DREAMS CHANGE EVERYTHING - BUILDING A SENDING CHURCH

Will the dream of BUILDING A SENDING CHURCH make a difference? YES!

OUR LEADERSHIP WILL CHANGE
The leadership of the church used to do most things - run the church, keep the programs going, etc. But with dreams, it changes the focus for the leadership to be the releaser of the people's dreams. The primary focus of the leadership will be to equip people to do the ministry.

OUR DIRECTION WILL CHANGE
We're going out of the church, not into the church. How does Sunday prepare us for the rest of the week? Is it making a difference? Is it training us? Is it encouraging us to be ministers on Monday through Saturday? We exist for the sake of those who do not yet know Jesus Christ!

OUR IDENTITY WILL CHANGE
We are the salt of the earth, the light of the world. It's hard to be the light of the world if you're never in the world. It's hard to be the salt of the earth if you're never in the earth. We are light! Light wins every time over darkness. We are salt, and the only way the earth can be preserved is by being rubbed into the earth, not by isolation.

OUR GIFTS WILL CHANGE
We used to think that gifts were for us. Now we know our gifts are for others! God gifts us so we can serve the broken teens coming from abusive families, the elderly who are alone, the potential young moms who just had an abortion, the homeless poor who have no hope. We need our gifts so we can be about the mission of MAKING JESUS KNOWN

OUR SUNDAYS WILL CHANGE
What is the purpose of Sunday Mornings? Why is Sunday so important in BUILDING A SENDING CHURCH? On Sunday, March 25 you are invited to an ODYSSEY EVENING from 6:00 - 8:15 in the Family Life Center. Dinner will be served followed by the sharing of a dream for Sunday morning, discussion and discernment. Get it on your calendars and make every effort to participate in this very important evening!

THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND PRESENCE AT CENTRAL!

Paul Johansson

Paul Johansson, Senior Pastor
paul.johansson@clcelkriver.org

Lent Worship Schedule
12:00 Noon - Worship Service (Soup Lunch to follow)
6:15 pm - Worship Service (Soup served with McCs meal)
7:00 pm - Intergenerational Education Opportunities (below)

The Five Love Languages of Parenting
Wednesdays during Lent, 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Are you equipped to love your son or daughter effectively? What about your teenager? Despite significant peer pressure, it is still parents who influence teens the most. And the door to that influence is love. Love is the most functional building block of parent-son/daughter relationships. According to Dr. Gary Chapman, author of the Five Love Languages, parents must learn to express their love in a language that makes sense. Some youth long for tender words, while others desire a gentle touch, a thoughtful gift, a kind deed or quality time spent together. What love language does your child speak?

Prayer
Wednesdays during Lent, 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Do you feel like your spiritual life is missing something? Would you like to understand, experience and practice the many forms of prayer? Men and women are invited to join Sonja Dixon as together we delve into communing with the Creator of the universe.

Men
Men's Morning Bible Study
Thursdays at 6:30 am - Otsego Cafe
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Men's Basketball
Thursdays at 7:00 pm in the FLC

Quest for Authentic Manhood
Thursdays at 6:45 pm
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Tuesday Men's Prayer
Tuesdays at 6:30 am in the Sanctuary

Boot Hockey
Saturdays at 8:00 am, Handke Stadium on Main St. and Proctor.

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Adult Education
Beta
Sundays from 5:30 - 8:00 pm
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Crossways
Sundays at 9:30 & Tuesdays at 11:00 am
Guests are always welcome at Crossways!
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If Money Could Talk What Would Your's Say?
Sundays, 10:45 - 11: 45 beginning Feb. 25
Tuesdays, 7:00 - 8:00 pm beginning Feb. 27
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Lent Opportunities
Parenting Class on the Five Love Languages
Wednesdays, 7:00 - 8:00 pm beginning Feb. 28
Are you equipped to love your son or daughter effectively? What about your teenager?
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Just Walk Across the Room
Wednesdays, 7:00 - 8:00 pm beginning Feb. 28
Have you ever wondered how to share your faith with others? Jesus didn't force faith on anyone. He had no memorized script or set of handouts...
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Prayer
Wednesdays, 7:00 - 8:00 pm beginning Feb. 28
Do you feel like your spiritual life is missing something? Would you like to understand, experience and practice the many forms of prayer? Men and women are invited to join Sonja Dixon as together we delve into communing with the Creator of the universe.

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Youth (High School)
Confirmation - Lent Time Change
Wednesdays at 7:00 pm in the Yuth Room
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Didaskalot (Bible Study)
Sundays at 9:30 am with Curt Hinkle
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Sunday Night Live
Sunday at 7:01 pm.
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JLO (Junior Leader Orientation)
For high school Juniors interested in serving middle schoolers through WyldLife, The Studio, etc. Contact Curt Hinkle or Ryan Braley for more information.

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Youth (Middle School)
WyldLife
Wednesdays at 7:00 pm in the FLC
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The Studio
Central’s after school drop-in ministry on Wednesdays for middle schoolers, has grown to close to 50 kids per week.  We need adults and young adults (17 or older) that would love to spend 2-3 hours a week being Good News to kids.  Might that be you?  If you would like to learn more, please contact Curt at 763-441-2363 ext. 225.  Are you interested in helping begin a high school version of The Studio?  If so, please give me a call.
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Road to Real
Sundays at 9:30 - 10:30 am in Room 211 with Tom-Pete and Ryan
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Journey Groups
Sunday evenings, 6:00 - 8:00 pm.   If you’re not in a Journey Group and want to be, contact Ryan Braley.
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Food, Facts & Fun (Tutoring)
Wednesdays from 3:00 - 6:00 pm
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Children
Parent/Child First Communion Class
February 21, 6:00-7:00 pm, or
February 24, 10:00 - 11:00 am
Fifth graders will receive more
information in the mail. Anyone else interested in attending should call or e-mail Jill Pouliot to register.

Women
Puttin’ on the Glitz - Women’s Night Out
Thursday, April 12 at the Rockwoods Event   Center.  Cost: $30/includes meal, dessert and entertainment.  Purchase your ticket in the church office.  Do you sing, dance or have an act you would like to showcase for the        program?  Leave your name and a description of the act at the office.

Small Group Studies  
In March three groups will be studying "God is with us in Our Suffering" using the study found in Lutheran Women Today (LWT). One group will meet Thursday, March 8, 9:00 am, room 205, Roberta Takle, hostess. The other groups will meet Tuesday, March 13. Mary will meet at 9:00 am, in Rooms 210-211, Jean Holt, hostess. Sarah will meet at Barb Overbye's home at 7:30 pm. These study groups are open to all women.
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Jesus the One and Only
Thursdays at 6:45 pm
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Bible Study - 1 Peter
Thursdays at 11:00 am at Central

A Call to Grace
Mondays, 7:00-8:30 pm
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World Day of Prayer
Friday, March 2 at 12:00 pm.
Join women from throughout the area at Union Church and throughout the world in worship and prayer using the words of women of Paraguay. "United Under God's Tent" is the worship theme. A coffee hour will follow the worship service. Childcare is available. Union UCC, 1118 4th St.

Friday Night Crafts & Fellowship
March 9, 6-10 pm, rooms 210-211.
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Semi Silent Retreat
March 30-31
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Caring
GriefShare
Saturdays at 8:00AM in the Lounge. GriefShare takes participants through the grief process.
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DivorceCare
Tuesdays from 7:00 to 8:30 in Room 126.
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Special Children, Special Parents
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Befriender Ministry
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Seniors
AARP Tax Aide  
Tax preparation service is available to taxpayers with middle and low income with special attention to those age 60 and older.  Please note that taxpayers with complex tax returns will be advised to seek professional tax assistance.  The Tax-Aide will be available each Wednesday at Central until April 12. Marv Ziner and Joan Lewis are AARP volunteers.  Tax forms will be E-filed.

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Missions
Sights and Stories from Tanzania - Tanzania Mission Trip Info Meeting
Sunday, February 25 at 12:00 at 12:00 noon
Dr. Ron and Ingrid Eggert will be sharing some stories and slides about Tanzania. Stories and slides will be shared about some of the work of the Lutheran Church in Tanzania. In addition Pastor Johansson will be sharing some information about the educational mission trip to Tanzania during the last two weeks of October. Sign up in the Welcome Book, at the Welcome Center or call the Church Office(441-2363) to RSVP.

March is Minnesota Food Share Month
Saturday, March 3 there will be school buses are Coburns and Cub from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. Please plan on purchasing non-perishable food items and bring to one of the buses. This is a great way to care for the hungry in our community. Let's do our part as the Central body! Let's help fill the SCHOOL BUS! Link to CWS

World Day of Prayer
Friday, March 2
A prayer service will take place on 12:00 noon at Union Congregational Church. The public is welcome!

Prayer Cubes
Are you looking for a creative way to start your family devotions?  The Jamaica Team has created colorful prayer cubes with prayers written by the Sunday/Tuesday church school children of   Central.  Just roll the cube and focus on the prayer or scripture that appears on the top of the cube.  The prayer cubes will be available for sell in the lobby today, following all three services.  Proceeds to Robin’s Nest Children’s Home.