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!

Take Note

By Susan E Short

Tuesday greetings! I hope you are planning to join us for worship on Sunday. Just a quick note to share that beginning this Sunday we will be using Bread of Life, Setting Five, from With One Voice as our liturgy throughout the summer. Following Sunday’s worship service, our choir will be taking a formal hiatus during the summer months. I hope you will take a moment to thank our choir members and all musicians who have contributed so richly to our worship experiences throughout the year. I am most appreciative of their dedication and service to our congregation – we are so very blessed.

Looking ahead:

The hymns for Sunday include:

·        God Is Here (WOV #719);

·        Eat This Bread, Drink This Cup (WOV #706);

·        Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying (WOV #775); and,

·        Christ is Alive! Let Christians Sing (LBW #363).

The LBW is the Lutheran Book of Worship (Green Hymnal) and WOV is With One Voice (Blue Hymnal).

Looking in-depth:

Our processional hymn is Gather Us In written by Marty Haugen. Haugen reflects that the hymn was written after he first heard the former Jesuit Dutch theologian and poet Huub Oosterhuis’ text ‘What Is This Place?’ He wanted to craft something that might say a similar message to North American ears. “I deliberately wrote it to more directly sing ‘to’ God rather than ‘about’ God.” As an opening hymn or an entrance song, it calls the ekklesia—Christian community or assembly—together. (Hawn, Perkins School of Theology, www.giamusic.com)

This hymn celebrates an understanding of God’s presence in a physical place where people with flesh and bone come together in welcome. It is constructed in pairs. Fears and dreamings are brought where darkness vanishes as light streams from God, before whom are gathered the lost and forsaken, the blind and the lame, the rich and the haughty, the proud and the strong. “From all sorts and conditions of humanity, the community of faith gathers tossing around word, water, bread, and wine. It prays that the fire of God’s love will fashion it into hearts that are meek and courageous, and lives that are holy and true.” (Haugen; Hymnal Companion to Evangelical Lutheran Worship).

A recording by Emmaus Music can be found on YouTube at: Gather us in (Here in this place) | Marty Haugen | Gathering Songs | Emmaus Music (youtube.com). I look forward to worshipping and singing with you on Sunday as we celebrate the second Sunday after Pentecost. Soli Deo gloria – SES

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!

Power in the Spirit, 2024: REGISTER BY MAY 29!!!

“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.”

- Esther 4.14 NRSV

The story of Esther is one of God’s faithful presence, deliverance from oppression, and bold service to the neighbor. God calls Esther - a Jewish queen in a foreign land - to join in God’s plan to save God’s people. God gifts Esther with leadership, strengthens her in those gifts, and calls her to take risks - all for the sake of her own safety and that of her people. Like Esther, we can be assured of God’s holy presence and deliverance. Like Esther, we can choose to act for the deliverance of others.

Come and learn! Come for fellowship! Come to serve your neighbor! Come to Power in the Spirit 2024!

The Rev. Wes Smith, Edith Blake and Donna Gum

Wednesday Bible Study:

The Narrative Lectionary

Our long-running Wednesday Bible Study led by Pastor Drebes meets at 11:15 AM in Stoutamire Chapel. This summer, we will continue to follow the Narrative Lectionary.

A lectionary is a schedule of readings, and the Narrative Lectionary is a creation of professors at Luther Seminary. Articles, podcasts, and other resources related to the readings for each week can be found on the website Working Preacher.

For the next four weeks, our study will center on the Lord's Prayer. Click here to read ahead!

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!

Men's Spiritual Formation Group

Please join us for fellowship and spiritual studies, meeting on Tuesdays at 7:00 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!

Announcements

Altar Flower Sponsors Needed for Worship Services

The 2024 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 kellierice5@aol.com or 540-797-2973. 

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.