April 2020 — In Our Prayers

April 2020 — In Our Prayers

Please keep the following Military men and women in your prayers…

To add or remove names from this list, please contact Janeann Jones

  • Major Ryan Bankhead—Brother of Eryn Orlowski
  • Sgt. John Dee—Son in-law of Wendy Krull
  • Sgt. Chris Gomez—Nephew of BJ and Danny Pierce
  • Staff Sergeant (SSgt.) Airman Paul Herr—Nephew of Gary & Carol Orlowski
  • Hugh Jones, Jr. Sailor—Son of Rick & Janeann Jones
  • Sgt. Brandon Minser —Son in-law of Wendy Krull
  • LCDR Andy Schaaf—Son of Merilee and Mark Fleming
  • Major Clayton Stransky—Nephew of Kip and Laura Stransky
  • Technical Sgt. & Special Air Force Agent Stephen Van Dover—Nephew of Nancy Van Dover

CtK family & friends who are in need of prayer…

To add or remove names from this list, please contact Linda White

  • Anna Landgren, daughter in-law of Roger and Cora Landgren
  • Matt Pane, son of Paul Pane
  • Christina Cummins, Steve Kennedy, and infant daughter, Adilynn Marie Kennedy
  • Laura Stransky
  • Dottie Johnson
  • Judy Olson
  • The Family of Lon Erwin
  • Shirley Buslee
  • Larry & Lauren Rardin
  • Beverly and Paul Dittmer
  • Mary Southworth
  • Darlene Warring
  • Bonnie Rossmiller
  • LuLu Mae Hess
  • Bev Brown
  • Lori Lachelt
  • Kayla Hefner
  • Carol Gunderson
  • CtK’s ministry and partnership with both the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission in Rock Point, AZ and San Juan Bautista Lutheran Church in Zaculeu, Guatemala.
  • CtK’s Homebound Ministry and all those who serve our homebound members through this ministry.
  • Mandy Gardner, CtK’s Director of Faith Formation. She was approved for Endorsement by the RMS in March, 2019.
  • All those battling mental illness and addictions.
  • Each person in our CtK church family.
April 2020 — Pastor Tim’s Thoughts

April 2020 — Pastor Tim’s Thoughts

My, How the World Has Changed!

My head is spinning. Every day feels like a week, and every week feels like an eternity. It’s difficult to get a handle on a world that seems to be changing so dramatically, so quickly.

I looked at my newsletter article from last month (because I honestly couldn’t remember what I wrote about!), and chuckled as I read about what was most pressing for me at that time: the renewal leave grant. Fear and worry and constant vigilance against the coronavirus was nowhere on my radar at that point. (It’s been completed and mailed in, by the way! Yay!)

Still… my how the world has changed.

So, dear Church, how are you? We are not even two weeks into this new reality of physical distancing, and we have a long way still to go before this threat passes. Are you prepared for a marathon? Are you pacing yourself? Are you taking care of yourself emotionally, physically, spiritually? How are you?

As of today, I’m doing okay. I’m sad. I’m concerned for the longer-term effects that this virus and accompanying disease will have on our economy, our world. I’m worried about all those who do not have the kind of financial resources set aside to weather such a sudden and unexpectedly long loss of income. I’m scared for children and families for whom time together is not pleasurable, but frightening due to abusive relationships. All of these thoughts swirl around me almost constantly.

Yet, I also wake each morning and go to bed each evening in prayer. And – wow – do I find that to be a powerful way to start and end my waking hours! A time to be quiet; a time to reflect; a time to gain perspective on all of this from God’s eyes – this helps me immensely. Lately, I haven’t had a lot of words to offer in those times of prayer. I’ve just been sitting with all of those heavy emotions and letting God’s Spirit hover over them, gather them up, and transform them from fear and worry and angst into peace, love and action.

I hope that you might find this time “in exile” to be fruitful for your own spiritual life and practice. If you’d like some ideas for prayer practices, let me know. In the meantime, let me encourage you to visit https://www.ctkdurango.org/faith-formation-at-home/ for some great tips and activities that can aid you and your spirit during this time.

 

Peace be with you. Stay safe and healthy!

Pastor Tim

 

 

April 2020 Bible Studies

April 2020 Bible Studies

 

Bible Studies

Circle of Contemplative Prayer

The Circle of Contemplative Prayer meets on Mondays from 5:30-7:15pm in the Chapel. We are currently studying “The Untethered Soul: the journey beyond yourself” by Michael Singer.  NOTE:  Meetings are currently suspended until further noticeFor more information, contact Sharyn Butler, 970-759-6355.

 

Great Ol’ Broads of God (GoBoGs)

GoBoGs invites you to join them in study and fellowship. They meet at CtK in the classrooms W6/W7 each Monday from 4:00-5:30 pm. (The first Monday of each month is dedicated to Share The Care, GoBoGs’ outreach mission.) They are currently studying “Inspired” by Rachel Held Evans. NOTE:  During the health crisis, they are conferencing via Zoom at 592-847-8387 , the password for this meeting is Testify.  Please join them for study sessions that are deeply rewarding. For more information, contact Kayla Hefner, 970-759-1636.

 

Midweek Bible Study led by Pastor Tim

Bible Study class meets each Thursday from 12:00-1:15 PM  in the CtK Community Hall.  However, class is currently conferencing via Zoom.   You can  join Pastor Tim  for class by clicking this link:  https://zoom.us/j/698922754 Pastor Tim will  begin 1st Timothy on Thursday, April 1st.   Our discussions are engaging and span a variety of topics.  Please “zoom in!”

 

Khuvara (“Circle of Friends”)

The Khuvara Women’s Group are currently reading the book “What’s So Amazing About Grace” by Phillip Yangtze. All women are welcome, and we gladly invite new members to join us. We meet each Thursday at 1:30 pm in the CtK Library. For more information, contact Stella Welcher.  NOTE:  Meetings are currently suspended until further notice.

 

Spiritual Study Group (SSG)

Currently the Spiritual Study Group is reading and studying “Consider the Women,” a provocative guide to three matriarchs of the Bible.   The Spiritual Study Group meets weekly on Thursdays at 3:00 pm in the Welcome Center.  Please join us for lively, enriching discussions! For more information, contact Aurora Rose.   NOTE:  Meetings are currently suspended until further notice.

April 2020 — By the Numbers

April 2020 — By the Numbers

Our Gifts Blessing Others:

Synod $1,124
World Hunger $515
Social Ministry $1,326
Total Benevolence $2,965

 

Synod $2,423
World Hunger $1,030
Social Ministry $3,252
Total Benevolence $6,705

 

Financial Update:

Gifts Received $18,725
Facility Donations $       50
Expenses $24,930
Net Operating Income ($6,155)

 

 

Gifts Received $40,377
Facility Donations $        50
Expenses $50,862
Net Operating Income ($10,435)
Endowment Fund Balance $176,795

 

Worship Attendance:

Ash Wednesday, February 26, 6pm 41
Sunday, March 1, 8am 61
Sunday, March 1, 10:30am 76
Weekly Total 178

 

Wednesday, March 4, 5:26pm 10
Sunday, March 8, 8am 49
Sunday, March 8, 10:30am 60
Weekly Total 119

 

Wednesday, March 11, 6:00pm 54
Sunday, March 15, 9:15am 134
Weekly Total 188

 

Wednesday, March 18, 6:00pm 54
Sunday, March 22, 9:15am 134
Weekly Total 188

 

Wednesday, March 25, 6:00pm 54
Sunday, March 29, 9:15am 134
Weekly Total 188
April 2020 — Council’s Corner

April 2020 — Council’s Corner

Greetings from your Church Council!

This month, we simply want to say, “Thank You!”  Thank you to our amazing church staff who have worked so hard to keep us connected through worship and fellowship during this time. Thank you to all who have participated in the many prayer, worship and bible study online opportunities.  Thank you to our Council and congregation members who are continuing to team up to accomplish some great work–like our ComMission Team for offering up the stay-at-home Movie Bracket.  We hope you’ve been enjoying the game!  And thank you to everyone who has made phone calls to stay in touch and care for one another.  These calls have brought joy and a smile to the day for many of us–those who have both made and received calls.  So keep making those calls!  And a special thank you to those CtK’ers and others in our Durango community whose profession calls on them to serve on the front lines during these anxious times.  You make us proud!

At this time, the Semi annual Meeting is scheduled for May 17th.  We will keep you informed of any changes as a result of the covid-19 crisis.  In the interim, please use some of your stay-at-home extra time to prayerfully consider being a member of either Church Council or our Mission Endowment Fund Board.   We are seeking a few people that can serve on these two boards and get the chance to work with other wonderful congregation members already serving.  Elections will be held for Church Council and the Endowment Fund Board during the May 17th meeting.  If you are interested in serving and would like more information, contact pastortim@ctkdurango.org

Following is a poem by Laura Kelly Fanucci; may it lift your spirits and give you hope!

When this is over,

may we never again take for granted

A handshake with a stranger

Full shelves at the store

Conversations with neighbors

A crowded theater

Friday night out

The taste of communion

A routine check-up

The school rush each morning

Coffee with a friend

The stadium roaring

Each deep breath

A boring Tuesday

Life itself.

 

When this ends,

may we find

that we have become

more like the people

We wanted to be

We were called to be

We hoped to be,

And may we stay

That way – better

For each other

Because of the worst.

Holly Landgren

CtK Council President