December 2021 – Youth Group News

December 2021 – Youth Group News

Upcoming Youth Group Events

Friday, December 3rd at 4:30 – Ceramics at the Durango Arts Center

We had so much fun painting ceramics in October, and they turned out so beautifully, we’re doing it again! Youth (and anyone else who wants to join us) will meet at DAC at 4:30pm to get creative! Afterwards, we’ll probably wander around downtown for Noel Nite.

Sunday, December 19 at 9:30am (after the Live Nativity) Bake Sale Fundraiser

The Youth will be selling their ceramic creations as well as tasty baked goods. If you want to bake something to donate to the sale, let Deacon Mandy know. Otherwise, bring your appetite and your wallets!

December 2021 — Pastor Tim’s Thoughts

December 2021 — Pastor Tim’s Thoughts

I have a routine for Sunday mornings that I have been following for the last many years. I wake up at 4:00am, then groggily stumble to the shower. After getting dressed, I quietly tiptoe through the house, gathering all the things I’ll need for the day and – especially – filling a travel mug and a thermos full of coffee for my morning. I drive to the church, arriving around 5:00am. Once in the building, I prepare four pots of coffee, make sure communion and other worship materials are ready and in place, and unlock doors. Then, I sit (or stand) at my desk, pray, and then wait for the Holy Spirit to show up to give me the words to say for my sermon that day. Praying, writing, erasing, re-writing, and rehearsing usually takes me right up until the start of worship, after which the morning feels like it’s pretty much over.

I don’t mind this Sunday morning routine. It has provided my life with a steady and stable rhythm, week in and week out for years. But…

I won’t have to do that during my renewal leave next summer, and I wonder what that will feel like. Honestly, I’m not sure if I’ll miss it or not. Either way, I will have ample opportunity next summer to rest, which is really the intended goal of the renewal leave. Not work; just rest.

There will surely be things that will fill my days between family time, creating things in the workshop, writing, reading, exploring (more on that next month). But all of these will be extensions of the theme of rest. Without the pressure of deadlines and high expectations, rest – real rest – seems possible.

The name sabbatical comes from the same root as the word “Sabbath.” The Sabbath is one day out of every seven that is intended for rest. (Therefore, Sabbaticals are recommended once every seven years.) The Sabbath, indeed, is not just an intention of God, but a commandment! But, more than that, it is a gift. The gift of time for rest. Not just the absence of work; but true rest, that has the potential to restore and rejuvenate. The point is, whether talking about a once-a-week Sabbath or a once-every-seven-years sabbatical, rest should rejuvenate us and prepare us in mind, body, and spirit to return joyfully to the work to which God has called us.

I’m looking forward to some time of rest next summer; but I’m already eager to see how such rest will lead to a more robust sense of call upon my return. 

Peace,

Pastor Tim

P.S.: The dates for my renewal leave will be from Monday, June 6, 2022, to Monday, September 19, 2022. Have more questions? Please ask me about it!

December 2021 Fellowship Group News

CtK Piecemaker Quilters

Thank you to everyone for bringing stocking stuffers! There is still time to bring in items. Stop by CtK and drop off any stocking stuffers on or before December 5th. Thank you!!

New members are warmly invited to join the quilters and help create these quilts for baptisms, graduations, pray quilts for those who are ill or homebound, long-term care residents (Four Corners and Mancos Nursing Homes), and for the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission (NELM) in Rock Point, AZ.  If you need a sewing machine, two extra machines were donated to the group—you are welcome to use one.  And, if quilting is a craft that has often interested you, but you don’t know how to quilt, there are quilters who will gladly teach you.  They will help ensure you that your creation will be one you can feel proud about giving to someone in need. You’ll be surprised at what we do and the fun and camaraderie we all share. 

For more information about the meetings, please call Stella Welcher at 970-903-9327. We look forward to seeing you! 

CtK Book Club

 The CtK Book Club meets on the second Thursday of each month at 3PM outside in the CtK Columbarium. We’re finishing out the year on Thursday, December 9th, with a discussion of “Let Him Go” by Larry Watson.

 You are invited to join us–anyone can attend one or more book discussions.   If you are interested in attending, please call Stella Welcher at 970-903-9327. 

December 2021 – Faith Formation

December 2021 – Faith Formation

Christmas Fun for All Ages

CtK Kids! Countdown to Christmas

A virtual Advent Calendar is available online and is designed to be used with the CtK Kids! videos beginning December 3rd. Resources and instructions can be found HERE.

Holiday Hoopla! – Sunday, December 12 at 10-ish am (after 9am Worship)

Build a “Gingerbread” “House” (we use graham crackers and you certainly don’t have to build a house) with your family and friends. You can build whatever you want with the candy building blocks provided. It always gets everyone into the Christmas Spirit! Let Pastor Tim know if you are planning to join us.

Live Nativity – Sunday, December 19th at 8:30am

Throw on a costume and be a part of CtK’s annual re-creation of the Nativity Story. Show up at 8:30am to be assigned a role and a costume. No memorization or acting experience required – we basically push you out onto the front lawn when your part of the story is told. It’s super easy and super fun for ALL ages. Bring your well-behaved dogs and we’ll put them in costumes, too. Let Deacon Mandy know if you can be a part of the holy hilarity.