Gearing up for fall
Preparations underway, momentum building for new
program year—a season of new beginnings
August 8, 2010
In just five short weeks Central will launch the 2010-2011 program year with a weekend filled with welcoming festivities both for members and for those who may come exploring for the first time. High levels of innovation, creativity and energy mark the planning and preparations now underway. In many aspects this will be a season of new beginnings for Central—a season in which, said Pastor Rick Nelson, “no one can say it’s just church as usual.”
A new worship service: inclusive, interactive, accessible and fresh
In addition to revamping children’s education using a new “rotational model” offered by the SPARK curriculum of Augsburg Fortress Publishers and adult education by implementing the curriculum of the ELCA’s Book of Faith Initiative, a new evening worship service will launch on Saturday, September 11 at 5:30 p.m. as our welcoming weekend begins.
The new service, resulting from the work and reception of the Worship Task Force of the Congregation Council, will be an additional worship opportunity for Central members, but it is also a deliberate attempt to reach out to seekers. “The new service will reach out to those who are downtown on a Saturday evening for arts, dining and entertainment—many who have not experienced worship at Central before,” said Pastor D. Foy Christopherson, who leads Central worship planning. He said the Saturday service will also welcome people who “live in our neighborhood” and members who have “drifted away through the changes and chances of life.”
The liturgy for the new service is being planned by the Worship Life Team, which says that people can expect “fresh language for worship,” “Sunday-morning quality preaching and musicianship,” and a “variety of musical genres, changing seasonally.”
A unique component of the service will be “Eucharist in the round,” as participants are invited to celebrate and receive Holy Communion gathered around the altar.
An advertising and promotion campaign by Central’s Communications and Public Relations Ministry Team will launch this week—boldly extending invitations to the Saturday evening service to the community.
A new way of engaging disciples for lay ministry
As program plans are being made not only for worship and education but for a variety of service opportunities by Central’s more than 50 Ministry Teams, a new effort is set to launch offering a new way of discovering gifts and matching those gifts with service opportunities. A survey, called a “Gift Journey” will be mailed to all Central households in early September—asking people to fill it out and bring it to church on our kickoff Sunday, September 12. It’s all about a new concept called “shared ministry.”
“The people of Central Lutheran Church are gifted with many interests, passions, experiences, talents and strengths,” said Barbara Brown, Central’s Administrator for Office and Lay Ministry and a member of the Shared Ministry Team, which is launching the effort. “The challenge is to discover these gifts and match them to the needs and ministries of the church and the community.”
Barb said the information gathered through the survey will be entered into a database and matched with existing needs. She said people will be called as matches are found between gifts and ministry needs and that new ministries may also result from discovering passions and interests through the survey.
“Shared ministry focuses on people by nurturing, guiding and mentoring them as they give their time and gifts. Lay ministers grow spiritually with each experience,” said Barb.
And, even a new “house” coffee that you can help choose
The coming season of new beginnings will also bring some new flavor and aroma to fellowship times and meeting at Central—as in the coffee. This fall Central will begin exclusive use of fair trade coffee from the Lutheran World Relief Coffee Project, where every purchase fairly benefits small coffee producers in developing countries such as Peru, Nicaragua and Uganda.
On Sunday, September 12 there will be an opportunity to taste several coffee products from the Lutheran World Relief line and vote for which one you like best. The winning products (both regular and decaf) will be adopted as Central official house coffees—at least for a season. And, as part of a national effort sponsored by Lutheran World Relief to introduce new flavors, the voting cards will be entered into a contest to win a $500 coffee gift certificate for Central and a $75 gift certificate for the winning individual.
Who will you invite?
More details about plans for the coming program year will unfold in the coming weeks, leading to the weekend of September 11 and 12, when, as Pastor Rick said, “we expect not only old-timers but new folks to jump in as well—a time to explore and celebrate another year of life in this place and the beginning of a new program year.”
We have room for more! Who will you invite?
Preparations underway, momentum building for new
program year—a season of new beginnings
August 8, 2010
In just five short weeks Central will launch the 2010-2011 program year with a weekend filled with welcoming festivities both for members and for those who may come exploring for the first time. High levels of innovation, creativity and energy mark the planning and preparations now underway. In many aspects this will be a season of new beginnings for Central—a season in which, said Pastor Rick Nelson, “no one can say it’s just church as usual.”
A new worship service: inclusive, interactive, accessible and fresh
In addition to revamping children’s education using a new “rotational model” offered by the SPARK curriculum of Augsburg Fortress Publishers and adult education by implementing the curriculum of the ELCA’s Book of Faith Initiative, a new evening worship service will launch on Saturday, September 11 at 5:30 p.m. as our welcoming weekend begins.
The new service, resulting from the work and reception of the Worship Task Force of the Congregation Council, will be an additional worship opportunity for Central members, but it is also a deliberate attempt to reach out to seekers. “The new service will reach out to those who are downtown on a Saturday evening for arts, dining and entertainment—many who have not experienced worship at Central before,” said Pastor D. Foy Christopherson, who leads Central worship planning. He said the Saturday service will also welcome people who “live in our neighborhood” and members who have “drifted away through the changes and chances of life.”
The liturgy for the new service is being planned by the Worship Life Team, which says that people can expect “fresh language for worship,” “Sunday-morning quality preaching and musicianship,” and a “variety of musical genres, changing seasonally.”
A unique component of the service will be “Eucharist in the round,” as participants are invited to celebrate and receive Holy Communion gathered around the altar.
An advertising and promotion campaign by Central’s Communications and Public Relations Ministry Team will launch this week—boldly extending invitations to the Saturday evening service to the community.
A new way of engaging disciples for lay ministry
As program plans are being made not only for worship and education but for a variety of service opportunities by Central’s more than 50 Ministry Teams, a new effort is set to launch offering a new way of discovering gifts and matching those gifts with service opportunities. A survey, called a “Gift Journey” will be mailed to all Central households in early September—asking people to fill it out and bring it to church on our kickoff Sunday, September 12. It’s all about a new concept called “shared ministry.”
“The people of Central Lutheran Church are gifted with many interests, passions, experiences, talents and strengths,” said Barbara Brown, Central’s Administrator for Office and Lay Ministry and a member of the Shared Ministry Team, which is launching the effort. “The challenge is to discover these gifts and match them to the needs and ministries of the church and the community.”
Barb said the information gathered through the survey will be entered into a database and matched with existing needs. She said people will be called as matches are found between gifts and ministry needs and that new ministries may also result from discovering passions and interests through the survey.
“Shared ministry focuses on people by nurturing, guiding and mentoring them as they give their time and gifts. Lay ministers grow spiritually with each experience,” said Barb.
And, even a new “house” coffee that you can help choose
The coming season of new beginnings will also bring some new flavor and aroma to fellowship times and meeting at Central—as in the coffee. This fall Central will begin exclusive use of fair trade coffee from the Lutheran World Relief Coffee Project, where every purchase fairly benefits small coffee producers in developing countries such as Peru, Nicaragua and Uganda.
On Sunday, September 12 there will be an opportunity to taste several coffee products from the Lutheran World Relief line and vote for which one you like best. The winning products (both regular and decaf) will be adopted as Central official house coffees—at least for a season. And, as part of a national effort sponsored by Lutheran World Relief to introduce new flavors, the voting cards will be entered into a contest to win a $500 coffee gift certificate for Central and a $75 gift certificate for the winning individual.
Who will you invite?
More details about plans for the coming program year will unfold in the coming weeks, leading to the weekend of September 11 and 12, when, as Pastor Rick said, “we expect not only old-timers but new folks to jump in as well—a time to explore and celebrate another year of life in this place and the beginning of a new program year.”
We have room for more! Who will you invite?
333 South Twelfth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612-870-4416