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Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023
Presiding
Pr. Jackie Cook
Pastoral Intern
Jenny Nettesheim
First Sunday of Advent
How do we Rejoice in a Weary world?
We Root Ourselves in Ritual
Services are available on
Facebook, YouTube,
and the CTK Website
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"Welcome to the Advocate!"
A publication of celebrations and happenings in the lives of CTK family and friends. This Advocate will summarize what's happened, and give a preview to new events coming your way! So keep a lookout for this publication every 1st of the month. Birthdays and Anniversaries are near the bottom!
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Ponderings of the Intern: Free Will
Each month, I will write an article on a topic that I’ve been pondering or have received questions about. Enjoy!
What do Lutherans believe about free will? This is a question I have pondered often. I did some “light” reading in the Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord and this is what I discovered.
“That in spiritual and divine matters, the mind, heart, and will of the unreborn human being can in absolutely no way, on the basis of its own natural powers, understand, believe, accept, consider, will, begin, accomplish, do, effect, or cooperate.” This simply means that humans do not have the capacity to prepare themselves for God’s grace. God’s grace is just that, God’s - it comes solely from God and humans do not have the ability to make this grace or even to cooperate with it.
Additionally, humans have an “inborn, evil, rebellious character [that] the will defiantly resists God and God’s will if not enlightened and ruled by God’s Spirit.” Due to both human nature and original sin, humans are rebellious against God and cannot believe fully without the intervention of the Holy Spirit. “We cannot come to Christ on the basis of our own powers, but God must give us his Holy Spirit, who enlightens, sanctifies, and thus brings us to Christ through faith and keeps us in Christ. Neither our will nor our cooperation is mentioned in respect to these activities.” Without the Holy Spirit, humans cannot choose to be saved. It is the work of God through the Holy Spirit, alone.
What does this mean?
- Instead of “free will” think about “trust.” We can trust God.
- The Holy Spirit is working.
- God comes to us.
- God claims us.
- God is WAY smarter than us and way more powerful.
We must all remember that God is doing the work through the Holy Spirit, and we can trust God to take care of us and our needs. The next time you are worried, try to remember to “trust.”
Blessings and Happy New Year!
Intern Jenny
1 “The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord.” p. 544.7
2“The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord.” p. 547.18
3 “The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord.” p.551.42
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Celebrating our connection with Christ | |
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Mission Statement: Alive and Growing through God's Grace
What to Expect at Worship
For your convenience, masks will be made available in the entrance areas and hand sanitizing stations are also available around the building. We ask that if you are not feeling well, or feel that you may have been exposed to COVID, you view the service via live-streaming. You can find this on our website: https://ctkdelafield.org/
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How does a weary world rejoice?
We root ourselves in ritual
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Muscle Memory
When the world falls apart around me,
when the rug is pulled,
and the house is on fire,
when all I can do
is swallow the cry in my throat,
take me to the table.
Tell me how people have fed each other.
Tell me how they’ve torn the bread
with wrinkled hands
and children’s hands.
Tell me how they’ve said, This love is for you,
as they looked you in the eye.
Then take me to the font.
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Float my hands in the pool.
Let me feel weightless.
Tell me to leave my burdens there.
Then take me to the front doors.
Remind me how we throw them open.
Take me to the creaky pews,pews that have held the straightened spines
and silent prayers of so many.
Take me to church.
Move me through the rituals.
Tell me why it matters,
so that next time,
when someone else’s world falls apart,
I will have the muscle memory to share.
Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed, Founding Creative Partner of A Sanctified Art
©
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Our Advent Worship Series:
"How does a weary world rejoice?"
Dec 31 we root ourselves in ritual Service of the Word (no Communion) Jenny Preaching
Jan. 7 We trust our belovedness
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Individual Prayers: The family and loved ones of Linda, the family and loved ones of Rick, Brad, and for all those who grieve, and those who suffer from mental illness.
Ongoing Prayers: Maddie, Dave, and Anthony, all military persons and their, families all those who are in hospice and care facilities, all who are in hospice, and the healthcare workers who care for them.
Ministry Partners: The Evangelical Lutheran Churches in El Salvador and Tanzania and their Bishops, and Imbaseny parish in Tanzania, Serenity Inn, Family Promise, Reformation Lutheran Church, Lutherdale Bible Camp, All God's Children, Mt. Meru Coffee Project & Outreach for Hope Congregations, and those who work to end human trafficking.
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PLEASE NOTE: Are you missing out?? If you see "Message Clipped: View entire message" in this email, that is not the end! There are more announcements!
Click "View entire message" to read more.
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Celebrating the Connection with Each Other | |
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Sunday School
Sunday School (4 years old through 6th grade) SS is held twice a month on an irregular schedule. Check on the CTK website for dates.
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Confirmation 2023-2024
Confirmation Dec. 31st Happy New Year!
Don't forget to sign up to Acolyte online!
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Cookie Sale
Thank you for supporting our youth and young adults as they fundraise to go to the ELCA Gathering in New Orleans in July. You made our cookie sale a success, and we really appreciate it!
There are a few cookie mixes left, so if you would like to purchase one for $10, see Jenny on 12/31.
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Adult Education Opportunity:
Book Study
When: Wednesdays at 5:30 PM
Dates:
January 3 January 17
January 31
Place: The Bell Room
Book: By Heart: Conversations with Martin Luther’s Small Catechism
Purpose: To discuss and learn about Lutheran theology
All are welcome - all belong!
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Committees/Meetings
Property and Grounds: Mondays at 6:30 pm
Prayer Shawl Ministry: 2nd & 4th Monday at 1:00pm
Al-Anon: Mondays 6:30 pm
Women's Bible Study: select Mondays at 9:30 am Jan. 8 & 22
Worship and Music: 2nd Monday of the month at 3:00 pm
Executive Team: Tuesday. Dec.. 5 @ 6:30 pm
Executive Team: 1st Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm Next Jan. 2nd
Church Council: 3rd Tuesday of the month at 5:30pm Next Jan 16th
Education: second Tuesday of the month at 5:30 pm
Outreach: 2nd Thursday of the month at 6:00 pm
Men's Bible Study: Fridays at 7:00 am
Alcoholics Anonymous: Fridays 7:00 pm
Boys' Breakfast Bible Study: 1st & 3rd Saturdays at 8:00 am (at CTK & via Zoom)
Special Dates
Dec 31 Service of the Word (no Communion) Jenny Preaching
Jan. 1 Church Office Closed
Jan. 7 Baptism of our Lord
"Save the Date" In person reading of the budget, Sunday Feb. 11 (Winter weather date 2/18
Feb. 25 - Annual Meeting ( Winter Weather date 3/3)
Feel free to attend a committee meeting of your choice to be part of the exciting things happening at CTK!
Feel free to attend a committee meeting of your choice to be part of the exciting things happening at CTK!
*Please remember that events and times are subject to change. Check the CTK calendar on the website for updates!
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Celebrating our Connection with Community | |
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Veterans Day Sunday, Nov 12th: Custom Canines Service Dog Program
Veterans Day Service was wonderful!
Thank you to all who helped put together Sunday’s Veterans Day Recognition. From start to finish, it was beautiful! There were over 100 attending church service and around 80 enjoying brunch and Custom Canine program. Donations to the Custom Canine Dog Training Academy came to $600. Thank you for your donations! Also, our gratitude to Thrivent Financial for sponsoring brunch.
. Thank you to Thrivent Financial for sponsoring our brunch!
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Thank you all who continue to support the Mt Meru Coffee Mission in 2023.
The Next Coffee order will be placed on Sunday, January 21st, and be ready for pick up on Sunday, January 28th.
See the display in the Narthex or contact Toni Schnorr or Lynn Waedekin for more information.
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Shorehaven Giving Tree Thank you
Thank you to all the people at CTK who continue to support the Giving Tree. The Shorehaven residents were delighted with your generosity!
The Outreach Committee
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Learn these things about yourself to be a better spouse
You've probably heard the saying "In order to love someone else, you need to love yourself first". This goes beyond having a healthy sense of self-worth and generally liking yourself as a person. Truly loving yourself goes deeper than this. It involves really understanding who you are - the good, the bad, and everything in between.
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A Pastoral Message: Christmas Message 2023
by, Bishop Paul Erickson
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This photo, of a nativity scene with the infant Jesus placed in a pile of rubble, was taken several weeks ago inside Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, located in the West Bank. Though it is located miles away from the intense combat in Gaza, the impact of the Israel-Hamas war is clearly felt there and around the world. The death and violence and destruction of recent months is hard for us to fathom, and while we may be tempted to scroll past these images or shrug our shoulders and turn away, this haunting image reminds us that Jesus was born in the midst of chaos and violence.. | |
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Kier, Grayson Jan 4
Tentoni, Charlotte Jan 4
Kreutzmann, Sylvia Jan 6
Neumiller, Emmerson Jan 6
Kalman, Robert Jan 7
Chapman Morris, Jenny Jan 8
Seegert, Thomas Jan 10
Jaeger, Deane Jan 12
Kelly, Carl Jan 12
Patterson, Victoria Jan 12
Wilson, Mike Jan 12
Perrigo, David Jan 15
Sontag, Nancy Jan 15
Broberg, Carl Jan 18
Kalman Ms, Johanna Jan 18
Skorik, Sheryl Jan 18
Tomczak, Barbara Jan 20
Chapman, Tara Jan 21
Janiuk, Susan Jan 22
Waedekin, Drew Jan 23
Karcher, Cody Jan 24
Kunstmann, Rosalie Jan 25
Janiuk, Michael Jan 29
Nelson, Marlene Jan 29
Carnell, Terri Jan 30
Kelly, Joan Jan 31
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January Anniversaries
Wayne & Elaine Irwin January 3
Scott & Rochelle Fuller January 6
Carl & Joan Kelly January 29
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Our Mission – Alive and Growing through God’s Grace
Our Vision – A dynamic congregation and growing in service to Christ and the Community. All are Welcome
Core Values
Celebrating our connection to Christ and each other
Harmony through the difference we make and the smiles we create
Recognizing the infinite worth of each person
Investing in ourselves, our energy, and our resources
Supporting the growth of the individual, the congregation, the community, and these relationships
Transforming through action, effort and commitment
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Things to submit to the "Advocate" should be sent to office@ctkdelafield.org by the 20th of the month. | |
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Pastor Jackie Cook
Office Coordinator - Maggie Thompson
Music Director - Maria Tyksinski
Pastoral Intern-Jenny Nettesheim
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Office hours:
Mon. - Thurs 9am-3pm
Friday 9 am - noon
Worship Sundays at 9 am
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