Central Lutheran Church, Elk River, MN

Get Plugged In!

2010-08-18T06:00:00Z

Dear Central Family,

It is hard to believe that summers is almost over!

This means we only have three more Sundays in our Joshua journey. I will be sharing this Sunday on Joshua 23:1-16 (God's Faithfulness), Sonja will be sharing on August 29 on Joshua 24:1-18 (Choose this Day) and Jeff will be sharing on September 5 on Judges 2:6-15 (After Joshua's Death). What does the Spirit want to teach us these three Sundays? I have learned so much from our Joshua journey and I pray that I (and we) will follow the counsel of Joshua;

"Therefore be very steadfast to observe and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right nor to the left, so that you may not............Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God." (Joshua 23:6-11)

As we come together these next few weeks you will be invited to get plugged in to Central in a variety of ways. Today I want to you consider five ways to get connected. The first is the most important because without prayer we might as well close our doors! It is through prayer that we get plugged into the life giving presence of the Spirit! So here are five ways to get connected and I hope everyone will commit to the first opportunity.

24/7 PRAYER - We are in the midst of asking the members of Central's body to indicate a specific time each day to pray for the work and witness of Central. Presently we have 141 children, youth and adults who have signed up to pray at a specific time each day. Right now members of Central are praying 21 hours a day. We still need people to sign up for midnight, 1:00am and 2:00am. If you have not yet signed up to pray please do so today! You can respond to this email, call Brenda Shirley at the Church Office, or sign up this Sunday at worship and let us know when you will be praying. Praying is a ministry for all Christ followers. It is the hidden work of every believer!
PHONE INVITATIONS - We are also in the midst of recruiting 100 youth and adults to make 15 phone calls to Central members the week after Labor Day. Right now we have 51 individuals who are on board. We need 49 more people! The purpose of these phone calls is twofold: invite people to Sunday worship as we begin the journey through the Book of Acts and ask people if they have any specific concerns they would like the staff to be praying about. Pastor Sonja Dixon will be preparing a simple script to assist you. Once again you can respond to this email, call the office or sign up this Sunday.
ALL PAINTS DAYS - On Friday, August 27 from 7:30am to 9:30pm and Saturday, August 28 from 7:30am to finish we will be painting the lobby and halls. If you are around these two days please get plugged in and help paint. You can sign up in one of the three ways that has already been identified.
384 CHILDREN AND YOUTH from our sister congregations in Njombe, Tanzania have been identified for scholarship assistance so they can go to school. More information will be forthcoming but be praying about your response to these children in Southern Tanzania.
MUSIC MINISTRY - If God has given you a musical gift you will want to plan on being at Central at 7:00pm on Wednesday evenings. Instrumentalists, vocalists, key board, percussionist, etc. You will be hearing much more about this from our new Director Of Music, Phil Reesnes and Brian Budahn, our Adult Choir Director.

In closing a special word of thanks to all who stepped forward to financially support the Summer 2010 Building Renovations and Improvements. 179 individuals/families have promised $57,049.00 to support these necessary capital improvements. (A matching gift of $12,811.00 is part of the total). If you would like to still contribute to this project, please contact Kris Geslin in the Church Office. In addition THANK YOU to Jeff Knutson for overseeing this project.

C U Sunday!

Paul Johansson

Cities of Refuge

2010-08-10T15:54:32Z

Central Family,

We live in an increasingly dangerous world in which there are fewer and fewer places of guaranteed security. As Christ followers we know that God is our Refuge, our hiding place, a strong tower in the midst of danger. Hebrews 6:18 talks about fleeing to the Lord for refuge. The concept of fleeing to the Lord for refuge is birthed in the the cities of refuge that God set up in the land. Joshua 20 begins: "Then the Lord said to Joshua, 'Say to the people of Israel, 'Appoint the cities of Refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses..." What do we know about the cities of refuge?

They were strategically located so that there would be easy access to them for anybody seeking refuge.
The gates of the cities of refuge were never to be locked.
The city was to be well stocked to provide for any fugitives who came to stay for however long they might need to be there.
Refuge was only guaranteed as long as they remained in the city.
The cities were designated for all the people of Israel, including the stranger.

Are there any similarities between the asylum found in these cities and the refuge of our relationship to the Lord Jesus? This is the question we will consider at Central's Sunday morning worship gatherings as we read and reflect on Joshua 20:1-6. In addition to our 3 Sunday morning worship times you are invited to participate in the WHY CHURCH at the YMCA at 9:30 on Sunday morning or THE GATHERING at 6:00pm on Sunday evening in the Sanctuary.

IN ADDITION I hope you will sign up for two very important things in our life together at Central!

24/7 Connections - this fall we are hoping to have over 500 prayer partners who will pray for Central at a specific time each day. It is our hope to have someone praying for Central at each time of the day and night. You can respond to this email me and tell me when you will pray for Central and I will make sure your name gets on the Prayer List or you can sign up this Sunday at worship. As we move forward with our three-year REVEAL VISION we know that we are dependent upon the Spirit of God for everything! Prayer is one of most important and vital things we do. Luther once said, "Just as it is the work of the cobbler to make shoes so it is the work of the Christian to pray!"

Will you be a connecter? Central will be conducting a "get connected" phone blitz from September 7 through September 11. We are looking for 100 people to make 15 phone calls each, inviting people to worship and extending our care. An instruction sheet will be provided to each caller. Once again you can sign up by responding to this email and I will make sure you are on the list or you can sign up this Sunday at worship.

Thanks for your partnership in Making Jesus Known and I look forward to worshipping

In Christ,

Paul Johansson

P.S. This Sunday Andrew Johansson will give a brief report on the children's sponsorship project with our sister congregations in Southern Tanzania. Be praying that God will raise up hundreds of families in our congregation to help with the education of children in our sister congregations.

PRIMARY FOCUS for Central

2010-08-03T16:51:58Z

Central Family,

What would happen if I were to say to the congregation, "Would all of the ministers present please stand up?"

This summer we are on a Joshua Journey. In the fall we will begin a journey through the book of Acts. Both books teach us how to move beyond ourselves into a new way of following the Lord. This coming Sunday we will gather around Joshua 14:6-14. Three times it is said that Caleb "wholeheartedly followed the Lord God." More than anything else this is the prayer and desire of Central's leadership for the body of Central. May it be said of us that we "wholeheartedly follow the Lord our God."

On July 12 and 13 your leadership staff went on a retreat to discern the diagnosis from the REVEAL SPIRITUAL LIFE SURVEY. In addition to identifying the six specific foci that REVEAL showed us we need to pay special attention to we discerned a primary REVEAL VISION for our life together this coming program year. Subsequently the Church Council met on July 19 and wholeheartedly affirmed the REVEAL VISION. What is the vision?

1. Train and equip leaders to do the work of the ministry (see Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 4:7-16)
2. Discern God's Design for the Body of Central

In the months to come there will be many specific and tangible ways for you to be involved in the process of discerning God's Design for the Body of Central. But for now I want to begin to have a conversation with you about where we are moving. Back to the question that I started with; "What would happen if I were to say to the congregation, 'would all of the ministers present please stand up?" This little exercise goes along way to show where we are at in the journey of making disciples.

There is no one who is Holy except God OR Hakuna Mtukufu ila Mungu pekee

2010-07-20T20:13:24Z

Central Family,

Last Sunday we gathered around Joshua 5:13 - 6:7. "Joshua saw a man standing before him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you one of us, or one of our adversaries?" He replied, "Neither; but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped, and he said to him, "What do you command your servant my Lord?"

We heard the third word of counsel from Pastor Isaac and our sister congregations; "Hakuna Mtufkufu ila Mungu pekee," which means "there is no one who is Holy except God." How is the Lord King? One of the primary themes of God's Word is, "the Lord is King." In Psalm 93 :1 we read, "The Lord is King; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed, he is girded with strength." I wonder if the people of Israel ever scratched their heads and wondered about the Lord being King. Everything around them pointed to earthly kings. Through out the history of the people of God it seemed that they lived under the thumb of an earthly king, i.e., Egypt, Babylon, Greece, Rome, Assyria, Phoenicia or any number of other foreign empires. Does the Lord really reign?

YES! Of course the Lord rules and reigns we say rather piously. But as we look at the world around us we have to ask how does the Lord rule and reign. Did you note how the Psalmist began Psalm 93? The Lord is "robed in majesty, he is girded with strength." The Lord wears majesty and strength like clothing; God's true nature is beneath the surface, often hidden from the human mind and eye.

When Jesus came to earth, God shed his majestic clothing and revealed the true nature of his kingship. Jesus lay in a manger as opposed to a palace. Jesus surrounded himself with poor and disenfranchised people as opposed to the rulers and wealthy. Jesus rode a donkey instead of a stallion, Jesus' throne was a cross and he wore a crown of thorns not gold or jewels. No wonder Pontius Pilate asked; "Are you a king?" He commanded no armies, called down no heavenly powers to defend him but became weak, humble and lowly. In Christ Jesus we have a vision of the new kingdom. "The word of the cross is foolishness to the perishing, but to us being saved it is the power of God." (1 Cor 1:18)

Do you want to see power? Watch Jesus wash feet and touch the untouchables. Watch Jesus forgive the very ones who spat on him and mocked him. Watch Jesus surrender his life to the Father. Watch Jesus breath his last and three days later miraculously show up again. As we move forward in our Joshua journey it is good to pause and reflect who our King is and what type of body does the Lord want to create at Central. It has nothing to do with earthly power but has everything to do with Jesus who stands before each one of us. How do you respond to him? This Sunday will you join your brothers and sisters and fall on the ground, worship the Lord and freshly surrender your life?

Messages from our partner congregations

2010-07-07T16:53:57Z

Central Family,

How is the Joshua journey going during these hot and humid days of July? Are you reading the Joshua devotionals that have been written by Central members? What a blessing to read Erica Cooper's devotion on Tuesday, July 6 and Pete Stanley's devotion today, Wednesday, July 7! If you don't have a copy of the Joshua devotional you can visit www.clcelkriver.org and read the daily devotions from Joshua.

This Sunday we will be gathering around Joshua 5:2-12 a the 8:15, 9:30 and 11:00 worship. I encourage you to read this important narrative about the first things that happen after the people enter the promised land. What are the first two things that occur? What does God do? What happens to the manna? These are just some of the questions that the story encourages us to ask. In addition I want to share two of the three words of counsel from Pastor Isaac Chungala, the Pastor who birthed our partnership with Kibena and Matiganjola over ten years ago. When Pastor Isaac heard that Martha and I were visiting in Njombe he took a bus for over seven hours to have lunch with us prior to our departure. He presented us with three gifts to personally thank Central for the partnership. Can you imagine travelling seven hours just to say WELCOME, THANKS AND GOOD BYE? We can learn much from the hospitality of our brothers and sisters in Tanzania.

Pastor Isaac presented us with three colorful table cloths that each had a Swahili wisdom saying. This Sunday I will be sharing about two of them and on Sunday, July 18 I will share the third word of counsel and advice from Pastor Isaac. This Sunday we will hear:

"Lililofunguliwa na Mungu binadamu hawezi kulifunga" and
"Udugu mzuri mpendane sio mnyanyasane."

I know that you will be blessed by the counsel and encouragement from Pastor Isaac. You can translate the phrase yourself or you can wait for worship this Sunday. Joshua 5 is very significant as God changes the way he provides for his people in the promised land. There are many lessons for us to learn as we begin a new season of life together as a Lutheran Congregation in Mission for Christ. What will our life look like as we die to ourselves and lose our life? What new things will God be doing in our midst?

Partnership

2010-07-01T12:11:31Z

Dear Central Family,

On Tuesday Martha and I returned from Tanzania. It was a fantastic trip and we thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to travel with Stephen and Andrew this past month. One of the highlights of our trip was our visit with our partner congregations, Kibena and Matiganjola. The congregations of Kibena and Matiganjola are our sister congregations in Njombe in the Southern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. These two congregations are vibrant and growing and their worship is joyful and Christ centered. It was a blessing to be welcomed and prayed for by the people of Kibena and Matiganjola and I was blessed to be able to assure them that we pray for them on a weekly basis.

Words cannot express the love, generosity, kindness and hospitality that we experienced. These two congregations are a shining example of the body of Christ. From the moment we were greeted by our guests from last fall, Pastors Seth, Boaz, Josia and Jenesia and Janeth, we were treated as if we were the prodigal son returning to home to the loving Father. Gifts were showered upon us, food was shared and appreciation was expressed for Central's partnership. Last Sunday Martha, Andrew and I were privileged to worship with the Pastors and people of the Kibena congregation in Njombe, Tanzania.

Worship in Tanzania is a little different than what we are accustomed to at Central. The first service started at 7:00AM and finished at approximately 9:30. As the first service worshippers were singing outside and having an auction for some of the gifts that were offered we had a quick cup of tea, more prayer and then started the second service at 10:00. Once again worship lasted well over two hours and ended at approximately 12:30PM. Each service was packed with men, women and children. Five choirs led worship (no organ or piano) and three offerings were taken at each service (one of the offerings was for building improvements - sound familiar? Have you given your gift yet to the Capital Improvements Fund?). In addition to the offering of money the people who did not have cash came forward with chickens, a goat, vegetables, bananas, crafts, material, potatoes, art work and eggs. At the end of each worship these gifts were auctioned off outside the church building and the monies received were credited to the one who offered the goods.

In addition to worshipping with the Pastors and people of Kibena and Matiganjola on Sunday we had meetings with the partnership committee, the Bishop's Office and congregational leaders from the two parishes during our visit. At each meeting official greetings were extended to the people of Central. Words of gratitude were expressed for the partnership and I expressed our appreciation to them for their witness to us. I can assure you that the people of Kibena and Matiganjola value the partnership that continues to grow. When Martha, Andrew and I met with the Partnership Committee from the two congregations we received a report about some of the specific ways that our partnership is growing:

You have never been this way before

2010-06-24T13:07:14Z

"When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.” (Joshua 3:3-4)

Mitch, who was new to the outdoors, and I were hiking an obscure foothill of the Olympic Mountains in Washington state. Well, to be honest we were bushwhacking, but I didn’t tell Mitch that. We made our way down a streambed, through a steep-sided ravine, fought our way up a slope clinging to roots and clumps of bushes all the way up. Every few feet Mitch asked me, “There’s a trail at the top of this hill, right?” I assured him that there would be a trail. We reached the top of the hill and began working our way through a tangle of Scotch Broom (a Pacific Northwest plant, grows chest-high and is particularly obnoxious to walk through), down a gentle grade through thick timber and open meadows. Finally Mitch asked me, “Jeff — where’s the trail?” I answered in a voice that I tried to make inspiring and adventurous, “We’re making the trail!” Mitch was not amused. He threatened to turn around and walk back to the car. Trouble is, I told him, we turned around climbing out of the ravine back there. Now the car is in front of us — the shortest way back is the way we’re going. He had little choice but to follow, threatening me with all kinds of bodily harm the whole way back.

Have you ever felt like Mitch? It’s difficult to go where you have not been before without a guide, or worse yet with a guide who is untrustworthy. The Israelites had spent the last forty years wandering in the wilderness, but they had never crossed over into the Promised Land. So God directed Joshua and Joshua directed the priests to carry the ark of the covenant — God’s presence among them — across the Jordan ahead of them. The ark became a visual, tangible way for God to lead his people. God promised to lead his people into Canaan if they would follow his guidance.

Not only did he send the ark ahead of them, but he also spoke his word to them. Joshua spoke to the people and said, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God” (verse 9). They needed not only God’s presence ahead of them (the ark) but they also needed God’s direction — his word — to help them understand how to follow.

So it is for us. Day after day we face situations we’ve never faced before. There are no rehearsals in life. So we need to pay attention to God’s leading, his presence. We need to ask ourselves, “What is God up to? Where is he going?” Then we need to gather together and carefully listen to the words of the Lord our God. This is why we gather for worship week after week. We desperately need to hear God’s word together and to talk together about what God is up to, where he is leading.

I hope you will make it a priority to be in worship this week. If your summer weekends involve a lake cabin or camping trips, make it a priority to find a place to worship where you are. If that’s not possible, consider gathering those you’re with, reading Joshua 3 together, and talking about how God is leading you, what he is up to. If you’re close to Elk River, make it a priority to be at Central for worship, to join with God’s people and listen to the words of God together. We’ll be considering Joshua 3, and the questions of how we prepare to be led into the Promised Land. The answers may surprise you!

Hope to see you in worship this Sunday!

Pastor Jeff

A Reputation

2010-06-16T16:55:47Z

Dear friends in Christ,

Isn’t this Joshua journey exciting? I am enjoying every step of the way! This Sunday we turn our attention to the story of Rahab and the two spies as found in Joshua 2. I hope you’ll take the time to read this story through before worship. It is full of intrigue and bold moves – great drama! Here is the cliff note version: Joshua has told the people to be strong and courageous and to prepare provisions for they are about to take possession of the land God is giving them. As any smart leader should, Joshua determines to discover what obstacles are ahead and what it is going to take to successfully move into God’s promised land. He sends out two spies who find lodging in the home of Rahab, the prostitute. (There are several different theories as to why the spies chose Rahab’s accommodations but I’ll leave that one for you to ponder. ) Rahab informs the spies that the people of Jericho are super fearful of the God of the Israelites. God’s reputation precedes Him and Rahab knows the Lord has given the land to Joshua and the people of God. Therefore she boldly hides the spies, lies to the king of Jericho, and negotiates a covenant of protection for her and her family. This is one shrewd and faith-filled woman!

Rahab the prostitute is used by God in Joshua 2 and later included in the genealogy of Jesus (Mathew 1), as a hallmark of faith (Hebrews 11:31), and as an example of one considered righteous (James 2:25). Once again I am reminded of the types of people God continually uses in His story. The question becomes, “If God can use Rahab, is it possible that He could use me?” I hope you’ll come on Sunday morning as we consider this together. Why not bring someone with you? Sometimes we assume that people like Rahab (a pagan, a Canaanite, and a prostitute) have no interest in God. Let’s not gauge a person’s interest in God by their background, life-style, or appearance. Extend the invitation and see what God’s Spirit does!

Big thanks to all those who have written devotionals for this Joshua journey. Today’s sharing by the Hackman family was just what I needed to start my day. If you don’t have a devotional yet, please stop by the church and pick one up out of the pews. It is well worth the read!

I also want to remind you that we are hoping to receive our summer Phase Two remodeling project pledges by June 27th so prayerfully consider what your gift will be for this much-needed remodel. We are currently at almost $18,000 of the $40,000 needed. We’d love to get this started in July!

In closing, God hid the spies on Rahab’s rooftop. Psalm 91 reminds us, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

God’s grace and peace,

Sonja Dixon

Be Strong and Courageous

2010-06-09T15:40:52Z

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

As the third son in my family, I grew up knowing my limitations, my weakness. My two older (and much bigger) brothers made sure of that. As a child I developed a picture of myself. I believed that I was smaller and weaker than everyone around me. This sense of weakness was reinforced because I was a year younger than everyone else in my school class. Whether on the farm or on the playground, I thought of myself as little and weak.

Imagine my surprise when I grew up and realized that physically, I was strong enough and capable enough to do what needed to be done! Imagine my even greater shock when I realized that in the world beyond the playground, strength of will and courage to face a daunting task without bending were much more important than physical strength. Yet it took years for me to grow past the image of myself as small and weak, to take hold of both the physical strength and the strength of will that God had placed within me.

As followers of Jesus, it is critically important for us to know when we are weak and when we are strong. When we are full of ourselves and our own capabilities, we are probably weakest. When we are infatuated with our own strength, we are self-deceived. But when we know our limitations and our weakness -- more important, when we know the strength of Jesus in the middle of our weakness -- then we have unlimited strength. This message surfaces time and time again in the Bible. One of the many passages that directs us to the strength of the Lord is found in Psalm 118:

The LORD is my strength and my song;
       he has become my salvation.
Shouts of joy and victory
       resound in the tents of the righteous:
       "The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!
The LORD's right hand is lifted high;
       the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"
I will not die but live,
       and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

We are called not to great acts of physical strength as a church; but we are called to surrender our wills to Jesus, to let his strength lead us to proclaim what he has done, to let his Spirit be our strength!

What does that mean for us at Central this summer and into the future? This is what the Joshua Journey is all about. As we read the story of Joshua and the people of Israel crossing into the Promised Land, we consider what it means for us to take hold of God’s promises. For a preview of some of the specific directions this means for us as a congregation, join me in worship this Sunday! Meantime, keep reading the Joshua devotions written by members of Central. What a great gift that we can guide and encourage each other along this journey!

Pastor Jeff

The Journey has Begun!

2010-06-02T13:43:34Z

Central Family,

Last Sunday we started the Joshua journey! If you have not picked up the Joshua Devotional you can drop by the office to get a hard copy or pick one up at worship this Sunday. You also can visit www.clcelkriver.org and read the Joshua devotions. Today's devotion is written by Tami Thoreson and she shares some thoughts about Joshua 24:19-31. Tami writes, "Are there 'Gods' we are serving other than the one true Lord God and Savior? This is an important question that we face each and every day. What are we trusting? In whom do we trust? Luther reminds us that "a god is anyone or anything in which we place our trust."

What is our greatest threat as we start the Joshua journey? Recently I read an article that suggested, "Our greatest threat is not an economic crisis, health care or even terrorism. We are in a spiritual state of emergency". Consider;

200 million Americans are 'un-churched.
33% of children will go to bed tonight without a father in the home.
The United States is the 4th largest un-churched nation in the world.
70% of high schoolers leave church when they graduate. 1/3 never return.

The Joshua Journey that we are on this summer is all about growing deeper into the promises, purposes and plans of God! What does it mean for Central to be a body that fulfills the Great Commission to go into all the world and make disciples? What does it mean for Central to be a body that fulfills the Great Commandment to love one another as I have loved you? It is the hope and prayer that we will join Joshua and declare our will and resolve, "As for me and my household we will serve the Lord." One of the great aspects of this journey is that we will grow!

Another article I recently read compared the work of the church to the work of parenting. Can you imagine what we would do if babies didn't grow? We all love babies - for a while. Infants are cute, How can you not smile, coddle and coo at a baby? But after a few years, you definitely don't want the child to be a baby anymore. In fact you would go to the Doctor if at five years old your son or daughter was still behaving like a baby. This is exactly where many churches struggle. How do we guide infants toward maturity? Just growing older doesn't automatically mean we are growing more mature. What's the point? The Joshua Journey is an opportunity for all of us to get on board and grow in our relationship to Jesus Christ as Lord.

On a personal note tomorrow I leave for Tanzania for the month of June. I am very grateful for this opportunity to go to Tanzania with my wife, Martha, and sons, Stephen and Andrew. Please know that we will be praying for you as you are on the Joshua journey and we are grateful for your prayers for us. On Sunday, June 27 I will be privileged to preach at our sister congregations in Njombe, Tanzania. I will bring greetings to our sisters and brothers in Christ and assure them of our ongoing prayers and love.

Enjoy the journey!

Paul Johansson