JULY / AUGUST 2017 Summer Issue - Christ Lutheran ...christlamesa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Christ...JULY / AUGUST 2017 Summer Issue In This Issue: Complete Love: The Gospel According

JULY / AUGUST 2017Summer Issue

In This Issue:Complete Love: The Gospel According to Ruth

Another CLS Year!

The Peculiarity of Music

Serving Over Summer

YouthWorks!

Food Packing Event

Mission Trips

Summer Movie Series Returns

...And more!

Thursday Night Commons - a new

way to Worship page 4

Summer is often the time to read a great book and see a good movie. In July, we will read a great book called Ruth. Too often the short book of Ruth in the Old Testament is limited to a nice Cinderella story. The book of Ruth is typically pegged as a daughter-in-law whose shining example is of her love for her mother-in-law. Ruth is that, but a whole lot more. Ruth is a leader, an incredible leader, an incredible grace driven leader. Ruth not only understands love, she demonstrates complete love. This July we will open up the Hebrew meaning of the background, the words, and most of all the story of God and His complete love at work, not only in Ruth’s life, but also our own. In the book of Ruth, the tragedies that hit Naomi move from famine to the death of her husband and two sons. Years of suffering and grief take only a couple of verses in the Bible. At one point Naomi wants to change her name. Naomi means “Pleasant”. She wants to be called “Mara “ meaning “Bitter”. She will learn to never give up on the complete love of God, and neither should we. We will dig into the depths of Hebrew culture, and even more, apply such truths to the culture of our day.

When Orpah makes the common-sense decision to stay in her country, Ruth shows great dedication in her famous words in Ruth 1:16-17, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” Ruth clings to Naomi, but even more, she clings to God and she leans into His complete love. Ruth has no advantages in this Bethlehem culture -- a foreigner, a female, a widow who has been unable to bear children. What she does have is God and His complete love and she leads from that strength to fulfill God’s purpose. For Ruth goes all in with God. She holds nothing back. The other significant character in the story is Boaz. He encounters Ruth and her complete love-led dynamic, and he too is one who leads from complete love. What a combo they will be. When you read the Bible, there are so many dysfunctional families and marriages. Ruth and Boaz demonstrate a faith-filled relationship living out of God’s complete love. Their secret can not only be discovered, but we can learn to bring complete love to our relationships.

“Ruth” Continued on page 8

2 Christ Tidings

Christ Tidings is published six times a year by Christ Lutheran Church Ministries

7929 La Mesa Blvd.La Mesa, CA 91942-5029

619-462-5211

Editor: Bill GowdyContributors: Pastor Richard Burkey, Xavria Schwarz,

Roger Howard, Cheri Selander, Brandon Heath,Marcy Moeller, Jan Steinbrueck, Sandy Cole, Christa Farano, Jody Bridge, Stuart Gardner,

Michelle Beath and Cindy Meyer.Comments, photos or story ideas can be sent to the

editor at: [email protected]

Complete Love:The Gospel

According to RuthPastor Burkey

Christ Lutheran School’s 58th Year Concludes June 14 marked the end of the 2016-2017 school year for Christ Lutheran School! We praise God for the preschool through eighth grade students entrusted to our care throughout the school’s fifty-eighth academic year. The school year concluded with a special Kindergarten graduation and closing chapel. Christ Lutheran School celebrated the conclusion of Kindergarten for twenty-seven students, honored fifth through eighth grade students who achieved honor roll and high honor roll status, enjoyed an end-of-the-year video, and closed the school year with chapel worship. We also rejoiced with this year’s Arthur Bean Christian Service Award recipient – Leah Kunde. Later in the evening Christ Lutheran School celebrated its fifty-eighth graduating class. Ten graduates gathered with family and friends to celebrate the conclusion of their Christ Lutheran School education. The evening included the recognition of scholastic and service achievement, speeches from the class Valedictorian, Sean Willweber, and the class Salutatorian, Marissa McRoberts, and concluded with prayer and praise. The most special portion of the evening was the individual student blessings prepared and read by a variety of CLS faculty. These special blessings were personal and a wonderful final sending for the school’s exceptional graduates. Day in and day out Christ Lutheran School is developing dynamic disciples and equipping them to be mission-minded in their families, in our school, in their community, and ultimately in our world. This school year may have concluded, but we’re already busy making plans for the 2017-2018 school year! Christ Lutheran School’s fifty-ninth academic year begins on Wednesday, August 30. If your schedule allows, join us for opening chapel at 8:45 a.m. in the gym as we celebrate and welcome in a new year at CLS!

Created by God, sent by the Holy Spirit, passionately transforming lives to be like Jesus 3

Christ Lutheran School Reminder:

July 18-22: Back to School Packets ready for pick-up! Aug 30: First day of school for 2017/18 School Year

Visit our website for more information! lutheranschool.org

Another Year Developing

Dynamic DisciplesXavria Schwarz

School Supply Packing Event Coming July 20

Join us for a special school supply packing event on Thursday, July 20 from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the school playground. To increase the incentive to participate, we’re making the event double as a family ice cream social! Our meal packing event in April was such a huge success we thought it would be fun to do a similar event on a smaller, but equally important scale. Join us to prepare the backpacks and enjoy ice cream on Thursday, July 20! It’s that simple. The backpacks prepared will be given to needy children in Colonet, Mexico and La Mesa Dale Elementary, the local school Christ Lutheran Church Ministries sponsors.

In June, Christ Lutheran Church Ministries embarked on a new summer worship schedule, designed to accommodate our members with summer schedules that often preclude the opportunity to attend regularly scheduled Sunday services. “Our leadership attended a ‘sticky teams’ workshop at North Coast Community Church in Vista and heard Pastor Larry Osborne talk about the need for a summer worship service for people who make plans on weekends, said Roger Howard, CLCM’s Minister of Worship and Music. “We also felt it was time to add a service since removing the 11 a.m. Sunday service a few years ago,” he added. With that in mind, CLCM introduced “Thursday Night Commons” a new midweek evening worship. The initial service took place June 15 and, despite some minor bumps as with anything new for the first time, proved memorable. For Pastor Burkey the biggest

highlight was the first baptism at the first Thursday evening service! “The baptism of Danika Dengerink served as a great reminder that when we worship, we celebrate God’s great work, no matter the style, environment or day of the week,” said Pastor Burkey. There was another unique aspect noted by Roger. “Seeing multiple generations of families worshipping together, with younger students and young adults involved in leadership, that was a highlight for me,” he said. The music at Thursday Night Commons is more relaxed and laid back than what you would hear at either of the Sunday services, though it is similar to our contemporary service and even features many of the same songs from that service. This is not too surprising since the music is led by Kathy Barkett who leads our Praise Band. The service has

so far featured members of Crossfire (our youth band), Jeana Byndon (one of our Lutheran School teachers) and several CLS students. Others have expressed interest in becoming involved as well. “Jeana’s and the girls’ vocals and acoustic guitar combined with Kathy Barkett’s keyboards really made a worshipful setting,” said Roger. To enhance the intimacy, the congregation occupies the front half of the sanctuary, separated from the pews by soft billowing curtain enhanced with colored “up lights” which Roger describes as “looking very ‘summery.’” There’s a lot in store for Thursday Night Commons. “The ‘Summer Family Fun’ events we have planned before and after some of the upcoming services…the multi-generational leadership…and seeing where the Spirit leads us,” Pastor Burkey said,

“Commons” continued on next page

4 Christ Tidings

Thursday Commons:A New Way to Worship

Created by God, sent by the Holy Spirit, passionately transforming lives to be like Jesus 5

The Peculiarity of MusicRoger Howard

When I see the word “peculiar,” I usually think of the synonyms “odd” or “strange.” For the purposes of this article, however, I would suggest the more appropriate synonyms “distinct” or “unique,” especially as they apply to music. Harold Best writes, “The human voice is the only musical instrument that God has directly created. By doing so, He has provided equal access to music and singing for everyone.” When the Psalmist wrote the command, “Sing to the Lord a new song” (Psalm 96:1, among many others), he was echoing Best’s admonition that “Singing is not an option for the Christian; no one is excused. Vocal skill is not a criterion.” Best also makes the point that “Lack of training does not prevent attractive singing.” He writes, “Untrained singers of all kinds and qualities can join together and produce thrilling music, unique in its unschooled color and moving in its intensity.” Lest you think that your own voice is the exception to the rule, I would point out recent research presented by Dr. Charlotte Kroeker, Executive Director of the Church Music Institute in Dallas, Texas, in the June/July 2016 issue of the Choral Journal, page 8:

Contrary to ideas that art and music belong to the right brain and language and mathematics are left brain functions, neuroscientists now demonstrate that music is distributed throughout the brain…[This] explains why persons diagnosed with Alzheimer’s who can no longer speak can sing songs with words, or why individuals with motor coordination difficulties can still play the piano. Music unites both persons with each other. Do you see? Your brain is wired by God for singing with others! Best emphasizes the communal nature of singing throughout his book, but this sentence summarizes it best: “The human voice, given over to Jesus and found in company with other voices given over similarly, produces a dignified and worthy song from storefront church to cathedral.” I wanted to share this with you as we prepare to launch a new summer worship experience at Christ Lutheran Church Ministries: Thursday Night Commons began June 15 and takes place every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and continues through August 31. We are crafting it as “relaxed summer evening worship,” with acoustic guitar, soft piano, and voices assisting your singing. If singing is not a relaxing activity for you…if it brings stress at the thought of other people hearing your singing voice… then you will not have a worshipful experience at Thursday Night Commons! The key is your voice “given over to Jesus;” once He is your audience, you can participate fully in any of our worship venues and experience God’s presence as we celebrate Him together. See you in worship!This column was inspired by Unceasing Worship, by Harold Best, retired Dean of the Conservatory of Music at Wheaton College

“Commons” from previous pageare just some of the things he’s looking forward to at Thursday Night Commons. Roger says, “Seeing and hearing different faces and new voices leading the music is one of the things I’m really looking forward to in the coming weeks.” One big question is ‘will Thursday Night Commons continue past its scheduled summer run if it proves popular enough?’ “There would be a lot of conflicting activities that would need to be shuffled around the schedule, but yes, we could continue the service if it shows growth,” said Roger. Pastor Burkey adds, “We plan to evaluate throughout the summer, especially at the end, to see where God might be leading us.” So far the feedback has been positive. “Those who came primarily affirmed the time, the casual feel, and the convenience of the day and time,” said Pastor Burkey. In fact, if the second session (in which dozens of extra chairs had to be brought in to accommodate the congregation) is any indication of where the Spirit is leading us, a Thursday evening worship may well be a regular part of CLCM’s future. Come give the service a “test drive.” Thursday Night Commons is at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday in the sanctuary.

How about taking time to serve this Summer? In the life of a developing dynamic disciple, serving is a concrete way of living out the grace of Jesus that so blesses our life. If I could, I would serve all the time. I would build houses in Mexico, pick up trash anywhere and everywhere, volunteer with kids, feeding the hungry, do yard work for those who can’t, respond to natural disasters, and much more. Serving is exciting, humbling, unpredictable, community-building, hard, and one of the most concrete ways to love Jesus and others. I love to serve with long-time friends and people I don’t know yet. Nothing creates and builds relationships like serving alongside one another. But what stops me from serving? • Time. • My self-centered preoccupations. • Busy-ness. • Thinking it won’t make a difference. This summer will be different. It is a season with a slower pace, kind of. And because of that slower pace, I have resolved to make opportunities to serve this summer. What about you and your families? How could you serve this summer?

How about volunteering at a local food bank like these student leaders from Christ Lutheran School? Or getting a group together and doing yard work for a friend – a great way to spend a couple of hours.

You could join other Christ Lutheran people for the School Supply Packing Event, Thursday July 20, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Come and load backpacks full of school supplies for students of La Mesa Dale Elementary School, and the children of Mexico.

You could certainly volunteer to serve in Summer Sunday School for a Sunday or two (or even continue into regular Sunday School in the Fall). Or how about giving a helping hand with the Sunday morning set-up crew, the hospitality teams or the Fireside Coffeehouse?

I look forward to serving this summer with nine youth, and three adults, as we travel to the community of Logan, West Virginia. May we all, in gratitude of all the gifts our good Father blesses us with, joyfully serve this summer season and always!

6 Christ Tidings

Serving Over Summer Cheri Selander

Coming In September: Our Fall Issue!

Created by God, sent by the Holy Spirit, passionately transforming lives to be like Jesus 7

“A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and

eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”

John 10:10 (Message) This summer, our High School Youth will be headed to Logan, West Virginia for a week long servant event with the organization YouthWorks. YouthWorks is a partnership organization with Christ Lutheran Youth Ministry. These mission trips began in 1994 with the intent to provide quality, affordable, life-changing, Christ-centered mission opportunities for teenagers. That first summer, YouthWorks had two mission sites with over 400 youth participating. More than 20 years later, they have more than 60 mission sites and over 26,000 participants who serve during the summer mission trips. Christ Lutheran Youth Ministry went on their first YouthWorks trip during the summer of 2002. As we prepared to go, I remember every youth signed up to go questioning if it would be worth their time. And yet by the end of the week we were able to see how God worked in the community, in our group, and with groups that we partnered with. It has been in our three year rotation ever since. We have gone to: Cortez, Colorado in 2002; Lodge Grass, Montana in 2005; Delbarton, West Virginia in 2008; Blackfeet Nation, Montana in 2011; and Marvell, Arkansas in 2014. This year we will be going to Logan, West Virgina. Each site has four young adults (18 to 23 years of

age) who lead the group. The Site Director mentors and supervises the rest of the team (known as Site Coordinators). They connect with the adult leaders from each youth group to help them navigate the week with their youth. They also help facilitate relationships with the community members they are serving throughout the summer. Each YouthWorks trip has been slightly different on how they use their Site Coordinators. We have had a Ministry Support Coordinator who helps youth connect their service to Jesus through music, Bible study, and worship. Work Project Coordinators help youth engage in the community by leading work crews in painting and minor home repair projects. Kids Club Coordinator helps teens facilitate a daily kids club as they create crafts, play games, practice songs, and share God’s Word. Lastly, we have had the Sports Camp Coordinator who has helped our teens engage 10-14 year-olds in the community in a daily sports camp program. We have also partnered with YouthWorks here in San Diego over the past three years. Each summer they host youth at a local church near downtown San Diego. We support their staff by taking them out to eat, praying with them, allowing them to take showers at our facility, and giving them an air conditioned oasis at someone’s home on their days off. The youth that come to serve here in San Diego work all over the county including the Food Bank and Saint Vincent de Paul. The Good Life, based on John 10:10, is this year’s theme for those communities in which YouthWorks will be serving. We celebrate that it is the Life in Jesus that we get to share as we serve in West Virginia. We are also blessed that the same message is being told by other youth groups right here in San Diego. Please join me in praying for both groups this summer. Additional information found at https://www.youthworks.com.

YouthWorksBrandon Heath

On Sunday, June 25, we commissioned our seven-member, short-term Paraguay and Peru Mission Team. Our team consists of Sandy Cole, Suzanne Calcutt, Megan Calcutt, Aidan Calcutt, Paola Sullivan, Kylee Sullivan, and Sophie Hughes. The team departed on their 18-day mission trip Friday, June 30. They will spend ten days in Tobati and Encarnacion, Paraguay followed by 8 days in Lima, Peru. In conjunction with Su Refugio Ministries, they will minister to orphans, hold VBS, work at a vision clinic, and hold Bible Studies. Please pray for safe travels for our team as they spread God’s Word.

Paraguay/Peru Short-term Mission Team Commissioned

8 Christ Tidings

“Ruth” continued from page 2 Ruth pushes the gleaning laws of the day a bit, but we discover that Boaz is a man of integrity, of character, and of grace. The gleaning laws stated that harvested fields should be left open to gleaners, but Boaz, in grace, invites Ruth to harvest. The letter of the law said, “Let them glean.” The spirit of the law, the grace of Boaz says, “Feed them.” Throughout the book of Ruth, Naomi wonders why. One scholar compares Naomi to a female Job. God’s answer is Ruth and His grace. God’s goal is not simply caring for the needs of Naomi or carrying on a family line. Even more, God realigns the lineage of His Son through a Moabite woman who lives and leads out of complete love. July will be a great time to jump into this good book. August will again bring our movie series back. Instead of just one great movie we will consider the powerful stories of Complete Love told in four movies: the animated Beauty and the Beast, the story of Easter from the viewpoint of a Roman soldier in Risen, the power of faith and love at work in Hidden Figures, and the power of love to overcome grief in Pixar’s Up. Each movie brings an aspect of love. Each movie provides handles to have faith conversations with others. Why do a movie series? A good movie taps into our love for stories. Unintentionally (though sometimes intentionally) movies tap into God’s greater story at work in our lives. Such movie stories provide handles to share the great gospel message. For our best stories often tap into God’s greater story at work. With these four movies, we will discover the power of the resurrection to transform lives. For needed assistance being met just in time, and for an awareness God is at work in our world. This summer join us for a great book named Ruth and four good movies. And remember the weekend worship fun kicks off this summer with Thursday Night Commons!

During May’s Food Packing Event, Pack a Meal -- Feed a Child, we packed 50,000 meals in just over an hour. These meals will feed the poor and hungry in Argentina. While “serving others” was the key focus of this event another benefit was “serving together.” Members of the congregation got to know each other better or meet others who attend a different service! Church members discussed this bonding experience in one of our “Ministry Moment” videos which can be seen on You Tube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_-lJKBTGDU With 50,000 meals in just over an hour perhaps next year we might shoot for 100, 000 meals, according to Pastor Burkey!

50,000 Meals Packed in Just Over an Hour

Created by God, sent by the Holy Spirit, passionately transforming lives to be like Jesus 9

Mission Season is Off to a Great Start at Christ Lutheran Church Ministries

It’s short-term mission season here at Christ Lutheran Ministries! This year CLCM has 14 missionaries signed on for four mission trips. It’s actually five, but our Paraguay missionaries will be pulling “double duty” in a sense, as the Paraguay team will roll into the Peru mission for the last eight days of their trip. We kicked off our mission season with a spaghetti dinner fundraiser which generated more than $3000 to assist our missionaries on their trips. Our first mission team has already started their trip to Paraguay and Peru (see and read about their commissioning on page 7)! Paraguay mission trip stalwart Sandy Cole will be leading six other members (Suzanne, Megan and Aidan Calcutt, Paola and Kylie Sullivan and Sophie Hughes) all of whom have done Paraguay missions at least once in the past. They will hold Vacation Bible Schools, conduct eye clinics and share prayer bracelets and the “evangicube.” In late summer, Lissa Vincelett, and her daughter Kylee Bedford, head to Uganda, one of two mission trips scheduled for the African continent. Then, in September, Niles Sharif will once again lead a mission trip to Burundi, our other mission to Africa. Accompanying him this time will be Paul Marvin, Wendy Dengerink, and Heidi Powers. They will again work on water projects and morality training. We wrap up mission season in October when Jay Le makes his second mission trip to Vietnam. Please pray for our missionary teams as they travel and spread God’s Word in the coming months.

10 Christ Tidings Treasures in the Church Library:

End of the Spear In 1955, five missionaries were killed in Ecuador by the Auki, a name meaning “naked savage.” This tribe is the most savage culture ever known. However, they never refer to themselves as Auki, but rather the Waodani. Now that they know Watengongi (God) and have given up their life by the spear, Steve Saint would like to get away from them being known as

“savage.” After the killings, some of the families of the five missionaries stayed on to forgive and to establish a friendship with the Waodani. God used these people to talk to and lead the Waodani people to God. Steve Saint is the son of Nate Saint, the pilot. He was five when his dad was killed, and he was nine when he first visited and later lived with his aunt who had stayed living in

the jungle, soon becoming part of the Waodani family for a few years. He was baptized by the same man who had killed his father. In 1995 he was asked by the Waodani if he would come and live with them again. They gave Steve three reasons to come. They wanted him to help them protect themselves, to teach them, and to help them get medicine. Only God would make this happen: give up a successful business in Florida, uproot his wife and three children, and accept living in extremely primitive conditions. He truly loved this group of people who had killed his father. This book has a lot to say about living in the culture of a primitive group, teaching them about God, yet

respecting their traditions. Steve felt like someone living between two cultures, as did many of the young Waodani people. It was important to Steve for the Waodani themselves to provide the leadership for their own people. Randy Alcorn wrote, “End of the Spear is a fascinating inside story that only Steve Saint could tell. The affection and respect of Steve and his family for the Waodani…and especially for the delightful Mincaye, once a killer of Steve’s father and now a lover of God’s Son, capture the heart and power of the gospel. This book is a page-turner, right through the heart-gripping epilogue. Read it. You’ll never be the same.” This book, (922 S) is on the “Recent Additions” shelf. Elisabeth Elliot, wife of Jim Elliot, wrote a book soon after the missionary deaths called Through Gates of Splendor which is on the shelf labeled “Biography” (922 E). It tells more about the lives of the five missionaries and goes into depth about the event. Looking for the books previously on the “Recent Additions” shelves? They have been moved to other spots in the library. Look at the categories on the shelves and the books displayed on top to help find them. The library is located in the Fireside Room and is open on Sundays from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. During the week, stop by the church office for a key.

New Directory Coming Soon It has been eight years since we last released a pictorial directory, so we are long overdue for a new one! With that in mind, you’ll want to start practicing your picture-perfect smiles because later this summer we will start shooting your portraits for the new directory. Everyone who has their picture taken will receive a copy of the directory and a free 8x10 photo. You’ll also have the option to purchase photo packages just in time for Christmas. Watch for posters around the campus and sign-ups in the courtyard between services!

Annual “Movie Message” Series Returns in August Pastor Burkey’s popular “Movie Message” series returns in August for the fourth Summer in a row. This year we will examine God’s hidden message in Hidden Figures, Risen, Beauty and the Beast, and Up. The idea for the series first arose in 2014 when Pastor Burkey noted, “An occupational blessing of being a pastor is always looking for good message illustrations, and often that pops up in the movies.” Then he heard screenwriting teacher Bob McKee observe that we go to the movies because we hope to find in someone else’s story something that will help our own. We go to “live in a fictional reality that illuminates our daily reality.” Feedback from the congregation after the second year was positive and that feedback continues to be positive so Pastor Burkey decided to make it a summer tradition. We will kick off this newest “God’s Epic Story in Movies” series the weekend of August 4 and 5. Those attending Thursday Night Commons can actually experience it even earlier on August 1, which is “another incentive to give Thursday Night Commons a try,” said Pastor Burkey. The message series will run for four weeks

Created by God, sent by the Holy Spirit, passionately transforming lives to be like Jesus 11Guest Column by Jan Steinbrueck, our Summer Youth intern

“...I’ve a feeling we’re not in (Missouri) anymore...” In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy’s realization of no longer being in Kansas explains perfectly my realization of not being home in Missouri anymore. Aside from being at Concordia in Seward, Nebraska, and being home for four short days in the last month, I’ve traveled to Gulf Shores, Alabama for the National Track Meet, Southern India for my first international mission trip, and now I’ve been brought here to La Mesa, California for my summer internship. Having been born and raised in St. Louis, things seem to be just a little bit different out here on the West Coast. But there is one thing that carries over from Concordia Nebraska and back at home. And that is community. Upon arriving in La Mesa after a two and a half day road trip with my sister, I was soon taken to my host family, the Cott’s. Within no time, everything was unloaded from my car and plans were made to have dinner at the house with several of the neighbors. In a matter of a couple hours, I had already met several people in the neighborhood who also attend Christ Lutheran, resulting in the “newbie” being able to recognize people the next day at work. On the first day of work, I was given an excellent tour by Cheri of the whole campus, meeting what seemed like hundreds of new people. I became acquainted with what work would be done this summer (or should I say how much fun I’m going to have working with the church and youth). The following day I was able to attend the closing chapel and assist with the message. I also had the opportunity to hang out with Refuge kids at the beach and attend the first ever Commons worship service on Thursday night. In all of this, it has been apparent that Christ Lutheran Church Ministries supports a community aspect on all facets of life. I see community in the way that the congregation and staff interact with one another. I can see it in the smiles of the kids. I see it in families and the way they care for one another. Most of all, I could see community in the last chapel and during the 8th grade graduation. It is clear that Christ Lutheran cares about the people within the church and school and the surrounding area. I have felt nothing but love coming into this place and I am nothing less than excited to serve in this community for the summer.

12 Christ Tidings

2017 Rummage Sale is in the Bag While Christ Lutheran School’s Annual Rummage Sale, held in the gym June 8-10, fell a few dollars short for the second year in a row, it was still a success, netting $11,600. Despite falling short of 2014’s record-breaking $14,000.56, the customer turnout and profits were still impressive. All proceeds will go to fund Christ Lutheran School needs such as technology upgrades, lesson materials, and other needs. The sale was coordinated by Christa Farano who has taken over from Jody Bridge. Jody was still present to ensure Christa had smooth transition. They worked closely with nearly 100 volunteers. These volunteers worked tirelessly for an entire week, setting up tables and racks, cleaning and testing items, setting prices, and arranging for furniture and other large donated items to be picked up. Christa attributes the slight decrease in earnings on a few things, but she feels there was one major contributing factor. “This year there was a noticeable reduction in the number of items donated,” said Christa. And, like last year, there were fewer shoppers than usual. Christa also noted that, as in years past, people still comment that we have the best organized rummage sale in San Diego! In addition to thousands of items of clothing, other items donated included furniture, electronics, knick knacks, thousands of toys, books, video tapes and DVDs, and compact discs. There were a few unusual items donated as well. “We received a 1950’s era electronic hairdryer that had a hose that attached to a hair cap for drying your hair on the go – and not only that, it was pink to boot!” said Christa. A number of rare or valuable items were also donated, including a watch worth well over $1000, a jewelry box worth $300 and some vintage Hollywood magazines from the 1940s and 1950s. These items were sold on eBay to maximize their value. “I want to thank everyone, all our wonderful volunteers, staff, and shoppers,” said Christa, “but I would particularly like to thank Jody Bridge who, instead of abandoning me in my naiveté, continued to coach me, show me the ropes, and co-chair with me for the duration.” And Jody adds, “We want to give a big thank you to Big Box for their donation of a storage unit during the duration of the rummage sale and set up.” At the event’s end on Saturday, June 10, all unsold items were donated to Disabled American Vets. “DAV is an organization helping veterans of all branches get back on their feet after a service-related disability and the hardships they often have to endure.” More than three truckloads of unsold items were donated. Next year’s Rummage Sale will be here sooner than you think, so start saving those unwanted, gently used items! “We take just about everything, and sell it to new homes where it will be loved and appreciated anew,” said Jody. “Please come join us next year, we have a lot of fun!”

Create For Community “Phase One” Starts This Summer

You probably saw some dust at the end of June when we repaired our roof’s many cracked and broken tiles which revealed themselves by way of leaks during the much needed rainfall we received in recent months. But the dust will continue for a short time as we start Phase One of Create for Community later in July. Phase One consists of updates to the sanctuary (the second level and gym remodel, a major part of Create for Community, will be a phase that comes a little later). The updates to the sanctuary are a new screen and projector that will make viewing media during services and other church events much easier to see and read. And improved pictures need improved sound. Our aging sanctuary audio system will get an update bringing the sound quality into the 21st century. Pastor Burkey’s sermons, the reading of Bible verses, and the speeches of guests will sound crisp and clear. Finally, the narthex will get a total remodel and modernization, removing the care boxes that are rarely used anymore along with other enhancements.