Community through the Essentials

In Martin Luther’s day, life felt chaotic and disconnected to him, too. In the midst of trying to call the Church back to itself, Luther asked the question, “How will or how can a poor confused person tell where such Christian holy people can be found in the world?” Basically, how can we find the church in the world? Luther came up with seven marks of the church and the Christian life. These are the essentials. When you find them you will find the church and the people who follow Jesus, too. We will be highlighting these essentials and how we are formed as a community by these guiding touchstones this year together. (Read more about this year’s theme at the bottom of the page).

Wednesday Night Bible Study – 6 p.m.

Begins October 2

If evening study is better, Wednesday Night Bible study is offered weekly. The study begins on October 2 at 6 p.m. and you are invited to come in person or on Zoom. This year we are using the theme Community through the Essentials to guide our Wednesday night learning. Each of the pastors has chosen essential texts, those stories from scripture that anchor our understanding of what the Bible teaches us about God and the ways in which Jesus teaches us to live in God’s good creation. This group meets for an hour and is designed for you to come when it works for you.

Booklet: TBD
Zoom link: TBD

Sunday Adult Forums – 9:30 a.m.

Begins September 15

Sunday, September 15, 9:30 a.m.
Lower Narthex
Our Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGMs) have returned and they are coming to visit with us on September 15 at 9:30 a.m. In the spirit of Community through the Essentials, we’ll open this year’s adult forum with stories from Abigail Swiggert who served in Senegal and Simon Miller who served in Mexico. Grab your coffee and cookie and meet your friends in the Lower Narthex for the first Adult Forum this fall.

Listening for God Contemplative Prayer

Sunday, September 8, 12:30 p.m. (Every second Sunday)
Sanctuary Prayer Area
You are invited to join the Listening for God contemplative prayer time. The group gathers for an hour every second Sunday of the month at 12:30 p.m. to enter one of many contemplative prayer offerings. Pastor Peter leads this time of contemplative prayer, listening, and conversation. If you are interested but cannot join this weekend, or if you have questions, please email Pastor Peter.

Theme: Community through the Essentials

In many parts of our lives we find ourselves in groups of people. Very infrequently are those random groups. Even when we find ourselves all at the grocery store, there is something we all share in common. We are all at the store at the same time because we need to eat, or we might live close to this store, or we all get benefits that make gas cheaper because we shop here. The values and experiences and desired outcomes create community. We might not have a lot else in common with the people around us at any one time, but the smallest commonalities are what we cling to when the world feels random or chaotic.

In Martin Luther’s day, life felt chaotic and disconnected to him, too. In the midst of trying to call the Church back to itself, Luther asked the question, “How will or how can a poor confused person tell where such Christian holy people can be found in the world?” Basically, how can we find the church in the world? Luther came up with seven marks of the church and the Christian life. These are the essentials. When you find them you will find the church and the people who follow Jesus, too.
We will be highlighting these essentials and how we are formed as a community by these guiding touchstones this year together. So, what are the essential marks of the church that mold us as a community?

Luther gives us little glimpses into these essentials. Where we find the Word of God “preached, believed, professed and lived,” there is our community. Baptism unites us through the water of rebirth. Communion is how we are fed and, after practicing how to feed one another, we are sent out in the world to do the same. We can do this because we are forgiven at the table and forgiven people can forgive others. We all speak about God’s activity in our daily lives, we feed one another, and we care for one another’s soul.

This is ministry for each and every one of God’s beloved. We are made to experience the wonder of God and to give our praise and to ask for what we need. This is worship and prayer of all kinds. Finally, we are called to be people who are found in the midst of suffering. Sometimes we are the ones who suffer and sometimes we are called to stand in solidarity with those who suffer. This is who Central is and in this community we claim what is essential to us.