On Sunday, May 18, the CLC Youth hosted a potato bar meal after worship. Many of our congregation came to enjoy the meal and hear more about the work of Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley.

Paul Henrickson gave a progress report on the house we've been working on since January with four Salem-area congregations. Work will be completed soon, and Sona and her six daughters will be moving into their new home this summer. Paul also shared that Sona is keeping this a surprise for her girls!

Members of our community have already supported this project with their prayers, labor on site, and financial gifts. Our current total of pledges and gifts toward this work is $8,000!

Thank you to all who have already supported this ministry!

For the third year in a row, College Lutheran Church will spend Ascension Day gathering throughout the region our members call home. From dawn to dusk, from Salem to Daleville, Roanoke, and Glenvar, we’ll gather on Thursday, May 29, for prayer, fellowship, study, worship, and meals. Some will join our church on the move for the whole day, some will join for parts of the day. You are invited to join as much as you can. Our hope is that all will know the connection we share as a community throughout this special place we call the Roanoke Valley.

Here's our tentative schedule:

6:00 AM: Morning Prayer at Roanoke College, Salem

We gather at the Roanoke College sign, where College Avenue ends at East Clay Street, near the old courthouse (West Hall).

7:00 AM: Breakfast at Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea, Salem

17 East Main Street

Salem, VA 24153

We've reserved the back room from 6:30 to 8:00 AM.

9:30 AM: Coffee & Bible Study at Ashley Plantation Golf Club, Daleville

Paul Wimmer Pavilion

919 Greenfield Street

Daleville, VA 24083

Coffee will be provided, and we will meet in a covered pavilion. RSVPs are not required, but would be helpful. Email pastordrebes@gmail.com if you plan to attend!

11:30 AM: Lunch & Learn at Brandon Oaks Life Plan Community, Roanoke

3804 Brandon Avenue SW

Roanoke, VA 24018

We gather for a complimentary lunch! RSVPs are needed! Thank you to Brandon Oaks, especially Chaplains Meredith Williams and Keith Olivier! Email pastordrebes@gmail.com to reserve a spot.

After lunch, we welcome the Rev. Dr. Sarah Hinlicky Wilson, who will lead a discussion. Dr. Wilson recently published a book on the Ascension!

4:15 PM: Easter Caroling at the Oaks at Richfield Living, Glenvar

3706 Knollridge Road

Salem, VA 24153

Come and share songs with members of the Richfield community!

5:00 PM Recreation and Fellowship at Longwood Park, Salem

(NEW LOCATION)

601 East Main Street

Salem, VA 24153

Bring a game to share! We have reserved Shelter #4 for the evening. It's just up the hill and very accessible from Monroe Street.

6:00 PM: Dinner: Cookout at Longwood Park, Salem

Hotdogs, hamburgers, and drinks provided! Please bring a side to share! We also need a grill and cooks! Call the church office at (540) 389-4963 or email office1@collegelutheran.org if you have a grill to bring or are willing to help cook.

7:00 PM: Worship in Pavilion at Longwood Park, Salem

We share the Lord’s Supper in a festive outdoor Ascension Day service.

8:30 PM: Mac & Bob’s, Salem

316 East Main Street

Salem, VA 24153

Enjoy fellowship at the close of the day.

Click here to view a Google Map of all the places we'll be stopping.

Throughout the day, we will pray the offices of daily prayer. If you don’t know what that means, ask a monk (or anyone who’s attended the Kairos youth gathering at Roanoke College). I look forward to visiting throughout the boundaries of our congregation’s life, and. I hope to see you on this Ascension Day journey!

Grace and peace,

Pastor David Drebes

PS: We thank Pastor Phillip Martin and Pastor Joseph Bolick for giving us this idea!

Take Note

By Susan E. Short

Happy Tuesday. I hope you’re making plans to join us as we gather on Thursday, May 29^th to celebrate the Ascension of Our Lord. At 6 a.m., we will gather at Roanoke College and end the day (with several stops along the way) at Longwood Park for food, fellowship, and worship. As your calendars permit, join us for parts of or all day. Our Easter celebrations continue this Sunday with worship at 10 a.m. Hope to see you there.

Looking ahead:

The hymns for Sunday include:

·      Come Down, O Love Divine (LBW #508);

·      For the Bread Which You Have Broken (LBW #200);

·      Jerusalem, My Happy Home (LBW #331); and,

·      I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light (WOV #649).

As a reminder, the LBW is our green hymnal, Lutheran Book of Worship, and WOV, With One Voice, is the blue hymnal.

Looking in-depth:

Our processional hymn is Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (LBW #546). The hymn writer, Chalmers Smith, was born in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1824. As a 13-year-old, he entered Marischal College of the University of Aberdeen where he obtained a Master of Arts Degree. He then went on to study law and theology at the New College in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was an ordained minister at Chadwell Street Scottish Church in London and served several churches in Glasgow and Edinburgh.



This hymn is based on 1 Timothy 1:17, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise is the only hymn that remains in use of Smith’s original poems and hymns. He had a considerable reputation as a poet. The original version, which included six stanzas, appeared in Smith’s Hymns of Christ and the Christian Life (1867). After several revisions, the four-stanza version remains in our Lutheran Book of Worship today.

The hymn is set to ST. DENIO, a traditional Welsh ballad popular in the early nineteenth century. This tune name refers to St. Denis, the patron saint of France.

Several recordings of this hymn can be found on YouTube. One was recorded at the St. Paul’s Cathedral Platinum Jubilee Service (Immortal, invisible, God only wise Hymn - St Paul's Cathedral Platinum Jubilee Service) and a more contemporary version by Reawaken Hymns can be found at: Immortal Invisible | Reawaken Hymns | Official Lyric Video. I look forward to worshipping with you as we celebrate the Sixth Sunday of Easter. Soli Deo gloria – SES

Several Salem churches are joining together with Habitat for Humanity to build a home for Sona Swaray and her 6 girls! Construction began on January 15, 2025! Click the link below for updates!

For more information about the family, the house, and how to sign up, click here!

Save the Dates for this Summer!

Upcoming Fun and Fellowship for all Ages!

Thursday, May 29

Third Annual Beating the Bounds for Ascension Day!

Sunday, June 8

Pentecost Worship Service & Senior Sending for Graduates!

Monday, June 9 to Friday, June 13

High School Mini-Missions (rising 9th-12th graders)

Sunday, June 22 to Friday, June 27

Kairos Youth Gathering at Roanoke College (rising 9th-12th graders)

Monday, June 23 to Friday, June 27

Middle School Mini-Missions (rising 6th-8th graders)

Wednesday, July 9

6:30 PM All-Ages Ice Cream Social and Game Night!

Sunday, July 20 to Wednesday, July 23

5:30 PM to 7:30 PM Vacation Bible School for All Ages!

Saturday, August 9

Lutheran Night at Salem Red Sox!

Click here for more information.

Sunday, August 10

Back to School Blessings for Teachers, Students, and Staff during Worship!

Wednesday Bible Study: The Gospel of Luke!

Our long-running Wednesday Bible Study led by Pastor Drebes meets at 11:15 AM in Stoutamire Chapel.

In 2025, we will study the Gospel According to Saint Luke. Each week, we will cover one chapter. Click here to see our schedule of readings!

Also on Wednesdays, we celebrate a brief service of Holy Communion at 12:15 PM. We hope to see you at one or both of these midweek gatherings!

Announcements

Altar Flower Sponsors Needed for Worship Services

The 2025 Flower Chart is in the hallway for signup. Please contact Barbara Brandtner at 540-797-1886, if you would like to provide flowers for the altar.

Ushers Needed for Sunday Worship Services

Ushers are needed for Sunday Worship Services. Please see Joel Barfield or email joel.barfield@gmail.com.

Nursery Volunteers Needed

College Lutheran Church recognizes the importance of providing our parents with the opportunity for quiet worship, as well as, introducing our little ones to the love and care of a Christian community. In order to offer this service, we are seeking volunteers to watch over our littlest members during our 10 am service Sunday mornings. To volunteer, please contact Kellie Rice at kellierice@collegelutheran.org or 540-797-2973. 

Wilson Family Newsletter January 2025: Click HERE

Call for Greeters

Do you have an extra smile to share on Sunday mornings, do you like welcoming people into your home (church)??

Would you consider being a greeter on Sunday mornings?

To volunteer to be a greeter or for more information, contact Dawn Barnes, Amity Team. laquita@swva.net

Recycling Assistance Needed

As part of the Church's ministry to "care for the Earth" we are asking for members to assist with the recycling efforts. Each month, a member is needed to take the recycled items (usually just paper) to a local recycling bin. The closest recycling bin is located at the Walmart parking lot on West Main Street.

If you are interested, please contact Garry Lautenschlager (garrylaute@aol.com) or Sandi at the Church office.

Carolina Bowen, Young Adult in Global Mission in Cambodia!

Carolina Bowen is now serving with the Young Adults in Global Mission ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Her first of six newsletters has been posted, along with a video blog.

Click these links to read and watch!

• Newsletter #1
• Vlog #1
• Newsletter #2
• Newsletter #3

We look forward to hearing from her more as she spends this year in mission in Cambodia!

If you would like to support Carolina's ministry, gifts can be given to College Lutheran Church with a memo line designating the gift to support Carolina Bowen. To give an online gift, visit www.elca.org/yagm/give and be sure to select "Carolina Bowen" in the dropdown menu.

Don't Forget: Submit Your Picture for the CLC Photo Directory!

It's time for an updated photo directory of members and friends of CLC! Luckily, our existing membership record platform allows us to update and print directories as needed--we just need your photos to make it happen! CLC member Jon Osborn has graciously volunteered to coordinate this effort. Please email a JPG or TIF picture of your household members to 

jonosborns@gmail.com

Some things to remember:

• Try to have one photo with all members of your household.
• if available, and in addition to the Family Photo, please include individual photos of household members. If individual photos are not available, the Family Photo will work just fine.
• Avoid submitting a photo where someone is wearing sunglasses or otherwise would be difficult to see.
• If you do not have a digital photo, we can scan physical photos in the church office.

Thanks for helping us update our directory!

Men's Spiritual Formation Group

Please join us for fellowship and spiritual studies, meeting on Tuesdays at 3:00 PM during Lent beginning on February 20. We will meet at the home of PK Hundley, near the church. For directions and more information, please contact the church office at (540) 389-4963, or Keith Hartman at hartmankeithe@gmail.com

CLC Card Ministry

Want to send a note to a fellow CLC member? This ministry is a great way to let others know that you are thinking about them and praying for them. Especially when someone is in the hospital, it can be difficult to send them a card. This is one way we can keep connected with one another.

How it works:

• Bring in a card of your own or use one provided on the table next to the mailbox.
• Place in the CLC Card Ministry Mailbox in All Saints Hall
• Our Parish Administrator will address, provide postage, and send cards

It's that easy!

And we thank Ashley Roop for painting the mailbox!

On Tuesday evenings from 4 to 6 PM, The CLC parking lot will be a drop-off point for Riverstone Organic Farm. Customers of Riverstone will be able to pick up boxes of produce that they have ordered through the farm's website. For more information about Riverstone Farm in Floyd, VA, click here.

Interested in fresh produce? Signing up ahead of time is necessary. Click here to sign up!

Catch up on past worship services

Did you miss a recent worship service? Want to hear that choir anthem one more time? Our video archives are kept on two different websites:

• Click here to visit our YouTube page.
• Click here to visit our Facebook page.

Resources for Daily Devotionals

Do you need some guidance in daily prayer? Consider downloading the D365 App! It's free, and very helpful. Click here to download it to your phone or tablet: https://d365.org/

Do you want a copy of the Living Lutheran magazine or the devotional Christ in Our Home? Let Parish Administrator Sandi Roop know! Just contact her at office1@collegelutheran.org or (540) 389-4963.

Are you interested in keeping up with the lectionary (assigned scripture readings for worship)? This calendar of scripture readings is available at a special website run by Vanderbilt Divinity Library. The site includes art for each day of the church year, and is accessible here: https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/

Online Giving

College Lutheran Church accepts online giving. It's easy! Visit www.collegelutheran.org/giving to learn more.

Kroger Rewards

Kroger's community rewards program supports CLC. Click the picture to learn more about how your Kroger purchases can support our church.