biennial con-

vention of our synodical women’s organiza-

tion held at Good Shepherd Lutheran

Church in Howard (2736 Glendale Avenue,

Green Bay).

The day will be filled with entertaining and

enlightening speakers, worship that includes

recognition of the bold women in our lives,

important business matters, good food and

fellowship. We will be voting on resolutions

and elections. If you would like to propose a

resolution, please email Shirley Paulson at

spaulson1949@gmail.com by October 1.

Each congregation is allowed one vote.

Please consider nominating yourself or

someone you know (who has agreed) to

serve as an officer or conference repre-

sentative to the synod Women of the ELCA

board. Each term is two years. Nomination

forms are available in the parish office.

An Invitation from Our Quilters: Join Us!

Our ladies are looking for more to join them monthly to wok on quilts and tie blankets If you have spare time to join us, we would love to see you!

Contact Barbara Shew to volunteer

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A Conversation About Sex Trafficking

with Theresa Flores

The best-selling author of “The Slave Across the Street,” co-author of “Slavery in the Land of the Free,” and a survivor of sex trafficking, Flores shares how she was enslaved at the age of 15 while living with unsuspecting parents in an upper middle-class suburb.

Friday September 13 Doors open: 5:00 PM Book Signing: 5:00-6:00 PM Officer Brandon Ansell 6:00-6:30 PM Presentation: 6:30-8 PM The Reeve Memorial Union Theater 3 748 Algoma Blvd Oshkosh

Saturday September 14 Doors open: 8:00 AM Presentation: 9-10:30 AM Break: 10:30– 10:45 Breakouts: 10:45-11:45 • Sensitive / Internet Crimes

Against Children-Adam Nagel • Social Media/Cyber Crimes-Bryan Wright • Victim Advocacy / Video “Innocence Sold”-

Dena Williams and Julie Thiel • Expanded session with Theresa for profession-

als working with youth: 11:45-1:00PM • The D.J. Bordini Center (FVTC) 5 N Systems

Drive Appleton

Due to the topic, children must be 12 years of age

These are FREE Community Events presented by:

Stop Human Trafficking-Oshkosh &

- Appleton

Registration available through Eventbrite

A Conversation About Sex Trafficking

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-conversation-about-sex-trafficking-tickets-

63289647038

Ascension Mercy Hospital

Bring your special retail therapy talents to the gift shop at Ascension Mercy Hospital. The gift shop is a cheery place to spend time as a volunteer and a great place to shop. You will operate the cash register and credit card machine as well as assist customers. Evening, weekend, and day-time shifts are available.

There are many ways for you to be in-volved and become part of the team at Ascension Mercy Hospital. For more in-formation on this and other opportuni-ties, please contact Ascension Mercy Hos-pital Volunteer Services at 920-223-0225, or apply online at www.ascension.org/ascensionmercyvolunteer.

Each fall, Lutheran Campus Ministry

opens their doors to incoming freshmen

by offering a small potted plant as a

welcome present.

Please consider planting or purchasing

some easy-to-grow houseplants this

summer and have them ready by Labor

Day Weekend. We

are collecting them

in our office.

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August Sunday Volunteers

Date Reader Ushers Communion

Assistant

Offering

Counters Close

August 4 Susie Smith Needed Needed Jackie Boese Susie Smith

Barbara Shew

August 11 Needed Needed Susie Smith Mark Arend Gloria Heidl

Susie Smith

August 18 Debbie Reichenberger

Needed Needed Debbie Reichenberger Barbara Shew

Ryan Birschbach

August 25 Kevin Harvot Needed Needed Jackie Boese Susie Smith

Kevin Harvot

Coffee Hour sponsors and volunteers are also needed to complete the schedule.

Anyone wishing to volunteer, please sign up on the volunteer sheet located on the credenza in the offices. All Sunday readings are printed in advance, so you may take your readings home to look over before you read on your designated day. You may also call the church office, and someone will assist you in signing up for service.

Thanks to all who continue to volunteer!

Altar Guild Volunteer for August Jackie Boese